Chapter 12 : Man's treachery

"The wicked prowl on every side when vileness is exalted among sons of men".

- Psalm 12 : 8

The day before.

HPD

4 : 08 pm.

Diana walked to the cell Josie was being held in.

"M.S is here to carry you to the dead zone", She smiled.

Josie laughed, "They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east, they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the lord but shall not find it".

"Really?", Diana squatted before her, "For what reason?".

Josie became silent.

Diana smiled, "Hear this, all people. Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, both low and high. rich and poor together, my mouth shall speak wisdom".

Josie applauded, "You know your bible".

Diana stood up, "Perks of growing up in a Christian home".

"You won't survive the night unless you embrace the will of First Disciple and follow me", Josie told her, "You have a precious aura. Don't let evil strip you from God".

Diana paddled to a troller and grabbed a cup of coffee, "God doesn't want me and the devil isn't finished either".

"The sword of God will come after you and your family chasing you out of his glory as he did Adam and Eve".

Present day.

KBC news and lots of journalists flooded the gate of the Kingsley's condominium demanding answers to questions. Questions related to the death of Diana Savage and the disappearance of the bodies of Erica Martindale and Israel

Chioma sat on the kitchen chair. Her left leg swinging down.

"How long have they been standing there?", She fiddled with the biscuits on her plate.

"Since 9am. Its been 4 hours", Anod replied.

She buried her face in her palms, "Someone should stop them".

Rachel patted her hand, "It'll be fine".

"Sure, it will", Chioma looked down.

"Why does everyone blame you? What do they stand to gain?", Hannah popped some sweets into her mouth.

"The one whom Josie is fond of is Chichi", Wysa admitted.

"I thought Fridays are party days", Ria exhaled.

"In my case, its not", Chioma alighted from the chair, "I'll go talk to them".

"We'll go with you", The girls said with a smile.

5 of them decided to confront the mob outside while And and his wife stayed indoors.

"Detective, over here", Lots of them craved her attention.

A TV reporter from KBC news asked, "What's gonna happen next seeing the First Disciple case transferred to HPD brought about the death of Diana Savage".

"I'll have to figure out her motive. We believe she is not alone in this one and must tread

carefully while trying to catch up to her", Chioma said nervously.

"Believe? Catch up to her? These are not the words the people want to hear. How is First Disciple pulling strings from prison or where ever she is?", Another reporter asked.

"How cone the bodies of Israel and Erica Martindale are missing?", Two reporters asked at the same time.

Hannah pulled Chioma back and yelled, "Lay off her back, goddammit. A week ago, a witness was murdered in our precinct, on the first day of this case, her friend was killed. Not long ago, we lost an active member of the force. Nothing is okay so don't you dare ask her any shitty questions. If you have a problem with this case, take it up with the commissioner. He's our boss, isn't he?".

"For now stay out or we'll slap everyone of your faces with restraining orders".

That same afternoon, KBC published an article titled:

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CHALLENGES THE SYSTEM: BLAMING BOTH THE COMMISSIONER AND JOURNALISTS FOR THE CITY'S DEPLORABLE SITUATION.

"What the hell? I never said I challenged the system. They put words in my mouth", Hannah scoffed as she scrolled up on her IPad.

"That's the press for you. If the government doesn't raise your blood pressure, they will", Ria sighed.

"When is Aaron gonna be back?", asked Wysa.

"I don't know. He left early. Said he had meetings to attend", Chioma answered.

"Don't you think he's acting strange lately?", asked Hannah.

"How?", Chioma turned around.

"I mean...I never meant to say strange. Maybe awkward.....I guess", Hannah cleared her throat.

"I don't think so ... why? You know something", Chioma answered Hannah.

"No worries. I was just curious. That's all", Hannah eyed a plate of dried mangoes.

"If its being weird, Aaron is no stranger to it. He's very much awkward than the rest of us", Anod laughs.

Rachel smacks her husband's chest, "Don't be rude".

"I literally raised him. Aaron has his own shell so until he is ready to break out of it. He needs no one hassling him", Anod nods.

"Sure", everyone concurred.

A phone rang. It was Chioma's.

"Hey", She took the call inside.

"I was just thinking about you right now", Aaron smiles on his end of the phone.

"Really? I thought you had a meeting", She got into the bathroom in the living room.

"I do. Its a few minutes away", Aaron's voice was silent.

"You okay?", She asked.

"Well, I haven't been myself lately", His voice, husky with exhaustion.

"I noticed. Is it this case?", She told him softly.

"Partly; its the case but its - - - Jeremiah. He's here", His voice gleamed with innocence.

"No wonder. You've been distant", Chioma said, pain in her voice.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to worry you or anything", He apologises.

"Its fine.How did Jeremiah come back here?",

Chioma cursed inwardly.

"I don't know, babe. He just showed up and said he needed to see us", Aaron says.

"Oh crud", Chioma is annoyed.

"Hey, he won't be dangerous", Aaron was worried too. Chioma wished she could go meet him.

"Feeling okay?",

Chioma knew he asked about the baby and looked at her tommy, "He's okay".

"How do you know its a boy?", Aaron chuckled.

Chioma coughed, "Just a guess". She couldn't go around telling him their dead daughter says she's pregnant with a boy. She would sound crazy.

"Guess?", Aaron's voice became louder.

"Yeah. I want a son", Chioma looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Aaron smiled on his end, "Okay".

A shrill voice spoke to him, "Sir, Mister Jeremiah is here".

"Okay...He's here", Aaron says.

"Don't be terrified, okay? Jeremy's your brother. Be safe, okay?".

"Yeah. Love you".

She kept down her phone and looked at her reflection again. Suddenly, images of the horrific events she had in the past. She rushed to the toilet to throw up. Sitting on the marble floor, she bent her head on her knee.

"I'm scared, Abby", She looked at Abby.

"Don't be. I'm here", Abby embraced.