₦airaland Forum

dedicated to; Bentube (happy birthday)
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please wait.....loading.....


Damn this network!
I had been staring at the three words on my phone screen for five minutes now and it was still 'loading'

Everyone had fallen silent and Bami and Dagnet both watched Terry move about. The only sound was the muffled whistle suppressed by the face mask coming from Terry.
I shook my phone is frustration.

"You know its frowned upon to be with your phone in here" Terry said frowning at me.

"well....I need to make a call...i'd be in the outer office" I was already at the door when a thought occured to me.
"Hey Terry....that picture you sent to my mail yesterday....do you still have it?"
"Sure, its on my laptop"
"I'd like to see it please"

He shook his head in bewilderment like he couldn't believe what he was hearing "Hello! I'm kinda busy here....besides the picture correlates with the identification of the fingerprint so whoever's name popped up is who the picture belongs too"
"Just tell me where your laptop is I can locate the picture myself"

He looked at Bami "Is this guy for real?"
Bami looked at him blankly.

Finally he looked at me and cleared his throat "ehem....okay just give me 15 minutes i'd show you the picture"
"Don't worry I'd show him, continue your work." Dagnet said. She looked at me "I have printed pictures we uploaded into our wanted list. I'd call somebody to bring it up.
"Thanks a lot"

I stepped out of the lab and tore my mask off. That place reeked of death and I was glad to be out of there.
I tried Andy's number.

"Hello"
"Andy...what's up is the doctor back yet?"
"nope" I heard the sound of water flushing
"Where are you?" I asked
"I went to ease myself"
"What of the cooler, hope you didn't let it out of your sight?" I couldn't keep the panic out of my voice.
"Relax....errrm...Tonye is watching it"
"okay...."
"What's happening over there...has the Terry guy started?" He asked
"Yea...his running the tests right now, okay call me if there's any development"
"alright sure"


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Andy ended the call and stared at the mirror. He jabbed his finger at his reflection. "Okay, be cool....keep it cool, she likes ya....stay cool"

A minute later he strode out of the toilet and with a confident gait, swaggered into the lab.

Christie was nowhere to be found at first but then she hurried out of the inner office. She had a slight flush in her cheeks and Andy thought she looked guilty.

"What, is it?"
"Oh....nothing really, someone called the landline in his office and I thought it would be him calling to give instructions...I can start the proceedure myself you know......but it was from x-ray asking for some earlier reports"
"Oh...." Andy said, he looked at the cooler and it was exactly how he had left it.
Christie turned and locked the office door.
"Why did you lock it?" Andy asked
"Oh, the door is always locked...a strict policy of the doctor but he is quite forgetful and misplaces his key sometimes so we keep a spare up here." She stood on her tiptoes and kept the key on a jar containing some kind of reptile in coloured liquid on the shelf.
"Okay, so..." Andy took his seat "how about you, are you single?"


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Alli no Joy tapped his steering as he bobbed his head to the Fela song 'beast of no Nation' coming from the radio.

"Animal wear agbada...."

He never went past 80km/h when his wife or any of his family was in the car but whenever he was alone he let it rip. Pushed the pedal to the floor. He was an old man, if he didn't speed now, when will he?

Automatically he slowed down as he got closer to the park and the needle dropped to a steady 60.

"oh Fela was right....3 decades later and we have the same Beast in power"

He got into the park and slowed completely as he dialled his wife's number.
It rang and rang but there was no reply.
He swore and hit the redial button but still there was no reply.
"How on Earth do i find them now in this huge park, for God's sake Martha pick up your phone!"
He accelerated slowly watching both sides of the park at the children in swings, riding bikes and playing with dogs. He was about to call her again when his phone rang. It was his wife.

"Martha....why didn't you pick up?"
"I dozed off....Olivia was the one who woke me up, everyone is really tired...where are you?"
she sounded tired.
"i'm in the park already"
"Oh...thank God, you'll see us now, just give us five minutes"
Before the call was disconnected. He heard her say "Oya wake up, its time to go.."


It took almost fifteen minutes he knew because he had glanced at his watch frequently. But when he saw his family he brightened then frowned with concern. His grandchildren were almost sleep walking, the twins were walking- or stumbling with their eyes closed, each of them holding their Grandmother for support but she looked like she was the one who needed to be held.
Soma was in her mother's hands, her head on her shoulder fast asleep and Utebo looked like she was struggling to stay awake. Only Olivia was bright eyed but there was a worried look in her face. Her daughter was also in her arms conked out.

When they finally filed into the car, he started the engine "So, how come y'all look so tired...the children must have played a lot"
Martha yawned from the front seat. "It must...it must be the weather, it was really sunny earlier"
"Actually the children didn't even get to play at all....they all fell asleep" Olivia said with a frown between her eyebrows.
Alli was staring at her in the rearview "What is it?" he asked
She shook her head and forced a smile "its probably nothing, I'm just tired too"
"Hmmm....hope one of you would stay awake long enough to serve my dinner, I haven't eaten since morning"


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

The hospital was big and Tonye wondered where she should start from, there were so many doors, so many passages that it would be easier to get lost than find somebody. She paced around, trying not to get too far from the entrance as she tried turnings and knocked on doors.

"Sorry please I'm looking for doctor Rasheed" she said to a nurse she met in the hallway"
"Who?"
"errm...doctor Rilwan"
"I don't know him, we have a lot of doctors here....anyway try the conference hall, he might be among the doctors having a meeting"
"Can you direct me to the conference hall?"

The woman looked unsure. She studied tonye. "Who are you? the doctors are not to be disturbed during-"
Tonye pulled at her chain and dug the badge from beneath her blouse.
"You know what this means right?.....now i need you to direct me to the conference hall"
The nurse nodded agreeably "Why of course, i'll take you there myself"
Tonye smiled sweetly "thank you"


She saw the doctor from outside the window. He had an extra large head that was easily recognizable.
"Thank you, I'd take it from here" she said to the nurse who obviously had no intention of going futher and disrupting whatever grave discussion the medical geniuses were discussing.
The discussion was certainly animated and she watched them for some seconds as hands flew about in gestures and veins popped in necks.
After a while she opened the door and stepped in.

"What i'm saying to mister Macguiver is that I'm certainly capable to carry out the operation without affecting the spinal cord or the vetebrae-"
"That's doctor Macguiver to you!"
"Are you sure you can remove the Bullet fragments without crippling him? I side with doctor Kevwe on this we should just clean it up and disinfect the entry point"
"That is utter rubbish, you heard the diagnosis Doctor Rilwan gave us, the infection would spread if we do not act immediately!"
"Well a second opinion won't do any harm!"
"Are you questioning my diagnosis?" Doctor Rasheed boomed. For a little man he had a loud voice.

Tonye observed the circus for some minutes then she approached doctor Rasheed.
He saw her and jumped to his feet. He slapped his palm on his forehead. "Oh my God...I totally forgot, gentlemen I have to go"

The hall had fallen silent as the doctors all watched Tonye.
She turned and followed the doctor to the door without a word. Somebody whistled.

"Hey, Rilwan introduce us to your friend"
"I'm sure she carries you up when you kiss her"


She closed the door and closed out the annoying sound of hysterical laughter. "Jeez, your colleagues are pigs" she said
"You have no idea, where's Rex?"
"He went on an errand, what were you people arguing about?"
"Oh...twice a week we gather to discuss critical cases that
require surgery and decide the best course of action, from a medical point of view that is"
"They don't seem to get along very well" she said
He waved a hand "of course, there are men who like to play God, perform surgeries and take risk as if they could do no wrong, then there are.....pardon my language, pussies, the ones who would still hesitate to perform an ordinary c-section even if it was the last hope for a woman in labour"
"So which do you fall under?" She asked. The doctor must have taken a short cut cause they were already outside and heading to the diagnostic building.
"I'd say I fall somewhere in the middle. Where's Rex? I gave him my keys and I'd need it"
"He'll soon be back, what we need now is to run the DNA test"
"Sure where is the sample"
"Its in your lab already"


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Her lips were soft and her breath was warm. She kept on making a moaning sound in her throat that threatened to drive him nuts. He slanted his head diagonally to change the angle of the kiss and unleash the full tongue.

Andy willed his hands to remain still. He wasn't going to rush this and his hands didn't yet have the passport to travel all over her body like he wanted to. And besides this was definitely not the place for second base.

As if as a manifestation of his thoughts, the door opened and he heard voices.

"...-shouldn't take much time at all'

He and Christie broke apart immediately and she stood up and hurried to the zinc, suddenly interested in rinsing test tubes.

"Hey Andy, how are you....Christie I need you to clean up ..set up the phenol-chloroform for organic extraction"
Doctor Rilwan said briskly, Oblivious to the thick tension that hung in the lab.
"yes sir" she began opening cupboards and cabinets going through the contents.

Tonye strolled to the chair the student doctor had vacated. "I don't know what you think you're doing but its very unprofessional, you had better stop"
she said through her teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Andy said weakly
Tonye frowned at him. "Andy you have lipstick on your lips"

He flushed visibly and wiped his mouth vigorously with his shirt sleeve.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

By the time they got home, they were all asleep apart from Olivia. Utebo murmured something about bathing the kids but when she went to the room to wake them up she didn't come out again. Olivia guessed correctly that her sister in law had fallen asleep immediately.

Martha also had put water in the kettle to heat up for her husband's dinner but she began to doze off while waiting for it to boil and Olivia persuaded her (which wasn't difficult) to leave the food to her and go lie down.

"I don't understand, why is everyone sleeping...its barely 6:30!" Alli entered the kitchen to check the progress. He could hardly wait to attack his dinner.
Olivia just finished turning the garri and she turned her attention to the soup she was warming.
"The only thing that happened was the ice cream we bought from this lady..."
"ice cream? it can't be they've all had ice cream before without sleeping, besides you're awake"
"That's the thing, I didn't have any"



::::::::::::::::::::::::

?? ??


Her ears perked up when she heard the lady mention ice cream. She sat up immediately and pressed the headset closer to her ears. Hmmm....so the bitch was quite smart after all.
She listened intently to their conversation.

