oromankirisi:
Just got back will read it in a bit..
Thank you..

Aiit...u r welcum...just go ahead and enjoy every bit of it...

I can almost picture every scene in my head, it goes to show how well crafted this piece is.

The dialogues couldn't be more real. Wow!

Nor be today this guy don dey write. More ink to your pen bruv.

Good work!

*screaming* she is back!!! she is back!!! *goes and give touchmender a big bear hug* i miss u so much. ehmmmmm detective Unique and Chichi again, the culprit cannot hide for so long. thanks touchmender for the update.

Princecalm:
they said he is good for nothing yet he is about to reveal the hidden truth that has been a burden to everybody in the neigbhourhood.

...

jorlons:
I can almost picture every scene in my head, it goes to show how well crafted this piece is.

The dialogues couldn't be more real. Wow!

Nor be today this guy don dey write. More ink to your pen bruv.

the writer is a 'she' and not a 'he' lol

[color=#990000][/color]Nice One Man

lenmafon:
*screaming* she is back!!! she is back!!! *goes and give touchmender a big bear hug* i miss u so much. ehmmmmm detective Unique and Chichi again, the culprit cannot hide for so long. thanks touchmender for the update.

Morning dear, big hugsssssssssssssssssssssssssss. Its great to have you again. How has it been and how is ...
Okay let me stop there.

***
5 days later, Chichi pulled out a chair and sat in front of Unique ‘’why you dey vex nah?’’ she asked.

‘’My backside is on fire. This case is so cold and we’ve only just begun. It’s so cold if I lay my hands on it, I’ll get frostbitten!’’

‘’Relax it’s a tiny neighbourhood and someone will spill one of these days. I feel it in my body and I can’t explain it. Something has got to give Unique so don’t kill yourself before the case heats up. By the way how did the interview with the Engineer go? Engineer Akindele if I recall correctly‘’

‘’It was a total waste of time like the others’’

‘’Did you visit the houses after Prof’s?’’

‘’Chichi I did. Mrs Bricks, Chief Okao, Mr and Mrs Bello, Mr and Mrs Igunbor, Engineer Akindele you name it. Even the government worker and the Saudi doctor’s houses were not left out. I’ve spent the last few days combing that street like a… like a … ’’

‘’Like a who.re right!’’

‘’Yeah like a fvcking cheap whor.e’’ Unique finished.

Once he was done, Chichi began to laugh but Unique wore a serious look ‘’Chichi, don’t laugh. I’ve never had it this bad. This is how many weeks after the crime and nothing is making sense yet. No leads, no calls, no nothing. All I got is oga breathing down my neck like a dragon. I’m starting to lose my mind. I feel like a rookie detective all over again’’

‘’You need to take a chill pill bro’’

‘’I need to go and interview the wee lad’’

‘’Which one again?’’ Chichi asked.

‘’I mean Prof’s son; the one who was playing with the girl outside’’

‘’Oh you mean Michael Buwa? Oh well I don’t know about that. Do you think it would help? If you don’t mind me asking why?’’

‘’Well he is the closest thing to catching the culprit. He is 7 years old for God sake not 3. I expect to get something solid from him. Surely if he is calm, he would recall the colour of the car or something. If I have to get him on a shrink’s chair and do all that nonsense about closing eyes and remembering stuff – I bloody will!’’

‘’Yeah, but that would be a bad idea. Prof appears a bit soft on the kid almost like he is shielding him or something. I don’t know how you are going to get another interview with him. And about the shrink stuff, just forget it. Dude is way too young and there is no way his father would allow that happen. As a matter of fact, I can safely tell you to leave that chap alone. He has nothing more to offer. I watched him talk; he does not hold the key to this case’’

‘’Then who does?’’

‘’Time. Give it some more time’’

Then Unique put both hands on his head and groaned ‘’dig a hole and bury me Chichi. Just dig a hole, leave me there and I’ll hibernate until this case blows over’’

‘’It is well’’ Chichi replied. ‘’Mark my word, something will give very soon. Someone will spill and begin to sing like a canary’’

We leave the detectives alone for now (some chapters) and would delve into the lives of some major characters in this story.

