Episode 26.
“Baby…I’m home….” Tony called out walking into the sitting room.
“Welcome Tony” Amara greeted.
“Good day mum..” he hugged her.
“Where’s Lara?” He asked looking about the room.
“She left some time ago, that she was taking a walk, she isn’t back yet” Amara explained.
“Why? What’s keeping her? Its late already, this is 8pm, gosh!” he said dailling Lara number.
“I tried dailling her earlier, but she left her phone in her room.” Amara said again.
“Excuse me.” Tony walked out of the house.
He searched aimlessly round the streets for an hour before going back home in despair, he decided to go and check Funke’s place, perhaps Lara should be there.
He got into his car without a word to his mother.
“ah! Tony! Its you, by this time of the night.”
Funke said as she let Tony in.
“is Lara here?” he asked.
“Lara? Its been months since I saw her o!”
Tony searched her eyes for a while, she possibly couldn’t be hiding Lara.
He exhaled sharply
“What wrong?” Funke queried.
“She left home few hours ago and..and…she isn’t back, she didn’t go with her phone..she…”
Tony explained in a tired voice.
“Ehn! Did I hear you say my daughter is missing?” Funke squealed.
“Haaaa! Mo kpe o! Mo ti ku!”
Tony turned to leave, he isn’t in the mood to watch her drama
“Where do you think you are going?” Funke asked barring the door.
Tony blinked rapidly
“You are not going anywhere o! I want my daughter o! So you and your family want to use her for money rituals ehn! You must produce Omolara for me o” she ranted.
Tony’s heart missed a beat at the mention of rituals, was it that Lara was kidnapped?
“Please madam, get off my way, I don’t have time for your drama.” he said wearily.
“Drama! You’ll see drama! Shey you want to see drama!” Funke screamed at him.
She locked the door with keys, threw the keys into her bra, before proceeding to make a call.
“Hello? Inspector wale? E mi ni, its Funke o, please send me some police men o! There’s one ritualist in my house o!” she squealed into the phone.
Tony stood rooted by the door, he watched her with keen interest, this woman is definitely impossible.
#######
“I swear Officer, that’s all I know.” Amara said wiping a tear.
Tony squeezed her palms, he wanted her to stop crying.
“please inspector grant them bail.” Ifiora said.
Tony brightened up, he wasn’t sure he would survive another night in the cell, the previous night was hell.
“write your statements.” Inspector Wale pushed a book towards him.
Tony’s hand shook as he wrote, he wasn’t even sure he wrote something good. His mind was miles away, he wondered where Lara was, he just hoped she is fine.
::::::::*****::::::::
Lara scratched her legs furiously, mosquitoes had feasted on her the previous night.
She had stopped crying cos her tears stopped flowing, even her baby was silent, no more movements, she wondered if the baby was alright, it must be weak, cos she hadn’t eaten since the previous evening.
She gazed at the only window in her ‘cell’, it was big enough to escape through. But the question is how? The place was surrounded by armed men.
A laughing female voice drawed her attention, she edged towards the door…
“Don’t worry! When the money comes; I go do you well!” the voice said amidst fits of laughter.
The voice sounded familiar.
Just then the door was pushed open; Lara almost lost her balance.
A fetish looking old man; clad in red satin walked into the room, he was holding some calabashes.
He squatted beside examining her bulging stomach. Lara didn’t push his hands away; she knew it’d be useless.
He shook his head disappointedly
“Madam come in” he said in a loud voice.
“so when will you take the baby out?” the woman said gingerly.
Lara’s heart was beating faster, she knew that voice so well, she looked up sharply..her jaws dropped.
Deji smirked at her, chewing a gum noisily.
Lara felt sweat coming out through every pore on her skin
“Deji?” her lips quivered.
Deji rolled her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
“We shall take it by night.” The fetish man croaked.
“Good then! I can’t wait to be a multi-billionaire”
Deji laughed.
“Deji you?” Lara shrieked as they turned to leave.
“Yea! Me! Do you think I came into this world to watch others progressing? I need to make money, and I’m not sorry- I have to use you and your baby.” Deji chucked wickedly.
“Deji me Lara? Do I deserve this?” Lara sobbed “I don’t know that one o! Better prepare to meet your late father tonight.” Deji clapped, before banging the door behind her.
Lara sat, shocked to the marrow. Her body became numb. That night her unborn child would be used by Deji for rituals! Deji of all people.
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