Shades of Romance
Episode 31
As i alighted from my car that fateful Sunday evening, very tired and hungry from a long journey. A team of policemen instantly confronted me.
“we have information to believe that you kidnapped one Chief Manuel. We are here to search your house and take you to our station for questioning” an elderly police inspector said to me, taking me by surprise with his words.
“Chief Manuel kidnapped?” i asked with shock.
“stop wasting our time and open up your apartment” he barked seriously, while his colleagues held their guns dangerously. I drew back and nodded at Jenifer.
“my dear, open up the house for them” i said to her, without bothering to ask the annoying policeman to produce the search warrant needed to search my house. Seriously that’s a question you dare not ask a policeman in Nigeria especially when outnumbered unless you are a powerful politician or someone with connections to the top.
Five policemen followed Jenifer to my apartment while two others searched my car. The police inspector cautiously stood with me, watching out for any funny move from me.
“seriously i don’t understand what is going on” i complained to him.
“Chief Manuel was abducted from his house this morning and some of his brothers reported to us that you threatened to deal with him” he answered coldly.
“chai!” i exclaimed,
“it was just a family gathering and we quarrelled. I didn’t fight with him alone, we all exchanged hurtful words which is very typical of family meetings. He threatened to deal with me and i threatened back. C’mon the fight was all about the lady who just went into my apartment with your men. We argued because they were against me marrying her. How can i kidnap my uncle because of that?” i desperately explained to him, but all he did was shrug.
“i have my orders and it is to search and bring you up to the station and that’s what i’m here for” he answered coldly. I bit my lips angrily.
I was very hungry and tired after a very long journey from Jenifer’s village. In fact i was boiling inside and out.
“God” i breathed and glanced at my watch which displayed 6:45pm.
Jenifer and the five officers who went in to search my apartment soon came out with nothing, sweating and breathing hard.
“we found nothing sir” they said to the inspector who shrugged and faced me.
“we are going to our station. You will meet the detective handling the case there. I’m merely carrying out orders. We are from the state police headquarters, so it will be in your best interest to obey and go with us. You can speak your grammar to the detective. He will enjoy your company because he is also a lawyer who likes grammar a lot. All these book people, i’m tired of them” he said humorously, while his men laughed out hard.
I shook my head, sighed and entered my car. One of the policemen quickly joined me, while Jenifer climbed into the back seat.
“baby, please go to the house and wait for me” i begged.
“no this is our fight. I’m fighting this battle with you remember” she answered strongly.
“hey move this car now” the policeman with us ordered coldly, forcing me to start the engine and drive to the state police headquarters with my Jenifer on the back seat.
Episode 32
On getting to the police headquarters which really was very scanty due to the time of the day. We were led to a small office where i nervously sat and waited for the detective who ordered for my presence to show up.
“just relax my dear, and be polite when the officer shows up, even though i seriously think something else is going on which we are yet to understand” Jenifer begged, softly holding my hand. I breathed deeply and shook my head.
“surely something else is going on. This isn’t just the old fight between Tony and I” i replied quietly.
“and the chief in question do you think he can go as far as faking his own kidnap or accusing you of such crime?” she asked curiously.
“no Chief Manuel isn’t like that. He is not the type of man to spend money on something with no gain. He has other ways of dealing with me, not this way. Moreover we only exchanged words like brothers. It wasn’t something to be taken seriously” I answered.
“and Tony i know, won’t go as far as kidnapping just to frame you up” Jenifer added sadly.
“I think someone else is behind everything happening, and the person is so smart to cash in on the current crises to achieve what i really don’t know” i concluded.
“if really someone else is behind all these, it means the person knows you, Tony, and the chief very well” she added, dropping her eyes.
“c’mon baby cheer up” i said to her, forcing out a smile.
A middle aged man came into the room that moment, interrupting us.
“you are Mr. Emeka right?” he asked with a strong tone which instantly made me realise he was the man we were waiting for. He was modestly dressed in white shirt and black trouser.
“yea” i nodded and stood up.
“i’m D.S.P Maku, the detective handling the kidnap of Chief Manuel but as you can see, it’s late to question you and i can’t allow you to go home” he said seriously while i scoffed with disbelief.
“wait a minute, you can’t be serious?. Are you trying to say that i’m spending the night in this station?, for what reason?. Thank God you are a lawyer. So you have no excuse to abuse the rule of law” i shouted, surprising him.
“Your guys tore my house apart without any warrant, i kept quiet. Your men brought me here without any consideration to my feelings, i still kept quiet. But what i can’t accept is passing the night in a cell as long as you got nothing on me. Just try it and i’m going to sue you and the whole police command for abusing my human rights, Illegal detention, character assasination and anything else i can think of. I have the money and i’ll make sure i pay the press and every newpaper in the country to cover the proceedings. Yes one night, just try and make me spend one night here” i screamed with desperation.
Deep down i was scared and afraid, wondering how i would survive the night in a place i have heard so many terrible stories about. I screamed at the officer not out of courage but fear, while Jenifer kept pinching my hand as i ranted, pleading for me to stop, but fortunately my words had a terrible effect on the officer who drew back and studied me curiously.
I saw slight fear in his eyes which gave me little hope that perhaps the young officer wouldn’t dare risk his promising career by detaining a rich proud boy over a mere accusation….
He scratched his head and breathed deeply, while i hopefully watched him. My heart pounding furiously.
Episode 33
“but Mr Emeka i can’t just let you go, my hands are tied. This is a kidnap case” the officer dragged, as if he was so scared of making any decision.
