Capital crime episode 16

CAPITAL CRIME EPISODE 16
More Secrets. Secrets Everywhere.
JERRY
When we arrived the holding room 004, Matthew tricked Aremu into believing that his case is done for. He was a goner.
“ So if you want me to help you” Matt said “ You have to cooperate”
It was glaringly obvious that he was accused of two horrible murders. Somebody was sending him to jail. Somebody needed to pay the price and he -Aremu – fell the perfect lamb to the slaughter. The president issued an arrest on Aremu for two count charge of murder- Stella Chaltone, and Mr Lawani Saraki.
While he was in this rigorous explanation, Itoro entered the room and stood beside me.
“ Well ” Aremu began “ If I tell you anything, I’m a dead man” He continued “ If I don’t. I’ll still be hanged”
“ So do something.”
Aremu admited that he is more worried about the welfare of his cousin’s widow and her children.
“ Who is that? I asked finally.
He gave me a stern look. His eyes turned red with anger. He said“ I don’t recall talking to you. Do me a favour. ” He said “ Just keep quiet!
AJ narrated all he remembered and how Charlie had been killed. How he had been involved with one Mr Philip who wanted info and paid him to be his eye in the police force.
“So it had been AJ all along. I should have known” This thought went on in my head.
AJ continued. It had been too late. The picture was a lot bigger than mere petty thieves against men-in- blue and black: It was something much more than he could explain.
“ Then Charlie was murdered.” He said.
“ Who is Charlie? ” Itoro enquired.
A memory of so much pain hit me’ like a fire storm.
I said “ He was–”
“ Will you keep quiet? ” AJ barked in anger. “ I don’t even think you should be in this room”
“ Get out… Please!!”
AJ’s face became void or expressions, once more.
Matt was puzzled. “ Jerry!” He said “ Behave!. Aremu continue please”
“ He was a cab driver” AJ continued “ He died in the Devil’s corner. A ghetto in the surburbs of Oluku-Ishior( Isior) in Benin City.
“it occurred bitterly at the oddest hour of the night . All thanks to this boy here, who was his passenger, that same night, a year ago.”
Why did he call me this boy? Why does he and Matthew think Im a boy? Well na them sabi.
“ Wait! ” Matt said “ I don’t understand. You mean, the car we saw at the sight of the explosion. At Jerry’s hood, a year ago- that was your cousin? ”
AJ acknowledged this fact.
Matt asked why he didn’t say a word about it.
“ Nemesis must have played a strong one on me…”
“ And your innocent- well, your cousin died for nothing”
He said “ That’s tragic. Accept my condolences”
Hearing all these, I felt bitter, sore, and sorry for AJ. It had not been my fault entirely. Although I feel guilty to an extent.
I came back to the car that night and found Charlie dead. —And—Oh! Yes! That explains why Aremu hates me so much untill this day.
“ I’m sorry. ” I said.“ His death was not of my own doing… I never knew you were even related. I swear. I came back to that alley and Charlie was already gone. ”
“ He helped me”
“ And you repaid him by killing the man and stealing his phone afterwards.“ …Right?”
I countered “ Why would anyone conceive such wickness? On someone who had save my life that night? I’m human , for God’s sake”
“ Untill this day I still don’t know why someone would want him dead” I added “ I swear…”
I was going to tell them how I found out who did it. I knew. But I wanted to take revenge personally .
I said instead after a pause “.. I didn’t kill him.”
“ Alright. Believable” Matthew said.
He told AJ that “ So.. you decided to avenge him..”
AJ blurted out “ Yes !
He continued “ Then one day … A man came from nowhere. He offered me money. He promised to take care of my cousin’s widow. He promised me revenge on Jerry Osas. ”
“ Who was this man? Matthew asked. He took a seat. He told Itoro and the I to do same.
AJ said he never got his real name.
” He told me to call him Vincent.”
“ I liked his shoes . They were expensive “ Nice shoes, I complimented him… You like them? Vin replied. You can have them. I’ve got another pair. I scoffed and told him: That’s so silly. I’ll just buy mine with this money you’ve given me”
Then the promotion came from the D.S.S . Alot of things happened fast. I realized someone was watching my steps. People actually. It was too late to back out , then.
Furthermore, I met Seth Devin who made me become aware of the Alpha.
“ Who is the Alpha? I asked“ Sorry. But I’d like to know”
“ They say the Alpha is the one ” AJ replied “ who deserves more than a name”.
How the Alpha had been the key to my promotion, my cousin’s widow upkeep and so on. They would continue the ‘ good works’ only if I cooperated and waited for the ‘ big day”
“ The kidnap of Kelly then. It had to be” Said Itoro.
“ I was confused too. ” Aj said “ It definitely had to be”
Matthew asked if Samantha Walsh was by any means a suspect in all these.
