*****
Episode 5 Title: Complex Scenario
*****
“This is ridiculous!” I spat out.
I was not only disheartened about it but also furious. After all my effort of
convincing Julius that I was not lying to him, but telling the truth he ended
up being killed. “Why is it that whenever we are close to finding the truth
something destroys it? Everything regarding this case gets broken! I do not
want to give up on this case because Julius death proves he was not guilty but
innocent. The master minder of the elimination of your father played him. He
thought they must have helped his mother but they lied to him. The innocent man
did not even know his mother was still at the hospital bed. What is the way
forward now?”
Quincy answered, “I’m still
thinking of the way forward. I am sure he was able to get across with someone
that confirmed the whole thing.”
“He was going to contact me after
finding out the truth.”
“It means there are insiders
among the prisoners.”
“I am sure about that,” I said. “The
real murderer must have put someone there to monitor him. This is really sad news.”
“I will take you to the office,
and drive to the location of the jail cell, talk to the prison administrator
and some of the cell guards.”
“Why can’t we go there together?”
“I don’t want eyes on you. I
don’t know who is watching you now that they know you went to visit Julius.”
“It will make things worse if you
get yourself involve in this.”
“I will only show I am concerned
about the death of the prisoner,” Quincy said. His face looked dull and I could
tell he was miserable about the unfortunate incident.
“I am the right person to do the
questioning and not you,” I said. “Have you forgotten you said the case must
not be linked to you and I? Let me do this once and for all.”
Quincy Harvey sighed. “I will
take you there and wait for you in the car.”
“Okay.”
“You still have to be careful and
have it at the back of our minds that you were threatened.”
“I can’t forget,” I said and took
my seatbelt. “Let’s go.”
*****
The partners arrived at their
destination. Genevieve came out from the car and walked to the entrance gate.
Quincy lowered his car window, pushed his head over, and spoke to her.
“You have to be careful in
there,” he said. “Be at alert. Don’t ask pushing questions, you understand what
I mean?”
She smiled moderately. “I
understand. I won’t stay long.”
She went inside and saluted some
of the workers before going to the prison supervisor’s office. She knocked and
sauntered inside. The supervisor got up and shook her hands.
“Please have your sit.” He said
and sat down back.
“Thank you.” Genevieve said and assembled
herself on a chair positioned opposite him. “My boss informed me about the
prisoner that was killed by one of his cell mates.”
He nodded. “Yes, you are right.
His body has been deposited in the mortuary.”
“This is very sad. Julius and I
spoke about something very important yesterday when I came to see him. I will
like to know if he made calls or he received a visitor yesterday.”
“All prisoners are liable to make
and receive calls two times in a month,” he said. “It could be their family
members, friends or lovers. The deceased did not make or receive any calls for
the past three months, so he made some calls last night.”
“Can I get the phone numbers he
called?”
“It is our rules and regulations
to clear call records between a prisoner and his caller.”
Genevieve sighed disappointedly.
“So there is nothing you can do to help me?”
“I am sorry.”
“What about the cell mate that
stabbed him?”
“His case will be taken to court
and charged for what he did,” he replied. “To me, there’s no need for that.”
“Why?” Genevieve asked in a
puzzled tone.
“The prisoner was already
sentenced to die by hanging by next week.”
“Did this prisoner have a visitor
last night?”
The supervisor touched his chin
for a short time and answered. “I think so because some of the prisoners had
visitors. Maybe he was one of them. You can interview the prison ward that
guarded the cell of late Julius and the stabber.”
The detective rose on her feet
and shook his hand. “Thank you for your time. I will find my way to meet the
warden.”
“You are welcome and my regards
to your boss.”
She gently smiled. “I will send
your regards.”
Quincy was pressing his phone
when he looked up and sighted a man wearing a black cap, brown polo, blue jeans
and shoe. He was standing by the side of a tree gazing at his car. Quincy
dropped his handset on the passenger’s seat and fixed his eyes on the person.
The man dipped his hands inside his left pocket, took out his phone and spoke
on it for close to a minute. He ended the call and kept back his phone. He
folded his arms and looked on at the director’s vehicle.
Quincy decided to come out from
the vehicle and walked towards the direction of the man. When he noticed he was
coming at his way, he ran off but Quincy followed him in swiftness. The man
wearing a black cap was able to reach where he parked his vehicle and drove in
full speed.
