Episode 14
Husband Material
As the officers approached Oliver, I stood up to shield him from them.
“What is the meaning of this?”. I asked.
“Stay out of this, ma’am. You don’t know this man”. The officer said.
“I am not staying out. This is my house, you can’t just walk in, and arrest anyone”. I said.
“It’s okay”. Oliver said from behind me.
I moved aside and watched as he got on his feet , and surrendered his hands to the police.
He was handcuffed, and taken away.
“This man is innocent, infact, I suspect the one that alerted you”. I was saying to one of the officers, as we go outside.
He smiled.
“Madam, you don’t know this man”. He said.
I went to talk to another officer but none of them paid attention to me.
I stood outside the compound, watching as he was pushed into the van, and they drove off.
After they left, I turned around to see Eric, Diana and Rita, standing behind me.
“What just happened?”. Diana asked.
I went, and grabbed Eric by the collar.
“What did you just do?”. I asked.
“Leave my cloth make I explain”. He said, trying to break free from me.
Diana slapped him from behind.
“You still get mouth to speak?”. She yelled.
He turned his head to stare at her angrily for awhile, before he shrugged and continued struggling to break free from my grip.
Rita moved forward, and started pulling me away from him.
“Regina, I don’t think this is necessary, just calm down and let him explain”. She said.
“Let him explain what?, what does he have to explain?”. Diana asked.
“Let her hear him out before she starts judging him”. Rita insisted.
“Rita, what are you saying?. This guy just called the cops on my boyfriend, accusing him of a crime he knows nothing about”. I replied, still holding unto his collar.
“Which boyfriend?. She smiled
. …Regina what is the color of your problem?. Are you not seeing that the guy is a scammer?”. She asked.
“Rita, stop this!”. Diana yelled.
“Rita, I don’t like this, please stop. I know you have problem with all the men, but that doesn’t mean you should talk about my man anyhow”. I had to warn her.
“Seriously?. You know I’m surprised at the two of you, especially at you, Gina. You amaze me. Like you didn’t hear the officers address that guy as Solomon instead of the ‘Oliver’ he told you was his name?”. She reminded.
And that was when I thought of that. My grip on Eric loosened, and he broke away.
Oliver?, Solomon?.
“Ehh, what if Oliver.. what if he has two names, two different names, Oliver and Solomon. It’s possible, right?”. I asked.
Rita shook her head.
“I believe the police know him better, if not why would a dozen police men, all armed come just to arrest one person?”. She observed.
“God, please, let this not be what I’m thinking!”. I exclaimed, and started running into the house.
Stella was standing in the living room when I ran in.
“Regina, what is happening?. Have the kidnapers called?”. She asked.
“Please, help me keep that nylon in the room, I will be back”. I was referring to the money Oliver left on the couch.
I picked my car keys and ran out again.
Rita jumped into the car, but Diana said she needed to attend to something urgently.
As we drove through the open gate, I stopped to look at Eric for a while before I drove off.
Charity joined us on the way.
“Have the kidnapers called yet”. Rita asked, while I was pulling over in front of the station.
I checked my phone, and shook my head.
“I just hope nothing happens to my dear Alicia”. I prayed silently.
We went straight to the office of the DPO to hear from him.
“That guy is a hardened criminal, he has been in the federal wanted list for ages”. He said.
“What has he done?”. I asked.
“He is a full-time kidnaper”. He further explained.
“I believe there’s a mixed up somewhere. Oliver is not a criminal, he is a contractor”. I tried to explain.
“Oliver?. He chuckled.
…Well, I’m not surprised . He is fond of using different identity in any State he finds himself. But his real name is Solomon Bassey. He explained further.
I exchanged a quick glance with Rita.
….as for being a contractor, he didn’t lie about that. He is into contract kidnapping. And I can bet you, he is sharing the ransom with someone very close to you”. He continued.
We exchanged suspicious glances again.
“Five years ago, a young man was kidnapped a night before his wedding. Though his family paid the ransom, Solomon and his boys shot him twice on the chest before they escaped with the money”. He replied.
“Jesu!. So he killed the young man after collecting the ransom?”. Charity asked again.
“So they thought, but miraculously he survived, unknown to them”. He said.
“Thank goodness he survived”. Rita exclaimed.
“Where is he?”. I asked.
I was actually referring to Oliver. I wasn’t really interested in whatever they were saying at that moment. But the DPO thought I was asking about the the young man that was shot, so he said the most shocking of all.
“He was the same guy that alerted us?”.
“Eric?”. I exclaimed.
“Her gateman?”. Charity said.
“Gateman?”. The officer was alarmed.
“Yes, Eric is Gina’s gateman, and he was the one that brought you to the house”. She explained.
“This is unbelievable!”. The officer exclaimed.
“What about my daughter?”. I asked.
“We strongly believe they have him”. He said.
“Hope they are not going to harm her. I was warned never to get you guys involved”. I expressed my fear.
“Nothing will happen to your daughter . Since we already have the leader, the others will find their way, and flee. He assured.
On our way home, Diana called.
I was too tired to speak with anyone.. I had a lot going on in my head. It was Rita who picked the call, and placed it on loudspeaker.
“Don’t tell me y’all believe what that police man said”. Diana was saying from the other end.
“Of course, we did. That man is a well-known kidnaper”. Rita said.
“No now, I think you’re smarter than this. This is a made-up story to tarnish the image of the young man. Charity is there, nne, hope you didn’t believe this?”. Diana asked.
“I did oo, though I’m a bit confused. Because from the little knowledge I have about kidnapers, they don’t kidnap the poor and wretched, they have the cannibal of people they go for. The question now is, Who is this Eric?”. Charity said.
“You see the reason why I said it is a made-up story. Who knows Eric?”. She continued.
“Maybe he has a rich uncle or something”. Rita said.
“I know you, Rita, I know you are going to believe this with all your heart. But don’t forget that Oliver contributed 30% of the ransom…”. Diana continued.
And that has been my greatest confusion. If Oliver is really the kidnaper, why will he bring 30% of the money demanded?. I have been asking myself same question ever since we left the station.
“I just hope Eric didn’t plot this”. I muttered.
When we got home, I packed outside, and knocked at the gate.
“Just calm down, and talk to him”. Rita pleaded before Eric could open.
We stepped in, and waited for him to close the gate. I stared at him for some times before I was able to speak.
“Did you tell the officers you were a victim of kidnap?”. That was the first word that came out of my mouth.
But before he could answer, there was a gentle tapping at the gate.
He peered through the hole, and shook his head. But then I pulled the gate open immediately, and Alicia fell facedown into the compound.
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Typing 15
