The Deathlike Mission - Episode 4

 

"Come on Dad, it was just a minor incident. I'm fine," Kari told her father who was scared out of his wits at the news of her attack later that evening in her room.

"I don't think so my child, from what I hear it doesn't look like that to me. He could have grasp your bag and ran away, and not try to strangle you," he blurted out.

"So what could be his motive?"

"I don't know, you tell me. Is there anyone you think could be capable of this?"

"None sir, and everyone . I mean anyone could be capable of anything at any point in time for any reason whatsoever. So I can't sit here and get suspicious of one person," she ended sitting on her bed.

"A-ha! I know. May be its about your current investigations, you never can tell." he replied sitting by her side.

"Oh God! Why does everyone think so? And what if it's not? For all I know that guy could be some lousy petty thief, besides no outsider knows about the case am taking up I mean it's barely even three days old."

"And you can trust the insiders around you one hundred percent?"

"Dad!"

"No one can be trusted my child, you need to learn that in life."

"You can stop making me scared would you?"

"That was never my intention my child. Just that I want you safe at all times

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-deathlike-mission-pt-1

. A father should not bury his child remember?"

"Dad, no one is dying."

"With what I'm seeing, you make me fear that." He stood up from her bed and placed his both hands on her shoulders, "For someone who narrowly escaped death, I think you need rest, and no work please," he added as he positioned her in lying position and pulled up the duvet to her chest. Kari enjoyed this show of affection as it reminded her of when she was a little girl. It had been she and her Dad against the world.

"Good night Dad." she said, voice mixed with emotion as he kissed her forehead.

"Good night my dear," he said quickly walking out of the room clearly trying to hide a streak of tear.

Kari understood his feelings. She was his only child and had never really remembered her mother. She had died when Kari was just three years old in an accident, so she was told by her father. Sometimes, she felt she had a faint memory of the times she spent with her mother. But that was never really clear. Whenever that thought came, it depressed her the more, so she figured it will be best she let that memory lie in the past where it belongs. She had been everything to her father from then on, he had never remarried because he felt he needed to be single to take care of her properly.  Even when she became of age he had never still seen a reason to get a wife. He was a scientist by profession and his life had revolved around her and his job till he had retired at fifty five two years ago. He loved her and she knew that, so his fears were understood.

Then her mind snapped back to the present. What if everyone was right? What if the attack had something to do with John Malik's case? She sighed running out of answers. She would just stay positive for now and ofcourse be careful. Her thoughts were interrupted by her ringing phone. She picked it up from the bedside, it was Laura. She sat up and answered.

"Laura?"

"Hello Kari, are you resting already?"

"No, not yet. My Dad just finished giving me an emotional lecture."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Why Laura, what's wrong? You sound quite strange."

"I'm afraid Kari, I do not have good news."

"Laura?"

"John Malik was attacked by someone not quite twenty minutes ago in his cell."

"What!" she screamed standing up. "How did that happen? Were there no security?"

"I don't know, I don't have the full facts myself."

"Oh my God! How did you get to know about this?"

"Your line wasn't reachable, so Imoh asked me to inform you. He has been rushed to Alpha specialist hospital, I hear his condition is critical." Laura stated grimly on the other end of the reciever.

"This is unbelievable, not now."

"I'm so sorry Kari. I know what this might cause you should anything go wrong."

"I pray nothing happens to him. There's still so much he hasn't said."

"I know."

"Thanks for the information anyways, Alpha specialist you say?"

"Yes. Should I come with you?"

"No don't worry dear friend. I'll give you the details as soon as I can."

"Alright, you drive safely. Bye."

Kari looked at the clock on her bedside. It was 10:30pm already, really late she thought. But there was no way she would be able to sleep either, it was her case, she needed to get first hand information as it came. With that thought, she quickly changed, grabbed her keys and quietly sneaked out of the house through the back door so as not to awaken her father. She got into her car and started it, the sound must have reached the man but she was already going, when she gets back she will be in for a whole lot of explanation.

*                  *                 *

The drive to Alpha specialist hospital was long. Though it was located on the mainland, but Kari could not seem get there sooner. She finally pulled up and rushed out of the car. They where several officers outside, but she saw Imoh a member of her team standing by the entrance. She nodded at some of the officers and headed towards him.

