CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. Carey rolled on the floor and laughed uncontrollably, when Pearl entered the living room yawning lazily. Pearl, bald head was still in her yellow nightie. She ignored Carey and sat on the couch."I've told you to wear wigs at night too." Carey laughed."I'm tired of living with you." Pearl rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Where's dad? I noticed he hasn't come back for two days now.""I don't know." Carey got up from the floor. Sitting on couch, she changed the TV cartoon channel to FoodTube. "Probably at his girlfriend's place.""Let the old man enjoy." Pearl said. "Everyone is entitled to enjoyment.""Brandy sent me some money, for mom's case." Carey said.Pearl squeezeed her face in a deep frown, without saying a word."Well, do you need her money or should I use it for my personal needs?" Carey teased. "That money is for mom's case, don't dare to touch it." Pearl warned. "Have you noticed how uncomfortable dad is about this whole investigation?" Carey took her eye
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. The black Bugatti drove inside Chief Onapuruagu's mansion speedily. Delma and Inna standing by the entrance of the door to the house, dressed in their best attire, exchanged nervous looks when the Bugatti drove in. "Could she be the one?" Inna asked, using her left hand to pinch Delma on on her thighs."I don't know. Maybe." Delma replied, while maintaining a straight welcoming face.The Bugatti parked, Madam Claudia stepped down from the Bugatti with her daughter, Tems. As they walked inside the house, Delma and Inna greeted with welcoming smiles on their faces. Chief Onapuruagu's driver busied himself with moving their luggages inside the house. Delma and Inna quickly followed Madam Claudia to the living room. Madam Claudia used her eyes to thoroughly access the living room before she got sitted with Tems. "You are welcome ma." Inna and Delma said I'm unison. "We are pleasured to have you." "Thank you." Madam Claudia smiled back. "So this is where my son
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX."Sweetness.." Chief Onapuruagu whispered in Coco's ears. She was deep asleep on the jet. "Hey cutie, wake up." Coco opened her eyes instantly, shifting her tangled hair behind her shoulders. "I'm hungry.""We're landing in twenty minutes." Chief Onapuruagu placed a kiss on her forehead."I can't wait." Coco said, sitting up. "I've missed Dirty South.""I'm sure she missed you as well." "I'm nervous." Coco grinned. "I have a feeling your mother won't like me. Your sister might be more accommodating." "Why do you think she won't like you?" Chief Onapuruagu reached for a packet of vanilla shortcake, Coco opened her mouth as he stretched his hand to feed her."You know I'm not the typical daughter in-law material that every woman dreams to have." Even though the words came out from her own mouth, Coco laughed at her nervousness."It doesn't even matter if she likes you or not." Chief Onapuruagu said, straightening up. "I married you for myself, not for my mother or
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.The next day, the entire city of Dirty South was in chaos. The army, police and FBI were out on patrol. Detective Flynn and Detective Lauren, were both at the general hospital, guarding the IC unit, were Sir Edwin was rushed to, currently receiving treatment.Sir Edwin suffered a heart attack and mild stroke the early hours of that morning, after the news reached him in his office: the headquarters of the FBI office and his family house in SouthSide were burnt to ashes last night, by unknown men. The morning newspapers reported the story of the fire. In the FBI headquarters, the remains of an unidentified man were found in the ruins. Coco Kaave was suspected. "Come inside Detectives." Doctor Brown said, opening the large IC doctor, looked at both detectives keenly. "Edwin wants to have a word with you." He held the door open for the two detectives. They walked into the IC, and for one fleeting moment, fear gripped both. Sir Edwin was laying on the bed in a v
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. They were deep grooves at the sides of Pearl's mouth that she had never had before. Her temples pounded from the sight of the porch."This is where it happened. Six years ago Coco murdered my mom on this porch.." Pearl stopped, one corner of her mouth lifting in expression of disgust."How did it happen?" Delma looked around studying the environment. "What did she use?" "A gun. Her short black gun." Pearl said tightly. "It was past mid night, I, Carey, Brandy and Coco had just come back from a party we weren't supposed to attend. We stood here planning and arguing on the best lie to tell our parents.." Pearl fought back the tears that threatened to flow."Go on. Tell me everything!" Delma said impatiently. "I don't have the luxury of time.""You think it's easy for me?!" Pearl snapped back, feeling her body stiffen with deadly cold. "Don't you have a heart?" "Quit being such a cry baby, I'm an orphan. I lost my parents when I was still in high school." Delma
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.Pearl, Brandy, and Carey sat in their living room, each busy with their phones. No one said a word to each other. Looking at her wristwatch, Brandy said, "Why exactly was i invited? It's over an hour and no one's saying anything."Pearl blew her chewing loudly, with obvious intentions to spite Brandy. She sighed, readjusting her sitting position, pretending to be having fun with her phone."I told you Rose set up this meeting. She should be here any moment." Carey said, trying to peep through the window. "I wonder what she wants." "She better not want anything. Didn't she go ahead to marry dad, without our consent, without inviting us? Why is she trying to get approval now?" Brandy replied. "I'm not even interested in melodrama at this point in my life." Pearl laughed again, humming. Brandy ignored. "Knock knock." Came Rose's voice from outside. "Anyone home?""Yes, come in." Carey screamed, making sure it was enough to be heard from outside. Rose stepped in
CHAPTER THIRTY."Damn!" Coco stepped into one of TRENDZ boutique with Brandy. "I used to think my late mom was the worse parent on Earth but boy! Your dad's not only wicked, he's evil." "How come we didn't notice?" Brandy looked at Coco, puzzled."Don't be guilt driven hunie, we spent our teenage life and early adulthood in boarding houses." Coco rubbed Brandy's shoulders, trying to make her feel better."I blame mom, for not speaking out, for staying in an abusive marriage and dying an avoidable death." Brandy said. "What stopped her from leaving, mom was financially independent, she was a beautiful woman..why didn't she divorce him, why did she let death cheat her?"Coco handed her debit card to Jeremy when he entered the boutique."I've gotten their sizes." Jeremy collected the debit card. "That's good." Coco smiled, pointing towards a certain line collection. "These are the latest from TRENDZ fashion, yeah?" Jeremy nodded. "Yes ma. They arrived early this morning." "Good. Sh
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. Chief Onapuruagu and Coco arrived Egypt in a cloud of expensive perfume and the very latest in TRENDZ fashion. Their journey was a silent one this time, Chief Onapuruagu spent hours on the jet thinking things through. Coco on the other hand observed Chief Onapuruagu's uneasy behavior while they were on the jet. "Dad!" Coco ran to hug Chief Kaave dearly when they finally got into the living room. "Daddy I missed you so much." "My baby.." Chief Kaave tapped his cigarettes ash carelessly. "Dad.." Coco smiled in joy and surprise. She turned to give Chief Onapuruagu a questioning look. "Surprise!" Chief Onapuruagu and Doctor Mira screamed in unison, smiling."He left coma that night Doctor Mira called," Chief Onapuruagu explained. "I wanted to surprise you, you know, throw a small party to celebrate life and good health.."Coco interrupted Chief Onapuruagu with a tight hug. "Thank you so much, I love you." "You spoilt my surprise anyway, but it's fine." Chief Ona