Deadly as trust

Twelve: Jide

I looked at the spiral-bound book I dedicated to the murder case, in other words, Miriam's case.

So far I had gotten the duration and location of the crime, description of the killer and a hint that he had something to do with the owner of the brothel Miriam had come from, all from Miriam.

She made my job so much easier. The bridge to my gap came from the brothel. The woman Miriam referred to as 'Majoress' definitely have something to do with Dave's killer.

Now my problem was that nobody was going to help me do that, Miriam was too terrified to go back. She was so comfortable in my house that telling her to help me spy around in the brothel would send her to fear overdrive, I wasn't particularly ready to deal with that.

"Jide working hard as usual."

I looked up to see Dayo at my door. I narrowed my eyes at him. He was one person I didn't want to meet today.

"What do you want?", I wasn't smiling.

"Come on, I didn't come here to fight with you. You know, I'm supposed to check in on you from time to time. After all it's what your uncle wants.", he said walking towards me, stopping in front of my desk.

Yes, my uncle — the inspector — had placed me in my present position, Dayo seemed to think I stole his spot. However, my uncle made him drop in on me when I was having trouble with a case, not that I was complaining though, Dayo had the experience I didn't have.

"Well? How is everything going?", he asked resting both hands on the desk.

"I'm almost stuck actually."

"It's expected, hand it over.", he said stretching his hand for the book in my hand. I rolled my eyes at his sarcasm. Typical Dayo.

I handed him the book though which he took and left the office after that saying that he would get back to me in a week or two.

I breathed as I reclined in my office chair, that man was a bad vibe. I didn't even know how my uncle thought I would work well with him. Inspector Bamidele Abayomi had his way with his own things. He didn't keep anyone else in the loop.

But it meant that I could rest a little for a few days which was good news, right?

~~~

I came home earlier than usual and went straight to my room where I undressed and had a long cold shower, it was always a remedy for stress for me anyway.

Minutes later I moved back downstairs to the dining room, Miriam was just dropping my food. She looked up at me.

"You're home early."

I nodded.

"Where's Jamilah?"

"In her room."

"Okay."

Our conversations were almost always short and abrupt. We had a kind of relationship which was purely based on work. I honestly had no intentions of letting her stay more than planned and didn't want feelings to get in the way of that. I had my reasons.

Almost halfway through my food I noticed she still stood there.

"Aren't you going to stay with Jamilah or something?"

"Do you ever do anything besides work?", she threw at me instead. I sighed rubbing my forehead. I knew where this was leading to.

"Miriam, I thought I made it clear. No back stories."

"Oh come on, what do think you are? Fracking Batman? Why do you act so superhuman like you don't have a weakness, it's frustrating. This is what Jamilah always complains about, you actually don't even have a life outside work. What is wrong with you?"

She finished off breathing loudly and just paused. I, on my own, was speechless. I honestly didn't see that coming.

"You know what? Just nevermind. It's fine and I'm sorry for snapping."

Her voice came out low and she walked into Jamilah's room. Part of me wanted to call her back and say something, another part just didn't want to dwell on it.

After I finished eating I sent the dishes to the kitchen and climbed up straight to my room. There I took one bottle of whiskey and poured myself a cup. Getting wasted always helped me think less. To me, it was better to get your problems off your chest with alcohol than a human being.

I gulped the first glass feeling the alcoholic liquid burn down my throat. I groaned, Miriam and Jamilah were right. I was too personal about everything and I didn't care, they weren't supposed to be involved in my work life no matter what. It was the way I had kept things in order.

I poured myself another cup and gulped it too. I began to feel a burst of emotions. I screamed not sure what I was supposed to feel.

I eventually gave up on the glass cup thing and just drank straight from the bottle. I hadn't even realized I had been tearing up the whole time. My head began to feel lighter with each passing gulp of alcohol and my eyelids felt heavier at some point.

I had muttered words I had no control over and laughed at them too, not sure why. I was fully intoxicated.

"No worries now Jide. You're fine.", I heard myself shouting and then laughing hysterically.

"Very fine indeed.", I heard myself adding in a small voice before a hiccup followed, then a giggle.

My eyelids felt heavier in a few more minutes and before I knew it I was out.

~~~

The beautiful morning began with me puking my insides out as soon as I woke up. I managed to make it through my routine with a bad headache.

Each time I had a hangover, I seemed to think it would teach me to stop, it never did. I didn't even know if it ever would. A man had only so many things to drink away.

I called the workplace and told them that I would be late. I most definitely would.

I dropped two tablets of paracetamol into my mouth and swallowed them almost wishing I hadn't gotten drunk.

I didn't regret it completely though. Miriam seemed to remind me of things I wanted to forget each time she tried to bring up topics about my past and sometimes work got too overwhelming.

I did make it downstairs for breakfast though. I met Jamilah and Miriam at the table. Miriam did little to acknowledge my presence and just mumbled a greeting while Jamilah greeted me smiling so brightly. I knew I could count on her.

I always had.

~~~

Author's note: So... New character in. What'd you guys think about Dayo? Tap that comment button right now.

What do you think about Jide's attitude towards Miriam? How he's shutting her out? Also, do you like the story or chapter? Let me know in the comments.

Please don't forget the usual.

Much love from your girl 😘