Clare:
‘’you know what, just forget about questioning
Charles. I will deal with it my own way please’’ I
suddenly begged surprising my mother who
stared at me suspiciously.
‘’what do you mean by that?, what do you plan
doing?’’ she asked quickly while I smiled to calm
her down.
‘’nothing mother, just don’t ask him anything,
moreover you don’t expect him to own up, do
you?’’ I replied breathlessly.
‘’you can’t expect me to keep quiet after all I just
heard. Since you are sure that Charles isn’t what
he claims to be, allow me to confront him’’ she
pushed on while I shook my head in
disagreement. Luckily her personal assistant
walked into the room before our argument could
heat up and informed her that the director of
state services and his wife were waiting for her
in the living room. I instantly stood up as if I was
the person they came to see while my mother
gave me another suspicious look.
‘’what’s the matter?’’ she asked.
‘’nothing mum, just leave Charles for me’’ I
breathed and ran to the living room.
It really was as if God touched the director’s
heart, making him show up at the house by that
crucial hour. Of course his presence saved me
the stress of going to his office. Yes I badly
needed to see him just like Val advised. I was
told he was a good man.
I had no difficulty dragging the surprised man to
Vivian’s room where he listened to all Vivian had
to say.
‘’are you really sure Mr. Charles did all these?.
How can one man be so ruthless and still appear
like a gentleman at the same time?’’ the old man
queried with an excited tone.
‘’we dropped the file we had on him when he
kidnapped you months back miss Clara because
your father wasn’t willing to push on with the
case but with the story I just heard, I guess we
have to do something fast’’ he added thoughtfully
‘’anyway I think the police should be better in
handling this present case. Have you guys
informed the state police commissioner yet?’’ he
asked
‘’no and that’s the problem. Charles’ has very big
connections in the police department. They are
his buddies and there isn’t anyone we can trust
than you. Agent Val specifically told us to meet
you’’ I pushed in.
‘’hmmm agent Val, why is that guy always
coming up in everything concerning this family?.
Assuming every other agent assigned to the
governor is behaving like him I doubt if the
department will still be inexistence’’ he muttered
to himself while I seized my breath as I watched
him.
‘’anyway I will invite Val to my office to talk to
him’’ he promised, smiled and left.
‘’do you really think he will help us?’’ Vivian softly
asked. I turned to face her with a smile even
though I really wasn’t sure myself because he
didn’t promise anything.
‘’I fear for my family, I fear for my boyfriend. I
shouldn’t have talked to you’’ She sulked like a
terrified child. I softly sat on her bed and smiled
deeply.
‘’I promise you nothing will happen to them’’ I
assured her.
———————
Val’s side of the story continues (4:35pm same
evening)
I was busy with my laptop going through the
CCTV record I got from the hotel when my phone
rang. I cursed as I stared at the ringing phone.
Of course I wasn’t in my best mood because I
was yet to find what I was looking for at the
footage. The video record of the bar was very
accurate but gave out nothing incriminating.
There wasn’t sign of anyone approaching
Vivian’s table or tampering with her drinks. The
only suspicious move I could get my hands on
was when she left the bar, probably to the toilet,
a middle aged man had quickly followed her but
unfortunately there wasn’t any CCTV coverage of
the toilet or the hallway leading to the toilet
which kind of left me with only a guess.
My phone rang again for the second time
breaking the silence in the room, I lazily picked it
up and was surprised when the caller introduced
herself.
‘’hello, I’m Miss Chima, the first lady’s special
assistant’’ she introduced herself.
‘’hope I’m speaking with agent Val?’’ she asked
‘’yes of course you are’’ I answered softly.
‘’my boss wants to see you at her office right
away. It’s very urgent and I advice you leave
whatever you are doing and head over to her
office right away’’ she muttered and hung up
while I drew back with serious doubts. I had no
current dealings with the governor’s wife I could
remember and so the invitation was very
suspicious. Nevertheless I left all I was doing
and headed to the state first lady’s office with a
fast pounding heart.
On getting to her office I met her assistant
waiting for me at the door. She instantly led me
into the office where the old lady was waiting for
me. I couldn’t help but wonder the reason behind
the urgency and the reason for asking me to
show up in her office instead of her house.
‘’agent Val, kindly sit down I want to talk to you’’
she said softly. I silently obeyed, sat down and
faced her.
‘’what is it you have with my daughter?’’ she
curiously asked, leaving me totally confused and
speechless. Of course I couldn’t get myself to
say anything because I really didn’t know how
much she knew about Clara and i.
‘’anyway I invited you here to beg you to leave
my daughter alone. The poor girl is not used to
how things work here in Nigeria. Ever since you
came into our lives it has been one problem to
another. Assuming other agents we have with us
are behaving like you, we would have all been
dead. I don’t care what you have with Charles or
my daughter but I’m warning you now to stay
away from my family. It’s not your business if
my daughter marries Charles or any other man.
You have a good job, you are young, and full of
life. I beg of you stay away from my family or I
will be forced to act like an angry mother’’ she
seriously appealed while I nodded like a lazy
student unable to say a word to defend neither
myself nor my actions. What was there to even
say? She gave me no room for explanation.
Deep down I kind of felt that it was silly of me to
have involved myself with Clara again but it was
all the fault of love.
‘’Hmmmm love until you finally lose your job or
life’’ a second voice mused in my head.
Thanks for reading
TBC.