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I wasn’t due back at work for another week. But, I’m a restless soul. I need work to save me from myself. I was expecting a war with Efe but it’s not happening. She told me I could have the kids any time I wanted for as long as I wanted. But, they won’t go on any vacation with me if Lori was coming along.
We went before the judge for our divorce hearing. My lawyer was so upset I’m going on with the divorce he actually stopped billing me as soon as we got before the judge. But, he’s a professional so he came with me to the hearing.
The judge told us she’d seen a lot of divorces but felt we can work this out. Efe told her we’d passed that bus stop. The judge nodded then encouraged us to ‘try work it out”, sent us to marriage counseling and said she’ll see us in six months. My lawyer told me at the parking lot that he wouldn’t represent me again and counseled I may be making a big mistake.
Efe also seem to have gone through a makeover. She’s doing everything I ever wanted her to but she’s completely closed the door on us. And, she’s got Lori so worked up Lori thinks I’m being too soft on her. Lori, I just realized, has a very hot blood.
In two days, she’s complained about Efe, my casual wardrobe and “the smell of the African food”. But, God – she’s great with the kids. The kids love her. I feel lucky I have two women who shower my kids with love. And, Efe doesn’t even complain about it. I was so spooked I raised it with her when I dropped off the kids.
“Why? It’s like having a nanny with an MBA. Let her play with them, it means I have more time to myself?” she smiled.
“You’re working now?” I asked, with a little bit of jealous that made me momentarily hate myself.
“I have six more credits to finish my MBA. I want to get it this summer because I’m also studying for the LSAT. So, every little help counts,” she replied.
My jaw must have dropped because I was quiet for what seemed like forever.
“You should go back home before your girlfriend starts suspecting you’re seeing another woman. You know oyinbo people are not like our people,” Efe said, jolting me back to life.
“How long has this been going on?”
“How should I know? My witchcraft didn’t cross the ocean.”
“I mean the MBA thing, silly.”
“You asked me to go to school, right. And, you bought me forms for the UCLA part time MBA program, remember?”
“But, you didn’t do it.”
“See, that’s your problem right there. You think you know me.”
“You mean you enrolled?”
“Yeah. Two years ago. It was meant to be a surprise when I graduate but, hey – cat out of the bag.”
“How do you surprise someone with an MBA?”
“It’s part time, Abu. You were gone all the time, for work or play. I had time. Be happy for me.”
I was in shock. This is like building a mansion and not getting to live in it.
“And, the LSAT? What’s that about?”
“These lawyers in this whole thing got me thinking I could make some money doing family or immigrations law. So, I told myself – while the baby is in kindergarten I’ll go to law school. By the time she’s ready to go to school, I’ll be ready to practice. Their parents will be both lawyers.”
I stumbled away. I wanted to tell Lori but she was out with her girlfriends for a girls’ night out. I couldn’t sleep for most of the night. I was beginning to realize I may have been hasty in some of my judgments of Efe. I thought she was always up to no good but she was advancing herself the way I’ve always wanted. And, she told me she even convinced Temi that her getting a law degree was good for the business even though she was plotting an escape route.
That night, I was so absentminded during sex that Lori joked, “hope we won’t be needing Viagra soon.”
But, the worst was yet to come.
The next day, I walked into the office to meet a staff really excited that I was alive and well. They even had a cake for me during the morning executive meeting. Lori sat in the corner, smiling like the proudest lover ever. For a moment, the turmoil in my life was distant in my brain.
“Is it true you’re officially seeing Lori,” Alex, my assistant asked mid-morning.
“Where is that coming from?” I replied in shock.
“The whole office knows. You know Lori, she’s the expert of controlled leaks. She told her assistant and she told everyone,” she spat out the words.
“Look, I don’t know…” I began
“I feel sick!” she exclaimed and half-ran out.
This is why you should never sleep with your assistant, even once by accident. I made a mental note to tell HR to change things around in the secretarial pool.
Lori peeked into my office several minutes later.
“What are we doing for lunch?” she asked.
“He has a lunch meeting,” Alex called from her desk outside.
“Okay, babe- I’ll plan dinner then,” a chirpy Lori announced.
“Come in,” I ordered.
“What’s up?” she asked.
“Why are you telling people we’re together?”
“I did not.”
“Lori?”
“I didn’t. I may have told my assistant and she may have told people. Besides, what’s the big deal? Are you ashamed of me?”
