Episode 6: Personal Interest
Sorry for no show last week. I hope you like the new banner. If you need to catch up to the previous episode, it is here.
Question: How many more episodes should this story be told in? 10? 13? Let’s hit up in the comment section below. Meanwhile, enjoy episode 6!
This was Inspector Ashitey’s chance to shine. He had worked 15 years at his post rising through the ranks from junior officer very early on. He had been waiting for a big case like this to emerge so he could help solve it. Surely this would bring his name up, maybe as far as Regional Commander. Well maybe, he would be trying his luck but he didn’t have much to lose.
That was why he was a little too eager to share information on the case with that reporter. He had messed up early on but Inspector Ashitey was determined to make it right. That was why he was now standing before the agent the President had sent. Sandra made him extremely uncomfortable just by glancing his way. There was something dark and twisted about her-it quite contrasted with her flowery scent that announced her presence seconds before appeared and lingered for hours long after she left.
He couldn’t figure out what was frightening about her but he knew it wasn’t all ‘in his my mind’. He saw how her agents who bodyguarded her hovered cautiously behind her. It was as if they were afraid of her shadow. He briefly wondered what they knew about her when he nodded at them and knocked on Sandra’s door.
Standing before her, he was awed by how unassuming her physical appearance was and almost felt tempted to ask her how she had gotten to such a powerful place.
Sandra looked up from her desk at him warily.
“Yes, Inspector?”
“Good morning Special Agent”
“Good morning. Call me Sandra”
“Special Agent-Madam, is there any help you need with this case? My men and I are available to aid with your investigation.”
“Well, you can start by just calling me Sandra as I have asked for the 100th time.”
“I don’t see how that can happen if you are calling me Inspector”
Sandra smiled.
He couldn’t believe it! He made the Special Agent from the President smile! He grinned back at her.
“Have a seat James”
He sat quickly, his eyes never leaving her face, even as hers bored through his.
She leaned slowly and he mirrored her, excited by the proximity to power and strange darkness he didn’t quite understand.
“I know you want promotion so badly, to prove yourself competent and capable than where you are. That’s good -for you. God knows we need more people like you in this country, especially in the public sector.”
He nodded enthusiastically even as a part of him wondered if he was that obvious and readable.
“Patriotism and nationalism isn’t really a priority these days. Self-interest abounds and that’s why I have to refuse you.”
He blinked.
“I do not trust anyone.”
She leaned back and continued reading her file, tilting it so he couldn’t see what was in it.
He sat for two minutes staring at her- confused and surprised, then got up and left the room.
He went to the bathroom since his room was occupied- by the person who had surreptitiously informed him to stay of her way. He had offered his office to her.
He looked in the mirror at his graying scalp. His daughter, Baaba liked to count his silver strands and would exclaim afterward “Ei daddy, you are growing old!” He smiled faintly as he touched his hair.
Baaba was right, he was growing old. Very soon, he would be heading for retirement. He didn’t have much time left. He picked up the cap he had put on the sink. He was going to do something.
***
Olivia didn’t know if she should be doing this. She didn’t even think she should be here, at the police station to report her boss. Cythnia had insisted she say what she knew after she narrated that she saw her boss and minister arguing the night before she died. Well, Cudjoe was doing more of the arguing- shouting and raising his arms threateningly at Korkor, but she did tell Cynthia that. Neither did she disclose what had led her to search for Cudjoe frantically that night.
“Excuse me officer”
“Yes madam, what can I do for you?”
“I have some information concerning the case of the minister, the one who died”
Another police officer who had just come out behind the counter and was leaving, stiffened and came towards her.
He waved his hand dismissively at the officer she had been talking to and ushered her into a room with three other officers at desks. He asked them to leave and offered her a seat as he sat opposite her at one of the desks. He looked familiar.
“What do you know about the case of the dead minister?”
She stared at him testily.
“Sorry madam. I am Inspector James Ashitey. The information you have is delicate and I need to address you myself.”
“Okay, Inspector. I think I saw you talking about the dead minister on the news.”
“Yes.” Inspector Ashitey cleared his throat, pleased to be recognized.
“Do you still have my boss in custody?”
“I am sorry madam, I cannot give out that information. Who are you and who is your boss?
“My name is Olivia, I am Cudjoe’s secretary. Cudjoe was the husband of the Minister. I learned he had been arrested.”
“Oh I see. But you said you have some information for the police?”
“Yes, but I also wanted to ask if I could see him.”
“Who? Your boss”
“Yes”
“I am afraid that is not possible at the moment. He is helping with investigations.”
“What about posting bail?”
Inspector Ashitey was getting impatient. “Madam, what information do you have?”
Olivia sighed and murmured out what she could recall.
When she was done the Inspector rose quickly without a backward glance or comment, jumping into action, leaving her to wonder if she had done the right thing.
***
The fat man was back.
“Kuukua, how are you?”
“I am fine sir.”
“That is good”
“I am also fine too” Michael interjected
The fat man paused, his nostrils flared at Michael, he squinted at him and he turned back to Kuukua.
“Kuukua, I just received information that a warrant has been issued to search the deceased Minister’s house and the helps there have been taken to the police station for questioning. I want you to find out if the police will be willing to comment on the case.”
Kuukua jumped up, filled with joy of covering another story. “Yes sir”
“This will be in the evening news, so make it good like the live coverage you did the last time.”
“Yes sir” Kuukua nodded enthusiastically.
Michael stood up and handed a letter to the fat man.
“What is this?”
“My resignation”
The jowls of the director trembled as he heaved from shock.
“Wha-What do you mean your resignation? You are on suspension”
“Yes, however, what you did made me think about offers from other stations. Actually, my suspension brought in more requests. It seems plausible to leave this sinking ship. My first clue was letting half the staff off, but it must be really bad if an intern is covering the death of the minister.”
“So you want to leave because you were suspended?!”
Michael shrugged. Kuukua was confused. The director was trembling in anger.
“You are insufferable and rude! Leave immedia-”
The director didn’t finish his statement. He slumped over, choking, sputtering and gasping as he clutched his chest. The floor moved as his weight collapsed against it.
Kuukua stared at the twitching man in disbelief and looked up at Michael.
“Get the security now!”
***
Caleb had already heard about the arrests. His informant had told him a lady had arrived at the police station and had been ushered into a room with the Inspector.
“What happened to the Special Agent on the case?”
“She is around but I don’t think she knows.”
“The Inspector didn’t tell her? Who ordered the warrant and arrests?”
“The Inspector did.”
“The Special Agent, you said she was a woman, correct?”
“Yes. But wɔ y3 hunu”
“What do you mean?”
“There is something about that woman erhnnn. It is like, she has easily killed plenty people or something. I am surprised the Inspector didn’t tell her about the lady who came. It is like he is doing his own thing”
Caleb didn’t care about the opinion of the guy he was paying 5,000 cedis for every tip. He wanted to know who the woman was and what she had said to the Inspector.
“Where is the woman?”
“Still here.”
“I am coming”
Traffic was heavy and Caleb was late when he got to the police station. His informant told him the woman had just left in a white Hyundai. He raced out and got in his car to tail her. He followed her until she stopped at the Benedict Safo Health Centre.
He crinkled his nose in disgust. That place was infamous for one thing-abortions.
the Twi* phrase, wɔ y3 hunu means he or she is scary/ frightening
5,000 Ghana cedis is about $1,000
Diopeseane 