Chapter 20: Chapter 20

"My father has had enough rest", Olamide said going toward his father's room.

Mr. Garba's plane landed in Nigeria at the early hours of the day and Olamide felt he needed rest before he could voice out what had been troubling him.

He turned the doorknob of his father's bedroom and ventured inside only to see it empty. 'Where could he be?', he asked himself.

He went out of the room and checked the sitting room which was also empty. He was about to go outside when he bumped into Bisi, the cook.

"Bisi how far, do you know where my dad is?", he asked.

"He is on the balcony. I went to give him a glass of fruit juice now", she replied politely.

"Ok, thanks", he told her and strolled out.

His father was going through some files with a glass of juice on a small stool in front of him.

"Dad", he called.

"Yes", his father answered looking up.

"I have been looking all around for you."

"Yes. I came here to get some fresh air. What's the matter? You look worried", his father remarked.

"Dad, I have been meaning to discuss something with you even before your unexpected trip but I haven't been able to summon up the courage to do that."

His father chuckled and said: "You are a man. You should be courageous at all times. Tell me what it is."

Olamide cleared his throat with the hope that it will build up the boldness to tell his father what the problem is.

He said: "The thing is I made a mistake... I... I never knew it would turn out this way. I'm sorry I couldn't help it."

"Stop stammering like a fool and tell me what it is", his father said with an angry tone.

"Rachel..", he voiced out.

"What happened to her?", his father asked with impatience.

"She is pregnant for me. I'm sorry."

"What?!", Mr. Garba exclaimed. Then he gave Olamide a resounding slap.

******

Mrs. Obed had to force her daughter to go home despite the protest from Fola.

She left for home very late while the others including Femi and one other police officer, waited for the kidnapper's call throughout the night which never came.

Mrs. Balogun was tired of crying. The tears were no longer coming and her eyes were still red and puffy.

The next day, Fola woke up late and quickly cooked breakfast for her father before dashing off to the bathroom to take her bath. By the time she was done taking her bath, it was already 12p.m and she was the only one in the house.

She guessed her father had gone to work. She wondered why her father didn't complain about her mother's absence and for her own late home coming the previous day.

She guessed he was changing or probably too busy to drag words with any of them.

Fola was still dressing up to go to Malali when she received a call from Femi.

"Femi, what happened?", she asked, alarmed.

"Nothing happened. Why aren't you here yet?", he asked her.

"I woke up late. I will be there soon", she answered.

"Your friend is back and is also here. She came down here after dropping Biodun hoping to see you here so you better come quick before she comes there to drag you down here", he chuckled and whispered, "You know how crazy she can be."

"I heard that Femi. You are gossiping about me with Folake abi", Bolu uttered from the background.

Fola laughed too and said: "I will be there in a jiffy. Bye", she said and ended the call.

She got there around half past 1p.m because of traffic and was surprised to see Ife sitting in front of the verandah crying.

"Ife, what happened? Why are you crying?", she asked the little girl but was met with silence.

Just then Femi appeared and said: "Thank God you are here. Come inside."

Fola went inside with reluctance and asked: "Femi, "What happened? Why is she crying?"

"The kidnappers called and requested for 5 million naira ransom", he announced as they walked inside approaching the living room where others were seated.

"What?! Where do we get such an amount of money from?", Fola asked.

"I have no idea", Femi answered.

They were now in the living room and Fola greeted the two women.

Bolu stood up and gave her a hug. Fola hugged her back and surprisingly they were both in tears.

"Fola, this is not the time for tears but action. They instructed us to ask the girlfriend to bring the money", Femi told her.

"But he doesn't have a girlfriend", Fola replied.

"They were referring to you", he answered back.

"Do they know about me?", she asked.

"It seems you don't know who we are dealing with. They are smart people and they have their ways of knowing things. I just hope and pray they aren't seeing or listening to our every conversation."

"So you mean I will be the one to go with the money?"

"Yes."

"No, my daughter can't go", Mrs. Obed sobbed silently.

"Mummy, I will be fine. I promise", Fola assured but her mother shook her head and sobbed the more.

Fola turned around and asked Femi: "Did mummy hear Ire's voice for us to be sure he is fine and that he is actually with them?"

"We didn't even think of that. Mummy please try the number", Femi instructed politely.

Mrs. Balogun did as instructed but the number was unreachable.

"Let's wait till they call back then", he told them.

Few hours later, Mrs. Balogun received a call from a strange number.

"Hello", she said into the phone.

"Your son says he would like to speak with you", the lady said and gave the phone to Iremide.

"Iremide okomi, how are you doing? Hope you are not hurt? Are they feeding you well? Don't worry you will be fine. We will look for the money and come save you", his mother said in one breath.

"Mummy", Iremide called and groaned in pain.

"What is it, my son. Are you ok?"

"I love you", he said.

"I love you too", she replied as tears rolled down her eyes.

Fola moved closer and grabbed the phone from her.

"Iremide", she called.

"Folake?", he called back.

"You will be fine. Just be strong for mum and I. We don't want to lose you. Please."

"Whatever happens, know that I love you and take care of my mother and kid sister", he muttered in pain.

"Nothing will happen to you by God's grace", Fola assured.

"Whether you come with the money or not, they will still kill me", he voiced out and groaned again.

"Take the phone from the idiot, how dare you? T-boy, beat the stupid boy up", a lady commanded as the call ended.

Fola gasped and she let her tears flow freely. "Iremide", she called but he was gone.

"Fola, what happened?", Bolu questioned her.

"Rachel", she said staring into space.