“Shit!!” snorted Quincy. He
quickly looked at the plate number. After that, he had no choice but to go back
and wait for his partner without entering his car. He choose to stand by his
car and observed who was coming or going inside the building.
Genevieve met with the guard. She
was female.
“I will like to know if the prisoner
that killed Julius received any visitor last night.”
U“No but his brother called him.”
U“No but his brother called him.”
“He’s brother?” she asked.
“Yes ma.”
“Did he give a name?”
“He said his name was Sparo.”
“Sparo? What kind of a name is
that? Was it immediately I left, Julius made calls?”
“Yes ma.”
“What about the guy that stabbed
him? When did he receive a call from his brother?”
“In the evening, I think by 7pm.”
“Can I see and speak with him?”
The woman shook her head. “You
can see but I doubt he will speak to you. He has refused to say why he killed
Julius. He said he is ready to die when we asked why he did it.”
“Your supervisor informed me he was
supposed to die by hanging.”
“That is correct ma.”
Genevieve felt there was
absolutely no need to interrogate the stabber. She gave her right hand for a
handshake, thanked the warden and left the building.
******
I came out to see my boss with
his quaking eyes. He ordered me to get into the car quickly. I obeyed and asked
him what the matter was after he drove off. He told me what he saw.
“Someone is following you Genny
or maybe the both of us!” he blurted out.
“I don’t think it’s us but only
me. No one suspects you.”
“They know you are still
investigating the case. This is becoming dangerous!”
“So what do we do?”
“We?” he asked and looked at me.
“Since you said this does not have to do with the both of us, they know you are
looking for the truth. What you have to do is lay low for now.” He fixed his
eyes on the road.
“What!” I exclaimed in shock.
“Why should I lay low? I am no longer afraid. I will not be a coward!”
“Don’t question me Genevieve
Cole! You are not a coward. This is the right thing to do! I regret telling you
the truth about the relationship I have with Freddie Arinze. I regret allowing
you to investigate this case with me…”
“What?”
“I was not thinking straight when
I foolishly agreed to this nonsense! Your life is at stake because of my
stupidity!! How could I be so careless? Why should I even agree to this in the first place when I know how I feel about you?” He hit the wheel of his car in
fury. “This is a huge mistake! My father warned me not to get you involved in
this! I should be ashamed for not honoring the dead man’s wish!”
“This is not your fault! You
should not put the blame on you.”
“I will put the blame on me!!
Don’t make me feel like a good person!”
“You are a good man Quincy. Stop
talking like this!”
“You are dismissed from this
case,” he said to my surprise. “In fact, you are no longer permitted to
continue to investigate my father’s case underground.”
“You cannot stop me Quincy
Harvey.”
“I have the right to do that! I
am the son of Freddie Arinze!”
“And I was like a daughter to
Freddie Arinze. He was my boss, friend and mentor. Don’t make me lose my
temper!”
“I don’t care he was all that do
you. You are not his blood!”
“Stop the car!!!” I yelled. I was
hurt and angry. Very angry with the man I hate to love. He stopped his vehicle.
“What do you want?” he asked me.
“I know you are saying all these to
make me furious and stop me from investigating the case but I will not! You can
never stop me! Don’t try to intimidate me Quincy, I will not fall for your
antics!”
“Genny you have to understand I
am doing this to protect you. I love…”
“Protect yourself first!” I said,
took my handbag and rushed out from his car. I banged the door hard! “See you
at the office boss.”
“We should go to the office
together! This is a busy place and you are not safe here.”
I walked away without uttering a
word and curved to another direction to search for a taxi. When I turned by
back, Quincy drove off.
*****
(QUINCY)
I am beginning to think this is
the worst day of my life. Not even when I received a call, that Freddie Arinze
was dead. It pains me to the bones that I put Genevieve, the woman I love into
this horrible mess.
What if something terrible happen
to her? My father kept her under my watch and I messed everything up because of
the love I have for her. I want her to be safe but how can I protect her if she
has refused to listen to me, if she chooses to probe the murder case because of
her stubbornness.
I know what I said to Genevieve
was hurtful, but I said those words to make her angry with me and it should stop her from going
after the case. Right now, I do not care anymore about how she feels about me. I
will apologize and beg her after I put the murderer away. I just want to
protect her from the preying eyes of the enemy. I will not allow the love I
have for her blind me. Her safety is my priority and I will make sure I keep
her safe.
