TIRENI is my first work...like the 1st story i am writing....plz feel free to comment, encourage and criticize but plz dont fry me o....remember its my first try.....your comment would go a long way....i hope we enjoy the ride

©2017 by Bolarinwa Oyindamola

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Bolarinwa Oyindamola.

DISCLAIMER

This story is a work of fiction. All incidents and people in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to any persons or situation is simply coincidental.

PROLOUGE
Fear imputed out of love for her baby rushed through her; she pushed open the door on passagers side of the car and ran wildly towards the uncompleted building. She sighted the baby rocker on the window frame of the first floor of the building. The cries of her baby girl confirmed that she was in the rocker.

She was so startled by the sound of the gunshot, that she tripped and fell. Mr fagade lied cold on the bag of money, bleeding form his head.

Confusion ran through her as she rushed back to her husband, who fell dead not too far from the car, she was sweating all over. As she tried to hold on to her husband and also tried to keep her gaze on her first child. She hadn't completely let out her first cry when the second gunshot cut her life short.

One would have wondered if the baby understood what was going on, as the pitch of her cries increased. Tayo was obviously irritated by the baby's cries; he didn't hestitate to push the baby off the window.

Teniola held on to his arm as they ran down the building to the back after picking the bag of money. It seemed the air conditioner in the car wasn't enough to cool the heat of the argument.

"But that wasn't our agreement, Tayo. We weren't supposed to kill anybody." Teniola yapped.

"I hate that man! That was my sweet opportunity to get rid of him."

"Oh! Since it was based on opportunities, then you shouldn't have shot scorpion." Teniola replied with disgust written all over her. She remembered how her third partner in crime fell dead beside her;guilt tugged at her.

"For killing the woman I love? That guy is an idiot. To hell he goes."

Teniola was raged, she remembered how she whispered to scorpion to shoot Mrs fagade.

"You only care about that woman! What about me?"
Tayo ignored the question as he increased the volume of the car's music player.

"Answer me tayo! Answer me now?" Teniola screamed again!

Tayo brought the car to a sharp halt. "Get out!" He ordered.
Shocked, she replied "You can't drop me here."
She didn't wait for him to repeat himself, before she got down when she noticed he was caressing his gun.

it was supposed to be a mere game of ransom. They were supposed to just return the child and get their money. How everything turned around, Teniola couldn't fathom.

EPISODE 1
Olumide walked into the bar and sat down. The best word he could use to describe such a stressful day was still stressful. He looked around and it looked as if he had entered a wrong shop. Nothing looked familiar! He could see some set of guys around a table and they had used the bottles of alcoholic drinks to draw a map on the table.

As he turned his head he had a glimpse of another set of people. “Can I have a bottle of Malt?” He asked the young lady approaching him.

At least, there should still be Maltina in their refrigerator, he had guessed. It had been such a challenging day as he had to drive to and fro from the station just because of a case. He clenched his fists as he still found it hard to believe he was stressed out because of a case.

He had worked on many cases and they were all successful. In fact, stress free! He was one of the best detectives in their office, although he started as a uniformed officer like the others. He felt it wasn’t just because he was very smart and brainy, probably it was just grace.

“Maltina?” She asked, with the colour of surprise drawn over her face.

Olumide nodded. He was wondering if it was a crime for him to ask for a bottle malt there. She really looked as if she was hearing that for the first time. But it wasn’t her fault. That would be the first time in many years that she would be hearing the name of that drink in the bar – Maltina. She knew how much people asked for the alcoholic drinks, she had hardly met anyone who asked for a bottle of Maltina. “Or, don’t you sell it?” He quickly asked, so he could leave as quick as possible.

“Emm..”She looked back, remembering she left her friend on seat. He had come to meet her for an important issue. “Actually, we don’t. But I don’t know if you can take another type of drink.”

He shrugged. “Sure, you can. Just make sure it is a non-alcoholic drink.”
She chuckled as she ran her hand through her hair. “We don’t have any drink that’s non-alcoholic here, sir.” She drawled as she replied him. She didn’t want him to leave just like that.

He looked too handsome to leave without taking something. Olumide settled to leave since they didn’t have his choice of drinks. “We also sell pepper soup with assorted meats.” She felt as if she should hold him back as he turned to leave but her hand kept floating in the atmosphere as she tried to reach him.

Olumide turned back and smiled. “I actually need a chilled drink.”


“Okay, wait. Let me get you a drink in a nearby shop.” She looked back and made some signs to her friend that was on sit, The young man nodded in response to her signs and she dashed out.

Olumide sat down and smiled. He liked her hospitality. She looked young and innocent to be working in the beer palour. Little did he know that was the daughter of the owner of the place. He reached for the toothpick on the table was playing with the stick, to while away his time before she’d come back. Soon, she came back with the drink and placed it before him. “Sorry for coming late, Sir.”

“Late?” He chuckled. “Thank you very much.”
She quickly motioned to her friend and plopped down the chair. She was discussing with him as he began to hold her hands, moving his head closer to her as if he wanted to tell her something he didn’t want anyone to hear.

Olumide stole occasional glances at them as he wanted to know more about the young girl. She should still be a teenager. He concluded within himself as he opened the bottle of malt. “Is she really innocent?” He began to doubt himself as he watched her hands in the guy’s hand. “I’m not shocked.” He muttered and drank from his malt.

Just as he was drinking, the smoke of a cigarette suddenly stuffed his nose and he turned to his left and saw one of the men drinking. He was the one backing his so called enjoyment up with smoking. His eyes were still fixed on the man like a predator fixes it’s eyes on a prey when the noise jeered him back to his major view.

He scanned the woman shouting and dropped his bottle of malt. She was not short and fat, he could only describe her as stout. She looked rather too livid to be really assessed. But why?

She had gotten hold of the young lady and had forgotten her hand on her left cheek twice now. He was uncomfortable as he watched the lady been battered. As he widened his eyes, he saw that the young man that was sitting with her had disappeared into the thin air.

He decided to keep his cool. At least he had seen a lot of cases like that as an officer and would want to know how the issue would go. The argument was still going on when he heard a comment of one the men at the bar telling the woman to discipline her daughter well. “We wan dey the place but she no wan gree!” He concluded.

“Daughter?” He looked away as roller-coaster of emotions swung through his mind to and fro. The man couldn’t have meant that! He concluded only to see the woman pull the lady by her cloth and tore it.

“What!” Olumide would never stand that! Apart from her nice behaviour, the way she treated him well, he wouldn’t want those evil guys to see her unclothedness! She was too young and beautiful for that. He didn’t know if it was a reflex action that took his cloth off his body. He quickly covered her and pulled her out of the bar as quick as he could. “This is nonsense!” He shouted as he ushered her out.

He could see that the woman has sheer anger written all over her. Maybe she had given her a work to do earlier or she had been looking for an opportunity to shoot across the bows. “Sorry.”

He watched tears rolled down her face. “I’m very sorry.” He raised his head and saw seas of heads up, staring at them. He took her to his car helped her with the door as she sat in the passenger’s seat. He quickly hopped into the car too.

“Can I take you away from here for a moment?” He asked so that his benevolence wouldn’t turn out to be a trouble.
She nodded amidst her tears.
He turned the ignition.

“What’s your name?” He asked.

“TIRENI."
** ** **
It wasn't so hard to get a suitable place to park. Olumide brought the car to a halt, adjusted himself on the seat and turned to face the sobbing lady. She wouldn't even give crying a break. She had her head in her hands so he couldn't even tell what the fate of her face was. She had not said any other thing apart from her name.

"You should stop crying, miss." Olu heaved a sigh. She didn't still look up.

Too many movie scenes flashed through his mind as he sat still, staring. What would he do with a lady sniveling in his car, about to dissolve in her own tears. He didn't know. Stephanie had never cried in his presence. She had been the macho of the relationship all the way. Breaking up was just the best way to end the seemly 'Man to Man relationship'. He was a sure armature in this case.

"I heard someone at the bar say she is your mother. Is that true?" He asked, hoping that it was a good start. He had always been a questioner. He made his living from asking questions and finding solutions, so it wouldn't be so bad to use what he had to get what he wanted. He thought.

He didn't get the gesture she passed across. Whether she shook her head or she nodded, he didn't know. He brushed through his head with his fingers and gave a loud sigh. The situation was tiring, he longed for her to just say something meaningful.

Stretching out on the driver's seat, he stared at his hurting passenger. Well, this situation was really odd, it'll haver been better if they were in a closed environment, but right now, he had passersby trying to create a storyline from what they could see in the car. A grown up guy like him in just singlet, and a lady beside him in his own shirt, Crying! "They must be thinking it's a rape situation" Olu mused, unconsciously loud enough for her to hear.

"Am sorry." Tireni muffled, amidst tears.

