*****
Episode 4 Title: Searching For Answers
*****
“Hello,” Jennifer said after she answered Genevieve’s call.
“How are you?”
“I don’t think I am fine Jenny.” She said on her bed in
Oscar’s house early in the morning. She was not nervous about breakfast for Yvonne,
her nanny always resumed work in the morning every weekend to attend to her.
“What happened?”
Genevieve explained about the break up between Quincy and
herself.
“Are you for real?” she asked in a surprised tone. “Why
didn’t you tell me, mummy or Aunty Bimbo about it? I am sorry he never told you
about it but if he is truly apologetic about it, you didn’t’ have to break up
the relationship.”
“It was the right thing for me to do Jennifer,” she said and
sighed. “There is a problem.”
“What problem dear?”
“We slept together… in his office!”
Jennifer burst out laughing loud. “You slept with him in his
office? When?”
“Yesterday! I couldn’t look him in the eyes. I didn’t even
know what was happening until we finished making love.”
“Hmmmm… I think he was irresistible for you to say no. He
must have tasted like honey and sugar mixed together, yummy and too sweet!”
“This isn’t funny!” she uttered but giggled like a teenager
in love with her secondary sweetheart.
“Of course not, it is serious because you still love him and
the both of you should get back together. What really happened after having sex?”
“I left him in the office without saying a word!”
“Just like that?”
“Yes! I don’t know how I will face him on Monday morning! I
will have to pretend it never happened.”
“After you have enjoyed him and absorbed his strength?”
Genevieve smiled hard, shook her head and waited before she
said with seriousness. “I don’t know what to do?”
“Answer me and don’t ask me any more questions,” Jennifer
said thoughtfully. ”Do you still love him?”
“Yes!”
“Then talk to him! The two of you have to talk about what
happened and work towards being together as a couple again. You have every
right to be with him as long as that other woman is no longer in his life. Look
at my situation now, after my friends, you, mother and Aunty Bimbo said that I
should leave my husband after he apologized for beating me several times. He
has stopped hitting me after he fell on his knees before he travelled out of
the country. Chinedu is truly regretful for what he did in the past. He has
been back for close to a month now and he has been the sweetest partner ever!
He has changed Genny. I gave him another chance and he has proved to everyone that
doubted my marriage that I made the right choice by staying by his side. I will
be going to the hospital in the afternoon.”
“Are you sick?”
“I have been feeling feverish for some days now,” she
replied. “I need to see a doctor.”
“Maybe you are pregnant.”
“I pray so but I don’t want to put my hope high and at the
end of the day, it’s nothing but fever.”
“I understand.”
“What I am trying to tell you is,” she said. “Some people
deserve a second chance, not everyone though. There are some men, and women
that are not ready to change, and those are the ones you should give up on, if
Quincy is remorseful for keeping such from you, be with him, and forgive him
for his ignorance. You should be by his side as his girlfriend and not only as his
partner at work.”
“What about Oscar?” Genevieve asked in a concerned tone.
“How can I tell him I have to go back to Quincy, I have not seen him this
morning, I have not gotten up from my bed and he will be wondering what really
happened after Quincy walked him out of his office.”
“Who is Oscar?”
“Oh! I don’t think I have told you about him. Aunty Bimbo
knows about him.”
“I do not care who Oscar is and I don’t want to know. I am
more concerned about you and Quincy Harvey. Get back together!”
“Thank you sis.”
“You are welcome.”
“My regards to your husband and don’t forget to share the
good news!”
Jennifer grinned. “I hope so and I will. Don’t make a
mistake my sister, give Quincy another chance. He deserves it.”
“I know.”
*****
Quincy was still on his bed, thinking of Genevieve, the sex
and the sweet words she said to him. He wondered why she left his office
without talking to him. He noticed she was a bit shy when the sweet lovemaking
was over. She could not face him, instead she walked out from his office after she
wore her pantie and adjusted her skirt. He wanted to ask if she could follow
him home and talk but she was in a hurry to leave his atmosphere. He let her
be.
The heavy bang on his door released him from smiling. He got
up in his black sleek pajamas and went to check who was knocking.
