CHAPTER TWO:
798 Words
Sunday, February 3 -10:00pm
Twenty-Four Hours Earlier
Villa Estate was unusually quiet.House no. 15, home of the Babatunde family, was surrounded by flashing police lights. Curious residents stood outside in small groups, whispering among themselves as the shrill cries of ambulance sirens echoed through the night.Something terrible had happened.
Eunice's POV
"I hope this girl didn't betray me,"I muttered angrily as I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. "She promised she'd be home tonight, so why isn't she answering my calls?"
I tried calling Temi again.
Switched off.
A knot turned in my stomach.
The moment I drove into villa estate, I noticed the crowd gathered outside her house.
Police vehicles.
An ambulanceYellow crime-scene tape.
Fear gripped my heart.
No...no, this can't be happening."
I hurried out of my car and pushed my way through the crowd.
As I entered the compound two paramedics emerged from the house, wheeling a stretcher toward the ambulance.
The woman lying on it looked painfully familiar.
My heart stopped.
"Oh my God... Temi! "
I ran toward her.
"Temi! Wake up! Please wake up!"
Two police officers quickly grabbed my arms before I could reach the stretcher.
"Let me go!" I cried, struggling against them.
With all the strength I had left, I broke free and rushed to her side.
Her skin was cold.
Her eyes were closed.
There was no movement.
No heartbeat.
No breath.
She was gone.
A heartbreaking scream escaped my lips as tears blurred my vision.
One of the officers gently pulled me away while another tried to comfort me.
"I'm sorry,"he said quietly.
I could barely hear him over my own sobs.
"What happened?" I cried. "Who did this to her?"
The officer hesitated before speaking.
"What was your relationship with the deceased?"
"She was my best friend.
My voice trembled.
"Where are her parents? Where's her younger brother?"
The officers exchanged uneasy glances.One of them finally answered.
"They are inside the house."
Relief washed over me- for barely a second.
"They were found dead alongside Miss Temi."
Everything around me seemed to stop.
"What..."
I stared at him unable to breathe.
"No..."
My voice cracked.
"No... you're lying."
"I'm sorry," he replied softly
The words echoed endlessly inside my head.
The entire family...
"No..." I whispered."Temi... Uncle Tunde... Aunty Bisi... Albert..."
My knees gave way and I collapsed onto the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Just then, loud voices erupted near the entrance.Someone was arguing with the officers.
I looked up.
Albert.
His white shirt was stained with dried blood, and there were cuts across his face. He looked exhausted, but what frightened me most wasn't his appearance.
It was his expression.
There was nothing in his eyes.
No tears.
No anger.
No fear.
Just emptiness.
"Albert!" I cried, rushing toward him.
The officers stepped aside.
"You survived."
My voice shook.
"What happened?"
He looked at me for what felt like forever before finally speaking.
"They're gone."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
I waited for him to say more.
He didn't.
"They're all gone."
The words hit me harder than anything else that night.
Albert had always hidden his emotions well, but this wasn't the Albert I knew.
He looked... broken.
The police informed me that Albert was being taken to the Federal Police Station for questioning.
I would also be required to give a statement the following day.
They told me to go home and get some rest.
Rest?
How could anyone rest after witnessing something like this?
That night I lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Temi's lifeless face.
For the first time in my life...
I was afraid.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Federal Police Station
John's POV
"Miss Agnes Adetunde?"
"Yes," she replied nervously.
"Please have a seat."
She sat down clutching her handbag tightly.
"I don't understand why I'm here."
I studied her carefully before speaking.
"The Babatunde family was murdered last night."
Her face drained of colour.
"What?"
"Albert Babatunde was the only survivor."
She covered her mouth with both hands.
"Oh my God...""Is Albert okay?"
"Physically, yes."
I paused.
"Mental and emotional trauma are another matter."
She lowered her head, trying to process everything.
After giving her a moment, I opened the case files.
"We need to ask you a few questions.
She nodded silently.
"The forensic team estimates the murders occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m."
I looked directly into her eyes.
"Where were you during that time?"
"I... I was at home."
I leaned back in my chair.
"Can anyone confirm that?"
She hesitated.
"Yes... my neighbor saw me."
I folded my arms.
"Miss Agnes..."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"Were you really at home..."
I let the silence linger.
"...or were you inside the Babtunde residence?"
- Writer
