Too Precious Episode 19

TITLE: TOO PRECIOUS

WRITTEN BY: OGECHI ALABI

CHAPTER 19

After several conversations and convincing, she went back to Biodun. Her grandfather went to work to gather evidence. He sent people to take pictures of the girl and her children. The person was able to get pictures of Biodun with them. Also, they were able to get the property doc-ments and receipts of sale to Biodun. There were also pictures of the house.

The second week, police stormed their resident very early in the morning. They had a warrant of arrest for Biodun. He was accused of Fraud. PB asked what he did severally but they asked her to meet them at the police station. The police seized his phone and laptop.

That morning, PB called Biodun’s father. She told him what happened.

“Why are you calling me? Why didn’t you involve your grandfather to bail him out?”

“Baba, I don’t understand. What does my grandfather have to do with the accusation of fraud Biodun is facing? Why should I go to him and leave his family who is responsible for him? Baba please, I have told you what has happened and the police station he is in. I wanted to know from you if you would be coming and what to do. I have a court case this morning and I can’t be at the police station for a long time. If he doesn’t have a lawyer, I can recommend one to him”

“Precious, we are talking about Biodun. Do you want to leave your husband in police custody and go to court? What are you trying to tell us? Your grandfather can squash this immediately, but you will not call him?”

“There are reasons why I can’t call my grandfather. I also have prior engagements before this happened. I will be at the station until 8:30 am then I have to leave for Lagos Island. There is nothing I can do about it”

PB was upset with their entitlement mentality. She realized she played into their hands by allowing them access to her grandfather. It had come to an end. She wanted him to admit to having a wife and two children so she could go ahead and divorce him.

This wasn’t the life she had planned for herself. She had everything all mapped out. She would marry a loving husband who was also responsible. They would have had two children by now and they would have lived in their house. She had it all planned out in her head. She didn’t want to live off her family’s wealth and be regarded as a leech. She wanted to build wealth the way her grandfather and uncles did using the right connections.

Biodun was the wrong choice. From the planning of the wedding, she saw the signs but turned a blind eye to it. Now it seemed her grandmother’s prophesy was coming to past. She deserved better than she had received from him from the onset. She should have known he was unserious when he couldn’t get the qualification he needed to start his firm. She was lucky she was stubborn, if not, he would have taken money from her grandfather continuously which would have been an embarrassment to her.

She cried as she got ready for the police station. Her world was crumbling and what was she to do? She knew she couldn’t take Biodun back. All she needed from him was a divorce. She noted he had to be given a quit notice, although they just renewed the rent. She couldn’t live in there anymore with all the memories. She knew with him losing his job, he couldn’t afford to maintain the apartment.

She wore a black three quarter length dress with long sleeves. She swung her cloak across her arm as she made her way to the car carrying her grey shoes in her hand. She was still deep in thoughts as she deposited the contents of her hand on the chair of the car. She got in and drove to the police station.

On her way, she received a call from one of the police officers. Biodun had been transferred to Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Milverton Ikoyi. She sent a message to Biodun’s family informing them of the change of location. She changed her direction to head towards the third mainland bridge.

At SFU, she was not allowed to come in with her phone. She walked in,side and found the police officers who picked Biodun up that morning. The Investigating Police Officer (IPO) on the case, Inspector James, welcomed PB to his office.

“I would like you to be here when the evidence is produced and confessions made. You should witness it yourself so you will not be told”

“I have a court case for 10 am. I can come back after the court case to hear everything firsthand. Please, all the evidence should be with you before the proper interrogation starts. Can I see the petition?”

PB received the petition and read it. Then she requested to see Biodun. He was in the cell. She asked him if there was anything she needed to know about the petition against him. He told her they were all fabricated; he didn’t commit any fraud.

“I hope so. If it is proven to me today that you did, then the marriage is over. It is best you tell me the truth now than for me to find out later”

“I have nothing to hide. They have no evidence against me. I have done nothing wrong. When is Chief coming?”

“Coming where? To do what?’

“You should have asked Chief to come so I can be released quickly”

“I asked your family to come. Chief is not available to be of any help right now. Do you think you might need a lawyer? I can recommend one to you”

‘I don’t need a lawyer. All we need right now is Chief. Chief will handle this easily”

“Well, try and get Chief yourself. I have a case at the high court today. I will advise you to try and remember what happened in your office and why they would write such a petition against you. It is too damning. They claim they have sufficient evidence to substantiate their claim”

“I am waiting for their evidence”

“Good”

PB left him to attend her court sitting. She was angry with him and his expectations. He expected to get out of this mess using her grandfather? Well, he will be in for a surprise. Her mind was made up at this time. She had made a very big mistake and wouldn’t want a repeat of it.

Some many thoughts were going through her mind when her phone rang. It was her father-in-law.

“Precious, where are you? We are at SFU now”

“I have left for court as I told you earlier. I will be back after the court case”

“What do you mean by that? Your husband has been detained and you went for another case? What kind of irresponsible behaviour is that?”

“I can turn back if you want as long as you are willing to pay all the expenses to be incurred on your son’s case. This client has paid me to appear and if I don’t, I have to refund the money. That would mean we have to depend on what you have”

“Not everything is about money. How can you leave your husband and go to court?”

“I left because the case will not be discussed until afternoon. You can keep him company while he waits. I need to make money for the case. Please don’t call me again because I am driving and once I am in court, I will not respond to your calls. Bye.”

PB was more upset than ever before. She couldn’t wait for their betrayal to be exposed and she would never have anything to do with them again.

Tbc