Nearest Love- the Only Crime Is Love...

by Eu Aristos

  "No no... Doc. I don well."

  She tried to get down from the bed.

  "Ah...!" They all shouted. But she ignored them and did come down.

  "Please take me to my Frankie" she demanded.

  ∞∞∞

  Once they were alone Kunle motioned to Harry to come close. The ladies had taken mama to Frankie.

  "What do you intend doing now?" Kunle asked Harry.

  "I don't know. I'm actually lost of ideas now."

  "Well... We can begin by talking to him." Kunle suggested.

  Harry looked at him. "That's insane." He said.

  "Yea, But it's our only option for now. I need you to tell me all you know about him; his business and lifestyle too."

  ∞∞∞

  After mama had seen Frankie and cried her eyes out, she was requested to return to her bed to rest. Accompanied by Vicky and Nk, she was walked gently back to her room.

  "Frankie must not die. She cried. It is entirely my fault. Oh..." She was heartbroken and so led Nk and Vicky to more tears. Because she refused to rest, she was sedated by the nurses and soon, was dosing.

  ∞∞∞

  Kunle used Nk's phone to call Nelson.

  "Hello babes... I've been expecting your call. Are you ready to apologize?

  "It’s is me Kunle not her."

  "Oh the gun man… Nelson mocked.

  "Now I understand you want to frame us for assault."

  Hahahaha… I don't do such things. I'm too civilized for such.

  It’s obvious you are a deranged egocentric fool. But I don't care. Kunle cursed.

  Don't call me names you preek!

  Kunle was silent.

  ”I give you three days to pull down every of your antics and begin to make amends. Or we will go to the press about how you are a rapist.”

  “Shut the fuck up! You've got no prove..!”

  “Hahahahah, you think I don’t..? You know how well that would go down with your company and your dad who happens also to be chasing after my family and our property…“

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ooh so you didn't know about the shady deals of your dad? Do talk to him boy. Three days, that’s what you have.” Kunle dropped the call.

  “Who was that?” Nk asked as she and Vicky came along.

  “That was Nelson.” Kunle said as he sat down.

  “What did he say?”

  “I gave him three days to drop all of his antics.”

  “Can we go home now?” Vicky asked.

  “Home..? You have none for now because you are targets.” Kunle served it to them.

  “What do we do now?” Vicky asked

  “I have a place we can go to.” Harry suggested.

  Where's that?” Nk asked.

  “You’ll see. Let's go.” Harry said as he offered to lead them on.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 18

  Kunle handed his gun to Nk who held on to it sanctimoniously while watching their backs as they transferred the unceasingly bleeding Nelson into their own car.

  ∞∞∞

  After the call, Nelson felt insulted. He racked and sacked all that were before him, injuring himself with a glass thereof. He picked up his phone texted the detective again.

  "Please please please... Remember to be see me early tomorrow. It’s really urgent"

  Dropping his phone he thought, about his years with Harry. They were good friends, been through a lot together. They shared a lot including women, drink and smokes. But things have gone south so fast now. So he needed to show him who's in charge now. Harry was the boss back in their university days but now, he is boss. Besides, if he lets Harry be, he could leak his Love's secret to that Kunle who already seemed to have enough. That's if he hasn't already. So Harry had to go down too.

  Moments later, he decided to drive home. It was really late. Being partly drunk, his senses were nothing to write home about. He thus turned on his music loudly and drove recklessly.

  ∞∞∞

  On their way to the new location, they drove past a car involved in a crash. It looked familiar to Vicky and Harry and they both looked at each other. Since he was driving Harry slowed down and asked if he could stop so that they take a look.

  “It’s a lonely road.” Nk complained.

  “Yes oo. I don't like it.” Vicky supported her.

  Kunle and Harry looked at themselves silently and Harry understood. They made a U-turn and returned to the sight of the crash.

