“So, James, to what do I owe this visit?”, Mr Alao asked after exchanging pleasantries.

“Well, still on the case. It’d interest you to know that Armstrong is now missing”, DPO James said.

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s either he’s gone hiding or gone to do something fishy”, the DPO proposed.

“Hmm…..why don’t we just ask his wife?”

“No, that would arouse too much suspicion from him and we don’t want that. For all we know, she could be an accomplice. My sources would get all the info we need from her. We are watching her, just in case she contacts him.

“For some time now, she has been going to church more frequently than usual. We are also checking the pastor and his wife.”

Mr Alao chuckled. “A man of God? Please, leave him out of this.”

“They are all suspects in this case, until proven otherwise. Besides, there are many fake pastors today. You can only speak for yourself. Just let us do our job”, the DPO countered. “Ohh, by the way, I need the details of each of your staff.”

“Sure, that’s no problem. Let me ask the secretary to prepare that”, Mr Alao said, picking up the receiver.

*******
Please, can I sit here?”, the middle-aged man asked. He shrugged. The man took a seat opposite him. “Waiter, please. I need a bottle of chilled malt”, he called out. Soon, his order was placed in front of him.

“Not many get second chances to start afresh. You got it and you’re misusing it.”

Armstrong looked up from his drink. “Hmmm? Are you talking to me?”

“I couldn’t be talking to myself, could I?”, the stranger asked. “Look at how you are wasting away when your wife and children need you at home. You have turned your back on your Creator.”

“You don’t know anything about me, okay? Where was God when I needed him? When I was accused for doing what I didn’t? Don’t judge me”, Armstrong defended.

“He knows you from the foundation of the world. Have you forgotten His Word in John 15:20, that the world will persecute as they did Christ?”, the stranger asked. “You are not one of them, so they’d keep lying and doing all sorts to you. Go back home, Armstong, and right your wrongs.”

Armstrong sighed. “But who are you? How come you know so much about me? At least, tell me your name.”

The stranger smiled. “Not to worry. Soon, you’d know who I am. Look behind you.”

Armstrong looked. “What exactly am I looking at?”, he asked. “I can see people passing by, here and there. What else?”, turning to face the man. He was nowhere to be found. What just happened?


(To be continued)

P