The departure hall of Kalola Airport was full of noise—people talking, laughing, and the constant sound of luggage trolleys moving across the floor. In the background, the roar of planes taking off and landing could be heard.
"This place is so crowded," Mallory said, looking around. "I've never seen it like this before."
"Friday evenings are always busy," Charles replied.
"Let me count the queues," said Gyan, another friend of Casper's. "One, two… six. That means six airlines are checking in at the same time."
"The KLM queue is the longest," Mallory added.
"It won't be long before Casper gets to the counter," Charles said. "Once he checks in and goes through immigration and customs, we'll go to the balcony. Remember, we're giving him a big cheer when he boards."
"Of course," Gyan said.
Gyan was a close friend of both Casper and Charles.
Casper stood in the queue, looking smart in a dark blue suit and a light blue shirt. He looked confident, almost like a businessman. But every time the line moved forward, he turned to look at Mallory. He knew he would miss her.
"Look," Mallory said suddenly. "Do you see that man behind Casper? The one with afro curls? He has a blue suitcase just like Casper's."
Charles glanced around. "There are many blue suitcases here," he said. "Where are Aniwaa and the others?"
"Right behind you," Aniwaa replied, stepping forward.
"Why didn't your mother come?"
"I don't think she could face saying goodbye here," she added quietly.
Among the crowd stood a slim, fair-skinned woman. She looked uneasy.
It was Emma.
She stood at the edge of the hall, partly hidden in the darker area. Her appearance had changed—she wore a cloth and a head tie, and her eyes were hidden behind light-coloured glasses. She was watching carefully.
Mallory was still talking when Gyan suddenly shouted, "Look! What's happening over there?"
Everyone turned toward the KLM queue.
There was a sudden push in the crowd. People began to move and talk loudly. For a moment, no one understood what was happening.
Then a voice shouted above the noise:
"Officer! Get him!"
"No! That's not mine! Let me find mine!" someone shouted.
Security officers quickly grabbed a man and pulled him back.
"What are you talking about?" one of them said angrily, holding him.
"It looks like my suitcase, but those aren't my clothes!" the man tried to explain.
"Be quiet!" another officer shouted.
"Bring him here," ordered Tamashi, the chief customs officer.
The man was pushed forward. People watched closely as Tamashi opened the suitcase.
From inside, he pulled out three small bags.
"Were you trying to escape?" Tamashi asked.
"No! I was only trying to find my suitcase. This one isn't mine!"
"What is this?" Tamashi asked, holding up one of the bags.
"I don't know."
"Stop lying!" Tamashi snapped.
He turned to one of the officers. "Where are his papers?"
They were handed to him.
"Take this man and his luggage to the customs office. I'll come shortly."
By now, the whole hall was talking. People rushed to see what had happened.
Then someone shouted—
"It's Casper!"
Charles froze.
"My God…" Mallory covered her face with both hands.
Casper's sisters cried out in shock.
"Why have they taken Casper?" Charles said, his voice shaking.
"Cocaine?" he added quietly.
"I don't believe this," Gyan said. "We have to follow them."
They pushed their way through the crowd.
In the confusion, no one noticed a man in a grey suit quietly leaving the airport with a blue suitcase.
Outside, Emma was waiting.
"What happened?" she asked quickly.
"The porters did their job," the man replied. "But that new customs officer checked everything."
Emma frowned. "We've lost the money. We have to tell Carol."
They hurried to the car park, got into a BMW, and drove away.
In the man's pocket was Casper's luggage label. He had removed it after switching the suitcases.
Some time later, Tamashi entered the customs office with two officers.
"Bring the testing kit and the scales," he ordered.
The equipment was brought.
Tamashi opened one of the bags and poured out some of the white powder. After a short test, the officers confirmed it.
It was cocaine.
He weighed it.
Exactly one kilogram.
Casper stood there, silent and confused.
"Young man," Tamashi said, "you will have to go to court."
"But I told you, sir, this suitcase is not mine," Casper said weakly.
"Is this your passport?" Tamashi asked.
"Yes."
"It says Casper Benson Kwaku, correct? And that is the same name on the suitcase label."
"Yes… but—"
Casper looked closely at the label.
"The writing looks like mine," he said slowly. "But… I don't understand."
He began removing the clothes from the suitcase.
"This shirt is not mine… these are not mine… none of these are mine…"
Clothes fell to the floor as he searched.
"You are wasting your time," Tamashi said coldly. "You will explain everything in court. We have heard this many times before."
He turned to the officers.
"Lock him up. Call the police."
Casper's friends stood helplessly as he was taken away.
They could not speak. They could only watch.
Mallory and Casper's sisters began to cry.
Outside, the KLM Boeing 737 had already taken off, heading for Amsterdam.
Casper looked up as the plane disappeared into the sky.
That was supposed to be his flight.
He cried out loud.