The Pawn_Athan Ayo.
Benjamin Ataga had lived in the condominium with his sister for the past eleven years. He was arguably the oldest resident in the complex. Benji had borne all responsibilities for his sister since their parents died in a smash-up, and she was just eight. He would go to lengths to ensure their welfare--feeding and shelter--even though he could not sustain her education much longer. He had managed to keep himself and his sister in the condo till now by engaging himself in a series of menial jobs. He had been out of job for a while now since he was accused of theft in his last janitorial job at a museum. His latest escapade in his effort for survival was inviting Ajuri to his space to have an affair with his sister.
Ajuri was a drunk and drug addict. He was the the spoilt child of one of those silk-stocking politicians. Benji had met Ajuri on one of his adventures to a tavern located uptown. Ajuri was the champion of the night when he offered to foot the bills for everyone drinking at the tavern that very night. Since then, they had kept contact and had become close friends. Ajuri, on one of his visits to Benji's, had met admired his sister, and he wished to have some dalliance with her. Benji was averse to that idea at first, but Ajuri had promised to foot their rent and feeding on the condition that he would have the girl. It was so irresistible and difficult to turn down such offer, given that he was now out of job. It's no surprise that Ajuri had footed their rent three years straight now, and he had equally been in romance with Benji's sister who was just sixteen at the time.
Meanwhile, Jenny could baulk at anything, but not the idea of a man who would be willing to water her honeypot. She still bore a fond memory of the one-night stand she had with Benji, and she would go to lengths to have more of it.
On this weekend, she had come knocking at Benji's door, who lovingly welcomed her to his crib with receptive arms. Much to her surprise, she found two other lovebirds in Benji's crib: a young girl who apparently should be around eighteen and and a bearded young man with the typical macho looks. Jenny had seen them outside on the base romancing seriously before.
''A.J, meet my new girlfriend,'' Benji said, facing Ajuri while pointing at Jenny, who ventured into the crib examining the furniture and cigarette-stuffed atmosphere.
''She's sweet, isn't she, guys?'' Benji pressed on, while waving Jenny to sit in one of the couches.
Ajuri, who was seated on the longer couch with the innocent-looking girl wrapping her arm around his neck, and her head perched on his shoulder, waved off the little welcome speech by Benji and let out a naughty scoff, ''how could a pauper like you have a girlfriend? What cheddars have you got to sustain it?''
It's obvious this bearded man is rude, Jenny thought. She further observed that this man had his arm around the girl's neck and his fingers well tucked beneath the top of her blouse--apparently hanging on to her breast. He must be pervert, she concluded.
''This is Jenifer Lawrence. She's our next-door neighbour,'' Benji said, gesturing his arm towards Jenny. 'And Jenny, meet my friend, Ajuri. And that's my sister, Laura,'' Benji said, gesturing his arm towards Ajuri and Laura.
''Hi, Laura. Welcome,'' the two lovebirds replied in sync.
As soon as Laura stood and made to pour a glass of wine for the visitor, Jenny noticed the chain around Laura's neck. It was even clearer when Laura bent before her to fill the cup. It's Jimmy's beaded chain. It had all the details Jimmy's chain carried--the scratches, the two broken beads, and the blue pendant. At this point, she remembered that Mickey had told her about Jimmy's secret affair with some 17-year old. The cap was beginning to fit this girl. She even bore the name Laura, too.
This must be the Laura i have been looking for, she concluded.
Jenny was very cautious in her relationship with Laura. Somehow, they had become friends. Jenny had managed to put Laura in admiration of her illustrious career with Avi Bank. She had managed to win the respect of this teen each time they had some walk and talk. The sole reason she had hung on to her Brother, Benji, was because he screwed her every night on her whims and, of course, she loved to be screwed, too. Somehow, Jenny still thought of Laura as the culprit that murdered Jimmy that very night. If she wasn't the culprit, how could she have got the chain? Jimmy had the chain around his neck the night they had sex. She had not observed a chain was missing on his lifeless body, but she could now recollect that a chain with a blue pendant was dangling around his neck when they shagged. Jenny somehow feared asking Laura about the chain, lest she might raise suspicion that she knew about her murdering Jimmy. No, she would not dare to venture that question, as her life may be in danger.
On One of their shopping sprees at the Mall uptown, Laura had said to Jenny, ''you know, I like your brother.''
This drew Jenny's attention. ''My brother?'' Jenny asked, sounding shocked and interested.
''Yes, your brother, Jimmy. I have a crush on him,'' she continued, apparently feeling excited about disclosing the information. ''You know, Ajuri's such a brute. He's too rough, and has no respect for me,'' she said, whining about Ajuri's masculine ego. ''Benji forced Ajuri on me because he's the one who foots our bills. Ajuri isn't my type of man,'' said Laura, with a crumpled face.
So, Jenny decided to play along since Laura believed Jimmy to be her brother.
''So, why not you ask him out on a date...or something.?' Jenny asked, tossing her head sideward to see her reaction. ''He's such a sweet boy, you know?'' Jenny continued, trying to goad Laura on.
''I know right,'' Laura said, sliding her tongue out to part her dry lips. 'We're currently having a date. And... we just had a trivial argument, but he hasn't picked my calls, in a while,'' said Laura, shyly.
Jenny, seeing the innocence of this poor girl, instantly detached all accusations that had built up In her mind about Laura. She had been wrong all along. Jimmy was not just a cheat, but a silly liar too. Me, her sister? How could he mess around calling me her sister? That's not fair, she thought silently.
''He's currently out of the state now for some business venture,'' Jenny said abruptly while watching her reaction. 'When he's back, I'll talk to him,'' said Jenny, with an affected assurance.
At this point, Jenny felt comfortable to venture the dreaded question to Laura. This girl is innocent and naive. She has no faintest idea Jimmy's dead, she thought silently. Jenny swallowed some spit, cleared her throat and ventured the question to Laura.
''So I guess Jimmy gave you the chain, right?'' She asked curtly, drawing closer to Laura to pretend to admire the chain. ''No, Benji did. He gave me the chain. He wanted me to have it,'' Laura replied with some excitement.
That settles it! Benji was the murder. He wanted to have his way with me. That's why he planned the murder so cleverly that he would later make me seem like I did, Jenny fathomed in her head.
It's the reason he tried using the blackmail tactic that night. So that crook took Jimmy out to have his way with me! Jenny thought aloud as they drove away from the mall.