*****
Before Mrs.
Bankole and her husband went to bed, she noticed something was bothering him with
the way he was handling things. He cursed and screamed over little mistakes he
did in the kitchen. She wondered if he was tired of taking care of her. She had
told him to employ a help but he refused and promised to assist her with the
chores. He cooked, cleaned the house and fed her too. He was becoming the man
she married many years ago.
Hours ago,
he was chatting and cracking jokes with her but after he received a call, and
left to the bathroom to answer, he came out looking very anxious, she knew
something was wrong. She woke up at night and found him awake, staring at a
photo.
“What’s
going on?” she asked in a softened tone.
He was a bit
startled to see her awake. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She replied
and moved closer to him. “Whose picture is that?”
It was too
late to hide it. He had to show it to her. “It’s Tiwa’s own.”
She took it
from him and smiled at it. Tiwa was only six years old then. “That’s my little
angel.”
Mr. Bankole
wrapped his left arm around her shoulder. “Yes. I knew she was going to be a
great woman. I am so proud of her.”
“Me too, I miss
her and I can’t wait for her to come back home.”
He closed
his eyes and shook his head. He was very worried. “I can’t wait too. The other agents
miss her too.”
She looked
at him. “But why are you looking at her picture by this time of the night?”
“Nothing, I
thought about her today. She and Mr. Gold are getting close to the truth. They
will catch the heart-taker very soon.”
“That’s good
but is there anything bothering you?”
“No!” he
quickly answered her. “I am totally fine. I think we should go back to bed. I
have a meeting in the morning.”
“Okay love.”
He kissed
her forehead before he pretended to shut his eyes to sleep.
******
Adebiyi had
to turn back home. Popoola kept assuring his friend everything was going to be
fine. He didn’t want his friend to worry. Mimi was already sleeping in Donald’s
arms at the back of the car. They arrived home at 3:58am. Everyone departed to his
or her rooms except Adebiyi. He served some scotch at the bar, went to his
office, and sat down. He opened the lower drawer and brought out an old
newspaper. He recalled the day he swore to make Tiwa pay. If only he could turn
back the hands of time, he would have stopped her from coming to live with him
and investigate a deadly case. He took his cup from the table and drank
everything. He blew out a faint whistle and stared at Tiwa’s picture.
“I love
you.” He whispered. “I am ready to do anything to bring you back home. Where
are you Tiwa? Please, don’t give up. Fight for your freedom and fight for me. I
am helpless. You are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Don’t
die. Don’t leave me.”
Popoola came
around 6:12am to check up on him. Adebiyi was shirtless. He was resting on the
floor. They looked at each other.
“I know you
didn’t sleep,” Popoola said and walked closer to drag him up on his feet. “You
have to clean up and get dressed.”
“I know.
Have you heard from Samson?”
“Not yet but
he should have some news about Nkiru Danjuma.”
He cleared
his throat. “Do you think he will kill her?”
“I don’t
have answers and it hurts that I cannot help you right now. I should be paying
you for what you have done for me. My sons called and wanted to speak with you
but I don’t told them you are unable to talk. They wished they were here to do
anything to make you happy.”
“The only way
I can be happy is to bring Tiwa home, alive!” he said and walked out of the
room. He went to the living room and turned on the television to see if there
was any breaking news. There was none. He was a bit relieved.
Popoola came
to meet Adebiyi and begged him to have his bath.
“What if I
don’t want to?”
“You should.
By eight, I will call the officers to hang around our vicinity for a look out
for Asante.”
“Have you
sent his picture to their phones?”
“I did that
before I went to bed.”
“They have to
be in mufti. None of them must dress as an officer of the law.”
“That is
exactly what they will do.” Popoola said.
******
The splash
of cold water on Tiwa’s face woke her up instantly. She was breathing fast and continuously
shook her head vigorously until she was able to see clearly. She saw Asante peering
at her, smiling. She looked at him scared and quickly peeped at the rope on her
right hand. She lost hope. Tiwa felt she must have slept off. She was very weak
to do anything to save herself. The injuries he inflicted on her arms had dried
but still hurt badly. She started to shiver. She was catching cold.
“Good
morning sunshine.” He threw the empty bucket on the floor.
“Can you
loosen the rope a bit? It’s very tight.”
“How was
your night?”
“Terrible.”
“Good.”
“What time
is it?” She asked.
“8am.” He
replied and leaned closer to her waistline. “You stink!” He covered his nose
and moved backwards.
“I had no
choice! I wanted to pee.”
“Why
couldn’t you hold yourself!” He brought put a cable wire from the pocket of his
trousers and wiped her on the stomach.
Tiwa wailed
out and grunted in pain. “Go to hell!” She wasn’t going to give up at that
moment.
He roared
into a bizarre laugh and spoke. “I can’t clean you up. Someone will have to do
that for me.”
