"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 kill anyone"
"You didn't kill 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 kill 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 kill 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 kill 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 mam" Bode replied as he took his seat. "How far have you gone with the case?"
"Its 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 kill 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?"
"I dey jare" 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, lets 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.
Ini hurried up the stairs to ward 19, the ward where Mr Kolawole, Amarachi's father had been admitted after he had collapsed suddenly at home.
Ini received the emergency call from Amarachi's mother that Saturday evening that the man had been rushed to the hospital and it was required that they made a deposit payment of eighty thousand naira for treatment to continue. The woman had no choice than to call Ini for help since she couldn't get to Amarachi.
Ini had responded swiftly and transferred the total sum of eighty thousand naira to the hospital account for the treatment to continue after which she promised to come check on them in the hospital the next day.
As she climbed up the stairs, she thought of Amarachi who was in prison and unaware of her father's recent admission in the hospital, she remembered her vow never to have anything to do with Amarachi again but it was impossible for her to ignore the father's condition and allow the man die like that.
"Good afternoon Aunty Ini" Sophia greeted as she met with Ini on the stairs.
"How are you Sophie?"
"I'm fine" she replied, " mummy told me that you had come and I should come and pick you"
"Thank you, so how is your dad now? Is he responding to treatment?"
"He's still unconscious" Sophia answered almost silently, with a sad look on face as she embraced Ini. "But the doctor said they have to carry out an operation on him immediately and it will cost about five hundred thousand naira"
"It's okay, don't worry. Let's go to your mum"
+++++++++++++++++++++++
"Doctor, what's the situation like now?" Helen asked as the Doctor led her and Uche to the ward.
"Critical, but he's still alive. He would have died yesterday if you guys had delayed a minute later with the police report"
"But is he okay now?"
"Not yet , I don't know if he'll make it out alive"
"Wow! "
Dennis was seated in the ward with his eyes fastened to Bode. He looked rough and unkempt.
"Inspector" he stood up immediately Helen and Uche walked in with the doctor. "Inspector, thank God you're here"
"Mr. Dennis, how did it happen?" Helen asked, moving closer where Bode laid lifelessly on the hospital bed. She stared at Bode's face and gripped the hospital bed clothing, clouds of tears gradually formed in her eyes.
"He was shot immediately I dropped him off" Dennis explained with sorrow in his voice. "I heard the gunshot as I turned and was about to drive off"
"But you didn't drop him at home" Uche joined
"Yes, he asked me to drop him there. He wanted to eat in the restaurant"
"Did you see where the gunshot came from?" Uche asked.
"No, I only heard the sound of the shot"
"And you didn't notice anything suspicious around?"
"No, not at all. I just dropped him off and turned to leave"
"Hmmm... That's strange, but what were you guys discussing on your way home?"
"We were not discussin... We stopped somewhere on the way"
"Where?"
"He said it was Bola's house, but we met the gate locked"
"What did you guys want to do there?"
"Bode said he wanted to see the gateman"
"For what?"
"I don't know, he didn't tell me"
"Okay, I understand that you've not rested since yesterday. One of our officers will stay here with Bode, you can go home but we'll want you to be at our station this evening. We need to ask more questions"
"Okay, that's alright" Dennis replied and wore his shoe properly preparing to take his leave.
"Lets go Inspector" Uche said to Helen who was looking emotionally down.
** Fifteen minutes later **
Uche glanced at Helen occasionally as he drove with her to the scene where Bode was shot. She noticed his occasional glances and was getting uncomfortable with it.
"Why are you glancing at me like that?" She asked.
"Oh! Sorry " he smiled. "I'm just baffled"
"Baffled by?"
"What's your relationship with Bode?" He responded her question with another question.
"What do you mean?"
"What do I mean? I saw the way you were shaking all over when you heard he had been shot and you couldn't even control yourself when you saw him on the bed"
Helen did not answer his question but just looked away from him and faced the road.
"I really pray he remains alive" Uche continued, "I believe he knows something about the murder or he knows the murderers"
They drove for fifteen minutes more before they got to the place where Bode was shot, in front of the restaurant. Helen composed herself and went into the restaurant with Uche, they asked for eye witnesses to the incident and questioned them.
