Delayed Diagnosis Episode 6

Delayed Diagnosis Episode 6
Written by Kingsley Olanrewaju Efughi

The car handled like a dream..I sped through traffic, blocking out the reasonable voice asking..’what do you think you’re doing’
I told myself I couldn’t trust anybody..coupled with the fact that Ada had lied to me about the chief my mind was scattered.
I dialed Fome’s number, but as I expected it was switched off. I had no idea of where to go..I thought about driving to my sisters house(utebo) but then I considered the way danger had been following me everywhere for the past 48 hours. I dialled Andy’s number (Andy was my friend from work)
He answered on the second ring. “Oba..wetting dey happen..you no show today..I dey hear some kind rumours for here Ooo..even your phone been dey off”
“What kind of rumours?” I overtook a tanker blasting the horn.
“Say you be ritualist, police turn up today they ask questiond, say them discover dead people with their parts for your house”
“What do you think?” I asked him carefully
Andy laughed crazily “o boy..if you truly be ritualist I go vex say you no use Ariyo’s head” (Ariyo was our branch manager)
I laughed also..although mine was strained “what kind of problem have you gotten yourself into?”
Andy asked worriedly..
“I’d explain to you..when would you be home?”
“Anytime from 8.”
“That’s early for you o..you no dey close down..tropicania bar again?”
“O boy..my Wife dey think say I dey cheat o..I just gats forget gambling for the main time focus on her” (Andy was married to a beautiful woman the marriage was just under two years old. Andy also loved gambling and never went home straight.
“No probs..we go see tonight. Later bro”
I almost ended the call when I remembered something. “Wait wait hol up..did Fumi come to work today?”
“She called in sick o..imagine..so that wan self dey sick”
I ended the call as I mulled things over..so the police where after me..the DSS also now that I had ditched strange eyes..I had killers after me..the papers that had put me in this whole mess was mysteriously missing..now I had a stolen car in my possession..and my life was in very big danger.
I had no present direction..houseless..a lot of questions but no answer..
Fumi also hadn’t gone to work…Hmmm..I headed for the nearest turning..it was about time I confronted her.

I cruised through Fumi’s neighbourhood, observing her flat carefully..the windows were shut tight, the curtains were down and I felt no one was in the house. I almost sped off, but a small part of my brain which in the last 48 hours I had come to trust and hate insisted I check out the apartment. I parked my stolen ride about 3 blocks from hers then strode nonchalantly toward her entrance. I felt Unclad and wished for some form of disguise to alter my appearance. The sun was 1000 degrees and the structure of Fumi’s neighbourhood was about 24 flats per block..all the blocks had mirror windows so you could see only your reflection while whoever was on the inside had a crystal view of you.
I felt watched and I couldn’t attribute it to paranoia..not after what I had recently passed through. I climbed up the stairs my mind clicking away..entertaining the possibility of getting a weapon. No matter how cowardly I was something happens when you face a loaded gun twice..seconds from death. My instincts told me that was just the beginning and I didn’t want to be on the receiving end the next time.
I got to Fumi’s flat and rang the doorbell, placing a finger on the peephole so she wouldn’t see anything. I waited for some seconds then rang it impatiently again,still no answer. I tried the door and it opened..I
ententered her apartment slowly with the door creaking as I nudged it open. “Fumi?”I called out not expecting any reply
“Rex…”
I almost didn’t hear it..it sounded far off astthough the wind carried it to my ears from a far distance.
I decided to search the house carefully with my mouth shut. Her room was a two bedroom flat and I checked both rooms and the parlour in less than two minutes..I was convinced I was alone in the house but I still called out in a whisper “Fumi?”
“Rex…Rex..”
There was no mistaking it..the voice although faint came from this house…but I had searched everywhere right?..the toilet!..I crept slowly to the door grabbing a flower vase from a small table as reached the door..I opened the door and had to tighten my grip on the vase to prevent it from falling..I wasn’t prepared for what I saw..Fumi lay on the floor in a pool of blood..she strained to look at me and I could tell the life was seeping from her eyes..I hurried to kneel down at her side..foolishly staining my trousers red with blood.
“Fumi…Fumi..oh my God..who did this?”
“Rex..R-Rex..I’m s-s-sorr-“
“Shhh..don’t talk..its alright” but it wasn’t I could see the bullet hole just beneath her heart..I closed my eyes in pain,anger and frustration..”Fumi who did this to you”
“Rex..forgive me..I’m sorry”
“Its alright Fumi I understand” I looked around helplessly..there was nothing I could do..and the feeling of helplessness was too overwhelming. I felt as if I had come across forces too strong for me and had been crushing me slowly..I wasn’t sure I could go on..I looked at Fumi her eyes glassy with tears,blood spouting from her mouth her lips quivering and I thought of how she had looked less than 48 hours before, full of confidence and energy, beautiful and strong. My feeling of helplessness was overcome
with anger and a burning need for revenge..
“Fumi look at me..I forgive you..I understand..now please tell me who did this to you”

