The Spinning

Chapter 6: Knowing Inspector Tobi

It's Saturday morning, about 10:00 a.m. The second day of my arrest. I didn't see the clock, but I guessed through the harshness of the young sun. The silence of the moment twisted in lungs even now. It's almost a graveyard in here. I wonder if there are other prisoners in here because I haven't set my eyes on anyone else. It's only me. If there are no prisoners, what's the point of being a police? It was a horrible idea they had to take, leaving me here like an orphan. I couldn't help but to pain a picture of Uncle Abioye tying knots with his wife today. He is the last born in my mother's extended family. Not the same mum as my mum's mum, but they're pretty close.

I had imagined taking pictures with them, but I will get to the snapshots and posts once mum comes back. She has spent a lot to support her younger brother's wedding. It's a shame I had to waste it by making her buy all the stuff for me, but it's no total waste. I will wear them once I'm out of here. A smile ripped out of my lips, thinking about that. A ramble in my stomach and the smile died. I couldn't help but imagine how impeded my family members hat been. Even mummy Jessi didn't show up. If not for the two wraps of bean pies 'Ekute' my mother snuck and gave me last night? I might have saved to death already.

I watched the police officers rotate from night to day as they changed post. A strange man with thick skin and bushy hair was in charge this morning. He unlocked the sealed bars, and I willingly stepped out. He pushed me behind, reminding me I wasn't in my father's house where I can walk at free will. The officer hurled me into the Interrogation room and I met the inspector already seated.

"Here she is, inspector Tobi." the officer said, and I realized that was his name.

"You can go." He waded at the officer and the man chested out and made a salute before matching out. I wasn't sure if he stepped out, but he was away from where we were.

Inspector Tobi sat at the table with a bottle of water in front of him. Joining him in the seat, the room was slightly dimmed. Not as dark as it was last night. It wasn't as wide as I'd imagined. The room was a well with only the wooden table and chairs in it. And of course, the dull lamp hung above the wooden table.

"You can't greet?" He started.

Without uttering a word, my eyes rolled inwards at him in annoyance.

"I see you've lost your tongue." The inspector pulled if out the wooden chair where he sat, rose to his feet and took a step further. He settled, leaning against the table right in front of me. I clenched my Jaws with steady eyes focused on nothingness. He nodded as if he already had plans for me and I had no clue. In a blink of an eye, he brought out his clean gun and signaled it to me threateningly. My poor heart raced. It was short, sleek, black and deadly. I wonder how often he uses it, if he'd ever used it on someone before. On someone like me. I don't know how to use a gun. In fact, I have never seen a gun this close, only in movies. And I knew that with his frequent intimidation, it might be possible for him to purposely or accidentally pull the trigger...

And what he's aiming for is my heart.

I gazed up into his face for a hint of empathy or indulgence and I knew I was at his mercy. Without my mother, I had nothing. I was.... Nothing. His deep set of eyes grew darker and harder as they stared at me. Inspector Tobi's high cheekbones raised as he smirked. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through his devilish mind.

As I watched him closely, my eyes caught a toothpick hanging in the corner of his flat, oily mouth. He must have already taken his breakfast.

"Well, well, well. Look at who we have here. The savage little Jakande. How do you love your cell?"

For a minute, I just stared at him, surprised at how dumb he sounded. The other officer standing by the doorway cracked up a throaty laugh and my heart heated to its boiling point. I swallowed cold spits to cool down my nerves. "I know I will leave here in a couple of days, but what was funny?" I wondered.