Chapter One
I woke up this morning not feeling very pleased with myself. I wasn’t in my favourite mood as I and Katherine exchanged words last night. She wanted me to spend more time with the kids with the excuse that my work had been keeping me away from them as they would be asleep whenever I came back from work and whenever I woke up the next day, they would already be in school or would be on their way to school. I don’t know why she is so paranoid about my work anyway. To be sincere, Kath detests or let me put it this way; Kath doesn’t like my type of profession which she considers dangerous, risky and unbefitting for a family man. I find it as a miracle that I hadn't quitted after working for eight years due to Kath's unremitting nagging. I think she is merely using being away from the kids as an excuse to make me quit my job. Whatever her reason was to think that way, it never triggered any thought of relinquishing what I do. I don’t know where she expects me to get the money to run the family if I’m to become jobless. I’m aware she knows the country situation regarding employment is nothing to write home about.


It was 10:55 am when I looked up at the square shaped wall clock on the adjacent wall. I was still in the short I slept in last night and the hair on my chest stood erect as one cool breeze from the curtain blew over them. I was running late for work and I wasn’t helping my situation sitting down and thinking about matters that wouldn’t change so I stood up from the bed in one swift movement and went into the bathroom to have a warm shower after which I shaved then dressed up in a black trouser, white long sleeved shirt and over it, I wore a black blazer. I sprayed cologne and used roll-on. It took me less than 20 minutes to do all these. At the dining table, a breakfast for one was waiting for me. I saw a piece of paper placed conspicuously beside the flower vase at the center of the table.

Took the kids to school and I would also drop by at mother’s


I know I’ve got a long week ahead of me as I’m very sure this isn’t the only note I would receive this week. One note from Kath means the rest of our conversation for a long time would be written. She is giving me the silent treatment since the wordy treatment didn’t work until the jinx is broken on grounds that she decides to change her mind or I agree to her term. Women!


I hurriedly had breakfast and sped to work in my recently purchased Toyota Camry. My place of work was a privately owned investigation organization. It began operating legally after I secured a legal recognition and binding from the National Investigation Bureau approximately six years ago. That was two years after graduating and searching endlessly for a Job with none ready to show up and when I finally got a job I could say I was proud of, I was relieved of it when the whole business crumpled after working tirelessly as an employee in just a few years. I was grateful I wasn’t a lavish spender because almost all I saved while working was used up to setup my own business plus the gratuities and loans from friends and relations. It was quite easy for people to term me insane when they got to know I was planning on setting up a Private Investigating Organization for they thought private detectives were not meant for the 3rd world countries but I’m sure they were not aware of the magnitude of effects crime novels and movies has on some people. My kind of people. I believed in making a difference in whatever I do. The wise one once said; 'if you think you are too small to make a difference, then you obviously hadn't spent a night with a mosquito'. Besides, there is someone who thought me completely thoughtful when I made it known to him my desire to set up a private investigation organization. Sam Makinde was enthralled at the news and he was my #1 supporter. Apart from the incentive I got from him, Sam Makinde, being former Lagos Chief of Police, made it known to his rich friends about my desire to set up the business. He also offered me the piece of land which I used to erect my office. Mr. Makinde, at 70, strongly believes that he could handle criminals despite his age and he once said he wished he hadn’t retired as retirement wasn’t in his dictionary and he wasn’t expecting it when it came. Makinde is that kind of man that has that hardened old face which is all wrinkled but behind that cruel unfriendly face lies an amiable man who intentionally makes it seem he had no better part but people who got to know him well enough could vouch for his affability. Everyone has a Makinde in their lives and I'm not an exemption. Sam Makinde is another topic on his own. How we both met is another chapter entirely.


I’ve got a deceiving feature. Some people wouldn’t believe I was a detective due to the looks I’ve got. Many professional detectives I’ve known and read about are either drunks or heavy smokers and they are often very cold, unfeeling, and unsympathetic which I could be too when dealing with criminals but I didn’t let that show in my countenance like many of them do. This deceiving physique helped me a great deal. Having a meek, mild and harmless face whereas you were the person that had shut the asses of many assholes behind bars would definitely make people feel free with you and tell you their troubles. I was aware of my striking looks but I didn’t let that get into my head like some people would. I believe beauty is not when you have a killer structure, well chiseled face, eyes that make the opposite sex drool or lips that were made for kissing, it is when you believe so many things are far important than the listed stuffs. I didn’t let everybody see through me like I was a mirror and read me like things fall apart. I know I was a complicated character myself. I smile often but I’m not much of a conversationalist. Long conversation bore me and I had been wishing all my life that many people would think more than they talk. This country would have been a better place if my theory had been accepted. Like a wise one once said; speech is silvery, silence is golden.


