Dedicated to ummsaadah

Chapter 32

It is true about the saying; Things have to go very bad, before they eventually get better!

EYARE

The man who opened the gates of the palace for Imade and I, had identified himself as Monday. Imade had him taken to the police station where he was interrogated.

He said Chief 'bazuaye had kidnapped my mother and taken her hostage, but he didn't know where.

Where were all the policemen that guarded my mom at the palace?

Monday had smiled an eerie smile then. "My oga sharp well well. Him bribe all the policemen, give them plenty money make them work for am." (My boss is a smart man, he bribed all the policemen with plenty money to work for him).

I had reeled with anger at his statement. I couldn't help myself as my hand connected with his face in a series of slaps, over and over again. He became weak and lay flopped against the chair like a rag doll. After that, he requested for water and drank like a fish that that had gone out of water for a long while.

He went ahead to paint a gory tale of how mother was almost poisoned, but the dog was fed with the food she was supposed to eat and died instead. Gloria the cook, had tried to cry wolf because she overhead a conversation between the two policemen that directly guarded my mum. They were talking about the plan to kill the queen, but they killed her so they wouldn't be exposed.

Shortly after that, mayhem broke out and they took my mum away with them in a police van. Chief 'bazuaye had showed up with him and chased everyone out and put him in charge of the palace.

I was so livid with anger and had tried to get at him again, but I was held back. I wouldn't have spared him that day, I would have beaten him black and blue.
Imade was relentless in her interrogation of him. She left no stone unturned, asking him question after question, trying to confuse him into telling the truth. She was like a machine, badgering him over and over again until he collapsed with sheer exhaustion. Still, she stood, firm and unyielding. I guessed it was her police training.

I, on the other hand, was exhausted from the journey and the emotions running riot in my head. My initial adrenaline had ebbed away, leaving me feeling empty. A carefully selected team of policemen were hand - picked by Imade that same day to catch Chief 'bazuaye in his home, but the search had come up empty. A thorough search of his home yielded nothing.

He had absconded and I was devastated at the news.

How on earth did he know we were on his tail and how was I going to find mother?

For all I knew, she was being maltreated at the terrible hands of the chief and I couldn't do a damn thing about it. This made me feel totally helpless. Imade said she had some leads and would continue on the hunt and I was extremely grateful with the way fate had played out by bringing her into the picture. So far, she had been a great source of strength and help in this otherwise bleak situation of mother's kidnap. She knew I struggled with depression over my missing mother.

I had also confided in her about the issue with Osagiede, but I was just so glad that was over now.

My chest tightened in anticipation of their coming tommorow. I was so excited.

Mother's kidnap had put a dampener on me these past three weeks, but the news of my wife and daughter coming, definitely put me in a good mood.

The heaviness in my chest lightened up considerably and I felt a pang of guilt.

Should I feel this way with mother still missing?

I shrugged off the guilt and swung my mind back to what Osagiede had said. She believed I had nothing to do with that devious woman called Onari. Finally, she believed me, but I wondered what had made her come to that conclusion.

I still hadn't told her about mother beinf kidnapped. I tried to, but every day I called, she never picked, not even once. That hurt, but it was okay now. I'm happy she reached out and they were coming to be wth me, to support me in this trying time.

My mind swung to work. I didn't know when I would get back, if I would even go back. I had called my partner to hold the forte, told him I was taking an extended leave. It just couldn't be helped. I had made up my mind that after mother got back, I would tell her I wanted to be crowned the next king.

It still seemed surreal to me, becoming the next king.

I looked over to where Osaze was sitting. He had been quiet and pensive ever since he came. Something was on his mind and I didn't want to ask, because I didn't want to burden him with more news about his father kidnapping my mother. I didn't know how he would take the news. His father used to maltreat him, I knew, even though he never said anything to me, but I could always tell.

When we were kids, we used to play with water in the compound. After awhile, mother would shout for us to come inside. So, wet and tired, we would go to my room for a change of clothes. When he bends to remove his soaking one's, I would see the lash marks on his back. There were old marks that were already fading, as well as fresh scars that were red and bloodied. He had seen me staring and quickly covered it up with the tee shirt I gave him. I didn't ask him anything. I figured if he wanted to tell me, he would.

Guess it was too embarrassing for him to talk to me about.

I knew instantly his father was mean.

I sighed, as my mind came back to the present.

No! I couldn't tell him what was going on.

