chapter 54

"Hello listeners, you're tuned in to Trance Fm and it's your ever loyal guy Jafar and we're back on Jafartalk. So what is it that's on your mind what it is you feel, you know how we do it? Undiluted baby! Feel free to tell me how you feel about the government, or even how you feel about your landlord, no one should step on you, you shouldn't let the world cover your mouth with masking tape. You have every right and repeat every right to speak up or redress against unlawful practices . The phone lines are open for you to call through" he stated smiling at his colleague, Monica who was eating prawn crackers.

"We have our first caller, who are you and where are you calling from?"

"I want to remain anonymous"

"No problem girl"

"What if you have a best friend whose lecturer wants to fuck her because she missed a class"

"You have to mind your use of language"

"What happened to undiluted?" She asked and Jafar laughed.

"Well there are rules"

"I thought you were the kind to break them?" She asked and he laughed again.

"She's flirting" his co-worker whispered and he laughed.

"Go ahead miss anonymous" he answered.

"And he's also flirting" Monica whispered.

"Iffa catch you" he mouthed and she laughed covering her mouth.

"I mean just because she missed a class and he set this test and now he wants to get down with her if you know what I mean but my friend doesn't want it. She's so disoriented right now"

"If I request a meeting with this your friend, will she come?"

"I don't know, she's stubborn"

"If I can see her, we can have this settled one way or the other. Are you in?"

"I don't know"

"If you want to talk. Feel free to talk to me, you know the office. I'll always be available"

"Yeah. Thanks and by the way I love your show. I was never a radio person until I had an encounter with you"

"Thanks for calling dear" he hung up.

"I've seen cases like this before, I've seen girls lose themselves to stupid lecturers that only want them for s*x. There was this case" he stopped and a call came in, "We have another caller"

***

Ivie sat on the bed writing in a notebook then a knock on the door interrupted her thought process then she opened up slightly to see Ade who had a smile on her face.

"I hope i wasn't Interrupting anything?"

Ivie shook her head, "It doesn't matter anymore. What's up?"

"They're about starting the show oh, you can use your phone to...."

"Don't be silly. Let's listen together" she replied and they both went down the stairs finding a comfortable spot on one.

"Why do you sit on the stairs?" Ivie asked and Add chuckled a bit,

"I don't know, maybe because I like it" she answered.

"We have our first caller, who are you and where are you calling from?" Ivie heard the presenter ask, she smiled.

"I want to remain anonymous"

"No problem girl"

"What if you have a best friend whose lecturer wants to fuck because she missed a class"

"I hate those lecturers" Ivie rolled her eyes.

"You have to mind your use of language"

"What happened to undiluted?" She asked and Jafar laughed.

"Well there are rules"

"I thought you were the kind to break them?" She asked and he laughed again.

"She's obviously flirting!" Ivie complained.

"Don't they get that there's a golden rule?"

"Go ahead Miss anonymous" he answered.

"And he's also flirting" she complained. "Is this guy sane?" She added and Ade laughed.

"Miss Ivie you're funny oh"

"If I request a meeting with this your friend, will she come?" Jafar asked, "I don't know, she's stubborn"

"If I can see her, we can have this sorted out, one way or the other. Are you in?"

"I don't know..... I might have to talk to her" 

"If you want to talk. Feel free to talk to me, you know the office. I'll always available"

"That's so sweet" Ivie answered unconsciously. He found Jafar's act to be commendable, people are no longer considerate! The world is only full of self seeking bastards, how can this one be selfless?

Could he be pretending? He obviously genuine but there was still that part of her that doubted his true intentions.

"That's what he does" Ade stated, "He's that nice" she replied as though reading her mind!

"People like him don't always last for too long"

"Why?"

"They either get killed with letter bombs or they're sent to prison" Ivie answered and Ade sighed in understanding. Of course she was referring to herself; how she was unjustly imprisoned. 

"What happened to you? Why did you go to prison. I don't mean to intrude but..." 

"Are you trying to say you've never asked or googled it? Well, I was wrongfully accused for something I didn't do?"

"What?"

The election was scheduled for March 15th, 2011. It was a sad day for the Momoh family because few days before the election day, Mr Momoh feel sick and was therfore rushed to the hospital.

On the morning of the fifteenth, Mr Momoh passed away. Ivie was informed about it just after voting at the voting booth.

She went back to the hospital where she cried her eyes out. The death was ruled as natural death but Ivie was convinced it was otherwise.

SAN Samuel Godwin was announced and declared as the winner of the election, he won by 230 votes more than Isreal Momoh who was announced dead later in the evening.

