I just got home from work, and I received a text from an unknown number: "Don't come to work tomorrow; this is for your own good."
Seeing this, I was left wondering why the person would send me such a message. I tried calling multiple times, but I could not get to the person since they turned off the phone, and it was more like the text came from a number they rarely use. It was a stressful day, so I just bathed and forced myself to sleep, but all I had was a restless sleep since I had the text I received earlier bothering me and taking away my peace, but I needed that rest so as to prepare for the next day's work and the stress that would come with it.
I kept rolling on my bed, wondering who sent the message. Why did they sent it, and why would they even think about sending me such a message when the month is almost ending and salary week was upon us? So does that mean the person wants me to quit my job and forfeit all that I have worked for? And why will I want to quit my job all of a sudden because of a text from an unknown person? I stood up and kept pacing from one end of my room to the other end. I looked at the wall clock as it kept making tik tik tik sound, and it was just 1am.
I could not wait for 5 a.m. so I would report to work, and while I was still thinking, my phone rang.
"Ahhhh, who is calling me at this time of the night? I asked myself as I picked up the phone to see that it is a friend from high school and now a colleague from work.
"What happened at work yesterday? Did you do anything wrong? If you did, don't come to work, as you already know the policy." Gideon, my colleague and high school friend, said over the phone.
"I did not do anything, bro. I left the work environment on good terms with everyone. I also got a text from an unknown number telling me not to come to work. What is really going on?" I asked as fear started to creep up on me.
"If you did not do anything, then the case will be settled later today when we are all in the office. For now, just check yourself, and if you know you did something, please stay away from the company's environment." Gideon advised
"No problem, bro, since even you cannot tell me what the problem is." I responded as I felt even more lost.
"At least I called to warn you; that is as far as I can go for now." Gideon responded as he hung up.
In the company, we have a strict policy that whoever steals from the company and is confirmed guilty will be arrested by the police and will be in police custody until every penny they stole is collected in full. I could not sleep again; I just stayed awake staring at the wall clock waiting for 5 a.m. so I could prepare and head out to work, as the earlier the case is resolved, the better for me and my reputation, because clearly my reputation was at stake.
I could not wait any longer, and the moment it was 4 a.m, I rushed to prepare for work so as to report to the office as early as possible. I got to my workplace, and everyone was acting strange, even those who were always jovial, and we tease each other whenever we greet, were now straightforward with their greeting, and it felt even more strange, and I was only left wondering exactly what I did that has put me on the wrong side.
"The manager wants to see you in his office." The secretary said a few minutes after I stepped into the company.
"It is about to go down." I muttered as I followed him to the office.
"Mr. Kachi, good morning to you, and you two can have a seat." The manager said, pointing at the two seats in front of his table.
"Good morning, sir, and thank you, sir." The secretary and I echoed as we sat down.
"Do you know why you are here?" The manager asked me
"No sir, not at all. It has been from one scare to another." I responded.
"Well, I will not beat around the bush, and I am sure you know the company's policy, right?" The manager asked, "Yes, sir, I know the company's policies." I cut in.
"Very good, yesterday just when we were about to close for the day, I came in here with 20 liters of fuel, and later in the night when I checked the fuel, more than half of it was gone, and when I asked, you were the only one that had gone home as of then? The secretary here said you must have been the one that took it." The manager said, looking me right in the eye.
"No sir, not at all, sir. I did not touch the fuel; I did not even know you came in with fuel when you did." I responded.
"But you rushed to remit the sales you made yesterday and even left without your closest friend yesterday; it was unusual, and what do you have to say about that?" The secretary asked
"All these things you are saying are loads of balderdash, so I should wait for him? Even when clearly he would not have been ready to go home even if I had waited 3 more hours? I needed to rest; that is why I left," I responded with a tone expressing how annoyed I am realizing his reason for pointing accusing fingers at me.
"Also, the CCTV recordings from the generator house from the time you left here were all wiped out." The manager said, hitting his table with his fist.
"I received a text from an unknown number," I said, showing him the text. Also, how about the CCTV at the gate? Was the recording from that one also wiped?" I asked, trying to prove my innocence because clearly I am being set up.
"It did not cross my mind; thank you for the reminder." He says as he immediately rushed to get it checked.
"Okay, the CCTV at the gate showed you leaving empty-handed, but I am still calling the police right away. I did not know the culprit has been the one helping me on the case and pointing accusing fingers at you. You can go; secretary, you stay." The manager said with disappointment written all over his face.
CCTV footage from the gate showed the secretary giving the fuel to his siblings, whom he called to come and collect it. He wiped the recordings from the generator house but forgot to do the same with the recordings from the CCTV at the gate.