Chapter 15.
It’s been a week after our confrontation with Mr. Lekan’s men, all evidence pertaining to the criminal and drug scenes were with me and Mr. James was compiling a detailed report on it. Isadora was not left out, she was also digging out their connection and their compliance for us while Biggie was Biggie was taking us to them and also acting as our guard. Our investigation room has proved so far to be a safe haven for us, since the beginning of the week my house have been raided by men I suspect to be Mr. Lekan’s.
Going through the photos I took the previous week to get ant little details I might have missed, I came across a particular photo at Mr. Lekan’s abandoned building with a chain holding something to the side of the of the wall, it was placed in such a way that it was hard to detect. Little wonder we did not see or notice it.
“Check this out”, I called the attention of everyone as they clustered around me looking at my system.
“What is it you want us to see?”, Mr. James asked impatiently.
“Take a look at this picture, what do you notice or see?”, I asked Mr. James.
“I see two guys at the background, one inspecting suitcase and another looking at him curiously”, Mr. James replied.
“No…you are wrong, look at it carefully”, I interjected Mr. James who sighted in frustration.
“I can’t see anything aside the guys either”, Isadora back off.
“Neither do I”, Agnes joined them as she sat down looking at me as though I’m kind of a lunatic.
Only Biggie took a close look at the photo without saying a word. Gradually, realization began to dawn on his facial expression. The others noticed and all sat up looking at him”, I think I’ve seen what Thompson was calling our attention to”, Biggie began while I looked at him with a smile.
“What is it?”, Mr. James asked Biggie while taking a closer look at the monitor.
“Take a close look at that wall over there”, Biggie began, “…something is chained to the wall and that is definitely not their goods or anything of such. Take a closer look to the end of the end of what the chain is holding…that’s the hand of a woman, Mr. James you complaint that you couldn’t reach the late Nurse’s younger sister who gave you those documents right? That you later found out that she has been missing for a week now”, Biggie faced Mr. James who nodded slowly.
“Yes…”, Mr. James answered Biggie while looking at me.
“That’s her”, Biggie finalized as he stood up and walked over to a corner of the room , staring at nothing in particular, “…I think they are very much aware that we are on their tail now”, Biggie dropped the bomb shell.
“I’ve had this feeling since but didn’t Want to believe it’s true”, Mr. James responded while I tapped my lap calmly and slowly.
“That explains it then, that those who raided my apartment are Mr. Lekan’s men”, I intoned.
We were still talking when a text popped into my phone, I took a look and then looked at Mr. James in shocked. Mr. James wasted no time in snatching the phone from and read out the text.
“This is your last warning…disembark from the train you are following turn away now or regret it later, let me deal with Biggie and go my way”, Mr. James gave me back the phone after reading out the text.
“I am not afraid of anybody or anything, I knew how risky this path was before I embarked on it, I’ve made up my mind, I am not backing down now, not when I have come this far”, I muttered slowly as everyone nodded in agreement.
“I have also gathered enough evidence against the Army Captain”, Isadora began.
“Aside from being the one supplying fire arms to Mr. Lekan, he is the one retired Colonel Okoro was divert arms meant for the military through”, Biggie notified us.
“There is no way the army can do such without the involvement of a higher power or authority”, I noted.
“Exactly, no possible way. The army chief of staff is involved same as the ADC, Lieutenant-Colonel Bwale always give them tip off on every move of the President and at times leak out security details to Mr. Lekan “, Isadora placed a file on the desk.
“This is way deeper than I thought or ever knew”, Biggie whistled.
“That’s how corruption works”, Agnes smiled dryly.
“We need to be very careful henceforth, I am beginning to have some bad feelings”, Isadora advised. While Mr. James nodded in agreement.
“Isn’t it time we involve legal bodies and law enforcement agencies?”, Agnes directed her questions at me while I nodded in the negative.
“We don’t know who is clean and who is clean and who is on their payroll yet”, Mr. James responded to Agnes who sat quite for some time.
“I will be going to Buguma tomorrow”, Isadora announced.
“For what?”, I asked her alarmed.
“There’s an event holding there, and the press crew and I are to attend to cover it live”, Isadora explained with Mr. James nodding like an agama Lizard.
“I see…which means you won’t be alone then”, Agnes chirped in a question at Isadora.
“Yes…”, Isadora responded.
“That does not make me feel better in any way, just try and be very careful out there”, I cautioned with a stern face.
“I will, trust me Darlene…I will” Isadora moved closer as she embraced me and planted a soft kiss on my lips.
“I love you”, I found my voice.
“I love you too”, Isadora replied when Mr. James cleared his throat in the background to announced their presence.
“What?”, I asked him with a raised eye brow.
“Please don’t make us watch live porn, there are others here”, Mr. James responded as the rest of us burst into laughter.
“I think we are done investing the root, for through the root, we have gotten lots of branches. Tomorrow, I will go and rescue her, Mr. James will meet with the editor of the press house you guys used to work for before to get some tips off him, while Thompson; you and Agnes will travel to Lagos state for the hospital, locate the hospital she was taken to for delivery. After that, out next m0ve would be to locate the baby, we have gotten enough evidences to nailed all parties involved in the crime. Biggie concluded like an army general briefing his captains on their battle plan.
