"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 kill" 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 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 walks 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 that Kelvin 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.
TBC....