“ No! She isn’t” He uttered.
He had thought so too untill she complained to him one day, bitterly, how Seth’s recommendation letter for employment and his immediate promotion had come straight from ‘ Bird’s eye view’
“ The Bird’s eye view’? Matt said “ Like the powers above and beyond us ? His eyes displayed shock.
“ That kind of thing” AJ adjusted his shoulders. “ So I presume, Seth had a big sponsor”
Everyone knew who it was.
“ The Alpha” we all chorused.
“ But who is this Alpha?
“ First, who are these guys? Pr. Itoro asked no one in particular.
AJ spoke up. “ Please, pay attention. I heard rumors. They call themselves the ‘Sons of Destruction’ . To what extent, I just don’t know ” He paused then continued “ By my cousin’s grave, I swear I had nothing to do with Stella’s death nor Mr Lawani. I tried to back out but it was too late.”
Matthew heaved a sigh. He exhaled rings of smoke from his cigar. He had lit one already. “ Sons of Destruction” He uttered “ Hmmm”
This was interesting. I wish I hadn’t promised my fiance never to smoke again.
.
“ I believe you. ” Matthew said , drawing another stroke of cigar. With deep, exhale he said “You couldn’t have killed them both. You are innocent”
“ So you believe me?
“ Ofcourse! Especially Stella’s incident. There is no link in-between” Matt said “ Itoro had been placed under strict surveillance of the president’s husband by his wife”
“ According to him” he continued after another thrill of smoke “ She has this feeling that her husband was cheating on her, but had no idea with whom , he committed the crime”
“ Wait! Im lost here”
“ How? ” Mathew asked looking at me
”So, Itoro knew of this fact all along and said no word.”
It occurred to me that everyone in,side this room had secrets. Thank God I dont share mine easily. Na wa o.
“ He was -” Matthew exhaled “ He was ordered not to” he said “ Itoro found it difficult to even tell her. She forced him into it this morning, very early, when she threatened the Calabar man out him”
Itoro said she came with just two agents .
“ Rumeh Kadiri- your friend and Garba, the new guy”
Matthew said to AJ. “ Which is very suspicious”
He kept quiet and I wondered if AJ would slip info out. At this point you needed rapt attention to understand whats happening here. Four grown men sharing deep secrets.
Itoro broke the silence “ She began to strip in my apartment. Gradually, she sed-ced me, threatened she would scre-m so loud that Rumeh and Garba, who were at the door and the entire ASO Villa will hear her voice. She said
“ I bet you. You will. Never. Have. Another. Woman. As ‘ sweet- and -s€×y’ . As. Me. If you- dont- tell – me – who – my- husband- has – been- seeing – all- these- while.”
She paused , grabs him by the wa-istline and wraps her thighs round him “ Tell me! I put you as a spy on him like a few others, but you have been keeping things from me. How dare you? ” She was furious “ What do you know? Speak ! Now!!”
I snapped out of the scenario after picturing it in my head. Wow! So much attention to detail. Amazing.
AJ asked him what he did to pacify her.
“ I felt bad. I told her everything. I felt real bad. Honestly”
“So, ’ I said “ it appears the president’s husband had an affair. ”
But in my head I was saying “ More secrets. Secrets everywhere”
AJ asked “ Did she murder Stella out of jealousy?
Matthew said “ Maybe. But we can’t arrest the POTFRON. It would daint our democracy. At least ” He continued “ Not until we have enough evidence to do so. Quietly”
Now, Matthew was already on his feet. Me and Itoro followed.
He thanked Aremu for his cooperation and we turned to leave.
AJ called us back. He told Itoro to dip his hand into his coat. in,side it, Itoro provided an envelope.
“ What’s this? I asked.
“ A strand of hair from the abducted girl. I took it at the airport. She looks so much like Ife”
Matt asked him if he knew where they had taken Kelly to.
He replied, sincerely “ I don’t. ”
Itoro happily pockets the envelope and thanked him for his help.
“ I’m sorry” Matthew apologized “ For the punch, earlier”
”No problem. ” AJ said.“ We are cool”
When we came to the observatory room, Al Hassan stared into Matthew’s eyes. I could see the intense in the gaze- lock.
Matt said to him while signing a doc-ment “ You heard everything from the horse’s mouth.”
Al Hassan, the IGP, shook his head and said “ Loud and clear”
Matthew went on to say “ Please , man guards at the door. Let no one enter this room again, until I come back from Benin City”
He looked at his boss “ Sir. If you don’t mind. AJ is a prime witness to a political crisis”
“Definitely! Al Hassan confirmed.
Our trio breezed into the corridors. I asked Mathew about the plan he had mentioned earlier. I became curious to know what’s going on in Matthew’s mysterious mind.
