He heaved a sigh of relief as he unbuttoned his shirt where he laid, the day had been a tiring one. He took a day off from work and had taken time to visit all Frank's salons and speak to all the workers of the three branches both individually and as groups. He insisted that they all resumed work that Monday because he believed that wherever Frank was, one of his wishes would be that the salons continued to function effectively being that he made a lot of efforts to make them work in his lifetime.
Bode also remembered that he had an obligation to Frank's mother, he has too make sure that she's well taken care of and never lack anything.
His thoughts drifted again to the circumstances surrounding Frank's death, he wondered if the murderers would ever be caught. If the culprit was actually Chief Olatunbosun, the probability of the police to successfully investigate and find proof against him was zero.
It was well known that the Chief had been severally accused of murdering so many other politicians but no court has been ever able to prove him guilty rather he came out victorious and even got compensation for defamation of character.
The wondered how Kelvin would ever come out of the trouble he was in, Kelvin had no person who was strong politically or financially to come to his aid, the only people he had were his parents who were retired and resting in the village, whom he hid the news of his arrest from.
He had tried to bail out Kelvin the week before but the police refused to grant the bail. They said it was likely that Kelvin would try to escape since his accomplice, Amarachi had not been found at that time and was believed to have fled the town immediately after the crime.
Bode stood up and stretched, he took a walk to Frank's room. He opened the door and sat on the bed, remembering how the three friends used to chat happily and sometimes play roughly around the house. Now, it remained only him chatting with himself; Frank's life has been cut short by wicked people already and Kelvin's was on the verge of been cut short.
Bode stood up briskly and cleaned his face and neck of sweat. He swore under his breath that he would do everything possible to make sure that Kelvin does not suffer unjustly and that Frank's murderers does not go unpunished even if he had to get involved in the investigation.
He searched Frank's desks and lockers, hoping to find anything that could lead to the killer. After searching and scattering the whole place, he only found a business card, Chief Olatunbosun's business card. He looked at it carefully for sometime before he stuck it into his pocket, he decided he would have to meet Bola first and see of he get enough information from her.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Hey you" the constable shouted at Amarachi, she rose from where she was seated on the floor.
"Your Mama dey find you" he said as he opened the iron bars for her to come out.
Her eyes widened in horror at the mention of her mum, she walked out slowly like someone who was mourning.
"Abeg answer me nao", the officer slammed angrily.
"No waste my time jor" he pushed her forward after handcuffing her and locking the prison doors. "Oya move fast"
Her mother's eyes met with hers as she turned into the visiting room, she stopped abruptly as she saw disappointment written all over her mother's face. She continued walking again after the officer pushed her from the back.
She sat down in front of her mum and faced down, she couldn't look directly into her face.
"Na only five minutes I give una o" the constable said before he left them.
"Toyin, how did all these happen?" She asked solemnly, in a low tone. Her daughters face changed drastically, the radiant look that was always on her face had been replaced with bruises.
Amarachi looked at her mum who was already sobbing and looked back down, tears dropped from her eyes.
"Talk to me Toyin, how did this happen?" The mother asked again, this time taking Amarachi hands in hers and pressing them tightly.
"Mum, I didn't kill anyone" Amarachi answered in tears.
"I know you didn't kill, I did not give birth to a murderer but how did you get involve in this?"
"Mummy, I don't know how they involved me. I've never been in the place the murder took place, the knife that was found in my room was not used to kill anyone"
"What was the knife doing in your room?"
"Ermm... It was used to cut oranges but it mistakenly cut my hand" she said, displaying the knife cut on her hand for her mum to see.
"I believe you, but why did the police come to your room?" She continued, cleaning her face with her wrapper. "How is the dead person related to you? And why did you leave your Friend's house for a week?"
"Mum, it's a long story. The most important thing is that I get out of here"
"The whole family is worried about you, we are only keeping the news from you father but I know we can't keep it for long"
"Mummy, please don't let him know. I don't want anything to happen to him" Ama pleaded.
Mrs Kolawuyi stared at her daughter's face again, she didn't believe that her daughter could like as terrible as that, she looked at the handcuff on her daughter's hand again and broke into tears.
Both of them cried profusely, holding hands and mumbling words in their cries.
"Oya, Oya Madam. Time don go" the office barked. "Oya come dey go abeg"
He didn't wait for them to respond and he dragged Amarachi up, separating them.
He led her back to the cell after dismissing the mother. " Oya madam, dey go abeg"
Amarachi couldn't stop crying in the cell, she isolated herself from the rest of the cellmates who had spent longer time there. Her mind raced back to how everything happened, how she took the juice and slept off, how she woke up to find herself Unclad with Kelvin on the bed, how she thought about committing suicide and ended up with a deep cut on her palm.
It would have been better to commit suicide than rotting in jail for a crime she knew nothing about. Her parents might have taken her death in good fate, maybe they would have concluded that God had decided to take her but they would surely not be able to take the pain of their daughter sentenced to jail for being a murderer.
Thirty minutes later, the constable arrived again. "Amarachi, you have another visitor" he said as he unlock the cell.
She wondered who the visitor was as she walked to the visiting room the second time that day.
She was shocked seeing the person who was waiting for her, she wasn't aware he was back and wouldn't have wanted him to see her in that state.
"How are you Amarachi?" Dennis asked as their eyes met, he stood up as he waited for her to come sit.
"Oga do fast o" the constable said, smiling. "You know say I know suppose allow you but because say you be sure man na"
Amarachi stared at the constable in disgust as he walked out, it was obvious he was smiling because Dennis had given him some money.
