Chapter 1
There is a saying where I come from, it goes like, "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, but know that life will come back to take the lemonade". People interpret it differently, some say it means you have to fight to keep what is yours, and others say it means never to trust people. I never really paid it any mind, but recently I have to come to understand it simply means, "Life is shit, and we all live in it".
- Ibrahim
Once upon a cop
Thunder rumbles in the sky, as storm clouds gather above the ruins of a dojo, where a man stands dead staring down a corridor, as he pictures three children in a time before its ruin, two of the children run down the corridor, playing with each other, while the last one follows behind them nonchalantly. A man's voice shouts for them, calling them for practice.
The man standing in the ruins notices purple flowers growing from a crack on the floor, he kneels picking some of them. A child's voice calls out to him saying, "It doesn't matter Ibrahim, you were wrong, again". The man turns to the voice, seeing the remains of what used to be the sign of the dojo, and its motto, "Purpose to defy Destiny".
The man, Ibrahim, is now in the middle of a cemetery under heavy rain, standing in front of a makeshift wooden cross, he kneels dropping the flowers he picked at the dojo beside it, and then screams at the sky, as the rain mask the tears running down his cheek.
The next day, Ibrahim is talking to a clerk in a police station about files from about 4 to 8 years ago, as they aren't in the registry's shelves. Suddenly a commotion starts in the police hallway, when a girl starts shouting at an officer, screaming insults and complaining how incompetent the whole police force is, saying they should be upfront with her about wasting her time, she is approached by a few officers and is escorted out the station.
Ibrahim observes the girl as she passes him on her way out, he tells the clerk they will continue later, he walks to the officer the girl was shouting at, asking what the issue was, the officer says she is being hysteric about her missing sister, and is blaming him. The officer asks Ibrahim if he is back from leave, which Ibrahim replies no, that he just decided to check in on them. The officer asks if he was going to the registry, pushing the file to him, telling him to help him file it. Ibrahim grabs the file with a mild vex on his face, saying he was not planning on working, he asks if it is the case of the girl that just left. The officer replies yes, that it is a dead case and has no lead, and Ibrahim should help him file it in unsolved cases. Ibrahim looks at the file's cover, and states the case was just reported 3 days ago, that shouldn't the officer do more work on it, before lazily giving up as most officers seem to do these days. The officer tells Ibrahim to stop being an ass, and help him file the case or just say no, locking eyes with Ibrahim. Ibrahim concedes, and the officer pats him on the shoulder, telling him to focus on being a file register, and do not worry about police investigations, and then walks away.
Ibrahim stands at the top of the stairs that lead down to the basement, labelled 'Registry and Armory', and looks at the document again, opening it.
Ibrahim slams the file on the desk of a middle age white-haired man, alerting him. "what is this?" the man asks, Ibrahim tells him it is a case about a missing girl named Mimosa, her sister Ixora reported her missing 3 days ago, but the case is already getting shelved to cold cases. The man says the officer in charge probably did their best..., Ibrahim interrupts him telling him that is bullshit and he knows, he then says he wants to take over the case. The man slightly chuckles, stating Ibrahim must be joking, as he is just an ordinary file register officer, and asks if wasn't on vacation or something. Ibrahim says he wants to use the remaining four days he has left from his leave, to investigate the case, asking the man if he can make it possible as a higher-ranking officer. The man replies no, that it would reckless and unprincipled, Ibrahim argues that the case is already reckless and unprincipled, and that the man owed him a favor. The man stares at Ibrahim, seeing how determined he is, decides to allow it, telling him he had just the four days, and if he is unable to solve it then the case closes, Ibrahim agrees to it, thanking him. The man states that he will need a copy of the case, Ibrahim nods okay, as he walks away. The white-haired man calls out to him, telling him not to overdo things, and to keep him in the loop, Ibrahim thanks him again.
The girl from the station is sat in a shop across the road from the station, eating junk, and dialing Mimosa's number, which goes to not reachable. Ibrahim carrying a bag, crosses the road, and approaches her, he says she must be Ixora, calling her attention. She turns to him asking who he was. Ibrahim introduces himself as "Ibrahim", the police officer now in charge of her sister's case, he tells her he witnessed her at the station and wants to do help find her sister. Ixora says that is new and surprising behavior from a police officer, asking how he found her, Ibrahim replies he has great eyesight. He tells her, that he is on his way to her sister's boyfriend house, since she was last seen there according to the report she gave, asking if she wanted to tag along. Ixora stands looking at him warily, and asks why, since police don't typically ask for tag along from "civilians". Ibrahim clears his throat, brings out his badge and shows it to her, assuring her he is an officer, saying he hoped she would lead the way, as the address isn't in the report, but she could just write it down for him if it will be a hassle. Ixora replies okay, it's indeed easier if she takes him there, but he walks in front, gesturing to him. Ibrahim smiles, and awkwardly walks out the shop as Ixora follows him.
