

LAWLESS

# RUTHIE OMOMO

This book is purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is coincidental.

No part of this book should be reproduced without the authority of the author.

### DEDICATION

For my family.

### PROLOGUE

"This is it!" Makinde said aloud. He was fifteen minutes late- as usual. But this time it was worth it, he told himself. He stared at the alley which he had become accustomed to over the past few months. He shivered remembering the first time he had to come here. The strong stench of a mixture of blood, alcohol, drugs and sex hitting his nostrils should have made any sane person turn back, After all he wasn't suited to this kind of environment. But that strong desire that only her could elicit from him turned his sense of reasoning numb. She was all he could dream of. Strong, beautiful, ambitious and young. Her name sending his blood rushing in all the wrong areas. She had become his life line and now she was to become his undoing. Maybe, just maybe if he tells her how much she had grown to mean to him she would understand and stop her madness. Maybe they could... they could what exactly? He asked himself. He picked up the cash filled case that was sitting on the passenger seat and got out of his car quite determined. He got himself into this mess and he wasn't going to leave until everything was sorted, one way or another. He had barely taken two steps when the heavy feeling of unease that he had felt earlier rested in his stomach. The looked back frantically and went back to check if the car was locked. "This should not take so long. I would be in and out. No need to panic." He held the case tightly as he strolled down the lane, making sure to keep his head down to avoid being recognized. He had just walked into the clearing when he noticed the figure crotched in the corner.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, annoyance gradually taking over his initial surprise.

"What do you think?" came the reply. It didn't take him long to realize that it was no joke. They were a thousand kilometers away from the city and something definite was going to happen in this beat up community and it was going to happen to him.

### CHAPTER ONE

It was a bright April Saturday afternoon. The rains had not fallen in a while leaving the air dry. The day was perfect for outdoor games and picnics. Clara had been up for the last two hours cleaning the house and doing the children's laundry. Clara was your typical African woman, she had a thick mass of black hair falling just beneath her chin, cradling her oblong face. She had the skin of burnt clay, while also having the typical figure '8' attributed to African women, leaving her a very attractive woman even after two children. Clara Makinde smiled to herself just thinking about her kids, Jennifer 6 and Nicholas 4. The house was a bit peaceful as Clara kept the kids busy with their favourite cartoon series 'Teenage Mutant Turtles'. Her phone kept ringing and she had asked Jennifer to pick the call and answer the person. They were both on the floor watching the cartoon like their lives depended on it. At least it helped keep her sane since the children's holiday began.

"Mummy! Mummy!" Jennifer shouted, pulling Clara out of her thoughts. She had caught herself countless times this week staring into air in deep thoughts.

"Yes baby, I am coming." Clara shouted back.

"There is someone at the door, hurry mum." Clara ran water over her hands before drying them on her jean shorts. She wondered how the person made it to her front door without the Security officers alerting her, or had the kids answered the intercom? She was still pondering over it when she opened the door to see a uniformed policeman standing on the stirs, looking out through the yard.

"Yes? Can...can... I help you?" she stammered.

"Are you Mrs. Makinde?" officer Adamu asked.

"Yes," Clara answered as she noted the name tag on his chest.

"I am officer Adamu from the mainland police division, we've gathered that your husband is not around?"

"You are right," she said looking perplexed, "you can check if you want. Is there a problem officer?"

"No," he said, intentionally trying to avert her gaze. "Please you will have to follow me to identify a body."

"Ehm, I don't understand, a body?"

"I just said that." Officer Adamu replied sounding irritated. Clara took a deep breath trying to mask her annoyance.

"You show up on my door step on a Saturday morning asking me to identify a body like it's my day job, help me understand please." She said. Clara could tell that he was a young boy with the false confidence that only the uniform could afford him. She was sure he was intimidated by her wealth as she was supposed to be intimidated by his uniform. What kind of people get into The Nigerian force nowadays? And what business do I have with a body? She thought to herself.

"There is nothing to explain again ma'am, it is plain English. We need you to help identify a body, I mean, a corpse. Your details including your picture was discovered in the car of the deceased so we will like you to follow us so as to identify who the person is." Adamu said gesturing to the other officer in the car who Clara had not noticed till now. A thousand thoughts crossed her mind, at first she tried to make sense of it all, it's not like she hadn't understood what he said the first time. She just needed time to process the information. The word 'deceased' and her details should not be in the same sentence, and then the fear, something serious was up. What had her husband done? This had to be him up to something again. She had covered up for him countless times. The dirty lawyer, the politician's lawyer. He just had to keep dragging her into his mess. But what was she his wife for? This was the life she chose against all odds. She sighed.

"I will join you soon." She finally replied. "I need to get someone to watch my kids while I'm out."

"No problem ma'am, I will wait in the car." Clara entered the house like someone walking on air, her mind played a thousand scenes in her head. A body? Her husband had not been home since he left the house angrily after their heated quarrel yesterday morning.

"Mum, what is the problem?" Jennifer asked tilting her head slightly to the left as if the angle gave her the ability to read her mother's mind.

"I want to quickly go out to get something," she replied with a shaky voice. "I won't take so long."

"I will follow you." Nicholas said.

"No honey, I will be back very soon." Clara quickly dashed upstairs to put on something presentable and then went with the officers, leaving the children under the care of her part-time babysitter.

### CHAPTER TWO

It's not that he had a thing against Saturdays, nothing particularly alarming. It was just not his favourite day of the week. Saturdays meant rest for so many people but for him it meant more paper work, longer office hours and the likes. Of course he didn't expect his friends to understand. Jane couldn't understand it or she still would have been with him. Tunde sighed to himself, he had promised himself not to think too much about his private life, certainly not while he was working on a case like this. Everybody always expected him to perform magic, he recalled how grudgingly he took up this case. This morning Mr. Wale called him to his office, telling him that he wants this case closed in less than a month especially with the caliber of person involved, and the media attention it would generate. When Tunde reminded him that he presently had his hands full with the 'Ide' cult massacre of last week, he waved it off saying this was of greater importance, making sly remarks of his expertise being better utilized with the new case. Sure thing, with his BSc. In logic and philosophy from university of Ibadan, finishing at the top of his class and MSc. in criminology from Wales University he was qualified but there is so much one can take at once. Tunde picked up the files spread all over his table, rearranging them carefully whilst he jotted down some points. One thing is certain, something's don't just add up. Mr. Makinde's car had been in an accident- at least it was made to look like one, at Lakes Avenue last night, head on collision with a big tree killing his personal assistant- Chukwunonso. It was just another accident until Chukwunonso's wife claimed that her husband was killed, stating that he put a call through to her making non- coherent statements. She claimed she heard him saying "she killed him." It would have been just another statement by an aggrieved widow until autopsy report proved her right. He didn't die by accident, both literally and figuratively. Mr. Makinde himself is nowhere to be found. His phones had been switched off, he wasn't at work, no one had seen him come in not even yesterday and he wasn't at home, at least that's what his daughter said when he called the wife earlier. Why was his P.A driving his car and what was he doing at Lakes Avenue known for its high level of prostitution and violence, often resulting in deaths. No week goes by without the police raiding the area and... "She's here sir," officer Adamu said through the half open door with only his head peeping in.

"Ok, I'm right behind you." Tunde got up from his seat stretching his body. "God!" His body was stiff from all that sitting, now he had to go face her.

*******

Lara paced up and down her room. It had been 6 hours since the scheduled meeting with Mr. Makinde. Makinde was known for his lateness despite being a renowned lawyer in Nigeria. He has made a name for himself and it's my turn to make the money, she thought. Does he not know that he has more to lose than she does? One word to the press is all it will take, give or take, she had nothing to lose. There was a loud knock on the door. No, more like bangs. Who could be knocking on the door like that? She hoped Makinde wasn't pulling a fast one on her. If he had hired someone to kill her, no! She shook her head as if to make the thought fall out, he knew she had the backing of the 'dread' gang. She moved slowly to open the door, the person will probably break the door. She had barely opened the door when John fell in.

"Hey sweetheart I didn't know you were the one. You were knocking like..."

"No time for stories, pick your things lets be out of here," John interrupted. He kept looking back like he expected someone to come. Lara didn't argue. She picked her things hurriedly. She was used to running.

### CHAPTER THREE

Tunde walked briskly into the conference room. "Good morning madam."

"Good morning," Clara replied, she was obviously not comfortable with the environment. Tunde took his time to take in the woman, she sure was beautiful he caught himself thinking, and married he quickly added.

"I am detective Tunde, I'm not going to waste much of your time. Do you by any chance know where your husband is?" Clara shifted in her seat.

"It's not like he's a baby that I'll have to put a tracking device on him, and you are not the first officer to ask me this today."

"You have not answered my question madam," Tunde said with a frown drawn across his temples.

"No I don't." Clara answered.

"And you don't care to find out? You've not made any complaint, you are obviously not making any effort to find out."

"Detective it's barely 24hours since I last saw him, it's not like he hasn't exceeded that limit before. Is there something I don't know? Is he in some kind of trouble?" Tunde took a moment to study her, he could see the questions in her eyes and the fear which she was trying to mask with her sarcastic answers, although altogether unnecessary, it was probably her way of relaxing in the tense environment.

"Do you mean to tell me that you have not heard of the death of your husband's P.A?"

"Chukwunonso is dead?" Clara asked taken aback. Tunde frowned. If she was acting then she was good. Why hadn't she heard of something as delicate as the death of someone closely associated with her husband? Maybe it was still too early for the news to circulate. But she owned a phone, Tunde wondered.

"Your husband's car was involved in an accident," Tunde paused waiting for that to sink in while noting the expression on her face. "At Lakes Avenue." Another pause, Tunde watched as a mixture of confusion, annoyance and something else he couldn't place danced across her face. She still hadn't said anything,

"How is he?" She finally said.

"That's what we are yet to know."

"The officer said something about a body."

"Yes, someone was driving his car, we've identified him as your husband's P.A, Mr. Chukwunonso but there was someone else there who we want you to try identify." Tunde walked to a stool having a black brief case, opened it and brought out some pictures.

"Let me apologize beforehand, these pictures are not so nice." He spread the pictures on the table. Clara looked at the picture for a while, it showed a badly dismembered man. His right arm was the only limb left on him but that too was twisted in an odd angle, and his face, Jesus! She looked closely but she had never seen the dark faced man, no, never. She shook her head, "I've not seen him before."

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"When last did you see your husband Mrs. Clara?"

"Yesterday morning."

"Did he say anything about where he was going?"

"No, he just walked out, I just guessed it was work, he's been busy this last week, with the land case and all you know, when he's this busy, its best to give him his space until the victory night."

"Do you have any idea where he could be, anywhere he liked to visit? Just anything that could help me?"

"With the ongoing case, the only place I can think of is his work place. Even going to the church he loves so much is hard. My best guess is that he is somewhere working and probably has not heard of Chukwunonso's death." Tunde doubted that. He was either missing or hiding. Why would a grown man with a family go under the radar for this long?

"It's alright. Thanks for your time Mrs. Clara. We are done for now. Officer Adamu will take you home."

Clara still sat there with her hands on her chin obviously lost in thought. Looking that way she actually looked pitiable. "Would you rather I take you?"

"No thanks," Clara said dragging the chair on the floor as she stood up, Tunde showed her to the door as Adamu came out. He stood staring at her retreating back deciding whether to ask her or not, finally he cleared his throat.

"Clara do you have any idea what your husband might have been doing at lakes?" Clara simply shook her head not bothering to stop. When she got to the door she suddenly turned around.

"My husband wasn't in the car right? So who told you he was at lakes?" with that she took her leave. Tunde had thought of that before, he wasn't stupid. Now, back to the issue, where could Mr. Makinde be?

The drive from the station turned quiet after officer Adamu tried making small talks with her, going on about how the streets had been flooded with beggars usually from the north and how he believes that they should be driven back to their respective home towns, but she wasn't in the mood for unnecessary talks, any sensible person could see that. Officer Adamu did not strike her like someone with sense from the first moment he walked into her house anyway. From the junction of her home Clara could see some people gathered in front of her house. She prayed the news hadn't reached her neighbours, even though she knew it was a prayer in futility. She reluctantly got out of the car as soon as the car stopped. She was met with hugs and kisses, people consoling her amidst words like "pele," -"it's well,"- "God knows how to take care of his own,"- "I am here for you,"- "devil is a liar..." the words kept coming. From what she could gather it had hit the news already. That's what you get from being the wife of a renowned lawyer, no privacy. She greeted those she could, thanking them for their love and strolled in straight to her room. Once she ensured the door was locked she slumped on her bed and cried herself to sleep.

### CHAPTER FOUR

The drive to the island was awfully quiet. John was not himself Lara could tell. She hoped nothing went wrong. John was usually the loudest of them all. Even back in school he was known to make funny jokes about the lecturer often disrupting the class. He was so tall, usually a head taller than most people she knew, it gave him the nickname 'tallest,' lecturers often said he outgrew his sense of reasoning. Lara laughed to herself remembering the good old days. How had it gotten to this? They were better than all this mess... "I asked why you are laughing." John interrupted her thoughts.

"What?" Lara said turning to face him.

"You were laughing just now, what's funny?"

"Nothing much, just remembered something." She replied, tilting are head sideways so the cool evening breeze rushing in through the window could hit her face.

"Ok, here we are." John drove into an empty parking space and stopped the car.

"Oya hurry, presi is waiting inside."

Presi as he was fondly called was a very short man, having a protruding stomach as a result of heavy drinking. He was wearing simple jeans and shirt which he left without tucking it in, he was backing the door while facing the window.

"Boss, they are here." One of his bodyguard said through the half opened door.

"Let them in." He waited to hear the shuffling of their feet before asking them to take their seat.

"We have no idea why the fool didn't show up, maybe he needs more convincing." Lara quickly said.

"Did presi ask you to talk?" John replied, sealing Lara's rant immediately. The room was quiet for another 30seconds before presi finally cleared his throat.

"That is the problem with women, they talk too much. Let me start off by saying 'good afternoon' since it seems you guys have lost your manners."

"Good afternoon sir." They replied simultaneously.

"Do you own a radio Lara?"

"No sir."

"What about a phone, television, any electronic gadget to show you were born in the 21st century?"

"Ye... yes sir."

"Good, so what rubbish came out of your mouth now? It's all over the news already, I am talking about the fact that Mr. Makinde is missing."

"Oh!" Lara exclaimed but John kept quiet.

"John, tell the 'dreads' to scatter, kill who you need to kill. As for you two, I need you out of town for a while, lie low, do you understand me?"

"Yes sir." They replied simultaneously again.

"Sir, please don't be offended by my next question. Do you have anything to do with his disappearance?" Lara asked.

"A fool often boast of his wisdom but that only cements the fact that he is a fool. That's who Makinde is, a fool. I will smoke him out. Does that answer your question?"

"I think so sir."

"Good. You can leave. Don't contact me, I'll contact you when the time is right."

"Ok sir." With that they took their leave with presi still having his back to them. No member of the Dread gang had actually seen what presi really looked like. Members rumored that he really did not want to be seen because of a thick scar which took up most of his face- inflicted as a result of a serious gang battle which had almost claimed his life, but no one really knew how true that tale was. They both knew better and could swear that presi was the one who fueled the rumor. He was a public figure that would rather not be closely associated with his dirty dealings. Only Lara had closely worked with him before. He had helped her at one point of her young orphaned life to cover her school fees, before taking her in to be groomed as his child, teaching her the ways of the street while introducing her to prostitution at a very tender age. Now he had her doing his dirty job. Despite being groomed by him, she was not at the top of the gang-chain. He didn't trust anyone and only allocated the local groups to be headed by Lara, later passing the leadership to John after he found him to be more competent.

