Sister-in-Campus 25
Madam Gladys drove silently as towards Milimani where Hudson stayed with his family. She didn’t need to ask for instructions on where exactly was the place because she simply spotted a crowd on the road where she stopped and saw a police line way ahead. The building was exactly had been described to her on phone by someone who informed her about it.
“Welcome Madam Gladys” someone said as she stepped out of her car. A number of cars were lined up ahead of where she packed hers along the road. She turned to see who had greeted her.
“Thank you Inspector Stima” She said as they shook hands.
“Here we meet again Madam” Stima said smiling though Madam did not see the need to smile.
They walked side by side as they approached the apartment now surrounded by a police line tape ‘Do not cross, Police Line’. A few neigbours were watching from their floors what was taking place at the first floor door where Madam Gladys could see was Hudson’s house. Just as she was about she heard someone let out a sharp cry from the far end of the ground floor. She stopped to look.
“That is the mother of the late, let’s go up first” Stima said to her but she appeared to her been touched by the sight of the woman now confined to a corner.
“Let me see her first before I can join you there.” Madam Gladys said as she moved towards the mourning lady. Stima nodded as he moved up the stairs to let her to see Hudson’s mother surrounded by other women whom she believed were neighbours and relatives. She greeted them except for Hudson’s mother who looked like she didn’t notice her at all. Apparently no one seemed to be interested to talk to her so she left them and proceeded upstairs to the house of the late.
“No one there seems interested to talk to me”, Madam Gladys said as she entered the house which now looked very disoriented with the investigation work that was going on there.
“Leave them to mourn in peace Stima said as he came towards the door. A few other officers in civilian were busy some taking notes as others made calls.
“What have you guys got so far because I have controversial reports where some are claiming he committed suicide and others that his wife killed him?” she asked.
“Actually we are still trying to crack the same paradox that you have mentioned” Stima said as he scratched his head.
“So where is she?” she asked.
“She is in the station where she is being prepared for trial tomorrow among other things that are required for a suspect.
“Excuse me sir who is she?” one officer asked as he moved towards them.
“She is a dean of students where the late graduated from six years ago.” Stima replied to him.
“You know it is not right to keep civilians in a crime scene” the officer said firmly.
“I know but she knew the late personally and also houses a lady that was with the late before the accident that put him in the hospital” Stima went on.
“But that still does not guarantee her to stay here where we are busy carrying an investigation, can’t she wait outside.”
Madam Gladys felt she was not supposed to be there despite having Stima backing her presence there. The time was 8:30am when she looked at the screen of her phone. She started to move outwards much to Stima’s disappointment. Stima nodded when she looked at him for approval to leave the room. Once on the floor she began to move towards her car. A lot of things were not adding up yet concerning the murder of Hudson.
“Excuse madam” a woman called out to her and she turned to see the old woman who was crying not walking towards her.
“You must be his mother” she asked the woman approached her.
“Yes I am, and you?” the woman responded.
“I am Madam Gladys the dean of students at the Kisii University where your son graduated from.” Madam Gladys responded. The two women hugged each other for a while as Hudson’s mother broke into another wailing but this time quietly. Madam Gladys lead her to some stone nearby to sit and she held her and rubbed her back as she tried to comfort her. She wanted to ask her a number of questions that she really needed a number of answers on but she realized she had to be patient with them.
“Please stop crying and tell me why you called me?” she asked her.
“Am sorry Gladys for ignoring you back there when you came to where we at the corner” Hudson’s mother started to apologize to her.
“It is okay, I understood you are in pain for the loss of your son. Just tell me something you feel I need to know” Madam went on.
“Ever since I arrived here yesterday afternoon I have not eaten anything decent and also the neighbours here are more of spectators I have not had anyone to talk to” Hudson’s mother narrated to her sadly.
“And where are the children of the late?” she asked her.
“Am sorry I don’t know” Hudson’s mother said. Madam Gladys took out her phone and texted Stima, “Please come over outside here.”
“Where are the children of Hudson?” Madam asked Stima when he came to where they were sitted outside.
“They were taken by a woman who said was their best lady at their wedding” Stima replied.
“Where does she stay so I can their grandma there? Do you happen her number please?” she asked him taking her phone from her pocket.
“She stays at Jogoo, you can get her from the number on this card.” Stima said as he gave her a card with a number on it. “That would be very kind of you to take this mama from here to where she can get some decent treatment. Meanwhile tell the young lady at your house that some of my officers are coming for her.”
“Why and she was not with him when it occurred?” She asked sharply.
“We need her to record a statement with us on what she knows about the late so that we can close in on the suspect to the murder of this guy.” Stima replied.
“But she is funny one I hope your men won’t scare the facts out her. You know what she went through when she got raped.”
“It’s okay our officers are human too besides the police is no longer a force but a service according to the latest police reforms” Stima explained. “You too should be prepared tonight to come and record your statement too. In fact it would be good to come with her when I call you.”
“Thanks for the info inspector” she said as she stood up from where she had been sited. Hudson’s mother requested to go to her corner and pick her belongings before joining her outside the compound. A number of reporters and paparazzi stood there ready to ask them a lot of questions. Madam Gladys just passed them like wind and got into her car. But she was forced to go back to get Mama Hudson’s mother who was now unable to move an inch because the reporters had surrounded her completely.
“Excuse me media, kindly leave this hungry woman alone.” She told them as she forced her way to where she stood with hands around her head. Some strong hands started to prevent her from getting to shaken Hudson’s mother.
“Then answer a few question about this incident” said one reporter.
“Be kind to tell us what you know about it” added another.
“Why not wait to get the information from the police inside there. I can’t say what I don’t know” she told them as moved away from them pulling the old lady towards her car.
“You know we get paid from this work of reporting” she heard another desperate voice from elsewhere. She felt angered to find some obstructing her from getting to her car. The next thing she did made some ladies nearby scream. She picked a stone and threatened to hurl at the stubborn reporters.
“No no! Madam you don’t want to be in the one o’clock news doing that” someone said.
“Then let us leave in peace” she demanded.
Just then Stima appeared and ordered them reporters to leave madam alone because they won’t get what they want from her but from him. They all rushed and engulfed him with their cameras and microphone.
“You really know how to deal with them” Hudson’s mother said when they were out of the place.
“They are very stubborn and uncaring” Madam Gladys responded.
Just then her phone was calling, she picked up the call:
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Madam: What is it Joyce?
Joyce: I have just seen your text that I am to record a statement at the police station, I don’t like the idea.
Madam: Yeah just prepare I am coming over to the house this afternoon to pick you.
Joyce: But madam I have never done it before.
Madam: Don’t worry, I am also going record mine too so we shall do it together.
Joyce: Thank you madam.
Madam: Is there anything else?
Joyce: Maybe I will tell you when you come.
Madam: What is it?
Joyce: It is about Stacia, she is cyring.
Madam: What about her?
Joyce: She …
Madam: Hallo! Hallo!
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She took out the phone from the ear and the call had been dropped. She tried to call back someone was calling her. It was the lady of the house where they were headed. They talked shortly because the car was just branching off Jogoo road. They were almost there.
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