To read the previous episode, click Here
***
***
Adebiyi ran down the
stairs when he heard the horn of Tiwa’s car. He opened the door for her and she
sat down tiredly. He closed the door and watched her pull off her shoes. She
inhaled and looked at his direction.
“Have you eaten
dinner?”
He gave her a look.
“Yes I have.” He walked to stand in front of her. “I wasn’t expecting you by
this time. You and your partner are supposed to be following the pastor. You
told me that one hour ago when you started trailing him.”
“We are through?”
“So soon? What
happened?” He sat beside her.
Tiwa sighed. “I
would have called you on my way home but my phone went down. We didn’t expect
where he would drive to.”
“Where did he drive
to?” Adebiyi asked curiously.
“To the Akanju’s
house.”
He widened his eyes
in disbelief. “You must be joking.”
“Right now I am
serious.”
“Why would that be
the first place he would go to?”
“I have no idea. I
thought maybe he would check where he must have dropped her shoes or go back to
the crime scene if he was the one that actually drove the Hilux there.”
“But the corn woman
described a taller man."
“Yes but we can’t
hold on to only that. Like she said it was quite dark.”
“How long did he
stay at the house?” He asked.
“He stayed there for
a while. Genevieve and I got nothing. The detective waiting close to his house
will give me an update if anything changes.”
“This is confusing.
I got a call from the victim’s father after you left the office. He wanted me
to release his daughter’s body for burial.”
“But we haven’t
solved the case.” She said in a concerned voice. “Why is he changing his
decision now?”
“I asked him and his
reply was that he wanted his daughter to rest.”
“I know we are
wasting time to solve this case but one thing I know, we get it right very
soon. We will speak with Abraham. Genevieve and I will see him tomorrow at his
school. There’s something she wants him to do for her too concerning a rape
case.”
“I see. Whatever
decision you and your partner make, let me know.”
“We will.”
“Maybe I should have
listened to you. Is it too late for me to ask for a warrant?”
She smiled and put
her hand gently on his lap. “I don’t think we will find evidence there. The
repaired tiles in his home are not enough. Her phone is still missing and we
have no idea where her shoes are. If he didn’t go straight to his house after
we saw him then he must have gotten rid of them. What we need now is either a
confession or a witness.”
“What about the
assistant pastor?”
“Genevieve called
him. He would come by the office tomorrow morning.”
“Do you think he is
capable of helping the pastor get rid of the body?”
“I don’t know until
he gives us a good reason where he was on the day Sade was murdered. He must
have a concrete alibi. ”
Adebiyi cleared his
throat and shook his head. “I am sure this young girl had a dream…”
“Oh yes. A dream to
live and take good care of her mother when she becomes a woman and that was
taken away from her. I am so eager to arrest Pastor Simon. I don’t even know
why I am still calling him a pastor. He is using that title to defraud and
deceive his followers.” She exhale heavily and rose on her feet. She clung on
to her body. “Before we fell in love with each other, you never wanted
children. Why?”
He heaved a sigh.
“Is not that I didn’t like children. This world will live in is dangerous.
People like us fight against that yet people get killed by their fellow humans
either by knife, gun poison… there are awful things like accidents, diseases…I
didn’t want to bring a child to witness such.”
“What made you
change your mind?”
“You,” He replied
with a smile. “I fell in love and I believed as parents to our children, we
will be able to protect and lead them to become great.”
Tiwa turned to him
with tears in her eyes.
Adebiyi jumped on
his feet and touched her. “Why are you crying?”
“I believe Sade’s parents
protected her yet she was raped and killed.” She bowed down her head.
He rubbed her arms.
“It’s okay my love.”
“She was so young.”
Her lips jiggled as she spoke. “Her killer is walking freely yet we can’t do
anything. We can’t even put handcuffs on his wrists!”
“It’s okay Tee. We
will get him…” He lifted her chin to peer more into her misty eyes. “We will.”
He cleaned her face and shoved her gradually into his arms. “I believe in you,
Tiwa. I have always believed in you and I know you will catch him.”
She closed her eyes.
“I hope so.”
***
“This is
unbelievable.” Quincy said to Genevieve after she explained to him in their
bedroom. They were sitting on top of the bed, “Why didn’t you or detective Tiwa
call the victim’s mother to confirm what the pastor went to do in their house?”
“If there was a
problem she or her husband would have called one of us.”
