The Picnic - Episode 15

 

Rukky called Duro to know if he was free in order to open up to him what she has been hiding. She wanted to stop by to talk to him but Duro told her he was busy with the case.

 Rukky noticed the tiredness in his voice. She grew worried. 
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah... Something came up in Bola's case and I'm so stressed out cause I don't seem to understand anything any longer"
"Maybe tonight we'll talk over a massage and rounds of s*x; that should make you relax" she teased calmly biting her lower lip in a s*xy manner.
Duro chuckled, tapping a pen on his desk . "I'm turned on already" he answered then looked at his wrist watch, "The day suddenly feels slower" he added and Rukky laughed.
"See you tonight"
"Yeah" he agreed and she hung up. 
"How am I supposed to tell him now?" Rukky complained with her hands akimbo on her waist.

"I found something in my own cousin's house" Cynthia confessed to Duro, Victor, Dare and Vivian who were gazing in suspense. "You said that already" Duro snapped in anxie ty "What's did you find and how does this pertain to Bolaji's case?"
"I found a phone and when I turned it on Bola's picture was on it and then a call came in and I switched off the phone"
"Was it earlier today?"
"Yes Sir, in the morning. One Aunty Dupe called"
"I heard" Duro answered. 
"How did you find the phone?"
"There's this drawer my cousin is always so protective of, I finally found the key and there it was"
"I never thought she would do something so bad

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-picnic

. Why would she have Bola's phone in her room. Sir I think you deserve to know this" 
"So who's this cousin of yours?" He asked, "Rukerwe Johnson" she answered then Duro moved back in shock.
 "Are you sure?" He asked, "Yes detective, she works at your father's hotel as a chef. If you doubt me, you can go and check for yourself"

The police charged into Rukky's house as they ransacked the sitting room for possible evidence. Rukky's mom immediately put a call through to Rukky. "Where's Rukky's room?" Duro asked her, "Wetin una dey find?" She asked, "My pikin never do anything"
"Where's her room?" He asked once again, and she pointed to a door. Duro walked in and Vivian followed him. Victor and Dare were left behind Incase something came up.
"She's your girlfriend right?" She asked and Duro ignored her now moving towards the wardrobe that had that had drawers. He bends down then opened each and finally saw the phone; close to it was a box. 
Duro opened the box to find something wrapped in a white handkerchief. He guessed that it was a gun but he hoped it wasn't since it would imply that Rukky killed Bola. He immediately wore a glove unwrapping the handkerchief. His suspicion was confirmed. He found a gun.
Vivian shut her eyes then shook her head, "Detective, it doesn't add up. She said she saw the phone alone, now there's a gun"
"I can't believe Rukky would do this, I trusted her."
"We can't jump into conclusion Sir, you don't have to do this, you can overrule the case, brush it under the rug"
"All I wanted was to find my brother's murderer, and now we have her. I refuse to be sentimental. I have to do the right thing"

Immediately Rukky came down from a bike, Duro walked towards her frowning. "Mom called me and" before she could complete her sentence, Duro held her hands backwards cuffing her. 
"You're under arrest Rukerwe Johnson for the murder of Bolaji Daniels"
"Duro I can explain"
"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say would be used against you in the court of law" "Please listen to me!" She begged but all her plea fell on deaf ears. 
As Rukky's mom watched Duro push Rukky into the car, she couldn't help but relive the day her husband was arrested after being wrongfully accused. 
"Rukerwe!" She yelled and the car drove off.

Muna was watching a boring movie when Ugo came in with some guys who held a mixer. His white top was already dirty. He wrapped his blue shirt across his waist. "You can drop it there" he pointed and the guys dropped it then they left.
"Abeg you no go vex" he moved closer to her, "Mixer spoil so, I just decide say make I keep am for the night but as early as tomorrow, I go carry am comot"
"It's okay" she answered looking at the door. "They're rude, they didn't even say hi"
"You know no say if you no smile them no go greet you?" He snapped now leaning on the chair. "How you dey?"
"I hear say you come studio"
"That big mouthed Omo told you right?" She asked and Ugo shook his head. "Na one of my guy tell me, wait" he paused for a thought, "You saw Omo?"
"I did" 
"Oh.... So what did you two talk about?"
"Nothing, how are you so sure we even talked" Muna answered sharply looking back at the screen. 
"How was your day?" He asked and Muna ignored him. "I thought we were cool since you answered my questions"
"Can you just give me a thinking space?" 
"Muna, you're in the sitting room and there's a match coming up"
Muna rolled her eyes then left the room.
"Muna!" He called out and heaved a frustrated sigh. Then he received a call on his phone. "What's up Omo?" He asked, "My sister has been arrested for the murder of Bolaji" she reported.