The Case is afoot
Ixora knocks on a door, she is standing with Ibrahim, who asks if she was sure this was the place, she replies yes, her sister gave her the address awhile ago. Shortly after the door opens to a young man who asks who there were, before recognizing Ixora, and raises his voice telling Ixora his already told her he does not know where Mimosa is. Ixora calls him Olude, saying that is all right, that he should just tell the man with her what he told her. Olude asks Ibrahim who he is, Ibrahim states that his is police, Olude becomes angry that Ixora brought police, stating so she wants to arrest him. Ibrahim cuts in telling him he is not under arrest, and just wants to gather information about Ixora's sisters. He asks Olude when the last time he saw Mimosa was, Olude replies that it was around last Wednesday, Ibrahim takes out a note pad from his bag, and starts writing on it. He states that was 5 days ago, Olude concurs, continuing that they broke up 2 weeks ago, but she came back begging him to take her back, even though she was the one that broke up with him, but he would not have her back because she was a gold digger, Ixora warns him not to insult her sister. Ibrahim asks Olude if he could look inside his apartment, who replies why, Ixora says because he could be keeping her sister hostage in there. Olude ignores her telling Ibrahim he could check, but Ixora wasn't stepping a foot inside his flat, Ibrahim tells Ixora to wait outside for him, which she objects, calling Olude a piece of shit, Ibrahim tells her he knows she is angry, but she isn't helping her sister's case by being uncooperative, she flips off Olude, and walks away.
Inside the apartment, Ibrahim looks around observing the unkempt one bedroom flat, with clothes scattered on the bed, open textbooks on the table, and dirty plates beside it. He asks Olude if he is a student, which Olude replies yes, that he is studying for mid semester tests, saying he is a psychology student at the IQ university. Ibrahim asks how he and Mimosa meet, as he opens a door looking into the kitchen. Olude replies they meet at a restaurant in Uzoalaye that "runs girls" go to in order to score rich clients. He went with a couple of friends, and met Ixora there, but she was not a runs girl. They hit things off and he took her number, which was the end of it, or rather, the beginning. Lamenting, he continues that she was not a runs girl but she taxed him like one, she was always asking him for money, and when he could no longer afford her any longer, he broke up with her. Ibrahim writes on his note, and asks Olude he thought she was the one that broke up with him, then observing him. Olude scratches his head saying yes, initially she broke up with him, but after she came back, and that was when he broke up with her, Ibrahim asks when this was, and Olude replies it was 2 weeks ago, then she came 4 days ago to take her remaining stuff, telling me I know where to find her. Ibrahim opens another door looking into the bathroom; Olude asks if that was necessary. Ibrahim then asks if he knew where Mimosa lived with her sister, which Olude replies no, that he had never been, and only met Ixora once when Mimosa introduced them after they branched at her shop at 2-mile market bus stop. Ibrahim holds his pen on his chin wondering, and then asks where she was referring to when she told him, he knows where to find her.
Ixora is sitting on the stairs, dialing Mimosa's number, which goes to not reachable. Ibrahim states they will find her, startling Ixora, who asks how long he has been standing over her. She stands up, as Ibrahim answers he just got here, she then asks him what he found out about Olude, and if he is involved with Mimosa missing, Ibrahim walks past her saying it is unlikely, but he won't rule it out. He turns to her stating that he is headed to a restaurant named La Pot suites and bar, asking if she knew the place, Ixora hesitates before, asking why they were going there, Ibrahim replies so she knows it and tells her to lead the way, since he did not want to get lost.
La pot suites and bar
Ibrahim and Ixora are on a bus, Ibrahim pays for the fare, and Ixora thanks him, saying she could pay for her fare, Ibrahim replies it is all right since he is the one that asked her to tag along. Ixora asks if the station would reimburse him, which Ibrahim answers no, that they normally would, but not in this case, and the paperwork is hell. As the bus goes through town, Ibrahim is reading his notes, while Ixora is looking out the window, she asks him why he took her case, and that he should answer truthfully. Ibrahim closes his note, and after what seem like forever, he looks at her and states that he recently lost someone very close to him to injustice, and when the officer that was in charge of her sister's case told him to put away her sister's case as unsolved, it reminded of his resolve, that it was as simple as that. Ixora turns to him, asking what his resolve was, to which Ibrahim replies, it's a long story, as he continues reading his note. Ixora's gloomily mutters, "I hope Mimosa is safe, wherever she is". The bus conductor shouts a bus stop, and Ixora says they get off at the next stop.
The drop off at a junction, Ibrahim asks Ixora where they were, and she replies they are at the less good side of Uzoalaye, crossing the scanty road, with Ibrahim following behind. She tells him he can't identify himself as a cop, at the restaurant, as it will keep people on edge, because of the restaurant's notoriety, and at worst they won't get any cooperation. Ibrahim concurs, saying they will go as job hunters, and while Ixora keeps the receptionist busy, he will sneak into the guard room, and find out if they have camera tapes, then after that... Ixora cuts him off, stating that she has a better idea, since she better understands how this kind of place works, and Ibrahim should just follow her lead. Ibrahim asks what her idea is, but she ignores him, smiling, as they keep walking down the street; Ibrahim continues asking. Soon they arrive in front of a building labelled La Pot.
