Chapter 58: Chapter 58

Thursday 12:00 pm

"Ma, sir, your time is up," The officer said moving close to take Salamat.

"Wumi, don't forget all we told you," Mrs. Ade said patting her on the back.

"Ok, mum", Salamat responded.

"Good girl" her mother smiled at her.

Salamat walked quietly back to her cell with the police officer behind her. She didn't know how she was feeling. She was not happy. And she was not sad.

But one thing was sure, she was worried and scared of what the future holds for her.

She was on the verge of giving up. She questioned her Creator for always bringing difficulties her way. Her problems were always coming one after the other and they always have a connection to her past.

The past she has been trying so hard to forget. The past she has been trying so hard to move on from.

The past keeps resurfacing. It kept showing its ugly face, scaring away beautiful moments and bringing nothing but mishaps.

"When will I eventually find eternal happiness?" she asked.

"When will I eventually be free from the shackles of my past?"

Few distances away from the cell, she saw a familiar figure approaching. Two police officers were bringing her towards the corridor.

Salamat immediately recognized who it was.

It was Bimpe.

Bimpe moved closer and the officer was about to unlock Salamat's cell when she lunged forward at Bimpe.

Bimpe was caught unawares. She recognized Salamat and smiled evilly. "You bitch" she said and slapped Salamat, scratching her face with her long fingers.

Salamat retaliated by punching her in the face before the officer could get a hold of her.

"I trusted you but what do I get from that? You are a betrayal. You asked for my forgiveness and I gave it to you without a second thought. You even lied to my face that you have been withdrawn. You have taught me a bitter lesson", Salamat lamented in tears.

"Are you done talking?" Bimpe inquired, spitting out blood.

"What have I done to deserve this, Bimpe?"

"You killed my brother", she blurted. "That is your offense."

"I didn't kill him and you know the truth. You just want to use it to your advantage. God will judge you."

The officer pushed Salamat into the cell and scolded her. She tried to prove stubborn and he almost hit her with his baton.

"Silly girls" he muttered walking close to his colleague who also pushed Bimpe into her cell too.

*****

"I instructed all the officers to record anything and everything they find useful. We can use that to solve all these puzzles" the D.P.O informed Bode.

"That's great, though it's a bit unethical."

"This is the fourth day and there is no concrete evidence yet. There is no progress on this case at all and it's tiring."

Bode smiled. "I have one, though."

"Really?"

"Yes", he said, stretching an envelope towards him. " That is a picture of Ayoade and the essence is to show us where he was stabbed. We were able to find out that he was stabbed in the neck and the stomach. This shows that the killer is left-handed. Do you get the picture, sir?"

The D.P.O was with a confused look and Bode stood up suddenly. He took the pen on the D.P.O's table with his left hand and pierced him on the right hand, which was directly opposite his. The piercing jerked the confused D.P.O and he screamed.

Bode laughed.

"You hurt me without warning. Don't be silly."

"It's just a scratch. Do you get the picture now?" Bode asked.

The D.P.O nodded. "The killer was on top of him as she stabbed him on the right side of his neck with her left hand."

"This is an awesome discovery. Go bring Bimpe and Salamat and give them a paper to write a letter of apology for fighting each other. That way, we can figure out who the real culprit is." He grinned widely.

"I'll do that right away, sir", Bode stood up. "Don't forget to treat that scratch", he chuckled as the D.P.O winced.

*****

"Good day officers", Mr. Usman greeted the policemen at the front counter, with a smile.

"Good day and welcome." The two of them answered.

"Please, I'm here to see my daughter. I was told she is in your custody." He demanded.

"What is your daughter's name?" One of the officers asked.

"Raliat Usman" Mr. Usman replied.

"Raliat Usman", the officer repeated going through the long book in front of him.

After a while, he asked, "When was she brought in here?"

"I don't know but she has been missing since Sunday. She left for school on Sunday evening."

"I'm sorry but there is no Raliat her", he said.

"What? But I was directed here from Sabo station. I was told she was here", he affirmed.

"I'm sorry, she is not here", the police repeated.

"Please, you need to check again. My daughter can't be missing", Mr. Usman said breathing heavily.

"Mr. man", the police snapped in anger.

"What is happening here?" The D.P.O appeared.

"Good morning sir, this man here came looking for his daughter, Raliag and I told him she isn't here but he wouldn't listen."

"Raliat?" The D.P.O looked at the troubled man before him with a furrowed brow.

"Raliat Usman?" He asked and the man replied "yes."

"Come to my office", he ordered and sauntered to his office. " Finally", he thought to himself ad he entered the office with Mr. Usman trailing behind him.

"Please, sit", he instructed as he also sat down heavily on the chair.

"Thank you, sir", Mr. Usman appreciated.

"Are you her father?" The D.P.O requested.

"Yes, sir. Raliat is my only daughter and she has been missing since Monday. I went to MTD police station in Sabon-Gari and I was told she was here."

"Your daughter is not here, sir."

"What? What do you mean she is not here?"

"She is not. We are also on the lookout for her because she is also a suspect and we are sure that her disappearance has a lot to do with Ayoade's case."

Mr. Usman bowed his head in sorrow. "My hopes are dashed", he thought to himself. "Where could Raliat be?" He said out loud, raising his head.

"How long has she been missing?"

"I don't know if it's Sunday or Monday because she left him for school on Sunday while my niece came back home on Monday and she said she didn't see her." He explained.

"Are they staying together?"

"Yes, they are."

"So that means she didn't sleep in the house that night which indicates that she has been missing since Sunday."

"Oh, God!"

"Are you Zaria-based?"

"Yes sir."

"Where in Zaria?"

"Sabon-Gari."

"Can you try and think of where Raliat might have sought refuge? Or do you have any other relatives here in Zaria or somewhere else she might have run to?"

"I don't think so because if that is the case, they would have called to inform me. I have a stepbrother in Kaduna and two aunties here in Zaria."

"What about your mother or blood brother?"

"My mother stays with me and my brother is dead."

"Oh! Sorry. Try and call your people so we can be sure if she is in safe hands or not."

"Ok sir", he answered politely.

"Can I get a picture of your daughter?"

"Yes, of course", he uttered showing him his phone wallpaper.

"Please send it to my phone", he demanded, stretching his phone towards him.

"Is there anyone you suspect to have been the killer of Ayoade?" The D.P.O inquired, after collecting his phone back.

"No", Mr. Usman finally said after a moment of hesitation.

"Ok."

"Please, do your best to find my daughter. I know she is innocent."

"Of course, we will but no one can save her if she is found guilty", the D.P.O notified and glanced at Mr. Usman whose face has turned pale.