"I'm sorry my son, but you have tried your best to heal me of this sickness. I can't do anything except to believe in God, that He will heal me of their sickness and give you your freedom. Your whole life has revolved around this sickness for years now. You have what it takes to go to the city yet you have stayed back here because of me. Now I pray and I say; let God take me away if I am going to continue to be a burden to my only son. You need to go the way of men of your age" Edu's mother was saying from where she was laying.
"It's been more than two months the love of my life traveled to the city of Enugu and I haven't heard of him all these while; this is what gives me so much discomfort and not your sickness. Your sickness does not give me discomfort, no it doesn't mother. I will do anything, sacrifice anything to see that you are well" Said Edu.
******
In the basement Charles stepped out with the sleaves of his T shirt folded and his hands bloody. He dropped a tool in his hand and looked straight at Veronica. "Come with me" he ordered and Veronica followed him until they entered into the inner chamber of the basement. He then opened the last door and they stepped in. The light in there was deem and it was almost impossible to see the face of the person seated and her hangs tied behind her on the seat. Her hair looked roughed up and there was blood on the floor where she was seated. She was wearing white gown and sobbing silently.
"Where are we Sir?" asked Veronica.
"We are here Veronica and here is your friend, the one you were with the day the wristwatch was stolen by the armed robbers" said Charles. Just then Veronica saw clearly the face of the one seated before her and she was alarmed when she saw it was Anita.
"What!" she was alarmed. She wanted to rush towards her but Charles held her back and said, "No need staining yourself with her blood. She has confessed to being the one that masterminded the whole thing; the armed robbery in your flat. She sent for those men that very night through a phone call. You have had this person as your friend but you don't know how as much as I know her"Charles began to walk out and Veronica ran after him.
"What have you done! that lady is innocent" Veronica was saying.
"Really, is she?" Just then a man was dragged into the basement and made to stand before Charles. "What do you know about Anita?" Charles was asking the man that was dragged in.
"Anita sent for us to steal what belonged to this lady" said the man. Veronica was shocked to learn that the person standing before her was one of the men that had come to rob her the night before. She was dumbfounded and remained standing like that. Charles then dismissed the men that had brought in the man and they went away, dragging him along.
"He is going to be killed too?" asked Veronica.
"Yes" said Charles. "Come with me" Charles said and as he walked away Veronica followed him. He had already washed his hands and unfolded his sleeves by the time they got outside. The one holding his jacket handed it over to him and he put it on. When he entered one of his cars ready to leave Veronica stood before the car and refused to move further.
"Enter the car" said Charles.
"Sir I don't want to go anywhere further with you. Please I want to resign from my job and I want to..."
"Yeah I can understand but you see by now you don't need to be told of what I can do to anyone that double crosses me. You have to enter the car or you want to make me angry with you?" Asked Charles and Veronica shook her head slowly. "Then enter the car" said Charles before he whined up. Veronica entered the car and sat there without uttering a word until they got to the house of Charles. When they had got inside Jude stood by the door with Ken.
"You have a visitor in your house Jude. You need not stand there as if you are not desiring to go back to her. Go back to her and enjoy yourself for today is Saturday" said Charles.
"Thank you boss for your understanding" said Jude before he looked at Ken and then stepped out. When he had left Charles sat and saw that Ken was still standing there.
"You should go ahead and make yourself feel good Ken" said Charles and Ken shook his head.
"No, boss, I want to keep an eye on you and to protect you at all times" said Ken.
"Ken, you were employed two weeks ago, surely you will soon get tired of hanging around me. I can take care of myself; besides there are over fifty men in this house and they are well trained, most of them from foreign countries. You think you will protect me much more than they could?" Ken did not know what to answer but he did not wish to go. "Well, if you insist to stay then stay Ken" He smiled and went outside, shutting the door behind him to give Charles and Veronica some privacy. Charles then served himself some strong wine and asked to know if she cared for anything.
"I'm good" said Veronica. "Sir, I meant what I said back there; I don't want to continue to work for you Sir. I would gladly resign"
"You would?" he asked her and she nodded.
"Are you sure you would want to resign from the company?" his voice sounded angry and this time Veronica thought it wise to think twice before replying him. They both sat there and kept staring at one another.