A handful of water was sprinkled on the intoxicated young man’s face. This stimulus made Armah reacted in a manner that magnetized Cudjoe attention for a while. There Armah lied on the carpeted floor, oscillating his hands as if he was swimming in a pool. Cudjoe realized that he has the young boy some time to come back to the real environment. He took his seat and picked the photo album on the wooden center table. He flipped through the pages. In one of them was Armah in the midst of some relatives. From the look of his countenance on the picture, you can’t determine whether he was happy or sad or both. Cudjoe has known Armah to be emotionally unstable and susceptible to petty shortfalls. Maybe the environment that he was raised during his formative years is a primary contributory factor to his situation. This is because some years back, he had narrated to Cudjoe how his step-mother had maltreated and chastised him for the least offence. He recounted how he had mistakenly broken a ceramic bowl on one occasion and for that reason, he has to forfeit his supper. Because of these harsh treatments, he has run away from the family house and bed at his uncle’s deserted single room located within the Accra metropolis. He is orphan who hasn’t even seen the pictures of his dead parents nor even possesses the knowledge about the events that led to their death. He has grown up with a mentality to please everybody, and little corrections make him depressing. A maladjusted personality like Armah needs lot of love and admonishment. Many people would see him to be an ordinary little kid, but to Cudjoe, he is more than that. He is a kid who may not be good on paper, but great and magnificent upstairs. And Cudjoe is going to exploit this dexterity to unravel the mysteries surrounding his trumped-up charges. He noticed the alcoholic cans on the floor. What at all could make Armah get himself inebriated like this? Could it be another castigation?
After lunch, Ben decided to give his wife a call.
“Hello, baby’’. The audibility of Janet’s voice was unclear, so he put it on loudspeaker.
“Yep, sweetie, can you hear me?”
“Yes, I can now hear you. I want to tell you something. This morning, Mr. Akpaglo, the BNI boss called …”
Ben narrated everything that transpired that morning to his wife. Prior to the end of the conversation, Janet advised her husband to ignore it.
The Bureau of National Investigation’s office located behind the Ministry of interior was the state security apparatus responsible for thorough investigation of fraudulent and criminal cases perpetuated by the cream of the society and other hard-nut criminals. It is this particular objective that keeps Mr. Akpaglo on his toes. His extreme position on the enforcement of law and order at all cost blind him to very important ergonomical factors. This homicide case on his desk calls for a competent officer to grip. Someone who would be willing to even sacrifice his life to bring the perpetrator to book. He reached for the telephone. “Let me have Inspector Kotey in my office”.
Is boss going to strip me off the case? Kotey is very determined to complete the case he is currently handling. He knows complete execution means outright promotion. He exhaled and knocked the door. “Have a seat, inspector.” Mr. Akpaglo didn’t mince words, he went straight to the point, “Inspector Kotey, I’m sorry you have to hand over all documents and classifieds to Inspector Daniels. The security board unanimously backs this decision.” He paused to allow his enunciations sink into the ear drums of the inspector. Internally, he mocked the sad expression boldly written on the inspector’s face. He progressed, “but thank your stars because fortunately, we are going to hand you another case. A homicide case, to be precise. Contact Mr. Dovlo for the relevant briefing and documents.” Kotey was somewhat relieved. He managed to say a weak “thank you”. He got up to leave. But before his exit, his boss added, “Remember, this is your last opportunity”. He nodded and closed the door.
Cudjoe perceived that Armah was regaining consciousness. He helped on the boy on his feet and rested him on the sofa. He removed his shirt and positioned the curtains leftwards to allow ventilation. He turned off the Ghetto blaster and sat in front of Armah.
