John searched everywhere, from relatives to police stations, to no avail. Two days he was unsuccessful in trying to fish her out of her hideout, if for any reason she had eloped. The night before, they had a bitter quarrel over Njeri, and the last warning from Njeri was, 'I will one day walk out of here and you will never find me.' Where was she hiding? Or was she dead? He had promised to divorce Njeri, but it required sufficient time. It wasn't as easy as Ondiso thought. There was a lopsided aspect to her solution. Yes, he no longer loved Njeri but the connection between them was more of spiritual than physical. Njeri knew all her weak spots. Now that Ondiso was gone, where was he going to find love again? He felt the emptiness in him. John sobbed bitterly as he left for Njeri. It seemed that fate had nailed them together forever, and there was no way out.
As the gateman opened the portal, John recalled something. He had searched everywhere apart from the mortuary and at Njeri. At a fast thought, Njeri was a prime suspect, and he wondered why he had never bothered to open her file. He drove past the gate and then stopped the car.
The gateman ran to the window and inquired, "Anything for you, boss?"
John stared at him piercingly for a moment, not uttering any word. The look drove some fear into the deeper parts of the gateman. Guilty was engulfing him from within. Had John noticed something?
"Soldier, is there something you are hiding from me?"
"No. Nothing boss."
"Okay. Where is she?" the question was direct but deliberate. Being a detective, he knew how to get information.
"I don't know."
John was interested. How did the gateman know who he was talking about? "I know everything, and I don't want you to taste my wrath. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was planning to inquire from you today. I thought you were part of the plan."
"Okay, talk to me. And don't try to hide anything from me because you know the consequences."
"I don't know where they took her to; I only saw her once in Madam's car."
"is she still around this compound?"
"I am not sure. But madams' boys keep on coming here since then."
"Okay, good day."
That was more than enough evidence. Njeri had outsmarted her again. How did he ignore the written signs? Two weeks' deadline Njeri had given her had already elapsed. Why didn't he think about that before stressing himself too much?
In the living room, preoccupied with her hair, Njeri was humming alongside the country music that was booming from the home theater. She didn't even recognize a fuming John was in the room for more than 5 minutes. John just stood there, unaware of how to handle the situation. He calmed herself then went and patted her on the head.
"How are you?"
"I am good. Today you are back very early. I wasn't expecting you today. Is there any progress?"
"Nothing is forthcoming. There is no breakthrough if the report the police gave me is anything to go by."
"Whatever could have happened? How can someone abduct a crazy woman like her? She is neither an activist, a politician nor a campaigner. Or maybe it's business rivalry."
"I know it won't take long before we get to the bottom of it."
"I am really sorry for you. If you need anything, just ask. I offer my shoulder to lean on."
"Thank you."
"Welcome. Although I am just confused."
"Confused about what?"
I received a call from the police informing me of their impending arrival."
"Coming here to do what?"
"They didn't communicate much."
"What hint did they leave?"
"Maybe they wanted to brief me in person about the progress."
"Do they brief you daily?"
"Yes, they do. But not in person."
"Something is not adding up."
"But they sounded like they were on the trail, but it's unclear how their arrival here connects to the case."
"If they come here, I won't open the gate. You will meet them outside there. This isn't a crime scene."
A message rapped on his phone. "Oooh, they are almost here and much more confusing; they insist its part of the investigation. Not to brief me."
Njeri was visibly tense. "Let them not come here for some shoddy investigations. How is this place connected with the disappearance of Ondiso?"
"Let them do their job; if you are innocent, no need to worry."
"So, what are you insinuating? That I am a criminal?'
"I didn't say so. Just allow the police to do their job."
"This is my home, and I don't welcome strangers," an agitated Njeri shouted as she left the house. "If you have your own visitors, you can take them to your home, not here."
John followed him from behind. "Let the police do their job."
Njeri walked straight to the gate and commanded the gateman, "Lock that gate and don't allow anybody in without my permission."
"But madam, the police car is outside the gate," the gateman announced.
Njeri warned him sternly, "Don't allow them in."
The police shouted from outside, "Please open this gate. It is now a crime scene."
"I am not opening it, do your worst," Njeri shouted back.
"Okay, now we can break in if you don't open," the police shouted back.
"Try it, and you will know I don't play in your league."
The police shouted as they had begun knocking hard on the gate. "Do you think we are easily scared by empty threats?"
"Don't try anything stupid; you will live to regret it." Njeri shouted angrily.
John, who had remained silent throughout, shouted. "It's okay guys. Don't break the gate. Let me come over there."
"But dare not allow them in."
Outside were 6 police officers. John beckoned them aside and asked, "Guys, how far?"
