The Mile 3 Murder Mystery

Chapter Two: The Commissioner of Police

 

The rugged man’s heartbeat was the only thing heard as he walked down the corner, his boots clicking against the wet pavement. The street was still very quiet. He glanced back once, but the corner was already consumed by shadow. The girl was gone, her lifeless body hidden in the darkness, abandoned like a discarded doll. Inspector Joel Obi has been with the force for over  fifteen years. He has dealt with his fair share of high-profile cases. His phone ranged that morning and it was Deputy Commissioner of Police Larry.

Larry : Joel , I need you to listen carefully. The daughter of one of the biggest goldfish in the city has been murdered. Take some men and go over to Lulu Bright Street now.

Inspector Deema Obele and Joel Obi arrived at the scene of the murder around 9 am. Forensic photographers were tasked with documenting the crime scene in meticulous detail and Journalists were already there. With every click of the camera, they captured the rawness of the moment,bloodstains, everything. Amid the tension, the reporters received conflicting information from multiple sources, leading to the rapid delivery of inaccurate or half-formed details to the public. This is the fifth murder in one month.

Obi knelt to inspect the murdered girl on the floor. It seemed as though everything had happened in a hurry. She had several knife cuts. She was lying in a pool of blood just outside an abandoned warehouse.

"Cause of death?”  Obi asked the medical examiner.

“Multiple stab wounds to the body,” the examiner replied. “She bled out quickly. No sign of a struggle.”

But as Obi inspected the body, something caught his eyes: the victim’s phone was still in her hand and a note written nto gi. Nto gi is an Igbo language word for good for you. 

" He cut her throat, " Officer Obi said. ' Is there any ID card with her?' He asked.

" Sure! Her name is Vera Tor"

Then Obi stepped away to go talk to the press. The rugged man was among the crowd of onlookers, blending into the sea of faces. He listened to the discussions from afar, taking mental notes of the theories and adjusting his next move. His boldness grows with each murder.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police Obed Ede had just wrapped up a long, exhausting meeting in the city’s police headquarters when his phone rang. The number on the screen was familiar. Vera Tor has been murdered. This high-profile murder in the Lebari Tors family could shake the city to its core.

Obed calls an emergency meeting with his top detectives over the murder of the girl Vera. The meeting started with tension already thick in the air. The chief of police informed his men about the brutal slaying of this girl who was the daughter of billionaire Lebari Tor. The victim’s father’s connections to prominent figures in the city make this case not just a murder, but a political powder keg. 

Obed slammed a newspaper on the table and asked Inspector Obi to read it. " I already did," Obi said. " Read it Loud this time!'' Obed retorts.

"Serial killer strikes again. City police boss is confused" Obi reads.

"You see that? That's an insult to me. I am not here to please anyone.  I am here in the police force  to solve crimes. I don’t care if those who commit this murder are rich, connected, or influential. Lives are taken in my city , and it’s my job to find out who is doing this and stop him or them" Obed said.

The police boss expressed his frustration with the billionaire and the media breathing down his neck. “I’m being pressured to solve this case” he says, pacing in his office. “We have to keep our heads and stay focused. I will be asking forces headquarters in Abuja to send me one of their best police officer”

"Sir we don’t need any Super Cop from Abuja to interrupt this investigation'" Obi insisted.

" What investigation? Five persons have so far died the same way in one month and you are sitting here talking of investigation" Obed said.

Obi: Sir with all due respect, this is my case and I’m in charge of this investigation.

Commissioner of police gets closer to him “You are no more in charge. I'm taking over. I'm in charge now. You need to step back.  I’ll assign you to another case"

Obi: Sir with all due respect. If you bring a top cop from Abuja, it will send out the wrong message. It means we cannot solve crimes here in Port Harcourt without outside help.

The office room falls silent as the police men exchange uneasy glances. Inspector Obi stood firm, his voice steady. “We have to follow the evidence, Chief. No matter where it leads" 

Chief Obed had made up his mind to pull  Obi off the high-profile murder case. Obi, known for his dedication and sharp instincts, has been leading the investigation since the first body was found, now it's five dead bodies in one month and no positive result.

Obed: It does not matter. What matters is I get the killer and put an end to the murder of our people.

The officers were still in the meeting when Lebari's tenth call to the commissioner of police came in.He first called  the commissioner minutes after learning his daughter, Vera, was murdered.

Lebari: This is unacceptable. I want the best police man on this case. If your department fails me, I’ll ensure your career ends. 

Obed  reassured  him that they’ll prioritize the case.  While Obed was still on the phone, Senator Amapiki had already  entered  the office to see the commissioner of police. Amapiki  received an early morning call informing him that the daughter of his billionaire sponsor, Vera  was found dead . Vera's father, Lebari, had been funding his campaign for Governor of Rivers State  with enormous contributions. Amapiki's fear is that the murder will attract media scrutiny and spoil  his chances of clenching his party's  ticket for the governorship  election.As speculation mounts, whispers surfaced that  Vera  was last seen at a nightclub . The governorship aspirant finds  himself thinking  of  how to balance damage control and genuine concern.

Rumors  went  round  that Vera  was involved in a secret love affair with a member of his  campaign team, Charlie and to make matters worse, Vera's father  had been monitoring their affair all along.  Amapiki  wants quick  results  from the police boss. He was the one who informed  Charlie about the murder and he was  shocked and heartbroken. Amapiki  realized  Charlie  cannot publicly grieve or reveal the relationship without risking his own life.