ANOTHER KIND OF DIAMOND

by Gloria Obizu

  His choice place for proposing to his bride to be on the floor of one of the most popular Restaurants in Jozi did not come as a surprise to Isabel, but what swept her off her feet was the way and manner Wallis presented the package. He had plotted all the way on how to give his bride the greatest surprise of her life in such a way that every single bit of the whole arrangement was shared only between Pena and Wallis. As Wallis and Isabel left in his car headed to the restaurant, she thought it was for a dinner outing with some friends as she was told by her husband to be, an idea she had loved so much as to invite two of her friends but for the sole purpose of showing off her rich future husband.

  Getting into the venue of tonight’s mini party as she described it and noticing the elaborate decorations in a private room set out exclusively for the group, she felt it was unusual but didn’t show surprise. She liked the decorations without doubt because they were really good and made up in beautiful feminine colors that appealed to her artistic mind and for that she was more relaxed as the two took their seats. Soon after, waiters, without beaconing, appeared with reserved orders and sipping from glasses of best South African wine, they waited for their guests. Pena was the first to walk in, shortly after Isabel’s friends also came in, one after another.

  With progress in time, every one chattered about things that get talked about in such occasion with each one’s idea of what a good meal is like..

  After dinner, drinking continued for a while before Wallis suddenly went on his knees, out of his pocket he took a diamond ring glittering with the beautiful lighting in the room and inscribed in bright colors on a small paper attached to the ring were these words ‘Loretta marry me’! Words Wallis was now reading out loud and clear to Isabel’s hearing.

  Isabel’s reaction was that of surprise mixed with some kind of joy that is not easily describable. In her mind she is already committed to Wallis so there is nothing new with his proposal but that he chose the setting in which she now found herself to do it was something she knew she will never forget till her dying day. As a matter of fact, that was the event that earned Wallis some space in her heart where he will be forever remembered as a good man. Meanwhile, her frivolous mind was thinking about what to say for a second when it occurred to her that the spectacular part of this event meant more to her than whatever it is Wallis intends to communicate. There are on lookers and some of them ladies she brought here to impress and for these reasons, she toed the line of; yes! Yes! And their guests applauded with other witnesses and onlookers. It was a successful night in some ways for the occasion achieved its purpose, at list by Wallis’s estimate. Dinner finally came to a close and they set for their homes.

  The wedding arrangements followed. Wallis was careful to avoid anything that would bring him and his bride into the spotlight so he planned for something very simple. A private court marriage witnessed by very few close friends like Pena and his wife, Rev. Ache and his wife, a guy he met at the Business Men Council and some of Isabel’s friends like Ginger and Fajita, plus a few more others. Then, after dinner that turned out one of a kind for the few guests followed.

  For honey moon, the newly wed settled for a site seeing outing the next day. First was a visit to the Museum where both had astonishing experiences. There were so many beautiful artifacts to see and they loved them all. Some of the things they only thought belonged to the TV screen were right there in their faces and in so many varieties and colors that both were grateful for the opportunity.

  The Zoo proved even more interesting. They could see live all kinds of animals they thought belonged only to the TV. Isabel was particularly drawn by the Lions and the Tigers and taking a closer and more critical look at them she saw nothing but a blend in beauty and furry and unable to connect this association in her mind she turned to her husband. Wallis, she beckoned, look at these lions and tigers in their unique kind of fur ain’t they beauties? Now they seemed calm and minding their business yet could lose their cool and harm someone in a minute, why? How could something so beautiful be so dangerous at the same time? Isabel has never seen such animals that close before now and she gazed on in wonder. For a moment, she thought of herself as something closer to a tigress than the normal human female as she tried to relate to one in a more personal way. She tried probing more intensely as if in search of what it truly represents and could find nothing but the exclamation, “awesome!” “But ruthless,” the sound of Wallis’s voice echoed. “That’s if you tease them!” Isabel who was focusing on a caption ‘DO NOT TEASE’ on a wall facing her reacted spontaneously. The caption seemed to engage her for a moment but quickly she shifted eyes to her husband. Thinking of what to say to him right now, I love you was formed in her brain but her heart refused to register, instead she drew him real close and gave him a shallow kiss. Wallis liked that all the same and responded fully.

  At last both caped it all up with a nice dinning in another very outstanding restaurant. For her, that day, the sky wore a different color of blue, it was simply put, glorious and the earth beneath, heavenly. South African’s Jozi instantly became the kind of place she would like to live forever. It has never occurred to her that there could be any place like this in any part of the world to capture her imagination so vividly and that it happened marked that day the best of her life. At home that evening, tired, the couple soon retired for the night.

  And now, lying down on their bed, their mind went separate ways in a very short time. I mean it was a beautiful day, she had no doubt but all that the day brought with it has come and gone and Isabel’s mind wondered into other issues so quickly. The changes in personality she is beginning to witness in Wallis caught her wondering mind and she turned to look at him as if to confirm that the man beside her is the same Wallis she had known for years. He was still, not saying much but awake and quickly she looked away from him like one running from a trap and steered her mind to more pleasant thoughts. Penney, the latest addition in her choice of friends called to the mind immediately. It happened not quit long ago, two weeks to her wedding to be precise. As she sat alone in a restaurant waiting for her lunch order that day, a beautiful lady walked in, instantly Isabel was attracted by the beauty and the like mind the lady was, noticed, and sat down to share a table.

