This work is protected by copy right and should not be copied in any form. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the author.

This is a fictional story; a figment of the writers imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or actual event is purely coincidental. ©Torchmeder2015

Author's email: torchwriter14@yahoo.com

Enjoy!

Somewhere in my head, there is an elite police force (in Nigeria) that is nothing like we know or have grown up with. They are hardworking, not corrupt, some are a bit lazy but generally they wish to solve crimes with the little resources at their disposal. Think of the Nigerian Police Force as you know it today but just a bit temperate and more focused.

Enjoy the second installment of the detective we love and hate Unique Olawale Adeleke. Unlike the first part, this sequel will lay more emphasis on the lives of other characters but it should all tie in nicely.

‘’Sit and let’s talk about it‘’ Imonitie replied.

‘’I can’t sit, Imo, I’m not happy with what is going on in this home’’

‘’Babe, I’m trying so hard and I say that in all sincerity. I’m not spending this money somewhere else. Every penny I earn, I am open with you and you know it so cut me some slack…’’

‘’I can’t do this anymore. I can’t deal…’’ as Pearl spoke, she picked up her handbag and placed it on her shoulder.

‘’Where are you going?’’ Imonitie yelled.

‘’What do you care?’’ she yelled back.

He followed her all the way to the sitting room and stared at her as she struggled to open the front door ‘’where are you going at this time of the day?’’ Imonitie asked again.

‘’Did you even check your text message since I mentioned it?’’ She didn’t wait for him to reply, she just yelled out ‘’Ose is running a temperature. He was fine this morning but by the time I went to pick him from school he was not. The silly people couldn’t even call me if not, I would have bought something myself as I left work. By the time I went to get him, I was helpless. I couldn’t be running up and down with a sick child. I tried to call you but you wouldn’t pick so I sent you the text message’’

‘’Baby, I’m so sorry. I was on my feet all day and the phone was on silent’’

‘’I don’t know what to believe perhaps you ignored me on purpose. Anyway I need to get the drugs for him before it becomes worse’’

‘’We should have Paracetamol then’’ Imonitie replied in a sad voice.

‘’He vomited it; it’s the first sign of malaria. I need to buy the usual stuff for him plus something to calm his tummy. He has vomited twice since we got back. He also said he wants dodo and fried egg. I need to go now, do you have any money on you?’’

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That day as Pearl drove to get the medicine, she looked at the fuel indicator and noticed it was nearly in the red ‘’bloody hell!’’ she swore. She stopped at the NNPC mega filling station along Sapele Road before arriving at a renowned Pharmacy along the same road. On her way back, she decided to go through Adesuwa Road and buy some ripe plantain for her 5 year old son. She haggled with the women a bit before deciding on an acceptable price.

Then she drove off, she wanted to put on the AC but she had to be frugal so she decided against it. She needed to remind Imonitie as well. This fuel had to stretch for as long as possible unless he was willing to fill the tank! She continued on her familiar route and turned off the major street leading up to her house, then another turn and suddenly the lights went out ‘’leprous NEPA!’’ she uttered.

From afar, she could see a child standing by the front of a house. The child was standing by the corner and in her hand was a polythene bag. Pearl was about the middle of the road when the child suddenly dashed out like he/she was chased by demons. It happened so quickly there was no time to even hold the brake; just a thud nothing more.

There was no loud screeching because she was not speeding. Immediately Pearl began to breathe heavily ‘’Jesus, Jesus, blood of Jesus!’’ she uttered. She was shaking and gasping for breath, it was all over in about three seconds or so. Then panic mode set in, she put off her headlight and inner light. Then she reversed a bit, turned the steering wheel to the extreme left and stepped on the accelerator.

She knew the child fell; certainly the car hit the child. It was just a thud and the child lay motionless. It was not like she picked the child off the floor then flung the child to the end of the street!

It was not her fault, the child ran into the road! She just prayed the child was not seriously hurt. She didn’t see the child move; she didn’t wait that long, it was over in a matter of seconds. But she did the right thing; thank goodness she didn't run over the child. In addition, she looked through her rearview mirror very briefly but she didn’t see anyone.

She blanked out her sense of sound and drove straight on until she got home. Luckily the gate was still wide open, so she parked the car. She spent some seconds trying to steady her breath before running to padlock her gate. Her hands were shaking so badly and it took a while for her to get the padlock in place. A task so simply had become as difficult as a man felling an iroko tree!

Once she was done, she turned around and hurried towards the house but she missed her step and fell on the ground. Her beautiful white and pink gown was soiled by the mud and she scraped her knee a bit. Immediately, she got off the floor, dusted her hands and ran towards the front door.

She left the plantain and drugs in the car even the car key was still in the ignition but Pearl could not be concerned. She knocked on the front door frantically. Some seconds later, Imonitie opened up and looked at a ghost ‘’what happened?’’ he whispered, Jesus Christ! Look at your dress. Are you okay?’’ He held her shoulder and tried to steady her. She was shaking and her jaw was moving but no sound came out for the first few seconds ‘’Pearl, you are scaring me? Say something please’’

‘’I knocked down a kid. I erm… I think I may have killed a child!’’

this is interesting.


