one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
***
***
“Don’t you think employing more staffs will cost you?” Tiwa
asked Adebiyi in his office at the GT Bureau. The navy blue trousers suit she
wore suited her figure. “Recall, you are still saving for our elaborate wedding
even though I have told you our friends, employees and few family members are
more than enough for me. You spent a fortune on the equipment’s at the GT lab.
Remember, we are going to be paying the workers at the end of every month. I
know people are paying us to help them catch whoever killed their loved ones
but a time will come when crime rate will reduce. Don’t you pray for that to
happen?”
With his left hand cropped on his jaw, he kept a smile on his
lips that made her grimace. He wasn’t giving her the response she wanted. He
saw the look on her face, the smile increased and he took the teacup on his
table and sipped the remaining liquid. He pushed his neck higher to glimpse at
Tiwa’s tea and then he glanced at her straight but lovely face.
“Finish your tea, my love.”
“If you call me your love one more time, I will leave your
office.”
Adebiyi in his usual casual wear and gold accessories on his
neck and wrists laughed and dropped the cup on his desk before standing on his
feet to stand behind Tiwa. He rubbed her shoulders meekly and pecked the back
of her right ear.
“We have discussed about this at home, we will never mix
business with pleasure.”
He turned the swivel chair for him to be able to pierce his
eyes into hers. Tiwa looked away from Adebiyi but he put his middle finger
under her jaw and swerved it to the earlier spot.
“I never said I was going to employ more workers. I only
mentioned a person and you blew it out of proportion. I am only trying to help
the friend of my friend to secure a job here. I don’t want to think people
working for us are only here for the money but for the passion they have to
solve cases. It doesn’t have to be about only murder. People are missing every day;
lazy and greedy people are kidnapping the rich. You and I, including Genevieve
and even Quincy will not stop doing the right thing. As long as humans are not
perfect, the world can never be perfect. Bad things will surely happen but the
grace of God and the pureness in our hearts will pull us through.”
Tiwa smiled cheerfully and touched his face softly. “You always
know the right thing to say.” She moved forward and surprised him with a wet
kiss. She released his mouth and stood on her feet.
Adebiyi said teasingly, “I thought we agreed to never mix
business with pleasure.”
She laughed aloud and motioned towards the door. She put her
hand on the handle. “That is why I am leaving right now.”
“Admit it that you find me irresistible!”
As she saw him move closer to her, she quickly opened the door
and found Popoola about to knock on it. He was with the male receptionist, Joey.
Tiwa’s eyes brightened. Popoola and her exchanged pleasantries and he entered
into Adebiyi’s office.
Tiwa shut the door, glanced at the large hall of investigators busy on their respective desks. They also had large offices that contained detectives working in the same unit. She heaved a comforted sigh and walked at the direction of Genevieve’s office. She knocked twice and entered. Her partner was talking on the phone. Tiwa walked closed to the desk and remained standing.
Tiwa shut the door, glanced at the large hall of investigators busy on their respective desks. They also had large offices that contained detectives working in the same unit. She heaved a comforted sigh and walked at the direction of Genevieve’s office. She knocked twice and entered. Her partner was talking on the phone. Tiwa walked closed to the desk and remained standing.
“Thanks dear.” Genevieve spoke through her iPhone. She made eye
contact with Tiwa and smiled. “Okay, no problem. Kiss him for me whenever
you get there. Bye, love you.” She ended the call and cautiously threw the
phone on her table. “Any case?”
“No.”
“Thank God. At least no one has been murdered.”
“I hope so.”
“Have you finished discussing that issue with Mr. Gold?”
“Not really. I think he wants to help someone that Mr. Popoola
knows. He is here and I am sure they must be discussing about it now.”
Genevieve gave her a side eye. “Are you sure you are not worried
about another woman in your bureau.”
Tiwa shrugged. “You think I am concerned about other women working
here?”
“Most of the female employees here are married. What if this new
one is single, sexy and searching?”
“Triple S. I am more than enough for my man.”
Genevieve laughed in jest.
Tiwa continued to talk as she rested her hands on the desk. “No woman
can steal him from me. We love and trust each other. You should be the one
afraid. You are no longer working with your husband; another woman might be
seducing him with his eyes…”
“And I will pluck them out if I find any woman doing that.”
This time around, it was Tiwa’s turn to laugh as she pleased.
Genevieve shook her head. “I meant every word I said.”
“I hope I will be there to watch you get the eyes out.”
