Sinners and Saints II

Chapter 23

Rafael checked his wrist watch again, taking a deep breath for the hundredth time. There he was, back in that interrogation room again; the feeling just never got old. Just being in that room brought a lot of memories. Memories that he loved to remember.

Rafael wiped the tiny smirk from his face the moment he heard the huge metallic door open. He saw as Ahmed, who had been pacing right behind him the entire time, rushed to the door as a policeman pulled a relatively older dark skinned man into the room. The man, in his faded jeans and a white tank top, had beards that looked like they'd been grown for ages along with a connecting mustache. He had the most unkept afro Rafael had ever seen, more like they were turning into dreadlocks. It was a wonder how he managed to walk with the chains on his legs, which were connected to his wrist.

Rafael saw how the brothers managed to embrace each other, with sincere smiles on their faces. He had no idea the man who had broken into his house with a knife in his hands, threatening to kill Grace, could smile the way he did.

"Alhamdulillah. Thank Almighty Allah you're still alive." He watched Ahmed embrace his brother's cheek in his palms. "I was scared that by the time I had returned, it'd be too late."

"There's nothing to be scared of. I still have one more week before I return to the great Allah."

"Ba yau ba." Ahmed said with a rather forced smile on his face and tears clouding his eyes. "Not today my brother. You won't have to say that from today."

The older man slowly turned to Rafael, a huge frown covering his face the moment Ahmed stepped out of the way. He frowned, narrowing his gaze to him right before he turned back to his brother.

"Another lawyer? Me yasa Ahmed? Why? We don't have any more money to afford another lawyer. Ta yaya za mu biya shi?"

"We don't have to worry about any of that." Ahmed said holding on to his brother's arm and then pulling him closer to Rafael just as Rafael got up. "This is Rafael Okonkwo. You must have heard about him. He's one of the best in the country. He has promised to help get you out of prison."

"Rafael?" The man turned to his brother with a glimpse of disbelief in his eyes. "This is Rafael Okonkwo? Ta yaya? How come Ahmed?"

"It's a long story-"

"It's easy." Rafael cut him off. "Your brother broke into my house and threatened the life of my daughter if I didn't help so here I am." Rafael looked right into the eyes of the man. "He's pretty determined to save your life. Let's just make sure it's worth it."

Musa turned to his brother.

"Ahmed is this true?" He had a disappointing look in his eyes. "Did you do what he's accusing you of?"

Ahmed frowned for a moment and then exhaled.

"None of it matters now. I had to do something to save you and look, it worked. He's here. He's the son of Randy Okonkwo, the owner of Rand oil."

"What?" The man cringed back in surprise. "The son of who? That thief? That criminal?"

"Okay, can we all calm down?" Rafael said in his father's defense.

"Me yake yi anan? Why did you bring him here?" Musa was almost yelling at the top of his lungs. Rafael could see how angry and shocked he was at what he had just discovered. "How can you bring him here after what he had done? After what his family has done-"

"Okay," Rafael whispered scratching his brows. He knew he had to give them time after Ahmed had just disclosed his identity to the same man that had a lot of bad blood for his family.

Musa glared at his brother.

"He's not like that. He's nothing like his father," Ahmed rushed to him. "He's different from his father. Rafael is a good man." He slowly turned to Rafael. "I've seen it up front. He's going to help you. He's going to help us." He turned back to his brother. "I know you hate his family but he's just as interested in finding out the truth like we are. He's the only chance we have at saving your life."