Nnenna’s heart was pounding vigorously when she entered the MD’s office. She quickly felled on her knees.

“Please sir, I don’t know anything about the missing phone. I don’t know who kept it inside the drawer,” Nnenna cried.

“Nnenna get up and sit down,” the MD told her.

“No sir, please I prefer to be on my knees,” Nnenna pleaded.
The MD insisted that Nnenna must get up. She had no choice than to obey.

“I brought you here to inform you that I am not suspecting you. The person that perpetrated the crime planned and executed it perfectly.

The cctv camera didn’t capture how the person entered my office and how the phone entered the drawer. It means that it was done when electricity power was off. I need your help to be able to get the suspect. I want to know the periods you left your office and what made you to leave there,” The MD told her.

“I left my office two times today. The first time was when I went to the accountant’s office. The other time, I went to ease myself.” She purposely omitted the third one.

“I want you to think very well to know if you left your office around 3pm”

Nnenna was reluctant to say her reason for leaving office around 3pm because she might put one of her colleagues in trouble. But later, she decided to say the truth. Especially that she was on a hot seat.

” Yes sir, I left my office around 3pm. A young man came in and told me that he was looking for Edea .I remembered vividly that immediately he came in, electricity supply went off. I tried to call Edea on phone to inform him that he had a visitor. He didn’t take his call. The guy begged me to go and call Edea because he needed to see him urgently. I told him that I cannot leave my duty post. After, a while Edea came and informed me that the accountant needed my attention urgently. Surprisingly, when I got to the accountant’s office, I didn’t see him. When I came out, I didn’t see both Edea and the visitor. Later, when I tried to query him on why he left the office before I came, he said he was asked to go and switch on the power generating set.”

“Thank you so much, you can go back to your duty post ,” The MD told Nnenna.

The MD first invited the accountant to know his reason for requesting Nnenna to see him. The accountant informed him that he sent for Nnenna in the morning to give him some data. Afterwards, he sent for Edea.

“I saw you enter my office today, what did you come to do?” The MD queried Edea.

“I came to clean the office but immediately I entered, I noticed that it was neat,” Edea answered.

The MD nodded his head in satisfaction. At least he had established the fact that Edea entered his office when he was not around.

“When did you start cleaning my office in the afternoon? The only time that you clean my office was when the office cleaner was not around. Why did you decide to do her job, even when she was around?” The MD asked and steadied his gaze on him.

Edea was already shaking but he managed to be answering the questions.

“I didn’t see her sir. I didn’t know that she was around. The power was giving me challenge. I decide to stay near the power generating room so I could easily change over to the alternative power source when the electricity power goes off.”

“That brings me to next question. Why where you manipulating the power supply. Switching it on and off! ”

Edea was surprised because of the questions that MD was asking him. He wondered how he got all the information.

“Sir, the challenge was from the PHCN office.”
The MD smiled. He picked up his phone as if he wanted to do something with it. He later dropped it and faced Edea again.

“Why did you make Nnenna to leave her duty post with the pretense that the accountant wanted to see her?”

” The accountant actually called for her,” Edea insisted.

“When was the time?”

“In the morning.”

“Why did you tell her again in the afternoon that the accountant was calling her?”

“I thought that she has not gone to see the accountant. That was why I decided to remind her”

“Edea you are smart, but you not intelligent. You should have thought of better answer than what you just said. Though you tried, I will give you twenty percent marks”

Edea’s shaking became more visible that the MD noticed it.

“Why are you dancing ?” The MD asked amidst laughter”

“I want to ease myself sir,” he lied.

” Then go and ease yourself. I have not accused you of any crime. I am only making inquiry,” MD joked.

Immediately Edea came back, he started pleading and telling MD that he didn’t take phone from his office.

” Edea calm down, where are you rushing to? We have not gotten to the issue of phone. A lot of people are involved in this issue so no one is accusing you yet. That reminds me, I was told that a young man came to this office today. I learnt he came to see you.”

“He came in search of employment but I told him that the company is not recruiting for now.”

“I think you gave him the perfect answer. But why would he meet you for employment? Did he think that you are the Human Resource manager of the company or what?”

“Is not like that sir. I knew him so he thought, I could help him to secure a job since I am working here.”

“Are you sure that he was not the one that attempted to steal the phone from my office?”

“I don’t think so sir. The only place he entered was the reception room. He didn’t even stay up to 10 minutes before leaving. I think Nnenna has questions to answer concerning that phone,”

“Thanks for that information” MD said calmly. He paused and raised the tempo of his voice. “Now, Can you tell me your reason for hiding my phone inside Lilly’s drawer? Let me warn you, I hate lies. You have to stick to the truth. That is the only thing that will save you from this mess.”

Edea could not believe what he heard. He was already calming down because he thought the MD believed all that he said.

“No sir, I swear that I didn’t take your phone. I am innocent,”

“I think I have to invite the police. You need them to help you tell the truth.” The MD informed him.

“Please sir, don’t invite the police. I am innocent,” Edea insisted.

The MD picked his phone and attempted to dial the phone number of the Police commissioner. When Edea noticed that, he started pleading.

“Please sir, don’t invite the police, I will say the truth.”

“The time for that has passed, the police must be involved,” the MD said firmly.

Edea continued begging, until the MD decided to hear him out.

“I was the person that kept the phone in the drawer. Lilly paid me to do it. She wanted to implicate Nnenna so that she will be sacked.”

“Now listen to me!” The MD thundered. I am not here for jokes.”

“I am telling the truth sir.”

“Who took the phone out of my office?”

“It was me sir. ”

“How did you know that I left my phone in the office?”

“Your laptop was my target. But when I saw the phone, I felt it would be easier to take the phone. Lilly had been begging me to help her implicate Nnenna. I told her that I could not do it. Last week, I received a huge alert of money deposited into my bank account. When I checked, I discovered that it was from Lilly. She informed me that it was part payment for the job she want me to do for her. After receiving the payment, I started planning on how to execute the assignment because I didn’t want to give back the money to her. When, Cynthia took ill this morning, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to do the assignment.”

“So how exactly did you do it.?” The MD probed further.

” My greatest challenge was the cctv camera I knew that it would capture my moves. That was why I started by manipulating the power supply. Immediately you entered the conference room for the meeting, I switched off the power supply and ran into your office with a bag to carry the laptop. When I got in there, I saw one of your phones. So, I decide to go for the phone. Another major challenge was that Nnenna refused to leave her office. After monitoring her and discovered that she might not move. I called my friend on phone and begged him to help me out. When He came , I went outside to meet him and describe the position of Lilly’s drawer for him. Afterwards, I handed over the phone to him. He was to make Nnenna leave her office by telling her that he needed to see me urgently. That was why when Nnenna was calling my phone, I did not respond. But unfortunately, Nnenna refused to leave her duty post. I had no choice than to come out, and tell her that the accountant needed her attention. Immediately she left, my friend dropped the phone and left. I had to leave too, not minding that Nnenna begged me to stay till she comes back.”

“I never knew that I have bunch of criminals in this office” the MD muttered under his breath.