KILLER WITHIN

KILLER WITHIN EPISODE TWELVE

The last thing Stella expected to happen was to find Lexi waiting for her in her house, the knife in her hand spoke her mind but she remained rooted to the ground not knowing what to do.

"I can take her" she thought to herself but Lexi was already up and going around her drawing lines with the knife across her chest.

Lexi: people like you with loud mouths shouldn't live you know.

Stella: and you should?

Stella managed to ask shaking nervously.

Lexi: I didn't want to but should I complain over a second chance?

Stella did not respond to that. In her head she was debating how she was going to grab the knife from her and do worst than she did to her brother.

Lexi: where is he?

Stella: who?

Lexi: your brother dummy. Haven't i been asking about him since i got here?

Stella: fighting for his life in a hospital. You put him in that condition you know that right?

Lexi: I want to see him.

Stella: you will not do such thing.

Lexi walked up to her and grabbed stalla's neck and sqeezed it so hard and didn't let her go even when she tap her hand. she started choking then Lexi showed her the knife she was holding in her other hand and Stella was nolonger afraid of her..what was the worse she could do anyway?

Stella: you want to kill me, go ahead. But you should know I am the reason you are still alive. You should be grateful..

She struggled to speak but when Lexi heard that, she let her go and pushed her and she fell on the couch then turned to look at her.

She did not really get what Stella had meant by what she said so she got back to her, got down to where she had fallen and looked into her eyes.

Lexi: what do you mean by it's because of you I'm alive?..

Stella: you drove a knife inside my brother and you know Remi right, she is an officer and she had thought of arresting you..

She burst into a laugher like that was the funniest joke she had heard in a while..

Stella: what is funny?

Lexi: you of cause, so tell me... where do you come in?

Stella: I told her to let you be.

Lexi: wow!.. that is very foolish of you. You think i am afraid of her? I will snap her neck before a bullet from her hits me. Like I said, I need to see Martin and you will make that happen.

She grabbed Stella and started pulling her up but Stella pushed her off her and got up by herself.

Stella: you think I will let you see my brother so that you can kill him this time.

Stella had got some courage and she still didn't seem to be afraid of Lexi. She was only scared of the knife in her hand. The knife that took the life from people..

Lexi: you think I did that because I wanted to, what do you take me for?

Stella rolled her eyes and started to walk away but Lexi blocked her way and Stella stood back.

Lexi: I didn't mean to do that. I was so mad.

Stella: exactly my point. You didn't mean to but you did it anyway. He is lying in that hospital bed because of you. Your madness will get my brother killed one of this days and i am just protecting him from you.

Stella said that walking towards the TV stand where there was a nice flower vase just besides the TV. She knew Lexi would attempt to attack her so she grabbed the vase then turned to Lexy and smashed the vase on her head then quickly ran to her bedroom as Lexi tried to find balance...

Remi and the other officers had just gotten to Banda's office and found the secretary dead with a crowd gathered outside Banda's office. Everyone was shocked as no one really saw or heard anything that had happened. Banda had a piece of clothe tied to his hand with the chopped off finger resting on the table. When Remi walked in, she was very surprised that someone could be that heartless..

Remi: what happened here?

Remi asked wearing gloves then turning the secretary over to take a look at her wound. She had been stubbed in the stomach and in the chest as well.

Banda: we got attacked.

Remi turned her face from the dead body to him..

Remi: by who?

Banda took a deep breath before disclosing that his daughter attacked them.

Banda was just a cowered because the time Lexi was all up on the secretary he should have found a way to stop her. He could have stopped her because he was a man and men had enough strength to put a woman down but who could blame him. Lexi had man power in her and it was worse because a killer was living inside her and any candidate would pass for blood shed.

Remi: state your name for the record sir.

Banda: my name is Haroon Banda.

Remi: the name of your daughter and where she lives.

Banda: Lexi...Lexi Banda and I don't know where she lives as per now.

