The Dawuni Files - A White Shadow

Chapter Eight

Dawuni ducked just in time and the vase crashed into the wall , water, pieces of glass and flowers falling onto the floor. He turned to Monique, a look of surprise and annoyance on his face.

" I'm so sorry". Monique apologized, embarrassed with what she had done as her eyes began watering.

Dawuni said nothing but just kept looking at her.

"You wouldn't understand". Monique continued , sobbing." I love Nii.... If the pictures get out , I'll be finished... You think I'd risk that?... All my years of hard work will be for nothing... Ziltch.... My pain... Everything I've worked for will be for nothing... Nothing".

Ordinarily, Dawuni would've comforted her , but this wasn't ordinary. This woman had just thrown a glass vase at his face and if it wasn't for the distance between them and his sharp reflexes, Dawuni would've been seriously injured.

"I'm sorry". Dawuni apologized, then walked out.

He sat in his car, his fingers drumming rythmicaly on the steering wheel. Dawuni knew that Monique was not lying.

If the pictures were made public, Nii wouldn't be the only one to go down, Monique would also be affected. Infact, she would be more affected since the public disgrace could lead to her kissing her modeling career goodbye. Nii on the other hand would have his reputation jeopadized . He may or may not resign as president, but even then, the wealth he has accumulated over the years would ensure that he lived comfortably for the rest of his life.

Dawuni knew he had hit rock bottom. The meeting with Monique had yielded nothing. If anything at all, it had shown Dawuni that he was on a wild goose chase.

Dawuni sighed wearily as he drove out of Blue Bird estates. He checked his memo. He still had one thing to do  and it was something he hated a lot.
Shopping.

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Dawuni loathed shopping. He found the idea of strolling round buying and occasionally bargaining for items simply annoying. He could never understand for the life of him , how some people found this tiresome activity pleasurable or even relaxing.

After shopping for a while, Dawuni found himself in the Cripple's Inn, a popular restaurant in downtown Ablefa. It was crowded, typical of a Saturday with almost all the tables taken. Dawuni was very lucky that there was still one unoccupied table left.

As he sat down, he realized that the waiters were all busy and it could be a while before someone attended to him. Dawuni picked up one of the menus and began leafing through. He could at least decide on what he wanted to eat  before a waiter came.

"Excuse me sir, can I join you?" Dawuni heard a female voice ask.

He looked up, instantly recognising Irene, the beautiful teacher from Alfred's school.
" Sure. Why not? Be my guest". Dawuni said, smiling.

" Thank you", Irene sat down. " You look farmaliar . Have we met before?"

" Well, I'm actually Alfred's older brother. We met some days ago, when I brought him to school and he was late".

"Oh... Sorry we met on such a bad note".

"No problem". Dawuni said extending his hand. " I'm Dawuni Ayine".

" Irene Hayford". Irene shook his hand.

" Are you in any way related to Casely Hayford?" Dawuni asked , smiling.

"No". Irene flashed a beautiful smile." But I do get that a lot".

Just then, a waiter came to take thier orders. Dawuni went for green rice and pepper sauce with a complimentary tilapia. Irene on the other hand ordered for waakye and shito with wele.

" So how is Alfred doing in school". Dawuni asked as they waited for thier orders to arrive.

" You mean my star student. He's doing what he has always be doing. Brilliant work."

Dawuni  smiled.

" If I may ask, what to you do?" Irene sipped her smoothie.

"Me? I'm a detective. I work with  the CID". Dawuni replied.

"Wow... Must be really exciting".

"Sometimes". Dawuni reached for his drink." But it can also be boring. Detective work is nothing like what you see in the movies".

Irene nodded in understanding.

" What about you?" Dawuni asked. " Teaching must be really interesting".

" It's rather dull sometimes".

"Dull?" Dawuni's eyebrows shot up.

Irene smiled slightly. " Don't get me wrong. Teaching is very fulfilling, you know. Moulding children to become responsible, impacting knowledge and all that. But it can become dull sometimes, when you have to teach the same things over and over again, every year".

The waiter brought thier orders and they started eating. As they ate they talked about a lot of subjects; from current affairs,to philosophy, social issues, politics and books.

Being an avid book lover himself, Dawuni always found it very interesting to hear the thoughts of other book lovers on they had read.

"How about Okonkwo  in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart? I find him very overbearing, don't you think?" Dawuni asked Irene but realized that she wasn't paying attention. Her gaze was locked on one of the televisions mounted on the wall of the restaurant.

On the screen, there was a news item on the five year commemoration of the Lawo Collaspe. Lawo Collaspe was the term everyone used, to refer to the collaspe of sections of the Lawo Shopping Complex, five years ago. The incident resulted in the death of twenty seven people and dozens of others injured.

"Are you okay?" Dawuni asked Irene but she was still staring intently on the television screen. Her eyes were had  and her pretty face set in a look of pure anger.

Irene's grip on her glass tightened. Moments later the glass shattered and Dawuni looked on in alarm as blood started flowing from her palm.