Hotel Room Murder Read online

  “Yes, and I’m back now,” Princewill Jackson replied. “Can you let him know that he has visitors?”

  The nurse looked around her desk, then slid a register over to them, and said, “Please, sign in here, both of you. You’ll see Doctor Jolayomi when he arrives.”

  “Doctor Jolayomi?” Inspector Osbourne spat. “What about Doctor Umanze?”

  “He isn’t here.”

  The inspector glanced at Princewill Jackson, then turned back to the nurse, and asked, “He’s not working tonight?”

  “He was supposed to, and he was here earlier, but he left about thirty minutes ago.”

  “Why?”

  “He wasn’t feeling too well. He asked me to call a replacement doctor, that is, Doctor Jolayomi, who will be here soon. So you can wait for him if you really want to see a doctor.”

  “Fine. We don’t want to see one,” Inspector Osbourne replied. “We just need to ask a few questions.”

  The nurse narrowed her eyes as if she didn’t understand what the inspector had said. “Ask who?”

  “You.” The inspector smiled. “If you don’t mind.”

  “Okay, no problem.” The nurse shrugged and flashed a smile as well. “What do you want to know?”

  “I want to know if Doctor Umanze saw any patients before he left.”

  The question took the nurse by surprise. She frowned and tilted her head backwards in response.

  “Did he?” Inspector Osbourne asked, ignoring her reaction.

  “I’m sorry, sir. When you said you wanted to ask a few questions, I thought they would be medical-related, or you wanted to confirm the availability of certain doctors, or maybe the opening and closing hours of the hospital. But asking me if Doctor Umanze saw any patients before he left is not appropriate. Therefore, I can’t answer the question.”

  Both inspector Osbourne and Princewill Jackson stared at her. It took them a few seconds each to recover from her response, which they translated to be an outburst.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t introduce myself when I walked in,” Inspector Osbourne said, then flashed his badge. “I’m an inspector with the Nigerian Police Force.”

  The nurse looked at his badge, unsure of what he expected her to do with the information, then looked back at his face.

  “This can go two ways,” the inspector stated. “It’s either you answer here and now, or you follow us back to the police station to answer.”

  The nurse jerked slightly at the mention of that and alternated between both men’s faces to check if they were serious or joking. They looked dead serious. She contemplated releasing the information, then concluded that it was just a harmless piece of information, which was not going to affect anyone since it wasn’t about a patient in particular.

  “Yes,” she said, as she steadied her gaze at the inspector. “Doctor Umanze saw a couple of patients when he arrived.”

  Inspector Osbourne nodded a few times. They were getting somewhere. He pressed further, “What about a woman named Desola Ogunba? Did he see her?”

  The nurse suddenly got worried and scrunched her face. “Inspector, please, I can’t give you any specific information on our patients.”

  “I don’t need any specific information on her, for now, I just need to know if she was here and if she saw Doctor Umanze. Then, I would know what else I might need to know about her specifically.”

  The nurse wasn’t convinced or moved. She was still worried that she would get into trouble with the hospital. Police investigator or not, she wasn’t willing to say any other thing. She shook her head. “As I said, I can’t give out a—”

  “We are investigating the death of Doctor Umanze’s wife, which I’m sure you are aware of,” the inspector interrupted her, not minding that he spoke loudly. “And we have reason to believe that one of his patients might know something. So please, we ask you to help us out.”

  There was sudden sharp silence in the hospital as if the place wasn’t quiet enough already. The few patients who waited turned towards the reception to see what was going to happen next, making it obvious that they had been listening to the conversation. The trio was better entertainment than the muted TV.

  Without saying anything, the nurse rolled towards another desk that had a desktop set up on it. She punched in a password, then began searching through.

  After a short moment, she called, “Inspector.”

  The inspector and Princewill Jackson walked up to her and leaned over the counter.

  “Desola Ogunba wasn’t one of the patients who saw the doctor today,” the nurse whispered, then paused to look at the inspector. “Do you think she might have had something to do with Mrs. Umanze’s death?”

  Inspector Osbourne ignored the nurse’s question and asked his. “When last did Desola Ogunba visit this hospital?”

  The nurse scrolled through and clicked at intervals, then replied, “About two years ago.”

  “Two years ago?” Inspector Osbourne repeated in utter confusion. He glanced at Princewill Jackson, who was also as confused as he was, then turned back to the nurse, and uttered, “It doesn’t make any sense.”

  Princewill Jackson’s phone rang at the instant. He pulled it out and saw the caller’s name, then raised a finger and excused himself.

  “That’s the information I have here,” the nurse retorted.

  Inspector Osbourne continued, “When was the first time she came to the hospital?”

  “Three years ago.”

  “So she was a patient for only a year?” Inspector Osbourne scoffed, then shook his head in disbelief. Something didn’t add up. He rubbed his chin, then added, “What was her purpose here?”

  The nurse sighed. She knew she was breaking hospital policy, but she couldn’t refuse the police inspector. “She had fertility issues. She had been married for two years and couldn’t have a child, so she came with her husband and they saw Doctor Umanze. He put them on a programme for some time and when it wasn’t fruitful, they stopped coming. First the husband, then her.”

