The Picnic - Episode 9

 

Duro clicked on the first message. The content of the message had "I know I f*cked up real badly, I'm sorry Duro, I need you"  written on it.

The second was "Duro I'm in deep sh*t and I can't get myself out of. I really need to talk to you else I'll go mad." 
Another had in it's content, "i'm in trouble Duro, please come save your brother from this, it's exhausting to deal with this alone"
"He sent me distress call and I ignored him" Duro's said, there were a lot of sadness and guilt in his voice.
 There were more messages he wanted to read but Rukky disagreed seeing how brokenhearted he was.
"I don't want you getting all broken because of this. You have a chance to make it all okay by finding whoever killed him."
"You're right" Duro replied, "Thanks for coming"
"You're welcome dear" Rukky smiled.

Toke Martin's turned her hand bag upside in search of her drugs . She has been using drugs since she turned eighteen. After she had her daughter, she promised her husband she would stop but she had a habit of going back when she's depressed. 
"Mom" her six years old daughter called out to her. She had an American accent

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

. Her skin was light and it glowed like her mother's. "Not now Charlotte" 
"When mom? I wanna go back to Seattle. I miss it there. It's getting boring here and I miss dad."
"Dad is here in Nigeria. Don't tell me you're not having fun with me"
"You're not around most of the time and we all know dad finds time for me more than you do" she snapped looking at her mom who seemed less concerned about what she was saying. 
"Are you and Dad getting a divorce?" Charlotte asked, Toke immediately focused attention on her daughter.
"Where did you hear that from?"
"Brigette from Juice TV" She answered pouting her lips as though to cry.
"There'll be no TV for you till further notice"
"Mom!" She cried out, "Go into your room" Toke ordered and she did.
"When do you intend telling her you're leaving her dad" Toke's mom who had been listening in said moving close to her.
"Till the divorce procedure is over"
"And who would tell her? Henry cannot do without his princess"
"Over my dead body will leave my daughter with him so a crazy step mom can mistreat her. No way!"
"F*ck it!" She muttered looking into her bag  again then she turned to the item she kept on the table,  "Mind your language in my house Toke"
"What is it? And why is this place scattered?" Mrs Olarewaju asked, "My ID card is still in Henry's house" she lied bitting her nails. "So? Go and get it"
"I left the house for him since he didn't want to give my freaking space. I promised not to go back"
"Go back for God sake Toke, why do you have to be so stubborn? You're both stubborn. It's so obvious you both love each other. It's not worth calling off this union"
"Henry called me a sl*t"
"Didn't you deserve it for fooling around with Bola"
"It was a one time thing, he should get over it already. And his stupid fears whenever I come to Nigeria to visit. His crazy insecurities drives me nuts"
"You guys should talk things out" 

Duro sat in his office at night, it was past seven and personnels have left already. He had a jazz music playing on his phone. It was something he played especially when he's frustrated and needs a way out; an escape. Vivian knocked on the door then entered. "Goodnight Boss" she said and Duro nodded. Just when she was about to leave, he requested they spoke for a while and Vivian entered taking a seat.
Duro stretched his hands to his phone then stopped the music. "How's the cramps" he asked, "Fine, it's.... Better now"
"It wasn't cramps was it?" Duro asked, "Why would you think"
"Just tell me the truth Vivian. Victor said you dodged when you saw Taye Macaulay. How well do you know her" he asked and Vivian paused looking away.
"Victor has a big mouth" she commented then rollled her eyes. "Okay, I know Taye because I've been to the pool house a lot of times... Not until I was embarrassed."
"Why?"
"I was in an affair with a married man and we got caught. The wife embarrassed me and Taye planned the whole thing. There was even a video about it but luckily my face didn't show that was how I escaped the whole thing but in my defense, I didn't know the douchebag was married. He looked so young and full of life, I swear to God that I never knew I was the sidechick."
She confessed to Duro who was In shock- not like he expected it anyway.
This was followed by a long silence. "Now you'll probably think I'm a sl*t" Vivian broke the silence. 
"Uh...." Duro stalled.

After several refusal of Toke to  come to the station for questioning, Duro decided to pay her a visit personally.
 Toke's family and his have been long time partners. Just after he had knocked on the door, Charlotte opened the door. 
"Who are you?" She asked, "My name is Detective Duro and I'm here for your mom"
"I've always known mom would end up in cuffs, I just never thought it would be the police taking her." She paused moving closer to him. "Mom is crazy" she added and Duro laughed at her humour.
"Mom the police is here for you!" She shouted going in and Toke rushed in. "How many times I've I warned you about opening the door for strangers?" She asked seeing Duro who just closed the door.
"Hey Duro" she said in disappointment. "We summoned you" he began then she looked at Charlotte. "Can you leave us alone?" She requested and Charlotte left.
"What do you guys want? I heard you've been accusing people of killing Bola but newflash Duro! I didn't kill him, okay? I just found him dead"
"What's the possibility that you didn't kill him" Duro asked and she scoffed. "Are you trying to play that mind game with me. Bola was a douchebag, may his soul rest in peace and no offence to you but I didn't kill him."
"And I'm supposed to believe that"
"I came the third day of the picnic and I regret it cause I haven't been able to sleep since then. I didn't kill Bolaji.

Read " Palm lines " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. The only thing I went there to do was challenge the idiot!"
"Why?"
"Cause I was angry and high on...." She paused moving back. "Don't tell me you and Bola still did drugs" Duro asked, "Bola stopped, I did after I had Charlotte, then i ... I.." She stammered.
 "Duro I'm going through a divorce mess and it's all Bolaji's fault"
"What happened?"
"Brigette sent our s*xtape to my husband. I don't even know how she got the freaking tape" Toke cried out. 
"We spoke and argued. He apologized and that was it. I stayed around to have some drink. Then the shooting began and I hid, then I came out a while later, Bola was cold dead."
"Who do you think would have wanted Bolaji dead?" Duro asked convinced with Toke's testimony.
"I don't know" 
"So you didn't see anyone?"
"I didn't, I swear to God." She swore then creased her brow as a thought crossed her mind.  
"Before I challenged Bola, I saw him arguing with the security what's his name, Jamal"
"Seriously?" He asked, "Yes, he seemed really really angry and he said something about him getting a life and not trying to bother him every now and then"
"Did you ask him why he reacted that way?"
"Why would I?" Toke snapped.

Duro entered his car then drove over to the pool house. When he walked in, the first personnel he saw was Jamal. "What are you doing here?" He asked, "Were you involved in any altercation with Bolaji, yes or no?" Duro asked gruffly.
"No" Jamal answered and Duro held his hands then turned him around cuffing his hands. 
"You're under arrest" he said in a gruff voice. Personnels and guest began to stare. "I didn't kill Bola?" Jamal groaned. 
"You have the right to remain silent, whatever you say would be used against you in court"