Chapter 10 : The blessed

"Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil. For the son of man's sake".

Luke 6 : 22

ONE WEEK LATER

Chioma opened her eyes and yawned, "Oh crud". She realised she was lying on the floor, "How did I end up here?".

A hand pulled her waist backwards and kissed her neck, "Morning, honey".

"Shit. I'm naked", She whispered.

Aaron laughed, "You don't remember anything or you're just pretending".

She shook her head, bending it shyly. She put her head on his shoulders, "I remember. What's wrong if I don't?".

He pits his arms around her, "Nothing".

"Hello, anyone home?", A British accented voice asked from the door.

She was startled, "Shit. Robin is here".

"He's not Robin. I thought And was supposed to come here by noon", Aaron stood up. Chioma too.

"Answer it", She ran into the bathroom.

"Chioma", Aaron yelled, "Darn it". He put away their clothes and found some clean laundry to wear.

He went downstairs and opened the gate finding And and a fair skinned woman beside him.

"Aaron", He hugged him, patting his back loudly.

"Good morning", The lady beside Anod greeted.

"You must be Rachel", He pulled away shaking her hands.

And sniffled, "You reek of alcohol". He gasped, "What has that woman done to you?".

"Nothing bad", He smirked, "Come on. Let's go in".

By the time they entered the house, Chioma was already there dressed in black from head to toe.

"Oh, hey, Robin", She smiled.

Anod scoffed, "We both know that's not my name".

She laughed, "Come over here".

They hugged briefly.

"You got him drinking alcohol?", Anod whispered to her.

"I didn't. He got upset last night and had some", She whispered back.

They pulled away.

"Touché", He laughed, "This is my wife, Rachel. I told you both about her".

"Hi, Rachel", Chioma smiled at her. Aaron came to her side and pulled her close to his side, kissing her cheek.

"Both of you are pretty close", Rachel smiled.

"Yeah", He kissed her cheek again, "What's with the black get-up?". He turned to her.

She whispered, "I got word from Russell. Erica Martindale is getting buried today".

"I see", He hugged her tighter, "Its okay".

"Well, I'll be on my way", Chioma smiled, "It was lovely meeting you both".

Aaron let's go off her, "I'll drive you".

"No, I'm fine on my own. Just relax, okay?", She assured him.

"Love you", They kissed goodbye.

Anod smiled, "I missed something here. Didn't I?".

"Yep".

Driving to work; she checked the time. 9 : 15 am. Stopping by a coffee shop for a quick breakfast.

"You hardly come here anymore", Lana at the counter told her.

"I'm a detective. Busy is what I do", Chioma replied.

"Usual?", Lana asked.

"No. I'll try something new. Chocolate milk and shortcake", Chioma was wierdly craving sugar.

Lana was confused but she nodded, "Okay".

"Nice", She brought out her phone and checked her Instagram. She hardly went on social media but she should chill out for sometime.

Few minutes later, Lana came with the food and served it, "You know this is what Aaron ordered when he first came here".

"Yeah. He told me", Chioma reached for the milkshake.

"You guys had your first kiss here too, right?".

Chioma remembered the second time she met Aaron. She always goes to Lana's coffee shop with Kookie and Kookie had lost his life battling with cancer. She had gotten work early that evening and stopped for a late night snack when she bumped into Aaron.

"Kookie", He said with a smile.

"I'm Chioma. Kookie is my dog", She replied.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Aaron", He told her.

"Yeah. I know who you are", She walked past him to an empty seat.

"Can I join you?", He asked.

"Sure", She told him.

They got their orders and began to talk. There they discovered that they had things in common - Biking, Painting, Recycling and stuff.

"Oh no, you didn't", She laughed.

"I did too. I wore town pants to the event. Luckilly, Jerry saved me", He laughed too.

Her phone rang and she picked it up, "Yes, this is she - - - - - - oh, Kookie's not coming back. He's dead - - - - - Its okay. Thanks", She put away the phone.

"Are you okay?", Aaron asked.

"No. Kookie passed away last night", Her eyes began to water.

Lana dropped by to take their plates away. Noticing Chioma's change in countenance, she asked, "Anything wrong, Chichi?".

"Her dog passed away", Aaron answered in her stead.

"I'm so sorry, honey", Lana felt sad, " Kookie was such a nice boy. Its gonna be okay". She goes back to work.

"Yeah. Thanks", She was silent, "I'll go home now. Don't wanna be reminded of it anymore".

"I'll take you",Aaron offered.

"No", She turned him down.

He heard silent sniffles and embraced her, "Its okay".

They stayed like that for a while before they pulled away. Looking at each other for a while, they moved their faces closer and locked lips.

Back to the present, Chioma smiled. Memories were mirthful and yet bitter. Kookie had left so Aaron could come into her life. Her phone rang. It was Pete.

"You on your way?", He asked.

"Yeah", She disconnected the call and turned to Lana, "I'll have this to go".

WORCESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

10 am.

"It seems like I missed something here", Hannah held onto a boy of about 5 years clutching a lollipop in his hand.

"You did", Choice replied her, "We're going to a funeral but you're here playing soccer mom".

Hannah scoffed; lifting the boy unto her arms, "I am not playing soccer mom. I am a soccer mom".

Chioma dropped by, "When does it start?".

"Why the rush? You got plans?", asked Pete.

"Yes and no", Chioma placed her breakfast on the desk.

"Is Aaron coming?", Choi reached for a slice of cake.

Chioma checked her phone and found a message from him, saying he'll be 20 minutes away, "Yeah but he's gonna be late. I'll text him the address".

Russell enters with members of the entire precinct, "Let's not waste time".

Driving in their police cars, Russell, Wysa, Hannah, and her son, July, and Pete ride together.

"I heard HPD caught First Disciple", Wysa whispered.

"Yeah. It was on the news", Pete was driving.

Hannah took the lollipop from July, "Its smooth the way Diana runs things. I mean despite the fact she got the case not long ago she cracked it".

Russell grunted, "Shut up, Ann".

"Geez, man, Don't be jealous of girl power", She ruffled July's hair but he was so focused on his videogame.

"Don't you think its weird she got caught?", asked Wysa.

Russell in the passenger seat looked at Wysa's reflection in the rear view mirror, "No, it isn't but it bugs me that there's been no attack on the city since this morning".

Chioma rode with Choice, Ria, Janice and 2 other officers.

"What are we going to do seeing our office is a crime scene?", asked Ria.

Chioma looked out the window, "I have no idea. I haven't been to work in a while".

"Who do you think is responsible for Erica's funeral?", asked Janice in the backseat.

Ria answered, "Her boss offered hence her sister's a lunatic and her mother's in a coma. its so tragic".