The Repenter

The Repenter

THE REPENTER

CHAPTER ONE

Two homicides in two weeks, same motive. The killer was up to something - maybe some sort of revenge or just a psychopath who was fed up with the criminals.

The first body was identified as that of serial r****t known widely as Gijko. He has recently been released from jail. Though he was on the hit list of the cops, it was quite striking that someone had already decided to take his life. Who might it be? That was a misery.

Gijko grew up in a more remote area in the very north of the Boteti region, in a village called Makalamabedi- the folks in there referred it to as Colon II. It borders the Boteti and the Ngami region. It is the gateway to the Okavango - the most prestigious tourism destination in Africa and the old.

Twenty-five years ago- a very cute and good-looking young man was born to the village richest family - the Gwani’s. From the police report in regard to his death, they have learned that Gijko, whose real names are Gikilani Gwani, has been brought up in a more admirable way. He needed nothing in his growing up. The father- who was still mourning the death of his wife, has elaborated more on how good his boy was up until he moved to Gaborone. It was there where he met a certain guy who was only known to them as Kamo. A year in their friendship, they were arrested for armed robbing. In which they stole an amount close to a million. The money was never found. They spent merely two years behind the bars. The prosecuting officer has argued in their hearing that the information implicating them to the rubbery was not enough. They were given their marching orders after a year and eight months.

A year followed, and Gijko was in rehab. Following a successful six weeks of rehab, he was clear and in good conscious to be among the community.

To the surprise, he was arrested for the r**e of two nineteen year olds. It was claimed that he has given the innocent souls a ride to a party, using his father’s car. He then somehow drugged and r***d them. He was charged twelve behind bars, of which four were suspended.

A coincidence happened. The same year he was arrested, Kamo was serving his first year of sentencing; he has been arrested for obtaining by false presentences. He served two years for that. Nonetheless, a parent love will always still remain.

Gwani was very hit by the death of his firstborn, considering the fact that he has been showing signs of reforms. He no longer went to the parties. He sometimes visited the church. He was more interested in the running of the family business, and more over, he was involved with the community in a fight against crime - an ex-convict being an example. How convenient?

As if that wasn’t enough in the plate of the cops, a week after the funeral of Gijko, another murder was reported. A young man, who was the youngest among the tiny circles that Gijko kept, was murder. A brutal murder it was just like that of Gijko. The same pattern was followed, a strangling with something that might have been a wire. Then, the face was mutilated. Ears cut off. Eyes punched. And the tongue was removed. The bodies were stripped naked. Only a sick man can kill a human being in such a manner. There was so much anger in the killings.

What can have prompted the killer to such brutality? A fury? Unresolved issues were lingering. No one just kills for the fun of it. Who can dare try to kill the most feared? Only someone close to them, and someone who knew them better, has carried out the deed. Thought it was a relief to the police, the culprit must be hunted down and trialed.

A few names were drawn in connection to the murder. Kamo’s name was leading the chart. He wasn’t that much of a bad guy. But that didn’t give an alibi to him. They will search around and eventually draw him for questioning.

That’s will do well to the curiosity of Gwani. Kamo has been rumored to be staying in Phase II- Gaborone for the past three or so years. Word is that a certain Englishman has entrusted him with his house in Phase II. He was a caretaker of the house. Miracles do happen. How can someone trust a criminal with such property? As a matter of fact is- it was not just property. He was in charge of the tenants there.

He was also collecting and sending the monies to the UK. Maybe he has changed ever since his last arrest. Frankly, speaking about six years has passed, and there was no talk of kamo being looked for by the cops. Clean good six years. That was a milestone.

It took a few wrong turns to finally locate his rumored home. They pressed the intercom. A fat kind of short lady answered it. They asked about his whereabouts. According to the lady, Kamo has relocated to Block 7 precisely a year from now. She didn’t give much about where in Block 7 he might be.

“But he is a well-known guy. A God servant he is” the fat lady added. You could see how much envy she had for the guy. It is quite surprising that all of the people, he was highly envied like that. Has he really have transformed. If he did, what was he currently doing in life that has kept him away from trouble? Or he has now turned his head on drug dealings. Drugs have a huge earning, and if well operated, they can keep the dealer away from trouble for years. Guys like him never ditch the old ways just like that. Something nasty and fishy was going on. The curiosity drove the cops to push for a quick location of Kamo.

The best hunt for someone who is said to be so famous, well known is always to start with the most popular places. The pubs. The carwashes, and maybe the churches. Can he really visit a church? If the word of that fat lady in Phase II is anything to go by- it seems like the Honorable has repented and found the Lord. It is not astonishing, many a convicts, resort to the church to hide off their bad deeds. Once a criminal - always a criminal. Say he has repented, and under that repentance, he does the bad deeds, with a very clear conscious these days. Fair enough to him.

From the Block 6 shopping complex, just after the traffic, there is a first turn, which gives a way into Block 7. They black sedan, with a private registration, followed the turn suit. Detective Glen was behind the wheel. The intensity on his stare, and the tight grip on the wheel, showed how anxious he was- he badly wanted to locate Honorable, and get down with business, after all he has been hired to do such a job. His companion, a junior , was still learning the art of policing.

He mostly had the notepad on hand, scripted down whatever the boss was saying to him. Zikwiche was a calm guy compared to his senior. He listened carefully to the facts as they were being outlined. He was less tense than most of the cops.

There was a t-junction a few wards after the turn; on the left on of it - a stone throw there was a busy car wash. They steadily drove to it.

They pulled, and Glen rolled down the window. He peered and ordered one of the wash boys to his attention. The boy half walked and half stumbled as he made his way to the car - a police call will always remain a police call. Whether they are on uniform or not. Plus, Glen was a well-known officer around the country.

“Yes Sir…” the words choke the boy.

“We are in a look out for a certain Kamo. Word is that he is a well-known man around these parts.” He paused a bit as he took a quick scrutiny of the boy.

“Do you know him?” It was more of a statement that a question.

“Yes. He is a great man. That Benz- S500 belongs to him. His boys drop it here almost every week for a wash.” He gave too much information at a go. One may wonder if it was out of fear or out of excitement that the likes of Glen are always looking for his reliable client.

A wonder found a way into Glen. He was quiet for a bit. Thoughts overwhelmed him. What was it really that Honorable was doing? On good God’s name, how possible was a crap like him to own such a car? Something afoot was up. He was now more motivated than ever to catch up with his old friend criminal. He would not just be interrogating him over murder; a couple of offenses seem to be aloof, too.

“Where can I find him?” his curiosity lingered in the question.

“If he is home. Drive straight; take the first turn, then drive a few meters, and immediate left will appear. Take it. The house that will be in the vicinity will be his.” Satisfied with the directions, he pressed the accelerator.