I gulped down the rest of my coffee and placed the cup on the edge of my table that kept growing in content.

"Let's go over the last two, one more time."I told Charles.

We had been going through the recordings of the interrogation for the past hour, mostly for his benefit but partly to give me clarity. He nodded and played Sade's record.

"State your name for the record." My voice sounded funny on tape but Charles had assured me it was commanding enough.

"Sade coker."

"Occupation?"

"I am a nurse at the University of Calabar teaching hospital."

With an occupation like hers I had wondered why she still lived with her family but I guess it was pointless paying for an accommodation when there were more than enough rooms in her father's house. Plus the advantage of the company of family, except it wasn't as convenient anymore.

"When did you leave work on the 24th of July?"

"My morning shift ended at 2pm and I was home before 3."

"Can you recount the events of that evening to me?"

"Sure. Everyone was home when I got in except mom. She got in around 5pm looking exhausted, she said she had made a huge sale at the shop for the asoebi of the daughter of some man in a big government position. I served her food, some painkillers and gave her a foot rub before she retired to her room to rest, I didn't see her until the next morning." She sighed.

"I understand Tamara wasn't home until late that night."

"Yes, she had been home when I got back and I didn't realize she had stepped out until when I wanted locking up. I called her severally, she picked up once and told me not to bother her so I decided to wait up for her as I always do but I was tired, I had lost a patient at the hospital, a pregnant lady so I retired to my room."

"I was up the next morning and getting ready to shower when I heard Vera's cry. I ran to my mom's room and turned on the light and.. And.. "

I remembered watching her stare at the space behind me as her eyes welled up.

"What did you see, Sade?"

"What nobody in the medical line wants to see, their own family, helpless. Someone killed my mother inside her room in our house because I left the door open to them and I will never forgive myself for that but what are you doing to help? Labeling me and my sisters criminals? Why would we want to kill our mother?"

The look in her eyes had been hard as tears streamed out of them.

"I don't know Sade but one of you might."There was a long pause before the click at the end of the tape.

I looked to my partner but his eyes were focused on the recording device and I could see the wheels turning in his head.
Wordlessly, he played the next record.

"Just to be clear, is it legal for you to be carrying out these interrogations without legal supervision?"

"You can call your lawyer if you feel you need one but I'm just asking you questions."

"We are literally locked in here." Funmi had countered from her wheelchair, unwavering eyes fixed on me.

"We are only trying to contain the situation, if word gets out, this case is going to be contaminated."

"Haven't you seen the news? My mother's picture is making rounds on every android phone in town."

I hadn't seen the news then but Charles filled me in when he got here. The rumours were ridiculous; celebrity wife butchered, bastard Beverly kids now orphaned, ritualist businesswoman catches up with nemesis.

No publishing house would print something like that without unquestionable sources but the bloggers were no respecters of boundaries.

"The department is doing its best to shield you girls from the public's viciousness and in cases like this, everyone with access to the murder site gets called in for questioning. Would you honestly prefer the station to the comfort of your own home?"

Her laughter was dry and sudden.

"Comfort."She snorted.

"State your name for the record."

"Funmi Coker, speaking."

"Miss Coker, where were you on the 24th of July?"

"Here, at home."

"All day?"  She had looked at me like I was stupid.

"I don't exactly go mountain climbing with these wheels."

"Right, you are running an online programme in the open university."

"Retentive memory, that should serve you well."

"If you were home all day then you should be able to tell me more."

"Unfortunately, I can't seeing as I do not monitor the entire house from my room. The security might have been of help if he were around."

"Security?"

"Yes, Sammy. Mom granted him permission to go be with his sick wife."

"What was his relationship with your mother like?"

"They were like old friends, Sammy has been working here longer than any of us had lived."

Charles had taken the liberty to track down Sammy which wasn't necessary, the man had heard of his boss' demise and already had his bags packed and set to return tomorrow.

"Okay Funmi, you can at least tell me what happened that day."

She sighed heavily.

"Everything was the same, they all left when they usually do, except Mara, she said she had a lecture-free day, she has those for most part of the semester."

I didn't miss the shade, even on tape, it was still as clear.

"I spent most part of the day in my room doing school work, I got out around the time Vera got back from school and we watched TV for a while. Mom walked in around 5pm, she looked really tired, Sade served her food and promised her a cup of tea after her nap. I left to my room where I idled until I fell asleep and woke to Sade's screams, you know the rest."

"I'd appreciate it if you gave me your own account."

"The lights were on and I couldn't move past the door. No crime book or documentary could have prepared me for that."

Her voice had taken a monotone, I couldn't tell if she had pulled her walls down or stacked them higher.

"Sade was weeping uncontrollably but at least she still had the presence of mind to shield Vera from that terrible sight. It's one thing to lose a mother at such age but so brutally? I have no idea how we'll ever be able to explain to her that our mom was murdered in our home? That the place she considers a palace isn't as safe as she thinks."

I was at a loss of things to say to her so I stayed quiet until she pulled herself together.

"Do you have any leads inspector?"

"They are a team of officers out there searching for any wrinkle in your mom's business and social life."

"I see."

"Do you suspect anyone Funmi?"

She snorted.

"I'm not ruling my sisters out, I've lived with them long enough to tell you that you can never be sure with them."

"Why do you suspect them?"

"Everyone has skeletons detective, it's your job to dig em up."

The record ended.

Charles leaned back on the chair and stretched.

"So?"

"I don't know Kay, every story adds up."

"I know but did you notice anything sticking out?"

"Aside that they are all spoilt and bitchy and sufficiently bereaved? No."

I rose from the chair and dumped myself on the bed for the first time.

"You know what? Send the records in your phone to me and I'll have another go at it later."

"How do you know I have it on my phone?" I supported my body weight with my elbows.

"You always have backup Kaima and backup for backup."

"For your mind now you know me."

"I'm your daddy, baby." He winked.

"Ew. How'd it go with the ME?"

"He wasn't on seat, the junior workers say he went for some conference and they won't do anything until he gets back."

"When will that be?"

"Three days."

"So that is till next week."

"Na de tin be dat." He shrugged.

I liked his pidgin, his English was flawless so I was always amazed at how authentic his pidgin was, with the local undertone and how smoothly he alternated them.

He stood up and walked to me.

"Kaima, I know it feels like we ain't making any progress at the moment but please don't overwork yourself, this is just day one. Get some sleep, I don't want to come here tomorrow and find you looking like a ghoul."

"Uhh Jims, you learnt a new word, I was wondering where this whole advice shit was going."

He forced on a frown.

"I'm serious Kay, no working overnight."

"You want a pinky promise or a signed contract?"

He shook his head because he knew that they'd be no sleep for me until I had something to go on with.

*************************************
Hi.
Now that you've met all the Coker girls, do you think any of them did it?
Who?
And why?