Even The Rich Also Cry episode 16 – 17

Even The Rich Also Cry episode 16
Major Festus: “Doctor Doyin, good morning. Please what is the situation now, with my son, I mean?” he asked.
Florence flinched on hearing his tone. She knew he had seen her and Doyin. What worried her was what he had heard. If he gets an idea of her intentions then all her planning will come to naught.
Doyin: “there is improvement but like I said yesterday, he needs to be monitored for some days before he is given a clean bill of health.” He replied standing up.
Major Festus nodded his head and turned to go.
Doyin: “your wife…” he said then stopped when Major Festus turned to him.
Major Festus: “is in good hands. I expect she has recovered quite well.” He replied, his eyes cold, then he left the room.
Doyin turned to Florence to see the fear in her face.
Florence: “he knows or he suspects something.” She said, her voice shaking.
Doyin shook his head and immediately left the room without saying a word. As soon as he was gone, Florence brought out her phone and dialed Olamide’s line. He picked on the fourth ring. She wrinkled nose in distaste when she heard the sound of loud music playing in the background.
Florence: “where are you?” she asked, irritated.
Olamide: “I am where I am supposed to be.” He replied angrily. His voice slurred over the phone like he had been drinking.
Florence frowned then she sighed. “One has to make do with what one has even if it is a drunken old fool.” She thought to herself. “Are you ready?” she asked.
Olamide: “yeeees…” he said then he belched loudly. “Just say the word and it is done.” He added.
Florence: “okay, I am in the hospital now, so it is a good time to get it over with. Okay?” she said, her eyes gazing at the door to her room.
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Major Festus entered Desmond’s room to meet him watching the television. The boy looked up as he entered and smiled and for a moment, he felt good. He walked close to the bed and sat down beside him.
Desmond: “when his aunty Martha coming?” he asked, a small frown on his face.
Major Festus: I don’t know o. let me call her and find out okay?” he replied, bringing out his phone from his pocket.
He dialed Egbe’s number and she picked on the second ring. He told her that Desmond was asking after her. She laughed and promised to be by the hospital after work. He ended the call and tunred to Desmond.
Major Festus: “you like Aunty Martha ehn?” he asked, smiling.
Desmond: “she is nice and she smiles.” He replied, adjusting his head on the pillow, so he can look at his father properly.
Major Festus: “yes she is.” He said, then he sighed and turned to look at the television.
Desmond: “she does not make me scared like mommy.” He added after some time.
Major Festus back to look at him, worry in his eyes. He knew that Florence had never hidden her dislike for the boy, but he didn’t know the boy had observed it too.
Major Festus: “mommy has things on her mind that is why she does not show her love but she loves you.” he replied.
Desmond: “she told me that she will sell me to child traffickers, if I come near her again.” He said softly. “Daddy, what do child traffickers do?” he asked.
Major Festus turned suddenly at his son and a vein pulsed on his chin as he thought of the things he would love to do to Florence when she had recovered from the poisoning, then he sighed wearily; “I should have left him with his family. He would have had love there. Money seems not to have given him the kind of attention and care, he deserves. It is not too late. I can look for the mother and hand him over to her before Florence reveals the full extent of her depraved idea of fun on him. Once he gets out of the hospital, I will set about looking for his mother.” He thought to himself as he gazed at Desmond.
Major Festus: “she was only kidding, son, do not mind what she says. No one will take you to child traffickers.” He replied.
The boy looked at him dubiously and turned back to the television.
Olamide and Nico drove in a car towards Major Festus’ house. They went down the street and mapped out strategic places to hide before the hit. They also observed the houses around for the one that was possibly empty. Nico had sent two of his gang members, two girls, to go round the neighbourhood to confirm if there was an empty house around and the girls had found two; one was being contested by the family of a late judge, so nobody lived in it. The owners of the other one had travelled out of the country. It was that one they picked out as their hideout. Nico called to an associate and gave the man directions and they drove away.