Although what I do is no big deal in this part of the world, it helps a lot as I was officially assigned to assist the detectives in the National Security to dig up armed robbers, serial killers, drug dealers, rapists, psychopaths and other ubiquitous criminals in which I was paid a specific amount at the end of every month. And also, the business I setup myself was paying off big time as many people need a private investigator to handle matters which the police haven’t been able to execute either because the police feel threatened by the magnitude of the crime or they think the situation is not worth it compared to the poor incentive given to them by the government and by the people. Being the first of its kind in the country, my business was soaring at an encouraging extent and I was doing quite well even though the police aren’t exactly my friends.


My organization is not a big-time structure. It is simply a two-roomed building with a toilet in my office and two others for the clients (Male/female). My secretary’s office serves as the waiting room and was the first office to be seen before mine. It was exactly 12:00 pm when I got to work. Isioma, my secretary and partner was at her desk when I got to the office. She was filing her fingernails with so much attention and with a frown pasted on her face that she intentionally gave me a rude welcome. She only muttered a good morning with her head still buried with the file and her nails. I gave my stiff reply by nodding and walking into my office with the unfeeling expression I sometime use to show my carelessness.
My office was a large room which was painted grey. An A.C stood behind my desk and a 16 inched flat screen T.V was placed on the wall metres away from the door facing my desk in the office. There was a gray sofa beside my desk and a glass rectangular table before it and opposite the sofa was the door that led to my office. My office was clean and not disrupted like I had left it yesterday. I smiled inwardly at myself. That must had been the reason for Isioma’s loutish behavior this morning. The office was a mess yesterday and I have to admit I’m not a genie when it comes to cleaning but she shouldn’t have been rude about it. What would I have employed her to do? It’s her duty to clean my office as well as the entire building if the janitor isn’t around but Isioma is fond of being innocently rude since I treat her like a younger sister and she knew that too. Unlike every Secretary-Boss ‘wife Relationship I’ve heard about, Kath and Isioma are the best of friends. Isioma made it her point of duty to ensure that no woman comes into my office unless if such person has some kind of appointment with the organization or such person is a relation. Isioma is more than a family friend. Isioma is my sister.


On my desk were 3 different types of newspapers placed beside one another and a cup of coffee on a saucer was placed on one of the newspaper to prevent it from falling off the desk. I dropped my suitcase beside my desk and pulled my blazers off. I was feeling uncomfortable in it. I rolled up my white long sleeve shirt to elbow length then sat comfortably on my chair which was placed behind a well-polished mahogany desk which faced the entrance into my office.


I took a sip from the coffee as I lifted the cup and the saucer off the first newspaper with my right hand and at the same time I lifted the newspaper with my other hand placing myself on the chair. Boldly written at the center of the newspaper front page was something that took me by surprise:
BUSSINESS TYCOON AND MULTIMILLIONAIRE, BODE EDUN AND WIFE MURDERED.
This particular headline caught my attention as Bode Edun was one of the extremely wealthy men in the country and also one of Sir Makinde’s friends. I had met him once and I had been fortunate enough be a guest at his wedding to Helen Edun as Sir Makinde's escort. At his early sixties, Chief Bode Edun remarried a year ago to former Miss Helen Johnson who is now known as Helen Edun, a twenty five year old lady after losing his first wife, Sarah Edun to the cold hands of death two year ago. That was when their only son, Seun Edun was twenty six year old. Seun Edun had also been involved in a motor accident two years ago that was just a few months before his mother's death which led to him having paralysed legs and he had been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Seun was flown abroad after the accident This I got to know from Sir Makinde.

The 28 year old Seun had been studying abroad ever since the accident and he just returned to the country a year ago after having an unsuccessful surgery on his legs. Seun's return to the country was a few months after his father's marital union to Helen Edun. The marriage to Helen a year ago was a secret and low-key wedding which was done when Seun was abroad even the press got to know about it weeks after the ceremony. How the press knew was beyond the public’s comprehension because it was all over the news the past year.

The Eduns always find a way to creep on front pages for the past three consecutive years. Every secret the family ever had would be seen on any dailies an average man would lay his hand on. I went to the pages that held the full story and also pictures of the captivating headline. Chief Bode Edun former CEO and owner of Edun Foods and his wife, Helen Edun were both found dead in the Edun’s Villa this morning by the late Chief’s First Son, Seun Edun at 7:08 pm yesterday. Seun Edun who was named the new CEO of Edun Foods on his return to the country a year ago said; 'I was on my way back home from the office with my driver when I saw my dad’s body in the living room. A hole had been created in his chest and his blood filled the couch in which he fell. I told my driver to wheel me from the scene into my room as I was traumatized and shocked. I need to get away from the scene. But then, there were traces of blood which went up the stairs up to Dad’s bedroom. When we went to the top floor, there was Helen's body. She was lying face down on the bed. She had been shot on her back. When the driver turned her over, I discovered her eyes weren’t shut. She was stiff and stone cold. It was then I called the police.’
When our correspondent spoke with Seun’s driver, he said ‘ Mr. Edun from…’

I didn’t bother to read the whole story because I don’t have to bother my head about something which is no concern of mine. I know being influential would make this particular headline of Chief Edun and his wife repeat itself in a different dimension on the front pages of almost every newspaper for at least a year or so. And also the TV stations which had been ‘news-less’ these past days would have something to cry about pending the time the news would be no news anymore and it would start to bore its listeners. I gulped down the coffee which is now lukewarm in one guzzle and then skipped over the remaining pages of the newspaper which held basically news regarding politics. I dropped the newspaper after a while and I began to look up the file I abandoned yesterday. The case was actually a family problem which shouldn't have involved a private investigator at all but some people don’t just knowwhat to spend their money on and since money is involved, who am I to reject such?


