THE WITNESS

Chapter 1

Ben after having a drink - four - decided to return home and get some sleep. He was always doing it, drinking and his friends had warned him about it,but he told them that it was nothing. Walking home - his place wasn't far from the bar, he felt like relieving himself. So he decided to find a hidden place for that. He saw a partially completed building and decided to do his business there.

He got to the building and was about taking off his trousers, when he heard someone shouting. He totally ignored his purpose of coming there and went to see what the commotion was about. As he went staggering, he heard a yell again.
"who is that?", he asked, there was no answer, he went round the building and saw them - whoever they were. A group of men in suits holding batons round another man, he couldn't see clearly.

It was evident to him - even in his drunk state that they were gangsters. He thought of trying to help the oppressed man, but he was drunk. He couldn't fight; he was of no use in that state. He thought to call the cops; that was a better option.
"hello! What is your emergency?", the operator answered,

"hello! ",he started saying, "a man is being attacked by gangsters",
"What is your location?",
He gave the location and they said they would send the nearest patrol team. He looked at them again, and it seemed that they hadn't him make the call. He being a reporter decided to record it, so he could expose them. He almost fell as he tried to take his phone from his pocket. He struggled with his pocket before finally bringing out his phone.

He put on the phone and started recording. Still he wasn't noticed. When it seemed that one of them was about looking at his direction, he hid behind the wall. He peeped after some time and saw that most of them had gone save for two of them. He resumed recording. Then he felt like throwing up and made a sound and they turned to his direction.

"who is there? ",one of them asked,
He didn't answer nor move,
"who is there? Come out", they said again,
He decided that the best thing, reasonable thing to do then was to make a run for it. He waited for a minute then started running not looking back until he got to his place.

He suddenly felt like peeing again and this time he couldn't hold it. So he did it right there in front of the gate. He sighed in relief. He then went inside and slumped on the couch.

***
THE NEXT MORNING;
Ben woke up feeling very uncomfortable. He was having a serious headache which was the result of his drinking. What happened the previous night was a blur.
"that was an exciting dream", he said to himself, he thought it was a dream. He got a call moments later on his cell, which took him time to find.

He found it eventually and saw that he missed the call. He saw that there was a recording that had been paused.
"what up with this?",he wondered,
He stopped it and it was saved automatically. He ignored it and went on to see who called, it turned to be his best buddy - Malik. He decided he would call him later. He had to prepare for work.

On his way to work, he called Malik,
"hello bro.",
"what up", he replied,
"nothing. Just wanted to check on you after last night",
"right",
"so you're alright?",
"sure",
He lied, the truth was that he wasn't alright, he drank a lot the night before.

"where are you now?",
"on my way to work", he replied,"why?",
"there is going to be an alumnus reunion today.",
"reunion? You know I don't do reunions",
"I know but I promised the guys I would bring you",
He saw that the cab he boarded had pulled up at his destination so he said,
"let me think about it and give you a feedback later. I have to go",
"alright. I will be expecting a positive answer",
And he hung up,

He alighted and paid the cab driver his fair. He stood before the newspaper house he worked for. It was called THE PEOPLES' VOICE. It was really the people voice alright and this was here he worked as one of the reporters.
"we meet again today, friend?",he said before walking in,

***
A body was found right around the bar. It was covered in bruises and it had a bullet lodged in its chest. From the state at which it was found, the forensic guys concluded he was beaten and that the bullet was the killing blow. The police after getting a call from the unknown caller got to the scene to find the body. There was no other person there.

Well someone was there, he was caught while running away from the scene. There was doubt that he was the culprit, and even of he was; he was not alone. The detective in charge of the case, Detective Samuel was at the scene inspecting it. Why he had to inspect, was a thing he could not understand. He couldn't stand the sight of the dead bodies.

"what is the matter? ", his partner asked, as she saw his reaction.
"the corpse.....makes me want to puke", he replied,
She laughed at him,
"you're done?",he asked her,
"yes",she said when had stopped,
He walked up to the forensics guy to ask him some questions.
"Good day detective",he said as he saw the detective,
"do you have any news for me?",
"nothing new.",he looking at the corpse, "just that he was beaten before being shot",

"nothing to indicate who killed him? No prints, not even the gun used",
"all that I will know after examining it at the station",
Samuel sighed,
"okay",he said then left him,
He and his partner - Jane - then got in their car and left for the station.

***
Back at the station, the suspect arrested was being questioned. He kept saying he was not the culprit even after being caught there.
"don't lie to me", detective Samuel ordered him, "you were seen there",
"I don't know what you are talking about",he said persistently,

Samuel was about to hit him, but was stopped by Jane.
"calm down", she told him, he then stood back.
"Now",she began saying,"listen to me. I promise he won't hit you if you tell us the truth",
She looked back at Samuel, he nodded at her,
"I have told you. I don't know anything; I am not a thug",

"then what were you doing there?", Samuel asked, now calm,
"I was coming back from watching a movie with my girl. After dropping her off, I was heading home and...you know what happened after",
"give your girlfriend's number, we need to check if your stories match", Jane told him,
"it is the truth",
"give the number",Samuel said sternly,

He gave the number and they went to check his alibi.

***
Ben and his cameraman had covered a story. It was about a guy who drew a painting of his family and posted on social media. Covering the story and showing him on TV could help the guy a lot; they thought. Back at the the people's voice, Ben had nothing to do, he already written the story of the artist.

He was tired from the days work and the headache hadn't subsided. Then his phone rang.
He checked to see who it was;
He groaned,
It was his friend Malik,
He must be calling about the reunion, he thought, many thoughts came to mind, should he ignore the call?, should he switch off his phone.

And he had no excuse not to go, he had closed work for the day. So he decided to answer the call.
"hello",he as he picked it,
"hello friend",
"what's up?",
"I just called to remind you of the reunion",
He sighed then mumbled,"stupid reunion",
Malik didn't hear what he said, so he asked,
"what did you say?",
"nothing. Do I have to go?",

"yes", Malik answered, "just this once",
"no",
"Adriana will be there",
"not working",
"Okay. What about this?", he began saying,"have you eaten",
"no",
"then come along. I get to fulfil my promise; you get food. It is a win win",
He kept quiet for a second, then spoke,
"okay",

"yes!", Malik exclaimed,"I - we - will be expecting you",
He then hung up.
Ben was wondering what he was going to say to them, he hadn't seen them in five years. It seemed awkward to him.