That’s literal equivalent of a romantic handcuff. I had no answer. She kissed me and walked out. Alex watched her go with a glare that could kill a baby goat.
“What’s my lunch meeting?” I asked Alex.
“I am your lunch meeting,” she replied.
God, I can’t stand this nonsense. If Alex thinks she can sleep with me again because Lori is flaunting me she’s making a mistake. I have to stop this.
“Okay,” I said.
I wished I’d stayed in Nigeria. America was getting too hot.
“I’m pregnant and it’s yours,” Alex announced at lunch.
I almost choked on my salad.
“You’re joking?” I whispered.
“Ten weeks. I was going to tell you but then all that problem came and you had to go to Nigeria and more shit happened.”
“Are you…”
“Yes, I’m sure. And, it’s yours because you’re the only man I’ve slept with in two years. Plus, I don’t believe in that “immaculate-conception” shit”.
I felt like killing myself.
“Have you talked to Zoey?” I asked.
“We broke up,” she replied.
“She could help you raise the child, you know.”
“She’s not dumb. She knows the father.”
I really want to kill myself. Now, I understand why Zoey cut me off abruptly.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“What every woman wants from the father of her baby, a relationship,” she replied.
“You know that’s not possible,” I replied.
“Make it possible or everything is gonna go south really fast,” she threatened, got up and stormed out.
I went into my car, sat down and cried. I felt so hopeless. I returned to America with hope but my penis has destroyed my life. There are several ways my ordeal with Alex can go and none of them is good for me.
Somehow, I found myself calling Efe.
Efe arranged for all three of us to meet at the African restaurant an hour later. I was so grief stricken I couldn’t even look at her. Here is a woman I’ve spent the better part of a year and half fighting and now I’m turning to her to solve my personal crisis.
“Listen, Alex – I like you. You’re a good girl and with some sense, you can go places. I’ve talked to Abu, as you can see he feels bad about the whole thing but he can’t be with you. He can’t marry you, he can’t date you and he can’t do anything with you,” Efe began.
“Why? Because of that tramp, Lori,” Alex shot back.
“Be careful. Lori is here to stay and you will have to deal with that,” Efe replied.
“Why are you defending her? She stole your man?” Alex said.
“If she didn’t, you obviously would have. Anyway, I didn’t come to America with Abu to watch him throw his life away. He’s the father of my kids and they need a sane father. Now, he’s a good man. He will never walk away from his kids. He will take care of that child. But, that’s all. That’s all the law requires. You’re not married so there can’t be spousal support. But, knowing Abu, he will provide both spousal and child support,” Efe said.
“Why are you speaking for him? It’s not like he’s still with you,” Alex charged at Efe.
“Actually, he is. We are still legally married and that means you are trying to take my man and I will do anything to stop you. Now, let me tell you what you’re thinking. You’re going to go to your HR and tell them he sexually assaulted you and you got pregnant. They will ask why are you just revealing this now. You will say you were scared he was too powerful but you had to tell them now because you just told him and he threatened to fire you if you didn’t get rid of the child. As a Catholic, that’s too big a sin. Am I right so far?” Efe said.
Alex was silent, meaning she was actually thinking along those lines.
“Now, this is what I did. When I filed for my divorce, I named you and Lori as the women who were interfering with my marriage. I can fill in the gaps with your HR – how you got him drunk one night and took advantage of him. How Abu came home crying to me, how I called you and we almost had a fight. Check your phone, I did call you about fourteen or fifteen weeks ago. And, you did come to our house. I have proof because there is CCTV in the house,” Efe continued, coldly and methodically.
“You won’t do that,” Alex cried.
“What? The ones I’ve done or the ones I’m going to do with HR,” Efe replied.
“I never got him drunk,” Alex cried some more.
“But, you thought it was cool to sleep with a married man?” Efe asked.
Alex had no reply. I was so stunned at Efe’s approach I was speechless.
“My dear, this is what you’re going to do. You’re going to go back to the office and resign. Abu will help you find another job and, until he does, he will pay your full salary and benefits. In return, I will keep my mouth shut,” Efe ruled.
Alex gathered her bags and walked away in a daze. Knowing Alex, that baby was as good as expired. I tried to look up at Efe but I couldn’t. Instead, I started crying.
“Stop crying, you’re disgracing both of us,” she said.
“I’m lost Efe. How did this happen?” I asked.