"Sir, is this soup enough for you?"
"Ah, me i drink soup like water, you need to add more"

She smiled a bit and flashed back earlier in the day when she had visited the house. The freezer had contained bowls of soup and stew and tomato paste. She didn't have as much sedatives then and had been in a hurry to head to the park so she had decided on the soup almost at random. But it now seemed like she had made the right choice, and if she hadn't....... She stroked the gleaming 9 millimeter gun on the table.
It wouldn't be a problem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~


In less than an hour I pulled into the police station. I dialed the number as I inched about slowly looking for a place to park.

Terry picked his phone on the 3rd ring. "Hello?" he said breathlessly
"Hey Terry its Rex...I'm at the station"
"Woa..that was so quick...You sure work fast""So wheres]'s your office or lab?" I said as I Observed two policemen studying us curiously.
"Just stay put...i'll come get you"

"Alright...." I ended the call and began the tedious task of reversing and accelerating as I attempted to park between two armour tanks.


Two minutes later I watched the lanky frame of Terry through the rearview mirror as he came through the double doors and began looking about frantically. I thought he looked nervous.

"There he is" Bami said also watching him in the side mirror.

"Lets go, no use waiting here"

I tried to hold the bag nonchalantly like it contained something uninteresting but I was very aware of the two policemen under the tree who still studied us with interest.

Terry spotted us and smiled nervously. He glanced at the bag in my hand with obvious interest.
"Lets go..." he glanced at Bami and nodded
acknowledging his presence. That was his greeting.
"Lead the way" I said.


I had only got past the second floor of the metro station once and that was when the building was being commissioned by the governor a year ago. It was out of bounds to anyone without the MPD (metro police department) badge. I had a senior badge of course with access but I stayed well away from the station. Actually I haven't really been involved with any case that would warrant a visit to the station recently. And also it was a known fact the police weren't really fond of us, Me in particular. They scorned us and mocked us and called us unprofessional amateurs.

Andy rebellious as usual paid frequent visits to the station, to go through case files, interview inmates or whatever was useful to the case he was working at the time.
Although I suspect he did it mostly to get under their skin.


We took the stairs and Terry seemed more relaxed as he led the way, moving sideways so he could look at us as he spoke. "I haven't turned in the evidence to storage yet if not that would have been a lot of stress with paper work and a lot of questions" he glanced at the bag and I knew what he meant.

"And you....you don't have any questions?" Bami said from behind
"Oh....all the questions i have are answered in the lab. I'm not a detective like you....i'm a scientist" he led us past a narrow hallway with a big hall on one side and small cubicle offices on the other. He led us to the very end of the hallway and turned to a solid metal door.
"Here we are..." he said and brought out a bunch of keys.
The bag was beginning to get heavier and I guessed the ice was melting.

He fumbled with the keys for some seconds then he finally wrestled the gate open.

"Terry...what's going on?" The voice was as sharp as glass and the three of us turned in suprise. She had her hands on her hips, and the but of the gun was visible in her holster. It was Dagnet.

Terry jumped guiltily at the sound of her voice "erm...we thought, that is these gentlemen here.....and here we are...." the words stumbled out ncoherently and i couldn't help thinking he sounded like a voice over a faulty network.

Detective Dagnet frowned at him then she looked at me and Bami "What's going on here?"
"We need Terry to run a DNA test with the evidence found at the crime scene yesterday" I said and watched her eyes go from interest to curiosity to bafflement. "Where is this dna exactly?" She asked but she was already looking at the bag.

I lifted it in response and her eyes followed it.
"Well....." Terry said. He gestured with his hands at the open door and hurried into the office/lab. I knew he was in trouble, I could tell Dagnet was going to chew him later, maybe even write a report. The bitch.

Bami followed Terry into the lab and I followed sighing when Dagnet followed me and shut the door.

"So how did you get the DNA?" She asked
"Remember she was my fiance...we lived together, there's a lot of her stuff that I haven't touched"
"Oh....but the bag is big na...what kind of DNA is in there?"
"I don't know" and I actually didn't know. I had deliberately not looked at the contents of the ziplock bag.
"How can you not-"
"Hey, lady...this is not an interrogation room, we're in a lab.." Bami said exasperatedly

"Actually there's an inner room over there...that's where I work" Terry pointed at an adjoining door. His voice had gotten a little bass in it and he went to the zinc and washed his hands with a liquid soap that smelled of lemons. He took a towel from a rack and dried them. "You'll need to wash your hands" he said akwardly, glancing at Dagnet he changed his mind. "Or you can wait here....It wouldn't take long"

But I was already at the zinc. I dropped the bag carefully on the floor then squirted the soap in my palm. "You know....I'd like to be there"

Dagnet didn't look too pleased but she washed her hands after Andy.

"Gloves and face mask are in the basket over there" Terry pointed to a small basket divided into two compartments by a tree branch. On one side was latex gloves in pairs and the other nose masks.
We 'suited up' without a word while Terry waited patiently. After all his previous non stop chatter he was silent now.



~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, somewhere in Jos....

"God.....its true what theyv'e been saying since o...our ozone layer is completely finished" Martha said as she opened the cooler for another carton of iced tea.
"mama...I'm not even sure we have any ozone layer again" Utebo said
"This sun is something else" Olivia added.

They were under an oak tree, the full strong branches provided shade from the scorching sun. they had spread blankets in the grass and arranged a mouth watering picnic.

A portable radio supplied soft music and there was the cool clean oxygen....straight from the tree. The adults were relaxed, having a nice time gisting and laughing.

The children were restless however, they wanted to race about. That was the whole idea of coming to the park wasn't it? A group of kids were flying kites and kicking a ball, risking a sun stroke, sweating from the heat as well as the running around.

"Just wait a bit...you'll play I promise you, you hear? Let the sun go down a bit first." Utebo said to her twin boys as they pleaded for the umpteenth time.
"But by then we'll be about to go" one of them said and made the women laugh hard.

"The sun would make you very black...like uncle Omar" Utebo replied, her eyes twinkled as the twins grimaced. Omar was a lance corparal who had been recently assigned to her husband. He was blacker than the hair on his head.

Olivia watched her daughter who had been engaged with a bowl of grapes for the past ten minutes. Emma loved grapes, a lot.
Suddenly she stood up "ice cream...i want ice cream"

"When wer'e going home we would buy, don't worry..." Olivia assured her.
But Emma pointed "ice cream"

Olivia followed her daughter's finger and the tunes reached her ears as she saw the cart being pushed by a fat woman.

"Ice cream, ice cream!" The other children shouted excitedly and clapped their hands in anticipation. The vendor who was a sharp business woman headed towards them, sensing potential customers.

"Aaaah...the one we'd buy is better than this one, its sweeter too" Olivia said.

"Let them have a cone...there's no harm..." Martha said. " I may get one too, this weather calls for it" She drank the last of the iced tea and squized the small carton before putting it in the polythene bag they set aside for waste .

"Good afternoon, we have vanilla, chocolate and strawberry" the woman announced pleasantly as she pushed the cart to a stop.
"Strawberry!"
"Vanilla-no, chocolate!"

The children shouted the flavour excitedly and the vendor served each of them a generous heap of the ice cream of their choice. She was even able to mix chocolate and vanilla at Utebo's request.

"How about you pretty lady?" The vendor asked olivia.
"I'll pass....i'm already too full"
"Its a good dessert, the food would digest well" the vendor insisted
But Olivia shook her head. "I don't feel like really"

"You seem a bit farmiliar have we met before?" Martha said as she watched the woman
"Really....maybe i've sold ice cream to you before...been doing this for about 8 years now"
she announced proudly.

Martha thought about it then shook her head. "I don't normally buy ice cream like this...its somewhere else"
"Maybe in a bus or something. Your money is 750" the woman said abruptly
Utebo dug into her purse and paid and the woman was off immediately.

"See her tiny legs" One of the twin said in amusement.

They couldn't help but laugh even as Utebo cautioned the mischievous boy.

Olivia watched the woman's retreating behind. There was something gnawing at her mind, Rex called it 'the gut feeling 'always saying to go with it. She didn't even know what 'it' was right now but she was feeling uneasy.

She was about to ask Martha if she could remember where she had seen the woman before. But her mother in law increased the radio. Between licks she said "oh....my song, last night the D.J saved my life..." she looked so younger and free as she sang and Olivia smiled.



*~*~*~*~*

Back in the teaching hosipital, Tonye was getting restless. The doctor had yet to show and sitting in one place for long drove her nuts. Andy wasn't much help, he hadn't even asked about the where about of the doctor but he could discuss marvel and Dc characters and argue who would win in a fight between superman and the Hulk.

Tonye stood up finally and stretched "I'm going to the hospital, If it is to hunt down the doctor then that's what i will do"
"Are you sure....I'll go with you" Andy said
"No" she glanced pointedly at the cooler under her stool and close to his. She couldn't carry the cooler everywhere she went especially when she didn't know where she was going. "You stay, incase the doctor comes"
He nodded in understanding and Tonye headed for the door.
"I'm very sure the doctor will soon be back, he is most likely on his way now"
Christie said
"Then I'd meet him on the way then.....you're sure he's at the hospital sha?"
"Yes now, there's no other place he goes"

When they were alone, Christie leaned in and asked "So are you single?"
"Y-yes"
"Wow, how is that possible?" She placed her arm tentatively on his lap and Andy swallowed.

He hadn't gotten close to any woman in the last two years that woke up his feelings or in simpler terms, made him hot.
"Errrm...is there a toilet around here?" He asked
She smiled and removed her hand. "Yes its down the hall, men is on the right"
Andy stood up. He glanced at the cooler. He couldn't carry it with him to the toilet. Besides it was already where it was meant to be, it was safe.

"I'll be right back"



*~*~*~*~*~*


I handed the whole bag to Terry and he hurriedly unzipped the bag. I thought he looked like a child opening a present.

He held up the ziplock bag and for the first time I looked at the content. It looked like an ear or whatever. The ants hadn't gotten to the corpse yet but time had already done its share.
Whatever it was, it was unrecognizable.

"What is that?" Dagnet asked
"DNA" i replied.
"No...no,,,,this is not nearly enough I have to amplify this"
"Amplify?" Bami asked
"errrh...."Terry scratched his head looking for the right word "....like photocopying"
"How will you do that?" I asked

He moved to a mini photocopy looking device on the table and hit some buttons.

"There's something called polymerase chain reaction, or PCR if you wish, basically its used for creating copies, thousands..,maybe millions and it takes just some few hours"
"Hours?" Bami asked mirroring my thoughts
"It wouldn't take long, i don't need much copies"

Dagnet moved closer and watched as he operated the device.

