CH5: AS EXPECTED OF MY SON

This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.

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CH5: AS EXPECTED OF MY SON

Korede Balogun pointed to a particular piece of information on the Laptop screen.

"It says here that Mr. Ayobami Ifelodun was a non-relative bone marrow donor for a patient that had lymphatic leukaemia eight years ago." Korede said

"Ok. So, what does have to do with anything?" Babatunde Balogun asked, not hiding his confusion.

"Genetic Chimera results from introducing a person's DNA into another person. Hence, a transplant, in this case, a bone marrow transplant, can likely create a Genetic Chimera." Korede replied.

A light bulb switched on in Babatunde's head and understood where Korede was going. He said, "So, the recipient of Mr. Ayobami's bone marrow is most likely the assailant."

"Yes, Dad." Korede agreed. "Unfortunately, the person is not mentioned in the medical report."

"Yes, it's to protect individual's information. Mr. Ayobami's information would also not be in the recipient's records. However, the Hospital will keep their records. I will send one of the Agents involved to get the records from the hospital and find the new suspect." Babatunde said.

"Alright, sir." Korede nodded.

Before either of them could say anything else, they heard Shade Balogun's voice from outside the door.

"Korede, how long will it take you to drop a tray. What are you still doing there? Do you want your food to get cold again?"

Korede unconsciously flinched. He had totally forgotten about his mother and the food. He was fully engrossed in the case. Before he could respond though, the door swung open. Shade entered the study to find Babatunde and Korede with teacups and case files in their fronts. She was pissed.

She pointed to Korede, "What are you doing? Won't you eat? Do you want to develop an ulcer or almost starve to death before you eat?" Then she pointed to her husband, "and you. Don't you know my son hasn't eaten? Do you want to starve him to death? Can't you see how thin he is already? Don't you want him to put some meat back on his bones before he goes back?"

Not waiting for anyone's response, she snapped her fingers and made swiping motion with her hands between the Korede and the door. No extra words were needed, Korede stood up and made for the door. Babatunde could only chuckle.

Just as Korede was about to reach the door, he remembered something and turned to his father, "Dad, you never told me why you're interested in the case though. No matter what, it's too much for a D.G to bring such a case home."

Babatunde was silent and clearly hesitating to answer, even his wife who was about to reprimand Korede kept quiet while expecting an answer, he eventually said, "As I said before, the office of D.G is a political one. Among the parents of the victims, one is a party leader in the ruling party, two are house of representative members, one is a minister and the last is a senator. I should also mention that the senator is on the senate committee on defense and security. So, I'm under a lot of political pressure to find the person responsible as quickly as possible. So when the investigating agents were hesitating to charge Mr. Ayobami, I looked into the case and found out about the situation… "

"...then you brought it home, maybe your fresh and experienced wizened eyes can see what a whole unit of seasoned investigators missed." said Shade sarcastically, completely her husband's sentence. "And did you?" she asked folding her arms.

"I did not but Korede may have given me an important clue. So, I was right to bring the case file home." Babatunde replied, trying to defend himself

"Of course, he did. He is my son after all. It's obvious he inherited my superior intelligence" Shade said, not hiding her pride in her son

"Yes, Yes Your Lordship. You are the brains in our union." Babatunde said wryly.

Korede chuckled at his parent's bickering which attracted his mother's attention back to him. Before she could say anything though, he said to his father before hastily making for the kitchen to get his food. "Dad, please keep me informed of how it goes."

Seeing their son almost running away, both Babatunde and Shade smiled. Shade gave her husband a stink eye before walking out of the study.

Babatunde shook his head on his sit. "What does she mean by 'her son', he is my son too. And Starve to death? Thin? How was I to know he hadn't eaten? I have been in the study all day, you were even the one who brought my food. Besides, who starves to death after just missing one meal in the day. And if you call a muscular man like your son 'thin', then all the thin people in the world are broomsticks." He mumbled wryly.

