In Cold Blood

Chapter Ten: An Interesting discovery.

Three weeks after Ajayi's funeral, the family was gradually getting used to the fact that Ajayi was no longer with them. Sometimes Ronke would cry at night, wishing her dad will come back to life again but she knew it wasn't possible. The house was gradually becoming empty. Uncle Jide, his wife and kids had gone back home. Aunty Bimbo had left
too. But Uncle Ade decided to stay back to hear the provisions of his brother's will. Toju was particularly disturbed by the management of his father's business. The will had not been read yet, and the lawyer was to read the will on a Monday evening and everyone waited in anticipation. Three days before the lawyer's meeting, Toju got a call from Inspector Kunle.
The latter asked him when he could come around for questioning. Toju told him that Saturday evening will be fine. He informed everyone about it. Bisi and Gbenga raised an eyebrow trying to kick against it, but uncle Ade insisted that the questioning must be conducted.
The maids talked about it, and wondered why inspector Kunle was coming around for questioning.
"Why is the inspector coming to question us.?" Tosin asked.
"I don't know, I guess he wants to know what happened that day."
"That's not it Toyin."
"He suspects foul play."
"That's why he is coming for questioning."
"Maybe Ajayi Richard was murdered."
"Think about it, the way he died was strange."
"Oh daddy, you were so nice to us."
"Whoever did this will not go unpunished." Tosin responded to what Toyin said.
"Ha Tosin careful what you say, I'm afraid already." Toyin reacted.
"Me too."
"There is no killer in this house."
"Don't scare us please." Shade added.
"But it is the truth." Tosin responded.
"You talk too much Tosin."
"Our boss just passed on."
"Enough of this talk of murder please."
"Remember we are here to work, not gossip." Toyin replied
"Yes oh." Shade added.
"You girls amaze me sometimes."
" Something happened that day, and I will be watchful and find out the truth." Tosin replied determined.
"Tosin, Tosin, Tosin." Toyin called out thrice.
"What's it?" Tosin asked.
" Be careful." Toyin replied. But Tosin continued to explain as they worked in one of the rooms.
As they worked they heard a voice saying.
"Girls aren't you done cleaning that room.?
"There are other shores to be done."
"Please hurry up."
It was Ajoke. The girls looked at her and greeted.
"Good morning ma."
"Good morning girls."
"How are you?."
"Fine ma." They replied.
"Girls you are still very young and agile.
"And I'm not getting any younger."
"Please join me in the kitchen." Ajoke instructed and walked away.
"I didn't hear are coming." Tosin said.
"How can when you were busy talking." Toyin reminded her.
"But breakfast have been prepared."
"She only needs our assistance during lunch time."Tosin replied.
" Maybe Aunty Ajoke wants us to get something from the market or around."
"We run other errands remember." Toyin explained.
" Yes you are right Toyin. Tosin responded. But didn't seem convinced. After a while, they joined Ajoke in the kitchen to prepare lunch and Ajoke engaged them longer than usual.

