The squawk of a police vehicle rang out and Clifford and Clement found themselves silhouetted in headlights. They let go of Emma and ran, leaving her bent at the waist across the railing, her head on the deck side and her feet pointed down at the water. She tried to kick to propel herself toward the safe side, but the rocks fastened to her ankles made the effort futile. Slowly, she began to slide backward toward the water, and then to accelerate.

She closed her eyes as she began the long plunge. And then she seemed to stop in midair. She was being dragged upward. What was happening? Was she spinning? She thudded against a flat surface, but it couldn’t have been water.

“Miss Djan? Are you okay?”

She opened her eyes. She was on the ground on top of a brawny policeman. His arms were still wrapped tightly around her and he was breathing just as hard as she was. Looking up, she saw two other rain-soaked officers standing over her.

“Are you okay?” they repeated.

She wasn’t certain.

One of them said, “Untie her.”

Once Emma was unshackled, the policeman sat up, but she wouldn’t let go of him. She began to cry like a baby.

“You’re okay, eh?” he said. “Don’t cry. You’re safe now. Can you stand up?”

He helped her. She was unsteady on her feet, still dizzy and plagued with a relentless headache.

“Put your arms around my neck,” the policeman said. He lifted her as if she were as light as a feather and carried her to the police vehicle.

Inside, it was warmer, but Emma was shivering. The officer who had pulled her from the brink sat quietly in the back beside her. The other two sat in front. The officer on the passenger side turned toward Emma and she recognized him.

“Inspector Bawa!”

“Madam Djan,” he said. “That was a very close call.”

“But how?” she said, mystified. “I don’t understand how you came to my rescue.”

“We received a call from Sana Sana,” he told her. “He said he knew from reliable sources that an attempt on your life was imminent and the MO was likely to be the same as in the Tilson case. By the time we got the call, we were even afraid we were too late.”

His two-way radio buzzed and he listened to it for a few seconds before turning back to Emma.

“My officers have nabbed the twins at the other end of the bridge.” He chuckled. “They didn’t have many escape options.”

“Oh, thank God,” Emma said fervently. “What about Mr. Ponsu?”

“We believe he’s still in Accra. Someone will be dispatched to his compound. Do you wish to go to the hospital before we go to the station to take your statement?”