CHAPTER SIX
Mike was deeply affected by the death of Jideofor. They were bosom friends, and Jideofor was his favourite colleague, in fact, he was like a brother to him. Mike had entered Jideofor's office, which had been locked for almost two weeks, to get one of the reports that Jideofor was working on before his death. Mike just opened the office for the first time after two weeks and could still perceive the faded fragrance of Jideofor's perfume on the high backrest of his office chair. Everyone knew Jideofor with that fragrance, and it was a puzzle to all his friends because it was very peculiar to him. Jideofor refused to reveal the secret of the fragrance to anyone, but they knew that he mixed assorted perfumes to get his choice fragrance which was like his trademark. Whenever he entered a place, the fragrance of his perfume announced his presence even before he put up appearance, and he left very strong aroma of the fragrance at his departure. Anyone that came to the place hours after his departure would not be in doubt that he had visited the place unless people that did not know him. The fragrance reminded Mike of the last moment with Jideofor – how he died in his arms.
Mike shook his head, collapsed on the chair, and sighed deeply. He spawned the chair clockwise and sighted a table picture frame of Jideofor on the table. Jideofor wore a contagious smile in the picture and Mike could not resist the smile, and he smiled back. Jideofor's laptop was closed and the document that Mike came to look for was just on top of it. Some other files were arranged at the side of the laptop. Mike took the document and was about to get up when he sighted a file with the title GERALD WHITE. He picked it, opened it, and ran his eyes across the papers in it and saw some facts that Jideofor had gathering about Chief White.
"I will continue from where you stopped," Mike said to himself audibly. "I'll get justice for you, my brother, and for others."
Mike looked at Jideofor's picture again, and then turned and left the office. He went to his boss's office and saw him busy with his computer and called his attention.
"Sir, I have seen the document," he said.
Mike handed the document to his boss. Kayode sat impressively on his big leather chair, with his spectacle hanging on his nose. He took the document from Mike, studied it for some seconds and nodded affirmatively.
"Wow! Marvellous! This is one of the reasons why I miss him, He did a good job," Kayode said and handed the document back to Mike. "Get this story published immediately."
"Ok sir," Mike nodded and took it from him.
Mike was about to leave, but Kayode called him back. He lifted an eyebrow and adjusted his glasses.
"Before I forget, do you have any update on Chief Gerald and his thugs?"
"Not exactly sir, but I found a file at Jideofor's office that contains some facts about him; I'll pick up from there sir," he replied.
"Very well then, you can go back to your office," he said and returned his eyes to his computer as Mike stepped out of the office.
The next day at Tunde's house, Tolani was sitting on the dining table browsing through her phone when the nanny entered.
"Good morning madam," She greeted.
"Good morning, how are you today? She asked tenderly, and then asked, "Did you call the number that Olajide gave you?" She asked.
Nanny was surprised. She wondered how she knew, and she guessed that Jideofor must have told her.
"I am better today madam," Nancy said surprised, then she asked blandly, "Did Jide tell you…?' Nancy looked away and said, "I'm sorry ma, I lied to you," she said remorsefully, with her head bowed in humiliation.
"It's okay, I understand, Tolani said without offence, "I can see that you find it embarrassing to talk about it; well…, it's good that Jide discovered and offered you helped. The woman that he asked you to talk to is my friend," Tolani said.
That statement answered one of the questions that Nancy had in her mind. Since after her conversation with Jideofor the question had lingered in her mind. On the other hand, Tolani had kept wondering how Jideofor knew the woman and her telephone number and silent reigned in the place.
"Yes madam," Nancy said breaking the silence. "I called her number, and she came to our house and spoke to me and my husband. I must confess that her visit was very helpful to us."
Nancy raised her head as she spoke and suddenly something crossed her mind and she paused. Tolani looked at her face and could perceive the gratefulness therein and smiled.
"But…, madam," Nancy said cautiously, looking at the floor, "I have an observation about Jide."
"Yes, what is it?" Tolani asked encouragingly.
"Jide sounded too mature for a child. I observed that he has been acting strange since he came back from the hospital…, he has been talking and behaving far above his age. I don't know if you have noticed it?" The nanny looked up at Tolani, concern and hoping that she had not said anything wrong.