“you have no strong evidence against me or do you?” i asked offensively. He kept quiet, avoiding the question.
“It’s your decision to make, i have already told you my mind” i added strongly, while Jenifer drew close to him.
“please i beg of you, allow us to go home, Emeka isn’t the criminal you are looking for. Seriously we were just returning from my hometown when your men dragged us here. For Christ sake do the right thing” she begged, using her feminine power to work magic on the confused officer.
“fine, you guys can go and return early tomorrow, but first i need your phones and secondly i will assign an officer to keep an eye on you. He will go with you guys. Please make him comfortable” he addressed me, but i still shook my head in protest.
“my phones, what for?” i asked with a raised tone.
“my love, give him your phones, you have nothing to hide” Jenifer begged, came forward and collected my phones.
“do you need mine as well?” she asked the officer as she dutifully gave him my phones.
We finally left the state police headquarters an hour later, after my phones were seized and a young corporal assigned to go home with us.
However Jenifer’s phone wasn’t taken and she equally was much more relaxed and in control of her feelings. I Seriously was pissed.
“first thing tomorrow, i must have a serious chat with Tony. I just don’t understand anything again d–n” i hissed as i drove while Jenifer tried her best to calm me.
Ooh and that night was one of the most disturbing nights of my life.
As early as 6am the next day, i freshened up and prepared myself for the long day ahead. My plans were first, to visit Tony, find a way to learn some things from him before reporting to the police station.
Jenifer however was very scared over my mood and tried her best to convince me in allowing her accompany me which i flatly rejected.
“i’m so scared honey, now not only Tony and your people are against you but equally the police. How bad can things get. Please i beg of you be very civil and diplomatic when seeing Tony, the police or anyone. I’m scared, i fear you won’t return” she cried, shaking my spirit with her words.
“take care of the house sweetheart. Don’t go anywhere, just lock yourself inside, and when Joe shows up, tell him to keep an eye on my gas stations, i won’t want anybody planting anything there to set me up” i seriously said to her. She nodded with tears in her eyes, drew forward and kissed me.
“i feel responsible” she sobbed. I swallowed with pain, turned and left without another word.
Seeing her cry always made me feel bad, then her words, “i fear you won’t return” kept ringing in my head as i drove out of my house that early Monday morning with the policeman assigned to watch me, breathing down me neck.
Episode 34
On getting to Tony’s house, i begged the young officer with me to wait behind in the car. He reluctantly agreed, giving me the privacy i needed to confront Tony.
I slowly made my way into the compound without anybody stopping me. I murmured some quick prayers before knocking on the front door.
Tony soon came out and stared at me with surprise.
“what are you doing here?” he asked suspiciously.
“i came in peace bro, please i need to speak with you” i begged.
“you are not welcomed in my house, just go away. Go with your evil spirit” he fired angrily.
“please you got to hear me out. Things has escalated from our little fight to another thing. I don’t just understand what’s going on. I’m now accused of kidnapping Chief Manuel. Please i need you to listen to me” i begged desperately, lowering pride before him, but he kicked on it.
“i’m sorry but i don’t care. You deserve everything happening to you. I will even testify to anyone who cares that you have the ability to kidnap the chief. Get away from my house” he barked and slammed the door on my face. I couldn’t believe i brought myself so low before him only to be insulted like a beggar.
I shook my head, sighed and headed back to my car.
Without another word, i drove straight to the state police headquarters to confront my fate.
There wasn’t any doubt i was merely on my own, without any friend nor family to back me up.
All i had left was my guts and i prayed for it to lead me through my current crises.
My situation really was a very critical one. But one thing i promised myself was getting to the bottom of the whole affair. I swore to unravel the mystery working against me. I swore to get the man causing all the troubles i was passing through.
A part of me felt it was Tony while a greater felt it wasn’t him.
Episode 35
I spent almost two hours with D.S.P Maku who took his time questioning me. I ended up telling him my story, from the very begining to the end. I hid nothing as i told him the story of my relationship with Jenifer and the aftermath of it all. He listened with great care, paying attention to every little detail.
“you have quite a story Mr Emeka and it’s just as if i have known you for a very long time. Seriously you are a sharp guy” he said with a smile, and surprisingly we became friends instantly.
Yea my story kind of opened his mind towards me. It was as if a bond was created as i narrated the story of my life to him. Not only did he let me go, but equally offered to buy me a drink which i politely rejected.
“the only problem i’m facing right now is that many of your brothers are pointing their fingers at you, but i really have nothing to hold you on. I do pray your hands are clean just like my instinct is telling me” he said as we shook hands when i was set to leave.
I headed home as fast as i could, to reassure, hug and kiss Jenifer. She wasn’t herself when i left hours earlier and the best i could do was to go home and be with her.
Just like i expected, i got home to see her eyes very swollen probably due to long hours of crying, but the joy of seeing me return, brightened her face, lightening up her spirit.
“I told you i got things under control. The D.S.P and i are now friends” i breathed as i lifted her up.
“yea but it isn’t yet over my love” she replied and kissed me happily.
We later had a quiet evening in one of the restuarants in town, where we discussed our challenges, love and upcoming marriage. We were very hopeful that things would get better, but the fear in our hearts still remained, because things were far from getting better. The person trying to ruin us was still free out there and probably making more plans.
Days slowly dragged by without any news of the missing Chief. It all looked like one giant conspiracy and I never for a moment let my guard down, but then it never stopped whatever that was destined to happen from happening.
Jenifer was abducted from my house a week later.
How did it happen??
Hmmm, i guess it’s a story for another day.
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