I expected that in two hours time I will be done with the work infront of me, but unfortunately for me, it was more than three hours now, but I still wasn't done with the work I have at hand, although I had just a little task remaining for it to be completed.
I was bent on finishing that task, so I don't keep more of it unattended to, which will only be added to the next ones that will come up later on. I stayed on the laptop to over an hour more before I concluded with what I was doing with the computer.
By the time I was done with working, it was past 4 PM. In summary, I stayed on the computer for about four hours, though with short break intervals. Alex should not be given the opportunity to hear about that, because I don't know what else might come out of it.
I turned off the computer and every electrical appliances that I was using to work and left the small room to my own room.
I was so glad that finally, I was able to finish up with the tiring task, especially before my husband gets back home. He wouldn't be happy with me if he finds out how long I spent on that computer, working.
Even though I was getting much more better, as I was no longer having the constant headaches, the dizzy spells, nausea and sometimes stomach ache, he still feels my body is not supposed to condone stress for the meantime. I don't believe that totally because I have been doing some work, though more mindful about how much I spend doing so, except today that I exceeded my work time limit.
I came into my room to see my phone ringing, so I picked it up from the bed where it was lying. It was an unknown number, I wondered who it was. When I saw that it was my business line, I assumed immediately that it could be a client that I didn't keep record of. I accepted the call, placing the phone close to my ear.
"Hello, Sonia Tinket speaking, how may I help you? I asked the person on the other end.
"Mrs. Sonia. This is Sam, Nancy's brother. I am really sorry I haven't called earlier than now. I know you must have been waiting for my call, I'm really sorry for keeping you waiting." He apologized.
"Ohh, that's fine. I presume you have been busy with work or so, I can't blame you for that." I answered smiling briefly, not like he could take notice of that anyway.
"Not exactly ma'am. Yeah, I have been busy but that wasn't the reason I couldn't call. I actually misplaced the card after keeping it somewhere my Mom can not take hold on."
"Ohh. I understand where that is going. But, I'm glad you called. So, uhmm, do you have any information on your sister that you can share with me? I asked, anticipating a positive response.
"Well, I can not say for sure. But there was something my sister told me about, I think a month ago."
"Alright, go on, I am listening." I answered, judiciously.
"Nancy called me that particular day. As usual, she asked me how I was doing, how I was faring, promising to send me some money, which I was glad to get. Later on, when we were still talking, she told me that she was having issues with the driver, Frank."
"Frank? She had an issue with Frank and she didn't tell me about it? I asked, confused. "Wait, did she tell you what is was that the issue was between them?
"She mentioned something like her being suspicious of the guy. But she didn't tell me what the problem was exactly. So I can't really tell." He explained.
"So, Nancy had something with the driver and she didn't inform me? I wondered out loud.
"It could be that it wasn't a very serious problem, so she didn't want to bother you about it." Sam opined.
"I understand, but let's think about it this way. What if it had something to do with this kidnap, could it be that he is also responsible for it? I asked rhetorically.
"The truth is that, I don't know. I wish I do, I could have helped. If not for anything, atleast for my sister's sake." He said sounding so sad.
"Sam, it's gonna be okay, understand. Yeah, I know it's gonna be okay, you have to believe it, just as we do over here. But trust me, I will do everything I can to make sure they all come home safely."
"Thank you very much Mrs. Sonia. If there is anyway I can help out, please, let me know. I won't hesitate on doing so." He added.
"I definitely would. Remember to call me if you get hold of anything tangible that is related to this case, alright."
"As fast as I can! He answered.
"Good! You dear, stay safe and take good care of your mother."
"I don't have a choice on that. Take care ma'am."
"Yes, I will. Thank you."
The call ended and I let out a loud sigh, dropping the phone back on the bed, I sat down for a while, in random thoughts. I had different things going on in my mind that I didn't know how to express it.
First, I wondered what happened between Nancy and Frank that she started to suspect him. What if, it's just something related to Frank asking her out, just the way some guys do, even though they are married. On the other hand, it could be that something actually happened.
What if what Nancy suspected has something to do with this kidnap. But then, if it had, Frank wouldn't have been taken along with them. They might have known how to do such in a way that the driver was spared, maybe beaten just to make it look real, then take the rest of them.
"Frank, frank, frank. What have you been up to? I wondered.
Thinking about it, I still wasn't getting anything from the story. It's going to a month now, but those guys have not contacted us for a ransom. There is something fishy going on. I still don't see anything on Frank yet, at least, for the meantime.
This could be a lead to something, to the main deal. I guess I will have to tell Alex about it, so he can report to the police or the detective himself.
I thought I was very wise with that short decision I made without thinking. Now, thinking about it, I feel it's the dumbest thing I would ever have done if I had dared tried that. First, how did I get Sam's contact, just sitting at home? Or else I will have to cook up some lies that will definitely blow up someday. So, I don't have a choice than to keep my mouth shut and find a way to work this thing out, in an entirely different way.
After a little moment of thinking, I decided that it won't really work out well if I don't sit down to make plans. For the meantime, I decided to go to the sitting room to while away time, while I wait for my husband to return home from work.
I was just coming downstairs to the sitting room when I heard the sound of my husband's car as he was driving into the compound.
"He's back already." I said softly, to myself.
Mother was in the sitting room when I came downstairs, so she signaled me that my husband was back home and that I should go and greet him.