“How are you feeling now?” He asked. Armah gave two consecutive yawns and stretched his limbs. His eyes scrutinized the room like a guest. In an attempt to respond, all sorts of elements of varying definitions emanated from his mouth. Cudjoe’s trouser wasn’t spared the mess. The vomiting continued. Cudjoe understood that he has more jobs to do. He frustratingly started the clean-up exercise. First of all, Armah had a great shower, the mess in the room was cleared, and things were once again brought to normal. Afterwards, in an abrupt manner, Armah broke down. So Cudjoe’s speculation was right. “Cheer up, boy”. He tried to console him. “You don’t understand, Mr. Cudjoe. Everything I do, I fail. I’m not good in anything. I’m useless. A big disappointment. I hate myself, I hate myself”. He began to curse himself but Cudjoe intervened, “Hey listen, stop that. You are good, okay”. Still, he was stubborn, refusing to be soothed, “Yes, I’m good but not better.” Cudjoe quickly modified his statement, “okay, you’re better”. The kid persisted, “Yes, I’m better but not best.” Cudjoe has no option but to carry on calming him, “Pardon me for that, you’re the best, the excellent, the extra extraordinaire”. The boy smirked and said something that betrayed the efforts of Cudjoe, “You are being sarcastic, don’t you. You know that I’m useless but you are telling me something to make me happy. Why is it that people don’t tell the truth these days? Parents lie to their children, friends lie to fellow friends, and bank people lie to attract customers. Everybody is telling lies, why?” Cudjoe held his soft innocent face with both hands, “You are very intelligent, Armah, I mean it. Anyway, do you remember what you did the last time at the cinema? When you restored the power cut by your vocal instruction? Let me not beat about the bush, Armah, I think you are gifted. You possess extra-ordinary powers.” “You must be kidding, I’ve had enough of your cooked up eulogies.” Armah doubted the credibility of the young man’s statement. Then suddenly, Cudjoe strangled the neck of the boy. Armah was struggling to breathe. He pleaded with Cudjoe to let go of his neck, which Cudjoe turn a deaf ear to. It continued and Armah realized that he was running of breathe. He yelled, “Stop it”. Just then, Cudjoe froze, with his hands clasped into each other. Armah tried to liberate himself, but was impossible because his neck was still tightly held by Cudjoe’s hands. “Go back!” He commanded. And Cudjoe went back. Very surprised at his own astonishing power, Armah tried it again. This time to relieve Cudjoe. “You are right. I’m a genius”. He was so elated and jumped about in the room. “I want you to do something for me. Boy, I am wanted by the police and I want you to help me.” Armah subsided his ecstatic mood and drew closer to Cudjoe. Everything was narrated to him in a manner that would be easily understood. “I am not going to allow them take you away. You are a good man. You’ve continued to pay my fees though I’ve failed in my academics on several occasions. You’ve being like a father to me. No, I’m going to allow them do that to you. You are not going to jail, dad.” That was the first time Armah’s expression aroused the emotions of Cudjoe, especially when he called him father. The two worked out a plan. Thereafter, Armah made a call.
Kotey assembled his men for the hunt. A minute ago, information has reached his outfit that the alleged murderer of Dr. Kufour is currently residing in one of the slums in Mataheko. He made sure all his men have the requisite bag of tricks. Afterwards, he briefed them, “listen, guys. The criminal we are going to arrest, according to reliable information on him, is very clever. He doesn’t have many pages on our records but the manner in which the homicide was perpetuated speaks that he is very dangerous. Don’t underestimate him. And most importantly, the government wants him alive. I have much trust in you, guys. Let’s go for the hunt”.
Cudjoe was very sure that the person he can best communicate his innocence to is a security officer, committed soul and heart to ensuring impartial and fair administration of justice. Though he doesn’t know the officer handling his case, his instincts motivates him to meet the officer. He received a call on his new phone. It was Baisiwaa. “Cudjoe, I have some news for you. Where are you now?” After revealing his whereabouts, she continued, “My cousin who works as secretary at the Ministry of Defense, informed me that the Director had an impromptu meeting with BNI’s boss. She eavesdropped on their conversation and the centre of it was your case. Cudjoe, she thinks they’re using you to cover up something. According to her, they’re applying a principle which within the security force is known as a “smoke-screen”. They have hidden plans. I’m sorry that’s all I have now. Take care. And know this, I love you.” This information has come the time Cudjoe was contemplating on how to argue his case. What are these security people trying to hide? Why are they using him? Now, it is obvious that these people are up to something nefarious. What could it be? What could it be? Yes! He has remembered something. A month prior to Dr. Kufuor’s death, he had an interaction with him at the doctor’s residence. During their chat, he noticed the doctor was rejecting persisting calls on his cell phone. And ultimately, when he took the call, he excused himself. Could it be that the calls were coming from these security officers? There is only one way to find out. He called Baisiwaa and told her to something risky, which she willingly obliged.
“You are being surrounded by the BNI. Come out and peacefully surrender...” The BNI has surrounded the house. Cudjoe and Armah have already plan how things should go. Armah first stepped outside, highly confident of something the security men were oblivious to. The stares of the men didn’t amuse him. He accurately read their minds, is this criminal we are coming to arrest? He drew closer and started what he has to do. Before the security men realized, they were dropping their gadgets. “What the heck do you think you’re doing?” Kotey yelled. He couldn’t believe what he himself was doing. He has also dropped his gun, and was being pulled by a force towards the direction of the boy. When he got closer, he was further dragged to the room. The moment he entered, the door closed. Now, he was sitting face-to-face to the criminal he has come to arrest. The hypnotic magic on him was removed. He quickly started the reciting the security verses to effect arrest, “You are under arrest, Mr. Cudjoe. You are to remain silent ...” Cudjoe then explained to him his readiness to submit himself to the rigours of the law and that he asking for some minutes to explain something to him. Kotey compromised. Cudjoe went on to say his side of the story, “I am not responsible for the death of Dr. Kufuor. Actually, he was a friend of mine back in college. And ...”