My client is a nineteen year old girl who thinks her step mother is a kleptomaniac and also a cheat. Jasmine Richards’ father married another woman, a woman way older than he was barely a year after his wife’s death (according to Jasmine). Jasmine, who remains in the custody of her father thinks her step mum is a fraud who married her father in order to secure her future and also suck him dry of his hard earned money. Jasmine thinks her dad has been hypnotized to a blinding extent that her step mum’s fault seem perfect to him. She also thinks her step mum is a kleptomaniac because she claims things went missing in the house the moment she joined the family. Jasmine told me a set of cutlery, a bronze sculptor of cupid and his arrow in the living room and her jewelry box disappeared and all these things didn’t disappear until her step mum joined the family.


Jasmine claimed she had seen her step mum couple of times with a young boy in a position which is hard for her to describe.

‘I think the guy I saw her with is her boyfriend. He looks like a gigolo’ she had said giving a disgusted look and raising her lips to complement the look she gave. Jasmine would have been a beautiful girl if her huge, balloon-like lips which made almost every part of her mouth had been replaced with one of a smaller size. Jasmine had this petit stature and she was good at shaping her mouth into any shapes that suits her whenever she conversed.

‘What do you want me to do then?’ I said sitting upright after listening to her tale.

Mattkent Heemah Princesssusan Aipete2 Trovic Adesilvia Ysadik ........☺

Nice piece..Following Ma'am! Demmy66, where art thou? Something is cooking here..

heemah:
Nice piece..Following Ma'am! Demmy66, where art thou? Something is cooking here..

who dialed my name..my ear was ringing.. Wow. ....akanke mi...its you.... Thanks dearie... Anywhere u go.. i follow...

fiyah:
Mattkent
Heemah
Princesssusan
Aipete2
Trovic
Adesilvia
Ysadik
........☺

sir ma

You r doing a great job here. I like how u paid attention to every detail, it gives the readers a vivid imagination. This will be one great crime story.

Donkross1, dandyPearl, Sageez, Afz9095, Zeedarh , come check this out.

Mattkent:


Donkross1, dandyPearl, Sageez, Afz9095, Zeedarh , come check this out.

Donkross1 reporting for duty......

Donkross1 reporting for duty

**Modified**
Well dz story looks promising... Let's see how far it goes before I will accept to be the official bartender of the thread


Nice one op

Mattkent:


Donkross1, dandyPearl, Sageez, Afz9095, Zeedarh , come check this out.

sir.... *catchin ma breath* running over 2 kilometer 2 honour ma boss call,i cnt afford 2 rest b4 checkin it out

The begining is somehow promising, hope u won't fall my hand later.anyway m watching dis SPACE

Mattkent:


Donkross1, dandyPearl, Sageez, Afz9095, Zeedarh , come check this out.

boss am here, give me a mo let me get my reading glasses. Thanks for the invite

Mattkent:


Donkross1, dandyPearl, Sageez, Afz9095, Zeedarh , come check this out.

chai! I don late ooo.

Nepa! Nepa!! Nepa!!! How many times did i call ya? Dont try me again oh

Mattkent, thanks jawe

Oya people shift. Ayaf arrived

Mattkent:


Donkross1, dandyPearl, Sageez, Afz9095, Zeedarh , come check this out.

Yessir? *Walks in with a confused face* Mattkent I got a call? *Yawning* #Woke up from sleep after I got the call*

Naso I enter cinema.... Bros abeg dress small make u squeeze my yansh sit.... Nice work bro.. Kheep hit hurp

Naso I enter cinema.... Bros abeg dress small make u squeeze my yansh sit.... Nice work bro.. Kheep hit hurp

Mattkent:
You r doing a great job here. I like how u paid attention to every detail, it gives the readers a vivid imagination. This will be one great crime story.

Thanks for the compliment bro.
......
.....
.....
.... ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺

KoyaCatrex98:
Naso I enter cinema.... Bros abeg dress small make u squeeze my yansh sit.... Nice work bro.. Kheep hit hurp

Bro?



Hmmmmm... Ma'am m a female.... Like u

KoyaCatrex98:
Naso I enter cinema.... Bros abeg dress small make u squeeze my yansh sit.... Nice work bro.. Kheep hit hurp

Bro?



