Atonement

9.Shadows of regrets

UNEDITED

It was a rainy morning,beautiful beads of rain falling from the dark sky. The rays of sunlight are no where to been.
Sultana woke up,lazily checking the bedside drawer for her phone. Unaccustomed to the environment,she jerked a bit looking around. She noticed her mother laying down beside her, sleeping heavily. She could remember,she came to her mother's room after subhi to ask for something and eventually slept there.
She slightly touched the power button on her phone to check the time and it showed 11:35am. She scrolled a bit and came across Qalb's message and it read
"You're beautiful Nora,the sky is dark today,shine your light and brighten the day because for me,you're everything I've ever wanted and will ever want. Fee Amanillah."
She smiled and decided to go back to her room. Tiptoeing out of her mother's room was definitely not a easy job because from what she noticed,her mother is a light sleeper.
After almost ten silent steps,she reached the door and gently opened it.
She reached her room,grabbing the essentials for her bath before heading to the bathroom. She made a decision to go to the house of the man that helped her escape the other because she promised and she's feeling guilty that she didn't all this long.
She took a quick shower and ran over her perfumes and a black gown over her body before checking the more the man gave her. Hesitant at first,she dialed the number below the address and a woman picked.
Their conversation was short and brief with Sultana telling her she from an NGO and she will like to come to there house and provide some essentials.
The woman was not in support at first but she still convinced her.
She grabbed her car keys and texted her mother that's she's stepping out.
On her way out,a voice called out for her,it was her father,he's wearing a black apron with flour all over it.
"Hey." In her head she thought she sounded nice only that she didn't.

She watched,a bit irritated as he wiped his wet hands on the already dusted apron.

"I was thinking we can have a family breakfast...I've excused the maids...I want to make up for your mum,I realized I can't be anything without her in my life and I was so scared of her dying these past few months."

Awkward as ever,she cleared her throat,moving her two feet uncomfortably.
This is the worst conversation she's had in a while.
Without a further sign,he kept quiet. Realizing it's not that he's back having a normal father-daughter relationship with her.

"I am sorry I was going overboard. I'll head back to the kitchen. Take care of yourself."

He said and turned. She did the same too,only that she is walking towards her car.
Her father's attitude these past days amaze her,and Sultan too,heck even their mother. They watch carefully every time he tries making a conversation with them,him buying flowers for their mother and so on. Today's new character amongst the rest was the funniest. Smiling to herself,she brought the engine to life and drove out.

*********************************
11:45pm NDLEA head office,Abuja.

Qalb-Saleem was seating behind the large office  desk and the computer hovering over his feature. His glasses seating perfectly on the bridge of his nose while he analyze some folders.
His secretary barged into the office with her phone on her hands,breathing with too much effort.
"Lilian, what's wrong?"
He said pushing himself back on the chair with his hands folded. One thing about Qalb,He knows how to maintain his calm in every situation.
"A number just called me sir,we have black cat to ourselves. The number sent an address,I've no idea who the person is but they said she will be there."

He hurriedly stood up and collect the phone. Quite alright there was an address but what he is not sure of is the caller's intentions.
He tracked the number first then called. A man picked up after the third ring.

"This is Qalb Saleem speaking. Why do you want me in the location."

With a hysterical laugh.
"Because I have what you want. Black cat. Abi you no wan make I help una catch am?"