Traffic wasn't so bad because there were lesser vehicles on the road, probably because it was afternoon I must say.
It took me about twenty five minutes on speed to get to Frank's house. As I entered the street where his house was, I felt the nudge to wait a little before driving to his house.
I observed the environment for a little while, carefully studying all the faces I saw walking on the street, to spot anything that would look too suspicious.
After waiting for a while without seeing anything that would call for suspicion, I drove to the house. I stopped and parked the car outside the gate, as I didn't want them knowing someone was coming around, just to be security conscious though.
I walked into the compound quietly. I could hear the birds chirping on the trees in the compound. There were a lots of trees in the compound and it made the environment warm and cooler as compared to the sun that was scorching outside, from where I was coming from.
It seems people were not in the compound, maybe careful few people as it was very noiseless and I could feel this sense of tranquility all around, it felt rather comforting and that was a bit weird.
Luckily for me, I haven't forgotten Frank's house. I had come here just once, when I came to confirm where he was living, after he got the job from us. I could still see the sticker on the door, leading to the entrance of the door.
I went close to it, waited for a little while to know if I would hear a sound from inside, but nothing. So, I raised my hand and knocked hard on the door. I felt this sharp pain on my finger joint after hitting the door, so I rubbed it gently with my other hand, blowing gently on it.
I heard some unregulated footsteps from inside, so I waited patiently for whoever to come open the door for me to come in.
The door squeaked loudly and suddenly came open to reveal a young pregnant woman standing at the door. She looked so surprised to see me, as I saw the strange look on her face as soon as she saw me. I was convinced she still remembers me. That is a positive step forward, I guess.
"Hi. Mrs. Frank, my name is Sonia Tinket, I..."
"I know who you are. You are my husband's employer. Good afternoon." She greeted afterwards, ushering me inside the house.
I walked inside the house as she led the way in. This, was my first time going inside the house though. It was a really small house as I calculated in my head, two bedrooms and a sitting room.
We got to the sitting room through the hallway that divided the house and she offered me a seat which I gladly took. The sitting room wasn't so spacious, but it was well arranged.
There were two big cushions and a small one in the middle of the two big ones. A center table with a small flower vase n top of it. There were picture frames hanging on the wall, though most of them looked outdated. If I had come here on a different occasion other than this, I would have asked her about it.
They had a small flat screen on the wall, just directly opposite the small cushion. There was nothing really unique in the sitting room, but the way it was set up gave it this comforting feeling.
"How are you doing? I asked, breaking short the silence that had eluded us both.
She shook her head before she finally replied. "To be honest with you ma'am, I am not fine. How would I be fine when my husband..." She paused to regain her posture, this time, controlling herself, she continued. "Well, since I got to know of my husband's departure, I haven't been okay yet." She answered weakly.
"He is not dead yet, so you can't use departure on him. I am sorry about that seriously, I really understand what you are going through now." I watched her closely, trying hard not to get so emotional.
"You know, it's quite harder now he isn't around. He refused me to work ever since I got pregnant so at the moment, I don't have any source of income, not even one. I have been begging for foodstuffs from people. Except that you sent his salary to me and topped it, only God knows how I would have catered for my children. It's really heartbreaking." She finished with a whimper, sniffling on the back of her palms.
I tried to calm her down, because I was feeling bad like it was me who caused it. It's very possible that if I had gone to pick my kids myself, I wouldn't have gotten into this mess on the first place. My driver would be here and same with my housekeeper. We would have been doing our normal daily business peacefully without all these stress. I am getting tired of everything, I mean, I am tired already.
"Mrs. Frank. I am..."
"It's Bianca." She corrected immediately.
I smiled briefly, stressing the name. "Bianca. That's noted. I am really really sorry about what has happened and believe me, I am working on it. If not for anything, for the fact that my children are involved, I don't have any choice than to do all it takes to find them."
She looked at me and nodded, her face brightening from what I had just said.
