CHAPTER 16

" congratulations"

"On what?"

"Even if you don't tell me I will sure know about it"

" still don't know what you are talking about"

" your son's high school graduation"

She chuckled softly " never thought it's necessary to announce it to everyone, it's just his high school not college graduation".

" I still remember him as the little micheal of yesterday, how fast he have grown"

She nodded with a smile "thank you, but he is still my little boy"

They both laughed to that " soon he won't be..., And Sam ?"

" working, still in Washington"

" I want to attend his wedding, don't hide that from me "

" sure, you are an important guest " they both smiled, toasting their wine before swigging it.

" and the boy ?"

" doing well "

" his studies?"

"Excellent"

He nodded taking another swig from his wine.

" take care of him"

" why are we having this tete-a-tete?"

He dropped his glass gently on the table, turned back and side to be sure of privacy then returned his gaze at her.

" I'm on a case"

" good to know, lucky for me I'm retired "

" the news had it when you did "

" what case are you on ?"

" the murder of Dr Christopher "

She made a face " please, that case is gone, it's not a case anymore"

" I'm afraid it is, there is more to his murder and an innocent one was executed for it "

" what are you talking about? You were in support of his death"

" that was before I heard your story, it took me sometime to forgive myself for the many years I have spent hating but then I decided to do what was right, by investigating more in the case "

"I'm not interested, you have a new partner "

" I know..." He looked back alarming again "I'm being trailed, I'm sure of it"

"By who?" She asked less concerned

"By the one who killed Christopher"

She chuckled "of course you are not serious...." She said, picked up her drink giving it another swig watching his eyes, he looked scared and had a solemn look nothing of humour in his face. she dropped her glass back gently and asked "why ?"

"I discovered something about Christopher, they were two women living with him before"

She pulled herself closer to the table and fixed her eyes at him

" who was the other woman?"

" A maid "

" what happened to her?"

"No one knew, the only story told was that she got missing, that was all "

" what was her name?"

"Nadia"

"So how does this relate to his murder?"

"I made a visit to lady Morgana two weeks after omar's execution. I asked her if she was the real woman of Christopher, but she got furious and sent me out."

" I don't blame her for doing so, it was rude" she jested

" this is no joke Helen, remember the day we visited her, it was one week after her husband's death but she wasn't looking like a morning woman at all"

" are you accusing her for the murder of her own husband?"

" yes, she gave me a threatening eye, and now I feel being followed I can't link any of these except to the last person I visited"

"It's been four years you made that visit, if I'm right?"

"Yes"

"So why spy on you now?"

"Her reasons, even right now I feel he is here. You are also a target now Helen, I advice you take your son and leave this City, here ...." He slipped a drive across to her "it contains what I have gathered over the years, leave this city Helen, please"

" I still don't understand all that is happening, it sounds like a prank but your face shows otherwise"

" it isn't trust me. I need to use the bathroom, give me a minute"

She nodded and watch him struggle to get up " you know you are not looking younger anymore " she teased

" at least I still look handsome" he replied and left for the bathroom.

She waited for 20 minutes but he didn't return from the bathroom, she took the bottle and gulped a large amount and took a bite from the pie on the table, it wasn't her favorite, she hated strawberry flavored. She thought of what Bernard said earlier; could it be true ? But why would she kill her own husband? And what is the story behind the maid ? What has she got to do with his death? All of these going round her mind making her head ache. She took the drive from the table and stared at it before shoving it inside her bag. She didn't want to bother about a case that it took her years to forget. The guilt she felt everytime she looks at Hassan, knowing that she couldn't help him when she promised she would. What will all these investigation prove? Omar cannot come back to live again, but only cause disturbance to one's peace. She hissed and checked her watch, it was 45 minutes gone, now she got worried, she wanted to check him out but felt she might be discomfort him, so she waited for another 5 minutes but still no sign of him. She walked to the male bathroom, it was odd but she had to do it, she made a knock twice but nothing.

"Bernard are you there !?" No response came, she was force to open the door, she saw him lying on the floor, face down.

"Bernard are you okay?" She asked tapping his back.

"Bernard! Ben! " she turned him over and saw the blood gushing out from his breast. She trembled, her lips parted to speak but her voice trembles as she tried " Bern---Bern--Bernard ?.....No!!!!!!!!!"

