The Sponsor

Detective Rico

He had started as a watchman in a small carwash. He had gotten all A's in his secondary education but his kin could not afford the university bill and that is how he found himself in Nairobi as a guard. But his brilliant mind could not allow him to stay just a guard for too long. He had a knack of sniffing out trouble in a way that no one else could. 

His boss's car had just been hijacked. He had gone through the trouble of trailing the suspects only to discover that it was an inside job. The car was found and the culprits apprehended and It was in that way that he was pumped up to the chief security of the carwash. 

He had used the increase in salary to study criminology and law and before long he was enrolling as a sergeant in the Kenya police. At a young age of twenty-four his legend was growing and he was sent on missions to crack cases. Domestic. Murder. Drugs. Name it and he would crack it wide open.  

His name preceded him and he was conscripted into the secret service and with it a bigger salary. He had worked there for twenty years until he tired and decided to fly solo doing contractual jobs in malls, hospitals and hotels. After, he decided to open his own private practice and nature the next investigative agent. 

Rico now sat on his desk looking into the eyes of Kitana. A good friend of his. He had worked on contract for Ajabu Digital when office equipment and money were disappearing into thin air. He had left not only with the name of the culprits but he had also installed a more robust security system of surveillance cameras and keycards that informed senior management who entered the office and at what time and theft had become a thing of the past.

"My good friend, how are you?" Kitana started like all people who need something always do. 

"You mean I'm your good friend only when it suits you, huh Kitana?"

"It's not like that, you know how work can be?"

"I know how excuses can be, what brings you to this neck of the woods today, friend?"

"A small problem I have."

"The death of your CEO and the takeover of your company by a druggie? I would say that is quite a huge problem you have on your hands." 

"So you have heard the latest in the grapevine?" 

"My ear is always on the ground."

"Will you help a brother out. I don't need to mention that your package would be immense if this tuns out to be what I think it is."

"Money? Is what you're offering me?" Detective Rico shrugged. "I had always thought you were smart Kitana." 

Kitana raised an eyebrow. Rico was ageing and his cynicism growing ever erratic. 

"When you get to my Age Kitana you don't do things because there is money involved, you do them because people you care for will sleep better at night. That is what they call fulfilment. How is Wairimu?"

"Tired, stressed, a little depressed."

"Send her my regards and tell her I am taking this job not because of you but because of the man you are becoming by her side.

"I will," Kitana said with words dripping with gratitude knowing all too well that the moment the words, "I will take the job" came out of detective Ricos mouth the case was already open and shut.