The Deathlike Mission - Episode 10

 

Laura was agape with surprise as Kari recounted all she had learnt from Jide to her the next day during lunch. To Kari's amazement, she regretted not going out with her so she could hear and see things for herself.

"This expedition is getting deeper by the minute. But wait o, how did Jide come by all these information?" she asked in awe, between a mouthful of vegetable salad.

"He has his ways, underground researching Ofcourse. That's why we couldn't get through to him, but we all did not understand."

"That should have really been risky . What's next now that you have a lead to follow?"

"Waiting for his instructions."

"Detective Kari, really funny how you have come to trust him so much in this short while."

"I do, and no matter what you might think or say, this guy really humbles me. He makes me feel as if I was just coming out of training school. His intelligence overshadows mine, he's smart, skillful and many things more," replied Kari as she took a sip of her fruit juice.

"Whao! In my five years of friendship with you, I have never ever heard you speak so highly of any man, not even Paul. Is there something you are not telling me Miss?"

"Don't be ridiculous, his assistance alone is laudable

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. I couldn't have come this far without his help you know, and to think I was been difficult at first makes me feel terrible."

"If I were you, I will wait to see the end of this Jide, because something tells me there is more to him, good as he may be," Laura warned pointing her fork at her friend.

"Yeah something tells me that too, but whatever part of him is yet to be shown, I'm positive it can't be that bad."

"You are really stupid Kari. So about your dad, what did he say concerning the picture?"

"That, he denied ever knowing such a name or face, when I pressed further he got angry and ordered me to stay out of the case forever or threatened to alert the Chief on what we are doing. He gave me his last warning Laura," she explained her countenance downcast."

"What? Why?  I have never envisaged your dad to be like that?"

"I don't know."

"So are you really staying out?"

"Ofcourse not! That's not possible."

"What if he carries out his threat? That will be bad for us both."

"That's not possible either, he won't do that. I just have a feeling there's more to his reaction,"

"You feel he's hiding something?"

"I don't feel, I know. The look I saw in his eyes when he saw the picture was that of an age long pain, held deep down somewhere, I couldn't be mistaken on that. And what gave him away further was the way he busted out and his threat to me. My father will never do that."

"Kari, I don't know but I'm no longer comfortable with the direction this investigation might be veering off to. If your father knows something that he's hiding about your prime suspect, then this is getting really serious."

"Are you getting scared already?"

"No, I'm not. Just sounding a warning that we all must tread carefully, including that very smart Jide of yours. By the way have you heard from Paul lately?"

"Yes. He called immediately I left Jide's company yesterday, he already knows about everything. I told him and he was as surprised as you are."

"Who wouldn't be. Look Kari, we just have five more minutes to spend here if we do not want to return to our desk late."

"Ok," Kari who had barely touched her food replied. "I'll just hurry up.

It was almost 6:30pm that day before Kari left the office. Since it was a Friday, she had more work to do than usual. Laura had long left, she was having a meeting with her late father's lawyer, she had excused herself earlier. As Kari got to where her car was parked, she stopped in shock. A white folded like a letter was strapped to the handle of her car door. She looked around but there was no one in sight, who could have dropped this she thought. Maybe it was a mistake, a prank from Laura, or even a fellow detective. She almost got scared as she thought of the possibility of it been a letter bomb. Determined to find out, she boldly reached out for it. It's was sealed and neatly folded. She quietly opened the seal holding the letter few inches away from herself and hoping not to blow up with it. To her amazement, the sealed paper was empty inside, there was not a single word on it. How could an empty sealed paper be strapped to her car? It looked to her like someone was trying to scare her. She looked around her again, there were other officers quite a distance from where she stood, asking them if they saw anything would have only raised eyebrows. Her intuition told her she was been watched by whoever did that. So she decided to squeeze the threat note, dump it beside her feet, brace up like she had seen nothing and made to open the door, just to give whomever might be watching the impression that she wasn't shaken. Safely in the comfort of her car, she exhaled deeply. Then her phone rang. It was an unknown caller. She picked at the fourth ring.

"Hello" she called

Silence at the other end.

"Hello there," she said again. There was still no respond from the other end. Trying hard not to fret she ended the call and made to put on the ignition. Then her phone rang again. It was the same number. This time she picked out of curiosity.

"Hello?"

"Detective, It's thrilling how bold you are, crushing a mysterious sealed note like you felt no fear," a male voice came through from the other end this time, sending a cold chill through her.

"Who are you and why did you send that to me," she asked coldly but calculatively.

"My identity at this point isn't necessary. What's important now is how fast you can get to you father, if you can get there in five minutes, who knows you just might reach him."

"What are you talking about? Hello," the caller hung up on her before she got answers. Her blood congealed, as Laura's warning that they be careful resounded in her heart. That was a threat she just recieved. Who was threatening her family? Did it have anything to do with the case? She decided it will be best she called Jide as she punched her phone with trembling hands. She was grateful he picked at first ring.

"Hi beauty, how are you?" his deep voice sounded.

"Jide, where are you?"

"I'm just around the block. Hey, why do you sound this way, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I think I'm being threatened," she replied with a shaky voice.

"Huh? Calm down and tell me all about it."

"I saw an empty white paper, sealed and strapped to my car. Thereafter, an unknown number called me implying he saw how I received the empty note and also talked about meeting my father in five minutes."

"Kari, where are you?"

"I'm still at the office."

"Your father isn't safe, neither are you."

"Oh no, what will we do, my dad will be home by now."

"There's no time, organize a rescue team from your men at the office while I head to your house right away to hold any assailant there down. I hope we are not late and you guys don't take too long."

"Jide will you..."

"Kari, there's no time hurry."

Kari burst into tears as she scrambled into the building trying as hard as she could to organize the boys quickly. She couldn't afford to loose her dad, her only family left. If the present case had anything to with this, she wasn't sure she was ever going to forgive herself because she had failed to listen where she had been warned.