She didn’t answer. She picked up her bag, got up and shot me a very disgusting look.
‘What’s going to happen to us?” I asked.
“You tell me,” she replied in an icy tone.
THE END
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I was hurting. But, I wasn’t sure what was worse. My body from the jetlag or my heart with the realization I won’t be able to see my kids whenever I wanted to. It was just a few hours and I’d had enough. When I woke up the next morning, I looked around the house.
It was as if Efe and the kids never really left. The living room still had all the furniture. The kids’ room still had their beds. The fridge was stocked with food, the kind of food I like. The only thing missing were Efe’s stuff and the most of the kids’ toys.
I was wondering why Efe needed movers then I realized we had a garage and a storage that I never really cared about. But, Efe had it packed with stuff and under lock and key. I went to the garage and the storage. It was bare, except for my old Playboy magazines, VHS tapes and some journals.
I just want to see my kids. I picked up my phone to call Efe. But, it rang before I could dial. Talk about the devil. Efe was on the line.
“Hey, good morning. Hope I didn’t wake you up,” her happy voice came over the line.
“No, been up since four. What’s up?” I lied.
“Oh, you must have stayed in bed then because your kids came to say hello an hour ago but your were still upstairs and it was all quiet. We decided not to disturb you.”
“I was meditating.”
“Good. I hope your head is clear then because the FBI is coming over in an hour. I told them to meet us in your place.”
“FBI?”
“Yes. You forgot we still have a case with sister Temi?”
“How did the FBI get involved?”
“Don’t your talk to Zoey?”
“I don’t understand”.
“Well, talk to Zoey. She handed the files to the FBI and she’s formally with them now, you know.”
Wow, I am in the dark. Efe hung up. I was dialing Zoey’s number when the front door’s bell rang.
“Surprise!” Lori shouted when she opened the door.
She was carrying a tray of my favorite breakfast. But, I was all over her like a hungry hyena. She broke from me after a long kiss, stepped back, opened her long coat to reveal that she’s was totally naked under the coat.
I am the son of my father. I ignored the food and gave Lori the food of love.
Half an-hour later, we lay spent on the floor and panting. Lori is a tigress. When you think you’ve had enough, she does something with her body and you’re standing straight like a soldier again. She’s like the human Viagra and I’m happy she’s mine till eternity.
“When is the police meeting?” she asked as we both munched on the breakfast, our naked bodies still touching.
“In twenty-five minutes,” I said as I looked at the clock.
“Oh, shit!” she exclaimed, got up, wore her coat and ran into her car.
She returned a minute later with several hangers of her clothes.
“You need to go shower,” she said as she marched upstairs with the clothes.
Two minutes later, we were having sex again in the shower.
Life is good.
Thank God for the 405 Freeway traffic or else I won’t have made it in time for the FBI meeting. Zoey and the FBI were fifteen minutes late. Efe arrived first and rang the bell.
“I’m the first to arrive?” she asked.
“Yeah. Traffic. They’ll be here at eleven fifteen,” I replied.
“Sorry, I saw the car outside and thought I was late.”
“Nope.”
“You look refreshed.”
“Well, you left me an empty house.”
“Just like you wanted.”
“That was your call.”
“Go change into something respectable. It won’t be good for people to walk in here and see you half naked.”
“Maybe one of the FBI agents is hot, single and looking – you never know.”
“You’re already in an inferno. No need to attract more fire. Go.”
Funny, that was the most relaxed conversation I’ve had with Efe in many months and strangely, it felt good. I went into the bedroom and changed while Lori was finishing up in the bathroom.
My lawyer arrived next. He was stunned Efe chose to come alone without a lawyer.
“I’m tired of paying people to stay between me and Abu. I know him, he knows me when he’s not too blind to see. Let’s just get it all done,” she told my lawyer.
The meeting with the FBI was easy and quick. They had Temi. She was proving tough until Efe came in last night and went face-to-face with her. Even the FBI agents were spooked. Efe tore off every shred of Temi’s defense and Temi was destined for twenty-two years in the slammer for multiple economic crimes. When she gets out, she’ll be in her 60s and deported to Nigeria to serve time for kidnapping.
The way it’s looking, Temi is going to die in jail. Efe came out of it loaded. Turns out, she has other accounts she was hiding for Temi and she negotiated it all to herself as part of he plea bargain. Efe was walking out with cash and properties worth over $5m.
Only I would walk away from a millionaire!
