Capital crime episode 5

Capital Crime Episode 5
18 hours Ago
SETH
SEVEN Cars trooped out of the five star hotel at Nine-thirty A.M. Kelly and three agents boarded a black Lexus Jeep. The senators, each enjoyed their black Tundra. I sat in a silver Camry 2.5 Two thousand and Seventeen model car( Toyota) just like the remaining agents. This was a purposeful distraction.
★★
Reporter NDU KELECHI
I was amazed as my bad luck earlier had turned around into a fortunate scene. My car broke down just across the dual lane opposite the entrance of Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos. Banging angrily at the steering Incaught a glimpse of people entering a convoy.
Luckily, I s₱0tted a familiar senator and took pictures immediately. I took pictures of one certain young lady. Oh my she is attractive! I was almost drooling. Definitely, she wasn’t from these parts of the world. This would help boost my blog page if it turned out to be first hand gossip.
I wondered what could have happened behind closed doors? From the news lately, these senators were last seen in a representative mission to the States. What then where they doing here? Un-announced!
Wow! I exclaimed.
Deciding to try my luck again and fortune smiled back as my car engine ignited. Quickly but un-suspectedly, I snailed behind the entourage. If the drive would take less than fifteen minutes, then it was enough for me, I guessed after checking my fuel guage display near the steering.
★★★
SETH
“ Thank you.” Just one more please. Oh! Thank you. Kelly told the hostess as she received a cup of tea.
On board the airliner, we enjoyed the VIP cabin of the very expensive jet. The Airbus 250. The seats were arranged in such a manner that each individual had enough private space. The second class cabin accommodated the air marshals which were the DSS agents . Six of them and virtually unarmed. Including one white man.
I sat in the VIP cabin and could not take my eyes off Kelly. When the air hostess left, I focused even more intently at this object of marvel: Kelly. I tried to understand her.
She did not blink my way. Rather engrossed in her book than worried, she adjusted her glasses and lifted not even an eyebrow .
She inhaled hot air from her cup when it k-ssed her l-ips.
A senator , Mr Tamuno had his eyes on her too. He had his eyes on her since the first day at the airport- the very first day she arrived.
I had noticed this fact. My eyes went to the man’s ring again. Such a beauty in the wrong fingers.
The rest of the senators were busy with the news on Satellite TV. They said nothing and I wondered if they were dumb. It’s awkward for senators not to talk much.
I trailed back to Kelly as she rubbed her palms against the silver coated briefcase.
Her palms returned to the table. I followed her with these eyes again.
Tension was ripe in the air. Silence had a place on board the plane. I felt it.
She stood up and impulsively jolted upwards too. Foolish. Lost my self there for a second.
“ Don’t worry. Just want to ease myself” she said.
“ Okay . Thought you needed something. I would have loved to get it for you”
“ I’m fine. Thank you!” She insisted.
Two minutes ater, I brought out a bag from under a cupboard. It had been placed there a week ago by a maintenance crew. They had sneaked into the hanger of the airport, gained access into the Airbus 250 and kept the bag safely in,side the board.
I looked into it after unzipping. There were parachutes, serum vials and injections, .45 semi auto pistols, and oxygen masks in,side it. zipping it close, I made way to the second class cabin.
“ Come with me” I beckoned on two black agents.
When they arrived the former location, I gave them eye signals. They understood.
I gave them the bag. They walked into the other cabin, trailing into the left corner.
At this moment, I caught Tamuno staring. I smiled but Tamuno did not smile back.
“ Oh Bummer! I thought.
“ What was that?
“ Nothing of importance ,sir’” I replied Mr Tamuno.
“ Just protocols”
“ Okay . If you say so” The man looked away indifferently..
★★★★
KELLY
I relaxed into my seat once more and continued my chore. I opened the briefcase case. Everything seemed in place so I banged it close again.
I had left a while ago into bathroom to cool off my nerves which where already geeting the full heat of after anxiety. Those prying eyes. Those unrepentant goddamn prying eyes. Phewww!
For a split second it dawned on me that I was the only lady on board , excluding the air hostess.
“ What if–?” Nevermind! -‘ I swept the thoughts under the carpets in my mind’s chambers.
I felt prickly heat running down my spines even with the a.c on. What the heck’s going on. Relax Gretel, relax Kay… You got this.