  Inspector Osbourne rubbed his head. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing; the doctor actually knew Kamar Ogunba, which could change the course of the investigation. He got out his notepad and wrote Doctor knows male victim from way back, then closed it and looked up at the nurse, unable to hide his anxiety.

  “And you are sure Desola Ogunba hasn’t come in here since that time?” the inspector asked.

  The nurse observed Inspector Osbourne. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “Don’t worry about me.” Inspector Osbourne waved his hand dismissively. “Just answer the question.”

  “Okay. I wasn’t working here then, but according to the records, I’m very sure she hasn’t.” The nurse glanced at the system again, then back at the inspector. “Our records are accurate.”

  “Can you give me a list of everyone Doctor Umanze saw this evening before he left?”

  The nurse hesitated. “Inspector, I—”

  “Don’t worry,” he cut in. This time more sensitive to her concern, he added, “No one would ever know that you gave it to me or that you told me anything here today.”

  The nurse smiled, nodded, then clicked about five times. The printer beside her buzzed and rumbled mildly, then produced the list, which she gave to the inspector. She looked at the patients in the waiting room, and they all turned their focus back to the TV screen at once. Satisfied that they were no longer noticeably prying, the nurse turned back to Inspector Osbourne, and whispered, “Is there any other thing you need?”

  Inspector Osbourne did not hear her at all. If there was any tone lower than a whisper, that was what she had used. He pushed himself further over the counter and turned his ear slightly to her, but still looking at her face.

  “Do you need anything else?” she mouthed, and the inspector read her lips and understood.

  “No, thank you,” he replied, as he eyed the list that had only seven names. There was no ‘Desola Ogunba’ on it. He looked up, and said, “Yo
u’ve been extremely helpful.”

  The nurse smiled and was relieved as she watched the inspector leave. For a minute there, or rather, the whole time, she thought she was being interrogated, not just being helpful.

  Inspector Osbourne got outside and met Princewill Jackson standing by the car and looking up to the skies. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “I hope,” Princewill Jackson replied. “I need to get back home.”

  “Lovers’ quarrel?”

  “I wouldn’t say a quarrel, but rather a desperate need to see one’s lover again.” Princewill Jackson corked his head to the side. “What about you? It looks like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

  “More like I’ve just heard a ghost story,” the inspector replied. “Everything the doctor and Desola Ogunba have said has been a lie. I found out that the good old doctor didn’t just know the late Kamar Ogunba, the man was a patient.”

  “What? Kamar Ogunba was a patient here?”

  “Yes, and not just any patient, he was Doctor Umanze’s patient, together with his wife. The couple came to the doctor about three years back for fertility issues, which eventually didn’t work out, so they gave up, then stopped frequenting the hospital. First Kamar, then the wife.”

  Princewill Jackson was speechless for a few seconds. He then nodded to the list in the inspector’s hand, and said, “I’m guessing Desola Ogunba’s name isn’t on that list then, if they still claim that she last came to the hospital two years ago.”

  “You guessed right. She isn’t on the list.”

  “So how are you going to play this out?”

  “I’ll need to speak with the driver for clarification and find out what exactly Saint Paul is, and where he dropped Desola Ogunba off this evening. As for the doctor, if we’re lucky, they’ll be together. I have questions for him too.”

  Princewill Jackson nodded, then the inspector opened the car and they got in.

  “By the way, you can go back home,” the inspector said, as they drove out. “You’ve already helped out a lot. I’ll keep you updated if anything changes.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll pick up my car at the station.”

  ***

  Same Day

  Thursday, 22nd November 2018

  10:40 p.m.

  Inspector Osbourne raced back to the station and hopped out of his car, then parted ways with Princewill Jackson, as he locked the doors. He eyed the parking lot and the space bus hadn’t moved, which meant that the driver was still waiting. He hadn’t called the driver on his way, because he didn’t want the man to get any more worried than he already was, he had only hoped that the man wouldn’t get tired of waiting to collect his books.

  The inspector barged into the station and stormed towards the lobby where Gabriel Makun sat, with his head perched on the wall, having a snooze. Gabriel Makun heard the footsteps thundering in his direction and jolted awake, almost falling over. He looked up and a silhouette towered over him.

  “Your records are inaccurate,” Inspector Osbourne spat.

  The driver rubbed his eyes, saw the inspector clearly, and replied, “My records aren’t inaccurate, sir.”

  “From your book, it says that you have been taking Desola Ogunba to Saint Paul at least twice every week and once, two weeks ago, but when we went to the hospital, they said she hadn’t been there in years. How do you explain that?”

  “Taking who?” the driver asked, clearly confused.

  “Desola Ogunba. The woman you identified on my phone and said that you worked with before.”

  “Oh.” The driver didn’t seem confused any longer.

  Inspector Osbourne raised a brow, and repeated, “Oh?”

  “I didn’t know her name was Desola Ogunba.”

  “What did you think her name was?” The inspector asked. “You worked for her before and you also wrote Madam D in your book.”