Ixora taps on a bar, the barman asks her what she wants, and she replies two shots, which the barman pours. She then asks the barman if he can help her that she wants to spice thing up with her boyfriend, pointing at Ibrahim, seated at a corner at the restaurant, and wants to know if the barman can hook them up with a runs-girl. The bar man looks at Ibrahim, who waves at him, he then turns to Ixora who then says that she wants this particular girl, showing a picture of Mimosa on her phone to the barman, asking if he has seen her around, the barman replies that she looks familiar, and telling her that he could find her last whereabout at the bar, but he would need a commission. Ixora says all right, bringing out three one thousand notes from her purse, tapping it on the bar. He says will sort somethings at the bar, and come meet them. Ixora hands him a thousand, telling him he will have the rest when he connects her to the girl, saying she will be waiting with her boyfriend. The barman takes the note nodding, and says he will come to them ASAP.
Ixora hands Ibrahim a shot as she takes a sit. He asks her what she talked about with the barman, she replies he should trust the process, that the barman recognized Mimosa, and is currently "looking for her", which means all they have to do now is have a little patience, she then tells Ibrahim to drink his shot, that it's on her, swallowing hers in one gulp. Ibrahim sips his shot, commenting that it is almost weird how she goes from angry to calm about the whole situation, referring to her outburst at the station, she states as long as they are working towards finding her sister, she can stay calm, but if anyone hinders that, they will face her rage. Ixora observes Ibrahim, who is looking around the restaurant, she asks why he hasn't asked her how she knows this restaurant, as she assumes Olude told her want kind of place this was. Ibrahim sips his shot again, replying she seems to know her way around Uzoalaye, and he is not the kind of person to judge someone, especially in IQ city. Ixora chuckles that Mimosa says the exact same thing to her, Ibrahim asks if she knows any other person, Mimosa could have meet through there, she replies no, that she thought Mimosa had stopped coming here, and did not know that was how she met Olude.
Ibrahim alerts her the barman she talked to is no longer at the bar. She turns to the bar confirming it, and fast walks to the bar asking a barmaid there, where the barman went, the barmaid says he just ended his shift and was heading home. Ixora immediately makes a run for the entrance shouting to Ibrahim, that the barman was making a run for it; Ibrahim leaves his half-sipped shot, running behind Ixora. They run out the restaurant, looking around, Ixora sees the barman (recognizing him from the restaurant uniform) at the curb of the road, alerting Ibrahim. They walk up on the barman, flanking his sides, as Ixora calls him a criminal, getting his attention. The barman on seeing Ixora attempts to flee but runs into Ibrahim, who grabs him. The barman starts apologizing to them that he will return the money, taking out his wallet, but Ixora grabs it from him and goes through it, as Ibrahim asks the barman why he was running. Ixora identifies him as Richard Aniola, who answers Ibrahim that he wasn't running, Ixora threatens him with a slap, telling him not to lie to them, she asks where Mimosa was, showing him the picture on her phone. Richard replied he does not know her, and just lied because Ixora offered him money, while his shift was ending, so he thought he could make a quick buck, swearing that he is not lying. Ixora slaps him, saying he told her he knew Mimosa, before she offered him money. Ibrahim tells her to stop, he then tells Richard that he is a police officer, and the girl they are looking for is missing, and saying that obstructing the law will lead to an arrest. Richard starts crying saying he just started work at La Pot, and the staffs swindle customers all time, but this was his first attempt, begging them to forgive him.
A macho tall man approaches them, asking what the issue was, Ibrahim then notices a couple of people had begun staring at them. Ixora asks the macho man who he was, and he replies that he is the security at the restaurant, asking what their business was with their staff member, Ibrahim replies that he is police, and they are questioning Richard. The macho man states that Ibrahim isn't wearing a uniform, asking for an ID, which Ibrahim shows him, Ixora mutters, "why do you have that", Ibrahim turns to her seeing her perplex, he asks what's wrong, and she asks the macho man why he was wearing Mimosa's ring. Ibrahim looks at the man's hand seeing a generic gold ring, but before Ibrahim could act, the macho head butts him hard on the nose, sending him to the ground, and then makes a run for it. Ibrahim grabs his bleeding nose, looking as Ixora chases after the macho man, standing he curses under his breath, telling Richard not to go anywhere, as he runs after them.