“Who?” She
asked shocked.
“You will
find out at night. I will have to leave you and think of a way to teach DJ
Newton a lesson.”
“But he
didn’t do anything!”
“He
should’ve minded his damn business by not mentioning me.”
“Newton
never suspected you. He only said you were close to the girls because you were
in charge of the food. Are you really daft?”
“You still
have the guts to insult me.” Asante clapped his hands and smiled. “I will not
allow you keep me here. See you at night.”
“I will be
here all alone! You can stay and talk. Let’s talk about Nkiru.”
“I don’t
have the energy to talk about her.”
“Will you
kill her?”
“You should
know the answer to that question.” He said heading towards the door. “See you
later. Get prepared for your guests.”
“Guests?”
Tiwa asked stunned. “How many people are working with you?”
He winked at
her. “Go back to sleep.”
“I am hungry
and tasty!!”
Asante
smiled. “Maybe I will change my mind about ripping out your heart. It will be
my pleasure to starve you to death.” he walked out with a grin on his lips.
If it were
possible, Tiwa’s heart would have jumped out from her pounding chest.
******
Adebiyi and
Popoola drove to the home of Asante and found it the way they left it the previous
night. Two of them went to the next building to ask about the occupant. They met
a man and his wife coming out from their house and both of them introduced
themselves.
The woman
spoke, “I think I have seen you around here before.” she pointed at Adebiyi.
“But that was some years ago.”
“I think we
met when I employed Mr. Asante and came to visit his mother.”
“Oh, yes!! I
remember now.”
“I hope
there’s no problem?” Her husband asked.
“We went to
Asante’s house and didn’t find him and his mother.”
“His
mother?” The woman asked surprised. “Didn’t you know she died two years ago?”
Adebiyi and
Popoola exclaimed in shock.
“No.”
Popoola had to answer after a long silence. “He didn’t tell us.”
“She died
and he packed out of the house. It has been empty and we thought he would come
back and do something about it. Maybe sell it since he couldn’t live there
alone but how come you didn’t know. Does he no longer work for you?”
“It’s a long
story. Do you have any idea where he lives now?”
The couple
shook their heads.
“Thanks for
your time.” Adebiyi said and told Popoola they should leave. They drove to the police
station.
******
Mrs. Bankole
paid a surprised visit to her husband at the office. It was 1pm in a sunny
afternoon. Some of the agents welcomed her and took note of her weight loss and
pale skin.
“What
brought you here?” He asked her after she sat down.
“I have been
trying to call Tiwa and her number is switched off.”
“I spoke
with her few hours ago.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She relaxed
her back and heaved a satisfied sigh. “I was getting worried over nothing.”
“Tiwa
explained Mr. Gold and her number might not pull through for a while. They are
travelling.”
“Where?”
“She didn’t
say but she promised everything was fine and I should not panic.” Mr. Bankole
replied her.
“I think I
am beginning to get scared of this heart-taker. Only God knows who will be his
next victim. I wonder what the families of the past victims are going through.
I can never bear the loss of a child. God forbid, I rather die. I will never
bury my children.”
“We will
never bury Tiwatope.”
Mrs. Bankole
looked at him disappointed. “I gave you two children and you will acknowledge both
of them. You have a son and you have to start finding a way to get him back
home. You can’t neglect and hate him forever. He is not gay!” She stood up.
“Where are
you going to?”
“Home.”
“Stay. We
will go home together.”
“Whenever we
argue about our son, I don’t ever want to be around you.” She said and zoomed
out of the office.
******
Adebiyi was
back at home and he ate a little and took some drugs for his headache. He raced
towards his phone when he heard it ringing. It was Samson.”
“Any new
details about the whereabouts of Nkiru Danjuma?”
“Not really
sir but we know she travelled to Calabar for an occasion. My sister is finding
a way to get the location.”
“Do
everything you can. I will send you some money right now to board the nearest
flight there.”
“Okay sir.”
“There is no
time Samson. He has taken Tiwa.”
“Blood of
Jesus!! I will do everything to find Mrs. Danjuma. She might have a clue where
he took her.”
“I hope so.”
“Please sir,
don’t do anything drastic. We need you alive.”
“Then pray
hard Tiwa comes back to me alive!”
“She will.”
Adebiyi cut
the call, turned and saw Popoola staring at him. “Any bad news?” He asked,
looking frightened.
“Relax.
Nothing bad has happened but an officer called to report a young woman’s
lifeless body was seen far from here. It is not related to the heart-taker.”
“Her heart
was not taken?”
“No. She
must have been a victim of ritual or a kidnap gone wrong.”
“That’s bad
news.”
“I know but
it has nothing to do with Tiwa.”
