CHAPTER 26
SWB: Akinsehinwa Oluwaseun
I didn’t know who to run to.
Jail sentence was staring at Richard.
I got him a very good lawyer not because he requested for it but because I didn’t want him to go to jail.
I want my husband back home.
I wasn’t yet convinced that Richard did not have a hand in Jude’s death.
I tried to find out from Dolly how much she trusted her brother.
She told me she knows her brother too well to begin to doubt that he doesn’t have a hand in the murder of Jude.
She said Richard isn’t a murderer, he may be anything but a killer.
I confronted her with the confession that came out of Richard’s mouth during our trying period.
I told her that Richard himself confessed to me that he was once a cultist and that he was rusticated from school because of that.
Dolly laughed and told me Richard was only trying to use that lie to cover up his predicament then.
He said Richard was never for once, a cultist .
I believed her because I knew it was when I challenged Richard about the message that Dolly sent to his phone, that he said that.
He was probably trying to create an excuse to divert my attention from the real issue.
But who could have killed Jude? The police said Jude was attacked on his way home.
They kidnapped him and requested for a ransom of ten million naira which was paid instantly.
He was not released until after two weeks.
The kidnappers sent a message to his Mom, they said they would drop Jude at a particular spot.
True to their word, when Jude’s Mom and the police got there , they met Jude laid on the road but he was almost lifeless.
They had beaten him, starved him and even shot one of his legs.
Jude was quickly rushed to the hospital.
He didn’t gain back his consciousness until the third day after his release.
His Mom was hopeful when Jude opened his eyes and talked for a while, what she didn’t know was that that would be the last time she would ever see her son alive.
Jude told his Mom that he suspected Richard my husband to be the man behind the attack.
That was the last thing he said before he yielded the ghost.
At first I thought it was the message that Richard sent to Jude’s phone that got him into trouble, I thought that was the evidence the police saw but I was told that the Kidnappers took Jude’s phone and refused to release it when he was set free from their hostage.
I was made to know that it was Jude who claimed to have suspected Richard to be the one behind the attack.
I wouldn’t know why Jude believed Richard was behind the attack, could it be that he identified Richard’s face among the kidnappers? Though I can’t boldly say I believe Richard is innocent, one thing was certain Richard will never get himself involved in dubious means to get money from anyone. Richard could have sent men to beat up Jude so that he’ll stay far away from our family but I’m sure he will never kidnap him to ask for a ransom. We had more than enough.
Richard was charged to court, all evidences were against him, there was nothing tangible to prove his innocence. All hope was lost. How would I take care of this baby in my womb? I didn’t tell anyone that I was pregnant , not even Richard himself but I knew soon , the signs will be too obvious to conceal.
Two days to the time Richard was to be taken to court, I was informed from the police station that my attention was needed. My heart almost jumped into my mouth when I received the call. Several thoughts were running through my mind. Did anything happen to Richard? Did he escape from cell? What could have happened?
Several questions kept running through my mind as I drove down to the station to know why I was called.
I got to the station very late in the night. I ran to the first police officer I saw asking him if my husband was in good condition.
“What happened to my husband? Is he alright? Is everything okay? Please talk to me. What did you people do to him” I bombarded him with questions.
“Calm down madam, please just come with me” he said and led me to the interrogatory room while I followed from behind. If my blood pressure is tested right now , I know for sure that what it will read will be terrifying.
I could hear some voices from the interrogatory room.
“Why did you kill him?” A police officer asked.
“I didn’t plan for his death. It was just meant to be a warning to him. I just wanted to deal with him, to make him feel the same way I felt. It was just meant to be a lesson, I didn’t plan to kill him”
“Oh! So that was why you ordered your men to shoot his leg? That was why you starved him and tortured him to death, abih?”.
“No it was when he was trying to escape that he was shot on the leg”
“You are so heartless! You will rot in jail!”
“But it was not intentional, the bastard hurt me too”
I was shocked, hot tears rolled down my eyes.
“How could you?” I asked as I walked into the interrogatory room.