Inseparable – Chapter Twenty Eight

 

“Hey! We meet again” Dennis stretched out his hand to offer Bode an handshake.

 

 

“Good afternoon” Bode greeted as he took Dennis’ hand in his. “So here is where you take your haircut?”

 

“Yes, they always do it well here. I guess that’s why you’re here too”

 

“No, I just came to supervise and check on the stylists

 

“Oh! You own this place?”

 

 

“No, I don’t. It’s Frank, this is one of the salons he managed before he died” Bode explained. “I have to take care of it till we employ a capable hand to continue”

 

“Oh! I see, its a nice place”

 

 

“Yea, it is. Frank really invested a lot into it” Bode continued and then changed the topic. “So where are you off to now?”

 

“I’m going home”

 

“Alright, let me walk you out” he said and followed Dennis outside the salon.

 

 

“So what are you doing about the case?” Bode asked as they got to where Dennis’ car was parked.

 

“I’ve gotten a very good lawyer, I went to see her today”

 

“A very good lawyer?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Do you think we can win the case if we go to court right now?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We?” Dennis asked and gave a short laugh. “I don’t know how Kelvin would get out but I’m sure that Amarachi would be free”

 

 

“Hahaha” Bode laughed too, his hysterically. “You mean someone who admitted to using the knife on the day of the murder would be free?”

 

“Ye… Yes, she did not use the knife to ki*ll” Dennis replied with less confidence, confused by the way Bode laughed loudly.

 

“Yes, and Kelvin didn’t even use the knife at all”

 

“But he drugged her”

 

 

“Oh! It’s time you stop echoing this, both of them were drugged and even if he drugged her, there’s no evidence of that”

 

“But he was the only one that was in the house when she was drugged”

 

“There’s no evidence of that too?”

 

“There’s no evidence of what?”

 

 

“There’s no evidence that he was the only one or that he was even there” Bode explained. “There’s no evidence that they were even drugged so the drugging issue is a lesser one”

 

“Are you trying to support Kelvin for what he did?”

 

 

“Listen man, Kelvin did not do anything. He met Amarachi drugged in the house that day and was trying to help her when an handkerchief was used to cover his nose by an unknown person”

 

 

Bode paused to look at his reaction before he continued. “Kelvin was drugged too, it was a set up. The person who planned it planned the timing accurately. The time for Kelvin’s arrival was known and Ini was tricked out with a phone call at that same time to give them enough time to drug both Amarachi and Kelvin and lay them on the bed in a sex position”

 

 

 

“Hmm” Dennis couldn’t find words to say but only listened with keen interest.

 

 

“I believe that whoever was responsible for the drugging also carried out the murder”

 

 

“Hmmm, but I think the most important thing is to get them out of the prison first, then the police can investigate the murderer”

 

“There’s no way to prove their innocence” Bode stopped and corrected himself. “I mean there’s no way to prove Amarachi’s innocence, Kelvin’s case is still easier and can be easily resolved”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

 

“Yeah, Kelvin only had a disagreement with Frank before he died and forgot his wallet at the scene, he isn’t connected to the knife that was found in Amarachi’s room”

 

 

“Wow” Dennis exclaimed, he looked really depressed. “That means you guys have the easy way out. But I think a good lawyer can also help Amarachi out”

 

 

“No, I don’t think so. Don’t let the lawyers deceive you, or do you have any evidence to tackle the ones the police have?”

 

“Ermm… No” Dennis replied slowly.

 

 

“Then we have to find out the killers, I’m really interested because I don’t want the murderer to go scot free, Frank should not just die like that”

 

“So what do we do now? I want Amarachi out of there as soon as possible”

 

 

“Don’t worry, the phone call made to Ini is already being investigated. It won’t take time before the real killers are found, we just need to work together”

 

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

 

 

“Good evening Ini” Inspector Helen greeted as the door was opened to let her and Uche in.

“Good evening, what can I do for you” Ini responded with less enthusiasm.

 

 

“Sorry for any inconvenience, we just need to ask you some few questions” Helen pleaded.

 

“We are sure that your sincere answers will help us greatly” she added and glanced at Uche who nodded in agreement.

 

 

Helen had a rethink after the little disagreement that ensued between her and her colleague.

 

 

They’ve been working on the same team for more than a year and she never had any cause to doubt Uche’s commitment and capability. The dedication and zeal which Uche had shown in previous cases was what made her always glad to have him in her team. She wondered why she started doubting him when Bode, a stranger mentioned that he wasn’t to be trusted. Maybe she was allowing her emotions take over or why else would she decide to trust Bode more instead of Uche.

 

 

She decided to turn around and reveal every other thing about the case she hid, not just because of the present case but to enable them continue to be a good team on other jobs. She also decided to join in investigating Bode if anything tends to implicate him and make him receive full punishment if he was really guilty. “Haven’t you asked enough questions already? I already told you I don’t know anything about the knife and you’ve done a fingerprint test already, what else do you want? Why don’t you wait for the test result?”

