THE SMITH 3 (No keys driven)

 

“sorry for your loss fa, an officer will attend to you shortly ” “thank you sir ” An attendant told him and then he showed gratitude.

A slender middle aged man with dark shades came in through the exit door, a door behind the Two mini room building, with a kettle in his hand. 

He was neatly dressed, one could hardly tell where he was coming from but with the kettle I would say, he was returning from a toilet trip.

“I’m officer Garba, I was told, you have a complaint ” the officer said pulling a chair to seat.

 I' m all ears. Nnalok couldn't restrain tear drops from his eyes at the point. “they are long gone! My wife and child ” He said sobbingly.

 “hmm, How sir?” 

“We unavoidably got deep into a pothole. And then I stepped out of the car to check the tyres before we proceed, to prevent any eventualities in our journey through, to Abuja. So I got down to check them; the rear tyres.

In the process of doing that, my car set to motion and within seconds it sped off, with my wife and child inside ” 

“where and when did the incident happen?”

 “Few kilometers before Kateri, about four hours ago"

 The officer sat back on his spinning seat, a chair that had it's cover cloth completely torn, exposing it's deep yellow foam. The foam were chuckled probably rats and his concubines had their toll on it.

He looked at him intently trying to make a picture of his description. He was also trying to assess the situation, checking for the possibilities of having nobody drive a parked car. Except 'village people' how can nobody drive a car?

 “Did you notice any vehicle following you behind?”

Nnalok nodded his head negatively “Not really sir ”

 "not really?" I mean No! Sir

"Was any vehicle parked along side yours?" 

"The place was clear sir"

“Did anyone try to attack you, after the incident?” “No”

 “You mean the scene was clear before and after the -  “Yes sir, it was!! (The officer sighed deeply) but Nnalok continued.

 and sir, my keys are right here with me. I didn't leave them in the car!"

 More confused now, the officer spoke in a high tone clouded with frustration,

 “Then how can it be that your vehicle was driven, with your car keys in your hands!!?” 

“I don’t know officer!!! I don’t know, I can’t explain that either "

Eyes that were in doubts and amusement were gazed at Nnalok.

 “What do we do now? I mean how do we assist?”

 “Sir, I need you to have your men search for my wife and child around this vicinity ” 

“what is the description of your car?” “Peugeot 307, Golden color and tinted glasses ” 

Officer Garba wrote on a note sheet as Nnalok gave his car description.

“Let us have her photo ” “I don’t have it here ” 

“so, what do we do???” “sir, I could search for her profile via Facebook. I have nothing with me." 

“It’s going to be fine, just pray we find them ” Officer Garba encouraged but he was rather giving a false hope.

Alone in Officer Garba’s office, his eyes were fixed on the A4 sheet placed before him to make his statement, he was lost in thoughts, reminiscing how the day had started and how it all led to the ‘The Costly Check '