🙆WHO KILLED ATIM🤷
Episode 5.
Story by Miriam Edem.
I covered my head on the table there trying to remember my discussion with Atim. I remembered asking why she stayed so long when she promised to come around in the afternoon.
She replied she was doing some supplies and dropped by one of her aunties place at 8miles before coming to see me.
“Could that be where she ate the poison? But why should an aunty do that to her or didn’t she tell me the truth? I inturned asked myself and the door opened.
The police men returned including my dad friend with a woman and I stood up.
“What did you do to Atim! The woman screamed and hit me while the police men held her. I just looked at her with my mouth opened and my dad friend asked her to sit down on the chair I was sitting while I stood.
“Ma’am, before I brou-ght you here I asked if you are interested in knowing who killed Atim and you said yes. I’ll want you to calm down and let’s deal with this puzzle together, My dad friend said and she looked at me with an evil look and tried calming down.
“Ayi have you remembered anything? The man asked.
“Yes sir, I was quite angry with Atim she c@m£ late to my place, but she mentioned that she was at her aunts place at 8miles before she visited me, I replied.
“Its a lie. I have no relative staying there, her aunt said and I swallowed.
“Are you sure about that? The man asked her.
“Yes I’m sure, she boldly replied.
“But that was what she told me, Atim said she went for supplies and st©pped by her aunt place at 8 miles before coming to my place, I confidently said.
“How did she spend the night at your place? The woman asked.
“It was raining and she said you won’t be coming back that yesterday that’s why she insisted to spend the night. By the way why are you back to Calabar so early when you were suppose to be in Uyo? I asked and the police men looked at her.
“I took a night bus and the road was bad. It was immediately i reached the house i saw the police, she replied and an officer phone immediately rang and he picked up.
“Yes, the officer said.
“Food poisoning? Okay what about the soup we s£nt? The officer asked after a few seconds.
“Okay thank you, the officer said and dropped the call and looked at my father friend.
“Sir the aut©psy result said its food poisoning but the soup we s£nt to them is proven safe, the officer said.
“Is that so? The man asked nodding and looked carefully at Atim aunty.
“Is there anything you’re not telling me? When my boys went to your house, you didn’t look like you just returned from Uyo, the man said.
“What are you trying to say now? She asked.
“What did you travel for? He asked.
“To see a friend of course, you don’t expect me to carry luggage right? She asked and the man nodded.
“But Atim said you went for a burial, i said and I saw her feeling uncomfortable.
“That aside, if no relation of yours stays at 8miles, do you know if Atim has a friend or anyone she can visit? The man asked.
“Atim is only interested in business and business Alone, this young man is lying here because the dead tells no story, the woman replied and i bowed my head.
“Its okay, we’ll handle this and don’t worry Atim killer will be brou-ght to book i promise, the man said.
“But Why can’t i see her? The woman asked.
“plea-se not yet, i hope you un-derstand, the man replied and she nodded and left.
“Why do i feel that there’s more to this story? I asked.
“Me too, i think Atim was not truthful same with her aunty…. I don’t trust her, the man replied and i paced around not believing him.
“But she’s a good and decent girl I can swear that, you don’t know Atim, I said and he smiled.
“Did i say anything? You should be grateful the food you ate with her was proven safe, else you wouldn’t have escaped this, the man said.
“What’s my fate now? I asked.
“You should breathe well at least but you’ll still be wra-pped in this because the killer isn’t found yet, he replied and i scratched my head.
“When will all this be over? Who is saying the truth between Atim and her aunty? Why is none of her relation living in 8miles now? Who did she then visit and why does it have to be me? I frustratedly asked and he heaved and stood up.
“Ayi you should be thankful you have a listening ear which i have taken this case on myself because of your late father, calm down and let us do our job okay, he said tapping me on my shoulder and left while i cleaned my face and sat down confused.
I felt like talking with someone, Ekpenyong or anyb©dy but i couldn’t ask. The thought of Atim lying to me was something i couldn’t take and i began to ask myself, “who really is Atim? Was she the type of girl i thought she is? And her aunty, she looks one kind to me, i kept thinking and scratched my head ha-rd and the door opened which Ekpenyong entered esc-rted by an officer who closed the door behind.
“oh! Abasi sosongo o! I shouted seeing him, i just felt relieved and i made him sit down.
“Adididie? What’s the latest? He asked.
“Guy the soup was proven safe, but there’s something disturbing me. Atim told me she was at her aunt place at 8miles, but suddenly her aunty said no relation of thiers stays there, i replied and Ekpenyong didn’t look surprised and i knew something was truly wrong…….
🙆WHO KILLED ATIM🤷
Episode 6.
Story by Miriam Edem
“You don’t look surprised? There’s something you’re not telling me, I said to Ekpenyong.