I could see the life seeping from her and her struggle to speak..blood poured from her mouth as she spoke with her dying breath…”old woman..came to sell me…”
That was all she would say..her eyeballs rolled back as her spirit left..I closed her lids then got up..noticing the blood stains on my trousers from the knee down..I thought of what to do..I couldn’t leave her body like that..only God knew when she would be discovered. I decided on an anonymous call from the car..I looked back at her body..the sight of blood making me want to retch..I don’t know how many seconds I stood looking..my very first time looking at a
deadbody..(back in my home I had spared Jumbo’s partner’s corpse just a seconds glance)
I was jerked back to life by the sound of a sirene..I hurried out of the toilet to the parlour and looked out the window. A police hilux had come to a halt and I could see about four officers jump down..they were kitted as though going for a war: head gear, shining rifles,combat boots.
A shiver ran down my spine I looked at my bloody trousers and in a blind haste tore it off..I ran round looking for a suitable place to hide it..I settled on the oven in the kitchen…I went back to the window and saw that all four officers were not in sight..they had probably began climbing the stairs..
“Think! Think!” I shouted to myself..Fumi’s flat was on the last floor so I could only go down.
..I ran to the toilet..remembering the last time I had
been in there before strange eyes had interrupted my fantasy..I had seen an assortment of wigs I placed one on my head..tore my shirt off..I had no idea what I was doing but knew I had to alter my appearance asap..with shaky fingers I grabbed her make up things from the room dabbing Mary Kay foundation on my face (or in my case more like decking) I looked at the mirror in horror..I grabbed her wrapper and tied it blindly around my neck as I ran out of the room. Lastly I grabbed a paper back novel..very big (a John Grisham book) I opened the door and had to run back to the oven to retrieve the Mercedes keys..I slipped my feet in her slippers on my way out and shut the door.
I had thought to get on the lower floor before they got close..but my instinct told me I had wasted too much time..I banged the door of her next door neighbour madly..
“Yes who you be” came a bass voice from inside..
“Jehovah’s witness sah..we have a package for you and your family as part of our community service for the week” I tried to make my voice sound womanlike but I could tell i failed miserably.

The man came out a giant of a man he was and looked at me in wide eyed shock..”what are you..a man or woman?” He eyed me suspiciously..
I faltered..from the corner of my eye I could see movement and knew the first police had started to round the stairs to the last floor.
I held up the novel holding it out unconvincingly like a bible..”sir..I have an educative package about our Lord that I need to share with you”
“If you don’t clear from my entrance osiso’ ehn..” He sounded very mean
I felt dejected as I calculated the movement from the corner of my eye..if iI should get arrested then it was all over..Fumi had died in vain..I looked pleadingly at the man..he stated back with hardened eyes in return..
I was just thinking of facing the music when two little infants ran out from the mean man’s house they began clapping their hands and jumping excitedly “clown!clown!..daddy I want clown!”

The mean man looked at his children and his eyes softened immediately.
I leapt at this last life line “sir..I have a unique way of teaching the Bible to kids..using fun methods and songs that fill them with morals that they won’t forget..”
The man looked at me with doubt but his kids(whom I noticed were twins) continued with their shouting..finally he came closer and opened the door..”five minutes” he said.

I entered the house gratefully. The two children jumped in joy and held on to my legs..I tuned back to a out 24 years ago when I was 5. My mother never joked with our church life. That was one thing she was serious with probably owing to the fact that my father cared little about our spiritual upbringing. She would always drag me to church (around that time all my sisters were in boarding school). Our childrens church was filled with songs about David and the Goliath and other colourful stories. Those songs had long been forgotten by me but that faithful day with my heart beating madly..marveling at my narrow escape and knowing I was not out of the lions den fully they came rushing back. I put on quite a show and made the kids laugh alot(which to be honest wasn’t hard).
Their father on the other hand had been watching me closely..sometimes he looked amused other times he watched me suspiciously..
I on the other hand was calculating the time..I was too close to Fumi’s house.. Once her body was found they might begin questioning neighbours…or worse searching them..still I was scared to leave the house..I could run into the other policemen at the hilux or …
BANG!BANG!BANG!

