******
Episode 4 Title: The Contractor's Mission.
******
The partners
arrived at the agency to meet the servers. The secretary led them to meet the
manager. A woman dressed in a fitted grey suit welcomed them into her clean and
arranged office. When they introduced themselves as detectives, she was stunned
and demanded if everything was all right.
“You should
be aware that one of your clients was poisoned to death.” Genevieve said.
“I heard
about it.” The manager said with concern on her face. “It’s quiet unfortunate
but why do you really want to speak with the servers because I know they had
nothing to do with it. We are professionals and we do not have a personal
relationship with our clients and I see no reason why one of them should kill
her, it makes no sense. It was actually the first time we worked with her.”
“We
understand but we need to questions the girls that served the drinks. We know
they are three of them.”
“Only two of
them served Mrs. Susie Ike some wine.”
“Can we talk
to them now?” Tiwa asked her. She was getting impatient.
She stood up
and gave a slight frown. “Give me few seconds.
Immediately
she left, Tiwa looked at Genevieve and spoke, “What is wrong with her? She is
wasting our time!”
“She’s only
trying to protect the employees here. I am sure they would try to keep the
death of their client away from the new ones because if they hear about it,
it’s bad for business. She wants to protect the agency.”
“As long as
they are clean, I don’t see why people won’t work with them.”
“Everybody is
not the same.”
The door
opened and the manager and two young girls walked inside. The servers clothed
in white and black outfits stood beside the table and Genevieve and Tiwa
adjusted their chairs to face them.
“Are we in
trouble ma?” The thinner one asked. She had big eyeballs and small lips.
Genevieve
smiled at her. “No.” She informed the reason they wanted to see them. “Can you
tell me if there was anyone that approached you when you wanted to serve Mrs.
Ike?”
“No ma.”
Genevieve
and Tiwa swung their gaze on the fatter one. She had a beautiful face. When she
noticed their eyes on her, she answered. “No one approached me.”
“Are you
sure?”
“Yes, I am
sure ma.”
“My partner
and I want to believe both of you had nothing to do with death of Mrs. Ike.” Tiwa said in a serious tone. Her eyes were hard. “If there is anything you want
to tell us that can help us catch the killer, tell us. You are in safe hands.”
“Did you
notice if anyone was trying to serve Mrs. Ike a drink?” Genevieve asked.
They shook
their heads.
“Are you
certain no one opened the bottle of wine you served her?”
They shook
their heads again.
“Did her
daughter help any of you to serve her mom?”
Their answer
was no.
“So you did
not see any time Mrs. Ike’s daughter gave or shared a glass of wine with her
mom?” Tiwa questioned.
“No ma.” the
thinner one said while the fatter one shook her head.
Tiwa and
Genevieve stared at each other frustrated and they agreed to leave. They stood
up.
Tiwa brought
out her card and placed it on the table. She said, “Please, if there is
anything you remember that can help us, call me.”
“I was the
first person that served her that day,” the beautiful server said. “The only
thing I can remember is that she seem quite unhappy and slightly drunk.”
“You mean
she drank alcohol before you arrived?”
“Yes, that
was what I noticed and the wine we brought was sealed.”
“So where
did she get the drink from?”
“Probably
from her bar, I really do not know.”
“Thank you.”
Genevieve said eagerly. She took Tiwa by the hand and they came out and started
walking out of the building.
“Is it
possible Sandra served her mother before the party started?” Tiwa asked.
“It’s
possible but we are not just going to conclude on that. We have to contact the
examiner that examined Mrs. Ike’s body.”
Genevieve
called the Inspector of police to ask for the contact of the examiner. He sent
her his phone number and address of the hospital.
“One more
thing sir.”
“What is it
detective Genevieve?”
“I want you
to help us get a house warrant to search the home of the victim.”
“Why?” He
asked.
“We don’t
have evidence that the daughter is the killer but in case we do, we need the
warrant ready.”
“I will get
it done.”
“Thank you
sir.” she said with a smile. She called the doctor’s phone but there was no
answer. As they entered into the vehicle, she received a call from Modupe’s
brother. She told him she would call him back. She faced Tiwa. “Mr. Femi has
arrived. Should we see him now or go to the hospital.”
“If he
demands to see us now, we should. We will definitely see the examiner after we
talk to him.”
Genevieve
agreed and called Mr. Femi back. He directed her to his office. Genevieve
called Quincy to find out how Freddie was doing. When they got there, Tiwa gave
Kelvin some money to buy lunch. It was 1:35pm.
