Murder In Room 16. Episode Four

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Detective Rose sat down opposite them and said to the victim’s wife. “You brought a lawyer when no one has accused you of the murder of your husband. Are you guilty?” 

                                                                                                             

She laughed as if Rose said something funny. “Me guilty?” she asked. “Do I look like someone that could murder someone, especially who Kelechi was to me.” 

                                                                                               

“Where were you the day of your husband’s murder?” 

                                                                                 

“At home.” she said. “In my home inside my bathtub,” she said with no emotion. “I was having a nice time.”                                                                          
“You talk as if nothing happened, your attitude, gesture shows you don’t miss your husband and am very sure he won’t be mourned or missed. Did you know your husband was having an affair?”

                             

Her lawyer spoke. “My client will not be answering that question.”

                                                                         

“Your job is to represent her,” uttered Officer Rose. “And not to be an accomplice.” 

                                     
“Are you trying to call me a suspect?” barrister Okolie asked in an annoyed tone. 

                                                       

Kate Kelechi cleared her throat loudly to get their attention. They glanced at her. “I am not here to play a cat and mouse game. Sincerely Officer Rose Bamidele...am I correct?” 

                                                                          

“Yes.” she replied. 

                                                                                                                                                                          
“My supposed to be soon ex-husband was not killed by me. I am as innocent as a white dove.” 
                        

Rose eyebrows rose. “What do you mean supposed to be soon ex-husband?"                                                    

“Do you really want to answer that question?” her lawyer asked Kate. “They have no evidence on you. Why waste your time here?”                                                                                                                                               

She turned her gaze on him. “Barrister Okolie, I brought you here with me to avoid being arrested for what I did not do. I have every right to prove I’m innocent. I am paying you to keep quiet for now and when I need your attention, I will definitely let you know.”

                                                                                      

He frowned. “Whatever you want.” He looked away.                                                                                                           

Kate leaned forward to set her hands on the table, her long, green coloured nails pointing at Rose. “To answer your question officer Rose, we were going to divorce.” 

                                                                                             

“Did he agree to that?”                                                                                                                                                                

“Of course he did.” She said. “The marriage was over. Kelechi was a master of sex and what I mean is that, the man I married five years ago was a dog! A filthy one, he slept with anything under skirt. He slept with anyone, Single, divorced, and married ones. Kelechi must sleep with someone or have an affair wherever he went. I was not surprised he died, I warned him that his way of life would put him into trouble.” 
                                                                                                                                                     

“Then why did you get married to that kind of man?                                                                                                         

She smiled. “Money and he begged me to marry him. His sexual lifestyle was rotten. I never slept with him without a condom. I was scared he could infect me with a disease and we never wanted a child together. See my husband had many secrets, maybe it is the unclean lifestyle that pushed him to an early grave.”                                                                                                                                                                                                   

“Why divorce him if you actually married him for money? I was informed, he had financial problems but his friend Dele helped him. What is your motive, leaving him?”

                                                                      

Kate sat upright. “That’s because I have my own life to live. The divorce papers are inside my lawyer’s briefcase, I will show you to confirm I am saying the truth. He had signed on the papers; it was remaining me to sign. Dele was supportive. He did not want to render help at first, you can imagine an ordinary bar man with a huge amount of money. His life savings he wanted to use to open a business next year, and get married. He gave all to us.”

Barrister Okolie opened his briefcase and brought out some files for Rose to survey through, which she did. It was authentic and true.

                                                                          

A tap on the door. An officer entered to inform Rose she had a visitor. She excused herself and went to the counter to attend to her guest. She was surprised to see her.    
                                                                 

“Nkechi?” she asked                                                                                                                                                                      

“Yes officer.” Nkechi the receptionist answered.                                                                                                                             

“What are you doing here?”                                                                                                                                                       

“I was sacked this morning. I begged you not to tell my boss that the late Kelechi was having an affair with his wife.”

                                                                                                                                                                                            She put her hand gently on her left shoulder. “But I never did. I swear.” 

                                                                         

“Well, he said I was the first person you talked to and he knew I must have told you about it and I never informed him.”                                                                                                                                                                       

“You mean Mr. Osaro never knew his wife was a cheat?” 

                                                                                                

 She shook her head. “No. Don’t think he did.”                                                                                                                   

“Did he resume work today?”                                                                                                                                                     

“No.” she answered. “He called me on the phone.”

                                                                                                          

Officer Rose Bamidele dropped her hand down. “Don’t be angry. I will see him today or tomorrow to talk, okay. Just go home and rest.” 

                                                                                                                                                          

“Okay Officer.” Rose collected her number before she left.                                                                                  
********                                                                                                                                                                           

“Are you aware Kelechi never refunded the money to his friend Dele?” Rose asked the victim’s wife immediately she entered.                                                                                                                                                   

Her mouth agape, “Kelechi did not pay Dele?” she asked in a confused state.                                                     

“He did not.”                                                                                                                                                                                              

Her eyes went mad. “That bastard!” she barked. Immediately her face turned sober. “How could he do such to Dele? He’s own friend. He should not have been selfish to deprive him of his own money. But I don’t think Dele is capable of killing Kelechi. They were course mates in school back then and close friends.”                                                                                                                                                           
“Are you defending him?”                                                                                                                                                            

She sighed and shook her head.

                                                                                                                                                              

“You are still a suspect Mrs. Kelechi.”

                                                                                                                                      

“What?”                                                                                                                                                                                                
“Why have you not signed the divorce papers or where you having doubt, leaving him?”

                     

She made a faint sound. “I can never have doubts.” She said. “I wanted to read through the papers again and I was planning to sign them this week.”

                                                                                             

“So that Kelechi will be killed, I am sure he has a lawyer who has written his will. I do not think there will be time for him to change it or do it now.” 

                                                                                                                     

“I do not like what you are saying or where it is leading. I do not know what Kelechi wrote in his will or whether he changed it or not. All I know is that he was a liar, a manipulator, a chronic womanizer, a sex addict, an alcoholic and a selfish ingrate!”                                                                                                                               

“An eye witness saw you threaten the victim in a motel.”                                                                                             

She laughed out, loud. “That lowlife witness must be mad! Did he know what we argued about? Absolutely not!”                                                                                                                                                                                               

“But you threatened to kill him?” 

                                                                                                                                        

“Of course I did. I was extremely angry at him.”

                                                                                                                              
“Why?”                                                                                                                                                                                                                
“That is because I was embarrassed and harassed by Patrick. My knowledge and encounter with him was also an opportunity to dissolve our unnatural marriage.”

                                                                                                 

“Who is Patrick and why did he harass you?”                                                                                                                       

Her left eyebrow raised, “I thought Dele have told you about him. Have you not interviewed Patrick?“                                                                                                                                                                                     
"Dele never mentioned him.” She said. “Who is Patrick?”

                                                                                              

The lawyer quickly spoke to Kate. “I don’t think this is essential. I think Patrick should be left out of this. Protect your name.”                                                                                                                                                              

She turned to face him directly, her eyes on him. “I rather have my name wiped off from being a suspect, the deed has been done. Keeping it a secret is of no use. He’s dead and nothing can change that.”                                                                                                                                                 
“What’s going on?” Rose asked?” 

                                                                                                                                             

Kate faced her. “Kelechi was a freak, a bisexual. Patrick was his gay lover.”

               
********                                                                                                                                                                                               To be continued…….