My Third Cycle

3. The Murder

Bayo

6 am
June 23, 2000
Beachfront, Victoria Island
Lagos, Nigeria.

Bayo lay on a cushion on his balcony, his head hurt real bad,he was recovering from a hangover after a bout of late night drinking. While he lay still, trying not to wake up, the ocean waves blew with force creating a petite sand storm. The wind blew up particles of sand that reached Bayo up on his balcony and went through his nose, bringing his rest to an abrupt end.

He forced himself up with every ounce of strength in him and dragged himself to the kitchen, all the while doing his best to defy gravity. After searching for painkillers in Lisa's first aid box, he made two cups of coffee.

He lived with his girlfriend very close to the beach and he loved the ocean breeze but not this morning. He had woken up with scarcely any recollection of the previous night.
All he remembered was going drinking with Paul and Sam.

Why had he slept on the couch?, he tried to think. Had he upset Lisa? Then it struck, last night was their anniversary and she had made a dinner reservations at some fancy hotel months ago. After another long day at the office he had let Sam persuade him into taking an ecstasy pill which immediately sent off every bit of logic and sanity in him. Lisa had dined alone on what was supposed to be their special evening.

What a shitty boyfriend he was. Shit! He took a deep breath and exhaled, he dreaded facing her this morning.
Holding the two cups of coffee, he walked to the room they both shared, pausing to listen just before he knocked on the door. He heard nothing but the sound of the
television so he knocked again, but there was still no reply. Growing impatient with suspense he reached for the handle and opened the door.
She sat up on the bed holding a pillow to her chest.

"You only knock when you've been a bad boy." she said.

He gave her a wolfish grin, held up the steaming hot cup and said "Coffee!"

She shook her head, "You stood me up at a restaurant on our day and you
apologize the morning after with coffee. Aww, How romantic! "

"I try, babe." he replied sheepishly.

She threw him a withering look that would have terrified the devil himself. He knew she was serious now and he got down on his knees explaining, apologizing and grovelling, if you will. But she did not say a word, she just stared at him apathetically.

He knew what she wanted, so he let out a sigh and said "No more drugs."

"Promise?" she enquired, finding it hard to hide her satisfaction

"Promise."

"Then you are forgiven," she smiled, "but if you ever fuck with me again, I will fuck you right back up."

"My pleasure." Bayo replied with a naughty grin.

"Well you aren't getting off this easy if this ever happens again."

"You call this easy?" He let out a long whistle and they briefly shared a laugh before the news headline caught their attention.

"Breaking News: Girl murdered and raped in her Victoria Island home.
News reporter Samuel Adenuga in a live conversation with journalist Lola Aina reporting live from Silverbed"