Chapters (109)
- Part One
- ONE
- One day earlier
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- PART TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- EIGHTY-FOUR
- EIGHTY-FIVE
- EIGHTY-SIX
- EIGHTY-SEVEN
- EIGHTY-EIGHT
- EIGHTY-NINE
- NINETY
- NINETY-ONE
- NINETY-TWO
- NINETY-THREE
- NINETY-FOUR
- NINETY-FIVE
- NINETY-SIX
- NINETY-SEVEN
- NINETY-EIGHT
- NINETY-NINE
- GLOSSARY
- Acknowledgments
- Continue reading
- Part One
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
In this context, Emma found the word “mentioned” amusing. “What did Ponsu say he was going to do about Tilson?” she asked.
“He didn’t say anything.”
“Sure?”
“Positive.”
“I’m begging for your help, Nii,” she said, softening her voice, “but you don’t want to. Why?”
“You don’t understand,” he said. He seemed miserable.
“I do. You don’t want to put yourself in danger. But at the same time, if Kweku Ponsu has committed a crime—whether to do with Mr. Tilson or Bruno—he has to be held accountable.”
Nii was cracking his knuckles in rapid succession. Emma thought she might be getting to him, but she was wrong.
“Leave it alone,” he said somberly. “Leave everything alone. I respect you, but please, both you and Bruno—stop. It’s the best thing to do.”
They were silent for a moment as Emma tried to divine what was going on in Nii Kwei’s head. At length, she said, “Have you heard from Ponsu today? Where is he right now?”
“I don’t know.” He avoided her eyes.
“I know what’s bothering you is your allegiance to Mr. Ponsu,” Emma said, “but at the same time, you and Bruno and I are friends. Just join us and let’s get to the bottom of this thing.”
He was staring at the floor, his jaw working.
Emma stood up. “Think about it. Sleep on it. Call me tomorrow.”
Nii went to the door with her. His shiny Audi was parked outside.
Something occurred to Emma. “Do you have another SUV? Black or a dark color?”
“No. Why?”
“No special reason,” Emma said, but she was thinking of Kafui’s description of the vehicle she had seen that third April night.
Then, Nii looked quickly behind him, put his finger to his lips and came close to her. “They’re here,” he whispered. “Run!”
That’s when Emma saw the hulking shadow of one of the twins coming up behind Nii. She turned to bolt, but the other twin was waiting for her and she smacked into him. With an open palm, he struck the side of her head with the force of a wrecking ball. She collapsed in a heap.
EIGHTY-FOUR
EIGHTY-FOUR
Nii was horrified at the sight of Emma lying motionless on the ground. Was she breathing? He tried to go to her, but Clement shoved him away.
“But why did you hit her so hard?” Nii cried.
The other men ignored him. “Get the car,” Ponsu told Clement. “Clifford, start tying her up.”
Ponsu’s SUV was parked in the back of the house. Clement drove it around to the front and opened the trunk.
“Where are you taking her?” Nii demanded.
“None of your business,” Ponsu said. “It’s better you don’t know, anyway.”