Of course, he would never let his wife hear those words, the ending would not be good for him. Besides, he understood that his wife just missed her son. He was away for four months without any communication from him due to the boot camp's security protocols and he would be leaving tomorrow to officially become a soldier. How can she not be worried?

It was worse when it was Kola's turn back then, after all, she had never had a child go off to battle. Even if she knew it was inevitable, it didn't give her comfort at all. Kola had to make sure he called every time he was not on mission or else, all hell would break loose. Perhaps with experience from Kola's time, it's a little easier now but still how can a parent not worry? Back then, Babatunde lost count of how many times he would wake up and pray to God that Kola survives the day. It was only because he had to show a strong façade for his wife that he was able to learn how to hide his worry. Now, another son is going off to battle again.

"Is this good or bad? Being born a Balogun, is it a blessing or a curse? Why must we put it upon ourselves and our children to protect the country? Why must we act nobly?" Babatunde asked in a whisper but received no response.

The study descended into silence.

After a while, Babatunde took a deep breath and regained his calm. He picked up his phone and made arrangements for agents to follow up on Korede's theory.

Later that Night…

The Baloguns had just finished their dinner when Babatunde received a phone call which he went into his study to receive. A good while later he came back out and asked Korede to sit with him in the parlour.

"That was Emeka. You were right. He just informed me that they were able to arrest the true culprit following your deduction. After they got the hospital's records, they found out that eight years ago, Mr. Ayobami Ifelodun donated his bone marrow to a sixteen-year-old boy named Charles Kuja through a Non-Governmental Organisation interested in connecting patients with potential volunteer donors. They tracked down Mr. Charles, now twenty-four, to a residence in Lagos state where he was arrested. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime after he found out that the man who saved his life back then was being suspected of the crime he committed. Further investigations recovered conclusive evidence such as the gun and ammunition used in the crime, the getaway car among other things. Mr. Ayobami Ifelodun has since been released while Mr. Charles Kuja will be arraigned as early as possible." Babatunde said.

With a smile on his face, he said to his son, "You solved it." Korede merely smiled in response.

After they both calmed down from their elation, Korede asked, "Did Charles say why he did it?"

Babatunde nodded his head, "The victims and Charles all attended the same university, the University of Abuja. Apparently, in their final year, Charles met the female on campus and fell in love with her. After a while, he worked up the courage to ask her out but he was rejected because the girl felt he was not in her league. If that was all, it would have been Ok but she instigated the other four males to make life difficult for Charles. His offence, a low-born like him having the guts to woo a noble like her. Charles managed to struggle and graduate but that was not the end of it. The victims used their families' influence to make sure Charles could not get employment anywhere in Abuja and surrounding states. One company that defiantly employed him was crippled by sanctions from different government agencies until he was eventually fired. He tried to set up a business of his own but that was also blocked. Eventually, he was forced to move to Lagos from Abuja without telling anyone just to get away from them. He joined a private security company and was trained as a bodyguard."

'As I expected' Korede thought.

"He worked as a bodyguard for two years before his company was hired to provide security for the same party the shooting occurred. It was when Charles was inspecting the venue that he met the five victims again. After they ridiculed and embarrassed him in front of everyone present. They went further to force the owner of the security company to fire him. Not wanting to put his employer in a bad spot he resigned, however, that was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Consumed by rage, he planned and carried out the attack."

When his father finished his story, Korede exhaled a long breath. He couldn't help but feel for Charles. Not only did the five 'nobles' ruin his life with their cruelty but they also lost their lives. Unfortunately, the law is clear and he would have to face the consequences of his actions.

Eventually, Korede stood up to leave, "Dad, I have to go to bed now. I will be reporting for duty very early tomorrow"

His father nodded, "Alright, rest well then. Goodnight"

Korede walked towards his room. It was a big day tomorrow. He will finally become a soldier like his big brother.

[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion really matters to me.]