Ep 7 - “In A Different Way”

'A Killer in the Sick Bay' series

Inspector Danlami examined the neighbourhood in which he stood. Quiet, peaceful, not middle class and not affluent. Just a simple neighbourhood. He inhaled deeply and knocked on the brown door one more time. He had been here three days ago to see Osei's parents, and they confirmed the information that Osei had travelled to Calabar with a relative. They confirmed that these relatives live in the same estate as Sanni. And they asked the Inspector to return today, as Osei was scheduled to arrive that morning.

Just as he tried to knock again, the door to the house opened and he was welcomed by the nervous but smiling face of Osei's mother.

“Welcome, Inspector”, she said, her Ghanaian accent shining through.

“Thank you,” he walked into the room and was greeted by the smell of fried eggs and possibly bacon.

“Osei is just getting freshened up from the journey. They just arrived some 30 minutes ago. Do take a seat. He'll be down soon.” And as though she suddenly thought about it, she blurted, “Do you want some coffee? Tea? Water?”

The Inspector managed a smile and a wave, “Not at all, ma'am. Thank you.”

Less than 5 minutes later, Osei bounced down the stairs and walked toward the Inspector. Inspector Danlami stretched out his hands and they exchanged a shake.

“Nice to meet you, Inspector”, Osei said solemnly. The Inspector's first impression of the tall boy before him was, 'this is no murderer', but his years of experience and inherent distrust in people rebutted.

“Nice to meet you, too. I don't intend to take up your time. Please seat,” he gestured to the red sofa opposite him, and the boy sat.

“So I'm sure you know why we're here. Talk to me about your conversation with Sanni when you both got down at the Bayview Estate Gate”

“Okay. I dropped off at the Estate gate as earlier planned with my parents. I was going to visit my aunty and her husband. Sanni asked me where I was going. I told him I was going to my aunty's house. I said, 'the Asares' and he said he did not know them. Then he said bye and went to his house. I said bye too. And kept going.”

“Okay. Was that the last time you saw him?”

“Yes, sir.”

“You did not see him at all after that day? Not in the morning before you went to the airport?”

“No sir.”

There was a moment of silence.

Inspector Danlami sighed. “Osei, tell me about the morning of the flight to Calabar.”

“Okay. I woke up by 3:00 am to get ready for the flight. I packed some clothes - I borrowed them from my cousin since I did not plan to travel. I helped my little cousin pack and then we all got dressed. We got into the car at about 4:00 am and left for the airport. We got to the airport at about 5:20 am, and they bought my ticket. We boarded at around 6:10 and left.”

Inspector Danlami leaned back against the couch, frustrated. He would do his due diligence and check Osei's alibi, but his gut told him the boy was right. Maybe he needed to look at this whole thing in a different way.

“Thank you, Osei.” Inspector Danlami said as he snapped his notepad shut.