I took myiPhone from my bag, checked my previous messages and then opened gallery of photos.
She slided through and saw one where she posed with Mom after winning a gold medal in inter-house sports. The nerdy goalkeeper indeed.
“ What are you doing? Agent Ken ? Wait . What the-” A voice cried out from the second class cabin. It had an American- Canadian accent to it.
I swirled. Shock and curiosity made me feel uneasy.
A bullet sound cut the man’s scre-m short. A struggle was heard amongst two other people and then momentary silence as another bullet followed.
I shrieked. My heart quickened it’s pace.
The senators were awfully terrified too as it was written all over their faces.
“ What’s going on? ” Senator Danladi , a christain Hausa asked.
I had learnt his name from my research the previous night.
Another gunshot followed. It pierced the cabin door on the left- just few inches behind the dignitaries.
I scre-med and revved out in fear, bending over with my arms over my head. My voice could blow out lanterns from kilometres away.
“ Stay calm . Everyone , stay calm. This is absolutely under control.” Seth thundered his voice. It clouded mine. He pulled out his Makarov 9mm auto and confidently walked into the cabin where the noises came from .
A female voice shrieked out from the other side of the door.
Another gunshot came. Then a body slammed the door open, with so much force you’d instantly realise that the corpse had been kicked.
It was the air hostess. She laid on the cabin floor- lifeless.
Seeing this , I dare not scre-m. Okay Bleep it I cant hold it back. I scre-med even more. And more. And more.
Seth Walked into the cabin accompanied by four agents.
“ Lady” he began with so much power in his voice” and gentlemen!!!
I began to shiver involuntarily. I was right all along not to trust this devil.
“ Keep calm and you won’t get hurt”
“This is not a hijack ” he continued and turned towards me“ This actually, is a kidnap”.
★★★★★
MATHEW PANSHARK
The police prevented the press men from poaching evidence and entering the premises. The “ yellow ” tape ran from one part of the the compound to the other. The front gate had been ripped off.
“ This is madness. I mean , what species of lunatic bloodline runs in these criminals? They made sure they entered the compound , kill every security officer standing and sleeping- if that applies- , eliminate the entire household. Not just that, they set the wh0le house on fire!!! ”
It was with so much pain in my black heart that I exclaimed “Kai” when I passed through the lines
“ I don’t think these killings and kidnappings are linked. Boss , I think they are lone wolves” Abasi Itoro said while trying to keep up with my pace.
“ You’re very foolish Itoro” I stopped, focused at my P A and sighed.
“ How can you suggest such a thing? Listen my friend, murder is murder; Kidnap is kidnap which can equally lead to murder, but these two are occurring at the same time. Last week a distressed neighbor reported the abduction of a law firm jury, a case that happened right under our noses here in Abuja and we are yet to crack it and now, this court clerk, his poor family , all murdered in cold blood?
I paused and gripped the young man’s collar” How else do you wish to explain that? Well ” I let go of the collar“ logically and factually, they seem co-rellated. We don’t just know yet”
“ They are just victims” Abasi Itoro blurted out. Rather shockingly.
“ Yes. Victims that are both law firm workers. Trust me I’ve seen butchers being slaughtered by cattles , but not two butchers in one week” With that I paused, an idea crossed my mind. I somehow waved it and said “ Itoro you’re still a young man. What I just said, keep it off your records. Be a good policeman. You will need it someday”
A CID agent walked up to us. Obua Godday, a seasoned expert in forensics and criminal an-lysis. He was our guy. My guy in the CID since my promotion to detective grade I- the highest rank in field ops of the police force- below the IGP- and this happened before I relocated from Benin City to Abuja.
“Matt, it’s terrible here. I mean these people where- whoever they were- they are animals”
“ What do you mean? I replied with questions.
“ There were kids. Three of them, each stabbed in the eyes, both eyes, and shot right through the chest”
“ One of the kids was a little girl, about four and this tall” he demonstrated “ Sophie was her name. Matt these people were my friends. I knew their family”
****–
Itoro’s face changed in countenance. I noticed and put up a hærd shell. Don’t flush in the presence of younger policemen. This was just another rough day in the job. At 45, I had seen quite alot to know that life could end any minute.
I asked after the parents.
Obua’s reaction was predictable. He shuddered, sighed and sniffed. He was pained indeed, obviously. He said they were killed too “ …but some signs of bruises on Mr Lawani’s – the father of the house–”
“ Sorry. Mr who? ” I interjected.
