The shady vermin

5

For the next month, virtually most of the month of September that is. We were in a muddle, trying to get things right. But even at that I was already facing about 2 years in prison plus fine for multiple charges pressed against me. I was mostly in the company of Ubayd, working, researching, investigating. But my mind was always disturbed, by the events that took place in that sitting. I wasn't even thinking about the case about battery and assault, No. But of the papers, which I was certain, we had the documents right. There was surely transfer of documents among others. But I couldn't figure out where it went wrong.
Ubayd came down to the house early in the morning, and suggested that we should use the will as our evidence, since it contained relevant information. Although it wasn't completely foolproof, it would put us back to the fight. But he mentioned that we must find more proof or witnesses or both. After much discussion, I went out to see Ubayd off, when he got in his car to leave, I figured Mansoor wasn't at the gate. Then I called for him, but he didn't answer. Then I heard squabbles from the far end of the house, so I told Ubayd to give me a moment to check and left to the squabbling noise. On getting there, I saw to my surprise Mansoor was all over one of the maids, dragging her as she pleaded for mercy and he pulled her.
"What's going on here?!" I exclaimed.
"Release her...what's wrong? What has she done?" I queried.
"Oga..she be doing Ole thief for this house kuma I catch am. She dey carry am for thing but today I catch am with Madam gold and clothes, see am." said Mansoor
"It's true?!" I asked the maid, but she kept her head down of guilt.
"A thieving maid, not new in this world, send her packing, make sure you inform Nabila of this". And I left to meet Ubayd who was still waiting to leave. On reaching him, I said "thieving maid", and he shook his head and started his engine. I asked Medo to help open the gate, and he casually did. And Ubayd drove out. Just in, Medo called on me and pleaded that I should careful with the people we hire as maids, that some have "evil hearts".
Then I chuckled and added, "like Baba Nasiru". And both laughed as I turned to walk away.
"No wonder they get along" he added, and I thought of his disgusting pervertedness. Out of curiosity I asked, "get along? like how?"
"Ai every single time he comes and any time, he must see the girl behind the generator room, even the other morning he came".
Medo said, as he got his bitter cola out of his breast pocket to munch. "Maybe she steals for him too...birds of the same heart" and laughed hysterically and munched his kola nut.
"No wonder late Alhaji never signed his papers of transfer, he knew". And I thought that maybe....oh my goodness.
"Wait, Medo do you mind appearing in court for me and Nabila?" I excitedly asked
"Why...well sure! anything for you guys...but why?"
"That's right!...Medo be right back we got talks, I'll explain later!" As I briskly walked and scrambled inside. As I got inside I met Nabila ranting and shouting at the maid to pay for all the missing stuff. And I immediately intervened by telling Nabila to be calm, and told the maid we'll forgive her and let her go, on the condition she just tells us everything she's done. She declined, but after I told her she could go to jail, she coherently agreed and started spilling. She said nothing relevant for about fifteen minutes of confession, until she said she'd been sleeping with Baba Nasiru for money, then she caught my attention proper. I asked her if he ever sent her to steal, but she said she never. We continued and it yielded nothing. So we asked her to pack and go, which she did without hesitation nor delay.
I obviously wasn't happy with the outcome but, at least, we had the will and Medo seems to have useful information, so I was a bit chill.
A while later, as I was at the sitting room, I took my phone and called Ubayd, but I didn't reach him. Then I got up and I went to Nabila in the kitchen, and told her to call Hamdiyya and tell her to inform her husband of the events that preceded that day.
Few days before September ended, it was serious deal, intense preparation as the day for the second sitting was really close. We had discussed, planned, and arranged everything. And hoped to stand a chance, at least be cleared even if we didn't win the case. And with nothing but we had nothing but hope.
At last, the day had come, something about set days, like destiny, dread it, run from it, destiny still arrives all the same. And so we got ready, though not as elated as the first time. We were soon at the premises of the court, as the first time, but this time Medo was with us. We went with Ubayd to his office, got everything ready, and as soon as a clerk notified us that it was time for the case, we came out and headed straight for the courtroom. Just before I stepped in, Medo called me and asked to talk to me, so we went aside to talk. I looked at him, he was sweating profusely with so much anxiety. My heart was already beating faster, like my chest would explode. I worriedly asked him what was wrong, "Oga Saleem...I got-I got a call just now...and..."with a really shaky voice.
"And what Medo? Tell me"
"They have my daughter...Oga they have Hafsah". and he began to sob softly.
"That if I so much as step into the courtroom, or tried in anyway to help you with the case,they'll kill her and also that I shouldn't tell anyone anything this...Oga I'm sorry"
For a moment I was numb, I everything froze for a second, all my senses went off. And then, gradually, life slid into me, and I told him to go and wait by the car and be careful. And we left each other, as he slowly walked outside and I went to the courtroom. I was walking and operating normally but my wasn't with me.

My heart thumping...my head was literally heavy. What to do....?

For the people reading...thank you all for reading
Much love, thank you for being patient too.