He did not ask but opened the door to scream at the person. The two of them were astounded to see each other.
He did not ask but opened the door to scream at the person. The two of them were astounded to see each other.
“What are you doing here?” Quincy asked him.
“I…I thought Bridget still lived here.” Oscar stuttered. He
turned his back, to leave.
“Bridget is no longer in Nigeria. She has gone back to where
she came from.”
He rotated back to face Quincy. “She has what?”
“Left.” He replied. “She’s no longer interested in your
deal.”
“But… but she never told me that.”
“Well, she never had the time to do that because I offered
her a better deal to leave me alone for the rest of my life.”
Oscar tightened his hard face. His eyes red were reddish.
“She has backed out from our plan?”
Quincy stepped out, closed his door and stood a bit closer
to him. “What did you offer Bridget?”
“That’s none of your business!”
He smiled broadly and scratched his scanty beards gently. He
brought down his hand and pointed at him. “It is my business because you went
behind my back to bring a heartless crazy woman back to my life. I am delighted
she can no longer give me headache anymore. I know Bridget loves sex, travel,
and money. Did you offer her money and
even if you did, you can’t pay her huge. Tell me what she agreed to collect
from you?”
He shook his head. “I
have nothing more to say to you.”
“Of course you do because you are after my happiness! You
made sure Genevieve broke up with me but I promise you, I will win at the end.”
“You are the one after my happiness!” Oscar screamed. “I
have endured enough and I will make Genevieve mine by force if you don’t back
out!”
Quincy Harvey laughed aloud mockingly to spite Oscar. “Genevieve
has always been mine. She can never be yours and you can go and ask her.”
“She has refused to come out from her room before I came
here,” he said. “What did you discuss with her after I left your office?”
“Genevieve never told you what happened?” he asked and
folded his hands.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Ask her yourself and leave my house now!”
“You think because you are my boss, you suspended me and got
away with it,” Oscar said annoyed. The veins on his forehead were visible.
“Wait and see what will happen.”
“You don’t scare me. I will simply let this conversation
stay here in the premises of my house. I might pardon you and reduce your
suspension to a week.”
“I don’t care! You can suspend me for a whole year, that’s
your business. I am happy as long as Genevieve stays in my house. She lives
with me, cooks for me and make sure I go to bed early!!”
Quincy smiled. “Stop barking like a dog! It will not be for
long and I trust my Genny, she can do all that but she will never, ever betray
my trust or cheat on me with a desperate man like you. Run along, your daughter
needs you.”
Oscar scowled. “This is not over!” he growled and hiked
towards his car. The director waited for him to drive away before he entered
his house to make his food.
*****
Genevieve heard a knock on her door. She checked the time
and it was 9:30 am.
“Who is that?” she asked.
“It’s me Aunty Genevieve.” The tiny voice of Yvonne
answered.
She rose up on her bed and motioned directly to her door.
She hugged Oscar’s daughter.
“Good morning ma.”
“Morning my love.” She closed the door and the two of them
went to sit on the bed. “Have you eaten?”
“Yes. The nanny has given me food.”
“What about your dad?”
“He has gone out and he forgot to lock his room.”
She thought it was a great opportunity to check the things
Oscar carried when she noticed a white cloth. She was curious to know. She pecked
Yvonne on the forehead. Genevieve told her to go to her room and play with her
toys. She would join her after she freshened up.
She waited for close to two minutes before creep out of her
room as quietly as possible to enter Oscar’s room. She went in, shut the door
gently and searched. She saw the big nylon close to his bed. Genevieve took it
and brought out the white cloth. She was dazed.
“What is he doing with a wedding gown?” she asked softly.
She heard footsteps, in a rush, kept the gown back into the bag, and went to hide inside the toilet. The nanny entered the room to tidy the place up. Genevieve was very nervous and concluded on what to do. She flushed the toilet and came out.
She heard footsteps, in a rush, kept the gown back into the bag, and went to hide inside the toilet. The nanny entered the room to tidy the place up. Genevieve was very nervous and concluded on what to do. She flushed the toilet and came out.
The woman was startled to see Genevieve come out from her
boss restroom.
