Inseparable – Chapter Twenty Nine

 

Ini hurried up the stairs to ward 19, the ward where Mr. Kolawole, Amarachi’s father had been admitted after he had collapsed suddenly at home.

 

Ini received the emergency call from Amarachi’s mother that Saturday evening that the man had been rushed to the hospital and it was required that they made a deposit payment of eighty thousand naira for treatment to continue. The woman had no choice than to call Ini for help since she couldn’t get to Amarachi.

 

Ini had responded swiftly and transferred the total sum of eighty thousand naira to the hospital account for the treatment to continue after which she promised to come check on them in the hospital the next day.

 

As she climbed up the stairs, she thought of Amarachi who was in prison and unaware of her father’s recent admission in the hospital, she remembered her vow never to have anything to do with Amarachi again but it was impossible for her to ignore the father’s condition and allow the man die like that.

 

“Good afternoon Aunty Ini” Sophia greeted as she met with Ini on the stairs.

 

“How are you Sophie?”

 

“I’m fine” she replied, ” mummy told me that you had come and I should come and pick you”

 

“Thank you, so how is your dad now? Is he responding to treatment?”

 

“He’s still unconscious” Sophia answered almost silently, with a sad look on face as she embraced Ini. “But the doctor said they have to carry out an operation on him immediately and it will cost about five hundred thousand naira”

 

“It’s okay, don’t worry. Let’s go to your mum”

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

“Doctor, what’s the situation like now?” Helen asked as the Doctor led her and Uche to the ward.

 

“Critical, but he’s still alive. He would have died yesterday if you guys had delayed a minute later with the police report”

 

“But is he okay now?”

 

“Not yet , I don’t know if he’ll make it out alive”

 

“Wow! ”

 

Dennis was seated in the ward with his eyes fastened to Bode. He looked rough and unkempt.

 

“Inspector” he stood up immediately Helen and Uche walked in with the doctor. “Inspector, thank God you’re here”

 

“Mr. Dennis, how did it happen?” Helen asked, moving closer where Bode laid lifelessly on the hospital bed. She stared at Bode’s face and gripped the hospital bed clothing, clouds of tears gradually formed in her eyes.

 

“He was shot immediately I dropped him off” Dennis explained with sorrow in his voice. “I heard the gunshot as I turned and was about to drive off”

 

“But you didn’t drop him at home” Uche joined

 

“Yes, he asked me to drop him there. He wanted to eat in the restaurant”

 

“Did you see where the gunshot came from?” Uche asked.

 

“No, I only heard the sound of the shot”

 

“And you didn’t notice anything suspicious around?”

 

“No, not at all. I just dropped him off and turned to leave”

 

“Hmmm… That’s strange, but what were you guys discussing on your way home?”

 

“We were not discussin… We stopped somewhere on the way”

 

 

“Where?”

 

“He said it was Bola’s house, but we met the gate locked”

 

“What did you guys want to do there?”

 

“Bode said he wanted to see the gateman”

 

“For what?”

 

“I don’t know, he didn’t tell me”

 

“Okay, I understand that you’ve not rested since yesterday. One of our officers will stay here with Bode, you can go home but we’ll want you to be at our station this evening. We need to ask more questions”

 

“Okay, that’s alright” Dennis replied and wore his shoe properly preparing to take his leave.

 

“Let’s go Inspector” Uche said to Helen who was looking emotionally down.

 

 

 

** Fifteen minutes later **

 

Uche glanced at Helen occasionally as he drove with her to the scene where Bode was shot. She noticed his occasional glances and was getting uncomfortable with it.

 

“Why are you glancing at me like that?” She asked.

 

“Oh! Sorry ” he smiled. “I’m just baffled”

 

“Baffled by?”

 

“What’s your relationship with Bode?” He responded her question with another question.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“What do I mean? I saw the way you were shaking all over when you heard he had been shot and you couldn’t even control yourself when you saw him on the bed”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen did not answer his question but just looked away from him and faced the road.

 

“I really pray he remains alive” Uche continued, “I believe he knows something about the murder or he knows the murderers”

 

They drove for fifteen minutes more before they got to the place where Bode was shot, in front of the restaurant. Helen composed herself and went into the restaurant with Uche, they asked for eye witnesses to the incident and questioned them.

 

Nobody seemed to know where the bullet came from except one old neglected man who doubled as a smoker and drunk, he was despised around the area so nobody took him serious. He insisted that it was a bike man with an helmet covering his face that released the bullet as he rode by.