“It doesn’t mean!
Call her.”
“And when she
becomes curious to know why we are asking, what do you think we should tell
her? I can’t lie. If she knows that man killed her daughter, she won’t think
twice to do something drastic. We have no evidence yet and that is delaying the
arrest of that rapist!”
He got up from the
bed. “For how long will you and your partner wait? Nothing is happening.”
“That is why we will
talk to the pastor’s son.”
“And you think he
will choose between you and his father."
“No,” Genevieve
answered. “He will have to choose between his father and his best friend, a
girl that he called his sister.”
“Blood is thicker
than water. Don’t put your hope on him, he might disappoint you.”
She stayed quiet and
inhaled. “There are some many things on my mind. I want to wrap up the cases I
have. That pastor is not only a killer but also a rapist. No wonder he never
did anything to find out the truth about that Jordan.”
“How far have you
gone?” he asked.
“I am meeting up
with the girls tomorrow. I hope they come and say the truth.”
“And what happens
next?"
“I will have to talk
to Jordan’s sister.” She said.
Quincy gave her a
surprise stare. “And how will that help you?”
Genevieve smiled.
“Don’t worry, I have a plan.”
He climbed the bed.
“I hope your plan works out well.”
“At the office, I
asked the gate man if any delivery man came and he said no. My secretary lied.
She was the one that bought the wine and card for me.”
To his surprise, she
began to laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me! She has a crush on my husband.”
“You are not
serious. Anyways, I warned her never to try it again.”
“She wasn’t sacked?”
She asked stunned.
“She begged and
promised never to repeat such again.”
“I don’t like the
idea that she still works for you.”
“Akin is watching
her for me.”
“He better watch her
well.” She smiled at him.
Quincy smiled back
at her but the smile vanished when they heard the cry of Freddie. “I think it’s
your turn to check up on him.”
She stretched her
hands up and yawned. “You know I am very tired and weak.” She rested her back
on the bed and closed her eyes.
“You are pretending
but I won’t stand up at midnight, it will be your turn.” She continued to yawn.
“Pretender!” He got up and walked out of the room.
Genevieve opened her
eyes and grinned sheepishly.
***
“Are you sure he is
saying the truth?” Jordan asked his sister over the phone.
“Why would he lie? I
have told you what he said. Please, allow me rest. I need to sleep!”
“What about the time
you didn’t allow me sleep?”
“Leave me alone,
please. What do you want me to say? I told you what he said. Why are you
bothered? Are you scared of something?”
“I am not scared of
anything!”
“Then leave me
alone.” Justine said angrily.
“See, one of the
detectives accused me of attempted rape and she might secretly be investigating
about it.”
“Does Zach know
anything?”
“Zach is a gossip.
He is nosy and he might know something about me. He is in my choir group.”
“So what do you want
me to do?”
“Ask him one more
time what the detective asked him.”
“Is that all?” She
asked uncaringly.
“Yes and get back to
me immediately.”
“That will be after
school hours. Can I sleep now?”
“Yes, goodnight.”
She ended the call
without giving him a reply.
***
The next morning at
the door, Chisom turned her face away when Leroy wanted to kiss her cheek. Both
of them were having marital issues. Leroy made it known to her he wouldn’t
allow her work.
“Are you still mad
at me?” He asked her as she took a step backward to give him enough space to
walk out the door.
“It’s already late,”
she said coldly. “You should be at work by now.”
“I won’t be able to
concentrate.”
“Don’t concentrate,
I don’t care.”
“Why are you talking
like this? You were not working before we moved here and we didn’t have this problem.
What made you change your mind?”
“I am bored.”
“Then make friends.”
“I should make
friends with people that have jobs, right? You want them to mock me that I
depend on my husband to eat, buy my undies, make my hair…”
“Don’t make me feel
bad, Chisom!” Leroy uttered. “You and I know that’s not true. You have your own
money and you are capable of taking care of yourself. This is not about being
independent. I am not complaining working alone to take care of this family. I
just don’t want to stress you.”
She didn’t say
anything.
“Please, say
something.”
Chisom looked at him.
“You won’t allow me talk to the people that can help me get a job and you think
I will be happy with you? I am angry and I will continue to be until I get
something doing and bringing up about having another kid will not solve
anything. Go to work!” She stepped away from him and walked inside to sit. She
took a remote and turned on the television. “Shut the door on your way out.”