It was a big blow to the whole of Benin.

Ivie had his father's body moved to another hospital where she secretly requested for an autopsy to be carried out on him.

*****

"How dare you Ivie!" Mrs Momoh asked after hearing the news. She disapproved of the idea of the autopsy. "Couldn't you just let Isreal rest in peace"

"I don't think dad's death is normal. I don't trust the doctor"

"He has been our family doctor for years"

"And any doctor can be bought with money. I'm not ready to take chances"

"What are your aim Ivie? Samuel already won the election?"

"I don't care if Samuel wins or not, if I find out my father didn't really die a natural death, I swear I'll tears down this world until I find out who really killed him and I'll sue that stupid hospital"

"Ivie this isn't healthy for you or for the baby" Mrs Momoh advised but her pleas fell on deaf ears. 

****

She went over to the doctor's office the following day. "Any news?" She asked then she hoped for her sake and for every one's sake, her father died a natural death so she does not end up waging war on anyone.

"You're right to think your father didn't die naturally. There were traces of poisoning in his.." before he could complete his word, Ivie busted into tears. She suddenly felt weak where she sat, she would have probably fallen off if she was standing.

"Who could have done this wickedness?"

The next news on the front page of the magazine was, "Autopsy results clearly shows that my father was murdered, the murderers will definitely be fished out!"

Ivie had the doctor in charge of their family hospital arrested.

"We're going to discipline him until he says the truth who asked him who did it" the police men assured.

"I don't expect any less from you guys" she answered walking out of the police station only to find the press already gathered with their microphones and camera.

"Miss Momoh, is it true that your father Dr. Isreal Momoh was murdered and how sure are you"

"The doctor's testimony"

"Who's the doctor?"

"He'll remain anonymous"

"Do you have a suspect who might want to have your father killed?" Another asked and she hesitated.

"None for now but we already have the doctor who delivered and administed treatments to my father in custody and we hope that the police will in turn discharge their duties and get the truth from him."

Ivie avoided all calls from her mom and Godfather. She knew they'll only try to make her deviate from her purpose. 

She walked into her matrimonial room which she has turned into her private investigation room with newspapers pasted everywhere on the wall. 

She kicked off her shoes walking towards the news headline about Thelma's rape. 

"First it was the thing with the girl and then the sickness, who in the world is doing this? Could it be Godfather?" She muttered to herself and Daniel walked in.  

"What are you doing?" He asked her and Ivie shrugged. "Is that the greeting or kiss that I deserve?"

"What are you doing Ivie?" 

"I'm meditating"

"This isn't good for you. Let go of this thing for the baby and for me"

"I'm doing this for Dad"

"Would your dad had wanted this?"

"Dad would have wanted me to find his killer and I'm so close I can feel like an orgasm" she answered and Daniel chuckled.

"I can't believe you just used that analogy" he shut his eyes moving close to Ivie, he kissed her on the lips and she laughed too.

"I can't believe you just used that an analogy" Dode walked in his usual white Dansiki and she chuckled. "Godfather?"

"I wanted to tell you that we had company. I'll be in the living room"

Daniel left them alone, hoping Dode would be convincing enough.

Dode sat on the bed with her. "If you're going to tell me to stop what I'm doing Sir, just don't waste your breath. I'm in and I'm not going out"

"It can get dangerous"

"I'm made for danger. Did you have an altercation with Dad or any motive to have him killed?"

"That's why i love you Ivie, you don't waste time to say your mind. You have a target and you go for it. Well I didn't murder your father but the killer would also given that response so it's up to you to judge me now Ivie"

Ivie rushed to hug him into tears and he hugged her.

"Let me help you"

"I have this under control but thanks for offering anyways"

Madam Eghosa went to the institution the following day and he requested a meeting with Ivie.

"Good afternoon Ma." Ivie greeted her, "I hope everything is fine, please have your seat"

"I'm fine my dear, do you still remember me" she sat down,

"Of course I do Ma, I've featured you severally on the newspaper, when the market women were agitating for proper drainage."

"You are a good woman just like your father and mother and I really support the course you're gunning for and" she sighed.

"I say this with so much hurt in my heart" she busted into tears, "That God will punish all those that killed Isreal Momoh. This is a man I know well. Your father and I, we're from the same village"

"It's sad and we're trying to get past it Ma" Ivie cleaned her tears.

"I'm sorry" Eghosa apologized, "It's okay Ma. God will surely judge everyone of them"

"That wasn't the main reason I came. Your father had the highest voted in our local government. I can assure you that every man and woman voted for him. But the ballot box was stolen yet results were released."

