CHAPTER FOUR TWO WEEKS LATER

The incident left the family broken and sorrowful. Stephanie resumed back to school, but it was hell for her. Everyone spoke about the incident .It went viral on social media and other media platforms.Her father's name was tarnished .She laid gently on her bed and gently wiped off the tears that was dripping down her face and going into her mouth with the back of her palm, she still hasn't been able to understand what happened, her sister dead ,it was more of a dream than reality to her.

"Stephanie" her dad called

"sir" she said and wiped off her tears with her palm and left for the living room

"what is it ,are you crying?" Her dad asked

"no"

"call your mom for me"

"ok" she said and left for her parent room.on getting there, she opened the door and her mouth opened agape at the sight that stood before her "daddyyyyy" she shouted at the top of her lungs" . Her dad ran down to the room and ran towards his wife, who laid lifeless on the ground"love, love" he called , shaking her violently."Steph come let carry her she is to heavy for me to carry" her dad said crying "love why why". he shouted with pain

Beside the lifeless woman was a bottle of poison,."Stephanie sat on the ground, confused she couldn't picture what was going on ,her mom poisoned herself and now ,she is dead too."Daddy why did mom do this why dad, wake her up and ask her dad because I don't understand, we could have scaled through together , it not easy for me too ,am going through hell in school" she said and broke down in tears "first her sister and now her mom" Stephanie and her dad wept bitterly, uncontrollably ,they both have to stay strong" mummyyyy" Stephanie shouted amidst tears.

Few weeks later her mom was laid to rest in the same cementry her sister was laid to rest. The joy and happiness that reigned in their home vanished into thin air.

"how did a family of four reduce to two dad" Steph asked her dad on a particular night

"it is suprising and painful dear am grateful I have such a strong and amazing daughter like you Steph"

"why did mom result to suicide dad"

"am disappointed and pained Steph, I want you to stay strong like you've been my angel and pursue your dream of becoming an actress. I will arrange for us to leave the country then you can pursue your career abroad.

"Actress? Actress my foot" she said and scoffed, " why my sister had to die, why our image had to be tarnished, why an end had to come to our happiness I want to know dad"

"Oh Steph it might have been one of those cultist" her dad said trying to confuse her

"I refuse to buy that dad , there is a hidden secret behind their death dad, can't you see, am I the only one who think so?"

"let it go Steph , investigating the case wouldn't change anything"

"never, brother Charlie, sister Jaynie, my mom dad, I will make sure I avenge their soul. Someone stepped on my tail dad and the person cannot go free , the police that covered up the case, every single person that is involved in my sister's and brother Charlie's death is doomed dad , they have messed with the wrong girl" Stephanie said with rage

"ah" her dad sighed , you seem to know this Charlie well?"

"yes dad, they were close friend I speak to him once in a while"

"so she wasn't dating him"

"yes he was her course mate"

"really"

"mhmm ,there is even one of her friend that comes to visit me at school , the one I called liar that day , remember"

" what was her name again?"

"aunt Nini, she is so nice"

" that is good , so Steph"

"yes dad"

"why don't you go on with your acting career"

"no dad , acting would bring me no joy, but Justice would reduce my pain"

"are you sure you want to do this?"

"trust me dad am Stephanie Swagger .I will go into the police force "

"you will go to the police academy?"

"yes dad

"ISteph you have to be really careful, work on it, you know you have to pass your exams well"

"I will ,you go to America , United kingdom just go and enjoy yourself dad clear your head ,you know" she said and giggled

"where would you be staying then"

"come on dad I will stay with aunt Kate you know she will be excited to have me around ,and her kids too will be"

"you know I wouldn't be able to have fun if I don't have you around, I will be lonely"

"You can just get a girlfriend ,she doesn't need to be a Nigerian, at least mom decided to leave you without thinking twice so just have fun, enjoy yourself,and If am done with my mission I will come visiting I might even pursue my acting career"

"what do you know about boyfriend and girlfriend , just get a girlfriend" he mimicked her

"daddy, do you think you are in the 70s oh God dad even a 13 years old girl has a boyfriend, don't you know ?" She asked sarcastically

"I wonder what your generation is becoming, during our day, even at age 15, we don't know what is called boyfriend or girlfriend not to talk of having one"

"like you said, during your days" she said pointing her fingers then she sighed " you know mom, me ,sister Jaynie and you chat like this every night" she said and recollected their last night together.

" don't make yourself sad Steph now let sleep"

"okay I hope sister Jaynie visit me in my dream, ever since she passed on she hasn't showed up in my dream, not even once"

"am sure she will, now let's sleep"

"goodnight Dad"

"goodnight my love" he said and put off the lamp.

