I went to bed early but I couldn't sleep. I was so disturbed. Richard didn't sleep also. He stood up after a while and left the room. I sat up around 11am and picked up a book to read but my mind wasn't in it.
After about an hour I slept off. I dreamt that Richie was back home and we were having a picnic, then suddenly it turned dark and blurry and I was alone in a dark alley. My heart was thumping as I heard footsteps coming towards me. The alley was stinking of urine. Water was dripping somewhere nearby. The footsteps sounded closer. I was shaking like a leaf and I was sweating profusely. I didn't know where I was or who was chasing me. I felt a presence behind me. A cold hand gripped my shoulder. I screamed and woke up.
My throat was dry and I was sweaty. Richard was sleeping beside me. The time was 4AM. I took a cold shower and tried to make sense of the dream I had. I couldn't think of a possible explanation for it.
After I showered, I wore a tank top and my training shorts and went downstairs to make a cup of tea. Drinking it made me feel better. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep so I decided to go for a jog. I picked up my ipod and my headphones.
I started jogging just outside the gate, listening to music. I reached the end of the street and turned left. Just then a man appeared in front of me. He was wearing a mask. He must be a burglar, I thought. I quickly turned back and ran. I didn't turn to see if he was chasing me.
As the gateman saw me he quickly opened the gate. I ran in breathing heavily. I was so scared.
"Madam what is it? What happened?" he asked. I couldn't answer him as I was still trying to catch my breath. I peeped through a gap in the gate. There was no sign of the man. Strange, I thought.
"Is everything okay?" the gateman asked again, looking concerned.
"Yes. Please don't let anyone in." I replied and went into the house. Was I hallucinating or the man was real? I wondered. He looked so real but when I turned again I didn't see him. He must have stopped chasing me or maybe he didn't even chase me. You need to calm down, stop being paranoid, I said to myself.
The sun had risen. I thought of what to make for breakfast. I decided to make French toast. I was on the last one when Richard came into the kitchen. He hugged me from behind.
"Good morning sweetheart" he said to me. I turned and kissed me forehead. He looked tired.
"Morning. I guess you had a rough night too?" I asked.
"You have no idea. I couldn't sleep much" he replied. I told him about the dream and the man I saw this morning.
"I think God is trying to tell me something" I told him.
"Don't be silly, Ally. It's not realistic. It's just your mind playing tricks on you" he said with a smile. He made coffee while I finished making breakfast. We went to the dining table and ate in silence.
When we were done I called Bola to clear the table. I heard my phone ringing in the living room. I wondered who would be calling so early. Before I could reach it, the call had ended. I checked the caller. The number was hidden. I ignored the call.
A few minutes later Richard's phone started ringing. Luckily it was on the table in front of him.
"Private number" he mused.
"Strange, I just got a call from a hidden number too" I said to him. He picked up and put it on loudspeaker.
"Hello? Who is on the line?" he asked. There was silence.
"Hello? Who am I speaking with?" he asked again. Still there was no answer then the caller hung up.
"It must be a prank call" I said to him.
"Yeah I guess" he replied. He excused himself and went upstairs to shower.
Richard went to work while I remained at home. The day passed by so slowly. I was running out of things to do to keep my Mind off the terrible thoughts that had been haunting me. I wanted to go to Delilah's place but I knew she would be at work.
I decided to go shopping. I couldn't help thinking about the dreadful things that could be happening to Richie as I drove. I offered a silent prayer and hoped that God would answer it. At the mall I bumped into my late father's friend. He was shocked to see me. We exchanged pleasantries.
"I hope you and your husband are doing well?" he asked.
"Yes we thank God" I replied. I asked about his family and we had a little chat. We were talking when a boy about Richie's age walked up to where we were standing. He greeted me.
"This is my youngest son, Ayomide" said Chief Abayomi.
"Nice to meet you" I replied and smiled. The boy looked familiar, like I've seen him before.
"Have we met before?" I asked the boy.
"Yeah, Richie was my classmate" he replied. No wonder he looked so familiar.
"By the way, sorry about what happened to him. Have you heard anything yet?" he asked concerned.
"Nothing yet. When was the last time you saw him?" I asked curious.
"At the prom. He was leaving the venue with a lady he introduced as his mother. They left in Richie's car". He replied.
That's strange, I thought. So Blessing was basically the last person to see him. That could be useful.
I said goodbye and left them. I called Richard and told him what I heard and he said he'll inform the police to find out about Blessing's whereabouts.
*******************************************
A week passed without any news about Richie. His school registration deadline was fast approaching. I was at the point of breakdown. The police had no clue, nothing to lead them on.
Blessing was Spotted in Lagos but she couldn't be arrested for questioning because she disappeared once again.
One morning Richie's car was found in an abandoned shack in Suleja. Nobody knew how it got there. The car wasn't damaged, and the keys were in the ignition.