  “Stay in the car, both of you.” Kunle ordered the ladies as he cocked his AK47. It had been his best friend since the visit to Nelson's house. This was a lonely road as the ladies observed. So he wasn't going to take chances. The music of the car was still blaring loudly but the occupant seemed unconscious. Head bent and car stock inside a ditch-like position. Harry tried to knock on the window to wake the occupant but he didn't wake up.

  “Crack the window bro.” Harry said. Kunle used the head of the gun he was holding to break open the window. He stepped away as Harry tried to open the door from inside. “Jeez! Shit!” Harry exclaimed. Kunle went closer to him. “What's it?” He asked. Harry pointed to the car. Kunle looked into the car, on seeing Nelson, he too was dumbfounded.

  Seconds later, they were in a heated argument on whether they were to save him or to ignore him there after the ladies had been informed.

  “He tried to rape me!” Nk shouted.

  “He fucking tried to ruin our lives.” Kunle added.

  “He's trying to kill us!” Vicky said.

  Harry was silent as they all made their argument.

  "The hit is still on our heads. If there was anyone who'd call it off, it would be him. And there'll be no way he will do that unless we have him alive."

  "You speak this way because he's your friend." Kunle tried to juggle him.

  "He's technically our collective friends. Aside being the monster that you made him” he pointed at Nk “no offence meant, he's also human."

  “Spare us the humanity talk. He's losing a lot of blood. If there's anything we have to do, we better do it now.” Vicky spoke unbothered.

  Kunle handed his gun to Nk who held on to it sanctimoniously; watching their backs as they transferred the unceasingly bleeding Nelson into their own car. Once they were done, they returned to the hospital where they admitted Nelson into the emergency section of the hospital. After making all necessary payments for his wellbeing, they all departed to the house where they were to cower for the night. Time check, it was past 2am.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 19

  She arose from the bed, used the bath room and went out to see Nk. Once on the corridor, she overheard Nk telling Kunle a familiar story.

  ∞∞∞

  Morning came quick enough. Nk was the first to be out to the sitting room. There she sat thinking of how fast her life had changed in the last two week. Feelings for Kunle, sacking him, the assault on mama, meeting Nelson, kidnap of Kunle and her subsequent attachment to the family. And now, finding her long 'lost' son. No wonder she had always felt attached to him ever since she met him. Oh... How cute he has always been. How adorable he always made her feel. It was because of him she missed her own child which was why she went to them more often. Oh... She was his. The joy of that thought alone made her cry.

  Silently she sobbed. Now that she was supposed to enjoy him, he was nowhere to be found. Oooh I have to do whatever is required to keep him with me. I can't lose him a second time! She vowed in her heart. She stood up almost immediately wiping her eye only to run into Kunle who had been staring at her.

  "Hey. Sorry." She apologized.

  "It’s OK. You've been crying..."

  She breathed in and our gently but silently. He held her left hand with his right and led her back to the sitting room. There they both sat down.

  "I know these last few days have been hard on you; especially since yesterday. So, I'd like to apologize on behalf of my family for all the pain you'v
e been through." She stared at him rather expressionlessly while he spoke. "I assure you that once this situation is douched, I personally will repay you for all your effort at helping us through."

  "Wait." She motioned. "It’s not about repayment." She paused. "My life has been changed forever. I just found out about my son and the feeling is… is… is… overwhelming." She smiled weakly."

  "Yea, I get it…" Kunle said with a faint smile.

  "But the thought of losing him again… it shatters my heart. I barely had a sleep last night. I just want to be with him again. For the whole times I wasn't, I want to pay for it." She sobbed and wiped her nose and tears with her handkerchief. Kunle was compassionately silent. "I actually went around looking for him months after we'd given him up for adoption. I regretted my actions and wanted to pay back what was given for him."

  "Why did you do it in the first place?" Kunle threw in the question

  "I was 19! I just got into school and had my whole life ahead of me. I wanted to just live. But there he was… I was thinking he was pulling me back and the stupid girl i was didn't appreciate him until he was gone. I was away from his life for 7 long and good years!"

