Afraid To Love – Episode 30

By Patience Ahworegba
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“What the hell is this?” Jeremy asked to no one in particular, his tone mixed with amazement and anger.

Darren and Allan rushed to his side and saw what got him pissed. They both gasped. “Its Tricia,” Darren whispered. This could be it. It could prove Tricia had a hand in Purity’s disappearance. They didnt have all the details yet. But he was convinced that she did it. She was Ernest’s partner.

“We don’t know what happened that day. Did she tell you anything about this?”

“No, none of them did,” Jeremy replied, recovering from his shock. “Purity had met with Tricia? How’s that even possible? Tricia never mentioned this to me, neither did Purity. I hate this, she should have told me,” Jeremy lashed his anger into the empty space. His countenance was twisted with rage, perplexity and surprise.

“Don’t jump into conclusions, yet,” Allan rebuked him.

“He’s right,” Darren supported, “She may not have known Tricia was your ex. You dont know the whole story yet. Wait till you hear it,” Darren quickly added, hoping to reduce his rising anger.

Jeremy shook his head. Where was he going to hear the story from? Who was going to give him the full details? Just who was gonna do that? Tricia had to answer his questions. What exactly did she go there to do? He peered at the picture in the phone for the second time, scrutinizing it. Then he noticed something he hadn’t seen before. The dress Tricia was wearing. She had visited him in that dress. That was the day they had a fight, a disagreement. She promised to deal with Purity. Did she actually do that? Or was that what she was doing? Who did she visit first – him or Purity? He surely needed answers. He was going to get to the buttom of this. Who could come out with the truth? Who? Tricia could lie. “Heather,” he answered himself.

*
*
*
Purity lay on the soft bed Ernest had brought in for her and closed her eyes. She felt relaxed and her nerves were soothed. It’d been days since she had craved for a beauty sleep, she was glad she was going to have one tonight. She patiently waited for sleep to erode her, to take her into a world of dreams and fantasies. All that would make her forget her loneliness, the pain and anger she felt towards Ernest. All she wanted was a good night rest.

Seconds rolled into minutes, yet she was not a bit sleepy. Minutes stretched into hours, but she was still very much awake. She found herself thinking about Jeremy. She wondered if he was alright and in good health. His memory – had he gotten it back? Did he think of her or was Tricia Cayson by his side. Probably, they’re together in bed, she sadly mused. Who was this Tricia by the way? She was not sure she’d seen or met with her. The only thing she knew about her was that she was Jeremy’s ex girlfriend.

Purity hastily pushed those thoughts aside. She was not going to start thinking of another woman being with Jeremy. She wasn’t going to get hurt or jealous. She just had to stop. She thought about her parents and her brothers. How devasteted they must be feeling because of her absence. She wondered how they were coping – especially her mum. Her papa was strong, he could handle almost anything. At that moment, she missed them, she missed everything and everyone. Her life, left behind was meaningful. Now she knew the importance of family and being surrounded with loved ones. She had learnt a lot and if she was going to make it out alive, she’d never trade her family’s love for anything else.

The urge, the need to get back, to escape was eating her up. She had to leave, to help herself. She needed to do something. But there was something else, it was stronger, powerful and overwhelming. That hope, that confidence swept through her. She did not need to fight back – that was what she had always done. This time around, it wouldn’t be so. She was going to face it, allow it to come around. The confidence that Jeremy was coming for her had a strong effect over her entire self. She was not going to run away. Jeremy was going to rescue her and Ernest was going to hand her back to the man who deserved her. A weak smile flittered across her face. She was going to do just that – wait till she will be set free.

Slowly, she dried her eyes with the back of her hands, “I believe he’ll come,” she muttered.

*
*
*
“Heather?” Jeremy called into his phone.

“Yes, may I know who is speaking, please?” came a voice. A voice whom he recognized as Heather’s.

He heaved a sigh. “Jeremy Broderick?”

“Jere…… What?” she gasped.

90

He almost laughed, but he stopped himself from doing so. He could detect astonishment and fear in her voice. Had she not gotten over that day’s event? A smile creased his face. “I’m very sorry calling you at this late hour, but I urgently need to talk to you.”

