THE GOVERNOR'S DAUGHTER ( EPISODE 1)

 The story Start :

First Saturday of February 2008,

Time: 8am,
Location : Mbano
I was busy enjoying the roasted yam my mother served me when I got an unexpected call from my boss. I nervously answered the call without wasting time, equally wondering why he was calling by that hour.
‘’agent val, where are you?’’ my boss asked in his usual gruff voice.
‘’I’m at home sir’’ I stammered, standing up nervously as if the man was right there before me.
‘’report to my office immediately. It’s very urgent. You have five minutes’’ he ordered.
‘’yes sir’’ I breathed sharply even though deep down I was extremely unhappy. I planned spending the weekend with mum after staying away from home for so long and I just couldn’t imagine how disappointed she would be, seeing me leaving just an hour after I got home.
Anyway that’s exactly the life of an agent. My life and everything belonged to the government and I had no reason to protest because I clearly knew what I was getting into when I applied to join the department of state services.

———————

I slowly made my way to the kitchen to tell my dear mother that I was leaving again. Luckily for me, I had no much explanation to do. One look at my face told her everything. She simply shrugged and bit her lips as I made my way towards her.
‘’I guess the call was from your office?, when am I seeing you again?’’ she asked.
‘’maybe today, maybe tomorrow. Once I’m free, I will be back here’’ I answered with a forced smile as I hugged her.
———————-

one hour later @ DSS Quarters Owerri

As I drove into my work place, I couldn’t help but wonder why my boss needed me so urgently. I wasn’t really holding any sensitive material or position at the moment. The general election of the previous year and every post election security matter has already been dealt with. I really had hoped on having a wonderful weekend with mum only to be ordered back to the office. Yes I really was far from happy but I hid my feelings as I appeared before my boss who was in his office with a senior colleague who was in charge of the governor’s security.
‘’agent val, I gave you five minutes to report here but you took an hour?’’ my boss asked with a frown while I quickly apologized.
‘’I’m reassigning you.

From now you are part of the state governor’s security, any problem with that?’’ he asked.
‘’no sir’’ I answered, wondering the reason I was chosen for such a job since I clearly knew that we lost none of the agents working with the state governor. I instantly felt there was more to it.
‘’agent mike will brief you more on your new assignment’’ my boss added, nodding at the senior agent who smiled at me while I nervously stared back at him as he opened a file he was holding.

‘’According to your file, you are currently 26years old. A law graduate, did remarkably well in law school, been out of the country twice, still single and from a royal family’’ agent Mike calmly summarized my life as I stood still.
‘’have you ever been in real combat before?’’ he asked.
‘’no sir?’’ I answered, wondering why he asked such a question, since he was with my file which clearly stated that I had been in the department for just a year and few months and only worked at the vetting department.
‘’good, the governor needs a well educated and exposed agent of your age to watch over his rebellious daughter who will be arriving the state this evening. She is 24years old. A Harvard graduate and it’s her first time of coming home since her dad became the state governor, so listen carefully to what I have to tell you. Before accepting to come home, the girl made her father promise not to cage her, nor suffocate her life with security and bodyguards. She wants to live a free life and mingle with people like she used to do in the past. But you know we can’t let that happen. Her father needs someone within her age range to be with her all the time as a friend without her really knowing that the person is an agent and that’s where you fit in. You get me?’’ he asked.
‘’yes sir, I understand. I think I have seen a similar movie sometime back’’ I answered freely.
‘’shut up. This is real life. Don’t mess this up or you will see yourself out of this department. The governor is very close to the president and he can ruin your life if you play with his daughter’s safety’’ he threatened seriously while I instantly hid my smile as my heart froze.

‘’I need not to tell you that the governor has a lot of enemies and you are being assigned a very tasking job’’ he added while I looked down with slight tension as the burden of my new assignment played before me.. It really would be my first major tasking assignment outside office work and I couldn’t imagine protecting a very rebellious governor’s daughter all on my own without any backup. Yes I was a good shooter but I really was yet to face any combat and with the way I was seeing my new assignment I felt a day would come when my shooting skills would be needed. I hated being with rich kids, talk more of protecting a rebellious one who could spend all her time putting herself in harm’s way.


