“That will be nice,” she said, smiled at him and rubbed his shirt sleeve. They walked down the corridor in silence. Then she went down stairs, and he went into the morgue supervisor’s office.
Dr.
Monteseri came back home tired and drained.
The children were having late lunch. He waved at them from a distance .
Nene shouted, “Dad.” He waved again, and scurried into the laundry room, pulled off his clothes,
tied a towel and dashed into a bathroom. The shower was cold. He allowed it
pour for a long time. Then he shut it off. He was cold; he was weeping. He dried his eyes, and hurried through
the back corridor. He could hear the chatter of children drifting in the air and the clatter of plates. He hurdled the stairs, and raced into his room. Then threw
himself on the bed, and started another round of weeping.
Then there was some clangs at
the gate. He moved close to the window. Shifted the drapes, and peeped. Ndi had
crossed the gate and was heading toward the portico. A car had horned, and
zoomed away.
They have brought the battle to my
gates…to my bedroom, he
thought, and shook his head. What will I do? Oh! In a time like this, you stood for me. I miss you, Kate!
He
heard light footsteps on the stairs, then clanking of keys on red door further
down the corridor, and a gentle whoosh.
A wrong choosing…at last lonely…depraved.
What am I going do?
He
wiped his eyes, wore his clothes and went downstairs.
She came looking for me. So what! We
talked, she went out and had an accident…suicide maybe, she thought. How on earth would I know the plans she
had… She almost ruined my outing…silly.
There
was a knock on the door. Ekaite came in, carrying her lunch.
“What
is at lunch,” she asked.
“Wheat
with egusi soup, Ma.”
Thank
you, Ekaite. I am okay. Dinner will do.”
“Yes
Ma.”
“Ekaite”
“Yes
Ma.”
“Please
fetch a bottle of wine, any brand will do.”
“Madam,
Doctor is downstairs.”
“Don’t
worry. I will take it myself.”
Ekaite
took back the meal. Ndi changed into a loose flowery gown and soft footwear.
And went down to the bar. She grabbed a bottle of Californian wine. On her way
out, she stepped on Dr. Monteseri's foot.
“What
is the meaning of this,” he hollered.
“Oh!
I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
“And
you didn’t see Kate as well.”
She jumped off, bewildered.
“What
do you want this time? When did I become Kate’s chaperon. Please I have
important things to do upstairs.” she said, and was walking off.
“Stop
there, Ndi! I have not done with you,” he hollered again.
Ndi
stopped on her track. And turned, ogling at him. Then she looked at the clock on
the wall, and sighed.
“Kate
went out in the morning, looking for you. She has not come home since then,” he
said in a low voice. The children were next room, overhearing.
“Please
I am tired now,” she said in a high voice. “I don’t have the time for this
grilling. In case you’ve forgotten or become a grownup moron, she is an adult, a mother,
and was someone else’s wife. Allow me to be,” she gasped. Then hurried upstairs.
Dr
Monteseri rose from the chair to follow her. But then thought otherwise, and sat back heavily in defeat. His body was itching; his hands were shaking. He
held on, breathing slowly until the shaking waned.
Then
Chatie came in with Chidi. She sat on his lap.
Chidi went for the floor.
“Where
is your sister,” he asked, smiling at
her.
“Upstairs,
with mom.”
He
turned to Chidi.
“How
are you today?”
“I
am fine Uncle Soso.”
“Dad,”
said Chatie.
Dr
Monteseri looked at her.
“Yes
my girl.”
“We
heard everything you discussed with Mom.”
“Really!”
“Yes
we did,” she said, looking at Chidi.
Chidi
nodded his head in confirmation.
Then
there were jangling at gates.
“Excuse
me, children. Let me get the gates.”
Chatie came down. He went to the windows, peered through the long light drapes. The
gates were wide open. A convoy of police cars lined up. He went close to the
windows. An inspector of police was marching in. Then thuds on the door. He
opened it. Inspector Doris Agee smiled at him.
“Good
evening, Doctor.”
“Inspector,
we meet again. I thought I asked for some rest,” he said, sliding the door
wider.
“Yes
I gave you two working days.”
He
shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m
looking for the Madam Minister, Mrs Monteseri.”
“She
is my wife. Is something wrong? Are you her friend?”
Not
really. I have few questions for her regarding the accident that happened this
morning.”
He
sent the children away with a wave of hand.
“But…but
they did not meet,” he stammered, , thrown off, pointing at a bar chair.
“Ekaite… Ekaite!”
She
came running.
“Please
tell Ndi Inspector Agee is waiting for her.
“Yes,
Sir,” she said.