"i've never really wondered about the process of getting information from evidence...most times all i want is results" she stroked a microscope and looked round the lab in appreciation "How exactly does it work, is it like a photocopying machine?"

Terry chuckled and I sensed him finally relax fully. " no, not really. Basically what we're doing is making copies of a specific sequence of the DNA. What we do is put the DNA in this thermal cycler..." he patted the device lovingly "it has a thermal block with holes see....its for tubes with the reaction mixtures." He broke off checking our expression to see if we were following him. We stared at him blankly.

"Anyway" he continued "what it does is it lowers and raises the temmperature in specified programmed steps"

"This poly something....what is it?"
"Polymerese chain reaction....okay let me put it like this, There's a particular process when the heating and cooling is applied and ranges in temperature depending on the reaction....okay? so a cycle is a period it takes to heat and cool before it starts again for another cycle."

I nodded in encouragement as though I understood every single word, which was a lie.

"So the thing is as the PCR progresses, the DNA generated is used as a template for replication. Which sets of a chain reaction and amplifies the original DNA template in exponentials"
"Hmmmm....so that cycle you talked about, how many would it take for the amplification?" Dagnet asked. She seemed to be on the same wave length with Terry.
"Approximately 28 cycles"
"Woa....and how long is a cycle?" Bami asked glancing at his watch
"Its hard to say..you know each cycle may differ"
"just give an estimate"
"I've already given an estimate, i said 28 cycles, you'll have to wait and see if you want to know the exact time, which will be hard because some cycles are so different in duration"
"You know what maybe you should start right now...forget the teaching for now" I urged him.

"Are you sure this DNA you brought is really human and not bacteria or something else" Terry asked as he loaded tubes in the thermocycler.
"its human for sure, I was..." I bit my tongue and glanced at Dagnet.

She didn't say anything but looked at Terry "Is there a way you can make sure, so we don't waste time?"

"this is a waste of time, he's told you its human and it is, I was there and it came from the grave the lady you gave to us yesterday is buried or supposed to be anyway" Bami was frustrated and he eyeballed the both of them after his rant.

"its quite easy, I just assess the quality and quantity of DNA, its called quantification." Terry continued like Bami hadn't spoken. The young man loved to talk, or should i say loved to teach. Wether it was from an urge to show off or educate i didn't know or care but time was of the essence.

"Terry-" I began

"but it wouldn't be necessary, i'm sure its human" he said.
"So now what do we do?" Bami asked
"Well we wait for the PCR to finish"
"Then what do we do?" Bami asked again

"We'll need to distinguish the various molecules from one another. Its called capillary electrophoresis. Basically it means-"

I tuned out the young scientist and brought out my phone just remembering the picture in my box. I logged in and accessed my mail.

Chisiudeh phoenixchap horladstar honourable356 EkopSparoAyara Meneski helenbee vickyluvspices iamloyalty agp19 joshnes heemah joislim rchilee labelle123 oroolorun boffinjay evaristomonarch nikz quineetee chii8 whocarex opeade939 kaycee9242 Godwinfury eberechi24 alarmednigerian adeculate
Thanks for your comments fam, the ball is rolling again

Oroolorun:
(Singing)
Souloho19, Souloho19.
Souloho19, Souloho19.
Where you dey, Souloho19.
Where you dey, Souloho19 oooooo.
Soulo o Soulo o,
Souloho19 ooooooooo.
(waiting patiently and longingly for when you'll be ready to continue).

Thanks baba.....i'm 90% there, just one or two things holding me....also expect a dark story (MEMOIRS OF A SERIAL KILLER) and a thief's tale (THE MIDAS STRATEGY) coming soon

both bibi 123 and 294
davidflo boss is a inspiration
ghostwriter imagination is off the charts
rachealfst I call her rachealFIRST your words r a joy to read.

these r just the some of the great writers we have here that goose ma bumps or bump ma goose. believe me its a honour seeing my name next to writers whose work still mentor me till tomorrow. More imaginations to your wonderful brains!

wow....
True every thing is a blessing depending on the angles and I remember the very first story I tried writing back in '11 about a young pastor and his crew that are sent to a town village controlled by a powerful and diabolical chief, it was going good or so I thought until my system just crashed out of the blue and I lost every data when it was wiped. it took me 6 years and a chance stumble on nairaland lit section after a Kendrick Lamar vs j.Cole Google search had previously brought me across the forum. Then I just thought why not try write something with the aura of indifference and I'd like to think I was and will be able to refine the initial lost story into the okrika wearing devil and i know it wldnt have happened if i hadnt lost the premature blueprint then. now, it doesn't matter if my fingers are typing on a keyboard or a soft calibrated screen or gripping a bic biro cos it the words don't originate from the hands...its not a gifted hands scenerio but the imaginative 'release' of a highly sapio. the picture is already painted in my mind the task is to convey the picture to paper and like someone said I got the database, y'all should see me grinning from ear to ear as I work on filling up a long note with more and more paintings. what once took me 6 yrs didn't even take me up to 6 days hehe..
for sticking with the story Jah bless you more, the best part of writing (in myy perspective) is filling the words 'the end' tho I dont know when that would happen I know you guys are a gud lit family.
oh and oroolorun I would have slapped myself 3 times but it was done thoroughly for me already..more than 3 self!

My people, something happened yesterday im still very much in shock about. I enterwd the wrong vehicle on my way to see granma and i was robbed along the way. Everyne who heard the story keeps saying i should be thankful for my life and safety. What is my phone compared to my life? The hurtful thing is not my sim card, not even my contacts but the precious documents inxluding about two othee stories ive been writing at my pace and this same hole in the wall whixh is about three updates ahead...
So with a heavy heart i urge yall to unfollow this story as i dont evwn know when i can come online again...
One thing ia sure, only rapture can keep me frim completing a story i start but i dont know when as i am phoneless and inspirationless ryt now...
Thanks as always fam

•°•°•°•°•


The drive to the hospital seemed shorter than when we had gone previously. It wasn't till we were almost at the hospital that Andy jerked suddenly
"What is it?" I asked immediately
"The car..your car its still at the back where we parked it!"
I couldn't believe it. How could I forget my car? Even if I wasn't the one who had drove..how could I be soo absentminded? But that was the problem I wasn't absent minded but very conscious. Suffice to say my mind had been thoroughly engaged with the unfolding events.

"Nothing we can do now...we'd come back for it later" Bami said "its parked in a good place and I don't expect anybody to walk past the land"

Andy said "if Fomé is alive then it means she's been watching over Rex in silence and when the shadow emerged with the threat, she killed him to protect you"
We were all silent for the rest of the drive to the hospital. What Andy said kept replaying in my head and I have to say I found that option less scary than the other possibilities.

But a little voice from within reminded me from nowhere; hell hath no fury like a scorned woman!

°•

I directed Bami to the second car park just before the diagnostic building. Tonye held the cooler like it contained jellof rice and we filed into the building.

Andy led the way since it was just the both of us that knew the doctor's office/lab. He was followed by Tonye and Bami while I brought up the rear.

I saw the same fat woman nurse from earlier and she just observed us with no expression as we passed her desk. Andy and Bami had their badges clipped to their belt, Tonye had a chain and wore her's like a pendant. I was the only black sheep.

My phone rang as I was about to enter the diagnostic lab and I hung back and silenced it immediately.
I didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?"
"Morning boss" It was my assistant.
"Jimoh....how you doing, what's it?"
"Sir, I have a call on hold for you from one Terry..he says he's from crime sce-"
"Put him through immediately" I interrupted him hardly believing my luck.

Seconds later the vibrant voice of the young technician came on the line. For a fleeting second I wondered if Jimoh was listening.
Terry went straight to the point.
"Our unbelievable luck continues to hold, I found another piece of hair I bagged in the hotel and this one is real...we only just need DNA from the owner of the print to clear the air once and for all."
"Wonderful...where would you be say in the next one hour I'd get everything you need for the test"

There was a short silence then he said "I thought you said the person was...." His voice trailed off then he said in understanding "ooooooh...you sure work fast, the blue here are still running around with their dick in hand" ('blue' was an informal term for police)

"Where would you be?" I asked again
"I'd be at headquarters...that's were my lab is..once you're there call me and I'd come get you myself"
I was satisfied with this and glanced at my watch "alright...wait wait...lemme have your number"
He recounted the eleven digits and I typed it in my phone by selecting the loud speaker option so I could still hear him.
When he was done he asked "did you get the picture I sent?"
I had even forgotten about that also. I wondered if I should be alarmed about my recent leaking memory but decided it was not 'leaking' probably just over engaged.
"I'd check it myself now with my phone" I said
"Okay"
"Heey Terry" I hesitated "Good job man, good job"
He replied "you too"

The line went off and I heard the dial tone which meant the both of us had been alone on the line. Although I wasn't fooled it was possible Jimoh hung up when he noticed the discussion was winding down.
Or it was also possible he had hung up once he routed the call a part of me reasoned and I wondered about the innate suspicion I had of everybody which had gotten more pronounced the last few days. Well it was needed for survival but Jimoh had been loyal and hardworking so far.

I entered the lab after the call(I had hung back in the corridor to receive the call)

Bami and Andy were at one end of the lab observing the explicit well labelled diagram of the human anatomy.
Tonye was on the second and last stool in the lab beside the same assistant we had seen earlier. They were talking and as I approached them I heard the student doctor say "...wouldn't take long, in fact anytime from now"
Tonye glanced up as I approached "the doctor stepped out not long ago, he took a series of test results over to the main hospital. But Christie here says he'd soon be back"
I nodded politely at the young woman and shrugged at Tonye. No problem we would wait. Not like we had another choice. But then it occurred to me I had another choice. Terry was waiting for me at the metro station.

Tonye seemed to have taken an obvious liking to the doctor's student and now she was saying "you know I studied microbiology back then and whenever we were told..."
I interrupted her with a cough. Which was part warning and part to grab her attention. The former was because it was against the unspoken code of safety to give out personal details of yourself no matter how innocent the person on the receiving end looked/was. She glanced at me guiltily getting the drift immediately then I said "I need the other one for the plan B...the guy is waiting for me like this"

I could tell from her expression that I had confused the nosy Christie who hung on to every word.