 AUTHORS CREDIT: LEONA MOUKA 

(EPISODE14) MY WEDDING NIGHT

Later in the evening my brother came visiting with a flask filled with food, but food really wasn’t what i needed that moment. “i’m sorry for coming late, i really was held up with work. Dad is now safely home. I spoke with him few minutes ago” he said pleasantly while i ate slowly. “so what’s up, any breaking news?” he asked when i was done eating. I forced out a smile, thanked him for the food before telling him all that happened earlier in the day. He listened eagerly, frowning when i got to the suicide part of the plan. “no no no i don’t support that. What’s the detective thinking by suggesting such nonsense. No that’s bad” he said seriously, but before i could answer, detective Jeremiah showed up that moment with a heavy frown on his face. “i’m afraid i brought more bad news” he said as he stopped before us. “the Americans are now pushing for the case to be moved to their country” he calmly announced. My brother and I gasped with shock. "i got a call few minutes ago to prepare and document every thing i have on the case. We don’t even have the two days anymore” he explained seriously. “but that’s impossible!. The murder was committed in Nigerian soil. The trial should be here” my brother protested seriously. “I think you should take that up with the federal government if you have the right connections. I really had the feeling such a thing could happen but kept it to myself. Our leaders hardly deny the American government anything and this case is nothing different.
Seriously many things has been happening which are swept under the carpet without the public knowing” he summarized with resignation. “but i can go to court. I can stop them legally?” my brother asked seriously. The detective breathed deeply and shrugged. “well if you can get the court to sit before your sister is moved out of the country. Then yes you can. But she’s married to an American citizen which somehow makes her an American as well, moreover i learnt her dead husband already procured all necessary travelling papers for her before his death, which makes everything a lot easier for the Americans” he answered. “d--n” my brother cursed. “but we still have till morning to come up with something new” he added while i cleared my throat and spoke out for the first time. “i think i have a plan” i suddenly announced, surprising my brother and the detective with the cold smile which appeared on my face with the revelation.
Of course i had a new plan in my mind. A plan which was nothing close to the suicide attempt the detective proposed earlier in the day. So what kind of new plan came to my mind that crucial moment? C? Hmmmm

(EPISODE 13) MY WEDDING NIGHT

“I can do anything to free myself. Please just speak up” I pleaded. The detective shook his head, bit his lips and stared at me.
“hmmmm, if i’m unable to make any breakthrough within two days, you will have to harm yourself in a way that it will be impossible to put you up for trial. That’s the only way out” he said cautiously.
“wait a minute, I don’t understand. You mean i should harm myself?, in what way officer?” i asked with disbelief. He drew closer to me and squatted by my side. “that’s the only way to escape trial for some days. I can smuggle in some pills that will knock you out. So instead of finding yourself in the courtroom, you will find yourself in the hospital.
However it can be added to your charges but i believe your lawyer won’t have a hard time winning over the charge. But you also have to swear t keep your mouth shut if it comes to that. You know i can equally end up in prison over it” he said seriously, while i nodded. I couldn’t even find the voice to talk.
The plan was just so terrible to hear. Of course it was nothing but a sucidal plan. I knew the health implications of such deed, but it was a better option than prison. Seriously the detective was going out of line just to save a clueless lady like me. It wasn’t as if we paid him to help me. He simply was doing it for free. As if he knew what was going through my mind. He reached out and held my hands.
“when i joined the force newly. A young male student was picked up by our patrol team some miles away from a Robbery scene. We all knew the boy was innocent but still held him just to prove a point that we were working. Unknown to us, the boy was asthmatic and as soon as he was thrown into the cell, his health condition go very bad and before we could run around. He died. Since that moment, i decided to help the innocent. But you see, in police work it’s not always easy to be on the right path because we all obey orders and answer to our superiors whether we like it or not” He said softly. “you are a bright young woman but i’m afraid, if i fail to get good results. You will have to take your destiny in your hands. You will have to harm yourself. That’s the only thing that can buy us more time. Yes you will try committing suicide but I’ll be right on time to save your life. Anyway let’s pray it doesn’t come to that” he concluded and stood up while my head swelled with thoughts.
“God please don’t allow things to get that bad. Don’t allow me to try out suicide as an option” i prayed softly. It was such a difficult moment and decision to take. However i still had two days which was enough time for a miracle to happen...to be continued.

( Episode 10) MY WEDDING NIGTH

Two days officer! You have just two days
Esther tried opening her mouth to say something, but the lawyer quickly held her hand, stopping her. Don’t say anything. The officer is bluffing. Hes trying to make you say something that could incriminate you he said to her before facing detective Jeremiah. If you really have the evidence to arrest my client, then go ahead, arrest her. But if you don’t, then shut the fuck up and do your goddamn work. Mind you, time is running out and you have only two days. The next time you will see me will be in court he threatened, shocking the detective with his words.
Of course not only the detective was shocked, I equally was very shocked because Esther was probably seconds away from confessing or making an unguided comment before the lawyer recovered himself and stopped her. Two days officer. You have just two days, else I will tear you apart in court the lawyer threatened and dragged Esther out of the office.