"I should get going now." She finally raised her head, "Thank you sir." She said, reaching for the door handle.

He didn't mean that, he was even shocked that she heard him. Did the statement add to her hurt? He wasn't sure. He grabbed her arm as she was about to get down, Tireni turned and met his gaze. His heart skidded to a stop; literally he had to inhale to kick it off again.
"You could use my face towel, your face is a mess." He wrapped his fingers firmly around her arm, like she was going to run at any slight chance.

Finally, he found the face towel. Tireni sat well in the seat, collected the towel and wiped her face, she had this cool that'll make you wonder if she was the same person shrieked in tears for over twenty mintues at a go. She looked at him eyeball to eyeball and opened her firm but placid lips to talk.

Olumide cut her short even before she could pronounce any meaningful word. He knew she was about to reel off a thanksgiving message and to probably repeat a condolence speech for killing and burying his reputation in the public. He didn't want that. Although he didn't understand the trick his feelings were playing with him, he decided to play along.

She looked so young, and vulunrable, her eyes spoke volumes of words, he was so sure her mouth wouldn't be able to fully express. He traced the the inflicted marks on her face with his index finger, it seemed as tho he heard her girly heart beat. She blinked, she was confused.

Olu didn't shift his stare, he noticed her swollen eye bags and the way she shivered under his touch.

"How old are you?" He asked. His dreamy eyes still intact.

"Eighteen." She batted her eye lids.

"I love the way you blink."

"I think I have to go now." She said, brushing off his hand.

He sat back and watched her leave. She would have been the same age with his younger sister if she had lived to even see the light of the day. Realization hit him. He hadn't done anything meaningful to help her.

"Hey!" He screamed. She hadn't gone too far, yet she didn't seem to hear.

"Tireni!" He screamed louder.

She turned. "Oh! His shirt!" Was what crossed her mind. She couldn't imagine the fact that she would have to remove his shirt and walk home in her torn, revealing cloths."

She walked back, conscious that he had his eyes on her. She was about to talk when she noticed the 'hush, I do the talking' look. His countenance had changed, he didn't look like the 'oh! I just found my first love' baby boy she left behind.

Standing by the window of the Driver's seat, she started to unbotton the shirt she had buttoned up earlier on.

"Wait! What do you think you are doing?" He asked, alarmed.

"Returning the shirt." She replied, without lifting her head, her hands worked on one of Olu's most cherished shirt as she did the unbottoning.

CONTINUATION

Can you just stop and listen first!" He said, removing her hand from the cloth and lifting her head up by her chin.

"That you are young shouldn't make you so vulnerable and weak, you are a lady and should at least try to be firm! No matter what happens you shouldn't cry like that next time. Listen, any other guy could have taken advantage of the situation. And you are too beautiful to be used." He reeled off like it was a practiced speech.

"Don't create any situation you can't handle, why would you have a guy all over you like that when you know you'll get beaten this much. Oh! You were expecting him to fight for you?" Tireni didn't know if she was to answer the question, she was dumbfounded.

"You are eighteen but you can be smart, you are eighteen but you can be strong, come on! You are young, but that's a bad excuse." He concluded the heart shattering speech with a rueful smile.

Tireni smiled in response through clenched teeth. She couldn't just make herself fake a real smile "Thanks, Mr." She said, walking off at once.

"Olu is my name," he cooed from behind her through the window.

He wasn't sure he had said the right things but that was the same thing he would have said to his sister. He detested weak ladies.

"What does he know?" Tireni brooded over every thing that had happened. She didn't care who looking, she took her time, walking absent mindedly.

Why did he judge so harsh, he didn't know what happened, he didn't have that right. How could he have been so nice and still use words that stabbed her with shame. She was angry! She couldn't bear it.

She wasn't weak, she hadn't cried in years. She was a master at hiding her pains and just when she felt she could let everything out, he pushed her back into her shell.

Tireni couldn't figure out what pained her the most. Her mother's beating or Olu's words? She was stung and home didn't feel like the right place to get healing. "I should just die right now." She mused.

Olu stepped on the brake fast enough to prevent him from sending her flying into the air.
"Are you crazy?" He screamed in terror, bringing the car to a sharp halt.

Although the voice sounded familar, Tireni didn't care.
She heard people saying all sort of things.

"If you want to die, why is it in front of my shop!" The woman who owned the provision shop close to the scene shouted
"Alakoba oshi!" She continued. Tireni wasn't affected by all that. She just wanted to die.

He pulled her by her arm and pushed her into the car, locking the passenger's door immediately. He hopped into his own seat and turned in the direction of his home.

"Tell me what came over you!" He ordered like he didn't already know that she wouldn't respond.

Olu hit the dashboard, angry and irritated by her silence. He had followed her from a distance, for some reason unknown to him. He felt she was going to do something stupid. He wasn't wrong anyway, besides that, he wanted to know her home and be sure that woman was her mother.

Thank God he didn't change his mind because he was already concluding on going home and allowing the whole thing to pass peacefully. He didn't go to the bar for her, he went there on an assignment, he had thought. Who knew she was going to jump to road on seeing a coming car. Thank God he was the man behind the wheels. He sighed for the tenth time.

** ** **

The acapella was supposed to be presented on their school's prom night. They practiced really hard because it was their last time to prove themselves as the best music team for their set.

Tireni and Steve had been selected by the team members to sing the lead in form of a duet to the acapella song while adewoyin was to lead the medley.

Whether it was deliberate or unconscious, the remaining four members of the team didn't care to know. What they saw confirmed their suspicions that Tireni and Steve had a mutual crush. The sudden silence that erupted made the two lead singers stop in between their song. The others were supposed to be humming beneath.

Adewoyin, Tireni's besty, exploded with n hilarious laughter as she pointed at the joint hands of the lead singers. Tireni immediately yanked her hand free from Steve. She didn't even know how it got there in the first place.

The embarrassed look on Steve’s face combined with how inviting adewoyin's laughter sounded forced the others to join it. It was a complete 'your laugh dey make me laugh' scene leaving Tireni and steve stupefied.

"Can we go back to work please!" Steve said on top of his voice, trying to shake off the embarrassment.

"Yes, I think so too." Tireni supported.
The seriousness on the face of the two of them made the laughter die down almost at the same time. Then an awkward silence followed, nobody wanted to be the first to talk, they all seemed to be thinking of the best way to resume.

"Emmm...I think Tireni can add a little bit of vibrato to the end of that song" the guy handling the guitar suggested, breaking the silence.

"Which part? The part where I'll be going high" she asked

"Yeah, true talk. It'll make it melodious" Steve chipped in.

"Okay, let's try it again then." She stood up and walked to the center of the circle.

"You too, follow na!" Adewoyin urged Steve, who had been hesitating. He stood up, eyes cast down, rubbing his sweaty palm on his jean.

** ** **
"Well, that was how I knew he had a thing for me." Tireni stated, resting her head on the seat, she spurted air from her mouth. She was telling Olu about Steve. The guy that caused her the pain she was presently experiencing.

"So that was all that happened before fate brought you into my car?" He asked with a mischievous grin.

The day was closing up already. It was something around 7 p.m. He decided to talk with her in the car, since she refused to enter into his house with him. After giving a heart catching speech on why he judged her like that, he asked her about Steve.

She seemed to be comfortable with the new environs. She spoke like a good conversationist throwing away all the shame and shyness. Tireni was still in his shirt.

"At least have been able to prove that I am not the little LovePeddler you think I am." She twisted her mouth and and rolled up her eyes.

"Come on! Don't try to make me feel guilty. I was only trying to-"

"-Play the big brother role." She completed the statement on his behalf, maintaining the sly look.

"You look nice in my shirt." He said, sizing her up and literally ignoring her last statement

"I know. Thanks!"

Olu flashed a smile. "You are so defensive. I wish you defended yourself out there."

"Take me home, big brother." She teased.
Although it was an interesting drive, Tireni couldn't take her mind off what was going to happen at home. She prepared herself for the worst.

"Take care of yourself and be wise." Olu said as she alighted close to the bar.

"I will, dad." She teased with a smirk on her face.
"Thanks!" She screamed on top her voice as the car zoomed off.

** ** **

Her beautiful face had already been maltreated by the hot sun. "But I didn't stay outside for long now, from the station to my car and now I’m home." She mused before the dressing mirror. "I can't start having sun burn so early." She used her hand to trace the dark patch that developed beside her nose.

She was already in her blue linen nightie as she moved towards her bed. She sat down towards the edge as her mind flashed back to the activities of the day.

Miss Fagade Bella came down to Lagos immediately she heard the unpleasant news that her company had been defrauded. She was highly disappointed in her personal assistant. She made it clear to him already that if the case wasn't resolved and the company goes bankrupt, she'd make sure he gets locked up.