"Let's go to the car then...what of this your doctor friend..Rilwan?" Tonye asked as she stood up and lifted the cooler she had wedged under the stool.
"No you guys would stay and carry on with it..I'm sure he'd be here any moment..he was expecting us after all" I said.

Bami and Andy blocked us at the door.
"Are you going now?" Andy asked.
"Yes...please make sure doctor Rash-...Rilwan does the test immediately... It shouldn't waste time before the result is out"
"I'm coming with you..I'd drive so that when we're coming you'd pick up your car and we'd come and pick up Andy and Tonye...by then this result should be ready also"
"Okay...makes sense..see you in an hour" I said to Andy
And so Bami, Tonye and I left the building to the car park.

Inside the safety of the hilux or should I say around the hilux because we stood to the side and opened the doors for cover while Bami and I covered the other end leaving Tonye in our middle.
She wore the thick leather gloves she retrieved from the truck and opened the cooler. The ice emitted a cold smokey mist and the cold hiss of condensation as air entered the cooler.
There were two ziplock bags and she studied one critically before putting it back in the cooler and giving me the second one without looking at it. I couldn't help but feel Tonye was as cold as the ice.

She held the bag out but my hands didn't move. I could see there was a smaller transparent bag inside which housed the body parts I refused to look at. The bigger bag (also trasparent) was filled with ice which no doubt would be turning to cold water very soon.

"Rex" Tonye called out
Finally my hands obeyed the order from the pineal gland and I took the bag from her.
"You need a thick bag or nylon that is not transparent... Badge or no badge if people should see what you carry..you'll surely be lynched" she said.

And I thought grimly; the ridiculous article by that clueless journalist which branded me as a ritualist will then be justified.

"There's a bag in the truck" Bami said. He made to climb into the driver seat but I stopped him.
"Let me drive..I need it right now" I said pleadingly. He understood immediately, understood I wanted my mind to only be engaged in overtaking, keeping the right lane and every other thing related to driving. He probably understood because that's what he had been doing all morning...he had been behind the wheel all through.
Well he'd had enough, I needed the therapy right now.

And so I got behind the wheel and fired up the engine while Bami climbed in beside me and Tonye stepped back.
"Keep an eye on that girl in there...we all know what curiosity did to the cat" I said and reversed out of the park. In minutes we were on the high way speeding towards the metro police station.

°•°•°•°•

?? ??


She was extremely pissed off when she finally got to the park. An hour plus had gone by since she stormed out of the room. Now it would all be worth it...still she was pissed.

She wore a white polo shirt with a popular ice cream logo and she wore a armless pullover like an apron. Splashed with the name of the ice cream across the chest and the same dark blue colour as the logo. To crown it off she had a cap with the two edges turned up like the ears of a dog. The kind of cap the yorubas called 'eti aja'
But it was dark blue in colour and also splashed with the logo of the ice cream. She was proud of the logo, she had designed it herself and it was the spitting image of the original.

The most peculiar thing however was the body weight gain. In just an hour she had transformed to a fat and puffy woman with an enormous bust, stomach and behind. The secret behind this outlook was an armour made of wax and shaped like the body of a fat woman which she wore like a singlet. It was almost her body weight and she swayed a little from the weight but she was used to it she had made it herself also.

It stopped just above her knees however and a really awkward picture she would have made to have her fat and fleshy torso balanced on skinny legs which the gown couldn't hide. However she was saved by the cover of the ice cream cart she pushed ahead of her. It was also painted the dark blue and had the logo splashed on every side. The cart provided shade from the sun which was out now but not yet in its full force, from the umbrella attached to it.

From the cart came the tune that was almost like a child's lullaby except it had the exact opposite effect of a lullaby, bringing children awake with the longing and yearning for the cold delicious ice cream.

She was currently attending to a middle aged man and his little boy who was balanced on his shoulder.
She scooped a healthy portion of the ice cream onto the cone and handed it to the man without a word.
He gave it to the little boy and for a fleeting second she was glad she had scooped from the section free of the sedatives. Then her countenance as well as her heart hardened as she stared the man in the eye "that'd be hundred naira"
When both father and son were gone, she walked round the park leisurely her eyes darting as if looking for customers but she knew what she was looking for.


°•°•°•°•

Andy

After Bami and Tonye left with Rex, Andy found himself studying the doctor in training. She felt his scrutiny and glanced up "why don't you sit down" she pointed to the stool Tonye had vacated. She didn't seem to be so busy this time around and she rested her chin on her palm and leaned in as Andy settled down gratefully. His legs were killing him!

"What was all that flurry of activity with your friends?" She asked playfully
"Ooh..that's nothing, if you want to see activity you should stick around" he evaded the question smoothly and winked and was pleased when she laughed.
She was definitely pretty and he was definitely interested..
"So really what part of medicine is your speciality" he asked
She looked at him from low eyelashes innocently yet she had a knowing smile on her lips as if knowing the effect she had on him.
"My dad died when I was thirteen...just a routine appendix surgery yet it took his life..ever since then I've had the yearning to be a surgeon" she laughed a bit embarrassed "but right now I'm just focused on getting to be a doctor first"

Andy found himself clasping her hand on the table "your father would be proud of you" he said softly.

She nodded then stared into his eyes. "What about you...what do you do, tell me about yourself" she asked eagerly and for a second Andy wondered if she really hadn't seen the badge on his belt. He gave a mental shrug, it wasn't like they were undercover....

"I'm a detective" he told her proudly and she seemed really impressed

"No way" the nurse named Christie said with huge eyes. She placed her free hand on Andy's "what kind of detective?"

Andy thought: what the hell, he wasn't going to tell her any classified stuff so what was the harm in talking with her?
"I'm a private detective.. me and my friends...we're one of the best"

"Wow.." She seemed really impressed and Andy wanted to impress her more but they heard footsteps and Tonye entered the cooler still in her hand.

"Rex is gone?" Andy said, sitting up immediately and retrieving his hands.
"Yea..him and Bami...Christie how long do we have to wait for the doctor..can't you call him?"
"He doesn't receive any call when he goes to the hospital..he's always in meetings with surgeons ad doctors...it is considered a great disrespect if your phone so much as rings" the medical student replied. She flipped the pages of her notepad then settled on a page around the back. She wrote something on it. "But he should be here any moment...I'm sure something held him up"
But Tonye was hardly listening. She said to Andy "you're not even a gentleman, you can't offer me the chair to sit"
"Andy only smiled but didn't give up the stool. Instead he turned to his new friend " that reminds me..what's up with having just two stools in this big lab?"
She laughed as she tore a page from her notepad and began to fold it carefully. "Dr Rilwan said he wanted to discourage anybody from staying here longer than necessary." She stood up and brushed against Andy just slightly dropping the paper in his lap. "You can have this stool..I know where to get another" she said to Tonye then left the lab.

Tonye watched her leave "she's such a nice girl...." Then she frowned "remember its the nice ones you have to be wary of" she said thoughtfully.

"Relax...I've been profiling her, she's clean" Andy said. He glanced at the paper he had carefully unfolded and it took a great deal of self control to keep his expression normal and his face impassive when the excitement was drumming in his ears. Written nicely on the paper were numbers, eleven digits in total followed by the words: 'call me'

ILLICITblood:
souloho.. your sabiness overchoke
You are the Messi of Literature section
More ink to your pen sir

thanks for your kind words boss!

IRALIFE:
Has Souloho19 been restored? We can't view the last update. Mods please, your attention is needed here. Another great story here Bro

yea I'm back....the previous update has been restored. thanks for.following

phoenixchap:
I am concerned for Olivia and Rex, this evil seem to call for them the most.....
Souloho19 let nothing happen to his family oo

Let me not make promises I can't keep o...tnx bro

°•°•


I stared into the casket...my heart pounding and my breath caught up in my throat. Flashes from the past hanging around my memory in a cloud that hovered just on the brink of my consciousness. Images...from different places and time. Fomé...in school, on her graduation....the day we quarrelled..her face when she smiled....

I reigned in the black cloud and peered into the casket, I blinked and blinked but still couldn't recognize the corpse I was I was looking at. I could see the form, at least make out the torso and the legs although it was still unrecognizable...just extremely black patches that was once smooth skin over bones.

But then I bent my head and caught the faint whiff the rot couldn't cover....this body had been burnt...I remember the fire that had 'killed' Fome but yet, the force of the explosion should have done more damage to the body in my mind at least, I had expected to see the body in a worse state...I mean the blast of heat that had enveloped the compound alone....

Tonye glanced at me and her expression stopped my thought process. She had definitely seen something I hadn't

"What...what is it?" I asked her
But she shook her head and continued observing the body.
My eyes followed hers reluctantly and I began to see it too....

The strands of hair..standing separately and erect on the black sooth- caked shape that had to be the skull.

Pieces in the mouth that seemed to reflect the morning light which I knew had to be indentation at once...and the general state of the body (which to me now looked like it had been rubbed thoroughly with charcoal)

I looked at Tonye again and she was looking at me too. But this time my expression must have mirrored hers because she was the one who spoke.

"This body....this body hasn't been in the ground for up to two years" she said in the kind of tone doctors used to tell families that they had lost a loved one.

You know human nature is so strange. There's something that scares us when the truth is out in the open, the very truth we have acknowledged in our deepest hearts but still when it's time to face this truth, it's easier to fall back to denial.

And so I found myself saying "no its not up to two years na....maybe 19 months or so"

She shook her head sadly "Rex...this body hasn't been in the ground up to a year...a couple of months maybe"

I knew she was right. There wasn't really supposed to be a body...remains maybe but not a body as complete as this. But I wasn't accepting the voice of reason.

"Heey...you know Mr X...he probably had a good undertaker get the body in good condition so the body could withstand the test of time as long as possible."

"Heeeey what on earth can you two be talking about at a time like this!" Bami called out from the hilux and Andy made a sound in agreement.

"They're right....let's get the DNA to the doctor..I'm glad I won't have to sever any major flesh the dental records would be the surest way or the hair...or maybe..."

I stopped hearing her words as I tried to grasp something suddenly...back at the hospital doctor Rasheed had said he couldn't come with us because he had a lot of work to do. According to him the 'backlog kept accumulating and he had to take care of it today....
If he had said that two years ago, I would have understood perfectly and wouldn't have noticed anything irregular then...but it was all over and the doctor had only his practice to run now, there was no jumping from hospitals to dark night clubs for secret meetings anymore for him... So why would he have so much backlog that he couldn't even take few hours off... ? His young intern looked competent enough, not like she was going to burn the whole lab if unsupervised for a while.