Leroy gazed at her
and sighed. He simply did what she told him.
***
By 9:35am, the
assistant pastor arrived and he was led into the interrogation room. Genevieve
was yet to arrive and Tiwa called her thrice but she didn’t pick. She decided
not to wait but question him all by herself.
“I hope there’s no
problem, detective.” Pastor Roger said to her the moment she entered. He appeared
composed and attractive as usual.
She sat down
opposite him. “No.’ She asked him where he was on the day Sade died.
He looked confused.
“Am I in trouble?”
Her facial
expression was stern. “Do you think you are in trouble?”
“I doubt because I
have not done anything bad. To answer your question, I went to the hospital to
be with my younger sister.”
“Abraham said he was
supposed to see you on that day.”
“That is true but I
couldn’t call him at that time. My sister was in labor, she was having
difficulty to push and my attention was needed for me to pray for her.”
“How long did you
stay at the hospital?”
“I left there
midnight to go home and freshen up.” He smiled cheerfully. “She gave birth to a
bouncing baby boy.”
“That means you have
more than one alibi.”
Pastor Roger’s face
changed. “Excuse me. An alibi? Am I a suspect in a murder investigation?”
“I would need the
contact of your sister and the address of the hospital too.”
“Jesus Christ!” he
said in shock. “Why would you think I would be the one that killed Sade?”
“I didn’t say you
killed her. I thought you could be an accomplice in the murder.”
“An accomplice? Does
that mean you know who killed her?”
Tiwa stood. “I want
the contact and address now.”
“I can’t believe you
would see me as that.” He rose. “I am a man of God. Don’t judge me by my look or
the people I work with.”
She looked at him
with curious eyes. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I am not
capable of anything evil!” he brought out his pen. “Can I have a piece of
paper?”
“Sure.” She left and
returned in a flash. She handed the paper to him and he wrote on it.
He gave her the
paper, she thanked him and he left with a sad mien written all over his face.
Tiwa gave Idara the details to confirm the alibi. She was returning to her
office when she sighted Genevieve with two young women. She walked closer to
them.
“You have not been
picking my calls.” Tiwa said to Genevieve.
“I am sorry. I
called you back when I saw them but you didn’t pick.”
“I was talking to
Pastor Roger.”
“Any luck?”
“Miss. Effiong has
gone out to confirm his more than one alibi.”
“Wow! If he has more
than one alibi then he is not the accomplice. I want to speak with these ladies
in my office. I will check up on you when I finish with them.”
“No problem.”
***
One hour later,
Idara returned and checked on Tiwa in her office. The pastor’s alibis checked
out. More than five nurses saw him during that period. Immediately Idara left,
Genevieve walked in and sat down.
“I went to see the
girl that Oma talked about.” Genevieve said. “My phone was in my car.”
“I understand. What
did she say?”
“She believed Jordan
raped her in her sleep. He drugged her.”
“That guy is a
serial rapist.”
“The girls that came
with me wrote their statement against him. He raped them.”
“What!” Tiwa
exclaimed.
“He threatened he
would kill them if they said anything. I think it is only Oma that was able to
escape from his fifthly hands.”
“And she was bold
enough to talk about it in church but they didn’t believe her. What are you
going to do now?”
“I will talk to Abraham
to help me convince his stalker to confess about what her brother has been
doing or I will use Abraham as a tool to get the truth from her.”
“You think she would
fall for that?”
“Like Sade’s friend
said, Justine is not a bright student.” Genevieve said. “Don’t worry, she will
succumb.”
***
At 12:23am, Tiwa and
Genevieve arrived at the school after the lunch break. They went to the
principal’s office to ask for permission to talk with Abraham and Justine for a
period of time. A teacher called Abraham away from the class and took him to a
quiet place where there were trees.
“What do you want?”
He asked in a disrespected tone as he saw them.
“Show some respect,
Abraham!” the teacher said and walked away after he apologized and greeted
them.
“What do you want?” He
asked nicely.
“We are here for two
things but I will be the one to go first.” Genevieve said. “I know Justine has
a crush on you.”
“So?”
“Do you like her?”
“No.” His eyes were
angry.
“I am investigating
her brother. He is a rapist.”
Abraham gazed at her
for a moment without showing any sign of shock. “I knew it. I knew that girl
wasn’t lying.”