“This is not the time to hide anything and that’s why I’m here. Ayi I went over to Atim place and to make it easy I have a colleague who lives around. He took me to the compound after i told him what happened and as a jovial person he interacted with one of her neighbour who told us that Atim and her aunty has not been in good terms for about 2 weeks now, Ekpenyong replied.
“Eh? I asked surprised.
“Yes, and she also said Atim visited the compound yesterday morning and found her way inside the house because the aunty was not at home. When her aunty c@m£ back and saw her cooking, she began trouble with Atim. They both exchanged words while everyone minded their business because the aunty is a full truck of trouble. But the Neighbour said she vividly heard Atim aunty said she will deal with her, but Atim only hissed and left the house to get something that was after she was done cooking and it wasn’t long her aunty left also. Atim returned and was talking alone at home and later left the house which they haven’t seen her again, Ekpenyong explained.
“Abasi mbok! Are you sure of what you’re telling me? I asked.
“So now I dey tell you joke ba? Atim has not been slee-ping at home and that’s why she resorted to stay at your place, not because it was raining but because of her aunty. She only wanted a place to stay for the night and you fell for it, Ekpenyong replied and I bec@m£ very weak.
“If that is so, then her aunty didn’t travel to anywhere, she was still in town and they both lied. But what exactly are they lying for especially the aunty? I asked not un-derstanding the mix ups.
“Ask me. Looks like you have a savior here, Ekpenyong said.
“Yes o and he should hear this, its very important, i replied.
“I alre-ady did that’s why he gave me the permission to see you so that you can relax and they are going to Atim place to search the house. With what the Neighbour told us, the aunty has some explanation to give to the police, Ekpenyong said and i cl@pped my hands as everything bec@m£ clear to me.
“Now i know why she delayed to visit me so she can sleep over, oh Atim! I shouted and folded my arms looking at Ekpenyong.
“You won’t calm down before you’ll suffer high blood pressure. Before i forget, you nee-d to see the face of that witch when the police took you away, what was she thinking sef? Ekpenyong asked and i hissed.
“That one? She’s not even my problem right now. So she could easily call the police to arrest me so she will get back at me for not accepting her wayward daughter huh?, I asked.
“As in, I just shock but na she come give you advise to dump Atim o, guy you for enter one chance if you had listened to her, Ekpenyong replied.
“I’m i mad? God pas-s am abeg, all i want now is to leave this place and get over this mess, i said.
“Don’t worry bro, that man has promised to help you so take it easy, Ekpenyong said and t©uçhed my shoulder while i worriedly ru-bbe-d my head.
“Have you eaten? He asked.
“Who is even thinking of food? no plea-se, i replied and the police man opened the door telling Ekpenyong it was time to go………..
I placed my head on the empty chair there and sle-pt off without knowing but heard the door opened which i sat up.
My dad friend walked in and i stood up greeting him.
“Have you had something to eat? He asked before answering me.
“No sir I’m okay, but how did it go? I asked back and he sat down.
“Your friend told you something right? He asked and i nodded expecting more.
“So we went over to the compound again and the neighbors told us she isn’t back yet……. “But she left the station na, i cut in.
“Yes Ayi but she didn’t go home, The man said and i heaved.
“But we tried discussing with the tenants there, and we got to know…….. The man st©pped and breathed out.
“Atim and her aunty sleeps around. Atim is more like a pimp for her, The man said looking at me and my eyes bulged out.
“But she does catering… I mean they both do catering business and supplies them na, i said.
“That’s what Atim made you believe but that’s not our concentration, I’m bent on knowing who killed Atim and her aunty just made the case interesting, the man said.
‘How? I asked.
“She’s hiding from us and her numbers are no more connecting, but one of her neighbors actually said a relation of hers should stay at that 8 miles because she met Atim by chance in a compound there, the man said.
“Yes! I shouted.
“but don’t be too happy, it may be a client but my boys are alre-ady investigating on it, he said.
“I dont care if it was a client, i just want to know were the poison c@m£ from, i said.
“Sure, the landlord was contacted and fortunately for us he gave us the house spare keys which my boys are equally searching the house to get any evidence we can hold on to against her aunty. When the 2 teams get back to me, we will know what to do from there, the man said and i closed my eyes ti-ght.
” I’ll s£nd someone to bring you something to eat and i hope you un-derstand why you’re here? At least its better than being detained in a cell, this is the best i can do for you here, the man said and i opened my eyes and nodded.
“I un-derstand sir, Sosongo ete, thank you, i said and the man left while i stood up pacing around.
Atim a prostitute? Ahhhhhhh! If i say i am disappointed is not enough, but at that moment i was just lost for words and prayed the police should get something tangible at 8miles and also at Atim premises. And if her aunty actually killed Atim and went into hiding, she must pay for what she did.
I was still thinking and the food was brou-ght to me but it didn’t matter to me at all………..
Tbc