Inseperable – Chapter 26

 

 

 

 

The whole city woke up to the news of Chief Olatunbosun’s death, it occupied every newspaper headline and TV breaking report. By the last night when it was first reported, it was unconfirmed because the media houses had only been hinted by a source who lived in the mansion but the news was confirmed that morning from several sources especially the police who testified that the Chief was shot by his daughter during an argument, he died instantly. The daughter who also shot herself did not die but was under intensive care in the hospital. The CID team was currently concluding their investigation based on the recorded conversation they found on Bola’s phone.

 

Bode did not believe his eyes when he first read the breaking news on Nairaland’s front page, an online forum for citizens of the country, he only believed after he heard the same on the TV and radio.

 

He wondered why Bola had to sh00t the father, what went wrong? Their deal was only to make him admit to killing Frank and provide the recording for police investigations.

 

Just the last night, he had been thinking of calling Bola to stop the move after thinking deeply about the plan. He concluded that am ordinary phone recording would not be enough to implicate the Chief, it might even complicate the matter. But now that the conversation recorded had been found by the police in the Chief’s house and it was already confirmed that it was a recorded conversation between the man and his daughter, the information recorded might just be useful.

 

He tucked his shirt properly and put on the suit jacket and headed straight for work, hoping to continue his private investigation when he resumes from work.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Dennis could not concentrate on his job, there were lots of untouched files and unread emails that he was supposed to attend to bi couldn’t because he lacked the zeal to do anything that morning. He was even forced by his mother to come to work that morning.

 

Hr remembered how Helen sent him out angrily of her office the day before after he tried to argue the test result with them.

 

“Wow! So Amarachi actually used the knife on the deceased” Helen exclaimed, reacting to the announcement of the result made by Dele. “I can’t believe I was actually feeling sympathy for criminals”

 

“You see, that’s why it looks like I’m cold hearted sometimes” Uche joined, “with their pity faces when being interrogated, one would think they are innocent not knowing we are dealing with hardened criminals who have only mastered the art of feigning ignorance”

 

“You’re right Uche, I blame myself for not following what you said, you said we already had enough evidence and we should proceed to court but I gave them a benefit of doubt”

 

“No, I don’t think you should blame yourself, those criminals acted well, they could have convinced the judge that they were innocent with their brilliant lies and faces. The judge would have still sent us to go and make the test”

 

“You guys should shut up! ” Dennis who had been quiet since the announcement, suddenly shouted. “I know Amarachi cannot ki*ll anyone, I believe that guy Kelvin planted that knife in her room”

 

“Oh! What makes you say so mister?” Helen asked calmly using hand signals to make Uche who was reading to vent his anger on Dennis calm.

 

“You see, Kelvin drugged Amarachi to sleep with her and he made access to the house that day without anyone’s knowledge, it is possible that he had returned to the house after the murder and kept the knife there”

 

“Oh God!” Uche was the first to reply, shaking his head slowly in contempt. “Do you realize how dull what you just said is? You say Kelvin planted the knife there even when Amarachi already admitted to be the one who dropped the knife there?”

 

“But…”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It’s okay Mr Dennis, it looks like you don’t have any relevant information to give us, so I’ll ask that you leave now” Helen said, looking straight at him. “What I will advise you do now is get a good lawyer and prepare well for the court trail”

 

“But…”

 

“Shhh… Mr” she said placing a finger on her lips to shut him up. “Just leave now, if you have anything to prove, do that in the court”

 

“I just…”

 

“Get out Mr ” Helen cut in, this time more authoritatively.

 

He had no option than to leave the place, he drove home quietly in confusion. He believed that Amarachi would not lie to him and that she was saying the truth when she said she didn’t use the knife to ki*ll anyone, what he couldn’t understand was how the knife was the same used in the murder.

 

After thinking more deeply, he had to agree with Uche that his suggestion was really foolish after Amarachi had attested to the fact that she kept the knife inside the room.

 

A loud bang on the table jolted Dennis back to reality, there was the Chairman standing at the other side of the table.

 

“Welcome sir” he greeted.

 

“What’s wrong with you Dennis? I knocked on your door several times and you didn’t answer”

 

“I’m sorry sir”

 

“What’s the matter with you?”

 

“Nothing sir”

 

“Are you sure nothing is wrong with you?”

 

“Yes sir”

 

“Then why are you here?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Here?” Dennis looked puzzled by the question. He asked himself where else was he supposed to be.

 

“Yes, weren’t you told that you were supposed to be in a meeting this morning?”

