BANE

CHAPTER SIX (2)

"You are suspecting me of kidnapping my own daughter ?" His voice was filled with rage. Are the police so clueless ,so incompetent that they stooped to baseless accusations?

"Everyone is a suspect in such cases sir." The officer trembled a little . He knew that this was a bad idea ,but his superior will hear none of it . Try to be subtle ,he said ,the man wouldn't even know where we are headed.

"I told you everything I know. I asked you to find my daughter not to accuse me of kidnapping her."

"Yes sir,I am sorry sir . I would contact you if anything happens .If at all your daughter was kidnapped ,it will probably be on the basis of personal vendetta since you have not been contacted by the culprits. Now,the question is who do you think have a strong reason to do that?"

"Me of course ,did you check my basement or the cupboard under the stairs ?" (A/N see what I did there ). As if if he had any idea he would let them handle it .

"I will just contact you when we find something .' Mr Othman scoffed ,the police were a lot worse than he suspected .

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" Zaid ,I am taking the car ." Banan shouted from the other end of the house ,before she remembered that it was a Saturday and their mother was resting in her room.

"What do you mean by you are taking the car ?" He shouted back. She didn't reply till she came into the sitting room.

"Are you deaf or just plain stupid ?" She gave him a blank stare . She knew the answer like she knew the drawings of her palm.

"Sorry ,what's that? I can't hear you I've the sound of me ignoring you ." he plugged in his earpiece without sparing her a second glance .

"Where is the key?" He kept ignoring her and started to hum to the song he was listening to. She waited a few seconds before she spanked him behind his head .

"What did you do that for ?" He rubbed his head. Sometimes ,Banan's violence scare him.

"Blimey! I guess I didn't see you there .For the last time where is the key?"

"You are such a war monger . How I am supposed to know where the key is ? Last time I checked ,you went out with the car." It was then she remembered that it was on her dressing table . She didn't want to apologize ,so she simply went on about how he made her waste her saliva and what not.

"It wouldn't have been necessary if you had a brain." He replied sarcastically. "What's with you and this new attitude anyway ?"

"What attitude?"

"Never mind." He replied ,before plugging back his earpiece.

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This time she walked up to the door by herself ,the guy that walked her in the first time she visited ,opened the door for her. As he turned his back to her,she saw something shaped suspiciously like a gun in his pack pocket . She swallowed hard before patting her purse where her small pocket knife is .

"So,what was so important that you called me without notice?" She said to Fadil who was sitting in a chair on the verandah this time .

"How is your brother ?" He flashed her his signature smile.

She hesitated. Did he pull her out of the comfort of her bed to inquire about her brother ? She know there is something deeper going on. "He is well."

"What baffles me is why you agreed to this." His eyes studied her ,it made her feel uncomfortable, naked even. She felt as if he was reading her deepest secrets .

"Fadil,as you said ,I need to start taking control of my life . I am tired of being in Zaid's and Sabiha's shadow ." She needed a way to prove her worth to the world and he was the only one that could help her with that .

"That's it?" He inquired.

She rolled her eyes ."You said you wanted to talk. I am here,what is it?"

"Oh!" He waved his hand nonchalantly. "It is about your brother and his silly investigations . Her heart skipped a beat .

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She didn't know whether she felt mad or hurt as she drove home . Zaid was simply unbelievable .' Did you think you are the only one with secrets ?' The voice in her head taunted.

" I didn't expect you to be back early . I am expecting you next year ." he teased when he saw her. He was in the garden digging up some plant . He loved gardening .

"Forgive me ,did I ruin plans for you?" She felt as if she was going to explode .

"What are you talking about? " he had the nerve to look genuinely confused .

"You should have at least said something ."

"I don't know what you are talking about." He stood up dropping the small spade and slipping out of his rubber gloves.

"We promised to do this together . Why did you go ahead without me?"

Realisation dawned in his eyes ." oh! I am sorry..."

"You shouldn't have asked me if you didn't need my help." She interrupted rudely .

"It's not a big deal Banan. I simply inquired from people living around the area. Its nothing special ." he explained. He got bored and knew they were wasting time .

"What did you find ?" She demanded . She needed answers .

"Nothing ." he said sadly. " But there is one house that was empty . The neighbours told me the owners have travelled. Maybe its our only hope."

"Good luck Zaid ,as you hope for miracles ." she took small steps to the house .

"Hey! He called at her ." so,we are cool? "

"Yeah,we are cool." She replied with a word smile ; but her countenance changed immediately she turned her back to him . The storm is coming Zaid ,and you won't be the last  man standing this time around.