THIRTEEN

A week after the police visited his home, Jesuorobo sat by the desk in his bedroom and stared at his phone. He didn’t want to call his sister (Itohan) but he knew he had to. He hated having to beg for anything but he was getting desperate. He had tried his best to save from his meager salary but it had not amounted to much. People looked at lawyers with ‘big man eye’ but in reality their pay was pitiful. If you were not working in the big firms in the larger cities, chances were your salary didn’t amount to anything.

And this was why he needed to take the giant step. Lagos was calling and she had been doing that for a very long time. About 3 months ago, a former colleague (Collins Osunde) called to tell him about an accommodation he had found. It was a self contained on the island but the price was outrageous for someone like Jesuorobo. For the same amount, he could get a decent 3 bedroom apartment in Benin.

Collins worked in a small law firm on Lagos Island but he had been making plans to move out of his uncle’s house at Bariga. He was not rich enough to afford his own place so he needed a flat mate. Collins begged Jesuorobo to come up with the money quickly so they could move in together.

Jesuorobo saw the picture of the place and he even went there but he couldn’t come up with the money fast enough. The agency fee was for two years and that didn’t include the lawyer’s fee and cautionary deposit fee! Jesuorobo was desperate; so desperate he said something silly to the agent. He volunteered to get a legal colleague to draw up the lease then the estate agent frowned and said he will get back to them.

The following day, the agent called to say the property had been taken up by another tenant. Collins was livid and rightly so. The house at Ibeju Lekki had been the closest he could get within the ₦300,000 mark. Collins could not believe Jesuorobo’s leaky mouth had cost him the house. He gave Jesuorobo a piece of his mind and it was not pleasant ‘’this is Lagos; you don’t go about telling an estate agent you are a lawyer or talking about your lawyer friends. You frighten them because they don’t want to spend eternity asking a tenant to move out!’’

The following week, a frustrated Collins borrowed money from family then pumped his life savings on another property (at Lekki) and this time, he didn’t bother to inform Jesuorobo. He was tired of his fake friend and he needed to take the leap of faith. Shortly afterwards, he was rewarded with a serious individual who was desperately looking to share the cost of the rent. And that was how Jesuorobo lost out on the apartment.

Jesuorobo complained bitterly and someone advised him to consider a place on the mainland but he refused. The problem was he had to remain on the Island for work reason. His late mother’s sister (Aunty Lizzy) had promised him a place in a SAN’s chamber. Unfortunately, the SAN was only doing it as a favour. His chamber was already full but Jesuorobo was free to work and gain invaluable experience before leaping off to the next spot.

It sure sounded like a good opportunity; Jesuorobo was hardworking but only when he needed to be. He didn’t like to push himself too much but he knew 3 to 4 months would give him enough time to find another chamber willing to pay for his services. Perhaps if he proved himself enough, they could even hire him at the SAN’s chamber.

But it all depended on money. Everything seemed to be about money, money and more money. His dear aunt told him he could stay at her place but Jesuorobo had been to her house. The house was filled to capacity and worse still, it was at the other end of Lagos – Ikorodu. There was no way he could commute from her place to the Island every blessed weekday on a job that would not pay a dime! That was suicidal; that would mean shaving off about 3 years off his life span!

Unfortunately, Jesuorobo didn’t really know anyone else in Lagos and he didn’t want to ask his father for help. He was too proud and he didn't want to discuss his future with his dad. Besides what could his dad do? The man was a loner and didn’t really make or keep friends! The few decent friends he once had had shunned him after the demise of his wife. Some remained but most eased away.

So far, Jesuorobo had been able to save 100,000 to N120,000 and he needed more. He managed to cast his pride aside and place a call to his sister. The moment, Itohan heard her brother’s voice, she yelled out in excitement. They spent the next few minutes conversing in Bini. As was her usual practice, Itohan didn’t ask of her father or his mistress but Jesuorobo filled her in and she listened.

