Malice and marriage

Mama Gumede investigates the mystery of the vandalized wedding cake

- Mama Gumede

MAMA Gumede, the township private investigator, had settled down to have a cup of coffee when a knock on the door disturbed her. Bongani, Mama Gumede’s assistant rushed to the door and looked through the peephole before letting a young couple into the office.

“Mama Gumede, we’re so happy to find you here,” a distraught woman in her mid-twenties said. “We need your help. Someone vandalised our wedding cake.”

“Ah Zola and Dumi, my children, I’m sorry to hear that,” Mama Gumede said. “Please sit down and explain what happened.”

“Our wedding’s tomorrow,” Zola said almost in tears. “The cake was delivered to my flat yesterday afternoon and I put it in a cupboard but forgot to lock it.

“Yesterday afternoon, we were finalizing the wedding dances and the three bridesmaids slept at my flat. When I checked the cake this morning it had been smashed and the miniature bride and groom’s heads were bitten off. One of my bridesmaids must have done it.”

Mama Gumede pushed a Kleenex box across the desk to Zola. “What a terrible experience. Very sad indeed.”

“We’ll have no wedding cake at our wedding,” Dumi said, breaking his silence. “Please help us find out who destroyed our cake.”

“Are the three bridesmaids still at your flat?” Mama Gumede asked as she grabbed her magnifying glass and put it into her handbag.

“Yes,” Zola said. “We asked them to stay put until this crime is solved.”