"John are you ok?" Lara asked him when they finally got out.

"What does it look like?" He snapped back.

"Hey! I'm just trying to help. What kind of a girlfriend am I if I don't demand to know what's eating you up?"

"A quiet one!" John replied and he was back to his silent mood. Lara sighed as she fastened her seat belt. John was holding something back, she just knew.

********

"Good morning madam."

"Good morning sir." the receptionist looked up to see the handsome, dark young man with side beards enhancing his handsome face.

"I am detective Tunde," he said flashing his badge, "I'm here to see honorable Vincent, and I believe he is expecting me."

"You can have your seat please he'll soon attend to you," she said after dropping the call she made. She had this disappointed look and Tunde wondered if it was because he mentioned the fact that he was a policeman. The next thing that comes to an average Nigerian after mentioning the fact that you are a policeman is poverty and corruption and he was linked to neither of them, he liked to think of himself as being very comfortable. Tunde took a while to sturdy the lady, was that her natural brows or did she draw it on with an eye pencil? My God! why will someone draw her brows so high that it made her look like she was crying, adding that to her already bonny face, and she had the guts to feel disappointed at his profession, Tunde thought.

"He is ready for you now, walk straight in."

"Thank you." Tunde said and entered the office.

"Good morning sir, I'm detective..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know who you are, sit down. What can I do for you so early this Monday morning? And please go straight to the point, I have a busy schedule."

"Its public knowledge sir that Barrister Makinde was working on a case for you, please sir can you just brief me in? I want to hear it from the horse's mouth." Hon. Vincent leaned back in his chair and looked up like he was reading the story from the roof.

"I bought 2 hectares of land at Uhumu local government far before that place opened up, I'm talking about 15years back. I got the place legally only for the government of this state to decide that it's theirs after I had already started a project on it. After several meetings they went ahead to demolish the structure I had built while throwing unreasonable corruption charges at me."

"So you got a lawyer." Tunde said.

"Yes of course, the best there is, Bar. Makinde. I refuse to be bullied out of my right just because a sitting governor thinks he is the only uncorrupt politician. The government is not above the law you know."

"So how well have the proceedings been going?"

"Haven't you been watching the news?" the Honorable said like he was talking to a school boy. "I mean, have you had any problem with the government, or Bar. Makinde?" Hon. Vincent looked at the ceiling again.

"Am I under investigation for his disappearance?"

"Nobody said anything about that honorable, I just need something, anything you can remember."

"I have nothing Mr ... whats your name again?"

"Detective sir, detective Tunde. Ok, you were supposed to have a meeting with the barrister on Friday, how did it go?"

"How did you know that?" The honourable asked.

"It's my job," just answer the damn question Tunde thought to himself, he was getting annoyed with the honourable's far too relaxed mood.

"There was no meeting, he didn't show up," he said looking at the ceiling again. "I guess he was missing in between all that."

"When last did you speak to him?"

"Wednesday last week I think."

"You think? So you never spoke with him on Friday?"

"I just said that I last spoke with him on Wednesday. Why are you trying to connect dots where there is none? I am not the only client the barrister is working for."

"I know sir, this is just routine questions. We are questioning everybody he is involved with."

"Everybody?" The honourable scoffed.

"Everybody of interest. He disappeared on the day of your said meeting."

"And so? Do you have any more questions?"

"No, thank you sir". Tunde said while getting up, "I'll be seeing you soon."

"I hope not." The honorable called back.

Almost unfruitful again, just like the interrogation of barrister Makinde's employees just this morning.

"Have a lovely day." Tunde said to the receptionist as he walked past her.

"You too," she said. On getting to the door Tunde paused. The bone faced lady could actually be of help, he just had to bring on his charms. He turned back to have a little chat with the receptionist.

*************

Chioma paced to and fro the length of the room. Why won't Tunde pick her calls? She must have called him a thousand times and left a dozen messages on his phone. After all she had done for him, how could he treat her this way?

"Chioma, have you changed the batch of bread in the oven?" Cecilia asked her with a frown on her face, bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Abeg! abeg! abeg!" Chioma retorted. "Is it your job? You have the guts to walk in with this your two left legs from the mixing room to tell me to change the batch in the oven. Are you okay?"

"Madam, I have not come here to pick a fight," Cecelia replied, "and I never asked you to change the batch, I only asked a question. Everyone in the mixing room is wondering why the dough is piling up. Another batch is supposed to be out by now, you are doing things way too slow."

"As you can see Cecelia I am the only one here, the next batch will go in when the next batch will go in."

"So we should all chill as you chat on your phone?" Cecelia asked her while taking conscious steps backwards.

"Now get out before I break your head. I said get out!" Chioma screamed at Cecelia with raised fist. She was ready for a fight if that's what Cecelia wanted. "Na you sabi pass for this company abi? Idiot!" Cecelia ran to her station saying "mad woman" under her breath. Her colleagues came around her asking for her to spill the gist of what went down in the hot room. She didn't care if she joined the list of Chioma's arc enemies. Someone had to tell her the truth. How could she be chatting on her phone during office hours? Everybody in Kings' bakery knew Chioma anyway. Why she was still working in the bakery, nobody knew. She was tall, very light skinned, beautiful and intelligent but something was so off about her. She could be calm today and pick a fight with everybody the next day. It gave her the nick name 'mad woman' which nobody dare allow her hear. She deserved the worst employee of the year award if there was anything like that. Cecelia proceeded to tell her colleagues just how the confrontation went down.

### CHAPTER FIVE

"Please give me something man."

"Detective Tunde for the umpteenth time I said no! Do you know who you are messing with?" "Oga, it's not about the 'who' it's about justice." Tunde said.

"Tunde, my people say that you don't step on the tail of a snake and expect him not to strike. Why don't you go and see him again, maybe you will get something more this time, but to bring him in, no, I'm sorry. I fear for your own safety."

"Ok, thirty minutes sir,"

"I said..."

"Just thirty minutes." Tunde cut him mid-sentence. "The honourable obviously knows something, the secretary wasn't comfortable with the questions I asked and the honorable couldn't look me straight in the eye throughout the interrogation."

"O please Tunde!" He said with a wave of his hand. "That's probably nothing. It could mean anything. He probably doesn't like looking at someone in the eyes."

"Really, that's nice." Tunde said sarcastically, "so your answer is still no?"

"Yep! I'm sorry, give me something concrete and maybe, just maybe you can bring him in. You know the drill. I did not invite you to this case to be a hero, just solve it as intelligently as you have solved others." Tunde sighed.

"Ok sir."

"He's not coming back ok! Get used to it you silly girl, get into the car or I'll smack you so hard you will forget your name shotibgo? I said did you hear me?" Clara repeated in English.

"May I help?" Clara jumped at the sound of the deep voice she had come to know so well this past week.

"Detective! You startled me."

"You can just call me Tunde and I'm sorry about that."

"What are you doing here?" The way her eye brows arched as she asked the question was actually fascinating Tunde thought to himself.

"I'm stalking you." Clara gave him a really funny look in response to his statement, he almost laughed out. "Just joking, I came here in respect to the baby dedication."

"O o, because I am certain that I have never seen you in this church before."

"Not at all, the mother is actually a relative. So what seems to be the problem with her?" He turned to the young girl still sitting on the ground, wearing a red gown that made her look like a Disney princess, hands crossed across her chest in defiance.

"She's just being difficult. Today is supposed to be their day out with their dad, I always stay behind in church for women's meeting on Sundays while they have their time with him, now she's insisting she will sit here until he comes for them." Tunde crouched down to talk to the little girl.

"Hey sweetie, I am detective Tunde, what's your name?" there was no answer from her. "Do you know what a policeman does to little girls that don't answer their questions?" Jenny looked up as if to weigh the seriousness of the situation.

"I'm Jenny."

"Ok Jenny, why don't we get into the car and go get some ice cream."

"No! I'm waiting for my dad."

"You will have to wait a long time you know, because he is not around. Maybe a week or a month you will sit here alone in the cold even at night with the rats and snakes, that's if you don't get malaria from all the mosquito bites you will get. But as for myself and your brother we will go get ice cream." He turned towards Nicholas peeping out the window of the car.

"Ok let's go Clara." As they moved towards the car Jennifer got up and followed. "Now that's my girl," Tunde said to her. "That is one really spoilt girl I'm sorry to say." Tunde said to Clara as soon as they got to the door of the car. Clara laughed, her eyes already moist with tears.

"Her dad was the disciplinarian, and I just had to hand the offender over to him." They paused for a while, no one saying anything. "Erm did you bring your car?" Clara said breaking the awkward silence.

"Yes, I parked at the other side."

"Would you mind joining us for lunch?"

"Lunch?" Tunde said whilst looking at his watch.

"Just my way of saying thank you, and I actually prepared food for four, not used to not having my husband around on Sunday." she quickly added.

"Ok. Let me go get my car, will follow you behind."

"This is a lovely place." Tunde said to Clara, as she entered the sitting room. "Thanks. Sorry about the cartoon, that's all they watch."

"It's no problem at all, I was once a child." Omitting the fact that he actually still enjoyed watching cartoons.

"You can come to the table now, food is ready."

Tunde's mouth watered as he opened the serving dish to see the steaming jollof rice. After placing one spoon full of rice in his mouth he raised his head to see the rest of the family looking at him. "What?" He said with his mouth full.

"Are you that hungry? You didn't pray first Jennifer said." He was right about the girl being spoilt, he felt like slapping some manners into her, children don't talk to elders that way, you keep your opinion to yourself that's our culture. Too much of television he concluded in his mind.

"Sorry dear I'm not used to praying before eating."

"Really?" Clara said. Let's pray together then. With hands held together Clara prayed, "dear father we are grateful for the meal you provided us with, thank you for this wonderful person you have brought to share our meal with us and I pray that you provide food for those that have nothing to eat. Amen." They all chorused "Amen."

"Ok, we can now eat."

"You actually do that before every meal?" Tunde turned to Clara, "food go cold before you finish prayer now."

"Is that how you see it? Are you a Christian?"

"Of course but I don't carry it on my head."

"Praying over a meal is carrying Christianity on my head? That's interesting." Clara said. "So what church do you attend Tunde?"

"I don't really have one. I like to visit which ever church I'm drawn to that day."

"So you are something like a church prostitute?"

"Why would you say that?" Tunde looked insulted.

"I mean you can't stick to one church like a prostitute can't stick to one partner."

"O, that's an interesting way to put it." There was silence for a while, Clara was lost in thoughts again. "Clara!"

"Yes?" she turned to Tunde.

"Your mind have wondered and I thought it wise to bring you back." Clara chuckled.

"It's my bad habit, don't mind me. Ok Jenny, clear the table."

"So Clara, you love flowers? When you disappeared today Jenny said you where tending to your flowers."

"Yes I do. I have vegetables also in my little green house." The smile on her face showed the obvious, that she loved what she did. "I studied crop science in school."

"O that's nice." Tunde said sarcastically.

"And what did you study?"

"Philosophy and logic." Clara laughed so hard Tunde wondered if it was what he said or something else that she was laughing about.

"Do people actually make a career out of that?"

"Well, it's the knowledge I got from there that I'm using to find your husband." Tunde was immediately sorry he said that, because her mood suddenly switched.

"How is the case going?" Clara asked.

"I can't really say."

"You can't or you won't?" Tunde sighed, preferring not to answer the question. After a minute silence Tunde asked Clara if he could see her garden. Clara thought for a while,

"I just want to see it."

"Ok, this way."

Clara led Tunde to her garden. The flowers where actually beautiful, the garden was well tendered to.

"You spend a lot of your time here."

"Yes, it's a hobby, I don't go to work so when the kids and my husband are out, these are my next family."

"These look newly dug," Tunde pointed to some beautiful roses.

"Yes, transplanted actually. I bought these rare species and planted it here, you can say 'hi' to them."

"I think I'll pass." Tunde replied. "Why would I talk to a plant when I haven't lost my mind?"

"Is that how you feel? The flower is a living thing like you, moreover you will die one day only to be useful as manure for this same plant." Clara chuckled.

"When I die my carcass will be in a coffin with some dignity and certainly not used as manure." "Ok, I'm just saying that you should give some respect to the green life." Clara went on and on until Tunde was actually getting bored, he had no interest in horticulture, he just wanted to see her smile again.

"Ok Clara I have to go now."

"But it's still early," Clara was enjoying his company.

"I have to get some things done today I'm sorry."

"No problem then let me see you off to the door."

Tunde smiled to himself while driving home, Clara was a really interesting woman. The good ones are always married. Just then his phone beeped signaling a message. "Boss I have checked it out with his network provider, I think you would love to see this." The message read. Tunde made a U-turn heading straight to the office.

### CHAPTER SIX

"Boss, the way you have been whistling this week ehn, I don't think I have ever seen you this happy oo, what is the secrete na? Is it a woman?" Officer Adamu said, winking to the other officer on seat.

"Not really, it is someone you ought to know but I think you left him outside on your way to work, it's a Mr. Mind your own business!" Tunde replied him while taking his seat. He and Clara had been talking a lot since Sunday, they even had an outing to go next week, nothing serious just a friend helping a friend he lied to himself. This wasn't something he was about to let anyone know, certainly not this immature boy.

"Sorry boss." Adamu said raising both his hands up in an 'I surrender gesture'. "While you were making one of your many calls you seemed to have started this week, the honourable stepped in, he is in the conference room."

"Alright thanks." Tunde replied and headed for the door.

"Good afternoon honourable. It's good to see you again."

"I can't say the same." The honourable still had his hands crossed on his legs making it obvious he wasn't going to take the hands Tunde extended in greeting.

"I am sorry to disturb your afternoon sir, I just want to have a brief chat with you so we could go over some issues."

"I think my office is larger than this, big enough to have any kind of 'chat' you might want, why am I here?"

"Well sir, the opportunity for any 'office chat' closed last week seeing that you deliberately or let me say you forgot to tell me some things."

"Like what?"

"Like the fact that you where the last person to call the barrister before his line went off the radar. You said you didn't speak to him that day." He watched as the honourable's face turned from cool and calm to anger, "or the fact that you had called him like 6 times that morning, I don't understand, it's not like he is your wife or something that you will call that much."

"I'm paying him to defend me you idiot, I deserve the right to call him as many times as I deem fit." This was the first time the honourable looked Tunde in the eye, "and as for the timing, how was I to know that I would be the last caller he had ehn? Mr. Wise guy answer me now." he shouted. Tunde just sat still on the desk like he was watching a child throw tantrum.

"Why didn't you tell me about the call the last time we spoke?" the honourable said nothing.

"Ok, you had a meeting set up with Mr. Makinde by 12 p.m on the 12th of April right? But sources tell me that you left work by 3pm. That's like 3 hours difference and you went straight home. If I'm right you don't usually leave work till 5, and you showed up late for work the next day so what was special about that day? You already knew he wasn't going to be at the meeting so you were not in a hurry to meet him right?"

"It's not my fault he called to cancel the honourable said. Try another lie because I have the information I need on the time the meeting was scheduled and the time of your last conversation. And by the way, I know who called who. I would have believed if you had said "I cancelled," but it takes a lot of training to think up a good lie fast." The frightened look on his face told Tunde all he needed to know, he was hiding something, Tunde just had to push. "See honourable, do you know the punishment for kidnaping? 30years in prison, lets kick tittle aside Mr.! Nigerians will hate you and your case against the government will be as good as lost, I'll get more evidence against you to present in court, I'll dig so hard you will sentence yourself before the final judgment trust me, so you better start talking. The only person that can help you now is me. What do you think would happen to your reputation if information about your involvement leaks to the press?"

