THE SILENT KILLER

THE SILENT KILLER

CHAPTER 31

The gate to my parents mansion is wide open. We let ourselves in and as Drake parks the car, I can't stop wondering what happened because apart from the gate being open, it's missing. I mean, no gate door at all, just the passage. It seems they just sold it.
The house looks old...older than myself.
Only chirped off paint. I stand rooted to the ground as I see my uncle's wife getting out of the house, looking older than her age, with faded clothes.
She looks terrified when she notices Don, then me, our hands intertwined.
Her arms are wide open for a hug but I just ignore her. I don't even shake her hand.
Don politely shakes her creased hand and she leads us to the house, bowing down as Don engages her in a conversation.
We are led to the rugged couch to sit down.
Uncle Josh comes out of one of the guest rooms, yawning...
When our eyes meet, he stops at his tracks and looks around, as if looking for an opening to escape. When he finally gathers enough courage, he approaches as and shakes Don's hand.
"Welcome Mr West. Long time!"
Don just nods.
He extends his hand to shake mine but I'm busy on my cell phone.
He withdraws it shamefully and sits on a chair opposite us.
"How have you been my daughter? You have grown so big! Do you two know each other?"
I just flash him a smile....a wicked smile and continue browsing.
He can answer himself for all I care.
" What do I owe the pleasure of having you in my house Mr West?"
The word my house catches me unawares.
I place my phone on my lap and eye him, without blinking.
"Your house? Your brothers house Josh! My house... I've come to get back what is rightfully mine!"
He just bows down, his mind engrossed in a million thoughts.
I'm willing to take back my house because according to what Don told me, the documents are safe with my parents lawyer waiting for me to show up.
"Don't throw us out my daughter. We have nowhere to go!"
"What happened to your pent house and farm? You can always go back there!"
" We sold it out! We have nowhere else to go! Please have mercy on us!"
His words hit me like a tsunami. I was furious!
" Mercy, you say mercy? Do you know the meaning of the word mercy? Tell me Josh! When I asked you to take me back to school, didn't you tell me to go and beg my parents in the cemetery to take me to school? Didn't you and your wife Melissa deny me food and instead  turned me to a donkey?"
" I'm so sorry for that."
His wife joins him and they are kneeling down in front of me, begging me to have mercy on them.
"Please sir, beg her on our behalf. We've nowhere to go!"
" Stand up! I m not God to be begged! Where are your children, Clay, Cara and Claire?"
That question startles my uncle.
They occupy their seats and uncle looks down, sobbing silently.
"Clay is dead. Cara and Claire are in the city. It's three years now since we saw them. They dropped out of school and ran away!"
" Serves them right" I think within myself.
" I'm giving you three weeks to vacate this house. I'm bringing professionals to work on it. So you better vacate. You can carry all the furniture in here, it's no longer useful to me!"
" Please Donna my daughter, have pity on us!"
Melissa begs.
It's sweet to be begged by people who mistreated you and saw you as trash!
" No mercy for the wicked Melissa! Shut up already. You make me sick!"
" What about the tenants?"
Josh asks, his eyes already Misty.
" Which tenants?"

All this time, Don is silent, just rubbing my hand lovingly as I take the shots.

"The rooms upstairs... I've rented them. Even the servant quarters! "
" Whaaaaat? Are you mad??"
" Watch your tongue Donna. You are speaking to your uncle!"
Melissa has guts.
" Shut up woman! You've enjoyed enough. Three weeks only and I will throw you out personally. As for the tenants, they should vacate as soon as possible. I don't care how you gonna do it but I want this house vacated in three weeks' time. Say hi to your brothers and sisters. As for Barnabas, I'm visiting him now!"
Barnabas is my youngest uncle who almost raped me! I'm not gonna waste my breathe on the other uncle's and aunts. I'm  sure they will know I visited. Josh must inform them!
We rise up to go and I remember something....
" Before I forget, my husband and I...."
I stop when I see the weird look in their eyes.
"Your husband? Mr West?"
They chorus.

"Forget it...."
I just wanted to let them know  Don is my husband.
We walk out hand in hand to the waiting car.
As Drake reverses out of the compound, I can't stop thinking about my parents. They will be proud of me if I salvage the house.
I direct Drake to Barnabas' house.
Back then, he was just a young boy, not yet married.
Drake parks outside the house and as we get in, we meet a little girl, and a young woman who's running behind her.
"Welcome..."
She says as she extends her hand to shake ours.
"Mr West, hope there's no problem!"
She knows Don?"
" No problem Sheila...I've brought my wife to see your husband."
" Welcome ma'am"
She leads us inside and she calls out her husband's name.
It's a small house, probably a one bedroom.
As we make ourselves comfortable on the couch, Barnabas comes out of the other room.
When he sees me, he looks confused all over a sudden. But he gathers courage and comes to greet us.
As usual, Don offers him a handshake but I ignore him.
"Donna, what a pleasure? It's long since I saw you!"
"Yeah... Long since you almost raped me you mean?"
This catches his wife off guard. She looks at my uncle then at me.
"Who's she Ban?"
"She's my brotherys daughter!"
" She's Donna?"
She asks, looking more confused than before.
" You told me she died in the city? I remember you telling me that you were just from  her burial?"
" Me..... Dead? So you've already killed me Barnabas? Shame on you! You will die before me!"
" God forbid"
Sheila says.
I let a hearty laughter and  tell Don to find me outside. I'm so pissed off such that  I'm at my breaking point.
Me... Dead!
"Wait Donna! I'm sorry for all that I did or said against you!"
He's holding my leg, making me stop on my tracks.
" Let me go you murderer! Rapist!"
I warn him as my heel comes into contact with his left arm.
He squirms in pain as blood gushes out of the deep wound.
"What have you done Donna? This poor man will bleed to death. He can't even afford a decent meal!"
It Don talking.
" Leave them let's go. I'd have done worse was it not for the innocent woman and kid."
We leave him there writhing in pain.
Through out the journey to our house, I'm quiet. Don is besides me, occasionally rubbing my hands or running his fingers through my hair.
"So are you planning to do with the house now that you want it vacated?"
" You will take me to my lawyer to have my documents, then organise for renovation of the house then after that I will see it."
That's a great idea Donna. You don't need the house, you have allot at your disposal. So selling the house will be the only option. Don't worry, I will take care of everything."
I'm so happy because he's in support of me. I lean in for a kiss and as we get lost in our own fantancies, Drake parks the car and we realise we are already in the bungalow, our home.....