The Picnic - Episode 18

 

The police stormed Carol's fashion house while she was admiring a model who had her design on. "You look amazing" she commented while photographer took pictures of the model then she saw Duro draw near. 

"What's up" she asked, "To what do I owe the impromptus visit?" She asked and Duro gazed at her still unable to believe she did it. "Don't tell me you're here to try out women's dresses?" She chuckled then suddenly got sad. 
"I'm sorry about Rukky . I can't believe she did it. It's unbelievable, to think I trusted her"
"Would you just.." he trailed off trying hard not to lose his cool.
 "You're under arrest Caroline Badmus for the murder of Bolaji Daniels." He announced cuffing her. "Are you crazy?" She asked, "Duro I swear I didn't kill Bolaji someone is trying to pin this on me"
Photographers began to take pictures of her. 
"You have the right to remain silent for anything you say would be used against you in the court of law"
"I didn't kill Bolaji" she answered then turned towards her personal assistant, "Call dad" she requested as Duro took her away. 

Rukky hasn't stopped crying since Omo revealed to her who killed Bolaji. "Stop crying" Omo begged

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-picnic

. "She's not worth your tears"
"I trusted her" Rukky shut her eyes, "She was so nice, why would she want me arrested? I haven't done anything to her"

In a slum neighborhood, Andra watched her son eat a cookie snack she bought for him. "Why is he eating like a thief?" She asked and her mother hissed. "Who is chasing him?" She further complained to the her mother who seemed less interested. 
"Wo... Erm Bisola" she called out, "Mami call me Andra"
"Andra that your father gave to you before he died shea?" Her mom snapped and she laughed nervously. "People call me Andra and the name fits me"
"My concern is different. Where did you say you were going to again, Cotonou?"
"No o, Dubai" she replied and her mother slapped her on the lap. "Mummy! I meant no it's Dubai not the other way round. I wasn't sassing you"
"You're a maid, yet you keep on acting as though you're from one rich home"
"Mom when you read inspirational books, they will say act like you want to be in future" "We don't have family members in Dubai, abi o fé lo sise asewo (or you want to pr*stitute)" Her mother assumed and she shook her head. 
"I want to go there like others and start business at least so I can come back to Nigeria to change my life"
"How did you get this money?" She asked in curiosity, "It's God's blessing o. When God blesses someone people would start asking how it happened" Andra answered then turned over to her son.
 "I want to make things better for my son"
"Don't do anything stupid" Her mom warned then a little boy rushed towards them breathing fast. "Aunty Bisola"
"Who is Bisola?" She batted her eyes at him, "Police is looking for you o, they will still reach here now now now" the boy answered and Bisola jerked up.
 "Mo gbe! (I'm done for)" she shouted. Then she ran into the house closing the door. Two policemen walked towards Andra's mom. "Good morning Ma" they greeted and she nodded. "Who are you looking for?" 
"Are you Mummy Bisola?" One of them asked, "Yes" "We're looking for one of your daughters Alexandra"
"I have just one daughter and her name is Bisola otherwise known as Andra" she replied then shook her head then she crossed her leg shaking it. She stood up adjusting the wrapper she wore. 
"What crime did she commit?" The mother asked and the police kept mute. "Did she steal?" She asked and they both shook their heads. "Did she kill somebody? Did she kidnap somebody's child?" She asked and they shook their heads to all the question. 
"She's inside you can go and take her"

Kazeem felt a vibration in his pocket then he brought out the phone to check the caller ID. It was Fatima, his fiancee. He has been ignoring her calls. Fatima who was standing some distance away from him watched him ignore her call. She walked up to him with a heavy heart. 
"If I had done something wrong to you Kazeem the least you can do is tell me not ignore my calls" she blurted out and Kazeem turned over to her. 
"What did I do?" She added, "I needed time to think"
"Think about what?"
"Us, what I really want for my life. If I still want us"
"Why are you speaking this way?"
"I know about the ab*rtion and that you can't have kids again" Kazeem revealed plunging his hands in his pocket. "Kazeem" She called out clapsing her hands together. "It's not what it seems"
"You could have told me"
"I couldn't"
"So you would rather I jump in blindly and suffer the consequences of your past actions? Fatima I know you changed and I appreciated it but you could have let me know about that part"
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too" Kazeem answered, "I'm sorry but I want to have children some day and I really liked you but I have to let you go" He concluded leaving her in tears.

