The Picnic - Episode 8

 

"What are you to Bola?" Duro asked Ugo. "I'm a friend"
"Best friends or a friend he would go out to get a drink with"
"This Kain questions sef"
"Answer the damn question" 
"We were not that close, he was just a friend. We argue a lot about football, we support different teams" "Who is Muna to you?" He continued leaning on the desk, "She's my flat mate"
"Were you aware she was have s*x with Bola even while he was engaged to Caroline?"
Ugo stopped tapping his hands nervously on the desk . "What's the essence of this question?"
"Oga answer, don't play smart here" Dare chipped in, "I don't think the question is relevant to the matter at hand"
"Oga try answer the question" Dare added. "No" Ugo lied. "So you live with her but you don't know what goes on" "Boss I think he's lying" Victor opined nudging at Duro. "How do you know I'm lying?"
"Cause Muna told us you knew" Duro lied, "He had to bring up another game in order to the truth out of him. Ugo shut his eyes bowing his head in shame

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

. "Okay I knew" "But you covered up for her"
"She's my best friend in the world. If this is about Bola's death, Muna had no hand in it"
"How do you know?"
"She was with me when the shooting was going on." "You had an argument with Bolaji; was what it about?" Duro asked, "It was about his cheating habit. Your brother was an asshole! I caught him kissing a lady, meanwhile he had Muna fighting and dying over him." "So you argued over this because....." Duro stalled in thought; "It's either you're into Caroline"
"I don't like Caroline" Ugo snapped almost in disgust. "It's Muna then" Dare guessed looking at Duro. 
"Muna would never hurt anyone. She's a pain in the ass and a lot of things but one thing for sure is; she didn't kill Bola"
"But you did"
"What!" Ugo yelled, "That's crazy"
"The girl you like is hung up on another guy; it's only logical for you to kill him"
"I swear on my mother's grave that I didn't kill Bolaji. He had it coming, sincerely he was beginning to piss some persons off. Just because I showed my anger I'm being painted as a suspect. How about those are quiet about this?" Ugo asked, "That'll be all for now Ugo, you're not permitted to travel and we'll call you back for further questioning" he chipped in and Ugo stood up leaving. Duro felt light-headed. The testimonies about Bolaji weakened him. Bolaji had always been promiscuous, not since Caroline. He promised to drop that life; apparently he didn't keep to his promise.
Ugo found Kazeem waiting at the waiting room. "You sef?" Ugo asked.

"If you guys are going to accuse me of killing  Bolaji, let me just tell you now, I didn't kill him."
"Where were you at the hour of the shooting?"
"In hiding"
"With who?"
"No one, just me and Allah"
"Your argued with Bola during the course of the picnic"
"Yes because he was playing around with the feelings of my cousin Muna. Your brother had no self-control whatsoever."
"Did you see him hours before he died"
"I did."
"What was he doing?" Duro asked, "He was with Muna, I caught them in a very complicated posture. We argued again and he left. The next thing I knew there was gun shot here and there. I had to hide for my life. Bolaji was my best friend, I couldn't have killed him"

Duro laid on his couch then lets out an exasperated sigh while listening to the recording during Ugo's interrogation. It was his way of trying to get the slightest error from suspect's testimonies.
 He found it annoying cause the testimonies were clean except they were well rehearsed. Listening to Muna, Ugo and Kazeem's recording, Duro grew more confused. If they all claim to be innocent, who then is
the muderer?

Caroline crossed her leg, eyes glued on television as she watched a gossip news on Juice TV. "Durodola Daniels our very own American wanna-be super hero. Should I remind you he saved ten students from terrorist attack? As we know already, he reopened Bolaji's case; according to him, his brother was murdered but the issue is, is he actually doing it for fame, to expand his popularity or because he actually does feel as though his brother was killed" Blog Queen, Bridgette  broadcasted grinning. 
"Bitch!" Caroline blurted out noticing that Rukky was behind her. "Are you following this idiot?" Rukky asked, "All she loves to do is post shit" "I came to see how you're faring"
"I'm fine Rukky, stop checking on me, I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself." She answered rolling her eyes then Rukky sat close to her. "Aren't you going to work?"
"I'll go later in the day. I have somethings I want to do"
"I spoke to Mom concerning your plan and she said, she'll support you every way she can"
Rukky hugged her immediately then pulled back. "Are you serious?"
 "Yes"  Caroline answered, "Of course I am"
"I don't know what to say"
"Just say, thank you Caroline, you're the best"
"Thank you Caroline, you're the best"

Victor watched a live stream of Bridgette's gossip news on his phone, a female police officer had brought it for him to watch.
"Durodola Daniels our very own American wanna-be super hero. Should I remind you he saved ten students from terrorist attack?" The phone boomed and Victor hissed. 
"All this bloggers ehn!"
His head turned over to Vivian who walked into the building in a black leotard point and a white shirt. The fist three buttons were ok opened revealing the black one she wore and some cleavages. "This one we you dress to kill today" Victor teased, "Na Oga you wan kill?" He added loud enough for her to hear. Vivian hissed then she turned to a lady who just walked in. Taye Macaulay, the manager of the Daffodils pool house and one of the suspect.
Vivian hid her face behind a flag and Victor noticed. His gazed was now fixed on Taye who just walked over to the counter to talk to a female police officer.

