₦airaland Forum

When the patrol vehicle arrived, the guard was still at his gate, the compound he guarded was housing a 3 bedroom bungalow owned by a Late woman. The house was furnished but unoccupied, he had his shed behind the gate, there were no bushes or flowers in the compound just like the adjacents'. No dogs either.
It was a battered landcruiser, If the Jeep had eyes, it had seen better days. A man in beards and mufti alighted, holding a pistol as he introduced himself as Inspector Kola, he gestured to the man behind the wheels and intoduced him as Corporal Wale. The Inspector was holding a pistol and wearing a flak jacket, the corporal stood near the car and looked around. The siren was still wailing, the mosque and the dogs were quiet.
Good morning, he continued, his eyes were red and his voice husky, sounded like someone who had kept vigil.
Morning,Sir. The guard replied and stiffened. The officer nodded and pointed with his gun towards the jeep.
You called the police?
Yah, I heard a cry earlier from this compound, he pointed to the next compound but the cop did not turn to look, he seemed to narrow his eyes then blinked, he was pointing his gun at the floor now.
What kind of noise? The cop asked.
A man in pain but I hear no other voices.
Did you go in?
He shook his head.
Did you hear dogs?
Yes but no dogs on this street. Maybe from the next street. They bark every morning though when they hear the muezzin from the mosque crying.
Ok.
What kind of house is inside the compound and who stays there?
Never been inside but I know a woman used to stay there.
Ok. Whats ur name.
The guard told him.
Are you new here?
Three months.
Did you hear anybody go in yesterday or night?
No.
When did you go in?
Didnt. I called you while a lady walked out of there.
Didnt you stop her? the cop was moving towards the house now, gun pointed, the guard followed and explained that he dont have to. He was expecting the cops anyway and if they had been on time they would have met her. He didnt tell them about the Benz G wagon that was on the street and the missing pack.
At the gate. The cop motioned to his deputy to stay with the guard and take his statement, he was in and out of the house in 10 minutes and was still carrying his gun in his right hand and a pack in his left, the pack was very similar to the one he saw the kidnapped lady dropped earlier. He looked at his watch, lets say about 2 hours ago, the time was aproaching 7am.
Whats in there? He asked as the officer returns to the jeep and the corporal was on the phone calling their station for photographer.... The officer stopped the siren.
Evidence, the officer replied.
The guard shrugged and wonder why the police wasnt asking much questions.
Then as if the officer was eavesdropping on his thoughts, he suddenly asked,why are you the only watchman on an almost empty street?
Well, this house needs a guard.
What do you think the lady stole in there? The cop asked.
I dont know who she is, I dont know if she stole. He replied looking the officer in the beard.
Do you carry a weapon?
Yes officer, I have a Rifle and a pistol, company issued.
What company?
Horsemen securities, Beside Allen.
Ok. The cop quipped.
Were you issued a knife?
Yeah, But I dont carry it.
Such a bad job she did in there, seems with weapon of choice. What do you think?
I think you need to ask me to give you her description so you can start looking for her and bring her in for questioning, the guard replied looking at the officers shoulder.
I think you can do better than that, you can give us her house address, she is ya friend, see? You let her go. He said and was smiling at his corporal who was getting behind the wheel now, he nodded and grunted "Sure" and kept a straightface as he settled in the seat.
My job is to guard that house, he pointed to his compound.
Anybody comes to your house? The corporal asked.
No, the owner is late but the heir apparent is in spain and will be coming home for christmas.
What about this? The corporal pointed to the adjacent compound.
I see a woman there couple of times when I just got here.
Whats her name? The corporal asked producing his notepad from his breast pocket and plucked his pencil where it was tucked behind his ear. He looked like a dwarf bodybuilder. The officer looked like his dad.
One Mrs Caroline.
What about her husband?
I dont know, But she was always wearing casts.
She could have travelled.
Hopefully.
What of those other houses?
The owners dont stay there, only some maintenance people coming around once in a while, its always a lonely street.
No guards?
Yes just me and my compound.
What do you do before you were a guard?
Nothing I was jobless.
Did you learn a trade? Now the police officer and the policeman were questioning him interchangeably.
No... I was in school.
You lived in this city?
Yes, born and bred.
The officer produced a cigarrete pack, removed one, offered the pack to his subordinate, who picked one and tucked it behind his ear. Then he offered the pack to the guard who was sitting on a pavement near the jeep now, the doors were open, the officer was standing right in front of him, the corporal was in the car, the officer was still holding his gun. He refused the cigarretes and explained he dont smoke...
Can I see your knife? The officer asked quickly while staring him fully in the face.
Yes. At the company, I dont book for it every weekend.
Weird. The corporal grunted.
Well... You dont think you need one? Well something happened inside there. He pointed to the victims compound. Say, suppose somebody grabbed you from behind and you couldnt draw a gun? If you did what if you shoot yourself. What will you do in such case?
Well, If someone was that close, I could stab myself too or the assailant could stab me with my own dagger. Said the guard.
Well, the "someone" might be armed and not need your dagger unless maybe the victim was naked perhaps in their bed. The officer replied.
People in their bed dont grab people from behind, officer, except its rape or schizophrenia. The guard said.
Ok. Thats good. Rape. You think thats why she left hurriedly?
Who left?
Your girlfriend, perhaps it was her voice you heard screaming. Maybe someone wants to rape her. As the officer said this slowly he was watching the face of the guard intently, the sun was coming out in the sky behind his shoulders and he was smoking another cigarrete.
Well am sure it was a mans voice, and please I dont know the girl.
But you know her voice, you are damn sure it wasnt the girl that sreamed. Well I think its the girl, maybe somebody wants to have a good piece of her but her friend came by to help with a dagger. The officer explained slowly and gesticulated a lot.
I dont know about that. Look I got to get back to my post. He stood slowly and wiped the seat of his trousers mechanically, he felt like having coffee but he thought someone was hiding in the neighbourhood and the police he was talking to doesnt seem to know much.
He offered his hand to the officer who shied away then asked, "You the only Wathcman on this street, It must be boring"
Well, I think I will get a dog.
Good.
The officer produced two cigarretes from the pack and offered him one again, he refused but noticed this time that the brand was Aspen. Rare.
What did you study?
Sociology. He replied and there was a glint and note of surprise plastered on the face of the cops, the corporal broke a sigh.
Where?
YUNI.
What set?
2005. He said and walked towards his house.
Ok. Be back later, you can look around if you see any body wandering, let us know, some cops will arrive soon, do give them the desciption of the lady. The officer called after him.
Alright Inspector, he said silently.
It was 7.30 am as the jeep drove away, this time the siren was muted.