"That is actually the reason why I am here. You can help me find them, if you can comply with answering the questions I would ask you. It could help me narrow my search." I explained to her.
"As far as it will help you find them, then I will definitely help you. If it is on my reach to do so though."
"Thank you. I will ask, just a very simple question. You see, since the time they were kidnapped, I have been trying to solve a puzzle that has been coming to my head. Since the kidnap, I have been waiting patiently for a time when I might get a phone call from a stranger or my husband getting the call from an unknown number saying we should send some amount of money as ransom. You know, the normal fussy jitter from them, especially if it's their first time."
She nodded, showing that she was attentive to what I was saying.
"Yeah, you understand. But no, I haven't seen nor gotten any call. This is getting to the fourth week now and still nothing. I want to know if your husband had any issue with someone that might have caused them to do such a thing. Do you have an idea? I asked, hopefully waiting for an answer that will give me an edge.
She paused for a little while before speaking up "well Ma'am. The last time I knew he was owning someone was about three months ago. The man came around to make a scene here, he came with the police and tried taking my husband. Luckily, my husband had an appointment with his boss that morning, so he called him to inform him about what was going on. Fortunately for him, his boss paid the bills for him. Thank God for him." She said and stopped talking, smiling to herself.
"Ma'am, I don't know about any other deal like that. I was glad your husband paid for it, if not there is no way Frank won't sleep in the cell that night and maybe many more nights till he finally gets hold of some cash to pay him off."
"Hmmm. So, that's the only thing you know about him right? I asked, unsatisfied.
"Yeah." She replied.
"Your husband, does he tell you everything that does? Like, do you know atleast much about him? I asked.
"To be honest, my husband hardly shares anything with me. He feels he is the breadwinner of the family and my work is just to sit at home, take care of the house and give him children. The only thing, rather, most of the things I know about him are what I find out on my own. So I don't know how much I know my husband." She answered calmly.
That was strange, but I believe it. I have heard worst stories from other women, hers is just a tip of an iceberg.
"He doesn't hit you, does he? I asked, fixing my gaze on her.
"No. He has never raised his hands on me. He is not a violent man. Though, he has scolded me time without number, yeah, but him hitting me? No. He doesn't do that." She defended whole heartedly.
I had no choice than to agree with what she had said. It's nice that he hasn't done that, as she claims.
"Thanks Mrs. F.. I mean, Bianca. Thanks for your time, I really do appreciate it a lot."
"It's my pleasure madam, my family owes yours a whole lot. These questions, would you give the answers to the police? She asked, quite agitated.
"Not exactly. I want to do my own search myself. The police are taking a lot of time. I am becoming impatient." I answered, lowering my head in thoughts.
"Isn't that too risky? You have to be more careful since you don't know who you are dealing with." She advised with sincere concern.
"Yeah, I will be careful, but I still have to do something, isn't it?
She nodded then, looked down at her tummy touching and rubbing it gently.
I smiled lightly. "How is the baby doing? I asked her, glaring.
She blushed and looked up. "He is fine. He has started kicking already. He kicks whenever I eat and when I am happy." She chuckled.
"It's a he? How do you know that? I questioned.
"I don't know how, I just know it's a boy and it's a boy. That's how it works for me." She replied.
"Are you superstitious? I asked her inquisitively.
She played with her fingers, "no. I am not superstitious. It's something I don't know how to explain."
"Well, that's fine. I was only curious about that. Take care of the baby before he returns. What about your other kids?
"Ohh, those ones. They are in school. I would have been screaming my lungs out by now if they were around." She said, laughing loudly.
"Well, Mrs. Bianca. I think I would have to take my leave now. I have something else to do."
"I'm sorry I couldn't offer anything. Would you care for a orange drink? That's as much as I can offer now." She asked.
"That's fine, I can bear it."
I put my hand inside my bag and brought out two bundles of money and handed it to her. Her eyes brightened in shock and surprise as she took the money from me."