"You wouldn't dare." He said, eyes flashing his anger.

"You can't tell me what I can't do sir. Moreover I said leaked, anybody can leak it. This is a large institution." He said smirking.

"I know nothing about the barrister's disappearance." He said looking at the ceiling, why would I want the person who guarantees my victory in court gone?"

"That's what I'm trying to find out honourable and you haven't answered my question." The honourable sighed.

"Don't get your hands into something you can't get out from."

"Let me worry about that honourable."

"Last month I was reached by certain people called 'the Dreads', a local cult group but powerful nonetheless. They kept threatening me to drop the case, I guess the government taking over the land favour's them or they were sponsored by the government whose only language is intimidation." He rested back on his chair like he was tired of talking. "Two weeks back, before the scheduled meeting they called me up and threatened me not to show up, how they knew, I don't know and that was that. I tried calling barrister to cancel but he wouldn't pick at first and when he finally picked the call, he didn't speak. It happened 3 times and I gave up."

"Did the barrister know about this threats?"

"Of course, from day one."

"Was he under threat too?"

"If he was, I have no idea."

"So? Any other thing you wish to share?"

"No."

"Ok, thanks for your time sir, in case you remember any other thing don't hesitate to call."

"I don hear." The honorable replied in pidgin.

Tunde paced to and fro the length of his room, he often did that when he had lots on his mind it helped him think better. His stomach groaned, he hadn't eaten a good meal since... well since the last time he was at Clara's place. He strolled to the kitchen to fix himself a plate of noodles, while he waited for the noodles to be ready he sat with his laptop and decided to look up the details of the court case with Hon. Vincent and the proceedings so far, he also used the opportunity to check up some things he had gathered on the Dread gang. Their logo was a hand drawn in a fist bearing the letters R.I.P on the 3 middle fingers between the thumb and the pinkie, the pinkie wears a signet ring having a skull head, not too scary Tunde thought. They certainly did not have a web site but members of the gang have been arrested over time and he read through their statements. They had money, they were probably used by politicians as political thugs, which explained their wealth because they haven't been associated with any robbery so far. Tunde googled Clara just to lift his spirit. She had been born into immense wealth to late business tycoon Chief Akparaji and his wife Mrs. Nkechi Akparaji they died in a robbery attack on the way to their village for the holidays. At that time Clara had already graduated from university of California and had just married, being the only child of her father she inherited his wealth. She lost her parents in a tragedy, it wouldn't be nice for her to lose her husband the same way. Tunde smelt something burning. "Jesu!" He ran into the kitchen, his dinner had burned black.

Clara could hear soft music from her room as she climbed the stairs, who could have turned her TV on, she thought. As soon as she entered she saw Mr. Makinde in the room looking through the window, his back to her. On seeing him she didn't know what to do, whether to scream, run and hug him, slap him or just pick her phone and call the police. "Where have you been? I'm talking to you, who do you think you are? You think you can just leave and come back into someone's life right? Hey! I'm talking to you." With her last words she moved towards him and shook him. He fell like a log of wood, his face had blood all over, he was cold dead. She screamed. She was still screaming when she woke up from the dream. Her first instinct was to pick her phone and call someone. Her hands were shaking.

"Hello detective..."

### CHAPTER SEVEN

"Now repeat after me, 'energy is the ability to do work.' "

"Energy is the ability to do work!" The class of 30 screamed after the teacher.

"Again!"

"Energy is the ability to do work."

"Louder!"

"Energy is the ability to do work." The teacher's eyes darted round the primary 1 pupils to see those that were not talking.

"Jenifer, Stand up and tell the class what energy is." Jennifer drowsily stood up whist rubbing her eyes.

"Yes miss." Jennifer replied. The whole class went into a row of laughter.

"How dare you sleep in my class? Didn't you sleep last night?" Jennifer simply looked on while trying to fight off the sleep still clouding her eyes. "Now go before the class." The class teacher handed her the board marker in her hands alongside a board ruler. "Since it seems the class is boring to you, why not teach us." Pupils at the back of the class started giggling and quickly stifled it on seeing the stern look of their class teacher. Jennifer stood before the class feeling completely humiliated. She looked at the board not comprehending exactly what to do. The best way to get out of the situation for her was to cry, she thought to herself.

"Will you go and sit down! Just let me see you sleeping again. I know you are going through a lot but that doesn't warrant your sleeping in my class." The teacher said. "Now class lets quickly discuss solar energy before we call it a day." As the teacher walked to the board the bell rang signifying the change of class period. A student from the back said a quiet 'hallelujah' which didn't escape the ears of the teacher. "Who said hallelujah?" The teacher turned around to scan the pupils which all had a straight look. "Now listen to your names."

"Oduwa!"

"Present miss." Oduwa replied with his hands raised up.

"Stephen!"

"Present miss."

"Nicholas!"

"Absent," the whole class roared.

"Ayo!"

"Present miss."

"Makinde!"

"Missing ma," a little girl sitting directly behind Jennifer said before Jennifer could answer the teacher. The whole class went into a row of laughter.

********************

Tiger had been badly beaten up, he was one tough guy. He was not the first member of the Dreads to have been caught this week but they were not talking, not a single word.

"I'll ask again mister, where is your leader Saturn?" pause, "we will get him one way or another at least we got you, we have his gang name, telling us now will save us the stress and save you the injuries," no reply still. Tunde tried another approach.

"Where were you on the 12th of April Tiger?" there was no reply. "Ok let's have it your way." You will be charged with obstruction of justice, maybe you will feel better talking to your lawyer." Tunde bluffed. At that word Tigers face showed fear.

"I was at home helping out my mum. She is sick you know."

"Where is your home exactly?" Tiger chose his next words carefully.

Later that day Tunde paced to and fro the length of his office, he seemed to be hitting a brick wall no matter what he tried. Two things bothered him, first was the result of the autopsy on Mr. Makinde's P.A, and the other guy, it showed that they were poisoned, the accident was just a cover up. If the barrister was kidnapped won't ransom have been asked for by now? Was this to stall the case or was he already dead. If he was dead, who poisoned his colleague? Another problem was the fact that tigers alibi actually checked out. Tunde looked at his ringing phone. Chioma had been calling him a lot lately and it was becoming down right annoying. Why couldn't she just get the fact that they were no longer together he thought to himself. He was caught between answering her call and enduring long talks of how much she misses him and how they should meet or ignoring her call and having to deal with unsolicited messages. Finally he gave in.

"Yea Chioma..."

### CHAPTER EIGHT

Clara opened her car in a hurry. She had just received a call that Jennifer had been suspended after she got into a serious fight getting the other pupil injured. "She's just a little girl," Clara soliloquized as she drove out the parking lot. Why not give her some sought of punishment, why did the management have to take the harsh decision of suspending her. Little kids fight all the time. Clara paused a while to look at the large painting on her fence. The fence was inscribed with the words 'murderer' in red paint. She had discovered the horrific words on her way to drop the kids in school in the morning. It was actually Nicholas who drew her attention to it when he tried to pronounce the word. Of course she had called the police but why someone would do something so mean to a family still shaken from the recent fate that had befallen them, she didn't understand.

Chioma looked at the drugs in her hands before flushing them down the toilet. She had been skipping her drugs lately. She just wanted to prove to Tunde that she was still the woman he once loved, not this woman bound by drugs. Chioma splashed water on her pale looking face as she stared into the mirror. It had been eight years since she was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Before then she could remember the love she and Tunde shared, the woman she was. School was made fun because of him, he made her forget her horrible childhood, and his mum- God bless her soul, took her like her own daughter, and taught her half of the things she knew. They were virtually inseparable, or so she remembered, not until the episodes started. At that time she could gradually feel him slipping away. Suddenly he was ashamed to show her off to his friends, scared of what she will do? She laughed to herself. And then the breakup. That fateful day was and still is the worst day of her life. She begged him to stay, told him she will do anything to get better if he would just stay. But he left her all the same, wasn't love supposed to conquer all things? He actually moved on with another girl. Their relationship lasted how long? Chioma laughed as she slumped on her bed. The poor girl couldn't handle the fact that Tunde was a policeman. Only Chioma was created for Tunde, and only Chioma will get Tunde. She looked round at the pictures of Tunde plastered all over her wall before drifting to sleep.

"What is wrong with you young woman?" Clara shouted at Jennifer as soon as they entered the car. "How dare you do that to that little girl? Did you see what you did to her face? Answer me before I smack your face!"

"She made fun of me mom." Jennifer said amidst tears. "She called dad missing and the whole class laughed at me."

"So what Jenny?" Clara's voice softened. "Does that make your dad missing? Does the class laughing define you or change anything about you?"

"Mom it has been going on for weeks now."

"You could have easily reported the case to your teacher."

"I'm sorry mum," was the curt reply. "Mummy where is dad please. Is he really missing?" Jennifer asked after few minutes of the family driving in silence.

"Is that not how daddy usually behaves?" Nicholas replied from the backseat. "He will come back next week with lots of goodies for us."

"You are right darling, that is the spirit," Clara said fighting back tears. She just had to be strong, not just for herself but for the kids. She wanted to say a silent prayer but she knew better, she sure knew better...

Tunde kept looking at his rear view mirror. Last week he couldn't shake the fact that someone was watching him, watching his every move. Now he felt like someone was following him. He had intentionally taken a wrong turn just to be sure, and the black Volkswagen followed suit. He was sure Chioma would have been waiting for him at the restaurant wondering what was keeping him, it was surprising that she hadn't called yet. He just had to set up a meeting with her because his mum had intervened, and hoped he never gets to see her again. Apparently she had disturbed his mum to the extent she couldn't take it anymore. The girl was a plain lunatic yet to take to the streets. "Shit!" Tunde cursed under his breath. The car had just taken the same left turn he took. Tunde made up his mind to go to the scheduled restaurant as earlier planned with the car still in view. As soon as Tunde parked, he reached for his gun inside the pigeonhole, half expecting the sound of gunshots from the just arriving black Volkswagen. But to his surprise the car parked and Chioma came out. She strolled to his window and knocked.

"Why were you driving round the city?" She asked. "I almost thought you changed your mind, or did you? And why are you holding your gun?"

"Good afternoon too," was Tunde's reply. "Now which of your questions should I answer first?"

### CHAPTER NINE

Tunde had tried his best to evade Clara's questions concerning her husband and how the case was going on every occasion they met. He always had one reply, "we are getting close." He didn't want their new found friendship to cloud his professionalism. Of course it was a lie. He was no way closer to finding her husband than he was the first day the case file was dropped on his table. But with the recent attacks on Clara, he felt like he had to say something to assure her of the fact that he was handling the case and getting closer to an answer. A few weeks back it was the word 'murderer' that was inscribed on her fence. Now the word 'wife of a murderer' was written in capital letters right where the former words were written before it was painted off.

"Tunde what is going to happen? I fear for my life and that of my kids. I am thinking of moving."

"To where?"

"We have houses everywhere. Just somewhere away from the preying and pitying eyes of neighbours. My kids need this too."

"How wish I can assure you of 24 hours surveillance over yourself and your kids but I can't. I can assure you 12 hours or even eighteen, but 24 hours? No matter the amount of money offered, I don't think we have that capacity for now. But I will check with my boss," Tunde said.

"No need Tunde, I really appreciate it, but we just need to move."

"I just want to make sure you guys are safe," Tunde said. "You were not home yesterday when I checked in. what happened?" Tunde asked.

"I went to the market."

"O, but u went to the market a day before too, since when did you guys start eating that much?" Tunde laughed trying to lighten the room.

"Is it only food they get at the market?" Clara asked with a frown. They sat in silence for a while before Tunde's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Oga you gats come o, make you come check how things be for yourself." Adamu spoke into the phone. "Oga where you dey self?" Adamu asked.

"Don't worry about that one," Tunde replied. "Just send me directions, I am on my way."

"Can someone please open the windows?" Tunde said. "This place is damn stuffy." Tunde looked round the room taking a mental note of everything in it. It was a very small room. The blocks had begun to crack and the only piece of furniture was a bed which had seen better days and a plastic chair resting on the wall. "Where was the body found?"

"Hanging from the ceiling fan sir." Tunde had seen this on the 10 o' clock news yesterday. The man was found dangling from the ceiling fan by the landlord of the 'face me I face you' rooms. It was labeled as suicide. He could still picture the face of the man's wife crying with a baby strapped to her back. But little did he know that it will become intertwined with his case. Tunde raised up the foam to reveal about three different guns. An AK 47, a pistol and a local hunter's gun which was carved out. There was also was a brown envelope. Tunde picked it up and quickly scanned through the documents. In it were pictures of Clara on several occasions. One even showed her coming out of the church and he happened to be few steps behind her. She was all smiles as she turned her face to him. Tunde remembered that day clearly, it was one of the few times he had actually seen her smile since she heard of her husband's disappearance. In fact he could count the number of times he had seen her smile. She was teasing him because he had slept half way through the sermon. Tunde passed the pictures over to Adamu alongside the phone discovered a few metre from the room. They were lucky to have seen it before someone else picked it up. Not like they could make good money from selling the banal phone. "Please call the team, let's see if there is anything we missed. How wish we could lift prints off this room like it's done in advanced nations, would have made our job a thousand times easier." Tunde said rubbing his eyes with his hands. He was really tired.

"Good afternoon madam, I am detective Tunde from the mainland police division, please may I come in?" Tunde said to the occupant of the room directly opposite that of the deceased.

"Wetin happen?" The woman asked with a shaky voice, peeping through the half opened door. "No need to be scared madam, I just want to ask you a few questions." The woman looked over Tunde's shoulders to see the policemen coming in and out of her neighbour's room and probably concluded that it must be about him.

"Yes come in," she said opening the door for him. Tunde was immediately greeted with a harsh stench which was the mixture of urine, wet rugs and whatever food a young girl was dishing into the plates of three children sitting on the floor. The children chorused "good afternoon sir" while detective Tunde wondered whether or not to sit on the chair which he could swear must be bed bug ridden. How a family of five that is excluding the father now, could live in such conditions, Tunde couldn't understand. We only pray life would be better for everyone Tunde muttered. "You can sit sir," the young woman gestured for Tunde to sit on the chair. Tunde took another look at the chair which had seen better days, the foam used to cushion the chair had been so flattened that one could see the wood underneath.

"Thank you ma, but I won't be here for long." Tunde said knowing fully well that he looked awkward standing. "Please ma, I want to quickly ask about your neighbour."

"The one that killed himself?"

"Yes that one."

"Ahh, me I don't know o," the woman shrugged. "If I see him today, I will not see him next week. He go just dey come dey go like ghost, he no even dey too talk with person. Na just good morning, good morning. Na there e end." The woman struggled between speaking English and the traditional pidgin.

"So you had no relationship with him whatsoever."

"Sir?"

"I mean, it seems you were not close to him."

"No o the woman replied. As e take put me for one corner, na so me self take leave ahm. Everybody for we yard know him na. Oga, you no go sit down?" Tunde took one more painful look at the chair and decided to sit so as not to hurt her feelings.

"Where were you yesterday when he was found?"

"I was in the kitchen, na so landlord come shout, everyone come gather see how the young man take go like that," the woman said shaking her head. "Nobody even hear anything. E shock me sha."

"Ok ma, that's all for now." Tunde said standing up. He was eager to leave.

"Ok oga police, thank you." Tunde turned back to give a quick wake to the eating kids before taking his leave.

