I think quickly about a tactical response. “I need to reach you at any time. Work emails tend to slow the process. Plus no one knows who else checks the office emails, even that of the CEO. This work is very discreet lest our progress is frustrated”, I say.
We exchange contacts and bid farewell.
Continued from part 3…
Just as I pull out of the Protea car parking past the hotel main exit, someone runs faster towards my car and signals me to pull down my car windows on the co-driver’s side. It is about 9:30 pm and out of the hotel parking yard.
I sense danger.
I ignore the signal and press the accelerator pedal.
One of our rules as investigators is never to move alone especially at night.
But sometimes exceptions happen. It is not a good idea to expose the identities of our investigators on any case for obvious reasons. You don’t want to increase the attack vector to your team, which could frustrate an investigation. Imagine three of six of your team members reporting bribes or threats to their lives to drop a case! Depending on the case profile, I or any manager moves alone usually for the first meeting.
I decide to pass by the office for the laptop and proceed home to type the meeting minutes while they are still fresh in memory. I could not record the conversation on the phone since this was our first meeting. People fear to talk freely once they learn they are being audio recorded verbatim. And it is unethical to record someone without their knowledge or consent unless the required legal clearances for a covert (secret) operation was obtained.
“How did it go?” asks Miss Accountability.
Fair. Something not right with the local contact. I found his responses ‘guarded’, I say in our office speak to mean a client who is not cooperating.
“That is what you wanted. You said you need challenges. You have it now”, she says.
Usually, I am welcomed by the children. At 10 pm, the kids are in deep sleep in preparation for attending school the following day. School these days is different. Children are expected by 7:30 am in class. That means setting from home by 6:00 am, otherwise traffic jam delays could take two hours. The kids need at least 7 hours of sleep to remain sane. It is one of our family rules to have the kids in bed by 9 pm without fail unless the following day is a weekend like Saturday or Sunday.
“I forgot one more thing”, says miss Accountability.
What is that one? I ask.
“You shall see the kids to bed, daily as long as you are in Kampala,” she says patting on my back as I type the minutes.
You know that is not possible, I say. Weekend, yes. During days no.
I complete the minutes and email to our quality control partner for review before sending it to the client. Over the years, I have learned a lot about doing it right the first time. In the past, I would press the send button quickly yet the client won’t be available to read the email at night. Our practice rule if the report misses being sent by 4 pm, can wait to be sent the following day by 10 am. That way, we have a fresh mind and adequate presence to edit and make it better.
When you are an early riser, the brain is autotuned to wake up early. It does not matter how late you went to bed, once it knocks at 5 am, the brain wakes up.
It is a new day.
Still lying on my back in the bed, I open my eyes wide and look at the ceiling. It is still dark with very little light seeping through the windows. As we grow old, it is not advisable to just jump out of the bed.
I start doing my usual routine of mind relaxation – breath deep in, and out. I count over 50 times of inhaling and exhaling. By the time I get to the 50th time, I am all fully awake.
When you share a bed with someone, you become considerate. I try to move slowly out of bed so that miss Accountability is not affected. Not easy.
“The case has already gone to your brains. You need to take it slow”, she says. Good morning Amooti.
Copyright Mustapha B Mugisa, 2020. All rights reserved.