"Boss" Victor called out shortly after to Duro who just came it of his office. "She's here o" he added and Duro glanced at Vivian, "I need you with the team"
"I'm sorry boss but I'm nursing some personal problems, call it mental cramps, I might have to leave earlier"
"Oh" Duro paused, "Victor let's go then" he ordered and they both made their way to the room.
"I don't buy into her cramps tale" Victor sounded off, "It's too cheesy" he added, "Boss, just when she saw this lady we brought in, she hid her face as though she was hiding something" he explained and Duro walked into the room where Miss Macaulay was fiddling with her phone.
Her attention now diverted to him. A wide smile spreads across her face on seeing Duro. "Durodola Daniels" she muttered, "It's been a while" she added as he took a seat opposite her. "Good Morning to you Miss Macaulay"
"Oh please During, drop the formalities, you know you can call me Taye"
"Sure"
"Years have gone by quickly my dear; I haven't seen you in years. The last time I saw you was on your father's burial but you were too emotional to even pay attention to me"
"Sorry about that Taye but right now is not the time to converse about old times and catch up" he answered almost abruptly. "I miss you" she added softly and Victor gazed closely at the both of them.
"I'm sorry about Bolaji" she apologized, "He didn't deserve such death"
"How did he die?" Duro asked, "The police report says by stray bullet"
"Taye don't try to act all smart with me. You should know already that I've reopened Bolaji's case cause I think he was murdered. Taye I want the truth" He requested and she busted into tears. "I wasn't around when it happened"
"Where were you?"
"I was with my kids"
"Taye you're not married"
"I'm a single mother Duro. I had to take care of my kids so I left and then I got a call about what had happened and there was a robbery nearby. So for peace-sake and the progress of the organization, we had to rule it under stray bullet"
During banged the table angrily, "You lied" "His death was suspicious but we just wanted to let sleeping dogs lie Duro. Your father would have done same if he was alive. I learnt a lot from him"
"Don't bring dad into this"
"Duro I don't know who killed him if that's what you wanted to know about"
"Were you aware that Bola had altercations with persons present at the pool house"
"I did but honestly dear it can be anyone. I'm not going to accuse anyone but all I know is I don't have anything against Bola. I don't have a hand in his death"

"Wow that was intense"Victor commented shortly after the questioning. "It's as if you were really close with her"
Duro understood what he meant. "She was my first everything and that's all you need to know" Duro confessed with a frown. "The gate man is here" Dare announced. "I'm sure he's a stereotype" Victor assumed.
 
"I believe your name is Jamal" Duro said looking into a notepad. "Yes it is" he replied smoothly to everyone's shock"
"How come you don't have an accent?"
"How does that concern the investigation?" Jamal snapped and Victor hissed. "Answer the question jare!"
"I have no accent cause I didn't grow up in the north. I'm a university drop out and working as a security is my means of survival in this jungle called life."
"How well do you know Bolaji Daniels?" Duro resumed asking his question.
"I've known him for as long as I've known you" Jamal answered. "I don't know you"
"Just like you don't know the staffs but Bola knew everyone, that's the difference between you and Bola."
"How long have you worked for the daffodils?"
"Five years detective."
"Did you see Bola before his death?"
"I did as a matter of fact I spoke to him but that was like a hour before the shooting."
"About what?" Duro asked and Jamal's heart skipped a bit in fear. "He sent me on an errand"
"So where were you at the time of the shooting?"
"I was in my room, hiding like everyone was. I didn't come out until I heard a scream. Miss Toke was the first person to see Bola dead."
"Who's this Toke?" Duro asked, "One Americana like that" Jamal replied and Duro scoffed. "Toke Olanrewaju but she's not on the list"
"She's now Toke Martin"

Taye chewed on his pen, lost in his own thought. He thought of Taye Macaulay and his first time with her.
He was only eighteen years and his parents had left the house in the care of twenty three years old Taye who at that time was their nanny. Taye was brought into the Daniels resident after her father, a close friend of Mr. Daniels died. Duro's parents trusted her to take care of the children while they left to spend the weekend in Ghana.
Taye walked into the room that night in skimpy wear that left nothing to the imagination. Duro was young and in love; Taye took advantage of it.
Duro snapped out of his thought when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in" he answered then cleared his throat.
Rukky walked in smiling then she shut the door.

Read " Dysfunctional " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. Duro's mood lightened up the moment he saw her. 
"Someone looked moody before the smile came in" she assumed and Duro hissed then waved his hands backwards while she took her seat.
"Nothing serious just some past mistakes"
"You're supposed to move on, that's what I do. I don't let myself get bothered by my past. Our past shouldn't dictate our future" 
"You're just the person I needed to see"
"Are you okay?" Rukky asked, a blend of worry in her voice. 
"If I say yes, then I'll be lying to you" he answered then opened his laptop.
"Before Bola died, he left me several mails that I didn't read."
"Why didn't you?" She asked, "Cause we had a big fight, Bola and I." He replied shutting his eyes as he reminiscenced on what happened. 
"What happened?"
Duro scoffed, "I've never revealed this to anyone but it all started when I started insisting on Bola being responsible. I wanted him to curb his bad habits, smoking, drinking, women. That was when Bola and I started having issues. The last straw was when I caught him with my ex" Duro paused. 
"Agnes?" Rukky asked, "No, another.... A girl I had intended getting serious with"
"He was dating Caroline and.....I didn't want to say anything. He apologized but I just couldn't forgive him"
"I'm sorry"
"Years went by and I still held it in until he died" Duro said almost In tears and Rukky moved  close to him placing her palm on his face cleaning a drop of tears that made it's way down. 
"I just couldn't bring myself to go to the burial cause I felt guilty and I felt like going to the burial would make me look like an hypocrite"
"I understand" Rukky added, "What if I open his mail and see some kind of clue that could have prevented his death?" Tears poured down the more.
"I'll never forgive myself"
"Shh" Rukky uttered kissing on the lips. She could taste the saltiness of his tears in his mouth.
 "I'm here for you and I promise not to let you go through this alone" she whispered. "Let's check it together. You have no choice Duro, you have to check it"
"Okay" Duro paused opening his mail box on the system.