 

“Oh!” He opened his mouth in shock, suddenly remembering that he was reminded of the meeting by his secretary that morning as he walked into the office and had been sent several reminders afterwards.

 

Sweat oozed out and trickled down his face as he realized that he wasn’t prepared for the meeting. He started scattering his table looking for unknown files and reports.

 

“Son” the Chairman called calmly as he watched him in awe. “Are you alright?”

 

“Yes sir” Dennis replied, still scattering the table in a fruitless search.

 

“But you’re not prepared for this meeting”

 

“I am sir”

 

“No, you’re not” the man said and sat down in the visitor’s seat. He held Dennis hand, stopping him from scattering the table.

 

“Tell me son, what’s the matter? I can see you’re distressed” he said to Dennis like a father, which Dennis never had. “I could have sent someone else to come and get you but I decided to come here myself because I already noticed you had something troubling you from our previous meeting this week. Tell me, is it Amarachi”

 

“Yes” he replied sadly, tears almost dropping off his eyes.

 

“You’re in love with her?”

 

“Yes, I am and I don’t think I can live without her. But now she might be sentenced to prison for something she knows nothing about”

 

“So, what are you doing to help her out?”

 

“I’m trying my best sir, I’ve gotten a lawyer and I’m trying to help the police with their investigation but things aren’t working out, the way it is now, she might be found guilty by the court”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Alright boy, do everything you can do to help her if you really trust her. This is your opportunity to stand by her”

 

“Yes, I will”

 

“Good, so you can take a week off to rest and strategize. I will delegate someone to take care of the jobs we have”

 

“Huh?” Dennis replied, not believing what he heard

 

“Yes boy” , the chairman replied, patting him on the shoulder.

 

“But remember you have to start work effectively whenever you resume”, the chairman concluded and left the office.

 

Dennis arranged everything on his table properly, he quickly shut down the system and packed some files into his bag. After making sure the place was neat, he picked his bag and walked outside the office.

 

 

 

 

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

 

“Good evening ma” Bode greeted Helen as he sat into the visitor’s chair in her office.

 

“Good evening Mr. Bode, how was your day?” She asked, offering an handshake to him.

 

“Fine ma, yours?”

 

“Fine too. Well, you can stop the ma. My name is Helen, call me Helen”

 

“Okay Helen” he smiled. “The news of Chief Olatunbosun’s death was all over town this morning”

 

“Yeah, it’s a pity. No one ever thought a mighty man would fall like that”

 

“That’s true, the most astonishing thing is that he was shot by his daughter”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“No, it was accidental” Helen explained. “Based on our investigation and evidence of the phone recording made available, we discovered that the gun went off in a struggle for it between the father and daughter”

 

“Oh! So she didn’t sh00t him as the news reports?”

 

“No, she didn’t. The gun went off in a struggle and when she discovered that her father had breathed his last, she decided to end her life too”

 

“But I heard she didn’t die”

 

“Yes, but she’s still very unconscious in the hospital”

 

“Okay” he said and thought for a moment before he continued again. “Please ma, …

 

Sorry Helen. Do we have enough information to serve as evidence that the Chief killed Frank?”

 

“No, Bode. I’m sorry, the phone recording only proves that the Chief is innocent” Helen replied sadly. “Rather we have proof that Amarachi and her accomplice carried out the murder and that accomplice is very likely to be your friend Kelvin except she tells us otherwise”

 

“What proof is that?”

 

“The knife found in Amarachi’s room has been proven to be the one used for the murder”

 

“No, that can’t be true”

 

“It is very true, we’ve not had time to interrogate Amarachi again because of this Chief’s case but I’m sure she wouldn’t be able to deny anymore and even if she does, one thing is sure. We’re heading to the court very soon”

 

“But… ” he was saying when Helen’s phone rang.

 

“Please excuse me” she said as she checked the caller and answered the call. “Oh! Ok, we’ll be there as soon as possible”

 

She ended the call and dialed another number. “Uche, she’s conscious now. Let’s meet at the Etyle City Hospital”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Bola is awake?” Bode asked with his eyes widely opened. “Yes and I’ll have to go there now” She said, clearing her table. “I’ll follow you”

 

“No, I’m sorry. You can’t”

 

“Please, you have to allow me” Bode pleaded.

 

“No, I’m sorry. This CID team is an efficient one, you have to leave us to do our investigation”

 

“I just need to see her and probably ask a few questions”

 

“I’m sorry, No. You would not be allowed to see her”

 

“Can’t you do anything about it?”