Hmmmmm... Ma'am m a female.... Like u

Thanks for reading

‘I want you to follow her up. You can snap some pictures of her and the guy if you spot them together. Pictures don’t lie, I’m sure dad would have no choice but to see reasons with me in the end. And you will try and find some proof to nail her that she has those stuffs I said she stole then I would show dad the stuffs you recovered and the pictures. Then if dad fails to listen to what I had been saying, then I would have to show those stuffs to his relations. '

She said and at that very moment I knew she is ready to expunge her stepmother’s love in her father’s heart. Jasmine put on the shades she pulled off when she came into my office.

‘How much am I getting paid?’

‘Forty Thousand naira would do. That is the much I could afford.’

‘Make it fifty..’

“Forty.’

‘Forty five is the least I could offer you. Take it or leave it. I can’t do that for lesser pay.’

‘Okay fine. Forty five it is. But do your job the way I want you to.’

‘No problem. I’ll play my part because I have to. This is the way I earn a living’


She dropped naira bills on the table and they landed with a thud. ‘That is twenty thousand naira. I would get you the rest when you are done with the job.
She rose to leave.


‘Miss,’ she looked back at me under the shades she put on. The shades gave her arrogant looks.

‘You need to sign this.’ I said pushing a lengthy note towards her. ‘That is the legal binding which protects both of us. It assures me that you would pay me my money and you that I wouldn’t forfeit your appointment and if I ever have to, I would have to refund your money with 20% increase and also in it you can…’

I realized she had already signed so it was no use saying anything to her. She dropped the pen she used to sign on the note. It was my pen and what got me pissed was her lack of manners to request for permission before using what doesn't belong to her.
‘You should have read it before signing the deal.’ I said amazed at her carelessness of not bothering to read the appointment note.

‘I don’t think I need to. What’s the use or are you scared of something?’ She said giving me a close scrutiny under her shades and her nose changed form in doubtfulness.

‘I’m not but you have to…’ I tried to explain to her but I never knew dealing with teenager’s especially nutty teens was no easy task at all.

‘I don’t like it when you talk. Do we have an appointment or not?’ she asked raising her voice in a frustrated manner. I have heard that parents use the first two years of their child's life trying to help them walk and speak after which the same parent spend the next sixteen trying to make that child sit and shut their traps. I knew whoever Jasmine Richard's father was, he must have gone through the second phase if not the first.


‘Alright’ I flung my hands into space in defeat. ‘Have it your way Miss but you have to thumbprint though…’

I connected the thumb printing machine into the pc on my desk and pushed it to her. She thumb printed without delay and left my office after that. She doesn’t seem like my favourite person but I let that pass because I have dealt with worst clients. She still remains my client and that won’t change unless she fails to handle her financial part of the deal.

I was entering the details of my appointment with Jasmine into the Pc when Isioma came in without knocking. It was not new to me, I think Isioma forgot how to knock the day she learnt I used to be her Senior back then in college and that her school mother back then in college was my wife.


‘I don’t like her.’ Isioma said immediately she entered my office. She sat on the chair which Jasmine had sat, facing me. Placing her phone on the empty seat beside her.

‘Isioma, we have some little work to do. Let me brief you about it....’

‘I heard it all. We are keeping an eye on an old, kleptomaniac step mother who is also a cheat and our little Miss Peacock wants her father to fall out of love with her with evident proofs.’

‘How did you….’

‘You know, I have to secure your wife’s position in your heart. I don’t want some woman creeping into your skin right under my nose. So my ear consciously brought itself to your door to hear it all but I later realized it wasn’t necessary as Mrs. Peacock’s voice was loud enough for me to hear without much ado.’

‘Isioma she is not my type plus she is way too young for me and also I am married to a lovely woman with two lovely kids and besides that’s the last thing on my mind.’

“But it’s still the last thing in your mind. I’ll only stop this when it’s completely out of your mind.’ Isioma said putting her index finger in the wig on her head and pulling it playfully with the finger.

‘Why do I think she is making this up?’ Isioma asked.

‘I’m not making anything up…’

You didn’t hear me. I said why does it seems SHE is making it all up?’

‘Who?’

‘Miss Peacock. I think she hates her step mother so much she wanted her out of her father’s life that she won’t stop at anything, she could possibly frame her step-mum for all I care. Maybe she made up the kleptomaniac and the cheating stuff up or we could even end up finding nothing at all after wasting our time trying to figure out why water doesn’t fill a basket.’

“Isioma, let’s look into it and see if she really made it up or not. We don’t have to sit down and make unsubstantiated guesses.’

‘Okay. You’re the brainy. Whatever you say.

‘Would you now go back to your desk and stop acting like the big boss here.’

‘Fine!’ she said reluctantly and walked swiftly out of my office.

I was still staring at the Jasmine Richard’s file when Isioma call came in through the telephone.
‘Yes’

‘A man just called and said he would like to speak to you. He didn’t state his mission but one thing I know is he sounds rich and means business.

Should I forward the call to you?’ Isioma was back to business now and.

‘Okay.’

After series of beeping, a man’s voice came through
‘George Private Investigation Organization?’
I said speaking formally into the phone the way I do whenever I want to speak to an unknown client.

‘Is that Mr. Lanre George?’ a foreign accented male voice came on line.

