Shades Of Romance đź«‚
Episode 29 & 30
However nothing extraordinary happened days after the meeting. Giving Jenifer and I the peace we badly needed to recover and move on with our lives.
I was now a lone ranger with no friends nor relatives to watch my back in the great city of Benin. All i had left was Jenifer, Joe and my gas stations but i still looked towards the positive side of life, hoping that with time my sins would be forgiven by the people i wounded.
Exactly one week later, precisely on a Saturday. I took Jenifer to my village for her to at least see some of my uncles and equally know where i came from.
It really wasn’t easy taking her home, knowing fully well that our story was already making headlines in my village.
Of course Jenifer was scared, but i strongly asked her to be strong.
“live is full of fights. You can’t survive without fighting. Fight this battle with me dear” i begged on our way to my hometown.
Luckily my uncles and cousins kept their feelings to themselves and received us politely. Nobody embarrassed Jenifer but i couldn’t help but notice the disdain On their faces.
We spent a night at my family house before heading to Jenifer’s village the next day for a little introduction to her family.
Her people received us very well, giving me the chance to reveal my intentions to them. They all accepted me with open arms and equally asked me to come back with my people any time i was free for the proper marriage talks, but that was the big problem, how do i convince my people to follow me. My parents weren’t alive which inevitably meant i needed the help of my kinsmen who were far from pleased with me.
Unfortunately, i had to discard and lay aside my fears when we returned to my house in Benin city very late in the evening that fateful day to meet a team of policemen waiting for me. I couldn’t believe my ears when the officer leading the squad said that they were at my house to question me concerning Chief Manuel’s disappearance.
Could you believe i was forcefully dragged to the state police headquarters like a criminal that same night.
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Episode 30
As i alighted from my car that fateful Sunday evening, very tired and hungry from a long journey. A team of policemen instantly confronted me.
“we have information to believe that you kidnapped one Chief Manuel. We are here to search your house and take you to our station for questioning” an elderly police inspector said to me, taking me by surprise with his words.
“Chief Manuel kidnapped?” i asked with shock.
“stop wasting our time and open up your apartment” he barked seriously, while his colleagues held their guns dangerously. I drew back and nodded at Jenifer.
“my dear, open up the house for them” i said to her, without bothering to ask the annoying policeman to produce the search warrant needed to search my house. Seriously that’s a question you dare not ask a policeman in Nigeria especially when outnumbered unless you are a powerful politician or someone with connections to the top.
Five policemen followed Jenifer to my apartment while two others searched my car. The police inspector cautiously stood with me, watching out for any funny move from me.
“seriously i don’t understand what is going on” i complained to him.
“Chief Manuel was abducted from his house this morning and some of his brothers reported to us that you threatened to deal with him” he answered coldly.
“chai!” i exclaimed,
“it was just a family gathering and we quarrelled. I didn’t fight with him alone, we all exchanged hurtful words which is very typical of family meetings. He threatened to deal with me and i threatened back. C’mon the fight was all about the lady who just went into my apartment with your men. We argued because they were against me marrying her. How can i kidnap my uncle because of that?” i desperately explained to him, but all he did was shrug.
“i have my orders and it is to search and bring you up to the station and that’s what i’m here for” he answered coldly. I bit my lips angrily.
I was very hungry and tired after a very long journey from Jenifer’s village. In fact i was boiling inside and out.
“God” i breathed and glanced at my watch which displayed 6:45pm.
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Jenifer and the five officers who went in to search my apartment soon came out with nothing, sweating and breathing hard.
“we found nothing sir” they said to the inspector who shrugged and faced me.
“we are going to our station. You will meet the detective handling the case there. I’m merely carrying out orders. We are from the state police headquarters, so it will be in your best interest to obey and go with us. You can speak your grammar to the detective. He will enjoy your company because he is also a lawyer who likes grammar a lot. All these book people, i’m tired of them” he said humorously, while his men laughed out hard.
I shook my head, sighed and entered my car. One of the policemen quickly joined me, while Jenifer climbed into the back seat.
“baby, please go to the house and wait for me” i begged.
“no this is our fight. I’m fighting this battle with you remember” she answered strongly.
“hey move this car now” the policeman with us ordered coldly, forcing me to start the engine and drive to the state police headquarters with my Jenifer on the back seat.
To be continued
Yeye police men