On his way home, Tunde thought on all he gathered from the deceased man's neighbours. Everyone said about the same thing. Nobody knew him, not even what he does and they all confirmed he didn't live there with the wife Tunde saw crying on the news, in fact he had just moved there a few weeks back. The most striking discovery which still bothered Tunde was that the deceased had put a call through to Mr. Makinde's registered number. In fact, the call log showed they had talked for about 15 minutes. And the last call he made probably few hours before his death showed a number that they were still processing who it actually belonged to.

Tunde's phone rang. "Hello mum?" Tunde answered.

"How are you son?"

"I am ok ma."

"How is the preparation for your father's big day going?"

"Mum about that..."

"I'm really not going to hear or take any excuse from you, if it means you should take excuse now from work or something I don't care but that day you must be around." Tunde laughed.

"Mum I am in the middle of something now I can't just leave because of dad's birthday. It doesn't make any sense."

"Is that you talking? It has been years Tunde, when will you get over your boyish beef with your dad hugh?"

"When he accepts me for who I am. I decided to be a policeman, it was my decision. Not everyone must work in the family company."

"My son I know, we don't have to go over this again, we love you son, just try and reason with your dad, he simply wants the best for his family."

"He should try and reason with me too. I'm a grown man, I can't base my life decisions on my dad's desire for my life."

"Your father is close to the grave, coming for his birthday this once won't kill you."

"Okay mom, I will try."

"Thanks son," she replied.

"No promises ooo." Tunde said with a chuckle.

"I have heard you. By the way how is that your crazy girlfriend Tunde?"

"Who?"

"O please you know who."

"She is not my girlfriend o, free me. When I have one you will be the first to know ma'am."

"I have heard you. She has asked to come for the birthday thanksgiving. She was in Abuja last week."

"And you told her?"

"Of course she can come. What could I have said in such position?"

"Whatever mum, it's not my party, I have got to go now, duty calls."

"No problem son, love you."

"Me too ma," and Tunde hung up.

### CHAPTER TEN

"So doctor what are you saying exactly?" Tunde asked, rocking slightly in his chair.

"Ok in simple terms detective, this guy was dead before he was hanged, there is no evidence of asphyxia, neither was there any obvious compression of the carotid arteries." Doctor Maggie switched the body over and picked up an x-ray file from the table beside her while pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She held it up to the light. "Can you see this?" She pointed, the scan showed a fractured skull. "This guy was hit in the head with something, I'm guessing an iron rod due to the nature of the fracture. He had stopped breathing before he was hanged."

"Jesus! Thanks doc."

"Anytime detective." Tunde moved to his office like he was somnambulating. He slumped on his chair placing his hands on his face. Adamu walked in. "boss how things they be now?"

"Call in the team, we need to think. I certainly need an extra set of brains." Once the detectives were gathered round they talked about the case so far. Nothing fits. Could barrister Makinde be alive?

"I doubt it sir, Adamu spoke up, because if he was kidnapped a ransom should have been asked for by now.

"So how do we place the call to Mr. Makinde? They talked for 15 minutes need I remind you, and suddenly the man is murdered."

"Another person might be in possession of his phone."

"How far about the tracking of the phone?" An officer said.

"That's a dead end," Adamu quickly replied him.

"But this sick guy was monitoring Clara. He could have been the one placing those weird messages on Clara's fence."

"Yea, probably. But was that why he was killed? Ok," Tunde said pushing his seat backwards "let's all paint the possible scenarios." Adamu spoke quickly.

"The honourable is threatened by this cult group, they get Makinde, kill him, and try to scare his wife then killed the guy they hired to scare Clara."

"And all this is because of a land?" Tunde asked Adamu.

"But it's the most probable story for now. Let's not forget all the murders were staged to look like an accident or suicide. The person did not want us to know it was murder. First it was poison and now a hit to the head."

"Why would the gang members go through that stress?"

"Maybe the piece of land has gold inside," a young officer joked.

"Where are we on the gang members?" Tunde asked.

"Here and there sir. Nothing concrete, but we will get them."

***********************

Chioma danced to the sound of Davido's song – Ekuro, blasting from the radio as she prepared her Oha soup. She was making it extra special because she had to take some to Tunde. He works too hard she thought to herself, and it's all because of Clara she frowned. That spiteful woman didn't know who she is. How can a married woman get all cozy with her Tunde? It was supposed to be a job, a case that Tunde had to solve. But that witch, Clara bewitched him. Chioma took a look at the flowers she had just ordered and a smile spread on her face, she was just starting with Clara, the woman didn't know the meaning of fear yet. She had decided to spice it up, the woman had seen enough paintings on the wall. "I am smart!" Chioma shouted aloud to the empty house. My first class degree can't be wasted in a bakery only. She had been monitoring Tunde and Clara for weeks, she knew just when to go and paint up Clara's wall with funny statements. In fact the best part of her day was watching Clara's face when she sees the writings on the wall. The woman was so weak, the first thing she does is to call up daddy Tunde, the hero, to come save the day she hissed. But in all, no one can kill my joy, today is for myself and Tunde, she smiled.

Tunde looked at the food on the seat beside him. Just few hours ago Chioma had come to the office to see him, all smiles while she gave him the food. Why won't she just leave him alone, space, yes that was the right word he needed. He felt choked with the case and Chioma combined. She had thrown a fit when he told her he wasn't going anywhere with her today. But in all, the lady looked better overall. He glanced at the food again. He was torn between flinging it out the window and giving it to some homeless man. He remembered a scenario that stood solid in his memory. They were still in school at the time and she had just been diagnosed with BPD. It was her birthday and every year that they were together he tried his best to make it extremely special. Something different, something nice. But this year they had just come back from a six month long lecturers strike and his brother, who shared the same birth date with her came to school with him. She wanted them to go out to see a movie and his brother wanted a little indoor party. So he came up with a brilliant and the most sensible plan to avoid her having one of her episode. They would have their little party after lecture hours and all go see a movie but she would not have it. The day just had to be about her and only her. But she didn't expect him to leave a brother alone who knew nothing about his environment on a day that was special to him. After a long argument she finally agreed and even opted to cook for the indoor party. After they had eaten and drunk on the said day, they all started acting weird with the majority of them sleeping. Apparently she had put weed in the pepper soup but she had carefully separated hers and his. To talk about madness. As crazy and fictitious as it sounds, it was absolutely what happened. She had done so many weird things during their time together that he just had to call it quits. He wanted to stay, to support, to encourage but not when his life and that of his family was at stake. He glanced at the food again, it could be poisoned or something. Just then his car pulled to a stop with the car at his back hitting his car due to the abrupt halt. He tried to start the engine but it wouldn't bulge. Then there was a rapt knock on his window.

"Shey u dey mad ni?" The aggrieved driver asked him. "How will you just stop like that?" Tunde stepped out of his car to see the damage that had been done to the other drivers Toyota Camry.

"I am sorry sir, my car just stopped without warning."

"That one is story o, something will be done about my car today, I don't care how." Tunde sighed.

"Let me have your card or number, I'll contact you." Tunde replied.

"I don't want that one, you will follow me to my panel beater now." the aggrieved driver said. "That's not possible right now sir," Tunde was getting irritated, "I have to attend to my car." Tunde reached into his pigeonhole to bring out his badge. "See I'm a police officer. Detective Tunde from the mainland division. I can't scam you. If anything happens you know my name and my station, I can always be reported." The driver took a while to study him. Tunde couldn't blame him.

"Okay, here is my number and I'll need yours too," the man finally said as onlookers dispersed. They had gathered for fear of a fight between them. Tunde turned to his car and tried starting it again. It didn't even make an effort to start, making him conclude that it must have been the fuel pump that failed. He decided to leave his car there till his mechanic was able to fix it. He quickly locked it up and placed two reflective warning triangles to ward off unsuspecting drivers from hitting his car, one he placed at the front and one at the back of his car. He crossed over when he noticed the pair of eyes staring at him. It was Chioma. What was she doing here for Christ sake? Which kin wahala be all this one today he thought. She beckoned on him to come over and as he crossed the street to where she was parked he suddenly remembered he had left the food in the car. He hoped she wouldn't notice because going over to pick up the food would make it look like he had left it there on purpose. "What's up?" He said on reaching where she was.

"What is wrong with your car?" She replied.

"I don't know, probably the fuel pump. What are you doing here?"

"Stalking you of course," she smiled.

"Hugh?" Tunde said. Chioma laughed hysterically. "The look on your face ehh Tunde, please don't flatter yourself. I was on my way somewhere when I noticed your car. You can come in, let me drop you off." Tunde hopped into the car and locked the door behind him. "You are going home right?"

"No I have some errands to run first before heading home."

"That is more important than our pre-arranged date today?"

"Its work. What's up with you lately and how is work?" Tunde quickly changed the topic to avoid her noticing the absence of the food she had wrapped off.

"Fine I guess, having issues with my boss now, but it is not something I can't handle."

"Why did you leave Abuja, you had a great job, at least that's what I heard."

"From who exactly?" She chuckled. "Here and there I guess. I won't exactly have called it a great job. I just wanted a change of scenery and you were here so I decided to move here she shrugged."

"O, cool."

"What happened to us Tunde?"

"You know fully well what happened to us let's not go there."

"How can I do that when that is all I can think about? We used to be an item."

"And now we are not Chioma, it has been years, can we move on please."

"No we can't. We share so much you know, more than you can even think or know."

"Yea right." Tunde rolled his eyes. "The next turn please," Tunde said.

"If it's about everything that happened in the past then I'm sorry. But I'm different now. I'm better."

"Yea I can see that, I must commend you for that. You really worked on yourself and please I'm not blaming you for anything that happened in the past. It wasn't your fault you got sick and I'm glad you are better but that is it. Every feeling for you is gone and it's not about you, it's about me so please let's enjoy our new found friendship and hope it grows."

"Ok Tunde, if that's what you want." Chioma replied.

"And one more thing Chioma, can you please slow down on the calls and messages? It's getting a bit creepy. If I miss your call I'll call you back when I see it." Chioma said nothing, she appeared gloomy and funny enough Tunde felt lighter, he was happy they had this discussion, he felt lighter like a load had been dropped off his chest. Everything was for a purpose.

"I'm opening my events center soon," she finally said. "I would like you to be around on the opening day."

"Wow! That is a big one, congrats, I'm really proud of you."

"Thanks, so will you be there?"

"Sure just tell me when it's getting close to the opening date."

"Thanks, means a lot to me."

"That is no problem at all. To the left please." Tunde pointed.

"Ijaku estate?" They paused to sign in their details at the check point before proceeding. "So you are running errands in a big man's community." Chioma joked.

"It's the job na, you get to mingle with all sorts of people, from the slums to the palace. Okay I'll stop here."

"Alright then," Chioma parked.

"Thanks so much once again." Tunde got down from the car and waved at her. He waited a little to see her reverse before continuing on his journey. He had intentionally stopped a good distance from Clara's house so that he won't have to answer Chioma's questions just in case Clara or the kids were outside.

Chioma smiled at herself when she saw Clara come out to open the little gate. Of course she had followed him, she just had to see where he was headed. She peeped from behind the tree she was standing. So this is where Clara decided to hide right? This was the big job Tunde had to do that made him cancel their date. She will be seeing her soon she chuckled and headed back to her car.

### CHAPTER ELEVEN

Rita took a good look at her surroundings. It was actually one of the finest she had seen, the blue curtains, the beautifully polished wood and the white plastic chairs. She had watched a lot of Nollywood movies, and this one was far more beautiful than the ones she had seen. Her eyes caught the words 'The police is your friend' framed and hung on the wall. She smiled to herself. They were not her friends when they bundled her from the village to the station as the village people gathered wondering what she had done wrong. The police men had reached out to her earlier asking for an audience with her but she refused. She didn't want to talk about Emeka and she made that clear to them. But they came to the village with a show of force to drag a grieving woman to the city. Heartless people! She thought back to her child who she had left with her grandmother, how quick will she get out from here? She was pulled out of her thought by the sound of the opening door. A man wearing a polo and jeans with two policemen walked into the room.

"Good morning Madame, how was your journey here?" Tunde asked. Rita took a long look at the detective but didn't respond. A long hiss was at the tip of her tongue but the fear of the police is the beginning of wisdom so she didn't bother letting it out, at least she could hiss in her mind.

"I am detective Tunde and this is detective Wale and that, officer Adamu. We just want to ask some questions, we won't take much of your time, we promise to have you back with your child before the end of the day or at least by tomorrow, if you cooperate with us." Rita looked up surprised that they knew about her child. "And sorry for your loss ma," Tunde quickly added. The woman had not responded, and Tunde was quite sure she spoke English. She kept looking around the room trying desperately to avoid the eyes of the officers. Three huge men looking down at this woman, she must be scared Tunde thought. "Are you ready?" Tunde brought out a recording tape and placed it on the table when the woman didn't respond. He had found it to be easier and better than taking notes. "Nobody is going to hurt you or anything. The police is your friend." The woman looked up and smiled a crooked smile, he could read her mind, she was probably thinking 'lying idiot'. "I am sure you are eager to know what happened to your husband as much as we do so let's get this over with."

"How long were you married to your husband?"

"I don't have a husband sir."

"I mean late Mr. Emeka." Tunde said with raised brows.

"We were not married, if we were I won't be in such mess," she sniffed.

"What mess exactly?"

"I have no portion with his family. My child was not even recognized by his family. I had to leave the house that we both paid for because I was disturbed by his family and friends. They said I drove him to commit suicide."

"Did you?" What kind of a question is that? She thought.

"Why would I make him commit suicide? Is he not the father of my child? The family just said that because they never liked me from the start of our relationship, but to disassociate yourself from your own grand child is cruel," she said still sniffing.

"I am sorry, let me rephrase my statement. Was he going through stress at work or at home?" "That is normal we all go through stress every day, and it worsened with the coming of the child, we barely had enough to eat, this environment was so choking, but in all it wasn't enough to make anybody kill himself."

"That is why you went to the village? Because of the stress?"

"No, I just needed to go."

"So you lived with this man that wasn't your husband for how long?" Rita looked at Tunde's face as if she was searching for something. Was he judging her? How dare he do that, he didn't know half the things she had been through, if he knew her life story he would call her a strong woman.

"Three years." she finally answered.

"What did he do for a living?"

"He was a bricklayer at least that is what I thought. But he later told me he was working as a body guard or security man, I am not sure which, for Mr. Makinde, you should know the lawyer, he is quite popular." The three officers exchanged looks before Tunde continued.

"You both live where?"

"At Lakes Avenue. The blue house owned by mummy Rashida close to the end of the lane." The men exchanged looks a second time.

"But he had a rented room at Imafidon Street, am I right?"

"I only got to know about that room after the news of his suicide came out."

"When last did you see him before the suicide?"

"He came home picked some things and left. He has not been staying home much this past weeks. But he told me he would get some money for us and I should prepare my things and those of our child, we were meant to leave on his return but Mr. Makinde killed him before he could actualize that promise."

"But everybody heard your husband committed suicide. You even said your husband committed suicide not so long ago, how come you suddenly believe he was killed?" Officer Adamu quickly spoke out.

"Why would my husband commit suicide when he was to get money enough to make us move?"

"It probably didn't work out and he got fed up," Adamu pushed.

"Emeka would never kill himself," Rita shouted amidst tears, "we have gone through and faced worse things, why would he suddenly be fed up with surviving?"

"I do not know the answer to that question madam, but you said Mr. Makinde killed him, how did you come to such conclusion. I hope you know Mr. Makinde has been missing for months." "Humph!" She scoffed. Missing my foot. Emeka has been in communication with him for weeks now. I don't know what deal they were into. But I have heard him call his name so many times through the phone."