  “Yes, but that’s for Madam Daisey. Everyone calls her Daisey, even her husband.” Gabriel Makun looked confused all over again. “And I have never known her surname.”

  The confusion bag seemed to be alternating between the driver and Inspector Osbourne, but the inspector’s confusion only lasted a few seconds. It suddenly made sense to him. A quick recall of the names he had seen on the snapshots from Princewill Jackson revealed the name Daisey on some days. In fact, the list of patients who saw the doctor that he had gotten from the nurse moments ago also had an entry from a certain Daisey.

  “So you took her to Saint Paul this evening,” Inspector Osbourne remarked.

  “Yes sir, I did, before I took her to a guest house.”

  “Espiage or something?” the inspector asked, recalling the word Wilson believed to have heard while going through Desola Ogunba’s call logs.

  “No. Freedom Guest House.”

  “So what is Espiage?”

  “S.P.H.?” Gabriel Makun raised his eyebrows in confusion.

  “Yes, Espiage,” the inspector repeated. “Where is that?”

  “It’s the same Saint Paul Hospital we are talking about.” The driver still looked confused. “That’s how Madam Daisey likes to call it, but I prefer to write it in full in my book.”

  The inspector shook his head at Wilson thinking he had heard Espiage instead of S.P.H. And speaking of S.P.H., obviously with their room in Lagos Star Hotel no longer available, the doctor and Desola Ogunba had to meet at the hospital first to pick another location.

  “Why wasn’t that in your book?” the inspector queried, remembering he wanted to ask the driver that from before. “Both the visit to the hospital and the guest house.”

  “Because I usually record the details when I’m done with the client for the day, and also, Madam D’s visit to the guest house wasn’t planned. She went into the hospital and came out before I could reverse, park, and rest my legs, then directed me to the guest house.”

  “Do you know what she did at the hospital or what she normally does there each time?”

  “No, sir. But she doesn’t waste time there. Today was the fastest.”

  “Okay. What of at the guest house and every other place you take her to? Do you know what she does there or if she meets anyone?”

  “No, sir. She just calls, and I render my service. I don’t ask any questions because it’s not my business. I drop her off and she calls me when she wants me to come and pick her up. For instance, she called me about fifteen minutes ago to come and pick her up that she was done, but I was waiting for you so that I can collect my books.”

  Inspector Osbourne widened his eyes in surprise. “What did you tell her?”

  “I told her that I was with another client and I wasn’t sure when I would be done. I asked if she wanted to wait for me and she said yes.”

  Inspector Osbourne was relieved and impressed at the same time. “Good job,” he said. “Now call her and tell her that you’re available, then confirm that she’s still at the guest house where you dropped her.”

  Gabriel Makun pulled out his phone from his pocket and stepped aside to make the call. The inspector didn’t listen to the call, because he didn’t need to, he just watched the man’s mouth move. The call didn’t take up to a minute, and the man hung up and replaced the phone as fast as he had pulled it out.

  “Is it done?” Inspector Osbourne asked.

  “Yes, sir.” Gabriel Makun nodded. “She is still there. She said she will wait for me.”

  “Good.”

  “So should I go and pick her up now or later?”

  The inspector gave the driver a look that meant to ask if he hadn’t been following what had been going on. The driver immediately understood and lowered his head.

  “You can go back home,” the inspector said, as he made to leave. “It’s late.”

  “What about my books?” the driver asked, as he looked up, but the inspector had already started moving. The driver hurried behind him, almost falling over.

  “I’m holding on to them for now.” The inspector didn’t look back. “Good n
ight.”

  ***

  Same Day

  Thursday, 22nd November 2018

  11:15 p.m.

  Desola Ogunba lay on the couch with her feet crossed on the armrest. She browsed through her phone not looking for anything in particular when she heard a knock at the door. She got up immediately, went to the dressing table to look at herself in the mirror before she carried her handbag, and went to get the door. She smiled as she opened it, but as soon as she saw Inspector Osbourne’s face, the expression transformed to a scowl.

  “What are you doing here?” she barked, although she was surprised. She looked around and didn’t see anyone else.

  “I’m sorry, Gabriel couldn’t make it, but I’ll be replacing him,” Inspector Osbourne replied. He stretched his neck over her shoulder, looking both sides.

  “What are you doing?” she asked. “Are you looking for something?”

  “Just checking if I interrupted something.”

  “I’m here alone,” she retorted.

  “I also wonder why a woman who is mourning her husband comes to a guest house at night.”

  Desola Ogunba was tempted to respond to his comment, but she didn’t. Instead, she asked, “What do you want?”

  “You need to come back with me to the station to answer a few more questions.”

  “What questions this time? It seems as if I’m the only one you’re investigating for the death of my husband. Don’t you have any real suspects?”

  “I guess we’re about to find out.” Inspector Osbourne smiled and took her away.

  Chapter Six: Daisey

  Same Day

  Thursday, 22nd November 2018

  11:55 p.m.

  Inspector Osbourne got to the station about forty minutes later, then took Desola Ogunba to an interrogation room. It was late, and he had been working the whole day, so the earlier he finished with the case for the day, the better for him. Without wasting time, he began questioning her.