A LIFE APART
EPISODE 7
Written by Rukevwe merry
Annabel stormed into the kitchen, slamming the door. “Mom, I need to talk to you!” she exclaimed. Clara, sensing her daughter’s distress, put down the breakfast dishes.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Clara asked. “Dad doesn’t care about me anymore,” Annabel said, tears welling up. “He only pays attention to Mirabel.”
Clara gently took Annabel’s hands. “Your father is trying to fill the void of many years, dear. He loves you just the same.” But Annabel refused to listen, her anger and jealousy simmering.
The next morning, Annabel saw her father laughing and playing with Mirabel. Her anger boiled over. She stormed out of the house, got into her car, and sped away.
As she drove, her emotions clouded her judgment. She lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into a tree. Furious, Annabel kicked the blown-out tire.
Seeking refuge, she entered a nearby roadside shop, still fuming. In uniform, she ordered a drink, trying to calm down. Suddenly, a customer recognized her.
“You’re the one who st0le my car!” he shouted. Annabel quickly realized the man must be mistaking her for Mirabel.
“Wait, please listen!” Annabel pleaded, trying to defuse the situation. But the man’s alarm drew a crowd of angry youths. Annabel panicked, offering the man money.
An evi! thought crept in, and Annabel proposed, “What if I give you more money? I’m a police officer. My sister is the one who st0le your car. I’ll give you more money if you file a police complaint.”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “But she’s your sister. Why send her to jail?” Annabel’s expression turned cold. “She’s a cr.m:nal. I’ve tried to stop her, but she refused.” “You’ll get justice for those she’s st0len from and prevent future théfts.” The man’s face lit up with greed. “Okay, I understand. Give me $20,000.” Annabel nodded, pulling out her phone to make the transfer. “I’ll double it.” The man’s eyes sparkled as he gave Annabel the account number, and she quickly transferred the money.
Together, they went to the police station to file a report. A sketch artist worked on a composite based on the man’s description. As the sketch materialized, officers gasped. “It’s…Annabel,” someone whispered. But Annabel stood beside the man, calm and collected. “It’s not Annabel; I think it’s one of her triplet sisters,” an officer clarified.
The police station erupted into chaos. “Let’s bring Mirabel in,” an officer declared. With the man, they headed to Aaron’s mansion to arrest Mirabel.
As they arrived, Clara answered the door. “Can I help you?” she asked, sensing unease.
“Ma’am, we have a warrant for Mirabel’s arrest,” Officer James announced.
Clara’s face fell; she knew her daughter’s past but didn’t expect this.
Aaron emerged, furious. “What’s going on?”
The man stepped forward, his voice venomous. “She st0le my car two years ago.”
Aaron’s eyes widened. “What’s the value of the car?”
“Ten thousand dollars,” the man replied.
Aaron’s face softened. “We’ll pay you the money or buy you another car. Let’s settle this outside the station.”
But the man’s anger wouldn’t subside. “No, I want her to pay. I want the law to punish her so she won’t dare ste@l again.”
Officer James intervened, his voice firm. ” Mr. Aaron let us do our job.”
Aaron pleaded, “Officer, can’t we resolve this without involving the courts?”
But the man’s malice lingered. “I want justice. She’s a repeat offender.”
Clara’s eyes pleaded. “Please, can’t we settle this?”
The man sneered. “You should have thought of that before she st0le from me.”
Officer James led Mirabel away in handcuffs. “You have the right to remain silent…”
Aaron’s world crumbled.
“Dad, please!” Mirabel begged, tears streaming down her face.
Aaron’s voice broke. “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll do everything to get you out.”
As the police sirens faded, Clara clung to Aaron.
Aaron quickly called Annabel to inform her, but she didn’t pick up.
“Annabel’s not answering,” Aaron said, his voice trembling.
Clara suggested, “Try Christabel; she’s a lawyer.”
Aaron dialed Christabel’s number.
“Christabel, it’s Mirabel. The police are taking her in for a past cr!me,” Aaron explained.
Christabel’s voice remained calm. “Dad, I’m on it. I’ll get to the station and sort this out.”
Tbc