"I didn't find you in the office today and I was told you were here. I decided to come immediately we close"
"Thanks Dennis" she replied. "But you shouldn't have bothered"
"Why? I have been longing to see you and I thought you would too"
"No, I'm not longing to see anyone" she responded coldly, looking away from him. "I don't want anyone to come look for me"
"Amarachi", he muttered, ignoring the cold response. "What happened? How did you get here?"
"You don't need to know that"
"I need to, please. You have to get out of here, how can I help you?"
"I don't need anyone's help, I just need you to leave me alone" she slammed. "Please, just go and let me be"
Dennis was taken aback by the response, he was disappointed. He stared at her for a moment and stood up from the seat, slowly and sadly.
Amarachi suddenly gripped his hand before it left the table, she didn't want him to go, she could see the hurt and pain in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Dennis, please don't go. I just didn't want you to see me here" she pleaded softly.
Dennis sat back gradually, he covered her hands with his. "I love you Amarachi, I know you were wrongly accused and I'll do anything possible to make sure you get out of here"
"You would hate me after listening to all that happened Dennis. You may never believe my side of the story"
"No Amarachi, I can never hate you. I believe you will tell me the truth"
"You will Dennis, that's why I'm scared to have you here"
"I won't Amarachi, even if you committed the crime. I've loved you so much that I can't do otherwise again. Please, just let me help you out of here"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Sandra, I must say how much I really appreciate your care towards me" Kelvin said, looking at her with passion in his eyes.
"It's nothing" she replied, letting out a short smile.
"It's something Sandra, no one else stayed with me the way you did. For one week, you've been visiting me everyday"
"It's nothing Kelvin, all I'm doing is what I'm supposed to do" she replied and rubbed his cheek with her palm.
"No Sandra, you are not obligated to do it"
"I am, love obligates me to. I really love you Kelvin, I've been trying to show you all these days, I want you to love me back" she said, looking straight into his eyes.
He looked away from her, he was sorry that he didn't feel anything for her except pity, pity for not being able to love her back. She stood by him in his times of trials during his early stage of working for Devi. Now again, she is still with him even when he was arrested and charged with murder.
It pained him that he only saw her as a cheap slut while she tried to show him her love even if she did it wrongly. If anyone deserved to be loved back, it was her.
*Tuesday evening *
"Good afternoon" Bola greeted as she got close to the gate, where the gateman asked him to stay
"Good afternoon Bola" he replied.
"Yes, I was told you wanted to see me"
"Yes, for something important"
"What's that? And by the way, I don't remember meeting with you"
"Yes, we've not really met before but I know you. I'm Bode, Frank's friend"
"Oh Bode! You must be the third flatmate that I haven't met"
"Yes,I am"
"Good, nice to meet you" she stretched out her hand to offer him a handshake.
"Let's go inside" she said and turned to the gateman before leading the way. "Make sure you lock the gates properly and tell anyone else who asks of me that I'm not home"
"Please make yourself comfortable" she said as she ushered him into the living room." What can I offer you?"
"Nothing, you don't need to bother. I won't stay for long"
"No, you should take something cold at least"
"Okay, just get water for me"
"Alright, give me two seconds" she said and dashed to the kitchen. She returned with a bottled water and glass cup on a tray for him. She also added a bottle of wine to it. She held another bottled water in her other hand for herself.
"So, what do I owe this surprise visit?" She sat directly opposite him.
"I've just come to talk about Frank's death, I don't know if you suspect anyone. I want us to help the police with every information we can"
"Yes, I've told the police already. Frank was murdered by my Father, Chief Olatunbosun"
"Ehen?" Bode acted surprise on hearing this, hoping that she would say more which she did. "Your father? Why do you say so?"
"It's my father, I'm sure. He told me of the promise he made not to kill Frank in his home"
"That's serious, but what can we do now?"
"I've told the police about it already and I believe that they've started investigations"
"Are you serious? You told the police? You want them to investigate your father?"
"Yes, I love Frank and anyone that killed him should be punished even if it's my father"
"Hmmm, but I think you can help them make the investigation easier"
"How?"
"If you can record a conversation with your father where he admits that he killed Frank, that would be an evidence"
"Hmm, that's true." She said and thought for some seconds. "I'll do exactly that"
"Good" Bode replied, smiling slightly at her. They chatted about twenty minutes more before Bode stood to take his leave. She followed him outside the house into the compound.
She played with the bottle of water on her hand as she chatted with Bode, walking towards the gate. As they got close to the Gateman's lodge, the bottled water dropped and water spilled on Bode's shoe.
"Oh! I'm very sorry" she pleaded.
"Emmanuel, get me something to clean his shoe fast" she quickly beckoned on the gate man who came out with a blue hand towel cut into half already.
He bent to clean the shoe but Bode quickly collected the rag and cleaned the shoe by himself. He dusted it before he gave it back to the gateman.
"Please, I'm very sorry for that" Bola apologized again.
"Oh! It's nothing" he replied, smiling.
"Alright, I'll do what you suggested. Bye and thanks for coming"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I'm sorry Mr Michael, we can't grant her bail. She already tried to evade arrest before" Helen answered Dennis' request for Amarachi's bail.
"But she didn't mean to evade arrest, she never knew that you guys were after her" he replied.
"How do you expect us to believe that? Off course, we can't " Helen continued. "What you need to do is advise her to cooperate with us, encourage her to tell us the truth, it will make things easy for her"
"But she has told you everything already"
"No, she hasn't. She still denies the fact that she used that knife to stab the deceased"
"She didn't, you've not concluded your investigation so she's not guilty yet" Dennis replied.
"Reports from the lab should be available by tomorrow and after that, the court will decide the case. What you should do now is get a good lawyer to defend her. I wish you good luck"
TBC.....
