Sighing her pleasure, Vivian rose and stepped into his strong embrace.
Leo kissed her, and said, “I told you vampires were all about sex.”
5
Sunbird Hotel Bar
Lilongwe, Malawi
“Francine Xarras was killed because the mob thought she was a vampire,” confirmed Officer Kenyatta Shenango after Leo and Vivian met him in the hotel bar around three in the afternoon.
While Vivian worked on a story, Leo had contacted Wes’ assistant for help tracking down the policeman. Kenyatta Shenango agreed to speak about the Francine Xarras case under the condition of anonymity.
With drinks from the bar, the three of them found a small table tucked into a corner, away from prying eyes and perfect for clandestine conversation.
“I’ve got cousins who work for the local police in Bingu,” said the officer. “They told me about the vampire rumors, and I told Francine. And I told Judy’s other friend, too.”
“Judy’s other friend?” asked Vivian.
“Matilda,” said the officer. “The one with the long red hair. I told her about the rumors first, before I told Francine.”
“You and Francine were friends?” asked Leo, wondering about the relationship between the school principal and the cop.
After a sip of his drink, which he’d only agreed to because he was off-duty, Shenango nodded. “I met her through my sister. She was kind to Judy and really supported my sister’s dreams of going to university in Europe.”
Vivian asked, “Was Francine mutilated?”
“Her heart was cut out and burned,” said the officer, taking another drink. “Horrible way to die. Francine didn’t deserve that. She was a wonderful, caring woman.”
“A wonderful, caring woman that the village men thought was a vampire,” said Leo.
“Why was that?” asked Vivian. “I know the superstitions cause vigilantes to attack doctors and other medical personnel. But, Francine was a school principal.”
“Do you think the villagers saw her using medical equipment?” asked Leo. “Maybe they saw her acting as a nurse, tending to a sick child, and erroneously assumed she was a bloodsucker?”
“I wish people would let go of these crazy superstitions,” said Shenango, shaking his head. “The rumors tend to start when the rains don’t come. Then people get anxious about starving, and they blame their bad crops on the very people who could help them.”
Remembering her notes, Vivian said, “The villagers think that the sale of their blood causes others, namely Westerners and politicians, to become wealthy at their expense. So if they get rid of the bloodsuckers, then they’ll have a more bountiful harvest.”
Shenango said, “The superstitions are a bit more complex than that.”
“How so?” asked Leo.
“Villagers believe that vampires, as they think of them, are outsiders—foreigners—who seek to steal from the community,” said Shenango. “Not surprisingly, these superstitions were born during the height of Colonialism and require an understanding of Colonial history.”
“A professor I spoke with when I covered an outbreak of vampirism in Mozambique mentioned an incident in Zambia,” said Vivian. “In 1930, if I’m remembering correctly.”
Shenango nodded. “Some of the villagers during that time claimed their blood was taken and used to make cough drops for Europeans.”
“Incredible,” said Leo, shaking his head.
“There is no scientific evidence to show that blood can soothe a sore throat,” said Shenango. “But, as I said, this was during the onset of Colonialism when fear was more deadly than a plague.”
“The professor also told me there were rumors that blood was sold in exchange for weapons,” said Vivian.
Nodding, the officer said, “Another false rumor.”
Vivian asked, “Why do you think some villagers are more susceptible to the superstitions than others?”
“Superstitious beliefs help some villagers make sense of their lives,” said Shenango, finishing his whiskey. “During a famine, some villagers need to understand the reason for the drought. Vampirism makes sense, but it inspires rage. Fear of starvation and food shortages can cause violence and vigilantism. That’s when you see mobs of villagers attacking foreigners, the wealthy, and politicians.”
“How did these current rumors get started?” asked Leo. “Farmers haven’t had any issues with harvests this year.”
“I’m not sure,” said the officer. “But, however they started, the local police and politicians have been working overtime to explain the murders as the work of thieves.”
“Were any of the men involved in Francine’s murder arrested?” Vivian asked.
“The police caught five of them,” said the Shenango. “All of them from Bingu.”
Leo asked, “What did they say about the murder?”
Shenango said, “One of the men claims they were told that Francine was a vampire.”
“Who told them that?” asked Vivian.
“He claims a maid who cleans rooms out at the organization’s compound found proof that Francine was a vampire,” said Shenango.
“What kind of proof?” asked Leo.
“He didn’t say,” said the officer. “Maybe he didn’t really know.”
Vivian asked, “Who was the maid?”
Shaking his head, Shenango said, “I don’t know. But, if you ask me, she’s the reason why Francine Xarras was murdered.”
After Kenyatta Shenango left, Vivian said, “We need to talk to that maid.”
“We need to find her first,” said Leo
“Wes should have a personnel file of everyone who works at the compound,” said Vivian. “We should talk to whoever did housekeeping for Francine Xarras. Why don’t you call Wes and I’ll secure dinner reservations for tonight.”
When Vivian returned, Leo said, “Wes’ assistant said the maid’s name is Lily Ndu and if we want to talk to her, she’ll set up a meeting in an hour, or so, in Wes’ office.”
Vivian finished her drink and stood. “Let’s go.”
Two hours later, in Wes’ spacious office, Vivian stared at Lily Ndu, a diminutive West African woman dressed in a khaki maid’s uniform. Slight and small, her suspicious eyes roamed the room, from Leo and Wes to the door, where she seemed ready to bolt toward.
“Am I in some trouble?” Lily Ndu glanced at Wes. “Did I do something wrong? Did someone accuse me of—“
“We just want to ask you a few questions,” said Vivian, sitting next to Lily on the couch. “About the school principal, Francine Xarras. You were assigned to clean her room, right?”
Arms crossed, Leo asked, “You know what