The whole thing was drama-free until Lori walked downstairs near the end of it all. She sat on the edge of my seat, no doubt trying to prove to everyone she was in charge of my heart now and also set the ground rules for the upcoming custody battle.
I knew it was a bad move as soon as I held her hand and looked up. My lawyer and Zoey had such contemptuous look on their faces I thought I’d killed someone. Even the FBI agent looks surprised. Only Efe looked bemused.
“You asked her to come to this?” my lawyer asked angrily as we waiting outside after the cops left.
“What’s the big deal?” I guffawed.
“The big deal is your wife just saved your life, she never said a bad word about you in all this and she has more money than you’ll need for life if you’re smart. She even has you on record as her trustee. You have kids and a promising family! You throwing that away for some ex-groupie looking for an African project!” my lawyer said.
I had no clue I was a trustee but I’m no longer part of Efe’s game.
“I’m happy, counselor. Be happy for me,” I replied.
“What’s that proverb again? The dog that will get lost will never hear the sound of the hunter’s whistle. Get off the cliff, my brother.” My lawyer told me and drove off.
He shot me a glare, jumped into his car and drove off.
“You’re fucked up, Abu,” Zoe said from her car.
“Come on, not you,’ I replied.
“I’m done. Have a nice life.” She replied and drove off.
That was it. After all these months, there was no goodbye. I felt empty. But, I know I can always get back to her through Alex, her assistant and my lover.
I walked in and caught Efe and Lori in the middle of a tense talk.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“Just getting to know your girlfriend,” Efe replied.
“More like setting ground rules,” Lori cut in testily.
“Ground rules?” Efe laughed. “My dear, you are just a phase. You will pass. But, me – I have nowhere to go. We have these kids together so we’re chained together. I will still be here when the one after you comes and goes. And, I’ll be watching because you see that house behind here, I bought it. We’re just renting our new place for two months until the current owners leave and we finish renovating. So, when my kids are with their father, I’ll be watching you.”
With that, Efe closed the door and marched out.
“She’s a bitch,” Lori spat out.
This is not going according to plans.
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My family’s reaction to Efe’s sudden departure was as if I’d killed Jesus. My father and I had a very terse, one-way conversation that made me feel I was a poison. My mother wondered whom she had offended that has now washed my head clean of reason. My sister’s judgment was very loud in her silence.
Funnily, my only sympathizers were my in-laws. They even offered to drive me to the airport but I was so numbed by everything I chose to take a cab until my sister practically shoved me in her car and drove me. The long flight was the worst of my life. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat and I couldn’t think straight.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I overplayed my hand. Efe has been very wrong and is the source of all our problems. But, like my sister kept saying on the way to the airport, she had done everything to change her ways. She had left wealth and comfort for a chance to repair our marriage.
But, I’d been too deaf and blind to all her efforts. I had moved on and my future was decided in my eyes. Now, as I sat in the plane, I saw the opportunities I missed to retain the upper hand. Now, in this big drama of my life, I was not in control anymore.
I was actually scared to face Efe alone. The last time I saw her, she looked like a woman that had gone round the bend. I wouldn’t be shocked if she had a shotgun, cocked and waiting to go off as soon as I showed up. I thought of calling Lori but decided against it. So, I called my lawyer.
“Dude, you need to do this alone. You don’t me there lawyering you up,” he said.
“I was just thinking she may be up to some of her normal hanky-panky. It may help to have you there,” I replied.
“I seriously doubt that from all I’ve heard. But, if she does, call the cops. That would be a nail in the coffin,” he said and hung up.
I called Zoey.
“Hey, man – you kind of fucked up. Handle you shit. We’ll talk later,” she said tersely, which was shocking.
But, that’s Efe for you. She wins people over rather quickly. Now, I felt really alone.
Even though she’d been in America a mere sixteen hours ahead of me, Efe was already packing up her stuff when the cab dropped me off in front of our house. She wasn’t surprised to see me.
“Hope you had a good flight,” she greeted, more for the kids that had ran out to greet me.
“Yeah, thanks” I replied.
“We’re moving, Daddy! Mommy said we’re going to have two houses,” my son said excitedly.
“Really?” I replied.
“Yes. Our new house is after the El Pollo Loco after the freeway. We have a swimming pool,” my son continued, still very excited.
“Can we talk about all this?” I asked Efe.
“What’s there to talk about? You wanna help us move?” Efe joked.
“I’m serious.”