Mr. Femi
welcomed them and offered them seats.
“My younger
brother told me what happened.” He said to them.
Tiwa and
Genevieve looked at each other and peered back at him.
He continued
talking, “I know Modupe and I don’t agree on many things but I love her and
will never do anything to hurt her. I am not heartless.”
“We believe the
person that wants her dead is very close to her. She told only her family
about travelling back home.” Genevieve said. “Are you aware about the list?”
“Yes but I
don’t have anything to do with it. I never contacted someone to kill my sister. I
gain nothing from it.”
“Are you
sure you never told anyone about her travelling?”
“Only my
family knew about it. I am sorry I can’t help you but I will be grateful if the
sick person is found. I do not want anything bad to happen to Modupe. I know
she can be stubborn, rude and a pain in the ass but she is fun to be with.”
“What about
her husband Jude Lawson?” Tiwa asked.
“I heard
about his mental illness but I have never seen him. It’s been years I heard
from him and there is no way he would have heard about my sister’s arrival.”
“But if there
is anything you rememmber that can help us stop the murder of your sister, let me know.”
They rose on
their feet, Femi did the same and he shook their hands.
Genevieve
said. “Thank you for your time.”
“You’re
welcome.”
******
On their way
leaving, Tiwa phone rang. She glanced at it. It was an unfamiliar number.
She picked the
call. “Hello.”
“I can’t
believe you are incompetent!” A furious male voice barked.
“Excuse me?”
She asked in a startled tone.
“I have been
expecting you and your partner,” he said. “Is it when I die you would come and
see me?”
“I don’t
know who this is. Can you tell me your name or I will hang up on you.”
“This is
Ayodele Okoya.”
“Oh!!” Tiwa
exclaimed and gazed at Genevieve. “We are sorry for not coming to see you. We
have been very busy investigating the case. I and my partner would definitely
see you.”
“When
because there is no time! I was given three weeks and now I have like a week
remaining. I need to see you now!”
“We should
be on our way now. Your home address is with us.” Genevieve gave a surprised
facial expression and waited to hear the reason after she drop the call.
“Better.” He
ended the call.
“Where are
we going?” Genevieve requested.
Tiwa
explained and Kelvin had to divert into another direction.
******
Tiwa and
Genevieve entered into one of the most beautiful houses they have ever seen. The
size, design and color alone was breathtaking. One of the maids of Socialite
Ayodele Okoya met them at the doorstep and she took the investigators to where
he was in his beautiful bar. When they saw him, he reminded Tiwa of Adebiyi.
Although he was far older and despite he was in his sixties, he dressed
elegantly with gold accessories on his neck, wrists and left ear. She thought
Adebiyi would still look gorgeous when be turned very old.
Ayodele
didn’t appear angry when he saw them, in fact, he offered them food, wine and
cigarettes. They politely refused.
“Sir,” Tiwa
spoke. “Is there anyone you suspect that wants you dead?”
He smiled
and dipped his hand into his shirt pocket. He brought out a folded sheet of
paper. He unfolded it and glanced at it. “The day I received this mail, I
nearly had a heart attack. It was written I offended someone and I have thought
of so many people and there is no one I can think of that wants me dead. I help
people. I love it. I don’t think I have ever said no to anyone that wants my
help. God blessed me abundantly and I pay back by giving those who need assistance."
Tiwa thought
of Adebiyi again. She was determined to help him and stop his murder.
He added, “I
was thinking of running away to a far place but I cannot abandon my family and
I am not a coward. I just want both of you to help me.”
“And we will
do that sir.”
“Can you
swim?” Genevieve questioned him.
“No and I
have been wondering how did the person know I can’t swim.” He pointed at his
name on the sheet and showed it to them. “As you can see I am supposed to die
by drowning but how?"
“How many
people know you can’t swim?”
“My family
and close friends but….” He paused. “Never mind!”
“You don’t
have to withhold any information that you think it might not be important.”
Tiwa said. “What did you want to say?”
Ayodele
sighed heavily. “When I was young, I visited my best friend and we were in the
swimming pool section with his baby sister. He wanted to go buy me food and
asked if I could look after his sister, I said yes. He left and his sister
started crying. I had to give her my phone to play with and I was foolish to
sleep off. I woke up to find her in the pool battling for her life. I didn’t
know how to swim, I ran out to find help, I saw my friend coming and before we
got there and he brought her out, she was dead.”
The place
was silent. Tiwa and Genevieve were totally shocked.
Tiwa cleared
her throat to break off the silence. She said. “What happened next?”
