Guilty Eye

Chapter 10

Chipo smirked. "What? You think Jerima would have thought to kill her on his own? I was assigned to oversee the operation. Jerima is..."

Portia interrupted, "Was. Before I killed him."

"What? No!" Chipo seemed genuinely shocked. "No, no...it can't be..."

"It can be. How do you think Ba Blessed got here, you idiot."

"Portia!" The old man raised his voice. "Don't talk like that to your mother!"

"Stepmother!" Portia retorted heatedly as she rose to her feet. Her beautiful face contorted into a mask of rage. "What the hell are we doing here, father? Your wife sent goons on numerous occasions to kill my husband. And here she sits with a smug look on her face. Tell me, dad. Why?"

"Apparently Pfumo Dzvuku believed you were a threat since you witnessed the murder. " Mr Percival sounded sad. "And since Chipo was in charge of the " operation" as she calls it, it was her job to ensure that no fallout ensued. "

"But the police already know that Chipo is involved, why isn't she in jail?" I was utterly confused.

Chipo swivelled to face me, her eyes filled with fear. Her husband's face lost all colour. He licked his lips while she opened and closed her mouth as if she found it difficult to breath.

Obviously they did not know I had told the police about her involvement. When Mr Cat dropped us off the previous night they were both out of the house. And Portia had not told her father that  she had found me by following her stepmother.

Percival was the first to recover somewhat.

"What do you mean they know?"

Portia told her how she rescued me and killed Jerima in the process before calling the police.

"But why haven't they arrested her? " Percival wondered out loud.

At that point Chipo excused herself.

"Where are you going?" Portia demanded to know.

"To the bathroom, if you don't mind."

With that, Chipo daintily walked away. Portia had a frown on her face when she turned to me. "Let's go home, Ba Blessed."

"Sure, love, right away."

"Don't you think you are still in danger?" Percival asked, his voice full of concern.

"From who?" I shrugged. "The authorities have one of the terrorists and I think by now they have all they need on Pfumo Dzvuku. I think we are safe."

Before anybody could respond, an ear piercing scream came from the grounds. A couple of shots followed, and the scream was abruptly cut off. My hair stood on its end as I recognised the voice. "Grace!"

Portia was already out the door when I got up. Percival was reaching for the phone.

Portia was chasing a car down the driveway, yelling at the top of her voice, "Stop the car! Stop it, Chipo!"

The red BMW roared as it picked up speed as it reached the opening gate. From where I stood I saw the blue uniformed guard sprawled near the guardroom. The small dark reddish pool near him glistened in the morning light.

Portia kept running even as the car disappeared through the gate. I limped after her as I sensed my father in-law coming out of the house.

Oh, not again! This is not happening. This can't be happening!

As I passed the guardroom I purposely avoided looking at the guard. I found Portia outside. She was on her knees, her head bowed and her hands clutching her belly. Her entire frame shook when I touched her.

"Ba Blessed..." She sobbed loudly.

"I'm sorry, Ma Blessed," I whispered. I was at a loss for words. I had never seen her so stricken with pain.

She turned her tear stained face to me. "She has taken our children from us. Our lives, Ba Grace! Don't be sorry, my husband. Be angry! Be mad!"

Author's Note:

Thank you reading.

Please vote if you enjoyed it.

Jozef