Unexpected Trouble - S01 E03

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Unexpected Trouble - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

Unexpected Trouble Episode 3

Livinus sat mournfully on the cold floor of the police cell. He had not eaten much since the previous day. The air inside the cell was foul, and the place was overcrowded. The other suspects only spoke to him once when he was brought in for detention. Some looked at him with fear, others with disgust. One of them whispered to another, "Na the guy wey kill him girlfriend for ritual be that." Livinus heard it. He sighed and rested his back on the wall. The shame, pain, and confusion in his head kept him quiet.

That morning, two policemen opened the cell and called his name. "Livinus, come out. Oga wants to see you," one of them said. He stood up slowly and followed them. They led him into an office where a senior officer was waiting. "Young man," the officer began, "you're now a suspect in a murder case. You're not going anywhere soon." Livinus tried to speak. "Sir, I didn't kill her. She slept and didn't wake up. That's the truth." The officer looked at him with no pity. "Let's see if you will tell the same story to the press."

About one hour later, he was brought to the front of the station. Journalists and photographers were already waiting. They had cameras and microphones. Livinus stood among other suspects. A police spokesman stepped forward and spoke. "These are suspects involved in serious crimes. One of them, Livinus Okafor, is being investigated for allegedly killing his girlfriend for ritual." Cameras turned towards Livinus. He looked down. He didn't know where to hide his face. He wanted to disappear.

A reporter came close and asked him, "Why did you kill your girlfriend?" Livinus raised his head and shook it. "I didn't kill her. She came to visit me from Lagos. We went out, ate together, and came back. The next morning, I woke up and saw that she was dead." Another journalist said, "People don't just die like that. You must have done something." Livinus replied calmly, "I didn't do anything to her. I loved her. I was planning to marry her." They continued asking questions, but he had nothing new to say.

News of the case spread around town like wildfire. People shared it on social media. Some said he used Melinda for money rituals. Others said he poisoned her. Nobody believed he was innocent. Even in his neighborhood, people had gathered in front of his compound discussing the matter. "I no trust that boy since," one woman said. "Quiet people dey do evil pass." Another man added, "That girl wey come visit am na fine girl. E be like say na because of her beauty he use am."

Meanwhile, Melinda's corpse was taken to the mortuary. The police ordered for an autopsy. They wanted to confirm what killed her. The doctor promised to submit the result after two weeks. Livinus was not even aware of this. He was still locked up and had no access to a lawyer. He had called a friend earlier, but the friend said he couldn't do anything yet. This matter don pass my power, Livinus. Make we walt first," the friend had said. Livinus now felt truly alone.

Three days later, two elderly people arrived at the police station. It was Melinda's parents. They had travelled from Lagos after the police called them. The moment they stepped in, they demanded to see Livinus. "Where is the boy that killed our daughter?" her father asked. The police officer said they would see him soon. Melinda's mother burst out, "God will punish him! My only daughter! He killed her!" The

policemen tried to calm her down, but she kept shouting. "My Melinda! What did she do to deserve this?"

When Livinus was brought to the office to meet them, Melinda's mother rushed towards him. "You evil boy! You took our daughter and killed her! You used her for money!" she screamed. Livinus moved back and said, "Mama, I didn't kill her. I loved Melinda. I proposed to her that night." Her father stepped forward. "Shut up! You think we don't know what boys like you do? She came to visit you and died in your house. What other proof do we need?" Livinus kept quiet.

The DPO came into the office and asked everyone to sit. "This matter is already under investigation. We understand you are angry, but let's wait for the autopsy report. That will tell us what happened." Melinda's mother shouted again. "She didn't just die! My daughter was healthy when she left Lagos. If he didn't do anything to her, why is she dead now?" The DPO said, "Madam, calm down. The law will take its course." Livinus sat quietly. He couldn't even look at them again.

After the meeting, Livinus was taken back to the cell. He lay down on the bench and closed his eyes. He didn't sleep. He only wanted to block everything out. His head was full of questions. "Why did Melinda die just like that? Was there something I missed? Was she sick and I didn't know?" He remembered how happy she was the night before. They had laughed, played, and even made plans for their future. Now she was gone, and everyone believed he killed her.

Later in the evening, one of the policemen came to give him food. It was a cold plate of rice with beans. Livinus didn't even touch it. "You no wan chop?" the policeman asked. Livinus shook his head. "I no get appetite." The policeman looked at him and said, "You better dey pray say autopsy show say you no do anything. Because if no be so, this matter fit carry you go far." Livinus looked at him and replied, "Only God knows the truth. I didn't kill her."

The next morning, some of the journalists returned to the station. They wanted more updates. One of them met the DPO privately. "Oga, any new thing for the case?" The DPO said, "The autopsy is still pending. We're treating it as a homicide until we hear otherwise." Another journalist wrote a long post online, painting Livinus as a dangerous ritualist. "Let's watch how justice handles this one," he wrote. Livinus' name and pictures were now trending online.

That evening, another suspect who shared the cell with Livinus asked him, "You sure say you no kill that girl?" Livinus turned to him slowly and said, "If I kill her, I for no report myself to police." The suspect nodded and said, "Na true. But na your word against dead body." Livinus looked away again. He had said all he could. Now he could only wait.

To be continued