Her freedom
1543 Words
They both watched as she was brought into the visitors room with her face looking so pale. A wry smile broke on her dry lips as she saw their faces.
“Lisa,” Toyosi cried in excitement as she was brought to the table.
“Toyo,” she called wearily as she sat on the chair.
“How are you?” Evan asked from where he sat.
“Hmm, same as you guys left me,” she muttered plainly with her gaze on the table.
“Lisa, you will be fine. Everything will work out in your favor,” Toyosi assured.
She smiled and looked up at her face.
“I don’t know how long I can hold on,” she said wearily.
“You will be out soon, trust me,” Evan assured.
“How is my daughter?” She asked.
“She is doing okay,” Toyo said with a smile.
“I don’t know how to thank you both for all you’ve been doing for me and my daughter. I can’t thank you enough,” she said emotionally as she wiped the tears that trickled down her cheek.
“Lisa, you don’t need to thank us. We are only doing what we ought to be doing,” she said with a smile and Evan nodded.
She sniffed and raised her head to look at their faces.
“How is Daren?” She asked with a wry smile on her lips.
They both took a glance at each other before turning to face her.
“He..he is fine,” Evan replied.
“I still haven’t heard a word from him,” she continued.
“Um, he is actually going through a lot at the moment and he..,” he tried to speak.
“Going through a lot,” she said with a chuckle and he kept silent.
“Yes, going through a lot with his wedding plans?” She asked and she could see the dismay written all over their faces.
“Um..his wedding plans?” Toyo asked as she scratched the back of her head nervously.
“Oh, stop the pretense. I know about his plans to be married to Senator Lawrence’s daughter. My father told me,” she said with a smile.
“Hmm,” Evan mumbled as he took a slow glance at his wife.
“Oh, you don’t need to explain. I get it. Family pressure, right?” She asked with a silent chuckle. “Well, I understand. But I need you to pass a message to him. Tell him I’m waiting to be served the divorce papers,” she said and silence fell in for a moment.
**
As she walked into the cell room, she walked over to the bunker bed and sat with her face buried in her palm. She began to weep uncontrollably.
“Oh, how did I get here?” She cried vehemently.
She raised up her face and sniffed. The news of Daren’s marriage plans had broken her heart to pieces and ever since she was informed about it, she hadn't been able to get the thought off her head.
It gave her sleepless nights considering the fact that he was moving on so fast. After all they shared? She thought and her tears increased.
She wiped off the tears and sat up right. Right now, she needs to be strong. She needs to be strong to face this storm, she said to herself.
*
In the Maserati where he sat, he could see several police vehicles speeding out of the court gate. He looked away sadly as he considered the fact that Lisa might be in one of those vehicles held up in cuffs. Today was the second hearing of her case and he had parked a few distances from the court waiting for Evan.
A few minutes later, the car door opened and Evan stepped into the car, panting heavily. He turned to look at him and he pulled a surprised face as he saw the smile on Evan's face.
“And what’s that smile about?” He asked plainly.
“We are winning,” Evan revealed with a smile.
His heart became elated at the news but he concealed the joy within him and kept a straight face.
“How..how did it go?” He mumbled.
“The autopsy showed that Rita was strangled before being stabbed. Traces of fingerprints showed that there were more than one fingerprints detected on the body, one of which matched with Lisa’s. And according to Lisa, she couldn’t have refrained from touching Rita’s body in that state considering their past relationship,” he related.
“The other fingerprint belongs to the murderer. And it had to be that bastard. I wish we could put up a hunt for him,” Daren said and Evan smiled broadly.
“You really do care about her,” he said and he sighed and looked away slowly.
“About the call that was made to the police concerning the murder, have they been able to find the caller?” He asked and Evan shook his head.
“The police did a search around the neighborhood but none agreed to have made the call to the police. All these are what’s acquitting Lisa from the crime. The murderer made the call,” Evan said thoughtfully.
“Hmm,” he mumbled with a nod.
“The final hearing will be held next month,” he informed.
“That’s great. I pray she regains her freedom,” he said and Evan smiled.
“So, how have you been coping with your fiance?” He asked.
“Coping? She doesn’t even get a chance to see my face. I’m not always around the house. I had to leave often because of her presence,” he related.
“Hmm, but this could make you lose your role in the company,” Evan said anxiously.
“I don’t care, Evan. Right now, I’m tired. I’m tired of everything and most times, I just wanna quit,” he cried.
“Man, it’s going to be fine,” he assured and they both remained silent.
ONE MONTH LATER
“Reporting live from the Criminal Court of Appeal, Eko, Lagos state. Melisa Taiwo, former daughter in-law of Mrs Selina Taiwo has been acquitted from the murder charges confined against her. It could be recalled that she was arrested…”
He bounced out of the couch as he heard the female tv reporter reporting live in front of the courthouse. His eyes didn’t leave the tv screen as he saw a lot of people crowded in front of the courthouse, welcoming Melisa who was being brought out of the court with her father beside her.
His eyes welled up as he saw how pale she looked and he couldn’t hold back his tears from falling.
Just then, his phone rang and he grabbed it up from the table.
“Daren,” Evan’s elated voice sounded from the phone.
“Evan,” he called as he wiped the tears off his cheek.
“She is out! Lisa has been freed!” He cried joyfully.
“I’m watching the news now,” he cried.
“Um, why..why didn’t you show up today?” He asked.
“My mom found out about my last visit to the court and she made sure I didn’t leave the mansion today,” he related.
“Oh, um, we’re heading to her father’s place. Would you come around later?” He asked.
He kept silent and scratched the back of his head.
“Um..I..I don’t know,” he replied.
“Daren, coming to say hi wouldn’t be a bad Idea, considering what you both once shared,” he advised.
“Hmm, I..I will think about it,” he said.
As soon as the call ended, he grabbed his car keys and hurried out of the room. He could see his mother sitting in the living room with Stefany beside her, both watching a movie.
He tried to walk past them and Elsa stood up immediately.
“And where are you heading?” She asked.
“Um..I..I got an emergency call at the office,” he replied.
“Really?” She smirked as she walked towards him.
He sighed heavily and lowered his gaze from her face.
“You think I don’t know? You think I don’t know that Lisa had been freed? And you’re going to say hi, I presume,” she said with a smirk.
He remained silent with his gaze on the floor.
“Go back to your room and don’t make me lose it,” she said with a strong tone.
“Lose it! Mother, lose it!” He yelled aggressively.
“Are you..?” She tried to speak.
“Yes! Yes, I’m screaming in your very face! Lose it!,” He yelled as he tried to walk away.
“Daren! Come back here!,” She yelled as she saw him walking to the door.
He paid no attention and he kept on walking.
“Daren!” She cried as she ran towards him.
He was about to walk out when she grabbed hold of his dress and as he turned swiftly, she fell to the floor and Stefany screamed.
- Writer
