IN TWENTY ONE DAYS

38; MURDERER.

ABUJA, NIGERIA. (or is it UAR? hahaha)

"What do we have here?" Alhaji Abubakar Danbazau ask Amir who has brought so many things in a plastic sealed bag and placed them on his desk in the court. It is the very next day after his daughter has been taken away to the jail and they are gathering evidence to get her out of the place the next day when the hearing will begin and hopefully, ends there too.

"I don't know if this will help but there are some things that look quite unusual. At first, we all thought it was a natural death but after this investigation, we've found a lot of things that prove it was not ordinary death. I'm not saying Bushra did it, we were together when it happened so no, she didn't do it. Someone was there with mother in the room before she died. Even if she died naturally, something has happened in that room that we should find out." Amir explained and for a moment, Alhaji Abubakar thought he was talking to a lawyer then he smirked. The boy really cares about his daughter, this should've been her husband helping him but he was nowhere to be found.

"Good, this will have to do for now. I can see handprints, footprints, hair, belt loop... Wait, belt loop?" Alhaji Abubakar stared at the sealed plastic bag where a jean belt loop is coolly sitting, it looks torn while in hurry. What does it mean and for a lawyer like himself, he was quick to ensnare so many scenarios in his head.

"Yes, I also had so many doubts after seeing it. I'm sure my dad never wears jeans and Mika'il wasn't there neither was I, there are no other men in the house. Both Kauthar and Afrah didn't wear jeans since Ramadan started so I don't know where that came from." Amir explained, waiting for the man to solve the puzzle his head is in. It was jumbled since yesterday, he barely had time to rest talk less of sleeping and he is fasting.

"Do the housemaids clean the room thoroughly everyday?" He is still gazing into the plastic bag as if to see whether the belt loop will tell him who it belongs to. This needs thorough investigation, the case might be trickier than it should be. The scenarios in his head is something else.

"Yes, sometimes twice a day because Mom always likes her room clean. That loop should be there when the unusual happened in her room. Someone must've broke in or something." Amir isn't a lawyer but he is trying his best to make sure he helps one way or the other. He wants to be there for Bushra since her husband is not there. He wants her to be proven innocent as soon as possible before he loses his own mind. He can't watch her suffer like that, it aches.

"What about the maid that said she saw everything? I want her there in the court during the hearing and dare she not lie for this shall be the last time she stands on her feet." The great judge narrowed his eyes at the evidence knowing that woman lied or was too paranoid. Whatever it is, she should get her shit together before he lose it.

This is a battle with a father, he needs to set an example that no one should ever try messing up with his family. He won't let the first hearing go without being successful or at least knowing they have the upper hand. If he is going to fight himself, he won't leave the courtroom not successful, it will ruin his image. His daughter won't go back to that dark room, he won't allow that on his watch. Whoever it is that is conspiring against her, he will fight tooth and nail to make sure that person is behind the bars instead of his daughter.

The real culprit shall be punished indeed.

"I will make sure she is there, Uncle. And about Bushra, I'm going to see her now before the visiting hours are over." Amir stood up, he needs to get moving. They weren't allowed to go to her the night before but they have the permission.

"Yes, be there for her please. Thank you so much, Amir. I am so disappointed in Mika'il, really. I never expected that from him, he looks like he's lost it." The father let his eyes roam with disappointment, his son in-law has foiled him in the most cruel way.