  "Who's his father?" Kunle asked unexpectedly.

  She looked at him. Not wanting to say it. But since the atmosphere was conducive she decided to just tell him.

  ∞∞∞

  "Hey." Vicky greeted Harry.

  "Hey… Good morning." He turned to see her looking all sleepy and cute.

  "Hope you dosed well?" He asked gently.

  "Yes you..?" She asked him.

  "Yea…"

  "So you had something you wanted to share with me long before we went to the hospital. What was it? Can you tell me now..?"

  "Oh I already spilled it in the hospital."

  “About Nelson trying kill me..?” Vicky asked.

  "Uhmmm. Yea…"

  Just that?!

  Yea."

  "But you said.."

  "...What I said before does not matter…" He blocked her. "Just take what I'm saying now…" He said.

  "Ooh owk oo..."

  She arose from the bed, used the bath room and went out to see Nk. Once on the corridor, she overheard Nk telling Kunle a familiar story.

  ∞∞∞

  "I just got into school and Vicky was a year older in class. So I had gone that faithful night to her hostel to visit her. She stayed off campus. One thing led to another and I decided to spend the night with her. Truth is, it was late. They came that night; some cultists. In their numbers, they came with matches and attacked the hostel. We all ran for safety. The few they caught, they raped. I was among that few."

  "Long story short, I tested pregnancy positive a month later. I didn't want to abort for the fear of losing my life to it too." She sniffed. “Vicky was my close friend then - she still is, she was the mother I could see. The sister I ever wanted and the best friend anyone could wish for.” She cleaned her tears. "Well... I put to bed without my family knowing. I stayed away from home for the months I was pregnant and by the time they insisted on seeing me, we had already given Frankie out." She waved her head in regret. Kunle listened silently.

  "So you see why we were so desperate to give him away? Plus as I said I was desperate about going back to being single without a child too." At this point, she was sobbing with reckless abandon, and Kunle hugged her. There was a brief silence. In it, they noticed that there was someone else sobbing. Turning their head, they saw Vicky.

  "I'm so sorry.... I couldn't help it."

  "It’s OK. How was your night?" Kunle asked while releasing Nk.

  Vicky didn't answer. She just walked straight to Nk and hugged her so tenderly. "I'll always be here for you baby. No matter what happens. I'll never leave you alone. I'm so sorry I ran out that day leaving you because I was scared they came for me too." She wiped her tears. "Some of those guys have always targeted me back then because they claimed I was loaded”

  "You still are…" Kunle chuckled and Nk nudged him.

  "I am so sorry baby." She cleaned Nk's tears.

  "It’s OK sweetheart. The sweet thing is that we have Frankie back." They were silent for a while. "But I wouldn't want to lose him again please." Nk pleaded as she held both their hands.

  "We won't." Vicky said assuringly.

  "I think we have to freshen up and get back to that hospital for the tests." Kunle suggested.

  "Yea…" Nk said feeling alive again.

  ∞∞∞

  As soon as Vicky left the room, Harry punched the bed. He couldn't imagine he just lied to Vicky. He felt really awful. But he felt that the more he made effort to conceal the truth the harder it became to tell it. “I have to tell her the truth.” But then he remembered Nelson. He was in coma. Being that his past was what he had as leverage on him, he figured he was safe until Nelson will wake up – that’s if he ever will. Some crazy thoughts ran through his mind. What if Nelson were to remain that way???

  "Hello baby… What are you thinking about?" Vicky said.

  He shuttered. He didn't notice her come in. "Ooh... Nothing…" He lied yet again.

  "But you didn't notice me come in. I called you 3 times." She stared at him while removing her cloth.

  "I'm fine. What's up? Are they all awake?" He stretched his body.

  "Yeaa... They are preparing to go to the hospital..." She said while looking at him suspiciously.

