Jamaica

Chapter 38

Duke kept wondering what Alex's interest in Jamaica was. He for one had no intention to talk about her, and tried to change the topic of the conversation. But after his brother-in-law and then Gbenga mentioned her as being wanted by the state government, he thought that perhaps Alex too, might also have something to tell him.

"She's doing quite well, Alex. But I prefer we change the topic of discussion." Alex nodded his head, wondering why Duke wanted to avoid talking about Jamaica. Do you even know what she's doing behind your back? He thought.

" Okay..." Immediately he was interrupted by Duke who got up thereby startling him.

"Duke, are you leaving?" Duke stared at him angrily.
"Yes, if we cannot talk about anything else." Alex laughed, and shook his head.
"Duke there's so much to talk about and..."
"Then get straight to the point." Duke sat down again. Alex shook his head alarmed by Duke's behavior.

"Okay fine." Alex cleared his throat and continued, "like I said before, I had an interesting conversation with the journalist."
"And what was the conversation about?" Duke said, as he still looked annoyingly at Alex.

" Well she said that shortly before she went live with the news, someone would call her up to confirm some rumors."

"And what were the rumors about?"
"The assassination of the three men and their connections to Sambo Constructions." Duke questioned the reason why anyone would call to confirm such rumors. He knew that the caller couldn't have been a stranger, but someone who knew the journalist quite well.

"From all indications the caller might have  been a personal acquaintance." He told Alex.
"What?"
"I mean, she and the caller, they might be close friends, relatives or some love interest..." He looked at Alex and wondered what was really going on between him and the journalist. "Alex, the journalist, is she married or seeing someone?"

"I don't think I can answer that question, right now." Duke laughed.
"And why not?"
"Because it's not relevant to the topic of our discussion."
"No offense but I'm only trying to make a connection, here."

"Duke, do you really want to make a connection?" Alex swiped his phone and brought up Jamaica's photo. Duke was deeply worried by that question, but was surprised to see Alex  swipe through his phone. He knew that perhaps Alex wanted to show him something. It reminded him of the time Jamaica had swiped Sarah's phone and showed him the photo Sarah had taken of her.

Alex brought up Jamaica's photo and used his hand to enlarge the photo to full screen. He studied it briefly, and was about to show it to Duke, when Duke's phone rang.

"Hello?" Duke was quick to answer the call.

"Duke?" The voice at the other end of the line was faint but he recognized it.

"Gbenga? Are you okay?"
" It's a long story, Duke." Gbenga was breathing heavily and Duke realized that this could be an emergency.

"Where are you, now?"
" I'm...I'm in my office." Duke looked at his watch. It was past eight.
"Aha but it's late, now."
"Yes but please, can you come right away..." His voice trailed off leaving Duke worried.

"Alex something came up." He quickly stood up making Alex  also do the same.

" I hope he's alright?
"Who?"
"Were you not talking to someone, Gbenga by name?"
"Yes. From the way he talks, I don't think he's alright. I have to go and see him."

" Then I'm coming with you." Alex said. Duke didn't like the idea of Alex  following him. But this was an emergency and going to see Gbenga alone, he didn't know what to expect. Both men left and soon arrived at Gbenga's office.