The heavy iron door of the interrogation room slammed shut. The loud BANG cut off the murmurs of the terrified police officers outside, leaving only a suffocating silence in the room.Adekunle adjusted the collar of his expensive designer shirt. His face was still a bit sour from the small scuffle with the police earlier, but his arrogant smirk was fully back. He looked at his father, Chief Solomon, expecting the usual routine.He expected his father to insult the DPO. He expected his father to order a convoy of military trucks to come and level the station. He expected to walk out of here a free man, untouchable as always.Instead, a heavy, ring-adorned fist collided directly with Adekunle's jaw.PAH!The sheer force sent Adekunle crashing against the wooden interrogation table. His expensive iPhone flew out of his hand, smashing face-down onto the hard concrete floor. A sharp, metallic taste of blood instantly filled his mouth."Papa?!" Adekunle gasped, holding his bleeding lip. His wide eyes were filled with absolute shock.This was not the script. His father had never laid a hand on him in his entire life."Shut up your useless mouth before I pull out my service pistol and finish you myself!" Chief Solomon roared.His chest heaved heavily under his starched, heavily decorated military uniform. The veins in his neck bulged out like angry snakes. The anger radiating from the man was enough to melt steel."You think you get sense?" Chief Solomon barked, stepping closer. Every step of his heavy combat boots sounded like a death sentence echoing in the small room. He snatched his own phone from his pocket and threw it aggressively at Adekunle's chest. "Look at it! Look at yourself on the internet, you foolish boy!"Adekunle tremblingly picked up the phone. His heart stopped.The video was everywhere. Twitter, TikTok, Instablog, WhatsApp status. "Military Chief's Son Brutalizes Police Officer." The comment section was a literal war zone, with millions of Nigerians demanding justice. The top radio stations in the country were already breaking down the news live on air.Adekunle swallowed hard, the last drop of his pride evaporating into thin air. "But... but Papa, you are Chief Solomon. You sabi people now. You get power. You fit change the story, tell them say the police attack me first...""Change what?!" Chief Solomon laughed, a bitter, dangerous sound that made goosebumps pimple on Adekunle's skin. "The Chief of Army Staff just called my line, Adekunle! The Presidency is already asking questions! You did not just beat a policeman, you recorded your own burial on video and posted it to the world!"Before Adekunle could utter another word, the door creaked open slowly.The DPO walked in. He was sweating profusely, but he held his ground, adjusting his police cap. He looked at Chief Solomon with respect, then glanced down at Adekunle who was now trembling on the floor."Sir," the DPO said, his voice shaky but firm. "The human rights lawyers and journalists are already gathering outside our gate with cameras. If we release your boy tonight... the youths will burn down this station before morning. I am sorry, Sir, but he has to sleep in the cell."Adekunle's eyes went wide with pure terror. "Cell? Papa, no! Tell am make he no try am! I cannot sleep in the cell, Papa!"Chief Solomon didn't even look at his son. He turned his back, adjusted his military cap, and walked toward the door."Lock him up," Chief Solomon said coldly to the DPO. "And make sure they take his shoes. Let him feel the ground.""Papa! Papa, please!" Adekunle screamed, his voice cracking as two heavy-handed station officers walked in to drag him down the dark hallway toward the underground cells.