"Rachel? What has she got to do with this?", Bolu asked.

"The voice from the background belongs to Rachel", she stated.

"What?!", they all chorused.

******

Mr. Obed went to visit his friend Mr. Garba after waiting in vain at home for his wife and daughter.

He was feeling bored being home alone all of a sudden. Hearing of Mr. Garba's arrival from Germany, he decided to pay him a visit.

He met him at the dining area with his son eating. Mr. Garba asked him to join them and he did.

Dinner was boiled yam and egg sauce with fruit juice which Bisi brought when they were almost done eating.

When they were done eating, Olamide excused himself as they sat in the living room discussing.

"You haven't said anything about our last discussion", Mr. Obed diverted.

"Which discussion?", Mr. Garba asked nonchalantly.

"About Fola. I think she has developed feelings for that guy."

"Don't worry about that", Mr Garba assured him with confidence.

"I know my daughter to be stubborn and it seems her mother is now supporting her", Mr. Obed complained.

"I told you not to be worried. It has been taken care of already", Mr. Garba blurted out unconsciously.

"What?", Mr. Obed questioned with fear.

"Nothing. I said I will take care of it", he replied avoiding Mr. Obed's gaze.

Mr. Obed was silent as he eyed Mr. Garba with suspicion.

******

"Femi, if what Fola said is really true, then it means she can't go. Rachel won't hesitate to kill her for what she did", Bolu remarked.

"We can't be so sure", Femi replied convincingly.

"Let's not risk her life if that is the case. I will just have to accept my fate. Besides, we don't even have the ransom they requested for", Mrs. Balogun commented.

"Mummy, I will call my dad for help. The money isn't the problem but how to go about saving both Ire and Fola from those criminals", Bolu said, picking up her phone and moving out.

"Tell him I am willing to sell the house to him if he can help us raise the money", Ire's mother shouted after Bolu who was already out of the room.

Her father picked at the second ring. "Daddy, how are you doing?"

"I am doing great", her father replied.

Fola laughed and said: "Dad, you and this your 'I am doing great.'"

She noticed her father was fond of using the sentence: "I am doing great" in virtually all of his conversations ever since he joined the organization of the "Good Life Project".

She wondered if it was a cult and even voiced it out to her father who smiled and said it wasn't.

"No matter the challenges you are going through in life, you should always feel great my darling. Wahala no dey finish."

"Yes dad, I love you for being strong for us."

"I love you more. Even if I don't want to be strong, I need to be strong for you and your brother", he replied.

"How is mummy doing?", Bolu asked.

"She is doing great too", her father answered.

"I'm sorry for walking out on you. I was mad at you for keeping everything away from me... From us", she apologized.

"I was considering your feelings. I want you to be strong for us and for Biodun too. You have been a mother figure to him ever since he was born. He needs you. Fola also played a big role in his life. I'm sure he sees you two like his mother since he barely sees his biological mother", her father said.

"That is even why I called", Bolu uttered.

"Why did you call?", he asked.

"Because of Fola. We are in need of 5 million naira for something urgent", she said.

"What! What do you need such a huge amount of money for?", her father asked her.

"A friend of Fola was kidnapped. The lady Fola had a fight with 3 years ago in her place of work is the prime suspect for the kidnap and they are asking for a ransom of 5 million naira", Bolu explained.

"Bolu, you know that money is much. Where do you want me to get it from?"

"Dad, I know you have it. Your organization is pumping money into your pocket. Dad, I know you can afford it."

"You know we need money for your mother's....."

"I know daddy, you are our only hope. Fola and the boy's mother are in a very bad shape", Bolu exaggerated.

"Alright, I will think about it and see what I can do."

"Dad, we don't have time. Fola will take the money to them tomorrow", she told her father.

He asked: "Have you informed the police about it? Don't let her go alone, it's risky."

"Yes, Femi is here with us. The guy's mother is willing to sell the house to raise the money. You can just buy the house instead."

"Alright. I will send you the money before nightfall."

"I love you Daddy, thank you and God bless you."

"My regards to Folake. Tell her to stay safe and that I love her too", he responded.

"Alright daddy, bye."

"Where is my son?", he inquired.

"He is at aunt's house."

"Ok bye", she ended the call and went back inside.

"Fola", Mrs. Obed sobbed as she called her daughter who was looking into space.

"Don't worry mummy Folake, she won't go. I know and understand your fears", Mrs. Balogun assured her.

"Femi, this is a trap. Rachel wants Fola to come for vengeance and I am very sure she won't spare any of them. Even if she has to go, you need to go with her and the other police officers too to protect her", Bolu chipped in.

"She warned us from involving the police", Mrs. Balogun said.

"Femi, say something", Bolu told him as she shook him.

"Fola", Femi called.

"Ire said they would kill him whether we pay or not, what do we do?", Fola said looking up.

"Do you know any of Rachel's relatives apart from her mother?", Femi asked her and she shook her head.

He quickly dipped his hand into his pocket to bring out his phone as he stood to go out. He came back a few minutes later and met them all seated in silence.

He broke the silence as they all raised their head.

"Fola will be going", he announced.

"No", Fola's mother responded.

"Mum, I will go with her. But before then, we are going to take Rachel's mother into custody. I want to go and meet my colleagues so we can go to her house. I hope she hasn't absconded yet."

"Does it mean Mr. Garba is innocent", Fola's mother asked.

"We can't say for now. I need to go now. I will be back soon. Fola, stay the night here, we have a lot to discuss and do over night", he said, picking up his car keys.

"Alright", Fola responded in a low tone.

He pecked Bolu on the forehead and left.