 

Helen and Uche took him to a corner to ask more questions, he only insisted that it was a biker who shot the gun but he couldn’t describe the bike nor the man, neither did he know where the bike came from or head to.

 

They left the place and visited Bola’s apartment to confirm if the gate was locked and it was. They tried to ask people around for the whereabouts of the gateman but didn’t get any useful information. They returned to the office confused and tired.

 

 

 

**5pm, same day **

 

“Did you see any biker where you parked your car?” Uche questioned Dennis

 

“No”

 

“What about after you heard the gunshot?”

 

“I didn’t see any bike”

 

“Okay, did Bode speak to anybody on phone while you were on your way home?”

 

“No, he didn’t call anyone but maybe he was chatting with someone because I saw him busy with his phone at some point”

 

“Okay then, we may have to check his phone if we can find any clues at all”

 

“Here” Dennis handed the phone to Uche. “It fell into the car from his pocket when I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

rushed him to the hospital”

 

Uche collected and examined the phone for some seconds, “it’s passworded”

 

“Yes, it is. We can’t the phone now”

 

“No, we’ll get our IT man to open it for us now” Uche stood up from his seat and was his way when Helen entered into the office.

 

“Where are you going to?” She asked.

 

“We need to unlock this phone, I want to take it to Femi”

 

“Hehe” Helen chuckled. “You seem to have forgotten that today is Sunday, Femi won’t be here till tomorrow”

 

“Oh that’s true” Uche replied, not happy.

 

“Yeah, the doctor just called now. Bode is awake, we have to get there”

 

“Oh! Yes sure, let’s go” Uche replied and took his ID card on the table .

 

“I’m coming with you guys but I’ll ride in my car, I’ll meet you there”

 

“Okay, Mr. Dennis” Helen replied and they went their separate ways.

 

*-*-*-*

 

“I strongly believe that Bode knows the murderer, and the murderer may be someone at that restaurant area” Uche commented after driving in silence until they were few seconds away from the hospital gate.

 

 

 

“I don’t just know what to think at all, everything is getting complicated”

 

“I think it’s getting easier now, Bode is awake and I hope he’ll be able to tell us something useful” he said as he parked at the front of the gate and saluted the security guards who searched the car and check the booth.

 

After some seconds of thorough checking, they were handed a pass ticket and allowed in. They spotted Dennis driving in few seconds after they parked in the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

parking space. They waited for him to join them before walking together into the hospital building.

 

“How is he doing Doc?” Helen asked with deep concern in her voice.

 

“He’s awake now” the doctor replied, leading them to the new ward. “He regained consciousness about one hour ago but has not been able to talk”

 

“He’s not been able to talk? Maybe he hasn’t regained enough strength to”

 

“Yes, he hasn’t regained enough strength but I don’t think that’s the reason he can’t talk” the doctor paused his steps to explain. “We’ll transfer him to another section very soon where some specialists would attend to him”

 

“When will he be okay?”

 

“I don’t know when he’ll be strong for now but he’s out of danger already”

 

“Oh! Thank God” Helen exclaimed, her face lit up slightly with joy, Dennis also smiled visibly, Uche was paying attention to other wards they passed by.

 

“So when will he be able to talk to us?” Helen asked.

 

“That I can’t say” the doctor continued walking. “I don’t know how, but he seems to have lost his ability to speak”

 

“Huh?” Uche and Helen exclaimed in unison.

 

“How can that be? How did the bullet affect his tongue?” Uche asked with much seriousness.

 

“I don’t know, we just found out that he could not speak anymore

 

“That’s serious” Uche looked agitated, as he seemed to have taken over from Helen who looked saddened again. “But can he write?”

 

“Yes, he would be able to use his hands but not now, maybe in seven days time” the Doctor replied, he stopped at a ward and opened the door.

 

A junior police officer was in the ward with Bode, he saluted and took excuse to walk out as he saw Bode and Helen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bode laid on the bed like a lifeless body but his eyes was opened. He couldn’t move his body well but he responded by moving his fingers as he heard his visitor’s voices.

 

“Bode” Helen muttered as she got close to him and tried to hold his hand, he just stared at her without moving or responding.

 

“He can’t talk yet” the doctor reminded them.

 

“We’ll make sure we get those who are responsible for this, they won’t go unpunished” she bent towards him and whispered to his hearing.

 

He responded with a slight smile, she smiled back at him and released his palm from her soft grip.

 

“We’ll be back” she said and walked towards the door.

 

“Let’s see Doc” she said to the doctor and walked out with him, followed by Uche.