"Imoh," she called on reaching him. "What happened?"

"He couldn't make it Kari, he's dead."

She stopped, shocked at his news. "What! Oh my God."

"The injuries got the best of him."

"How did it happen?" cried Kari who was visibly in shock.

"He was stabbed."

"By whom? Was there any trace of the killer?"

"It beats my imagination Kari, I can't understand it myself. The security at the gate wasn't breached, the alarms were not even turned off. We just heard his screams, getting there we met his cell open and found him lying lifeless on the floor. The entire building was thoroughly checked immediately but the was no sign of any forceful entry or of anyone still within."

"What can we make of this Imoh?"

"The killer is no doubt smart, I give that to him."

"This is more dangerous than we envisaged," she said placing her palm on her forehead. "Where's his body, he hasn't been embalmed yet has he?"

"Obviously not, an autopsy is been carried out as we speak, not that there's so much to find out.  The Chief's in there with the doctors."

"Take me to them right away, I need to see his body."

"What? I myself couldn't stand the sight of it, that was why I came out here."

"Come on Imoh, you don't have to see it if you don't want to, you just have to take me there, that is my case."

"Ok," he turned toward the entry door, this way" he gestured forward.

They walked through the reception into a long corridor. There was a room at the end of the passage way with some inscription at the door  which Kari never bothered to read. Imoh knocked and opened it almost immediately. He stood by the corner and gestured for Kari to go in.

"Don't be so chicken hearted young man, let's go" she tugged him on the arm, he reluctantly followed with uneasiness reading all over him.

The room was large, the SIB Chief and two doctors were standing in the middle of it with Malik's body lying still and naked on what seemed like a raised table. A knot tightened in her chest as she walked towards the corpse, Imoh followed at a distance.

"Kari!" The Chief called out, alerted by their presence. She nodded at him as she quickened her pace.

"Who's she?" the older doctor asked obviously disturbed by her presence.

"Oh, don't worry doc, she's the detective in charge of this case," he answered noticing the doctor's uneasiness.

"Ok."

"What happened doctor?" Kari asked him.

"Hmm, your suspect obviously knew too much. He was stabbed three times on different places with a sharp pointed object, say a dagger." he replied removing his gloves.

"That was brutal. Who could have done this?" she asked.

"He was beginning to panic, they needed to silence him completely to stay safe," Imoh replied taking all the manliness in him to stand the sight of the dissipated corpse.

"Obviously, that's the only acceptable explanation at least for now. But how someone got in and out of the SIB building without being noticed is unbelievable." The Chief said angrily.

"And this couldn't have been suicide because the weapon was not in sight," added Kari.

"No," replied the doctor. "The wounds are far too deep to be self inflicted."

"What else were you able to gather from him before he died Kari?" her Chief asked.

"Nothing more sir, there were signs that was why we refrained from using force."

"I need answers, that man was our only lead for the time been to a whole lot of truth. I mean he was in our custody for the past three days and you could not get him to say a word."

"We did the best we could, we never knew things would get this ugly." Kari defended. "But there might be other ways. I have spent the past two days going through his financial records, bank transactions and all. I think that if actually he has people behind him then I will find something meaningful."

"I seriously do not know how you do it, but I need answers. I need a report on that as soon as you find something we can work with."

"Yes sir."

"If there's nothing else doc, I will leave now."

"No Chief, that will be all for now. If there's more, I will communicate to you at once."

"Alright, it's goodnight then." Turning to Kari, "am waiting to hear from you." she quickly nodded. He left the room in one swift moment as though he had had enough view of the corpse. Kari and Imoh followed immediately after. As they got outside, the fresh air helped her relax a bit.

"About the financial records you talked about, you never mentioned that." Imoh asked her.

"I know I'm close to something."

"What?"

"I can't be too sure just yet, but I will find it soonest. We'll be having a meeting by 12:pm tomorrow, pass a memo to the others."

"Will do just that."

"Good night Imoh, see you tomorrow."

"Alright, bye."

...TO BE CONTINUED.