"What if he had decided to run away leave us?" I thought. I felt really bad and I cried a lot that day. I made his travel arrangements hoping that he'll change his mind and come back home. Meanwhile, Blessing's companion in Lagos was arrested for questioning. He was also clueless about where Blessing was.
Another week passed. We were eating lunch on a Saturday when an unknown number called Richard. He picked. I could only hear one side of the conversation.
"Hello?"
"Yes I'm Richard"
"Yes. What?!" he exclaimed. His eyes were wide with surprise.
"Okay. Okay I'll do that" he replied. He motioned for me to get a pen and paper. Then he put the phone on loudspeaker.
"Listen and listen carefully. Don't involve the police in this else your son is as good as dead." the voice said. I was terrified.
"I won't. Just prove to me that you have him with you and he's alive" Richard replied.
"You will do as I say. I'm the one giving the instructions here. One mistake and your son is dead. Do you understand? Write this address down"
Richard had started sweating. I gave him the pen and paper and sat down.
"Yes I understand" he replied, his voice shaky.
"You will bring 80million naira to the address I gave you, if you ever want to see your son again. You have 4hours. If you dare involve the police I will kill him and if the money is not there after 4hours, he's dead. Come with your wife alone. Are we clear?" the man barked at Richard.
"Y-y-yes" Richard replied.
"Good." the man replied and there was silence, then a muffled voice came on.
"Dad? Please dad help me!" it was Richie. My heart ached at the sound of his voice. I started sobbing.
"Richie I'll get you home I promise" Richard said. The line went dead. Richard came and sat beside me. He hugged me as I kept sobbing hard. I couldn't imagine what kind of torture Richie has been through. I never expected he would be kidnapped. I was sure Blessing was behind it. Or maybe it's just a gang operation by some thugs, I thought. I controlled my sobbing and started thinking of the easiest and fastest way to get 80million naira.
Richard and I decided to do as we were told but first he informed the D.P.O., Mr Markson. He insisted that the police should go with us but we declined because we didn't want to jeopardise the whole operation. Eventually, we agreed that the police would arrive about 10minutes after the exchange so that the culprits would be caught and we wouldn't be in danger. A tracking device was attached to the car, and the bag that was to contain the money.
My financial secretary handled the transaction and the money was ready in a short while. I checked the time as we entered the car. It was 3pm. 2 hours to the deadline. The place we were supposed to meet them was a village in abaji, an area council in abuja. We had to use the GPS. Even though The directions we were given were straightforward. We arrived 10minutes before the deadline. I was so scared. My heart was beating fast. We said a short prayer before coming down from the car.
The meeting point was an old abandoned warehouse. Richard brought out the duffel bag containing the money. I felt like we were being watched. He dropped the bag in front of the huge door and knocked, as instructed. We waited.
After a short while two hefty men wearing masks came out. One had a gun in hand and was wearing black faded jeans and an oversized T-shirt, and the other was carrying a cutlass and was wearing a blue sleeveless shirt and baggy pants. They looked scary. I moved closer and held Richard as they inspected the money in the bag. After then, they inspected the car. They didn't see the tracking device.
Satisfied, the man holding a cutlass grunted and said "wait here" and he went back inside. The one carrying the gun came closer and pointed the gun at us.
"If you try anything funny I'll shoot you" he said.
"Please. You have the money. Give us our son" Richard pleaded.
"Shut up" the man barked at him.
We stood for a while under the scorching sun before the other man came back. A third man came out dragging Richie behind him. I could barely recognise Richie. He looked so thin. He had a blank expression and he didn't say anything. He looked so pathetic and vulnerable. Tears started flowing from my eyes. I buried my face in Richard's chest and started sobbing. He hugged me and brushed my hair. They pushed Richie towards us. I moved closer and caught him in my arms. I couldn't stand being in that place a minute longer. I didn't think it would be that easy. Just a simple exchange. Money isn't a problem, we would have paid them much earlier instead of staying in suspense and letting Richie suffer in the hands of these thugs, I thought.
As we turned to leave, the smallest of the trio turned to the other two. "We have been given clear instructions. I suggest you follow the instructions" I overheard him saying. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. I urged Richard to hurry as we headed towards the car, eager to leave the place. Richie was leaning between the two of us.
"Hey! Stop there!" one of the men called out. I froze in place. I heard Richard curse under his breath. "Get in the car fast" he whispered to me.
I moved as fast I could. My hand was shaking as I grabbed the door handle. At that moment I heard a gunshot. I could hear the bullet as it wheezed by. A little more to the left and it would be in my head.
"I said stop or I'll shoot" he shouted at us. We stopped and turned. Blessing was standing there, all smiles. I was shocked. Why is she here? Coincidence? I think not.
Richard spoke before I could say anything.