"Well, I am Jide's mom, and I know that he changed. But the doctor said that the change should not be alarming. He said that it is an expected adjunct of the impact of the accident…, but the doctor said that he'll be fine," she said, trying to cover up her 'son's shortcoming.
Tolani did not want the nanny to know what was going on, and she said, "Nancy, but please don't talk about this to anyone. I don't want my family matter to be a subject of public scandal, it must remain in here, and not go out," she said, and the nanny nodded agreeably.
"Okay madam," Nancy said.
Jideofor had been eavesdropping from the stairs, it then occurred to him that he needed to apply caution when it comes to dealing with the nanny. As soon as the nanny left for the kitchen Jideofor came downstairs to meet Tolani at the dinning. The look that Tolani saw in 'her son's' face was obviously a warning, and she conjectured that he had eavesdropped on her discussion with the nanny.
"You need to be careful," Tolani said to 'the boy,' with understanding.
"I'll try…, I'm still trying to get used to my new situation," 'the boy replied and Tolani sighed in relief. The 'boy's' look was suggestive to Tolani that he had something to tell her.
"I just remembered something," he said, "Can I use your phone, please? Or better still, can you get me a phone?"
He looked into her eyes and noticed that her expression suddenly changed.
"You're too young to have a phone," she said with a frown, giving him a stern look, probably forgetting the present. Just then, Tolani squinted in remembrance, and said, "Oh sorry, I forgot. I'll do that later, but you can use my phone now. What do you need it for?"
She said curiously but cautiously.
"I want to call my wife," he said.
That sounded outrageous in her ears. She was not yet used to the fact that a man, Jideofor, was in the body of the 'boy,' and no longer her son, Olajide. Tolani had been very used to Jide, the short form of Olajide, her son's name, which sounded almost the same as Jide the short form of Jideofor, the name of the assassinated journalist, and that often made her to forget the new circumstance of the 'boy.' A serious debate ensued in Tolani's mind, and she listened to with her eyes on the 'boy.' For some seconds he also had his eyes locked with hers and she suddenly snapped out in confusion.
"I am sorry, I almost forgot," Tolani said, and consented to the 'boy's request.
She packed a hand full of her braids and pulled it a little as if it was hindering her from thinking properly and said, "But she wouldn't know it's you." Jideofor he was disappointed, he did not think about that. He remembered that the Jideofor that his wife knew had died, and that it would not be easy for him to reveal himself to her. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he pondered over it.
"That's true," he said and sniffed solemnly.
Tolani became very sympathetic but was helpless knowing his situation.
"I miss my wife," 'the boy' said. But, however, Chief White mustn't go unpunished."
Tolani looked at 'the boy' as he looked up into space, and the name, Chief White, rang a bell in her ears.
"Which Chief Gerald White are you talking about…," Tolani asked curiously, "the popular Chief Gerald White?"
'The boy' wiped his eyes, pulled a chair, and sat on it.
"Yes…, the popular Chief Gerald White," he replied. "He is one of the people causing unrest in this country."
Her breath caught up in her throat when she heard him say that. She did not expect to hear such uncomplimentary comment about such a man that she highly respected. Tolani, however, was aware that journalist knew much about people in the corridor of power.
"Why would you say something like that about Chief Gerald White? What exactly did he do?" She asked inquisitively and leaned forward.
"You sound like you know him personally," he said with a suspicious stare.
Tolani cleared her throat and said, "Well…, my husband does business with him from time to time, and we also visit and attend functions in his house on invitation."
"Why did you ask what he did?" 'The boy' asked.
He had breathed heavily, hearing her ask such question knowing that she may not believe what he was going to say. He did not know how exactly she would react to the information.
"What I'm going to tell you is the truth, whether you believe it or not," he said.
"He kidnaps people and kills them," he said, cautiously but confidently.
'The boy' maintained eyes contact with her and he noticed that she was alarmed, with rising curiosity, and he added, "I believe that there is something that he does with their bodies."
Tolani's eyes widened at hearing that and got her furious.
"What are you saying? You don't just lay baseless accusations on people like that," she got up angrily, not believing him.