SHADOW OF THE PAST

27 Wanted

---

Lucia sat in the living room crying bitterly. She just received the news of her husband committing suicide. She held the suicide note her husband had written in her hand.

The suicide note reads…

‘To my darling wife Lucia,  
   My beautiful damsel. I am so sorry about this decision am going to take. By the time you receive this note, I would have been gone. I can't bring myself to justice because I am too ashamed to face the law, and I also thought of our children, I don't want to bring shame and mockery to them among their peers. So, the best option is to take this step.

  Please, take good care of yourself and my children. And always remember that I love you with all my heart.

  Till we meet again,

                             Your Darling Husband.’

After reading it, Lucia threw herself on the floor wailing bitterly, squeezing the note in grief.

Felicia and Olaolu were just perplexed concerning the whole situation. They were shocked that Olanrewaju truly committed such a crime against his step-brother. Felicia suddenly developed a hatred for Lucia.

“Who could have thought Olanrewaju was this evil? He has already brought shame to this family all because of greed. I just pray this incident won't affect the company's shares.” Felicia lamented bitterly, and Lucia stood up from the floor shamelessly. She couldn't withstand the shame and embarrassment her husband has caused her, so she left for her room.

••• ••• ••• ••• 
It's twenty-four hours already, and Tomisin is yet to be found by Banji and Udoh. They rushed down to the Police Station to file a missing complaint.

They were still at the counter filling the missing complaint form when Diana walked into the station with Tobiloba.

They had both come to the Station to meet Uchenna concerning the recent update about the criminal.

Diana recognized Banji with just a glance. “Banji Anifowoshe!” she said walking up to where Banji stood filling the form. The two friends were shocked to see Diana in another dimension. “Banji, why do you look so shocked? Don't you recall who I am anymore? It's me Diana Etim from the New Era Gospel Church, Oworonshoki, Lagos State.” she introduced herself so he could remember her completely. “Pastor Etim's daughter,” she added expecting Banji to recall who she was with all the description she had given about herself, but Banji only stood looking dazed with his mouth opened wide in astonishment.

••• ••• ••• •••

Lucia weakly stepped into the room she shared with Olanrewaju looking dejected. Since the news about her husband had reached her, she had refused to eat or taste a drop of water.

Tears streamed down her eyes again when she saw the leather shoe which belonged to her husband, that was brought by the Officers.

She recalled how her husband had been contemplating choosing between the leather shoe and sneakers to match up to his outfit before they both head out for the traveling agent's office. She had purposely chosen the leather shoe for him to wear.

Her mobile phone's ringtone jolted her back to reality. She reluctantly went to the dressing mirror where she left it earlier before the news was received,  and checked who the caller was. To her greatest shock, her mobile phone screen displayed ‘Hubby 2’ as the caller.

At first, she was shocked to pick up the call. But when she recalled that it was only her husband's two mobile phones out of the three he owned that were brought by the police, she hastily picked it up before it stopped ringing…