Ibrahim enters the exit way of the restaurant, and sees the macho man choking Ixora near a bike. He immediately dashes towards them, the macho man sees him, and hurls Ixora at him, before entering the bike. Ibrahim catches Ixora, falling to the ground with her, he asks Ixora if she is all right, she grabs him, coughing, and tells him not to let the man get away. The macho drives the bike towards them, as the other side of the alley is a dead end. Ibrahim runs toward the bike, as it speeds up, he jumps, aiming to knee the macho man, but the man raises the front tire of bike in order to jam Ibrahim, who maneuvers out of the way in mid-air hitting the wall, as the bike zooms out the alley. Ibrahim get up immediately running out the alley chasing the bike, which almost hit Richard, slowing it down, before continuing into the road at high speed. It turns at junction, while Ibrahim runs across the less busy road, and through a gate entering a compound. He runs into the passage grabbing an iron bucket in front of a room, and shouts at a tenant to get out of the way, barely avoiding hitting them. As he gets to the other end of the passage, he throws the iron bucket at the wall, and steps on it, jumping the fence in one go, and lands on a table across the fence breaking it. The macho man zooms past on the bike, Ibrahim swiftly grabs a piece of wood from the table and flings it at him, hitting the macho man on the elbow, making him loose control and crash into the gutter. Ibrahim then runs up to the macho man who is concussed, dragging out of the gutter, shouting where is Mimosa, the man groans that he doesn't know who that is, as people approach, asking what was happening, Ibrahim tells them he is police, and they should stay back and waves his badge at them. The macho man mumbles incoherently, and Ibrahim asks where he got the ring he was wearing, the man says he bought the ring from someone, Ibrahim drops him to ground telling him he is under arrest.
Ibrahim ties the macho man hands, with his belt, and drags him off the ground as he notices Ixora and Richard approaching from the little crowd that had gathered on the road. She asks Ibrahim if the macho man said anything. The macho man shouts he wants a lawyer, Ibrahim tells him he can get one when they get to the station, before saying to Ixora that he will thoroughly interrogate him, and get answers to Mimosa's whereabouts. Richards comments they have to leave, as the area is not safe, wary of the staring faces.
Attack on the streets of Uzoalaye
Ixora punches the man in the mouth, hurting her fist, before taking Mimosa's ring from his tied hands, asking him where Mimosa was, stating that if anything has happened to her sister, she will kill him, the man smiles, showing his bloodied teeth, saying they will all die. Ibrahim tells him to shut up, asking Richard if he could bring out the bike from the gutter, as he sits the man on the curb. Richards reluctantly goes to perform the task. Ibrahim then takes Ixora aside telling her he has called for a transport, but it will take while. Suddenly someone from Ibrahim's blind spot, whispers "you are in danger" into his ears, Ibrahim turns immediately, and sees a woman running away, Ixora asks who she was, as Ibrahim looks around noticing the people that were ringing had dispersed and the street was relatively empty with windows being closed. Ibrahim says they need to leave the street, just them a dog starts barking, they turn to a corner seeing a man holding a mastiff in chains, and giving them a death stare, Richard panics saying the man with the big dog is looking at them, the macho man laughs, saying they riled up some nasty men. Men start creeping out from all corners of the street, holding iron pipes, broken bottles, cutlasses, and various crude weapons. Ibrahim asks the macho man if they are friends of his, as Ixora notes that the men are surrounding them from all corners. Ibrahim tells Richard and Ixora to stay close, and on his signal to make a run for it. Ixora asks what about him, and if they are going to leave the only suspect they have, Ibrahim replies he will not do that. Richard quietly tells them his house is nearby, and they can run there for safety. Ibrahim turns to him saying that is good, he tells them he has a plan, and on his signal, they should run away to Richard's place.
A short man shouts from the distance, asking who they were, and why they had Tunde, seated on the ground, pointing to the macho man. Ibrahim replies that he is a police officer, and that macho man is a suspect in an investigation, stating backup is already close by, he then tells them if they leave the street immediately, he will not arrest them for disorderly conduct. Richard comments if vexing them is his plan. The short man states that Ibrahim does not look like police, and is not even dressed like one, and then says why not he make him a counteroffer. He tells Ibrahim, Ixora, and Richard to get on their knees and beg, and he will let them go with only a few beating, or his men will beat them to their knees, whichever way they still get beat up, saying they should choose one, as the men start approaching them slowly. Ixora grits her teeth, and clenches her fist, while Richard falls on his knees begging, making Tunde burst out laughing, saying they have fucked up now.