"And you never questioned your husband or is it baby daddy after hearing about Mr. Makinde's case?"

"The very first day I heard Mr. Makinde was missing I asked questions, I was more concerned with what will happen to his job. He only told me Mr. Makinde was not missing and I should not worry about his job. But I can swear Mr. Makinde had him killed."

"So with all this information, why didn't you come to the police?" Tunde frowned.

"It's annoying," the other officer quickly added.

"He told me not to get myself involved, he was murdered hiding whatever he was hiding. Moreover what can the Nigerian police do?" She said with a wave of her hands. "I feared for my life, who will protect me? The police?" She chuckled.

"Who will protect you now?" Tunde hissed.

"I had just lost a husband, I have a child to think about."

"O, so now he is your husband."

"I was safe in the village till you brought me here."

"Is there any other thing you can tell us?"

"That's all I think I know about what is going on." Tunde stood up. "Thanks for your cooperation. Adamu will ensure you are taken back. And I will make sure you get some sort of protection until the case is wrapped up." With that Tunde and the other officers took their leave.

"Nicholas will you just sit in one place, you are giving me a headache," Clara shouted at Nicholas. She had promised to take them to see their cousins just for them to have a change of scenery and Nicholas had been so eager, he had practically rushed through sleeping, brushing and even his breakfast often asking her when exactly they were leaving. Things must have been really hard on the kids, much more than they even knew, but Clara was determined not to let anything affect their childhood. They had a weird night. She wasn't sure if she was being paranoid but she felt like someone was knocking on the door. This was an estate so of course they were a bit safe. But she couldn't shake that feeling. She had crept to the front door to peep through the security hole just to ensure that no one was there. She had gone round the house ensuring all doors were locked up and even at that she couldn't sleep she kept having weird dreams. "Jennifer why are you putting on that dress?"

"This is what I am wearing to auntie's place." Was the stubborn reply.

"You must be joking, who will you follow looking like you are going to dance? Go and take off that ball gown and put on the pair of jeans and polo I placed on your bed."

"I don't like that dress mummy."

"Did I ask for your opinion? Go and change before I count to three. One, two..." Jenifer ran upstairs crying. Lord Jesus! She went into the kitchen to arrange their lunch when she heard Nicholas running down the stairs. "Nick go and pull that shoe now, it's not yet time for us to go, don't go and hurt yourself running with them."

"Here mummy," Nicholas handed her a bunch of rotten flowers and some rotten mangoes placed in a basket carefully decorated. It was a deliberate gesture.

"Where did you get that Nick?" She asked frightened.

"Outside."

"What were you doing there? Drop that thing on the ground young man! Can't you smell it? Haven't I warned you not to ever step foot outside without my consent?"

"Somebody was knocking mum."

"Then you will tell me." Clara dropped what she was holding and ran outside. She had a run round her home and even stopped a jogging man to ask if he saw anybody knock on her door. But she got nothing. She was sure if she asked further people will begin to think she was crazy. When she got in, she saw a naked Jennifer and Nicholas standing and watching over the rotten things like they were in some kind of ritual. "You guys should leave here now, and Jenifer go put on your shirt, this time around I won't hesitate to spank you." Clara picked the things up and dropped them in the waste bin before proceeding to wash her hands and those of Nicholas. She rung up the security room.

"Hello? Yea this is Mrs. Makinde from duplex 3D. Please did any visitor come to the duplex recently?"

"We have had a lot of visitors but if you are asking for yours, let me check." The security officer checked through his visitor log book. "You have no registered visitor ma."

"Thank you," Clara said and hung up. How can a complete stranger enter Ijaku estate without being booked except if the person was not a stranger? Clara was vexed this time around. This nonsense has gone on for far too long she said aloud. Jennifer and Nicholas hurry downstairs we are leaving.

### CHAPTER TWELVE

Tunde had ordered the surveillance of both houses of Emeka. He was particularly interested in the one at Lakes Avenue because that one was close to the site of the initial murder and were Mr. Makinde was believed to be last seen even though there was no evidence he even got there. Clara said she had never seen Emeka before, ruling him out as any security man or serious security personnel. Had they missed something out during the initial investigation? Detective Tunde and the other officers moved round the scene of the crime trying to process it again. The place was separated from the thick ghetto area because this sought of crime won't have gone unnoticed by the area boys if it wasn't separated from their main hangouts.

"What if Emeka witnessed the murder by mistake since he lives in this area and was killed for doing so?" Tunde asked.

"Mr. Makinde has been moved up from missing person to suspect don't forget." Adamu replied.

"We are saying the same thing. Makinde could have easily killed them and come back for Emeka."

"Why would he kill the people around him? Without a motive we are just speculating because as of now nothing fits. The whole gang drama and... what if they are hunted by the gang members and Mr. Makinde is on the run? That could explain him contacting Emeka."

"You have spoken with several gang member's right?" Tunde turned to officer Adamu. "Do they seem like people that can pull all this off?"

"All smokes and screen oga. Those are the local champions, we have not met the main members. We are climbing up the ladder a step at a time."

"So if we go with that theory what would explain the photos of Clara seen with him?"

"He was probably monitoring the wife on the directions of Mr. Makinde," another officer quickly chipped in.

"Hmm, but my guts tell me Emeka was the one writing the crank notes on Clara's wall, and my guts is almost always right."

"Oga how about we throw out a bounty. A specific sum of money for anyone with specific information about Mr. Makinde's whereabouts. He would be labelled as a missing person not a fugitive."

"Great idea. I would have to run that through the family. Let's go about asking question. Let's gather as much Intel as we can from the community members. I'll go check out Emeka's apartment." with that Tunde dismissed them.

Everywhere went silent as Tunde passed a group of teenagers rapping and making music with bottles, buckets and slippers. Tunde was actually enjoying their music but the sight of his uniform put them off. They were probably used to police raiding the area sometimes just to extort young boys of the little money they had. There were good officers but Tunde could not deny the fact that there were bad, rotten ones spoiling the name of the Nigerian Police force. In fact he had heard the jokes making the rounds that any guy with a laptop is a 'yahoo boy' and would be arrested by the police. As soon as Tunde passed them, they resumed their music.

Collecting the keys from the landlord, Tunde entered the self-contain apartment. It was far better than the condition he met the other room in. He noted the mismatched sofa and curtain, apart from that, the room was well arranged. He opened up the drawers and cupboards in search of anything that could help. His wife had said he didn't stay in the house much and Tunde was not expecting anything much, he just wanted to make sure no stone was left unturned. When Tunde entered the kitchen, he looked round and didn't see the reason to search the space but as he was about to take his leave he decided to look through the kitchen window. He was shocked to see he had an almost perfect view of the clearing where the accident/murder happened. He was still staring at the clearing when he felt a heavy blow to his head and then he blacked out.

Chioma rushed to the bathroom crying. She turned on the tap and washed her hands repeatedly while muttering to herself. "I didn't mean it baby, I hope you understand, I didn't mean it, you got me so mad." Chioma slumped on the ground. She had called Tunde to tell him that she was sick and instead of coming to see her he told he was working. She cleaned her nose with the back of her hands. She knew she had promised to stay away from him, reduce the calls and all of that, but he wasn't even making any effort to be the kind of friend she expects him to be. She was sick for Christ sake! And all she wanted was someone who cares she cried. She grew up without a father, lost her mum when she was nine. She had to grow up the hard way, experiencing as little love as she could until she met Tunde, then she got sick. She just wanted life as it was. Was it too much to ask? She was sick, she called the only person she thought at least cared and he had rejected sending her any help. So she decided to go see him, maybe, just maybe he will realize how sick she was and come to her rescue. But she met him leaving the office and to her surprise he headed for the church, on a Wednesday evening? The way he threw himself into his faith was funny, she knew him from way back, the kind of life style they shared and suddenly he was Jesus? Because of Clara? She attended the service wanted to see what he suddenly found interesting in singing songs and raising hands and screaming unnecessary. He had gone to church on few occasions when they were together, but not almost every day of the week like he was doing now. Just when she thought that was all, he came out from the church with Clara and the kids, smiling. She spent the whole night crying. It was so unfair that she had to endure the pain alone. Then this morning presented the best opportunity. When she saw him walk into that room alone she wanted him to suffer for everything. She saw the available rod and made sure it landed soundly on his head. Now she was scared. Was he dead? She didn't mean for things to turn out this way she cried. She walked to the sink again and washed her hands frantically, washing off invisible blood stains.

### CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Tunde opened his eyes to see officer Adamu by his side. He was certainly not the first person he would love to see. "How long have I been out?" Tunde asked.

"About 2 hours. We found you unconscious on the ground of the apartment and immediately rushed you to the hospital. What happened sir?"

"I don't know for sure, one time I was looking out the window, the next thing I feel a sharp bang on my head."

"The doctor said you were hit."

"Yea I guess. I should not have been in that place alone. There were a group of teenagers singing outside. Did you question them? Find out who came into the apartment."

"Sir a lot of people go in and out of that compound. It will be hard to pin point a particular person as strange or a foreign visitor. It's a ghetto."

"Did you at least try?" Tunde asked. He looked obviously in pain.

"No sir, the officers are raiding the area as we speak but by the time I arrived there was no group of teenagers outside just random people."

"Adamu, Emeka was hit on the head too, murdered don't you think we might have the same person on the run? Think outside the box," Tunde shouted. He immediately winced at the sharp pain that shot through his head.

"Yes sir, we will double our efforts." A nurse walked in on hearing Tunde shout.

"Please sir you have to excuse the patient. He really needs rest now, you can come back later."

"I need to speak with the doctor," Tunde told the nurse.

"Yea, she will be with you shortly." Tunde rested his head on the pillow. He didn't want to sleep just yet. He had a lot on his mind. He could have sworn that he saw Chioma just before his eyes closed. She had on a glazed look like someone on drugs but her eyes were moist like she had been crying. He didn't know what to make of what he saw because he wasn't sure. What was she doing in his mind? He shook the thoughts off. Chioma could be anything but he doubted she had the ability to hurt him.

Lara watched as John slept soundly. She didn't know how he was able to do that. She had barely slept this last week. The Dread gang were being hunted by the police and from the look of things they were getting closer. She had just over heard John talking to presi. They were talking in hush tunes. John had not really been one to keep things from her but since Mr. Makinde was declared missing she had noted some strange behaviors. She was determined to find out what was going on. Saturn had just been arrested for theft, but they knew better. What the police really wanted was to question him. Lara turned off the television and went to bed. The case had turned out messier than the group had planned. There was a loud cry from John's phone. Lara immediately pretended she was asleep when she felt John stir. "Hello oga..."

"Hello patient, how was your night?" a slender lady wearing medium size heels and a bright smile said.

"Fine, but I expected you to come check on me yesterday." Tunde told the doctor.

"I did, you were asleep. So how are you feeling now?"

"I am great doctor, I just want to know how soon I can leave here."

"You are still under observation. You were hit pretty badly which left you unconscious and from the scan conducted you have a bent skull, but it poses no threat for now. So hopefully by tomorrow you will be discharged."

"Ok, thank you Doc." Tunde reached for his phone as the doctor left the room to continue her ward rounds, he had missed calls from Chioma, Clara, his mum and another friend. He decided to call his mum back because he knew she will soon panic. Just then Adamu walked in.

"Good morning sir, how did your night go?"

"I'm alive," was Tunde's curt reply. "I never knew you loved me this much Adamu," Tunde teased. Adamu laughed.

"Just had to make sure you were fine, I'm not used to being at the fore front so I really need you back. Some co- workers are outside but they were not allowed in, the nurses said they will crowd the place."

"That is really nice of you all. The gesture is what matters."

"So how soon are you leaving here sir?" Adamu asked, taking the only seat available in the room.

"By tomorrow morning hopefully."

"That's good because there is fire on the mountain."

"What's going on?" Tunde questioned.

"It's something you have to see for yourself." Adamu handed him his phone. Tunde scrolled through pictures of a scantily dressed lady with Mr. Makinde on a bed.

"What is this?"

"Clara came to the station when she was unable to reach you. She said this woman in the photo sent it to her and is threatening to release it to blogs if she doesn't get paid." Tunde laughed.

"So Mr. Makinde even frequented hookers? That lady is funny, she probably doesn't know that it's illegal to blackmail someone. What do people think when they decide to feed off someone's pain?"

"She's a hooker Adamu scoffed, that is what they do. "Now the big question in all this is what role does she have in his disappearance and when last did she see him. We have to bring her in sir."

"Yea, she just succeeded in landing herself in trouble. She wasn't even sensible enough to hide her face. Of all the time in the world that she could do this, she decided to do it now, when the man is still assumed missing."

"You should probably start at Lakes avenue, it could be the reason Makinde or his P.A was there. But it's nice to know what the lawyers spent their spare time doing."

"Yea. Better still you could have Clara give her the money, it should not be transferred. She could plead with her that they need to talk or something. The lady doesn't seem smart. We might be lucky and she will agree giving us the chance to pick her up at the meeting ground."

"Ok sir."

"Has anyone come forth with knowledge about Makinde's whereabouts?"

"None for now."

"Ok, no problem." Adamu and Tunde talked for a while about everything except work, until the drugs kicked in and Tunde fell asleep.

### CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Mummy naa," Jennifer cried.

"Just sit still, he is not picking up." Clara showed Jennifer the phone. They had a prearranged meeting with Tunde and the children were getting agitated as usual. She really didn't have time for all this, all she wanted was someone to stay with the kids. She needed time to strategize. She was having attacks from different angles. All she wanted was for this phase in her life to pass, how could Makinde do that to her after all the sacrifices they had put into their marriage? A common hooker blackmailing her? The daughter of late chief Akparaji? It wasn't bad enough that he cheated on her, he just had to do it with someone without class. 3 million naira was what she was asking for or else she will send it to the blogs. Clara played several scenarios in her head. She will be ridiculed in church, among his family and the society at large. She just wouldn't let this shake her. She was at the lowest point in her life and she was not sad, she was angry, very angry. She was tired of playing the dutiful wife, trying to show the world how shaken she is, how sad, but in fact she was pissed, their marriage was far from perfect but she had done her best to maintain an order, they had an agreement and he just decided to shake their world so hard that it was falling apart.

"Mummy did you hear me?" Nicholas asked pulling Clara from her reverie.

"Yes darling," Clara said sighing. Everything had taken its toll on her, her once rounded figure was thinning.

"I said I'm not going to that church again."

"Why?" Clara asked. Her mind immediately darted to Tunde at the sound of the word church. She remembered the episode on Sunday when she had a staring contest with him. She couldn't stop herself from looking at his smooth coffee skin. He was indeed handsome. She caught his eyes one too many times. His eyes would find hers, slide off and find hers again. It got her all mushy like a teenager.

"Mum?"

"Hugh?" Nicholas gave her a really matured frown.

"Listen to me woman." Nicholas said, just like his father would when he was in a heated argument with Clara.

"Auntie Joy said during Sunday school that God is a jealous God."

"What did she say wrong Nicholas?"

"She was insulting God. I told her I was going to report her to you."

"So why did she call God jealous? Did you ask her?"

"No."

"You should have asked love. You know how you don't like sharing your things with your sister? God doesn't like sharing me and you with the Satan. You know who Satan is?"

"Yes mum. Shebi he has twenty eyes and three horns?"

"I have never seen him before."

"In Power Rangers naa. You don't know him?"

"No dear. But like I was saying, God gets jealous when you serve him and he sees you trying to do the things Satan wants you to do. He loves you and doesn't want you to share his love with the devil."

"Just like in power rangers..."