 

“No please” she took her car keys and stood up from the seat. Her phone rang again.

 

“Yes doctor” she answered the call.

 

“Ehen… Okay… No problem” She replied and looked at Bode’s face as if the caller had asked of him.

 

“Alright, let’s go” she said to Bode

 

“Let’s go to the hospital?”

 

“Yes, the doctor said Bola had demanded to see you”

 

 

 

 

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

 

“Dennis, what’s wrong with you?”Mrs. Michaels banged at his door. He had been indoor since he came back from work at an usual time.

 

“Mum, I told you that there’s no problem” he replied her, opening the door. “I was given some days off to rest”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Some days off to rest? Is that why you locked up yourself in the room for so long? I thought something bad happened.”

 

“No Mum” he answered, buttoning up his shirt as he closed the door.

 

“So, where are you going now?” She asked, looking at him closely from his head to the toes.

 

“I want to see a friend in town”

 

“Won’t you take your lunch first?”

 

“No Mum, I’ll be back soon” he said and walked away without looking or listening to whatever his Mum was murmuring.

 

 

 

 

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

 

Helen and Bode drove in silence to the hospital, both with thoughts on the mind. Helen was thinking of two cases, one of Kelvin and Amarachi; a case of murder and Bola’s case; manslaughter. The former had been almost done with, the investigation team already had enough evidence to present in court against the accused, it was now the suspect’s responsibility through the lawyer to prove him or herself innocent.

 

Bola’s case on the other hand was simpler; her father was shot during a struggle for the gun and she also tried to commit suicide. No special investigation had to be made in this case as everything needed was found at the scene.

 

Occasionally, her thoughts drifted to the handsome young man beside her. She wasn’t sure why she kept admiring him, as she always made sure that there were no strings attached to anyone involved in her investigation process.

 

Bode also thought about the two cases, but he saw things in a different light. While Helen saw it as finished and a burden off her neck, he thought the investigations had just began.

 

Thinking about the result of the test carried out on the exhibits, he was glad because Kelvin was on a safer side, there was no proof that he was no proof that he was really at the place at the time of the murder. Amarachi was the one who had more to explain, she had to explain how the knife used was found in her room.

 

“Did she really ki*ll Frank? Why would she do that?” He asked himself silently. “If she didn’t, then how did the knife get to her room?”

 

“Well, mine is to make sure that Kelvin is free and she has the responsibility of proving herself not guilty” he said to himself and heaved a sigh of relief, resting himself firmly in the seat. He felt pity for her but there was nothing he thought he could do to help her.

 

Something suddenly struck his mind again and he sat up suddenly, attracting the attention of Helen.

 

“Any problem?”

 

“Erm… Did… Did… ” he stuttered.

 

“Did what?” She questioned again.

 

“I think you told me at a time that you found Kelvin’s wallet at the scene of the murder?”

 

“Yes we did, any problem with that?”

 

“Ermm… No… No problem” , he gave out a forced smile, scratching his head.

 

He rested back into the chair, but this time he wasn’t feeling relaxed but was deeply aggrieved. Kelvin’s wallet was the proof the police would want to use as a support for his alleged presence at the time of murder.

 

Suddenly again, he had something to worry about for Kelvin. His mind began to open to more strategies to find the truth. He had no choice than to think more intelligently. There was no way Kelvin would be found innocent if the real killers were not found.

 

“Who made the test on those equipments?” He asked Helen who looked focused on the road.

 

“Dele, that’s his work. He’s specially trained for it. Why do you ask?” She replied as she took a quick glance at him.

 

“Nothing, I just want to be sure that the test was done properly”

 

“Dele is an expert who has about five years experience and has worked with the police for three years without making any error”

 

“Hmmm… I’m quite sure that knife was planted in Amarachi’s room”

 

“Planted? No, She already confirmed that she used that knife on that day and kept it at the same place we found it”

 

“Maybe somebody changed it?”

 

“Hehehe… You have no point Bode, she confirmed that the knife was used by her when we showed it to her. She said it was the same knife”

 

“What if the knife was taken to carry out the murder and returned there after it”

 

“Taken by Kelvin, right?”

 

“No, Kelvin did not return there that day”

 

“Did you follow him out ?”

 

“No, I didn’t” the question weakened him. He remained silent for a while.

 

“Thank you Mr Bode, I’m beginning to really enjoy your company, you are a very good thinker. You would have done well if you’re a detective” she said, giving him a smile. “Now, you’ve thought out the whole truth by yourself. You just told us how Kelvin went back to the room to get the knife for the murder”

 

“No o” Bode cried out, his face showing frustration.