On a Saturday evening everyone gathered in the sitting room of Ajayi's residence. And Inspector Kunle sat on a chair facing them. Shade and Toyin became nervous and afraid as he sat facing them. Adamu and the security guards were uncomfortable too. They couldn't look at Kunle. His presence obviously had an impact on them.
He introduced himself and expressed his condolences by saying.
"Please accept my sympathy once again."
"I hate to bother."
"But I'm here on duty.
He showed them the medical report from St Nicholas Hospital Clinic.
"So what are you trying to say.?"
Bisi asked.
"The report shows that your husband did not die accidentally."
"It shows that he was attacked."
"I'm not here to judge anybody."
"But as a police officer I have to do my job." Kunle tried to be explicit as he could.
"Go ahead inspector, I'm the deceased immediate younger brother. " Uncle Ade said.
"I didn't kill my husband."
"I'm still mourning please." Bisi protested.
"I don't see the reason for this."
"I didn't do anything."
Gbenga added.
"Allow the officer to do his job Gbenga."
"Please be quiet."
" No one is accusing you." Uncle Ade said referring to Gbenga.
Reluctantly he kept quiet. And Inspector Kunle started with his investigation. To the maids he asked.
"Where were you when the incident occurred.?"
Tosin spoke first.
"When we got here for work,
"It appeared there had been an argument between Gbenga and his father."
"Then we heard a loud sound and a voice from the corridor leading to Mr Ajayi's bedroom."
"When Brother Toju heard the sound, he followed the direction of the sound. We followed him afterwards, and when we got there Ajayi Richard was dead."
" Did you see the body.?" Kunle asked.
"Yes we did, after Toju pulled Ronke away to the sitting room." Toyin and Shade replied.
"Alright thanks. Kunle replied.
To Adamu Kunle asked.
"Where you here when Your boss died.?"
"No I got a call from Toju."
"To come over."
"He didn't tell me why."
"When I got here the atmosphere was tense."
"And when Toju took me to Ajayi's room he was already dead."Adamu explained.
"Did you see the body.?"
"Yes I did and blood gushed out of Ajayi's head."
"A chair and table in the room was turned upside down, and the room window was broken."
Thanks." Replied Kunle.
"To Olu and Segun he asked.
"Where were you.?"
Segun spoke first.
"We didn't know what was actually going on inside."
"It happened so fast, Gbenga came home very drunk."
"He hit the gate so hard with his car."
"And when he drove into the compound, he hit his father's highlander Jeep. Olu continued.
"We heard voices talking and quarrelling."
"We believed it was Gbenga and his father."
"They usually had quarrels often, but this one was loud."
"We thought of going into the house."
"Then the maids came, we let them in."
"Within a few minutes, we heard screams."
"By the time we rushed into the house, our boss was dead."
"Thanks for your cooperation. Kunle replied as he took down notes. It was time to talk to Ajoke. Kunle asked.
"I understand you are the chief cook."
"Yes sir." She replied.
"How long have you been working here.?" He asked.
"For about fifteen years now."
"When were you employed."
"When my husband died." She replied.
"Did your husband know Mr Ajayi.?"
"Yes he was his former employee."
"They were friends."
"And when he died Ajayi decided to employ me since I didn't have a job."
"Where were you at the time of the incident.?"
"At first I was in the bathroom, then i heard arguments.
"But I was still answering the call of nature." Ajoke replied
"Did you hear a loud sound and a voice." Kunle asked.
"I'm not too sure."
"But I heard something."
"And by the time I came out, Ajayi was dead." She replied.
"Who told you he was dead."
"Well the feeling was there."
"When I asked Toju what the problem was, he didn't say anything."
"His eyes were red."
"And after he took Ronke to the sitting room, I saw the body lying on the floor."
"It was a horrible sight."
"Thanks ma for your cooperation." Kunle replied.
"To Gbenga he asked.
"Did you hit your father's car.?"
Reluctantly he answered.
"Yes I did."
"Did you have an argument with your dad.?"
"Yes I did."
"What happened when you went to your room.?"
" As I walked to my room, I heard my dad from behind threatening to call the police."
" At the same time my mum came to my room to talk to me."
"Within a short while, we heard a loud sound and a voice screaming No I think."
"The sound was close, and so when I got to my dad's room, he was lying down on the floor and wasn't moving."
"Then Toju came and then followed the others."
"How did you feel when you saw your father's body.?" Kunle asked.
"Startled and so was my mum."Gbenga replied
To Bisi Kunle asked.
"How did you feed when you saw your husband's body.?"
"Startled and confused."
"Did you go to his room first before going to talk to Gbenga.?" Kunle asked
." No I didn't I went straight to Gbenga's room."
"Thanks ma"
Kunle asked to see Mr Ajayi's room. The family and workers followed him. As he walked along the corridor, he saw a number of rooms around Ajayi's room. He asked Toju.
"Whose room is this.?" Referring to the one opposite his father's room.
"That is Ronke's room."
"The first room he passed as he walked through the corridor leading to Ajayi's room was Gbenga's room. Then after Ajayi's room he saw a very small corridor that led to a door at the end of it.
"Whose room is that.?" He asked.
"That is Ajoke's room.?" Toju replied. Looking at the maids Kunle asked.
Where do you sleep.?"
"Our rooms are on the other side." Tosin replied quickly
"Where is the other side.?" Kunle asked.
"After the kitchen were you have the guest rooms. Tosin replied. Kunle went to see for himself and realized it was true.
"Kunle seeing Ronke's sadness when he just arrived decided she would be the last person he will ask questions. Looking at her he said.
"I know this is hard for you, but I would like to hear your own side of the story. She cried as she spoke.
"Brother Gbenga had an argument with my father."
"He went to his room first._
"Then daddy followed him."
"My mum also went after Gbenga."
"But she did before my dad."
"Then I heard a loud sound, and a voice saying No."
Toju went to see what it was..?"
"I was curious and so I followed."
"When I got there, he stood blocking the entrance of my dad's room."
"The expression on his face indicated that something was terribly wrong."
"When he was asked what was wrong, there was no reply."
"He pulled me away to the sitting room."
"And I heard screams afterwards."
"Then when Adamu came, they carried away the body."
"Then it dawned on me what had truly occurred."
She said as she broke down in tears. Touched by the emotional outbreak he decided to end his questioning.
"Okay thank you everyone for your cooperation."
"The investigation is still ongoing.
"And I may come again."
"It is not over yet."
He left the apartment and Toju saw him off to his car.
"What do you think.? Toju asked.
"Well I think someone is lying."
"But I don't know who."
"And then it is a difficult case, with no proof."
"Anybody could have done it."
"But any information is useful."
"So if you have any information, please inform me. Inspector Kunle also gave his number to every person he interrogated. As he drove off, Toju thanked him.
He went inside and discussed with his uncle telling him what Kunle said..
"We must see to the end of this."
Uncle Ade said.
"I agree with you uncle." Replied Toju.
"But who could have done this uncle.?" Toju asked suddenly.
"Only God knows." Uncle Ade replied.
"This is Scary too."
" If there is actually a killer, it means no one is safe."Toju responded.