TWELVE YEARS LATER

"we have new recruited officers at our area today". The DPO(Division police officer) announced. Congratulations to officer Mike, the new recruits are on his team, the general investigation team."officer Delight Williams, officer James Peters, officer Walter Adams and officer Stephanie Swagger, you are welcome to Area F, Ikeja station. He said and the officers applauded.The DPO and the team leader were the same officers that came to her house when her sister passed on, the ones that made her sister a mudrer."They can't even recognize me bastards" she thought.

"my new team let get to know each other come on take a sit" officer Mike said , interrupting Stephanie's thought. they moved down to a office and each took their seat .

"Sooo, Delight , James, Walter and Stephanie right" he said pointing at each of them

"yes" they chorused

"by the way officer Stephanie you look strangely familiar you know I have this weird feeling that we have met before" said officer Mike

"I don't think so sir"

"your last name sounds familiar too Swagger, I wonder were I heard that name. Anyway you guys should get together , know more about each other just have a nice time I will excuse you" he said and left

"bastard! Stupid!" Stephanie heart cried.

"Hi, am Delight,we three have been friends from childhood so there is nothing we need to know about each other, we hope to know you and be your friends" he said

"no problem then" she said and smilled

"I must say, you are a beauty" James said

"thank you and you three are childhood friends and you all decided to become police officers

"yes" Delight replied and Stephanie laughed

"why the laughter"

"you made it look like a good or amazing Job"

"aren't you an officer too"

"I have my reasons though"

"everybody as a reason why they choose to become a particular person in life I guess , a doctor as a reason for choosing to become a doctor,"lawyers have their reasons too ,we also have our reasons too we had passion for it, so that is not an excuse or should I say an explanation"

"maybe my reasons her different though, I joined the police force not because I had passion or loved the profession, but because I have a task to carry out"

"what kind of task"Walter asked

"wouldn't it be foolish of me to tell you? I enjoyed chatting you with guys I will leave first"she said , stood up and left

"Oh" James said and shook his head,"she gave me goose bump"he said

"that girl is something , she is scary her laugh too is scary" Walter said and shook his body

" that girl sounded like a pained person maybe she had gone through something very painful in the past maybe like heart break and that why she is like that and what task was she talking about?"James asked

"maybe you should go and ask her, cow"Walter said

"don't mind him, he will be the one to know who as gone through heart break and trauma " Delight said irritated

"come on guys let's go for breakfast am famished"

"yeah boy" Walter said and they left.

It been 12 endless years, her long awaited desire has to come to manifestation , she is finally a police officer, she took the exams twice and know she is here, finally an officer. She boarded a taxi and headed home , dreading the fact that the distance between her branch and her home is a long one. She sat up and rested her head firmly on the headrest of the taxi and closed her eyes, she imagined how she would investigate her sister's case and smilled" can't wait I really can't wait I have to act fast.I don't have time to waste, it been 12 endless years" she muttered to herself. Her dad left the country for the states few months after she got admitted to the police academy, her aunt and her sister's room mate Nini has been a strong support to her. she sighed and slowly darkness took over her.

"Madam, madam" the taxi driver called

"mhhmm" she replied in a sleepy tone

" we have arrived"

"what"she shouted and sat up"am so sorry"

"no it okay" the cab man said. She came down from the taxi and payed the cab man. She went inside the compound and knocked on the door

"who is there" a voice asked from inside

"am the one aunt " she replied.

"Stephanie dear" she said and opened the door " how was work"

"cool" she said and sat down heavily on the couch

"hope you made new friends"

"maybe, I have three guys on my team no four, am the only female"

"I love that, you know you need to get a man that you can get married to later, you are not getting any younger"

"so you want me to get a boyfriend among them"

"yeeeees"

"dating at work infact I will not mix pleasure with work , I have a big task ahead of me. David and Mel"

"they are asleep"

"Wow that's early"

"am scared Steph" her aunt said and sat beside her

"of what"

"you are the only child my sister have on Earth Steph"

"and she decided to leave me alone to my fate"

"I know you are angry , you have every right to be, I just want you to be careful with this task of yours , you will deal with other criminals too be careful mhmm"

"I will aunt, trust me"

"you are a brave lady Steph and am proud of you,"

"thank you and aunt my team leader and DPO were the officers that came to our house when sister Jaynie passed on"

"wow that will make your task difficult"

"yes they won't allow me re open the case, never, only if I can meet with the commissioner "

"how sure are you that the commissioner doesn't know about it"

"I need to gather srong evidence, evidence that they cannot deny"

"it been 12 years how would you do it"

"I don't know, but this fight is a fight I must win"

"I won't stop praying for you and you have Nini too continue to stay strong my champion

"mhhmm, I will and Nini she is wonderful

"freshen up ,I will serve your dinner"

"okay" she said and left for her room.

Finding her sister killer wouldn't be an easy task, she needs to act fast very fast "oh God help me , Jaynie back me up, I just wonder why you haven't come to visit me once ever since your death I miss you so much my half" she said and undressed

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