"That's what I'm trying to investigate into. I want to know who did it"

"Samuel, i can swear on it. My boys recognized his boys"

Ivie grinned.

Shortly after, Shade walked into my office literally shaking even when I told her to calm down.

"If you know what I just heard, God!"

"Okay what? You're beginning to scare me. Should I get water?"

"No! A man came into the office today. I knew I recognized him so I got his name Ekhator" "My Dad's Media campaign manager"

"So I googled him to know"

"The question what was he doing there?"

"He came to see Solomon our own Media guy. So I eavesdropped on their conversation he was mentioning all sort of stuffs about that girl that was killed and how he needed more money because he was out of money or else he'll tell the press the whole truth and that was when the door creaked and I panicked. I had to form stomach ache to leave my office. I'm scared"

"I can't believe the person who ochestrated all this is the man I so work for"

Ivie went over to he mini fridge then she brought out a bottle of cold water giving it to her.

"The women leader of Dad's party , Eghosa came to see me earlier on and as I guessed the election was rigged in favor of Samuel and she's ready to testify in court when I contest the election result.

"That's crazy"

"Crazy is what I do and Shade I'll need your help to infiltrate the office of NDP,"

"And get what?"

"Anything that might connect Ekhator to Samuel, documents, anything!"

"Iyen le oh (that's a hard one)" She busted in Yoruba.

"Please"

Ivie then called for a press conference. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Ralph asked and she nodded. "I've never been more sure if anything in my life"

"And what's this news about you contesting the electoral results of the announced winner SAN Samuel"

"I did it cause I have certain proof that implicated him"

"Like what Ma?"

"No comments on that"

"Ma, your late father who was indeed a candidate is dead, why would you want to do this"

"Because it's about time we have good rulers, even it means another election be conducted fine! Samuel Godwin doesn't deserve to hold that post"

"Is this relating to the death of your father?" Another reporter asked. "I also make no comments on that too. I guess we'll all meet in court"

"Look at the small girl of yesterday" Babylon said to Samuel and he scoffed.

"Let's just finish her off cause If she takes the matter to court, your ass will be fried for sure"

"Are you not scared?" Ben Oscar asked Samuel and he sighed.

"I'm shaking in my pants but what can I do? This girl looks so confident like she has won already who knows what she knows already"

"This is the time you have to penetrate through her family." Babylon suggested. "We'll have her kidnapped and we'll reach some sort of bargain"

"Good idea, but not in the way you're thinking. We can have her family reach in other ways like talk to her. Her husband works for the law firm, I can talk him into reaching an agreement with her. I'll do well to talk to Dode too and maybe he can reach the mother"

"Please do" Samuel answered.

"Ivie what are you doing?" Daniel asked, "What does it look like? Daniel don't even bother me, I expect you'll support me as the husband you are"

"Oh now you remember I'm your husband, did you consult this husband before you took that stupid decision to hold a press conference"

"It's not a stupid decision and I knew exactly how you would react to it that was why I.... Daniel I need your support here, I can't do this on my own"

"This is like going against the government! It's unlawful"

"This is how revolution begins, we need change"

"Come off this high horse Ivie cause all those novel shit, we all know how they end up"

"Till my last breath then"

"What about me?"

"That was just a joke. Daniel I have all of this in control, I'm going to win"

"You're going to win without me cause if you don't drop this craziness, right here and right now, it's over" he requested and Ivie scoffed looking at Daniel for some minutes.

She didn't say anything and he rubbed his head hoping she'll break.

"Who have you been talking to?"

"No one!"

"Answer me!"

"It's going to get dangerous Ivie, I don't want to lose you"

"See me I'm shaking in my pants! I'm not dying anytime soon so go and tell whoever you've been talking to that I'm not scared of them. Let them try their worst I'll need here waiting for them!"

"I've if you don't do this... I might have to send our divorce papers to you"

"You're going to drop all we have, our marriage, we have a baby and for what? For fear? I never knew I got married to a woman"

"I'll send you the divorce proceedings"

"And I'll keep it and bring it back to you after I've won so you can decide whether or not you really want me to sign it"

"I'll leave"

"Leave!" She rolled her eyes.

Daniel dragged out a luggage leaving the house and Ivie covered her mouth crying. "In the end it's all going to be worth it, you'll see"

9:12pm

In the hostel, Elsie sat on her bed, with her legs on it as she struggled to read from a textbook while her roommate talked loudly to a caller.

"Shebi I tell you say she go soon open leg, you dey tell me say no oh" she said to the caller.

"Bimpe!" Elsie called out to her and she laughed.