“My brother, there is nothing to talk about. You made your choice and it’s just taken a little long for me to join the program.”
“My brother!” I’m not sure if that was subconscious or deliberate but somehow I felt that classification just told me Efe has moved on. And, suddenly, I wasn’t too sure if that’s what I want. Or, maybe it was because I seem to have lost the initiative.
‘Please,” I begged.
“Hey, guys – go play outside,” Efe told the kids who needed no further urging to dash to the backyard.
Efe pulled up a chair and waved me into it. Then she sat on the floor and looked at me.
“Can I talk?” she asked.
“Sure,” I replied.
“I have to apologize to you. We had a good marriage, not great but who does? I should have been happy with what I had. But, I was selfish. I wanted quick money. And, I think I also wanted some kind of security for my kids and family. Sometimes, it still haunts me if I did the right thing and if I should have been contented with what we had,” Efe began.
“But, you know what I did I did for us. I knew about all the movements in the accounts. I know I have a peculiar situation so I paid someone in the bank to help me keep an eye on my accounts. I could have stopped all your moves if I wanted. But, I didn’t. You wanna know why?”
“Because in my mind that money was for us, for our family. I just wanted to make sure that white woman was not controlling it. As soon as I knew it was you and your private investigator, I was fine with it.
“I knew I was wrong and I begged you. God, I begged you. I even went home to talk to your parents, your parents who have an intense dislike for me. You should see how I was received. It was like I had killed the family’s favorite child. But, credit to Baba and Mama, they listened to me and they understood what I’d done.”
“Then, you came and I begged you. But, you were so focused on showing I was a devil you didn’t even listen. Then, to make matters worse, you believed I tried to have you kidnapped. Why would I kidnap anybody? Why would I want to take my husband’s life?”
She paused. I took it as a sign that I should say something.
“Can I say something now?” I asked.
“Yes. But, answer me this, how would you feel if I accuse you of trying to kill me?” she asked.
I had no answer.
“You know I was thinking on my flight here that since all this started you’ve been talking and I’ve been listening. I’ve done everything I feel will help our marriage. But, you know what? You’ve not listened to whatever I have to say since this started. It’s like you’re on the altar and you just rain the sermon down at me,” she continued.
“Well, you got your wish. You want a new life and you got it. You may think I’m just saying this because I’m angry but I’m not. I’m at complete peace now. I have two kids, I have my health, I have my family and thank God you’re healthy too. I really wish you the best with your new oyinbo woman. I know you love your kids and we’ll make it work somehow.”
“I think you’re making a hasty decision, Efe” I heard myself say.
“Hasty? You mean I should wait until they serve me a divorce notice? See, I’m a Nigerian woman. I respect the fact that this is your house and I’m moving out. Thank God I have some money,” she replied.
“I’ve been thinking, Efe. We should leave things as it is for a little while. We have to sort this Temi thing out you know and it’s better if we’re united,” I counseled.
“It’s okay. I talked to Zoey already and I let her know we’re separating. She told me it won’t affect anything with the Temi case. Besides, Temi is really more my problem than yours,” she said.
“She had me kidnapped!” I snapped.
“Yes, to get at me, and I’m sorry for that,” she replied as she got up and started packing.
“You sure this is what you want?” I asked.
“No, my dear, this is what you want, remember? The biggest obstacle to your happiness is about to leave you alone. Abeg, my movers are here. Let me go and attend to them,” she said.
With that, she let in four huge movers.
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I thought it was strange my kidnappers took off a few minutes before I was rescued. But, in this game between Temi and Efe, if you stick your neck too far out, it’s gonna get chopped off fast.
It turned out Temi suddenly got a sixth sense something was not right. She called every number she had for Efe, me and our families but no one was picking up. Temi doesn’t believe in destiny or coincidences. She makes or wrecks destinies and coincidences are for failures in her eyes.
Temi gave the order. She asked that I be killed and the kidnappers disappear to the holes they came out of. But, what she didn’t know was that all her lines were scrambled. As soon as she gave the order, Zoey was on the line to the air force officer.
“You have the location?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am” he replied.
“Do you have a man with him on the roof yet?”
“No, that would be a problem. I have a change of plan. I have two snipers on a rooftop and a tree on either sides of the building. If anyone goes up there with a gun, he’s dead meat.”
“How far are you away from the building?”
“We’re on the street. Just waiting for the kidnappers to clear out.”