“You will but I hope you won’t arrest me.”
Both of them laughed together. Genevieve stared at her wristwatch.
“Are you going out?” Tiwa enquired.
“It’s already one pm. Leroy and I planned to have lunch together
but he hasn’t checked up on me.”
“Maybe he is busy.”
They heard knocks on the door. Tiwa removed her hands from the
desk, threw her eyes on the entrance and folded her arms.
“Come in.” Genevieve said.
Leroy entered. Leroy operated in the ‘missing persons’ unit. He
was holding a file. Tiwa and he greeted each other, while Genevieve stood and
snatched her cell.
She said to him, “I have been waiting for you. Are you ready to
go now?”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t make it to lunch.”
“Is everything okay?”
He looked down at the file and wore a solemn facial countenance.
“I won’t call it a case yet but I want to look into it.”
“Anything we can do to help?”
He gazed at her. “No, don’t bother yourself. A couple reported in
the morning that their daughter was missing. I told them to go home and return
when it is up to twenty-four hours. I took their numbers and I decided to call
and check on them by 12pm. I did, their daughter has not returned home.”
“When was she supposed to get home?”
“She was supposed to return home by 5pm yesterday.”
“Is her number switched off?”
“She didn’t take her phone with her. She was charging it at
home.”
“How old is she?” Tiwa asked.
Leroy replied. “Fifteen years old.” He opened the file, took out
a photograph and passed it to her. “Her mom gave it to me. She was devastated. She
could not stop crying. I hope this girl is okay wherever she is.”
Genevieve enthused near Tiwa to look at the picture. “She seemed
older than her age.”
“That’s true.” Tiwa extended the pic back to him. “Where did she
go to yesterday?”
“She was meant to attend a church to submit her form to join the
choir. The father of the girl said they contacted some members of the choir
group who said they never saw her. And the choir master did not show up too.”
“He should be questioned.”
“I haven’t talked to him yet but we have no evidence she was
with him.”
“Maybe she went to visit a friend before going to church and the
person persuaded her to stay behind and forget about joining the choir.
Anything is possible.”
“We don’t know if she went to see someone and decided to sleep
over but her mom said she has never slept outside, except at a relative’s place
during the holiday.”
“She’s quite big for her age,” Genevieve stated. “Maybe she has
a secret boyfriend.”
“I didn’t ask but the mother mentioned she is a v.”
“A virgin?”
“Yes.”
Genevieve and Tiwa exchanged glances and focused their eyes on
him. “If you need any help, Leroy, let us know.”
“Thanks, I will be going to the church to speak with the choir
members. They are practicing now. I hope you enjoy your lunch, Cole.”
“Don’t worry, she will.” Tiwa said and smiled.
Leroy nodded at them and went away.
“I was really looking forward to have lunch with him.” Genevieve
said. “I wanted to catch up on old times.”
“How many times have both of you catch up on old times?”
“He is my brother from another mother.” She glanced at Tiwa. “We
have come a long way. I am very happy he is here.”
“You can say that again, come, let’s check up on Dr. Omoni, she
should be waiting for me.”
She hesitated and flung an eyebrow. “The medical examiner is
following us to have lunch?”
“Yes. She wants to show me a new eatery. She said their food is
very delicious.”
“Can we go without her, please?”
She gave her an ironic mien. “It’s a capital N and a big O. I
know why you don’t want her to coms with us.”
“Everyone around her should know. With due respect, I don’t know
the difference between her and a parrot.”
Tiwa was forced to chuckle. “There’s a huge difference, she is
human and a parrot is an animal.”
“But she behaves likes one sometimes.”
She rolled her eyes and stared at Genevieve. “I agree but we
will pretend we are listening whenever she talks.”
“Christ! That woman can talk! I almost ran mad when she talked
about her messy divorce.”
“She told you too?”
“Of course she did. I am convinced her ex-husband left her
because of her inability never to keep quiet when required. Someone needs to
tell her the truth!”
Tiwa gripped her tommy as she laughed. ”I fell asleep when she told
me about the divorce. I think she chose to talk about it to forget she might
still be in love with her ex. Let us not blame her. Do as I say, she talks, we
pretend to listen and always nod.”
“Better.”
They move together to the door and Tiwa opened it. Both of them
saw Omoni standing with a grin on her tiny lips. She was a woman with a petite
stature despite in her early forties. She wore medicated glasses on her oval face.
