19 Cornered

Tinka sighed internally as she raised herself from the bed slowly. She had been waiting there for ages and it seemed like an eternity for Ray to open the door to his bedroom. She had heard him enter the compound and had checked herself in the mirror again to be sure she was perfectly in shape. But after waiting for five full minutes without seeing him, she had been afraid that he had gone to the maid's room to satisfy his lust in her arms. She however discovered that she was wrong when she tip-toe out of the room to see what was going on. Her joy knew no bounds. She raced back to the room to dance a dance of victory. She heard the gate of the house close and she laughed silently, running to the window to be double sure that Bella was really leaving. She was finally rid of her sworn enemy; how ironic that her rival had been a mere maid. A bitter pile rose in her throat and she gritted her teeth till her jaw ached. She lay on the bed,

expecting Ray to enter but he did not come in, even minutes after she heard Bella's departure.

She became frustrated and was about to stand up to go and meet Mohammed since he had refused

to come to the mountain when the door opened.

"Are you deaf? Can't you answer the simple

question I have asked you?" Raymond yelled, his

gentleman etiquette was already out of question

since Bella had left him feeling shattered.

Tinka moved gingerly towards him, swaying her hips and making him feel uncomfortable. She stood close to him; too close for comfort. She placed her palm softly on his chest with her other hand going to circle his neck.

"What do you think I am doing here? I am here

to claim back my husband" she said huskily.

Ray was blown away. His nose had identified the

scent of 'Light Blue' perfume and his brain was

not functioning normally. Tinka surely had an

extremely sexy body and the flimsy dress she had

on only hinted the promise of better things to come. He moved away from her, with his hands

in his pocket, trying to put his body under

subjection. He faced the window so that he would not have to look at her. "I am not your husband Tinka, this relationship is over" he said quietly.

Tinka was about to flare up at his spoken words

but remembered the advice of her mother. She

slowly walked to him, caressed his back slowly

with her fingers. She then pinned her body to his

back, knowing the effects she was having on him. "You don't mean that. We are meant for each other baby."

Ray felt his resolve shake. Just how much temptation can a man resist? He was angry; very

angry. Why did God create women? They are just

too powerful. Bella had just crumbled his happy day and here was Tinka, trying to bewitch him.

Tinka finally slotted herself in the slim space

between Raymond and the window and Ray's

brain rang a very loud alarm. Ray stepped back

but Tinka held his hand. He groaned and pulled

her to himself, devoring her lips; he remembered

Bella's departure and kissed her with vengeance.

The last thought that crossed his mind before the heat of passion took over was that God should have used clay to make Eve instead of using Adam's rib.

Deo strolled out of the bathroom after having a hot bath which had lasted for more than thirty minutes. He had laidback in the bathtub, thinking about the tragedies befalling him till he became accustomed to the feel of the water against his body. After laying there for a long time, the water turned cold and no longer seemed inviting. He had a white towel around his waist but did not bother to dry himself with it. He threw himself on the bed, feeling so dejected. He had gone to several hospitals and yet, none had been able to yield any valuable return. He actually felt like dying. Five days and yet, he hadn't seen beauty or the beast that captured

her. He picked up his phone and called Caleb for

the umpteenth time. He was starting to believe

that Fred was really not in Ajumani.

Caleb picked up and said the same thing he had

been saying ever since this case started.

"What sort of rubbish is this?" He yelled back at

Caleb. "Are you telling me that the entire police

in Northern Uganda cannot fish out a filthy criminal? You guys are a bunch of incompetent idiots" he yelled.

Caleb yelled back at him and Deo jumped to

his feet. "No… No. don't tell me that you know

how I feel because you don't. How can my

girlfriend be missing and you tell me you know

how I feel when you are not doing anything about it" he paused, parading the spacious bedroom. "Your best is not good enough Caleb… Don't tell me you are sorry, I don't need your pity, I need your action. I am paying you handsomely Caleb, I need my girl and I need to see that animal who had the guts to lay his filthy hands on my girl." He hung up. He felt bad that he had yelled at the poor man but he could not help it. Ugandan police do not move until they are moved. He heard a knock on the door and quickly threw on some clothes even though he

knew that his house boy would answer the door. He was hopeful that some good news would come his way. He got to the sitting room and was surprised to see two policemen. Tomi, his house boy, just stood there looking confused.

"Hello officers" Deo greeted.

"Good day sir. Please are you Mr. Deo Amooti?" One of the policemen said.

"Yes, I am. Any problem?"

"Please sir, we would like you to follow us to our

station for some questions."

Deo looked at the two policemen as anger flooded him. "What business do I have with your station?" He half yelled.

"Your questions would be answered when you

get there sir."

"No. You will answer my questions right here, right now. What sort of nonsense is this?" The devil was definitely bent on making his life impossible. 'So these filthy idiots think I am responsible for Lucy's disappearance?!' He thought.

"I am sorry sir, you will get your answers at the station. Please move sir" one of them said.

Deo, being a popular person, was feared by the

policemen because they knew that his connections could lead to their dismissal; but they had to follow orders given to them by their boss, if not, the same fate awaited them.

Deo closed his mouth, trying to calm down. The events of the week had worked on his nerves. He picked up his phones and stared at his house boy who was still bemused. "Call my lawyer" he said and followed the officers.