We barely finished taking breakfast when we heard a knock on the door. I stood up to go check who it was, but Alex asked me to stay back while he went to the know to know who was there.
He opened the door gently and peeped. I tried to go closer maybe I could spot some familiar faces. But, because of the say he stood at the door and since he was quite taller, I couldn't see anything.
He was talking with whoever had knocked on that door, but I couldn't really place the sentences aright. So, I sat down on the chair, waiting for him to be done with them, before I could finally have time to ask him.
Mother cleared the table, refusing I helped her. I really didn't understand what her problem was, but I was beginning to get accustomed with her weird attitude and I told myself that I won't care again.
Mother was doing the dishes, I could hear the clangs of spoons on the sink. Well, since she has decided stubbornly that she will be doing the work herself, then I will gladly sit, fold my legs and watch.
I saw Alex opening the door wider, so I got up from the chair in slight confusion. Two men walked into the house. They were well dressed, but they were unfamiliar faces as well, as much as I can remember, I am sure I have not seen them anywhere. I wondered who they were and what they wanted.
Alex ushered them to the sitting room and asked them to it on the sofa, while I watched them carefully. Alex talked to them briefly before he came to the dinning room.
"Hey babe, those guys there, I mean those men are here for us. They were sent by the Director of Police. Come along, so I can introduce you to them."
"Ohhh, now I understand. Alright, I'm coming along. But, what about mother? Do you need to do any introduction for her? I asked.
"Well, I don't think so. Those detectives might confirm that for us. Come on."
We walked to the sitting room holding hands like we were in our teens. I greeted the detectives as Alex mentioned earlier and we sat down.
"Sir, this is my wife Sonia. And Sonia, this is detective Raymond and Detective Sola. They will be working on our case from now as Detective Raymond explained."
I nodded calmly as Alex spoke, watching both men closely to know if they looked like true detectives. The one called Raymond spoke up after the brief introduction.
"Mrs. Sonia Tinket, well I am detective Raymond but it will be okay if you call me Raymond or Ray for short. Yesterday, I and my partner, Sola here was instructed to come here for brief questioning to aid us in our little investigation. I hope you don't mind to comply to that little gesture?
"I don't mind sir. As far as it will help locate my children, then I will do all it takes." I answered.
He smiled briefly before he continued. "Mr. Alex, can you give us a little space here. I will like to question your wife for a little moment."
"That's fine sir. I will hang around the corner, so you can call me if you need me." Alex answered, getting up from the sofa and leaving the sitting room.
"I will do just that sir." Raymond replied.
As soon as Alex went off sight, Detective Raymond started to talk again, this time placing all his gaze on me.
I felt a bit nervous at first, but I adjusted my clothes and tried to keep cool. After all, it was just few questions he needs to ask me.
"So, back to business Mrs. Sonia. I won't take much of your time and I will try to be as brief as possible."
"That's fine sir. I am ready for your questions sir."
"Good. Hope you don't mind, my colleague will be here as well so he could take note of every important details I might miss on the long run."
I looked at his colleague, the detective Sola, then back at detective Raymond, then I nodded affirmatively.
"Great! I will ask you few questions now. It was reported yesterday that your two children are missing? Right?
"Yes sir. With our house keeper and the driver, not just my kids."
"Hmmm." I said under his breath, looking at the book he was holding. "Oh yes yes, my mistake. Thanks for the correction." He said, then wrote something down on his book.
I watched him closely and to be honest, I didn't like him one bit. Though, I had no option than to sit there and answer his questions.
"Now, Mrs. Sonia. Were you at home when your housekeeper went to pick your kids up from school. He asked.
"Well, I wasn't. I was at my place of work. I had a lot of meetings to attend, so I couldn't meet up."
"Okay. So, you asked your housekeeper to go pick them up? Why send the driver as well?
"My housekeeper for all I know cannot drive. Even though she could, it is the job of the driver to do every driving work, so I had to send them both." I replied.
"Are you sure the driver went with them?
"I guess so. The car wasn't in when I came in, so it was that obvious. Atleast, since then, the driver would have showed up for work."
"Noted. Tell me how you found out that they were missing."
I started to talk, but choked a little. So, I cleared my throat before I started to talk again.
"I returned from work around past five, if I am not mistaken, yeah. At first, I didn't notice anything, so I went into my room, refreshened and even dressed up. My husband was not in town, because he had travelled out for a business trip. I got to the kitchen, but Nancy was not there, which was so unusual. It was either she was done preparing dinner or she was preparing dinner. But I didn't see any of that, so I went to check her up in her room."
"Okay, she does the cooking here? Your housekeeper I mean." Detective Raymond interrupted, slightly.
"Yes on some occasions though. I cook when I want to and she helps. She cooks often when I am very busy."
"Okay, go on."
"I noticed she was not in the room. One of her hand bag was missing and so was her foot wear, so I knew immediately that she wasn't in. I thought she stepped out, but then it came to my mind that I haven't seen my kids since I returned. I rushed to their room and that confirmed it all. Their school bags and everything for school were missing. I tried calling, it was ringing but they weren't answering."
"Immediately after this incident, did you call your husband to inform him of the latest development? The detective asked.
"Well, no, I didn't. I just thought it wasn't necessary. He was at work and he needed to focus."
"Who was the first person you called when you found out that they were missing?
"My, best friend. Jessica. She said she was around my place so she came quickly and I told her."