 

 

“We’re really sorry for disturbing but one thing you have to know is that until this case is resolved, you cannot be free from the police’s watch, that’s why you have to cooperate and answer our questions truthfully” Helen said as she took her seat and motioned Uche to sit too when it was obvious Ini wasn’t going to ask them to.

 

“Okay, ask your questions”

 

 

“Thank you” Helen smiled briefly before she continued. “Let’s talk about the call from Nike Adejumo, you said you’ve not heard about her for several years now”

 

“Yes, since we finished our IT ”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Okay, are you sure its only Bola Olatunbosun knows about her again amongst your friends?”

 

“Yes”

 

“You never told her Amarachi about her?”

 

 

“No, maybe I mentioned it once or twice to her but its only Bola that knows her personally”

 

“Okay, that day she called you , how were you sure it was her that called you?”

 

“I didn’t know who it was until she introduced herself”

 

“And was it her voice”

 

 

“Not really, it just kind of sounded like it, but I believed that it must have changed because its been a long time we heard from each other”

 

“So do you still believe Nike made the call?”

 

 

“No, I don’t. I believe it was a trap, I was too excited to see her that I couldn’t think properly that day. Nike had family members she could have stayed with in the city instead of lodging in an hotel and she wouldn’t have even tricked me to come to a closed hotel”

“Now, who do you suspect to have made that call?”

 

“Only Bola could have, no one else knows about Nike”

 

“Was the voice in anyway close to Bola’s”

 

“Hmm, No. It wasn’t, but only she could have done it to set up Kelvin and Amarachi”

 

 

“Oh!” Helen exclaimed. “So you also believe Kelvin and Amarachi were set up, why were you angry with Amarachi then?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I never believed their story before until recently when Bode told me of what he found about the phone call from Nike and … ”

 

 

“Oh ! Bode?” She echoed and took a look at Uche to remind him she told him that Bode was working with them

 

“Yes, Bode, Frank and Kelvin’s friend”

 

“Okay, please continue”

 

 

“And this morning, I also found an handkerchief that smelt like it contained chloroform at the backyard”

 

“Chloroform? Can we see it please?”

 

“I placed it in a nylon close to the dustbin already”

 

“Please lets go and see it” Helen asked and stood up

 

 

“Okay” Ini led them to the backyard where she kept the white handkerchief in a small black nylon.

 

 

Uche put on a Black Hand glove and inspected the handkerchief before he affirmed. “Yes, it

contains chloroform truly”

 

 

“Wow! Interesting” Helen exclaimed and was silence for a while before she continued to question Ini right where they stood.

 

“So how do you feel now after how you acted to Amarachi”

 

 

“I didn’t do anything to her” Ini replied with some anger in her voice. “She deserved it, she wasn’t a good friend or else why did she keep a knife used for murder in the room and even tried to implicate me?”

 

“So you believe Ama knows about the murder?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Yes or why is she trying to implicate me after she kept a knife in her room which I knew nothing about. I don’t know if she killed him or not, but she knows I know nothing about the knife , so why is she trying to bring me in?”

 

 

“She didn’t try to bring you in, the police were just doing their job when they invited you for questioning””Invited me for questioning or arrested me? They came to seize me at the office, is that how they invite people?”

 

“Sorry about that, but we were only doing the right thing, Amarachi knew nothing about it”

 

 

“Hehe” Ini chuckled and made her way into the house through the back door, followed by Helen and Uche. “Amarachi does not know about it but she accused me seriously when I came to see her”

 

 

“Well, that aside. I’ve got another question to ask” Helen replied as she and Uche followed behind. “Do you know anybody called Sandra Benjamin?”

 

 

Ini waited till she settled into the sofa in the living room before she responded to the question.”Yes, how does she come into this?”

 

“What’s your relationship with her?” Helen continued, ignoring Ini’s question.

 

 

“She’s my friend, I met her recently when she came with some other officials in her company and her Boss Kelvin for a meeting with us”

 

“Kelvin is her boss?”

 

“Yes, she works as his Secretary”

 

 

“Wow! I see” she replied, nodding her head gently as she took a glance at Uche who also smiled at the revelation.

 

“Are you aware she’s friends with Bola?”

 

“No, she’s not. I don’t think they know each other”

 

“Why do you say so?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I know almost all Bola’s friends in this city”

 

“No, you don’t. Bola and Sandra were very close friends”

 

“Huh? Have you confirmed that from Bola?”

 

“No, but Sandra is in our custody now”

 

 

“Sandra is in your custody? What is she doing there? You guys are punishing another innocent person”

 

“No, she isn’t innocent as you think”

 

“What do you mean? I think you have to confirm from Bola herself”

 

“Yea, we would have done that but there’s no Bola to confirm from”

 

“She’s in the hospital, I heard she’s recovering already”

 

“No, she gave up the ghost yesterday”

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

“How are you doing?” Dennis asked as he sat facing Amarachi and holding her hands. “I’m fine, what about you?”

