A Dread in the Spine - Episode 12

 

 There is this wait that can get on ones nerve, and if not watched, would ruin every accolade that one had gotten for being patient. Nosa impatiently kept a tab on the time and kept glancing at Shayla.
'Eat your food. Staring at the time wouldn't make everything resolve itself and would do you no good'.
'Your man said Joana hadn't come out since, and that's disturbing'.
'I told you they are good'.
'Please, let me go. Have I not fallen in love with the wrong woman like this?' Nosa said and sighed.
'Yes . You have fallen in love with a bloody wrong woman. How will you leave me for weeks and want to go before a new day, are you sick?'
'But you understand what's happening'.
'Story for the gods'.
'I need to see the other case. The new missing person'.
'I told you the police were at her place. Her case wasn't consistent with the others. She left home and wasn't found. You're not eating'.
He glanced at his food and winked at her. 'You know my mind is not here. I want to be out there, chasing every lead and clue'.
'I know and I also know this might be the last time I'll see you. So, no

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/a-dread-in-the-spine

. Eat. Now'.
He sighed and fiddled with the food. Like Jesus, whose food wasn't meat and drink, but to do his father's will, Nosa's food wasn't yam and egg and tea; it was to feed on the grumpiness of some people; ask numerous irritating and accusative questions, and find out about the vilest of the thoughts of men. He shrugged and ate his food slowly, picking it as if it was laden with worms. He rose and Shayla's hand flew to the pistol she laid on the table. 
'It's ten'.
She glanced at the food. 'You've not finished eating'.
He shook his head, took his key, and stormed into the room, and returned. 'If you're the man of the house then I would remain here. Did you woo me or did I?'
'Nosa, don't try it. Being huge or stubborn doesn't open the door. It's only the one with the key. Even if this door isn't locked, I'm the free passage to wherever you're going'.
 The moment his hand touched the doorknob, a bullet scraped the edge of the door, a few inches from his hand.
'What's this?'
She shrugged and glanced at the food. 'I know you love me, and won't make me hurt you, but you have given me the go-ahead to always do this to you. Why are you always heady?'
'I need to go to find this woman'.
'No, you don't need to do anything. You're acting as if this case is your hemoglobin as if you can't live without it'.
He dragged the seat, collapsed into it, and stabbed his fork into the food and made noise with it. There was no way he would definitely obey her. The food would probably be sweet since she was a good cook, but his appetite had traded place with his inquisitiveness. The food was an insurmountable obstacle. The more he tried to push them into his mouth, the more he felt the urge to leave the house.
She dropped the gun on the floor in anger as she hopped out of her seat. The gun clattered for a while as her chair screeched and collapsed.
 'I'm tired of you', she yelled and skipped near him as if her legs were on fire. 'Did I say you should love me? Why did I ever meet you? Maybe I wouldn't be worked up because of you? Simple food', she lamented and her voice began to break as tears clambered down her eyes. 'You treat me like a piece of shit'.
He rose and moved near her, but she withdrew. 'Don't you dare touch me'.
'I will eat', he said and sat. 'See. I'm eating'.
She continued crying as he gulped down the food. There was no way he would allow her to hold him down with something that could simply be solved by heeding to her desire. She kept hinting her approval at every swallow he had. The moment he finished eating, she went down on her knees and clasped her hands. 'I'm sorry'.
He stared at her disgustedly. She tried to hold his hand, but his cold glare made her withdraw it. He rose and went to get his stuff. She crawled towards him and tugged at his trouser. He gritted and glanced away. What could he do with her? She knew just how to pacify him. Their time together should have taught him that, but he still always fell into her trap. He rubbed her head, scattering her hair, and kissed her forehead.
'I've got to go'.
'I know'
Her phone beeped. She sighed dejectedly and nodded as Nosa headed for the door. The journey from the boat to the beach felt like an eternity. He kept ruminating over everything she told him. He didn't even consider the cool breeze that trailed after him. There must be a way to solve this mystery without him losing contact with everyone that could help him solve the case. Even if Joana wasn't missing, she was still partially useless. What could make someone keep forgetting things?
 The moment he got to the land, he rushed to his car and sped off. He contacted his computer analysts and informed them about the missing Joana, and how they must help her also. He then proceeded to try to contact Chloe, who said she was with Mummy Church and asked him to make sure he came home for Christmas. He felt happy that she had detached herself from his father, and was with someone that could really help her loose herself from the tendrils she had wrapped herself.
