Must Read: Paradox Of Abel - Season 1 - Episode 41

7 years ago

Must Read: Paradox Of Abel - Season 1 - Episode 41

Daniel quietly closed the door of the death-house behind and stepped out onto the pavement. The house immediately opposite him was number 17, and was reflecting vaguely on the vagaries of those responsible for the numbering of street houses when he noticed that this particular house was exactly similar to the one he’d just exited. The doors, roofs, windows, lintels, louvres – everything the same. Even the curtains within seemed alike. A part of him wondered if the door of the house opposite was also unlocked and another man who looked exactly like the bearded one lay dead – shot through the head too. It was very much unlikely, but not improbable. He walked towards the front door of this opposite building, just out of curiosity.
He did not knock at first. The immediate thing he did was turn the knob, but the door didn’t budge. As he knocked, he felt like one of those evangelists who were willing to sell Bibles and useless encyclopaedias if you were crazy enough to open your door to them. He knocked three times before the door was opened by an elderly wife and his wife. The couple was looking at him questioningly.
“Good afternoon,” Daniel greeted, ‘I am Officer Daniel Famous of the Area G Police Station.”

With this falsehood, he hoped that the couple would not demand to see his identification card, because he’d have nothing to show, and they might see through his lie.
“What can we do for you, officer?” the husband asked, “Are we under arrest? What did we do wrong?”
Daniel gave a dry smile in a bid to reassure them, but the smile was not working, “You did nothing wrong. I’m only here to confirm something of utmost importance from you. I’ll be off your neck as soon as possible.”
The wife smiled now, “We’ll gladly co-operate with the country’s finest – The Nigeria Police.”
These were sweet people. Hearing that he was a police officer didn’t make them treat him with contempt. They weren’t like those citizens who hated the police so much that they’d rather cut off their lips than kiss a policeman. But he still rejoiced at the fact that he truly wasn’t a policeman anymore. For in this country, by crucifying a policeman, every hardware store in the streets would be sold out of nails.
“You are cute, officer.” The elderly woman added.
For the first time, Daniel did not blush. He only smiled contentedly. “Right, I notice that this house and that one exactly opposite are similar to each other. These are the only houses in the street that are alike, I just want to know if you know who owns the house.”
“We own it,” the elderly man replied, smiling proudly and drawing his wife closer.
‘Really?” Daniel was surprised, “Do you live there too?”

It was the wife who spoke this time, as though they were taking their speeches in turns. She said, “When we bought this land in 1972, we desired two plots of land. Our aim was to buy this plot and the next one beside us, but someone else had already purchased the pieces of lands on either sides of us.”
The husband took up the explanation, “All the pieces of land had already been bought except this one and the one opposite. So, we bought the two plots. It was the same time we built both houses. We used the same plan for both.”
It was the wife’s turn, “We live here and lease that one out. Four sets of people have lived in that particular apartment in the front since we built the house. The first set built their own house and relocated.”
“The second set evacuated when they could not pay up their rents.” Said the husband.
“The third was a bachelor who died from thunderbolt. He slept with another man’s wife.” Wife.
“The fourth was a married man who was jailed for handling and spending counterfeit currency. The wife could neither cater for the children nor pay the rents, so she vacated for her hometown.” Husband.
“We became tired of leasing out the house. We decided to leave it and prepare it for the return of our son living in America. He’s been living there for over twenty years now, he told us he’ll be returning next year – July, to be precise.” The wife commented.
The husband continued, “But two weeks ago, a man approached us. He was standing exactly where you are right now—”
“Honey,” The wife said, “Shouldn’t we invite the young man in?”
“Oh, my bad!” the man chastised himself, ‘Please do come in.”
“It’s okay, really,” Daniel replied, “I’d rather stay out here. I’m waiting for my colleagues. Please continue, you were talking about a strange man who approached you.”