 

Dennis moved closer to Bode, he saw Bode’s retina moved to his direction.

 

“You’ll be fine soon” he said softly with a smile. “I’ll be back, let me hear what they have to tell the doctor.

 

He was about to open the door when he heard something. He turned back to confirm, Bode called his name again. He rushed back to the bed.

 

“You can talk?” Dennis exclaimed with great surprise in his eyes.

 

“Don’t let them know” Bode cautioned, “I don’t have much strength, listen carefully”

 

“Okay, go ahead” Dennis looked back to be sure no one was watching, he placed his arms on the side of the bed and paid attention

 

“You have to find Bola’s gateman. The last exhibit we saw, that rag. You know it’s a half part”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I saw the other part at that Gateman’s office, I used it to clean my trouser the last time I went there”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh!”

 

“I believe the gateman carried out the murder or the person who did it divided the rag into two”

 

“Okay, did you see the person who shot you?”

 

“Yes, he was on a bike but his face was covered. He …” Bode could not continue as Helen and Uche walked in with the doctor.

 

Dennis bent his head over the bed like someone who was crying, Helen and Uche looked at them suspiciously.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Dennis resumed work with a lifeless mood the next day, he hadn’t been able to fulfill the reason for his leave , rather things had become more complicated.

 

Bode who had been his main source of inspiration and encouragement was just recovering in the hospital and according to the Doctor’s prediction, Bode would still need up to seven days to regain strength. And even after the seven days, it was obvious that he would have only regained enough strength to be discharged from the hospital and not to continue with any investigation.

 

Now Dennis faced the enormous task of finding Bola’s gateman and also fishing out the mysterious gunman who had his face covered when he shot Bode.

 

Dennis thought of where to start from, there was nowhere he knew to go ask about the gateman, he wouldn’t even recognize the gateman if they ran into each other. But he had a clue which he didn’t know how useful it could be about the mysterious biker, he remembered Inspector Uche mentioned that an old drunk who loitered around the restaurant area said something about the bike man.

 

He took a look at his table and saw so many files and document he needed to attend to, he picked them one after the other and started checking through them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the first time that morning, a knock sounded on his door.

 

“Come in” he answered the knock.

 

“Good morning sir” A petite lady curtsied as she walked in with a document.

 

“Good morning, what can I do for you?” He responded.

 

“I was asked to submit this file to you today”

 

“Ehen, what file is that?” He asked, taking it from her, “and who are you?”

 

“I’m Bisi, the new accounts research officer”

 

“Huh?” He seemed surprised. “New account what?”

 

“New research officer, sir” she replied, also surprised by his response.

 

“New research officer? I don’t recall that there was any vacancy for that post” he dropped the file on the table.

 

“I was employed last week sir, you were on leave”

 

“New account officer?” Dennis muttered, shaking his head. “You can go, I’ll see you later”

 

He watched her leave the office before picking up the report she brought. He read through it carefully, each line of the report annoyed him as he read, there was no relevant details of the research work in it.

 

He dropped the file back and was about to stand up when another knock sounded on his door. The Chairman came in.

 

“Good morning sir” Dennis stood up to greet.

 

“Good morning Mr. Michaels, how was your short leave?” The man replied, extending his hand to Dennis for a handshake.

 

“Fine sir” Dennis replied, trying to force out a smile.

 

“Fine?” The man stared at Dennis’ face as he sat down. “But you don’t look like

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you’ve rested enough”

 

“I couldn’t sleep well last night” Dennis took his seat too.

 

“Why?”

 

“Everything is getting complicated as the day goes by”

 

“I don’t understand you son”

 

“Sir, don’t bother about me anymore. Thanks for your understanding and the break you gave me, I think we should go to business now”

 

“No, you won’t be able to work well if you’re unstable” the man refused to change the subject. “We sent you guys to the states to learn more so that you can improve on your efficiency but I’m sure you can’t be efficient this way”

 

“I’m fine sir” Dennis insisted.

 

“No you’re not. Look at you, very early on a monday you’re already looking dull as if it’s a Friday afternoon” the man said as he stood up from his seat. “If it will help, I’ll give you another week break on one condition”

 

“Oh sir! What condition is that?” Dennis asked excitedly, his eyes showing gratefulness.

 

“You won’t go on another official leave this year and when you resume, you’ll start work efficiently”

 

“Oh! God bless you sir” Dennis moved out from the table and placed one knee down to show his gratefulness.

 

“Its okay” the man said and walked out.