She greeted her. “Good morning madam.”
She greeted her. “Good morning madam.”
“Good morning but I have told you to stop calling me that.”
She said. “My name is Genevieve.”
“I know ma but my boss said you are the madam of this
house.”
She smiled. “That’s okay.” She left without an explanation
why she was there.
She called Akin on the phone to inform him about the wedding
gown.
“Maybe it’s for somebody else.” He said to her over the
phone. “I don’t think you should worry about that.”
“I don’t know if I should tell Quincy.”
“Is it really necessary?” Akin asked and kept silent and
spoke. “If you want to, you can but did you wear the wedding gown?”
“No but why did you ask?”
“Nothing really, I was thinking maybe it might be your
size.”
“Meaning he must have bought it for me even when I told him
I cannot marry him?”
“Did you ever tell him anything that would make him feel he
has a chance to make you his girlfriend or wife?”
Genevieve recalled instantly. “I told him he should give me
three months to forget about Quincy!”
“After three months he might present you the wedding gown
and a ring and you won’t have any excuse to say no to him. Why did you tell him
such a thing in the first place? You lied to him.”
“I lied to Oscar to get him off my back!”
“Let us not conclude the gown is for you,” Akin said. “Just
let him be and focus on your personal life and job.”
“Thank you Akin.”
“You are welcome Miss Genevieve Cole. Take care.”
She ended the call.
*****
Oscar came home late and the three of them spent the weekend
together. Genevieve and Yvonne cooked and played in the kitchen on Sunday afternoon. Oscar snapped them with his phone.
Genny was cheerful because she was always receiving beautiful love text messages from Quincy. Oscar felt she was getting closer and comfortable around him.
Genny was cheerful because she was always receiving beautiful love text messages from Quincy. Oscar felt she was getting closer and comfortable around him.
*****
On Monday morning, all the detectives except Oscar waited
for the director at the conference office where they held their meetings. A worker at the cafeteria served them a hot
cup of Tea with snacks. Quincy opened the door and Genevieve removed her glance
at his direction and looked away. He smiled hard.
“Good morning ladies
and gentlemen,” he said. “I know you all are aware of the award show coming up
soon and the sponsor is one of the governor aspirants. He also donated some
vital items to the NIB and for that, we are going to show him support in the
upcoming election. The nominees list will be sent to you later in the day to
know who you should be voting for.”
“How do we vote?” a lean female detective asked.
“How to vote is written on the list that will be sent to
you. You can only vote once.”
“Is there a dress code sir?” Leroy asked in a stern tone.
Genevieve looked at him.
“Men will be dressed in a black tuxedo and the women in a white or black gown.”
“Is it compulsory to attend?”
“Yes it is.” Quincy replied and stared at Genevieve. “Don’t
you have any question for me?”
She gazed at her right side, which happens to be where Akin
sat. “No sir.”
“You should look at me when I am talking to you.” Akin
chuckled lightly.
Genevieve frowned at him and peered into Quincy’s eyes. She
fell in love with him all over again. “I don’t have any question.” She
responded and sipped from her tea.
“You can bring your date along.” He said still staring at
her. “He or she must not be from the NIB. Your wives, girlfriends, even your
brothers and sisters can come. I also want to appeal to all of you to vote with
a clear conscience. Vote for the right person, vote for the detective you
believe deserves the award. There is a huge prize for the last award. The
overall best detective of the NIB in Delta state will be awarded not only the
award but an amount of money and a car will be given to that person.”
The detectives applauded except Leroy. Genevieve looked at
him again.
Quincy continued, “Apart from that, without winning the
overall best detective, one of you might be lucky to receive an amount from the
candidate.”
The clapped their hands but Leroy joined them this time when
noticed eyes were on him.
“That will be all for now.” NIB director said. “Any more
questions?”
Some of them shook their heads and Jasmine raised her right
hand.
“What is it?”
“We know Oscar has been suspended for two weeks,” she said.
“Is he authorized to attend?”
“Yes he is and I have decided to make it one week suspension.
I will send him a letter today.”
“Thank you sir.” She said.
