Chapter 3 : Broken by the past

"By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew".

Proverbs 3 : 20

"We're here", Pete announced as he parked the SUV on the driveway. He turned to Chioma, "Are you sure you want to do this?".

Chioma nodded, "Yes".

"Okay", They both got out of the car and approached the front door.

Pete pushed the doorbell and took a peep in the tiny hole on the door.

A husky voice replied them, "Who is it?".

Chioma looked at Pete and bit her lip; hesitating to answer.

The voice asked again, this time with rage, "Who is it?".

"Babylon, the great is fallen, is fallen, and has becoming a dwelling place for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird", Chioma spoke almost at once.

There was a slight creak as the door was slowly opened. A head popped out of the door held ajar. Chioma held her breath as her brown eyes met blind ones. Meshach.

"Chichi, is that you?", He opened the door fully now.

"Yes", Chioma stepped in for a hug and pulled away immediately.

Meshach noticed her uneasiness and invited them in. The blind man was helped to his chair. The visitors took a seat opposite his.

"We got your message, Meshach", Pete cleared his throat.

Meshach laughed, "Still the same old Pete. Always straight to the point".

"Yeah", Pete join the chortle and looks at Chioma, who was silent.

Chioma looked around the place. It was still the same as before. The old fireplace was covered with remnants of embers and ash. The bear rug was still underneath the glass centre table. The rest of the furniture were either chair or bean bag. It was though the place was left untouched as it had been 5 years ago.

"Can I get you both anything?", asked Meshach.

"Thanks but we're kinda in a hurry. I'm sure you're aware that First Disciple is out of jail", Pete begins.

"Let's get down to business", Meshach smiles, "Everyone knows that I'm affiliated with Josie. Its not old news but there's something you should know about Israel".

"Israel? Who's that?", Chioma sat up.

"Israel was Josie's son", He exhaled.

"How do you know that?", Chioma brings out her note and pen.

Meshach continues, "Its something we, the God's Disciples know. Back then in 2012, brother Abednego and I discovered that Josie was pregnant. Months later, she birthed a child. A boy".

Chioma felt the emotions coming fromthe man as he spoke. His voice quaking.

"Who's the father of the boy?", She asked.

Meshach began crying, "He's mine. I'm so sorry. I should told ya".

"That's a lot to take in", Pete says.

"I'm sorry for your loss, sir but still you should've contacted us", Chioma felt pitiful like the man did. Losing someone you hold dear is scary.

"I know but I was scared. Israel was born out of wedlock. It was never right for me to get involved with her but I loved her. I still do admist everything", Meshach sniffles quietly.

"You hid the truth from us to protect Israel, right?", asked Pete.

"Yes. When Josie found out she was pregnant with my child, she wanted to terminate it but I begged her not to", Meshach says ashamed of himself and the truth he told.

Chioma watched the blind man. He wasn't as feeble before as he is now. When they had met back in 2018, he had challenged her after her attempt to arrest him and now, he's acting weak. As expected of any victim of First Disciple. The man was among a group of disciples in the Holy cross cathedral called Gods Disciple. They were 4 in number - Shadrach, Abednego, Daniel whom was given to Josie and him, Meshach. The 45 year old man became candidate for a priest but wasn't opportune to occupy the office due to a fire in the cathedral that cost him his sight. Of course, the fire was caused by none other than Josie, the First Disciple. 5 years has passed since the incident. Now, He's living in seclusion like a fugitive.

"If Josie gave birth in 2012, that would be during the late summer of July. It wasn't long till she started committing murders", Chioma summarized her thoughts.

"You're right. After she gave birth to Israel, that was when she began acting strangely and renounced her discipleship", Meshach tightened his grip on his walking stick, "The priest at the cathedral had though she had been possessed by an evil spirit. I did too and so did everyone in the cathedral".

"Her retaliation was going after every member of the church that witnessed her so called exorcism", Pete looked at Chioma.

"My question is what started all this killing intent in her? Is there anyone suspicious who she must have been close with?",asked Chioma.

"No one suspicious. She only talked to me or the nuns in the cathedral. She led a quiet life back then", Meshach bit his lip. Giving an expression, Chioma couldn't understand.

"I noticed earlier when you spoke about Israel, you used past tense"asked Pete.

"He's dead. He's the boy that was murdered at 14 crescent this morning", replied Meshach.

Priest shrieked, "The kid killed along with a woman named Erica?".

"Yes", Meshach replied him, "He's Josie's son".

"Now that you mentioned it. They're around the same age. 2012", Pete says.

"After Israel was born, Erica took him away", Meshach adds.

"Erica?", Chioma was confused.

"Erica martindale is Josie's younger sister", Meshach hung his head.

"You could've started with that, Goddammit", Chioma slams the note on the centre table.

"If Josie killed her own sister and son then you'll probably be her next victim", Pete pats his note on his knee.

"I was getting to that", Meshach lifts his head, "I got a message from Josie. An mp3 player".

"Where is it?", Chioma asked immediately.

"On the dinning table. Tina played it for me. It kept saying Numbers chapter 6 versus 11".

"Who is this Tina?", asked Pete.

"My caregiver. She comes in the morn, noon and evening. She found the mp3 player delivered to my mail box", Meshach exhales.

"Well, what does Numbers 6 versus 11 mean?".

"And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and make atonement for him, for that he had sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day".

Pete notes, "That's a threat, alright".

"Question is how did Josie get this mp3? She's probably working with someone. Why did it take long to kill Erica and Israel? She could've done so 5 years ago. What's her motive?", Chioma wondered to herself.

"We'll put you in witness protection, Meshach", Pete rises from his seat, "Knowing Josie, if we don't take caution, you'll die. She surely leaves behind clues to her next victim's expected death. Numbers 6 versus 11 could be a date or time".

Chioma stood up, "Let's assume its a date and time. Either you die 3 days from now, Meshach or by 11pm on which day she decides".

"We'll have to interrogate this Tina and the deliveryman", Pete tells Chioma.

"Tina knows the deliveryman. They're related so she must have saw something", Meshach tells the detectives, "She works at Happy Psychiatric Hospital".

"Thanks for the info, Meshach. We'll stay with you until backup arrives. Don't worry, we got this".