MISSING PIECE (20)

“Madam, na him be that”, one of the thugs said, pointing to the man they had tied to a pole, sitting on the ground.

“Is he dead?”, she asked in disgust.

“No ooo. Na so so faint hin dey faint.”

“Wake him up!”, she ordered, “I want him to see my face.”

They poured water on him. He opened his swollen eyes slowly, trying to access his surrounding. Ahh! That’s it. They’ve been beating him for a reason he still didn’t know of. He looked at his shirt, all tattered and filled with dirt and blood. Who would save him now?


“Look at you, Armstrong Coker. Who would have thought that an almighty you would look so pitiable? Well, I don’t pity you”, she spat.

That voice sounded very familiar, he thought. He looked up to the figure seated in front of him.

“Arike?”, he whispered, too tired to express shock.

“Shut up, you fool! You know, I had tried different ways to get at you for all you did to me but somehow, you got saved. Remember how you were saved by that man when you were wrongly accused, and other instances. But now, no one will save you”, she said laughing hysterically.

“I wanted to kill you little by little. Thank God, your co-workers helped me do that. And then, you came out. I had to tell Chief to make sure you never had employment wherever you applied.”

 So, she was behind all these? “Arike, what did…..I do to you?”

She slapped him. “I am no longer Arike. What you did? So, you’ve forgotten so easily? You forgot how you ditched me for that bitch you called a wife in the name of that I was not ‘born again’? And the most painful aspect, you chose someone I knew so well, someone that was like a little sister to me from the same neighbourhood. You left me because you were so ashamed to present me to your wealthy parents.”

“That’s……not…..true”?, he said coughing.

“Anyway, that’s gone. I’ve been waiting for a time like this to come. How are the mighty fallen! We were so good together but you made your choice. I knew you always had an issue with anger so using that between you and your wife was so easy. I’ll finish you here, then I’ll move over to your wife and children.”


So, Jacinta was innocent! How foolish of me! I should have listened to her when she tried to tell me.  I should have…..Jacinta, I’m so sorry.

“Don’t touch them, please. I’m sorry. I told you……”

 She laughed. “Save the explanation for the devil when you meet him. Then, you won’t have to worry about your wife or children anymore”, she said. “Not to worry, your death won’t be so quick. I’ll make it so slow and painful you’d be wishing for death to come.”

She walked to where he was, crouched down and touched his cheek. “It’s so nice to see you again, Armstrong.” She stood up and left.

*******
He stopped her before she left the building. “What was that about?”, Friday asked.

“What?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Why did he call you Arike?”

“That’s what I used to be called before. Now, my name is Tessy. Happy now? And please, get those papers ready. Our work here is almost done”, she replied, entered her car and zoomed off before he could say anything else.

He watched as she sped off. If she can’t even tell me what she used to be called, what else is she not hiding from me? I’m sure there’s more to her past than what she told me. I’ll find out, he thought.

(To Be Continued)
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