Guilty Eye

Chapter 11

To say the house was full of PIB agents would be understating it. They were everywhere. Prying open desk drawers, searching through closets, looking into the old man's papers and even sliding under beds and tables. Some were sweeping through the ceiling while others were prowling around the grounds. They reminded me of a swam of ants on a crumb of bread. They worked smoothly and efficiently, combing through the mansion in pairs.

My wife stood unmoving beside our bed, her gaze fixed at the cloudy sky through the window. Her mouth was set, jaw clenched as she struggled to stem the stubborn flow of tears. I had given up trying to console her; she had not responded the few times I had wrapped my arms around her. She had stood ramrod stiff, shoulders squared, her feet slightly apart in a military 'at -ease' stance.

I understood her pain since it was also mine. Blessed and Grace were the two constants in our lives, the dependable sources of inspiration and happiness. The fact that at that very moment they were in God -knows -what danger was enough to drive me mad.

I shuddered as I imagined them tied up and bleeding...No! Don't think like that. I had to get moving, lest thoughts like that overpower me.

"Let's get downstairs and find out what the police have."

Portia remained still.

"Ma Grace." I nudged her softly and she turned to face me, blinking rapidly and frowning as if she had been asleep.

"Huh, huh?"

I pulled her onto my chest, closing my eyes briefly as she melted into me and rested her head on my shoulder.

"We will bring our children back, Ma Grace. We'll find them, I promise."

Her body shook with a sob. "I failed. I failed my children. I knew she was crooked but I let my guard down and now they could be hurt."

"Hey, hey," I murmured soothingly into her ear. "It's not your fault, Ma Grace. She fooled all of us."

She disentangled herself from me. A look of determination - mouth pulled upwards, eyes narrowed - a look I knew too well, appeared on her lovely face.

"Let's go find our babies, Ba Blessed."

I nodded. "Yes, Ma Grace."

Mr Cat regarded us sternly as we approached him as he conferred with one of his subordinates in the sitting room. For once, the PIB officer seemed tired. Even his glasses failed to hide the lumps around his eyes. Even his voice sounded weary.

"I told you two to stay in your room. I'll talk to you as soon as..."

"Mr Cat - ," Portia stopped him mid sentence ," or whoever you are - our children are missing. Have been missing for over an hour. And you haven't told us anything about the progress of the investigation. Yet you expect us to lock ourselves indoors indefinitely?"

"Mrs Saka, we'll tell you the second we find anything, but you need to let us professionals do our jobs." His tone was scathing.

I felt myself swell with rage. " Professionals? Last night we hand delivered a Pfumo Dzvuku soldier to you. Are you going to tell me you got nothing from him? "

"Sir, there's more to this case than you know..."

"Actually there isn't." I retorted. "Either my children are here or they're not. Simple as that. All the time you're spending poking around this house you could be out there finding my children!"

"How do you suggest we do that, Mr Saka?"

"I don't know, maybe, investigate."

Portia placed a hand on my shoulder. "He is not going to help us, Ba Blessed. Let's go."