The Dawuni Files - A White Shadow

Chapter Twenty

Irene made to close the door, but Dawuni crashed into it with his shoulder. The force sent her sprawling to the floor of the hotel room and Dawuni entered, closing the door gently.

"Dawuni, what are you doing here?" Irene smiled and stood up, dusting herself.

"Drop the act Irene. I know it's you ." Dawuni said flatly.

Irene smiled even broadly." Then I guess you're smarter than I actually gave you credit for."

Dawuni nodded. The voicemail had been from Titus. He had found something in Irene's history. During her Senior High School days, she had hacked into the school's administration computers  under the code name Sombra Branca . She had almost been expelled. Luckily for Dawuni, he had learnt a little Portuguese from his uncle so he knew that Sombra Branca in Portuguese meant white shadow . That was when everything started to make sense.

The bus ticket and the hotel reservation both were in a location close to the venue of the meeting the President was having with the Heads of African States. Dawuni had put two and two together and guessed Irene's plan. What he couldn't understand was why she was doing that.

"But why?" Dawuni asked." What have Nii and Monique done to you."

"For someone who is smart, you are asking a question with an obvious answer."

Dawuni racked his brain but he couldn't come up any motive Irene could be having to want to destroy the president.

Irene continued." That wicked president was responsible for my brother's death."

"Your brother? But he died during the Lawo Collaspe, so how...?

"He did. But it's all Nii's fault. I can still remember that day, when my cousin called to tell me that David was in the shopping complex when it collasped. You can imagine the terror dad and I went through when we got to the collasped building. We waited, Dawuni, we waited for six days.

We watched as the rescuers pulled out people. Some dead and some injured but not once did we glimpse David. And on the seventh day what happened, the president suspended the rescue."

Dawuni was confused. Was she even in Ghana? Everyone knew the reason why the president suspended the rescue mission.

He said." There was a storm coming up and the rescue team could not continue, given how unstable the collasped building was."

" Lies!" Irene shouted." That's what you think but I know better!!"

Dawuni shook his head sadly. David's death had affected Irene more than they thought. Perhaps, even robbing her of a part of her sanity.

Irene picked up a glass of wine and took a sip." When the rescue team resumed, it was too late. On the third day, David's dead body was retrieved. I signed a petition and urged the families of the deceased to do the same, but they refused. They were happy to collect compensation from the government, but I knew better.

I started trailing the president to every event he attended, my job as a reporter helped me. You should have seen how he was looking at Monique during the fashion show. So hungrily, as if he wanted to devour her. I sensed something was up so I 'accidentally' bumped into Monique and we rekindled our university  friendship. You can imagine how happy I was when I visited Monique and overhead her speaking with Nii. I think you know the rest of the story, don't you?"

Dawuni did. When Irene had found out about Monique and Nii, she had also probably known that Mr Kuma's mental state was deteriorating . She then hacked into his account and bought the drone. Then breaking into Monique's house she stole the bracelet and probably spiked the juice.

She  stole the drone and dropped the bracelet at the Little Boy to implicate Monique. Using the drone, she bypassed security and took pics of  Monique and Nii, and hacked them through to Nii's email address.

Irene had covered up her tracks neatly and Dawuni had to admit, it was a brilliant and almost foolproof plan.

" You poisoned Monique. You poisoned your own friend."

Irene drained the glass of wine." Monique was never my friend. She is and has always been a self absorbed bitch! The only reason she was friends with me back in the university was because I helped her with her assignments."

"Do you know that you killed an unborn child? An innocent child who did nothing."

"My brother was innocent yet he died. He was just fifteen. He would've been in the university by now. But don't worry, in some minutes time Nii will be exposed, and by the time that happens I won't be here."

"You think you can get away?"Dawuni smirked." I have enough evidence to ensure that you are locked away for attempted murder and blackmail."

Irene smiled maniacly." Where I'm going , no one can find me."

Suddenly, she doubled over and sank to the floor, blood pouring from her nose. Dawuni rushed to her and cradled her in his arms.

" What have you done to yourself?" Dawuni cried. He quickly dialed the ambulance. " Stay with me Irene, please stay."

Irene shook her head." I don't want to." Her voice rasped." I want to see Mom and David again. Tell Dad..... Tell him I'm sorry...... Tell him I'll be waiting for him."

"You can't die. You've a lot to live for."

Irene attempted to laugh, but coughed violently, blood dripping from her mouth." I don't.... I died the day....I saw David's corpse."

"Please don't go. I love you." Dawuni didn't know why he said that. Maybe he was hoping she'd see that as a reason to live.

Irene smiled sadly." I don't."
She convulsed violently and then became still. Her head lolling to one side. Dawuni checked her pulse. It was gone.
" I know, Irene. Trust me I do." He whispered.

There was a knock on the door. Dawuni was startled but not surprised. He was expecting it.
He placed Irene's body gently on the floor and went to open the door. It was Titus.

When Dawuni had received the voicemail from him. He had guessed Irene's plan immediately. So he'd called Titus to come, just in case he needed his help. And he did.

"Dawuni, what happened?" Titus asked when he saw Dawuni's teary face

"She poisoned herself. She's dead."

Titus patted Dawuni and went in. Dawuni led him to a laptop on a table.
Titus immediately went to work, his fingers flying across the keys expertly.

"Can you retrieve the pictures from the computer that is to be used for the presentation during the meeting?" Dawuni asked.

"Well, I can. But I'll have erase the whole presentation from the computers." Titus answered.

Dawuni nodded." Do it."
It was better for the presentation to be lost than for Ghana to be disgraced like this. They could always produce another presentation.

Titus worked hurriedly, and two minutes later he looked up." It's done."

Dawuni looked over to Irene's body and tears fell from his eyes. The sirens of the ambulance was getting closer.