After being brought to the police station, Louisa was immediately ushered into a sterile interrogation room. Harsh fluorescent lights overhead cast an unflattering glare on everything, and the complete absence of windows or cameras instilled a sense of isolation. Here, she faced a relentless barrage of questions from two officers seated across the metal table. To be honest, Louisa had only ever seen such stern interrogation rooms in movies, never imagining that one day she would find herself accused and confined to this grim setting. Today marked her inaugural experience entering the police station as a criminal.
Louisa's initial bravado had waned. Hours of relentless questioning had left her weary. Deep lines of fatigue etched themselves onto her usually jovial face. Despite the exhaustion, her voice remained firm as she pleaded with the officers, 'I'm innocent. I haven't stolen anything.'
The officers, however, remained unmoved. Their stares were predatory, lingering a beat too long on Louisa's trembling hands. Under orders from Jessica to make Louisa suffer, a slim officer with a sardonic smile slid a pre-filled document across the table. The complicated legal terms blurred before Louisa's eyes, like a dense jungle she couldn't find her way through. But the bolded charges cut through the confusion like a machete—theft, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, assaulting an officer… The list seemed endless, each accusation more shocking than the last. A jolt of fear shot through her.
'Why waste your time and ours? You'd do well to write your name on this document, admitting to your crimes. What's so hard about signing it? Tell me, is there anything hard about putting your name on that dotted line?' one of the officers demanded.
Louisa's grip tightened on the arms of the chair. 'I can't sign something that's a lie. If I do, it means accepting responsibility for something I didn't do, and that could mean spending years in prison...' Her voice trailed off, the weight of the accusation settling heavily on her shoulders.
A humourless scoff escaped the other officer, the chubby officer with a perpetually furrowed brow. 'Seems you're too dim to realise you're pushing your luck, lady. Don't waste your breath arguing. Just sign it.'
Louisa wasn't naive. The situation reeked of manipulation. 'This isn't right. I never admitted to stealing anything, and now you're piling charges on me? Someone obviously bribed you. I know it!' Her voice grew louder, and determination flashed in her eyes. She was certain that Jessica had used her money and family background to manipulate the situation.
The chubby officer slammed his fist on the table, rattling the metal surface. 'Are you questioning our integrity, woman? Do you think we fabricated evidence against you? How dare you speak to the police like that! Do you know where you are?'
Louisa flinched at the outburst, but her voice remained steady. 'I'm in the interrogation room of the Nigeria Police Force, yes. But I'm also speaking the truth. You're trying to make me confess to a crime I didn't commit...' Her voice strained under the pressure, a bead of sweat trickling down her temple despite the cool temperature of the room. The throbbing pain in her arm, a souvenir from the beating she received at the market, served as a constant reminder of the injustice she faced.
Any reasonable person who could read wouldn't willingly sign a document condemning them to years in prison. Louisa might not have had a university degree, but she possessed a street-smart intellect honed by years of navigating the bustling markets, coupled with the fact that she graduated from secondary school. A quick glance at the document confirmed her suspicions—it was a trap. She pushed it back towards the officers, her chin held high in a silent act of defiance.
'Hope you know what the consequences of not cooperating with our investigation are?' the slim police officer asked sternly.
Louisa's lips thinned into a tight line. She wanted to retort, to point out the absurdity of the charges and the blatant manipulation, but something held her back. Her hands trembled slightly, revealing the anger she was trying to hide. In a quiet voice, she muttered, 'It seems like there are police like this everywhere… in every station…'
'What did you say?' the chubby police officer stood up and asked, his voice booming through the sterile room.
Louisa flinched, the tremour in her hands escalating. Realisation dawned—these men wouldn't hesitate to escalate the situation further. Defiance simmered in her chest, but self-preservation doused the flames. Quietly, she mumbled, 'Nothing,' avoiding eye contact.
At that moment, the door was forcefully kicked open. Detective Stanley entered the room, exuding authority, while a well-dressed lawyer in a black suit followed closely behind him. Stanley had brought the lawyer to assist in securing Louisa's release. Having just returned from a meeting regarding a recent bank robbery case, he had encountered Chioma and Andrew at the front desk, who informed him of their mother's situation. Immediately, Stanley retreated to a corner and dialled Felix's number.
The slim police officer snatched the pre-filled document from the table. A sneer twisted his features as he addressed Stanley, who walked in with a lawyer. 'She has always been a thief,' he sneered.
