Fola and her mother rushed off to Malali. They got there but was unable to locate the house.
Fola called Iremide's mother and she sent a young girl of about 13 years of age to come get them. They went into the house and met her still crying profusely.
Being their first meeting, Fola had to introduced herself and her mother to Mrs. Balogun. She stood and gave them a hug.
"It is ok, ma'am. God is in control", Fola's mother assured as they settled beside her.
"Nothing should happen to my son. If anything happens, I won't be able to take it. His father left me all alone with them when I needed him the most. Now Iremide is gone. Who have I offended to deserve this?", she lamented in pain.
"How did you know about the kidnap?", Mrs. Obed interrogated.
"I was called from the car park in Zaria where he took a bus. Iremide was the only one who was kidnapped", Mrs. Balogun, Ire's mother answered.
"What?!" Fola and her mother chorused.
"How?", Mrs Obed questioned in fright.
Mrs. Balogun cleaned her tears with the back of her palm and replied: "He was the only one that was kidnapped from the bus. The driver was the one who called those in Zaria to inform them of the incident. They said the kidnappers were all dressed in a black atire and they took Iremide only while the others ran for their lives."
"What do we do now?", Inquired Fola with a sad face.
"Let's go to the police station", Mrs Obed suggested.
"No please, I don't want them to kill my son. They will kill him the moment they know that the police are involved", Mrs Balogun lamented.
"Did the kidnappers call you for a random?", asked Mrs. Obed.
"I haven't seen their call yet."
"Let's hope they do that soon to know the next line of action. Before then, you need to be calm and strong for your son", Mrs Obed advised.
Fola was silent all through and then she said: "Mum I have been thinking.... You know Femi, don't you?"
Her mother nodded, "Boluwatife's fiance?"
"Yes, he is a police officer. I can give him a call to come over here while we wait for the kidnappers' call."
Mrs Balogun was alarmed at the statement. She said almost yelling: "I don't want Iremide to be in danger for any of our actions. I just want my son back home no matter the sacrifices even if it means selling this house to bail him out. I am ready to do that."
"Mrs........?", Mrs. Obed said.
"Balogun", replied Fola.
"Mrs. Balogun, I understand how you feel but we need to be on a safer side by involving the police. Femi is Fola's friend fiance and I am sure he will be of great help."
"You know these people are smarter than we think and we need to play safe. What if they are seeing us or hearing our every conversation? Ire will be dead before we know it", Mrs. Balogun stated.
"No mum, let's be positive", Fola remarked referring to Mrs Balogun.
"No please", Mrs. Balogun insisted.
"Alright", Fola and her mother answered in agreement.
Mrs. Obed stood up and strolled out. She came back inside and asked Mrs. Balogun: "Can I use your bathroom?"
"Yes. Go straight in, it is by the left side of the room. Please go in", she told Fola's mother directing her into her room.
Iremide's kid sister Ife was sound asleep on the couch beside her mother.
Mrs. Obed winked at Fola before going towards the room. Fola was confused at the action.
"What is this woman up to now?", she asked within herself.
She moved closer to Mrs. Balogun. "Mum, it's okay. Ire will be fine by God's grace."
"I pray and hope so too", she replied and stared at Fola. She shook her head as more tears were spilling from her eyes and Fola embraced her.
Mrs Obed entered the living room and signalled to Fola to follow her out.
When they were out, she whispered to Fola: "Go home now and call Femi. I have been trying to see if there are any camera or something that can implicate us but can't find any. I am not a professional so we can't say for now. You two should come back as soon as you can. And tell your father about our whereabouts."
"But Ire's mother is against it", Fola responded.
Mrs. Obed eyed Fola and said: "Don't try to be stubborn. Do as I say if you want your little sweetheart to be back home safe and sound", she answered with a grim look.
"Mum?", Fola whined.
"Go!", her mother commanded.
Fola was hesitant at first as her mother turned back into the house. After giving it a deep thought, she left for home.
**********************
Femi excused himself to take a peek round the house. "There are no hidden cameras", he mused.
Femi went back inside to meet the two women still arguing about letting the police in on the issue or not.
"Let's give it a trial", Mrs. Obed convinced Mrs. Balogun. Mrs. Balogun stared at her and kept mute all of a sudden.
"There are no cameras. We are safe", Femi said and Mrs. Balogun jerked her head up in suprise.
"Are you sure about what you are saying?", Mrs Balogun asked with doubt.
"Yes I am. Besides the kidnap happened in Jaji and not in Kaduna", he replied and sat down. Then he questioned with all seriousness: "How was he kidnapped?"
Mrs Balogun responded: "I really have no idea. It was the chairman of the union that called to inform me. He said my son was the only one kidnapped. It looks like he was the only one they were looking for."
"Where was he coming from?", Femi asked.
"School. He schools at A.B.U, Zaria", she answered.
