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 kill 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 kill 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 shoot 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, lets 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 accused'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 kill 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 kill 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 kill 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.
TBC.....