FAGADE DESIGNS was a company her brother managed on her behalf when she was still in school. She had taken over, some few years before she went abroad. The company meant a lot to her and it was one of the biggest companies with great sales turnover in Ibadan. No wonder she decided to take the case up herself instead of leaving it to her personal assistance who she now considers as incapable.

She pulled out the drawer beside her bed. She hadn't checked it since she came back. As she flipped through the files, she remembered what the detective supervisor had said earlier during the day. "We cannot take this case up until more facts and visible evidences are provided." She wondered how she got along so well with such a funny looking man.

She smiled to herself.
"I have to lay my hands on something tangible for this case." She said to herself, calling herself back to reality.

Her hands shook in fear as she held on to the last paper work present in the file. As she remembered the events that had taken toll on the day before she received that letter, her heart pounded fiercely. She gave the four corners of her pretty large room a quick glance, feeling someone was hiding around. She sat well on the bed as she reread the letter again after a long time.

Family woman,
Engage your head while there is still time. Drop that case before your young blood spills. Gat my eyes on you!
DEATH DISTRIBUTOR.

It was short, yet it sent her eyes looking around the room again. She stared at the signature beneath the letter. "It looks familiar." She thought. The silence and darkness everywhere catapulted stronger fear into her. As she stood up quickly to lock her room door, her window pane suddenly got shut with a loud bang. She screamed so loud that she felt her ears split.

It was just the wind from the rain that had been threatening to fall that sent the pane flying like that. She walked hastily to her bed on realization and tucked herself securely under the blanket. She wasn't sure she'd even be able to sleep.

CONTINUATION

Bella Fagade pushed the door to her personal assistant’s office. It hadn't even crossed her mind to knock. The wooden door flung wide, making the gentle man who was on sit brace up to his feet.
"Good morning ma." He bowed his head, walking away from his desk.

Bella had entered with a kind of aura that dominated and made the office stuffy. She walked past the intimidated man and took her seat on one of the two chairs available.

"Can I have the documents signed by the fake contractor?" She asked, ignoring his greeting.

"I'll see to that ma, excuse me." He said, leaving the office. He didn't bother closing the door.

Miss Fagade tapped the table before her as she waited. It had gradually become a habit.

The personal assistant ruffled through all the files on his secetary's desk. He wondered where she could have gone to during working hours and more so at such a crucial time. He had tried her number the tenth time, yet she wasn't picking up.

He hated it when a woman trampled on his ego, not even his present boss. For all he cared, she was unmarried! And he was not just a husband, but also a father.

"God knows I'll kill this woman." He muttered under his breath, referring to his secetery. He couldn't have been referring to his boss anyway. Whether unmarried or not, he'd be jobless without her.

Bella Fagade had already exhausted the height of her patience. She walked around the office taking note of its arrangement and neatness. She was satisfied as it was well maintained. She looked out at the array of houses beneath from the window, trying to while away time. She felt the sight was beautiful, although not beautiful enough to distract her from the reason why she was there. She sighed, picking her hand bag and set out to know why she was unnecessarily delayed.

Just as she set her eyes on her personal assistant and was about to talk, his secretary appeared at the door way of her office.

"Good morning madam." She greeted, as she walked past her to her desk, squatting slightly. The P.A heaved a sigh of relief.

"Bring out the document signed by that contractor." He ordered, putting his hand in his pocket.

"Which one, Sir?" She asked, fidgeting.

"Which other contract have we handled lately?" The frustrated P.A said hitting the table with his free hand.

Bella seemed irritated by the playlet and hissed dryly.

"Where did you get this lady from?" Her face pulled a grimace as she asked

"I’m so disappointed in you! How can you be this incompetent? I'll have no choice than to go ahead with my initial plans for you then." She reeled out as she walked down the stair case.

It was no use running after her without the file so he just faced his secretary. Thank God for self-control, he would have slapped her.

He clenched his fist and walked into his office, slamming the door behind him without initiating any further discussion.

Bella's phone rang just some distance away from the roundabout, it was her P.A. She picked up and kept the phone on loud speaker as she continued driving. After a while, she used the roundabout, and drove back to her office.

He was already waiting outside the gate for her. She parked and alighted while he walked up to her and handed the file to her.

"Am so sorry ma. I was only able to get the photocopy."

"Oh! So your so-called secretary gave the original and held on to the photocopy right?"

"I can't really explain what went wrong ma."

She gave him a long hard stare, collected the document and walked back to her car. He stood transfixed as he watched the car zoom out of sight.

** ** **
"Ma, have you been able to get the form signed by the contractor?" Olumide asked over the phone.

"Not really." She answered, sitting up. I was only able to lay my hands on the photocopy." She hoped that it'll be suitable for the investigation.

She stared expressionless at her Dad as she dropped the call. "What's the outcome?"

"We can make do with the photocopy although it'd have been better if it was original." She mimed detective olumide, swinging her head from side to side, allowing her long dark hair to dance around her. She flashed her easy smile.

"That's a good improvement on the case." Her dad responded; standing up from the sofa, he ruffled her hair with his left hand and made for the room. Bella Fagade beamed her Dad a smile. She felt like his little girl although she was thirty one.

She had moved over to her parent's place due to much persuasion from her Mum and also the truma of fear that kept coming when she was alone. Besides it wouldn't be so bad to spend that period with Mum and Dad since she had been away for a while.

She straightened on the sofa, pulled out the rubber band on her wrist and packed her hair into pony tail. It was already disturbing. She checked through the T.V stations but saw nothing of interest. No fashion show, no business talk. She gave up, dropping the remote on the center table. As she remembered how her day went, a mischievous grin crawled up her face.

Although circumstance warranted the way she acted to her P.A, she personally had a thing for leading, especially leading the male specie. She enjoyed the whole bossy feeling.

** ** **

Olumide was on his bed. He had silenced his phone the other night, knowing that was the only thing that could disturb him since he was living alone.

The bachelor's life suited him well. He hardly even called his parent. One would have felt that they had given up on him because they too stopped calling frequently. The last time he heard from them since they traveled out was when he needed money to renovate his present apartment.

He didn't accept the official house provided by the federal government because he wondered why he should stay there when there was no distance barrier between the station and his father's house. His father who had unintentionally built one of his houses few miles from the station, couldn't have guessed that his son was going to take intreast in been a police. To olumide, the building was a blessing.

After rolling on the bed for a while, he lazily stood up, hungry. As he pushed the gold cotton aside, the sun rays hit his face. He used his arms to block them as he turned around. If he was on duty, he knew he would have been in the office by now.

He picked up his phone and walked to his kitchen. He wasn't a kitchen fan anyway. It was only normal for a man of his kind of occupation not to know how to cook. Buying food from vendors was the only survival route in their case. He entered the kitchen, sighted his milk jar on the L- shaped kitchen cabinate, it still had considerable amount of milk in it.

He was still thinking of what to do with the milk when remembered that he should still have bread somewhere in his car. He smiled contentedly to himself, as he walked out of the building to his car. Just as he was about to open the car, the reflection of light from the phone called his attention. It was a call. It didn't ring out because it was on silence mode.

"Ah! Supervisor," he said aloud.

The call ended before he could pick it successfully. His supervisor had been calling but he didn't know. "Since 6am!" he exclaimed again. The time on his phone was saying 8:45 already. He checked his text messages in response to the notifications on his phone. He realized there was an impromptu meeting for detectives that was supposed to hold by 8am.

As he remembered the case of the woman from the other day, adrenaline shot through his spine. He immediately forgot that he was hungry. In no time, he was dressed and already driving to work. "I just hope am not smelling" he said to himself.

He met kessi at the front of the station. It looked like he was going home.

"Guy! Meeting don finish ni?" He asked as he called kessi's attention.

"Yes na. Since 8:30am.".

"Oga is inside abi? My phone was on silent profile." he explained

"No, he just left now." Kessi answered smiling.

Olumide interpreted the smile has mischievous. "Yee! They've given this guy the case sha."

"You know that woman's case?" Kessi continued

"Which case?" He pretended

"The fraud case na! The one of that rich lady."

"Ooooh, Yes!" He answered, still pretending not to be so interested.

"I don't know why Oga gave you sef, since you don't seem to even be interested in it."
Olumide was flustered.

"Ehn? Oga gave me the case?"

"Yes, and I’m assisting you, while I also attend to the other case of homicide." Kessi reeled out.

"What of detective Bello." Olumide asked, referring to the third detective

"He wasn't in the meeting, I heard he is sick." Kessi answered

"Wow!" Olumide exclaimed, suprised at the turn out of event. He had a broad smile on his face.

"So na form u dey form." Kessi remarked hitting him. "Come and celebrate for me joor!

Handling rich woman case!" He said pulling olumide towards his own car.

