Capital crime episode 24

Capital Crime Episode 24
Black is the new beautiful
Bukky
It sure was something else apart from jealousy. Okay it is jealousy. Okay it is not. Sometimes, I feel pity for them instead of jealousy; especailly this young lady, Kome , who, right now, is in her thirties.
I unbuckled my wrist watch. Admired the arrangement of books and cushion pillows. And the books too. What wonders my books did for me. Everything sparkeled with greatness.
Sammy must be feigning ignorance of my entrance. Or he wasnt even aware.
The door closed as my security guard left the large sitting room. It was like a magnificienct squared palace. The types you see in movies. Only our great african nation could afford to er-ct such a masterpiece from scratch, amazingly in nine months.
“ Afternoon your exellency” Kome’s voice echoed immediately she s₱0tted me; after turning away from the big window pane at the west end of the sitting room.
The woman went down in a gesticualting motion of respect towards my direction.
In my mind: Life would have been better for this woman if she had been educated, at least to S.S.C.E level.
My husband would have a different opinion: School is scam. He’d say a wife should be a home keeper and know how to cook and please her soulmate in every way possible.
Sometimes, I wondered: What if Samuel made passes at the beautiful but naive Edo girl, Kome? What if?
I wouldnt be surprised now if he did. He better not get caught in the act.
.
Samuel pulled her out of her thoughts with a warm s€×y“ Hey babe!”
I smiled half heartedly. Only if I could just pour it out. All of it. But these walls, just like Sammy would always say: they have ears too.
I waved at Kome. My gestures were routine now and the lady understood. “ A drink from the bar, Please”
“ Yes ma’am” Kome said as she made way obediently, head bowed and almost into her shoulders, towards the bar.
What terrible things that lack of confidence and low self esteem does to uneducated people. Especially the female gender.
I have been doing alot of thinking today.
But this one I had to still think about it: After these crisis, I will make efforts to enforce a bill concerning the compulsory education ( and scholarsh¡p) for every girl child.
Even if I am no longer in power as the head of state, my political influence would be enough. I will stop or reduce human trafficking too. Among women and children. But one step at a time.
“ You are disturbed.” Samuel Alakara said. “We can talk now or continue this convo later if you wish.”
“ hey look here! Whats up? He said and dropped the book.
I nodded sideways.
“ Okay!” He ch¡pped in and continued with his book.
“ Do these walls really have ears? I began. “ Do you think someone is watching oir every step amd move?
“ Why’d you ask?” He said.
Kome had returned with the liquer bottle and glasses.
I collected one glass and poured myself a cupfull.
“ Just curious. But before you reply” I said “ Start by telling me what yoh wanted to say in the carbinet meeting yesterday”.
“ You call that a carbinet? Sammy began with an outburst.
“ Oh here we go again. Enough already! Please. ” I said “ I dont want to talk about what I should or shouldnt be doing in the discharge of my official duties. You think its easy making decisions?” I did not glance at him“ Then think twice”
“ I knew it! I saw this coming” He sighed after a while and continued with his book.
Then he closed it. I know he is angry. He tried to open it once more. No way! He cant go past a single sentence with anger. He finally closed it for good.
“ I saw on the news. ” He began“ Im only a bit too worried but yet happy that you didnt listen to me. “ He paused “ Again for the third time– you know what?… Do what you please from now on”
“Really? I uttered. I was going to tell him about my impeachment looming around the corner but I let it pass
“ And just because we are still talking , doesnt mean we are fine–” I started before I was cut short by a sound.
A cell phone rang into the silence of the air.
“ Where is that coming from? I asked as my eyes locked in with Sammy’s and then at Kome’s.
I returned them to Sammy. “ Wont you pick it up?
I realised it came from a drawer in th art ardoned room divider. It had silver wares on its shelf which cost me a fortune to procure from south Africa.
The object of attraction continued to ring in,side the drawer.
Samuel hesitated.
Impulsively, I rose to my feet and went forward for it.
He did the sam, even faster as he quickly grabbed the cell phone after I pulled the drawer open. My fingers barely glazed the cell when he whisked it, agrresively, away from my reach.
He retreated and picked up the dialer.
Bitter rage grew in,side me. I paced the room, wondering if he had other female flings aside from Stella.
************
Narrator.