"Please I'm trying to" she paused but she continued talking

"I no dey like girls wey they claim too much"

"Bimpe someone is trying to read here and you're obviously disturbing the whole hostellers"

"Abeg, pause and call me later, make I off my data, my battery is running low" she said to the caller and Elsie rolled her eyes then she gazed back at her textbook"

"You know if Judith drop her charger?" Bimpe asked and Elsie shook her head. She want sure whether her bunk mate left her charger it not.

"Where is she?" Elsie asked, "She no dey come today"

"Why?"

"You still want know? The girl go collect small joy" she grinded her waist, "It's not safe, it's election period and a lot of things happens"

"Like what?"

"Kidnapping? Cause politicians dey find head wey them go use make money"

"Not just that"

"Abegi! Save me all those election time bullshit, all na scam! They're just parental scare tactics to keep us indoors. I should be in my boo's house receiving some good joy but he didn't call me up that's why I'm here"

"All I'm saying in conclusion is that I don't think it's safe for any woman to be walking late at night"

Bimpe's phone rang again and she resumed her call. "I being dey use am watch porn, your father! Wetin I go use battery do again!"

Elsie took her textbook out of the room to Jane's room. "Can I share the bed with you tonight? Judith won't stop making noise.

"Sure, do you need to ask" she asked and Elsie dropped her textbook then she positioned herself in a comfortable way to read.

"About Mutey"

"Jesus! I would have gone for night class" she complained.

"What is it about Mutey that you won't let me read in peace"

"Don't you think you should consider his proposal. I mean he finally asked you out for real"

"No"

"You obviously like him"

"I don't"

"I know you do. You've like him since your first year. Do you remember the first day we met him, when we got lost on our way to the admin block"

"Yes I do"

"See! You've like him for three years and I know it's annoying you."

"The Mutey I knew didn't keep dreads, now he looks like some Mayorkun wanna be walking around school like a cultist"

"The dreads looks good on him"

"I can't date someone that doesn't even want to open up to me, Jane, Mutey is a mess" Elsie cried, "Maybe you can clean him up. You gave up on him, you washed your hands off completely, why don't you try to get close to him. Elsie, if there's any one that can help Mutey out of this mess, I believe it's you"

"Abeg some people want to sleep oh" one of the room mate grumbled.

"Sorry Miriam!" Jane apologized.

Ese intentionally stayed late to avoid seeing Ivie. She had no idea why she didn't want to see her, maybe it was guilt for not stopping by at the prison to see her.

Or maybe she hated her elder Sister for being stubborn those years. If she has just listened to mom and let the gaunlet down. Maybe she wouldn't have gone to prison, she would have had a life. Or maybe it was because she spent her junior and senior secondary School life being the girl whose sister was arrested; the girl who went against the law.

Ese opened the door with her spare keys then she locked the door back. She took off her shoes then she walked towards the stairwell only to find Ivie waiting for her.

She still looked the same as she did years ago, only paler. Something fluttered in her spirit, was it joy from seeing her sister? She wasn't sure.

"Welcome back Ese, how are you?" She asked and Ese shrugged. She didn't know how to answer the question.

"I believe your reply should be, I'm fine or I'm not, whichever you want"

"I'm really not in the mood to chit chat or play catch up"

"Why does that sound like an insult?"

"Ivie"

"Wait Ivie? When did I suddenly turn into Ivie, what happened to the Nigerian moral standards?" Ivie stood up.

"Should I remind you that I went to prison and I didn't have my age reduced, how dare you?"

"I'm sorry, I just..." She stammered.

"Where's Mutey"

"I don't know where he is" "You're supposed to look out for your brother" "We're no longer 14"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"We grew up!"

"So what if you grew up? Families stick out for themselves, that's part of the golden rule and you forgot"

"Well only because you forgot too"

"Oh don't even play that card on me Ese"

"Good night Aunty Ivie" she walked past her.

"Come back here this instant Ese!" She demanded and Ese ignored her. "Ese!" She yelled turning towards her direction.

"Ese is your sister not calling you?" Mrs Momoh asked, "Mom I'm tired and I don't feel like talking. Good night Mom" she chipped in and Mrs Momoh turned towards Ivie.

Then she folded her hands.

The following morning Ade brought a mail for Ivie in her room.

"It says mail for Miss Ivie" she paused and Ivie collected it.

"It's strange, you just got back and someone is sending mails"

"It's okay, thank you. You can go" she said to Ade and she walked away.

Ivie opened the envelope removing a folded paper. She unfolded it gazing upon it's content.

It had "Shhh!" bodly written on it.

Ivie scoffed squeezing the paper.