 

Dennis arranged his desk properly before packing his bags, he hurried out of the office happily and drove out of the company within few minutes.

 

He headed straight to the hospital first to see Bode hoping to possibly get more information from him.

 

On getting to the hospital, the hospital officials prevented him from seeing Bode. He

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

was informed that the police had instructed that nobody should be allowed to come near the victim except the officers in charge of the case gives the permission.

 

He left the office in disappointment and left for Bola’s place in order to check for any clue and ask about the whereabouts of the gateman.

 

After walking about the place fruitlessly for over an hour, he made his way to the restaurant in Bode’s street to find the drunk who saw the biker. He didn’t need to ask anybody anything as a dirty old man was the first person he saw as he parked his car.

 

He guessed from the appearance of the old man that it was he and he followed the man as he walked through a narrow route just beside the restaurant.

 

After walking for less than two minutes, the man entered into an old apartment. Dennis looked around amazed at the kind of environment he was in, he had never been to the ghetto area of Etyle. He followed the man to the house and knocked on the door.

 

The Old man wasted no time in answering the door.

 

“Come in my son ” the man smiled and welcomed him like he was expecting him.

 

“Good afternoon sir” Dennis walked in and closed the door behind him.

 

“I know you were following me” the man said in his strong Hausa accent as he empty a bottle of local gin into a plastic cup.

 

“Ermm”

 

“Join me my son, life is sweet” the man offered him gin. “An Old man like me should not get scared of anybody following him, have your seat my son”

 

“Thank you sir” Dennis sat into an old sofa which shook as if it would collapse.

 

“Don’t worry my son, calm down. The chair is a very strong one, it cannot fall ” the man mocked Dennis, seeing him scared as the sofa shook. “What have you come here for?”

 

“Sir, my friend was shot at the front od the restaurant on saturday, you said you saw the person who shot”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh Son, I remember you. You are the policeman that came with your Lady colleague yesterday” the drunk man mistook him for Uche.

 

“No, I … ”

 

“I knew you would come back, why didn’t you bring the lady along today?”

 

“I’m …”

 

“I remember something now” the man walked close to him and kicked his shoe. “That man on the motorcycle was wearing the same type of shoes you wore yesterday”

 

“Huh? The same type of shoe I wore yesterday?”

 

“No o” the man staggered backwards. “I didn’t say you’re the one o, you are a policeman”

 

“Don’t worry, just tell me. Are you sure he was wearing the same type of shoes I wore yesterday?”

 

“Yes, I saw the shoes very well”

 

“Hmm” Dennis stood up and walked closer to him, he looked straight into his eyes and asked. “What about the trouser the person wore?”

 

“Bla… Black trousers and Black Hand gloves”

 

“Interesting, so why didn’t you tell us yesterday?”

 

“I didn’t remember until now when I remembered the shoes you wore yesterday”

 

“Okay thank you, I’ll have to leave now. I’ll be back”

 

“Okay, goodbye my son”

 

Dennis was on his way out of the house when his eyes met something, he paused and looked at it carefully. He moved closer and bent down to pick the hand towel. He brought out the phone and compared the half towel in the picture with the one in his hands. He was sure he had found the other part of the exhibits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“What’s that?” The old man who watched him asked.

 

“Nothing, whose towel is this?”

 

“My son, he brought it home some weeks ago when he brought back his belongings”

 

“Who is your son and where did he pack his belongings from?”

 

“Any problem officer? Why are you asking about my son?”

 

“Nothing” Dennis smiled to assure him that there was no problem. “I’m just curious”

 

“Okay, my son is Emmanuel, he used to work as a gateman, he came back home after his rich Boss died”

 

“Eeyah, where is he now?”

 

“He is…” The man stopped abruptly as a young man entered through the door that moment.

 

“Inaini Pa” the young man greeted his father in Hausa language and left without waiting for a response.

 

“Hey, oya come hia” the man called him back.

 

“Oh!”he hesitated before walking back. “Wetin I want pa?”

 

“Come hia and meet this police man”

 

“Ehn police? Wetin I do pa?”

 

“Hahaha” the man laughed at his son. “This policeman is our friend and he has only come to ask about a murder that took place on Saturday”

 

“Good afternoon Oga” he bent a little to show respect. He was about to rush off when Dennis held him back.

 

“I heard that you worked in Bola’s house as her gateman?” Dennis asked “Huh… Ye.. Ye… Yes Oga” the question threw him off balance.

 

“And you brought this with you when you returned?” He raised up the rag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Me I dey use am for my shoe”

 

“Where is the other part?”