“My rich
father gave my friend’s family a fat check but I couldn’t forgive myself. I
blamed myself every day. ”
“And you are
still friends with him?” Genevieve asked.
“Yes. As we
grew older, he told me he forgave me. And there is nothing he asks that I
don’t give him.”
“And you
think he doesn’t want to pay you back for what you did?”
“It was not
intentional and like I said before I was foolish to fall asleep.”
“Do you have
female children?” Tiwa questioned.
“Yes, two.
One is married and the other is my last-born. She is in the university.”
“If your
friend wants to pay you back don’t you think he would go after one of your
female children?”
“I don’t
know and I don’t think he is the one that wants me dead.”
“Don’t trust
people.” Tiwa said. She moved closer to Genevieve and whispered. Genevieve
nodded in agreement. She stared at Ayodele. “We will need to contact your
friend and your daughters. We will start from there.”
“But why?”
Tiwa smiled
at him. “Let’s do our job sir.”
Ayodele
obliged and gave them what they wanted.
*******
Kelvin drove
them to the hospital and they arrived there at 2:30pm. When they came out from
the car, Tiwa phone beeped.
“I have to
take the call.” She told Genevieve. “You can see the examiner and brief me.”
“I hope all
is well?”
“Yes, it’s
an important call.”
“Okay.” She
said and started to walk to the direction of the entrance.
Tiwa’s
mobile handset stopped ringing, she waited and the phone rang again. “Hello
dad!”
“You came
back and you couldn’t call!” Mr. Bankole said angrily.
“I am sorry!
You should know I am investigating a case. Why didn’t you tell me before I was
summoned?”
“I knew you
wouldn’t go. I am also sorry for not telling you. I hope all is going well with
you and detective Genevieve?”
“You heard.”
“Yes.”
"How's the detective?"
"How's the detective?"
“She is
good.”
“That’s my
girl. So when are you coming home?”
She scoffed
and rolled her eyes. “I don’t know yet and the case might take a while.”
“I am not in
support of you staying in a man’s house. I like Adebiyi Gold but it is not
proper when he has not wedded you.”
“And that is
my fault.”
“Don’t blame
yourself honey,” Bankole said. “You thought you were doing the right thing and
if he truly loves you he would ask again.”
“I hope so.”
“If you know
the case will take a while, why can’t you stay in a hotel?”
Tiwa frowned
and he sensed it. He shook his head without saying anything.
“I am a
grown woman and I am capable of handling myself. I love him.”
“And you
think I don’t know.” he sighed. “I just want you to take good care of yourself.
Be careful.”
“I will.
What about the agency?”
“It’s doing
well but I think I need a vacation. We miss you and we can’t wait to have you
back.”
Tiwa pressed
her lips against each other and heaved out a long sigh. “I can’t wait to see
you. Take care dad.” She pressed the red button and swallowed. Part of her, perhaps
all of her wanted to stay back. She believed her home was with Adebiyi.
Whenever she was with him, she felt safe, alive and happy.
Genevieve
was with the medical examiner who excused himself to search for the result of
the poison. He gave it to her to read. She thought of doctor Ibinabo. She would
have explained in detail. She glanced through and looked at him.
“I don’t understand
any of this. Just explain the kind of poison.”
“It’s a slow
poison. The type is rare and it eats up the lungs after few hours and that is
when the effect takes place.”
“Are you
saying it’s possible to still be alive for hours after taking it?”
“Yes.” He
replied. “You won’t feel a thing except you might not have appetite to eat.”
“Oh I see. Thank
you doc!”
Genevieve left
and went to meet Tiwa and she narrated what the doc told her.
“That
explains everything.” Tiwa said. “That’s why she was unable to eat on her birthday. You should call the inspector to see if the warrant is ready. I only hope she
there is something in the house that we can use as evidence.”
“I hope so! Let’s
go!”
The warrant
was ready, they went there and one police officer followed them. The boyfriend
of Sandra opened the door when they arrived. They sauntered in and asked of
her. He went in and came back with her. She had changed into a red and short
gown.
“Is there a
problem?” She asked in a surprised tone.
“We are here
to search your house.” Genevieve said.
She
chuckled. “For what!”
“We believe
you are the one that killed your mother.”
Her boyfriend
laughed and looked at her. “What are these people saying?”
“I don’t even
know.” She said and looked at them angrily. “I want you to leave or I will sue.”
“I’m sorry
honey,” Tiwa said and Genevieve raised a paper. “We have a search warrant.”