I must follow this

‘’No’’

‘’Was it a girl or boy?’’

‘’I don’t know’’ Pearl screamed in frustration, ‘’the child dashed into the road all of a sudden… I don’t, I don’t know why but I didn’t see it coming, I couldn’t have done anything about it, I couldn’t …’’

Then Imonitie sat beside his wife and held her shoulder ‘’we don't know how or why these things happen. It was not the freeway, you were not speeding and the child dashed in front of you. It was not your fault. Here take your phone, go in and check on Ose while I fry the plantain. Afterwards, have your bath and leave your clothes on the bathroom floor’’

‘’Why?’’

He ignored her and walked towards the kitchen with the plantain. Then Pearl stood up and walked behind him ‘’Imo, I asked you a question so please don’t walk out on me’’ he headed back in her direction and spoke slowly ‘’because you didn’t see anyone but you don’t know if anyone saw you speed past or drive into your house. Our street is a dead-end and you know what that means’’

Immediately, Pearl gasped but Imonitie ignored her and continued ‘’now go in and do as I say and Pearl, don’t forget, you don’t know nothing’’

***

Professor Buwa and his wife were about to watch the local news by 7.30pm when the light went out ‘’NEPA!’’ they cried out in unison.

‘’Do we still have fuel in that generator?’’ Mrs Buwa asked.

‘’I don’t know how high it is oh! Where is Dennis, let him have a look. Dennisssssssssssssss…’’

Then a voice yelled from upstairs ‘’coming dad’’

Dennis arrived with a rechargeable lamp in hand and set it on the center table. Almost immediately, a shrill cry from their younger son (Michael) startled them. He dashed into the house and screamed ‘’a car just hit Maureen’’ then he continued to shake like someone who had seen a ghost.

Immediately, Mrs Buwa screamed and raced out but she was quickly overtaken by her husband who ran into the quiet street. By now the wealthy business man (Chief Okao) who lived opposite them had put on his generator and the light by his gate cast a glow around.

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‘’I now only saw the light going away. I was near the gate but Maureen was far a bit. I was near the gate because I was saying I want to tell you people. I did not see when the car hit her but I now saw her lying on the road after the car passed…’’

‘’And you said it just happened?’’

‘’Yes, it now happened and I now ran inside to tell you people’’

‘’Which way did the car go? Left or right?’’

‘’It went to the end of the road near them Bimbo and Shola’s side’’

‘’Are you sure?’’

‘’Yes daddy’’

Immediately, Professor called Dennis and led him outside. Once they got there, he whispered to him, ‘’wait here and watch, if any car leaves this street, take note of it. I mean any car going out and not in. I’m going to the hospital’’

Then he hurried away. It was 8.00pm at this point.

An hour later, Professor Buwa arrived with a friend. In addition, one or two cars accompanied his; there were family members. Immediately Professor Buwa got out of the car, Dennis stood up from his position with bloodshot eyes ‘’where is your mother?’’ Professor Buwa asked.

‘’She is in the house with Michael’’

‘’Did any car leave the street?’’

‘’No’’

‘’You can go inside now’’ the professor concluded.

‘’What were you people doing outside? That is the question’’

‘’Maureen now wanted to pluck pitanga from them Elizabeth’s (Chief Okao’s daughter) compound then…’’

‘’Have I not warned you children about that pitanga before?’’ Mrs Buwa asked in a quiet voice, ‘’one minute you were in the kitchen then the next I’m hearing pitanga. Pitanga? Pitanga that rubbish. Jesus Christ! Why didn’t you come to me when Maureen said she wanted to pluck the pitanga’’

‘’I was now erm telling her that I will come and report but she didn’t hear me. I was walking back inside the house to tell you people when…’’

Then professor Buwa pushed the door open and walked in ‘’Michael, go to your room please’’

Then the young child walked out of the room and Prof burst out ‘’I warned you against doing that didn’t I? We spoke about this long and hard’’

Mrs Buwa looked at her husband with tears streaming down her eyes ‘’but my only daughter is gone’’

‘’And I won’t let you kill my son. He is 7 for God sake! Roli, he is 7 years old for crying loud! Don’t give our child a burden he doesn’t need to bear. Please don’t kill another child for me. You think he is a small boy but children don’t forget things like that. If you lay the blame on him today, 20 years later, he will remember. You don’t want a child that will end up with behavioral problems brought on by guilt’’

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#following

Good writing. You obviously understand the rudiments of punctuation. That is why I don't understand why you let poor punctuation reign here and there. Maybe you don't pay sufficient attention to it or do a thorough proofreading.

Background information on the Buwa's.

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‘’Eyah! The devil is a liar. It must be something going around – I dunno. The other day Nomagbon was feeling under the weather and Nosayaba just finished his own wahala with me oh! The job of a mother is tasking I tell you but still I bless God’’

For some weird reason, Nogie and her family members all had names starting from the letter N. Her husband’s name was Noel, then the first son, Nosayaba, followed by Nomagobon and the baby of the house Nicole.