 

“I’m not fine, I don’t know how I can be fine as long as you’re still here”

 

 

“Come on, very soon I’ll get out. The truth would be revealed” she said with a smile, trying to conceal the pain she felt inside”

 

“Amen, it has to be revealed” he replied with a smile too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Thank God you’ve finally gone for a cut, you looked very ugly before with your unkempt hair and beards” she commented, rubbing her right palm on his face.

 

“Thank you, but you forced me to go get one”

 

“Yes, you don’t have to look ugly because I’m in here”

 

“Naah, I wonder what’s there to look nice for. I can’t seem to think straight anymore, I feel guilty that I have failed to get you out of here since I returned”

 

“Come on, it’s not your fault that I’m in here”

 

“No, it is. I should have done everything to protect you”

 

“No Dennis, there was nothing you could have done to prevent this”

 

“I should have… ”

 

“Shhh… Quiet” she placed a finger on his lips. “I’ll be out of here soon”

 

 

Kelvin held her hands tightly and looked into her eyes in silence for some minutes before he talked again.

 

“I met with Bode, Kelvin and Frank’s friend”

 

“Oh! So what did you guys talk about?”

 

 

“He told me of how he was passionate about finding Frank’s killers and he also explained thatKelvin wasn’t the one who carried out the drugging”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Kelvin was drugged too, he didn’t know about all that happened”

 

“But… ”

 

 

“I believe it’s true Ama, he asked me to work together with him and I’m pretty sure we’ll find the killers soon”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Helen dragged out Sandra from prison cell herself contrary her usual procedure of sending a junior officer to bring the suspect to be questioned to the questioning room.

 

Uche was already in the room when she entered through the other door and dragged Sandra to a seat.

 

 

“Now, don’t play games with us this time around” Helen started, placing a leg on the chair Sandra was seated and sitting on the questioning table. “Do you know Ini Williams and Kelvin Okafor”

 

Sandra who was already wincing in pain took some time to answer the question.

 

“No” she answered fearfully, but still maintained her stance.

 

“No?” Helen bit her lips, as anger welled up in her. “I’ll ask you again for the last time

before I

 

apply force”

 

“Do you know Ini Williams and Kelvin Okafor?”

 

 

“No…” She didn’t complete her answer when Helen landed a blow on her face. Blood spilled out from her mouth.

 

“Do you …”

 

“Yes, I know them” Sandra succumbed, in great pain.

 

“Good, who is Kelvin to you?”

 

“He’s my boss, I work as his secretary”

 

“Good, what about Ini Williams?”

 

“She’s my friend”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Now, I’ll ask again. Do you know Nike Adejumo?”

 

“No”

 

 

“No?” Helen brought out her pistol to threaten her. “Do you know Nike Adejumo?” “No, I don’t. I didn’t make the call, Bola did” she replied shakily “And who was the call made to?”

 

“I don’t… ” she stopped in fear, noticing that the gun had been pointed to her legs and Helen’s finger was closer to the trigger.

 

“I’ll take one of your legs if you tell me another lie” Helen threatened.

 

“She called Ini” Sandra confessed.

 

“So Bola pretended as Nike and tricked Ini out of the house?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Okay, so you were aware of the set up”

 

“Bola carried that out, I don’t know how she organised it”

 

“So Bola drugged Amarachi and Kelvin?”

 

“She sent Mark and his boys to do it”

 

“Hmmm, and who is this Mark?”

 

 

“Bola was the one who employed him, I don’t know anything about him except that he works for Bola”

 

“You don’t know where we can find him?”

 

“Yes”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You better say the truth because we’ll find out if you tell us or not and if we find out you told us any lie, you’ll be in trouble”

 

“I’m not lying, I don’t know where to find him”

 

“What about his contact? You don’t have his phone number ?”

 

“I don’t, only Bola calls him”

 

“Okay, what did you guys have to gain setting up Ama and Kelvin”

 

 

“Bola wanted to prove to Frank that he could never be loved by Amarachi and also punish Ini for choosing Amarachi instead of her”

 

“Hmmm, and you helped her?”

 

“No, I didn’t…”

 

“Shhh… Tell me, what was your own gain in the whole set up”

 

“I.. I… Nothing”

 

“Don’t lie to me or else… “Helen threatened again

 

 

“No… Bola planned the whole thing, she told me that I could have Kelvin to myself if we separated he and Ini”

 

“Oh! So you were after your Boss?”

 

 

Sandra could not answer but tears flowed down from her eyes rapidly. She sniffed in mucus which was already dropping from her nose like a three year old kid.

 

“You were after your Boss?” Helen asked again.

 

 

“Kelvin was mine” Sandra replied in a voice not audible enough as she was still crying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Now wipe off your tears and stop crying, let me hear what you’re saying” Helen said in a commanding tone. “So, why did you people ki*ll Frank too?”

 

 

“No o, we didn’t clear frank o” Sandra replied as she tried fruitlessly to dry up her face.