‘Yes, how may I help you?’ I was excited at the rich voice I heard. A voice like this spells a five letter word, ‘M.O.N.E.Y!’

‘This is Seun Edun. Can you make it to the Edun’s Villa, in an hour?’ I heard the voice said while I just paused. Dazed.

Even if it’s for one second, I don’t want to dare doubting my instincts.

‘Hmmm’ I murmured as I thought about it even though I don’t want to think before saying ‘Yes’ but the stubborn spirit imbedded in me at birth just had to think!
‘I don’t know the distance from here to Edun’s Villa and besides I’m unto some assignments right now.’

‘Okay then, I would forward my address to your email account. Can you make it at 3:00pm?

‘That is fine with me. I would be there by three.’
‘I’d be waiting.’

I could as well say this was my biggest hit in years. I dropped the call and picked up the Jasmine Richards file once again not with much interest now.

Isioma entered my office without knocking (as usual).
‘So who was that?’

‘Seun Edun.’

‘Are you serious?’ Isioma sounded elated and for a moment, I thought she was going to jump on my desk and scream. It’s not like I’m exaggerating or trying to inflate Isioma’s type of character, it’s just that Isioma could do far worse than that.

I nodded.

‘Wow!’ She said dramatically and clapped her hands gaily. That reminded me of my little
Henrietta. My lips twisted into a light unnoticeable smile.

‘Yeah. It is a ‘WOW’ ma’am.’

‘Is it about his late father and step mother?’

‘He didn’t say but I guess that must be it.’

‘So you guys have an appointment when?’ Isioma asked looking closely at me with a piercing stare.
‘3:00 pm’ I said trying to find a hidden clue in the curious look she gave me.

Isioma glanced at her fashion wristwatch which was wounded elegantly round her wrist like a wired bracelet.

‘It’s just 12:45 pm so, can I come with you?’ She asked giving me the cool, innocent face I hardly see her use
‘I don’t think so.’

‘Why?’ She asked, the smile that rose on her face a minute ago fell like a crump of card in utter disappointment.

The phone rang before I could give a reply.

‘Hello?’

‘It’s Jasmine. My stepmom just went outside now and I think she is going to see her boyfriend’ she emphasized petulantly on the last word.

‘What makes you think she is not going for an outing or probably to see a friend?’

‘I know what I’m saying. She didn’t take the driver with her which always happen whenever she wants to see her boyfriend.’

‘So, where do you think she is going? Or do you want me following her up?’

‘Hmm’ I could hear the rustling of papers at the other end of the line. ‘One Golden Edges Bar on Ojuelegba road, Surulere. The bar is by the roadside so it would be just too easy for you to locate.’

‘Okay.’ I said as I wrote the name of the bar on her file case while I held the telephone between my cheek and shoulder. ‘I would get to it.’ The line was already dead before I said this.

Isioma was still looking at me. She heard the conversation alright so she didn’t bother to ask me about it.

‘Golden Edges Bar?’ Isioma said as she stretched her neck to read what I wrote on the file.

‘Jasmine said her step mum visits her said boyfriend at that bar in Surulere.’

‘I know that bar. There is not much about it though.’ Isioma said indifferently. I gave her a curious look laced with disappointment. It was asking her how she got to know the bar because Isioma is not just that kind of girl that patronizes a bar although she might do anything crazy but not that.

‘Why are you giving me that face? Look, a friend asked me to meet him there. Satisfied?’

I nodded.

‘So, why are we even talking about that girl’s case anyway? Don’t tell me you are going to send me to Surulere.’

‘I’m doing you the honor of going to Surulere on my behalf.’

‘That’s no honor. I think that girl is a fraud. Ever since she had brought that case up, we’ve got no lead. We have not even seen her stepmother in reality. The picture she sent to you looks somehow crappy. Why don’t you just drop the case and forget about it.’

‘You are going to Surulere, Isioma. It doesn’t matter if you are pleased or not.’

‘Your are just being unfair about it. Let’s do it this way, you’ll go to Surulere while I go see Mr. Edun.’

‘Isioma, you seem to be forgetting who is boss here. Besides, he requested for my presence in person. What’s with you and the guy anyway? Or…’ I teased.

‘Nothing! I just want to see the man that made front pages by just spending a year in the country after spending almost half his lifetime studying abroad. It’s absolutely not what you are thinking! He is handicapped for goodness sake! A man without legs is almost nothing to me.’

‘He has got the money and you have to agree with me that that is something. In this dollar age, a man without a body would get a wife easily. Women!’

‘Men! Don’t make it sound like you guys are saints. Here is Jasmine's case of a guy dating a married woman who could pass for his mum. If you ask me why, I would tell you it’s because of the amount of dough the woman is ready to shower on him. He is selling his self-esteem for money. What do you call that?’

That is Isioma for you. She was the one who said Jasmine Richard made all the story about her stepmother up but now that an argument ensued, she decided to use it to her advantage.

‘What makes you think he is not spending the money on a younger woman who is pestering him to bring the money home?’