"Hey, bro!" I turned to him, a smile on my face.

Why did he look guilty all of a sudden?

"My wife and daughter are coming tommorow." My heart picked up a bit at my statement. It would be such a relief to see them, at least that would be one thing settled. I drifted into my thoughts once more but noticed a sudden change in Osaze's demeanor. His back had stiffened visibly and he sat up straighter in the chair.

He was clearly uncomfortable, so I decided to ask him once and for all --- to know the truth and to still my suddenly erratic heart beat, and the nagging foreboding voice in my head, telling me he and Osagiede knew each other intimately. "Hey, do you --- " My phone rang out shrilly, cutting me off. I frowned at it, at first ignoring it. I was intent on finishing the question I meant to ask him. It stopped, but began ringing again, almost immediately.

I reached into my pocket for it.

It was Imade calling to let me know she was at the gate. She had some news to tell me about Chief 'bazuaye. I looked up at Osaze and sorrow laced my insides.

How was I going to break the news to him?

How on earth was I going to tell him his father had kidnapped my mother?

When mother hinted that my late father had political enemies, I didn't know his father was one of the people she had been referring to.

I snuck a glance at him once more. His head was thrown back against the head rest of the leather seat, and his eyes were closed. The only indication he was awake, was the clenching of his fists and the periodic tapping of his left foot which was crossed over his other leg. He was tense and nervous.

What had gotten him this way?

Osagiede's coming?

I would save the talk for later.

I had to let Imade in.

Taking one of the keys from the tray, I debated which of the cars to take.

I grabbed one, seeing I didn't have much time to spare, and stalked out of the lounge in a hurry. On driving to the gate, I opened it and was briefly taken aback at her appearance. She was in her black police uniform. She looked tough and official.

I complimented her and she smiled ruefully. She left her car at the gate and followed me in mine. We made quick work of the drive to the West pillar.

Once we got into the visitor's sitting room, Osaze was no longer seated, instead he was pacing around, wearing the carpet thin. He kept mumbling to himself and clenching and unclenching his fists. We stood looking at him for a few seconds. He must have sensed our presence, for he turned around . . . and the tension immediately dissipated from him, replaced with languid charm.

His eyes settled on Imade, and a lazy smile appeared on his lips as his eyes turned into green slits. He moved forward, and came to stand directly in front of Imade. He took her hand in his and slowly raised it to his lips, never once breaking eye contact with her.

I rolled my eyes.

He was turning up the charm, big time, but then I turned to look at Imade and my mouth fell open. She was soaking it up like oil on cotton cloth. She looked at him with big eyes and smiled shyly. I thought I had seen a lot, but this was the icing on the cake.

A police woman acting like a teenager?

What on earth was going on here?

She better not fall for him -- he was just a player.

He asked her name and she shyly told him with a smile on her face.

I groaned aloud. Time to step in.

"Alright, you two, break it up or find a room."

"Gladly!" Osaze drawled as he gazed at her, a gleam in his eyes.

She giggled and covered her other free hand with her mouth. The other one still perfectly ensconced in Osaze's. I briefly wondered if he would still woo her if he saw her in police action. He handed me her hand and I stared dully at it. He lifted one eye and inclined his chin. I shook my head, sighed and took the hand proffered. I patted it awkwardly and gently dropped it to her side.

Her eyes were still fixed solidly on him, so I cleared my throat. She blinked and looked away from him. The spell was finally broken.

Thank goodness!

She looked at me and smiled awkwardly and so I walked off, hoping she'd get the message and follow me. Yes, she followed me, but she did so with a slow gait, and a confused look on her face. I opened the library and stood waiting, as she slowly walked in and motioned for her to take a seat. She avoided my eyes and looked at everywhere but my face. Silence stretched on and I waited for her to speak. I could see she was struggling to put in words what she wanted to say.

"Look, I'm sorry!" She blurted out, suddenly. "I was taken unawares, by his ---- "

"Charm?" I asked, supplying an answer. She laughed a little, suddenly embarrassed. "Look, it's okay, I know how Osaze can be." I finished, shrugging.

"Osaze, huh?" She smiled. She perked up on hearing his name, so I blurted the first thing that came to mind. "Did you know he's chief 'bazuaye's son?"