Sandra
widened her eyes and quickly hopped on her feet. She ran off to her room, Tiwa and
Genevieve ran after her. She entered into her room and tried to close the door
but the partners were more powerful to stop her. Sandra moved into one of her
drawers and took out a small bottle, raced to the window and Tiwa caught her
hand as she tried to throw it away.
“Too late!”
Tiwa said to her and she took the bottle from her grip.
“You are
under arrest for death of Mrs. Susie Ike your mother." Genevieve said. "Anything you say, will be
used against you in the court of law!”
The officer
gestured towards her and slammed handcuffs around her wrist. She was taken away. They took her to the interrogation room at the station. She was seated. Tiwa and
Genevieve sat opposite her.
“Why did you
kill your mother?” Genevieve asked.
She said
nothing.
She asked
again and nothing came out from her mouth.
Tiwa crossed
her hands and placed them under her jaw. She spoke in a calm tone. “When I lost my mother, I felt alone.
I felt alone because we were very close and she was my best friend. I would do
anything to have her back if it’s possible and there is nothing my mother would
have done to make me hate and want to kill her. God used her to give you life
and you didn’t have the right to take hers. You’re selfish, You wanted to take
everything your father left for you and your mother!”
“That’s a
lie!” Sandra uttered and burst into tears. “I didn’t kill
her because of money!”
“I don’t believe
you.”
“She was
having an affair with my boyfriend!” Tears rushed out and she covered her face. “I
saw a text message she sent to him. She was going to offer him an amount of
money to call off our affair!”
Genevieve
and Tiwa exchanged shocked glances. Tiwa dropped her hands and rose.
“There is a
recorder with us. Your boyfriend has been listening to you,” Genevieve told
her. “I am sure he is disappointed. You should have confronted him about it
instead of killing your mother.”
Sandra
sniffed her nose and laughed. “He should continue his love affair when he sees
her.”
“What’s that
supposed to mean?”
“After you
left I offered him a drink.”
“Oh my God!
But his name is not on the list!”
“I had
excess of the poison.”
Tiwa said to
Genevieve. “Call the doctor and asked if there is an antidote for the poison.
He needs to be taken there before it is too late!” She ran outside to meet the
boyfriend who was already fidgeting. After the call, Genevieve informed them
the doctor had an antidote to subdue the poison. She went back to question Sandra.
Inspector Danjuma ordered his driver to take him to the hospital.
"When did you give your mother the poisoned drink?"
"Before the party."
"When did you give your mother the poisoned drink?"
"Before the party."
Tiwa came
back and met Genevieve questioning Sandra. “Who is the contractor?”
“I have told
you I don’t know!”
“Lives are
at stake. Do you want innocent people to die?"
“Maybe they
deserve to die like my mother!”
“We will
check your laptop and see if we can find anything.”
She laughed
mockingly. “You will find nothing!”
“What does
that mean?” Tiwa asked puzzled. “The contractor is not a ghost.”
“I will tell
you want I know but you have to promise me I will get a light sentence for cooperating.”
“Consider it
done!” Genevieve hastily said.
Tiwa stared
at her and said nothing.
“What I know
is,” Sandra said. “I received a mail in my spam seven or eight months ago. He
wrote he was coming to Nigeria on a mission to end someone’s life and he asked if I was
interested to kill my enemy and he would grant me my wish.”
“And what
happened?” Tiwa asked.
“I replied I
was going to think about it. I already knew about my mother's affair with my
boyfriend. I wrote back and he asked what my mother loved which I told him, drinking. He suggested poison and we concluded it was going to happen on her birthday.”
“Wasn’t he
the one to poison your mom?”
“Yes but I wanted
to do it by myself. It’s cheaper.”
“You paid
him?”
“Yes.”
“How much and what’s
the name of the account?”
“I paid in
cash. One million.”
“You met him?”
“You met him?”
“No. He gave
me a location of a public garden to place the money and he gave me the location of
where to get the poison.”
"You didnt communicate through phone?"
"No only through mails."
"You didnt communicate through phone?"
"No only through mails."
“So you have
no idea what he looks like.”
“No.”
“You saw the
mail in your spam,” Genevieve said. “Then it must have been sent to several people.”
“Yes and I
am sure the people that responded are the ones that sent him the names of
people that offended them.”
“They are
eight names.”
“Yes and the
last one is his mission. He said it’s going to be bloody.”
“No wonder that
person is going to die by a bomb. We have no idea who that person is. Do you?”
“He didn’t tell
me.”
Tiwa and
Genevieve grunted frustratingly.