  Hi Sweetie! My name is Penney, what is yours? She charted mindlessly the moment she took her seat.

  Loretta!

  Nice name. Mind if I smoke?

  Oh come-on! I was gonna ask you the same thing right now, Isabel responded.

  Very good! Penney said as both shared in laughter. Are you new here? I’m asking ‘cause almost everyone around here knows Penney the party girl.

  Not really. This is my sixth year in Jozi, Isabel said.

  Great! We’ll get to know each other better. Single?

  No! Engaged! I’m wedding in two weeks.

  Really! I just got free from marriage number two some months ago and not in a hurry for another one, Penney added.

  For real?

  Yeah! I came out of it 150 million dollars richer, she said with puff of cigarette and blow of smoke into the air.

  How much you got from first? Isabel wanted to know.

  A miserly 80 million! I could have got more but the judge was sloppy with the case.

  Kinda business thing, ha? Isabel said and both laughed again.

  May be, Penny responded. Anyways, I got to enjoy it while it lasts. Know what? It looks like you are my kind of girl! Do you by any chance love partying? Penney asked.

  Oh yes! I love it a lot! That’s my number one passion, Isabel added.

  Then you are in luck, continued Penney with the feeling of someone who just caught a large fish. Here is my card she said after a short pause. We party at my residence every last Saturday of the month and I’ll like to have you if you are willing to come.

  Sure! I’ll love to be there but I’m not promising you next Saturday �
�cause I need to prepare for the wedding. Isabel said this not sure it was the right thing in this situation but she had it said anyways. Are you coming with your husband? Penney wanted to know but Isabel wasn’t sure about that either. I don’t know, she responded. What do you suggest?

  Singles work better at my end but it all depends on your commitment, understand? Either way doesn’t really matter to me. Penney added.

  I’ll see how things work out on the home front, okay? But the way he is acting lately I doubt if he will be doing a lot of partying. Isabel continued.

  Fresh starter blues ha? I understand! Alright! I’ll be on my way but I’ll be looking forward to seeing you soon! And with that Penney took her leave.

  And thinking about Penney reminded Isabel of her own peculiar circumstances in some ways and she couldn’t help but wonder why so much good is coming her way. She has heard it said often by people, things about planting and ripping from what you sowed in due season that she wondered why she is now having it so good just like Penney is doing with evil seeds.

  Wallis who was riding on a completely different route noticed that his wife was also engaged but thought it’s all for good. In a unique way his association with Pena, the Aches and the church is beginning to rub off on him so much that without even being conscious of it, he is gradually drifting the way of pious man. And whenever he considers his situation in South African, it’s in a way of gratitude. He had been a bad guy, lived the wrong life, stolen from people and was never caught till this day and now he even have the chance to enjoy his loot and for him this in the present represents nothing but time for restitution. Knowing what he knows now, Wallis longs for nothing but a kind of penance for redemption. Sometimes he wishes he is still in Los Angeles and have the right kind of opportunity to go directly to the Police, give himself up and do his time in jail, but as things stand now he cannot because of his commitment to Isabel. So, all he could do as a compliment is move even closer to Rev Ache. His thinking is that through his church, he will have that chance he desperately yarns to start doing a great deal of good works. May be giving part of whatever he earns every month to charity as tight offering would help in some ways. He could pay visits to orphanages and make what fund he can afford available for the up keep of the orphans and things like that. He could help build some more orphanages, churches or Homes for the deprived. Anything that will help alleviate the pain he feels about the things he did in the past would be welcomed as such things to establish him in the part of honor he is now aspires.

  His mind suddenly darted to family issues and he began plotting the family of his dream, small but close knit, one or two kids would just be perfect. Momentarily his attention shifted to his wife, she seemed to notice and moved even closer to her husband in a mind filled with gratitude and then one thing lead to another until it culminated in one of the most passionate loving they ever had and soon after went to sleep and slept peacefully into their tomorrow and tomorrow inevitability.

  Chapter Fourteen

  It was one of the worst nights he ever had as Gary rolled and turned in his bed because sleep was nowhere near. Is not that it bordered him, because if it ever called, it would’ve merely saved as an escape from the issues he chose to confront. Where is Isabel? He thought. If she is still alive, how come she has not contacted him by any means? They were close enough as to confine in each other, so why didn’t she say she was leaving? Is she dead or alive and living the life somewhere with Wallis? Whichever way still leads to same kind of question? Where is Isabel and where is Wallis?