I told her that I knew he was back as the sound from his car was not tiny but loud enough for anyone in the house to hear.
She gave me a wink. "You are becoming so unbearable these days, I have nothing to say to you." She replied and faced the TV she was watching before I showed up.
"I am glad you realize that already." I said quietly so she doesn't hear it.
I stood by the side of the door, waiting for Alex to open the door anytime from now as I noticed he had parked the car in the garage. He seemed to be taking a lot of time outside and I was getting impatient a bit.
I was still standing by the door hoping he would come in so I can give him a romantic hug and a delicate kiss on his lips, the type that could melt one's heart.
I couldn't wait any longer so I opened the door and walked outside.
I met him standing over something, like a fancy basket at the varenda, infront of the house. Smiling sheepishly, I walked up to him.
"Hey darling, welcome home." I said as I got closer to him.
He stood erect and smiled broadly when he saw me. I took his briefcase from him as he let go of it. I drew him close to me and planted a very deep and passionate kiss on his lips. He reacted, with his left hand, he held my small waist and brought me closer to him and kissed me, sucking every tiny moisture in my mouth, then using his tongue to caress inside of my mouth.
I was enjoying every single bit of it and almost couldn't let go of him. I wanted more than kissing passionately, I wanted him on the bed, with both of us stark naked, ready to re-explore this body once more. I guess my body has really missed out on that, so it's telling on me in a way.
The thoughts of my kids flooded my mind again, like it does when one is having a nightmare or a bad day. I quickly disengaged myself from my husband, but in a more frightened mood.
He noticed the way I reacted and tried to come to my rescue.
"Darling, sweetheart. What's wrong? Are you okay? Is it the dizzy spells again? He asked very concerned about me.
"I'm sorry my love. I, I am fine. It's just that.." i paused and stared at him. "You know what, don't worry about me, come on, let's go inside." I said just to cover up, in a way to prevent myself from bringing up the kids issue.
"Are you sure about that? He asked, not so much convinced about it.
"If there is anything more you want to know? Then, I will tell you when we get inside okay." I said to him in persuasion, as I grabbed his hand gently and he agreed to it.
We were about leaving when he brought my attention back to the fancy basket.
"What are we going to do with it? Are we going to leave it outside that way? He asked, looking back at the basket.
"Ohh, you brought something home for us. Is it a surprise, just like you always like giving us one surprise or the other? I asked sweetly.
"Babe, no. I didn't bring this basket home. I saw it right here it is when I returned from work. I was thinking you guys might have left it outside after going for shopping or something." He explained.
I really didn't get what he said. Maybe I heard him, but it didn't just register in my head about what he said. "Babe, you are saying you are not the one that dropped this basket here? I asked in total surprise, looking at the beautiful well decorated and fanciful basket that you can hardly place somewhere.
"I am serious, I didn't drop that here. Like I said, I saw it outside here when I returned. Where is your mother? Do you know if she might have an idea what the basket is doing here? He asked, no longer comfortable.
"I don't know, I am not sure. She can't actually forget her groceries infront of the house. I am not sure she left the house today. She didn't go shopping as far as I can remember as well." I explained to him. I took a careful look at the basket and it didn't ring a bell.
"I guess we should first and foremost, find out from the horse's mouth before making our judgements or assumptions, which none might be right, till we figure out exactly what's going on. Go and get her right now." He commanded with a cool tone though.
"Yes my love." I answered him, then left with his briefcase to go call Mom, perhaps she might have an answer to that. I said slowly, to myself.
I opened the door and walked into the sitting room, still clutching the briefcase on my left hand.
"That was a romantic atmosphere you guys created right there. I felt myself in the soft hands of your dad again, just like old times."
"Seriously Mom, you were spying on us or something? Really Mom?
"Nope, not exactly that. I stumbled on the sight. It was nice and beautiful, that I felt like going back there once more, but that might not happened. Why do you sound like you are embarrassed instead? She asked sarcastically
"Mom, come on. Let's talk about that later. Meanwhile, Alex asked me to call you." I said to her. Dropping the briefcase on the cushion.
"Calling me? Why would my son in-law be asking me to come outside. Is there anything there for me? She asked, quite confused.
"Well mother, not exactly that. We saw a basket outside, just infront of the house and we don't know who kept it there." I answered her.
Immediately she got up to her feet and followed me out of the sitting room to the front of the house to see for herself.
The basket caught her fancy that she was almost drooling over it, without first knowing what is in it.
"Mother-in-law, we saw this outside here. I want to confirm if you had anything to do with it, perhaps you forgot to..."
Mother interrupted immediately. "No, I didn't go out for shopping today, planned to do so next week." She answered.
"Oh wow, I guess we'll have to report this to the detective as evidence of someone tracking us down." I said, from my own thoughts.
"This is quite strange and I must confess, this isn't something I am expecting in anyway. I want to first of all take a little look on what's inside of it. It's covered and I am sure that whoever kept it here has a reason he or she did so." Alex said and was about going to open it when I stopped him with my scream.
"Alex! Please don't, please please, don't touch it. I don't want you to touch it." I said, holding my chest out of fear and terror.
"Babe, it's okay, I won't get hurt okay." He said.
But, I was a bit scared. What if he tries to open it and something bad happens to him, just like in the movies, I won't forgive myself.
I couldn't stop him from doing what he had to do, it was necessary. So we watched as he stepped forward and opened the basket.