 

“That’s not what I meant” he continued to say but she wasn’t listening anymore. She pressed the car horn to alert the security guards at the hospital gate. After searching the car’s booth, they gave her a pass ticket and allowed her drive in.

 

Uche who had been waiting for her saw the car asshe drove in and left the shop he was waiting to go and meet his Boss.

 

“Good evening ma” He greeted Helen as she closed the car doors properly. “What’s he doing here? He asked in a very low volume on seeing Bode come out of the car.

 

Bola asked of him” she replied and came out of the car. “Let’s go in straight to meet her , I want to get home quickly today”

 

They walked straight to the section where Bola was admitted, it was on the third floor.

 

“Good evening Doctor” Helen greeted the middle aged man who they met on the veranda with a nurse. “How is she doing now?”

 

“She’s come out of consciousness this evening but we can’t guarantee you she’ll get well. She’s really in a bad condition but we’ll try our best to make sure she survives”

 

“Alright, thank you doc. Can we see her now? Will she be able to speak with us?”

 

“Yes, she can speak but please don’t let her speak for too long, she doesn’t have enough strength”

 

“Okay doc, can you take us to her now?”

 

“Yes sure” the man adjusted his thick lenses and led the way.

 

They got to a ward at the end of the building, two uniformed policemen had been assigned to watch over Bola. They saluted and stepped aside as they say their bosses come in.

 

Bola who had been facing the wall turned her head as she heard voices of people coming in.

 

“Frank” she muttered under her breath on seeing them.

 

“How are you Bola?” Helen spoke up.

 

“Frank” she called again without much strength and stretched her hand fruitlessly to touch Bode.

 

Bode quickly went close to her and held her hand. “Don’t worry Bola, everything will be alright”

 

“Frank, Frank. They killed my Frank” she spoke without much strength in her voice.

 

“Don’t worry, the killers would be arrested soon”

 

“My Dad did not ki*ll Frank” she spoke like someone who was hallucinating. “It has to be Ken”

 

“Ken? Who is Ken?”

 

She released his grip on her hand. “He is my ex boyfriend, he threatened to ki*ll Frank”

 

“How can we get this Ken?”

 

“Kenny is an adopted son of Pedro Fayemi, who was my father’s friend”

 

“Okay, noted. But did Ken and Frank ever had a confrontation?” Helen chipped in.

 

“No, I don’t think so. They never met to my knowledge but maybe they met without my knowledge”

 

“Okay, do you think Ken is capable of carrying out his threats?” Helen continued to question.

 

“Yes, he is capable of anything”

 

“Okay, we’ll investigate him. Now , I want to ask you again. Do you know anyone called Nike Adejumo?”

 

“Yes”

 

“Do you have her contact?”

 

“No, I lost it long ago”

 

“So you don’t know how else we can reach her?”

 

“I don’t”

 

“Okay, thank …” Helen was saying when she got interrupted.

 

“Are you aware that she called Ini on the day of the accident?” Bode quickly asked.

 

“Yes, but it …” Bola could not complete her statement as she coughed heavily. She tried to speak up again but cough more heavily and severally, she began to cough out blood.

 

“Alright, you people would have to leave now. We need to attend to her” he made a signal to the nurse who rished outside and came back with three other nurses carrying medical equipments. One of the three nurses ensured that they left the ward.

 

“Oh God! She was about to say something” Bode lamented as they made their way downstairs.

 

“Who sent you to ask her questions?” Uche who had been quiet spoke out angrily to Bode.

 

“But I asked a relevant question”

 

“I don’t know why you are here but you should allow us do our job and don’t interfere” Uche concluded and walked faster away from the other two.

 

“Did I ask a wrong question?” Bode asked Helen who was still walking at the same pace with him.

 

“No, but you should have just let us work. That’s what we are paid to do”

 

“But we’re talking about a case that involves my friends here. The deceased was my friend and the accused person is also my friend”

 

Helen walked more faster and left him to catch up without responding to his last statement.

 

“Can I get that phone number of Nike Adejumo?”

 

“NO”

 

“Please, I need it”

 

“What do you need it for?”

 

“I think the claim by Kelvin and Amarachi that they were drugged begins to make sense now” Bode explained. “I think the caller made that call to get Ini out of the house”

 

“Hmm”

 

“So that caller should know about the drugging”

 

“That’s true” she stopped walking and faced him as he stopped too. “But we are not dealing with a case of drugging here but murder”

 

“Don’t you think those who drugged them could have also used the knife and dropped it back there?”