  "Oh...Yeaa... That will be a good idea." Harry added. “Are you bathing first..?”

  "Can't you see I'm already undressed?" She asked him

  "That doesn't mean I can't be in there before you...." He argued.

  "Try me..." She said eying him.

  Harry ran into the bathroom before her and she chased him in.

  ∞∞∞

  At the hospital, 1 hour later, they first encountered the doctors in charge of mama and Frankie.

  "Can mama be discharged now??" Kunle asked the doc in front of mama's room. He and Kunle stepped out within while the ladies stayed with mama.

  "No. We are still observing her with regard to the injuries sustained." The doc drummed out.

  "Let her stay here until you are sure the world is calm enough to have her." Harry whispered to Kunle.

  "How's Frankie faring?" Kunle asked.

  "He's in a dare situation. But we are expecting a specialist later in the day. With his assessment, we'll be able to know what better to be done."

  "So should we still go for the test?"

  "Yea... Why not? We just have to prepare for the worst."

  "It’s Ok Doc." He gave the doc a handshake as they both went back inside.

  "Kunle come here..Nk tell me sey you no dey chop again. Watin happen?" Mama asked as soon as they entered. Kunle eyed NK.

  "Mama ask her if she dey chop too."

  Nk eyed him romantically.

  "We are just worried about you both and the whole thing is affecting our appetite." Nk said.

  "Ah... See as una don lean finish." Mama complained. But Kunle's attention was no longer there. He was watching on the television the press interview of Pastor Bawa over his son's accident. He took the remote and increased the volume.

  "I think they want to kill my son. We have tabled the matter before the police and we hope they investigate well how a young healthy man like him could be involved with his new car accident, if his car wasn't tempered with." Pastor Bawa alleged.

  "Something is wrong with this man." Nk said looking disappointed and angry.

  "What's this man saying sef? He was drunk as hell when we found him!" Vicky lamented.

  Kunle and Harry were silent

  "How's my Frankie?" Mama asked, facing Kunle and changing the whole discussion.

  "The doc says they are expecting the specialist today but we still have to go for the test pending the assessment of the specialist." Kunle was quick to say.

  "Chai... my Frankie, I want to go see him." Mama said while trying to rise from the bed.

  "No. Mama
it will only make you feel worse. Such applied to you too Nk. You are both not going to be seeing him until the specialists do their work." Kunle said stubbornly. Nk and mama already had heavy eyes.

  "Harry… can I see you outside?" Kunle motioned at him. When they got outside, they noticed an unusual presence of security forces in the building. Mr. Bawa came to their mind immediately.

  "I can't say I'm very happy with the turn of events with Nelson. Of course he was your friend and I understand it could be hard for you too. But right now we have to be realistic. This is our time to get our names cleared." Kunle whispered to him.

  "What do you have in mind?" Harry asked.

  "We need to get the original of the video from Nelson's house."

  "So you are suggesting a break in?"

  "Literally, Yea… More like that."

  Harry was pensive as he assessed Kunle’s suggestion.

  "Taken for granted, you know the building right?" Kunle asked.

  "Yeaa... I do."

  "And you have access to it?"

  "Well, I can't say so because I don't have his key." Harry said.

  "Uhmmm... That means it should be in his car. We have to let that key or better still just break into the house technically." Kunle spoke confidently.

  "With the news around the accident, we will have a hard time accessing that car. So, we have to plan our next moves very well... Or we'll be implicating ourselves." Harry observed.

  "Yeaa..." Kunle said as he stood with hands akimbo looking into thin air.

  ∞∞∞

  Chapter 20

  He drove with his blue Jeep to the towing company's garage, in search of any sign of alcoholics in the car. But he could find none. If there was, it would crash any argument about any misdeed. But there wasn't.

  ∞∞∞

  The phone rang.

  "Hello Bianca...." The receiver spoke up.

  "Hello sir. The mission was carried out. But the target was not met." Bianca said.