The information was truly worth celebrating, he had really desired it. He followed Kessi willingly because he was even hungry. "I'll first take pepper soup before I eat the real thing o." Kessi informed him as they drove to a nearby eatery. Olumide was too engrossed in his Joy to reply.

i anticipate your comments! its soooo important to me....thanks

Been a while here.. feels good to be here.
I can see Missmossy viewing the thread. Been a while.
Ride on, Oyin. Wehdone ma.

TemitopeDaniel:
Been a while here.. feels good to be here.

I can see Missmossy viewing the thread. Been a while.

Ride on, Oyin. Wehdone ma.

awwn...welcome sir...thanks

TemitopeDaniel:
Been a while here.. feels good to be here.

I can see Missmossy viewing the thread. Been a while.

Ride on, Oyin. Wehdone ma.

Who am i seeing where have you been?? Its been years.

Good job so far

Keep it coming, beautiful story. Kudos to you.

TemitopeDaniel:
Been a while here.. feels good to be here.

I can see Missmossy viewing the thread. Been a while.

Ride on, Oyin. Wehdone ma.

boss of life wadup

Where the heck have you been

Missmossy:

Who am i seeing where have you been?? Its been years.

I have been alive..

I'm still standing tall.

kingphilip:
boss of life wadup
Where the heck have you been

Kingphilip, I hail sir. I have been around...

CONTINUATION
** ** **
After dropping the call, Olu downed on his drink. He needed it, it had been a long day. Kessi! He crossed his mind as he was about to lay on his bed. He stretched and picked his phone to make the last call for the day. He hoped it won't be a long call as his eyes were already calling it a day.

"Guy pick na." He mused, trying the number for the second time.

"Detective no 1!" The husky voice from the other end exclaimed.

"Wo, see today wasn't funny o." He declared, pulling the duvet over himself. If the call gets boring! He'll just sleep off

"What went wrong?"

"I got the place, the address was direct. Didn't plan to stay long, I just wanted to see how they run the place and leave, I decided to take a drink, then I met this girl and blah blah blah blah..." He blabbed. "See... The story is voluminous, we should meet tomorrow." He concluded.

"Your place or the station?" Kessi asked. There was no response, he asked again, it still the same thing-no response, so he cut the call from his end.

** ** **

The sight of their identity cards had sent a sudden sense of fear, running through his nerves just like the chill of an icy wind. The bank manager composed him self on his seat, re- arranging his blue tie under the collar of the white shirt. It had faint stripes and his Identity card hung loosely over the tie.

"How can I help you sirs?" His voice was as low as a sea.

Detective Kessi did the talking. "We have a case that we are about to sort out. A fraud case to be precise and we need the assistance of the bank to fish out important details about the owner of this signature." Kessi stretched a paper to him.

"We don't want our time wasted that's why we came directly to the headquarters. The money was paid into a first bank account and the fraudster owns that signature." He pointed at the paper.

Olu stared at the Manager, unflinching, making the man feel uncomfortable.

"We'd see what we can do." He said standing up. He was about to turn the knob when he looked back

"But excuse me." He called the attention of the gentlemen, who were already engaged in a discussion. Olu and Kessi looked back.

The manager didn't like the firmness in their eyes.
He walked back towards them, talking. "Why would you think a fraud would use the same signature on the contract form for the bank account too?" He asked, feeling intelligent.

"Because it's our job and we work using certain hypothesis." Olu stated, he didn't want to give the man the chance to feel fly at all.

"If you say so." He walked away, defeated.

Olu knew in his mind that, that wasn't the reason. He had only begged the question, logicians called it 'petito principii' and as investigators they had adopted it.

They traced the signature because it had appeared twice on different notes. Both on the contract form and on the threat letter Bella had brought.

If they could make the mistake twice! Then there is a chance that there is a third mistake, instincts told Olu.

The manager coughed slightly as he entered back into his office, expecting the detectives to look back, but they didn't.

"We were able to trace it to an account, an active one.” They announced with a note of victory.

"These are the details of the account."
Olu collected the paper from him, he looked through.

"Are you sure about this?" Kessi asked. "Sure!" He proclaimed.

"Okay then...this should help." He said dryly, walking out of the office with kessi following behind.

The manager heaved a sigh of relief, he felt like he owned his office again.

** ** **

"Come on, don't give me that trash!" Tayo yawped, pacing around the room.

It wasn't an extremely large room, but it was spacious enough to be called a master's bedroom. The peach curtains had been pulled to a close, it gave the room an evening shade even though it was yet morning. The bed had its succulent feel, the floral print blue bed sheet was tucked in, neat.

"I am getting old and you are getting old too." Teni, shifted on the bed.

"So?"

"We should get engaged in something better."

"Like building orphanages, abi." He answered in mock anger.

She already knew he was trying to play word tricks on her, to make her feel guilty. Till now she still felt picking the baby wasn't a bad idea, sometimes she doubted herself tho.
She allowed her head drop in her hands.

"Teni. Let do this, just one more time and we are done! We get this money and we are fine. Just this once." He sounded more persuasive.

"No, I can't."

"Well! You know what? Go to hell for all I care! It's not like you are so useful anyway. I could as well get another person."

His words were having effect on her. More negative than positive.

"You'd never find a lady this smart!" Her face flushed with anger.

"You are mistaken! You are stupid not smart. You want me to go over all your mistakes for you! Is it about the irrevocable decision you made? Or about the costly, deadly life threatening rubbish you inscribed on that contract form?"

He moved close to her, placed an affectionate hand on her shoulder. "So tell me what makes you smart, Teni?"

** ** **

tusinsola:
Good job so far

thanks ma

tusinsola:
Good job so far

thanks ma

Missmossy:
Keep it coming, beautiful story. Kudos to you.

thanks ma

The thriller is very thrilling..big ups to you..me likey!!

souloho19:
The thriller is very thrilling..big ups to you..me likey!!

hmmm.....thanks!!!....ayam encouraged big tym .....

Oyin, when are you going to update exactly? Or do you have a mapped out plan for how you want to be updating on NL?

EPISODE 2


** ** **
She didn't know what exactly to think of as she walked along the bushy part. What sort of anger would make Tayo drop her in such a place.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she made her way through the lonely road. Thank God she was on jean trousers. Trust me, her legs wouldn't have remained the same.

Why couldn't he just bring himself to truly love her. She had tried her best, stayed in thick and thin. Loved him, cooked for him, gave him her body, aborted for him! What else? She learnt how to lie, to steal , to pretend, and worse still! to handle a gun. All these, Just so that she can be by his side.

Yes! she stood near him on daily basis, but she wanted more than that. She wanted their heart to beat together like twins but this particular man didn't seem to care about the matters of her heart. He had his eyes on another lady and he'd go as far as killing her husband to get her.

If she had known that the whole scheme was to bring the man closer to his death, she wouldn't have participated wholeheartedly. She was supposed to be glad that she had seized the opportunity to also finish the woman who had the heart of Tayo. It was meant to be tit for tart but now she was back to square 1. She was never going to get Tayo to love her the way she wanted.

She hoped she would be able to get a bike soon. As she remembered the ringing cries of the child, Motherly emotions came over her like clouds before a rain. A slow thought crept just like cold worm through her brain. She wouldn't ever be a mother! She had sold her womb for love that she'll never get. She was going to pick that child. It was a reasonable opportunity. Nobody apart from Tayo would get to know.

She ran past the cold bodies in search of the baby. She heard whimpering sounds. The baby had fallen out of the rocker and had scratches form the bush thorns all over, the blue cardigan on her wasn't enough to protect her skin. She noticed the silver chain on the baby's neck, it had her name on it.

After balancing the girl child on her arms, she took a final glance at the dead couple, she hoped they made it to heaven. Teniola was sure she wouldn't get to see what the mysterious place looked like.

She hurried off with the child, walking as fast as her legs could carry her. For the benefit of them both, the baby had decided not to cry. The pretty little thing was probably famished.

She finally got out to the main road. Adjusting the baby on her arms, she hollered at a bike.

The driver looked suspiciously at her, she was rough,had a dirty jean, holding a dirty baby and had a scattered hair. She hopped on like she didn't notice and reeled out her address to him.
** ** **
The first slap almost made the baby fall from her hands. She let out a loud scream as she tried holding on to the girl.

"Drop her!" He ordered, his expression was grave.

"No, on the floor!" He barked as Teniola tried to place the baby on the sofa. The baby seemed so quiet.

She glanced at the baby again, to be sure something wasn't wrong. A normal baby should be crying with all that noise around.

Tayo couldn't control the rage rushing through him. How could she have been this stupid! How did she expected them to bring up a child that the woman he loved had with another man!

His broad hand landed on her face again, this time it sent her sprawling on the floor, a good distance from the baby.

