Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

7 years ago

Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

Mind raced through many things and landed on Clara. Somehow, since yesterday she had been roped into the mess I was in. Though she still had her doubts about Bibi murdering Rumie nor trying to flee.

I took out my phone and sent sms to my boss, calling in sick.

I asked Clara about not going to work, she said she had called in sick. She said it was the first thing she did immediately she got into the main building of the airport, before looking for a travel agency.

Fine, we were set to wait out the whole morning.

But not the policemen. They had made it clear they will not spend another minute after 10:45.

As the time crawled by, I got more tensed up about the gut instinct I had. But somehow I was sure of it. Nobody carries around a passport in a handbag except there was use for it. True, but again she may have needed it for anything else.

Whatever it was, I stuck by my instinct.

Instinctive intuition should never be overruled.

Minutes crawled into an hour. No sign of Bibi. An hour crawled into two. Still no sign of Bibi.
By this time, passengers had gotten on the queue to check in. And gradually the queue reduced as passengers went in for boarding. Soon there were only about 5 people left to check in.

I could feel the impatience among the detectives.

Sergent Sunday walkie-talkie cracked on
“Fox Two… Come In Fox Two. Do you read me?” the voice spoke. Inspector Okoro
“Fox Two Sir” Sergent Sunday spoke into it as he held the device close to his mouth.

“I read you Fox One. Over”
“What’s the situation Over”
“Neutral Sir. No activity. Target not in sight. Over”
For a minute I thought I was shooting an action movie. It all sounded strange to me.

“Hold your position. Stay alert. Over and Out.”

Na wa o. If not for the seriousness of the situation, I could feel Clara feeling funny too.

We were all getting tired and feeling disappointed as the last person checked in his luggage and went in. No sign of Bibi.
Just then, something hit me. Bibi had checked in. I suddenly turned to Sergent Sunday
“She disguised. We missed her. She has boarded.”
“What?!” The sergent exclaimed.
I am sure of it, she was disguised. We may have been looking for the usual Bibi we knew, she passed us a different person.
In same instant, he pushed a button on his device and…
“Fox One sir”
“Fox One. Over”
“Target may be disguised and slipped radar sir.”

The inspector then asked that he the two other men take positions inside the hall while he goes to the tarmac with me.
Immediately he got off with the Inspector, the sergent barked into his device
“Fox 3. Come in Fox 3″
A moment later
“Fox 3. Over”
“Take position at same spot I am with our lady friend. Target may be disguised and slipped radar. Over”
“Approaching position 2 Sir. Over”
Soon as he was done, he radioed Fox 4 at the entrance. Gave same orders.

Then he turned to me.

I was on red alert.

“Follow me”
Without another word he turned and I followed. Just then his other colleague was taking position beside Clara. Clara can identify her better.
We hadn’t take five steps away when I heard Clara shout
“Staaag!!!” I turned to see Clara pointing to the direction of the check in point…
Someone in a black colored shawl covering half her head down through her ears to neck and flung over shoulders, the small front portion of her head that wasn’t covered showed a very low cut. The person wore a sunshade and held a little girl of about 3yrs. But she walked awkwardly.
Awkwardly, Bibi was truly disguised! And I saw through her disguise immediately, thanks to Clara.
But Clara’s shout had caused attention and people looked towards her. So did Bibi. And Bibi must have seen me too looking her way and immediately started to hurry towards her direction.

Sergent Sunday hurried towards her with me while he held his walkie-talkie to his mouth and spoke rapidly
“Target spotted. Approaching target. Over”
The other detectives in mufti also swung into action.

Bibi saw these activities and must have known something was up. She began to back up slowly and suddenly broke into a run, carrying the little girl.

The queue going in for the RSA flight was empty but there was crowd apparently to other destinations. So she was up against the crowd, clearly the way to let her through.
We came after her. Soon, we were also swallowed up in the crowd almost loosing her. Thanks for the Oga at the top overseeing the cameras as he gave Sergennt Sunday the coordinates of the target as we ran along.
She headed up the stairs, obviously in a panic. The situation she has just witnessed was most likely not envisaged. So in panic she ran up stairs. One would have expected her to run downstairs and attempt the exit.

“Target turned right. A flight of stairs.” Was the last radio from Fox One. We didn’t hear him again we turned right and followed in hot pursuit. Just as we turned up the stairs, we saw Bibi standing still. Facing a figure who gallantly stood covering the door what exits the stairs. Inspector Okoro.

Good judgment he had made. Since she ran towards him and he saw her possible turns and movements he crossed her.