He sighed
faintly and sat down. They heard a knock on the door. Popoola went over to the
door to confirm the person and he opened it for her. It was Joyce. She greeted
them and asked if there was any problem. She had seen Adebiyi’s missed calls
and decided to check on them.
“What!!” She
bellowed after he narrated what happened. “You mean your chef is the same cook
that worked for my boss?”
“I can’t
believe this!” She said and sat on a sofa. “I didn’t see him the first time I
came here. I would have recognized him.”
“Have you
heard from Mr. Monday?” Adebiyi asked.
She looked
at him and answered. “No.”
“I want to
know more about him. Do you know if he’s back?”
“I don’t think
so. He’s office is still locked.”
“I have to
find him. I thought he was no longer useful after we got your list and found
out the heart-taker’s identity. He might likely know where Asante lives. I don’t
why Donald was not able to trace where he went to and who he was likely talking
with on the phone.”
“I think you
should continue to do what you are doing to find her,” Joyce said. “Do you have
any lead, where he might have taken her to?”
“I won’t be
here if I knew.”
She rose on
her feet. “I have to be at family gathering. I will be back tomorrow morning and
ask around the office vicinity about the agent. One of your workers can even
accompany me there to ask questions.”
“I can
follow you.” Popoola suggested.
“I think
your friend needs you more. What about Donald?”
“I believe
he will be willing to follow you.” Adebiyi answered. “He wants to make things
right.”
Joyce smiled
broadly. “I should be on my way now.”
He offered
her money, thanked her and she left.
In the
afternoon, Adebiyi and Popoola joined the police officers to monitor their neighborhood.
After many hours of observing, nothing came up. In the evening, the officers
began to leave one after the other until no one remained except Adebiyi and
Popoola. Both of them stayed back and continued to watch. At, 9pm, Popoola
pleaded with his friend to go home and rest. He refused.
“If he had
killed her, we would have seen her body. I think she is still alive. Maybe he
has changed his memo; he might keep Tiwa and planned to eliminate her on the
seventh day like he did with three of his victims.”
“Then there
must be a reason for him to keep her alive.”
“Tiwa is
strong. I won’t be surprise if she challenged him.”
“If she did,”
Adebiyi said. “He will be angry, make her pay for that and might even wished
she died a painful death. I’m just assuming.”
“I know.” Popoola
said. “Let’s go home and rest.”
“I will but I
want us to go and check on someone.”
“Okay.”
******
The heart-taker
came back into the room. Tiwa was awake and staring at the ceiling. Her lips
remained sealed as Asante walked closer to her. He turned on the light switch
for a brighter view. Tiwa’s mouth was dry and there was pain all over her body.
“Did you
miss me?” He asked and smiled.
She looked
at him and tried to answer but the inside of her mouth lacked moisture.
“I brought
someone to clean you up.”
Tiwa eyes
turned angry and managed to speak slowly and wearily. “No man should dare lay
his hands on me.”
He exploded
into a loud laugh. “Who said anything about a man?” He glanced at the door and
said in a loud voice. “The two of you can come in.”
Her puzzled
eyes travelled to the door and when she saw them enter, she gasped. “Joyce? Mr.
Monday?”
The three of
them burst out laughing. Joyce was looking directly into her eyes. She noticed
the agent’s left ear was covered with bandage.
Fear gripped
her hard. Her scared eyes enlarged. Cold
sweat creased her forehead and it was impossible for her to wipe them off. Trapped
in her own world, she feared they would kill her tonight and she would never
see Adebiyi again but before that would happen, she needed a thorough
explanation.
******
Adebiyi
drove to the home of DJ Newton. As they approached his residence, they saw some
people, police officers, and an ambulance in front of the house. Adebiyi parked
the car, rushed out and went to find out what had happened. He thought Newton
might have heeded his advice, gone back to drugs and overdosed. He asked one of
the male paramedics and he informed him, Newton was found dead on the floor in
his living room. Someone had stabbed him to death.
The sad news
crushed Adebiyi’s heart.
******
To be
continued…. on Saturday.
this guy is really wicked
ReplyDeleteI am just very angry right now
I don't even know who and who are his accomplice again
Lol... Don't be angry o
DeleteGetting boring,not happy about this episode, only God knows if poopola,is not among,i can imagine the pain she is going through, abeg save her for the next episode.....thank carina j.simply the BEST.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gloria
DeleteJoyce is a snake under the green grass. Tiwa needs help
ReplyDeleteTrue...
DeleteI no fit comment. Ah what am I even saying? I just typed in a comment. Hmmm am just so upset. Some humans are just wicked. Haba! Joyce and Mr Monday, the thunder wey go fire u dey do pressup. God punish devil. You will definately be exposed.
ReplyDeleteAmen! Lol
DeleteInteresting but annoying.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm!
ReplyDeleteThat will do for now.....