“Bashiru bashiru” As the voice calls out his name, the quiver that runs through the length of Bashiru’s body is as though he has heard the voice of Lucifer himself.
When Inspector Friday comes face to face with him, he manages to regain his composure enough to muster a smile.
“Well done sir” he greets him; although it sounds far from cordial but it’s good enough.
“Bashiru, how you take sabi Seyi?” Inspector Friday inquires
“I no sabi anybody way dem dey call Seyi”, he answers
Apparently, it’s not the answer the D.P.O wants to hear and the slap he delivers is so quick, it could very well have been missed by a cursory observer. If the delivery of the slap was swift, the effect is stinging and instantly makes Bashiru stammer an explanation.
“I no lie for you Sir, I no sabi anybody way be Seyi”
Inspector Friday furrows his brows a little; he’s not a man people lie to, especially people who have had previous dealings with him.
Bashiru, who has had a number of run-ins with the police, knows Inspector Friday’s capacity for ruthlessness is unrivaled.
He’s not a man to be trifled with; but that’s not the only reason why Bashiru shivers, it’s more about the fact that Inspector Friday is only called in to handle the most high profile cases. He instantly knows he might not see daylight for a while.
Inspector Friday leaves the room for a few minutes and returns with a photograph which he immediately shows Bashiru.
“You sabi this girl?” He asks pointedly
The relief in Bashiru’s voice is obvious as he eagerly admits, “I sabi am Sir, na Lily be that sir”
“Lily? You sure?”
“Yes sir, na Ikoyi she dey stay”
“How you come take sabi am?”
“She be runs girl, I dey drive her go far places sometimes”
Inspector Friday’s face is a priceless vision right now; the surprise he displays even for those few seconds is astounding.
Perhaps Mrs. Adegbenro’s words, gushing with pride replays in his head, “My daughter sells jewellery, and she frequently travels to and from Dubai to BUY STOCK
”
”
How does a jewellery trader know someone like Bashiru?
Bashiru is not your typical Lagos lowlife; a modicum of success in a few illicit ventures means he can stay away from the kind of activities that land others in jail.
“Wetin you talk say she dey do?” Inspector Friday inquires again, perhaps willing Bashiru to recant his earlier assertion
“I say she be runs girl; but she dey coded. Her and her friends dem, na Candy I first sabi, I dey do some small small work for Candy before she enter the runs. When she buy car, she no sabi drive so she dey settle me make I dey drive her sometimes”
Although Bashiru would never dream of lying to the D.P.O, he has learnt the art of being economical with the truth, there’s no need to admit he serves as more than just a driver to them, he’s their protection detail.
He suspects the D.P.O doesn’t know she’s a runs girl too so for the next few minutes, it’s easy to keep him distracted as he talks about the girls and their secret lives.
Thursday August 21, 2014
Inspector Friday swivels in his chair for what has to be the thousandth time; the dizzying motion helps him clear his head. He glances at his notepad and wonders; what connects Seyi Adegbenro/ Lily to Bashiru?
There’s no clear reason as to why she’s been missing for a while and if Bashiru is right, right before she disappeared, she was convinced someone was trying to kill her.
As much as it would be easy to pin this on Bashiru, he’d have to admit this is way beyond Bashiru’s pay grade. Kidnapping is not for the small fry in Lagos; besides, so far there’s been no body.
Welcome to Lagos where there’s an abundance of places to conceal bodies; if someone has already killed her, odds are, it would take several strokes of good fortune to find her body.
He writes down Mohammed’s name on his notepad; it’s not every day one gets to bring in such a man for questioning. He’s the kind of man who can get out of questioning with a phone call to the Commissioner of Police.
Nevertheless, Inspector Friday is going to try, if you know him like I do, you’ll know he’s a rare breed amongst Policemen.
He’s always determined to solve cases and never satisfied with easy answers; so what if he doesn’t mind a little tip every now and then; and what if he gets a little heavy handed with suspects?
They’re criminals anyway; they deserve whatever comes their way.
He’d just have to give it a shot with Mohammed.
Friday August 22, 2014
“There’s someone here to see you sir” the secretary’s sultry voice over the telephone momentarily distracts the D.P.O from examining his luxurious surrounding.
He’s shown into a large office where he’s confronted by a giant of a man; he’s never seen him this close up before and the difference now that he’s a few feet away is surprising.
“I’m Inspector Friday” he begins
He lets his words hang in the air for a few minutes and gets to observing Mohammed’s nuances. He looks comfortable enough and his body language gives nothing away. No twitches, no blinking, nothing.
“Your friend went missing a few days ago sir” Inspector Friday eventually breaks the silence and plods on.
“I’m surprised you didn’t call the police, which makes you something of a major suspect since you’re the last person who saw her”
The scare tactic works on Mohammed.
“What was I supposed to call the Police for? she came to my house, started acting crazy and just bolted. How do I know she’s being missing since then?”
“In any case, I surely wasn’t the last person to see her alive” he concludes
“Can you tell me exactly what happened when she came over?”
“Well, I hadn’t seen her in a while so we were supposed to catch up at my place for a while. I was the only one at home. I only went into the kitchen for a few minutes to get her something to drink when she started speaking frantically.
I thought she was making one of her numerous practical jokes but a few minutes later she started screaming, her driver came in and then she rushed out before I could even stop her”
“You’re going to have to accompany me to the police station to write your statement Mr. Mohammed; no one has seen or heard from Lily since that night.” Inspector Friday’s statement is forceful, brooking no questions.
It’s clear the D.P.O’s suggestion does not sit well with Mohammed and he seems to be contemplating a call to his lawyer or some powerful person.
Inspector Friday’s words cut into his thoughts “I’d advise you follow me, it’s really a very simple matter. If you call anyone, you might avoid writing a statement and coming to the station but if this case becomes public, everyone will have you pinned as the prime suspect. When that happens, whoever it is you want to call now won’t save you”
The final part is delivered as a threat and it has its desired effect.
“In that case” Mohammed begins, “I might as well tell you I have her phone, it probably dropped while she was running out of my house”.
As he rises, he looks into inspector Friday’s eyes, “I don’t have anything to do with her disappearance. I’m only going with you on the condition that if this becomes public, you’ll keep my name out of it”
A curt nod from the inspector settles it.
Monday August 25, 2014.
We hear his voice before we see who it’s directed at. The stern voice and the seriousness of his tone gives me little time to tell you about the palatial residence of the Adegbenro’s. Another time perhaps I might give you a grand tour.
“I have some disturbing information” He tells the couple
The composure they display is admirable, as though they’ve been braced all day for bad news.
“I only choose to disclose this because I believe we need publicity if we hope to find your daughter”
The tension in the room thickens, there’s a thin film of sweat on Mr. Adegbenro’s forehead
“Your daughter was a call girl” He finally says.
Mrs. Adegbenro’s shriek pierces the air and she starts to say hysterically “No! Not my Seyi, it’s impossible!”
She turns to her husband for assurance; “Honey, did you hear him?”
Mr. Adegbenro’s voice is as cold as steel when he tells his wife, “I’ve known about it for a little while”.
...To Be Continue.
...To Be Continue.
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