 

“Don’t lie to me”

 

 

“I’m not lying , we didn’t ki*ll Frank” Sandra insisted. “Bola planned the whole thing so that she could convince Frank to forget Amarachi and have him to herself, so we didn’t ki*ll Frank neither did we plan to ki*ll anyone”

 

 

“Were you there when Frank and Bola returned to her house after leaving Ini’s place that Sunday?”

 

“No, but Bola called to tell me”

 

“Did she tell you what happened between them before he left to his salon?”

 

 

“She said he was still depressed about the whole thing but she was sure he will come back to her”

 

 

“And she didn’t tell you if an argument occurred between them that led to her being angry and mistakenly stabbing Frank in the process?”

 

“No, there was no fight between them. He just left her house depressed”

 

“Are you sure?”

“Yes”

 

“Alright”she said and turned to Frank who was watching in silence.

 

 

“Order someone to take her back to the cell” she said and walked straight to her office.

 

 

Uche joined Helen in her office in ten minutes time, she was sitting on her desk and looking very serious when he entered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She looked at him and began, “there’s more work, I believe that Sandra still has something to hide”

 

 

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think she has the strength to keep on lying to us after so much torture”

 

“But we have done fingerprints test for all other suspect and no one is positive”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

 

“I spoke to Dele on phone just now, Ini and Bola’s fingerprints are not the one on the knife”

 

“Hmmm… I think the fingerprints test is even enough for now”

 

“Why?”

 

 

“It’s possible that these suspects did not commit the murder themselves. It’s possible they sent someone”

 

 

“Hmmm, true” Helen shook her head slowly. “I think we still have to look into Ken’s matter closely”

 

“Yes, we’ll do that” Uche agreed. “But we need to find this Mark that was sent to

drug Amarachi and Kelvin. It is possible that things went wrong between Bola and

Frank and she sent Mark to

ki*ll him”

 

 

“Wow! Yeah, you’re making some sense there. That Mark must have been sent to ki*ll Frank by Bola and then use the knife to implicate Amarachi”

 

“Oh o! We are thinking the same way” Uche commented, “I remember Bola used to

 

speak so ill

of Amarachi”

 

“Yeah, we’ll try get more into that before the end of today”

 

“Yeah, I’ll be right back” Uche said and turned to take his leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Okay”

 

 

He turned back again on remembering something, “I think there’s still one more person we are not taking serious in our investigation, we may still have to do one more fingerprints test”

 

“Who’s the person we’re not taking serious?”

 

“Bode”

 

 

 

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

 

 

“What do you people want from me again?” Ken barked at Helen and Uche as they walked into his office as he quickly tried to hide something under his desk quickly.

 

“I don’t want you guys in here, please get out”

 

 

“Calm down Ken we’ve only come to ask you some questions” Helen replied boldly, not noticing what Ken tried to hide but also not intimidated by Ken’s behaviour.

 

 

“Or how would you like it if we decide to take you over to our station and do the questioning there?”

 

 

Ken stared deeply at them for a moment before he spoke again, this time in a less harsh manner.

 

“What can I do for you? Be quick about it please”

 

“Good, all you need to do is answer our questions and don’t lie to us”

 

 

“I told you everything already, I didn’t ki*ll that bas***d not because I wasn’t capable of carrying out my threat but because I didn’t have the opportunity” Ken blasted. “Stop troubling me”

 

 

“Shut up! How dare you talk to the police like that? Ain’t you aware of who’s standing in your presence?” Uche slammed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I don’t care if its the President of the nation who’s in my presence, I know my rights”

 

“Shut up Ken” Uche commanded

 

“I won’t, you guys should get out of here”

 

“Shhhh…” Helen placed a finger on her lips, instructing Uche to be quiet.

 

 

Ken was also quiet and watched as Helen followed a trace of a whitish substance on his table. He quickly tried to use his body cover the desk locker, in a bid to stop Helen from opening it.

 

“What do you want?” He howled at her.

 

“Give way Ken or I’ll apply force” Helen threatened.

 

 

“No” Ken refused stubbornly, he opened his locker, scattered it and finally brought out his pistol

 

 

He just pointed it at Helen when Uche rendered him unconscious as he hit his gun on Ken’s head.

 

 

 

++ Two hours later ++

 

 

Ken eyes opened as a bucket of water was poured on his face where he was laid on the floor.

 

 

Uche held his collar and shook him violently, he dragged him up to a sitting position and left him again, Ken fell back with his back on the floor. It took Ken some few seconds before he could remember what happened last to him.

 

 

Four faces surrounded him, three men and a lady. The only faces he could recognise with his blurred vision were Helen’s and Uche. He sat up and folded his legs, a gun was pointed at him by one of the officers surrounding him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Welcome back Ken” Uche scorned, he squatted to Ken’s position and laid a light slap on his mouth. “What were you trying to do? ki*ll two police officers in your office?”

 

 

Ken looked at them quietly with rage in his eyes, his breathing was loud in the quiet room.

 

“So you deal with cocaine? That’s interesting to find out, it makes us confident that you really know about the murder”

 

“I didn’t ki*ll the bas***d” Ken replied loudly, gnashing his teeth.