I broke off in my recitation of Noah’s ark as the door shook violently…
Even the two kids stopped their sing along and began trembling. Their father looked at me accusingly and I shrugged weakly..by this time my heart was slamming against my ribs like a wrestler bouncing on the ropes. “who is that FOOL?” He bellowed at the top of his voice
“My friend open up this door before I shoot it down..its the police!”
He looked at me angrily then with two quick strides he was in my front. He grabbed me by my throat lifted me with ease. My legs kicked the air as my face went purple..
“What have you done? Who are you?” He hissed
I couldn’t speak if I wanted to his hands were extra large and covered my throat with room to spare.
His children (God bless them) began beating his legs wailing “daddy leave clown alone…leave clown alone”
He reduced his choke hold but still held me with ease.

The door banged again. BANG!BANG!
“This is your last chance open this door!”
“You better calm down! I have two children here and I’m in my house not on the streets!” He shouted in reply
Then to me “who are you”
“Please I work with your neighbour I came to check on her today and I saw her dead..she has been killed” his eyes widened. “I swear it wasn’t me..she was my friend..now the police want to take me away please”
“Why should I believe you” he asked..he looked down as if in thought at his children(who were still hitting his long legs) and I saw his thoughts clearly..or hoped I did..the man who had played with his children minutes ago was no killer.

He dropped me..and my legs almost gave out from the suddenness of the action..”killed…my God..I never really knew her” he shook his head “.look you go through my room I don’t care how you do it..climb down the GP tank..if you fall and break your neck its your business I’m going to open my door” he started towards the door then looked back “Goodness! Mercy!” Immediately his two girls ran to hold his hands..”I’d try to delay them..but be quick”
I nodded and ran to his room..I lifted his window up and almost closed it when I looked at the distance…it was suicidal! I could hear voices as Fumi’s neighbour interacted with the police. When I heard the unhooking of the bolt..I threw caution to the wind and slept onto the scaffolding. I held tight as I begun my descent..dressed like a mad man..with a painted face,wig and wrapper tied over my
singlet and boxers. As iI climbed down o tthat of the names of my two little guardian angels ‘goodness’ and ‘mercy’ and it led me to recite the grace over and over in my mind. I passed windows as I slid down the floors. And I wondered the view the residents were getting.
I expected to hear shouts and to look up and see policemen spraying bullets from above..nothing of that such happened and when my feet touched solid ground..I used the backyard to turn round the 3 blocks that seperated the car from Fumi’s house.
When I got behind the wheel. I said a prayer for thw kind beast and his two wonderful daughters..I started the car and reversed all the way..keeping an eye on the stationary hilux that was up ahead.
I dialled Andy’s number in a rush immediately I was on the highway…”guy some of us get work o”
“Listen to me..a beg I need to stay your house..you still dey live your key for that flower pot?”
“Is everything alright?”
“Abeg just answer me..no time na”
“I’m a married man..mister and my wife is at home..I don’t do all those bachelor stuffs anymore”
“Abeg call her to expect me”
“You no fit wait till 8 again”
I ended the call..
And prayed that I was not bringing violence and death which I seemed to carry around to Andy’s home.

My phone rang. I didn’t recognise the number and almost busied the call. But I picked it instead (curiosity is the deadliest killer) when I heard strange eye’s voice I gave myself a mental kick.
“Rex..what have you done?”
I was silent as I navigated through traffic.
Strange eyes sounded out of breath as if he had just run the whole 4 laps of a relay all by himself. “Rex you are fast becoming the most wanted man in this country..I don’t know what has gotten into you..you act foolishly..just when I think you are beginning to have sense you turn around and prove me wrong”
I kept quiet.just put the phone on loud speaker and dropped it on the passenger seat.
“Now you are driving a stolen vehicle,you are wanted for murder..not to talk of the unknown assassins after you”
I couldn’t be quiet anymore. I picked the phone and screamed into it.
“You want to be helpful? Then search for the old woman who killed Fumi and pointed a gun at me hours ago..I’m sick of your rubbish!”
“What old woman..describe her”
“So you can have enough time to trace me
abi?..lemme give you a clue..I’m in motion!”
I ended the call.
My phone rang immediately.
“What type of leave me the fvck alone don’t you understand??”
“Chisos!!!”
I almost ran into a danfo that had slowed down in my front. That was my mothers voice!
“Rex..my God..what is going on?”
I bit my tongue as I searched for an excuse.
“Ehm..no it was ehm..I didn’t know that..” I let my voice fade away and could feel her shaking her head in disapproval.
“I just wanted to call you and tell you to expect your father and I this weekend..maybe Saturday or Sunday I’d call you before then” she lowered her voice..”should be Saturday but your ‘father’s ram might win a fight today and the next would be on Saturday” she hissed..”old men behaving like babies”
My mind was racing and I was panicking…I trafficated and pulled the car to a stop..this kind of conversation required me to be stationary if not an accident was likely.
“Mama” I began..(I still called her that from my childhood)
“Hope Fome would be around..your father and I would love to see her again..don’t worry I’d cook my bitter leaf soup and bring”
I had to slow her down..I was getting steam rolled..
“Mama Fome is not around and I have a function that day”
“Which day?”
“The day you are coming na” I was getting frustrated
“But I said Saturday or Sunday na….wait what’s wrong?”
Suddenly I wondered if strange eyes could still trace my location if I was on another call..all those tracing and tracking had always been a grey area to me..but I had watched movies.
“Nothing is wrong mom..I’m at work now..we’d talk later’

