©️Opeyemi Akintunde
AS INSPIRED BY THE LIVING WORD
I was already going CRAZY!!!.
We were at the police station and at first the officers at the front desk told us to return the next day as we had to wait 24 hours before reporting a missing person but when Aunty Yemi got to see the DPO, the case was given immediate attention.
F.D showed the D P.O Promises’ picture on his phone.
The D.P.O, had a strange look on his face on seeing her picture.
“This face is familiar…”
I watched as the D.P.O looked intently at the picture and checked on his Laptop. He looked like he was comparing the picture with another picture on the system.
“Was this woman once married before marrying you?”
“Yes” F.D answered
“Interesting…What was the name of the husband?”
“Shola”
“Shola Anthony.”
“Yes…You know her?”
“There has been a manhunt for her for a few months. Investigation shows that she duped a few online loan banks using her husband’s identity. She took some loans using her husband’s business documents, and assets. She dubiously wired the loans to an online account that could not be traced to her. She did a lot of online investments, but she didn’t realize her late husband had very powerful and loyal friends who hired top IT guys to find out what really happened. They have been trying to locate her for months now…”
It felt like the world was crashing under my feet, I looked towards F.D and he looked the same.
To me, I could not believe ‘sweet Promise’ could be a schemer, but F.D looked like he had seen this coming…
“Tell me she wasn’t the one who killed her husband?” F.D asked
“Not physically, but emotionally. Her husband could not cope with his loss, so he died in his sleep.”
“Jesus is Lord!” Aunty Yemi exclaimed.
“But why would she kidnap your sister’s children?” the DPO asked
“Sir, it is a bit complicated” Aunty Yemi said…
Aunty Yemi explained our complicated situation to the D.P.O…
“Wow, what stupid love did you have for her that made you leave your wife for her. That is the mistake a lot of men make, they always feel the grass will be greener on the other side. Now, that she is about to destroy what has taken you years to build, how is her love in your heart presently?
“Dead?”
“Besides, do you know when all of this is over, you both…especially you Mr. Friday will go to prison for a minimum of 7-10 years”
“Sir! Why?”
“Because of your Bigamy. You married another woman while still legally married to one. Section 370 of the Criminal Code Act states that Any person who, having a husband or wife living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven years.”
“Ha! Ha! I am finished…Leni and I dissolved the marriage between us before I went into the one with Promise…”
“Did you get a divorce?
“No…”
“You are in trouble. First with this evil Mrs Promise, and also with the Law”… The D.P.O said
I died and rose…I connected the dots.
Promise must have realized I was married to F.D and she decided to kidnap the children to punish myself and F.D.
”No! My children will not be scapegoats.” I cried out.
*****
I kept assuring myself that my grandson would be found. God had said he was going to use him to compensate me, and he was still a child. I had not received any form of compensation over him. He had not gone to the university yet, talk less of having a career, or even getting married and having his children.
As we sat in the police station in front of the D.P.O, there was so much fear in the air about the situation at hand but I kept telling my spirit man…
“Peace be still!”
*****
Leni’s phone rang. On checking the caller ID, it was Promise…
“She is calling”
“Put it on speaker…” The D.P.O said
“Hello, Promise…where are you and the kids?” Leni asked calmly
“Far, Far away…I am looking for a perfect place to butcher them”
“Promise, please…I beg you, if you want to punish F.D and I please do, don’t hurt the innocent children please.”
“How best can I hurt you if I don’t kill what belongs to you both. I know Roland does not belong to F.D, but he partially belongs to you, so Greg who is the mutual child of you both goes first after which I kill Roland too.” Promise said
“Promise, I am sorry for hiding the truth from you, I was so much in love with you and didn’t want to lose you that was why I left Leni for you”
“You left Leni for me, but you were spending my sweat on her monthly. Do you freaking know how I made all that money just to marry you. I killed my husband, idiot…because he hurt me and that’s exactly what I will do to your children.”
“Promise, but you are not a saint either, you and I know that Kira is not mine” I said trying to weakened her justification power.
“Yes, thankfully she is not yours. After dealing with you and discarding your children, my daughter and I will disappear…”
She ended the call abruptly…
****”
“Ha! This woman has finished me. Officer, please find her for me” I screamed
“We will do our best. Let’s hope for this best, because hearing her shows she is going to do exactly what she has set her heart to do. She is not asking for any ransom, she only called to inform you of her plan. Aunty Yemi, at this point it is only prayer that you can trust. We will do our best by putting out a manhunt for her, possibly put some money to it. Anyone who can tell of her whereabouts would be rewarded.”
“Ok sir…” F.D said
“How much are you willing to give the informant as a reward?” the D.P.O asked
“A million” F.D said
“I will make it two million” I added
“I will make it three million” Aunty Yemi said.
“Ok, apart from this reward, we need some money so as to put some search announcement on air” the D.P.O said.
I could tell the D.P.O also wanted to make some cash but it was the least of my concern.
“No problem sir, we will give you all that you want” I said
“We will need the pictures of the boys and the woman”
To be continued….