‘I don’t like arguing with you. Your argument are somehow opaque. What you said right now is a big ‘IF’’

‘Whatever you say. You know, we shouldn’t delay the Surulere stuff. You should be quick about it. We don’t know when she would leave or whether she is there either’

Isioma frowned at me. She wasn’t pleased with what I said. I know she isn’t going to give up until I give in to her demand.

‘Okay, why don’t we go to Surulere together then we drive to the Edun’s Villa after then. We still have more than two hours before your appointment with Mr Edun. We can kill 2 birds with a stone.’ She said smirking delightedly at me.

Aipete2:
sir ma

I've missed you a lot sis. Welcome to yet anoda story of mine.... Probably wondering who I am...

Afz9095:
The begining is somehow promising, hope u won't fall my hand later.anyway m watching dis SPACE

Welcome bro

fiyah:


I've missed you a lot sis. Welcome to yet anoda story of mine.... Probably wondering who I am...

wondering looto oh, who art thou, sir?

Aipete2:
wondering looto oh, who art thou, sir?

I think you should figure that out

fiyah:

Thanks for the compliment bro.
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.... ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺

Honestly when I read the first post I suspected it to be you. The writing skills completely oozed omoshelwa I wish I said this b4 I saw ur dp. Anyway nice to av u back. I will b following this story head to head.

fiyah:

I think you should figure that out

mama tiffanyj

more update, just hope i'l enjoy this ride... More data to ur phone @ op

Chapter Two

Golden Edges Bar was not what I expected it to be. If Mrs. Richards has to cheat,
I was thinking she should cheat with class and not just anywhere but I was really wrong. Owing to the gait I’ve seen Jasmine carry herself, I knew her Dad must be an important personality in the society and with the way she talked about him, he must really be loaded with dough but his wife dragged his name in the mud by patronizing Golden Edges of all places for a gigolo. There was nothing much about Golden Edges just as Isioma had said as all its furniture were wooden and brown except for a few. I wonder who gave it the name it bears. I’m sure whoever did that did so in mockery or it might have been when the bar was flourishing probably back then in the 70’s. But then, there was no sign of its past glory if it ever had any.

Isioma wasn’t the least surprised as I was. She had her headphone over her head and was busy humming an unfamiliar song with her eyes closed during the journey. I drove into the small parking lot that could occupy not more than 3 small cars. I was grateful Isioma was engrossed in the music so much that I didn’t have to deal with her ceaseless chattering. Even though Isioma could be very rude at times, I still enjoyed her service and company. Even I know what I pay her at the end of every month is not as whooping as what she would have got based on her qualification as a B.sc Computer graduate, Isioma doesn’t complain. She likes adventure and would give anything to have it and that’s what we both have in common. She didn't come for the Job because of the money. She has enough of that. She did because she was tired of being idle after graduating. I’ve often advised her to quit. It’s not because I really want her to but because she has to. I think Isioma seems to forget that she is a future wife and a future mum as well and sooner or later she would have to find a job suitable for a woman and what she is doing right now is not just suitable for a mum. Isioma doesn’t like it when I talk to her about quitting. Kath had tried talking to her too but she won’t just listen. She either changes topic or just say ‘When the time is right, I would decide’. But at 26,Isioma still thinks the time isn’t right for her.

At Golden Edges, Isioma and I walked inside the bar which was sparsely populated. A plump, bald man who also has his whole cheek heavily bearded was sitting at the extreme edge of the bar and 3 bottles of liquor were on the faintly polished wooden table before him. The other tables were not occupied but some were dirty and the one beside the entrance into the bar (which is also the exit) looked as though it had been puked on and nobody cared to clean it. The bartender was at his post on a stool before a massive liquor bottle shelf which looked as though some part of it had been bitten off by a huge mutant rodent. The bartender was conversing with so much attention on phone when we entered and he merely acknowledged our presence by raising an eyebrow and raising his palm to indicate a pardon. Isioma pulled me by the wrist to the neatest table in the front row squeezing her face in disgust as we walked past nauseating tables. We sat on opposite chairs facing each other.

‘I told you that girl was merely playing mind games. Where is her step mum?’ Isioma asked after waiting for a minute or so in the restaurant without anything changing in the atmosphere of the bar. The bartender was still busy with his conversation on the phone and the man we saw in the bar when we came in was still doing whatever it was he was doing with the bottles before him.

After he was done with his conversation, the bartender came to our table. He was a young man in his mid-twenties. He has an attractive physique that matched his well carved face and heavy but striking built. His face was so smooth that I doubted if he had ever grown a beard.

‘What could I get for you, Sir?’ He glanced over at Isioma ‘And Ma’am?’ He asked with a well-polished and classical spoken English while flashing a set of sparkling white teeth which had a tone that matched his flawless ebony skin in a friendly grin.

‘I would go for Whiskey’ I said giving him an assuring smile to create a good impression that I had patronized bars and this is not my first time. I didn’t want to request for a nonalcoholic as he might wonder while anyone would come to a bar to request for a nonalcoholic which could easily be purchased almost anywhere in the country. Even though I had drank alcohol once in my youth, it’s not a palatable memory for me and I never wish to have the experience ever again.