“Move in and arrest them.”
“No, we’re drawing them out. Too dangerous for Abu if there’s a fire fight.”
Five minutes after that call, the kidnappers hurried out. They were stopped at what looked like a routine police checkpoint by a couple of policemen, one of whom was busy fast asleep. As soon as the cars stopped, air force officers came out of hiding with their guns blazing. The kidnappers didn’t have a chance. They were all captured.
I got back to my parents’ house about thirty minutes after that. I was relieved but I was incensed. I couldn’t wait to tear into Efe. On the ride back, I had everything worked out. I even put a quick call to the love of my life, Lori. I was going to America and we were going to start our lives together.
When I got home, it took all the resolve in me to maintain my cool and not strangle Efe. But, she knew from my words and deeds that any brick left in the bridge between us just fell into the river. We were done.
It took several minutes but finally Efe and I were alone in a room together.
“Did you really believe I arranged to have you kidnapped?” Efe asked.
“I don’t think it, Efe. I’m tired of all your games. I know you and Temi did this and I will prove it and nail both of you,” I replied coldly.
“Wow,” Efe replied and looked like she was in some shock.
I’ve seen a lot of fakery in this lifetime but Efe tops it in every category.
“You’re right, Abu. When there is no trust, there cannot be anything. I called a lawyer in LA. I will grant you the divorce and waive the required wait for counseling. You’re in a hurry to re-start your life and it’s useless for me trying to delay the inevitable. God knows I’ve tried hard for many months now. Now, I realize I have been wasting my time. So, I don’t know if I should say congratulations or good luck or both. But, I will take my kids,” she declared.
“No, we will split custody,” I charged back.
“No woman is going to raise my children while I’m alive, Abu. You can stay close enough to us, if you want. But, you can go and marry your white girl. I’m tired. I’m tired of begging you and trying to let you see I made a terrible mistake I regret. If you think in a billion years that I will arrange for the kidnap of my husband, the father of my children, you’re either dumb or wicked. Either way, I don’t want to be a part of this anymore. I have my kids. I will spend my life raising them as best as I can. Maybe that is what God wants for me at this stage.”
‘Listen, Efe – you can make this easy or hard. But, I have good lawyers and I will have sole or joint custody of my kids. You can take anything you want.”
“Anything I want?” she snickered. “You are so blind you can’t even see beyond your nose. If I wanted money or property, I’ll be with Temi. I was already better than her in her businesses. I left it all for a chance to get my family together.”
“You’re so full of it. You think this is a game? You think you can do and undo? This is real life and there are consequences,” I shot back.
“I wish you all the best. I sincerely do. I will leave for Los Angeles in two days with my kids. You can come whenever you like. I won’t even deny you of your house. We will move out and leave the house to you. Just give me a couple of days to sort myself out,” she said, opened the door, walked out and closed it softly.
A couple of minutes later, my father walked in looking like a heavyweight boxer moving in for the kill.
“What just happened?” he asked.
“Taking care of business, Dad. Efe and I are through,” I told him frimly.
“Without Efe you’ll be dead”
“No, Dad – I’m here by the grace of God. Efe and her friend, Temi tried to get me killed.”
“No, my son. It was because of Efe that we found you. Without her, God forbid, we’ll be planning your funeral now.”
“You don’t understand, Dad.”
“I do, son. I was here. I saw it all play out. The girl may be tough to handle. But, show me which woman is not and I’ll show you a liar.”
My father narrated the whole ordeal that had led to my release. When he was done, I didn’t know if to cry or scream. I was so confused my head was throbbing in pain. I knew there was one thing to do – go after Efe and try to keep her close.
I was ready to beg her and take her back because I need her to be calm so she can come with me to America. Once there, I can let the law take its course. Already my lawyer has filed for a divorce. I have Lori in my corner and we can prove we will be better parents for my kids. I have so much against Efe she would have no choice but to give me custody. If she fights it, I was ready to escoryt her to jail.
But, Efe had disappeared. No one knew where she was. Even her parents were confused. Everyone said she came out of the room after our conversation in tears. Then, she picked up her bag, took a car key and drove into the night.
I was so tired I went to sleep. Everyone was sure Efe would return in the morning and we can all beg her. I lied to our families that I had discovered my folly and I was prepared to have a second honeymoon just to save my marriage.
I was nudged awake around mid-morning. I was so groggy I didn’t even know where I was. Then, my sister’s face came into focus.