 

“Ermm… Walahi, I no know where he dey, kai na one Oga don collect am”

 

“Who collected it?”

 

“Na one Oga like that, walahi I not fit remember im name”

 

“Can you remember him?”

 

“Yes Oga, I know im face well”

 

“Okay” Dennis smiled and dipped his hand into his pocket.” Here is my complimentary card, call me tomorrow. I have a good job for you”

 

“Oh! God bless you Oga, thenk you” he took the card gratefully.

 

“You’re welcome” Dennis said and turned to the father as he made his way out of the house. “How come you speak better English than your son?”

 

“Hehe, he lived with his mother who was an illiterate and was only sent to me seventeen years later, after his mother died”

 

“Oh! I see, thank you sir for your cooperation” Dennis said and left after saying goodbye.

 

 

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ *3pm Monday*

 

 

 

“What else did you find there Uche?”

 

“Nothing more, just that guy. Have also sent messages to the Authorities in Cameroon, they should be on the lookout for Mark”

 

“Good, I think we should also try find more information about the particular place he is and help them with the information”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We’ve gotten the details from the Airport authorities this morning, he stopped at Yaoundé, but we don’t know if he’s still there”

 

“Good, if we can get him quickly, we should be able to conclude if he’s involved in the murder or not”

 

“Come on, the only charges against Mark and his guys are drug trafficking and illegal possession of arms, he isn’t involved in Frank’s death”

 

“Yeah, that’s true. We have to go back to that old man at the restaurant area”

 

“Yes, but I hope he’ll be able to tell us something tangible this time around. I don’t get how useful the information of a mysterious bike man who came from nowhere and returned to nowhere can help us”

 

“Yes, I hope he’ll tell us something different this time or we should just meet someone who can provide a better clue”

 

“Yes, but the one who can provide us the best clue is Bode. I believe he knows the murderer and the murderer knows that he knows too”

 

“But he can’t talk or write now ”

 

“Yes, we can’t get any reasonable clue until he is strong enough to give us”

 

“It’s okay” Helen stood up to her feet. “Let’s stop the talk and act”

 

She took her car keys and moved towards the door, Uche stood up slowly and followed her out. Few minutes later, they were on their way to the Bode’s street.

 

They went straight to the corner where they found the old man the last time they visited the place but he wasn’t found there. After walking about the place asking about him for twenty minutes, they finally found someone who knew the man’s house and agreed to lead them there.

 

They got to the old house in the ghetto in a few minutes, the door was widely opened and the house was in disarray. It looked as if there had been a fight in the house as everything was in disorder.

 

Helen brought out her pistol and entered into the house carefully, Uche followed her

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in the same manner. She walked tactically forward, looking around to find if anyone was in the house while Uche bent down to check the scattered environment. He noticed a drop of blood on the floor and alerted Helen about it. She quickly moved back and placed a knee on the floor to observe it.

 

“Let’s check the other rooms carefully” Helen said to Uche.

 

They moved forward into the other rooms and found nothing until they went out to the backyard. They found more traces of blood which led to a local bathroom built with bamboo and cement bags, as Helen took away the door made of corrugated iron sheets, she met the horrible sight of the man in cold blood.

 

“Jeez, he’s dead ” she announced to Uche who joined her quickly. “This is still fresh, the killer may still be around. Let’s check around carefully, don’t let him go”

 

They moved around the compound swiftly, searching all corners and possible hiding place .

 

“I don’t think the murderer is still around, the murder could have taken place about one hour ago; that’s enough time for the person to escape” Uche said, dipping the gun back into his pocket.

 

“Call the office and order some guys here, let them come and clear up this body” Helen ordered as she kept her gun also and walked back into the house.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Hello Oga” Emmanuel spoke immediately Dennis picked the call, his voice shaking.

 

“Hello, who am I speaking with?” Dennis asked, after munching a spoonful of rice.

 

“Na me Emmanuel”

 

“Who?”

 

“Oga Police, I one guy I don ki*ll my Pa for house o”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Pa, I don ki*ll am fo Pa” he repeated, trembling as he spoke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Who did that?” Dennis was shocked, he stood up from the dining table immediately.

 

“Walahi, I no see him face Oga”

 

“Okay, you know what? Come meet me at the Saro Police Divi.. ” Dennis paused, remembering that he wasn’t supposed to involve the police as Uche was a suspect too. ”

 

“Wait for me at Erinsic, I’ll meet you there now” Dennis ended the call, he quickly gulped down some water from the dining table and turned to leave, he ran into his mum.

