Episode One: The Mysterious Disappearance
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The sun had barely risen over the bustling town of Adebayo when Kola, one of the district's top investigators, sat in a dingy, windowless room, sipping his coffee. His eyes were tired—more than usual today. The last few weeks had been grueling, but something about this new case was weighing on him.
The door creaked open, and in walked Tomi, the junior investigator his boss had assigned to work with him. Kola hadn't been happy about it. He was known for his solitary work style, preferring to go it alone. But his boss, Commander Oyebode, had insisted that Tomi accompany him on this one.
"I don't need anyone," Kola had said bluntly when the order was given. "I work better alone."
Tomi wasn't the type to get discouraged easily. She adjusted the strap of her bag and took a seat across from Kola. She flashed him a polite smile, but Kola could tell she was trying not to show her nervousness.
"Good morning, Kola," she said softly, though her voice had a hint of uncertainty.
Kola didn't look up from his papers. "Morning. I hope you're ready for this. It's not going to be a walk in the park."
"I'm ready," Tomi replied, sitting up straight. "What's the case?"
Kola dropped the case file onto the table with a thud. It was thick, filled with pictures and reports. Tomi flipped it open, and her eyes widened as she scanned the contents.
"This is a bit… strange," she said, her fingers running over a photograph. It was of a burnt village—Odo Aso—but it wasn't just a fire. There was something off about the entire situation. The village had been entirely wiped out, nothing but charred remains. "So the whole village is gone?"
"Gone without a trace," Kola replied, his voice flat. "And the report we got says the person who saw it happen is a man named Bayo. He's the only one who survived. His family was killed in the fire—wife, child, newborn. He claims he was miles away when the fire started, out on his farm."
Tomi looked at him, puzzled. "That's... strange. A whole village just disappearing?"
Kola's tone hardened. "That's what we need to find out. Bayo's report doesn't sit right with me. I'm not buying it, not yet."
Tomi nodded, trying to keep up with Kola's pace. She opened her mouth to say something else, but Kola cut her off.
"I don't want you stepping in my way, alright? Just follow my lead. Don't try to be a hero. I work alone."
She gave him a tight smile. "I'll just observe then."
"Good," Kola muttered, standing up. "Let's get going. Oyebode wants results."
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The dusty road to Odo Aso stretched out ahead of them, flanked by tall grasses swaying in the morning breeze. Kola drove, his eyes scanning the horizon, while Tomi looked out the window, trying to keep her mind off the upcoming investigation.
The silence between them was thick, as Kola had no intention of starting a friendly conversation. Tomi, however, was determined to break it.
"So," she began cautiously, "what do you think happened to the village?"
Kola glanced over at her, his expression unreadable. "I think someone's hiding something. If a fire destroyed the whole village, how come no one else saw anything?"
Tomi hesitated. "I... don't know. It just doesn't add up."
"Exactly," Kola said, his voice low, almost to himself. "And we're going to find out why."
As the landscape rolled by, they passed a few farmers working their land, a couple of children walking along the roadside, and the occasional stray dog chasing after their car. It was peaceful, almost too peaceful, considering the task ahead.
But Kola was always focused. And right now, he wasn't worried about the farmers or the dogs. He was thinking about the village. About the fire. About Bayo's story.
"You hungry?" Kola asked suddenly, breaking the silence. Tomi looked at him, surprised by the question.
"I guess," she said, unsure where this was going.
Kola slowed the car and pulled off the road. He gestured toward a nearby small grove. "Let's stretch our legs."
The two of them stepped out of the car, and for a few moments, the tension eased. Kola moved with practiced ease, gathering branches and starting a small fire while Tomi watched. He wasn't one for pleasantries, but he seemed at home in nature, even if he rarely showed it.
"What about a rabbit?" Kola asked suddenly. "We can roast it."
Tomi raised an eyebrow. "A rabbit?"
"I don't know, felt like a good time for it," Kola said with a smirk, grabbing a small knife from the car.
Tomi chuckled softly. "I don't think I've ever actually seen someone prepare a rabbit in the wild before."
"Well, you're about to," Kola said, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a small rabbit hopping near a bush. With quick precision, he moved silently, then in one swift motion, grabbed the rabbit.
Tomi watched in awe as Kola skillfully prepared the animal for cooking. For a moment, the tension between them loosened, and the quiet hum of nature filled the air. But Tomi couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this whole situation.
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Scene 3: Arrival at Odo Aso
By the time they arrived at the outskirts of Odo Aso, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the land. The village was eerily quiet. No sounds of laughter, no chatter. Just the distant screech of a bird and the rustle of the wind.
As they stepped out of the car, Kola's boots crunched on the dry ground. Tomi followed him closely, her eyes wide as she took in the damage. The village had been burned to the ground—but it wasn't just the fire that unsettled her. There was something about the scene that felt... off.
"Bayo was right here when it happened," Kola murmured. "And he claims he saw nothing until it was too late."
Tomi nodded, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something far more complicated than just a fire. There were signs of ritualistic symbols near the edges of the village, and as Kola knelt to inspect one of them, Tomi noticed the same symbols on the burnt wood scattered around the remains of the houses.
"Does this look like an accident to you?" Kola asked, his voice low but firm.
"No," Tomi whispered. "This is intentional."
Kola stood and brushed the dust from his hands. "Exactly. Let's talk to Bayo."
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Scene 4: Meeting Bayo
Bayo's house was just a few hundred yards away, a modest structure that had once held a family, but now felt empty and broken. Bayo stood outside, staring at the remains of his home. His clothes were dirty, and his face was etched with grief, but there was something about him—something in his eyes—that didn't sit right with Kola.
"You're Bayo?" Kola asked, his tone blunt.
The man turned slowly. His voice trembled as he spoke. "Yes, sir. I'm Bayo. I... I'm the only one left."
Kola eyed him closely, his mind racing. This man—he didn't seem like a criminal, but the way he spoke... There was something missing. "Tell me exactly what happened."
Bayo took a shaky breath. "I was on the farm, miles away with my wife and children. We were working when I heard screaming... loud, terrible screaming. And then the fire. By the time I got back, everything was already burned down."
Tomi took a small step forward. "What about your daughter? And the newborn?"
Bayo's face twisted in pain. "I couldn't save them. I couldn't."
Kola nodded, his eyes scanning the wreckage around him. Something about Bayo's story didn't add up. There were too many gaps in his account, too many inconsistencies.
"We'll get to the bottom of this, Bayo," Kola said, his voice softening for a moment. But he didn't believe the man. Not yet.