The Red Briefcase

Chapter 4

“The President ordered us to free Johnson and that’s why we intercepted you from going to court.” said a state guard lading the team.

“Okay, before we can do so, give us a second to contact the Chief Police Officer,” said the police driver.

“Alright.”

Chief Maba’s office line was reached immediately.

“Hello, Chief Maba, we are stopped by the state guard securities who have been ordered by the President to release Johnson.”

“Yes, the Vice President just told me about it. Let him free now and please, go to the high court and tell the Judges that this case has been nullified.”

Johnson was taken off the vehicle by the state guard securities and driven to his home in Bakoteh. He looked very scared before President Ali Benzouda came to his rescue, but was cocksure that the cuffs were not going to spend much time on his hands. What worried him were the high media attention and the obstinate Detective who would not fear going against the orders of the head of state.

Just few minutes after the release of Johnson, Detective Manga was notified about it. He quickly took his cell phone and called Chief Maba.

“Hello, Chief Maba, can I get an explanation for Johnson’s release? This is an abuse of the law and—”

“Take it easy, Detective Manga. This is a direct order from President Ali Benzouda and there is nothing I can do.”

“Why did he give you the orders? I still need answers.”

“Come on, I wish I could give you a better explanation. Try and find the reason for Johnson’s release when the President is back from his trip. Trust me; I have nothing to hide from you, Detective.”

“Okay, I’ll call you back later. Please, if you get more info, message me as soon as you can. Bye.”

Minutes later, Detective Manga received a call from his senior Forensic expert, Jim.

“Hello, Detective Manga, I just saw Johnson’s release on the breaking news. Was he not supposed to be in court today?”

“Yes, I was even on my way to court when I got the news. The President ordered the state guards to set him free.”

“Look, your name is at stake here and you certainly need to do something. I don’t want to see you hang your head in shame. If you allow this to fade away easily, your international reputation will bear the brunt of it.”

“I understand what you are saying and yes, you are right. For the Gambia our homeland, we must stand firm and even the President can’t obstruct our objective.”

“I am strongly behind you, Detective. Be rest assured of that and please act now.”

Detective Manga didn’t waste any more time. He dialed the telephone line of the Vice President, Baba. He patiently waited until his call got through the other side.

“Hello, Mr. Vice President, its Detective Manga. Can you remember me?”

“Yes, very well and how’re you?”

“Am not fine and I need to see you urgently. It’s very vital,” he said.

“I know it’s about Johnson’s release. The thing is I am very busy right now. I have so many things to settle on my desk as the acting President.”

Detective Manga got annoyed by that excuse.

“Now, this is what we’ll do. Your must arrange time for us to meet or I’ll go and face the press now and let them know who freed Johnson and how corrupt this government has become.”

The Vice President hung off the call. He knew Johnson had public trust and whatever serious comment he makes about the government will be highly accepted. He thought for a moment. There was no choice, but to calm Detective Manga down. He took his telephone and phoned him quickly.

“Hello, Detective Manga, you can come now and discuss this matter with me. You don’t need to give any uncertain information to the media.”

“No worries, I’ll be in your office in twenty minutes time.”

That was the opportunity which Detective Manga can use to win the support of the Vice President to pressure President Ali Benzouda to move the barrier between Johnson and the law.

When Johnson arrived at the entrance of the Presidential Palace, he didn’t badge the armed security guards because they all knew him very well as the country’s top detective. He was accompanied straight to the Vice President’s office and he got in after a minute waiting.

He closed the door and sat facing the Vice President.

“Detective Manga, why are you trying to complicate everything?” said Baba. “The President knows what he did and why he had to do it. So you don’t need to dig up a matter that has already been buried.”

“You and I know very well that this matter have been buried alive and to do justice, I must dig it up. Now tell me why President Ali Benzouda freed Johnson from all charges that the High Court has prepared?”

“I have no idea, but am sure—”

“I’m beginning to believe that you aren’t doing your job as the vice president because you should know exactly everything that the President does.”

“You’re correct on one hand, but you are completely wrong on the other hand. I will tell you the truth, Detective. Sometimes, I do feel like am not doing my job as it is supposed to be, but believe me I have all the will to sacrifice for our beloved country. You have to understand that the power of the government lies in the hand of the President and I have very little influence like everybody else.”

“I don’t understand why you are telling me all this, but I have a strong feeling that there is something else you want to tell me. I have always served our country with sincerity and absolute devotion and you should not stand and watch me struggle through this challenge I am facing.

Baba deeply felt the truth in his heart and was overpowered by that emotion. He was tired of covering for the President and thought it was time to proof that he is a patriotic Gambian.

“Do you have my cell phone number?” he said.

“Yes, I still have your number.”

“Good. Then let’s meet secretly at the Buffer Zone at exactly 7:00 tomorrow morning. I am going to think about everything tonight, God willing.”

Mixed thoughts drowned Detective Manga’s mind after his brief meeting with the Vice President. There is no need to give up this fight, he thought as he walked out of the Presidential Palace.