“Thank you all and do have a great day,” he said with a
smile on his lips and focused his stare at Genevieve. “See me in my office
now.”
“I will.” She took a bite from her snack and drank her
remaining tea.
Everyone touched his or hers except Leroy who walked out from the office without saying anything to anybody. Genevieve stood up and motioned to her boss office. She knocked and entered, Quincy was already waiting for her. He held her gently by the right arm, closed the door and pushed her mildly against the wall. He gave her a wet kiss and she had no choice, she touched him on his face and kissed him deeper.
Everyone touched his or hers except Leroy who walked out from the office without saying anything to anybody. Genevieve stood up and motioned to her boss office. She knocked and entered, Quincy was already waiting for her. He held her gently by the right arm, closed the door and pushed her mildly against the wall. He gave her a wet kiss and she had no choice, she touched him on his face and kissed him deeper.
“I miss you.” he muttered. She pushed him backwards and
cleaned her lips with her palm.
“We shouldn’t be doing this in your office!”
“Then come and stay in my house.”
Her eyes turned wild! “You are back to your house with
Bridget?!”
“Hold on babe and don’t kill me with those sexy eyes of
yours.”
“Answer me!”
“Bridget has gone.” He said and walked towards his table.
“What do you mean she has gone?”
“Please come and sit down.” he said and stood beside the
chair. She obeyed him and relaxed herself on it.
“What happened?” she asked.
“My lawyer informed me this morning he has sent the divorce
papers to Bridget today and I will receive my copies by next week.”
“I still don’t understand.”
Quincy narrated what happened.
She widened her eyes and got up on her feet. “You did all
these behind my back and you never told me?”
“I want anything that has to do with that woman away from
me.”
“But I have every right to know!”
“And I have told you. I am sorry….”
Genevieve never waited for him to finish his statement. She
took him by surprise when she hugged him.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Thank you Quincy.” She said and looked at his face. “Thank
you for doing this to make me happy. I love you and I will always love you.”
He clutched his arms around her and carried her up
excitedly. “I love you too.” He put her down and pecked her on the nose.
“Over to business,” she said. “Why do you want to see me?”
He pointed on a file on the table. “That’s Annie Ayiri’s
file.”
“Who is that?”
“Honorable James Ayiri’s sister that was kidnapped.”
“Oh! The case your father was solving before he was killed.”
She went over and carried it.
Quincy explained the conversation between Ayiri and him. “I
think this case has something to do with my dad’s murdered.”
“I think so too. You suspect him?”
“Yes. This award show is even a distraction, we have to
concentrate more into this case and find out what happened. I need answers.”
“Me too and there’s something strange about Leroy at the
meeting. I don’t think he is happy about it.”
“He told me he thinks the award show is unnecessary.”
“Leroy said that?!” Genevieve asked surprised.
“When I told him everything was set, he said the deed has
already been done.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know!”
“My instinct tells me he is planning something and the
earlier I confront him for lying to me, the better for us!”
Quincy touched her by the right shoulder. “Don’t do that. If
we can solve this, we will have answers to the mystery behind the murder.”
She glanced at the file in her hand without opening to read.
“What can you tell me about it?”
He removed his hand. “Nothing specifically, my father wrote
she was kidnapped by a man unidentified and killed for reasons unknown. He
never gave names or anything that we can use to solve the case.”
Genevieve opened the file and it mistakenly dropped from her
hand. The two of them bent down to arrange them and she noticed something at
the back of the file.
“What does this mean?” she asked him. They rose up together.
“What?”
She showed him the words written at the back of the file.
EMAN: KECBY ILOKO
“I have no idea what it means.” Quincy said.
“Could it be a puzzle?”
“Maybe!” he said enthusiastically. “Akin is good at solving
things like this!” He went and picked up his phone to call the homicide office
and asked for Akin to come to his office.
Akin came and Genevieve handed the file to see if he could
solve it. He balanced himself on the chair, took a biro from his pocket and
concentrated on the words. He took him thirty seconds for him to be able to set
the words together correctly.
He wrote on a paper. NAME: BECKY OKOLI
He wrote on a paper. NAME: BECKY OKOLI
He gave it to his boss. “Who is Becky Okoli?”