He can't take some time off because he as taken to much already...

The answer came from deep within and I suddenly remembered a famous advert from a soap opera during my younger days.
In the flick, a boy can be seen on a roof and a much elder man on the floor urging him to jump. Their exchange goes something like this;

Father: My son jump...jump I'd catch you
Son: (whimpers) I'm scared papa
Father: My son jump I will catch you
Son: Oh papa...(approaches the edge of the roof cautiously and filled with terror)
Father: remember I'm your father...I will catch you, now jump!

The boy jumps and lands on the floor as the man steps back.

Son: (holds his leg in agony) why didn't you catch me papa..why did you let me fall?
Father: (stares down with his face contorted in anger) Let this be a lesson to you in life, never trust anyone...not even me your father!


Now after so many years the clip replayed in my mind and I knew I must be smart. I couldn't trust anybody blindly.

"Tonye....get another part whatever it is...teeth or flesh or bone...I want a second opinion" I said

She looked at me and I could see she understood me perfectly.

"Terry?" She asked

I nodded. The young man was very efficient.
I let her do her work and stepped back.

"is it her? How's the body?" Bami asked me as I got into the hilux
I wanted to tell him to go have a look himself but instead I said "its unrecognizable...black and blunt but I believe there's ample DNA to run the tests"

He nodded and Andy added "if it comes out she's not the one here I'd have to dig up Mona too...you know I never saw her body"

"You can start by seeing this one now" I pointed to the open casket where Tonye was transferring the ziplog bag filled with body parts into the coolar of ice.

Andy shivered "No thanks...I'm not that curious yet"



°•°•°•°•



Olivia



Olivia and Utebo had planned to take the children out so many times in the past but somehow they never had the time. Especially since Utebo's husband Paul had been promoted and transferred to the rank of lieutenant colonel and Abuja respectively. But when the twin boys began to tug on her dress saying they wanted to go out and even Emma and Somma added their agreement in their high pitched voice as usual.

Olivia and Utebo conferred briefly and decided to take the children for a treat by noon. There was an amusement park which had just been commissioned barely 6 months ago which simply meant it was still in good shape, Her mother in law added with a sad smile.

"Okay..then after we can take them somewhere for snacks and ice cream" Olivia said. It sounded good and she honestly needed a breath of fresh air..having been mostly indoors the past weekend.

"Why don't we make some sandwiches and take some chilled drinks and maybe fruits so we can have a picnic instead.. The park is nice and peaceful" her mother in law suggested.

The use of 'we' did not go unnoticed and Utebo laughed "mama you want to come along too?"
"Ah ah...yes now I need to stretch my bones" she replied with a twinkle in her eyes.
"What of the shop" Utebo asked
"Is it not just for a few hours?" Her mother replied with a question of her own.

Utebo looked at Olivia "what do you think about the picnic? Should we pack a basket?"

Olivia nodded "it sounds good..and maybe if we're still hungry we can get something on the way home."

They all seemed to agree on this.

Utebo then looked at her father who was still in his chair, his nose buried into the newspaper he got delivered every morning.

"Dad how about you...would you care to accompany us" she asked

He didn't look up from the paper "I have so many places to go today...there wouldn't be time" he was currently stuck on the crime section reading about the death of a man who was believed to have been wanted as a top priority by the law agencies of the country. Attached was the picture of Mr Kehinde which had been circulated in every nook anf cranny and every median outlet in the past two years. The only reference to his killer was that he had been shot in the head. It was obvious society wasn't going to shed a tear for this one..in fact there was a general sigh of relief from the tone of the article alone.

The newspaper for one barely touched his murder but then went on to list the dead man's crimes among which was genocide, kidnapping, drug/child/arms trafficking..

Alli no joy narrowed his eyes in thought, he guessed correctly that his son was on the thick of the latest developments or at least was connected in some way. Probably why he had forgotten to call the day before.

If the shadow was dead then it was indeed good news. He had always worried for his son and as long as the shadow had been alive he hadn't been at rest, filled with apprehension and fear for his son and his family. Which was why it was strange that after learning of the Shadow's death, instead of relief a feeling of dread came over him.


°•°•°•°•


Reversing the truck was not as smooth as the drive in had been and I saw so many flower beds had been ruined and trampled by the strong tires of the truck.

I couldn't care less right now...I waited at the gate, holding it ajar with Andy at the other end as we watched the hilux back out very slowly leaving destruction in its wake.

We had buried the coffin back, down to the gravel stones that covered it but it didn't look as it had before, one wouldn't need to inspect it closely to see that the grave had been tampered with.

I was counting on the police and their belief in their abilities to keep them from exhuming the grave. To them the ID from the prints would be enough...it could never be a mistake.

"How do we get across to that Terry guy?" I asked Andy. I had told them the plan to give the 'specimen' to both the doctor and the young man in order to be sure and they all agreed.

"That's what I've been thinking of since you told us...I'm kicking myself mentally for not collecting his number yesterday" Andy replied my question.

We locked the gate after battling with the stiff padlock for a few minutes. "We'd find a way...worst case scenario we'd go to the station ourselves." I said

We entered the truck sliding into the back seat gratefully. Tonye was in front and Bami was behind the wheel. He watched me through the rearview then said "I just received a call from one detective Dagnet or whatever...she said the coroner discovered a very large amount of sedatives in the victims bowels during the autopsy. So he was already drugged senseless before he was killed"

I stared out the window, watching the trees fly past (the plot of land containing the graves was indeed in the middle of nowhere) "at least that answers the question of why he would sleep through the noise of a wall drill just above his head"

"Did the coroner tell you what the drug was? Or maybe he was drunk" Andy said.

"No...no..." Bami switched his steering hand, handling the car with his right while his left hand dug into his breast pocket.
He glanced at the paper and obviously had problem pronouncing what was written on it. He focused on the road and gave the paper to Tonye.

"Al...-Al-pra-sa....Alprazolam then in bracket (xanax)" Tonye said squinting and I realized Bami's writing was just so bad..the coroner must have just spelt the word for him to write down and he hadn't caught the pronunciation, plus his own writing was so bad he had trouble recognizing it.

Andy whistled "That's a powerful drug"
I looked at him "you know it?"
"Nope...but the name alone is powerful" he said with a reassuring smile, trying to calm my nerves as much as his also.

Funny enough I agreed with him, I could tell it would take a very heavy sedative to knock out the elusive leader of the sunset shadows himself.
"How was it ingested? In a drink or what?" I asked
Bami frowned "damn! He didn't say" he slapped the steering and we knew he was mad at himself for not remembering to ask. Although the call had been short, he had been reversing out of the yard and with his phone on his shoulder, his head bent to hold it in place. A Biro and piece of paper from the pigeon hole in his right hand and his left hand serving as the base for writing as well as controlling the steering which no doubt contributed to the merciless massacre of the flowers.

Finally we were on the express and Bami said "where to?" As we approached a roundabout that split the road into different directions.
Well...let's go to the doctor first.. on to LUTH!" Andy and I said simultaneously. I flicked my wrist and checked the time it was 11:45 am.



°•°•°•°•°


?? ?? ??

Even during the day the room was dark. There was no window, no space for light and ventilation and even the thick door that served as entrance/exit was only opened when she slid in and out of the room. Just like now the door opened and was shut immediately as she entered the room with a laptop in her hands. The soft glow from the laptop screen showed the way for her but as if on second thought she backtracked and felt the wall for a switch.

But when the light came on it wasn't the same dull yellow light of before which the fan shaded each time it circumvented round it.

Instead the light was a fluorescent and it transformed the room immediately with the white light. She sat down on the chair and looked at the wall thoughtfully but this time there were no pictures. As a matter of fact, a close scrutiny would reveal the room had gotten bigger than before and this time on the table were some archaic recording equipment which hadn't been there before but she handled it perfectly and pluged in a wire from a big metal box that had just few buttons on it. Then she tapped some keys expertly on her laptop and the second device that resembled a wind mill began rolling then she pushed a button on the box. The voices were surprisingly clear and distinct.


Man's voice: oya are you people ready... I have somewhere I need to be once I drop you off at the park"
Woman's voice: we're ready oo

Elder woman's voice: Al don't worry before you bring the car out we would be outside..Utebo is coming..probably packing extra clothes for the children.
Man: okay let me go and be reversing

(After about ten seconds of nothing but background noise and shuffling of feet)

Young boy's voice: Aunty Olivia.. Is there swimming pool there

The woman laughs heartily, the sound is beautiful.

Woman's voice: don't worry Paul, you'd find out everything when you-


She pushed or rather hit the red button stopping the recorded audio immediately. She slammed the laptop with enough furious force that it would be a miracle if the screen didn't crack.
She left the room with quick, derrmined, aggressive steps but she hit the switch as she passed it plunging the room into darkness then she slammed the door with so much force that the silence that followed seemed just as loud.

meneski:
following bro...ride on.

Thanks my man, I trust you

MarianIsy:
Read delayed diagnosis..... best story ever...although I was in ghost mode throughout sorry 4 that...
Found this piece right now..... nd whoa same person who wrote delayed diagnosis
not missing it...

Ghost mode deactivated

You're very much forgiven for the ghosting and your comment/ future comments are very very welcome and appreciate. Gracias and Jah bless

switkera:
Just like I always say, souloho19 you are the best. I have always followed your stories with keen interest. The devil wears okirika, delayed diagnosis and this. And I repeat, you are the best!

Wow..you're just wonderful! Thanks a bunch

EkopSparoAyara:
....and the past came hunting...
This is so disturbing for Rex... I feel sorry for him.. Happy Easter/New Month to Souloho19 and everyone on this thread..

Thanks bruv, I wish you the very best.

princessadeola:
Nice work

Gracias ma'am

dimssy:
You will just be putting sombori in so much suspense....

Lol, that's the idea na it's not my fault it's part of my dna

Ayoshewa12:
let see how this would be.