 

“Well, we have other questions to ask you. Someone else will deal with your case”

Uche continued, “do you know Mark?”

 

 

“Mark? Mark?” Ken barked as he clenched his fist, he began to speak loudly to himself.

 

 

“I should have known that Mark is a big coward, I should have killed the fool when I discovered his cowardice” he turned to Uche again. “He told you about me right ? He told you that I buy my stuffs from him?”

 

 

“Good, you know him very well” Uche continued, ignoring his question. “You’ll take us to him tomorrow”

 

 

 

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

 

 

“Hi Ini” Bode greeted with a smile as he walked into her house with Dennis. “How are you?”

 

“I’m fine, what about you?”

 

“Fine too”

 

 

“Good, so what do I owe this visit?” She asked, returning Dennis’ greeting with a forced smile. “I hope you’ve not come to discuss about Amarachi and Kelvin”

 

“We have to discuss about them, don’t we?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“See Bode, I only allowed you in because I respect you, I wouldn’t have if it was …” She stopped and made a movement with her eyes balls, passing the message that she wouldn’t have allowed Dennis in.

 

 

“But please, I want to plead with you. Stop pestering me about this matter, I’m tired of it” she said still standing up and looking straight at Bode who sat beside Dennis on the three sitter sofa.

 

“You’re tired of it? Don’t you love Kelvin anymore?”

 

“I don’t”

 

“That’s a lie, you do. You’re only trying to pretend”

 

 

“No I don’t, I’m tired of Kelvin, I’m tired of the relationship, I can’t even be rest assured that I have a faithful partner”

 

“But he never cheated on you or don’t you believe it was all a set up?”

 

“But they have been going out together prior to that day”

 

 

“What do you mean? Kelvin loves you and he never cheated on you with anybody, not even Amarachi”

 

 

“Just a minute” Ini picked her phone on the table and scrolled through to the picture gallery.

 

“Here’s it”

 

 

Bode eagerly took the phone from her and studied the picture, Dennis also moved closer to peep.

 

 

“That was the Saturday before that day of the incident, they went shopping together” Ini smiled as she said

 

 

“Yeah, they went shopping” Bode replied with a bold smile. “They went to shop for a befitting birthday gift for you”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Birthday gift for me? Oh! Both of them went to get a birthday gift for me?” Ini laughed loudly, disbelief clearly written on her face.

 

 

“Yes, Kelvin asked for Amarachi’s help because he was unsure of the best gift to pick for you”

 

“Oh! And where’s the gift? The only birthday gift I met when I got back home was both of them on the bed”

 

“Come on … How did you get the picture?”

 

 

“It was sent to me” she answered, as she took her phone from him and dipped it into her jean shorts pocket.

 

“Who sent it to you?”

 

“Sandra did and she’s someone who knows him very well”

 

“Sandra? Which Sandra?”

 

 

“Listen” she cut in, ” I don’t want to talk about this anymore, I don’t want anything to keep

 

reminding me of Amarachi, she’s bad luck to me. I don’t want to remember this incident either, so Kelvin has to go with it”

 

 

“But why are you doing this to yourself? You still love Kelvin, why don’t you fight for what you love? You’re trying hard to lie to yourself that you don’t love him”

 

“I don’t love him anymore, period!” She said and stormed out of the living room.

 

*Thirty minutes later *

 

 

 

“Turn to the right” Bode gave the directions to Dennis who drove in his car.

 

“Okay, how many minutes more before we get to your house?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We’ll get there in less than ten minutes”

 

“Okay” Dennis responded and kept quiet for sometime before he spoke again.

 

“Bode” he called calmly, “I want to ask a question”

 

“Yes, go ahead please”

 

“Okay, ermm. Did Kelvin and Amarachi really go shopping to get a gift for Amarachi?”

 

“Huh?” Bode looked at him with surprise in his eyes. “You doubt Amarachi too?

 

 

“No, but I’m confused. I wonder why Ini who has known Amarachi for several years still doubts her”

 

 

“Well, you don’t know how their friendship has been all along. I believe Ini is suffering emotionally and the way I see it; I think some other events may have happened in the past that’s making Ini not trust in Amarachi”

 

“So what could that be?” Dennis asked thoughtfully.

 

 

“I don’t know, but with the way things are the love shared between the both of them might soon become hatred”

 

 

“Hmmm” Dennis sighed, “But I still believe that she has something to do with the murder”

 

“No, I don’t think so, I don’t think she’s capable of killing”

 

 

“You can never tell, it may be out of anger, she might be trying to pay Amarachi back”

 

“Hmmm, I just hope we find out very soon”

 

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

 

“Hi” a whatsapp message popped up on Bode’s phone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was ironing his clothes but didn’t ignore the message, he picked up his phone, he replied quickly and dropped it back to continue his work.

 

 

“Hi Helen, how are you doing? How about the owner of the sim? Have you apprehended the person? Have you found any other thing that’s helpful to the case?” He bombarded with several questions

 

He just hung one of the shirts when another message came in, he switched off the wall socket and picked up his phone.