"I want to see my daughter" Mama Rukerwe demanded. 
"I want to see her" She bursted in tears but the policemen ignored her. "I have a right to see my child"
"Your pikin kill person, e be like say you no understand wetin dey happen" one of the policemen answered.
"My pikin no do anything" she argued and Omo pulled her away. "Mum you need to pull yourself together" she advised cleaning her mom's tears. 
Dunni marched into the police station angrily yelling, "Where's my brother?" She shouted, "Madam" Victor walked up to her. 
"Where can I find my brother"
"Is he a criminal?"
"I wish! I'm looking for Duro. Where is he?" She asked and Victor directed her to his office. 
Dunni walked into Duro crying. "I didn't want disturbances" Duro snapped cleaning his tears. 
"I heard you had Rukky arrested for Bolaji's murder. How can you think so low as that; Rukky would never hurt anyone"
"How would you explain that we found a gun and Bola's phone in her possession?"
"There has to be a set up from somewhere, Rukky would never...." Dunni trailed off in tears. "Let her go" she begged and Duro shook her head.
"I can't" he answered.
"Don't you love her"
"I do, I love her more than you can imagine! Do you know how much it hurts right now? How much I wish I haven't reopened the case but I can never date a muderer."
"Investigate this Duro, Rukky is not capable of hurting anyone. Her mom is out there hurting. Think of how many more people would get hurt if you conclude on this case without investigation."
"Be it as it may, I still have to do my job. She's a top suspect and she will be treated like one" Duro stood up, "I have a criminal to interrogate" he said and Dunni scoffed, "She'll get out of this"
"You better get a good lawyer"
"You bet I will" Dunni replied walking out of the room then walked towards Omo and her mom. 
"I'm sorry about this, I'll get a good lawyer to fight for Rukky. I don't believe she did this"
"Your brother thinks she's guilty" Omo replied.
"What do you think Rukky's was doing with Bola's phone?"
"I don't know, all I know is that the drawer has always been locked but I'm pretty sure she has her reasons. She couldn't have killed Bola"

Duro walked into the interrogating room. He requested to be left alone with Rukky. He found Rukky sobbing.
"I'm sorry" she stood up her hands still cuffed but now in front of her. 
"Sit down" he ordered and she did.
"I know you're angry"
"Angry is an understatement of how I feel right now" "I'm sorry but it's not what you think. I was going to tell you about the phone. That was why I called you earlier on, I was going to tell you tonight"
"Too late"
"Duro I'm sorry I hid it from you,"
"And the gun?"
"It's not mine, I swear to God there was no gun there. Someone is trying to set me up. Pin the murder on me Duro"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Cause...." Rukky paused, "There's no reason, you don't have any reason to believe me after all I did, heck all evidence points against me and whoever did this is smart and I know I can't wiggle out of this easily. Just help me for the love I have for you, for the love you claim to have for me, for my mother, for my family. I promise to tell you all I know"
Duro blinked back the tears that were building up already. "What relationship did you have with Bola to have his phone. All these while you acted like you had no relationship with him"
"Bola was a womanizer, I've always known him to be one, then he started professing love to me, said he would call off his wedding with Caroline if I agree to him but I didn't"
"Were you at the picnic?"
"Yes. I only went cause Omo told me about the abortion"
"Great! Omo lied to me too" Duro scoffed feeling stupid. "She had to lie so I would not be brought in for questioning" Rukky explained and Duro shook his head in disbelief.
 "I saw Bola we went over to the broom shack to talk, while we were talking, someone interrupted us. So when Bola left to distract the person cause I didn't want to be seen by Caroline, he forgot his phone"
Duro rolled his eyes, "And I'm supposed to believe that" "I swear to you that was how I got the phone" 
"Were you having s*x with Bola"
"Oh please Duro! I wasn't! Caroline was my best friend! I would never bring myself to hurt her that way"
Duro sighed, he seemed relief about the fact Bola didn't have his way with Rukky.

Read " Hotel Palava " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. " The phone was the only reason why I didn't go back home that day. I was in hiding even before the gun shot began. Caroline was everywhere I went to. I didn't want her to catch me. By the time I came out, Bola was on the floor laying over how own blood." Rukky cried out.
 "I've had countless nightmares over it. I swear to God that I didn't kill Bola. I heard someone coming so I ran away and hid somewhere" she paused still crying. 
"It was Toke Martins then Caroline came out screaming. The moment everyone came out with all attention away from the gate, i ran away as fast as my feet could carry me"
"Did the gateman see you?"
"I don't know. I ran away that's all I know. I thought I escaped from it all but the phone was still with me. I wish I had thrown it away"
"Why should I believe you didn't pull the trigger on him"
"I swear on my father's grave and everything I hold dear, I didn't kill him"