Ibrahim walks up to the closest man approaching them, stopping in front of him, as they stare each other down. The man leans back, and swings at Ibrahim with a cutlass, Ibrahim grabs his arm as it flung towards him, dragging the man to the side, delivering a lightning fast hook to the chin, knocking the man out instantly, dropping him to the ground. Everybody freezes in awe of what just happened, and Ixora cracks a smile. The men rush them, converging mostly at Ibrahim. Ixora backs off, raising her arms to defend from the broken bottle swung at her, which cuts her lower arm, as she bumps into Richard, tripping. Richard looks in terror at the man with the broken bottle dripping blood, standing over them, Tunde tells the man to cut him loose. The man goes to untie Tunde, making Ixora scream "no", grabbing the man's arm, and tries to push him away. The man slips free grabbing her neck, and goes to stab her with the bottle, as someone shouts ring out, the man's eyes catches something coming from the side. Ibrahim rams into the man with his elbow, pushing him away into the gutter. Ixora is surprised to see Ibrahim, looking to where he came from, and sees the men that were attacking him, slightly frustrated and surprised, she mutters "how", Ibrahim replies he slipped past them. He offers her a hand, dragging her to her feet, and then does the same to Richard, telling him to stand up, saying he had given the signal, Richard asks when, Ixora says they are still surrounded. Tunde shouts at the men, asking what they were doing, noticing they were hesitating to approach Ibrahim. Ibrahim asks Richard what direction his house was, who inadvertently points at one of the men surrounding them, and both Richard and the man in the direction shudder simultaneously. Ibrahim tells them to follow him, as the short man tells his men to attack all at once. Richard, Ixora, and Ibrahim run towards the man Richard had pointed to, who freezes in fear, as they run past him, followed by a mob of five men. Suddenly Ibrahim stops, dashing backwards to the men who were chasing them, and lands a thrust kick on one of them before they could react, Ixora and Richard turn for a moment, before continuing without him. Two of the men swing a metal pipe at Ibrahim from the sides, which he blocks with his arms, before another man, tackles him pushing him backwards. One of the men runs after Ixora and Richard, Ibrahim punches the man tackling him in the back, as another man grabs him from the back, the two men holding him lifts him, and slams him unto the floor, stunning him.
Ixora and Richard run into a junction, Ixora asks what way they need to go, Richard replies left, that his house is down that road. Ixora notices the man the running towards them with a machete, she alerts Richards, telling him to split, she will go right and he should run towards house. Richards goes to argue, but Ixora shouts he should go, making Richard take the road by the left, while Ixora waits at the junction, baiting the man, before running right, as the man follows her. Ixora hears the footsteps of the man catching up to her, and jumps through the open seats of a commercial tricycle parked by the curb of the road, running into an alley. She sees a tattered man filling his cart with recyclable trash from a bin, who asks her why she is running, as she runs past him, she does not respond. The homeless man on seeing the man with a cutlass, enter the alley, pushing his cart along, following Ixora. She curses as she corners into a dead end, and then turns to the tattered man who followed her, grabbing a metal rod from his cart. The man complains she should return his merchandise, she yells at him that the person coming after her with the cutlass, will kill both of them, since he will not want any witness, and so he better grab what he can use from the cart and help her fight the man. The homeless man looks at her confused, and says this is not his problem. Ixora immediately brings out her wallet, and takes out a thousand note, telling the man it is his as long as he helps her, she pockets it back, and rushes to the edge into the corner, as the man with the cutlass corners them. She swings the rod at him, which he blocks reflexively with an arm, and strikes her flank with her side of the cutlass. Ixora shouts grabbing his hands, and jumps on him, biting his neck. He grunts in pain and turns with force, flinging Ixora away unto the ground, and then repeatedly kicks her, as he grabs his bloodied neck, cursing her. Ixora coughs up blood, and the man hits her on her back with the side of the cutlass, telling her he is going to enjoy raping her to death. He then turns to the homeless man, telling him to get lost, his eyes widen, and just then, the homeless man rams him with his cart, sending him against the wall. The cutlass falls in front of Ixora, who reaches for it, as the man attacking her pushes the cart away overpowering the homeless, threatening to kill him. Ixora grabs the cutlass, as the attacker goes after the homeless man; she swings at his leg with it, cutting him deep, the man knees to the ground screaming in pain, grabbing his wounded leg. Ixora seeing him in pain takes the opportunity to get up, groaning as she grabs her ribs, before kicking the wailing man to the ground, asking how it felt. The homeless man grabs her saying they have to get away from here, lending Ixora a hand as they leave with her leaping, while the wounded man kept shouting curses and death threats at them. Outside the alley, Ixora thanks the man, taking out money from her wallet and giving him, who offers a ride to a clinic in his cart. She declines the offer, and takes a seat on the chair of the tricycle outside the alley, saying she has to help her friend first, and tells the man to get as far away from there as possible, the homeless man asks her if she will all right, which Ixora replies, she hopes she will be. The homeless man thanks her doing business with him, as he takes his leave. Ixora stares at the wheel of the tricycle, with no key in it, she groans shifting further into the tricycle, mumbling she might have a broken rib.