 

“Haba! I told you we are doing our jobs and you shouldn’t bother”

 

“I just want to know the progress of your investigation”

 

“The real owner of the sim is Sandra Benjamin, Kelvin’s secretary and Ini’s friend”

 

“Kelvin’s secretary? Sandra?”

 

“Yes”

 

“How come?”

 

 

“Don’t bother, I told you we’ll handle the case properly, just make sure that you provide us with

any useful information you have”

 

“Would I be allowed to see this Sandra? I need to ask her some questions”

 

“Don’t bother, the police Will ask her or the necessary questions”

 

“Mtchew… Can’t you just stop mentioning the police every time?”

 

 

“Lol, I can’t. The police are the ones responsible for criminal cases. Just calm down and trust us”

 

“Alright”

 

“Yeah, so how are you doing?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m fine, you?”

 

 

 

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

 

**Friday Morning **

 

 

“Here’s the place ” Ken pointed at a gate from where the police cars were parked at a far distance. “That’s where Mark and some of his other guys operate from”

 

“Okay, is the gate the only entrance?” Helen asked.

 

“I don’t know of any other”

 

 

“Alright” Helen replied as she open the car door. “Uche, I’ll go in first with a team of five men, you’ll surround the place with the other guys to prevent escape from the gate. Let two officers stay with Ken and make his legs are cuffed too”

 

 

She got out of the car and walked towards the car at the back. She gave some commands and five junior officers followed her across the road.

 

“Bring the cars to the gate” she commanded Uche before they crossed the road.

 

 

The officers walked tactically towards the gate, they walked tactically towards the gate, it was opened. Helen peeped in carefully, the small space in the compound was dirty and empty.

 

 

She brought out her gun and walked into the compound, summoning the others to follow her with her hand. She gave directions to them and three officers dispersed to different sides of the building. The others followed out to the entrance.

 

 

She noticed that the iron door was opened as she stepped on the balcony. An officer bent below the window level and squatted. She placed her back on the wall and tried to listen but no sound was coming from the house. She pushed the door open with her right leg from where she hid and was about to turn into the house when two gunshots came towards the door. She quickly returned to her position and adjusted her gun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The other officer who bent by the window at the opposite side shot back at the attacker as the door was now opened wide. The gunshot sparked off more gunshots from the house, now continuous.

 

 

“It will be better you surrender yourself, you can’t escape this. The police has surrounded the whole place”

 

The gunshots from inside ceased but no one came outside. After some seconds of silence, Helen peeped into the house again. The room was dark but she could still see that there was no one around, the shooter had left or was in hiding.

 

 

She made a signal to the other officers before she rushed in shooting furiously around the room but no one was there. She was followed closely by two officers.

 

 

The closest door to the first room was also opened but was darker, she opened the door and was about shooting but saw a Lady who was on the bed, she was only on bra and pants and was

 

behaving like a mentally deranged person. There was cocaine power all over her body as she sniffed in some from a paper on hand.

 

Helen walked closer pointing a gun at her but the Lady wasn’t moved.

 

 

“Where are the others?” Helen shouted pointing a gun to her head, noticing that the lady was only a teenager.

 

“They’re gone” was the girl’s reply.

 

 

 

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

 

**Two Hours Later **

 

 

“We should have tried to find out if there was any escape route before we attacked that place” Uche commented

 

 

“The house is a small one and no one who have thought they had another way. All we should do now is follow the girl’s direction”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Can we really follow her direction? She’s just a young girl who’s already addicted to drugs and

 

being taken advantage of by those guys”

 

 

“We have no other option for now, she already told us where we can get one of the guys, that’s where we’ll go immediately”

 

 

 

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

 

**Friday Evening **

 

 

 

“Don’t waste our time, just tell us where Mark is and we’ll let you go” Helen questioned the new suspect again, after torturing him severely when he refused to cooperate.

 

 

“I swear, Mark is in Cameroon and he will be there for a month before he comes back” he replied in pains, his cheeks already swollen due to the several blows that had landed on his face.

 

“What’s he doing in Cameroon?”

 

“He went there for a job, I don’t have details about it”

 

 

“Liar” Helen landed another blow on his face. “Stop wasting my time and tell me where your Oga is hiding”

 

 

“He’s in Cameroon, I swear” He replied in great pains. “I don’t know what he went there to do, he has other boys working with him there”

 

 

Helen looked at him silently for a while before she continued, ” Do you know Bola Olatunbosun?”

 

“Yes, I do. She gave us a job recently”

 

“Okay, what are the details of the job”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“She asked us to drug some people and set them up in a certain house”

 

“So you carried out the drugging of Amarachi and Kelvin?”

 

 

“I don’t know their names, Boss only gave us their pictures and gave us the address, he also gave is the correct timing”

 

“You and who carried out this job?”

 

“Boss was busy that day so he sent three of us, I was the junior among them”

 

“Who are the other guys?

 

” Scorpion and Scrap”

 

“And you guys also killed Frank in his salon?”

