HOPE IT'S OVER 5

It's some weeks after the whole incidents, and the two families were already alarmed as it appeared all wedding preparations were on hold. My step dad and mum stopped by during the weekend at my flat to show their worries and concern. I lied to them I lost our diamond rings just as I had to Steve and the police, and would need to make new savings to get another one. They were puzzled with fact that I was the one bearing the weight of the wedding rings, and not the man in picture.

I wished I could disclose my ugliest secret to my parents, but I just couldn't, especially to my gentle step father. The subject wouldn't be any news to mum because she herself was a killer. If you ever wondered how I grew the boldness to seek Gabriel's life, or where I got the heart to attempt a murder on him, it was from my mother. It wasn't really my wish to want to execute Gabriel but he pushed me to the wall and left me with no option than to seek his precious life just as my late father barely left mum with no other option.

His colleagues at the beer parlor called him Brewery, you could imagine, my own father! He would leave home as early as 6:30am for the pool to try his unlucky luck. Though there were times he got so lucky and would catch a big number. Mum was never interested in the gain he made than for him to change and stop abusing her, using her as a punching bag later in the night. Even if he were Anthony Joshua, there should be a limit. Mum's cry woke me up from my sleep one Saturday night, that weekend she sent dad on an errand to heaven, a shop of no return. Mum was the one crying, but dad was the one in cold blood, baptised in his own cells.

Could I say that was dad's blood? I entered the room and found mum holding a knife against his heart. What should be blood that ought to be gushing was not really blood. It was then I realised dad was not just to be called Brewery alone but also Tobacco. Biology and common sense taught me that blood was red, but dad's own violates the natural principles. Should mum had left him, should she had not stabbed him, with the color of his blood, he was sure to have counting days left, like a tick tock.

Don was really a son of a bitch, he should have told me he wasn't the one who murdered Gabriel after he got his balance. Just telling me might make no more sense, but I felt relieved that the case could not be traced to me. If truly Don had no stained hands in Gabriel's murder, I thought there shouldn't be any fear for me. However, the police's picture kept occupying my every imagination and it always instill fear into my heart. Maybe I wasn't just imagining it, maybe it's because they were all over me. I became a suspect.

I had already seen them all over the street in the morning while I was having my morning exercise. I was having my sport kits on, and my earpiece connected to my android, listening to blues as I jogged through the estate. I noticed one of them to be an officer at the police station where I had gone to give my statement after my flat was broke into. I could sense they were over me and were monitoring me. I was curious why I would have them on me. How could I be the suspect for the theft that happened in my own flat? Or could it be about Gabriel? No. It couldn't. Don didn't kill him, which means I had nothing to do about it. But why could they be monitoring me?

I was returning from the jogging exercise when my phone rang, it was Don. I stole a glance at the corner I had seen one of the police hid himself. I noticed he quickly placed an headphone over his ear. I wasn't a fool, I knew they needed to be in close range so they could intercept with my calls, they needed to be within frequency. I confirmed they were suspecting and monitoring every of my activities. I refused to pick Don's calls, and I knew what it could cause, but I wanted to believe Don would be smart enough to understand my actions, why I wasn't picking his calls.

Maybe it was time I played on the Nigerian Police. I scrolled through my contacts to entertain the less busy police. Yea, I got it, Susanna. 

"Hello. HaSussy baby."

"Eeeee, girlfriend. Ugh ughn! You remembered me today."

"Yea. I remembered you and all of your troubles."

"Ugh ugn! But I have changed o."

"You surely have no choice than to change, especially when you have twins sucking and draining your breasts. You will change." I whined.

"Yea, yea. I love my kids. They are the one troubling me now. The worst part of it is that they don't get satisfied at all. They almost ruined my milking company yesterday. I felt I should take them to their father, and suck him out too."

"Haaaaaa. You're not serious. You will never change."

"That's it o, girlfriend. What's supping with your wedding preparations?"

I was happy Susanna asked that question. I raised the curtain at the dinner room to the left a bit to steal some glances at the jobless police. I could see two of them enjoying our conversation. "Yea, wedding preparation is going well, just that..." I paused.

"What?"

"Some thieves broke into my apartment some weeks ago and stole my diamond rings."

"Oh! Sorry about that."

"Thanks, dear."

"And have you reported to the police?"

"Yea, I reported to them and they have made me their suspect in return."

...

I was sure I hit them hard as both cops exchanged glances and withdrew the headphone. That was how I planned to deal with them till they left, but they wouldn't leave.

 I took my bath, got dressed and headed for Steve's place. His place was free, no police hanging around his house. Well, he was innocent and gentle, no one could have reasons to bother him. He prepared coffee for me while I sat before his plasma screen enjoying my African Magic.

"So who's your favorite actor?" I asked.

"Paul Walker." He whined.

"Come on, I mean in Nollywood."

"Okay. That should be..."

The knock on the door interrupted his answer. He left for the door and opened, only for the police I left in my estate to appear at Steve's house. Four of them entered while others secured the perimeter.

"Good morning, sirs. How may I help you?"

"Mr. Steve, right?

"Yea."

"From Bodija police station," The detective said, displaying his ID card, "You are under arrest for the murder of Gabriel Smith and the theft of Ms. William's diamond rings. Please, cooperate for any word you say now will be used against you in the court of law."

I became dumbfounded, and shocked and grew so weak from within. The theme of hell grip me tightly. Though the AC was on but I could feel this horrible cold as though I were in ice. I turned my reddened eyes to Steve for him to deny what he was accused of, but the look on his face admitted the charges, with little or no regrets. "Why?" That was all I could scream. Tears uncontrollable. "Why, why, Steve?"

Story by: MICHEALHADEN & TABITHA