Over at the streets of Uzoalaye, Ibrahim is panting heavily, as he holds up by the collar, the barely conscious body of the last of the men that attacked him, his fists bruised, having dropped six men to the ground. Only Tunde who was being untie by the short man, and the man holding the barking dog now remained. Tunde raises their morale, stating how beaten up Ibrahim was and they just needed to do was pile on the beating, he cracks his knuckles, saying Ibrahim's moves will not work on him. The dog handler releases the mastiff from its chains, and it attacks Ibrahim, who swiftly picks up a metal pipe from the ground, guarding against the pouncing dog's bite, which pushes him to the ground. He wraps his legs around the dog's underbelly, maneuvering to the back of the dog, and wraps his arms around the dog's neck, giving it a rear neck choke. The dog on all its paws thrashes about, trying to free itself from Ibrahim's hold, it starts slowing down when two hands suddenly grabs Ibrahim's neck to his surprise. Tunde leans into his ear and asks, "Did you know I've been powerlifting since 12", raising Ibrahim in a choke, with the mastiff. Ibrahim lets go of the now limp dog, which falls to the ground, he then struggles to get a hold of Tunde's head or flank, but cannot reach both, as Tunde has his arms stretched forward. The dog handler walks up to the dog's side, checking to see if it's still alive, the dog snores, putting a brief smile on the man face, he gets up cursing the struggling Ibrahim, shouting he almost killed General, referring to the mastiff, and punches him in the gut. Ibrahim reflexively kicks the dog handler in the gut so hard, that he vomits, falling to the ground. Tunde laughs, squeezing Ibrahim's neck tighter, asking if he still had some fighting spirit, that not to worry he will soon be an actual spirit, Ibrahim grabs onto Tunde's hands, as he starts losing consciousness. The short man is smiling, before noticing something behind Tunde in the distance, a speeding tricycle headed towards Tunde, the short man shouts, warning Tunde, but he is absent-minded. The tricycle brakes, hitting Tunde who was gleefully strangling Ibrahim, sending both of them to the ground, which frees Ibrahim from the grasp. Ibrahim gasps for air, as he sees Ixora head peek out from the tricycle. She asks him if he is okay, driving to his side, Ibrahim still panting, grabs unto the tricycle and pulls himself up, thanking her for the save, before asking what happened with her and Richard. She replies that Richard ran to his house, she then looks at the unconscious body of Tunde on the ground, asking whether she had killed me. Ibrahim checks on Tunde confirming he is still alive, but might have suffered a fracture, he then says they need to take Tunde and retreat to the police station, before more thugs appeared. The dog handler is still grabbing his stomach in pain, with the dog fast asleep beside him, while the short man in the distance is in shock, as he watches Ibrahim drag Tunde into the tricycle and Ixora makes a U-turn and drives away, he quietly exclaims "what the fuck just happened".
On the road to the station, Ixora grunts in pain as the tricycle goes over a pothole, Ibrahim ask if she is all right, she replies she had a little scuffle with one of the thugs, but she is ok. Ibrahim tells her to pull over after she keeps grunting in pain, after every pothole they encounter. She pulls over suggesting he should ride the tricycle; Ibrahim comes down from the back seat after confirming Tunde was still unconscious. He then looks at Ixora, who was breathing heavy, seeing the blood on the neck of her cloth, and she was sweating bucket, he asks her where she was hurt. She raises her shirt, revealing bad bruises on her rib and stomach area, he exclaims, saying they need to get to a hospital, Ixora objects that they need to get their prime suspect in Mimosa's case to the station. Ibrahim tells her to go to the backseat, saying there is a clinic at the station, but it is third rate, Ixora moving to the back says that will be enough, Ibrahim enters the driver's seat saying he will trying to avoid potholes as much as he can, and she should watch for if Tunde wakes up. As he drives off into the express road, Ixora asks what they plan to do if Tunde wakes up, which Ibrahim replies that he chained him to the vehicle at the waist, with a chain and padlock he found at the back of the tricycle. Ixora comments on its convenience, stating she will knock him unconscious again, if he comes to. Ibrahim burst into laughing, saying she really does not like Tunde, Ixora joins him laughing in pain, replying she wouldn't be going on a date with him, that's for sure. Ibrahim then passively asks where she got the tricycle from, after a pause Ixora burst out laughing again in pain, replying she did not ask someone for it nicely, if that is what he is thinking, Ibrahim laughs awkwardly saying he did not think so. They continue laughing through their way to the station.
Arrival at the Station
Tunde is now conscious, and rants about the pain in his buttocks as they are arrived at the police station's gate; Ixora says that is what he deserves for being a wicked person. Ibrahim horns for the gate to be open, and then Tunde offers them a bribe of a hundred thousand, if they let him go. Ibrahim turns to him, saying he just committed another crime that will added to his case. The gate open slides open and Ibrahim drives in, sharing a greeting with some officers at the gate, he parks under a tree in the stations compound. He comes down and drags out Tunde, telling an officer at the gate to take Ixora to the police clinic. Ixora comes down the vehicle, and grabs her torso, grunting in pain, as the officer approaches.
At the police station's garage, Ibrahim angrily questions the officer there, after seeing the backup vehicle still parked with the back tire removed, as to why the backup never departed, they reply that the back wheel was busted and needed repair, saying the mechanic is on their way. He ridicules the uselessness of the station's backup, and then tells the officer to track the owner of the tricycle via the plate number and have it returned, that he will be keeping tabs to ensure he does it.