The problem now was that his analysts were right. There was no way anyone could have known where he was or even what he discussed with Joana if he wasn't bugged. They must have really bugged his phone and he would go to the end of the world to ensure he discovered who they were. How could they know he would be on the case? That means the person was either from Mr. Johnson's case or Joana was lying about her not telling anyone except him. 
'Please, please get out of the way', he murmured. The happiness from meeting Moriah the previous day was still lingering within his bones, and he wouldn't allow anyone take the opportunity from him. 
The car in front of him belonged to a learner, who kept to the middle of the road. Nosa honked repeatedly and hoped his anger wouldn't take over his desire to remain happy. There was no way he would allow anyone tamper with his crime scene. Crime scenes were like February 29; one would have to wait for an eternity before one could get a better clue.
When he got to Joana's house, upon entering the compound and being directed to Joana's place, he met her house had been scattered. He looked around for anybody to tell him what happened there, but no one was available to help him.
Seeing that he had no choice than to advance into the house, he withdrew his gun and proceeded to his house. The silence of the compound, as well as the graveness of the massive house, made him aware that it would be foolish to make any noise. He wondered how she coped living in such house alone. Yet, she would never in her right mind leave the house empty, and the door ajar.
He entered the compound and searched everywhere. Her clothes were all scattered on the ground. The objects in the house were scattered. In his quest for finding any evidence at all, he saw something in the mirror. Quickly, he withdrew to the passage, to a vantage point, to a place no one would suddenly jump on him. The mirror reflected someone's leg.
'Come out gently with your hand in the air'.
The room's door creaked, then the person slowly walked out with both hands in the air.
'Police. Who are you?' Nosa shouted from where he was.
'Boss. Please, please. I swear. I just needed the money'.
'What money? Were you here to steal?'
'I swear'.
'I don't believe you. Who are you?'
Nosa moved towards the room, but the man was faster. He hurriedly locked the door and held the doorknob with something bulky. Nosa pushed, groaned and pushed, but the door didn't budge. The only thing he heard was that of the person breaking a window and jumping out. He got a glimpse of the thief the moment he opened the door. He rushed through the door and sped after the man into the bushes behind the house. When he got there, he met the bush settling after being rattled. Nosa followed the man into the bush, determined to catch him, but had to stop because it would be a fruitless effort just like searching for a needle in a sea. 
He sighed, marched towards his car, and dialed Raphael's number. They were friends from childhood. The womanizer just happened to be available at the right time for him and had been instrumental in making things work fast at the moment.
'Raph, her house was just burgled by someone'.
'That's serious. Thank God I called you for her safety'.
'I didn't take her serious at first. Thanks to you, I did now'.
'She has done her crazy testimony. Oh God! How did I ever fall in love with her? She must change. I'm not sure I can keep up with this her newly found love for God. People love God and don't die for it. Her own is worse'.
Nosa chuckled. 'RaphThat's your cross to bear. Beauty is in the eyes of the beer-holder. Tell her I said "hi"'.
'Remember, we don't want anybody to know'.
'Brother, let them know. Everything is frustrating'.
'Remember your phone is hacked'.
He assumed that if he changed his sim card into another phone the person wouldn't get access to his calls, but getting to Joana's place had proven him wrong.
 'I know. Let the idiot. You, idiot, listening at the other end. I will catch you'.
Raphael sigh. 'Guy, that's reckless. I miss Moriah. How far with the investigation? You should have gotten a lot by now'.
'Nothing. Raph. My mistress held me at a gun point'.
'Bad guy. Shayla is a stubborn girl. She isn't a bottle of urine. You should go gentle on her. Oh God!'
'What's that?'
'I just mentioned her name'.
Nosa started his car. 'You don't want to try her. Whoever is hacking my phone should be careful. Nobody dares try her. She's a legal tyrant.

Read " The Thorny Path to Europe " by the same author ( Akíntayo Akinjide )

. She can kill at the blink of the eyes'.
'By the way, Chloe called.'
'Why are you telling me? Were you not her best friend?'
'I was until that naughty Irene became closer. And I told that naughty one too to let's have fun before she traveled. That adamant idiot. I miss them all. I miss' Raphael said and paused.
Nosa knew who he wanted to say, but didn't encourage him to talk further because he might spill the beans about Moriah's resurfacing.
'When last did you hear from Irene herself?' He said as he drove off and plugged his earpieces into the phone.
'Irene? Four days ago. We are not as close as I am with Chloe. But Chloe just snoozed off and forgot everyone for one week. She only says hihi now'.
'Irene is dead'.
'Wawu! Jah! 
'See, I have to go. The fact is, Chloe is withdrawing to herself again. Talk to her'.
'I will. Oh! Fine, Coke body Irene is dead'.