I have to find out something
first before going to the NIB.
*****
I went to the office and found my
director’s office locked. I went into mine and saw my fellow homicide detectives
except Oscar. I saluted them and sat down on my chair.
“Is everything alright?” Leroy
asked in a concerned tone.
“Yes.” I managed to give him a
reply which was a lie.
“I don’t believe you.” Jasmine
spoke and came to stand by my desk. “Where have you been since morning? The
director has not come to work.”
“I don’t have a reason why the
boss is not yet at work. I came on my own in a taxi.”
“In a taxi?” Leroy asked with his
eye wide open. “This is unlike you. Is your car faulty?”
“No.”
“So why did you come in a taxi?”
“Detective Leroy,” I said and
gazed into his eyes. “I am not complaining. I did not feel like driving on my
own.”
“You should have called me very
early in the morning to come and pick you up.”
I smiled. “Next time, I will.”
Jasmine said, “I hope all is
well?”
“Yes, all is well.” I answered
her and she walked towards the entrance door. “I am going for lunch, anyone
wants to join me?”
Leroy stood. “I am very hungry.
Chisom woke up late and I did not want to disturb her.” He said and followed
Jasmine.
“Is everything alright?”
detective Akin asked after two minutes of long silence.
“Julius is dead.”
“What!!”
I narrated everything to him.
“This cannot happen! I thought we
could be able to crack the case that was why I made sure I got the personal
information about his mother. What will happen now?”
“I have no idea. Quincy Harvey
wants me out of the case.”
“Maybe he is scared your life is
at risk. I think he wants to protect you.”
“Do you agree with him I back out
from the case?”
“He is the boss. He is trying to protect you.”
“Should I pay a visit to the
mother at the hospital? Maybe she can tell us what she knows if I tell her, her
son was killed.”
“I can’t let you do that,” I said
to him honestly. “I do not want eyes on you. You are an undercover detective on the case and it
should remain that way. I will find time to do something about her bills
later.”
“You still want to pay for the
bills? I do not think there is need for that. If that woman hears that her only
child is dead, I don’t think she will be able to survive it.”
“Julius was her only child?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head out of pity. “I
want you to help me find out codely if she knows about the death of her son. Try and find the main doctor treating her.”
“I will.”
I looked around the office and
faced Akin. “Where is detective Oscar?”
“He has not come to work today.”
“That’s strange,” I said. “He’s
always the first person to come to the office. I hope his daughter is okay. Let
me call him.” I took my phone, searched for his name and dialed his number. It
rang twice before he answered me. “Good afternoon detective Oscar, I hope all
is well?”
“Good afternoon detective
Genevieve, all is well,” he replied. “Why do you ask?”
“You have not been to the office
today. I was wondering if Yvonne is fine.”
“She’s is fine but you can make
her mood better when you agree to be my wife, her new mother.”
A slight smile poked on my
lips. “I am happy all is well. Are you still coming to the office today?”
“I doubt that. Is the big boss
complaining?” he questioned in a sardonic tone.
“No. He doesn’t know you are not
around.”
“Good,” he said. “I am working on
something. I have been running around today and my mission is not yet
accomplished.”
“What mission?” I asked in a
muddled tone.
“You will find out when I am
through finding out the truth.”
“I think you are not been straight
forward. What is going on?”
Oscar responded with a long
laugh. “Take care, Genevieve.” He ended the call. I dropped my phone on the
table and touched my chin mildly before I spoke to Akin. “I want you to do me a
favor.”
“What favor.”
“I cannot tell you to promise me.
I will only plead for you to do it.”
“Do what?” he requested.
“I want you to ask Jasmine out.”
“To ask Jasmine out for what?” he
asked. “I don’t understand you detective.”
“I want you to ask her to be your
girlfriend.”
Akin stared at me with his
widened eyes. He removed the medicated glasses on his face and put it down on
his desk. “You should have one or two reasons why you want me to ask her to be
my woman.”
“Yes I do,” I told him. “If
Jasmine agrees, don’t get attached.”
“I have not given you a positive answer,”
he said. “You don’t even know if I will agree to it.”
“I know you will because you want
to help Quincy Harvey and I crack this case.”
I could hear him sigh out loudly.
He scratched his left side of his head and gazed at me. “What do you want me to
do?”
I smiled widely on my lips. “That
means you have accepted.” I said in an eager tone.