 

“Huh?” He looked shocked. “We didn’t ki*ll anyone”

 

“You didn’t ki*ll anyone in a salon with a knife”

 

“No” he replied terrified, “I don’t know about any killing”

 

 

“And what about the other guys, where did they go after you carries out the drugging?”

 

 

“We gave them the right dose like we were instructed and waited outside the compound until we saw Bola’s car coming”

 

“And you followed Bola and Frank to her house?”

 

“No, our job ended after Bola came to the place”

 

“So she didn’t ask you to ki*ll anybody”

 

 

“I wouldn’t know that, she likes relating with the Boss directly, she always wants him to carry out her job himself, he didn’t follow us that day because he was busy”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“So are you saying that there’s a possibility that Mark was sent to ki*ll the guy?”

 

 

“No, the Boss was on another assignment with some other senior guys that day and they went of the state very early that morning”

 

“How do you know they really went out of the state that day and didn’t stay back?”

 

 

“I drove them to the airport that morning and Boss wouldn’t even need any backup to ki*ll a single person, or did the person have bodyguards?”

 

 

 

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

 

***Saturday Morning ***

 

 

 

“Good morning Inspector” Dennis greeted as he walked into Helen’s office with Bode.

 

 

“Good morning Mr. Dennis” she replied and added a smile on seeing Bode. “Good morning”

 

“Yeah, morning ma’am” Bode replied as he took his seat. “How far have you gone with the case?”

 

“It’s getting more complicated, we already found out those who carried out the drugging and we have one of them in our custody but there’s no clue that points to them killing Frank”

 

“Who carried out the drugging” Bode asked.

 

“Bola sent people to drug Amarachi and Kelvin”

 

“Then she has to be the one behind the murder too”

 

 

“No, she carried out the drugging to have Frank, she couldn’t have turned around to ki*ll him”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“But …”

 

 

“We carried out investigations already” Helen continued. “And there’s no connection whatsoever between the drugging and the murder, it was done by different parties”

 

“Oh God! Does that mean we’re still gonna stay for long on this case?” Dennis lamented. “I don’t want Amarachi to stay in there any longer”

 

 

“Don’t worry, the date for their court hearing would be announced early next week and they’ll be set free if your lawyers can be able to prove them innocent of the charges” Helen said.

 

 

“But how will they come out without any evidence of their innocence or the killer found?” Bode asked.

 

 

“We have no choice than to do that, their stay here is overdue. Its not right to keep them in our custody for so long”

 

“Wow! Then… ” A knock on the door interrupted Bode, Inspector Uche came in.

 

 

“Good morning ma” he greeted his Boss first before greeting the two gentlemen. “I met with the IG this morning and …”

 

“Gentlemen, please you have to excuse us for now” Helen said to Bode and Dennis.

 

“Alright, we’ll be back. We want to see Kelvin and Amarachi”

 

 

 

******

 

** Ten minutes later, In the visiting room ***

 

 

 

Bode and Dennis patiently waited for Kelvin as he was led into the room by a police officer.

 

“How far na?” Kelvin smiled as he sat in front of them, trying to sound lively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I dey jare” Bode replied him. “How e con be for this place na?”

 

“Just good” Kelvin replied and extended his hand for an handshake to Dennis.

 

“Shey na lawyer be this one?” He asked Bode.

 

“No o, na Amarachi boyfriend Dennis”

 

 

“Kelvin, have you forgotten me so soon?” Dennis smiled at him. “We met at the hospital when

Amarachi had an accident”

 

 

“Oh that’s true! Sorry jare, how are you doing?” “Fine fine, but its you we should care more for now” “Aba” Kelvin laughed

 

“Oh boy, you don lean o” Bode continued in pidgin. “You need comot for here sharperly”

 

 

“Ehen, how far with Sandra? You dey here from her? E don tey wey she come see me for here”

 

“Abeg forget that girl jare”

 

“Wetin happen?”

 

“That girl is part of the cause of all these problems”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“She and Bola planned and drugged you and Amarachi”

 

“She and Bola?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Yes, they are friends. They did it to separate you and Ini and also to make Frank hate Amarachi”

 

“Wow! But what does Sandra have to gain?”

 

“She has you to gain”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

 

“She did it to separate you from Ini, hoping that you’ll give her more attention then or didn’t you mention at a time that she was trying to seduce you?”

 

 

 

 

 

***Fifteen minutes Later ***

 

 

“How are you Amarachi” Dennis asked, holding her hands like he usually does when he visits.

 

“I’m fine, what about you?”

 

 

“I’m fine. Look, very soon you’ll be out of here” Dennis started trying to make her cheerful. “The date for the court hearing would be announced next week and we’ll be able to prove you innocent and get you out of here”

 

“How would that be?” Ama questioned.

 

 

“I’ve been working with Bode and I know that we’ll find the killers before the court date”

 

“What assurance do you have?”

 

“Very sure Ama, we’re close to it”

 

 

“Stop lying Dennis, I can see it in your eyes that you’re only selling false hope” she argued, looking at Bode who sat quietly to confirm if Dennis was saying the truth.