Stanley's gaze narrowed. 'This kind of ruse is something silly officers like you can come up with, isn't it? I'm curious to see what might unfold if I choose to get involved,' he remarked firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Without further ado, Louisa followed the lawyer out of the room, her legs shaky with relief and lingering fear. Felix had swiftly arranged for the lawyer's assistance upon learning about Louisa's situation from Stanley. As fate would have it, the lawyer, Jeremiah, had coincidentally met Felix at Moon Corporation and invited him for lunch that very day. Stanley's call explaining the situation and the need to bail out Louisa fit perfectly into the timeframe.
As they reached the entrance of the police station, Louisa turned to the lawyer, her voice thick with emotion. 'Thank you so much for bailing me out. Otherwise, I would have been stuck here forever. You have no idea… I had asked my daughter to cook beans tonight…' Relief washed over her, momentarily erasing the sting of the interrogation.
After lawyer Jeremiah secured Louisa's release, a mix of emotions swirled within him. He had been unaware of Felix's intentions in having him assist with Louisa's release, but now, seeing her in person, he realised that she didn't fit the profile of a criminal. During his investigation, he had also discovered Felix's unrequited love for Louisa's daughter, Chioma, who happened to be involved with Michael, Felix's cousin.
'Louisa, you don't need to thank me,' lawyer Jeremiah said gently. 'I was simply asked by someone with significant influence to help you. If you wish to express gratitude, direct it towards him.'
'Do I know this person?' Louisa asked curiously.
'You do, but he prefers to remain anonymous,' Jeremiah replied, extending his hand. 'I am lawyer Jeremiah Chinedu.'
The police officers would never have expected that lawyer Jeremiah's visit was to bail out Louisa. It never occurred to them until Stanley informed them of Jeremiah's purpose. Although Jeremiah didn't disclose the identity of his client, it was evident that someone with fame and wealth in Abuja had hired this experienced lawyer. The fact that someone of such stature had come to aid a fruit vendor surprised everyone. Some who knew about Chioma's relationship speculated that Michael might have enlisted the lawyer's help, considering he was the best lawyer in Abuja with a flawless track record.
'Thank you once again, lawyer Jeremiah. I don't need you to reveal your employer; I can connect the dots myself,' Louisa said with a modest smile. However, a hint of the ordeal she had just endured, danced in her eyes.
After bidding farewell to the lawyer and expressing her gratitude to Stanley, Louisa walked towards her waiting children, relief flooding her features.
'Mum!' Chioma cried excitedly, engulfing Louisa in a hug. 'I'm so glad you're with us now,' she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Tears welled up in Louisa's eyes, spilling over as she held Chioma tightly. Relief washed over her, a tidal wave erasing the fear that had gripped her for hours.
Louisa nodded, wiping the tears from the corners of Chioma's eyes, her gaze then shifting to Andrew. He stood a few steps away, a mixture of relief and anger etched on his face. As Louisa reached out to him, a smile gracing her lips, their moment of reunion was shattered by the arrival of Jessica.
Just as Louisa was about to leave the station with her children, Jessica approached them, her face contorted in a mask of fury. 'Louisa, I had no idea you resorted to stealing to feed your children,' she sneered, her voice dripping with malice. 'I'm sorry, but you don't have a future after this.'
'Louisa, I had no idea you resorted to stealing to feed your children,' Jessica sneered. 'I'm sorry, but you don't have a future after this.'
Chioma, emboldened by her mother's release, fearlessly pointed at Jessica. 'Hey, Jessica, watch what you say!'
Without wasting time, Jessica delivered a resounding slap to Chioma, fuelled by her anger over Louisa's sudden release. The slap carried such force that Chioma saw stars flying before her eyes. Chioma's head snapped back, a ringing sound filling her ears. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision.
'Ouch!' Chioma winced in pain, a hand flying up to cradle her throbbing cheek. Andrew lunged forward, his face contorted in rage, but Louisa grabbed his arm, restraining him.
'As long as you have what I love, I will make sure you suffer until the end,' Jessica coldly threatened, her voice laced with vindictive satisfaction. Before anyone could react, she raised her hand again, landing another slap on Chioma's cheek.
Chioma gritted her teeth and endured the pain, but Louisa couldn't stand by idly. In a flash of defiance fuelled by maternal protectiveness, she retaliated with a stinging slap of her own. The impact sent a jolt through Jessica's head, momentarily silencing her. 'Consider this a mere taste of the anger boiling inside me right now... I detest it when people cross the line.'
Holding the side of her reddening face, Jessica glared at Louisa, a feral snarl contorting her features. 'How dare you lay your filthy hands on me? I'll kill you!' she shrieked.