"One more comparison between Power Rangers and Satan, and you are done watching that cartoon for life." Clara interrupted.

"But you told me that it's wrong to be jealous." Nicholas continued unbothered.

"Yes it is, you should always be content with what you have, but God is just too big to share what he created with any other person. Do you understand now?" Nicholas just looked at her like she had just spoken in French.

"You are just confusing me." He said.

"You don't understand? Ok ask your teacher when you get to church on Sunday."

Tunde sat drinking his Coca-Cola and muttering to himself. Since he got back from the hospital he kept remembering what the honourable had told him during their second meeting, stating that he should not put his hands into something he couldn't handle. Was he lucky to be alive? Or was he now a target and that was just his first warning? He saw the missed call from Clara and knew he just had to meet up with the kids, he had been away from the kids for long, in more ways than he could confess, that family brought him closure.

All Tunde could think about as he drove home from his outing with the kids was the call he received from his mum. His father had been battling with cancer and it seems the cancer had gotten the best of him. That was why his mum was hammering on the whole family celebrating the man on his 70th birthday. He felt sorry for his father, they had never had a strong relationship but at least he knew he had a father he could call his own. Now the man was going and he didn't have enough time to rebuild the friendship they ought to have. He had so much to think about. As he drove pass the church he heard them singing a song that he loved so much – 'You are great'. Without thinking about what he was doing, he rode into the church compound and got down. He went into the auditorium and sat at the back humming the song along with them. He shut his eyes and in that moment he felt like all his problems were insignificant. Just humming the song, nothing else mattered but himself and God, he was not so good with prayers, he hardly ever prayed, he didn't know when the tears started rolling down his eyes.

### CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Hope you are enjoying yourself?"

"What?" Tunde could barely hear Chioma above the loud noise of the Yoruba band dishing out music to the guest.

"I was asking if you were enjoying yourself because you don't look like you are," Chioma shouted closer to Tunde's ear.

"I am not really a fan of this kind of loud party. I was honestly thinking it was going to be an in house thing."

"In house for your dad at 70? You have got to be kidding me." Chioma said.

"O, here you are," Tunde's mum said as she walked towards their direction, trying to dodge the servers and tables with a pretty young girl in tow. The family had chosen a beautiful blue lace combined with gold making them stand out from the guest. Tunde's dad had a special place at the high table with family members having a place very close to the high table. Tunde deliberately sat on a table quite distant from where the family were to sit. The further he was from all the noise and drama the better for him.

"Why are you sitting here son? Didn't you see where you ought to sit?"

"Not now mother," Tunde quickly replied.

"Anyway, this is Amanda, you remember her?" Tunde smiled, how could he not remember her, she was very little, about 5 to 6 years when her family relocated to the states. She was all so grown up, nothing of the little girl was left, apart from the beauty of course.

"It's so nice to finally see you again Tunde said, you can please sit down," Tunde gestured to an empty seat close by. He knew exactly what his mother was trying to do, trying to play the match maker and in turn deliberately trying to anger Chioma and let her know she no longer had a place in the family.

"Okay, let me leave you guys to catch up, I have some other guest to attend to, anybody I feel you need to meet, I'll bring them here."

"Ma! I'm staying here to get away from all the drama, you don't have to keep bringing them here." Tunde's mum waved off what he said like she was swatting a fly and walked away.

"So are you back permanently Amanda?" redirecting his attention to her.

"I'm not sure for now. I just finished my masters and my parents decided to come back to Nigeria, but I'm not so sure it's a path I want to thread, although someone can change that," she said with a wink. Tunde laughed.

"It is great that you came, at least I got to see you," Tunde smiled.

"Yea. I came over to the house earlier this week and was told by your mum that you had moved to Lagos."

"I had to follow my dream anywhere it led me."

All through their conversation, Chioma wasn't herself, he told Amanda how he got into the Nigerian police force, and all other stories needed to help them catch up with each other's life after all this time, leaving Chioma out of the discussion like she didn't exist.

"So how about that ugly cat you loved with your life." Tunde said with a chuckle.

"You still remember that? It didn't even make it with me out of Nigeria," Amanda laughed. She had barely finished her statement when Chioma stood up abruptly, picked up the wine on the table and turned it on Amanda's face before storming off, leaving Tunde and everyone around in shock. Tunde ran after her, throwing a handkerchief Amanda's way. Nothing could describe his anger at that time.

"Are you sick?" Tunde shouted as soon as he met up with Chioma outside. Chioma immediately went into one of her episodes behaving like she had a panic attack.

"Your drugs!" Tunde screamed, "Did you take them?" She didn't respond but sat down on a chair outside, crying violently while throwing curse words at him.

"I have done so much for you. You are cruel! Damn this family, damn you!"

"What did I do so wrong that would make you insult my mother's guest the way you did?"

"You call that an insult? You and your family have been insulting me since I got here you idiot!" "We never asked you to come, you invited yourself." With that statement Tunde moved back because the hate seen in her eyes was scary. She looked around as if searching for something to hit him with.

"I hate you! I hate your family! I hate Clara, and Amanda? Yes I hate her also." Chioma laughed hysterically, her face smeared with foundation and mascara as she cried and tried to talk at the same time. At that time a little crowed had gathered around them.

"What has Clara got to do with this? Do you know her?"

"Do I know her? Are you kidding me?" Chioma laughed, "Did you ask her about the flowers?" Chioma asked, twitching.

"What are you talking about Chioma?" There was no stopping her now, she jumped up and down.

"She just had to go to superman about the paintings on the wall. And of course he would rush there like a fool."

"Ok Chioma, you have to calm down, you are not making any sense. Why don't we go inside, get something to eat and talk this out?" Tunde was deliberately trying to calm her down so as to disperse the crowd of people taking pictures and recording the scene. As he was doing this he was processing a thousand things in his head. Could Chioma be involved with all this?

"Now you want to talk things out abi? You think I care right now? I wanted to talk things out with you a long time ago. You never gave me any chance. When you came out of the hospital you went to see Clara not caring that I was worried sick about how you were. I didn't know if you were alive." Chioma cried. "I called, God knows I tried."

"Do you have any idea what you are implying? How did you know I was in the hospital?"

"You make me hurt you then turn around and put the blame on me." She continued talking, the security officers had come around and on the orders of Tunde took her away. He had heard enough, he was sure he would still hear more but not with the onlookers who seemed to keep growing.

****

"So my life was made complicated because of a crazy person?" Clara asked. Chioma had been arrested although she was shortly granted bail on health grounds.

"She is not really crazy. She has borderline personality disorder which led to her obsessive love disorder. I'm not excusing what she has done but she wasn't really in her right state of mind when all this where happening."

"So she gets away with all this? After putting my family into so much pain?"

"I don't think so, but she will most likely get off because she is mentally unstable. I do not plan to press charges and I feel you should let her be too, she is never going to come near your family again."

"This is hilarious, simply hilarious! She almost had you killed for Christ sake. Nobody is safe around that woman."

"She is not getting away with it Clara, just calm down. She will get her punishment one way or another." Clara shook her head. It was unbelievable, her life had an extra drama because of the man sitting at her side. She was grateful for the little order that had returned to her life.

### CHAPTER SIXTEEN

It was like Mr. Makinde had fallen off the face of the earth, his officers had been on a wide goose chase for months always hitting a blockade when it seems like they were gaining momentum on the case.

"Good evening uncle,"

"How are you Jenny?" Tunde said as he entered into the living room. "Where is Nicholas?"

"He is sleeping he hasn't been feeling well since morning but he has taking drugs sha."

"Good, hope you have been taking care of him?"

"Yes."

"Where is your mum?"

"At her garden." Tunde almost rolled his eyes. Over the past months he had noticed the odd and almost obsessive attachment Clara had with her garden. It was almost disturbing.

"Go tell her I am around,"

"I don't think so o, aunty Shola came today, she was just shouting at mummy calling her a witch and a murderer since then mummy has been snapping at me."

"She must be really upset."

"Aunty Shola said mummy knows where daddy is and she would disgrace her."

"Really? Do you know that you talk too much?" Jennifer stuck her tongue out while Tunde moved towards the back of the house where Clara was crouched on the ground talking to the newly transplanted flowers while crying.

"At the end man is all manure that is why the psalmist said 'who is man that God is mindful of.'" Clara said sensing his presence. Tunde squatted on the ground with her allowing her to cry on his arm.

Tunde drove to aunty Shola's place, he had to get her address without Clara knowing what he was up to. He knocked loudly on the door of her flat, the gateman had said that this was hers. A plump woman probably in her early sixties came to answer the door.

"Yes, can I help you?"

"I am detective Tunde," he said flashing his badge. She took a while to ponder before saying "Ekabo, come in." Tunde was ushered into a well arranged living room, nothing so fancy, a sharp contrast from her brother's house. But he could see picture of a decorated military man on the wall, probably her husband.

"Omo Yoruba ni, kilonshele?"

"Sorry ma, my Yoruba is not so fluent, but if I'm to guess what you said it's something about the reason for my visit," Mrs. Shola sat still with her mouth aghast.

"Is your name not Babatunde? That's a Yoruba name."

"Yes ma, but back to the issue on ground, I'm the detective in charge of your brother's disappearance..."

"And in charge of his wife in his absence," Mrs. Shola cut in, Tunde ignored and continued.

"I came to clear something's up that may or may not be relevant to this case..."

"You think I don't know about your constant visit to that witch? I'm not stupid, what an adult sees sitting, a child can't see it on top of the tree. How come I am suddenly needed in the investigation after my visit to her?"

"That is not..."

"Officer I really don't have anything to say to you, after all, he was not my husband. Have you talked to the wife? Which good wife will not know where her husband was headed to the morning he disappeared. Don't they talk? He disappeared and she is gallivanting with a policeman, getting fresh and adding weight. That is all I have to say on the issue, I have nothing to offer, save my sixth sense. Back to culture. You really should pay more attention to yours, a generation is coming that will know nothing about how to speak one of the over 256 languages we have in Nigeria, soon everyone will be speaking English in Nigeria, it's not our language. Go and learn Yoruba young man. You don't know the language, your children won't know it too and your children's children, that's how the bad trend will kip going. God forbid war happens in this country and all the tribes separate you have nowhere to go because the main distinctive mark of your culture you don't know." Mrs. Shola said switching off the topic so fast. One would have thought that she would be more interested in the topic related to her brother.

"It is noted madam."

Tunde was furious as he drove home realizing that he didn't achieve what he went there to do. She took over the interview and he sat answering her. He wondered if it was her husband who was in the military or herself. She was domineering and was probably used to people cowering under her. He thought through the case. Emeka's involvement had left a glint of hope that Mr. Makinde was still alive. He gave a brief wave to the driver who had waited for him to exit the compound first before driving in.

**

The prostitute blackmailing Clara had been picked up that afternoon and thrown a whole new insight into the case. While she had done it to amass wealth, she had actually been an answer to Tunde's prayers. The prostitute confessed to being with Mr. Makinde on several occasions but the best things about her statement was the fact that she lived in Lakes Avenue. A lot of things had begun to tie the barrister to that place and although Tunde did not know why, his guts told him that Makinde's disappearance was hinged to something that happened in that area. The prostitute further disclosed another lady the barrister was involved with, and when it was discovered that she also lived in Lakes Avenue, Tunde had ordered a full search of the area.

"Where are we with the ladies house?" Tunde asked.

"She has not been seen in the area for a while, in fact the last day she was seen was the day after Mr. Makinde was declared missing. We gained access to her apartment and there is nothing there of value. It seems she lived there temporary." Officer Adamu said.

"Did you get a name?"

"Lara, she is a popular Dread gang member."

"And she has not been seen since?"

"No sir. We spoke with her landlord, she paid her rent monthly and in cash so we cannot trace her account to confirm if her name is a hoax. But we learned something from her landlord. Apart from the barrister she had another guy, a very tall man by their description who constantly visited her. It seems in the short period she lived in the apartment, these two were her only visitors."

"There is something in this Adamu, I can feel it. She must have spoken to someone, anyone at all that can lead us to her."

"We have the colour and model of her visitor's car. Officers on road blocks have been asked to watch out for it." Adamu replied.

"Thanks for being proactive. The search should be nationwide. I doubt they would still be in this city if they had anything to do with the barrister's disappearance, not with the heat on this case. Also get the best description of Lara you can from her neighbours." Tunde said rubbing his temples. He was exhausted.

### CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"The grace of our lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest and abide with us now and forever more amen," with that the service ended. Tunde stood by Clara's car as he watched Clara struggle to get Jenny out of the church as usual, on sighting him, Nicholas ran into his embrace leaving the shouting Clara and the wailing Jenifer.

Tunde had intentionally taken the bus to church because he wanted to speak with Clara. "You have been coming to church more often, it means you are getting better." Clara turned to Tunde who had the sleeping Nicholas on his arm while she drove.

"I won't say I was bad before though, I guess I just like this one. The preacher knows what he is doing not like some who use church as an avenue to extort money from their already poor congregation while they drive exotic cars and even have police escort."

"I have been meaning to ask, why do you guys approve escort for this new generation preachers?"

"That is simple, they have the money, and we need the money."

"It should be illegal as far as I'm concerned, it's not like they hold a political position." Clara quickly added.

"Well, escorts are not meant for politicians alone, some of these preachers are really wealthy and are at risk of being kidnapped or robbed, my issue with them is that they sometimes make other people park when their passing through a particular road because they keep blowing their sirens and the funny thing is that the same people they make to leave the road for them are the same people that gave them their wealth with their numerous donations to 'daddy and mummy in the lord'." Clara laughed at Tunde's mimicry.

"Clara," Tunde continued in a low tone. "Where were you on the day your husband disappeared?" Suddenly Clara braked to a screeching halt that it jolted Nicholas up.

"Mummy what happened?" Jenny called from the back.

"Nothing sweetie, seat back down. Am I a suspect now?"

"No...no, I mean," Tunde sighed, "It's not like you are a suspect or anything, I...I, ok, I met your sister in-law."

"Great, just great, how is she?"

"Hey Clara, its ok,"

"No its not and I'm not. Once in a while you should learn to mind your own business," with that Clara burst into tears that seemed to flow easily with her. "On that day I was at home as usual ok! His family has never accepted me but we married none the less, and Mrs. Shola is the worst, she is just plain cruel,"

"Yea I met her," Tunde finally said.

"I thought it will get better over the years but it only got worse, they already had a wife for him before we came back from the states, and when I arrived she quarreled that I was not 'traditional' enough that I'm 'ajebutter' . you won't believe the woman asked me if I can grind pepper on grinding stone, please who does that in this 21st century when there is a blender hugh? Do I have to be backward to show that I'm a woman?"

"Yea she is very traditional, Yoruba people tend to be tribalistic, that's why their culture is strong anyway, but she takes hers to a whole new level," Tunde paused a while searching her face for any change in her emotions. "Hey, I'm sorry I brought it up forgive me." He said stroking her hair.

"Mummy I'm hungry. Please let's go." Jennifer said stressing the hungry.

"Yes dear." Clara replied, eyes still locked with Tunde.

"I'm sorry." Tunde mouthed.

Tunde had been with John for about 30 minutes listening to John complain about the Nigerian police force lack of respect for its citizens, how he was treated badly on their journey and his need for a lawyer. The problem with people that get their money cheaply is that they lose it cheaply too, squandering it on women, parties and liabilities taking them back to square one. It didn't take long before John was caught. He had not left the city. Tunde was sure he had seen John somewhere of relevance before today, but he couldn't place him in an exact location.

"I have been talking and you have not been listening officer, we all work for someone that works for someone that works for someone. The ladder keeps climbing, I'm loyal to no one, and I'm the boss of myself. As for what you asked earlier, we worked for someone that works for someone that works for someone..."