 

“Listen, Nike Adejumo was the caller. I don’t in anyway see how Nike Adejumo relates with Frank or do you know any of Frank’s friend, employees or clients who answers that name?”

 

“No”

 

“You see” she replied and started walking again. “I don’t think Kelvin and Amarachi were drugged”

 

“But it is very possible they were. We don’t even know if the Nike Adejumo is someone that we know, or that name was just used by the person who planned the whole thing”

 

“Okay, okay , okay” Helen finally gave up. “I’ll give you the phone number, lets see what you can do with it”

 

“Thanks”

 

 

 

 

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

 

It was 9.30pm when Bode tried to get through to the number again but it was still switched off. He decided to go ahead with his next plan. He picked up his old deserted china phone which he dug out for the reason. He changed the voice output to the female option and dialed the customer service number. He also put on the recording function as the phone began to ring.

 

After about seven minutes of playing ads of the different services, a representative finally picked the call.

 

“Good evening, welcome to MTN call service centre, my name is Flora, may I know your name please?”

 

“My name is Nike”

 

“Alright Nike, how may I help you?”

 

“Thanks, one of my Mtn sim cards just stopped functioning properly, I don’t know what’s wrong with it”

 

“Stopped functioning properly, how do you mean?”

 

“It does not receive signals at all”

 

“Okay, try to switch your phone off and on again , it will receive”

 

“I’ve done that several times, but it doesn’t work”

 

“Ermm… You should leave it off for an hour and switch it on again”

 

“That’s what you people always say when I call, I’ve done it several times”

 

“Okay, kindly call out the number for me”

 

“0-7-0-3-8-8-9-9-5-6-2”

 

“Okay, give me some seconds to check it out on our system”

 

“Alright”

 

After thirty seconds, she spoke up again. “When last did you use the sim to make calls?”

 

“Ermm, last week’s Sunday”

 

“Okay, hold on while I check for you?”

 

 

 

After another thirty seconds, she spoke again.” Are you sure the sim is inserted into a phone?”

 

“Yes, it is”

 

“What’s your name again please?”

 

“Nike Adejumo”

 

“The name you registered with?”

 

“Yes, Nike Adejumo”

 

“I’m sorry, our records does not show that. I think you made an error with the number you gave me”

 

“There’s no error”

 

“Can you call the number again?”

 

“0-7-0-3-8-8-9-9-5-6-2”

 

“The name on our system is not Nike Adejumo, are you sure this is your number?”

 

“Yes, I am. Check, I made a call with it on that “sunday around 12pm to 0-8-1-6-3-7-4-5-1-1 ”

 

“Errmm” she checked again and replied. “Yes, that’s true but the name you’re giving me is not on the records”

 

“Okay, so what name is on it?”

 

“I’m sorry, you may have to call back while we try to fix this issues. I can’t give you that information”

 

“Okay, thank you. Make sure your rectify it, I’m sure you guys made a mistake in your database”

 

“Yes, we will. Sorry for any inconveniences”

 

“Okay”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Have a nice day”

 

“You too”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

THE NEXT DAY

 

 

 

**10AM**

 

 

 

Helen sat down at the front of the questioning table as she discussed something quietly with Uche who was just pacing round the room. They were waiting for Amarachi to be brought in by a junior officer whom they had sent to get her.

 

After two minutes of waiting, the officer showed up with Amarachi who walked with the handcuffs in her hands, struggling to lift her legs as she had a lot of strength and weight already.

 

Helen couldn’t stop herself from pity her as she observed that Amarachi did not look like the same person was arrested, but what could she do? She was only doing her job as a police officer and it wasn’t her fault that the evidences found were against her.

 

“Hi Amarachi” She greeted as Amarachi sat down at her front.”How are you doing today?”

 

Amarachi did not reply with words but just nodded. Helen continued, “This is most likely the last time we will question you here before you appear in court, so I would like you to tell me the truth. You know I don’t like seeing you this way”

 

“So Amarachi, what exactly did you use the knife that was found in your room for?”

 

“I was trying to leave the house in a rush when it cut my hand” Amarachi replied softly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“But our test result proves that the knife was used to murder Frank”

 

“I didn’t ki*ll Frank, for God sake why would I ki*ll him? He has nothing to wrong me”

 

“Hmmm” Helen stood up and carefully sat on the table touching the floor with one of her legs.