“You mean Oma?”
“Yes! She stopped
coming to my church but she said he wasn’t able to rape her.”
“There are others
girls he raped.”
“What! I talked to pastor
Roger about it. He was the only one that believed me. He needed permission from my dad
to take action on the case but my dad refused. He said the girl was lying to
tarnish the image of the choirmaster and the church. So how can I help?”
“We want you to
convince Justine to say the truth.”
“So it’s true she
caught her brother. I don’t think I can do it.”
“Tell him the other
option.” Tiwa said.
“Is there another
option?” Abraham asked Genevieve.
“Yes.” She told him.
“I don’t want to
date Justine. She’s rude, dull and she never liked Sade.”
“I know but if I can
tell her I have been able to convince you to go out with her then she would
tell me the truth.”
“I know Jordan
disrespects her but will that be enough to go against her brother for me?”
“We will try.”
Abraham shook his
head. “I will think about it and get back to you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Can I go now?”
“Not yet,” Tiwa
said. “We know your father raped and killed Sade but we have no evidence.”
He didn’t flinch but
peered into their eyes. “I have no evidence.”
“You are a witness.”
“I am nothing!” he
appeared furious and pointed a finger at them. “Two of you should stay away
from me!” Abraham turned his back on them. “I have nothing to say!”
“Do what is right
and tell us what happened.”
He started to cry. Tears
soaked his handsome face. He heard their footsteps coming closer to him. He
heaved a sigh and shut his eyes. “Don’t say a word to me. If you knew what
happened that day, if I should open my mouth to say it, it will break hearts
including yours too.”
Tiwa swallowed.
Genevieve
questioned. “Why?”
He opened his eyes. “Because
you won’t believe it when I tell you.”
“Then
tell us.”
“What will I tell my
mother when she finds out I knew what was happening and I couldn’t save her.”
“Sade?”
He shuddered and
took a deep breath. “She trusted me. She believed in me. I didn’t know on time
and when I did, I protected my father.”
“Was that why she quarreled
with you?”
“Yes. She wanted me
to confront him. I was afraid.”
“You have to tell
us, Abraham.” Tiwa said. “Don’t beat around the bush.”
He shook his head
sorrowfully. “I can’t, please! Don’t get me involved.”
“You are already
involved,” she said calmly. “You only
have to tell us the truth.”
He started to walk
away.
“Wait!”
Abraham halted. He
refused to turn his back.
“If Sade was your
blood sister and you knew a man raped and killed her, would you keep quiet? I
am not going to force or arrest you for holding information. Okay, just give us
something to help us figure out what happened. Give us a description of what
transpired between her and your dad and we can come up with ours and use that
against your father. Whatever you say will be off record. Please, you have to
help us. ”
“First of all, where
is Sade’s phone and shoes?” Genevieve asked Abraham.
“I don’t know.” He
replied.
“Just tell us the
little you can, please.”
He inhaled a deep
breathe. “When my father dropped me off at Pastor Roger’s house, he was
supposed to go to the church from there. When I knew the pastor wasn’t around,
I ran outside to check on my dad but he had driven off. I couldn’t get a taxi
on time and when I did and arrived home, I noticed my dad’s car. I knew he was around.
I knocked but he didn’t answer. I used my key and entered, I heard a female
voice screaming, I didn’t realize it was Sade’s voice.” he shut his eyes. He
didn’t want to cry anymore. “I thought he brought a girl home and I was upset,
so I went to my room, put on my headset and listened to music with my phone. I
slept for some minutes and woke up. I felt I should check up on my dad but...”
The fears he held back exploded out from his eyes.
Tiwa walked closer
to him and placed her right hand on his shoulder. He shivered. “It’s okay. What
happened next?”
Abraham sniffed his
nose and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. “The moment I came out from
my room, I heard a tremendous noise at the living room. Something must have
fallen and I could hear the female voice crying and, threatening to expose him.
That was when I realized it was Sade.” He turned to face Tiwa.” I tiptoed to
check. I peeped down and saw my father smashing Sade’s head on the broken
tiles. I swear I froze. I saw blood and before I could say anything, Sade could
no longer move her naked body. She was dead.”
“She was naked?”
“Yes. My dad rushed
to his room, brought her clothes and wore them for her. He never knew I was
watching in fright.”
“We know your dad
didn’t drop her body where we found her.”