Remi looked at him quite surprised and before she could say a word a call came through her personal phone and it was Stella calling.

She stepped away from Banda and received the call hoping Stella had news about Lexi's whereabouts..

Remi: yes girl?

Stella: she is here... You need to come here before she kills me.

Remi: Lexi?

Stella: yes.. hurry, I'm locked up in my room.

Remi: I am on my way.

Stella was scared out of her mind because Lexi was banging outside her door shouting and asking to see Martin. She kept threatening to kill Stella if she didn't open the door and Stella was afraid that she was eventually going to break the door. She was behaving too barbaric for a woman.

Looking at Lexi, you wouldn't tell she had all the strength in her. On a normal day, she would be so calm, soft and one would even think she does not talk. She did but not too much so this version of her was hard to accommodate..

Remi: I think I know where to find your daughter.

She said asking the other officers to take away the secretary's body and finish taking Banda's statement. Remi left to go attend to Stella having made up her mind that this time, she was going to kill Lexi for everyone's peace of mind.

Officer: why would your daughter come after you in this manner. Is there anything you did to her?

Banda: no officer. Most of my life I have lived away from her so there was no room to do anything that could make her do this to me.

Officer: are there cctvs in this building.

Banda: yes sir. I will show you to our IT department.

The officer then allowed Banda to go to the hospital but be ready to answer any questions they would want to ask. They then left Banda's office to the IT department. Inside Banda's office there was no CCTV but the camera must have caught Lexi going in and leaving the building....

Elsewhere..

Vera and Laura knew each other though they didn't have a close relationship like Lawrence and Thompson did. They had done double date dinners which turned out to be full of fake smiles and alot of pretence because vera and Laura were complete opposites and the last thing they would become was friends. Vera felt powerful on her own and so did Laura.

She gathered courage to call Laura and ask her out on a date and as awkward as it would sound, they needed to talk about few things. Both parties had interest in the same thing only that they both didn't know who knew what about what. After Laura finished talking to vera she smiled as he put her phone on the table and stopped working on her computer for a second.

Laura: interesting, what does she want now?

She asked herself as she played with a pen in her hand and bit its lid..

Thompson's funeral was coming up that weekend and maybe vera needed help with a few things, at least that's what Laura innocently assumed. Laura wasn't as innocent as she seemed. She loved Lawrence yes but after Lawrence told her about the deal with Thompson she was more interested in waiting for Lawrence to get the money than she was ever into him.

She had plans, plans that did not include Lawrence in it because she was tired of his cheating ass and wanted to get enough money from him that she wouldn't have to regret a thing even If Lawrence left her. His death came In as a shock but not he type of shock that would make her roll down and cry in pain. It was a good redance kind of pain.

3:00 pm. That was the set time for the lunch date. Laura said she was finishing a few things in the office before she could get to join vera who called up George and told him about the meeting. George was unpredictable and no one could really tell what he could be thinking. He handled some issues very casually and others he should alot of interest and that made Vera a little bit confused especially with the fact that he did not really care so much about vera meeting up with Laura. Its like she was forcing him in participating in whatever plans she had.

Vera: should we capture her then?

George: no. You go on that lunch date and play nice. Gather whatever you can and don't make it seem like an interrogation.

Vera: okay. I have been thinking,

George: I'm listening.

Vera: what if we go to Lawrence's place, maybe we can search the place and come up with something..

George: the place is a crime scene. We can't get in. Not with the cops eyes everywhere..

Vera: we will find a way.

George: okay then. Let me know how it goes with the lunch thing

He hanged up then laid back in his seat at the office and called in the secretary who responded and walked in after a minute or so.

George: Lucy, do I have any other appointments for today apart from Mr. Chong?

Lucy: yes sir, you have one more. A meeting with Lynn from the Lynn Designs.

George: yes I need a few suits because I will be meeting a few important people in the course of next month. I will see the two then don't take in any more appointments for the next three days. I'm taking a short leave.

