Who killed Annabel? Episode Two

Click here for episode one if you missed it.
I, Detective Ross and my partner Alero drove to the residence of the victim's boyfriend. When I broke the news he was dumbfounded. He couldn't believe it, not until he called Onome to confirm. He was sobbing, he didn't mind crying in front of the woman with me.

I spoke up. “When last did you hear from her?”

He cleaned his face. “About two weeks ago?”

“Why? Did both of you quarrel?”

“No.” he replied. "Not at all, Annabel told me she needed a break in the relationship. She said I should give her a month to clear her head.”

“Over what?”

“Annabel didn't say. I never bothered to ask. I wanted to make her happy so I agreed to what she wanted."

Alero who was patiently watching us asked her own question. “Where were you yesterday?”

“Is it necessary for me to answer?”

"Do you have a problem with that?"

“Oh no, not at all." he said and scratched his head. “I was with... a friend.”

“I need the name.” I said like a gentleman.

“Her name is Sarah.”

Alero shocked.

“You mean you were with Annabel's friend” I asked surprised.

Frederick looked straight at us. "You know her?”

“Yes." I replied. “Onome told us about her. We need her contact from you.”

“But I don't think she knows anything.”

“Why are you trying to defend her?" Alero asked. "Or do you have a secret relationship with her? Do not lie. I and detective Ross will surely find out!”

Frederick swallowed and looked away soberly. "Yes. I was having a sexual relationship with Sarah. I am so ashamed I cheated on Annabel. She does not deserve it because she was faithful to me. We promised each other we were going to be celibate for a year." He began to cry again.

Alero and I gazed at each other.

Faithful indeed, I thought.

*********
The next day, Sarah came by the station to get interviewed by me. Alero was not with me because the victim's phone was not turned-on yet. It was faulty and my partner took it to a repairer.

Sarah was very fair in complexion, well especially her face because her knuckles were black. She must have beached with a cheap cream. I wanted to ask her if she could not afford Whitelious cream but I simply kept my mouth shut. She had a loud make up on and was nosily chewing gun. I did not care. Women do it all the time. I cannot wait for my divorce papers to be signed and finalized.

I asked. “How come you didn't sound remorseful yesterday when I called you about your friend's death?”

“Excuse me?' she asked. “People die every day. Even when my dog died I never cried.”

Is she for real? I asked myself.

“I know about your affair with Frederick Okoh.' I said to her. “Annabel was your friend and I'm sure you wanted him all to yourself. Maybe you sent someone to do the dirty job for you and that's why you are a suspect.” To my surprise, she began to laugh.

She cleared her throat. “I didn't kill Annabel. See I do not snatch people's boyfriends. I only sleep with them.”

“Oh I see.”

“Yeah.”

“Is Frederick aware Annabel and yourself are prostitutes?”
 
“Call me an Aristo and yes he knows about me but he's unaware about Annabel. To him his girlfriend was a saint.”

“Can you think of anyone, maybe a customer or a rival in the business that could hurt Annabel?”

She touched her chin for a moment. “Well, two of her recent customers I can think of because she was always complaining and having issues with them. One of them threatened to slit her throat.”

“Do you know how I can locate them?” I asked.

“Sure.” She answered. I gave her a pen and a piece of paper. She turned on her mobile phone and wrote down their names and phone numbers. I agreed to let her leave.

“Stay in touch.” I said as she rose to leave. “You're still a suspect.”

She gave a nod, smiled and winked at me.

********
Later In the day, Alero approached me after she came back. She left the phone with the repairer. It was going to take time for me to get the victim's phone records and since I was not a patient man I would use the information I receive from the people connected to Annabel. I would use that to investigate the case. Thirty minutes later, Alero said to me after she received a call from the hospital.

"You won't believe the latest news about the victim. An autopsy report came out. Guess what?"

“What?” I asked.

“Annabel was two months pregnant before she died.”
*****

To be continued....