Pearl didn’t want to talk. Since the incident, she had been struggling to live her normal day to day life. She went to work after the accident but by the third day, she called in sick and it was the same thing today. Meanwhile, Nogie was still talking ‘’my sister, have you heard what is going on in this area? May God not allow us see something strong oh. As I am here now, someone will be looking at me and laughing that I don’t like work. Nah lie oh! Na me like work pass but what is greater than taking care of my children? Our children?’’

‘’That’s the ultimate’’ Pearl whispered.

‘’My sister, God bless you. At least your case is different, you are a qualified medical doctor and you can be excused. We need people like you 247. At least you will not go to school for 6 years plus then sit and cross your legs at home – God forbid bad thing’’

‘’Amen’’ by now, Pearl had a frown on her face and she started heading back to her house. Then Nogie tapped her again ‘’my sister it seems like you are in a hurry; let me give you the latest. Do you know they buried the child on Thursday?’’

‘’Really?’’ Pearl asked in shock.

‘’Na so we see am oh! Na small pikin nah so no long thing. Dem try sef; in my village, the corpse of a child is committed to mother earth on the same day. You know a child can be quite clingy now. Ehen! That is why my people do it like that, so the child does not start to cling to the parents or disturb future children from coming in’’

‘’Wow! I’ve never heard about that’’

‘’My sister, na so we see am oh! Let God not make us eat the bread of affliction or the fruits of sorrow. Our children will bury us at the ripe old age of 200 and not the other way’’

‘’Amen’’

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It seemed like everybody was doing what the group did. They stood up to pray and everyone stood up with them. They went around offering comforting words and everyone stood in line as well. Suddenly, Pearl found herself on the queue. She was actually the last one in line. She was nowhere near Mrs Buwa but her heart was already doing summersaults in her chest! It would be the first time she would touch Mrs Buwa but such a simple act had elevated to something else.

She almost didn’t want to do it but everyone was doing it and it seemed they were all taking their leave with the group. As Pearl knelt before Mrs Buwa, she suddenly burst into tears. It was slightly surprising because at this point, the loud outburst had come to an end. Besides, the sympathizers were not the ones weeping so loud, it was close family members or Mrs Buwa. For a moment, it seemed like the world stood still as both women came face to face. Nogie raised an eyebrow in confusion and one or two individuals looked at themselves in surprise.

Immediately, Mrs Buwa embraced Pearl and began to cry with her. Pearl had her head behind Mrs Buwa’s shoulder so people could not see her facial expression ‘’I’m so sorry for your loss’’ Pearl whispered over and over again.

‘’Thank you my dear sister’’ Mrs Buwa replied.

She was too weak to escort anyone outside and she bade them farewell as the group made their way out of her house.


The return journey back to Pearl’s house was devoid of the usual chatter. Nogie noticed it but she was smart enough to keep quiet. For some reason the kind doctor had broken down at the end of the visit and it was not the time to engage in idle chatter. By the time they arrived at Nogie’s house, she ran off to get Ose. She had a live in relative hence her childcare chore was practically split in half.

Some seconds later, Nogie returned holding a reluctant Ose by the hand. The children seemed to have enjoyed themselves and Ose didn’t want to go home. Pearl kept pulling his arm and at some point, she pointed a finger in his face and said some words in Ishan. That seemed to calm the child and produce the desired effect. By the time she opened her front door, Imonitie was waiting for her with his arms folded across his chest ‘’welcome’’ she greeted.

Xyz

***

A week after the incident, Professor Buwa went to see his old friend at the police station. The ASP had heard about the sad development and had even visited the Buwas. He had to; he once played an important role in the little girl’s life. The friends spoke for sometime before Prof revealed what was on his mind.

Then ASP Kassim Kolawole interlaced his fingers and sighed deeply ‘’don’t you worry about it. We are talking 8 houses with the killer living in one of them. Don’t you worry; I have the right man for the job’’

‘’I trust you and I’ll appreciate your help. My wife is going away for a long time – about a month and half. She will be leaving by the end of this week so it’s perfect time for me.’’

‘’Why do you say so?’’ the inspector asked.

‘’Well because you need to be wired in a certain way to pursue this sort of thing to a logical conclusion. Unfortunately Roli is not that way; she is the type that will hinder it from the word go’’

‘’Then we might have a small problem. What do you intend to do with the culprit after he has been found? Your wife would not be there forever so why do you think she would not influence you to drop the case by the time she returns?’’

‘’Because I want to believe, we would have found the killer by then. Once I set off on this journey there is no stopping me. I can be sidetracked before it begins but not when I know the killer. So to answer your question, I would like whoever is responsible for this to feel the full weight of the law. I am not a lawyer for nothing; I know my right. To that end, I won’t stop until that person is brought to book’’

‘’Uhmnnnnnnnnnnnnn! It remains your right after all. However I must be honest with you from the word go. Sadly, these sort of cases are not top priority for the police. The problem is that most times, victims of these sort of crimes choose to settle out of court. In a developed society, the state takes it upon itself to prosecute such crimes and give closure to the victim’s family even if the accused has apologised and is truly sorry’’

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