“ Mr Lawani Saraki- rings a bell?
“ Don’t worry. Continue”
“ Some bruises on the muscles around his cheeks, he was tied to a chair and made obviously to watch his kids being executed. Then the climax. They set the wh0le place ablaze. The fire fighters arrived just in the nick of time to save evidence of all I have narrated, else we would chasing the winds. Lucid mortise was delayed by the fire’s heat but rigor mortise had already started taking place after two hours.”
I tapped the man’s shoulder, walked past him before I came staring upon the bodies.
“ Do you know the Mr Lawani? Itoro asked me quietly.
“ Not exactly. All I remember is that I sent alot of criminals to jail and he was the court clerk in most notorious cases.” I paused“ This could have been anybody’s handi-work”
Indeed these were perilous times. The life of a police officer is a hærd one. Only the brave could sleep peacefully at night. The gory remains of caked blood. The sight of bodies in plastic bags. It was all terrible.
I stared at the man- all burnt- half blackened and disfigured, tied to a chair in the middle of the living room; A lady on her knees holding a cushion, arms strapped to them, legs outstretched- probably had been raped- and on her neck was a deep mark of slice, a matchet perhaps. All these were in black -charred meaty remains
I sighed. Anger ravaged my soul. My P.A trailed off to another room in the one storey building. I took out a memopad and a tape recorder. Filed out a report. My P.A got details from the forensics team as they scanned the environment with high tech devices. They swept it for finger prints and body fluids. Anything at all to serve as exhibits or evidence.
“ Nothing Boss.These cons were smart ! They left no trace of their presence here. ” Itoro began“ Thankfully, I gathered that the CSO is missing. His body is no where to be found. That’s if he is even dead.”
“ Do you have a picture?
“ Yes . Here. But we ran a background check, his face doesn’t have any filth to it”
I was up to something. I took my eyes off the pictures. I raised a metal pallette which had been blackened by the fire’s coal. My eyes had been on it for a while . A teddy bear which was savaged from the fire’s fury and scorching, only an inch was burnt.
I scanned it. I told Itoro that they tried but they were not perfect. I raised the teddy with gloves on. I said these were footprints- shoe prints actually, on the teddy. I saw markings.
“ High grade. From the prints, Italian, maybe Peruvian. I’ve seen similar prints often. I don’t know. Somewhere. Can’t recall” I said “ This is hærd but we will crack it. Tag it and give them to Obua. Hey! ” I called him back“ Tell him it’s not for dinner. I’ll buy him biscuits later”
Itoro nodded and went off with a smile on his face. The evidence rested in a plastic bag within his palms.
At that instance I began to mumble in anger and soliquoy in a thousand languages that only a mad mad could understand. These criminals will never stop at anything to evoke evil on earth.
I monlogued continuously. My phone rang few minutes later and I slid the dial right wards. The man on the other end , my boss, the inspector General goes all formal and tells me to get down to Lagos immediately. We had, according to him, a disaster at hand and a gruesome uprising.
“ Like disaster in disaster, or crisis in dilemma?
“ It’s worse Panshark” the man uttered“ This is bad . Very bad. Why am I lamenting? Ah!! Just get down to Lagos ASAP. Take Itoro with you. I can’t have these things happening in my tenure. They are too much. The president is on my neck ”
“ But sir , I’m already on a case”
Inspector General Abdul Alhassan was not moved. “ Bull shit ! ‘ Shaq I said bullshit. Bull crap . Abandon that case now! I will have someone else on it ” he said “ I trust you on this intricate one”
I told him it was terrible at my location.
“ And your job and life will be terrible if you don’t get your heavy ass down to Lagos now. ”
I cursed the gods of the police force and my life. Muttering incoherent words and cursing the day I agreed to all of these. Police life and stress.
“ Okay sir” The line went dead.
However, I signed out and surrendered all my memos to one of the guys at the intelligence department. Bernard, a fine young gentleman. I called out to Itoro while filling out some details on a white template sheets- A classified doc for detectives- I autographed my trademark “ sha-ark” Signature.
One way or the other, I wanted to crack this mystery myself and still prevent further crimes. I’d find my way  back to this case. I promise. Even just for the sake of the little girl, Sophie. I will be back.
To be continued.