"And can I know the 'someone' that works for someone?" Tunde said rolling his eyes.

"You have the wrong guy then, no one has seen his face, we don't even know his real name, but you should ask Lara."

"Do you have any idea where we can find her?"

"Of course, I think I do, after all she is supposed to be my girlfriend."

"Why are you doing this John?" Tunde asked, "That was easy."

"Like I said earlier, I'm loyal to no one, the bitch had it coming, I know she was cheating on me with the barrister, I kept quiet about it but I'm not stupid you know." He went on and on about the problems in their relationship like Tunde was some kind of love doctor.

"It's ok, I'll get back to you." Tunde said heading for the door. "Hey! Sir! You can't keep me here na, I'm not being arrested for anything am I? I was corporative, hey!" Tunde shut the door against the shouting John.

### CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"What is it again?" Clara said aloud. She had noted aunty Shola's car parked in the compound. She quickly dashed out of her car when she saw the girl who helped her occasionally with house chores crying by aunty Shola's side. "Aunty! Aunty! They don't know who took her ooo, I reach there on time and I no see ahm."

"Calm down and explain better, what are you saying?" Clara was clearly frightened.

"It seems Jennifer has been abducted from her school," Aunty Shola said, helping the maid.

"To where?" Clara was already shouting. "I dropped her off in school this morning." Clara added crying. "It can't be, I don't understand what is happening."

"I called you but you didn't pick up. We have informed the police already and detective Tunde is already in the school questioning the teacher." Clara could not keep calm.

"I should have gone to pick them from school myself," Clara cried, dragging herself on the ground.

"It wouldn't have mattered. She was last seen before she went out to play during their lunch break. Someone is really targeting this family, I cautioned you before..."

"I don't need this now." Clara said going back to her car. She was headed for the school.

Tunde could not understand how a child could leave the school without the notice of the security man. Surely Jenifer, as restless as she was, would not follow a complete stranger out the school compound without putting up a fight. They had thoroughly searched the school, including the building under construction at the back of the school. Clara had come up with a weird suggestion that Chioma was on to her family again. But Chioma was in Abuja, under strict supervision of some friends. They had a missing father and a missing child and Tunde could not make sense of it at all. Did her disappearance have something to do with her dad? Or are the two cases unrelated? Tunde could not conclude.

***

"So, five hundred thousand naira was transferred to Philips account and two hundred thousand to Mr. Chukwunonso account by you, are you now Santa clause?" Tunde asked the honourable. Philip was the name of the other guy whose body was found with Chukwunonso.

"It wasn't my fault..."

"Hey honourable I'm still talking, you had your chance remember. As I was saying before you rudely interrupted, here is my theory. Something really shoddy was going on with you, the barrister found out, you kidnapped him, paid his P.A and Philip to help, and then had them killed to cover up." The honorable eyes drew wide open and he was sweating profusely. "I can only imaging the headlines tomorrow morning, I'll be the hero, you the crook, by the way Philips mother is ready to back up this theory in court, and you are certainly not her favourite right now. A lot of interesting deals between you and Philip has come up and if you must know, Philip was quite close to his mum. There is just one tiny teeny bit left, where is Mr. Makinde?"

"I'm an honest Nigerian, the honourable said weak in tears, I was being blackmailed you know. They had proof that would have destroyed my relationship with Mr. Makinde and ultimately my life."

"So you decided to kill him?"

"Never, if I wanted to kill the barrister I wouldn't have done it in such a sloppy way that pointed fingers to me."

"See honourable if you want to talk, this is a good time, I don't have all the time in the world."

"It was about my daughter, Lara, I had her with Clara Makinde many years ago."

"What did you just say?" Tunde stood shocked.

"I and Clara had a daughter back in secondary school. It was our own little secrete. The Dreads obviously had influential people. They had this information and threatened to inform Mr. Makinde which might cause a thrift in our relationship and ultimately the case. On a larger scale, it would have destroyed my family and reputation, especially when it becomes public knowledge that I had no hand in her upbringing. Why they didn't just go straight to him and tell him, getting it over with once and for all I don't know, but they wanted me to call it off myself. That was the reason for the scheduled meeting I was to have with the barrister in the first place. I was going to drop the case."

"What has Philip got to do with this and how come the money was sent the day of Mr. Makinde's disappearance?" The honourable sighed. "I think its best I get it all out now because one way or another you would still find out. But I swear, I had nothing to do with Makinde's disappearance."

"Let me be the judge of that sir." Tunde replied.

"I did something really stupid, the honourable continued, I wanted Mr. Makinde gone, he knew something that... well I just thought that if I called the case off they might still reach out to him and he might expose me, ruining my chance in the coming election."

"See if you don't let it all out I can't help you," Tunde said.

"At the time I bought the land," the honourable continued, "I really didn't have a job worthy enough to get the land, the barrister found out and wanted me to tell him how I got the money for the land before it comes up in court, so I had to tell him about my involvement in oil bunkering and drugs back when I was young and stupid and he promised to create a cover up for it just in case it came up. He knew too much about me and with the elections coming up next year I couldn't take my chances. I hired Philip to take him out after gradually building trust with him. I got Intel from his P.A that they had a meeting by 10a.m on that faithful day with a member of the Dread gang. I panicked feeling that the meeting was meant to unveil my secrete child to him. I thought it wise to strike early but you know the rest of the story. They are dead and Mr. Makinde missing. When I couldn't reach out to them that day, I was shaken and till today I don't know what happened I swear."

"Am I supposed to take your word for it?" Tunde asked in annoyance.

"I won't have told you the whole story otherwise. I could easily have said I sent them the money as a loan or something. I want this case over with so I can get back to my life too."

Tunde laughed. "You ought to start praying hard that we get the persons involved or you could just kiss your dream goodbye, until then you will be placed under police surveillance, what people do for power, God!" Tunde said with a shake of his head.

"Which member of the dread gang was Mr. Makinde supposed to meet?"

"I never asked."

"We might need to speak with your daughter."

"I do not know where she is, she is a member of the Dread gang too. All I can do is provide you with her picture." Tunde suddenly realized that they might have been talking about John's girlfriend, the same girl John was aiding the police in finding.

"It was for my father." The honourable said, bringing Tunde back from his thoughts.

"What?" Tunde retorted,

"The land, I promised it to my father, it's his legacy."

"Sir, that information is none of my business. You need a lawyer." Tunde said. "Let's hope your own children find you worthy of any legacy." The honourable studied Tunde a while before speaking up.

"Can I trust that information to stay between us?"

"How can you think I would keep attempted murder to myself? You are guilty of murder as far as I am concerned, it is the other half of me that is a detective that's holding on to your side of the story."

"You do not have proof, nothing else links me to that scene, and we could settle on an amount that keeps you quiet, after all, dead men don't speak." The honourable said, chilling Tunde to his bones.

***

Tunde's phone rang almost as soon as he hit the bed, just the person he didn't feel like talking to right now.

"Hello Clara, it's quite..."

"She is home, Jennifer walked in on her own but she won't talk to anybody," Clara said crying. "I'll soon come over, just keep calm."

### CHAPTER NINETEEN

They were seated in a room full of children, the walls had pictures of different cartoon characters from Barney to ben 10. The place was noisy from the babies crying.

"You can come in now," a patient attendant said. Clara went in and in 15 minutes came out of the doctor's office.

"What did he say?" Tunde asked.

"He said she is fine, no trace of abuse or anything, said it is probably just post-traumatic stress and she will be placed under observation for a while."

"Thank God," Tunde said, Jenny had refused to talk since yesterday when she strolled in on her own, she had withdrawn which is a far cry from who she was, she also had loss of appetite and had started bed wetting even when she fell asleep in the morning. It was like Jennifer was 2 years old again.

"Let's go then. I hate the smell of hospitals," Clara said.

"So hospitals have a unique smell."

"Yes, like a mixture of drugs, vomit and death."

"Really?" Tunde said, "you have a good sense of smell to be able to smell all these."

"Talking about death, there will be a thanksgiving service at the church on Sunday for the safe return of Jenny, if anything had happened to her I don't know what would have become of me."

Tunde made a 'hump' sound, "it's easy. You could easily have started by looking for your daughter since she is a human being that deserves to be loved too."

"Are you ok Tunde? You are really not making sense, are you saying I don't love Jenny?"

"No, not Jenny, I meant Lara." Clara stopped in her tracks breathing heavily like she was exasperating. She bent on one knee facing Jennifer and asked her to go sit in the reception and watch television.

"Do you know what?" Tunde continued, "I honestly wished that when I said that, you would have no clue what I'm talking about. But here you are, shaking like a leaf, you even know the name, just had to remove the 'c' in your name, clap for yourself," Tunde said clapping while people around turned towards him wondering what the celebration was about.

"Who told you Tunde?"

"It's my business to know. Your life has been made my business by the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You didn't even have the decency to tell your husband and you parade yourself as a Christian, truth can never be hidden for long you know. You are nothing but a liar, someone that can hide that can do anything, you are a hypocrite, are you even a mother?"

"Will you just shut up?" Clara shouted, for the first time since Tunde knew her. Clara was actually not crying in the face of a challenge, she looked scared.

"Do you know what it feels like to have a teenage pregnancy? I was 14, in jss3 and he was in ss3, you have no clue what I went through. The shame, the pain," Clara's tears started flowing freely as she struggled to continue talking. "And good old daddy called me up and told me I should have the child and he will make all the pain go away. After all he had the money to do anything in the world, I believed him, and after she was born, she was taken away from me. I never saw my baby again until 7 years back, she was 15years then you know, in ss2, a beautiful girl. It was too late for me to reach out to her, I was a failure to her. She was my mistake." Clara said using the back of her palm to wipe out tears. "I suffered for it, I had no child the first 6 years of my marriage, I believe it was God punishing me. I wanted to tell my husband but... you don't know him like I do, he will never understand and my marriage will be over before it started."

"What about the father?"

"Vincent you mean, he is a looser, denied me flat, when I discovered he was the one my husband wanted to defend, I tried to stop it, I wanted him to suffer, but my husband had bigger plans, said it will be big for his career. No one has ever really won the government, case always goes cold, he was ambitious and now he is gone. If that lunatic has a hand in it, make sure he pays for it. I have nothing more to tell you."

"You didn't think that this connection between you and the honourable was news worthy? You never brought it up during questioning."

"What has my daughter got to do with my husband's death eh?" Tunde was taken aback awhile but quickly found his composure. Nothing had been said about Mr. Makinde being dead. He wondered why Clara had come to that conclusion.

"Your daughter is a part of the group that was blackmailing your husband." Clara couldn't help her burst of tears. Tunde regretted his last statement. He had spoken too much. Clara wasn't supposed to know that information until they had proof.

Don moen's music was blasting from the stereo as Tunde drove. No one was talking and the newly improved Jennifer made it easier.

"So that is why you have been acting strange since yesterday." Clara said breaking the silence, we all have our own secretes you know. Jesus gave my life a meaning, the pieces of the puzzle all fit into him. Tunde couldn't understand how she could turn a really serious case into a sermon. "So how is the case coming up?" She continued, like they had not shared the weirdest 5 minutes earlier. "So you are not going to talk to me?" Clara sighed and shut her eyes. When they got to Clara's house Tunde watched as she helped Jennifer out.

"I might have to tell her who her mother is you know, might help the case Tunde said not looking at her."

"Go ahead and do what you have to do, it has been a long time coming, whether she hates me or love me doesn't change anything." Tunde kicked the engine to life and drove as Clara stood watching the car go. Tunde suddenly braked and reversed the car, when he got beside Clara she peeped in wondering if she had left anything.

"How old is Lara?" Tunde asked,

"22 years, why do you ask?"

"How old are you then?"

"Do the math, old enough to give birth to you." He knew her age. He just didn't want to leave things awkward between them.

"You wish!" Tunde said and drove off again, God, that woman has some good genes, Tunde thought. He wondered if they could have anything serious after the case. They were already comfortable with each other and with the way she looked at him he was sure that his feelings for her was mutual. What would people say? He thought back to the way Clara had mentioned her husband's death like she was very certain. Was she letting go of him? Tunde wondered.

### CHAPTER TWENTY

Lara was seated across from Tunde. She was a beautiful girl, must have gotten that from her mother, Tunde thought to himself.

"It didn't take John too long to give you up."

"Well, he is a fool." Lara replied.

"Relationship crisis?" Tunde asked without getting an answer from her.

"Ok, why are you stalling? No one is saying you did anything wrong, all we need is a name." Tunde pushed a blank paper and pen across the table towards Lara and Lara pushed it back.

"I told you before, I don't know what you are talking about."

"How are your parents? Tunde said after a while.

"You could direct that question to God because the last time I checked they were dead."

"I'm talking about your real parents."

"Sir, as far as I'm concerned my parents died 5years ago."

"Won't you like to know who they are? It will shock you." Tunde felt she already knew about them, being a top ranking member of the Dread gang.

"No, thanks," Lara's face showed indifference. "I know my rights sir, and you have held me for more than 24 hours. I have told you that I do not know who you are talking about, I have nothing to do with the missing barrister and except it has become a crime to have parents who don't care about you, I really do not know why I am refused bail."

"They are influential people in this country." Tunde stubbornly continued.

"I want to know why you are blackmailing your own father, such lack of respect. If you needed money, you could have asked him without resorting to cheap blackmail over a piece of land." Lara was still for a minute, "Mr. Makinde is not my father. Lara said, arranging and rearranging scenarios in her head. "No, no it can't be." Tunde was confused, she really looked like she didn't know who her father was. He decided to continue in the charade.

"I have test results and documents to prove it if you want." Lara stood up and started pacing the room.

"Please tell me it's a prank I beg you." Tunde walked out and came out holding some papers, you can check if you want. Lara started crying.

"I slept with the man for Christ sake."

"You did what?"

"Presi told me to use it as leverage to blackmail him, we have the tape, he was supposed to back up from the case or I'll release it, discrediting him in court and breaking up his marriage, o my God, o my God, tell me I'm dreaming."

"Calm down Lara, I was never talking about Mr. Makinde." Tunde said smiling, "But at least you have given me a reason to keep you at the station longer, you were blackmailing the missing man."

"So you lied?" Lara said, feeling deflated.

"Hey, I never said I lied, I just wasn't talking about Makinde. I am really surprised that you do not know who your father is, even as a member of the gang. Honorable Vincent is your father. And if you did not know that, you really need to ask Presi some questions because the gang has been blackmailing the honourable for a while now. How did that slip past you?"

"I was never aware of that. My orders were simple and strictly to the barrister. I can't believe that Presi did that to me, why ask me to throw myself at Mr. Makinde when we already had leverage against the honourable himself? I am fighting against the infidel that doesn't deserve to be called my dad, he had it coming I guess." She said, hitting her face with her hands.

"It's not about him Lara, it's about Mr. Makinde. You are already in too much trouble as it is now. Just tell me all you know about the barrister." Lara sighed loudly.

"Do you really think we had anything to do with his disappearance sir? Story, story." Lara said like she was singing a song. "We had a meeting by 10am that day. He was to sign an agreement stating that he will withdraw from the case or risk our love affair being released. I was also expecting him to come with some little extra cash at the sideline but he never showed up, next thing we knew is his face over the news. Do you want to hear my theory detective? Mr. Makinde has us all on a wide goose chase, he is just scaring us, it's a prank, don't bother losing sleep over him. The gang has already dropped the issue and scattered. It is the truth. I was shocked to hear about his disappearance." She said.

"John said you have seen presi, can we know him now."

