Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

7 years ago

Must Read: Awkward Ways I Met Girls

I just didn’t get myself. The police had inspected the room and house. A roll call had been taken and only Jay wasn’t around. I called him and when I told him what had happened, Jay was shocked. He had actually thought I was joking.

And when I confirmed and assured it wasn’t a joke, Jay shouted. He rushed at me with a charade of questions. What happened? How?

Where? When?… etc.

I couldn’t answer all these questions and there was a brief silence. Jay immediately said he was coming
“I think its better, the police is here and asking the presence of everybody staying in the compound.”

“Ok, I’m at Surulere. I’m coming now”
I guessed at about that time, 4pm traffic isn’t as much because Jay actually arrived in a jiffy.

While we were there, the police had suspected murder. Saying it didn’t look like suicide. No notes, the only thing found around was used pain reliever. I guess the only Bibi had helped her buy.

And there had been little marks and bruises round her neck.

The man from the main building, Mr Peter dismissed it cos though she had a heated argument with someone yesterday, they hadn’t gotten physical with each other.

The policeman we were talking with immediately raised an eyebrow at the sound of that. He became interested and asked who she had had the heated quarrel with. Jay.

The fracas yesterday is general news everybody witnessed.

Somehow, I was getting surprised at where the discussion was headed and I didn’t like it. Sorry, it was more like interrogations. Cos, the policeman questioned each and every one of us privately. Our wherabouts since yesterday, where we went and with who. And who saw us and at what time. Generally, I think the gentleman was asking for clues to either de-list us as suspects or enlist us. He also asked what we knew of her movements and when anybody saw her last, her relationships and anything that could help solve the mystery.

And unfortunately, all answers were leading to same direction. Jay.

And Jay wasn’t even around. But…

Not long later, he rushed in. All eyes were immediately set on him. And I cold feel the general coldness towards him. By now, people had reduced. Rumie’s room had been sealed of with a yellow colored tape inscribed
‘POLICE: DO NOT ENTER’
“You are Mr Jay”
“Yes”
“My name is Okoro. Inspector Okoro”
Jay just starred at him.
“Do you mind tell me where you were last night till now?” He said to Jay.
And before Jay would answer, he turned to the rest of us and said
“If you all don’t mind to excuse us”
Without any more word, we all slowly dispersed.

I held Bibi as we walked away. She had cried her eyes out and was still crying when I led her away to my room.

The coroner had briefly examined the body and suggested she had died last night. But a thorough autopsy was being carried out even presently.

A moment later, Jay came into the room. Bibi was absolutely cold to him, not. 30seconds after he came in she walked out.

I had a little chat with Jay. I was absolutely convinced Jay did not murder Rumie. A deep inner conviction. I know both of them a bit. Jay isn’t violent.

Football, beer and women rocked Jay’s world.

He wasn’t vindictive.

When he had picked up the phone before I told him what had happened, Jay sounded the natural him. The phone hadn’t even rang for long, he picked it and was all his happy self
“Stag baba how far?”…
But the situation wasn’t looking good for him. He couldn’t provide an alibi. I couldn’t even vouch of his movements last night. When I returned from Mummy-Ade’s shop, I went into my room straight and slept.

And there was a motive.

Everybody saw them quarrel and everyone had heard him and Rumie yesterday when Rumie had said something like
“What can you do” or stuff like that and he had responded in like
“I will show you”..
The two things can that nail anyone for murder.
He felt really bad after their quarrel and said he was shocked at her outburst. They hadn’t had any squabbles prior to that time. Even if she was going to be mad at him, one would have expect a typical Rumie to express her anger perhaps, by snubbing him for sometime. Anything, but not being that violent.
Worse, was that his questioning with the police investigator didn’t go well. Jay said the man seemed to be insinuating something horrible.
Horrible indeed. Very terrible to even imagine it. Jay would murder Rumie. Over what? I felt pity for his situation. At least he hadn’t been officially arrested not charged for anything.

I called Clara and asked her to stop by. She said ok.
I went out to buy a drink. My mouth was dry and my head was aching.
In a nearby shop, I saw the detective and his colleague taking a drink. Well, I went my way.
Clara arrived later and surprisingly, she cried. I guess ladies are ladies. Death of anyone would make them cry. Eyahh…such a pity, Rumie is gone. Clara regretted their coldness to each other, wondering of what benefit it was now that she’s is dead.
Jay had gone into his room and Bibi had come back in. Clara also had to go.

It was left myself and Bibi.

Their room had been sealed. And she had cried her eyes out, cried herself silly.

I made her something to eat, but she couldn’t. She looked so devastated.

She said she couldn’t sleep alone that night so she didn’t want to go home. It was okay. She could sleep over.

At least in this state of mind we were in, s*x would be the last thing on our minds.
A little while later, the mini gate opened and I heard footsteps then a knock on Jay’s door. He opened and clearly heard
“Mr Jay, please can you come with us to our office for further questions?” That was same voice, Inspector Okoro.

I and Bibi rushed out immediately, only to see Jay being led away…