“We were just close to making a breakthrough damn the detective hissed with despair after they left. So what next? I asked with fear. He breathed deeply, opened the case file on his table, went through it and shook his head. Things are slowly adding up in your favor but we don’t have time on our side. We surely need a miracle he replied, Looked up at me and smiled to make me feel relaxed but I surely wasn’t.
“Remember we talked about the possibility of your husband going out to the garden that night to either smoke or see someone? he said while I nodded. According to the report in this file, there wasn’t any cigarette stick, ashes nor even anything similar found at the garden which then leaves us with one theory. He went out there to see someone, probably Esther, before a stronger person grabbed him from behind and stabbed him he concluded. how then do we find the mystery man that struck the fatal blow which killed my husband? I asked desperately. The detective shrugged. That’s what Im saying, we need more time, as it stands, Esther alone probably holds all the answers but we cant touch her he replied with resignation.
Tears instantly dropped from my eyes. The police had every reason to detain Esther but couldn’t because she was a foreigner. Instead I was the person being detained without due process..to be continued in the next episode..

(EPISODE 9) MY WEDDING NIGHT

After freshening up in one of the bathrooms, I was led to the detective’s office, where I sat and waited for the so called Esther Hardey to show up.
She showed up precisely ten minutes later with the same annoying white lawyer who threatened my brother.
They all stared at me with surprise as they walked into the detective’s office. “What is this murderer doing here?” the lawyer asked with anger. Detective Jeremiah smiled and shook his head.
As a lawyer, you should know that no suspect is guilty until a court of law gives verdict. Shes a suspect just like the lady that brought you along he answered the Lawyer who bit his lips angrily.
“Im taking none of this s--t any longer. If you cant do your job, better resign. My clients are tired of being detained in this country for no justifiable reason. They all want to go home and I give you two days to make it happen, else the fury of the American government will be on the whole Nigerian police force. You cant just keep everyone hostage he threatened.
“Oh I see you are representing all the Americans involved in this case, but I feel that will change soon the detective added quietly.
“What if I tell you, I have enough evidence to throw one of your clients in the cell right now? he pushed on.
Esther Hardey, she was at the house when the crime was committed. She was Damians fiancée, am I wrong? he asked the lawyer who kept quiet.
Esther had the motive and mindset to commit such murder and according to test results we have so far, she was physically present in one of the crime scenes which invariably places her in a bad position. I pin the murder charge on her. Phewwww case closed. I get promoted The detective concluded with a smile, while the lawyer instantly grew tense and stared at Esther with a coloured face.
Of course the detective had nothing strong to pin down the lady, but as a good officer he pulled a fast one on the white lawyer who for the first time looked beaten. It was time to prove how good a lawyer he was.
I prayed silently. I prayed for the detective’s stunt to work.
your client should use this opportunity to come out clean or Damian’s mother won’t like what I plan telling her the detective pushed on, while Esther colored up. It was obvious she was hiding something
oh Lord, make her to confess I prayed................CONTINUED IN THE NEXT EPISODE.

(EPISODE 7) MY WEDDING NIGHT

have to hold on tight dear, we are getting you out in no time. The detective promised to give you special treatment. So just hold on for a little longer my brother begged before leaving with my dad. However my day never had a dull moment because soon after they left, two of my colleagues came to see me as if they cared. I already knew they simply came to confirm things with their eyes, but thats one of the things in life we have no control over.
No matter what we do, we must have haters, we must have people who pretend to care and we also must have people whose only motive is to bring you down. Later in the afternoon, my friend Nancy also came to see me. It really was painful receiving such visits in a police cell.
Yea you guys should just for a moment reflect how it feels to be receiving your friends and colleagues, days after your wedding in a police cell. Horrible isnt it??. Nancy shed real tears on seeing me, her face coloured deeply. The shock in her very apparent.
I heard Rumours, I never believed till this very moment she said quietly. I swallowed hard and nodded. Nancy was my old time pal. We attended the same university, stayed in the same hostel and did our Nysc the same time, though in different states. Her parents were a bit wealthy and lived in the capital city. She
returned to live with them after Nysc while i came over to live with my brother. However i was fortunate to get a good job while
she managed a little teaching job in her neighbourhood. We still remained very close even after we disagreed over Damian. She was of the opinion that i was being overly ambitious, insisting that i was throwing away my life for money. I guess she was right?, but she merely objected to my relationship with Damian simply because i dropped my young boyfriend whom she much preferred, in order to move on with Damian. Yea Justice was the boys name, we were age mates and equally served {NYSC} the same time. He was a good kid but cmon I couldnt waste my future by waiting for him. He was even yet to get a job till the very moment I landed in the police cell.
Justice had a lot to do before thinking of settling down and I couldnt take the risk of waiting for him. At least I was good enough to keep him till we rounded up with Nysc unlike some of my course mates who dumped their boyfriends to get married in final year.
Damian brought only trouble just like i feared. My God this is a terrible Nightmare Nancy sobbed. I simply stared at her, not knowing what to say. But just that exact second, detective Jeremiah showed up with a dark smile.
you may not like the news i bear he announced and came forward while I almost fainted with fear.....