 

“But how do we explain that the knife got into your room?”

 

“The knife in my room wasn’t used for murder; the blood on it was from my hand”

 

“So do you want us to believe that someone else took the knife after you dropped it there?”

 

“I don’t know, all I know is that I didn’t use it to ki*ll”

 

“Hmm, okay. Who do you think could have killed Frank?”

 

“I don’t know”

 

“Alright” she stood up and faced Uche who was listening quietly; she made a signal to him asking if he had any question to ask which he answered negatively to.

 

“Take her back to the Cell and get the other suspect Kelvin” she ordered the junior officer

 

After five minutes, Kelvin was brought in. Helen was already back into her seat and was writing something into a jotter when Kelvin sat down and greeted her.

 

“Good morning Kelvin” She replied and looks up at him. “How are you today?”“I’m fine” he replied confidently.

 

“Hmmm, I can she let out a smile and continued. “This is the last questioning Kelvin, we are ready to help you. Just tell us what happened”

 

“You’ve asked several times and I’ve told you already”

 

“Yes, but I just want us to act like it is this is the first time. Just forget about all you’ve said now and tell us the whole truth”

 

“I have nothing new to tell you”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Kelvin, all the evidences available are against you already. If we know the truth, it will make things easier for all of us”

 

“I’ve said the truth already, I didn’t ki*ll my friend”

 

“Take him back officer” she stood up at once and ordered the officer.

 

“What do you think we do now?” She asked Uche as soon as Kelvin and the officer were gone.

 

“I think the next the court’s decision”

 

“But we now have a new suspect to apprehend”

 

“Will there really be need for that? What I think is that Bola was just talking based on her emotions yesterday. The same person who told us that the Killer was her Father and we later did find out she was wrong, now she’s saying that it is her ex boyfriend, how are we sure she is saying the truth now?”

 

“We can only be sure when we apprehend this Ken, he could have carried out his threat”

 

“But we already have enough evidence against Kelvin and Amarachi”

 

“But they’ve refused to own up with all our interrogations even after we presented the so called evidences to them. “

 

“They are only pretending, maybe they still need more torture”

 

“More torture?” Helen asked, looking at him weirdly. “You want us to ki*ll or amputate them before we can get them to say what we want even if they lie against themselves?”

 

“No, we just need to press a little further. If this new Ken is the supposed killer, then how did he get the knife into Amarachi’s room?”

 

Helen looked at him sternly and paused for a while before she spoke again, more authoritatively

 

“Go and prepare, get some back up, in the next twenty minutes we are going for Ken Fayemi”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Alright ma” He saluted and cursed under his breath after she walked out of the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

“Hey” Dennis called out as he dropped off from his car, Helen was about entering the driver’s side of the car when she heard him coming towards them.

 

“Good morning inspector” Dennis greeted as he approached them, Uche was already seated in the other side.

 

“Good morning Mr Dennis” she replied as she placed her hands on the car, standing up straight.

 

“I can see you’re going somewhere but I want to see you about something”

 

“We have to leave here now, is it something really important?”

 

“Yes, I think you guys need to interrogate Ini, she should be able to provide some information about the knife. We can’t ignore the fact that the knife was found in her house and Amarachi wasn’t there at the time it was discovered”

 

“We’ll see to that later, the reason we’ve not considered that option is because Amarachi acknowledge that the knife was kept there by her”

 

“The knife could have been changed”

 

“We’ll find out about that very soon, we’ll find out if it was changed”

 

“How?”

 

“Leave that to us, we have to leave here now. We have an arrest to make” she stepped back into the car and drove off with Uche.

 

Helen and Uche remained quiet for some minutes as they drove in the car, then Uche began asking questions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“How do we intend to find out if the knife was changed, remember we found it in the same position she said she forgot it in her room”

 

“It could have been changed and kept back in the same position”

 

“I don’t think so”

 

“It is very possible that it was changed, having presented the enough proof we have to Amarachi and Kelvin, I don’t expect them to still maintain their position that they didn’t ki*ll him”

 

“Maybe they just have to be … ” he stopped abruptly and looked at Helen’s face. She understood him and smiled, “tortured more, you want to say?”

 

“Yes, but… ”

 

“Listen, we’ve tortured them enough already and we are not getting the response we require”

 

“I don’t just think the knife was changed when we discovered it there, we found it the same way she left it”

 

“Ok, so if it wasn’t changed before we discovered it there, maybe it was changed after we did”

 

“Ehn?” He seemed shocked by her reply, “what do you mean by that?”

