The Sanctuary #10

The news of the death of Beatrice’s kids was expected to reduce the flow of customers to and from the Sanctuary, but the opposite was the case, to the shock and fear of Ngozi.
The customers were so much that the increase in the duties made Ngozi increase the salaries of Calista and Amaka, and put Ire on a stipend to show appreciation for her work.

Each day the crowd was so much, Ngozi literally prayed that no one says anything wrong to provoke the person behind the deaths.
Since the death of Beatrice’s children, she started an investigation of her own, observing the people who trooped in and out of the salon. To her bewilderment, she noticed that none of them came everyday to the salon, and none of them looked so heartless to be killers, not that she expected it to be visible on the face, Lucifer still looked beautiful.
It was on one of those busy days that Ngozi felt eyes on her. Turning and squinting, she noticed James, the police officer looking at her through the glass doors. She watched as he gave a slight smile and walked towards the salon.
“Good afternoon madam,” he greeted her, as he stepped into the salon, nodding his head at the other ladies in the salon.
Ngozi recognized the glances of admiration thrown his way by some ladies, and smiled. Humans will always be humans.
“Good afternoon officer James,” she replied. “I hope there’s no problem?”
“No, none at all. I just decided I should check in, considering the stories I have heard about the ladies sanctuary. Is there a place we could talk privately?”
Nodding her head, Ngozi led him to the other side of the wooden partition which served as her office.
“Please sit,” she invited. “Can I offer you any…”
“No, I’m fine,” James replied after sitting, interrupting her offer of refreshment. “I noticed that you were pained by the death of your customer’s children, but I also noticed something. Guilt. You looked guilty, not guilty enough to be the killer, but guilty enough to feel responsible. I would like to know why you think you are responsible for the death of Beatrice’s children.”
Ngozi battled within herself. Should she tell him? Will he believe her?
“You are obviously gifted in reading expressions,” she commented, in a bid to ask herself questions with the time.
“Yes ma, I believe that is one of the traits a policeman should have”
“Okay James, let me get to the point,” Ngozi said, as she made her decision to be open. “ I’m sure you have heard about the possible relationship between the words of some of my customers, and some tragic happenings. I think it is natural for me to feel guilty because of the possibility that it is true.”
“I disagree. You can only feel guilty if you believe that it is true. So madam, I think there is something you are not telling me, something that can help us get the killer. You will agree with me that he needs to be caught.”
“Why are you sure it is a man doing the killings?” Ngozi asked surprised. She had always felt that the killer is a woman, that was about the only thing she was sure about.
“I don’t know, I just assumed…”
“You need to stop assuming,” Ngozi interrupted. She was beginning to think that James was to help in putting an end to the killings, and she wanted to give him all the support she could. Presently, he was not thinking right. “Use your mind, use your head, think deeply. This is a ladies sanctuary, as many hairdressing salons are. I am ashamed to say it, but it could be true that one of its frequent occupants is a killer. I can’t remember the last time a man stepped in here long enough to listen to the discussions made by women. Besides the day Beatrice complained, there were only women here.”
James nodded. “Okay. I will have to think better and watch before I can form a theory. You might be seeing more of me.”
“That’s alright. I just want this to stop.”
There was an odd silence as James walked out of the salon, all eyes fixed on him. There was a feeling of excitement in the air, but no one could say where it stemmed from. They only knew something was about to happen.

James forfeited taking a bike and walked home. He thought better while working, and today, he needed to think. He walked slowly, and fought the increasing urge to look behind. He felt someone’s eyes on him, and wondered if he was just being paranoid because of the spookiness of his new case. The falling darkness did nothing to help the uneasiness he felt, it actually increased it, bordering on fear.
He let his mind wonder back to his visit of the salon.
He remembered the way each woman sat, some openly admiring him, others curious about his presence, none of them looking like a killer.
Following Ngozi’s theory of the killer being a woman, the killer could have been in the salon. The killer could have heard all he discussed with Ngozi. He remembered how Ngozi had made him feel foolish when she insinuated that he was not thinking properly, and needed to do more, even though she didn’t tell him what she knew. He was sure she knew something.
He had taken her advice and had gotten permission to pursue the case from his superior who had seemed hopeful that he solved the case. It would help the name of the police force in general, and his division in particular.
James planned to begin his investigation as soon as possible, hopefully tomorrow.
He exhaled a sigh of relief when he saw his apartment building, hopefully he will stop feeling he was been watched when he entered his apartment.
After closing the door on the outside world, he leaned on it, releasing his breath which he held while taking the last steps into his home. He expected something, anything to serve as resistance to him solving the new case.
He had just walked away from the door, to decide what would be for dinner, when a knock sounded on the door, sending a shiver through him, and giving him goosebumps.
“Who’s there?” he asked.
Nothing, just a piece of folded paper shoved under his door.
He knew before opening it, who the sender was.
The killer had followed him home.
For the second time in that day, James felt like a fool.

#1: https://mspsteem.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-1

#2: https://mspsteem.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-2

#3: https://mspsteem.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-3

#4: https://mspsteem.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-4

#5: https://mspsteem.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-5

#6: https://mspsteem.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-6-ccd98a1505083

#7: https://steemit.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-7-d8a4b886d85ea

#8: https://steemit.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-8

#9: https://steemit.com/fiction/@djoi/the-sanctuary-9