I terminated the call then buried my head in my hands..things were falling apart..in fact they had fallen apart about three weeks ago..
There was a tap on my glass and I almost jumped out of my skin. I looked up to see a gala seller show casing his carton of goodies at me..I shook my head furiously remembering the last gala seller I had encountered. I started the car in a hurry and sped off In the direction of Andy’s home.

Andy’s house was a beautiful bungalow. The last in his street, I pulled up and backed my car as close to his entrance as possible..although his street wasn’t busy..I dreaded being spotted in my ‘clown’ attire. I hurried out of the car to the
entrance and was about ringing the bell when iI stopped cold..I listened carefully and I didn’t believe it..I traced the sound to the back of the house..walking carefully till I found the source coming from the masters bedroom..it seems Andy hadn’t been able to reach his wife to tell her of my arrival..because I could hear her cries of pleasure coming from the room..’hold up..it might be Andy in there’ said that cynical voice once more…in reply I quietly brought out my phone and dialed Andy’s number..”hello…guy you dey interfere with my work o”
I cut the call..

I stood still for what seemed like eternity…a part of me wanted to break the door down and blacken the face of whoever was nailing my best friends wife..another part of me was already thinking about Andy and how hurt he would be because he sincerely loves his wife. The cynical (possibly the smartest) part was saying ‘find your level..you have enough problems already’ I stood there debating while the sound track of my friend’s wife floated out the window.

I looked up and saw Andy’s next door neighbour looking at me curiously and I was remembered about my hideous appearance. I needed a change of clothes and a shower. “Screw it..you can’t just mess with my brother” I considered Andy as my brother.
I walked to the front door and banged it with authority while listening intently to the soprano notes floating from within.
It stopped immediately.
I knocked again Impatiently then tried the door-it was locked as expected..
I could hear shuffling of feet from within..”sweet?..sweety?”
So this is what cheaters sound like..I thought to myself..
“Mona its Rex..open up”
“Andy isn’t home”
“Of course I know that..I left him in the bank few hours ago…he sent me”
“He should have called me now..”
“Look I don’t have all day..do you want your husband to get fired? If not I suggest you open up now”
She unlocked the door. I could see her eyes were glassy..her brains had been banged loose all right and it took her seconds to notice my get up and I could tell she would have burst out laughing if she didn’t have a semi Unclad man in her room.
“What is this..why are you like this!”
She exclaimed.
“Today was costume day in work..I just need to wash up and I’d be off..” I could feel her relax a little in relief…she began to chatter a bit nervously..”funny Andy didn’t wear any costume today”

“You should see him now..” I moved towards the kitchen and she followed although it was opposite to her room direction..
“Oh my God..that would be so hilarious” she gave a forced laugh and I shook my head as I studied this beautiful woman who was hurting my friend after he had loves her enough to change his ways and become a better person.
“I’d just need casual clothes of Andy a jeans and t shirt probably..” I entered the kitchen “God I need something to drink” I said in explanation because my eyes were roving everywhere. I spotted what I needed and gladly moved towards it..
“Lemme get you very chilled water or beer I know you boys love your beer”
“That would be wonderful Mona…” I picked up the pestle..it was surprisingly light but deadly “but first where is the fool?”
She steppes back in surprise “what-what f-fool”

“The second fool in this house that had the GUTS! To invade my bro’s marital bed”
She looked stunned and confused as I swept her aside
“You are the first fool by the way” I whispered in her ear.
I ran towards the room with the anger and frustration of the past two days..creeping into me..Fumi was dead and I had been helpless to do anything..well I wasn’t that helpless now..”I’D CRIPPLE THIS FOOL!” I shouted at the top of my voice…
I kicked the door open..and the fool was standing with his hands raised I. Surrender…the face nagged at my brain…and my speed lost momentum…from strange eyes phone..! That was Emenike…Chief’s first son..Ada’s elder brother….and the icing on the cake..

His sister’s stolen car was parked outside the very house..
.
TBC

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