Alter Me

7

Two months had passed since Sameer's death yet no one had a clue of who his murderer was. The CID was very busy as policemen were moving about both in plain clothes and in uniform. 'Suspects' were also being interrogated by Detective Apata's team.

In one of the interrogation rooms, Apata was with one of Sameer's closest friends and oldest business partner, Chief Kolawole.
The atmosphere was so tense that the short, sturdy, pot bellied man was practically squirming in his seat at Apata's stern gaze. He felt like disappearing but it was pretty clear that there was no escape out of the room.

"So Chief, why did you kill your friend?"

"I -i didn't kill him, I can't kill him. Or anyone. Or anything. I can't even hurt a fly. I'm even -"

"Shut up", Apata spat out.

"Yes sir"

"I don't care who you are. For now, I'm in charge. Understood?"

"Yes sir"

"Because Mr Sameer refused to give you the lion's share of the profits made from your last joint project that's why you decided to kill him right?"

"No sir. I mean yes."

"So you admit to killing him". He took out his pen as if to write something.

"No sir. Yes, he took seventy percent of our last profit and gave me the rest which I was quite displeased with, but that's not enough reason for me to kill him. I mean we've been doing business together for long so we're pretty close."

"But you admitted to it earlier "

"No sir, I was only answering your first question."

"Ehn ehn, so you're trying to confuse me right?"

"No sir, I want to convince you."

"That?"

"I'm innocent of the crime "

"Do I look like a joker to you?"

"Not at all sir"

"Well you did a terrible job trying to prove your innocence to me save for the lie detector here which proves everything you said to be true. We're sorry for any inconveniences we may have caused you during the course of the interrogation. We find you innocent and suggest you take your leave and retrieve your personal belongings from the officers at the counter."

"Thank you sir". The man sprung to his feet and dashed out of the room, his body rolling from side to side as he moved, for fear of being called back.

Moments later, Chuks walked into the interrogation room to meet with Apata.

"Man how far now", he said on meeting him.

"I dey o, everything just dey one kind jare", Apata replied in pidgin English.

"Same here o, all the people I interrogated today were just saying nonsense. No correct information jor". He sighed deeply.

"Even that Chief Kolawole, I thought he was lying, but the machine confirmed it."

"But guy, you no try for that man o. I saw him on my way here and he looked like he was going to pee in his pants."

They both laughed and headed out for lunch together, with Chuks trying to persuade Apata to pay for his lunch.

* * *

Detective Apata met with the Managing Director of Golden Enterprises to request the release of some of the staff for questioning as regards the death of their former CEO. He agreed on the condition that his staff shouldn't be rough handled at all, just questioning. Apata gave him his word and assured him.