“Detectives!” Omoni said with enthusiasm and gazed at Tiwa. She
was holding a black handbag. “I was about to knock when you opened the door. A
detective directed me here. He said you are here. Time is no longer on our
side. We should be going now. I am very hungry and I hope we get there on time!
I don’t want to miss their yam pottage with snail, it’s my favorite! It seems
your partner is tagging along with us. Do you mind if I sit in the front seat? Who
is driving?”
Genevieve and Tiwa pointed at each other.
***
“How good is this person you desperately want me to employ?”
Adebiyi Gold questioned his longtime friend, Popoola after they chatted about
their personal lives.
“I don’t want to exaggerate because she might not be as good as
what you expect. You can put her under your wings, be a guide to her. Her elder
brother is my friend. I think I like her but I haven’t told her yet. Getting
into a relationship now, is still quite difficult for me.”
“You better tell her before she finds someone else.”
“I will try my best.”
“If your best isn’t good enough, you will lose her.”
He nodded, “I know.”
“What unit should I put her?”
“Probably tech if you have.”
“We don’t but I can set up a desk for her. She should give you a
list of the things she wants as long as I can afford them.”
“You can afford anything.”
He let out a low sigh and rubbed his eyes before looking back at
Popoola. “I am broke.”
His jaw dropped. “Broke?”
“Yes and I don’t know how to tell Tiwa.”
“Wait, I mean being broke, you mean, you still have close to
twenty million naira if I put all the money in your accounts together.”
“Of course,” Adebiyi said. “I have more than that.”
Popoola blew out a sigh of relief. “You almost gave me a heart
attack.”
“Thank God you didn’t. No hospital is close to this place. Ever
since I became wealthy, I don’t know how to manage.”
“Have you forgotten you have investments? Your other businesses
might not be booming as usual because of the recession but things are already
getting back together. I believe the gold chain on your neck is new. I know you
spent a fortune on it.”
“So?”
“You don’t need all these things.”
“I am expecting a huge amount of money soon but I don’t know how
long…”
“Spare me the details, see cut out your budget. You don’t need
anything new for now. The only time you have to spend hugely is when Tiwa ask
for it. I know her, she won’t, she is not that kind of person and thank God for
that. If both of you were alike, there will no longer be money in your accounts
again!”
“You say it as if it’s a bad thing to spend money.”
“You say it as if it’s a bad thing to spend money.”
“That’s when it’s unnecessary!” Popoola uttered. “I think you
should talk to Tiwa about it so that she can help you save! Immediately you
marry that woman, get a joint account!”
“You say it as if I can’t control myself.”
“Yes! You are a lousy spender.”
“And you are a lousy motherfucker. You are very boring.”
“I will take that as a compliment.”
“I never saw it as an insult but the truth.” Adebiyi gave one of
his delightful smiles. “Why can’t you be angry with me?”
“You have done a lot for me so I overlook your unpleasant
attitude.”
He smiled sheepishly. “I am sure Tiwa saw that but chose to
still love me.”
“She saw beyond that, Adebiyi.” Popoola said in a serious tone. “Tiwa
saw the good in you.”
***
The hard knock on the door stopped Quincy Arinze from writing further.
His skin was looking sleek and the expensive glasses he wore suited his face. He
raised his head to look at the doorpost.
“Come in.” He said.
Akin entered. He has added more weight and the choice of attire
he put on, someone could mistake him for a medical doctor. He walked forward to
the desk.
Quincy added. “Please, sit down.”
“Yes sir.” He sat on one of the chairs positioned opposite
Quincy.
“I want to leave to check up on Freddie but I want to talk to
you first. I won’t beat around the bush but go straight to the point but first
of all, I want you to know, I appreciate you. I admire your dedication to your
work. I cannot compare it to that of your colleagues. ”
“Thank you sir.”
“I can’t forget how you risk your life to follow me during the
abduction of my wife. Despite you lost someone you love on that day, you still
chose to work under me.”
“I can never blame you for what happened, sir.”
“I used to think maybe I should have allowed her stay inside the
car that day. It wasn’t supposed to end that way.”
“Sir, please don’t talk like that.”
“I have to because I cannot continue to keep it inside. If I do,
I might blow up. I can’t tell Genevieve, it will surely bring back sad
memories.”
“It was our job to be there on that day.” Akin said. “We got
what we wanted. Oscar did not escape or got away with what he did. When you
feel bad about that day, think about this, Jasmine did not die in vain.”