Toke knocked on Henry's door and he opened it smiling with a pink cone on his head strapped below his chin. "Where's Charlotte?" He asked looking out the door. "She's with Mom, she said she wants to spend her last day with her grandma"
"We were supposed to play...." he trailed off then removed the cone cap.
"Come in" he added and she followed him in. "Toke if you're here to beg me, I can't do anything about it"
"Charlotte spoke to me about a lot of things and above all, she made me realize how much I need to get back on my feet and fight my urge for drugs and alcohol" She replied then sigh. "I don't want us to raise Charlotte away from each other and I don't want you ending up with that fish-face lawyer"
"What do you have against Faith?"
"For starters, she likes you and doesn't hide it. Two, she's a real bitch. Even Charlotte said she has her hands all over you" Toke answered and Henry laughed. 
"I love you Henry and I don't want to hurt you but I don't want to hurt Charlotte as well"
"What's your point?" Henry chuckled, Toke was beginning to go around in cycles.
 "I'll go on rehab" she accepted and Henry nodded with a smile, "On the condition that you fire that fish face"
"I already fired her for putting up your news online. It was too extreme"
"Well well" Toke bit her lower lip then placed her hand on her husband's chest. "You did that for me?" She asked then Henry raised her up and she wrapped her legs around him, her hands over his neck. 
"I'll do even more for you" he answered kissing her on the lip and she responded taking off the top he wore. "What do you say we give Charlotte a baby brother?" She asked and Henry raised his brow in surprise. 
As a result of the pain she went through during delivery, Toke cancelled every plans of having any more children. She was ready to stick with just Charlotte until now.
"I thought you didn't"
"Well I'm kind of having a second thought on it, Charlotte has always wanted a brother and I've been selfish. I'm done putting myself first, besides Faith said something nasty about giving you all the kids you wanted so.." she replied and Henry laughed.
 "I'm giving it to you before you change your mind on me". 
Henry shook his head and how flexible her thoughts had gotten. He never understood why she was always so jealous of Faith. He has never had eyes for anyone except her.
 "Who are you and what have you done to my Toke?" He asked now kissing her on the lips. 

"Did you kill Bolaji Daniels?" Duro asked and Caroline kept a straight face. "I didn't kill my fiance. I love Bolaji too much to pull a trigger on him. Duro I can't believe you'll think I'll do something so...." She trailed off in tears.
"We have testimonies against you"
"False testimonies, all false testimonies definitely! We'll take this to the court if we have to. I didn't kill my fiance"

"We have a date for the hearing" Duro announced to Victor, Vivian and Dare who were discussing in the brainstorming room. "Oh" Victor paused and Duro grew suspicious. He wondered what they may be talking about. "What are you guys talking about?" He asked and Victor panicked. 
"Entertainment" "9/11" Vivian and Victor answered respectively and she glared at him. They were talking about Duro and his relationship with Rukky; the slim possibility and probability that they'll come back again. 
"9/11 and entertainment, which should I believe?" Duro asked and Dare laughed. "Thank God I didn't say what I wanted to say" he chipped in and Vivian slapped his arm playfully.
"When's the hearing?" Vivian asked still ashame. "Next week. We'll settle this in court, let's see what the judge thinks about her lies" Duro declared with a grin and Victor scoffed. "What again?" Vivian asked surprised at his response.
"Senator Badmus is now involved in the matter... Nigerian government and politics, what if they play their normal manipulation?"
"Not when I'm involved" Duro answered. 
"I'll see to it Caroline gets the life sentence she deserves" he added and Dare scratched his hair. 
"Have you seen her?" Dare asked now looking away. 
"Who? Caroline?" He asked, "We meant your babe." "Which is we meant?" Victor chastised, "Speak for yourself"
 "It's been three days since we released her" Dare continued, "I haven't spoken to her"
"Why?" Dare, Victor and Vivian asked in unison.
"That's bad Sir"
"I wanted to give her time"
"You arrested her and accused her of murdering your brother. You even interrogated her again" Victor said his voice sounding as though criticising him.
"What's your point?" Vivian asked rolling her eyes. "My point is, you should have spoken to her from the first day she got released. You're the guilty party here Sir."