 

“If it wasn’t changed before we discovered it then it was changed after” she took a look at him, and smiled in a way to emphasize her point.

 

“But I was the one in charge of those exhibits”

 

“Yes, I know”

 

“So are you suggesting that I changed it or what?”

 

“No, I’m not saying that yet. I’m only thinking of different possibilities. See Uche” She placed her right hand on his shoulder to pacify him. “We’ve tried all we know how to do to make them admit that they did this crime but we’ve not succeeded, with my experience they are actually responding like they are innocent”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“So what do we do now?”

 

“Why are you acting like a new person in this Uche? What kind of question is that?”

 

“I’m sorry, its just that this case is a simple one and I don’t think it should have lingered for this long, so it seems I’m kind of getting weary, I’m sorry”

 

“We have to investigate if Amarachi really used the knife or not, if she did; we’ll continue in this direction”

 

“Oh! I see” he smiled briefly and pause for a while. “And if she didn’t, we’ll move our focus on the new suspects?”

 

“Yes, especially her flatmate Ini”

 

“Hmmm… Seems like an idea that would work, so what’s our next move”

 

“We need finger prints test now of both Kelvin and Amarachi, it would give us the answer we require now”

 

“Good, we should conduct that as soon as possible. I want to get this case off my neck”

 

 

 

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

 

Amarachi wondered who her visitor was as she walked slowly to the visiting room, handcuffed and an officer guarding her. After Dennis had visited her that morning she wasn’t expecting anyone else to visit her.

 

She paused at the entrance of the visiting room and struggled to draw up the sagging prison uniform trousers. She entered into the room and her eyes with Ini’s, she was dumbstruck. She was unable to move for a while as her legs didn’t carry her further, she just stared at Ini who stared back also without saying anything.

 

“You only have ten minutes, if you like keep staring at yourself all through” a voice moved Ama back to action and she walked further inside and sat down into the seat in front of Ini.

 

They sat quietly, staring at and observing each other like strangers trying to remember where they’ve met themselves before. Ini could not do but notice the

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

drastic change on Amarachi, it was evident she had not been feeding well. She looked like someone who had been sick and haven’t been receiving medical treatment. Moulds of tears gradually began to form on Ini’s face.

 

“How are you doing?” Ini finally asked, breaking the silence between them.

 

“Fine”

 

“Did you fall sick?”

 

“No, I’m perfectly fine and why do you ask? I thought you said you had no business with me”

 

“I’ve been worried about you, but I struggled not to show care because I’m still hurt… ”

 

“You don’t need to worry about me, I don’t need your care” she slammed angrily”

 

“I…” Ini tried to talk but couldn’t find words as she was deeply hurt by Ama’s response

 

“Who used the knife I kept in my room to murder Frank?”

 

“What kind of question is that? How am I supposed to know?” She replied, almost in tears.

 

“I stay in your house, nobody else lives there”

 

“But I thought you claimed you were drugged, don’t you think the same people who drugged both of you could have done that?”

 

“The person who drugged me is Kelvin, I was stupid to have taken the juice after I suspected that someone else was in the house with me. The only person who could have returned to that room is you or Kelvin”

 

Ini couldn’t believe her ears, she blamed herself for allowing Bode convince her to come there. She stood up and hurried out of the place in tears.

 

Amarachi watched her as she left, unmoved by display of emotions. She remembered that Dennis had told her to be careful with Ini when he came earlier, his reason was that he suspected that Ini had planned the murder, in a bid to punish her and Kelvin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Ken boiled with anger as he answered the questions been thrown at him by the inspectors. He was in his office when some police officers had come to seize him. He pleaded that he would come on his own, in his car but they refused and didn’t even allow him to take anything nor tidy the office before he left.

 

“Did you threaten to ki*ll him or not?”

 

“Yes, I threatened to ki*ll the fool”

 

“So you finally carried out your threat?” Helen continued the questioning.

 

“I don’t even know the fool, I would have killed him if I knew him” he continued to reply stubbornly.

 

“Shut Up, you killed him. Everything has been exposed; we already found the knife with which you used to carry out the murder”

 

“Hahaha” he laughed hysterically. “ki*ll him with a knife? Why would I do that? If I was the one that killed the fool, you would not even find the remains of his body”

 

“Shut up”

 

“You too shut up” he shouted back at Helen and turned to Uche who was watching quietly.

 

“Uche, wetin be all this nao? You know me well o” he spoke in pidgin to Uche.

