16 16 DEADLY ASSIGNMENT

He knew he wasn't expecting any visitor.

Who could that be?

His thought drove wide. The knock on the gate came again.

This time, the loudest and the piercing sound it made, make him want to scream. He placed his hands to his ears as he approached the locked Iron Gate outside.

The bell would have been preferable but why was it ignored?

As the thought of asking who was at the gate crept through his mind, he shivered.

He stood by the gate and demanded angrily. "Who is it?" The voice that responded made him calm down. It was a female's voice, but why this odd time?

It was almost 6 pm and it was too late for a female visitor. He reasoned as he stared at his wristwatch the third time. As he heard the voice again, he flinched.

The voice was a female voice quite alright but he could also tell that was the loveliest voice he has ever heard. The temptation to pull the gate wide open crawled in but he reluctantly held back his drumming fingers.

"If you came for counselling please you have to come back next Monday, it is late now—I am sorry." He said. "Come to the church tomorrow and that will be fine—yes, my office at the regular counselling hour." He added thoughtfully.

"It is late, I know but not too late. I want to come in Pastor Mandolin—please."

He heard the female voice responding passionately.

"What do you want?" Pastor Mandolin asked still very cautious. He knew she hadn't said why she came but—his thoughts dropped when her sweet voice came again, piercing deep into his eardrums. And each time she spoke, her voice seems to have this compelling grip that seems to pull his hands to unlock the gate.

As he stood motionless but in deep thoughts, his mind drifted to what happened a year ago when a female church member came in like this—his eyes are picking pictures now as imagination collided with memories—unfolding everything.

Her name was Sharon, she came for financial help but the bed received her nakedness and the moment she walked away, he knew he had committed–adultery. She was another man's wife but then—

His memory got frozen as the voice behind the gate resumed once more. "Please open up. I am cold—just want to talk with you and nothing more. I wouldn't be long, Pastor Mandolin!"

"Okay, are you alone?"

The instant he got yes for an answer, he pulled the gate open and his eyes fell on the lady behind his iron gate.

He admired her for a while. He knew he has never seen such beauty all his life. His eyes kept walking on her.

Her pointed breasts, her beautiful curve and red painted lips caught his attention. And as his eyes lowered below her waist, her well-formed hips that got the right curve almost resurrected lust within him but immediately he shifted his eyes away and looked at her.

"Okay, you can come in." He watched her nod and walked in.

The way her buttocks moved with her steps and strides made him dragged his breath. He quickly locked the gate and stopped her. "Please let's talk here—hmm, what did you say you want to talk about or see me for?"

Pastor Mandolin observed that her eyes were extremely lovely, with captivating eyelashes and a killer smile that got him repeating and rephrasing his questions. "H—how may I help you or why did you come looking for me this late?" He stammered as he watched her nod as if happy to know the question was now better asked.

"I came to see you about the church and I think it can't be discussed outside—what do you think?"

"What about the church, lady?" Pastor Mandolin ignored her whispering. "And besides, I can't remember seeing you in the church. And if I may ask, are you a member of the church?"

The lady smiled again, this time broadly. She licked her tongue and responded calmly. "The church is bigger now Pastor. And I am sure you have lost count of your members or better still, you can't know them all by face, right?"

Pastor Mandolin shrugged. "Perhaps, but if you don't mind let's talk here—okay."

"Well if you say so. Thanks for letting me in any way. I know the matter of Idris Sanligan can't be taken lightly." She muttered.

"You know him? Sorry, I asked that. I mean every member should—what exactly do you want to talk about him?"

"Do you still want us to discuss here or go inside?" She asked again.

This time the nipples of her breasts stood and Pastor Mandolin eyes caught a glimpse of it. The smile on her face calm is suspicious nerves down and reluctantly he allowed her in.

He could smell something isn't right. And how great a mistake he had made by letting her inside his house. He was yet to know and by this time, it had gone beyond 7 pm already.

She knew he was going to say a lot when he comes back but obviously, she has overshot.

It was still raining outside when it all started. He was shocked to see Dralex at home just the way she was a few hours ago. She supposed to be in school.

How come she never told anyone she was coming home?

She had possibly left the school without the knowledge of the school authority.

But how can this happen?

I can't believe this is how students leave Cretex high school without anybody knowing. I can hardly believe this is happening. Of course, it was supposed to be a boarding school and students are not permitted to go home not until vacation but this is not vacation and Dralex was home and still not able to give any tangible reason why she came home or escape the school authority.

Dralex wasn't looking straight at her father now. She knew Dad will be her major problem.

The thought of stopping over at Maggie's home had sprung up within her when she walked past a few hours ago but feared Maggie's mother would call her Mum, Prislla.

Why should the thought creep through her feeble heart, in the first place?

She asked herself but without saying a word. It is better to be quiet than being lash by his father, who have been furious at her nutty homecoming.

Her thought was still stretching out again when she heard her father's voice once more. It spread on her like ice water except that it wasn't. "Why are you home, tell me the truth or else—" The cane on his right hand stood high up again. The fright in her eyes made him lower the cane and stopped talking as he waited patiently to hear what her shivering lips were ready to pour forth.

"Don't you waste my time—I have other more important things to attend to—?"

"I came home because I can no longer stay in the boarding house—"

"And why?" Eric didn't let her finish.

"Because—"

"Because what?" He cut in again, angry.

He was on top of his voice now. Prislla closed his eyes wondering why Eric was too hard on her—the daughter he loves.

The moment she heard Dralex's voice, her eyes opened.

"What?" Prislla demanded angrily. "Was that what you told me before your father came?" She flared.

Eric asked again, "Please repeat what you just said."

"I—I—I Just said the boarding is getting too immoral for me to stay," Dralex stammered.

Eric walked back to his sit and narrowed his eyes at Dralex. The words she said came like a shock to him.

What does she mean immoral?

What does she know about that word immoral at her tender age of thirteen?

His eyes blinked for a while as he struggled to continue the conversation that looked set to become interesting. It has sure taken a different twist from what she told Prislla her mother earlier. He crossed his legs and shifted his eyes to Prislla to know he was angry that Dralex had lied to her in the first place and that had necessitated the use of his cane.

"Okay, we are all ears, what exactly do you mean—Dralex?"

Dralex sat up on the chair at Eric's command. Now, with eyes flooded with tears, she began.

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