He opened his eyes
in astonishment and started to cry again. “But you don’t know who he was,
right?”
The partners shook
their heads.
“My dad made a call
immediately and said Sade came to his house but she fell. I feel terrible, I
feel sad for Mama Sade.”
Tiwa and Genevieve
looked at each other inquisitively and back at him.
“Why are you talking
like that?” Genevieve asked.
He stared at her.
“Figure it yourself. As for Justine, you can tell her what she wants to hear as
long as she will say the truth about her brother. Goodbye.”
Tiwa looked at
Genevieve. “You can go and talk to Justine now. I will call Adebiyi to send
detective Leroy to Pastor Simon.” Her phone started to ring. She looked at her
phone. “You can go now, it’s Adebiyi.”
“Okay.” She walked
away.
“Hello dear,” Tiwa
said.
“The victim’s father
is here for the body.”
“Did he say anything
concerning Pastor Simon coming to his house yesterday?”
“No.”
“What about his
wife?”
“She didn’t come
with him. Anything?”
“I was about to call
you. Don’t give him the body yet. I want you to delay him. I want Leroy to
bring in Pastor Simon for questioning.”
“You have evidence?”
“Not yet but don’t
worry, we are arresting him today. I will call Sade’s mom to come over to the
office. When she does, put her where she can’t see her husband. Genevieve and I
will be on our way soon.”
“Okay love.” he
ended the call.
Tiwa put a call
through to Mrs. Akanju.
Forty minutes later,
Genevieve joined Tiwa in her car. “What took you so long?”
“It wasn’t easy to
convince Justine but I finally did it.” She said excitedly.
“For real?”
She wrote her
statement and she would tell her parents when she gets home. I spoke to Abraham
to be nice to her for a while. Jordan will be arrested today.”
“That’s good.” She
turned on her ignition. “We have to go to the office now.”
When Pastor Simon
came, he wasn’t alone. A male lawyer was with him. Adebiyi took him to the
interrogation room.
***
When they arrived at
the bureau, Tiwa called Adebiyi to the lab. She narrated what Abraham said to
him, doctor Omoni, and Idara.
“He didn’t say who
his father called?” Adebiyi asked.
“No.”
“When I saw the body
of Sade, she wasn’t dumped like a piece of trash. The man you talked to said
they thought she was sleeping and that is because of the position the man
placed her. It was someone that cared for her that positioned her like that. Who
is tall that was close to her?”
“Her father.” Tiwa
and Genevieve said together but this time they didn’t smile. Sadness overtook
their faces.
“I wasn’t satisfied
with his explanation on that day.” Tiwa said. “Even if he was waiting for his
guest at the hotel, he already knew she wouldn’t come. Why wait? Why not go
home?”
“But it doesn’t make
sense.” Idara said. Why would Mr. Akanju agree to take his daughter’s body away
and keep quiet?”
“That is what we are
about to find out.” She looked at Adebiyi. “Where is Mrs. Akanju?”
“In your office.”
“Okay.”
“But how do you get
them to confess when you don’t have evidence against them?” Idara asked.
“That’s true.” Omoni
said. “The witness is not here.”
“They have been
lying to us.” Tiwa said. “This is the time to lie to one of them.”
Genevieve went to meet
Mr. Akanju in her office, he was unhappy that they were delaying him.
“We are sorry but we
have to talk.”
“Talk about what?”
“Let’s wait for my
partner.”
The lawyer of Pastor
Simon told him not to say anything when Adebiyi walked inside the room.
“Detective Tiwa and
Genevieve will join you very soon.” Adebiyi said.
“Why is my client
here, Mr. Gold?”
“To answer some
questions and he will be free to go.”
Tiwa walked into
Genevieve’s office with Sade’s mom.
“What are you doing
here?” He asked his wife.
“You didn’t know he
came here for the body of your daughter?” Tiwa asked her.
“He told me but I
didn’t agree to it. I left the house to stay at my friend’s place. I was there
when you called me to come here.”
“Were you at the
house yesterday when the pastor came?”
“No.” She gazed at
her husband. “Pastor Simon came to the house?”
“What is the meaning
of this?” He asked in an angered tone.
“Please, sit down
Mrs. Akanju.”
She sat beside her
husband. “What is going on?”
Genevieve sat on her
chair and Tiwa stood beside Mr. Akanju.
