Episode 14
THE UNDERCOVER
“What do you mean she’s missing?” I asked, my deep voice laced with urgency after Judith called that evening to report Madam Mary’s disappearance.
She cleared her throat and began to explain how it happened. But I didn’t understand anything she was saying at that moment. The thought of the bank staff’s sudden disappearance after he tried to talk to me about the masked woman. And nowโฆMary.
My eyes widened, and my grip on the receiver tightened. Suddenly, I slammed the phone down.
What is happening?. I wondered.
โThis should better be a coincidenceโ. I muttered.
With swift urgency, I jumped up from my chair, nearly toppling it over. Papers scattered across my desk as I hastily gathered my belongings and rushed towards the door.
As I burst out of the office, my colleagues’ heads snapped up from their workstations. They were surprised by the sudden commotion.
“Sarge, what’s wrong?” . I heard a voice called out.
“Emergency at home!”. I screamed back, already running out of the reception.
I sprinted across the gate to the busy street, waved down a cab, and just when I was about to hop in, I heard a voice from behind.
โPatrick, wait! What’s going on?”.
I turned around to find Sunday, one of my colleagues, standing behind me. Since his transfer to our district months ago, Sunday had been attempting to win me over with friendly gestures. On several occasions, he has offered to buy me lunch but I had consistently rebuffed his advances, keeping our interactions strictly professionalโฆI hรกte keeping so many friends around me.
“Family emergency,” I replied, getting into the backseat of the car.
His expression turned grim.
“Don’t worry, I’m coming with you,” he declared.
โNo, I can handle it aloneโ. I tried to resist him but jumped into the front seat.
We sped away, the driver at full speed.
The women and children were standing outside by the time we arrived.
โWelcome sirโ. Stella and Celina greeted in unison.
I ignored them and walked straight to Judith who was standing a distance away from the other with Madam Mary’s grandchildren.
โWhat did you say happened to madam Mary?โ. I asked.
โShe is missingโ. She replied, abruptly.
โWhere did she tell you she was going?โ. I asked. This time, I was talking to the children, but Judith wouldn’t let them speak.
โPatrick, you can’t be asking the children such a question when there’s an adult hereโ. She argued.
โSo where did she tell you she was going?.โ I repeated the questions.
She sighed.
โWell, she said she was going to the market to buy some food stuff, and we haven’t seen her since then.โ. She explained further..
โWhen was that?.โ I asked.
โIn the morningโ. She replied.
I nodded.
That is to say she didn’t return to the house after she got off the car in the morning. .. That also means that the stalkers have followed us to the school that morning.
But does that mean she was telling the truth?. If yes, then one or two out of these women must knows something. I thought as I studied the faces of all the women, scanning for any signs of foul play or clues to the disappearance. But they all look innocent and worried.
โCould she be telling the truth?โ.
โWhat did you say?โ. Judith asked and it was then I realized I had spoken out. I shrugged.
โSo she left in the morning?. And look at the time you’re calling me. Why didn’t you call to inform me that morning?โ. I yelled at her.
โStop yelling at me. How was I supposed to know that she wouldn’t come back till now?. You don’t expect me to know immediately that she has gone missingโ. She blurted.
Though I knew she was making sense, someone had to take the blame. I thought, frustration simmering.
At that point, I turned around, expecting to see Sunday behind me, but he was nowhere to be found. I could have sworn he’d followed me into the compound.
A flicker of concern crossed my mind. Where had Sunday gone? Had he slipped away unnoticed or was something more sinister at play?.
โWhere is he?.โ I asked.
โWho?โ. That was Judith.
โMy colleagueโ. I replied, still looking around.
โDid you come in with anyone?โ. She asked.
โWhat n0nsense question is that?. Did you not see the officer that followed me?โ. I snapped at her
Just then, my phone rang. It was Sunday calling. I picked it up.
โHello, Sarge. Meet me at Dino’s Hotel at 9pm tonight. There is dangerโ. He announced and the phone went off..
What is wrong with him?. I tried the number again, but it was switched off.
Has he called the wrong number?. I wondered.
โAunty, is our Grandma going to come back?โ. One of the kids asked Judith, interrupting my thoughts.
โWhy notโ. She nodded, stroking the child’s head.
โฆ. Patrick, please, you have to do somethingโ. She said.
I slid into whรฃtsApp and dropped a brief voicenote in the group chat.
โI need help. My housekeeper has gone missingโ.
At the heat of it all, a sudden, pressing need aroseโฆnature called.
I ran into the house, and entered the visitor’s latrine.
Later, while flushing the toilet, I spotted a piece of paper lying beside the seat. Assuming it had slipped out of my pocket, I picked it up and examined it. To my surprise, it was a note with a cryptic message๐
SIR. YOU’RE DINING WITH STALKERS. BE CAREFUL OF THAT LITTLE BOY.
My eyes lingered on the cryptic message, mind racing with questions. Who wrote this? How did it get into my pocket? I felt a shiver run down my spine.
I read the note again, carefully this time, as if trying to erase its words. But the message lingered in my mind.
My gaze darted around the restroom, half-expecting someone to jump out.
I thought of the possibility that Madam Mary had tucked it into my pocket when she came to sit next to me in the backseat of the cab that morning.
That I should be careful of that little boy. Which little boyโฆSamuel?. Samuel?. Samuel?. Who is playing this game?.
โI hope I haven’t underestimated that lad?โ.
I quickly tucked the note into my pocket, my fingers brushing against the crumpled paper. A decision formed in my mind.
I flushed the toilet, washed my hands, and quietly opened the bathroom door. As luck may have it, I saw Samuel walking in through the entranceโฆperfect timing.
โSamuel, come here, and help me with thisโ. I requested.
He walked towards me still wearing his innocent looks.
โWhat is it, sir?โ. He asked, looking around for whatever.
I widened the door for him. He walked in unsuspectingly.
โWhat is it??โ. He asked, but his eyes widened when I shut the door behind me. He opened his mouth and shut it again.
โIt’s tonight or neverโ. I said.