The sound of a slight cough could be heard over the phone. “What’s this about, sir?” she asked.

“I want you to tell me everything you know about the vists Ernest Turner made to the office.”

“He always came for Miss Theodore, sir.”

“Did you know what his visits meant?”

“I don’t, sir. But he was always cold and cranky. I don’t get it, but i usually had an eerie feeling whenever I saw him.”

This was it. He was slowly getting there. “You heard any of their conversations?”

“I did not. She taught me never to eavesdrop. I never did. But I heard voices, though. It wasn’t clear, but I could feel tremor in her voice whenever she spoke with him, like she was never comfortable in his presence.” She paused for a little while. “What’s this all about, sir?”

“You’d get to know, soon. Um, do you have an idea, what transpired between your boss and a strange lady? Purity hit her.”

He could hear her giggling over the phone. That incident must have been funny. He caught himself wishing to have been there when Purity had slapped her. Now that he thought about it, Tricia, sure deserved that slap.

“Um…. I heard the lady accidentally colided with Miss Theodore. She did not apologise, they kinda exchanged words and she got what she’d called for.”

“They didn’t bicker?”

“Um….. I don’t think so. It didn’t take much time, just for a while.”

Then, they must not have argued concerning him. Why did Tricia go there? Only she could supply the answer. “Thank you for cooperating. Have a great night.” Jeremy quickly disconnected the call. He was done and that was that. He wouldn’t let her say one more word. He was in no mood to satisfy the curiosity of anyone. He needed to satisfy his. “Did you get everything?”

“Everything,” Darren confidently responded with a smile on his face.

“Now, we’ve got enough evidence to hold ’em down.” Allan was happy and proud of the fact that he had helped.

“We don’t know where she is. We still don’t.” He was getting angry. If Darren hadn’t been so stupid, as he called it, Purity would have been out of Ernest’s hands. He had not yet fully forgiven Darren for what he did. He had a reason, didn’t he? “Why did you do it?” he asked, facing Darren.

He had been waiting for this. He knew he’d ask. He’d know why he blew their cover up and let Ernest see them. Now, he’d tell them everything. He tried reading the meaning of Jeremy’s stare. He could not decipher what he was thinking. He understood, better not to infuriate him. “There’s a reason,” he breathed out.

“What’s the d–n reason?” Jeremy shot at him.

Allan took him by the shoulder, “Yelling at him won’t get him to talk. Why don’t you settle down and listen to what he has to say?”

“He has a wristwatch on,” Darren began. “Its something I’ve noticed-”

“Everyone has a watch on,” Allan taunted, chuckling. “I have one, too.” He raised his left arm for them to see it.

Darren snorted and shot Allan a warning look. He wasn’t gonna let his friend get to him. “There was something different about it. Its metallic, very rare and expensive. That watch is so important to this case,” he paused, reading their expressions. They were eager to hear more. He smriked and continued. “The tape we watched showed us a masked man taking away Purity Theodore. We can prove it was Ernest.”

“How?” Jeremy asked. His anger had cooled off.

“He’s always wearing the watch. Its exactly the same.”

Allan recalled something. “He had it on! I definitely saw it.”

“That’s true. He made a mistake. It must be part of him that’s difficult to let go off. Well, that night I spoke with him, I tactfully placed a tracking device on his watch. Its so tiny that he can’t notice it.”

“That’s why……. that’s why you let him see us.” Allan blurted out.

Darren nodded. “Recently, I’ve been studying his movements on my cellphone. I know his every move and I have goodnews,” he smiled triumphantly.

“What?” Jeremy’s hope lit up.

“I know where Purity Theodore is.”

91

“Are you all ready?” Detective Darren questioned Allan and Jeremy.

They both nodded.

“Allan, you’re going to turn all the evidence that points to Ernest as the abductor of Purity to the police department,” Darren instructed.

Allan rolled his eyes. “Yeah. You didn’t stop reminding me all night.” He did the lace of his black, dynamic sneakers. “Hold on, how will they believe me? No one knows she’s missing, it wasn’t announced.”

