Since I got to know that my children were missing and my mother-in-law reporting the case to me because my wife was admitted to the hospital, I haven't been myself, it looked like I was shut off from the world. I hated the feeling and the more I thought about it, the more annoying it felt.
To be honest, I don't know what to think. I feel like I'm going crazy or something. I had to rush back home to tackle the issue as the man of the house and the father of the missing children.
My babies were missing? It sounded like a dream in my ear, but what I saw around me confirmed that it was just the reality and that scared the hell out of me.
I was glad mother-in-law called to inform me of the issue and the fact that my wife is ill, because it won't be funny to come home only to find out that my family is gone just in a week.
I came to understand that my wife had asked Nancy to go pick up the kids that day against my instruction. I clearly warned Nancy not to get my kids or pick them from school no matter what. I wasn't sure what happened that day, but I try as much as possible not to blame my wife. It could have been all of them kidnapped if care wasn't taken. I know they will be found, within me, I just believe it.
I tried to understand the idea behind the fact that my children were missing. To be, it's just two things. First one could be that they were just kidnapped, kinda hijacked from the road, which isn't understandable, based on the fact as I heard the road they should have taken to get the kids. Since the kids were missing, then they definitely have picked the kids before the kidnap.
Secondly, it could be the case of blackmail or assassination. Meaning, the kidnap is on purpose and whoever did that knows me or maybe my wife.
But, I doubt if it is my wife, because of the kind of job she is into. I don't think any one around her is capable of handling such mischievous act. As for me, I believe though without a proof that someone in my place of work might be behind this.
I only wish my children and the others will be okay by the time those miscreants are found, for I believe they will be found and prosecuted.
My wife could have followed is to the police station, but then my mother-in-law reminded me that she was sick and had been admitted in the hospital, which was true, except I want her back there, then I could let her come with us.
I really didn't think that way because I knew Sonia wouldn't want to be in the house when her children are not in school, but are declared missing. Though, her health was more important, because there is every tendency that she might go with us and faint on the way.
Still, leaving her all alone in the house was a bit risky, anything could happen to her without any one finding out on time. I just hope she will be alright till we return home from the police station. I hope as well that my children will be found without so much hesitation.
I left the house that morning with so much grief in my heart and it was keeping so uneasy. I have not had any reasons to go to the police station to report a case, but right now I've got no option.
I heard they were usually slow in working on people's cases especially when it is a critical case. Well, right now, I don't really know what to think of. I just hoped ours will be different and we will get a good response from them.
In about twenty minutes after we left the house, we got to the police station. We didn't find people there, as a matter of fact, we were the second group to arrive at the police station that day, that's quite unlike what I usually hear.
I met one of the police men who was acting like the security guy. I asked to see the DPO and he asked me to sit down, that it's by turn, so I and mother-in-law had to wait till it gets to our turn.
I told her what the security guy said, so we both sat down on the chair by the corner and waited for our so called turn.
I started thinking of ways to get to those kidnappers. I was surprised they haven't gotten back to us or asked for a ransom. Perhaps they are the smart kind of ones or they just want to take their time.
At times, I wonder if it is a crime to be a wealthy person, because that's what attracts those kinds of people. Even when you try as much as possible to keep a low profile, the way they still find out is what I still don't understand. So one will have to go out with security guys or employ body guards just to be safe out there?
Some months ago, one of my colleague's father was kidnapped. His father was a billionaire, but it wasn't so obvious because the man wasn't an extravagant spender. Just few of his family members knew of his status. At first, they asked for a two hundred thousand dollars before they would release the old man. You can imagine the kind of audacity those guys have.
They were paid, but instead of releasing the old man, they requested for the same sum of money. Fortunately, the day they were supposed to receive the money, the man's children got armies to go rescue their father and that was how the culprits were caught.
What will happen if these ones do not ask for ransom? What if they want to kill them as a sort of Payback or something? But then, who could do that kind of a thing for payback. I'm not sure it will be like that. I think we should wait for the time they will request for the ransom even while an investigation is still ongoing.
"Are you okay? Alex? Mrs. Fashola asked, nudging me.
Coming off the thoughts, "yeah, yes ma'am, I am." I answered, trying to take a smile which was not forthcoming.
"Are you sure you are really okay? You don't look like you are to me." She said, studying me.
I sighed deeply. "Well mother, to be honest with you, I am not fine at all. How can I be fine? I can't be, till I can see my children in my arms again." I lamented and bitterly, holding my jaw in a distressed way.
"I understand my son. I will feel same way and even more if any of my kids are in this situation. I feel bad too, because they are my grandchildren, they are my blood. But then, I believe they are in safe hands. I mean, they are in God's hands." She said in a way to comfort me.
"Yeah. I believe that as well. I believe we will find them, and bring those evil people to book."
"Yeah we will."
After that little discussion, we didn't speak to eachother for a little while. Then, she spoke up again.
"My son, don't you think we have sat down here for a long time now. These ones here haven't gone in and people are coming, though just few for the meantime. How long are we going to sit here and wait? She asked impatiently.
"Well mother, you know how they behave, even if we go to them they will still say the same thing. I guess we should just wait you know, we will see him."
"We are running late already, we don't have much time to spend waiting for some arrogant people." She answered nonchalantly.
