Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Lola was busy playing with her kids early in the day when a policeman walked into the compound. Puzzled, she suspended her play with the kids and stood up with curiosity, watching the man advance towards her.

“Good day, madam,” he said.

“Good day,” she returned his greeting and ushered the kids inside. “What can I do for you?”

“I am looking for Mr Akintola.”

“He is my husband.” She kept a firm and curious gaze on the policeman although he appeared friendly. “Hope nothing is wrong?”

“He is requested to honour an invitation to our station with respect to Mr Theophilus Nzeribe's disappearance,” he explained.

“Come with me.” Lola led him into the house.

The policeman stood patiently as Lola disappeared out of sight to go call her husband.

“Good morning, Mr Akintola,” the policeman greeted as Lola returned with Akin.

“Good morning, officer,” Akin replied. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“Sir, you are obliged to honour our invitation to the station for interrogation on the disappearance of Mr Theophilus Nzeribe.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I hope I am not under arrest?”

“No, you are not.”

“Okay then, shall we go now?”

“Yes.”

“Darling, do not tell me you are going with this man,” Lola protested.

“You don’t have to worry, dear,” Akin said. "You take care of the kids. I will be back soon.”

Lola held her kids closely as she watched her husband exit the compound with the policeman.

Monday faced series of interrogation in the hands of the interrogation officer. The policeman sat down opposite Monday, with a desk between them. “What exactly happened on the day your boss left the house?”

“My oga first go out in the morning with him car,” Monday recalled. “I think say na work e go. But small time, after madam don go work, e come back con go inside house.”

“When was this?”

“Around 6:00a.m.”

“Carry on.”

“Small time again, my oga come out with travelling bag. E pass through gate go out. E no take the car.”

“Why you no ask oga where e dey go?”

“I no fit ask am question because e dey too vex. I no want to lose my job.”

“Did you notice any problem between your oga and his wife?”

“My oga and madam love themselves well," Monday said. “But sometimes them dey get small kata-kata, and I know the cause.”

“What is the cause?”

“Na because madam never born pikin.”

The police officer looked at Monday and sighed. “Back to why your oga left. Did he mention anything like travelling?”

“No, sir.”

“Did you call your madam as a matter of urgency to tell her of the development when you saw him leaving?”

“No.”

“What then did you do to save the situation?”

“Nothing, oga.”

“Why?” The officer sprang up angrily.

Monday trembled; he could not find any word of defence. He knew the officer was getting at making him seem culpable. He admitted to himself that he'd done very little to rescue the situation.

“I guess you still have a case to answer for your gross irresponsibility.” The policeman called a junior officer and Monday was whisked away to be detained.

Mr Akintola saw Monday being whisked away by the policeman and demanded why such treatment was being meted on the young man. But the officer did not bother to reply him. Akin went ahead to the inspector’s office.

The inspector welcomed him and asked him to sit. “Mr Akintola, I invited you with respect to Mr Theophilus' disappearance. I learnt you are aware of his planned travel.”

“Yes," Akin said. "He came to my office and in the course of chatting, he told me about it.”

“How are you related to him?”

“Theo is my very close friend. We started as business associates, but now we are family friends.”

“Where did he tell you he was going for the vacation?”

“He was not specific, but he made mention of places like the Obudu Ranch.”

“Have you heard from him since then?”

“That was the last time I heard from him.”

“And he hasn’t called you on phone at any time?”

“No. He possibly could have switched off his phone.”

“What do you think could be responsible for his action?”

“He has a problem he is facing in his family.”

“Are you referring to the problem with his wife?”

“It goes beyond his wife. He had this complaint of his mother’s overbearing influence in his marriage.”

“And what is this issue with his wife?”

“The only issue he has with his wife is that of childbearing.”

“What do you think of his wife? Is she capable of anything evil?”

“Nkiru is a nice woman, and I don’t think she could do anything evil to her husband.”

“Do you think Mr Theophilus could be in danger?”

“No. I think Theo is only running away from home pressure.”

“Thank you for your time, Mr Akintola.”

“It’s my pleasure, inspector.”

Mr Akin gave the inspector a handshake and took his leave.