Lol let us be looking

queenitee:
We all need to face our past

Exactly..

yhungbrowhne:
hello ma this your, torry they sweet ne here, and i will love to share it on my blog. my email aayanpoju@gmail.com

I've sent you a mail bro

HORLADSTAR:
*MY NEED TO FACE MY PAST AND FACE IT LITERALLY*
I love that line mehn,Kudos bro

.
Tnx bro

°•°•°•°•


It was almost an hour before Tonye and Bami arrived.
They arrived in a hilux truck with a fake construction logo on the side. The vehicle belonged to the agency and the disguise had been used in a previous case and had worked so effectively that we left the disguise naturally.

Bami jumped down from the passenger's side. He had on a shirt with the cheeky inscription: im your BROTA with the tail tucked into jeans and the jean itself tucked into ankle high boots.

The latter observation had me raising my eyebrows at Bami.
"You plan to dig?"
"Yea" he joined me to open the gate, holding the second part wide so Tonye could drive in. "Digging three graves is a lot of work believe me..we're not even enough as it is"
"Woa...we're only digging up Fomés grave.. We have no business disturbing Mona and Mr X"
"Are you sure that is wise?" Bami asked with a frown. "I can swear Mona is dead but 24 hours ago I could also do the same for Fomé, yet here we are....not to mention we have only the words of Betran and the doctor"

He had a point of course. I didn't believe Dr Rasheed had tricked me but I couldn't deny he and Betran were loyal and faithful dogs when it came to Mr X and Mr X was a complex, pained and cunning mind.

"Let's just start with Fomé first" I said and we closed the gates.

Each of the grave had been tiled with trimmed flowers surrounding it, at the center gravels and beautiful stones had been spread no doubt over the soil.

"Just look at....even if someone has unfinished business when he reaches here, his ghost would decide to rest" Bami said as he took in every inch of the place with his eyes roaming all over. I remembered he hadn't been here before.

Tonye had parked the hilux and she and Andy were arranging the gear they had brought.
I put on the gloves, the face mask and the plastic boot. Andy and Bami were already kitted up and were studying the grave and discussing strategy.
Tonye was opening the cooler which I noticed was filled with ice and a dozen transparent ziplock bags. Seeing them sent a cold thrill down my spine but you know what they say, what must be must be.

"Look at those two, planning as if there's anything apart from digging to be done" I said nodding at Andy and Bami.
Tonye laughed "I think they're trying to decide if they should break off the tiles too"
I gasped in exaggerated terror as I headed for the grave, fat shovel in hand. "There's no need..we should be able to dig in without disturbing the tiles"



°•°•°•

Olivia


When her father in law wanted something, he was very charming and quite charismatic and could even recite poetry to make sure he got it.

He assured her he had spoken with Rex the night before and he wanted her and Emma to stay for at least one week.

"Pa...you know I only prepared for the weekend...I don't know..." She trailed off deep in thought, why did Rex still want her far from Lagos? After all the shadow was dead or was he..?

Her father in law was still speaking...."at least stay for some days, there's no need to rush back"
She smiled, he was right and Emma would no doubt be very happy. "Okay papa.we can stay till Wednesday"

"Eeya...I'm also leaving on Wednesday... I can imagine how silent this house would be then" Utebo said from the parlour where she was plaiting her daughter's hair.

Her mother (Martha) laughed heartily "which is why we have to make all the noise now"
As if on cue, the twins jumped down from their seat, mumbled their thanks to the grown ups and began running immediately "police and thief...let's play police and thief"
"No! Let's play catcher!"

"Don't play anything yet...let your food digest o!" Utebo shouted at the retreating backs of her boys as they wizzed past her heading outside. Olivia smiled as she observed their plates, their tea was still full to the brim, the chunk of bread mostly untouched but they had cleaned out the fried eggs.

Olivia had her mind spinning scenarios and engaging her thoughts and she herself hadn't done justice to her breakfast...too many thoughts came rushing through her mind and she didn't have much appetite.


Later, when she was alone in the room she sat on the bed looking into space and imagining the shadow was still out there waiting for the slightest vulnerability on their part to strike a lethal blow. What if he wasn't really dead, what if it was all a trick? The message which Tonye had secretly forwarded to her had been read and reread so many times that it was printed in her memory and now the words came back with a vengeance.... Your sun has been overhead for so long...but now its time for the sun to set...

Finally she couldn't take it anymore, she shook her head and dialled Rex's number.
It rang and rang but there was no reply. She placed the phone in her lap as she stared ahead not really seeing anything. The feeling of dread that came over her was intense and she was suddenly scared for her family and friends.


°•°•°•°•°°


Rex


My phone rang when I was knee deep in soil, sweating profusely and digging with a vengeance. I ignored it and it rang twice
Bami was beside me, shovel in hand and glistened sweat on his brow although he had recently just taken over from Andy.
"Aren't you gonna answer that?"
"Nah...not now..I couldn't even if I wanted to...not with this gloves"
But the truth was nothing else was important to me at that moment...I was digging with a fury and my energy was hardly depleted. I kept my emotions reigned in knowing the only way to enlightenment was now at least three more feet below.

Finally the blade stuck something solid...we had gotten to the casket.
I dropped to my knees and furiously scraped the soil away from the casket.
"Its enough Rex....let's climb out...There's a Chain pulley in the truck...once we hook it we can pull the coffin out easily.
I looked at him and my eyes must have been an open window to the emotions waging war in my soul because he said " oh Rex...." He knelt down beside me so we were level and placed his hand on my shoulder. "Whatever happens...you're not alone, we would solve this together just like before.."

I looked at his sincere eyes which were no longer strange to me "Bami..so many things I kept buried because I didn't want to remember the unpleasant past.."I looked down at the cream coloured gleaming casket. It had to be very expensive.
I looked at Bami and continued, by his expression I knew he understood me and in fact knew where I was going. "now I realize that was stupid procrastination on my path..Bami..." His hand had dropped from my shoulder as I spoke and now I placed mine on his shoulder. "Bami...there was a time you were badly obsessed with catching Fomé...even she herself once told me she was of great interest to the government..why? What gives?"

Bami took a deep breath and I waited patiently ,suddenly I wasn't so eager to dig up the body again.

Before Bami could speak, we were interrupted by a voice from above. Tonye was standing at the edge of the hole we had dug, her hands resting on her hips and one leg on the heap of soil, stones and gravel we had dug out.

"Are you people having picnic down there...remember that Andy and I haven't had breakfast"

Andy appeared beside her and peered down at us. He said with disgust "for God's sake this isn't the time or place for any heart to heart convo...Bami we need to bring the hilux as close to the grave as possible...that pulley is something else even the four of us wouldn't be able to carry it...Rex we need to find out if indeed.." He paused, not knowing how to phrase it finally he said "if indeed its true only then would we know what course to take and plan adequately"

He made a lot of sense and jerked me back to reign my emotions in. I followed Bami who was climbing up the wicker ladder.
When my feet were finally and firmly 6 feet above, I watched Bami as he started the truck.

"How will the vehicle get here? " I asked Tonye looking round the plot of land. For one thing, there was a round-about in the center with azaleas blooming beautifully in the middle and only a narrow graded pavement on each side leading to the direction of Fomé and Mona's graves. Mr X lay in the middle also with a narrow interlocked pavement. In between these pavements were flowers (some almost waist high) and carpet grass.

Tonye observed everything for the first time then shrugged "we brought the hilux...v8 engine and auxiliary... Besides the pavements are not high enough...the only thing is the flower beds which would no doubt get destroyed" She said the last sentence regretfully and I agreed with her. The flowers were indeed beautiful and a lot of time and money must have been spent to accomplish the outlook, not to talk of maintenance.

I watched as the hilux backed up into the compound. Bami was behind the wheel and Andy was standing in the pick up space in the back rolling a pedal shaped handle resulting in the huge chain rolling up and round the pulley. It reminded me of a bicycle turned upside down for repairs.

"We need to at least make sure the damage is not extensive let's try and direct Bami... At least one tire can be on the carpet grass.." I said thinking of the beautiful flowers again.

"But its too close to the wall.it can scratch that side of the car"

I shook my head confidently "Bami is a good driver...he'd maintain the right balance"

With that I stepped forward with my arms raised turning my left hand anticlockwise to mimick a steering. "Turn your hand..not fully yet..slowly...oya come...small small....turn it more..wait!"

°•°•°•

Now came the part I dreaded..the body. The coffin had been pulled out of the earth fully and while it dangled in the air, Bami accelerated forward until the casket could be lowered to the ground.
Tonye was the only one fully kitted for the next step. She had on a protective leather gown, thick leather gloves plus her face was enclosed in a glass mask i thought resembled a power bike helmet.

"Why don't we carry the coffin straight to the lab so the doctor can do whatever he wants.." Andy said, his voice was filled with apprehension although we were hanging around the hood of the hilux and so a respectable distance from the coffin.

"We just need a little piece of...." Bami's voice trailed off but the unspoken word still hung in the air 'piece of flesh' he had meant. Finally he continued.. "just for DNA confirmation then we would even bury the body back immediately....no use disturbing the dead"

I nodded "I agree..." I was watching Tonye and as I saw her pop the casket open, I found my legs moving in her direction.

"Heey...were you going?" Bami called out...or maybe it was Andy, the voice was a unrecognizable vibration in the background.

My nose mask was on my neck and I wore it properly covering my nose. Tonye glanced at me as I approached but she didn't say anything, she seemed to understand my need to face my past and face it literally.

Gracias for your comments FAM, in fact lemme drop one small weekend treat

honourable356
rayvelez
Damibiz
Ayoshewa12
HORLADSTAR vickyluvspices
labelle123
dimssy chii8 Twizzy30 phoenixchap

Gracias my people this next update is dedicated to you


°•
I hadn't noticed the little partition at the end of the room. It was painted the same light blue like the rest of the room so it camouflaged perfectly.

"Christie carry on..record all your findings down to the minute detail then start the other specimen... I'm coming" the doctor said to his assistant/student. With that he led us away from his nosy student and into his wooden office. The office would have been small but the lack of furniture made it quite spacious. A table and two chairs was all the room contained.
The table was neatly arranged with files and folders containing documents. A small table clock shaped like love sat on the desk, the seconds ticking. Apart from that the table was bare.
"You guys should sit down" he gestured to the seats and Andy settled in the chair behind the desk. "Please what is it, what do you mean by what you said just now?" He asked pacing in confusion and I knew he was in the dark just as I was.
I turned the chair around and sat down.