"Oh my goodness! Ma'am. Thank you so so much. I wasn't expecting this at all. Thank you very much." She said excitedly.
"That's fine. Just make sure you take care of these children and keep them safe. Call me if you have any problem, I will definitely send help to you." I promised, handing her my business card, which she took gladly from me.
I left the house immediately, with her showering me with thanks and appreciations.
I got into my car and sat down for a while. Then I opened my phone and saved what I had been recording. It was over thirty minutes, so I have more time. I just hope to get to Nancy's house on time.
I started the car and left the the street into the next street that would lead to the road. I had about thirty to forty minutes to get to Nancy's house from Frank's place. It was quite closer from his place. It was few minutes past one. So, I had less than three hours to go to Nancy's house and get back home.
I calculated. If I could get there in thirty minutes, that means, by 1:40 on, I should be in their house. I will spend about thirty minutes there, atleast, thirty minutes, I told myself. By 2:20 I should be done with whoever vis available to answer my questions. It will take about an hour to get home. Before 4 pm, I should be back home so mother doesn't find out or have any reason to get suspicious.
As I hit the road, I increased my speed. Fortunately, there was no traffic jam. The road was quite free, except on some certain areas where I had a little delay.
Getting to Nancy's house was harder than I thought. I haven't gone there before, but my husband has with the driver. I used the direction she had given me some time past, with the help of some of the people I met on the way. By the time I got to the house, there was no one in. That was the first thing that causes my delay. I was so pissed off, but who do I blame? I didn't tell them that I was coming, or else, that would have been a different case altogether.
I stood there for sometime pacing up and down like a man waiting to hear news from a doctor about his wife who was in a labour room.
I was glad when I saw a guy coming towards the house. I waited till he came closer.
"Good afternoon ma'am." He said, taking notice of my car and then, turning back to face me. "Who are you and how may I help you? He asked.
"I am really really sorry to bother you. But, I want to be sure that this is Nancy's place, right? I asked him.
He stared at me for a while before he replied. "Yes, you are in the right place. So, what do you want?
"How do I get to meet any of her relatives? Do you live here as well?
"I am her younger brother. a stranger shows up in front of my house asking about my sister who has been kidnapped without even saying anything about who the person is. For the last time ma'am and with all due respect? What do you want? He asked in an intended tone.
"My apologies. Actually, my name is Sonia Tinket. I am her employer." I explained.
"Ohh, I am sorry about that. Please, pardon my manners. I had to be sure who I was speaking with atleast. Please come inside."
"No no, don't worry about that. Please, I came here to ask a few question."
"Well, you have to be fast with your question because my mom won't be happy to see you? Since she heard of Nancy's kidnap, she feels you guys are the reason for it and she won't listen to any other thing."
"Is she aware that two of my kids are missing? I mean, my only children?
"Seriously. We didn't know about that. I am really sorry about that."
"That's fine. Please, I want to ask you very brief questions."
"I'm all ears ma'am."
"Did Nancy complain to you about anyone? Maybe someone who was disturbing her? I asked.
He was about to answer when he called a call. He whispered to me, "it's my Mom."
"Good afternoon ma'am. Yeah, yeah. Okay. How long? On your way already? Okay then." The call ended afterwards.
He said to me quickly after that. "Mrs. Sonia, please you will have to leave now. My Mom will be here soon. You don't want to meet her."
"Okay thanks. You don't mind me dropped my business card do you? I asked, handing it over to him.
"Not at all." He took it from me.
"Send me a message when you get the chance to and thanks so much for your help, I am so grateful."
"All the pleasure ma'am. Please, take care okay."
"I will do so. You too, take care of your Mom."
"That's a sure thing."
I left him and hurried into the car. I started it as soon as I got in and drove out of the compound immediately. I met a woman going into the compound as soon as I was driving out. I guessed that was his mother. I drove home straight atleast I achieved something today.