No where to run.

Behind me and Sergent Sunday were the two other colleagues and Clara.

There was a brief moment of silence as the Inspector spoke up
“Miss Bibi, I can see your schedule has been interrupted. Please come this way” he held her up the last stair into the top floor landing where we could see clearer.

Bibi held the little girl closer the way a mother would hold her child in clear and present danger.

People around were looking on as Sergent Sunday read out
“Miss Bibi you are under arrest for the murder of Miss Rumie Akeh. Anything you say may and can be used against you in the court of law. You have a right to an attorney, if you can not get one…” Blah blah and blah
What surprised me was Bibi’s reaction. Bibi went stone cold. She wore a straight face of no remorse and didn’t look at anybody in particular. Her face was as I have never seen her.

Her sunglasses had fallen off. And I could see viciousness of The Grey Falcon.

They took away her baby as Sergent Sunday placed handcuff on her. Her face was emotion-less. I was horrified.

That was an understatement. But to think this was that s*xy** girl with the batty a nicca could die for? Woow!

Clara came beside me and held me by the arm, I held her closer to me as we all walked behind the two other detectives who held Bibi back downstairs and we all walked out of the airport to a waiting unmarked car. They lowered her into the car. And each detective sat by her right and left.

Inspector Okoro and Sergent Sunday walked to another vehicle parked behind marked ‘POLICE’, with the little girl.

They motioned us to join. We foolwed behind with the apprehended predator-bird.

My mind went straight to Jay. He should be thanking his stars. I wondered the joy that would engulf him to this twist of fate.

When we got to the station, they took Bibi in. Still not a word had been spoken by this girl. No crying, not even a drop of tear. Just a straight face that terrified me.

She was booked in and disappeared from view. A call came in.

Rumie’s father.

One can imagine his excitement. The murder almost got away. Just at the very last moment she was apprehended.

We went through things again and I further offered a suggestion:

If Rumie was given sleeping pills consciously, she would have suspected and refused a quantity that will cause an overdose. So, my hypothesis was that she wasn’t given in tablets. Or maybe given normal dosage in tablets and found other foul ways to get more dosages into her system. Say, juice? She could have drugged a drink. They will have to open up Rumie’s room again. More exhibits may be found there.

By now, Sam had come. And Rumie’s father helped to facilitate Jay’s release, just through calling one or two people. He also asked to see me. I agreed to come by that evening. First, I needed a rest. And I’m sure Clara would want to go home now.

I request Inspector Okoro be kind enough to allow one of his men follow us home because of the attackers the previous day. Their contract may still be on. He did.

I took a few things and decided not to sleep in the house for now.

Jay had grown lean and was looking tired and unkempt. One could see appreciation deep in his eyes. He had been extremely quiet. Not saying a word to anybody. Not even his brother. Sam was more than joyous as ‘stag, thank you’ kept falling off his mouth every other second.

People started coming in to see Jay and perhaps rejoice with him.

It was amazing to hear same people were on about Jay the other day saying stuff like
“So that quiet boy fit kill? Na wa for this world o”
“Eehen? So na devil that boy be. And hin dey form quiet. So na killer him be”
“Fear this world o, chei I fear quiet people o”
Now they are same people thanking God for him, saying stuff like
“Na God save am o”
“Na to go do thanksgiving for church o”
“Thank God o.”

“That girl na evil friend wey she be o” et al.

Anyways, Clara left for home. She had really tried.

She really deserved some credit. She stayed close by me all through since I was attacked.

I went to take a room at nearby hotel. And asked Jay to come with me. He’d need proper rest and food.

Again Mr Akeh called and said he was sending a driver to bring me, so I told him where I was.

After I dropped, I silently hoped another Mr Gently shows up. Lol.

At Mr Akeh’s place, I was treated to a very warm welcome. And was introduced to Rumie’ mother. There were other people I don’t know. I had dinner with them. A very warm family. At the end, he give me his card and signed at the back, that I am always welcomed to see him anywhere. Home or office.

I pulled out a cheque book and wrote out something. Woow! It was handsome sum.

And also said the driver will take me back to move me and Jay to one of his hotels. We would occupy any two rooms of our choices. He dialed someone and gave some direction. When he dropped he added that anything we wanted, the manager would provide us. And had described us as his guest.

Also, was that Rumie was to be buried the following day. Of course, we were all going to be there. And asked that Jay and Clara come see him the day after the burial. I relayed the message to Jay and Clara.

He was one nice old man.