CAPTIVE

CHAPTER 6

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I decide to start chapter dedications. For the first people to vote and comment. So this chapter is dedicated to three people @zzahra_ for being the first to comment on some chapters before. @zainababdullailawal and @garuse for also being the first to comment before. The next chapter will be dedicated to the first person to vote and comment.

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Bilal's POV (haniyya's dad)

I look at my reflection in the mirror. My skin looks pale. Too pale. Even my eyes don't pop like they used to. I know I'm not the man I used to be, but what can I do? I have to put up this front for the safety of my family. Everything is all messed up. All thanks to my greed. It hurts me to see my family go through much pain. But it's better for them to go through this much pain than for themto suffer a painful death. I shudder as I remember what caused all this. I remember it just like it was yesterday, I was at work, and it was a Thursday. I remember because it was a week to Maryam's birthday. I planned a surprise dinner for her, just like I always did. It was even no longer a surprise because she always looked forward to the amazing night we always had.

I just hung up the phone with the baker.I called to make sure the cake would be ready and delivered to her office. I was so excited. Then I decided to check my emails. I opened one and I felt all the colour drain from my face. Beads of sweat came running down my face. My hands were shaking. All because of one email.

 Dear Bilal,

Assalamualaykum

It's nice to see you're gettingeverything ready for Maryam's birthday. I never thought you were the romantictype. Good to know.

It will be a shame if one of you doesnot live to see that day or worse, it will be a shame if dear Maryam will haveto spend her birthday all alone because her husband was too greedy and ends upin jail. You know I have proof of your little "operations" 24 years ago. I'msure EFCC will be delighted to handle your case.

I imagine the headlines already

"State Attorney Being withheld forembezzlement of 5 million dollars"

Oh and don't forget what happened on the5th of October. I have evidence for that too. Mrs Ibrahim is stillmourning the death of her husband. Is funny to know you went through all thattrouble just because he said he would snitch. That case will make an even more interestingheadline.

"State Attorney sent to jail for murder"

You know what I want Bilal, give it tome or ... This is not a threat but you know what I'm capable of.

                                                                                           Malam Audu Balarabe

Istill remember the exact words in that email. I can't believe I'm putting Hannithrough all these just because I didn't want to face the music. If I could goback in time I wouldn't have agreed to all these. Yes I would have probablybeen in jail but she would have been in school fulfilling her dreams.

Iheave a sigh and pour water on my face. Audu is a very corny person. How couldhe black mail me like that? Everything was his plan anyway. I was young andstupid. I am a lawyer for chrissake. I should have seen what he was doing. Butall I was interested in was the money.

"Bilal you can't watch Ibrahim get awaywith this. Do you know what can happen to your career? This will be the end.What do you think your wife would say? You just had your first child. You haveyour whole life ahead of you. Do you want to spend it behind bars?"

"No"

 "Then you have to get rid of him" he passed methe gun. He used a handkerchief to pass it on. I was paranoid and stressed out.I didn't think of leaving fingerprints. So I just grabbed it with bare handsand shoved it into my pocket.

Ican remember him having a proud smile.

Hemade the plans. All I did was show up. He tricked Ibrahim to follow him. Idon't even know what lie he told him.

I stood behind the large stone, shaking andterrified. Audu wants me to kill Ibrahim. I cannot do that. Then I heard theircar park. I waited until Audu gave me the agreed upon preamble. I came out frombehind the stone. I pointed the gun at Ibrahim. I tried to pull the trigger butI just couldn't. How was I meant to kill my friend?

"Audu I can't" I lowered the gun.

"What do you mean you can't? We don'thave time for this. Just pull the trigger" Audu said very impatiently.

"I can't. It's not right"

It all happened in a flash. Audu stompedtowards me. Grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket, snatched the gun and shotIbrahim.

"Are you crazy?! How could you killhim?"

He laughed very hard. "I didn't killhim. You did"

I gave a confuse look.

"Don't be stupid. You're a lawyer. Howdo you convict someone for murder using a gun? What's the first thing you lookfor on the gun?"

"Fingerprints" I whispered.

"Yes. Have you realized I never touchedthis gun with my bare hands? But you, my friend did."

I just stared at him. I couldn't believeI was that stupid.

"Well, I'm going to keep this gun forevidence later on, in case you would want to play games with me in the future."He pocketed the gun and shoved a pair of gloves to me.

"Now let's get rid of this body"

Thatwas it. He always blackmailed me after that. Anytime he needed me to dosomething he always brought it up. Heck, even the embezzlement was 95% hiswork. I was just stupid enough to sign the documents. I didn't even spend adime out of the money. But who would believe that story in the court of law?

Auduleft Nigeria after that. We didn't talk for 24 years. I was happy and buildingmy family until we bumped into each other at the bank. I noticed he wasn't thesame as before. Audu talked about religion all through coffee that morning. Hedidn't talk about religion the normal way to adults will talk about it casually.He talked about it like an extremist.

Ithought my imagination was just going haywire. But now standing in the toilet,looking at myself in the mirror, I know I was right. Audu is a manipulator,blackmailer and fraud, but he is way better than Malam Audu.

MalamAudu is an extremist. Who is not afraid to harm anyone to get what he wanted.

Isplashed water on my face again. Trying to not think about what I just did. Isent my daughter out of the house. She is probably some where all alone. Scaredout of her mind. I should have listened to her. I'm her father. I'm alwaysmeant to be there for her. I've messed up big time. But there is nothing I cando at the moment.

Rightnow I have to protect my dignity.

I wipemy face and leave the toilet. Planning my daughters fake death.