 

“What’s the matter? Where are you going to now?” The woman asked

 

“Mum, you need to leave this house now” Dennis said in a command tone.

 

“Ehn?”

 

“Yes, you need to leave now. It might be dangerous to spend another minute here”

 

“What do you mean? I’m not going anywhere” the woman refused and walked away from his front.

 

Dennis ran after her and knelt at her front, “I’ll explain later, you just leave now in my red car”

 

“Leave for where? What’s the matter with you Dennis? You’ve been acting so strange of late” She slammed. “You are on leave but you’ve been leaving the house early and coming back late”

 

“Mum, there’s no time to explain. You have to vacate here now, go to any of your friend’s place, I’ll call and tell you when it is safe to return”

 

“No son, I won’t leave here till you tell me what’s going on here” the woman was adamant.

 

“Okay Mum stay here” Dennis flared up and got up from kneeling. “I’m leaving here now, wait and you’ll know what is going on”

 

“You’re not going anywhere, none of us is leaving this house”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Listen mum” Dennis pleaded once again. “Someone is coming here to ki*ll me now, he has been paid already. He might hurt you if he doesn’t find me here, please leave immediately. I’ll explain later to you”

 

With that he was able to calm his mum, she stared at him for a moment without being able to say anything.

 

 

 

 

** 4pm**

 

“Enter the car” Dennis said as he pulled by where Emmanuel stood at the front of Erinsic.

 

Emmanuel entered the car without wasting time, he was visibly trembling, sweat oozed out of his body like someone who sat near fire.

 

“Who killed your pa?” Dennis asked as he drove off.

 

“Oga, me I no see him face”

 

“When did it happen?”

 

“E never tey wey I come see my Papa, I come comot”

 

“You mean not long after I left?

 

“Yes Oga”

 

“Did the person see you?”

 

“No Oga, Me I run comot”

 

“Okay, calm down Emmanuel. You have to cooperate with me and tell me everything, huh?”

 

“Yes Oga, I go tell you everything”

 

“Good, do you remember that guy that took other part of that rag?”

 

“Oga, I know him face well well, Me I no know him name”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Okay, that means you’ll know when you see him”

 

“Yes Oga”

 

“Good, but what other thing did he ask you about that day?”

 

“The Oga ask me say where my Oga husband wey I dey barb hair shop?”

 

“He asked for your Oga’s husband shop? And you showed him?”

 

“Yes, him say him wan barb him hair and him give me five thousand to barb my hair too”

 

“Wow! Do you know what he did with the rag you gave him?”

 

“Ha Oga, him pour one powder for am”

 

“Powder?”

 

“Yes Oga”

 

“Okay” Dennis kept quiet till the end of the journey. He drove into an hotel and lodge Emmanuel into a room, he warned him severally to stay indoors before he left the hotel.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“I don’t understand everything that is happening” Helen commented as they drove to the hospital.

 

“The murderer must be a dangerous one, cos he keeps eliminating any lead we’ve got”

 

“One thing I know is, there’s an informant working close with us”

 

“You think so?”

 

“No, I don’t just think so. I strongly believe so or how else did the murderer find out about this Old man?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I think we’re leaking the information to someone who we shouldn’t, I suspect Dennis. He was the one who was with Bode when it happened and he also heard about the old man from us, I think he has a hand in all of this”

 

“But Dennis was in his car that day, he wasn’t on a bike”

 

“He might not be the one carrying out the murder, he night just be an informant to the murderers”

 

“Hmm, then we have to be watchful of him from now on, we’ll arrest him any moment he makes a suspicious move”

 

They got to the hospital in few minutes and went straight to the office of the Doctor who had earlier demanded to see them.

 

“Good morning Doc” Helen greeted as they entered the office.

 

“Welcome Inspectors, please take your seat”

 

“Thank you sir” the inspectors responded simultaneously as they sat.

 

“You said there is a new observation you wanted to tell us about”

 

“Yes, just a minute” The doctor said, tidying up his table.

 

“Okay doc, take your time” Helen replied.

 

“Yeah” the Doctor rested on his chair and faced them directly, ready to speak to them now. “Bode can talk, his speech is in order”

 

“Huh?” The officers were surprised.

 

“I thought the other Doctor said there was something wrong with his vocal chords”

 

“Yes there is, but we heard him talk clearly in his sleep”

 

“Wow! So he can speak to us now?”