 

 

 

 

Helen looked at Uche in surprise, “You know him?”

 

“Yes, I do. I know his father very well, he’s a friend to Chief Olatunbosun” he replied to Helen and walked closer to Ken. “Look here Ken, this is the law, it doesn’t matter if I know you or not. The truth is that you threatened to ki*ll someone and few days after, he died mysteriously. You have to prove to us that you didn’t do it”

 

“Prove what?” Ken asked angrily, standing up as he banged his hand on the table. “You guys would surely pay for this, thank God Uche knows what my father can do to you”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Shut up, your father is not above the law. If you’re found guilty, you’ll surely be prosecuted accordingly” Uche slammed back at him.

 

“Take him away” Helen commanded the junior officer with them and turned to Uche. “You never told me you knew the guy”

 

“Yeah, because it has nothing to do with our investigation”

 

“Hmmm… Well, I think we still have a lot of work to do”

 

“Yes, we have to consider other options”

 

“Yes, once we’re done with the fingerprints test”

 

“Okay”

 

“Yea, so…” She was saying when her phone rang.

 

“Hello… Okay… Meet me in my office” she spoke to the caller and turned back to Uche. “His bail has been applied for already, go and prepare his release”

 

“Okay ma” he replied and they went different ways, he went to prepare Ken’s release while Helen returned to her office.

 

Helen met Bode at the door of the office. “Good morning”, she shook hands with him before she opened the door with her key and walked in.

 

Bode walked in after her, he removed the key and locked the door again as he entered.

 

“Why did you do that?” She asked sharply.

 

“We don’t need any intruder” he replied and handed the keys to her. “I don’t want to involve that other guy, Uche”

 

“So, what do you have to say?” She asked as she sat down.

 

He paused for sometime and looked at her inquisitive eyes for a while before he declared. “There was no call from Nike Adejumo”

 

“No call from Nike Adejumo ? What do you mean?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Someone else made the call and pretended to be Nike”

 

“How did you find out?”

 

Bode brought out his phone and then played his recorded conversation with the customer service representative for about ten minutes. Helen was finally convinced, she was short of words to say after listening to it.

 

“So, what’s your next plan with this information?” He asked.

 

“Ermm… Don’t worry, we’ll work on it” she replied, without looking at his face as he had being able to prove that there was more to the call which she dared him to.

 

“Don’t give me that at all” Bode disagreed outrightly. “That’s what you’ve been saying without doing anything. I want to know what you are doing about it”

 

“Okay” she finally found courage to look at him. “We’ll work with the It department and make sure they help us find the name of the real owner of the sim from network bearer”

 

“Good, please do it immediately. I’ll like to get a report soon”

 

 

 

“Okay”

 

 

 

“And please, don’t send Uche, it would be better if you even hide this information from him”

 

“I’ll try”

 

“Thanks” he stood up to take his leave. ” I’ll call you later” he smiled as he walked to the door.

 

Helen walked up to him with the key and opened the door for him to go out. Inspector Uche was just at the door as it was opened, he gave them a searching look and stared more at Bode. Bode smiled at him and also at Helen before he walked away leaving Helen and Uche who entered back into the office.

 

Bode smiled to himself as he walked outside the building, things worked easy that day. He didn’t have to struggle so much to convince Ini to follow him after he had

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

played the recorded conversation to prove to her that she received the phone call from a fake Nike Adejumo and show the possibility that Amarachi and Kelvin were really drugged.

 

He had only been outside where Ini’s car was parked for about one minute when he spotted her walking out, from the way she walked, he concluded that her visit to Amarachi and Kelvin did not go well.

 

“Hey, how did it go?” He asked Ini who didn’t answer him but walked straight to the driver’s side of the car. “What happened? Did you have a disagreement with Ama or Kelvin?”

 

“No, I didn’t see Kelvin anymore”

 

“Why?” He asked with concern, detecting that Ini had been crying from her voice

 

“Because I don’t want to see him” she answered angrily and entered into the car. ” I regret listening to you, I regret coming here with you”

 

He entered the car too, through the other side and snatched the car key from Ini who was about to start the car. “I’ll drive you home”

 

“I can drive myself”

 

“No, I won’t let you drive like this” he came out and turned to the driver’s side. She came down hesitatingly and went to sit at the other side. Bode drove off immediately.

 

“So tell me what happened?” He asked as the car went steady on the road.

 

“That fool, Amarachi accused me of killing Frank and using the knife to implicate her”

 

 

 

“Hmm”