She opened her mouth like a fish out of water, surprise taking its place on her face. After a few seconds, she closed it and her lips firmed into a thin line as if she had made a final resolve. "Then he must be taken to the police station immediately and interrogated." She stood up just then and was about walking out when I jumped up and quickly stood in front of her.

This was the Imade I had gotten to know, not the one I saw outside with Osaze. But I quickly saw the folly of my words. "Please, stop! You will do no such thing. That man is like my brother and we grew up together. Apart from that, he just came in from Lagos yesterday, said he was worried about me and needed to see me. He knows nothing about his father's machinations against my mother or my family. I have not even been able to tell him what his father did. I dont know how he will take it." My eyes pleaded with her for understanding.

As she stood looking at me, hands akimbo, it occured to me that she was always ready for any opposition. I pleaded with my eyes once more and she looked at me for some seconds more then nodded, and went back to seat down.

I heaved a sigh of relief.

"I came to tell you Chief 'bazuaye was spotted on the outskirts of town in a hotel, but by the time we got there, he had left in a hurry. We are still on the look out for him. He can't run away from us, we will find him very soon. I promise you."

The heavy feeling was back in my chest.

How long would my mother have to suffer because of this man?

How long would she remain captive?

And does he plan on ever releasing her?

Does he want to kill her? That last thought sent shivers down my spine.

I suddenly became scared.

Imade saw the look on my face and became alert. "What's wrong? Did you remember something -- anything that can help us find the queen?" She stood up.

"What if my mother has already been killed?" My voice came out in a hoarse whisper. She saw the terror on my face and stood up and came round to me to pat my back. I understood she was used to meting out punishment, not offering sympathy so her comforting me was a bit awkward for her.

"I won't let anything happen to her, I promise. You have to cling to the hope the queen is still alive. Don't ever think negatively please."

I nodded, wondering when everything would be over.

She left shortly after and I drove her to the gate, where she had left her car. She drove away, with promises of finding mother.

* * *

The day loomed bright and clear and Osagiede and my big baby, Eseosa arrived at the airport.

I went to pick them up and marvelled at how big Eseosa had grown.

In just three weeks --- was that even possible?

Yet, she was a living testimony.

She threw her hands around my neck and latched on, not letting me go, all the while chanting, dada. Osagiede had to drive us back to the town, because Eseosa stoically refused to let go of me and I couldn't possibly drive with her latched around my neck.

By the time we got home, she was out cold -- sleeping. I put her to bed and went to the kitchen to rustle up something for Osagiede to eat. I knew she would be hungry after the stress of the flight and tending to our daughter.

I had made some spaghetti shortly before leaving for the airport so I just popped it into the microwave and warmed it up a bit. After putting it on a tray, I carried it upstairs, all the while wondering where Osaze was. I hadn't seen him since I came and I'd forgotten to tell Osagiede he was around.

As I got to the top of the stairs, I heard voices arguing. They seemed to be coming from the end of the long corridor, the more I crept toward the source of the noise. So I walked on, stealthily, intent on finding out where it was coming from.

It was just Osagiede and I in this part of the house and Osaze's room was in the East pillar, so who else could be here?

I inched closer, but the voices had stopped.

Did I imagine them?

Then suddenly they started again. This time I was close enough to know where the source of the voices were coming from.

My room.

I heard Osagiede's voice. She sounded like she was castigating someone. That meant someone else was in my room. I suddenly felt a sense of dejavu, remembering when I had been in this same position, like an outsider --- an eavesdropper looking in on from outside.

On both occasions, they were not good.

I crept closer anyway, tray of food in hand and my heart beating frantically. The voices stopped, and I wondered if she had stopped talking, but then they picked up again.

"Look, I can't think of anyone else but you. I love you, can't you see that."

Hold on!

Was that Osaze"s voice?

What was he doing in my room?

Was he with Osagiede?

I suddenly knew the only way I was going to know if anything was going on between these two would be to eavesdrop on them. I stilled my rampart thoughts and crept closer. I was just one door away.

I was able to hear everything being said in the room clearly.

There was silence and this stretched on for some long seconds.

Had I imagine his voice, then?

The conversation picked up again.

"Get out of here Geoffrey! Just leave. You were a very big mistake I want to forget forever. What happened last year was very wrong on many levels and I'm married to Eyare and have a child with him, so don't ever come here telling me you love me, otherwise I will inform him you're pestering me." There was a tremor in her voice.

My hands began to shake and the the food rattled on the tray.