“We have people
on that list that we don’t have their names.” Genevieve said. “How do we save them?”
“This is unbelievable.
We have to try to hack into his email address. Have you contacted the person
that might be able to it?”
“No. Let me
call him now.” Genevieve called Akin on the phone who was excited to hear from
her. She told him what she needed.
“It will be
difficult but I can try.” Akin said. “It will take some time.”
“I
understand. I will send you the address.”
“Okay.”
She ended
the call and opened the door. She called the officer to take Sandra away.
“What about my
light sentence?" Sandra asked her. “I hope you will keep your promise.”
“I never
promised you anything.”
“What!!” She
bellowed in shock.
Tiwa
giggled.
“Take her
away!” Genevieve yelled and hissed. Sandra was dragged out of the room.
“Let’s see
the inspector,” Tiwa said. “I have an idea on what to do.”
They met
Danjuma in his office.
“We have to
make an announcement.” She told them. “We have to inform the public about what
is going on.”
“Don’t you
think he might see the news, get angry and provoke him to kill his targets now?”
“I doubt that.
The news of us knowing will be intriguing to him and he might actually find
this interesting. Because of his ego, his mission has to be completed. We are women
and he would think we are weak and that will not stop him to do what he wants.
All I want from him to do is make a mistake.”
Danjuma
looked at Genevieve. “Do you agree?”
She sighed and
nodded. “Of course.”
“I will make a call. Excuse me.” He left and came back fifteen minutes later. “Some reporters
should be here soon. You are going live in thirty minutes.”
“Thank you.”
Tiwa said with a smile on her lips. She persuaded Genevieve to find something
to eat. Genevieve wasn’t hungry and was eager to let the public know about the contractor. The doctor called to inform her that Sandra's boyfriend was responding to treatment.
6:pm (Live) Breaking
news.
Genevieve,
Tiwa, inspector, police officers, journalists and reporters stood in front of
cameras from different TV stations. Tiwa was given the microphone.
“My name is agent Tiwa Bankole. It
has come to our knowledge that a killer is on the loose. He calls himself the
contractor and he has a list of eight people he wants to eliminate. For now we
have only five names and we are using this medium to appeal to anyone that has seen
his or her name on the list to come forward and report. My partner detective Genevieve Cole Arinze and I will do
everything we can to stop the deaths from happening. We are sorry to announce that
the first target was killed and the person that connived with the contractor
has been arrested. if you receive any mail from an email address contractorkill@yahoo.com please do
not click on it. Delete it immediately and don’t be tempted to end a loved one
or a friend’s life because of a grugde or the past. Let's move forward and have hope. We should live in peace and harmony. If you have
information or you are number 6, 7, or 8 on the list, do not hesitate to call
the numbers on the screen. They are mine, my partner and the inspector general
of police. God bless you all.”
******
He was in
his room. He had finished watching the news that made him uncomfortable. He
held the sheet of paper in his hands and read it again.
He was
number six. A heartbreaker to die by a setup. (seven weeks)
He clenched
his teeth and bit his lower lip. He was unafraid and thought nothing would stop him
from leaving the house and having fun. He crushed the paper in his hands, threw
it on the floor before switching off the television, and walked out.
The
housekeeper was cleaning the room. She saw the paper and thought it was
important. She went downstairs and gave it to the pretty woman in the living room.
She took it from him and froze when she read it.
Her husband
had gone on a business trip. She and her five years old son came to spend the
weekend with her husband’s brother. Her eyes were on the 6th number.
She remembered
the news of the contractor and the beat of her heart increased. She was scared and she tried to
hide it when her son looked at her face. Her brother in law’s life was at stake
and he had gone out. She thought of what to do next and who to call first.
She took a
deep breath and grabbed her phone. Mrs. Lucky Akande looked at the name again
on number 6. It was Sebastian Kehinde Akande.
*********
To be continued…..
Great and interesting read. Warm greetings!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ratti.
Deletemy own Sebastian ? ?
ReplyDeleteno no
so she has not moved on
You will find out.
DeleteKate I see you. Well done oo for wanting Sebastian dead
ReplyDeleteNa u yourself go die. God punish devil.
ReplyDeleteAbi o!
Deletejolly don't mind kate...her own is a minor case...she is too hysterical and is bound to make mistakes.
ReplyDeleteSebastian will finally crush her.
Which sabastian,hell no,...abeg cancel all this ooh if na joke make you stop am, I hope his mission is not one of the agent
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNothing bad should happen to sebastain o
ReplyDelete