“I want to help.”
“Thank you! Do you have a
girlfriend?”
“Currently single and not
searching. I want to focus on my job for two more years before considering entering
into a real relationship.”
“I see. You are still young. Now
over to business, if Jasmine agrees, you have to make sure she trust you with
all her heart. I want her to be able to open up to you about her past. She might
tell you something if she knows about the murder of Freddie Arinze.”
“I will try but I can't promise
you anything.” Akin said. “She might not agree to have a relationship with me.”
“Let’s give it a try first.”
“Will you tell the boss?” he
asked. “He has to approve for me to go ahead with the plan.”
“I understand, I will tell him when
he comes back.” I said and recalled he was not yet back. Where might he be? I asked
myself silently. I wore a worried face.
“Detective Genevieve,” Akin
called my name. “Are you okay?”
“Should I? The director is not
yet back and I am wondering where exactly he went to.” Jasmine and Leroy entered
and sat down in their respective chairs. Leroy asked if I have heard from Oscar,
I told him yes.
“The director came in few minutes
ago.” Jasmine said.
“He’s back?” Akin and I enquired
at the same time.
She looked at him and back at me.
“Yes he is back. He looks tired.”
I swiftly rose on my feet and
headed out of the office to meet Quincy. I knocked on the door, he gave the
order for me to come in. I entered and saw him seated. He had removed his
jacket and tie, and he loosened the first and second button
on his shirt. His hands rested at the back of his head.
“Where have you been?” I asked
and sat down facing him.
He lifted his left eyebrow up. “Are
you no longer angry with me?”
“Of course I am but I was worried
about you.”
He chuckled gently. “When did you
start to get worried about me?”
“Today, “I replied him quickly. “Where
did you go to?”
Quincy dropped his hands and
balanced them on the table. “I went to check if I will be able to have the
contacts of the owner of that car I ran after.”
“Did you find anything useful?”
“No.”
“What happened?”
“I went to meet a friend who
knows an inspector. We went over to the police station to check for the records
when I gave him the car plate number. It’s a stolen vehicle.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” Quincy replied. “The car
was stolen yesterday evening at a beer joint. The owner of the car gave a
report immediately she noticed her car was missing at the spot she parked.”
“This is getting more difficult to
tackle. Have the police been able to locate the car now?”
“No but I believe it will be
found soon. That man might abandon the vehicle somewhere and look for another
vehicle to monitor you. I don’t have short memory; you are still dismissed from
this case.”
“You can never stop me. I will
investigate the case on my own if you are no longer interested in working together with
me. I will not beg you.” I told him about the plan about Jasmine.
“He can try his luck. He has my
permission to do that.”
I rose up.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I am going home without you. Akin
will take me home.”
“On his bike?”
“Yes.”
“We will go home together,”
Quincy said in a commanding tone. “Wait for me to rest a little.”
“It is not a must for us to ride
in the same car. See you at home.”
*****
I arrived home, thanked Akin and
went to my room to rest.
I woke up one hour later and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the two occupants living in the house. I took out ingredients from the fridge to prepare spaghetti and turkey sauce.
I woke up one hour later and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the two occupants living in the house. I took out ingredients from the fridge to prepare spaghetti and turkey sauce.
After I finished cooking, I went
to have my bath, dressed in a simple gown and wrapped a scarf on my head. I went to dish some food for myself and ate alone.
I stored Quincy’s own inside a cooler on the dining table. I ate to my satisfaction and diluted the meal with white wine.
I stored Quincy’s own inside a cooler on the dining table. I ate to my satisfaction and diluted the meal with white wine.
I waited for thirty minutes for
Quincy. I went back to my room to sleep when my phone began to ring. It was my
mother calling.
“I am sorry mom,” I said after I pressed
the green button. “I have been very busy.”
“I know but we need to act fast
about your sister. She called me that her husband beat her few days ago but she is
claiming he has asked for forgiveness and won’t hit her again. She believes him
because he went down on his knees! Genny, Jennifer’s husband is lying! I can
feel it.”
“I want you to relax your mind.
She is old enough to know what she wants. I know he blinded her with his lies
because she is desperate to have children. Give me a week to sort out myself, I
am going through an emotional ordeal. Will a week be okay?”
“Yes… please don’t think too
much. I hope you can handle whatever emotional trauma you are going through.
Stay strong, please my daughter.”