"The loud mouth." Lara said. "Before I do this, you must guarantee me of my safety, he is a big government thug and I'm not ready to die."

"We will work something out for you, trust me. It is not like I am giving you an option any way, you are going to give up his name weather you like it or not." Tunde stated.

Lara strolled towards the paper on the table and stopped. "I will lead you to him, but who is my mother?"

"I guess I should leave the reunion for her, she is itching to meet you." Tunde said.

"After 22years, really? You think I feel like having a big family reunion?"

"It is Clara Makinde," he finally said.

"What a coincidence, my very own role model," with that Lara laughed but it could not mask the pain in her eyes she then moved slowly to the table and inscribed a name which Tunde knew so well on the paper. The man's name only became relevant during elections in the state. Tunde wondered if he was gradually taking on more than he could handle.

****

"You have lots of guts young man coming in here with your allegations, I have tackled policemen before and they disappeared like smoke. You dare come here with a warrant for my arrest. You little rat, you really think you can fight the government?"

"I work for the federal government sir," Tunde replied.

"See, all I know is all you know, I have been monitoring this case and believe me, I have my men searching for Makinde even as we speak."

"We will discuss that in the station sir," with a wave of his hand Tunde signaled an officer to follow him in the car while they followed behind with another police car leading.

So far, all Tunde could get from him was that John was the only other person that knew about Lara's biological parents and as expected he was no were to be found. Tunde had one fear, if he didn't wrap up this case soon it may go cold, people will soon forget about it and money will change hands because the government wouldn't want to associate with it and that is the end of the case. The only reason it had gone this far was because Mr. Makinde was influential. Tunde sighed and said a silent prayer.

### CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

"So John has vanished through thin air."

"Sir, we will get him, it's a matter of time." Tunde said to his boss Mr. wale.

"You shouldn't have let him out of your sight in the first place, he is a suspect and shouldn't have been allowed to leave the station let alone travel."

"Sir, he was actually being watched but he smuggled his way out, I had nothing to do with it." "That sounds like you telling me you are not on top of this case Tunde."

"Sir please trust me."

"You can leave my office now," Wale said rolling his chair to face the window.

"Thank you sir."

"It seems you are taking your time on this case." Mr. Wale said before Tunde could leave the office.

"Sir I'm doing my best and I'll like to think I'm doing a great..."

"What happens when her husband comes back? Let me reframe, when you get her husband back?" Tunde didn't answer, there was no need to defend himself. "You can leave now."

********************

"Are you telling me that is not John?"

"It's James his twin." Adamu replied. "It is on record." Tunde chuckled, this is getting more interesting, He thought.

"Boss, he is in Ghana. I'll get the warrant for his arrest, his record is not clean himself, I guess it flows in the blood, and he picked the perfect time to leave the country."

"Anything that would lead us to John Adamu. Just anything. My ass is on fire. You can go now." Tunde picked his phone and chatted up with Clara,

How are you? And jenny? The case is getting better than you can imagine...

John had a special attachment to his brother, it took the police forging his death to bring him back to the country, he had no other relative still alive as far as the police could find. John had been badly beaten up.

"We can skip all that John, Lara said you left her alone at the meeting site, let's continue from there," Tunde said.

"I just needed extra cash. I knew that Mr. Makinde would be wondering why his client was gradually withdrawing from the case, so I called Mr. Makinde up asking for 1million naira to share him this piece of information. He didn't have any reason to spend such money but I told him that the information was linked to his wife. He was intrigued." John paused a while taking in deep breathes.

"Go on." Tunde shouted.

"When he came, he tried to be smart and we got into a shuffle and I mistakenly shot him, it wasn't intentional honestly." John sighed.

"I had to kill his associate to cover it up and fake the accident." Tunde was taken aback, he almost fell off his chair. Tunde was mute for some time then finally talked.

"Where is Mr. Makinde, or his body?"

"At the bottom of the lagoon." was John's short reply.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

It had been a roller coaster couple of weeks with Mr. Makinde's death on the lips of everyone. John was going away for sure. He had pleaded guilty.

"Congrats boss." Adamu said, giving Tunde's shoulder a slight punch.

"We all did it together." Tunde said.

"You don't sound happy. I expected the team to have gone out for drinks or something to celebrate."

"After John's final sentencing." Tunde replied.

"Still there is something wrong. You have been aloof since John appeared in court."

"We are missing something. I can feel it." Tunde said. Adamu chuckled.

"Learn how to give yourself a pat on the back once in a while. You deserve it, really."

"Why did John confess?" Tunde asked.

"Did you see the beating those guys gave him?"

"We had no concrete evidence against him. He could have spun his story a thousand ways but he chose to confess. Isn't it odd?"

"No sir, it happens. Although someone made a complaint that we had the wrong person in jail."

"Was it filed?" Tunde asked.

"Yes, formality sake. She says she was related to the deceased. One Mrs. Shola."

"O, that woman is one hell of a drama queen. She has had it in for Clara from day one."

"Go get some rest boss. Tomorrow is another day." Both men went their separate ways, each determined to have adequate sleep. That rest was worth more to Tunde now than a couple of drinks.

*******

Her phone had been buzzing all day, reporters had been struggling to get the first picture of Clara after the news had been let out. John had been charged to court on two counts of blackmail and murder. Tunde looked across the room, Clara looked tired, she didn't have a lot of friends but people from church were around helping her, her tears had been flowing all week and Tunde had been there, that is the much he could do as a friend. Jenny had finally talked but Tunde's fear was that she will relapse on hearing this news of her father's death. She certainly was old enough to understand what was going on. Clara was waiting for the right time to tell her kids and the more she waited for that right time, the more days elapsed. People had begun leaving one after the other, aunty shola and another lady Tunde didn't really know but was sure was from church were staying over to help out. Tunde was supposed to be happy but he was not.

"Has the medical report come out?" Tunde talked to someone over the phone.

"Ok, thanks."

Tunde was even more unsettled after speaking with Mrs. Shola some days back. She claimed that John could not have killed her brother because they were together. She said they were . This much Tunde believed because he suddenly remembered why John's face was familiar. He was the driver who he waved at on his way out of Mrs. Shola's compound the first time he went to see her. She said she paid him to trail Clara because she was convinced the woman was evil and cheating on her brother. She came up with so many allegations that Tunde did not know where the truth ended and the hate began to speak. He had this throbbing feeling that he had the wrong man in jail. But why did he confess?

On sighting Tunde, Clara ran to him crying on his shoulders. "Its ok dear, it's all over, just be strong ok, you have me, you have God and you have your children."

"Thank you for being more than a friend Tunde, you have been my strength, I owe you and I just want to let you know that... sshhh." Tunde cut her mid-sentence with his finger over her lips in a silence gesture while suppressing several urges that came from staring at her lips. Not now, he told himself.

"You don't have to say anything, I know."

"What was he doing at lakes in the first place ehh? And now I will never have a body to bury, it's all so much for me to bear."

"Hey, you have to be strong because of your kids ok, promise me you would stop thinking about this, I don't want your health affected."

"You are right, we are all manure, who is man that God is mindful of anyway, we are nothing if he doesn't keep us. I don't think I will ever go to lakes again. Look at my husband, his assistants and Emeka. That place is hunted by death."

"How did you know that Emeka stayed at Lakes? That wasn't public knowledge." All the public knew was the one said in the news, where he committed suicide.

"You must have said it in passing, I don't know." Clara replied while averting his eyes. Tunde doubted he did.

"Let me quickly rush to the supermarket, we have nothing to eat."

"Anybody can do that for you at this time. Let me help you at least." Tunde begged.

"No, I need to clear my head any way."

"Ok then, be safe, I'll be waiting."

As soon as Clara's car left the compound, Tunde went to the porch and stood staring into space in deep thought until Adamu's message came in. He was sure Adamu felt he was mad pursuing an already concluded case. But his hunch was almost always right. The long awaited result was out and it was something he knew. He had seen it a dozen times in this house. He went around frantically looking for the container. After seeing it, he set his gaze on the garden. The same garden that had picked his interest several times before. Nicholas had talked about his mom coming in late to bury manure in her garden before, on the said day of Mr. Makinde's disappearance. It was of no relevance until today. Tunde picked up a shovel and went to the transplanted roses, he dug until he found what he was looking for.

### CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"The house seems quiet." Clara said dropping the groceries and throwing her keys on the dining table.

"They are asleep, it's been a busy day anyway." Tunde replied. "Clara can I ask a question?"

"No problem." She replied taking off her jacket.

"Why did you kill him?"

"What are you saying Tunde?" She said, her face having the signature arched brows that Tunde had loved.

"Quit acting Clara, you have tried in fact you deserve an Oscar."

"If you have nothing meaningful to say Tunde I'm in the kitchen preparing dinner." And she walked off.

"I don't think I am ever going to Lakes again." Tunde said, mimicking her earlier statement. "You visited Lakes without informing me?"

"If you have something to say, say it." Clara said taking a defiant stance.

"I'm talking about the body in your garden, right under the newly transplanted flowers, I'm talking about your plant fertilizers having the exact constituents discovered in late Philip and Chukwunonso's body! I'm talking about the fact that John is terminally ill making it too easy for him to surrender himself as the culprit." Tunde shouted at her retreating back.

"You really think I'm going to talk to you? You must be dreaming."

"Whether you talk or not Clara, you are under arrest, I just wanted you to have the privilege of telling a friend before having to say it in front of the judges and if the carcass under that plant turns out to be him, I'm sorry for you Clara. You are actually worse than I thought." Tunde said in one breathe. "Everything began to make sense after I decided to open my eyes. Your obsession with that garden, everything! You thought by manipulating me into loving you that you could blind side me while keeping yourself out of the investigation? What was all this about? Did you really love me?" Clara laughed.

"Who is talking about love here? You think you have figured out the whole story?"

"I have questions Clara. Why would you do this to the father of your kids? I know that body is his. You can't tell me otherwise. What has Emeka got to do with all this? I need answers." "Would you like to hear the story Tunde? Maybe after hearing it we could come to some sort of agreement honey."

"You are sick!" Tunde shouted back.

"Dearie, that is not the way to talk to your love, and you don't want to wake the kids do you? Now where do I start?" She said.

"Good old husband wasn't so perfect, I have the bruises to testify to it. Beating after beating I stayed on because I wanted to please God. Through the case I knew he was keeping secretes because he was never at rest, having nightmares night after night but I could not ask. We were this perfect couple to the church and public eye, it was all acting. Sometimes I wonder if he ever loved me, maybe I should have asked him." Clara paused looking like she was in deep thoughts. "Ok, back to the story. As the wonderful God would have it, I and that silly Mrs. Shola had one of our numerous quarrels and my husband took her aside to try to settle it. I went to put the kids to bed and on getting back what did I hear? Shola actually reminding my husband what he did years ago. Tunde would you believe he killed my parents? He planned it all right after our wedding, and as the sole child we entered into immense wealth, that is when his career really picked up. Who knew that idiot man before me ehh? I wanted to meet the police in the morning but you know your people now, a case over 10years ago? Who would believe me self. Before dawn the next day he was off, it was a call on his phone that actually woke me, he had left the phone. And my o my, the things I saw in that phone. Did you know he slept with my daughter? Of course he didn't know who she was but still he was a cheat. Then a text from someone stating the address he should bring one million naira to, in exchange of some secrete about my daughter that he can use against her, bla bla. That was my cue, I went to the address, I actually got there before him, and he was always late to meetings. Before he could reach the meeting room, I stopped him at a corner, you know how Lakes is. He couldn't even say anything in his defense. And then he says to my face that he wants a divorce can you imagine? I was angry, I didn't know when I shot him, I was scared, dragged him to the car after ensuring nobody saw us. Just when I was to leave who did I see? His P.A and whoever that was looking at me, wondering what I was doing dragging my husband like that. So I had to use my gun again." She paused.

"You just happened to hear Mrs. Shola discussing private matters with your husband and the very next day he forgets his phone. Are we on the set of a movie?"

"You think I am lying? It was probably the universe hearing my cries. I don't know, but that is what happened." She moved into the kitchen to get a drink. Tunde monitored her with his eyes, she picked something from the kitchen cabinet.

"Alright where did I stop?" She said on her return. "Ok, I made them tie themselves up and being chanced to have a fresh supply of my chemical fertilizer in my car, I poisoned them and made it all look like an accident. I couldn't leave my husband there because the gun was licensed, the bullet will lead them straight to me, so I put him to good use and I have no regrets, dust to dust." She said with a dry laugh.

"What about Emeka? He was trailing us."

"O, yea. Little did I know that while all that was happening with my husband and his P.A, a certain Emeka was standing by his kitchen window which had a clear view of the murder scene. He blackmailed me for a while until I got fed up."

"So the call he made to your husband's phone, that was you?"

"Ex-husband, and yes, that was me."

"What about John?" Tunde asked.

"His family will be taken care of." She said with a wave of her hand, "he is as good as dead anyway."

"You paid him off? How lawless can you get? Don't you have a heart?" Clara gave him a blank stare.

"So, which particular plant would you like to be?" That was when Tunde noticed the gun with her.

"Don't look so surprised dear, you really didn't expect to leave here with the information did you? I mean, I was comfortable telling you every detail."

"You can't kill me and get away with it." Tunde said.

"I have gotten away with the others. Your body will not be found. No body, no case." She smirked. "Hey Tunde, see I really did like you but you know, shit happens, but as a friend, would you like sunflowers?"

"Are you joking? You are sick Clara, you need a doctor."

"See, no time for small talks Tunde, lets step outside, we don't want to wake the kids." As they moved towards the back door, the policeman that had been hiding in the shadows stepped out. "Your hands where we can see them!" He shouted.

"Mummy, what is happening?" Jenny said coming down the stairs.

"Go back now Jenny." Tunde said.

"You are under arrest Clara, you are advised to keep silent as anything you say would be used against you." she was led outside to the awaiting police car.

### EPILOGUE

So much had happened and Tunde was happy it was almost over at last. His thought flowed back to Clara and he felt nothing but pity, the case was still on going in court and as expected she had a good lawyer claiming insanity, he had the record of her confession, so no matter how it turns out she was going away for a long time. The honorable had pulled out the land case against the government. But through it all Tunde had gotten closer to his maker, he wondered if Jesus could really have died for the lawless ones like Clara. He had already made a decision to serve God the right way, the hypocrisy in Christianity was alarming, if one wanted to serve God, then he should serve him, and if one didn't, then it should be forgotten. Tunde wondered if there would have been a future with Clara. The hate he saw in her eyes while he visited her stung his heart. The kids were with their aunt awaiting the courts final decision. No father and certainly no mother, Tunde sighed.

"Uncle Tunde! Uncle Tunde! Jenny pushed me off the slide so she could climb first."

"I didn't."

"You did." Nicholas retorted.

"Ok kids, it's time to get popcorn and ice cream."

"Ye!" They chorused and started running towards the vendor stand. Tunde took a while to stare at the receding kids with no care in this world, who would have known Clara was capable of orchestrating the kidnap of her own daughter to draw attention away from herself? Tunde was still shaken to realize that he had eaten, talked, sang and even loved the devil.

"It seems I get to attract psychopaths." Tunde laughed to himself. He had vowed to never love again.

Lawless: not governed by or obedient to laws.

History is a grim reminder of what happens to those who think they have no law but themselves.

### Ravi Zacharias.

### ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruthie Omomo is the author of All the Men in Lagos are Married. She is known for her flash fiction series. She has a degree in microbiology from The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

Send your comments to the author; ruth.ebifagha@gmail.com

Connect with her; @Your_Ruthie.