Pain ripped his white face and literrally turned it greenish- purple. His eyes grew dim. He knew why the united states president refused to get involved with all these mess. His daughter had been stubborn. If only he had been extra careful. She would have stayed clear, and off the basement in their home for good.
Now it is terrible. She amplified the gadget.
He reckons. The US government had compensated him handsomely after his laboratory had been torn apart in 1993. They rewarded him with his heart desires: money and travel, to go places with his wife. He wanted her to have everything but the fact that he was impotent, made life miserable for him.
The only two people who knew about this were Lisa his wife, and Stella his secretary whom he confided in. Both were dead now with the secret remaining hidden forever. Or will it? He wondered.
Stella was a very quiet person but it would be too safe to assume that she kept her mouth entirely shut.
And then Lisa, his beloved wife. What if she had been clueless and told Kelly or even one of her few friends?
Then it eventually struck him that, in the first instance he should never have allowed her nursed another man’s sp**m cells. Even to think he let her have initial thoughts about it alone drives him nuts now. They had done the surgical procedure many years ago when he visited Nigeria as a consul.
Another man’s sp**m fertilized her ovaries.
She preffered the welcoming culture of the locals. There and then, she decided she wanted a sourvenir. That was when the idea crossed her mind:
“ Edgar… I want a baby” she said
“ Oh! A baby” He repilied “ We have talked about th honey… The doctors aaid in due time.”
“ Forget what the doctors said, sweet… I want one now. Please.”
“ Okay! ” His response was expected.
He gave her a rose he picked out of a bunch from a vendor’s table. He paid the dark skinned woman and told her to keep the change.Then he grabbed Lisa’s arm and gently gave her the rose.
They walked on in the streets of ikorodu, Lagos. The year was 1994. For a second, she did not get her mind off the topic as she kept the converstion alive ,“ Black is beautiful. I love their skin color. Eddie, you love it too, dont you?
“Sure” He had no reasons to argue. “Black is the new beautiful” He responded, having no clue what that even meant at the time.
Indeed. And these same black people were making life so beautiful for him. Terrible and beautiful as it stands now.
The Black man who had donated sp**m cells for the procedure remained annonymous. The doctors said it was best for everyone and assured them of his healthy lifestyle.
That was how he lived, loving the daughter of another man only because he wanted to do anything to make his wife happy.
But when Lisa passed, he blamed Kelly for everything.
He hated to love her and not being able to give Lisa other children before she died, made him weary. How she loved her daghter, made him angry.
Now, these same black hospitable citizens of this black nation had taken away the only gift he had always wanted Lisa to have. A child he could not give her. He had lost her. Both of them.
“ Damn it! He muttered as he wiped a stroke of tear trying to escape his eyes.
Earlier today, he had arrived the Yellow tower of the DSS with President Bukky Alakara. He had watched as her VP mocked her. He respected all the efforts she was making at bringing back his daughter. She sacrificed her men to meet with the requirments of the terrorists.
So far, he had nothing short of respect for her. Now he would contribute his own quota. He would mobilize his men at the Embassy led by Gerrard Finder to join forces with the DSS Marshals in their rescue mission.
He stood from his chair and paced the emerge room 001. Then back to his seat, lost in deep thoughts as he watched private Itoro Abasi giving Gerrard a gps tracking device. He also told the soldier about an ejectable memory core.
He remembered the memory core. It was very important and must remain top priority for the rest of their dealings with these terrorists.
Gerrard walked towards him. Itoro had walked away.
“ Worry not, sir” Mr Gerrard Finder said. His hand rested on the man’s shoulder. In a soothing manner.
“ You will see her again. Im certain”
“ Make the sonnoffabitch regret ever taking my daughter.” Mr Green began with his ch0leric temperament , “ Make him regret the day he was born. In split seconds, make him…” He adjusted his tie, dragged Gerrard a bit further and stared into his eyes, “ Make him wish for death. But dont let him have it.”
His eyes went to the Gps device. “ And one more thing.”
The GPs blinked as Gerrard waited on him to speak up.
*****
ITORO
I left Gerrard after giving him a GPS tracking device. I had instructed him how the cordinates worked.
Then , I left the man and went in dearvh of Ife.
If not for anything else, I had to keep my promise to Late Matthew.
“ …And keep her safe. Let no harm come to her”.
His last words before we path ways.
My instincts took me to the lavoratory and I heard someone sobbing. . .
I knocked.
The story continues….