"Is this his first time of coming to Kaduna?"
"Actually no. He was here when we first moved down here."
"Hmm... Thank you Mrs. Balogun", Femi said and turned to Fola. "Folake, who is Iremide to you?"
Fola blushed and replied, "He is my friend."
"Friend?", Femi asked peering at her closely and she nodded.
"Do you know any of his friends in school?", he asked again
"No, I really don't know any of his friends. Most of the people I see around him are females who he normally tutors."
"That means you don't know if he has any disagreement with anyone?."
"Yes I don't."
"Are there any strings attached to your friendship?"
"Erhmm actually... This thing is... I....", Fola stuttered.
"Fola we are in a very difficult situation now and your cooperation will be of utmost help. Your relationship with Iremide will give us an insight on how to go about the situation at hand", Femi voiced out with a frown.
"I think they are in a relationship", Mrs. Balogun said. "My son told me alot about her but it's so unfortunate that we have to meet in this kind of circumstances."
Femi looked at Folake questioningly: "I thought you said you are just friends?"
"Actually, we are friends for now. Something beautiful was springing up from our friendship before this happened", Fola answered truthfully.
"Are you in any relationship now?"
"No I am not."
"Yes she is", Mrs. Obed answered. "She is betrothed to someone she doesn't want."
"What?", Mrs Balogun exclaimed. "Does my son knows about this?", She asked referring to Fola.
"Yes he does", Fola replied.
"Wao, this is getting interesting. Does the guy you are betrothed to knows you don't want him?", Femi inquired.
"Yes he does", Fola told him.
"Hmm ok, do you have any suspect?", he asked Fola.
"No I don't..... Wait a minute."
"What is it?", Femi asked sitting up.
"Rachel."
"Who is Rachel?"
"Mr Garba and Olamide doesn't even know about Iremide", Fola uttered.
"Who is Rachel and does she knows there is a thing between you and Ire?", Femi repeated his question.
"No she doesn't", she replied with a confused look. "She threatened to deal with me."
"What happened between you two? And why do you think she is a suspect?"
"We had a fight over a little issue few years ago before I got admission. I know Rachel to be a desperate girl. She can do whatever it takes to get what she wants. She threatened me for the second time the day you took Bolu and I out for your birthday. She said I should let go of her boyfriend."
"Boyfriend? Is she Iremide's girlfriend?"
"No. Olamide claims she is an ex but I don't trust him so I don't believe she is really his ex-girlfriend."
"You made mention of Olamide and Mr Garba. Who are they?", Femi further interrogated.
"Olamide is my betrothed and Mr. Garba is his father."
"Mr Garba is more desperate and he is also capable of doing this", Mrs. Obed added.
Femi looked at her and asked: "Why do you say that ma'am?"
"He keeps insisting on their marriage", Mrs. Obed said pointing at Fola.
"Perhaps that is because it is a betrothal like you said", Femi said with a shrug.
"There are a lot of girls out there he can give to his son but he keeps insisting on marrying my daughter off to his stupid son. I feel there is more to this betrothal issue than the eyes met", Fola's mother retorted.
"Don't tell me my son is in this mess because of Fola", Mrs. Balogun questioned with anger.
"No ma, we are just trying to get a point here", Femi told Mrs. Balogun.
"So you mean Mr. Garba is a suspect too?", Femi asked and Mrs. Obed nodded. "What about Olamide?", he asked but was met with silence.
"Does anyone else knows about Iremide's existence or the relationship between you two apart from your mother and Ire's mother?", he asked Fola.
"My father and Boluwatife", Fola replied.
"Your father? When did you tell him about Ire?", Mrs. Obed asked in suprise.
Fola answered: "He overhead our discussion when I came back from school and I told you about our reconciliation. He asked me who he is to me and I said he is just a friend."
"Rachel threatened you on two occasions. Olamide and Mr. Garba doesn't know of Ire's existence", Femi stated more to himself. "Fola give me their addresses."
Fola did as requested and Femi called the police station before taking his leave.
It was 7 p.m already and Mrs. Obed was persuading Fola to go home while she stayed behind when Femi came back. There was two other men with him.
"Femi whatsup? Why the look on your face? Did everything go well?", Fola questioned in one breath.
"Olamide doesn't know about Ire like we assumed and his father is out of the country."
"What about Rachel?"
"I met her mother and she said her daughter has been missing for three days."
"What?!"
*********************
"Have you gotten him?", said a gruffly voice.
"Yes boss. He has been with us since yesterday. We've been waiting for your orders boss", the lady replied.
"Good."
"What do we do now? Should we get rid of him already or you would like to see him before we do that?", the lady asked.
"I don't need to see him", the strange man answered.
"Alright boss."
"I will be back in two days, before then kill him!", he ordered ruthlessly.
"Done deal boss!", she saluted and hunged up with a broad smile on her pretty face.