Kamara walked out of his car, after a long hectic day at work. The front door creaked as it opened, revealing the soft, warm glow of the evening lights inside. His tired eyes brightened as he caught the scent of something delicious wafting through the air. He stepped inside, took off his shoes, and loosened his tie.
In the kitchen, his eyes laid on Kenita standing at the stove, her back slightly turned as she stirred a pot. She was dressed casually, in a comfortable sweater and jeans, with her hair tied up in a loose bun. The soft sizzle of her cooking swayed the atmosphere of the whole mansion
His heart leveled its pace at the sight of his daughter's beautiful smile. Her giggles filled the room as she lent a hand to her mother in the kitchen. It have been a long since he last saw such glow in his daughter.
"Dad" Lisa turned to him with a warm smile, her eyes lit up as they met his. "Welcome home," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and love.
"Come join us" she invited and he reluctantly moved his body over, he didn't want to hurt his daughter by refusing at the same time he was curious to know what his wife was cooking.
His eyes scanned through the kitchen which held a strong aroma of spicy source. On the counter was a plate of light brown plantain that looked just fresh and enticing. Time seemed to have frozen as grace his eyes at her face, her lashes fluttered to the wind gently pushing her hair to the front, her hands gently pressed against the mixed flour just, which was in process to a dough.
His mind was lost in times of peace, those times when he would get home and be welcomed in an atmosphere of laughter and love, he wondered where all those times went, how they ended up like that, and where they began. Yet beneath he knew the answers to his questions, he just wasn't bold enough to face the truth or reality.
"Isn't mom beautiful" his daughter's words caught the admiration of his wife, in a quick grunt he led his feet out of the kitchen. He would be foolish to drown himself in the past or hope for a better future with her, she was a thorn set at his throat, an enemy that wished to ruin everything he worked hard for.
The most important matter at hand was finding a solution to the issues spreading out, he had only a week to gain back his image and ease the worried mind of the board, or he would be kicked out of his own company.
Just as his body was taking a short break on the bed, a knock came at the door causing his body to gloomily rise. At the door was his daughter who refused to take no at her request to have her father join them for dinner. The little child was worried her father was forsaking his health.
Down, Kenita looked at Lisa leading her father to the dinner by the hand. She could tell her whining must have compelled him to come, honestly, she was not sure if she was thrilled to have him down. He was still the murderer of her sister but again he was her niece's father and she couldn't bear to hurt the child.
In short, they were both people at odds acting cool so as not to hurt the child's feelings.
"Wow Mom, it's beautiful" Kenita's lips loosed at her compliment, delighted, she gently ruffled Lisa's smooth hair as she proceeded to serve her.
"Dad you should try one" She offered a loaf of the pie she had bit on and he accepted.
"Thanks, princess, " he said taking a quick bite at it, it tasted like it was made by a professional, and the sound of his teeth entering the fried tough echoed in his mouth. As he dived in, there was a soft texture with seasoned fish, probably steamed before being placed inside the dough.
"It's good right?" Lisa curiously stared at her father for a response, her every attempt was to bridge the adults together and settle off the hard air between them.
"Hmm," he nodded in accord, as much as she had hated to say no he couldn't deny the well-flavored fish nor the different spices that blended in do well.
It food was one-of-a-kind just like, his eyes snapped at Kenita at the recollection of the food being a local dish back and wasn't that known.
"How do you know how to prepare it?" he asked
"Easy, my father taught me. Fish pie was our family's traditional meal" she proudly stated recalling a flash of her directing her how to roll the dough in the correct order. A gentle smile fell on her lips as she recalled the mess she made on the floor as her fingers let loose the flour in the bowl.
"But you said you have no family, you never met your parents because they died" Kamara corrected stabbing his suspicion at her. She had her mother died at birth her father died the next day and she was raised by strangers in the orphanage.
"Was that what I told you?" her voice raveled in confusion. Why did her sister lie about her family? they weren't from such a low background nor was she orphaned as claimed, so what was her aim? Her thought queried.
" if you don't recall your words, then tell me are you truly my wife?" her eyes flinched at his question as she sent a gulp down. Puzzled she searched for what to say.
"It must be because of her amnesia. Dad have you forgotten that Mom suffers from memory loss, she could have forgotten what she said" Lisa stepped in saving her aunt. "Why are we even talking, shouldn't be eating" hummed as she filled her mouth with the fried crispy pie.
Silence sheltered them as they filled their stomachs. Quick as he made it, Kamara was up in his room. His hand right on his phone as he dialed a number be known to him alone.
"I have a job for you," he said the moment the call was connected at the other end, " I want you to investigate my wife's background, I want everything on her" he stated with clear instructions. He would be a damn fool to unseen the difference between his old wife and the new one, he intended to know what he was up against.
***
At another end, the police got intel about Abdul's location, and wasting no time Samuel booked his team to chase him. The source confirmed Abdul's plan to flee the country by road.
At the max of the car, Samuel stepped on it in chase of the truck suspected to be sneaking Abdul out of the country.
Out on the plain road guarded by nature, Abdul's heart drummed in his chest as he noticed the police cars behind them, frantically he urged the driver to push on his speed.
"Speed up" he shouted
"What, no" the driver protested fearing an accident at the slup road.
"Then get out" he scolded fighting for a steer on the truck, with a short struggle the driver resigned himself off the steer and gave way to him. His legs on the panel, the engine roared to life with a sense of urgency. His hands were slicked with sweat as he grasped the steering wheel tightly.
Just as he slammed his foot down on the accelerator in an attempt to rush his way out, several police officers closed in, blocking the vehicle's path. Abdul's eyes darted around in panic, realizing his escape route was cut off. He tried to reverse, but another police car pulled up behind him, sealing his fate.
Samuel stepped out of his car along with other armed officers and approached the car with weapons drawn, "Turn off the engine" his voice firm and commanding. "Step out" he instructed to Abdul's hesitated body, his mind raced through options, but he knew there was no way out.
Slowly, he raised his trembling hands, turned off the engine with a resigned sigh, and stepped down the truck with hands leveled in the air.
Samuel pulled and pushed his body against the truck as he chained the cold metal on his wrist. This time he wasn't handing him the opportunity to escape so his grip was firmed on Anduls arms.
Abdul's eyes stared back at the truck as he was guided toward the backseat of the police van, knowing that his attempt to flee had failed. The door slammed shut behind him, and he slumped in the seat, the reality of his situation setting in.