_Chidinma_

We got the dreaded police station. My wrists hurt so bad. Coming out of the vehicle, that needed a new shock absolver, the rookie gently nugded me towards the building.

I felt him boring holes with his eyes into the back of my head, probably bracing himself in case I made a run for it. I am not going to do that, I'm going to face my problems head on.

I was taken through the building to a room similar to the one I had been taken to the first time I had come here.

Then, as a witness, Now, as a suspect.

The rookie motioned for me to seat, placing himself by the door. I heard the door creak open as the elderly officer that had interrogated me before came in, his name tag glinting.

Peter Kosoko

He looked at me as he took his seat on the metal chair opposite me, and smiled. A genuine smile. I felt my face give off one in return.

Whipping out his small jotter, his demeanor changed into a more serious one, he seemed to be a man of ever changing emotions, and also well grounded in Igbo, despite his Yoruba descent. Clearing his throat he commenced.

"Miss Chidinma, you are very much aware that on the 19th of February last month, Miss Chioma Obiora was killed?"

"Yes, I am."

I had made up my mind to answer all questions directed to me honestly, not giving off any information on my investigation. That stone was best left unturned.

Looking at my surroundings, I noticed that the conversation was being recorded, a recorder lay silently on the metal desk. For further refrences. I wondered if a camera was hidden somewhere.

"You are aware of the means and time of her death?"

"Yes."

"Did you see Miss Chioma before her death?"

"Like I said before, the last time I saw her was when she danced with her boyfriend. I left them after a while to check on my brother, and then I met up with a friend."

"Rex Oladeji?"

"Rex Oladeji."

"For how long have you known this Rex?"

"Since Senior Secondary School One."

"What is he to you?"

"We were in a relationship once, but now, we're just friends."

"Had you guys been in touch after Secondary School?"

"No. The party was the first time I saw him after four years."

"Hmm."

Officer Peter mused, scribbling in his tiny jotter. I heard the door open, and an officer came up to my interrogator and whispered something into his ear. Officer Peter Kosoko looked at me, a flicker of disappointment flashed in his aged eyes. Nodding at the officer, he sighed deeply and continued the interrogation.

What was that about?

"A video was released yesterday. A guard was testifying to the press, as a witness to Chioma's murder."

He paused for a moment, to see the effect of his words on me. That video wasn't sent to me out of pity or mistakenly. It was a warning. A threat. Betraying all emotions, I put on my best poker face.

"Okay."

"In that video, the man saw you having a heated argument with the deceased, about a so-called Samuel. Want to tell me who that is?"

He asked eyeing me carefully. I laughed inwards at the statement before the question. My enemies couldn't come up with a better story? But yet again, this was the kind of shit Nigerians would buy. Like I'd ever stoop so low.

Killing a friend because of a man.

"He was Chioma's boyfriend. Their relationship with each other was really serious."

"Who is he to you?"

"My best friend's boyfriend, and a friend."

I deadpanned. He scrbbled into his jotter, still on the same page. How come it wasn't cramped up by now?

"Did you or did you not see Chioma as at the time of her death?"

I cringed mentally. Didn't he have other questions?

"No. The last time I saw her was when she danced with Samuel. After that, I went to my brother Kelechi and found Rex."

Dropping his jotter, he carefully folded his hands on the metal table separating us. He looked at me dead in the eyes.

"You drugged miss Chioma. You put cocaine in her drink."

I did a double take. For a moment, I wanted to slap and wallop the shit out of him for telling me such nerve-racking and annoying things. But I reminded my self that I needed to retain my cool.

"No, I did not."

"I repeat, you drugged Chioma, your best friend."

"No."

I replied flatly, challenging his eyes. Leaning back into his seat, he took a deep breath and looked at me, the flash of disappointment in his eyes again.

"Chidinma, your house was raided this  afternoon. Do you know anyone who would do such a thing? Who would want something from you? Maybe someone you are owing or someone you have offended?"

"No."

I replied shaking my head thoughtfully. This was a trick question, to get me to open up, but I was smart.

"I don't know anyone like that."

Nodding, he stroked his beard for a moment, before looking at me.

"We decided to investigate the break-in, and in your house we found something."

My heart skipped a beat. He had left me on a cliffhanger intentionally to see my reaction. I kept a blank look on my face, although inside, I was troubled. There was nothing I wanted to hide, nothing I had to hide, so what did they find?
He searched my face for a second, before continuing, sighing defeatedly.

"We found drugs in your house Chidinma. Cocaine to be precise. They were stashed away very carefully and craftily into your bed pillows..."

My house, drugs? Drugs, my house?

Cocaine in my pillows?

Surely, they wouldn't link it to the video and the supposed manner of Chi's death.

Would they?

Why won't they?

So that's why me house was raided. The cocaine wasn't mine, they were planted there as another plot in my framing.

I had really smart enemies.

"They are not mine." I answered honestly to the officer.

"They were put there, they are not mine."

"Put there by who?"

If I told him what I had learnt, all I had summed up, they might restrict my moving rights, jeopardize my mission. I couldn't risk that.

"I don't know."

I answered. Which was true in it's own way. I didn't have a clue who was doing this to me. He leaned forward again, gazing at me with a strong force and scratching his greying beard.

"Chidinma, it's your word against all the evidence found at your home and in the video. You have no solid proof that you are not in someway or another, related to the drugs, which is related to your friend's death."

"Chioma did not take drugs. She had never."

Nodding, he proceeded.

"But, you do have alibi's, people that claim for have seen you before and during the time of the murder."

I nodded. Kelechi, Rex, Bennie and Funmi, Samuel, was there anyone else?. Officer Peter Ubong studied me for a minute, before speaking again.

"Would you like to see your lawyer now?"

~~~~~~

Lawyer, I like law oo. The court is fun.

Objection my Lord!

Objection overruled.

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