The police officer handled Shola roughly, pushing her toward the reception desk as soon as they arrived at the police station.
On their way to the station, the officer repeatedly warned Shola that she would be jailed, intentionally trying to intimidate her because he sought to extort money from her parents in the form of surety bail.
"We've got one criminal here," the policeman announced as they reached the station reception.
"What has she done?" the clerk behind the desk asked, looking at the officer who brought Shola in.
"She triggered a false alarm," the policeman replied. "Her actions caused the unnecessary evacuation of the hospital, disrupted medical services, damaged properties such as windows and doors, activated fire fighting equipment without cause, wasted emergency resources, delayed treatment for genuine medical emergencies, and created unnecessary anxiety and panic among patients, staff, and visitors."
"What! But I only turned on the fire alarm!" Shola exclaimed. "What are all these accusations and charges you're writing down?"
"Will you shut your mouth?" the police officer yelled at her. "Didn't you know that your actions would lead to all these consequences, including the unnecessary arrival of firefighters? You're going to rot in jail."
"It's not what it looks like!" Shola said, beginning to cry. "I didn't do anything."
"You didn't do anything, but your actions led to all of this," the clerk replied mockingly. "Come on, tell me your name. You're in for some serious consequences."
"My name is Shola," she said, still crying.
"Shola what?" the clerk asked angrily. "Don't you have a surname?"
"Shola Anderson," she replied sadly.
"Parents' contact information and address?" the clerk asked further.
Shola hesitated for a moment and then provided her parents' contact details, imagining how they would react to the news of her being at a police station again.
"A young, beautiful lady like you disrupting the peace of the community," the clerk said as she wrote down Shola's name. "You've got some serious explanations to make, but now is not the time."
"We will notify your guardians soon," the clerk added while documenting the rest of the details.
One officer stepped forward and led Shola through a narrow corridor. Without a word, he threw her into a cell and returned to the counter to join the other police officers.
"You know how these things are done," the policeman who brought Shola in said, turning to look at the clerk. "This surety bail doesn't have to follow the normal procedures. We will release her once the guardians pay something that meets our expectations. And don't forget our share."
"That won't be an issue," the clerk replied. "I will contact Shola's parents right away and get back to you and the other officers."
--------------------------------
(SHOLA'S PRISON).
Shola sat down helplessly on the cold floor of her cell, and tears streamed down her cheeks as she recalled how her life had spiraled out of control since the pregnancy.
She thought of Helen and Amina's ghost, who had devised the plan with her, and she felt betrayed because she was now facing the consequences alone.
Many thoughts continued racing through her mind when, suddenly, Helen's ghost appeared beside her in the cell.
"Helen," Shola said immediately upon seeing her. "Why did you abandon me? I couldn't find you anywhere at the hospital."
"I didn't abandon you," Helen's ghost replied sadly. "I've been working on a way to get you out."
"Please help me," Shola cried. "This prison is worse than being in the hospital. The officers are saying I'll go to jail."
"I won't let that happen," Helen said firmly. "Money is what the police want, and I'll get it from anywhere. I promise you that."
With that, Helen stretched out a small container filled with liquid and dropped it into Shola's palm. "My holding time is almost up, and the container is getting heavier," she said.
"What's this?" Shola asked, turning the container around and staring at it curiously.
"It's the serum from Dr. Collins' office," Helen's ghost replied. "I'm not sure how it will work, but keep it with you. When the police arrive to question your involvement, you can explain about the serum and let them know it's the reason you triggered the alarm. I'm sure the police will listen to you and take it from there in exposing Dr. Collins."
Shola carefully placed the serum in the corner of her cell, then moved closer to Helen's ghost and began pleading to her.
"My family," Shola said bitterly. "They don't know I'm here. They think I'm still in the hospital, fighting for my life. You have to tell them I'm in prison. They need to come support me."
"You've got me right here for support, Shola," Helen's ghost said. "What do you need your family for? You're asking me for something I cannot do."
"What do you mean you can't do it? Didn't I help you and Aminat when you were in need?" Shola yelled at Helen in desperation. "My mom will be worried sick if you don't tell her where I am. I know I've let them down enough, but they wouldn't abandon me like this in prison."
"You need to calm down, Shola," Helen's ghost said. "You are only going to make yourself sick if you don't relax."
"I can't calm down," Shola cried. "Why can't you just talk to my mom? Why can't you help?"
"Because I'm a ghost," Helen replied firmly. "I can't interact with your parents because they can't see me like you do."
At that moment, Shola, who had almost forgotten, realized she was speaking to a ghost and asking for something impossible. Overwhelmed by the futility of her situation, she fell to her knees and tears began streaming down her face.
Just as she was crying, a police officer arrived outside her cell and asked, "Why are you crying, and who are you talking to?"
The policeman then stared at the prison wall, realizing no one was in there with Shola, and he began speaking without further fuss.
"Come out and provide the correct details of your parents number again, Shola." the police officer added. "The Mrs. Anderson we called just now claims she doesn't know you."
Shola froze, and more tears flowed down her cheeks. She was certain she had given the correct number of her mother, and they must have disowned her completely. Now feeling helpless about the whole situation, she slid back to the floor and began to cry.
