THE WITNESS

Chapter 17

Two days later:
"You're not fully recovered, yet." Adriana was telling Ben, "why did you request to be discharged?
Ben laughed as she led him out of the hospital.
"Would stop with your nagging?" He asked her still laughing, "you sound like my mother. Bless her soul." He said sadly.
"Just look at yourself Mr. Stupid." She told him, "you can barely walk."
"I have you here to help." He told her smiling.
"Me?" He kept on smiling, "this is just for today."

"Oh really? Then I should hire a very curvy and beautiful house help." He said tongue in cheek.
He looked at her and saw she was fuming with anger.
"I don't care!"
"Oh! Really?" He asked her,"your face says otherwise."
"Hmm! What does it say?" She asked hands akimbo.
"Well...." He began hands moving to her waist,"it says you are jealous."
She didn't say anything but looked away.
He then pressed her body to his.
"Do you like me that much?"
"Like?" She said with a scoff,"you wish."

"But the other day you said you did."
He kept on staring at her,
"That day I was emotional."
"Really?" He asked then touched his lips to hers slightly then pulled back.
She was shocked because that was the first time he would kiss her.
"You still think you don't love me?" He asked her,
"Well.....I am not sure yet. Maybe if you....."
Before she could finish, he kissed her this time longer. She didn't kiss him back at first. But then she kissed him back.

"Seriously?" Someone said, They broke apart and saw Samuel standing 5 feet away, "it is embarrassing."
"Good to see you Samuel." Ben said letting go of Adriana.
"I have no problem with whatever you were doing. But get a room. I don't want my eyes corrupted." He said laughing,
"Your eyes are already corrupted." Ben told him,
"Yeah right."
All through their conversation, Adriana didn't say or couldn't say anything because of embarrassment.

She was literally blushing.
"What brings you here?" Ben asked
"Oh! I came to see you."
"Any problem?"
"Its regarding the case. We need to talk."
"Can't it wait?" Adriana finally spoke.
"It can't wait." He told her, "it is very important."
"Okay then. Where should we go?" Ben asked him.
"There is a restaurant by the next street. We can go there."
Then they all headed for the restaurant Samuel supporting Ben as they went.

***
Back at the station, the gang were waiting for the trial. They knew they couldn't escape it. James still didn't talk to anyone of them. He didn't mind that he could be killed or he didn't care anymore.
"When do you think we would be tried?" Wale asked him.
Wale sat beside him and sighed.
"Could be anytime soon."
"You are not nervous or anything?"
James scoffed,
"Why should I be?" He asked him.

"Are you kidding me?" Wale looked at him shocked.
"I won't be the first guy that would be charged for murder."
Wale wondered how he could say he didn't feel anything. Even he was nervous because he didn't know if he would be given capital punishment.
"You really feel nothing?"
James shook his head.
"Nothing."
"I killed a person so it is only right I pay."

Wale couldn't stand it anymore. He was fed up with hearing James saying he killed someone. Everyone else but James knew the true killer.  Wale decided to tell him.
"I have something to tell you." He told James.
Before talking he looked at the others and saw they were asleep.
"You are not the killer."
James looked at him like he was crazy.
"What are you saying? If I am not the killer then who?"

"It is true what I tell you. You didn't kill the guy."
"Everyone knows I pulled the trigger that day. So what are you talking about?"
James was getting impatient and edgy.
"If I didn't who did?" He asked sitting up straight.
"Who was left with you on that day after we left?" Wale asked him.
James really never thought about it before.
"Olu was the.....You mean he did it?" He demanded.

"And if I did?" They had someone say. Turning around they saw it was Olu.
Speak of the devil.
James now angry stood and grabbed him by the collar.
"Why did you do that?" He shouted it that the others woke up.
"Maybe because you didn't have the guts to do it." James told him to his face.
James disgusted and furious wanted to hit him but was stopped by their boss.

"I don't remember telling you guys to kill him." He began,"I have always wondered what happened that day."
James looked at him flabbergasted. He always thought it was their boss's order. At least that was what he was told.
"I thought you ordered it." James told him.
"I never gave such order."
"He told me you said to kill the guy." James pointed at Olu.
"It wasn't his order." He said.
"Whose oder was it then?" Wale asked him.
"My BOSS. My real boss.”

They all looked at him in bewilderment and anger. The fact that he was a double agent was most provocative. Unknown to them, someone was watching them from another room....through a camera.

***
"So what about the case?" Ben asked Samuel when they had seated in the café and drinking coffee.
"Well....you said you knew who the killer was, didn't you?" Samuel asked.
Ben looked at Adriana for a moment then began.
"Yes. It is the much taller one among them. That is....."
"You mean Olu?" Samuel cut in.
"Yes. That is him" Ben affirmed.
Adriana had nothing to contribute so she just listened while they talked.

"But I guess my testimony won't be enough. Would it?" He asked Samuel.
"Oh! About that. They are supposed to have something by now." Samuel said bringing out his phone.
Ben and Adriana were confused at what he was saying.
"Who is they?" Adriana asked.
"Ehm..." He began looking up from what he was doing. He realised that he was not making any sense.
"My men back at the station. We are trying to find something."
While still talking his phone rang.

He looked at the called ID and saw it was his partner.
"Hello!"
"Hello Samuel"came the reply from the other end.
" Jane! Is there any update."
"About that. We have the evidence."
"Really?"
"Yes. You need to be here now."
Samuel hung up shortly and noticed two sets of eyes staring at him.
He looked up at them an saw the looks on their faces. It was obvious they wanted explanations.
"Uhm...." He began, "I need to be at the station now.

He said getting up.
" Do you want to come along?" He asked Ben.
"I'd rather not. I prefer to stay away."
Samuel thought of it for a while then shrugged.
"Alright. Do that. See you guys later."

***
Later that day:
Malik had been informed of his friends discharge from the hospital. He was delighted that he was okay. He hoped that his friend would have no problems.
He knocked on his friend's house door and waited.
"Who is it?" He heard a voice say.
He couldn't help but smile when he recognized the voice to be Adriana's.
"Open up Adriana. It Malik." He replied.

She opened the door moments later and met the amused malik at the door. She was perplexed.
"What is the matter?" She asked letting him in.
"Nothing. It is just....nothing. Where is he?"
"He is in the living room." She told him.
He went to the living room while she went in another direction.
"Damn. What happened to you?" He asked when he had seen his friend.
Ben who was lying on the couch sat up straight with much difficulty as his wounds still hurt.

"What is up bro." Ben greeted him.
"I am good. Tell me what happened to your face?"
"What about it?" Ben asked.
"From the look of things you will need plastic surgery." He told him tongue in cheek.
"Yeah right." Ben was smiling now.
Malik was laughing heartily.
"Will you stop teasing him?" Adriana said as she walked I on them.
"Sorry." He said still laughing.
Ben scoffed at him and smiled.

"Come and have your lunch." Adriana said to Ben.
"Come and join us, would you?" Ben said as he was standing up.
"I don't mind." Malik said helping Ben up.