 

“He’s not lying Ama” Bode said smiling, trying to convince her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I don’t believe you guys” she said and turned back to Dennis.” When are you resuming work?”

 

“I’m supposed to resume on Monday, but I don’t…”

 

“You have to resume and focus on your job, I don’t want to be the cause of any problems for you”

 

 

 

 

 

*** Ten minutes later ***

 

 

Bode and Dennis walked slowly back to Helen’s office. They discussed in low tones as they walked.

 

 

“Man, we have to do something urgent to help Amarachi. Kelvin’s case is an easier one” Dennis started.

 

 

“I’m confused, I tell you. The police have investigated almost everything related to the case and there’s no solution yet”

 

“Yes, what can we do now?” Dennis paused his steps and asked.

 

 

“I don’t know, I’m confused” Bode paused too and replied after which they continued walking.

 

 

As they got close to Helen’s office, she came out of the office with Inspector Uche and another police officer.

 

 

“Oh! Thank God you’re here” she exclaimed on seeing them. “We were just going to take another look at the exhibits, you should follow us and check if you’ll be able to recognize anything”

 

“Okay, good” Dennis replied as he and Bode hurried after them.

 

 

After walking for about three minutes inside the building, they got to their destination. The room’s door was opened by the new officer and they all entered.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uche led them to a section of the room, he showed them the exhibits which were preserved in a transparent rectangular glass box.

 

He wore his hand gloves and open the box, he carefully brought out the knife first.

 

 

“This was the knife used to carry out the murder” he explained to them as they surrounded him.

 

“This wires were found on the floor round his neck, they were used to tie his neck”

 

 

Uche looked at their faces for responses one after the other as he brought out the exhibits, the last he brought out was a rag.

 

 

“This rag was found there too, I believe it was used to cover his mouth and stop him from shouting”

 

 

He looked at their faces again and no one said anything. All of their faces communicated the same message of not knowing anything except for Bode’s.

 

 

His look was rather strange, different from the others, as if he had recognised something or used one among the exhibits.

 

“Have you seen any of these before?” Uche questioned him, noticing his look.

 

“Ermmm… Me? ” Bode was startled. “Ermm, No”

 

“Okay” Uche replied , still looking at him suspiciously.

 

 

“Well guys, that’s all” he announced to everyone in the room as he locked the glass box again.

 

“That’s okay sir” Uche said to Dennis who was still taking photos of the exhibits.

 

 

Bode and Dennis after saying their goodbyes went the opposite direction to where they came from as that was the way to the exit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helen and the other inspectors went the other way to their offices, they stopped at the middle of the long straight passage to discuss something. They could also spot Bode and Dennis who paused on the way too to discuss.

 

 

Bode noticed that Uche looked at them occasionally as he spoke to Helen and the other officer, it was obvious the inspectors were discussing about them.

 

“Let’s go Dennis” Bode said and hurried away, followed closely by Dennis.

 

 

 

***Fifteen minutes later ***

 

 

Dennis and Bode drove home in silence, both of them had so many thoughts in their mind but there were no words to express them. They continued in silence and gazed at each other occasionally.

 

 

“Please park here, I want to check someone” Bode broke the silence, looking like he just remembered something.

 

Dennis drove off the road to the fence side of a big house before he parked.

 

“Do you know this place?” Bode asked as he opened the door to come down.

 

“No, I don’t” Dennis replied.

 

 

“This is Bola’s house” he said, pointing to the big black gate of the house by which they parked.

 

 

“And that’s Frank’s salon where he was killed” he pointed to salon opposite the house and across the road.

 

“Wow! “Dennis exclaimed as he opened the door to join Bode outside.

 

 

“The gate is locked” Bode announced, seeing the big padlock that was used to secure the place.

 

“You wanted to go in before?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I wanted to see the gateman and confirm something from him”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“I’ll tell you later, let’s go”

 

They entered back into the car and resume their silence until they were approaching a junction.

 

“Let me just drop here, so you’ll drive home”

 

“No, I’ll drive you home”

 

“Don’t bother, I’m in my street already”

 

“It doesn’t matter”

 

“I want to get something to eat along the street before I walk home”

 

“I’m hungry too, I think I should follow you there”

 

“Okay, if you wish”

 

 

“Yes, I …” Dennis’ phone rang as he made a turn into the street. He check the phone’s screen and it was his mum.

 

 

“Wow, I won’t be able to wait and eat again, my mum has been calling since and now she’s calling again. I think she needs me to do something for her”

 

“Alright, just drop me here” Bode said, pointing to the front of a restaurant.

 

 

“Okay” Dennis parked gently at the front of the restaurant and Bode came out of the car.

 

“Okay, we’ll talk on phone”

 

 

“Yeah” Dennis replied and reversed the car slightly trying to turn immediately as no car was coming forth

 

 

He had just successfully turned and was about to drive off when he heard a gunshot.

He looked towards the place where he dropped off Bode.

 

Bode was lying helplessly on the ground with bloodstains on his clothes.