He sighed but kept his not-too-happy look. “I am worried about
you.”
“Worried?”
“Yes. I have never seen you with a woman.” Akin smiled a little.
“I want you to focus yourself and not only on the job. You are not getting
younger.”
“I know sir.”
“So what are you waiting for? Have you not seen any woman you
like?”
He scratched his head gently and dropped his hand. “I have not
been looking, sir.”
“You see what I am saying. Do me a favor and move on with your
life. I can talk to my wife on your behalf to search for a nice lady.”
Akin brightly smiled. “Don’t bother her. I am capable of doing
that. I have listened to your advice and I thank you for putting me in mind.
Thank you, sir.”
Quincy stood and extended his hand. “Thank you too, Akin.”
Akin rose on his feet and shook his boss’s hand before walking
out of the office.
***
“This food is really delicious.” Omoni said as she finished her
lunch.
Before they got there, she spoke as Tiwa drove down to the
restaurant. In the car, Genevieve simply nodded or made a sound with her mouth
whenever Omoni looked back at her. Tiwa focused her eyes on the road as the
medical examiner chitchatted about the place she worked before joining GT
Bureau.
“Did you enjoy your food?” She asked Tiwa and Genevieve. They
responded with a ‘yes’ answer. Tiwa already paid the bills immediately the
waiter brought their orders. “I was thinking we should do this often, just the
three of us. It will be fun. We can also hang out during weekends if there is
no work to do. Is that okay?”
Genevieve was tempted to tell her she was a talkative but Tiwa
quickly responded.
“We will think about it. We rest when we have the chance during
weekends. Can we go back to the office now, it's three O'Clock?”
“Sure but I have to use the ladies room.” She got up. “I will be
right back in a jiffy.”
“We will wait for you in the car.” Genevieve said.
Omoni with a smile on her face and her bag in her hand, scrambled
away from them. Tiwa and Genevieve stood and walked side by side to the
vehicle.
“I am still surprised at you, Tiwa.” Genevieve said as she
entered into the passenger’s seat while her partner took her rightful position.
“It’s so unlike you not to criticize Dr. Omoni. It seems you were enjoying her
long conversation as we ate. There was a time she almost choked on her food.
Thank God you quickly gave her her bottled water. If she was younger than me, I
would have smacked her buttocks.”
She laughed lightly before she spoke. “I am surprised at myself
but what can I do to stop her from talking. She loves it. I respect her,
talking is her hobby.” She pointed at Genevieve. “Have you forgotten she sat
here before?”
“I don’t care. You are driving and you don’t need distraction. I
like her but she talks all the time.”
They kept quiet when Omoni approached the car. She saw Genevieve
and carefully opened the backdoor. She sat. “You changed your position.”
“Yes, I did.” Genevieve said without glancing back at her. Tiwa offered
her a side look and turned on the ignition. Genevieve switched on the radio and
a Nigerian music came on.
“You love music?” Omoni asked as she directed her eyes to
Genevieve.
Without looking back, she replied. “Yes, I do.”
“You see, music is a spiritual….”
Genevieve increased the volume.
Omoni raised her voice to talk to her. “It seems you are
enjoying the music!”
“Yes, I am!” She continued to nod her head as the music blast
the stereo.
Omoni stayed mute while Tiwa drove and sang to the songs. As
they got to a certain point, she slowed down and pointed at the next road she
was about to turn to. Tiwa lowered the music volume.
“There is traffic there and I don’t see it moving.”
“I haven’t mastered the road here in Abuja.” Genevieve said. “I
don’t think there is another route to take.”
“There is!” Omoni said with excitement. “My ex-husband…,”
Genevieve and Tiwa speedily peeped at each other and looked away. “once had the
same issue but he took another road and came out on a street before bursting
into the main road. That day we were coming from a hotel. He took me out on a
treat and I had the best time of my life. If only I knew we would divorce, I
would never have…”
“Followed him there, right?” Tiwa asked in a fervent tone.
Her eyes opened in delight and surprise. “Yes! How did you
know?”
“I guessed. Can you show me where your ‘ex-husband’ passed?”
“Sure! How can I forget when I had a wonderful…”
“Time with him,” Genevieve completed her statement and turned
back to look at her face. “Can you show Tiwa where to pass now?”
“Oh, sure! Reverse back and take the next turning to your left.”
Tiwa did as she said it. “Now, drive inside and turn to the second street on
your right. You will drive to the end and we will come to the road you want.”
