Chapter 5 : Testament of the fallen

"Your testimonies are very sure, Holiness adorns your house, O lord forever".

- Psalms 93 : 5

Aaron stopped the car by the driveway and looked at his wife. Dread was written all over her face. She kept her eyes on her laps unmoving.

"Are you sure you want this case?", He held her left hand.

She seemed unresponsive. He asked her again. Nothing.

"Come on. Did Russell force you to do this?", He asked.

"I need some air", She stepped out of the car and went straight into the building.

This house she left for work felt strange to her now. The wide living room was closing in. She collapsed on the floor crying out loud. Aaron rushed to her side, engulfing her in his warm embrace.

"Its okay. You're safe now", He kissed her hair. Her eyes suddenly heavy and she went limp in his arms.

* * * * * * *

The voices she heard were a bit jumbled as she struggled to open her eyes. Tightening the sheets in her hands, she awoke finally and sat up. Looking around the place as though it was strange. Well, it was.

"This is a hospital. What am I doing here?", She asked no one in particular as she was alone in the room.

The door was opened. Aaron stepped in.

"Hey, feeling alright?", He sat next to her on the bed.

Chioma nodded, "Yeah, I think".

"Its okay", He hugged her again and pulled away. He pushed the button beside her bed, "Well, the doctor will be here soon".

"Sure", She replies.

"Can I get you anything? Water? Soda?", He asks.

"No. Just you", She looks at him.

Without wasting time, he climbs unto the bed and lies next to her, taking her in his arms.

"Everything will be fine", He kissed her hair and patted her arm softly.

There was a knock on the door, "Mr and Mrs Kingsley?".

"Come in", Aaron says from the bed.

A man in a white coat enters. He wasn't disturbed with what he saw but the feeling did pertube him.

Clearing his throat, he brought out a brown envelope, "I think you need this yourself, ma'am", He tells Chioma.

"Okay", Aaron helps to sit her up as she reached for the file and open it.

"Its okay, love", Aaron put his arms around her and brought out a paper, reading its content, her eyes widened.

"Me?", She asked the doctor.

"Yes. Congratulations, Mrs Kingsley. You're 2 months pregnant", The doctor smiles at the couple.

"Oh my gosh", Chioma laughs, "I'm pregnant".

"Thank you, doc", Aaron shakes the doctor's hand.

The man laugh, "No need to thank me, Sir. You did all the work".

The trio share a laugh before the doctor leaves.

"Wait, how long have I been asleep?, Chioma turned to Aaron.

Since a test took more than 5 hours for the results to be out, was she asleep for that long? She wondered.

"Um.... A while. I'm glad you're okay", Aaron put rubs his neck and laughs nervously.

"What? You let me sleep for an entire day?", She yelled at him.

He jumped off the bed laughing, "Don't worry. I called it in".

"I gotta head to work", Chioma got off the bed.

Aaron lifted her in his arms and she wrapped her legs around him, "Nope. You gotta be careful. You're pregnant".

"I know", She laughs and bring her face closer to his.

Meshach's place

"Pete's at the hospital trying to question a few survivors from the church explosion. Russell's holding a fucking press conference and Josie is out there on the loose", Hannah stirs her cup of coffee with a teaspoon.

"You're unsettled. Have a seat", Meshach taps his walking on the floor.

Hannah takes a seat and exhales, "Pardon me. I haven't been this restless before".

"Its quite alright", He says.

"Can you tell me about what happened 5 years ago? The First Disciple case with Detective Chioma. She was really frightened by that box yesterday", Hannah implored.

"You don't want to know what happened to Worcester", He warned but she persisted.

As soon as he was done with the story, Hannah took her cellphone. Her breath shaking.

"Yeah. This is Hannah Worthings", She wiped her eyes, "I want to quit".

At the hospital.

"Tell me what you know about First Disciple", asked Pete with a notepad and pen.

A nun makes the sign of the cross before answering, "Before she became this godless killer, Josie was loved by everyone in the cathedral", She wipes her eyes, "Brother Meshach, Shadrach, Abednego and Daniels all served under Priest Mordechai".

"Daniels? Who's that?", He asked confused.

"Josie was renamed Daniels by the priest. I thought you must have known since you met her before", The nun looked at him.

"I know only her first name. Tell me more", He took a seat on a chair.

"There were the 4 God disciples in the cathedral. Suddenly, she changed. She became a monster all of a sudden. It was like she stroke a deal with the devil himself".

"No doubt about that. I saw how monstrous she was 5 years ago", Pete says.

"Pardon me. I want you to have this", The woman he had met at the cathedral comes in.

"Take care, sister", He leaves with her.

Taking the paper, his eyes scans the paper, "Josie did this to the church".