It wasn't the first time Tayo corrected her this way, infact it had made her stronger. She loved him and she won't let go. But this time she felt he was just selfish!

"You know...you know i can't bear you a child." She stuttered, trying to move back on her hands.

"Did I ask you for a child?!"

Her back touched the wall and she knew she had come to her end. He was going to beat day light out of her and probably kill the child. Tayo moved towards her with speed, giving her a hard kick. It landed on her tummy. She whined in pain

"Please Tayo." She managed to plead, stretching out her hands.

"Really? Please? Were you crazy or what?" He asked, squatting, meeting her terror filled eyes.

"Am sorry."

Tayo stood up, went to the sofa and picked his gun. Who did he want to use it on?
Teniola dragged herself to where she laid the baby, while tayo caressed the boot of the gun.

As he moved towards them, she tried moving back but her strength was failing.

"Tayo, look at me, listen to me. Please don't do this." She pleading, tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn't know who exactly he was coming for. Her or the baby. She held the baby close to her chest.

"Drop the baby and allow me to end this nonsense!" Tayo said with so much grief in his voice.

Teniola held the baby closer. She hadn't brought the baby home, only to get her killed. She should have just left the baby there then, someone else would have picked her up. The baby had started to cry now. Tayo's anger boomed.
He stood transfixed for a while, staring at the baby and Teni.

The girl child looked just like her mother.

The frown on his face creased his brows. He remembered stella- the woman he loved. She shouldn't have gone for another man. She should have considered him, he thought!

"Arrrgh!!!." He screamed, trying to let out his frustration. "Stella! I loved you too much!" He shouted, his words where laden with strong emotions. He flinged the gun, and walked out of the room.

Teniola bursted into tears. She let go off the child and cried out loud, allowing all the tears in her eyes flow.
** ** **
Bella staggered in, her dad rushed up to grab her before she fell, the sight of her mum in black devastated her the more. If you hadn't heard of the news you'd have thought she was drunk on alcohol but she was drunk on her own tears.
Her purple top was already soaked with tears.

"No! Daddy tell me this is not true." She cried, holding on the legs of the aged man.

"It's true Bella, it's true! We lost them all!" Her mother cried in response.

Soon, few neighbors and friends started trooping in to pay their condolence. Bella stayed in her room, not ready to receive anyone at that time, while are mother and father attended to the people.
"What of the baby." She heard a woman ask.

"We don't know, there is no sign of the child." Her father answered.

"The Bricklayers only gave an account of their bodies, the car and the baby rocker. We practically lost their whole family." Mr fagade explained, trying to be strong. "We wouldn't have known if not for the bricklayers that reported to their site the next morning, only to meet such a horrorful scene." He had continued.

"A be iku be ku! Iku ni owun o gbo! Ah! I have lost something!" His wife wailed as she threw herself to the floor. He got up to console her.

Bella paced around the room, she had her hand on her waist. She was deep in thoughts. Her tears had dried up on her face, she had over cried, her head ached.

That was the room she and her brother used while growing up. He had been beyond a brother to her, he was her best friend, business mentor and guardian. Stella, his wife had also been her good friend. Where did this come from? She couldn't figure out. She was going to take the case up.

She picked up her phone to call the patrol officer in charge of the case.

"I'd be there ." She said, ending the call. She searched for her slippers and headed out.

"To where?" He father asked as she walked across the living room.

"To the station." She replied without looking back.

"We should drop this case Bella, we don't know where all these started from. I don't want you dead too, you are the only one we have now."

'I just have to do this dad." She said walking out.
Mr fagade sighed and returned to his wife. She had been quiet for about thirty minutes, he pulled her close to him

"I need you to be strong." He whispered.
** ** **
"Someone is at the door." Bella's dad informed her, looking back towards the entrance of the kitchen. She didn't mention that she'd have any visitor, so he was wondering who was at the door.

Bella walked out of the kitchen in calculative steps. She wore a blue wrap skirt and a cheerful yellow top. Her hair was packed into a bum and she had light make up on.
"Who's there?" She asked as she opened the door without waiting for a reply.

"Woah! Detective!" She exclaimed as shock flushed over her face.
"Yea, can I come in?"
"Oh! Yea! Sure! You can." She stuttered, she didn't know how to compose herself.

Mr. Fagade sat still, wondering who the person was. On seeing the detective, a slight frown that was more out of confusion than of annoyance climbed to his face.

"Good afternoon sir." The pot bellied man greeted, bowing.

"Good afternoon, I don't think have seen you before."

"Dad, meet detective shina. He is the supervisor in charge of the case" Bella said pointing at the unexpected visitor "Detective, meet my dad."

Mr. Fagade, stared at the huge figure before him.

"You can have your seat." He finally said.
Bella excused herself and walked back into the kitchen.

The cloth she was wearing made confident, she knew she looked beautiful. Bella had always liked the yellow and blue combination, it matched her skin tone. She didn't know why the detective was around but she knew it wasn't about the case or an emergency, he would have called her on phone if there was one. But how did he get her parent's address. She had written the address of her own apartment on the form she filled.

She placed the tray containing the blueberry wine and a figure eight glass cup on the stool beside the detective. She beamed him a smile and took her sit beside her dad.
"So," She started with a clap, looking quizzly at the detective

"I am surprised to see you here." She continued.

"Yes, I know." He answered relaxing in his chair.

Mr, fagade noticed an air of tension growing between his daughter and the detective; it seemed like they wanted to discuss something outside the case. He excused himself and went in. He hoped something good would come out of this one.

Immediately her dad went in, Bella smile turned into a frown.

"I didn't drop this address how did you get here?" She asked with a questioning look.

"Calm down miss, I have my way around. You should know, besides, courtesy teaches us to be friendly with visitors" he answered with a smirk on his face

"That doesn't mean you should barge in on my privacy. Didn't courtesy teach you that?"

"Stop been cocky Bella."

"Really? When did we start addressing each other without formalities."

Bella's ego wouldn't let her go slow with the man.

"Do you have anything to tell me about the case."

"No." He responded.

"Hmm...I like your sincerity. You should leave now." She said, bracing up to her feet.

The detective moved the stool by his side to his front, picked up the wine and pouted while trying to open it. Soon the cork gave way and he poured the wine into the cup; completely ignoring Bella who stood before him, with hands akimbo. The action he took certainly got to her. In her mind she was like "Gosh! A whole me!" You should have seen her countenance.

She plopped back down on the chair.

"What exactly do you want?." No response, so she continued

"All our discussions are supposed to be kept formal." He stared at her as he sipped the wine. He didn't respond still.
"It shoud be either in the station or over the phone, how come you're In my house?"

The detective kept staring at her, he dropped the cup yet he didn't shift his gaze. It was the first time a man was making her feel uneasy.

"I like you Bella." He blurted out.

Bella wondered where he got his confidence from, he wasn't a good definition of handsome, he was huge, there was fierceness in his eyes, he had protruding belly; she was so sure he had to adjust his shirts to fit that bulging part of his body, but of course he had his charm; good sense of humour, sporting waves on his hair, just like she liked it, cool sense of dressing and his overwhelming confidence.

But what did he take her for? A lady looking for sex partners amidst married men?

"Where is your wife?" She asked sternly.

Shina laughed slightly before he answered "I am the investigator here, not you."

"So?"

"Okay. I lost her and my unborn child to a fatal car accident two years after our wedding. Are you satisfied?" He asked, all his humour seemed to have disappeared. He was strained, she had pressed the red button.

"Oh! Am so sorry, I didn't mean that." She apologized, "I...I.." She stuttered

"Yea. I think I should get going now." He shifted the stool forward and stood up.

"Thanks for the wine ma'am." Bella sat there dumbfounded as he walked to the door.

As he opened the door, he bumped into an elderly woman. She was in a native attire and carried a matching hand bag.

"Oh! Sorry ma. Good evening."
He reeled out, he didn't expect anyone to be at the door. He walked briskly away without waiting for a reply

Mrs. Fagade stared at him as he walked to his car, she was sure she didn't know him, the way he jammed the car door and the frown on his face made her curious. She walked through the already opened door and met her daughter on seat with her head in her hands.

"Who's the man" she asked dropping her bag.

"He looked so tense." She added.

"The detective supervisor handling the fraud case."She lifted her head and replied, plainly.

"Wow! hope there is no problem?"

"Iyawo mi!" Bella's dad injected excitedly from the room on hearing his wife's voice. She had gone to the salon. Her mum beamed a youthful smile, the sweetness of her marriage had not gone sour unlike others.

"Olowo ori mi!" She replied with equal enthusiasm, as she stood up to hug her husband.

"You look beautiful." He whispered in her ear like he was revealing a secret.
Bella stared at the two old love birds, they had not given up on all those drama. She sighed.

