OSCAR
Leaning against the windowsill, I gazed directly at her.
"I'm Oscar by the way," I said smiling.
"I know who you are. Mr. Quiet."
"Sure. Do you know where you are?" I made a gesture waiting for her to say something.
"Yes. No" She didn't hesitate to answer.
"I'll be brief with the questioning and I'll need your honest reply to each of them. "Were you friends with the victim?"
"No…Not at all."
"Holding any grudge against her?"
"No." She shrugged avoiding eye contact. This made me know she was lying.
"Do you have someone that can clarify your whereabouts today?" I looked at her as I listened to her statement.
"Those at MRE can clarify that."
"Okay. First thing tomorrow we'll follow procedures for questioning at MRE."
She looked confused. "Why? I didn't kill her! I don't even know the location to her house. You can ask my coach. I didn't kill her. From the hangar where I last saw Kiki I went to my room and slept off till evening. I just left MRE only to be carried away by you SWATIES. Even if I killed her, don't you think I would've been caught anyways by the neighbors or someone?" she laughed.
"Then can you explain your bloody tracksuit in your car?"
My cheeks heated up, her mouth opened in shock. My voice lacked emotion, I arched a brow, and my eyes were serious and frightening almost paralyzing her. I waited in anticipation for an answer, and one thing I received was silence. My eyes read her features as if expecting the answer to be drawn on her face.
I sighed then continued, "The evidence will be tested to really confirm if it's Kiki's. If the blood is hers, you are going to be charged with murder and perjury. Trust me, even if you get the best lawyer, your sentence won't be less than ten years.''
"I didn't kill her. Let the forensics run the DNA tests on the blood." She said calmly and so confidently that I nearly believed.
Mmenim and a forensic scientist walked in towards her. I swallowed as blood was redrawn from her, put in a transparent bottle and labeled on the lid. I watched them walk away.
An idea suddenly emerged from nowhere but pierced through my mind. I changed the question deciding to shift the blame from her. "Do you usually give your phone to someone when you race?"
"No. What are you insinuating, sir?"
"Truth be told, we consider this case internet fraud. Someone posed as you, texted her and then killed her. Sounds absurd and I know it's hard to assimilate but your corporation will aid this investigation." I said bringing out Kiki's phone in a transparent bag, and placed it on the table. Slipping my hands into hand gloves, I turned on the phone to show her Kiki's last chat. Certainly, it was her she texted but she didn't send them according to the analysis Mmenim gave us. "From the victims call history, you were the last person that she called. But the evidence we have aren't enough to charge you for murder."
Most victims knew merely nothing about internet fraud; it generally covered cybercrime, including phishing and other hacking activities. The most prevalent of them all was phishing which involved the scammer luring the victim into providing them with personal information, such as credit card numbers. Some posing with fake profiles snaring and stealing money by use of tactics either begging.
Internet fraud? The words rung louder than other thoughts reverberating through my brain.
After swiping through a couple of her messages, I perceived that her phone was hot and the battery drained. Detecting spyware once it was implanted in a phone was difficult. It came in many forms and one of them was, stalkerware hiding among apps.
"Has you phone gone missing or has it been out of reach for a while?"
"No. I'm always with my phone." She replied biting her fingernails.
Flipping through my diary, I stopped at a blank page and I scribbled a word "spyware." Chewing on my lower lips, I traced the pen over the boldly written letters.
"No." I repeated.
I wasn't sure if it was Stalkerware. It was an unethical malware sometimes found on desktop systems, but it was now commonly installed on phones. With the initiative to monitor emails, SMS sent and received, intercept live calls for the perverse purpose of eavesdropping, record or take photos, track the victim via GPS, hack social media apps, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
After letting out a heavy sigh, I scratched my head still swiping through her apps and messages.
Her phone looks clean. Kiki was the key to all this. And talking to the dead was… impossible.
"I'll have to reset your phone back to factory mode to protect your phone from stalkerware."
"Stalkerware?" she yanked her earphone from her left ear, the song continued on the earbuds.
"A malware used to monitor a person. It may have been installed in your phone, giving the perpetrator room to watch what you do, say and where you go."
Temi's eyes narrowed for a while, "Am I being spied on?"
"I hope not. But if so, it may explain the messages and the reason for her to withdraw money from her account. The other officers will show you to your car. For now you're free to go. I advice you not to travel except with permission from us." I forced a smile, nodded as I tucked her phone in my pocket and walked out without making a sound.
She was completely reticent. I instilled fear in her, clouding her thoughts. I had reached the point where I had to lie through my teeth to get replies from her. If only the culprits could be caught at the point of interrogation without going through all that stress. An unease feeling caved in at the back of my mind, along with the pressing headache. I eyes her intently, my eyes nearly bearing holes into hers.
Obediently, she dropped her phone on the table.
"Alright, that will be all. Thank you for your time."
"Okay," There was panic in her voice. It was strange because I was sure she had enough guts to talk. She was a brave lady and innocent.
I let out a sigh of relief when she finally left, and looked down to glare at her phone.
Delta military station was located in a remote location in Benin City. In January, the harmattan air seemed to have an intense effect on the station, making everyone chill.
It was a cold evening like every other in January. However, the Temitope Ida's case had caused a fracas. Normally we had similar cases like that. However, this particular murder attracted the attention of the headquarters to send my team from Abuja down to Benin City.
TEMI
The tensed bustling of the street made me feel uneasy. I gripped the edge of the car seat as I drove. I inhaled, my mind buzzed with multiple gruesome pictures of Kiki's body.
My phone is being monitored? It gave me the creep.
My brakes screeched like a child yelping as I waited for the pedestrians to run across the street. Of course, I hadn't given my phone to anyone. I hoped that nothing was found; at least the distress could reduce.
A malware used to monitor a person.
Those words startled me, and I nearly crashed my car. I slammed my head on the steering wheel. One could tell that I was terrified, because my account was used to lure Kiki to her death. I was angry with Kiki that afternoon, she'd cheated last year.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the window pane of my SUV. I snapped my eyes open, several pairs of eyes peering but they couldn't see me.
"Hello! Are you okay?" A young man tapped on my darkened window concealing me in.
I turned the key in the ignition and turned right. The car objected and then started with a loud resounding noise.
My coach, Mr. Ekong was already waiting for me in front of my house. It was off-peak and the cold weather of the night was unfair to mankind.
After opening the door, I got out of the car.
"Seems like you weren't at home where were you?" He asked and smiled.
"Frankly speaking, I was at the uh… station but don't worry I'm out of trouble for now. Kiki was murdered. My account was used which points me as a 'prime suspect' but since no concrete evidence I can't be apprehended."
"That's bad." Ekong gasped as we watched my driver roll my car in. We were both quiet, so we stood there.
"Now the police have laid something at my feet. It does abhor me now I remember this case insofar as the killer used my Facebook account to deceive her."
After talking, I took a glance at Ekong, his expression changed and immediately I asked, "Any problem?"
"Does that affect your participation in the race, because if the case is taken to the council you may get suspended. What about your mother? Have you thought about her feeling if she hears?"
As I watched my coach's worried eyes, I became worried as well. He felt bad for me, didn't want the situation to lead to a something bigger. I felt dispirited. I teacher out my hands to his, they felt cold. As distraught as I was, I averted my eyes from his hands and settled them on his face, a sharp exhale left my lips, and I wished that the guilt of lying to Mr. Quiet would evanescent.
"Please, don't tell her. I beg you."