"Something happened yesterday and Fomé's name came up"
"Fomé?" He stopped pacing, clearly baffled.
"Yes all evidence points that she is alive"
"Thàts impossible" he said but then he frowned in thought "what exactly happened that brought her name up?" He asked finally.

"There was a murder and her print was found at the scene" Andy said

The doctor was at a loss for words he kept on opening his mouth and closing it without uttering a word.

"But she's buried somewhere...I was there myself...in fact I helped lower her casket in the earth"he said finally.

"But it wasn't recognizable as Fomé?" I asked.
"The body was burnt to ash...come on"
"We need to dig the body out and run a DNA test...that's the only way to clear the doubt" I said.

He scratched his head in thought. Finally he said "I can run the tests myself in this very lab...I have everything I need. Trust me with the way Mr X was obsessed with finding his daughters before, I have their DNA samples"
"Perfect" Andy said "So tomorrow morning we can go..I'd rent a tipper so it will be an easy dig"

"Why don't we go today? There's still plenty of time and you know there's no time to waste" I said. The truth was I couldn't wait.

"I'm up to my neck with work here..the backlog keeps on accumulating and I need today to clear it" Dr Rilwan protested.

"It doesn't matter, we can handle it your part would just be to run the tests" I assured him.
He frowned in consideration.

Andy said "I remember that place is really tight...doctor ringworm hope you have the key"

"My name is Ril-waan..you've taken over from Rex with the crude jokes I can see."
He went round the table and it looked like he was going to attack Andy for a moment but he leaned across the chair and opened a drawer.

He dumped a huge bunch of keys on the table.
"You'd have to trace the key to the padlock sorry"

I whistled "what are all these keys for?"

"Different things...some I don't even know. But there's mrX house keys, that alone is like a dozen, gen house and the rest"

"So the key used to belong to Mr X?" Andy asked
The doctor nodded "yes...he gave it to me few days before he passed.

" okeydokey" I took the keys. It couldn't enter my pocket so I had to hold it.
"Wait hope you know which one is Fomé's grave?" He asked gravely.
I couldn't forget even if I tried...I had poured my soul and heart on the site two years ago.

Andy and I left the hospital with a clear goal in mind. We were literally going digging for the truth.



°•°••°•

Tonye

Tonye woke up before her husband this time around. She watched him sleep for some minutes then she checked the time on the bedside table; 6:02am.

The first thing she did was head for the shower. Then she made coffee an powered her iBook.

She was caught up in a report Cristie had compiled about a politician who was deeply suspected to be responsible for the death of a rival in a different party. Now Chistie had found out the "honourable" politician had contacted the shadow two weeks before the murder. She intended to dig into it once the current case was cleared up. Indeed this report was a can of worms.

She heard Bami's phone ring and his gruff voice as he answered. A minute later he was standing in the doorway rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I smell coffee...morning dear"
"I made extra..what was that about, the home call?"

He sat across the table and poured a healthy portion of coffee into his mug. "That was Rex, he and Andy are going to exhume the body"

"So they're really doing this...is there no other way?" She asked.

Her husband shrugged. His eyes were clearer now that he had taken a gulp of the steaming coffee. "I'm all ears if you have any ideas.."

"How do they plan on digging it out?" She asked.

"You know what, he was vague about that..but he said they'll need gloves, face masks and protective gear, also a cooler and ice"

Tonye shrugged imagining what was going in the cooler.
"So we're to head to headquarters for these items then meet up with them. Did he give you the address?"

"Yea...he did" Bami replied.

They were silent for a while as their thoughts took over.
Finally Tonye said "I wasn't really involved with your mission two years ago but it was pretty clear to all the agents that you wanted to catch Fomé so bad..D.y- rest his soul even told me that she was the priority"

For a long while Bami was silent. Finally he looked at his wife with regret in his eyes. "I was mislead with facts...the order came from way up...the highest echelons of the agency's hierarchy...and..-" he added with self disgust. "The promise of immediate promotion made me extra dedicated in seeing it through"

"Hmmm....when you say high...just how high up the tree are you talking?"

"I mean the counselor summoned me himself"

"Wow!....you don't mean it...that's a serious case then...very serious. What did you make of it?"

He shrugged dejectedly "It wasn't until much later when I met Rex that I began to question the orders and my actions..but that time it was too late..." He shook his head sadly in the memory of the sisters death. "I surmissed the chief had really strong connections and he wanted Fomé dead so bad he used every connection he had...including the agency."

"Hmmm..." Tonye made to refill her mug but was surprised to find the jug empty. "What if it wasn't the chief but something else, or someone else and she had to fake her own death to be safe."

"I can't deny its possible....and right now plausible" Bami said.

"Then maybe the incident on the balcony in Kristen's report happened when she tracked her hunter or vice versa to the hotel"

"Its extremely possible... But maybe the fingerprint was a mistake and Fomé is indeed buried as we speak" even as he said it he knew he was in denial.

There was only one way to find out and Tonye echoed it "well its daylight already.. the only way we could shed light on this mystery is to get moving"

"Sure sure" Bami rushed his beverage and stood up.
"Hope you're going to shower first?" Tonye asked

Bami smiled guiltily "of course, that's where I'm heading...I'd be right back"



°•°•°•°•°•°•

It took us exactly 22 minutes to get the right key and get the gate open. The keys had kept mixing together and we finally unhooked the ring.
The land was still as I remembered it two years ago the only difference was the addition of a weeping willow about 5 feet tall growing over Mr X's grave in the middle of his daughters.

The emotions kept rushing back and I suddenly found myself very weak. Andy was also overcome with memories and he walked to Mona's grave without a word.

I approached the grave..I couldn't think of it as Fome's grave anymore, at least not until the doubt was cleared. To think I had spent hours talking and talking and it wasn't even Fome's body under the earth!

I placed my hand gently on the tombstone and shut the thoughts out of my mind as I waited for Bami and Tonye.

Memories, memories and more memories. They flooded my mind getting me lost in the past.

I was in my office or to be precise Olivia's office, slumped in my chair my eyes closed as I remembered the day Andy and I had stood before the graves of Mona and Fomé respectively and bared our soul out. That had been some kind of closure but now to find out I had been monologuing with someone else's set of bones and Fomé was somewhere alive all this while. Maybe far away overseas or close by....watching. It was hard to believe....or maybe I didn't want to believe?

Mr X had made the arrangements before he had passed on in his sleep after consuming an alarming amount of cough syrup. He now lay in between the graves of his two daughters in a well secured and tended plot of land. Everything had been carried out by his loyal men the duo of Carmichael aka doctor Rasheed and Betran.

At first I tried to maintain contact with Bertrand after the initiative fiasco but he cut of contact. As for the stout doctor, his only means of contact was through hospitals with his cheeky 'delayed diagnosis' code.

His 'cover' had been blown and he left the Apapa general hospital. The last I heard he was in LUTH. I pondered if I should try and contact him. If anyone should have any answer concerning the recent strange events it was the elusive doctor. That is if he had any idea what was going on which I felt he didn't.

If Fomé had been alive why hadn't she contacted me? I felt there was something I was missing, something important. I tried to key into it but I was grasping at straws. It was 10:52pm and I didn't think I was going home. At least not now. A conscious side of my brain was waiting for the beep that would signal the picture had been printed. But first I had to receive the picture and I was yet to receive any message from Terry.

According to him he sent it hours ago but probably due to backlog and traffic the data hadn't 'landed'. I had been tempted to ask exactly how slow their server was but now five hours later I had deduced it was pitiful. Short Sam would have a field day hacking into the network I was sure. But there wasn't any need for that...not at the moment.

My phone rang invading my thoughts. It was my dad. I immediately remembered the call I was supposed to make.
"Hello dad"
"Rex how are you?"
"I'm fine sir"
"If you weren't going to call why did you now say you would?"
I rubbed my eyes tiredly. "I forgot honestly and when I remembered it was already late and I knew you'd be asleep"
"Do I sound asleep to you? Anyway Olivia said they're leaving tomorrow."
"Yes" but I was suddenly wondering if it was wise. Although the immediate threat in the form of the shadow had passed, things were still quite muddy and unsure. Maybe the best thing was for her to stay for a few more days. Apparently my dad was on the same wave length even if it was for different reasons.

"What's the rush? Emma hasn't started school yet, Olivia is on leave they're having fun here the house is lively." He paused for a second "you should come and rest for a few days you sound stressed"
"Haa..with what you've even said and what Olivia told me if I come home I won't be able to rest at all. As for them staying I like the idea no problem on my part but Olivia was actually looking forward to coming tomorrow"
"Leave that one to me. Hope you're okay I don't like the way you're sounding."
"I'm okay.....what of mum?" I asked
"She's in her shop."
"Shop?" I was surprised.
"Where else would she be by this time if not sleeping" he said exasperated that I hadn't caught on.
"And I think I'd turn in too...sleep well boy, make sure you call your mother tomorrow.
"Good night dad"

I settled back into the chair which was comfortable. I thought about visiting the doctor. I had to try and make contact with him before any exhumation could take place.
As a matter of fact I should drive to the hospital now,this very night. There was indeed a very high chance that I would see him. Once I could locate their diagnosis center or lab, he was sure to be there. That is if he was still with the hospital.
I hoped so.
I dug my pocket for my car keys thinking what route would be the fastest to get to the hospital from the office. Definitely mile two, it was definitely a long drive but at least the road should be free. I hope my badge is here and not at home, it would have come in handy for the police men bound to be in every bus stop. Unless Andy was still around, I had been holed up in my office for hours and I hadn't been disturbed. Everyone definitely had something on his/her plate. Andy in particular had been shaken up. I knew his thoughts clearly cause they crossed my mind; If Fomé was truly still alive, did it mean Mona was also alive? But then the Clip of agents shooting her would replay and I'd remember the blood coming from her mouth as I leaned over her. Believe me if I could format my memory card, I would gladly do so. There were so many memories I could do without.

I should call Andy so we'd go together....or if he's around the best way to know is if I buzz his office with the intercom. Just had to lean forward and press the three digits......


°•

When I opened my eyes it was 5:49am. I had totally conked out! 8 hours of sleep and I didn't feel particularly refreshed. I turned my neck sharply and stretched my joints and was rewarded with a cracking sound. My mouth tasted nasty and I stood up and stretched fully after which I did 46 push ups then went to the toilet in my office to use the mouthwash which thankfully Olivia had bought. This was still her office after all.