‘Sprite would be okay for me’ Isioma chipped in after I placed my order. The bartender excused himself and went to the liquor shelf to get the unwritten orders. Unlike many classic bars, Golden Edges does not write down the orders nor does it have a befitting menu to hand out to customers. It depended on its employee’s ability to memorize orders of customers.
While waiting for him to serve what we ordered for, I kept glancing at the entrance at intervals. Waiting impatiently for Mrs. Richards to appear in a minute or so in an unsuspicious way and staring at the picture of her that Jasmine sent my email successively.

‘What do you think?’ Isioma said in whispers. ‘I told you that woman isn’t coming.’ She concluded impatiently.

‘There are 3 possibilities. The woman either went somewhere before coming here or has left before we arrived or Jasmine made the wrong assertion about her coming here.’

‘I would go with the third possibility’ Isioma said in a carefree manner and looked at me like that would make me change my mind and leave.
‘I would go with the first option. Don’t let us blow this case due to negligence. Let’s try the first option, Missy’ I said indifferently.

‘So you still think she would come. I don’t…’ Isioma didn’t complete her statement because the bartender was approaching our table with a bottle of sprite, another bottle of whiskey and two washed-out mugs on a middle sized circular tray.

While the bartender served our drinks into the mugs, the shadow of a human (I couldn’t place whether it was a man or a woman) was casted on our table and whoever it was at the entrance was obstructing the beam of sunlight entering the bar through the opened doorway. It was Mrs. Richard alright but she looks great in person than the picture Jasmine sent to me. I began to wonder why Jasmine decided to send the woman’s worst picture intentionally. She was a very fair woman that the gap between her and a spotless albino would be negligible if measured. She was wearing the traditional attire of Ankara which was sewn to hug her faultless figure perfectly. She looks like she was in her late 40’s and not like the wrinkle-faced old woman’ picture Jasmine sent to me. She stood at the doorway and it didn’t look like she was moving away from there any time soon and what amazed me was she was staring at our table.

When the bartender was done, he left our table after giving us a friendly smile to the entrance of the bar where Mrs. Richard stood. The duo conversed for a while at the entrance. It wasn’t possible for me to hear what they were saying due to the distance. While I was figuring out how to do that, they exited the bar together. Then, I saw my chance.

‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ Isioma asked staring at the door way absentmindedly.

I stood up and made for the exit.

‘Where are you going?’

I didn’t answer Isioma’s question but instead, I strolled out of the bar and walked casually into the small parking lot of Golden Edges. My car was the only car parked in the lot when we came but beside my car when I came out was a pitch black Jeep occupying the available space. Standing behind the Jeep was Mrs. Richard and the bartender. They stood adjacent to each other and were both having a casual chat which I couldn’t hear. I walked up to them nonchalantly and it was relieving they didn’t notice I was approaching them. As I moved closer, what they were saying could be heard even though not absolutely clear enough for someone who is not interested in their conversation.

‘…what are you going to do now?’ Mrs. Richard asked in an emotionally laden, sensual, high-pitched voice.
‘I don’t know but one thing I know is I would quit someday. I know I won’t be working here forever. The pay is just so little.’

‘Carl, be sensible. I know you don’t like him but he would get you a job. A befitting, non-ridiculing, reputable job unlike this one. He doesn’t have to know who you are, you will hide your identity.’

‘I don’t want anything from that man and I told you not to bring him into any dialogue we have. I don’t want to hear anything about him please...’ I was so close now and Carl, the bartender had stopped talking when he saw me but I still walked up to them anyway.

‘Excuse me. I’m sorry if I interrupted your chat but I need to buy a pack of cigarette and I would be grateful if you would direct me to any stall where I could buy one. I’m not familiar with this part of the city’ I said acting like I didn’t see Mrs. Richards.

‘You just have to walk down that un-tarred road. There is a particular mini store down the road that sells all types of cigarette and you have to pardon me that I wouldn’t be able to get that for you. I’m a little busy right now.’ Carl said after gesticulating towards my right hand side.

‘It’s okay. And I’m sorry madam if I interrupted your conversation’ I said finally looking up at Mrs. Richard.
‘It’s nothing.’ She said giving me an assuring smile.
I walked towards the un-tarred road Carl had directed hoping they would say something that could help me but they didn’t until I was faraway. I was making progress with the Jasmine’s case and that gladdens my heart.

When I was far away from the duo, I glanced back at them and I could see Mrs. Richard giving Carl a peck on the cheek then after that, she wrapped her arm around him in a warm embrace. How shameful! I couldn’t believe Mrs. Richard could be so ignominious as to do that in public. Whatever shame that woman had in her must have been buried years ago if I have to judge her with what I’m seeing. I would have taken a picture but then I was so far from them that it would be hard to identify who is who but I stood behind a tree and took an extremely zoomed picture with my phone anyway. I concentrated on where I was going and when I looked back again, the Jeep and Mrs. Richard were both gone and Carl was walking back to the bar. I quickly put a call through to Isioma.