“Okay, thanks.” Tiwa said and zoomed off.
“You’re welcome. What if I never followed my ex-husband on that
day, we would have joined the traffic…”
Genevieve increased the volume of the radio.
“You still want to listen to music?” Omoni asked her in a loud
voice.
“Yes!”
Omoni rested her back on the leather seat and peered through the
window. “What’s going on?” She asked as she saw a crowd on their right side. There
was a bushy spot there. “Stop! Let’s find out why they gathered.”
“They could be watching a magician or listening to a preacher.”
“I don’t think so.”
Tiwa did not say anything but parked the car and switched off
the ignition.
“I see someone lying on the ground.” Omoni said and hurried out.
She maneuvered her way inside the crowd; she inhaled at the sight of what she
saw and ran back to the car. “A girl is on the ground. She looks dead to me!”
Tiwa and Genevieve rushed out and showed their badges to the
gathering. Some of them gave way for them and the rest began to leave. Omoni
already took hand gloves from her bag and wore them. She returned to check the
body. The girl was putting on a multicolored shirt and a knee length black
skirt. Her feet were bare.
“What happened to her?” Genevieve asked the small crowd.
No answer.
One young man came forward and spoke, “We met her like that when
we came to work this morning.”
Tiwa surveyed the area and noticed they were more shops than
houses. She turned her back to look at the left, a woman roasting corn stood
closed to her little kids. The trader quickly looked another direction when she
made eye contact with Tiwa.
“What time does shop owners resume at their shops?” Tiwa asked
the man.
“Most times, 8 or 9 but rain fell this morning. I came here by 11.”
“And the body was already here?” Genevieve asked.
“Yes.”
Tiwa pointed at the woman, “What about her? What time did you
think she come?”
“Definitely before us.” he replied. “She always comes here very
early in the morning. If she is not roasting or boiling corn, she is selling
fruits.”
“What time does the shops close?” Genevieve inquired.
“6pm.”
“This girl wasn’t here yesterday before you closed?”
“No.”
“Does the corn woman close at the same with you?”
“No. She stays behind because of people driving along this
street. They stop to patronize her.”
“But why didn’t anyone report about this girl?” Tiwa chipped in.
“We thought she was mentally deranged, homeless and she decided
to sleep here. We suspected something was wrong when she didn’t stand or move
her body after a while.”
“Is she really dead or unconscious?” Genevieve asked Omoni when
she stood up and stepped an inched away from the body.
She sadly shook her head. “She is dead.”
“Could it be a hit and run accident?”
“I have no idea until I take her body to the lab for further
examination. She probably died more than nineteen hours ago considering the body fluids.”
“She died yesterday.”
“Yes. I would say between 5pm to 7pm. The rain fell on her.
There are bruises on her wrists which I can’t say are defensive wounds until I
look thoroughly at the body.”
Genevieve looked at the face of the lifeless girl. “Why does it
look like I have seen this face before?”
“Really?” Tiwa gazed closely at it for few seconds, and gasped.
She stared at Genevieve. “She is the missing girl.”
Genevieve’s eyes broadened and she glanced at the face again. “Oh my
God, it’s true!“
“Can you help me check her shirt pocket?” Tiwa asked Omoni. “It
looks swollen to me.”
Omoni did and brought out a folded paper soaked with water but
it was still visible to read some of the words when she unwrap it. Tiwa looked at it
diligently and faced her partner. “It is the form for the choir. She never got
to her destination.”
“How do I tell Leroy that the girl he is looking for is dead?”
Genevieve asked.
Tiwa said. “I have no idea but he will certainly not be happy
about it. With the way he spoke about the girl’s mother, I wonder how she will
take it when we break the news to her.”
***
TO BE CONTINUED....
***
TO BE CONTINUED....
Welcome back. I'm sure this is one of its kind again. Wehdone dear. God bless your handwork
ReplyDeleteThank you Amarachi.
DeleteGod bless you!
Carina this is so interesting already. Thanks as always.
ReplyDeleteNext episode should be posted soonest oh
Thank you Anon.
DeleteTomorrow!
Welcome back Carina
ReplyDeleteThanks Gifty.
DeleteYippee!
ReplyDeletewelcome back C.K.J, such a beautiful piece. I tust it's going to be a hit.
well done dearie.
My love thanks!
DeleteWaooh nice episode,wellcome ckj, or will I say wellcome back to myself.lol..longtime carina,i sent you msg on ya bbm,...but no longer responding
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