"You should consider him, if he has no wife." Her mum said, looking towards her. She spoke like she already understood the situation.

"He is single and their conversation was tight." Her dad chipped in.
Jeez, he was eaves dropping.

"Dad!" Bella exclaimed as she braced up to her feet.

"Wo, lets go inside jare." He walked into the room, guarding his wife alongside by her waist.
She knew they were just trying to make her feel left out. Well, it worked; she really did feel left out.

TemitopeDaniel:
Oyin, when are you going to update exactly? Or do you have a mapped out plan for how you want to be updating on NL?

yes sir...i do have a plan...and i am so sorry this update is coming late...had slight problems...

CONTINUATION


** ** **
Kessi took his turn at the bar, he went casual, a black jean trouser and a blue T-shirt that was slightly loose.

He found a suitable spot to sit; somewhere he could have the over view of the whole bar. He didn't mind alcoholic drinks so he ordered for one.

Kessi wondered what a standing microphone was doing at one corner, he was sure no one had used it in a long time; this kind of people would not appreciate stage play music, he thought.

To him; the atmosphere was cool, and the bar looked standard compared to the other ones he had ever visited. Drinking has always been a bone of contention between he and his wife. Loving her was enough, she shouldn't be dictating the kind of life he should live - that was always the basis of his argument.

His keen eyes kept moving all around the bar as he drank directly form the bottle. Soon it landed on a young lady; she seemed to be the one his partner talked about .

She had a kind of face we could call a 'beautiful baby face', she wasn't so tall but she had an height that was okay for a lady, slightly taller than the other bar attendants, she was on a jean and a green top-shirt. She left her long dark hair flowing backward, it looked glossy. She should be the one.

She was carrying a plate of soup to a man on a table, she walked gracefully. Just then, someone form another table tapped her as she passed by.

"Can I help you?" Was her response

"Two bottles of beer and two plates of cat fish paper soup." The lady with the man that called her attention cooed.

Kessi followed the scenes intently, he wanted to know who the girl his partner had gotten involved with truly was.

She was still conversing with them on that table when the person that requested for the soup she was holding yelled at her name "Tireni!"
She looked back instantly, excused herself and walked briskly toward him.

Now that Kessi had confirmed who she was due to her name that was called, he put the bottle in his mouth to take another gulp. He had not seen the other woman Olu talked about but he had a feeling that she was one they were trailing,

The bottle was still in his mouth, when his side eye caught the on going scene, he put down the bottle immediately and walked to the other side bar, just like he wanted to request for something so as to have the clear view.

"Sit down!" Tayo ordered, tireni complied dropping the plate of soup on the table as she sat.

Fear crept on her, she wondered what she did wrong this time.

It was more of a blow than a slap because when it landed on her she didn't feel the teeth on the left side of her face was still there. She shifted her chair backward instantly and clasped her hand together under the table, trying to subdue the pain.

"Why did you stop to answer someone else?" Tayo asked sternly.

She was still too shocked to figure out an answer.

"You can't talk right? Stupid thing." Tayo stood up and used his hand to tip the soup over. The hot soup sprawled out on the table and down to her jean.

"Bastard." He added as he walked out of the bar.

Kessi had texted Olu immediately
"Where is prince charming? There is a damsel in distress here"

Tireni raised her head gently, all eyes where on her, it was her second embarrassment in the bar that month. She felt blood trickle down the side of her mouth, she was about to wipe it with her hand when a man slipped into the seat before her.

"Have it." He said, stretching out a faded blue towel. She collected it without saying a word. She wondered why she seemed to have knights in shining amour these days.

"Sorry, who is he?" Kessi asked, curiously.
The frown on Tireni's face was enough to say that she didn't need sympathy but it didn't affect Kessi.

"My dad." She replied; she banged the face towel on the table to kessi's surprise, stood up. She walked briskly and soon disappeared through a small door at the side of the bar.

His phone rang at almost the same moment. Just like he suspected, it was Olu.

"I didn't sight the woman any where around, I am coming to the office now. " He said to the receiver. He walked out of the bar, hollered at a bike and hopped on it.
** ** **
"Couldn't you have waited inside?" Kessi asked as he walked past Olu.

He had been pacing around the front of the station since Kessi sent him the test. He was bothered , it was hard for him to bear the fact that Tireni was going through the same thing she went through before. Relief washed over him the moment he sighted kessi.

Olu followed behind immediately, he was too worried to talk.

"Guy, you need to get a grip on yourself o, I think your emotion is already over-riding."

"If you didn't want me to react, you wouldn't have sent me a text, what happened?" Olu asked, slipping behind his desk.

"A man slapped her, the slap was serious o, there was blood on her mouth sef." Kessi explained, "guess who the man was?"He continued

"What did she do? Even if she did something sef why should they slap her publicly? Kessi, didn't you see that that girl is no more a baby? What is all this sef." Olu scoffed

"I say guess who the person was naw?"

"Tell me jare, an angry customer?"

"Her dad!" Kessi blurted out.

"Swear down! This is child abuse, I am serious."
Kessi gave a mocking laugh.

"Get her a lawyer. prince charming."
He kept on laughing till he got to his own desk.

"So you didn't see the woman?" Olu cooed from his seat

"You are just asking now?" He mocked,

"Distracted man." He concluded

Olu knew he was distracted. If not, they'd have been working towards the end of this case by now. He felt something more than 'care' for Tireni and a man's gotta take care of his heart. You know?

He tapped his table and continued with the paper work he had before him.
He knew he had to come up with something soon.
** ** **
Tireni leaned on the door, folded her arms across her chest and closed her eyes, her breathing was slow.

She wasn't going to allow tears this time; she fought it.

What on earth is going on in her life? She didn't feel like she was in a family, sometimes, she felt like she was just an house girl that dropped from somewhere. Her own dad made life unbearable for her; he acted like she was a punishment from heaven.
"Do I really belong here?"

Tireni shook away the thought and opened her eyes, she needed a change of clothes, the pepper soup stain on her jean had the shape of something similar to the map of Nigeria.
She traced the stain with her hands and allowed her face to generate a tight liped smile

"I feel like one hurt girl in the whole of Nigeria." She muttered under her breath.

She was sure Tayo wasn't in because she didn't see his foot wear at the entrance. She went straight into her room, changed into a simple sleevless gown. The brown gown stopped slightly above her knees. She wasn't sure she wanted to go back to the bar. It was not like she had a choice.

She sat at the edge of her bed, pulled her pillow closer and allowed the thoughts in her pretty head flow through. For some reasons she believed she deserved a life better than this. She was brilliant; if she had written the Jamb then she would have done well, but they said there was no money. There was no money ,yet, Tayo changed the T.V set, there was no money yet he changed his car, there was no money yet, the bar was renovated. Come on!

Its not like she didn't realize these all these while but she has always been fighting the thoughts. How can she be so stupid to think this wasn't her real family? She had known and lived with them all her life. How can she be so ungrateful to rebel because of tertiary education? They had sent her to nursery, primary and to secondary school. Then what exactly is wrong? She didn't feel like every other child.

Tireni's mind replayed the recent incident in the bar and something clicked! Why did Tayo call her a bastard? What did he mean?

It wasn't his first time of saying it but she had always taken it has mere insult out of anger.
This time she was almost sure there was more to it and she was going to find out.

Tireni braced up to her feet, determination stood firm in her eyes, she walked sitting room and checked through the window. There was nobody around, she could hear the noisy chatter of customers from the bar. She stared at the gate for a while- nothing still.

She sighed and locked the door, her mum wasn't around and only God knows where her dad went.

Tireni sat on the bed, opened the curtains to allow light in and started going through the files. She saw a lot of paper works that she didn't understand but she ignored them since she had always know her mum to be a business woman, the bar was just a minor fragment of the things she handled.

She stared at the birth certificate in her hands, her eyes followed every line intently.

plz keep your comments, suggestions and corrections coming....it is highly needed....thanks

CONTINUATION

FATHER: Tayo Marquis
MOTHER: Teniola Marquis
There was also Marquis in front of her name. She shook her head at her own stupidity.
"I was only thinking too far." She concluded with a smile.

She had just closed the drawer and was about to leave the masters bed room when the wooden door before her flung open.

"What are you doing here?" Madam cash asked as she walked in. That was what they called her Mum in the bar. She had a slight frown on her face

"I came to arrange the room.". Her answer was blunt, she comported herself and tried to sound firm.

"You should be at the bar." The woman said and dropped her bag on the bed, she moved towards the curtain to close it, she probably wanted to change her dress.

Tireni smiled to herself as she walked out of the room, her Mum must have entered with her own key. The Birth certificate she saw had sent all the controversial thoughts away from her mind.

