Shadow of Doubt

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Abdallah was really enjoying my misfortune because I drove to his house the next morning with my duffel bag. I told Baba Labaran in the morning that I'll be going away for a few days and he got really mad at me, I had to lie to him about something coming up at the office. Hauwa had told me that she didn't want to see me or hear my voice, the least I could do was respect her and leave the house for her.

"But you know I told you all this right? I told you how much you loved Iram but you weren't ready to listen."

"The point is I hurt Hauwa, it was the last thing I wanted."

"Well, it was inevitable." He shrugged. "I told you the time I came for my final interview that you're in over your head when it comes to Baffah Sadiq and his family, look at us a few months later, you're recklessly in love with his daughter."

Abdallah knew my secrets hundred percent because we grew up together and I couldn't be more happier that he got a job here in Abuja too. I finally had someone I can rely on apart from Nuru my colleague. Abdallah got a generous workplace because they'd given him a two bedroom flat and a car to work with. The first thing he did after getting the job was calling me to move in to the house if I wanted, I had politely declined his offer but it seemed fate had something different in store for us.

"So what's your progress in the topic of uncovering Baffah Sadiq? How close are you to getting him caught?"

"I hate to say that there's no progress." I said as I rubbed my temples. "But apparently he fed his daughter the bullshit that his friend and mentor died a few days before she was born and when I tallied the dates, she was born two days after they were killed."

"That's terrible."

"I don't want Hafsah involved in all this. I don't want to hurt her, she is innocent and-" and just like that my phone started ringing with the caller ID announcing her name. I remembered calling her before I came to Abdallah's. It seemed she was just waking up.

I turned away from Abdallah and answered the call, we exchanged pleasantries and her voice was unbelievably quirky, setting me on edge with love and guilt.

"Are you coming in today?" She asked shyly a few moments into the call.

"Not really, unless you need me there." I said with the intention of teasing her and she fell for it.

She sounded disappointed "No, I just wanted to see you." That made me smile like an idiot and maybe she sensed it because I heard her chuckle. "But I guess we're taking it easy."

I didn't tell Hafsah about the latest development in my relationship with Hauwa because it was complicated and I still didn't have an idea on what to do with the burning love I have for Hafsah. Then the obstacles were there also, society and the rest. And most especially, my revenge on Baffah Sadiq.

"I'll come by in the evening Hafsah, the feeling is mutual." I said and she giggled. "What are you doing right now?"

"I'm just going to the kitchen to find breakfast." She said, "Have you eaten?" Her question reminded me that I hadn't even thought of food all morning because I was so stressed out that I still wasn't hungry. "That's a no then." She said when she heard my silence.

"Sorry, I left home early in the morning."

"Thought you weren't going to the office? It's a Saturday and daddy isn't around." She stated the obvious.

"I'm with Abdallah, my friend. He recently started working here and I came to visit him this morning."

"Well, tell Abdallah to be a good host and feed you." She joked in a flirting manner and I shook my head in amusement, how did I manage to uncover this side of her. "Or-" so there was a threat lurking somewhere. "I'll have to come and pick you up myself." She giggled at herself with the last words and I laughed with her.