Nobody seemed to know where the bullet came from except one old neglected man who doubled as a smoker and drunk, he was despised around the area so nobody took him serious. He insisted that it was a bike man with an helmet covering his face that released the bullet as he rode by.
Helen and Uche took him to a corner to ask more questions, he only insisted that it was a biker who shot the gun but he couldn't describe the bike nor the man, neither did he know where the bike came from or head to.
They left the place and visited Bola's apartment to confirm if the gate was locked and it was. They tried to ask people around for the whereabouts of the gateman but didn't get any useful information. They returned to the office confused and tired.
**5pm, same day **
"Did you see any biker where you parked your car?" Uche questioned Dennis
"No"
"What about after you heard the gunshot?"
"I didn't see any bike"
"Okay, did Bode speak to anybody on phone while you were on your way home?"
"No, he didn't call anyone but maybe he was chatting with someone because I saw him busy with his phone at some point"
"Okay then, we may have to check his phone if we can find any clues at all"
"Here" Dennis handed the phone to Uche. "It fell into the car from his pocket when I rushed him to the hospital"
Uche collected and examined the phone for some seconds, "it's passworded"
"Yes, it is. We can't the phone now"
"No, we'll get our IT man to open it for us now" Uche stood up from his seat and was his way when Helen entered into the office.
"Where are you going to?" She asked.
"We need to unlock this phone, I want to take it to Femi"
"Hehe" Helen chuckled. "You seem to have forgotten that today is Sunday, Femi won't be here till tomorrow"
"Oh that's true" Uche replied, not happy.
"Yeah, the doctor just called now. Bode is awake, we have to get there"
"Oh! Yes sure, let's go" Uche replied and took his ID card on the table .
"I'm coming with you guys but I'll ride in my car, I'll meet you there"
"Okay, Mr. Dennis" Helen replied and they went their separate ways.
*-*-*-*
"I strongly believe that Bode knows the murderer, and the murderer may be someone at that restaurant area" Uche commented after driving in silence until they were few seconds away from the hospital gate.
"I don't just know what to think at all, everything is getting complicated"
"I think it's getting easier now, Bode is awake and I hope he'll be able to tell us something useful" he said as he parked at the front of the gate and saluted the security guards who searched the car and check the booth.
After some seconds of thorough checking, they were handed a pass ticket and allowed in. They spotted Dennis driving in few seconds after they parked in the parking space. They waited for him to join them before walking together into the hospital building.
"How is he doing Doc?" Helen asked with deep concern in her voice.
"He's awake now" the doctor replied, leading them to the new ward. "He regained consciousness about one hour ago but has not been able to talk"
"He's not been able to talk? Maybe he hasn't regained enough strength to"
"Yes, he hasn't regained enough strength but I don't think that's the reason he can't talk" the doctor paused his steps to explain. "We'll transfer him to another section very soon where some specialists would attend to him"
"When will he be okay?"
"I don't know when he'll be strong for now but he's out of danger already"
"Oh! Thank God" Helen exclaimed, her face lit up slightly with joy, Dennis also smiled visibly, Uche was paying attention to other wards they passed by.
"So when will he be able to talk to us?" Helen asked.
"That I can't say" the doctor continued walking. "I don't know how, but he seems to have lost his ability to speak"
"Huh?" Uche and Helen exclaimed in unison.
"How can that be? How did the bullet affect his tongue?" Uche asked with much seriousness.
"I don't know, we just found out that he could not speak anymore
"That's serious" Uche looked agitated, as he seemed to have taken over from Helen who looked saddened again. "But can he write?"
"Yes, he would be able to use his hands but not now, maybe in seven days time" the Doctor replied, he stopped at a ward and opened the door.
A junior police officer was in the ward with Bode, he saluted and took excuse to walk out as he saw Bode and Helen.
Bode laid on the bed like a lifeless body but his eyes was opened. He couldn't move his body well but he responded by moving his fingers as he heard his visitor's voices.
"Bode" Helen muttered as she got close to him and tried to hold his hand, he just stared at her without moving or responding.
"He can't talk yet" the doctor reminded them.
TBC.....