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Egbe got to the hospital after work and she was glad to see Desmond as much as he was glad to see her. She played and laughed with him, while Major Festus watched them, a satisfied smile on his l-ips. After some time, Desmond became drowsy and fell asleep. Egbe moved to the window and stared out into the early evening sky. Festus soon came to join her there.
Egbe: “how is your wife?” she asked, without turning to look at him.
Major Festus: “she has obviously recovered.” He replied
Egbe: “the doctor says that she and Desmond are being poisoned.” She said, turning to face him.
Major Festus: “doctor Doyin is a quack.” He replied.
Egbe: “this is serious, Festus! We are talking about my….s… friend and your wife here.” She retorted angrily, then she turned quickly to see if she had woken Desmond. The boy snored softly, oblivious to the discussion.
Major Festus: “I found the woman you are very sure is being poisoned in the arms of said doctor.” He replied softly, turning away from her.
Egbe: “does that mean that he is not telling the truth? He suspects you, you know?” she said.
Major Festus: “and you, who do you suspect?” he asked.
Egbe: “I suspect your brother, Olamide.” She replied.
Major Festus stared at her for a minute then he suddenly bent her k-ssed her. Egbe’s hands instinctively moved to push him away but instead they grabbed him and drew him close as the k-ss deepened and all the restrained emotions were released.
Someone coughed and both of them sprang apart and turned to see Doyin standing at the door, his face a mask of indifference.
episode 17
Egbe stepped away from Major Festus’ arms, suddenly uncomfortable. She could see the disgust in Doctor Doyin’s eyes. She didn’t want anyone to think that she was a home breaker or anything like that. She quickly walked to the bed and placed a k-ss on Desmond’s head and rushed out of the room. Doyin and Major Festus stared at each other, their obvious dislike for each other becoming obvious for the first time. Major Festus shook his head and rushed out after Egbe. Doyin stared at the sleeping Desmond in anger, then he too, ran outside. He got to the hospital car park, just to see Egbe enter Major Festus’ car and they drive off.
“They are probably going to finish what they started somewhere else.” He thought to himself. He entered his own car and trailed after them.
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Major Festus: “I am sorry for k-ssing you. I could not help myself.” He said, darting to look at her quickly before turning back to the road ahead.
Egbe simply nodded and stared on. She didn’t know what to say; “It wasn’t your fault, I let you. I even enjoyed it as much as you did.” Or does she say; “Major you are a married man, and I am not even supposed to be here, alone, with you.” all these thoughts ran through her head but she said nothing; she just kept her face faced forward.
Major Festus looked at her from time to time, then he sighed. As they got close to Egbe’s home, a truck used for carrying timber from the forest burst out of a side street and hit the car. The car spun on the road then ran into a ditch on the side of the road. The truck stopped and two men came down and started walking towards the car, when suddenly a gun fired and one of the men fell on the road, the other man ran back to the truck, jumped in and drove away; bullets pursuing him.
Major Festus kicked his door open and stepped out of his car, holding his service pistol.
He had taken to carrying it about him for some months now and he thanked God that he had followed his instincts. He was bleeding in his arm but he could barely feel the pain; his military training had kicked in as soon as his rearview mirror caught the truck coming at them with full speed. He looked around for any other attackers but saw no one. He rushed to Egbe’s side of the car. He saw that she was unconscious. He placed his hand on her neck and he could feel the fluttering beat of blood still pumping in,side her. He breathed a sigh of relief and turned as a Lamborghini drove up and Doctor Doyin rushed out of the car; his face a mask of fear.
Major Festus: “thank God, you are here. She is unconscious.” He said, forgetting to wonder at Doyin’s presence in that area.
Doyin joined him and between them, they were able to lift Egbe’s comatose body out of the car and placed her in Doyin’s car. Major Festus called one of his drivers to come and pick him up as soon as Doyin drove away. The man arrived and drove Festus back to the hospital.
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At the hospital, Major Festus tried to get information on Egbe’s state but he is shushed by a chubby nurse and led away to a room where his injuries were checked and treated. He felt dizzy having lost a lot of blood. The injury in his arm was stitched and a doctor examined him for any broken bones or internal injury.