Then
her footsteps hurried on the stairs.
“Nice
to hear from you, Pastor.”
“Thank
you, Madam. Would this coming Thanksgiving Service Day do?”
“I
will think about it.”
“Thank
you, Madam. Should I send a reminder?”
“Yes
Pastor. Please do.”
“I
am grateful, Ma.”
A knock came on the door. She cut off immediately. Ekaite came in.
“Ekaite,
I need manicure,” she said. She wore shorts, a bra, and was sitting on a divan.
Her two legs put up by pillows were gently buffeting each other. Magazines,
phones and makeups strewed on the floor. Nene
was lying on her bed, a giant doll pander sleeping on her tummy.
“Madam, you have a visitor.”
“Who
is that…?”
“A
policewoman, madam.”
“Where
is she?”
“In
the bar, Madam.
That woman, Doris! Why has she come here? What is she discussing
with this man! Has she come to ruin my home as well, she wondered. And got up immediately, got
into a long flowing gown.
Dr.
Monteseri had not spoken to the inspector since Ekaite went upstairs. His
facing down, staring at the floor, wondering where Ndi matched in this
issue. What
information has this woman? No, I won’t preempt her.
Then
he heard the noise of slippers on the stairs. And Ndi came in. Her fragrance was mellow. It filled the room.
Her beauty is dazzling and sensational. But a heart of stone, rhythms of confusion, infidelity and intimidation trails her like flies, he thought.
“Good evening Madam. What a lovely home,”
Doris said, standing. They shook hands.
“Thank
you. What
a surprise! You followed me home.”
“Yes,
Ma. I am visiting you this early because of the turn of events,” she said,
smiling.
Madam
Minister kept an uncompromising stare. Then they sat down opposite each other.
“Kate
died few hours ago. You were the last person she spoke with.”
Her
stare was stanch. Dr Monteseri head bent forward to comprehend the issue at stake, his brow sweating. He crossed his legs, his fingers
drumming the arm of the chair.
“I
want to know what you discussed with her.”
“I’m
sorry I have no information now. My attorney will get back to you.”
“She
had a fight with you. Did she?”
“Please
see my attorney.”
“Madam,
someone pushed her into the traffic,” she said, looking at Doctor Monteseri.
There
was quiet. Fingers stopped beating. Inspector Doris removed her hat, and
capped her knees. Then turned, staring at Madam Minister.
“Someone
pushed her into the moving truck. Madam did you send anybody to her.”
“Please
I need some rest. And if you don’t mind, leave my house now. Now!”
“She
is not going anywhere! You should leave my house. We are through with this
mess called marriage,” he bawled.
Madam
Minister laughed for a long time.
“I should leave the house! what I built!
You are a joker. You are a clown! I am asking you to leave,” she shouted at him.
“Please
Ma. I will like to see your attorney in court for the urgent resolve of this
affair . Here is a court order,” said
Doris. She dug a hand into a side pocket. And gave her a doubled over paper.
Madam Minister sighed, took it, and walked away.
“I
didn’t know both of you are married. I am sorry for the troubles I caused you.”
He
forced a smile, shrugged his shoulders.
“Please don’t take her seriously. Women
often overshoot their tongues,” she said.
“I
don’t agree with you. Hers is different. You are sure she is involved.”
The
inspector nodded her head.
“Yes
she drove Kate to commit suicide. It is against the law.”
Dr.
Monteseri thought for a long time.
“Did
she touch her? Did she fight her?”
“Yes
she did. We have the manager of the restaurant and a customer as witnesses.”
“Would
their actions in there make her responsible for her death outside?”
“Of
course, I have sufficient evidence to indict her in court.”
“Please
I need to know exactly what happened. Did she send someone to her?"
“Not now Dr. Monteseri. It’s on going
investigation. But the little I had sniffed shows she was the one who pushed her into the crash.”
Dr. Monteseri was baffled. He wanted to ask more pressing questions. But swallowed the spit.
She
stood up and started walking to the door. He stood, and followed her to the
door.
“Please
call me anytime for clarity. And remember you have children. Madam and you
should guard your utterances.”
“Thanks,
I will do that.”
“Does
Kate have children?”
“Yes,
a child. The boy you greeted.”
“Oh!
I am very sorry.”
He
shuddered.
“Have
you said anything to him?”
“No,
I will do it now.”
“Where
does she live?”
“8, Ako Road, West Estate.”
“I
know that vicinity. Any husband?”
“Died
sometime ago.”
“Oh!
I know that already. Please get in touch.”
“Thanks
I will.”
He
opened the sliding door. She walked through it toward gate.
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