"How could you do this to your own son! Look at him for God's sake!" he shouted at her. She laughed. "I told you I would do anything to get you back. I can't live without you" she said.
"You're mad. I thought everything was for Richie. I can't be with someone as wicked as you. I love Alison and only death can tear us apart" he said to her. She moved closer.
"Junior has always been a burden. He was just my means of getting back to you, my only connection to you. Take me back and you can have your money back. I just want you" she replied almost sadly. I didn't want to involve myself so I kept quiet. This was between them. Richard shook his head.
"Stay the hell away from me and my family.
I can never be with you, not when I have Alison. Allow us to leave in peace" he said to her.
"Well in that case, let's end everything right here. Only death can break you apart? Then so be it" as she said that, the man holding the gun aimed it at me. My heart was racing. Could this woman really mean it? Had she planned this all along? Oh what a wicked heart she has. I doubt she even has a heart, I thought.
I moved forward, away from Richie and Richard.
"Blessing please. Think of what you're doing. It's not worth it. Please let us go" I pleaded with her, hoping to get some sense into her. She siezed the gun from the man's hand. My heart was in my mouth. Richard moved forward too, leaving Richie leaning against the car. Meanwhile, the masked men loaded the money into a van, entered it and started the engine.
"You snatched away my happiness. Goodbye" as she said that, she fired a shot.
*******************************************
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I closed my eyes as I braced for the impact of the bullet. I heard the car drive away and Richard's grunt. I waited for the pain but it didn't come.
"Oh God No!" I heard Richie shout. I opened my eyes. I wanted to say I'm fine, she missed her shot but the sight that met my eyes froze the words in my mouth. There he was, the love of my life lying in a pool of his own blood. I didn't know what to do or how to react. Blood was gushing out of the bullet hole in his chest.
"Start the car. Let's get him to a hospital. Quick!" I screamed at Richie. Tears were flowing uncontrollably from my eyes. I couldn't even see well. My whole body was shaking. Richard was gasping for air. I knelt beside him and placed his head on my thighs. He kept trying to speak.
"A-ally.... I..."
"Hush we'll get you to a hospital. You're gonna be okay. I promise you. I'll take care of you" I said to him as tears were coming out of my eyes. I tore the hem of my dress and placed it on the wound to minimise the bleeding and asked him to put pressure on it. Richie helped me place him on the back seat. I sat with him while Richie was behind the wheel. The police were supposed to be here by now but there was no sign of them.
We started looking for a hospital. Richard was getting weaker. I could see the life draining out of him. It took us a while before we located the nearest hospital.
The Emergency unit was overcrowded. Richie and I held Richard and took him in but there was no doctor to attend to him. We were asked to wait in line by a rude nurse.
"Can't you see he's dying! Please help us! I'll pay anything! Please just treat him!" I was screaming at her and crying at the same time. She merely looked at me, then looked at Richard.
"Can't you see you're not the only one here? If you have the money why not take him to a private hospital. Go and sit down till the doctor gets to you" she said and left us. I was furious. How could she be so heartless.
I was so scared of what would happen to Richard if he didn't get medical attention soon. I decided it was best we find another hospital before it's too late. Richard's temperature was rising. His skin felt hot. I removed his shirt. It was already dark by the time we found another clinic. There was only one doctor and a nurse and they were just about to close. I was thankful the bleeding had reduced, or maybe it was because he lost so much blood and there was only little left. We managed to lift him and take him inside the clinic. His body was as hot as coal and his eyes were closed.
"Richard look at me. You'll be fine. Don't give up just yet" I said to him as we were waiting for the doctor to get his tools ready to remove the bullet.
"Alison... I love you. I'm sorry for all the trouble you've been through because of my mistake" he gasped every word like it was taking him all the strength he had.
"You'll be alright baby. Just hang on" I replied.
"Rich---Richie" he coughed. Richie came forward and held his hand. Richard smiled and Richie smiled back amidst tears. I couldn't help but smile too. It was a bittersweet moment. Here I was with the most important people in my life, one on the brink of death and I was still smiling.
Richard didn't say anything after then. He just held our hands. The doctor came back shortly after. He asked us to leave the room.
We heard Richard scream as the bullet was being removed. I hugged Richie tight as we sat in the waiting room.
The bullet was removed and the wound was treated and we went on our way. His body was still hot. The police didn't call to say they've caught the culprits. I still couldn't understand why Blessing shot Richard and not me. I was almost ready to die. Or maybe she didn't aim well, I thought.
We arrived home quietly around 8pm. We were all tired and worn out. Richie went to his room immediately. Bola was shocked to see us covered in bloodstains.
"Madam! What happened?" she asked concerned. I waved her off. I wasn't in the mood to talk. It is non of her business anyway.
