PRIME SUSPECT

Chapter 24

March 17,2003

Nat woke up the following  morning  and didn't find Liz beside  him.

He moved into the bathroom  to check if she was there but didn't  see her there also. He decided to dress up and  prepare for the journey to  Chioma's house .

After taking his bath, he went downstairs and to his surprise he met Liz and Ejiro beside the car waiting  for him.

"Good morning, I'm  sorry for delaying you guys, we can now enter the car"Nat said.

"OK sir"Ejiro said but Liz kept mute .

"Why  did  you leave this morning?"Nat asked quietly .

"Nothing "Liz replied  without smiling  or turning to  face  him.

"And about last night? "Nat asked  again  quietly .

"I don't want to talk about  it"Liz said.

"Ok"Nat said and  smiled .

Ejiro who was behind  them was trying to listen  to their discussion but she couldn't hear  anything.

Getting  to Chioma's house, they met her outside  her parent's  house.

"That's  Chioma "Ejiro  whispered  behind  them.

"Thank  God "Liz said and heaved a sigh of relief .

They got down from the car and moved close to her.

Immediately  Chioma saw Ejiro, she knew  something was wrong and  she was very  scared.

Ejiro moved closer to her while Nat and Liz stopped moving .

"Chioma, we have been looking for you, we just decided  to come  here, hoping  we would find you here, how are  you? "Ejiro asked.

"I'm fine, who are those people you came with?"Chioma asked.

Nat and  Liz moved closer to her .

"Can you at least  let us in "Liz said.

"No I can't "Chioma said looking scared

Her mother came  outside  when she heard voices outside .

"What happened? "Her mother asked.

"Good morning ma, we  are here to ask Chioma a  few questions  and  we can't  ask her here,can you please let us in?"Nat  asked .

"Come  in"her mother said.

When they entered, they sat on the chairs provided for them by Chioma's mother.

"Thank you  ma"Liz said.

"Chioma what happened on the 12th of March, early this  year"Nat asked .

"Nothing "Chioma said.

"Look  Chioma, you need to corporate  with  us, no one is shouting at you here"Liz said.

"Chioma talk, you know  I asked you why you came home and you refuse to tell me"Her mom said.

"Ok fine I'll talk,  my madam sent  me on an errand to buy foodstuff because  her sister-in-law was coming that day. She told me to go to the market and get her some things  she was going to use to cook, when I came back, I went upstairs to meet her in the library because  she said she was  going to be in  the library. On getting  there, I met her in the floor  dead, I was scared, I had to run away so I won't  be implicated "Chioma said .

"Who  do you think killed your madam? "Nat asked.

"To be frank, nobody" Chioma said.

"OK, Chioma, you would  have to follow us to Abuja, till we're done with this  investigating and we're confident you're innocent "Nat said .

"Never, my daughter isn't  going anywhere,  you want to go and lock her up right? "Her mother said shouting.

"No ma, she has to follow us, she is in a safe hands,  in fact she would stay with her boss's parents  together  with Ejiro"Nat said.

"Are you sure? "her mother  asked .

"Yes ma"Liz answered.