"She planned to bring it down", The woman says.

"You're Tina's sister, right?", He recognized her from the photo she had shown him.

"Yes. My name is Grace", She answered.

"Grace, you're coming with me".

UNKNOWN LOCATION.

"Forgive me, father for I have sinned", A lady in the confession box wept.

"Speak, child. For thy father heareth", The priest on the other side answered.

"I committed a mortal sin", She wiped her bloody finger on the railings.

"What kind of sin, dear child?", he asked.

" Murder", She replied.

"How many people fell by your hands and why?", asked the priest.

"They're up to 36. They were sinners who had fallen short of God's glory. I had to send them back to Him", She says.

"The lord is just. It is not up to you take life unless it is necessary. You did good, child", He smiles, "Good work, Josie".

The Precinct.

"I forgot to tell you. Your mom called me earlier yesterday", Chioma looked at Aaron as he done.

"It is the usual talk?", He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah", She replied.

"What did you tell her?".

"The usual".

"I love you. Do you know that?".

She laughed as he parked the car. She was about to leave but he pulled her back and gave her a kiss.

"Careful", He winked at her.

"You too. Love you", She waved at his retreating car before the building.

The crowd in there turned towards her and swarmed her, asking series of questions.

"Hey, one question at a time", Pete enters.

"You were behind me this whole time", She asked between her teeth.

"Yep. Saw you and hubby drive in", He led her to the podium they arranged for them.

Chioma nodded at him before facing the crowd, and pointing at a Caucasian man in a brown suit.

"There was a murder yesterday morning and a fire explosion followed after. Do you think they're connected?", He asked.

"... To the best of our knowledge, we believe they're connected", Chioma said as Pete whisper the words to her.

Another man asked, "So what you're saying is that First Disciple is behind this".

"Yes", Chioma says nervously.

A female asked her, "You caught her 5 years ago. Do you think she'll strike again soon?".

"I don't know", She was confused and nervous.

Pete noticed it and came to her rescue, "Alright, folks. We'll know that if you let us work".

"We're done here", Russell ends the conference.

While leaving, a woman held Chioma's hands.

"Let me go", She struggled to get free but the woman's hold was tight.

"Please, come to the 14 crescent street tonight. Please", The woman begged.

"What?", Chioma was confused.

A few officers took the woman away.

Pete stood next to Chioma, "You gonna go there?tonight?".

Chioma clenched her fist. Josie was out to harm and scourge. Placing her hand on her tommy, she inhaled softly. She would protect this child no matter what.

"You bet I would. There's a lot of mystery yet to be uncovered at that house".

Pete chuckled, "That's the Chichi I know".

Russell shouts, "Arnold! Kingsley! My office now!".

In his office, Russell scratches his head.

"You okay, Kingsley?", He asks Chioma.

"Never better, Captain", Chioma replied him.

Blowing a raspberry with his lips, he reaches for a cigar, "This case is shittier than I thought. Its upsetting", He began.

"You should've known before coming here", Pete laughs.

"What about Meshach?", He asked.

"He's fine. We got eyes on him 24/7", Chioma answered.

Russell tries to light the cigar but Chioma stops him, "You mind not smoking near me?".

"Sure", He puts it away, You froze out there, Kingsley. Should I be worried?".

"No", She looked away.

"Get the others".

While team leader Choi briefed the others, Chioma noticed the newbie. Hannah. The woman chewed on her fingernail the entire time. Something bothered her. She would talk to her.

"You okay?", She asked Hannah.

"No, I can't breathe. This case is suffocating", Hannah blurts out.

"Sure", Chioma snickers.

"That's what they always say", Choice pats Hannah's head, "You'll get the hang of it".

Hannah shrugs his hand off, "I will not. Why won't you let me quit?".

"If you quit now. You won't be able to work in another precinct again. You know the rules", Choi eyes her.

"You haven't seen anything and you want to quit. Nice going, Hannah", Janice reached for a sandwich.

"Listen, guys. We gotta find a way to get Josie once and for all. We got one more day till she comes for Meshach. He's the only surviving member of the God's disciple", Chioma walks to the white board.

Hannah grumbles, "You all sure how to change a conversation quickly".

"Ria, any eye witness?", asked Choi

"Nope. We tried contacting the guardians of late Erica Martindale but the dad's MIA and mom's in coma", Ria had her pencil to her lips.

"What about the hospital she worked at", asked Choi.

"They're closed for the day. Having a vigil for her", Ria answered.

Pete whispered to Chioma, "I got Grace, Tina's sister. She knows something. We gotta question her".

"I'll have it run by you. There's someone I need to find", Chioma told him, "Take Hannah with you".

"Sure thing. Let's go, Hannah".