MISSING - Episode 6

Ike’s head pulsed behind his eyes like the beat of a drum played by a passionate church drummer on a Sunday morning. He firmly rubbed his sweaty forehead to ease the ache, but it took several seconds before he felt some relief. He’d imagined that the office of a Police DPO would be better furnished and fitted than the one he sat in - with a fan at least. The heat was unbearable.

He shifted in his chair, glanced briefly at Kabir who tapped his feet restlessly beside him, then at Tola who sat sniffling. Her eyes were bloodshot, and her slim face streaked with dried tears.

Their Local Government Inspector, Mrs. Nosa was in an animated conversation with the DPO, a stern round-faced man who stuttered as he spoke.

‘Madam,’ he drawled, the word dripping with a strong edo accent, ‘I have told you that we are working on the case. In fact, all the men in this police station and even the others in the local government are on the lookout for her.’ His words were no different from anything they'd heard since the previous day, and Ike was starting to lose hope that they would get any help.

Mrs. Nosa didn’t look convinced either, and her fiery eyes demanded a better response from the officer.

'Sir,' she spat with a matching accent, 'is this what you want to tell her father when he comes back here? That, erm, how did you say it sef…you are working on the case?’ She scoffed, her disgust apparent in her tone.

After the strange call the previous day, Ike, Tola and Kabir had called Eunice’s parents about the situation and filed a police report after. Eunice’s mom had gone hysterical at the news that her only child was missing, and her husband had shown up earlier that morning at the NYSC secretariat threatening fire and brimstone if his daughter was not found. They’d come to the police station with him this afternoon, but he’d stepped out earlier to receive a call.

‘What about the Five Million Naira ransom that was demanded?’ Mrs. Nosa continued, ‘after these children reported the phone call they received, you people took over the call and negotiation with the abductors, but till now,’ she slapped her hands together, ‘you have not given us update. So, please Sir, let us know what exactly working on means.’

‘Ehn Madam, like I told you already, we are working on the case, and God willing, we would find the girl.’

Kabir shot up from his seat suddenly, walked to the door, opened it and announced, ‘I’m done here!’ Then he walked out. Tola stood also and went after Kabir. Ike considered doing same for a moment, but stayed. Eunice’s father would be back at any moment.

‘Just don’t worry about anything, the police officer continued, 'we are on top of the case. But, make sure that you don’t post anything on social media nor grant interviews.’ Ike wondered if the man watched the news at all. If he did, he would know that Eunice’s story was already all over the news. The story of a Corper’s disappearance was juicy news and the media had swooped on it like vultures on a corpse.

A man walked into the room, his large frame blocking the view of the door. The officer seemed to shrink in his seat, but he cleared his throat, leaned forward on the desk and gestured to the chair Kabir had left.

‘Welcome back sir,’ he said breathily, please have a seat. Eunice’s father made no move, and Mrs. Nosa gestured for Ike to excuse them. So, he did, bending his head in greeting as he left the room.

He walked into the reception and saw Tola speaking to Kabir in the reception, her usual shrill voice was thick with emotion. They didn’t notice his approach.

‘You and Ike need to stop overthinking things, there is nothing we can do at this point but to pray and trust that the police will do their job.”

Kabir scoffed. ‘We’ve been sitting here, helplessly waiting on a set of people who are busy debating irrelevancies.’

‘I understand, but there is little we can do about it. Let’s just keep hoping that she will surface unscathed.’ Kabir didn’t respond.

‘Uh…’ Tola bit her lips nervously, ‘by the way, what’s up with you and Ike? You’ve both been staring daggers at each other all day.’

‘It’s nothing,’ Kabir replied flatly.

‘It sure doesn’t look like nothing,’ she pressed, ‘you haven’t spoken two words to each other since

we got here.’

‘It’s nothing. I need to get some air.’ He turned from her and headed out of the station.

Tola ran her hand through her braided hair and turned towards Ike’s direction. She dropped her hand and attempted a smile.

Ike walked to her and spoke tenderly.

‘Tola, how are you holding up?’

Her eyes pooled and she shook her head.

‘I’m trying.’

He nodded at her and looked towards the direction Kabir had taken out. Tola sniffed and spoke again.

‘Did you and Kabir fight?’

‘Yeah…well,’ Ike shifted and looked down at his foot, ‘I lashed out at him in frustration because of this situation and I may have said some wrong stuffs.

‘And have you apologized to him?’ her soft voice nudged.’

‘No…’ He didn’t feel like talking about it. He still felt like an idiot after the incident.

‘Anyway, whatever it is, there’s a bigger issue at hand now. Eunice is still missing, so we should stick together if we’ll get ahead of this. She reached out to touch his shoulder.

‘Please don’t take this the wrong way, but your composure and strength are part of what’s keeping me from breaking down. And I’m sure that in some ways Lawrence leans on you too. So please settle this, for all our sakes.’

Ike raised his head and looked at her. His words stuck in his throat at her soft smile. He noticed she had a birthmark just below her bottom lip and almost reached out to touch it. What was he thinking?! He blinked rapidly then placed his hand over hers and nodded.

‘Okay, thanks…I’ll go look for Kabir now.’

He hesitated for a moment, but with another look at her, he walked away.

*

IT was dark when Eunice awoke. For several seconds she lay still, disoriented and lost to any understanding of where she was or what had happened to her. Her head throbbed and she rubbed it furiously. Slowly, details filtered into her mind. She remembered the voices and the sharp pain she’d felt before losing consciousness. She jerked up and used her hands to feel around the cold floor, choking on the stale and stuffy air. A door opened opposite her and she gasped. In front of her stood a man who looked like anyone’s worst nightmare.

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