A car honked at the gate, and Caro ran out of the house to attend to the person at the gate. She opened the gate and Mr Akin drove in with Monday seated in the backseat of the car. Caro was glad to see him back from the station. She gestured a greeting to Mr Akintola as he hopped out his car.

“Is your madam inside?” he asked.

“Yes sir,” She led him inside the apartment, and then she returned to gist with Monday. Her face was aglow with excitement. “O boy, I thank God for your life.”

“I don return,” Monday said, smiling. "Dem plan no work.”

“I think say you no go come back again.”

Monday frowned. “Caro, so you get bad mind for me?”

“Sorry. Na wetin police say you do for yonder?”

“Dem ask me wetin I know about oga wey dey miss.”

“Wetin you tell dem?” Caro asked in anticipation.

“I tell them how e take leave house.”

“Dem leave you after that?”

Monday beamed with pride. “Dem no get choice. I challenge dem. God pass dem.”

“I thank God for your life. I think say them don lock you for cell.”

“Caro

Caro,” he said, frowning. “Na you dem go lock for cell.”

The housemaid laughed at the returnee gatekeeper as she went away.

Mr Akin was seated in the living room, while Nkiru went to fetch him a drink. She walked in with a bottle and a glass.

“Sorry I kept you waiting,” she apologized.

“Don’t mention,” Akin allayed her notion.

She served the wine-filled glass to him and had her seat thereafter.

“Thank you.” He drank from the glass. “I was invited by the police this morning with respect to your husband’s disappearance. Has the case been taken to the police?”

“It was the handwork of my mother-in-law,” she said. “She was looking for a way to get even at me over nothing.”

“Did she call the police?”

“She told the police I was responsible for my husband’s disappearance. Her plan was to put me in jail, but the devil has been put to shame.”

“This is a serious matter.”

“Your wife told me of your invitation by the police. I hope nothing serious happened at the station?”

“No. It was just a few questioning, that’s all.”

“I am sorry for all the troubles.”

“I came back with your gatekeeper.”

“I learnt of his arrest. It was not quite long I came in from a trip I was told the story by my housemaid.”

“The poor man would have languished in detention if not for my intervention. I had to convince the police of his innocence in the matter.”

Nkiru thanked Mr Akintola for his intervention in Monday’s case. Caro heard everything the man said from her corner in the kitchen. She could not hide her excitement about knowing how Monday had been released from the station. She'd known Monday had lied about challenging the police.

Nkiru saw Mr Akin off to where he'd parked his car in the compound. Monday had another chance to show appreciation to Mr Akin for the help he'd rendered before he finally drove out of the compound. Caro came back to make jest of Monday about the lie he'd told her concerning what transpired at the station. The man could say nothing else in defence; the most important thing to him was that he was out of the police net.

Theo had gone to withdraw money from a secret bank account he kept away from Nkiru. He was back at his lodge and was counting the bills when someone knocked at the door.

“The door is open.” He knew it was one of the service girls at the hotel.

The door opened and his guess was right. Theo had ordered his meal to be brought to him in his lodge.

“Good morning, sir,” the girl said.

“Good morning, fine girl. You brought my meal?”

“Yes, sir,” Gazing at the money Theo was counting, she set the meal on the table.

Theo was beginning to get used to the service girls at the hotel. The damsel was about leaving when Theo called her attention.

“Don’t go yet,” he said. “Remind me your name.”

“Bintu, sir,” she said.

“Bintu, that is nice.” He counted some naira notes and squeezed them into her hand. “Bintu, it’s for all your troubles.”

The damsel was excited at his gesture toward her. She showed her appreciation before she left the room.

Theo abandoned the money and went to the bathroom to shower. He ate his meal after he had finished freshening up. He counted the money again and discovered a shortfall. A reasonable sum was missing. It beat his imagination how his money had suddenly grown wings. He ransacked the room, but to no avail. A whole bundle had mysteriously disappeared. The entire episode beat logic. He was sure there had been no shortfall when he counted the money at the bank. His mind went to Bintu. But how could he get suspicious of the hostess who had left while he was still counting the money? He discarded the idea of roping the poor damsel into the ugly scenario. Whatever had happened to the money, he had to forgo it and make do with the ones left, and that solved the puzzle for him.