Free Treachery in the Yard by Adimchinma Ibe Page B

have if I’m not related to the president? Or the vice president? Or the inspector general of police from my town?”
    â€œYes, it’s all relative.” Femi smiled at his little joke, but clearly my intensity—he always could see it faster and better than I could—worried him. “Take it easy, detective. Watch it. Your temper might get the better of you.”
    I gave him a mock salute and left. But I knew he was right.
    When I walked into Chief’s office, Stella did not look up. She was pretending to be busy typing, and that was not a good sign. She was my barometer, and no eye contact meant a storm.
    Thinking it over, I stopped and knocked on his door. Stella looked surprised that I could behave appropriately if I really had to.
    â€œCome,” his voice called from the other side of the door.
    I opened the door and stepped in. “Good morning, sir.” I thought of saluting but decided against it—he would think I was being sarcastic.
    He looked up at me. A file folder was in his hand. “You contacted Barrister Howell Osamu yesterday.” It was a statement, not a question. “Captain Akpan has brought me up to date. Which is more than I can say for you, young man.”
    I realized Captain Akpan was standing over to one side. His eyes met mine without flinching.
    â€œI did not step out of line, sir. Not at all. I had a suspect. I wanted to know his address and his attorney had it.”
    He flipped through the pages of the folder, exchanging a glance with Akpan. “And afterward you followed him to Borikiri, where he met with someone in a black Ford Expedition?”
    I was surprised and had no quick response. Chief seemed to know everything.
    â€œWell, detective?” he asked.
    â€œYes, sir. I did.”
    â€œWho was in the Expedition?”
    â€œI don’t know, sir.” I felt not only challenged, but also incompetent.
    â€œHmmph. And why did you follow the attorney?”
    â€œI thought there was a solid connection between the attorney and the bombing, given his clients.”
    â€œI am listening.”
    â€œSir, if someone wanted to eliminate Okpara, it would be Dr. Puene. For reasons we all know. The guy Osamu took on bail was a suspect in the murder of Judge Karibi’s wife. And Osamu is Puene’s lawyer.”
    â€œDo you have any proof of Puene’s involvement, detective?” Chief asked me.
    â€œNo, sir. Not yet.”
    â€œYou’re going after Osamu with no proof at all? That’s beyond weak. We know next to nothing. Osamu is not a good person to harass. His clients include some of our most powerful individuals. If you are going to mess with him you had better be certain you can prove your case.”
    â€œOf course. You are right, sir.”
    â€œWe don’t know who was in that Expedition. It could have been one of his clients, it could have been his mistress. There is no way to know if it has any bearing on this case.”
    â€œRight now, no.”
    He rested his hands on the desk. “Right now, it’s all just sounds, just you mouthing off. You can’t say who was in the Expedition, much less that it was Dr. Puene. No proof of any kind. Just guesses. You do not make the rich and powerful uncomfortable unless you have a good reason.”
    Chief’s eyes were steady.
    Akpan cleared his throat to break the silence between us. “So what do you think, detective? What do you really think?” Akpan asked. I was surprised at his support.
    â€œMy bet is that Dr. Puene is our man.”
    â€œHmmph,” Chief responded. “Detective, this is the most ridiculous casework I have heard this year. You are talking about powerful, highly placed men. They do not have to resort to murder to get what they want. That is what money is for. Money works much better than murder.”
    He sounded confident but I did not believe him. I looked at Akpan, who did not look back.
    â€œChief,” I