 

“No, he may not” The Doctor said quickly. “I think he’s greatly scared of something”

 

“What could that be?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“No one knows, only you guys can provide us that information, but we believe he would speak up anytime from now. We’ve administered drugs to him to overcome the trauma”

 

“Can we see him now?” Uche asked anxiously.

 

“Yes you can, but I can’t guarantee that he would speak with you now” the Doctor said and rose up to his feet, he led the inspectors to the ward.

 

Bode eyes was awake and he saw them coming, his eyes met with Uche’s. He could see something burning intensely in Uche’s eyes but he couldn’t figure out what it was. He took his gaze to Helen’s face, he noticed she was trying to conceal a smile, but her face shone brightly as she was happy to see him.

 

“Hello, can you hear me?” Helen smiled as she asked, he only smiled back but didn’t say anything.

 

“Respond if you can hear” Uche added, trying to make Bode talk.

 

“Look Bode” Helen continued. “We will get the person responsible for this act very soon, but we need you to talk to us”

 

“Yes, please tell us every necessary information? Did you see the person who tried to ki*ll you?” Uche joined.

 

Bode only stared at them without speaking up, but he tried to make body movements to respond to the questions.

 

“What is it you’re scared of? Just talk to us, we have everything under control” Helen tried again to make him speak up.

 

This time Bode moved his lips, but no audible sound was made, Helen placed her ear close to his mouth but couldn’t still hear anything though his lips kept moving like he was communicating something serious.

 

“You see?” the Doctor joined, “his lips are moving, I believe he’ll be strong enough to communicate by tomorrow”

 

After some few minutes, they gave up and decided to return the next day. The junior officer that was responsible for guarding Bode signaled to his superiors as they were

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

about to leave.

 

“Ma” the officer called out to Helen. “Someone came here this morning to check him”

 

“Who?”

 

“The other guy that came with you yesterday” He tried to describe Dennis, “the one who came to the station to request for the police report”

 

“Oh! Dennis?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Okay, did you allow him in?”

 

“No, you ordered me not to let anybody come close to the patient ma”

 

“Good, did you observe if he came to do anything sinister?”

 

“I don’t really know, he wasn’t with any weapon but it was hard to stop him from entering and he didn’t leave quickly”

 

“Did you search him?”

 

“Yes, I did briefly” the officer replied, nodding his head. “His appearance was not evil but his persistence arouses suspicion”

 

“I know that guy is dangerous” Uche said as he walked out of the ward, Helen followed.

 

“Ok inspectors, I have to check some other wards now” the Doctor said, turning to the opposite direction.

 

“Okay, thank you Doc” Helen replied extending her hand to him, which made the Doctor turn again.

 

“It’s my pleasure” the doctor said and walked away.

 

Helen and Uche watched the man until he entered another ward before they continued their journey, they discussed as they walked towards the stairs.

 

“Dennis is one of the culprits” Uche stated.

 

“How are we sure of that? I’m trying to link up everything” Helen replied him, looking thoughtful.

 

“We should arrest him, he’ll lead us to the rest of the gang” Uche continued. “He might even be the major culprit or what was he doing here without informing us first? And he was the only one aware about the Old man”

 

“I…” A Doctor who seemed to be rushing to attend to a patient almost collided into Helen as she was almost to start climbing down the stairs. He didn’t wait to apologise but only waved his hand without looking back.

 

“That Doctor walks like someone I’ve seen before ” Helen commented as they watched him hurry away.

 

“Hehe” Uche smiled slightly. “I believe he’s rushing to attend to a patient, I didn’t even see his face”

 

“I didn’t see it too” Helen smiled as she started her journey down the stairs and continued with their discussion.

 

“I’m still trying to link up every thing” she continued, “Dennis arrived from the states after the murder of Frank”

 

“Yea? He probably planned that so that no one would suspect him, and that’s why I said he may be one of the culprits, I believe he’s the one who has been supplying his gang mates with information from us, that explains the reason this case has lingered for so long”

 

“Hmmm” Helen was speechless.

 

“Think of it, Frank was his competitor. They were both struggling to get Amarachi’s love, Dennis could have murdered him to get Amarachi”

 

“The facts we have do not correlate” Helen said, thinking deeply. “Dennis brought Bode to the hospital, he could have killed him before they got here and other eye witnesses of the incident stated confirmed that the bullet didn’t come from him”

 

“It us possible that Dennis gave the information to one of his gang mates to carry out the shooting and he couldn’t have tried to ki*ll him because he didn’t bring Bode alone to the hospital, two other men helped him”

 

“We’ll take and question him” Helen concluded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

“Please excuse us, I want to administer some drugs to him” Dennis said as he walked into the ward where Bode was.