“We will find out but Akin has one more thing to do for us.”
Genevieve said.
“What is it ma?”
“Can you find out who Becky is? Her address and what she
does for a living?”
“Yes. Give me two days to find out about her. There is no
picture and there are many Becky Okoli’s out there.”
Quincy pointed at him. “No problem about that.” Akin left
the office. The director turned to his partner. “If not for you I would never
have seen that.”
“Don’t say that but I am happy we have gotten a name. When
he is able to tell us about Becky Okoli, we will pay her a visit.”
“Sure.” He said and they embraced each other.
*****
“Who does Quincy Harvey think he is?” Oscar asked in an
angry tone when Genevieve gave him the news about the award and the letter. “He
should have increased it!”
“Your partner misses you.”
“But I don’t miss her. I hope Jasmine is happy! She is the
cause of my suspension!”
“She is not,” Genevieve said. “She only said the truth.”
“She should have covered it up.”
“Forget about it,” she said and gave him a cup of hot Lipton
tea. “You will be back to the office by next week.”
Oscar scornfully looked the other way.
*****
Two days later, Akin told Genevieve, he had information about
Becky Okoli. They both went to the director’s office. He gave them the address
of the office of Becky.
“Who exactly is she?” Genevieve asked.
“She was the best friend of Annie Ayiri before she was nowhere
to be found. She is the general manager of the biggest modeling company in
Delta state. You should pay her a visit and hear what she has to say.”
“But why should my father keep this away from the
investigation. Was she an accomplice or what?”
“We will know when we get there.” Genevieve said. It was
already 4pm and the two partner concluded to see her the next day.
*****
Genevieve and Quincy went to the location of the company. The
mean looking female secretary told them they could only see the manager if they
had an appointment. Quincy introduced himself as the director of the NIB and
the lady quickly went to alert the manager. She came back and informed them to
go in. They motioned at the door, knocked and entered.
They saw a chocolate-skinned beautiful woman talking on the
phone. She had nice hair, was richly dressed with a lovely white neck piece around her
neck.
The two of them waited for her to end her conversation before they could sit down.
The two of them waited for her to end her conversation before they could sit down.
“What can I do for the two of you?” she asked with a
straight face after she ended her call and placed her phone on the table. “You
can sit down.” They did.
“I am the director of the NIB, Quincy Harvey,” he said politely.
“Here with me is my partner, Genevieve Cole.”
“Okay.” She said coldly. “I am a busy woman, you have to be
fast.”
Genevieve looked at her partner and back at Becky. “We are
here because of Annie Ayiri’s case.”
Her eyes blinked and she stayed silent for few seconds before
she spoke. “I thought it was closed.”
“It’s an open case now.”
“And how is that my business?”
“We know the two of you were best friends before she disappeared,
we will like to know what happened before she went missing. Did you notice
anything odd?”
“I noticed nothing.” her tone denoted pain but her facial
look appeared strict.
“Are you hiding something?” Quincy asked. “Try and help
us if you really want to know what happened to her.”
Becky closed her eyes and opened them immediately. “The only
thing I can tell you about my friend, is … she was a very nice and jovial
person. Yes, she was my best friend and we moved everywhere together whenever I was less busy at work. The only thing I never supported her for, was her love for
parties, men… you know what I mean. She loved to have fun and I warned her
about it.”
“Why didn’t you tell the brother?” Genevieve asked.
“You mean the Honorable James Ayiri?”
“Yes.”
She hissed aloud. “That one? Forget about him! He never had
her time.”
“He wants to know what really happened to her.”
“Oh, now he cares.” She said and shook her head.
Quincy said, “After Annie Ayiri was kidnapped, nobody heard
from her again. We believe she is dead.”
“Kidnapped? That is what they want you to believe. She left
on her own but I… I told her she was risking her life. She dined with an enemy.”
“Enemy?” the two partners asked the same.
“Please give us details.” Genevieve quickly said.