“How about you? You know you were a key player in it”, Mr. James called out to Biggie.
“I am willing and ready to pay for my crime, Biggie smiled.
“Okay then, let’s see as everything goes”, Mr. James smiled backed back at Biggie.
“I wish us all luck”, Isadora concluded as she walked towards the exit.
Agnes and I have made lots of progress on our assignment, the DNA of the lady who whose dead baby was swapped for Agnes’ was obtained all thanks to Mr. James’ source in the hospital. Biggie had phoned us to inform us that he had successfully rescued the lady that was kidnapped by Mr. Lekan’s men while Mr. James on his part had obtained reasonable evidences; both audio, video and photograph from the editor. The only person we were not hearing from was Isadora and her phone was not going through. I was already getting worried and when I called her office, they also informed me that they were having same issue, and worst was that none of the crew members’ number was going through. Those that went through were not answered. Agnes and I hurried up and returned back to Rivers state the moment we rounded up what we came to do. It was not till we arrived in Port-Harcourt that I was met with a shocker. Mr. James had asked Agnes and I to meet him at our investigation room, we quickly did without wasting time. On arrival, we met Mr. James and Biggie, both men sited with gloom written all over their faces.
“What is going on here?”, Agnes demanded the moment she sat down but silence greeted her question.
“Jamie, what the hell is going on? Tell me mate, because this suspense is killing me”, I requested looking at Biggie and Mr. James at interval.
“Well…on their way back from Buguma, Isadora’s car was said to have lost control and ran into the bush thereby resulting to an accident”, Mr. James began while I sat down in silence looking at him.
“What happened next?”, Agnes pressed.
“The television house bus also experienced same, just that it was forced to a halted by some group of men, since the car stopped after Isadora drove into the bush, so an eye witness said”, Mr. James took a pause looking at me.
“So…Which hospital is she now?”, I demanded as I made to walk toward the exit.
“I’m sorry Thompson, she didn’t make it”, Mr. James call after me as I froze by the exit.
“What did you just say?”, I asked Mr. James to be sure I heard him right.
“Isadora is dead…”, was the last three words I heard before being engulf in total darkness.
It’s been a week after the death of Isadora, life seems to be taking a different turn for me. Mr. James had taken me to his place where I was staying with him, all our investigation were put on hold. Agnes resumed with her business and always came around to check on me. The only person that was still active investigating was Biggie, he would often check up on me at times but I could see beyond his brave face that he was also grieving for Isadora. The following week was her burial.
I stood by her grave side looking at her casket, I remembered visiting the hospital she was rushed to, to confirm if she was still alive or clinically dead; I was told she was really gone and was led to where her remains was lying down facing up, looking beautiful even in death. I shook myself out of thoughts as the clergyman came to the end of his sermon. I stepped forward and dropped a letter I have penned on her casket, I noticed Agnes stepping forward and picking up the letter. She opened it and began reading it.
“A LETTER TO ISADORA”, she pronounced the words written on the envelope before proceeding to read the letter.
“Isadora, I don't know if you will see this...if you will even bother to read it, if at all you'll pay attention to it.
You see, my mind is heavy...my heart is sober and my head if full, thinking all night made me realize something.
And that thing is...I've never come across any lady like you, I'm not exaggerating but spewing the actual facts.
Remember when we met in a bus going to PH years back, how gradually but speedily we fell in love.
Remember the nights we spent out in your favorite eatery eating, gisting and teasing each other.
Remember it was in that eatery that my friend James met his heartthrob, Agnes.
Isadora, hope you still remember the first night you and I spent at Mr. James' place with his love Agnes...it was a wonderful memory I'll hardly let go.
Remember when you found out you were older than me with a year you didn't flinched but accepted everything and we flowed along like ice on fire.
Isadora, remember the Promises you made to me that you'll never leave me... remember the future we planned together, remember the surprise we had for our families and the way we planned on raising our kids.
Babe... remember you Promised you'll never leave me, remember you Promised we'll grow old together.
Isadora, staring at your stoned cold lifeless face brings tears to my eyes...I don't know how to covey my emotional empathy.
But why Isadora? Why did you choose to leave me this early? Tell me what I did wrong for you to go this early and I'll cross the seven seas and mountains to undo it.
I remember the first kiss we shared, the first ink of our love story to touch down on a blank benedict sheet of paper.
Your beautiful alluring dreamy eyes, your-gaily and elegancy keeps on mesmerizing me even in this perpetual state of lacuna.
Tell me who will call me 'Darlene' now that you're gone, tell me who?
Why is life so cruel? Why?
Isadora, remember I love you more than words can fathom or elaborate and covey.
I don't know if you'll ever see this letter my dearest love, but I'm just penning it and hoping you do see and read it from the other realm you're in.
Even though I'm still wondering if you'll remember this name, 'Thompson' in your heart over there, I just want you to know that I love you and will always do love you.
I don't think I'll ever be the same again, for the day you died...a part of me also died with you, rest on my sweet jewel”, Agnes finished reading and folded the letter as she dropped the envelop back on the coffin.
The coffin was then lowered into the grave and sand thrown over it. I watched helplessly as the love of my life was buried. Mr. James held me close, Agnes stood next to him with Biggie. All of us putting on shades, it was a big blow and nightmare to us all.