Femi brought his phone out to see the several missed calls from Bolu.
He called her back and she picked at the first ring.
"Hello Femi, what happened? I have been calling you all day. What happened?", she inquired.
"We are on our way to the hospital", he said coolly trying to control the tears spilling from his eyes.
"Hospital? Are you not supposed to be coming back here. We are awaiting your arrival with Fola and Iremide", she said but was met with silence. "Femi... Are you crying?" Femi, what happened?", she asked with agitation.
"They were shot", he said and gave up trying to control the tears.
"What? No!", Bolu exclaimed and bursted into tears.
"Stop crying", he consoled. "Don't tell them what happened yet. Just drive the two of them down here."
"Okay", she calmed down.
Femi dropped the call and threw his phone on the seat beside him where Fola was laying.
They were in his car and knowing fully well he won't be able to drive in his state of mind, he gave the car keys to one of the police officer.
Iremide was in the seat beside the driver while Fola was laid at the back seat near Femi. Her head was on his lap.
Before the call, he tried to resuscitate her by applying pressure to her chest and calling her name but it was all in vain.
He stared at Fola's lifeless face again and at the blood gushing out from her back wetting the car seat and he wept silently.
***********************
Mr. Obed was mad at his wife. He hates it when people around him don't act smart and behave foolishly.
He went straight home after leaving Mrs. Balogun's house.
"The stupid woman didn't even say anything about it", he mummured on his way home referring to Mrs. Balogun.
He got home to meet an empty house just like he left it. The place was cold all of a sudden and he stood up to go to the kitchen to fix himself a meal when his stomach grumbled.
Then, he remembered his daughter was still no where to be found, he lost his appetite and went back to the sitting room.
He heaved a deep sign and rested his jaws on his hand.
"Where could they be now? Why is it taking them so long to return?", he asked himself with worry.
Just then, he remembered the conversation he had with Mr. Garba and the remark he made about taking care of Iremide.
"Could it be he knows about the kidnap?", he asked himself as he sat upright.
He stood up sharply and removed the keys to his car from his pocket and ran all the way to his car without locking the front door.
Mr. Obed sped to Mr. Garba's home which was some distance away. He was lucky to meet Mr. Garba on his way out.
"My friend, where are you rushing to?", Mr. Garba asked Mr. Obed who rushed into the mansion.
"I'm here to see you", he answered.
"I went to your place earlier but you were not around."
He remarked: "I'm just here to clarify some things."
"What is so serious that you can't even come in to have a seat?", Mr Garba questioned.
"You said something the other day during one of our conversations....", Mr Obed started.
"And what is that?", he asked again.
"Do you know anything about Iremide's disappearance?", he asked bluntly.
Mr. Garba stared at him for a while before replying: "What makes you think I am responsible?"
"You said it yourself that you will take care of him. Because I supported you doesn't mean I am in support of you harming anyone", he yelled.
"Are you here to shout on me?"
"My daughter is involved in this mess. She is nowhere to be found since morning", he continued ignoring his question.
He moved closer to Mr. Obed and placed his hand on the shoulder. "Don't worry, your daughter will be fine. I will take care of it."
"Let go of me", Mr. Obed said moving away with irritation. "If I find out you are involved in any of these, I will never forgive you", he said and stormed away.
********************
Femi's car got to the hospital when it was exactly 7 p.m. He rushed out of the car to call the attention of the nurses.
Three of the nurses came out and quickly place the unconscious Fola on the stretcher and they hurried inside. Femi also helped Iremide out from the car and they followed the nurses inside.
Fola was taken into the intensive care unit.
Another nurse took Iremide away from Femi to another ward to treat his wounds. Femi brought out his phone to call Bolu when a call came in. It was Bolu.
"Femi what is the name of the hospital. We are in Maraba Jos already", she asked.
"An-nur hospital", he replied.
"Okay", Fola said and disconnected the call.
Few minutes later, a car was parked in the hospital parking space and Femi went out to see Bolu, Mrs. Balogun and Fola's mother coming out of the car.
They all rushed to him.
"How is my daughter?", Mrs. Obed asked with agitation.
"Femi", Bolu said and cried into his chest.
"Let's go inside", he instructed.
"Tell us what is happening", Mrs. Balogun insisted.
"Let's just pray she survives it. She was shot twice. Iremide was shot on the arm too", he told them.
"What? My daughter was shot? Haa.... Mogbe o (I am doomed)", she screamed as they got to the reception.
"This is not the solution Mrs. Obed. Let's pray for her survival", Femi advised the woman who turned deaf ears to his instructions as she kept on yelling.
*********************
Mrs. Balogun was walking about the corridor of the reception. She was praying silently.
She was able to calm Mrs. Obed who was now sitting silently and looking into space.
Just then, a nurse came out from one of the wards. Another nurse going towards the ward bumped into the one coming out.
"Nurse Latifa, how is the patient?", nurse Raina asked the nurse coming of the ward.
This got the attention of Mrs. Balogun. She noticed the nurse was coming from the direction of where Fola was taken to. She stood still to listen to their conversation.
"She is dead", nurse Latifat blurted with no sympathy.
"Dead? Eyah...so sad. I knew her survival was by the grace of God", nurse Raina commented.
Mrs. Balogun gasped and ran towards Mrs. Obed and Bolu. Femi was nowhere to be found.
"Mummy Fola", she shouted when she got to her side. She pointed towards the direction of the nurses with tears streaming down her eyes.
"What happened?", Mrs. Obed said standing up with alarm.
"They said Fola is dead", she announced with tears.
"Fola is dead?", the horrified woman asked back and Ire's mother nodded sadly.
"I am doomed", Mrs. Obed said as she slumped to the ground.
**********************
Mr. Obed got back home but his mind was not at rest.
His pride was stopping him from going back to Mrs. Balogun's house. He wanted to know if his daughter was back and ask them to come back home to him.
Home without them was empty and cold.
He remembered the statement he made to his wife and he regretted it. He was angry and he said that out of angry. 'I did not mean it', he said brushing his hand through his hair in frustration.
He was angry with Mr. Garba. He knew Rachel to be Mr. Garba's girl and since she was involved, he figured out that Mr. Garba will definitely be involved too. He knew how dangerous Mr. Garba can be.
'Is this the kind of man I want to give my daughter out to?', he asked himself.
'Oh God!', he said into his palms.
"Fola, please be fine. I need to go back to know what is happening. I can't just sit here", he said standing up.
"He picked up his car key from the center table and was about to go out of the sitting room when his phone rang.
The phone was ringing on the sofa where he was seated few minutes ago and he trotted back to the sofa to pick up his phone.
"Hello", he said into the phone.
"Hello Daddy, it's Bolu", she said from the other side.
"Bolu", he said with agitation. "How is your friend doing? Is she back?"
"Daddy. We are in the hospital", she told him.
"What happened?", he asked.
Bolu cried and said: "Daddy, Fola is dead."
"What?", he screamed.
He held onto his chest which was contrasting painfully.
He groaned as he stumbled to the floor.
"Fola", he whispered and lost consciousness.