 

The officer stood up from where he was seated slowly and folded the newspaper he was reading.

 

“I thought Doctor Ken came to administer some drugs to him about one hour ago” the officer said to the new Doctor.

 

“Yes, Doctor Ken called me to come here, I’m from another section” the new Doctor said facing the wall, hiding his face from the officer. He picked the syringe out of the box and started drawing in the mixture.

 

“Okay, I’ll be in the veranda” the officer said and finally walked out of the ward.

 

Dennis dropped the syringe back into the box after making sure that the officer was out, he walked close to Bode who already had a scared look on his face.

 

Bode’s face softened as he recognised the Doctor, he smiled and muttered. “Dennis, how far?”

 

“How you doing Bode?” Dennis started eagerly. “Hope nobody has found out that you can talk yet?”

 

“The Doctor has found out and he also told the police” Bode explained. “They said they heard me talking in my sleep”

 

“Wow, so what did you say to Inspector Helen and Uche?”

 

“I didn’t say anything, I tried to pretend that I don’t have the strength to talk”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Well, how strong are you now?”

 

“I don’t know, the Doctors said I lost a lot of blood, I believe I’m strong enough to be discharged and continue my rest at home but I have to stay here because its safer and I can pretend here” Bode explained. “Why do you ask?”

 

“I have to get you out immediately”

 

“What?” Bode asked, surprised.

 

“Because here is no longer safe for you”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Yes, now that Uche knows that you can talk, he’ll surely come back to take your life”

 

“What do you mean? Uche?” Bode queried.

 

“Based on my findings, Uche is the major suspect, he killed Frank and tried to ki*ll you.”

 

“Are you sure?” Bode asked, struggling to sit up.

 

“I’ll verify soon but you have to get out of here now”

 

“How do I get out?”

 

“Are you strong enough to walk?”

 

“I’ll try”

 

“Good, we have to take that Police guy down” Dennis said, referring to the officer at the veranda.

 

“Huh?” Bode gave him a look which communicated the question in his heart.

 

“No, we won’t ki*ll him” Dennis smiled. “I brought some chloroform with me”

 

“Oh! Okay” Bode replied, relieved. “But how will I get out in this patient’s uniform I’m on?”

 

“Hmmm, that’s true” Dennis thought deeply for some seconds. “That’s no problem,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

we’ll take the officer’s uniform”

 

“Oh! Good”

 

“Now lay back and act as if you’re asleep” Dennis ordered, and stepped back. He opened the door and called the officer in.

 

He turned his back to the officer to hide his face. “Please come forward officer, let me explain some… ”

 

The officer was about to pull out his gun immediately he recognised Dennis but he was overpowered quickly by Dennis. He was forced to inhale the gas from the handkerchief amidst his struggle. He laid like a lifeless body in few seconds.

 

Dennis locked the door carefully with the key and started taking off the officer’s uniform. Bode also took off his clothes slowly, but as fast as his strength allowed him.

 

In no time, Bode was dressed in the police uniform, Dennis took off the lab coat he was putting on and hid it behind a drawer. He carried the unconscious policeman and laid him on the bed immediately Bode stood up. Dennis took the gun which fell from the officer’s pocket and kept it in his.

 

“Alright, let’s go” Dennis said .

 

Bode struggled to move his leg, the first step he took almost sent him sprawling on the floor if not for Dennis who held him firmly.

 

“You have to do this Bode, we need to get out of this place” He encouraged as he placed Bode back on his feet. “Think about Frank’s death, his killers should not go unpunished and you should not die the same way, we have to do this together”

 

Dennis words drove some power into him and he struggled to take three steps forward although his legs shook as he did. Dennis followed closely and supported him down the stairs. They were lucky not to meet anyone on the way.

 

Bode steps increased as they progressed and they were able to pass the reception acting like friends that were gisting as they passed.

 

Bode waited at the entrance of the hospital building while Dennis went to drive the car closer to the building from the parking lot.

 

Bode breathed heavily as he sat down in the right hand side, his body felt weaker and his eyes began to close. He struggled to stay awake and they successfully passed by the security officials at the gate.

 

“Wow! That was awesome Bode, I must commend you” Dennis said happily as they hit the road.

 

 

“Now we’ll…” Dennis paused and took a look at Bode.

 

Bode’s eyes was widely opened but he was motionless, he had already fallen unconscious.