Then they got around to the reason for the call and Itohan sighed deeply ‘’my brother, it is tough time for me but I will see what I can come up with. I need to speak to my husband and I will get back to you; God willing by the end of the week’’

‘’Thank you so much. I know you have a lot of commitment and you know I don’t like disturbing you. I know another baby is coming and your house project is still on. I am not asking for much but anything you can help will go a long way’’

‘’It’s okay; anything to make you leave that Benin, you know I support. I wonder how you manage to stay in that house with them’’

‘’Sister, this is our father’s home; a house mummy built with him. A house she lived in even when daddy deserted her. I owe it to her memory to protect this place. I owe it to her to protect daddy from himself and Bukola’’

Then Itohan whispered ‘’at what cost? Will you continue to put your life on hold so you can watch over that man? Is he a baby abi nor be im two eyes e use follow that woman? Bukola has been there for over 8 years and you could not do a thing. Why oh why do you think you can help him at this stage’’

‘’She is manipulating your father as usual. We all know this thing is not normal. I fear for him. All the time I was away at law school and NYSC, I nor dey rest for your papa matter. God knows why I do this’’

‘’Jesuorobo my brother, leave that man alone. He has made his bed and he should lie on it. You need to get on with your life and stop feeling sorry for him. He is not even begging for your help. You try to help him and he asks you to stay away – God forbid bad thing! You dey try sha. I could never do what you are doing’’

‘’Papa nor good. Papa nor good but father is father. I told you another reason why I had to leave Kaduna. Mummy appeared to me in a dream and begged me to stay with daddy in this house. I am not here for nothing and I know I will leave soon. Why mumsie begged me to return, I don’t know. Perhaps it was to avert something I don’t know. Sha I agree with you. I feel the time for me to leave has come…’’

‘’God bless you for that statement. Mummy has lived her life and gone. Daddy is living his life as he pleases and you must live your own. You have always liked Lagos and I’m encouraging you to go. Like you know I have so much on my table so I don’t want to give a particular figure until I discuss with my husband’’

‘’I know I know. By the way, how is your body?’’

‘’I am fine, I thank God because I am nearly there. It’s the last trimester and soon it would be quarter to push oh!’’

‘’And you shall push to safety in Jesus name – mama baby’’ Jesuorobo yelled.

‘’I hear you and I say a big amen to your prayers. The journey with this baby has been very smooth – the boy nor worry me at all at all. No morning sickness, nothing at all in short I will deliver like the Hebrew women’’

‘’Amen ohhhhhhhhhh! Sister, you don use style tell me say na boy. I don catch you – ntorrrrrrrrrrr!’’

Then the siblings began to laugh. After a while, Itohan broached another topic she never failed to bring up with her brother ‘’uncle Jesuorobo, yes I nor hide am again na boy I dey carry. But my brother, your nephew said I should tell you something…’’

‘’You don come again oh!’’ Jesuorobo grumbled. He knew what it was about and he couldn’t be bothered.

Itohan ignored him and continued to talk ‘’your unborn nephew said I should beg you to quit that bad habit. His desire is that by the time he arrives, you would have stopped smoking’’

Then Jesuorobo continued laughing ‘’in short this my new nephew is a guy man! Gotta go sis, greetings to the hubby and kids. Expecting your favourable reply soon’’

‘’Bye my brother bye’’

We take a trip back in time.

Nice one touchmeder...... keep it coming, a pretty long update. We dey your back

madam u start new story u no mention anybody abi it is well
BTW what sound does uhmmmmnnn make or what action makes it

Nice 1.

Nice 1.Nice 1.Nice 1.

Touchmeder, please come and update

Nmeri17:
madam u start new story u no mention anybody abi it is well

BTW what sound does uhmmmmnnn make or what action makes it

Oops-a-daisy! To me, it's more like the sound you make when you're thinking. I should change it to hmn instead. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Interesting! interesting!! And interesting!!!

This is so interesting..

By the way. Wosunuuu means 'what happened or what is happening in bini.