"All pieces of evidence converge at Njeri. There is credible evidence that she is the one who kidnapped your wife. We aren't sure where she has locked her up? That's why we want to coerce her a little."
"Do this; I want you to remain here for some minutes as I go inside. Then pretend as if you are not convinced by my pleading. Don't break into the compound, but you can jump over the fence. I just want her to spend this night in your cell, to teach her a lesson."
"Okay, but you will have to pay us handsomely. You know she is somehow influential and it can boomerang on us."
"Don't worry about that. I will handle it."
As they had just jumped inside the compound, the phone of one of them rang. He looked at it and he told the rest, "The boss is calling."
"Hello sir."
"Constable, where are you?"
"We are on pursuing the prime suspect in the kidnap case."
"I asked, where are you?"
"We are in Karen."
"I am giving you 30 minutes; I want you to be here at the station."
"Yes boss, we are coming with the suspect."
"Don't try it. Leave that woman alone or else you won't believe it. How dare you break into people's compounds without my knowledge?"
"Sorry boss. She refused to open the gate."
"And so?"
"Sorry sir."
The phone went silent; the police officer beckoned the rest and said, "The boss is infuriated, Seems we have touched a live wire. We only have 30 minutes to report back to the station."
Seeing them leave in such a haste shocked John. He didn't understand it. So he rushed after them. "What is it now?"
"John, this case is beyond us."
"Meaning?"
"Njeri and Ondiso are both your wives. Next time, don't involve us in family matters. If you can't handle polygamy, leave it. Just put your house in order," the police officer said as the land cruiser turned and sped off.
John was disappointed, he really wanted to teach Njeri a small lesson so us to scare her a bit. But Njeri was a step ahead of him. He never knew her to be connected to the high in the police hierarchy. So he chose to handle her himself. His initial plan of dealing with her through proxies had failed. So he went straight to her in the living room.
"What nonsense is this you are doing?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"The hell that you are doing?"
"So the police officers have poisoned your mind against me?"
"Don't pretend."
"After all these years as a detective, you choose to believe these incompetent officers. It is like your brains are ageing like eggs."
"Njeri, what do you take me for? A fool? I am the one who invited them here. If you don't release my Ondiso by today, count your two boys dead. I already have custody of them."
Njeri's horror was evident. "Please don't kill them. Ondiso is in safe hands. I will release her immediately."
"And why did you do such a stupid thing?"
"It is because of you."
"What did I do wrong?'
"I gave you an ultimatum of two weeks; what happened? Nothing. You think you can fool me? Now listen, this was just a warning to you. Next time you will find her dead body floating in river Yala."
"Don't ever dare it. It is as if you have forgotten what I am capable of."
"John, this is not a mere threat; you know me better. The same way you cleared all obstacles to have me for yourself alone is the same way I am going to clear all obstacles to have you for myself. If you hadn't butchered Mutiso, I won't be here with you. You killed him and had Wanjala jailed so that you could use and dump me, leaving me with no option. At my age, where do you expect me to get another man? After I reformed and chose to love you alone, is this how you are paying me back? Over my dead body will I allow it. You either kick Ondiso out or you won't believe the news."
"Don't try it or else," John sneered.
Njeri stood up, went straight towards him and leaned forward towards him and said coldly, "Or what, John? Do your worst."
"So you believe I am a reformed man, that's why you have the guts to talk to me like that?"
"John, do your worst. After all, the worst you can do is to gun me done. And for your information, I am ready for that. I Know you have your gun with you, you can shoot me now. I long to be reunited with Mutiso. Do it quick."
John threw himself on the sofa beside him and sighed deeply.
"It's not my fault,' Njeri said soothingly, as someone who had just realized his mistake. "I do all this because I love you."
John lifted his head to look at her. "What love is this?"
"The love I have for you. It consumes all my nerves. I can't think beyond you. My dreams revolve around your orbit. Just understand me. I don't want to share you with anyone. They released Ondiso."
John, on hearing that Ondiso had been released, stood up and left without uttering a word.
On reaching home, Ondiso was in perfect shape. She wasn't as shaken as he had anticipated.
"Did they harm you?"
"No, they didn't. It is only that they locked me in a dark room that looked scary.'
"Were you able to identify any of them?"
"No, they all adorned some scary Halloween masks.'
"So they told you nothing."
"They just warned me against having anything to do with you. To stay away from you."
"Only that?"
"They also gave me some papers to sign."
"What was the documents all about?"
"I don't know. I was so shaken that day I didn't even bother to read anything; I just signed."
"I am sorry for everything. I promise it will never happen again."
"I blame you for all this. Why are you hiding me like an illegitimate wife and yet you claim it is me you love? If you had just made it public, these things wouldn't be happening."