I held Richard and we went upstairs. It was difficult for me to support him. He was very weak. I stripped him and led him to the bathroom. I filled the bathroom with warm water and bathed him. I dressed him in his pyjamas and laid him on the bed. I left him and went to clean up myself.
I had cried so much my eyes were red and swollen. My face was flushed. I cleaned up and went downstairs. I instructed Blessing to make some soup for Richard. I thought maybe we should go back to another hospital, a standard one but I remembered that the other doctor said he'll be okay by the next day. He told me all he needed was a pain reliever and blood tonic because he had lost a lot of blood. Just to be sure, I called my physician. He said he could not make it that day but he'll be here first thing in the morning.
I went to Richie's room and met him standing by the window. He turned when he saw me.
"It's all my fault" he said.
"I shouldn't have left with her that night" I moved closer and held his hand.
"It's not your fault. Don't ever blame yourself. Sit down and tell me how it happened". I said to him.
We sat down and he told me how Blessing kept trying to persuade him to leave with her. He told me they left together that night and they were ambushed. He thought they were robbers but they hit him and covered his mouth, tied him up and put him in the back of their van as Blessing drove his car. His phone was smashed on the ground. He had stayed in that warehouse for several days with little food. They did not harm him on Blessing's instructions. When he finished telling me I hugged him and assured him that everything would be alright.
The D.P.O called in unexpectedly later at night. He told me the kidnappers have been caught, but they had a hard time finding us because the tracker had been removed from our car. He checked Richard while he was sleeping.
I couldn't eat much that night. Richard woke up in the middle calling my name. His body was hot. I used a wet towel to dab his forehead.
"I'm right here baby. What is it?" I asked. I didn't sleep at all. I was watching over him like a guardian angel.
"W-water... I n-need water" he said weakly. I stood up and poured water in a glass. He took a sip and pushed it away. I sat down and held his hand. It felt cold yet his body was hot. He started gasping for air and he was sweating profusely. His body started convulsing. "Richard!" I screamed holding him down. His eyes rolled back in his head. Only the white part was visible. I was so scared. The time was 1.45AM. I dialled the physician's number.
Richard passed away right in my arms before the physician arrived. I found out later that the wound had been infected. I almost ran mad. I wasn't myself for days, weeks. how could life be so cruel? Taking away the only man I loved. Will I ever heal from this deep wound that has been cut deep into my heart? I felt a burning hatred for blessing. There was no meaning to life anymore. Nothing to live for.
Richie supported and helped me get through it all. I was thankful I have him in my life.
--------------------------------------------------
**8 months later**
Richie had left for the US to study engineering in the University of southern california. I continued my life like a living dead. Nothing was interesting anymore. I missed Richard dearly and I cursed Blessing everyday for taking away his life. What angered me most was that she managed to bribe her way out of police custody. I had placed Huderson Inc. On the market and it has been sold to the highest bidder. There was nothing left for me in Nigeria so I decided to join Richie in the US. Maybe I'd have a chance to bond with my aunt, my mother's younger sister whom I found out about just recently. I had already packed my belongings and left my house. The only reason I stayed behind after Richard's death was because of Delilah's wedding. It came as a surprise that she ended up with Tony, my lawyer. I was glad but not as excited as I was supposed to be. Life had suddenly become dull and meaningless. Who knows, maybe one day I might come back to Nigeria.
On my way to the airport, there was an accident. The car in front of us had hit a mad woman. I was angry at the delay as it could make me miss my flight. I alighted from the vehicle to see what had happened. A small crowd had already gathered. I asked the nearest bystander what was causing the commotion.
"A mad woman was trying to cross the road and he was driving too fast to avoid hitting her" he told me. I wanted to go back to my car but I decided to take a look at the victim.
Behold! Blessing was lying on the road unconscious, with her legs at an odd angle. At first I couldn't recognise her. Her head was bashed and she was bleeding. Her clothes were tattered and dirty. I moved forward. I wasn't even thinking. As I looked at her, I kept remembering all she did to me. Yet, something warm touched my heart. I couldn't just leave her there. I called my driver and he carried her to my car. We took her to the hospital. I wrote a cheque to cater for her medical needs. I asked my physician to transfer her to a psychiatric hospital when she has recovered from her body injuries. I was sure the police would find her soon because she had been declared wanted.
I booked another flight the next day. As I sat in the plane, I thought about everything that has happened in my life. Losing my parents, losing my baby and losing the love of my life. I hoped moving would help me start all over. I was willing to leave my past behind me. I said a silent prayer and closed my eyes.
Richie would be at the airport in california, waiting for me along with his girlfriend nana. Her uncle had disappointed her saying he is now broke therefore he cannot afford her fees, so I decided to sponsor her anonymously. I used my charity account and I hoped they'll never find out that I'm the source.
A better life was waiting for me ahead, I could feel it.
Ohhhhhhh what a sad ending.... You think so? Let's hear your comments....
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