His next destination was Banjul Hospital where he found Sanna slowly regaining strength. It wasn’t the right moment to talk to him, but he deemed it necessary because he needed some answers. He took a tall chair and sat very close to Sanna’s bed.

“Glad to see you recovering little by little,” he said. “I am Detective Manga and I guess you already know my purpose here, right?”

Sanna coughed for a moment before he could respond.

“Yes and my wife even told me you were here, Detective. She told me that my Assistant Manager was the one who tried to kill me with the poison.”

“Yes, that’s correct, Sir. He was supposed to be in court this morning, but the President ordered his release.”

“I’m not surprised with that at all.”

“What do you mean by ‘am not surprised’?”

“President Ali Benzouda’s university education was solely financed by Johnson’s late father and that’s the reason why he is getting all these backings. His employment at Root Bank was also through the same vein of corruption.”

Detective Manga was so shocked.

“This was exactly why I insisted to speak to you. President Ali Benzouda cannot continue sounding the horn of corruption in our country. I was just at the Presidential palace and am not going to stop what I have started unless I see Johnson behind bars.”

That very day, Detective Manga spent the entire night outdoors. He thought about so many applicable options to be at an advantageous position against President Ali Benzouda in order to make him a toothless lion and so that Johnson will become defenseless.

In the morning at 7:00, Detective Manga was already at the Buffer Zone glancing at his hand watch after every few seconds. The Vice President appeared minutes later and Detective Manga stood up and waved him from a far distance.

Baba walked to him quickly. He hugged and shook hands with him.

“I am ready to give you every support to fight against President Ali Benzouda’s corruption even if I have to end up losing my job. Johnson must face capital punishment.”

DEATH PLOT…Chapter ❸

T

his gave Detective Manga every reason to be confident in facing the challenge he has taken. He saw the truth in Baba’s eyes and could not wait to take another step.

“Thank you, Mr. Vice President. I am not going waste this chance you’ve given me.”

“I know that, Detective Manga. You have done great job for our country and it is through your hard work that Interpol is collaborating with you in very sensitive security matters. Am always proud of you and I do admire your personality.”

“Yup, that’s right.”

“Now, where are we going to start?”

“We have two options that can help us strike our target. One is, prepare a bitter media outburst that can torment President Ali Benzouda so that we can use that as a base to make Johnson face the law. The second one is, we wait till the President gets back and I will raise the case—”

“No no, that will take a long time. There is no need to take things lightly. Let’s apply the first option because it is more convincing. President Ali Benzouda will not back down if you try to negotiate with him. I know him very well and the thing is if you wait, he will bite you before you can bite him. Are you getting what I’m trying to say?”

Detective Manga nodded.

“Yes, I understand. I concur with you and what you have to do is get me all the information that I will need when the President is back. I will start raising dust in the media today.”

“You will get everything without any delay. I will use a different number to avoid possible tracking.”

“Don’t worry about that, Baba. My phone is from Interpol and once you message me, the data will automatically be cut from your service provider. As an Interpol agent, every form of communication I do with my phone is highly secured by the central body because they don’t want outside access to my phone data.”

The Vice President sighed.

“Oh, that’s good for us to do things perfectly. Is there anymore thing to discuss? I have a meeting at eight and I have to prepare some files before that.”

Detective Manga and the Vice President drove away through opposing directions. Detective Manga later made a stop at a newspaper-selling-point and bought his favorite, The Instant Newspaper. On the front page, he read the caption, ‘WHO FREED JOHNSON’. He turned at the back page and looked at the contact details of the newspaper. He removed his cell phone from his jacket and dialed the second telephone line. A senior reporter received the call and Detective Manga gave him an appointment time at the Serrekunda Central Police.

An hour later, the reporter from Instant Newspaper turned the interview appointment into a press conference. Detective Manga got out of his office and saw a group of journalists standing with their cameramen. They greeted him with tumultuous questions that discomforted him.

“One question at a time! I will respond to all of your questions. The noise won’t help in any way.”

The atmosphere was consumed by silence and questions started coming one after the other. The first question was raised by the Instant Newspaper reporter.

“The most important question that has been on our lips since yesterday is why Johnson was released?”

“Good question,” he said. “Um, President Ali Benzouda freed Johnson. I was in charge of the whole investigation, but no government official consulted me about the baseless decision that the President took. The President abused the power that Gambians entrusted him with and we cannot keep silent about it.”

“I am Demba from the BAC News. You claimed to have strong evidences against Johnson. What are those pieces of evidence?”

“My dedicated Forensic team has collaborated very well with me and the evidence that we’ve produced is sufficient to make Johnson wear a prison suit. Johnson’s finger print was found on a leftover; a pen that he used in mixing the poison with the coffee.”

He patiently continued to pay attention to the questions and giving answers to each of them. The whole press conference was live on TV and as soon as it ended, the Vice President got a call from President Ali Benzouda.