CHAPTER 47

Richard walked out of advocate Primrose's office his mind circling around what they had discussed. He was at a point where even his vice presidency seat which he had fought hard for was not going to help him. Helen was not going to get out scotch free like he wanted, the case had too much evidence stacked against her

"The least i can do at this point is get her a lesser sentence. Something like ten years or less. Maybe eight because we insisted it's self defense. Helen has proof on her phone of the deceased threatening her so basically her only crime was trying to get rid of the body." she had said

"Make it five. I don't know how you are going to do it but find enough evidence to get her to just five years. Make it happen." he had said before walking out. Prim was a reputable lawyer. One of the best in the country and he hoped she would deliver. There was noway he was going to watch his daughter suffer in prison, and if he had to pay someone to get her the lighter sentence he wanted he would. He then got into the car and was driven home. He hadn't had enough rest in days hence all he wanted was to just lie down and forget about his troubles for a bit.

******

As Julia walked out of her room numerous stares accompanied her. She felt somewhat uncomfortable and even questioned how Raymond and Helen lived in such an environment but hey she wasn't there in peace so she had to find solutions and not create accusations. Her eyes lingered around as she climbed down the stairs and she was glad there were no cameras insight, at least not in that part of the house. She gave a weak smile as she passed by the guards yet they acted as if they didn't see it. If she had to succeed, it would have to be by a miracle. She walked around for a while as if touring the place and taking selfies as cover up. She had to be smart to fool another smart person. As she was still moving around the gate suddenly opened and a black Mercedes drove in. She hid by the corner and observed as a guard opened the door for a disturbed looking Richard. Helen's sins were giving the father headaches and that was evident through the use of one car. The man used convoys in all his journeys Helen had indeed done the most. Without turning or sparing anyone a glance, Richard disappeared into the house and Julia sighed as she came out of hiding. As she turned to continue her tour, her stare met with an unfriendly one from two stationary guards in black suits and black shades and she was sure they were looking at her. She quickly walked out of their sights straight back into the house and soon she found her way into the most important room in her mission. A room where it was going to both start and end. The kitchen.

"Uhm excuse me. Can i have water please?" she said in the sweetest voice possible. Two men in white chef attires both turned to stare at her, one being a man of middle age while one was a bit younger. Probably Joshua or Raymond's age. She took it he may just be a weak link

"Oh i'm sorry, forgive my manners. My name is Julia i am friends with...."

"Its okay miss. We have long been notified of your visit. You do not have to come to the kitchen yourself there is a maid she will attend to all your needs." the older man said with a kind smile. That might just be another weak link. Suddenly the pantry door opened revealing another middle aged man who acted as if he had not seen anybody when he walked over to the pot on the stove and stirred it. He looked rather unfriendly compared to the other two, and Julia felt nervous

"Master is back, you may want to finish up quickly Vusa." said the younger man as he walked up to Julia with a clean glass of water. She sipped it bit by bit to pass time, and she couldn't help but notice the two guards in the kitchen staring intensely at her. She cursed inwardly for not bothering to do a proper research about the structure of the house, that on its own was about to jeopardize everything

"I didn't get your names. I'm Julia." she said sure to notice the young man who blushed at her seductive smile. If she wanted success, she had to use he femininity

"My name is Mathew. I cook for the guards." said the younger man, "That is Tinashe, but i call him sir T, he cooks for Helen and Raymond. But he helps me sometimes." he said referring to the older man she found with him, "And that is Vusa. In charge of sir Richard's meals." Vusa didn't bother sparing them a glance, but instead concentrated on his cooking

"Don't be offended. He is not friends with anyone at all." Mathew said smiling warmly at her. She smiled back, in her head realising she had to make friends with all of them and that too fast. Already she had Mathew exactly where she wanted him, smiling like an idiot at the sight of her. She fished out a warm smile which she dished out to Tinashe and he was glad to smile back at her.

"Poor innocent souls caught up in this crossfire." she thought to herself, but it didn't change her mind in any manner. She was going to do anything and destroy anyone in her path. She was going to get to Richard come what may, and that Vusa was going to help her do that

"Thank you so much." she said sweetly as she have the empty glass to Mathew, her sights never leaving a serious Vusa

"Uhm Matty." she said to Mathew who smiled like an idiot, "Forgive me for calling you that, i just found it cute. Are you busy? I thought we would hang out i feel lonely here." she made a pitiful pout and next thing she was walking out of the kitchen with a new friend like she had promised herself. The only thing she regreted was not doing proper research so as to know there were three different chefs in the house. At least she had Mathew and Tinashe on her good side, she now had a difficult task of luring an unmoved Vusa to her side

"So, when did you start living here?" she asked a nervous looking Mathew as they made their way to the balcony

"Its been six years now. I started just a few years after i graduated."

" That's nice. I was actually surprised to know sir Richard had three different chefs in his kitchen. Its really amusing."

"I was surprised when i first came here as well. I found sir T and Vusa already here. And when i was told i only cook for the guards i was highly surprised. There were a few guards by then but kept increasing over the years. I wonder what sir Richard needs all those guards for."

"Because he is an insecure murderer." she murmured in her head but gave a sly smile in reality

"So don't you get tired? Sixty is a lot of people."

"The more they increase the more the money. That's the good thing about it and i have sir T to help. Its really no big deal."

"What about Vusa? Doesn't he help too?"

"Nah not really. Vusa is always in his head most of the times. He hardly talks to anyone and he has a ....." He suddenly went quiet, "I uhm...i tend to talk a lot sorry."

"Its okay Matty. You can tell me anything i am a harmless family friend. I'm very harmless." she seductively rubbed his shoulder her intense gaze luring him in

"He suffers high blood pressure. He is also asthmatic." he said and Julia faked remorse. Those were two deadly combinations on one person and she had to take advantage of it fast.

"I think i have stayed out for too long i should go inside maybe Raymond is searching for me." she bid farewell and walked away leaving Mathew smiling at himself. It was almost lunch hour, and she wanted to be around when the guards got served. She had to know how they did it in order to perfect her plans. Walking back into the house she headed straight to her room but curiosity had the best of her as she passed by Helen's room. She looked around and realized she was being watched but hey, she was Helen's friend so what? She slowly opened the door and walked in, sure not to look suspicious. She left it a bit open to thwart suspicion, it was an ordinary girly room, and the walls were surprisingly decorated with numerous Bryan Okwara images. At least they had something in common, she was his die hard fan too. Looking on, she noticed a few Bolanle Ninolowo posters and a few of the late Oliver Mtukudzi concert pictures stamped on the wall.

"Atleast she had great taste in music." she said to herself, "But did she have to like what I like?" she cursed as she continued looking around. Right beside her bed on the left side was was a framed picture of her young self probably in her teenage years. She looked innocent too innocent to know she will murder someone some day. She also noticed a larger poster taking up almost the entire space on the wall right above the bed, it was a picture of herself shot at night standing by the road the robot lights giving life to the image. Growing tired of the boring room, she turned to leave but not before noticing a very familiar picture on the right side of the bed. She walked over and picked it up, it was a framed picture of two young kids a boy and a girl. It was clear that it was Helen and Raymond in the picture, with Raymond's hand hanging over younger Helen's shoulder. But that wasn't the first time she was seeing that picture. She had seen it somewhere before, but where? She stared intensely at it forcing her mind to remember but it wasn't making sense. She had seen it somewhere even held it, and she was very sure it wasn't from Raymond Joshua or Helen. Definitely not from Richard but from someone else, but who?