  His training as a new member of the LAPD came and passed a long time ago and as an established Officer, he has since been assigned to a department. Sadly, his assigned area has nothing to do with Isabel and Wallis’s case but this has not deterred his continuous search for the couple in his own private ways. This is a case in which he has vested interest as being not only intimate to the culprit but one who must live by honor not to betray a girl he still holds dear to his heart. A crime was committed, the Police involved, and being part of that force, he found himself torn between the call of duty and the throb of his heart and the way he intends to mediate is to do everything he could to find Isabel and convince her to go to the Police on her own accord.

  Sometimes Gary feels the search for one cannot be separated from the other because when you find Isabel, you’ll find Wallis. But there are times he is forced to concede to the fact that both may be actually leading separate lives in different cities or even here in Los Angeles. Whatever the case may be, he is determined to dig out what became of Isabel. He is not unmindful of the possibilities that his fellow officers might be trailing and recording all his actions, but in his thinking, adopting crafty measures will take care of that angle.

  Thinking about a private visit to Wallis’s house about two weeks into their disappearance took even more of his time. He recalled having the building where the guy lived watched for days before making his moves. He knew through private investigations that Wallis tenancy will expire in matter of weeks so he took quick action. At the building, the management was aware of the unending Police activities going on around Wallis apartment, so Garry turned that to advantage.

  He wasn’t actually expecting to discover a whole lot of new stuff because the LAPD have been in there a number of times, and when such officers included Thomas Jenkins, he knew a thorough job must have been done. But curiosity and the probability that something might have been missed which could still lead him to Wallis and possibly Isabel urged him on. And the day he chose to take action Gary took the night bus.

  By his special trainings and some crafts he acquired since he was a kid, he could manipulate all kinds of locks without much hassle but not wanting to gain entrance through the main door by force, he waited patiently until he followed one of the residents into the building. Once inside, he moved real fast towards Wallis apartment. Having successfully made his way into the house, he took stringent measures to avoid the risk of people noting what was going on. And now groping between darkness and flickers from a flashlight, he went into a meticulous search that took him to all corners of the one bedroom apartment in fast and detailed manner. At occasions, Wallis’s home phone would ring and stop and continued to a point where he was tempted to pick it up, but he canceled the move at the spur of the moment because in his contention the Police could trace his presence in the apartment by that simple act.

  At another occasion, his heart almost failed him. This was caused by footsteps so loud and so close that he swore only the Police could step with such confidence and clarity. His first instinct was find a place to hide but there was none he could immediately think of or locate inside the almost empty apartment. Finally he chose to conceal himself behind a door, but because it was not good enough, he chose to bow and faced up with what was coming. Now, out in the living room and facing the main door, he waited in palpable presence but to his amazement, whosever the fellow was continued walking past his presence and continued until his steps faded away with the beating of his heart. Relieved, he took a seat on the sole Sofa left in the room for a brief moment to recover his breath. The incident however served as a warning to him to vacate the place immediately, so he again just like he came in took a meticulous exit.

  Travelling home was in a dampened spirit and self-blame for an Officer returning form a failed mission. He didn’t do enough but panicked and lost out, he thought. And even before he got home he already chose another day for a return visit. It was just two days ahead and by the exact means in the previous attempt, he found his way into Wallis’s apartment again. It didn’t require so much efforts on his part this time to move around so he was able to do more in a short time. He was even more thorough in his approach like sweeping the entire house with a broom; still his best efforts seemed to turn up nothing. He was beginning to think this was yet another failure when a last minute decision led him to it. Something well concealed at the esteem end of a
closet. It was Wallis’s made belief safe, where he had his heist money hidden but which was now empty.

  Gary realized at the instant that he wasn’t making a new discovery because he may be seeing it for the first time but then Thomas Jenkins and his team must have been there first hand. And now, going through the safe with the trained eyes of a cop, it occurred to him that someone deliberately put the place together to appear like nobody had tampered with the evidence previously and Gary wondered why. Is he being trailed by fellow officers? Is he setting himself up for something he cannot handle? To make matters even more complicated there was this business card inside the safe with the name Temba Kasavuvu inscribed. Just the name without further information on whosever the fellow Temba might be. No phone number, no address. Whosever the guy Temba is will be hard to find except by finger prints if any could be found on his card. But most importantly, how come Officer Jenkins plus his team’s eagle eyes did not pick up that card. Something is definitely going on somewhere, he thought, but that didn’t deter him from talking the card. And since he’s gotten this far, he made another decision to listen and hear what the voice mail on Wallis’s house phone has to say regardless of consequences.

  The first three messages meant nothing, Just some guys ranting about stuffs like “hi Wallis where the hell are you hiding and why?” Plus some other things guys normally talked about. But the fourth was more like it because it proved something he could work with. It was from a girl named Suzan. The good thing was that she left not only her phone number but her home address too. Her stuff was something like this. “Hey Wallis what’s going on with you? How come you are not picking up your calls? I’ve called so many times but you neither picked up nor returned my calls. So what’s going on and where have you been all this time? In case you get this message by any chance call me, please! May be you lost my number, who knows. Here it is again. You might have forgotten my home address too and here it is also. Still leaving same place! And with that, she gave Gary a very handy tool to work with.