‘Engage the bartender in a conversation. Just try and be friendly and don’t ask anything regarding the case. Just make a friend out of him and record your dialogue with him on your phone.’ I stopped then remembered something.

‘And most importantly, don’t be yourself’ I ended the call before Isioma starts her questions and gibberish. I continued my mission down the road and glancing here and there for there were many stalls down here and there is a possibility all of them were selling cigarette. I went into one of the stalls and asked for a cigarette.

‘Which type do you want to buy?’ A young woman, whom I guessed was the owner of the stall asked in Pidgin English.

‘Any type.’ I replied and she gave me a questioning look. She was expecting me to mention a name but when she saw that wasn't coming, she went to get me a pack. I don’t know what she expects me to say. I don’t know the name of any type of cigarette.


Back at Golden Edges, Isioma was sitting on a stool facing the bartender who sat facing her also back turned to the liquor shelf. They seem to be enthralled in whatever they were saying because Isioma was laughing hysterically while trying forcibly to prevent the mug on her right hand from spilling the drinks on the floor.

Isioma was giggling and smiling and looking as innocent as ever. A feature she hardly displays. The bartender seems really into Isioma’s innocence. I put my hands into my trousers pocket and then moved from the entrance where I had stood to where Isioma was.

‘Where have you been?’ Isioma asked looking at me with a giggle still hanging on her lips probably because of something Carl told her.

‘I went to get cigarette. I think we should leave now.’ I said.

Isioma stood and lifted her huge handbag.

‘Oh, lest I forget. Carl, this is my brother, Bro Lanre and Brother, this is Carl, my friend.’ Isioma introduced.

I wasn’t surprised at what she said because I knew Isioma was capable of switching personality without much stress on her part. I merely looked at Carl's outstretched hand which I shook warmly.

‘You’ve got a lovely sister’ Carl said still holding my hand.

’Huh, Really? I think she is naughty though but you’ve got a divergent view about her? But brother, some people may not be who they seem to be..’ I said glancing unbelievably at Isioma’s frowning face while Carl released my palm. Carl looked at her and grinned.

‘I think we will leave now.’ I said to Carl.

‘What about your drinks? You haven’t touched yours.’ Carl asked concernedly.

‘Something urgent came up.’ I replied gesticulating towards the door to Isioma.

‘Let me have your cell phone number so that I can call you. I think I would be coming here tomorrow and it would be nice having you around’ Isioma said handing her Smartphone to Carl who tapped and swiped at the screen swiftly. I didn't wait for him to finish typing his number on Isioma’s phone before exiting and walking to the parking lot. I entered the car and was starting the engine when I saw Isioma exit the bar tapping her phone as she walks. She sat on the passenger’s seat and changed from her innocent self to the Isioma I had known for two years now.

‘Such a jerk. He is a hypocrite you know.’ Isioma said while I reversed not commenting on what she said but she continues anyway.

‘If I had known him before this case comes up I swear I would have thought him a complete gentleman. That’s another lesson I’ve learnt today, never trust a handsome dude, he could be a gigolo.’ Isioma said placing her palm on her chest in some sort of pledge.

I smiled at that.

‘I have our conversation recorded and I would send that to your whatsapp account in a minute’ she said and tapped her phone countless times.

‘Sent!’ She announced gleefully and at that moment, ma phone beeped in my pocket.

‘So what did you find out when you went out?’ She asked.

‘Carl seems to have Mrs. Richard between his fingers. She was going to talk to her husband to get him a Job with his identity hidden’

‘You Know, I would have disagreed with you if I had known him before this case comes up. He is just too good at fooling people around him.'

I didn’t say anything and Isioma also stopped talking for a while and I was at peace until she started again.
‘And when did you start smoking?’ she asked with a querying look.

‘About 10 minutes ago’ I said sarcastically.

‘What?’

‘Isioma I used the cigarette stuff to cover up for my listening to their conversation!’

‘And cigarette was the only thing that came to your mind?’

‘What should I have said? Biscuit?’ I said sarcastically

‘I don’t know. Anything but cigarette. I couldn’t get the picture of you smoking out of my head since Carl told me you went to buy a cigarette.’

There was nothing to say anymore. Isioma won’t stop talking if this persisted so I acted like I was trying to concentrate on driving. But my evasion method didn’t work because Isioma’s mouth didn’t shut until we reached the Eduns Villa.

Sageez:
more update, just hope i'l enjoy this ride... More data to ur phone @ op

Welcome bro. Nice having u here

Mattkent:


Honestly when I read the first post I suspected it to be you. The writing skills completely oozed omoshelwa I wish I said this b4 I saw ur dp. Anyway nice to av u back. I will b following this story head to head.

Never knew you never knew it was me. Buh I told u before this time...

Thanks for having my back

Aipete2:
mama tiffanyj

Ma'am, you guessed wrong. Lemme help u. My story title starts with R

Following fender to bumper