In Cold Blood

Chapter Eight: Foul Play

  Adamu left home immediately after talking to Toju. He boarded a cab to Macaulay close and wondered what the problem was.because it sounded like a distress call. God have mercy he said loudly to no one in particular. As he got to Macaulay close, he developed a cold feeling that he could not comprehend. When he got to Ajayi's residence, the gate was half opened. He had never seen the gate like that before because it is always closed and well secured. He alighted from the cab and walked into the premises. He saw Olu and Segun standing transfixed looking at him like they had seen a ghost.
"What is it?". He asked but there was no response. He saw some people standing close to the parking space in the compound.
"What is it?."
"And where is Ajayi?." He asked in a low tone. He walked past the people and saw the front door wide open.
"What is going on.?" He asked again in a low tone. When he got to the sitting room, he saw Toju sitting on a chair holding Ronke closely to him. His eyes were red and he looked broken. He looked around and saw the maids crying profusely. Ajoke stood motionless with her head bent down. He looked at Gbenga who wore a dark sunglasses, and so could not see the expression on his face. He held his mother who was crying with no visible tears on her face. Who could he ask he wondered. He looked around and realized Toju was the only one he could ask because he got the call from him.
"What is it Toju.?"
"And where is your father.?"
Toju pulled away from Ronke and took Adamu straight to Mr Ajayi's bedroom. Toju had locked the door and took a photograph of the scene. When Adamu walked into the room, his scream reverberated all over the house. He collapsed on a chair and wept, and for the first time Toju allowed his tears to flow freely from his eyes. Ajayi's lifeless body was on the floor with blood gushing profusely from his forehead gradually forming a pool of blood. A chair and a table in the room was upside down suggesting a struggle. A glass window in the room was broken to pieces. Adamu partially recovered from his shock, went downstairs to call Olu and Segun for assistance. Ajayi was strongly built and can't be carried easily. As they carried him through a long corridor leading to the sitting room. The maids screamed realising the reality of the situation. Ajoke drew them close to her and closed her eyes. Ronke wept and turned her face to another direction and continued weeping. Toju told Ajoke to take care of the house. And as he walked out with his father's corpse, Ronke ran to Ajoke and the latter wrapped her hands around the maids and Ronke.
They put his body in the car, and before he left with Adamu, His mother asked.
"Which hospital are you taking him to .?"
"St Nicholas Hospital. Clinic"
Toju replied trying to control his anger towards his mother. Looking at his mother, and remembering her non_challant nature and attitude towards his father created a feeling of disgust towards her.
"We are right behind you."
She replied. There was no response from Toju. He simply got into the car and Adamu drove off to the hospital. And Gbenga and his mother followed closely behind them.

  St Nicholas Hospital Clinic was a private owned hospital, well known for it's modern medical facilities. It was a forty five minutes drive from their residence. When they got to the hospital, Adamu drove straight to the mortuary section. The mortuary attendant received the body and took it to where it would be refrigerated. Toju made a deposit to secure a space for his father's corpse. He suddenly had a funny sensation, and asked the mortician for the restroom. He went there and vomitted and wept bitterly. He later got a hold of himself and washed his face. Then he decided to put a call across to Uncle Ade. His uncle almost passed out when he heard the news. But he had to be a man.
"Where are you now.?" He asked.
"St Nicholas Hospital Clinic." Toju replied.
"Okay are you alone." His uncle asked.
"No Adamu is here with me."
"Gbenga and mother will be here soon."
"Okay wait for me."
"I will be there soon."
Toju went back to the mortuary section. He looked at Adamu and they were both speechless. Looking to the opposite side, he saw his mother and Gbenga.
"Where is father.?" Gbenga asked.
"Right there." Toju pointed to the mortuary section.
"Have you made payment."
Gbenga asked.
"I paid a deposit."
"Other signatures are required."
"So I will wait for Uncle Ade." Toju replied.
Suddenly his mother began to lament saying.
"My enemies have succeeded."
"Where do I start from?."
Feeling irritated by the sight of Gbenga and his mother, he walked a little distance away from them. As he looked up to the sky, his phone rang. It was Aunty Bimbo on the line. Her voice was inaudible when he picked the call. She said.
"Oh Toju your mother told me."
"Ha....... Ajayi.
"Why is life so cruel.?" She cried and cried as she talked.
"How are you holding up Toju .?
"Not good Aunty."
"I want to die with him." Toju wept.
"Don't say that Toju."
"That will be a double calamity." Aunty Bimbo replied.
"I wish Aunty I wish." And he fell to the ground with his phone.
"Toju, Toju, Toju." She called his name but he wasn't listening anymore.
  In about an hour, Uncle Ade arrived. He met Toju at the mortuary. He signed the necessary documents, and Gbenga signed on his column too. The hospital required the signature of Ajayi's first son and the signature of an older male figure from the deceased family. Uncle Ade paid the remaining balance of the money to be deposited. He looked at Bisi and Gbenga and then looked at Toju and said.
." My brother is gone."
"I saw him on Saturday Hale and hearty."
"And now he is gone." He shook his head and and looked at the morgue once more and tears flowed freely from his eyes.
Bisi started with her wailing again saying.
"My in law
"My husband is dead."
"I won't see him again." She lamented as she held Ade'a shirt.
Toju felt irritated again and so he decided to see a doctor friend in the hospital.
Mr kolawole was a medical examiner at St Nicholas. He was a family friend to the Ajayi's.
While in his office, Toju evpressed his feelings saying.
"Mr Kola I want my father's body to be thoroughly examined."
"Why the doctor asked.?"
"I don't know but I just have a feeling that it should be done." Toju replied.
"You suspect foul play." He asked.
"I think so but I'm not too sure."
"Doc please grant me that request." Toju appealed to him.
"Okay I will and will inform you if i find out anything."
"Thanks Doc." Toju replied.