Meanwhile, Mr. Akpaglo was again calling the line of Ben. The recipient picked, he started speaking, “Dr. Ben. I think we talked about something the last time. This time round let me not mince words. Dr. Ben, we want you to format the memory of a criminal, a threat to our peaceful society. It comes with fifty thousand dollars. Think about it.” Ben was uncomfortable with this offer. As a solid matter of fact, it was against the ethics of his profession. Eradicating the memory of someone, be it a criminal or not, is tantamount to murder. He strongly rejected the offer but that rather attracted the cogence of Mr. Akpaglo. He resorted to another strategy. “I would think about it”, he said. But Mr. Akpaglo wasn’t in for compromise, “I’m sorry we can’t bargain on this issue. This is an instruction, not a proposal. A polite highly-rewarding instruction, Mr. Ben.” This recent statement uncured the wrath of Ben, “I’m also sorry, Mr. Akpaglo or whatever you call yourself. I don’t want this offer.” Mr. Akpaglo persisted, “I think the present amount is not enough, how about sixty thousand dollars”. He pronounced the amount as if he was actually spelling them. Ben’s resistance and adamant attitude made the BNI’s boss revert to his plain and cunning tactic, “Dr. Ben, I think you are forgetting something. That you are married. That you have a wife you cherish dearly.” Ben’s roar sounded like thunder on the phone, “Leave Janet out of this, stupid man”. With that he hanged the line and stormed out of his office. In his car, he dialed his wife’s cell phone. It wasn’t going through!
Kotey appeared to find some grain in Cudjoe’s story. He sought some clarifications as he simultaneously drafted some notes in his diary. Eventually, he was struck by the fact that Cudjoe has faith in the judiciary. He decided to help Cudjoe. He worked out a plan with him.
The cell phone of Mr. Akpaglo rang. It was one of his men, precisely Kotey. He was notified of the arrest of Cudjoe. However, Kotey said that since he is the boss, it would be appropriate for him for meet the criminal one-on-one. The rendezvous was the Ghana-Togo border. Mr. Akpaglo instantaneously agreed.
Ben drove to the campus of University of Ghana. He went straight to the department of social sciences and requested the whereabouts of his wife. Nobody appear to know. He headed to possible areas his wife could be, but still he couldn’t find her. His anxiety heightened and fear enveloped him. What have this dracular done to his wife? Then, two hands from behind blocked his vision. He knew who it was. He turned and he was highly disappointed. It was an old friend of his. His chuckle could fill a whole page. But some few metres away, he saw the one he was looking for. He ran to her like a sprinter. He pulled her closer to him and gave her a kiss. The students by the roadside watched. Janet was fairly shy. Ben said they should go home. But Janet wanted to clarify things for herself,” what’s the problem, Ben?” Ben organized himself and responded, “It’s just that... I’ve missed you, Janet. I love you so much”. Janet wants to avoid the gathering students so she concurred with him to go home.
Mr. Akpaglo and his confederates are now in the designated venue. They’ve reached there thirteen minutes earlier. Forty seven minutes later, Kotey arrived with Cudjoe handcuffed. The two groups were standing at opposite ends. Mr. Akpaglo broke the silence, “Inspector Kotey, you’ve made me proud as well as the security force. You’ve distinguished yourself and I’m going to make sure that you are appropriately rewarded and promoted. Now, let me have the bastard”. Kotey let go of Cudjoe, to walk to the direction of Mr. Akpaglo. But Mr. Akpaglo’s instincts made him suspect something fishy. But it was too late. They were surrounded by the Ghana Police. The arrest was effected.
The next day, the headlines in the major newspapers read, “BNI BOSS, REAL MURDERER OF DR. KUFOUR”, “MR. AKPAGLO, AN INTERNATIONAL DRUG DEALER”. So that’s it. Mr. Akpaglo was directly responsible for the death of Dr. Kufuor. But why did he kill him? Earlier, he had convinced Dr. Kufuor to use his license to acquire narcotic drugs under the pretext of patient consumption. After Dr. Kufuor has received the consignment, he began to clamour for a higher sum, which Mr. Akpaglo refused. The resultant was his murder. But the day the murder was perpetuated, Cudjoe appeared on the scene. Thus, he has to be eliminated. However, after getting to know he is a close colleague of the deceased, they decided to set him up. And should Dr. Ben have agreed to the proposal, Cudjoe’s memory would have been completely eradicated making swift prosecution possible. But Kotey has thwarted all these arrangements.
Cudjoe was acquitted after compelling evidence was put forth in court. The evidence included a recorded conversation in which Mr. Akpaglo was issuing death threats to Dr. Kufuor. This was made possible courtesy Baisiwaa. Kotey was promoted in the security service whilst Armah put his gift into a magical concert.
tHE END...
