It was break time for the students, but Tricia was not in the mood of leaving her class to enjoy break time like most of the students. She was in a worried state of mind.
Been saw her down and felt he should cheer her up. He went to her, turning the chair in front of her backwards so he could face her. He sat down with a wide smile on his face.
"What's wrong with Tricia today?", be asked playfully. Tricia made no move, saying not a single word, "Well... I have good news that should surely cheer up your mood", he said, "The school tour is finally going to happen this year", he informed her with a lot of enthusiasm.
"That's the last thing I expected of the school to do", Tricia replied in a dull manner.
"Like you aren't happy about this tour taking place?", Been questioned in a surprise tone.
"I didn't say so", she sat up straight, "I really wanted it to take place but I feel it's taking place at the wrong time", she said.
"Why do you feel it's taking place at the wrong time?", he asked, trying to think of the possible reason as well.
"Don't you get everything?", Tricia slightly raised her tone, "The mysterious deaths of our fellow students. I feel the school should get to the bottom of this rather than embark on a tour", she explained.
"Oh!", Been exclaimed casually, "But a tour will help relax our minds from all the chaos", he argued.
"What you said makes no sense at all", she scorned, "You think a tour will make us feel better when a soul is being lost everyday from our school?", she gazed at him.
Ben looked randomly round the classroom but at Tricia. He had nothing to say in defence. Two boys walked past them, heading out of the class.
"Where are you guys going to?", he asked them, just to prolong having to give Tricia a reply.
"Uhmmm...to go and swim" one of them replied. Both stared at Ben in a curious state. They left the class.
"You're going to find another way to make sure you don't have to say anything to me right?", Tricia smirked at him.
"No...not like that...was just curious to know where those boys were going to", he stammered.
"I don't think you've ever spoken to those guys before", she stared at him comically.
"I won't win this. Can we just go back to what we were talking about?", Ben gestured playfully.
"It's fine then. So...tell me why the school should embark on a tour when people are dying mysteriously everyday from this our very own school", Tricia gestured for an immediate response.
"Honestly...", Ben only uttered and went bereft of words.
"You have nothing to say after all", she smiled faintly.
"All I can say is I'll listen to whatever the Management has to say", he replied vaguely.
"Oh really?", she gazed at him with scorn. He only nodded his head, facing downwards to avoid her stare.
* * *
Joseph knocked on the door of someone's home and get waited patiently with a mischievous smile for the person to open the door. After a while of no one opening the door to welcome him, he knocked on the door a little louder.
"Who's there?", a voice was heard from inside. The person opened the door and out came the ex fiancee of Father Christmas! She wore a frown on seeing Joseph at her door.
Joseph mockingly played being scared by her frown to annoy her the more. "Oh dear! Who rattled your cage?", he asked, behaving dramatic.
"You're stepping on my toes Joseph...you really are stepping on my toes", she glared at him for a while before attempting to bang the door shut, but he quickly reacted by holding the door firmly.
"This isn't how hospitality is practised in Africa", he smiled at her wickedly.
"What do you want from me for Heaven's sake?", she squawked at him.
"Okay fine...I'll go straight to the point", he cleared his throat dramatically, trying to appear sober. "Have you finally accepted my marriage proposal? You know I left the ring in your house right?", he smirked.
"I threw it away that very day. I don't want to marry you, I'd rather be bedridden my entire life", she replied sharply.
"Even when your foolish lover is dead?", he simpered.
The lady slapped him so hard on the cheek immediately. He turned away, trying to overcome his anger.
"You two were like best friends before he died. Why have you only been mocking him ever since he passed on? Was there something bad he did to you?", she asked, feeling curious to know.
"Yes! He took you away from me", he said to her with a glaring look.
"There was never a time we were one", she replied with surprise.
"I asked for your hand in marriage before he did", Joseph persisted.
"I turned down your proposal because of a reason which I bet", she took a breath, "you still know of."
"Sandra give me a good reason for turning down my proposal", Joseph asked in a low tone.
"Because you have something to doing with the Black Arts", she replied, tossing her head.
"I'm the one having the something, not you", he gawped at her.
"I don't want to marry someone having such, please! You know Obinna would have severed all ties with you if I'd told him this bloody secret of yours", Sandra stared at him.
"I don't care!", he squeaked, "If you don't accept my proposal by the time this month runs out, I'll know how to deal with you", Joseph threatened. He turned away immediately and minced over to his car parked in front of her compound.
"You won't do anything to me", Sandra yelled at him. She then banged the door shut!
* * *
Dominic and Rita paid Mr Joseph a visit at his home. Dominic knocked on the door - they waited for him to come out.
Joseph was watching the TV when he heard the knock. He asked a servant of his to go welcome in the visitors. "No one told me he or she is visiting. Who could that be?", he thought.
The servant opened the door. Both Dominic and Rita greeted him with a smile and he responded to them.
"We came here to see Mr Joseph, the founder of Joe's High School", stated Dominic.
The servant opened the door wide for them to go in. "You can go in", he said to them. They both went in.
Joseph saw them coming towards him and wore a grimace on his face. "The police have never paid me a visit in my home", he gestured to them for an explanation.
"Can we sit?", Rita asked reverentially. He gave them the permission to have their seats.
"So tell me why you pesky humans are here?", he felt irritated.
"What was your relationship with Father Christmas before he died?", Dominic inquired of him.
"The answer is obvious...we were best friends before he passed away", Joseph replied with surprise.
"You're really sure you two were best friends? There was never a time both of you had a little misunderstanding?", Rita interrogated.
"What are all these?", Joseph got angry, "We never had any misunderstanding. We are big icons in Lagos, if there was any of such, the media would have known", he said.
"Dominic spotted Father Christmas killing a boy and a girl...the last death cases involving students from your school", Rita revealed to him.
Guilt threw itself at Joseph as he stayed quiet for a really short while. "I never knew the police could stoop this low during investigations whenever they find no proof", he hid his face of guilt with disappointment.
"Sir! That is what I witnessed", Dominic argued strongly.
"You don't know what you're saying. When you have something important to tell me...then fine! But for now, get out of my house", he ordered them.
Dominic and Rita glimpsed at each other before they both got up slowly. They took some steps backwards.
"The dark secret you're hiding from everyone will be made known to everyone. This I promise you", Dominic warned him.
"Please get out of my house", he muttered to them.
Rita held Dominic by the hand and gestured for both of them to leave the place. They both left Mr Joseph and went out of the house.
Joseph summoned the servant that brought them to him. "Don't ever let those two fools into this house again", he said to his servant, "Tell the gateman exactly what I said so that this mistake won't happen again."
"I'm going right away Sir", the servant bowed and went out. Joseph went back to watching the TV as though nothing had happened.
* * *
Dominic and Rita went straight away to Sandra's place. They looked at each other, waiting for the other person to make the move in knocking at the door.
Dominic gave in and knocked at the door first before Rita did. Not long after, Sandra opened the door, keeping a curious look on seeing two total strangers at her doorstep.
"Who are you guys?", she questioned them.
"I'm Detective Dominic", he introduced himself, showing her his batch.
"And I'm Detective Rita", she introduced herself, showing Sandra her batch.
"So why's the police paying me a visit when I'm sure I did nothing wrong?", she questioned.
Rita giggled;"You did nothing wrong. We just want to get some information from you, then we could rub minds on a particular issue."
"What issue is that?", Sandra got even more curious.
"Can we have this conversation inside?", Dominic kept a flat expression on his face. Sandra thought about letting them in or not.