She walked to be bar with bright eyes and a smile on her lips, totally forgetting the incident and not worrying about what the gossips at the bar would say concerning it.

She was happy she took the risk that had brought joy to her heart.

"I hope she is not messing with my things." Madam cash mused as she opened her drawers on after the other.

** ** **
"Okay, let's do this." Madam cash said plainly over the phone. Her heart was surely not going to follow her on this mission, she had struggled with it but she couldn't bear to lose Tayo, she'll keep trying to make him truly love her till she takes her last breath.

Tayo had not been home since their last argument. He would not even come around to take his bath! She was already running crazy with the thought of him staying away for life. Just few days without him on the bed beside her had been like hell on earth.

Her mind tumbled several times when she called and he didn't pick. She just wanted him home. She had asked of him from Tireni and she only mentioned that he came to the bar and left. He didn't bother entering.

Tireni didn't tell her Mum what ensued between her and her dad. Of what good will it be anyway.

"Are you serious!" Tayo's voice erupted form the other end with a note of excitement.

"Sure, will you come home now?" She asked, rolling up her eyes

"Yea baby! I'll be there in 30 minutes." He hung up.

She sighed, picked her towel and walked into the bathroom.

Teniola allowed the water to trickle slowly from the shower, it helped her to relax her mind. Would she ever be the woman to satisfy Tayo? Would her endeavours to make him love her ever work? Wouldn't she just die without getting what she wanted?

"Be positive, Teniola." She cautioned her thoughts.
** ** **

EPISODE 3

** ** **
Their eyes met again and this time olumide didn't try to quickly shift his gaze. They held this one, both of them unflinching. His eyes penetrated into her depth, she looked ravishing even that maxi skirt, her sky blue top was tucked in neatly.


He had not seen her since the last time he helped her. His heart longed for her but what could he do. Kessi had to take his turn at the bar. This young woman surely meant something to him.

He swallowed and lowered his eyes, declaring Tireni the winner of the unintended competition. She smiled at her prowess and went about her duties like nothing happen. They had not said a word to each other since he entered the bar, even when he deliberately passed by her side.

His phone rang out. It was kessi.
"Hey, man."

"Have you seen the woman?" Kessi went straight to the point

"Suspect not sighted yet. She should be the woman I saw last time, she doesn't seem to spend so much time at the bar, besides, she would be a lot older than what we have on this passport." He kept his voice low as he spoke

"Yea, and be on duty not future partner mission, that girl is too small for you sef." Kessi chided

"My friend!Gerrout from this phone." Olu giggled as he replied. Kessi had caught him red handed

"Wizard." He muttered, smiling to himself.

Tireni walked past him just then, she had a plate of fried meats and a beer in her hands. He caught the smell of her perfume.

It smelt like one he had used once and it didn't have any strong effect in such an environment as a bar. The air was already burdened with smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke; Of what use would the perfume be? Or could she have used it because of him?

"Come on! Olu, she didn't know you were coming here na." He pushed the childish thought out.

A broad smile appeared on his face when he noticed that she was working fast when she passed back by him. He felt that she was conscious that he had his eyes on her. He wondered why she didn't swallow her pride and greet first.

She walked up to a woman and squatted as she greeted. Olu recognised her, he flipped open his wallet to confirm, he was right.

It was the younger version of madam cash that was in the passport with him. She was the same person who hurt Tireni. Vengeance thumped hard in his chest as he squinted his eyes to have a clear view.

"Suspect sighted." He texted kessi.

"Mehn, you are sooo going down." He muttered, staring at her intently.

Tireni squatted again as the woman walked out of the bar, she seemed to have just finish giving her instructions. He was still staring at Tireni who was now talking to someone else when realization hit him. Could he bear to hurt her? She had just confirmed the other day that the wanted suspect was her Mother.

His heart burned inside him. He couldn't bring himself to understand why things had to go this way. He loved this girl, everything within him longed for her; But why?

He started at the silver chain that had been in his hand, her name glittered on it. He had planned to give it to her the next time he saw her- that was supposed to be today. She had forgotten it in his car the other day He folded his fingers around it tight, heaved a sigh and dipped it into his pocket.

His mind was too much in a tumor for him to walk up to her and initiate any discussion. He stood up and dragged himself out of the bar.

Tireni stood in a corner, she watched the slow motion movement of Olu, wasn't he he even going to say a word to her before leaving? She was just been careful not to look cheap and wanting that was why she decided to keep aloof.

He didn't seem like one that'd be interested in someone like her; he looked serious. She ran her hand through her hair and returned to the business of the day. Of course she had her mind on him through out the day.

He was about to unlock the car which he had parked some distance from the bar when kessi's call came in.

"Which eatery? I think office would be better." He stated, scoffing. Olu wondered how kessi managed to celebrate every slight achievement without getting tired. What is the celebration about sighting a suspect? Not even at this time when he was stucked in an intermission.

"See you in the office detective Kessi." Olu concluded firmly when kessi tried to convince him further. He turned on the ignition.
** ** **
Kessi decided to buy drinks since Olu demanded that they meet at the station. He sat behind his desk and waited fighting the temptation to open his.

Olu walked past kessi's table like he didn't notice any thing. He took his seat at his own corner of the bull pen and place his head on the table.

" Did someone hit her again?" Kessi voice interrupted his thoughts.
Yes was the reply as Olu lifted his head up,

"yes!" He repeated hitting the table.

"By who?" Kessi asked, trying to at least put himself in his partners shoes.

"By me."

Kessi broke into a mocking laugh.
"I am not doubting your potentials o, you fit beat giant, but you not fit beat that girl."

Olu kept a straight face that bashed Kessi's poor sense of humor.

"Okay, back to business. Where do we go from here?" He tried to block out the whole Tireni issue from his mind.

"Did you really beat her?" A frown creased kessi's brows. Olu's reactions where confusing him

"She'd be in a worse state than if I beat her when I get her mother arrested."

"I knew that'd be the issue." A wry smile developed on kessi's face. "You just have to keep it out of your mind. Work is work, no sideline." Kessi tapped his back. "Besides, she could be a good bait to make this whole thing fast."

Olu raised raise his brows and squinted his eyes
"How?" He asked

"Make her sell her parents of to you. She obviously likes you to; you know?"

"Speak English Kessi, I don't understand you."

Kessi hummed for a while. "That girl can be our key to all required information including the current business deal her parents are into, if there is any." He paused, then continued "if you would play along with the love story."
He said with a smirk on his face.

** ** **
"We are really getting old." Mr Fagade muttered as he stroked his wife hair, he noticed the multiplicity of its faded grey colour, it had taken over all the black.

"Uhn? What did you say." His wife asked. She was laying on his legs, as they watched the
soap opera. She had a light lilac gown on slim body, which stopped some meters away from her knees. It was weekend and Bella wasn't home.

"We are getting old." Her husband repeated himself.

Mrs Fagade sighed, she knew where her husband was heading to.

"I am not going to get any grand child from Bella despite having a grown up daughter, it think that's unfair."

"I feel the same way too but we cannot co-ordinate her life for her. She is big girl." Mrs Fagade said, although she wasn't certain about her defence.

"Well, It'll happen that way, since you are not advising her to drop that case and face real life."


Bella's mum sat up abruptly. "What do you mean? Which of the cases is she meant to drop?"

"The two, woman! The two cases. She has to go on and start living life." He stood up as he continued "if she continues like this she'll be fifty years before she knows, we'll be dead and she'll be lonely." Mrs Fagade still had the defensive look on even though she didn't know what to say in response.

"It's been eighteen years since her brother died, yet she hasn't found anything worth while to do, No love, No family, Noting! only work at that company. Even when she traveled out, nothing changed! And it's all because of this case!" Mr fagade was pacing around now. "And you won't still do anything about it." He said pointing an accusing finger.

Mrs fagade stood to her feet, she put her feet in to bathroom slipper under the table and placed her hands on her waist.

"False accusation!" She said, shaking her head

"I don't own her life, she is a grown up girl. I am trying and if you are not seeing it, fine!" She grabbed her magazine and walked out. Mr

Fagade heaved a sigh, he only wanted the best for their daughter. He didn't see reason why Bella should block out love and happiness from her life because of a disaster that had happened eighteen years ago and he felt his wife was not doing enough about it.

CONTINUATION

** ** **
"I can't do this." Olu said to himself as he allowed his head drop into his hands "I can't"
He had just recapped in his mind how he and Stephanie broke up.

He wouldn’t want to take the risk again especially now that he knows before hand that the suspect was the Mother of the one he loved. He couldn't bring himself to go ahead on the operation not to talk of using her as a bait like Kessi suggested.

"God why!" He talked loudly to himself
"Why did you make me love her when I can’t have her?"

His mind flashed back to how Tireni cried her eyes out in the car, next to him.