"Jessica was around your house that day. Hmmm. Does she live around?
"Not exactly, I think she came to do something, luckily she was closer." I answered.
"Your friend Jessica, do you think she could arrange for the kidnap or something related to that?
"Jessica, no, no way. She wouldn't do that. No no, she won't do that." I answered fiercely."
He chuckled then said, "Sometimes, your enemies are closer than you think."
This is all for now. If there is any need for me to contact you in subsequent days, I will let you know."
I wondered why he made such comment. I suppose he was suspecting Jessica to have a hand in that. It was just so obvious. But, Jessica would never do such a thing to me, she doesn't have that kind of a heart to do evil to me. I have known her for many years.
My thoughts were cut in by detective Raymond as he kept asking questions.
"Apart from your husband, is anyone else in this house again?
"Yeah, my mother. She came in just two days ago. So, she was not here when it happened." I added immediately.
"Just her? Anyone else?
"No, no one else. Just three of us in this house presently." I replied.
"Hmmm." He said, as he wrote something down. "Do you think there is anyone who might want to hurt you or your family?
"No, I don't know anyone capable of doing that sir. We don't have any visible enemy I could place hands on. We live peacefully with our neighbors as well."
"Any suspicious reactions of recent? From anyone? Both at work?
"Nothing as I can remember sir. I don't really have problems with my colleagues."
"In that case, I think we can call it a day. I will get in touch with you in case there is any information or more questions I might need to ask you in subsequent days. Please, call your husband for me."
"Okay sir." I answered and left to call my husband as he instructed.
When Alex came, the detective talked privately with him for a little while before he finally asked to take his leave. He left with his colleague, promising to always keep us updated if any news that arises.
As soon as they left, I walked up to Alex and dragged him to the sitting room. I sat him down.
"What did he say to you, when he called you before he left?
"Why are you so interested to know what he said. It doesn't have anything to do with you?
"Alex, you have to tell me. I have this feeling that it's about Jessica. Is it? I asked.
"You are right though. It's about her."
I was dejected when I heard that. How dare he say that to Alex. Of all people to place as a suspect, Jessica?
"Babe, what is it? Alex asked compassionately.
" I am pissed off. I want to know what he said to you about her exactly."
"Okay, he said I should keep an eye on her and watch her closely whenever she comes around and also, I should report to him if I notice anything suspicious. That's all." He answered, looking at me.
"He doesn't have the right to say that. How dare he? Come on darling, you too know that Jessica cannot be placed as a suspect at such a time. It's not funny. He should get those kidnappers, not pointing accusing fingers." I said in annoyance.
"Sweetheart. He is not saying that she is guilty, just a suspect. Besides, we are suspects as well, so my dear, don't take it too personally. By the way, he doesn't know her, so he could say anything."
"Well, you are right though. I didn't think about that, I just flared up."
"No, it's fine. I understand my love. I could have done worse if I were in your shoes, so, yeah."
"Have you told any of your siblings about this? I am just reluctant to do so to my brother, because I am sure mother must have told him."
"Well, I haven't and I have no intentions mentioning it to anyone of them. Except if the case becomes more critical than I expected, then I would have no choice than to let them know."
"Do you think it is okay? Your decision?
"It doesn't have to be okay. I am not in that close relationship with them anyway, so don't worry about them."
"Well, okay." I answered, just to stop that particular conversation from continuing."
Mother came into the sitting room where we were and joined us.
"How did the interview go? Sonia? My mother asked.
"It was not so bad. The guy was just asking annoying questions." I answered reluctantly.
"What did he ask you? About the kids or so? Does he know I am here? Because no one seemed to on call me."
"Mom, it was a long talk. I don't want to talk about it. But, the guy mentioned Jessica as a suspect, that was what got me angrier."
"Jessica? Why? What did he say she did that made her a suspect? Mother asked quite curious to know."
"Well, he said that since was around our area the period it happened and she got here on time, then it was suspicious. I don't want to talk about it though." I said and left the sitting room.
"Babe, where are you going to?
"I want to go to the room and sleep. You guys said I should rest a lot, so I guess that's what I will have to do" i replied and kept walking.
"But, but we are not done talking, come on. Will you just leave like that? He asked.
"Darling, my mind is full and I don't have the strength to talk again. Except you want to join me in the room." I said lastly before finally leaving the sitting room, them murmuring behind me.
I came inside the room and closed the door, careful not to lock it, just incase Alex wants to come inside and I'm asleep.
I got into the bed and lay, using my left hand, I grabbed the AC remote from the bed stand by the side and increased the ventilation.
I dropped it back and covered myself with the duvet on the bed, deep in thought.
My mind went back to what the detective said about Jessica. I have known Jessica for so many years even before I got married. It was no coincidence that our husbands are from the same place and we lived not too far from each other.
It was more of a dream come true. Jessica no longer was my friend, she was closer than a friend, she was family. I understand that in certain situations as this, no one is to be trusted, but I never doubt how loyal Jessica could be to me.
There was no reason Jessica should kill my children or take them away from me, I don't see any reason she should do that to me. If she wanted me dead, she would have done so a long time and even without anyone knowing.
Jessica brings her children to stay with us for sometime and I do the same, though not as often as she. So, on the contrary, I should be the suspect in anything that concerns both of us, not her.
The more I thought about it, the more confused I became. I kept wondering what a new day will bring forth, always anticipating a day with my babies again. I lay on the bed still thinking deeply on the detective's words.