Interrogation of Tunde Kunle, by Officer Ibrahim Don-Esther; Detective John Amoral, Sunday 12th July 3991.
Tunde is sitting across from Ibrahim in the interrogation room, with a closed file on the table between them. They both stare at each other silently. John opens the door, he calls Ibrahim to come outside for a minute, Tunde tells John that he wants his phone call, John tells him to shut up, before he is beat up even more.
Outside the room, Ibrahim closes the door, and follows John down a hall, before asking, "what is it?" John stops and turns to Ibrahim and asks why he got involved in his case, that does Ibrahim take him for a fool, does he think he knows better than him...to interfere in his closed case. Ibrahim replies that the missing girl Mimosa, could still be alive out there, and if he (John) even bothered to do his job properly, they might have already found her. John scuffs at him, asking what a common 'file pusher' knows about being a detective, saying that Ibrahim is just a guy who watches too many police procedurals tv. Ibrahim states that he used to be a sheriff's deputy, to the surprise of John, but it does not matter now, they have a suspect, and they should be questioning him, instead of squabbling. John tells him, he should have come to him first, as the detective in charge of the case, instead of going behind his back to a higher authority, which fucks him. Ibrahim contemplates, and then reluctantly apologizes, that he did not mean to cause John any trouble. John smiles, patting Ibrahim on the shoulder, saying if he really wants to apologize, he will help him close this case without any fuss, that the missing girl probably is just having a family quarrel with her sister, and ran away with a boy, that she will return once she gets bored. His reasoning baffles Ibrahim, who asks what if he is wrong, and why wouldn't Ixora just say they had a quarrel, why make up a whole story, to which John replies, that girl(Ixora) was just being hysterical, he knows how women are sometimes, that his intuition as a detective of six years tells him it's just a case of a runaway, and it would be a waste of police resources to pursue it; this puzzles Ibrahim further, who says he is willing to bet a girl's life on that. John tells Ibrahim he will understand when he has been in the detective career for as long as he has, but since he already arrested a suspect, they will do the interrogation, they will flip a coin for who gets to play good cop, and that will be the end of it. He then tells Ibrahim he is going to grab a snack first, and continues walking down the hall, asking if Ibrahim wants anything from the canteen, Ibrahim doesn't reply, concluding that John is an idiot.
About forty minutes passes, Ibrahim is now seated in the hall outside the interrogation room, reading his notes, as John comes walking up the hall, carry a bag of snacks in his hands. Ibrahim says he sure took his time at the canteen, that he has been waiting for almost an hour, raising his face to see the gleeful john, who asks if he is sure his wristwatch is ticking properly, that his watch says it has been just ten minutes, he then smiles saying he got caught up in another case, 'detective stuff', but they can now start the interrogation. Ibrahim gets up as John flips a coin.
John and Ibrahim enter the interrogation room, Ibrahim drags in the chair, which wakes Tunde who was sleeping. Tunde asks for the time, Ibrahim replies "it's currently 4:46pm. Do you have somewhere to be?", as he takes a seat across from him. Tunde says he missed lunch, and is hungry. John offers him a snack from his bag, when Tunde reaches out to take it, John retracts his arm with a slight laugh, saying he can get it after he answers all their questions. Ibrahim rolls his eyes, taking out his note and opens up the file on the table, he shifts a portrait from the file towards Tunde, asking if he knows the girl (Mimosa) in a photo, Tunde glances at the photo, saying he has never seen that girl in his life before, and then asks if she is the 'sister' the other girl punched him for. Ibrahim tells him to stick to answering questions, Tunde says this is some bullshit. Ibrahim takes a note, and asks Tunde how he got the ring he was wearing. Tunde flashes his plain fingers at Ibrahim asking what ring, Ibrahim tells that the punishment for kidnaping is 25years imprisonment with labor, with the demolition of any property he owns. Tunde awkwardly replies ok, that he did not kidnap anyone so..., John interrupts telling Tunde, he does not have to kidnap someone, all they have to do is say he kidnapped someone, and good-bye to the outside world, so he had better start cooperating. Ibrahim pauses for a moment after hearing what john said, thinking to himself that would be illegal, and wasn't John supposed to be the good cop. Tunde states that he did not kidnap no girl, that he had bought the ring from a friend.