Doyin, after leaving Egbe with other doctors, quickly rushed to Florence’s room. He entered and closed the door behind him.
Doyin: “you sent assassins after your husband?” he asked softly.
Florence opened her eyes which had been closed and stared at him for some minutes.
Florence: “what are you talking about?” she asked, frowning.
Doyin: “what games are you playing? Your husband was hit by a truck this evening and the men in the truck came out with the intent to do evil. They only stopped after your husband started firing at them. I think he killed one of them sef.” He replied harshly.
Florence: “so he is still alive. That is very sad.” She muttered to herself, then she raised her head and saw Doyin’s surprised look; “Awww… come on. Don’t act like you are innocent. You know what is at stake here. You better keep you weakness to yourself or you and I would end up in an unpleasant place, do you understand me?” she asked harshly.
Doyin: “is that a threat?” he asked softly.
Florence: “just go treat somebody or something lover boy.” She replied, obviously irritated.
Doyin stared at her quietly then the abruptly turned and left the room. As soon as he was out, Florence got up from her bed and slowly walked out of her hospital room.
Festus after been confirmed as healthy apart from the injury on his arm, left the doctor and went to check on Egbe. He was informed that she was still in shock and had not opened her eyes yet. He hung around for a bit but when he realised that he was not going to see her any time soon. He decided to go check on Desmond. He entered the boy’s hospital room to see Florence bent over him
Major Festus: “what are you doing?” he asked, softly; his eyes watching her intently.
Florence turned and sighed. She sat down on the bed and stared at Desmond’s sleeping form.
Florence: “by now, Desmond will be ten years old.” She said softly.
The pain of the memory flashed in Festus’ eyes. He turned away and looked at his son.
Florence: “you have forgotten about him, haven’t you? You have forgotten his smile, the way he laughed, the way he walked, you have forgotten all of that, haven’t you? You have replaced him with this.” she said, nodding to Desmond on the bed.
Major Festus: “I do not know where this conversation is headed.” He replied, finally turning to look at her.
Florence: “why did you take him from the policeman, Festus? Was it to punish me? It was a mistake, I swear. The driver said he could do it, I trusted him. I was with no man that day, I swear.” She said.
Major Festus just looked at her; he said nothing.
Florence: “please, let me go. I am tired. My father is dead and gone. whatever promises you made to him is null and void; please.” She cried.
Major Festus: “I made a promise to your father. I can’t go back on my word. You will not bring shame and disgrace to the name of an honorable man.” He replied.
Florence: “okay, okay… settle me, let me pay you half of my inheritance. i will stay married to you.” she said
Major Festus: “your father’s will was clear. If we path ways we loose everything. if not for this boy, i will gladly be rid of you but no it can’t happen.”
Florence: “you are a bastard Festus! you and your dirty son…” she said, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She looked at him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She suddenly got up and left the room.
Desmond opened his eyes slowly and gazed around the room then he turned to his father. Major Festus was gazing into the distance, his hand rubbing his bandaged arm absentmindedly.
Desmond: “is she gone, daddy?” he asked, tentatively.
Major Festus: “yes son, she is gone.” he replied, without turning around.
He was worried. He knew that is marriage was not built on love and all that rom-ntic stuff, but they had been comfortable; they had understood each other, even became friends after a sort. This sudden itch to get out of this marriage was suspicious. “That woman is up to something. I need to get to the bottom of it. and i suspect, it has something to do with her father’s will.” he thought to himself.
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Olamide’s eyes did not leave Nico as he reported to him that they had not been successful in the assassination attempt. When the man was done talking, he got up and finished his drink.
Nico: “you are not saying anything?” he asked, staring at Olamide curiously.
Olamide: “if you want to do something well, do it yourself. I will need a gun.” he said, his eyes hærd with determination.
Nico: “I can still make it right. Give me another chance.” He replied, standing up too.
Olamide: “Nico just get me a gun. I will kill him myself.” He said.
Question: Olamide has not given up; will he succeed this time? Doyin seems to have crush on Egbe; do you feel he has a chance to win her heart?