Episode 5
THE UNDERCOVER
“A woman in nose masks?”. I almost lost my guard when the young man from the bank was giving me the information. But God saved me…. I maintained my composure.
…Why would anyone follow me? Not like I’m doing anything illēgal”. I said, trying my best to remain as calm as possible.
The young man shook his head.
“Well, I say let me just inform you. A woman in a nose mask follows you here the last time, and I noticed the same woman again this afternoon. I saw her clearly. She was standing over there”. He said, pointing at a corner of the hall.
“Those who have cockroaches in their cupboards are the only ones who would be alarmed by such information”. I said, and turned to take my leave.
I saw the look of disappointment on his face as I made my way out of the hall. I guessed he expected me to give him a pat on the back and stuff his hand with some cash. LoL. I’m not that cheap.
When I got into the car, I didn’t drive out immediately. I knew that the young man was not lying. There is the possibility that I was followed since I came to the bank directly from the office.
What are these people up to this time? I wondered.
Throughout the remaining part of the day, I didn’t talk to anyone. Even after closing, I left without waiting to pick up Peter, one of my colleagues who I often drop off every evening.. I don’t know who is working against me.
Madam Mary and the rest of the ladies were watching television in the living room.
“Welcome sir”. They chorused in unison as I walked in.
I nodded for a response, and proceeded to go inside the bedroom.
“Sir, are you having dinner now?”. Madam Mary asked.
“No”. I replied, not turning to look at her.
“Okay, you will eat later?”. She asked.
“I’m not eating. I’m not hungry”. I said.
“Why? Did anything happen in the office today?”. She asked.
That was not supposed to be a problem, but that night, it was. I turned around sharply.
“Did I tell you something happened?”. I attâcked her.
“No, I’m just asking. Sorry sir”. She apologized.
I sighed and continued going inside.
Judith wasn’t in the bedroom when I walked in, but as soon as I unfastened my belt and sat down on the bed, the bathroom door opened and she walked in. She was tying a towel around her chest. She smiled on seeing me, and started moving towards me.
“Honey, you’re home? I was in the shower”. She bent over and gave me a peck on both cheeks. Though I didn’t say anything to her, she wasn’t bothered. She walked down to the dresser, sat down and started applying her skin tone.
I looked at the woman I married. Under normal circumstances, no man would marry such. I used to wonder how she made it through school to the point of obtaining a degree because aside from the physical appearance, there is nothing special about Judith.
I watched in disgust as she applied those gels on her face one after the other. I heaved a loud sigh. Yet she wasn’t bothered. After she was done, she stood up, put on her nightwear, and came to sit beside me.
“Babe, I have something to show you”. She said, excitedly.
I ignored her, yet she wasn’t bothered.
“Please, pass me my phone”. She pleaded, pointing at the edge of the bed. I looked at the phone and back at her.
Does it not occur to this woman that her husband is worried?. I wondered.
..Oh, don’t worry, I will do it myself”.
She bent over, picked the phone, opened it and placed it on my face.
“See”. She said, shining the screen on my face.
There was nothing there to see except a young woman standing in front of the spa. I looked back at Judith.
“What’s this?”. I asked impatiently.
“Don’t you like what you see?”. She asked, smiling mischievously.
“Excuse you!”. I screamed at her.
She frowned.
“So you’re not seeing that woman there?”. She asked.
“And what am I supposed to do with her?”.
She quietly put the phone down, and held my hands around her waist.
“I took that picture myself this evening. She waited for a few seconds before adding.
…Babe, I want those wigs she is wearing”.
I quickly unclad my hands in front of her.
“Judith, please, get off me. I’m not in the mood for your display of mædness tonight”. I said.
“What? Did you just call me a måd woman?. Because of an ordinary wig?”. She quarreled.
“Yes. Which sane woman would see her husband worried and not bother to know what the matter is?”. I asked.
She paused for a while before she continued.
“Is anything bothering you?”. She asked, looking concerned. .
When I didn’t respond, she took my hand.