“Efe and the kids are gone,” she announced calmly.
I was reassured by her calmness so I simply nodded and rolled.
“Did you hear what I said? They’re gone,” my sister said again.
“It’s okay. They’ll be back or we’ll go to her parents’ house,” I mumbled.
“She’s gone to America. She came back around three and took the kids. Everyone was still asleep and the housemaids thought she was just taking them home. They never went to her family house. They went straight to the airport and took Virgin to London. She asked her friend to tell us two hours after she was in the air. Even Efe’s parents had no clue,” my sister said.
I sat up in bed. Now, I’m really in a mess. Efe has taken charge of this saga again.
“There’s one more thing,” my sister said as she handed me a manila envelope. “Her friend brought this. It’s a copy of the divorce document. She signed her part.”
My God! I gotta get backl to America right away!
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Efe ordered my sister to keep a close watch on my father. If the man went into the bathroom, my mother followed him. If he goes to get water himself, my sister snatched the cup from him and poured him another. When it was time for him to take his vitamins, my sister actually made sure they were vitamins.
“You all should move back to Nigeria where there is reality,” my father joked after I’d been released and was told of Efe anti-suicide safeguard measures. “Why would I kill myself because of one stupid boy?”
It was during that whole drama that I called and got Efe. Instead of working with her, I who needed help, was fighting her. I couldn’t trust her.
Around that time, Temi was getting worried that there was not much action from my family. She had calculated that Efe would know what’s up and get in contact. Temi’s plan was simple – she wanted the money she claims Efe stole from her and, as a condition for my release, she would force Efe to continue working for her until she was ready to let her go.
If Efe refuses her terms, Temi’s decision was simple – she would have me killed and pass some off Efe’s records to the police. Efe would be too scared to return to America and Temi was sure she could access her account and reclaim her money.
Efe was five steps ahead of everyone, including Temi. She didn’t pick up any of the strange calls. She was so sure they were coming from Temi because the numbers were all blocked. But, it was a double-edged sword. There was no way she could have known if it was the kidnappers trying for a ransom. In Efe’s reasoning, if the kidnappers really wanted to talk, they will call my sister or parents too since she was sure they had those numbers.
Then, I called again. Efe was smart enough to know I won’t talk to her so she gave the phone to my sister. My sister talked long enough for Zoey to activate the trace on the phone.
Zoey was far away in America so she needed a local guide. The air force officer came in handy. But, there was a problem. The trace was connected to Google maps. Now, Lagos is not such a great place to navigate. Google map may claim something was in Ikeja while in actual fact it was closer to Festac town.
In this case, Google map claimed the call was coming from somewhere in Isolo. The air force officer was certain this couldn’t be right. The call was in a densely populated area of Isolo in Lagos and someone would have noticed something fishy. Zoey not being Nigerian and a worshiper of technology got into a big argument with the officer. Finally, my father stepped in.
“Where do you think he can be?” my father asked the officer.
“I don’t know. But, definitely not here,” the officer replied.
“Why don’t we check it out then, just to eliminate it?” my father asked the officer.
The officer was on his way when Temi called the kidnappers again. Zoey monitored the calls and realized it was coming from another area. Worse, it was a moving call. The kidnappers were on the move. Then, the trace disappeared. But, it proved the air force officer right. It also made Zoey trust the officer some more.
“I’m gonna e-mail a program to you, download it and upload it on your phone. I have the numbers the kidnappers are calling from. If you call from there, we may get a better signal,” Zoey told the officer.
Thirty minutes later, the program was uploaded on the officer’s phone. He called the kidnapper’s phone.
“Hello?” a voice answered.
“What’s going on? I’m still waiting for you guys to show up?’ the officer said.
“Show up where?” the surprised voice replied.
“Ah, ha, is this what we agreed on? Let me talk to Bros,” the officer continued, his eyes brightening as the trace came on.
“What Bros, who is this?’
“Stop this nonsense. Abeg, put uncle Duke on the line.”
“Which uncle Duke? Who is this?”
“Okay, stop this joke! I’m sitting here at Kafanchan junction with the bags of yam and there’s no one to pick me up as agreed. If I don’t get this bags to Asaba before the traditional wedding begins tomorrow afternoon, no one should blame me O!”
“You have the wrong the number!” the voice on the other end snapped and hung up.
A few minutes later, my phone rang as I hid in the filthy bathroom on top of the building.
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