Must Read: Paradox Of Abel - Season 1 - Episode 32

7 years ago

Must Read: Paradox Of Abel - Season 1 - Episode 32

Daniel knew that there was no reason to lie for the detective would easily see through his lie. In a way, Daniel felt that the detective considered even him a suspect. Lying would only make things worse. So, he inhaled deeply, and when he exhaled, he let out everything of consequence he could recall; from his first meeting with the formidable Remi Johnson to his plan to reunite with her. The bone-cracking long journey and the night of the murder. He said everything in careful detail. Occasionally reversing his narratives to fill up the void he had left behind. Lot did not interrupt; he asked no question and gave no reliable sign of interest. At times, he leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, so still and so lacking in expression that he might have been asleep. At other times, his features once again seemed as hard as mortared stone, and he made eye contacts of such discomfiting intensity that Daniel thought he was only talking to the air.

When he was done, the look his superior gave him was not the one he’d tack in his album of fond memories. It was the kind of look one would give a well-dressed man who suddenly decided to walk on his head to work.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Daniel asked Lot.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m an idi*t.”
“Of course, you are. I’ve known that already a long time ago.” Lot replied, “I just never thought you were this silly.”
Daniel was appalled, “Why would you say that?”
“Because you didn’t tell me about the dog.”
“What dog?”
“The caged dog. That large Alsatian, you didn’t tell me about it. You’ve merely shown me the skeleton of this affair, and I am not a wizard. I must know what has been done and what has been overlooked.”

Daniel was trying hard to understand what the detective was talking about but he was not succeeding. “What do you expect me to tell you about a dog? I’m not a veterinary doctor, remember?”
“Did the dog not bark at you when you entered this compound the first time yesterday?”
“It barked,” Daniel agreed, “I can remember how scared I was when it threatened to break loose of its cage and make me a meal.”
“Of course it’d bark maniacally at you. It made an exception in my case; it only made a deep growling sound.”
“Does the dog know you or what?”
Lot shook his head.
“Then why didn’t it bark at you?” Daniel wanted to know.
“I communicated with it.”
“You what?” By this time what little doubt Daniel might have entertained at his superior’s sanity was finally put to rest. He had no choice but to conclude him stricken with lunacy.
“I made a sign that would keep almost every dog from barking at you, regardless of your familiarity with the retriever. Only very few people know this trick.”
“Do you mind teaching me this trick?”
“Maybe later. Let’s come back to the night of the crime. You said you were in your room when the crime was committed, right?”
“Right.”
“What exactly were you doing at the time Jamal was killed?”
Daniel reflected and decided to keep from telling the detective everything he witnessed at the time; he deliberately left out the part where he caught Remi running across the bend. The lady herself did not see him, so he saw no reason to indulge in giving her up to the unpredictable gumshoe. Besides, he also knew Lot well to know that the conclusion he might draw would not be favourable to him, most especially to Remi.
“I was lying on the bed when I heard the scream.” At least, he was not entirely lying.
“Jamal’s scream?”
Daniel nodded yes.
“How did the scream sound?”
“It was terrible. It was like a soul screaming right from the pits of hell. The remembrance still gives me the creeps.”
The door was opened and the maid came in carrying a tray containing four teacups and a jug of tea. Beside the jug and cups were new teaspoons and a box of St. Louis sugar. Without asking for permission she detoured around the large table between Lot and Daniel and deposited the beverage.
“Courtesy of Mr. David Malik. He asked me to make you some tea.” She said pleasantly.
“Thanks a lot, madam.” Daniel said and added, “Tell Mr. Malik we really appreciate his kind gesture.”
“Will do that.” She replied and turned to go.
When she reached the door Lot asked, “Miss—what is your name?”
“My name is Gladys.”
“That’s a sweet name. I just need to ask you the name of that cute dog you caged there.”
“Her name is Trinity.”
“Thank you, Gladys.”
“I’m glad to be of help.” The maid smiled and walked out of the room.

After her departure, Daniel reached for the tea but Lot slapped his hand away.
“May your gluttony never be your end, dear Famous.”
|What again?” the frustrated Daniel asked, “You think the tea is poisoned?”
“That’s a possibility.”
“That’s ridiculous! Why would David want to poison us?”
“Did you leave your brain behind in Port Harcourt? I can think of more than one reason why he’d want to have us deleted. Like Old Chima said, this job calls for stepping on a lot of toes. I’m less concerned about getting poisoned by David than by Gladys.”
“The maid?”
Lot nodded.
“You’re impossible, sir,” Daniel said, “I wonder when you’ll stop suspecting innocent people. Perhaps when Tuface turns a pope or when I’m able to foretell the correct numbers of next week’s winning lottery, start fire with the power of my mind, and teleport to the Bakassi peninsular to have a plate of sizzling shawarma.”
“Funny, but not funny.” Lot reached for the mug, poured the tea and gulped it down.

Daniel, who thought he’d reached the peak of aghastness concerning the detective, was easily startled at the investigator’s art. A small glistening pink animal poked its head out of the detective’s beard. Daniel leaned forward fascinated until he realized that the pink animal was the man’s tongue. It slid back and forth between lips no doubt best left unrevealed. The detective apparently enjoyed the drink.
“Now who is being gluttonous?” Daniel asked, grimacing.
“It’s not gluttony, it’s protection.” Lot answered, wiping his bearded mouth.