At almost ten-thirty at night, light streamed from Edwin’s windows, indicating he was home. Once Emma had reached Dazz, it had taken a while to find his uncle, who had absent-mindedly switched off his phone.

Edwin was surprised when he opened his door to find Laryea, Dazz, and Emma.

“How are you, Edwin?” the DCOP said. “May we enter, please?”

“Of course,” he said, stepping aside to let them in. “Is something wrong?”

“Let’s sit and talk for a moment,” Laryea said.

They went to the sitting room. Edwin looked tense and suspicious as he and the others took seats in a square formation.

“What’s going on, sir?” Edwin asked Laryea.

“Sorry to disturb you so late,” the DCOP said. “It’s about the firearm you have in your possession.”

Edwin appeared puzzled. “Firearm, sir? Which firearm is that?”

He’s probably sold it already, Emma thought with a doomed feeling. We’ll never find it now.

“Someone witnessed you on Saturday night offering to sell a long-range rifle to one of your party guests,” Laryea said. “You and the man were seen in the upstairs bedroom with the weapon out in the open on the bed.”

“Who told you that, sir?”

“That’s not important right now.”

“No, I’m very sorry, sir. There must have been some mistake.”

Laryea nodded. “Then you don’t mind if we search your bedroom?”

Edwin’s eyes twitched. “On what grounds? Excuse me to say, sir, but don’t you need a search warrant?”

The DCOP smiled. “No, Edwin. Section 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 of the Ghana Police Procedure manual states that a police officer above the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police may conduct a search without a warrant if he or she believes that a person has concealed an article that has been stolen or unlawfully obtained, or an article in respect of which a criminal offense has been, is being, or about to be committed.”

Emma sensed Edwin’s panic, but he was still shielding it well.

“Okay,” he said, quickly shifting tactic. “Yes, I do have a rifle, but it’s completely legal and I have a permit to use it from the Ministry of Interior.”

“Why didn’t you just say so before?” Laryea asked, frowning at Edwin. “I mean, if it’s been legally obtained, what were you worried about?”

“Sorry, sir,” Edwin stammered. “Sorry, I just got a bit confused.”

The DCOP stood up. “Show us the way to the item, please.”

In silence, they trooped up the stairs to the same bedroom Emma had seen Edwin and the other man haggling over the weapon. Emma doubted very much that it was legal. One had to apply to police authorities for ownership of a gun before the purchase could be made. Of the two million or so firearms floating around Ghana, only about half were registered correctly.

Edwin unlocked one of the closets in the bedroom, removed the case, and placed it on the bed.