Jamaica

Chapter 35

The dark-blue Mercedes SUV was slowly pacing along the road as if the driver of the car was looking for a parking space. The street was slowly coming to life with cars plying both sides of the road. But this wasn't the concern of the driver. Instead, he was trying to make an urgent phone call but had a hard time finding the number on his phone.

He tried to balance his concentration between keeping his eyes on the road, and searching for the number. But in doing so, he was causing a hold up which had already got some motorist nervously blowing their horns.

Duke was on his way to the Consultancy after leaving his house. It was going to be a busy day for him as the Port Harcourt job was fast approaching. He wanted to be sure that this mission was a successful one. On top of that, he had to update Gbenga on his surveillance of the governor's husband.

But the driver in front of  him, was moving too slowly for his liking. He horned at the driver and cussed him for slowing the traffic.

"My friend move faster now. I don't have all day to wait for you to wake up." He said, as he kept blasting his horn. Suddenly, the driver stopped the car abruptly making Duke almost hit him. Duke stopped his car causing angry drivers behind him to blast their horns repeatedly.

He came down and jostled angrily towards the car. As he approached the car, the driver's door opened and a man stepped out of the car.

"Oga driver, are you alright or should I call..." He stopped when he recognize the person. It was Alex

"Alexander, is that you?" He asked, surprised his friend was the person causing the hold up.
"Aha, the Duke himself. Am I dreaming or what?" Without wasting much time Alex got back into his car and parked by the side of the road. Duke  parked his car behind Alex's car and both men came down and shook hands.

"Alex, why are you causing so much go slow?"
"My apologies, but I had wanted to make an urgent call."

"And so you had to do it in the middle of the road, causing all this hold up?"

"Well, at least the go slow made us meet."

"Yes, of course." Both men shook hands again, while Duke observed his friend whom he had last seen some five years ago. "So how long has it been since we last saw each other, five years?"

"You are right, Duke. But so many things have happened that I cannot even begin to talk about."

"You have my number was it difficult to contact me?"

" I know, but I have also been quite busy too. And right now, I have a very important meeting to attend. Can we meet this evening and talk, if you are not busy?"

"And where do you want us to meet, the usual place?"
"Yes, the usual place at eight." Duke nodded his acceptance and said,

"Alright, I will make out time."

Both men shook hands and drove off each to their respective destinations. Duke arrived at the office and immediately got to work. He felt his meeting with Alex was timely and also necessary for him to understand what Alex was up to.

Jamaica came in and met him in his office going through some files and greeted him.

"Good morning uncle." He looked up at her as if he didn't recognize her. To him she seemed troubled.

"Hope you are alright?" He asked, as he looked at her.

"I'm fine, uncle. How is aunty?" Jamaica sighed.
"She's fine but complains you don't even come to see her."

"We are quite busy, but I will find time to go and see her."
"And when will that be? You've been saying for how long?"

Jamaica had on several occasions told herself that she would find the time to go and see her uncle's wife. But she felt a great reluctance to do so each time she remembered the events that led to her leaving the house. She had just finished her studies and bagged her degree.