But it was the woman who continued, and Daniel could not help but wonder they were really a couple or the Siamese.
“He made us an offer impossible to refuse.” Said the wife.
“What offer was that?” asked Daniel.
“He requested to live in that apartment for two months at most,” replied the masculine better-half, “He paid in cash; an amount which should cover up a two-year lease. And he promised to be out before the end of January. We couldn’t resist such offer.”
“What name did he give you?”
“I can’t remember, I was busy counting the money, we needed the fund so badly at the time.” The man replied.
“I remember,” said the wife, “He calls himself Mr. Malik – Mr. Abel Malik.”
“Abel Malik? Are you sure?” Daniel asked, visibly astonished.
‘I’m very certain. That what he calls himself.”
‘Would you recognize him if you saw him?”
“Of course, we would. Except if he’s clean-shaven now, he was fully bearded when he approached us that morning.”
“When was the last time you saw him?”
“We didn’t always see him much,” replied the woman, “He stays indoors most of the time, and his wife comes and goes. I wonder what they’re there to do for just two months. Those lots look very suspicious to me.”
“I don’t care about their motive for letting our house, as long as they’re not messing up the rooms.” The husband spoke in a matter-of-fact manner.
Daniel asked the couple a couple of other questions. Why did the man decide to rent their house among all other houses there? How should they know? He’d better ask the man himself. Had Abel any visitor? No, except his wifey. Was there ever any suspicious-looking strangers, any people associated with Abel, hereabout? We were busy with each other, if you know what I mean.
Daniel spoke to them both, “Would you please follow me?”
“Where to?” the couple asked in unison.
“To your house,” answered Daniel, “I need you to identify the man there.”
The couple shared glances, debating with their eyes whether to follow the police officer or ask him to go to hell. Deciding that there was no harm behind the policeman’s request, the couple followed Daniel.
Famous led them to the house opposite. He saw the look of terror on both humans’ faces when he showed them the body. The wife was stronger, she composed herself in time. But the husband was shivering violently and seemed to be at the tethers of losing his equilibrium.
“Is this the man who approached you?” Daniel asked.
The couple nodded in unison.
“Yes, yes, he was.” The husband replied.
“And you said he had a wife?”
“Yes, he had. Although we don’t know her name but she was carrying a baby and also had a wedding ring on her finger.” He now looked suspiciously at Daniel, “You didn’t kill him, did you?”
“No, I didn’t,” Daniel replied, “I suppose someone else did. Did you notice any strange behavior in the man?”
“Everything about him was strange. Just this morning, Christmas day, he went to pray in the mosque.”
“What is strange about that?”
“How many people named Abel worship in the mosque on Christmas day?”
The Mrs. spoke this time, “And last Sunday, I saw him returning from church.”
‘Thanks a lot,” Daniel thanked them both. “I’m very sorry that this happened in your house.”
“It’s okay,” the husband said, waving his hand. He’d apparently regained himself, ‘This isn’t the first time someone would die in this room.”
The wife continued, smiling, ‘We already told you that someone has died here before; a bachelor who crowed like a rooster after sleeping with another man’s wife.”
Daniel decided that he’d never live in this house even if it were gifted to him. He felt that even the couple reeked of evil, the earlier he had nothing to do with them the better.
The husband noticed the playing cards splattered on the table by the corpse and said, “What is it with all the cards? Did he die playing a game or what?”
Common sense had it that no information about a murder case should be leaked to an outsider of the law. Besides, Daniel knew no answer to the questions so he kept his tongue.
It was Mrs. Weird who replied Mr. Weird, “He probably died playing a game with his murderer. Perhaps his death resulted from invoking his opponent’s anger by winning the game. I wonder why the killer left only these cards behind. Why did he leave with the remaining deck in the first place?”
“How did you know he left with the other cards?” Daniel asked Lady Weird.
“I used to play this game a lot,” she stopped herself when she realized that her explanation was self-incriminatory. She added so firmly, “I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Daniel stared at her, “Why would you think I’m thinking that?”
That question was left hanging because Moses and Ayo stepped right into the house. With them was the doctor who attended to Jamal.
Without waiting for permission or acknowledging the presence of Daniel and the house owners, the medical practitioner began working on the corpse, Anuku and Festus stood guard on either side of him as he poked some parts of the body. It took him fifteen minutes to conclude his autopsy. He stood straight and walked into the inner rooms, evidently considering himself a brief detective. Then he came out and walked towards Daniel, saying, “The fridge is empty, and there is an overflowing garbage of unwashed dishes in the sink. The man obviously lived on fast food, we can easily assume what he ate before his demise.” He looked around disgustedly, “This apartment isn’t a mess, it’s downright filthy.” He turned to Daniel again and asked, “Did you find the murder weapon?”
“No.”
“Okay, we’re going to move him now. There is an ambulance outside, you can come with us in it.”
“There’s an ambulance outside? I didn’t hear the siren.”
“We didn’t use the siren, there was no cause to. We weren’t carrying any patient, or any corpse for that matter.”

Momentarily, Moses and Ayo carried the detritus remains of the man named Abel Malik into the vehicle outside. When they were done, both Daniel and the doctor went out of the house to the vehicle. The doctor now noticed the presence of the couple, he demanded their identity from Daniel but Lot’s sidekick did not give him an answer. He only jumped into the ambulance.
When the doctor had seated himself in the vehicle, Daniel asked him, “Doctor, what have you found out about the corpse?”
Bantu smiled and replied, “His eyes are open. That implies he died quickly, but I’d rather tell the detective all what I know in person. You’re only a messenger.”
It was obvious that both men hated each other.