"I told you I am working on a watertight plan, just be a little patient."
"Just be a little patient,' Ondiso parroted. "That is what you say all the time."
"Its not very far."
"Now I give you three months. If this isn't done, then I will declare myself single again."
"Trust me, within three months, it will be done."
The next morning, John left to Njeri. The entire night, he was thinking about the documents Ondiso signed. What could be the document about? Were they divorce documents? Why was there a need for divorce documents yet he wasn't legally married to Ondiso? What game was Njeri playing?
"Good morning?"
"Good morning too. What brings you here this early morning?"
"Nothing. Just to check up on you."
"That's pleasant of you."
"I have to."
"You make me believe in love. The only thing you disgust me with is your side chick. You promised me something; how far now?"
"I am still working on a watertight plan."
"You always say that. Now I have run out of patience. I am giving you three months to get rid of her."
"Don't worry, everything is under control."
"After three months, I will personally eliminate her. Now that we have a signed document, it won't be difficult to throw her out."
"What signed document?"
"There is this document about her willingly accepting to terminate the illegitimate union with you, allowing you to have custody of the children. We will settle her with cash."
"It's okay."
"And listen carefully, after 3 months you will never leave this place apart from attending to work-related issues. No sleeping out. So you have 3 months to finalize that, clear with her."
The following day, John took the lawyer and drove all the way to the prison. John didn't even wait for Wanjala to settle down.
"Mr. Wanjala, we are here to update you on the progress of the reopening of your file. Here is the Miscellaneous Application. You can now append your signature."
Wanjala's eyes paced through the document. "And what about the real culprit?"
"Mr. Wanjala, the case is about you being exonerated. That is your part," the lawyer explained.
"So, does it mean there will be no justice for Mutiso?"
That can be dealt with later. The most important aspect right now is getting you out of here."
John just stared back. He was quite aware of what Wanjala was doing, trying to frustrate him.
Wanjala said, "If the culprit is not being brought to book, there is no need of I being set free. I am willing to pay the price."
The lawyer was getting agitated. "Listen here, I am your lawyer, not Mutisos' family lawyer. So mine is just to handle your part, and if Mutiso's family will consider giving me the job, then I will handle it."
"So where I am supposed to sign?"
"Down there," John preempted the lawyer.
Wanjala took the pen and turned towards the lawyer. "Any information about the real culprit?"
"Not yet. Although, as I said before, it isn't up to me to do that. But the people in charge of that said they have not unmasked the culprit."
"Why are they searching in the forests and yet the culprit is at the dining table? Thats the problem we have in this nation."
John really struggled with a powerful urge to burst up. "Wanjala, you know you have to be out of here in a span of three months."
Wanjala looked at John and grinned. "And what's your interest in all this?"
"I have no interest in it."
"John, I know you better. With this speed you are processing this, you have an enormous interest."
"Its just one way of apologizing to you. After framing you, I can't have peace when you are here wallowing in distress. That's the only interest I have."
Wanjala chuckled. "And you seriously expect me to believe that? From the way you are rushing things, there must be a hidden agenda."
"Sign the document we will talk about that later."
"Or you have strangled another guy? And you think the best way to find a scapegoat is to set me free? I get it. It will be easy as it will be said, 'the murderer is said to have been released from the prison a few weeks ago with the same case.' You are a genius John. Every one will believe it."
John's self control was failing. "There is nothing like that being cooked. It is just help, for heavens' sake."
"I am not going to sign this document until I get to know the motive behind it."
John, with his hands on his head, sighed noisily. "What the hell is wrong with you? Are you nut?"
"Read my lips; I am not signing the document."
John banged the table. "Look at this fool, I am trying to help."
"Excuse me, John, I have never asked for your help and I will never ask. In fact, I am now used to this life. There is no need to get me out. Can you imagine getting out of here and sharing freedom with people like John? It's better to live and die here. I am not interested in your help."
John shouted back, "I can leave it!" You claim to enjoy life here and yet 3 days ago you had another failed suicide."
The lawyer took over. "Stop being stubborn Wanjala, you need this more than us."
Wanjala threw the document at John and stood up and shouted as he left the room. "I don't need help. I am fine."
John just stared back, confused. He felt exhausted and defeated. None of his plan was working.
"Now what do we do?" the lawyer asked.
"Don't worry, I will handle it. I think depression has affected his brains."
"You know, without his approval, the case will not be reopened."
"What do you suggest we do?"
"We can as well abort the mission. He is the one suffering, not us. If he is not cooperating, what is the need?"
"We can't."
"And by the way, what is your interest in this?"
"I have no interest."
"But your behavior betrays you."