Tiwa leaned forward
to him. “Pastor Simon has finally confessed to what he did.”
“Confessed to what?”
Mrs. Akanju asked confused.
Her husband didn’t
act surprise but acted jumbled. “Confessed?”
“Yes and he said you
are involved.”
The size of his eyeballs
increased. “I am involved in what?”
“He raped your
daughter and both of you killed her together.”
“That’s a lie!”
Mrs. Akanju speedily
rose on her feet, with her hands on her chest. She widened her bright eyes and
almost lost her balance. She held on to the desk. She was breathing hard. “Tell
me this is a dream, tell me this is not true!”
“I had nothing to do
with it!” He uttered and faced Genevieve. “Please, take my wife away from here,
I will say the truth. The pastor is lying against me!”
“I will not leave
here!” She began to cry. “Tell me our pastor didn’t rape and kill our
daughter!”
“How am I sure you
will say the truth?” Tiwa asked him. “You are likely to defend yourself. Pastor
Simon has written his confession. You killed Sade and got rid of her body!”
“I didn’t kill my
daughter!” He spat out as his eyes started to get teary. His wife’s body trembled.
“But you dumped the
body.”
He nodded. “Yes, I did
and I am so sorry!” He burst into tears.
Mrs. Akanju glared
at him directly. She was in total shock. Her hands and lips quivered as she
searched for words. “No, no, you could not have done that. Daddy Sade, why?
Why?!” She pounced on his body and started to hit him on his chest. He
apologized repeatedly as he cried. Genevieve quickly grabbed her. “Leave me
alone! You are a wicked man!”
“I know it will be
difficult to remain here.” Tiwa said. “Maybe my partner should take you outside
and get some fresh air.”
She released herself
from Genevieve’s grip and wiped her face angrily. “I want to hear what he has
to say. I won’t touch him again!”
“I am sorry, Beatrice.”
Mr. Akanju said.
“Sorry for yourself!”
“Tell us what
happened on that day.” Tiwa said. Genevieve turned on the recorder on her
table.
“When my guest didn’t
arrive at the hotel…”
“A hotel?” His wife
asked.
“He will explain
better when he finish.” Tiwa said.
Mr. Akanju
continued, “I was about to leave when I received a call from my pastor that
Sade came to his house and said she didn’t want to join the choir anymore. I knew
he was panicking over the phone but he didn’t tell me why. He wanted me to come
over to his place. I didn’t take my car to the hotel, I left it in my office. I
boarded a taxi there and I met Sade’s lifeless body. He told me she fell down
his stairs when he was trying to convince her to fill the form.”
“And you believed
him?”
“What was I supposed
to believe? She didn’t look raped. She was dressed.”
“He dressed her up
after he killed her!”
“I didn’t know until
I saw you and your partner at my house telling me my daughter was raped and
murdered. That was why I told you to keep the body and find out the truth.”
“Recently you told
me the medical examiner might be making a mistake about it.” His wife said.
“That’s because Pastor
Simon told me he didn’t rape her.”
“No wonder you were
always going to see him and I wondered why you would do that during the period
of mourning our daughter!”
“I am sorry!”
“Sorry is not
enough! You believed him over the detectives. You believed him over the people
that gave us the truth about what happened to Sade!”
“Are you saying he
convinced you to take her body away?” Genevieve asked him.
“I wanted to call
the police but he told me it would ruin his reputation and he was ready to give
my family anything we wanted.”
"She was our only
child! How could you choose material things over our daughter!” She started to
cry. She knew the tears won’t stop crawling down her face.
“I had no choice but
take my daughter somewhere and place her body there. I am sorry Beatrice, I know
she was our only child but we can have another. Pastor Simon prophesied Sade
wasn’t going to be my only child. I am deeply sorry, Emem is pregnant for me.”
She slapped him hard
on his face. “Oh my God! I hate you! I hate you!”
Genevieve had to
take her away from the room.
“Do you know where
he kept Sade’s shoes?” Tiwa asked him.
“He threw them in
the trash outside his house. He is with Sade’s phone. He asked for it and I gave
it to him. He gave it to someone that would help him unlock the phone. He is
supposed to take it today to know the contents of her phone.”
She shook her head. “Do
you know the place?”
“Yes, I do.”
“You will give the
address to my partner. She will collect the phone.” She could barely look at
him in his eyes.