TO BE CONTINUED.    ......

(EPISODE 5 ) MY WEDDING NIGHT

seriously i dont think things that happened when we were dating has anything to do with his death, believe me i said slowly.
The officer simply folded his hands and breathed deeply.
Nothing is hidden under the sun for long. Sooner or later i
still will find out, so i believe its in your best interest to tell me all I need to know he pushed with a smile.
I battled with myself one more time before making up my mind to open up.
Damian was stealing from the company. He was doing it with a colleague in the records department. I found out
about the whole deal three weeks into our relationship but couldnt do anything apart from confront
 him. He ended up convincing me to keep quiet, equally promising to marry and take me to his home country. His plan was to get me established over there. I was a woman in love with a whole lot to gain. Of course I kept quiet and helped him steal more. He kept
his word and married me, only to die before fulfilling the last part of his promise. Now what has that got with his death?? I poured out with tears.
And the colleague in question, do you think he has a hand in his death? he asked curiously.
Of course not, they had seperate accounts and divided proceeds evenly. No he is much more valuable alive than dead to the man I answered seriously.
well in a murder case we dont rule out any possibility until the crime is solved. I admire your honesty. You bravely confessed being an accomplice to another crime.
I appreciate and will keep my promise by watching your back. It should interest you to know that your husband might have been murdered in his garden, we saw some drops of blood down there, which now gives us two crime scenes he said while i gasped with shock.
yea Damian loved smoking and probably went to the garden to heat off while i slept, but how the hell did he get back to the bed, if he was killed in there? I asked with disbelief.
its time to go to your cell my dear. Ill permit you to keep your phone. Just pray something new never comes out to incriminate you further, as for now the latest  discovery works on your side he added with a cold smile, got up and led me to a quiet cell where I had the most terrifying night ever.
I kept seeing my dead husband all through that night. Oh it was one nasty experience.
Dear friends, I spent the second night after my wedding in a police cell. What can be more horrible than such.
Hmmm

TO BE CONTINUED....

(EPISODE 4) MY WEDDING NIGHT

As we got up to leave, i passionately pleaded to the detective to help me out. “seriously i have no hand in my husband’s death. You have to help me. You have to do something” I pleaded desperately. “as long as you are innocent, you have no problem with me. I’m a good cop. I promise to get to the bottom of this case” The middle aged officer promised while my brother smiled with relief. “now you are talking officer. Don’t let them intimidate or stop you from doing the right thing” he advised as they shook hands.
On our way out of the force headquarters, my brother held me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear. “you have to be strong my dear. Everything happens for a purpose. Please you have to be strong when facing our parents , they are very devastated” he begged quietly while more tears fell from my eyes. I really didn’t know how to face my old parents, especially mum who braved her sickness to witness mywedding ceremony.
Nevertheless, we first headed to Damian’s house after leaving the police headquarters in order to pick up my things, but on getting to the house, we were stopped by four policemen who told us that they had orders not to allow anyone pick up even a pin from the house. “madam this place is now a crime scene.
You can come back tomorrow to pick your things. As for now we have orders not to allow anybody pick up anything from the house” one of the officers said, leaving me speechless. “i think it’s a good development. A piece of evidence might still be lying around who knows. The police are really correct with this decision” My brother’s lawyer said in agreement. And so we had no choice than to turn back and head to my brother’s house where every member of my family was waiting for me. It really was such a painful scene as every one of them cried on sighting me, especially my poor mother who sobbed uncontrollably. “this marriage was just a huge mistake. oh no” she cried painfully.
However another big development occurred at exactly 5pm when detective Jeremiah showed up once again with a team of policemen and a white man who looked like a lawyer to arrest me. “i’m sorry, the order came from the I.G’s office. It has nothing to do with me” he said as a handcuff was thrown round my wrists, putting my entire family into another wave of shock. My brother as usual tried to defend me by creating a scene but had to shut up when the white lawyer threatened to arrest him as an accomplice in the murder charge I was facing. “don’t worry, I will protect you” the detective whispered to my ear as he led me away. This time, there wasn’t anything to save me from cooling off ina police cell.
To be continued..in episode 5