Ibrahim asks what 'friend'? Tunde says he needs assurance that whatever shit is going on will not implicate him. John tells him to count himself lucky, that they are not beating the truth out of him. Ibrahim says if he gives them information that leads to finding the missing girl, they can talk about making a deal. Tunde looks at both John and Ibrahim, and then says a guy 'Olude' sold the ring to him, and he is not exactly his friend. Ibrahim recognizes the name, and makes a note, asking how Tunde knows Olude, what exactly is their relationship. Tunde replies that Olude is just a guy that comes to the bar sometimes with his friends, and they were introduced through a mutual friend. Ibrahim asks why Olude sold the ring to him in particular, which Tunde replies that Olude was in need of money, and he offer him cash, saying he bought it cheap, for like 5k. John comments that all this information is new to him, it's one hell of a lucky coincidence he stumbled upon where the ring was. Ibrahim states that Olude is the ex-boyfriend of Mimosa, and they met up with him, before going to Uzoalaye, where they encountered Tunde. Tunde is surprised that Ibrahim knows Olude, he then comes to a realization, and suggests that Olude had purposely sold him the ring, and sent Ibrahim his way, to frame him for something he (Olude) himself had done. Ibrahim then asks why did he assault him and run, after Ixora identified the ring as her sisters'. Tunde apologizes about head-butting Ibrahim, saying he is on probation, and was running because he thought he had bought a stolen ring, which turns out to be technically true. Ibrahim asks for the id no. of his probation officer, which Tunde gives him, saying he is innocent, before apologizing again.
Ibrahim now asks who were the gang that came to his defense, Tunde hesitates before answering they were a local cult group, but he doesn't know any of them. John says that's obviously a lie, and he would be giving them names. Tunde says if it comes to that then he would no longer cooperate, John laugh at this saying he would be telling them both their grandparent's name, when he invites the GALA squad to treat his fuck up. Ibrahim says that won't be necessary...for now,
Ibrahim gets up, telling John to come outside for a bit. As they walk out the room, John throws a snack at Tunde.
Outside the room, John randomly theorizes of what Tunde said, that Ixora might be involved, and it is all a cover up for something sinister, like sororicide. Ibrahim tells john that does not add up, why would Ixora report her sister's death/disappearance to the police, and instigate an investigation in the first place. John replies he does not know for sure, but there will be a plausible reason. Ibrahim stares at his note, looking for a clue; he then turns his eyes to john, saying he will go to Olude's house again, to further question him, since he didn't know of his relationship to their suspect. He tells John to keep Tunde detained, that he will return in a jiffy; John stops him from leaving saying the station is already close for the day, and they should continue in the morning. Ibrahim says it could be too late by then, that the faster they act, the higher chance of finding the girl alive. John responds that he's not staying at the station past 6pm, since they are already onto something, which is enough for the day, Olude doesn't know what his knows, so he won't be on alert, their two suspects can't run away. However, if Ibrahim wants to stay, lizards, and cockroach will have to be help him out, in doing any work, as nobody will still be here when he comes back, and then walks into the room, stating he is taking Tunde to update his booking, to find a cell for him to stay overnight. Ibrahim pulls out his phone, to check the time, 5:45pm, Tunde exits the room, handcuffed, and held by john. Tunde tells Ibrahim he is innocent, and for Ibrahim to help him, John pushes him along the passage, and tells Ibrahim to go home. Ibrahim stand by himself, and soliloquizes on what to do.
The hospital has discharged Ixora, and she waits at the entrance of the station main building, still groaning from a pain in her ribs. When Ibrahim walks out of the entrance seeing her, he calls out to her, asking if she is ok, she walks towards him, asking what new information he has. Ibrahim replies he had just booked Tunde, just as the station was closing, Ixora perplexed, asks why does the station close, are not they first responders, Ibrahim replies that it is due to low budgets. He then asks if the doctor had treated her, as he see her continue to groan, Ixora replies they did not have the proper medicine to give her, but gave her some painkiller, and a list of drugs to buy. She then asks Ibrahim what he plans to do now. Ibrahim says they would have to wait until tomorrow to continue the investigation, and that he will call her first thing tomorrow morning so they can meet up. He asks her if her sister had any issue with anybody, she may know. Ixora thinks for a moment and says all her friends were nice to her, or seemed to be. Ixora continues, that she still cannot believe that macho man was wearing Mimosa ring. She then swears that if he has done anything to Mimosa, she will kill him. Ibrahim offers to walk her out, and she accepts, and they both walk towards the gate. Ixora asks Ibrahim for his number at the gate, they exchange numbers, and Ixora stops a bike/Okada, and prices down a price to drop her off somewhere, she enters the bike and waves Ibrahim bye-bye, as the bike rides off.
At home
Ibrahim is drop off, by a colleague in a police vehicle, in front of a bungalow with apartments in an unfenced compound. Ibrahim unlocks one of the apartment doors and goes inside, he puts on his house slipper, and goes to put on his generation in a dark spot in the compound. After that he takes a shower, then study his notes. He closes his notes at 9:11pm as his alarm clock states. He then watches some tv before going to bed.
The rings and sounds coming from a Phone and alarm clock (5:35am) wakes Ibrahim from a nightmare. He turns both off, he calls back the unknown number, the person introduces their self as Dr. Alexander, and asks if he is the detective in charge of a missing person case, that a jane-doe just arrived at the morgue, and as a new protocols mandate they have to call the police for missing persons and such, telling Ibrahim to come and see if he can identify the body, and then hangs up.
END OF CHAPTER 1.