I realized suddenly I was hungry or to be fair my stomach reminded me. I saw my car key on the table and remembered what I had been about to do before my body had shut down.

I buzzed Andy and the phone rang and rang. Just when it had to be on its last ring he picked up. "Hello" he didn't sound completely awake.
"Andy, thank God you're still around...I want to go to Lagos teaching hospital and I thought you'd like to follow me...its doctor Rasheed he may be able to clear the air once and for all."
"Nice one...I'd go, we'd both go but its still too early, this is six o'clock, at least by 8 we should be on our way" he clicked off and no doubt settled back to sleep. I decided to wait till seven before ringing again but barely 15 minutes later Andy entered my office.

"Oba...morning bro, do you have toothpaste here?"
"No but there's mouth wash" I replied.
"Splendid!" He strode into the toilet and seconds later I could hear him gaggling the liquid.
When he emerged he had rinsed the remaining signs of sleep off his face.
"Okay are you ready?" He asked
"Yea...but I'm hungry..has Iya started anything in the kitchen?" Iya was our cook, and she was a splendid one she had a small self contain at the back attached to the building and the open yard was usually the kitchen with coal pots and firewood arranged in a corner.

"I doubt but let's check..if nothing is ready we'd see somewhere on the way for sure"
"Okay you're right" I picked up my keys.
"Lemme drive" Andy said and I tossed him the keys gladly. I still felt groggy and didn't really feel up for driving.
"Let's check on Bami and Tonye" I said
"I already did before I came down, they must have left sometime in the night...or morning rather"
"Okay...so now first to the kitchen then to LUTH!" I said thinking if the doctor would expect me to go trough his delayed diagnosis code. There was no way I was saying that shït.

Iya had just started cooking and if we could wait a little bit the snacks she always baked/fried every morning would soon be ready. Unless we wanted rice which would be ready in about an hour's time.

We thanked her and Andy filled two Styrofoam cups with coffee from the dispenser.
We headed to my car and I settled in the passenger seat.
"You're sure this doctor is still working at LUTH?" Andy asked as we entered the highway.
I shrugged and took a sip from my cup. "There's no harm in trying"
"Yea you're right" Andy said after a while.
The rest of the drive was in total silence, both of us lost in our different worlds which I'm sure wasn't really different.


We were almost at the hospital when Andy said "what if truly Fomé is alive....that would definitely be an awkward situation"
I stared out the window "if truly Fomé is indeed alive, then that would mean she's a cold blooded killer"
"Fomé's boobs were definitely huge but I don't think they were as huge as the clerk described" I said.
"Quite true...but you know humans and exaggeration" Andy said and I couldn't help but agree.

Although that fact didn't seem convincing enough, it still held possibility and couldn't be dismissed outrightly.
We settled into another thinking induced silence that lasted until we got to the hospital.

"Damn its huge" Andy muttered as he parked in reverse.
We got down from the car and strode into the hospital.
It seemed everyone had on a lab coat and a stethoscope round his/her neck.

"Be on the lookout for the diagnostic center" I said to Andy and we proceeded moving through corridors that seemed to interjoin and branch out at certain points. We scrutinized every sign. Eye doctor, Gynaecologist, paediatrician,...... The corridor broke out into a yard and the first thing we noticed was a sign; 'HIV/Aids 5 minutes Test!
I nudged Andy. "Not exactly what we're lookin for but its a test after all.

Inside we met an elderly man. He was frail and very lean with a cadaverous and wrinkled face. I would have thought he was a patient were it not for the trademark lab coat and stethoscope he had on.

" Good day sir...please I'm looking for the diagnostic center"
He looked us over and I noticed his eyes were indeed sharp.
"Walk across this yard, you'll see a corridor that leads to the back..there's a small building there, that's it" he described to us very sharply without so much as the slightest slur of his words.
"Thank you sir" we turned to leave but he called after us.
"Why don't you check your status...its very quick just a little prick on your index finger and a swab of blood..that's all!"
Andy and I looked at each other and smiled. I could bet my life savings my bro had been celibate since the death of his wife and me...well my eyes were single.
"We're in a hurry...but we should be able to swing by before we leave" Andy said and we hurried out of the office.

We followed his directions and soon we emerged at the back and a small bungalow not far off stood alone after a scanty car pack. There was indeed another entrance for cars, I knew that now but seriously hoped I won't need to drive here ever again.

The sign 'Diagnostic lab' was above the entrance engraved on a marble slate. We strode in and met a fat woman behind the desk. She was in a nurse uniform and chewing gum rather loudly. There was a waiting room with chairs arranged to face the television on the wall. About three people occupied the seats and were transfixed on the action images coming from the screen.

"Good morning"
"Yes can I help you?" She glanced me over.
"I'm here to see..." I trailed off, what name would he be using...probably another alias just as Dr Rasheed had been. But I knew for a fact his real name was Carmichael.

She sighed impatiently although it wasn't like she had been busy. She was also tranxfixed on the Jackie Chan movie on the screen.
"Dr Carmichael..." I said taking a chance
"There's no doctor like that here" she said dismissively.
"Look I don't know his name but he's short and he wears glasses" not to mention a rather large head I added silently.

Her eyes clicked with recognition and I was glad our gamble had paid off. The doctor was indeed working here, I was sure of it.

"Doctor Rilwan is his name...do you have an appointment?" She asked finally picking interest in us.
"No" I remembered the procedure from two years ago.
"Have you been here before then...did he run any test on you, what's your file number or what's your diagnosis?"
I took a long pause then gritted my teeth. How I had come to hate those two words. "Delayed diagnosis"

She looked at me blankly "what is that? Are you sure of what you're saying? Lemme see your hospital card"
"Errm.." I stammered.
Andy sighed "Bleep this!" He unclipled his badge from his belt and thrust it in her face."this is the card..now you cooperate and point us to the doctor's office"

She nodded at a loss for words and one of the men sitting in the waiting room craned his neck curiously.

The nurse half stood up, causing a squeaking sound from the chair as the spring stretched up.
"Take this corridor...second door on your left" she said pointing at the corridor.
"Thank you" Andy said clipping the badge back on his belt.

We followed her directions and we soon found ourselves looking at a door with the sign; 'Diagnostic Lab'

The top half of the door was made of glass. It was very blurry and thick and partially covered with the sign and almost impossible to see inside.

After a moment's hesitation I opened the door without knocking Andy followed me closely.
The lab was spacious there was just a long Formica table in the middle with different equipments on it. Test tubes, petri dishes, microscopes and several others which were foreign to me.
A young lady was at the table hunched over a microscope peering at whatever was on the small dish. I couldn't see anything.
So intense was her concentration that she didn't notice us. Even when she dragged her eyes from the microscope to jot down her findings she didn't so much as glance up.

At the extreme end of the lab stood doctor Rasheed or Carmichael if you wish.
He had his back turned to us and was washing something at the zinc. Probably glass tubes judging by the soft clang coming from the zinc.
"Christy you keep on forgetting,what of your litmus paper... Every step is important, you can't just-"
He turned drying a glass jug with a rag and his voice trailed off when he saw us.

"Rex" he sounded surprised but I noted he didn't seem unhappy.
"Doctor...." I glanced at his companion. She was watching us with interest now. "Doctor...Rilwan long time"
His sigh of relief was visible. He had obviously worried I would call his real name and spoil his identity.

"Andy its been long..." He glanced at Andy's mid section and I knew he was remembering the night he had been shot. The doctor had played a crucial role in saving Andy's life that night.

"This is Christie... a final year student. Cristie these are my old friends Rex and Andy"
She nodded politely in greeting.
"How you doing?" Andy asked. The dog!
"I'm doing fine thank you" she replied

"To what do I owe this pleasure" Dr Rilwan said pleasantly.
"Its quite important" I glanced at the Christie girl who wasn't even pretending not to listen "it concerning the delayed diagnosis of before" I said knowing he would get the code.
His eyes widened "let's go to my office"

Yemike:
This isn't good


I repeat!



This isn't good!!!



Ladies and gentlemen


Mama's and Papa's


Niqqa's and Niqqaress's


Fasten your seatbelts as we're about to embark on a long, suspenseful and action filled ride courtesy of souloho.



This ride is gonna last for..........


Maybe a year??

A year anyway I don't even know myself. But you're on point the fasten seatbelt sign is definitely flashing

chii8:
To the men, some girls won't let go easily if you mess with them.

This is 100% on the mark...even sherlock Holmes himself agrees with you

EkopSparoAyara:
Mr Souloho, I see you viewing this thread..I hope you will drop something..

Definitely bro...soonest, Top of the morning to you

meneski:
ok oh...it ok

aaaah....its not OK oooo

jupitre:
Souloho19..thanks for calling me bro..For Emma's picture to be circled,it means she's the next target....

Kai....such evil against an innocent child...glad to have you on board bro

labelle123:
The suspense is killing update please loving this story like kilode

Gracias labelle, updating in a jiff

mitchelljnr:
Hope the killer is not planning to kill his daughter ooo, more ink to ur pen souloho19

I hope not too..that would be too heartless. We can only hope for the best with fingers crossed

Eberechi24:
:Dghen ghen ghen this isnt yet the begining we are stil exploring the epiloque.
Soul the mind twist well done! :oghen ghen ghen this isnt yet the begining we are stil exploring the epiloque.
Soul the mind twister well done!

hehehe you welcome o, hope your seat belt is fastened

queenitee:
My poor baby

:'

SleekHoyeen:
Wow! I just got to see the mention. Thanks. Souloho is here again! #following

You welcome ma'am....been on the lookout for you...oya catch up

EkopSparoAyara:
...And he just introduced a mysterious character into this suspenseful suspense.. A lady for that matter??
Who could she possibly be?? Obviously,she is deadlier than Late Mr Kehinde, the last of the shadows,murdered in hot...sorry cold blood..
Bravo Souloho..

hehehe so finally Mr Kehinde is late.......
Thanks brother, Jah bless you in multiples

Ayoshewa12:
Thanks for the update sir,Eh! Fome don't kill Emmy o >

You welcome but you know its out of my hands nah

Damibiz:
Thanks man...na work na e make ur guy never comment all this time

I get bro..may our hustle yield fruits and results

dimssy:
Ahnnn...oga Souloho19...the update small na.

Thanks though.
Hope the day was worth it sah....
Cheers to strength through the week

Thanks bruv wish you the very best