“I can’t and you have to leave now,” she said in a serious
tone. “I don’t know how you were able to reach me. The old man in charge of
this case in the past promised to leave my name out of the investigation, I told
him what I knew, I did because of pity. He was eager to find out the truth and I
waited and waited for the news that the person behind my friend’s death was caught and arrested, but that day never came. I regret opening up to that
man. He broke my promise never to mention my name!”
“He never broke that promise,” Quincy said in an emotional tone.
Genevieve patted his back gently. “For us to get your name, we had to solve a
puzzle.”
“I thought he cracked the case.”
“He’s dead.”
Genevieve sniffed her nose in order to fight back the tears.
“That man is dead?” Becky exclaimed in shock. She rose up on
her feet. “They killed him! I think he solved the case!”
Genevieve rose. “That is why you have to tell us
what you know. We don’t want Freddie Arinze to die in vain, also with your
friend.”
She rubbed her face and looked at Genevieve. “That man died
and you were able to get my name. You are both alive, if I talk, don’t you
think the person behind the death of my friend, that man will also have me
killed.”
“You will be protected, I promise.”
“I don’t need any protection. The second time I met that man
in secret, he was holding a USB flash drive. He sounded happy and promised me my
friend won’t die in vain. He told me it was his last case, and he would retire
and take a vacation with a certain detective.” Genevieve and Quincy glanced at
each other. “He never stated her name but he was going to visit his son in
America with her.”
“I am his son.” Quincy said, uplifted from the chair and
went to stand beside the left side of his woman.
“You are his son?” she asked in a concerned tone.
“Yes.”
Becky studied his face and stared at Genevieve. “You must be
the detective he was talking about.”
She nodded. If she spoke, tears would fall down.
“He never told you about the case?”
She shook her head.
“Where is the flash drive?” she asked.
“We don’t know where it is.” Quincy said and held Genevieve’s
hand. He gave it a squeeze. "We never knew he had a flash drive."
“I cannot help you,” Becky said and went to sit down. She
took a card from the table and handed it over to Quincy. “If you want to force
me to talk, you will have to go through my lawyer.”
“You can’t do this Becky Okoli! Annie Ayiri was your friend!”
“I know! You don’t have to tell me!” she pointed at Quincy. “They killed your father because of the case, I don’t want that to happen to me! Please leave
my office now!”
“But…” Quincy stopped Genevieve from speaking further.
“Let’s go.” he said.
They stepped towards the door, about to open it, when Becky spoke.
“I really want to help but I can’t.” she said. “If your
father was able to solve it, the both of you can.”
“Why don’t you want to help us?” Genevieve asked soberly.
“I have a three years old daughter,” she replied. “I don’t want
her to be motherless. My life is very important to her. I hope you both
understand. The only thing I can tell you right now is, politics is a very dirty and dangerous game.”
****
To be continued on Wednesday!
The next episode title: ‘The handwriting on the wall and the murderer of Uncle Freddie’ is
Next!
Carina is such a swthrt... Becky okoli, I dey fear for the woman sha. Genny and Quincy, plz be careful.
ReplyDeleteCNT wait for wednesday
Thanks,...carina,the suspense it's killing,too much enemy around God please save them,i believe the usb,its inside the teddy bear,let genny see if first...genny might be pregnant because of the work load she might not no.....thank you ckj,you are the BEST.
ReplyDeleteCarina hv met Olufisayo Talabi,she writes Fictions too....u both are gifted...God bless u dear
ReplyDeleteNo. Will check her out.
DeleteThanks sweetie!
The suspense is building up. I hope you won't finish us with suspense in the next episode. Becky okoli is scared but she should have mentioned a name
ReplyDeleteSuspense alert!!!
ReplyDeleteIt just keeps getting more interesting,I worry for Genny & Quincy though, Leroy what do you have up your sleeves? As for Oscar,I fear for your sanity sha, this obsession is getting out of hand.
Oh sweet Wednesday where art thou??
Thanks for this CJ, mwaah!
Nice one carina dear...
ReplyDeleteI'm all blushy for Genny Genny n Mr Director (mr romantic Quincy),tnx Carina,is all I can say.keep it up...abeg mk dis gist no finish quick o.
ReplyDeleteSuspense, I want don't want this series to end oo
ReplyDelete