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She covered herself in a blanket confounded, merely staring at the policemen that walked pass her to the scene of the incident. A less reverent police photographer stepped over the body to speak with detective Alex, who directed the close-up shots of the deceased. After snapping pictures in quick successions, Alex moved closer to Helen, staring at her for a while but her eyes were not returning the stare, she was completely drained in fear.

"You where the last person with him today, what exactly happened here?"

"We were merely having a chitchat, it's been a while we did that, and then he excused himself to the bathroom, he was taking too long so I decided to check on him, and...and ..I found him dead " she burst out in tears

"It's okay madam, everything is going to be fine... What were you both talking about ?"

Her eyes paused as she heard that, a thought formed in her mind; you can't say a word about what he told you, the public will know about it and you will become a target, if what Bernard said is true then your life and your son's are in danger.

"Madam!" Detective Alex called touching her shoulders, she shivered back to reality

"yes!"

"I asked what you both were talking about?"

"Oh yes, we-- we--" she stuttered " we were talking about our relationship"

" your relationship?"

"Yes"

" were you in an affair with him?"

"Yes when we were partners, but we broke up when I caught him cheated" she felt guilty lying against poor Bernard who has been nothing to her but a good friend.

"Whoa, I guess he wanted to amend his mistakes, before all this..."

She heaved out a sigh and wiped the tears off her cheeks '' was the footage of the murderer captured?"

" no ma'am, but we promised to investigate better " she nodded

"Thank you for your time"

"Wait officer, my affair with Bernard is secret so maybe a friendly conversational report to the public would be better" he chuckled " it's fine, and my name is Alex" he smiled and walked away.

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Helen sobbingly ended her long distant telephone call with susan, then replaced the receiver in it's antique cradle and covered her face, trying to control her panic.

" I saw the news mom, how did it happen?" Michael who was watching his mother for a while, asked. She turned gently and sat on the couch, she denied telling anyone what their conversation was, not even her own child or close relatives.

" I don't know...." She breathed out hardly "he was shot in the bathroom"

"Why?" Hassan asked.

"I cannot tell why son, Bernard was a good man, he ain't no trouble maker, why would someone want him dead ?"

" it's alright ma'am, please don't cry no more " Hassan consoled

"We are leaving this city boys, we are not safe here neither"

"Why mom?"

" I just said we are not safe"

"But why do we have to leave, this gat nothing to do with us"

" it's dangerous for us Michael, we are no longer safe here"

" what about my police academy you promise I will enroll in, c'mon mom "

" listen Michael, this is for our own good!, okay, there are dangerous people are out there, knowing me to be Bernard's partner before his death their next target will be me"

" why you ? Why should you be the next mom ? Why should it!?"

" I was his partner for years before I retired! " she gasped for breath "whatever they want from him, they will think I have it too! Please darling we can't stay here "

" well what do they need from him? that they might think you have " she gritted her teeth, a tear drop down her eyes, that was a very brilliant question from Michael but he won't get a word from her. She looked away from him to Hassan who was just staring at the floor " my dear, please, I know it's hard for you, your mother is living with kwairah and i believe she is happy there, you will ruin that happiness if anything should happen to you, that is why we need to evacuate this place"

"For how long ?" He asked

" for as long as we are safe, you can always visit your mother at kwairah's home. What do you say ?"

He nodded in compliance "okay ma'am"

" come here son" she motioned him, he walked and sat beside her

"Everything is going to be alright " she promised touching his cheek, he smiled softly and nodded again.

" you know you can't do that with me, we are not kids anymore you know"

She turned her gaze to Michael who relaxed his hands on his waist gawping at her

" c'mon micheal don't give me that look, and why would you say that ? You should learn to be as calm as Hassan "

"Just stop making us feel like we are still children because we are not. It hurts me that sir Bernard was killed, I feel there is more to his death that you are hiding away from us. I know it when you lie to me mother, I feel you are lying now "

" I might be, but if I am, it is only for our own safety "

He looked away rudely

"C'mon son, do you trust me ?"

" always mother, but I hate it when you hide things away from me "

" if you trust me then trust me on this, please "

'' don't be stubborn officer, or else we will leave you here all by yourself and you cannot handle that" Hassan teased, he went closer to him and grabbed his neck ruffling his hair.

" where are we going?"

"Maryland".