MY WEDDING NIGHT

EPISODE 3 Continued.......

I was brought back to the present situation when I felt a hand on my shoulder ;
It was as if they were all waiting for such news... I couldn't believe I was married only for one night...
I really can't write how hurt &empty I was that fateful morning. I can't describe how devastated I was nor how my heart bled. I was
totally broken & dead. I couldn't even call my brother to tell him the bad situation I found myself. In fact, my soul & my spirit ran away from me. I was just a shadow of myself. The devil just took time to urinate on my destiny.
Damian's mother never bothered nor cared about my feelings, instead pulled out the knife from her son's body when my cries brought her to the room & almost stabbed me with fury, screaming some incoherent words, until other members of the family came in & held her.
"I said it; nothing good ever comes out of Africa. She stabbed him, she probably did it in her sleep, or maybe it's witchcraft. God save my soul" the old woman screamed & cried.
I simply sat beside the bed & cried out my heart. I was just like a cornered rat. I was simply in the midst of foreigners. In the midst of people who saw me as a second-class animal or probably a gold digger.
None of them spoke to me nor asked how it all happened.
I barely had changed my nightwear when an ambulance arrived with men from the force
headquarters. Before I knew what was happening, I found myself at the back of a police SUV while the perpetrator of the crime walked
freely, probably watching the unfolding events from a safe distance.
Another problem I had was that I didn't know who to suspect nor accuse. They all looked the
same to me. They were all a bunch of conspirators
I felt like taking my life as the police took me away because there wasn't any need living
again. I knew the justice system would easily convict & close the case than investigating.
"Who am I among a bunch of whites all accusing me of murder?''. I had nothing to prove my innocence. I was the only person in the room with Damian. The murder weapon which might
have saved me through fingerprint test was already compromised by Damian's mum.
My life was nothing but over. Kiri Kiri prison awaited me with a dark smile. How do I save myself? how do I prove my innocence?
As soon as I got to the police station, I called my elder brother who couldn't believe all I told him.
"hold on tight my dear. I'll be there shortly" he assured me.
I was quickly led to an office where I was asked to write a statement, which I nervously did while Damian's two cousins who came along with me kept talking to each other. After writing all I knew on the notebook, a female officer showed up to question me. I tried my best to convince her.
"just look at me. How possible do you think a Nigerian girl would murder a husband taking her
out of the country to celebrate their marriage?. I didn't do it. One of them did. You got to help
me" I begged. She shrugged & shook her head.
"of course I believe you. You have no reason to kill him but you see I'm just an ordinary officer taking orders from my superiors, anyway I believe my boss. S.P Jeremiah will know how to handle your case. He's a good man & a crime expert" she assured me.
My brother showed up minutes later with his Lawyer who quickly took over my case. I told them all I knew & the events that happened after I discovered the dead body. My brother was totally shocked. "don't worry my dear. I know this is going to be a tough case. I smell the American Embassy getting involved but be rest assured that I will go any length to prove your innocence, even if it means getting experts from abroad. I have friends who can examine the case & get results" he promised seriously. I breathed deeply & hugged him, thanking God for giving me a wealthy & intelligent brother.
Officer Jeremiah soon showed up at his office & requested for our presence. Damian's cousins officially accused me before him, asking that I should be detained but my brother's lawyer intervened quickly.
"officer I hope you know everyone that passed the night in that house is a suspect?. They all
had access to the bedroom, anyone of them could have committed the crime. If you guys are going to detain my client without proper evidence & reason. You equally should detain all the
people present that night, else I will be the person to file a lawsuit against the police, after all, none of them can come forward to testify
seeing my client murder her husband" the lawyer threatened, putting the officer in a tight position.
"fine I'm not going to detain her, but you will have to sign a document which places her in
your custody. This is a murder case" the officer said strongly, while my brother's lawyer nodded
in acceptance, Damian's cousins protested.
The document was signed in no time & I was free to go.
"We are also getting a court permit which will enable us to get our own team of investigators &
go through the case. We are not going to take any chances" my lawyer said to the officer who
shrugged & smiled.
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