"Every mouth in Lagos has been wagging over Detective Durodola Daniels and the controversial  death of his brother  Bolaji. We formerly got informed  that one Rukerwe Johnson, chef of a popular Daffodils hotel was responsible for the death" A new television host,  Ireti Micheal who was seated on a yellow couch reported and her partner, Jessica laughed "Brigitte reported it" she added still laughing. 
"Now the cup has been shifted from this Rukerwe girl to our very own Caroline Badmus" Ireti continued, "Wonders they say will never seize especially in this country, we can't even trust our own shadow. Talking about Brigette, several persons have been asking why she hasn't been hosting her show on Juice TV but we're sad to inform you that Brigette Akinpelu has been relieved of her job for being a suspect on Bolaji's murder case. According to the news reaching us, she was walking hand in  hand with Caroline so the network has no choice but to relieved her of her position" She added and Muna crossed her legs watching the news. She didn't even notice Omo walk in leaving the door slightly opened. 
"Geez!" Omo shouted and she jerked up. "You scared me" Muna stood up placing her hands on her fast beating heart.
"Were you trying to give me a heart attack?" She snapped and Omo laughed. 
"No. I came to give you a message"
"And what's that?"
"Time up" she answered with a smirk. "What?"
"Have you forgotten our deal? You had one day and I gave you extras so.. I'm making move on Ugo"
"Okay" she answered taking her seat. "I wish you two the best in life" "Why are you acting this way? Do you even like Ugo how much more to love him?"
"I love him much more than you think!" She stood up in tears, "Do you think I haven't planned on telling him? Do you think there haven't been times when" she paused in tears. "Why don't you try"
"Cause I want him to be happy, to find someone that would make him happy and I'm not that person"
"You haven't even tried. Muna you make him happy"
"How do you know?"
"When Ugo talks about you, how you joke, the smile on his face is priceless"
"You seem like you can make him happy"
"I like Ugo but I can never make him happy. One quick question Muna, do you still love Bolaji?" She asked and Muna rolled her eyes.
"No. All I feel for him right now is pity and I feel stupid for not realizing Ugo was there. I wasted my love and life to him. Have you heard the news, what Caroline did" she paused still crying. "It could have been me pulling the damn trigger. Bola does not worth my love even in death" She replied and Omo gave a fulfilled smile. 
"That's all Ugo wanted to hear" she added and Muna wondered why she said that.
"I packed my bags already. I told him I'll be leaving today" 
"You don't have to leave" Ugo said fully opening the door. Muna turned over to him then looked at Omo. "I better leave you two together" she said leaving the room.
"How long have you been here?"
"For a while" "You were listening to us. You two planned this?" She asked and Ugo shook his head moving close to her.
 "She did. I told her you were leaving and I may have cried and all" he answered and Muna laughed. 
"I don't love Bolaji again"
"I know" he wrapped his hands around her waist. "I love you" she confessed and Ugo kissed her and Muna laughed. "Gosh I haven't laughed in a long time, Is this for real?" She asked and he chuckled, "Yes" he replied kissing her again.

Rukky stretched an envelope to Dunni who was looking through, some files in search of a document on the desk. "Wait, I'm looking for something...I thought I kept it here" she paused in thought. "What's in the envelope?"
"My resignation letter" she replied and Dunni stopped what she was doing. Her concentration was now on Rukky.
 "You haven't started yet"
"I know I just want some time to think"
"Take a week off or two weeks.

Read " Dysfunctional " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. I don't care. You're my friend and I won't like you resigning because you're working for me and my brother got you arrested"
"It's not because of that"
"What then? I feel guilty already whenever I see you, don't make me feel worst"
"I need time to think about my life.. some of my sponsors found out my father's debt, technically my debt and they think I want to use their fund to pay dad's debt"
"Caroline" Dunni suspected. "Even in prison she's still committing havoc"
"I have to go Ma, we'll be going back to Delta state. Maybe we can have families that would show the least mercy." she added leaving the office and Dunni picked up her phone calling Duro. 
"Where are you?" She asked, "On my way to the hotel" he replied. "You better come quickly or lose your sister for life"

Just as Rukky walked out of the hotel, Efs called out to her. "Dunni just called me"
"Efe you can't convince me"
"Who's trying to convince you? Let's have brunch together" he proposed chuckling and Rukky declined. 
"Come on Rukerwe, one last lunch" he chipped in his dialect and Rukky chuckled. "Okay, fine" she answered.

"What if you go to the village to start farming now" Efe joked  and Rukky laughed.
"That's not funny" she added taking a bite out of a hamburger before her. 
"What if something bad happens"
"I can't stay here anymore. It's a constant reminder of"
"Duro" Efe guessed then sighted Duro coming near. "I have to go now," he stood looking at his wrist watch.
"Is that the time?" He asked.
 Just when Rukky noticed his strange behavior, she turned back to see Duro.
"I knew it was a trick" she snapped at Efe. "I'm sorry but you two should talk" he advised leaving the both of them together.