“I am sorry. He told
me if I didn’t ask for my daughter’s body he would take everything from me. Poverty
is a disease. I can’t go back to it.”
“Money is truly the
root of all evil. You are under arrest for being an accomplice in a rape and murder
case. You will be charged to court for your sentence. A colleague of mine will
bring a sheet for you to write what you said before he will place handcuffs on
you. May God forgive you.” Tiwa said and peeped at the door and called a
detective. She told him what to do. Tiwa gave Idara and Leroy the pastor’s home
address for them to search the trash can at the front of his house. She joined
Adebiyi at the interrogation room.
“What is going on
detective?” The lawyer asked her. “What has my client done?”
“He is under arrest
for rape and murder of Sade Akanju.”
“That is insane!”
Pastor Simon barked and rose.
“Mr. Akanju has
written his statement! I am sending my team to check the wastebin in front of
your house for her shoes! I am also getting Sade’s phone too. Even if you deny
it, I will ask for a warrant to take your DNA and match it with the sperm found
in Sade’s body and I am certain it will be yours!”
“Oh my God!”
“What does that mean
pastor?” His lawyer asked him.
“It means he raped
and killed the girl.” Adebiyi said.
“It was a mistake!”
The pastor stammered. I…”
“Say no more Mr.
Simon.” Adebiyi said with a straight face. “You are under arrest.”
He slumped on the chair and bowed down his
head in shame.
***
Two weeks later at
the funeral, Family and friends said goodbye to Sade at the cemetery. Sympathizers’
saluted Mrs. Akanju before they left. She turned her back and sighted Tiwa and
Genevieve. She walked up to the partners and hugged them.
“Thank you for
coming.”
“It’s nothing.” Tiwa
said.
“May her soul rest
in perfect peace.” Genevieve said.
“Amen and thank you
very much for what both of you did.”
“It’s our job. So
what are you going to do now?”
“For now, I don’t know.
I still cry in the middle of the night. My husband betrayed me. He deserved
what he got. I called Emem and she told me he is not even the real father of
the baby. She said the Pastor is the father.”
“Unbelievable.”
“This is serious.”
“Very serious
detective Tiwa,” Mrs. Akanju said. “The judge made a mistake. Fifteen years in
not enough for daddy Sade but I am glad Pas…” She sighed. “I am glad Simon will
spend the rest of his life in prison. I have to go now, thank you for
everything.” She hugged them again.
As Tiwa and Genevieve
walked towards their car, Abraham called them and they turned back. They saw
him with a woman. He greeted them and introduced the woman as his mother.
“My son told me
everything his father has been doing whenever I am not around. It’s a shame
Sade died. I loved her and it’s very sad we won’t see her again. You did well
detectives.” She shook their hands and left her son with them.
“I am sorry I couldn’t
save Sade.” Abraham said.
“It’s okay.” Tiwa
said. “You helped us.”
He looked at
Genevieve. “I heard Jordan was arrested. I am glad Justine told the truth.”
“I hope you are
still nice to her?”
He laughed. “Well,
yes. She came to the funeral with her mom but they have gone. Thank you once
again. I know Sade will forgive me.”
“She will.”
“Bye.” he waived at
them and they reciprocated. They entered into their vehicle.
“So what’s next?” Genevieve
asked the moment Tiwa switched on her ignition.
“We plan my wedding.”
"Finally! Thank God it has nothing to do with murder!”
***
The End.
***
***
Partners in crime
season3 will commence soon. I think next week. I will keep you posted.
I'm speechless oo.. Bcos of money😧😢
ReplyDeleteOh dear!😢😢😢
ReplyDeleteWhere do i even begin from???
So Sad Sade had to suffer such ill fate.
This was indeed a beautifully executed story.
Thank you so much for this, my number one entertainer!
Lots of hugs & kisses.😘
Oh dear!😢😢😢
ReplyDeleteWhere do i even begin from???
So Sad Sade had to suffer such ill fate.
This was indeed a beautifully executed story.
Thank you so much for this, my number one entertainer!
Lots of hugs & kisses.😘
It's really sad that we sometimes fall victim to those who are supposed to be our caregiver, guide and protector.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carina. You are the best. Keep up the good work.
Looking forward to Partners in Crime season 3.
Waooh,what a sad story, ..nice one ckj, Abraham and Justine will end up be best of frds, nice one babe welldone
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your comments.
DeleteI appreciate.