“I will mom. Have you told
Jennifer you have been able to contact me?"
“Not yet,” she said. I heard a low
laugh. “I want to surprise her.”
I smiled. “Thanks mom. Take care.”
“Take good care my Genny Genny.”
I switched off my phone and
slept. I woke up the next morning, had my bath, dressed and went to the living
room. I looked over at the dinning and found it clean. I went to the kitchen
and it was very neat. I called out Quincy’s name but no answer. I went to his
room and he was not there. I went to the living room window to check if the car
he use to drive to work was there but was nowhere in sight. I knew he had gone
to the office alone. Probably he was still angry I refused to come home with
him the previous day and I have determinedly rebuffed to back out from the case.
I went to search for my car key,
saw it and drove away to the NIB. I deliberately refused to see Quincy in his
office and I pretended to be happy in the midst of my coworkers. Oscar offered
me a mug of hot coffee. He dropped it on my table, and I forced a bright smile at him.
He smiled back and left to speak with Jasmine.
He smiled back and left to speak with Jasmine.
Quincy and I ignored each other
for close to three days. We hardly spoke in the office or even at home. Even at
weekend, we could cook together in the kitchen and say two or three words to
one another. I was the saddest girl on earth but had to wear a cheerful look on
my face. Quincy lips lacked smile during the period. I wanted to apologize for
my behavior but pride would not allow me open my mouth.
Akin continued to try his luck to
woo Jasmine but she told him to give her time to think thoroughly about it. On
a Tuesday morning, I planned to speak with Quincy during lunchtime for a make-up
friendship. I sincerely missed his jokes and company. He was not yet at the
office. I left the house before him.
I went to see a detective in
another office and went back to mine. I saw Leroy, Oscar and Jasmine arguing
over something.
“You don’t have the right to tell
me what to do!” Oscar yelled at Leroy. “I told the both of you about it few
days ago. Don’t you think she has the right to know he has been lying to us
about his identity?!”
“What is going on?”
“I was not the one who found out.”
Jasmine said. ”Oscar did and he told us.”
“Told you what?”
Oscar turned to face me. “If
Quincy really cares about you, he should have told you who he really is.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I decided to do some personal
findings about the boss. I went to the international airport to meet a friend
who refused to give me the information I wanted. I called a close pal living
abroad to dig into Quincy. Well, I am still trying to get more details but I have
something he refused to disclose to us.”
“And what is that?”
“Our director's real name is Quincy Arinze. He is Freddie Arinze’s
son!”
My eyes and mouth opened wild before
I could talk. “How long have you known about this?”
“It seems you know he is the son,”
Oscar said in a disappointed tone. “I knew about it three days ago.”
“What about Leroy and Jasmine?”
“Is that important?” detective
Jasmine asked.
“Yes.” I replied. My heartbeat
was beating very fast.
“I told the two of them
immediately I got the information about the boss.”
“Oh my God.” I muttered out in
panic.
“Detective Cole, are you alright?”
Leroy asked.
Akin opened the door in a forceful
mood without knocking. He was breathing loudly. “I have been calling your phone
detective Genevieve!”
I swallowed. “My phone is not
with me. What is it?”
“I do not have good news,” he
said. “I received a call few minutes ago, Quincy Harvey has been shot!”
*****
To be continued…. Sunday. 8pm!
AHHH!The secret is out! The suspense is killing o. Sunday is too far!!
ReplyDeleteWhat!!! so this is what Oscar has been doing? Leroy is the culprit. Carina pls don't give me hbp. pls post on Sunday. Weldone dear.
ReplyDeleteShit!! Who wants to wipe out the Arinze's family? Leroy, Oscar, jasmine are still suspects. Sunday should come fast fast
ReplyDeleteSunday....i guess next two weeks.
ReplyDelete@Gloria... LMAO!! No o! Its definitely on Sunday!
ReplyDeleteAll the same thanks you still remain the BEST,please endeavour to keep to ya promise...thanks
ReplyDeleteaye ooo.... mi I sha knw Leroy is the culprit. Genny is just too stubborn. Carina plz let Sunday be sunday
ReplyDeleteFirst of all am speechless! What???? Oh Cj the suspense queen, kill me not I pray thee. Wow!
ReplyDelete@PearlyTee.. Awww.. Thanks love!
ReplyDeleteStunned! Shot? Suspense!
ReplyDelete