“Yeah,” Jeremy said, giving thought to what Allan had just mentioned. “People don’t know anything about it. How does he get to convince them? Something has to be done, if not all our efforts goes down the drain.” Worry etched all over his face. He couldn’t fail. He hated failure. He’d never fail, not himself, not Aaron Theodore and especially not Purity. She needed to be rescued, to be saved. “Tell us, what do we do?”

Darren could understand their concern. Especially that of Jeremy. “Now, you’re both talking like detectives,” he tried lightening up the mood. Detecting from the stares he recieved, he knew they were in no mood for a joke. “Okay. Fine. There’s no need to worry. Allan, when you get to the station, ask for Myles. He’s a superintendent.”

“Myles?” Allan repeated, obviously confused. “Why do I need to find him?”

Darren turned to Jeremy, looking him in the eye, “I’m sorry, Jeremy. I couldn’t keep this to myself. I had to tell someone. Especially when a time like this comes. Just get to him, give him all the evidence and there’ll be an arrest warrant for Ernest Turner. You’ll come to the venue after that, with him.”

Jeremy wanted to get angry at Darren. He did not keep his promise of telling no one about Purity’s disappearence. But on a second thought, he stopped himself. Darren did it for their benefit. They needed such help now. “Thank you, Darren.”

Allan smiled at Darren. “Nice job, bro. We’re gonna finish this today.”

Darren nodded. “Make sure you get there. Be careful. Dont’t see any officer other than Myles. He knows you’ll be coming. He’ll handle the rest,” he intstructed, slowly, to make sure Allan caught every bit of what he said. He knew the kind of person Allan was – he didn’t like being told what to do.

“Alright, Detective. I promise to do all you’ve asked of me. I will be faithful,” he swore and saluted Darren and flashed a funny smile. He knew he had to do this. He had to carry out Darren’s orders. Purity’s life depended on him doing so.

Darren smiled back and returned his salute. He soon started laughing.

Allan joined him.

Jeremy was also laughing. An important quest lay ahead of them. It wouldn’t be all bad if they had a little bit of fun before they go conquering. He had no idea what would happen next. He just had to cherish the moment they were having. He took a step forward. “Come here,” he invited his friends to move closer to him.

Darren and Allan exchanged inquisitive glances. They had no idea what Jeremy was up to, but they knew he couldn’t harm them. They trotted to him.

He had a reassuring smile on his face. “I…. um….,” he cleared his throat. “I wanna say thank you to you two. Without your help, I wouldn’t even have the vigor to search for my fiancee. You’re like my brothers, brothers I never had. I’m glad I have friends like you, trusted friends that I can rely on and tell everything. Thank you so very much for your help.”

“I couldn’t call myself a human when my very successful billionaire has some problems, and I can’t help. Its my duty – as a friend, I’m a detective, remember?” Darren grinned. He was so happy he was useful.

“Yeah,” Jeremy answered. “Its your d–n job.”

“Ahem!” Allan got their attention. “Jeremy, you still haven’t told us what you read in that book.” He faced Darren, “See, he’s hiding things from us.”

Jeremy and Darren shook their heads.

“Its private,” Jeremy repeated his words of the previous night.

Allan snorted. “Whatever. Just hug me.”

They all went for a big hug. Just as they used to – back in the old days.

“I’m glad I helped, Jeremy,” Allan confessed, beaming. “Lets not sober up, its time for action.”

“I can’t breathe,” Darren complained, “Let me out.”

“Excuse me?”

They all left eachother, nervously. It was what they hated – being caught wrapped up in each other’s arms. It was really embarrassing.

“Um, yeah?” Jeremy answered, trying to sound normal.

The two friends just looked sideways.

“My prayer’s been answered,” Darren muttered.

“Tricia Cayson is here,” the maid stated what she came for.

“Just exactly what I needed. Get her,” he firmly commanded.

The maid swiftly moved to action.

“What are you planning to do?” Allan queried.

Jeremy smiled coyly. “Just sit back and watch.”

…to be continued