He had a call just then, after ignoring the second time, he decided to check who it was. "Mum!" He mumbled in surprise.

"Hello mum." His voice broke.

"You don't sound fine cutie." She had something like panic in her voice

Olu smiled, it's been long since anyone ever called him cutie. His job had definitely taken a huge part of his life; but he loved it.

"Say something to momma." His mum urged as the other end was silent.

"I am in love ma'am" He replied in a semi-formal manner

"Let's chat, it going to be a long discussion."

He positioned himself on the bed and was ready to have a hopefully love saving chat with is Mum, except that he didn't know how chatting with one's mum would look like. He smile ruefully ro himself, it seemed like there be lot of fun mixed up with this pain.

"So are you saying I can sacrifice my work for love?"

"I am saying you can do it if you feel it's worth it baby."

"Mum can we keep the whole baby, cutie and all those thing out of this chat for now? It's sort of awkward."

"All right, my official omo" she replied with the whatsapp smiley that winked with a buggy eye and sticky tongue.

"But wait o! Does she know about this?"

"No, I doubt if she even likes me back, she might think I am taking advantage of her."

"I don't get?" His Mum expressed her confusion

"Like, because of what happened the first day we met, you know how females think."

"I am a female too, Mr. Man. We are not having this discussion until yo do the needful, Be a man and tell her. Don't lose on both ends."

"Talk to you later son."

The message entered before he could type any other meaningful thing, and whatsapp immediately brought out her last seen.

"Mission impossible" he muttered
"Kessi would kill me, Detective Shina would bury me, and she might not even acknowledge me."
He was a detective and he was going go stick to his Job.

What did he expect his Mum to say? He should have already known her answer even before he presented the case. A woman is always a woman, they'd always and forever prefer love.

"Olu this isn't indian film." He told himself.
"Nobody is going to shake their waist when you fail for love sake."

"I love my Job." He reassured himself firmly.
** ** **
Everybody around him doubted the fact the he was going to work with the police force, his tender nature made it unbelievable.

He was the only child of his massively rich parents but something had taken a toll in his young mind. It was a fight against injustice. That injustice and sheer wickedness that didn't make him see his kid sister.

He was only six years and he waited, expectant of the new baby to come in.

"Uncle, it's a girl that is coming shebi?" He nugged on his uncle’s trousers.

It was his uncle that stayed as a guardian while his Mum and dad went to the Hospital to bring out the reason why is Mum's Stomach suddenly started growing big.

"I don't know, Olu. Wait." He picked up his phone again. He paced around taking into the receiver.

He was ten when he really got to understand why his mum came home without a baby. It was truly a girl, a baby girl that didn't wait to see daylight.

"She was premature." His mum explained." We searched the Hospitals all over for space, we didn't get space.

She was as small as your toy gun" Her eyes turned red as she talked more. Olu moved closer and held his Mum. He didn't want to see her this way.

"Why was she too small?" He asked looking up to her with his bright eyes.

"Doctor said it was placenta division, she was not eating in my womb."

"Okay."

"So as we drove around that night looking for an hospital space. Some guys came out of the bush, they took everything, the car, your dad. They left me there with the baby." She paused and rubbed her eyes with the back of her palm.

"So she left, because she couldn't hang on in the cold, I dug and buried her somewhere around there."

She held on to her son tight, but something had happened to the young boy in her arms. She saw a combination of fury, rage and wrath. He forced himself out of her arms

"I will defend her forever! I will defend us mummy! I will kill all the bad people."

He ran with wide speed across the living room to his toy gun, he picked it up and walked towards him Mum.

"I promise to punish them." She had never seen him that serious, he was only ten.

"I will punish them and collect money, they killed my baby for money." He stomped his feet and broke into tears.

She picked him up and allowed him to cry on her shoulders. Ever since then, Olumide's ambition was to work with the police, he now preferred Birthday gift of a gun to guitar. He once appreciated music but now he counted it as weakness.
** ** **

"Have your seat." Olumide pointed at the
wooden chair that was in front of a table at the center of the room. The room was fairly bright, there was just one bulb and the light was low, a small burglary window at the top right comer of the room.

Bella wondered why there was no 'ma' after the statement, but she sat down anyway.

"This interrogation is to bring out fresh facts from the cases that you have brought. We have one new case and another case that is about to be re-opened form eighteen years ago. "He paused to allow his words sink in.

"I know all these." Bella responded, her arrogance was springing up again, besides she didn't feel comfortable in that room with a man leading the discussion. She had to bear with it for the time being.

"It's tradition for me to state it out again." Olu responded firmly.

"Anyway, I need you to tell me everything you know concerning these cases that we are about to merge."

"That's going to be a long story."

"Well. if the story would keep the case going, you shouldn't mind telling it." He said with a smirk as he took his seat on the table in front of her, allowing his long legs to dangle beneath."

Olu wrote as she spoke and it was a long story. He made sure to put down all the salient points.

"Hmm...this is good for a start, it matches your former statement accurately, you must have a good memory."

"Thanks for the compliment, can I go now?"
She asked as she met his stare.

"I guess so."

He replied as he walked out of the interrogation room.

"Try some courtesy next time man." Bella's voice stopped him on his tracks, she continued "learn to use "ma" and also allow the lady to leave the room first."

She walked past him to the door.

"you should also try to get happy. You look more like a sadist to me." Olu replied calmly. Bella decided not to respond, she opened the door of the room and they both met the smiling face of Detective Shina.

Bella stood stone cold, She had been trying to avoid him.

Olu walked past her and said in a whisper loud enough for her to hear "I guess I eventually have to leave the room first."
He greeted his boss and walked off.

He hadn't gone to far when he thought he heard his boss say "Bella, can I take you out for dinner?" Oh, well , something must be going on between the two, he felt the tension when their eyes jammed.

"She must be a spoilt rich brat." Kessi announced loudly as he came out of the control room. Olu was fast enough to cover his mouth before he continued reeling out what could put him in trouble.

"Why?" Kessi asked as he wiped his mouth, he scoffed

"You don't want to get in trouble with your bosses new babe."

"Are you serious?"
Just then the two walked past in silence , Detective Shina had his eyes down.

"I guess that explains it." Olu concluded. "You watched the whole interrogation process? "Olu asked

"Including where she trashed you." Kessi answered nodding. "She is tough."

"And I like her wits" Kessi added.
** ** **
"Miss Bella Fagade?" Shina tried calling Bella's attention as she seemed to be lost in thought as she drove.

"Bella?" He called out again

"I am with you." She replied plainly.

"You seem not to be here, do you want me to drive, I guess you are tired."

"Stop babying me." She said, flashing her easy smile, her dimples twinkled.
"You should call a mechanic to fix you car before tomorrow." She added.

"If a spoilt car means riding with you every day, I'll rather not have it repaired." He grinned.

"Cut your dreams short, Big man." She said amidst a hearty laugh.

"Wow! Did you just laugh?" Shina beamed and tickled her at her waist.

"I am driving detective!" She giggled as she talked on top of her voice.

"And I am busy detecting that some one loves me back." He tickled harder.

Bella was fast enough to bring the car to a screeching halt. Her head hit the steering as Shina quickly grabbed her to bring her back to stability.

"Are you okay?" He asked and she nodded. He opened the door on his side and got down. "I am so sorry. Are you fine?" He asked the young lady they almost hit.

"Yes, I am fine. thanks."

The street was lonely so there were no passersby and poke nosers to start screaming their comments

"Can the woman talk?" The girl referred to Bella, who sat glued to her car. She made no attempt to get down or apologize, she just stared at the detective and the girl with wide eyes.

After ensuring that she was fine, Shina walked back to the car.

Bella still had shock written all over. The young lady passed by the car window on Bella's side, she paused and looked at her, Bella tried muttering something, but the words were not flowing.

Tireni peeped into the car, "you have a nice car,a beautiful face and a good man. Keep them well." She advised with a smile and and walked off swinging her hands.

Shina called Bella twice before she answered.

"That girl looks so familiar."

" Are you sure?" Shina looked through the rear mirror but she had disappeared

"Come down, let me drive." Bella switched seats with him without hesitating.

"Can you place her face?" He asked immediately as he turned the ignition.

She took a deep breath. "I think she looks like Stella, my brother's wife."

Shina busted into a mocking laugh, "you are just tired Bella." He stated

"I am not a child, I know what i’m saying. Even her voice." She swallowed "that was why I was to shocked to say anything," she relaxed on the chair and tilted her head to the side. "The resemblance was too much, there must be something about her."

"Well, you may never get to see her again, so just take it off your mind." Shina said focusing on the road. A strange silence followed.

please don't forget to let me know what you think about this story after reading through...your suggestions and corrections would be really really helpful

Wow, nice to be following this great piece.
Wehdone mah