"I... I haven't abandoned you, Shola," Helen's ghost said sadly, trying to comfort her. "I'll do everything I can to get you out before 8 p.m. tonight," she said before disappearing from the prison.
—-----------------------------------------------------
(4:15pm - OGUNAYA STREET)
Kamoru gripped his phone tightly, staring at the address Serah had sent him via text message for directions.
"This is No. 53, Ogunaya Street," Kamoru muttered to himself. "No. 57 should be ahead. I think I'm getting closer," he added, looking around cautiously.
As he continued searching forward, the house number he was looking for came into view, boldly affixed to the wall. Kamoru stepped closer and was about to knock on the gate when his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at the screen, and it was a call from a number saved as "Customer - Cement."
Kamoru answered the call, placing the phone to his ear, and the voice on the other end exploded before he could even say hello.
"Kamoru! Kamoru! Where is my cement and blocks?" the man shouted angrily. "I gave you fifty thousand naira weeks ago! Not even one bag of cement has been delivered. Are you playing with me?"
"Calm down, Oga," Kamoru said, leaning back against the gate of Serah's house. "I haven't forgotten about your cement, and everything will be sorted out soon."
"You've been saying that all the time!" the man yelled. "I need that cement, and I need it now! Or are you waiting for me to show up at your house with the police?"
"I'll deliver your blocks and cement soon," Kamoru said. "Just give me a little time, and everything will be resolved."
The customer grumbled something unintelligible before abruptly ending the call. This made Kamoru stare at his phone for a moment in confusion before sliding it back into his pocket.
He (Kamoru) felt no regrets about how he had spent the customer's money. That fifty thousand naira was the money he used to help Serah, saving her from the humiliation she faced at the roadside restaurant a few weeks ago. Kamoru had even stopped eating at the restaurant since Serah stopped working there.
Pushing aside the thoughts of the angry customer over the phone, Kamoru refocused on the reason he had come to Serah's street. He knocked gently on the gate and held his breath when he heard footsteps approaching.
"Kamoru?!" Serah exclaimed as she opened the gate. "What—oh! I hope it wasn't too hard to find this place?"
"It wasn't easy," Kamoru replied with a small smile. "But I followed your directions very carefully. I'm just glad I got it right."
Serah stepped closer, taking a good look at him. It was the first time she had seen Kamoru without his dusty construction clothes, and he looked remarkably clean and presentable.
"Oh, my bad," Serah said, realizing she had kept him waiting at the gate too long. "Please, come in, Kamoru." She stepped aside, allowing him to enter. Kamoru nodded before entering the compound, shutting the gate behind him firmly.
Inside, Serah gestured toward the seating area, inviting Kamoru to take a seat.
He nodded and lowered himself onto the sofa, while Serah sat on an adjacent chair, staring at him.
For a moment, they sat in silence, and Kamoru seemed nervous. But, after a while, he reached for the small polythene bag he had brought along and extended it toward Serah.
"I... I hope you don't mind," Kamoru said, clearing his throat. "I got you some food on my way here."
"Oh, really?" Serah said, taking the bag from him with a surprised smile. "Thank you very much, Kamoru. That's incredibly thoughtful of you." She placed the bag gently on the table and turned back to him. "And thank you again for the other day, for saving me from that humiliation at my madam's restaurant. I really don't know what would have happened if you hadn't intervened. The situation could have escalated and gotten so much worse."
"Ah, no, no. It's nothing," Kamoru said quickly, waving off her gratitude. "I just did what I could. Nobody deserves that kind of embarrassment."
"Still, it means a lot to me," Serah said. "You didn't have to, but you did."
Kamoru appreciated her gratitude but didn't dwell on it much. "That reminds me, Serah" he said, leaning forward slightly. "Something came up recently, and I thought it might be useful to you."
"What is it?" Serah asked, sitting upright in her chair.
"A client of mine came by," Kamoru began. "She wanted some blocks made for her. While she was at the site, I overheard her making a call and She sounded frustrated, so I asked if anything was wrong."
Serah nodded, encouraging him to continue.
"She told me she's a very busy woman," Kamoru explained. "And she needs someone to help take care of her kids while she's at work. More like a house help, you know. The person she was expecting had disappointed her, so I mentioned I knew someone."
"You told her about me?" Serah asked, surprised.
"Yes," Kamoru replied. "Since you don't have a job right now, I thought maybe this could work for you."
"I mean... I don't really have much of a choice," Serah admitted. "My brother (Isreal) is still in school, and we have to eat. How else will we survive if I don't find something to do?"
"That's what I was thinking too," Kamoru said. "It's better than working for that restaurant owner who pays only two thousand naira a day."
Serah chuckled softly and shook her head. "That's true. As long as the pay for this this new job is better, I'm in."
"Great," Kamoru replied. "When I leave, we can go see the woman together. That way, you can discuss everything with her and sort out any details. She'll explain what she needs, and you'll know what to expect."
"Thank you, Kamoru," Serah said sincerely. "You're always looking out for me."
To be continued…..
@Berry Tyra