“ We are breaking Ray out of prison” Matthew said “ Ray leaves White House corrections, first thing, tomorrow morning”
I checked the time. I became dumbfounded. Three, forty- five PM. Monday evening. I checked my wrist watch again, then followed closely behind Itoro and Matthew. “ Wow! Interesting! Bring it on.” I muttered and kept walking.
IFE
The helicopters were ready for transportation. Jerry; Mathew and a group of DSS operatives, all climbed aboard.
Itoro was not included,
Mathew dropped Rumeh Kadiri. He had his reasons : A sabotoir is best kept at main base in case of emergency.
Yet, I never got a good explanation from Itoro when I asked him. “ Why?
We entered the elevators and made for the top of the towers.
Then, in the open of the hangers,I had hugged Jay so tight that I’d never want it to end.
“ Come back. To me! Alive and unharmed…” I continued “ And bring her home — the lady — okay? Bring her back. Alive.”
He k-ss my forehead and look into my eyes. Then he said “ I will. I promise. I’ll bring her back even if its the last thing I do ”
The choppers whizzed to life and I reluctantly let go off his palms. I notice Rumeh staring at me and my fiance.
My eyes trailed to Mathew and Itoro. He gave Matthew Jerry’s necklace.
“ It’s functional ” He said.
Matt in turn tucked a packet of cigarettes into Itoro’s long coat.
He said to Itoro “ Keep it safe. Hold on to it ’ till I’m back. Be a good officer, Itoro. You will need it someday. ”
The young man replied confidently “ Yes , Sir”
His smile was cheerful towaards me and warm too.
He said to Itoro “ And keep her safe. Let no harm come to her” He tucked the necklace into his own long coat.
“ I’ll do my best sir. This time , even better! ”
They shook hands tightly.
Mathew let go of the grip, and said to me , “ Remain beautiful. ” A foot was already on the chopper “ You owe me just that little favour!”
I gave a smile and nooded. But ran up to him and huggged him tightly. “ Thank you. For everything. God bless you. Be safe”
“ I will. You too. Adios mon Cherie( My special one)
My palms were in the air waving when the two helicopters left and troded like two giant dragon flies in the air, gradually disappearing into the horizon and down towards the South.
“ He loves you” Rumeh Kadiri brought me back to the environment.
“ Hmm?” I was taken aback.
“ Jerry Osas. He loves you so much” He repeated.
I gave him a glance.“ Yeah! ” I began “ My heart beats for him alone.”
That moment, something in me remarked “ Nice one, girl!
“Come along now, Ife” Itoro said.
He led us back to the elevators. He dragged open the iron protectors.
We entered the elevators and the doors closed after he pressed a button for the second time.
My eyes gazed upon the Tavor- tar Isreali rifle in Rumeh’s grip. I went mute. My fiance had warned me of this man before he left for the South.
Rumeh broke the silence “ Detective Abasi, ” He said “ Mind if I ask?
“ No. Shoot . I’m all ears”
“ What exactly are they going to do in Benin City ?
Itoro hesitated. Then he said “ The president has demanded the transfer of Raymond Omopeh from White House Corrections to Kirikiri , Lagos. ” He paused “ They are to make sure nothing goes wrong with the transport”
“ Oh ! Really?
Then Itoro said “ Definitely”
*
Some press chieftains left the Yellow Towers while we arrived the emerge – room 001. The men had been with the SA. She had spoken to them privately.
Itoro’s eyes trailed the five men as they entered the other elevator on his left. It would take them down the Towers . His gaze returned to the SA’s glass-office.
She was in a dilemma. This wh0le thing had really been a pain in the ass. A real crisis.
Her arms crossed over each other, she watched, and lost in thoughts , at the staff below her.
His eyes follwed her’s after a brief gaze — she had caught him staring, but did not mind— towards the Emerge— room 01 , which was now a bee hive. Everybody was busy, especially the tech guys. Working on one thing or the other.
This country was on the verge of collapsing.
“ Why?
“ Why What? Itoro replied me. I have been following him to a nearby desk.
We strolled a bit fast, before taking a left swing , round a work station.
I said “ Why didn’t the president just pardon Ray and release him?
.
“ She had alot of enemies already” He began and checked a laptop screen, upon a desk where he now stopped. His eyes looked at Samantha again, then it found Kadiri who sat idly at a corner. “ She can’t afford to make more ”
“ So what exactly is the point. I don’t get it” I continued. I bit my l-ips “ She is the f-cking POTFRON, for crying out loud. All that power at her disposa—”
He smiled and shuzzed me. He told the tech guy to stand up for a while.
He returned his gaze at me.
“ Why? I repeated “ Why , that kind of look?
He started with a smile.
The story continues…