I just smiled briefly without saying any other word to her. After a while, she got up and said she was going to see the DPO.
"Alex, you wait here, I will be be back."
"Mother, ha! Where are you going to? I asked looking around and wondering if she was hungry. "Are you hungry mother? Or thirsty?
She sighed lightly and replied, "I'm going to meet the DPO, whether or not, I'm going in there. You can wait here, if I go in, then I can call you in as well."
"But mother." I said, trying to hold myself from laughing because she was really acting somehow. "I don't want them to embarass you, I won't stand that, let..."
She cut in immediately. "I am not a little child my son. I can handle such situations myself, so you don't bother about me, I will be right back." She said self-confidently and left.
I watched her as she walked to the police officer incharge of the DPO's office, perhaps his errand boy I presume. Then I saw her talk to him for sometime but it seemed the guy refused to listen to what the old lady had to say. The next thing, when I observed them, I noticed that they were arguing, so I got up to go check out what the problem was. As I walked towards them, she signaled me to return to my seat and sit down. Of course I had no option than to accept that and go back to my chair as instructed.
I sat down back on the chair and watched them closely. About five minutes or so, I saw my mother-in-law follow the guy into the next office, which I assumed was the DPO's office. Damn! How did she do that? Atleast, I was glad that she was in. As far as our issue has been tabled, then I am sure that it will be sorted sooner or later, but in due time.
The next few minutes, the police guy was out and stood where he was previously. So at this point, I knew that she was definitely with the DPO. I was glad if I must confess, I was really glad she didn't listen to me when I asked her to stay back and wait for whenever we will be called.
I monitored the time she was spending there. I thought atleast in the next ten to fifteen minutes she will be out, so she can tell me how it went. So I waited for her, whilst checking my wristwatch at intervals.
Thirty minutes had passed since my mother-in-law went into the DPO's office, but she wasn't out yet. I wondered the protocol that she was asked to go through that was delaying her. I had to wait till whenever she was was done and comes out.
I thought about my wife. I felt it would be nice if I called her so I can hear her voice. I knew she was stubborn, especially when it comes to her children. I won't be surprised if someone tells me that she is around the corner waiting to see what the update is all about. I won't be happy if she does that, but I won't blame. In my heart though, I prayed that she listened and stayed home.
I took my phone from my pocket and dialed her number. The first te it rang, she didn't pick up. I felt my heart skip a bit and then it raced so fast.
Then a wicked thought came to my mind. What if those guys have been tracking us. They saw when I and mother-in-law left the house, so they went to kidnap my wife and she dropped her phone in the process.
I had to convince myself that my wife is okay and not let something bad happen her because of my negative unguided thoughts.
"Alex, be positive. Don't think anything bad, your wife is safe and in safe hands." I told myself.
I dialed her number again, hoping she will pick up this time around. The phone rang for a long time, before someone finally picked up the call. I quickly answered,
"Babe, Babe is that you? I asked in a very frantic manner.
"Darling? Yeah. Are you okay? Did anything happen? Sonia asked sounding scared.
I heaved a very deep sigh of relief before replying her. "Yeah babe, everything is fine. I just called to know how you are feeling now."
"I am good and I am feeling better now. I was asleep before you called. It was actually your call that woke me up."
"Oh, is that so? I guess you should go back to sleep then. We will get back soon alright?
"Okay my love. I will see you soon then."
"Yeah, uhmm would you like me to get anything for you on our way home?
"Well." She said reluctantly, "I'm not so sure. What do you think?
"What about ice cream and chicken pizza?
"I don't want pizza, hamburger would do." She answered lightly.
"Okay. Consider it done then."
"Thanks darling. Please come back quick. I'll be going back to sleep now."
"Alright babe."
I ended the call afterwards. I saw a text message from mother-in-law asking me to come to the DPO's office. I thought of how I will pass through that guy that has a strong face with ease. I guess trial will tell me how that will go.
I stood up and walked up to the guy. I told him that my mother-in-law was inside and she texted me, asking me to come to the DPO's office. He asked me to wait while he confirms it himself.
He returned and asked me to follow him, which I did. We passed the first office, walked through a walkway before we got to the office.
The police officer knocked twice on the door before he opened it and asked me to go on. I thanked him and walked inside the office.
I greeted the DPO who was seated opposite the entrance, he answered and asked me to sit, which I did.
"So sir, your mother-in-law as she claimed said you guys need to fill a missing person report which she has filled. So I will give you a form to fill up. It should tally with hers atleast eighty to ninety percent."
"Okay sir."
He handed me a missing person form to fill. I filled everything as soon as possible. I felt very bad filling that. Who would have told me that I will be going through such a thing. Sometimes, life gives you something you never expect. You either take it and pass through it successfully, or you let it pass through you and you become a history. As soon as I was done with filling the form, I handed it back to him.
He took it from me and went through it. After that, he cross-checked it with mother-in-law's own. I guess it tallied well, because he nodded his head in affirmation.
"A detective will be assigned to work on your case, they will be working side by side with some police officers if needs be."
"Okay sir. How long will this take? I asked expectantly.
"Soon enough sir. We will get back to you. I am really sorry about what happened."
I took his contact from him just incase I might need to talk to him. We thanked him for his help and left his office.