In a fit of blind rage, Jessica lunged at Louisa, nails bared. But Andrew, fuelled by a desire to protect his mother, acted quickly. He shoved his shoulder against Jessica, sending her off balance. With a yelp, she stumbled backwards, spraining her ankles due to the high heels she was wearing. The impact caused her to lose her footing completely, and she went crashing to the ground. A piercing scream of agony erupted from Jessica as the pain shot through her leg.
The police officers, who had been watching the scene unfold with a mixture of apprehension and amusement, finally stirred into action. They rushed towards the flailing Jessica, attempting to restrain Louisa and her children. Their intention, it seemed, was to detain them all.
Stanley, who had been observing the situation from a distance, knew exactly what was happening. He understood Jessica's influence over the police and the potential consequences for Louisa and her children if they were thrown back into a cell. He couldn't let that happen.
'That girl is Michael's fiancée!' Stanley boomed, his voice echoing through the station. He purposefully emphasised Michael's name, knowing the weight it held. 'I'm sure you understand the consequences for anyone who goes against the Njemanze family.'
Stanley's feelings for Chioma were undeniable, and a part of him considered using the situation to his advantage. He could pressure her into marriage in exchange for her mother's freedom. However, he pushed aside those thoughts. Instead, he did the right thing. He discreetly pulled out his phone and dialled Felix's number, requesting him to bring a lawyer to secure Louisa's release. Since he didn't have Michael's contact information, Felix was his best recourse. Moreover, he knew that if anything were to cause Chioma distress, the officers would face severe repercussions.
'Didn't you see how that woman hurt me? You're just going to let them go like that?' Jessica shrieked, her voice laced with disbelief and frustration.
'What about the things you did to Chioma?' Stanley countered, his voice firm and laced with disapproval.
The police officers wanted to help Jessica, but they knew that siding with her and imprisoning Louisa and her family would have severe consequences. Instead, they assisted Jessica in standing and pleaded with her to go home. After all, no one wanted to go against the powerful Njemanze family unless they wanted to vanish from the city.
'What are you police officers doing, just standing there? Arrest Chioma already! I am Michael's fiancée, not her,' Jessica unsatisfactorily demanded, glaring at the officers who remained passive.
The police officers shuffled their feet awkwardly, their eyes darting between Chioma and Jessica. A tense silence stretched, punctuated only by Jessica's ragged breaths. Finally, a senior officer, a weary woman with deep lines etched around her eyes, stepped forward.
'Madam Jessica,' she began, her voice low and measured. 'We understand your frustration, but the situation is more complex than it appears. We understand that you still believe you're in control, but you must realise that we would rather oppose the Nnaji family than the Njemanze family. The wind is shifting. The Njemanze family is the wealthiest and most influential in the city. Going against them would be suicidal.'
Jessica's nostrils flared. She whipped around to glare at the officer, her face contorted with fury. 'And what about what Louisa did to me? Aren't you going to make her pay for her crimes?'
'Madam Jessica, Louisa has already been granted bail. We will continue the investigation into the alleged theft, but for now, she is free to go home,' a sergeant informed Jessica.
Jessica scoffed, a harsh, humourless sound. Her eyes narrowed as they met Chioma's. 'Don't think this is over, Chioma Chima,' she hissed, her voice laced with venomous threat. 'You may have won this round, but the game has just begun. Watch your back, for the storm isn't over unless I say so.'
Chioma felt a chill run down her spine, wondering what Jessica had planned. Jessica's words hung heavy in the air, a dark promise of retribution. But Chioma wouldn't let Jessica see her fear. Squaring her shoulders, she walked slowly towards Jessica, projecting a facade of immense confidence that masked the tremor in her legs. She wouldn't give Jessica the satisfaction.
'I warn you,' Chioma's voice was steady despite the frantic hammering of her heart, 'don't you dare hurt my family or else...' The unspoken threat hung between them, a challenge.
Jessica's response was a sharp scoff. 'Make me apologise to you?' she sneered. 'You'd better open your eyes, Chioma Chima. This isn't over. From this moment onward, I'll show you what it's like to steal my boyfriend away.'
Chioma knew she wasn't going to win this war of words. Silence, she decided, was her strongest weapon. Without another word, she turned and walked towards the exit, her mother and brother close behind. They may not have come from a wealthy and powerful family, but one thing was certain: Chioma wouldn't be bullied.
Despite the gnawing fear in her gut, a fear that intensified with every beat of her heart that echoed Jessica's wealthy background, Chioma held her head high. They strode out of the police station, their heads held high. They may not have had immense wealth or the kind of power that came with it, but they had each other. And in that moment, Chioma realised, that was a strength Jessica could never take away.