I willed myself to keep calm, but it was very difficult. I was livid with anger and pain. I was itching to burst in on them, but I needed to hear more. I stayed my anger and tried to listen above the din of my erratic heart beat.

I heard Osaze's voice next, imploring her -- begging her. "Please, let's forget about everything and just run away. Bring Eseosa too, I will be a father to her and we will make a wonderful family. I will never look at another woman again, I promise you. Let's just go now and Eyare will never know. We will spare him the pain by not telling him." His voice was imploring.

I know I should have entered at that moment. I know I should have confronted them, instead
I turned round with the food in my hand and walked down the long flight of stairs. I dropped the tray of food in the dining room and walked out of the house, towards the East pillar. My mind was blank. I was on auto - pilot. I moved with the precision of a machine, but I had the mind of a zombie.

I was going to throw him out this very second. I didn't care where he was going to go, I just wanted him out of the house.

He and his father were traitors.

My hands shook. Matter of fact, my whole body shook and I was filled with rage.

His father kidnapped my mother and he slept with my wife.

Wow! What a duo.

I saw red then, and fisted my hand in my hair and pulled. I felt searing pain.

It felt good. It felt damn good.

This removed my mind from the present reality around me. But only for a bit. And then it all came crashing back into my consciousness again and I began to run. I was filled with rage and fueled with adrenaline.

If I had gone into the room at that point in time, one of us would have been killed because I would not have been able to stop myself. I got to his room and pushed the handle of the door. It opened silently. His smell was everywhere, that damn traitor. I rushed to his cupboard and began throwing his clothes out. He hadn't brought much, just two shirts and a pair of trousers that were hung. I threw them out onto the floor. I looked around for a suitcase, but didn't notice any. Oh no, I wasn't going to pack his damn suitcase for him. I just needed to throw all his things out and get him out of here in disgrace.

I looked around for the suitcase, but only saw a black case hidden at the very back of the wardrobe. My hand closed around the handle and I dragged it out. It was quite heavy. It wasn't a suitcase, it was more like a brief case. I looked at it mindlessly, wondering what was inside, so I took it with me and sat down on the bed. My mind wanted to keep itself busy and my hands were curious, so I opened it.

Out spilled strange objects unto the bed. There were wooden effigies of different human sexes, tied with red clothes. There were other wierd - looking objects I was not able to describe.

And then I saw a photograph. I looked at it closely, and a chill swept through me at the sight.

It was a family picture of us -- father, mother and myself.

My anger was momentarily forgotten and I gaped at the things spread on the bed for some seconds, wondering what on earth it meant. There was a black cloth that had something wrapped inside it. It was separated from the rest. I debated on whether to open it, but as usual, curiosity got the better of me and I opened it tentatively.

My mouth fell open at what I saw.

It was father's staff of office. It shined golden bright against the black cloth it lay in. It was sequestered amongst some green, black and red looking objects.

What was it doing here?

My head reeled with confusion and I tried to make sense of what was going on. Then all the missing pieces clicked in my head. Osaze and his father actually were hands in glove all this while. He must even know where my mother is right now.

I would face him immediately and demand to know her whereabouts.

Nothing else mattered.

I didn't bother putting the contents back inside the case.

I got a hold of the staff, but as my hands grazed the strange objects surrounding it, something resembling live electricity passed though my finger tips and raced into my veins as warmth infused my entire being. It moved from my fingers and swept to other parts of my body, making me sweat profusely. I got up and made to walk to the door, but dark spots began to dance in front of my eyes and I felt terribly weak and dizzy.

I tried calling out, but no words issued forth from my lips. My throat was clogged up and my mouth felt dry and heavy.

I knew I was going to die, and I regretted so many things in an instant. I saw my life flash before me. The betrayal of my wife with my cousin, and the regret that I wouldn't be able to do anything to find my mother.

I fell to the ground and the golden staff slipped from my hands. My vision began dimming rapidly, and I blinked back tears from my eyes.

I couldn't feel anything. I was numb all over.

Just before I gave up to the blackness, I thought of my late father and how he must have died at the hands of his enemies.

A/N: 😥😔😖😭😭😭

Poor Eyare! What a terrible way to find out about the affair between Geoffrey/Osaze, his brother from another mother and Osagiede his wife, smh!

This is a terrible fate, indeed!

Sound off in the comments and tell me what you think guys.

I'm gonna go cry in the corner.

😩😢😢