…Okay, you know what, whatever it is, forget about it and come to bed with me”. She said, trying to pull me down.
When she saw the look on my face, she moved back.
….Well I mean, go in there, take your bath and come to bed. Okay, have you eaten?. There should be food in the kitchen”. She said.
At this point, I have had enough of her to last me the whole night. So I stood up and went to the bathroom. By the time I came out, she was already asleep. I put on my pajamas and lay down, facing the opposite direction. I didn’t know when I dozed off.
Before I left for work the next morning, she reminded me about the wig.
“You’re insãne?”. I muttered under my breath
A young woman came to the office that morning. In her hand was a copy of a photograph.
“My husband is missing”. She cried.
Watching her, my mind flashed back to the other woman who had murdered her husband yet still came to the office to shed crocodile tears. I sighed, but after I took the photo from her, and glanced at it, my heartbeat increased as I immediately recognized the person in it… the young man from the bank.
I looked at the woman, and back at the picture.
“When was he last seen?”. I asked.
“Yesterday morning. He didn’t return from work yesterday”. She said.
“I hope this has nothing to do with the information he tries to pass to me”. I said a silent prayer.
She was asked to make a written report which she did and left after we assured her to bring her husband home safely for her.
Throughout that day, I lost concentration at work. I paced up and down, murmuring and trying to convince myself that the young man’s disappearance has nothing to do with me.
A search team was set up and search commenced in the evening.Thank goodness I wasn’t among.
That night, I had a fight with my wife. She was already asleep by the time I entered,, but after I took my bath, worn my clothes, lay down, and ready to rest, I felt her hand cáressing me from behind
“What is it, Judith?”. I asked, without turning.
“I want you to cuddle me”. She said.
“Not tonight, please”. I said.
“Why?”. She asked.
“I’m not in the mood”. I said.
“I won’t let you go free tonight. ”. She said.
The next minute, she was on top of me, trying to pull away my pajamas. I jerked myself up, picked a pillow and left the room for her. I slept in the living room that night.
The search continued for three three consecutive days without any success. During those days, I exhibit conventional human behavior, commuting directly home from work and sleeping beside my wife throughout the night, but after five days, I was unable to continue.
So that night, around 2 a.m., I got up. As usual, Judith was in a deep sleep. I quietly put on my pants and sweater, opened the door gently, and snuck out, using my phone’s torchlight to walk down the stairs since all the lights were out. This story belongs to Joy Ifunanya time around, I didn’t leave immediately like I used to. I took my time to study my environment while leaning on the darkest part of the gate. I was watching out for any sign of movement from the street. But then, I heard a noise, like someone trying to open the gate from within.
Who could that be?. I wondered. I don’t have a security man and had no intention of employing any. I
I listened as the noise continued. Then I made a great mistake.
“Who is there?”. The word had escaped my mouth before I realized I shouldn’t have because immediately, the noise ceased and I heard footsteps running back towards the house.
I quickly unlocked the gate, and ran after whoever. When I got to the living room, the light was on and my step brother was sitting on the floor with his back resting on the center table. On his lap was a textbook.
“Divine, what are you doing?”. I asked, scanning the room for signs of anyone.
“Reading”. He replied.
“Did anyone run past here?”. I asked.
He shook his head.
“No, sir”
“Are you sure?”. I asked.
“I didn’t see anyone. Although it hasn’t been long I came out”. He replied.
What is happening here?. I was sure someone tried opening the gate. I’m sure I heard the sound of footsteps, I was also sure I heard the door slams while I was still at the gate side. Ofcourse, I knew it had nothing to do with my 13 year old brother, but what I don’t understand is why he claims to have seen no one.
I hope they haven’t planted an undercover agent in my house.
At this point, I knew I couldn’t go out anymore. I went back upstairs to my room. Judith was still lying the way I left her. I changed back to my pajamas and lay quietly bedside her.
If really an undercover agent is living under my roof, it won’t take long before I find out, and eliminate such a person.
Trust what I can do..
