CHAPTER NINE
One of the major clients of Randle, Lukwago and Associates was the demanding Daily Tribunal. They law firm was in charge of any lawsuits, handling of contracts and any other tidbit that was part of the law. Beautiful Celina Wangiru Kavuma was given the chance to handle the account of the Daily Tribunal. That she landed the account fresh out of the University as a Junior Lawyer was not questionable. While her mates were busy working small cases just to be relevant, she had favor working enabling her shalack.
That her husband was proud of her is an understatement of the century. It was a promotion. She wore his name well, he said. He told whoever that wanted to know how his wife worked for a prestigious law firm. Not sitting at home like the wives of his counterparts. Celina had worked as an intern at the Law firm for approximately eight months before she got the Daily Tribunal account. While other lawyers earned their position by slaving for a decade, Celina had her husband's name as a budge. The partners understood that Celina's promotion would be a ladder to sit on the same table with the mighty Judge Kavuma and the big boys.
The Judge didn't disappoint them. He mentioned the names Mr.Randle or Mr. Lukwago in his conferences. He bragged about it in his circles knowing that the two gentlemen would hear about it. He recommended the firm to other people that needed civil help.
Celina had had wanted to achieve this milestone singlehandedly but Henry wasn't about to let that happen.
"A Kavuma sits at the top my dear, we are never at the bottom." The judge would declare.
That translated to either Henry was behind the process of moving pieces to ensure that she got the position or he expected her to be ten times better than her colleagues.
Being made a partner 8months into the job was more than Celina could handle. She confronted her husband but he was calm, neither denying nor confirming her suspicions.
Rumors at work all pointed in Henry's direction and the people who could confirm her suspicions; her superiors, too neither denied nor confirmed.
To make matters worse, Henry was calm and resigned. He didn't look like a man hiding something.
Celina worked with gusto earning respect from her peers. Throw a complicated case in her direction and she would make it a walk in the park. She studied different aspects of the law. She watched Law and Order, even the old episodes. She fellowshipped with Judges. She ran most of her cases before Henry before she appeared in court. While her opponents went in blind, Celina knew all the possible angles from Henry who had been in the business longer. He mentored her to be the best at what she did. He groomed her to be as ruthless as he was. She thrived. Celina Kavuma embraced everything that came with being in the spotlight as a Lawyer and a wife of Henry Kavuma.
'I can't believe it….he can't be dead.' Nankya sniffed as her swollen nose filled with more fluids. Frank looked at her with his penetrating gaze as though he could see all her secrets. The silence in the room was something Sharon had become accustomed to. It was interrupted by the childish sniffs made by Nankya. They sat in the interrogation room that had only three chairs and a white table. An old plastic cup, blue in colour filled with suspiciously unboiled water sat before Nankya. Sharon watched Nankya and felt sorry for the creature. She had never seen anyone in a more pitiful situation. The silence was interrupted again by the loud dog like whimpers of Nankya. She was an ugly crier Sharon noticed. Nankya blew her nose in the most inelegant way one could ever imagine. Then her eyes reddened and she wailed at the most inopportune times like a hyena. More than once Sharon wanted to break a well practiced mien and laugh at the woman. But that would not go so well with her boss. So she hid her laughter behind a cough.
Frank noticed that the light skinned woman with black knuckled fingers was using the back of her palm to wipe away the mucus that was running down towards her mouth. He fished a handkerchief from the pockets of his trousers and handed it to the sorry creature.
'She must have killed him…..I warned him. I told him she would be the death of him but he didn't listen. She finally killed him.' Nankya blubberd as she wiped her nose hastily.
Her few words were able to get the attention of the two inspectors. They exchanged a knowing look. Sharon jolted something down and once again silence prevailed.
'I have been working for Elvis for three years. He was a great employer and paid handsomely. He never disrespected me any day....I worked from 8am to 5pm everyday. His wife works upcountry or out of the country or somewhere else…..I couldn't tell...…..she's older than him that I am sure of. She looked to be in her late 40's or her mid 50's. She's very tough and never liked me even a bit. ...…They had a lot of issues but they never fought. They quarreled but there was nothing physical that I knew of....when his wife travelled, he had a very beautiful woman who came around. I met her twice. She had long hair and a butterfly tattoo. She was very light skinned. I can't remember her name though. Madam knew about his actions in her absence and warned him...….I can't believe she killed him.....' Nankya narrated without preamble amidst a lot of weeping and nose blowing.
If all she needed was a handkerchief before she told all she knew Sharon would have commanded her husband to give her a box full.
Nankya looked like she knew more but was not willing to talk about it. Maybe another hanky would do the trick, Sharon thought. If anything her silence made her even more guilty. Frank felt sorry for her but what he was not going to let her have leave without getting his information.
If she was protecting someone then she would have her day in court when the truth was revealed.
'What was the name of your madam?' he asked, his voice calm but commanding nevertheless.