Lucy: okay sir. Is there a problem sir?

He sat up and looked at her and he thought she was asking that because she knew something but he flagged it off.

George: no. There is no problem Lucy.. anything else?

Lucy: no sir..

She turned to walk away but he called her again..

Lucy: sir...

George: bring in all the documents that need my signature on them then lastly I need you to make a reservation in one of the most expensive hotels.

Lucy: for a guest sir?

George: for me. Make a reservation for two.

Lucy's face lit up but she didn't want to ask questions that could get her fired or land her in trouble. She smiled and walked away...

The officers at Banda's office looked at the footages and saw Lexi walking out of Banda's officer in a hurry.

Officer: is that her?

One of the officers asked looking back at Banda.

Banda: yes. That is her.

They watched her work on the guards thoroughly before they asked for a printout then they left the office for the station as Banda got in his car and asked the driver to drive him to the hospital.

On his way to the hospital, Banda called Gloria who had just come out of her liquor store. Gloria had several business running hence the term prominent business woman. She had that liquor store and a club that brought in a lot of cash then she had a boutique where she sold designer clothes then she also had a gas company and did supplies all over the country.

Gloria: Haroon?

Banda: why didn't you tell me that she is a psychopath?

Gloria: what are you talking about?

Banda: Lexi. She chopped my finger off.

Gloria: oh wow!

Banda: oh wow?...what is that supposed to mean?

Gloria: what do I have to do with Lexi chopping off your finger, Haroon I am too busy for such petty talks. Listen, I raised the kid you left the best way I could and now it's your turn to tame her. You are the man remember?... I have washed my hands off Lexi because I cannot control her actions anymore. She is your daughter too, handle her..

Banda: and every conversation has to come back to that?

Gloria: yes. You shouldn't have left and if your finger is chopped off, why are you calling me, don't you have a wife or am.i the map to a hospital?.

Banda: I just needed you to know what Lexi has done Glo, that girl can kill someone.

Gloria: well, let her kill and go to jail. I am tired Haroon, I really am. Don't call me over such unless it's business.

She hanged up and left him in shock.

Banda: ( to his driver) can't you drive any fast?

The driver looked at him through the rare view mirror but didn't say a word...

Remi got to Stella's house and from the look of things the house seemed in good shape. She rushed towards Stella's bedroom announcing that she was already there but when she got there, the door had been broken and there were traces of blood on the floor with a writing on the wall. " Stay out of my way Remi" the writing was done with blood, Stella's blood.

Remi: oh God!

She shouted Launching herself on the edge of the bed after her legs failed to support her.

She got her phone and called Stella but it was not going through. She got up and searched the house for Stella's body because from the blood she could see, she was certain that Lexi had cut her up to death.

Remi: damn you Lexi. I should have killed you when I had the chance.

She said walking towards the kitchen where she found water dripping in the sink with Stella's phone inside it. She got the phone but it was dead.

Remi didn't know what to do or where to start looking. This one person was already making her life hell by driving a knife into everyone and disappearing without a trace.

Remi made a call to her partner kip and asked him to meet her up at Gloria's place. Remi thought Gloria ought to have known where Lexi is or better still she would be housing her. There were only two places she could look. Gloria's house and Martin's house but she wouldn't be stupid enough to go back to Martin's house knowing Remi would definitely go after her.

Later that afternoon vera showed up at the restaurant where she was meeting with Laura and was punctual than the agreed time so she ordered a drink and scrolled through her phone the entire time as she waited for her..

A few minutes later a car pulled up outside the restaurant and vera noticed the car because it was the car that Lawrence was driving before he died. Laura was there.

She cat walked balancing her slender self on heels that perfectly matched her purse and when vera signalled her, she walked up to her table and you know how girls are, vera got up to give her that fake hug and had to keep smiling and put up a show she thought could atleast pay.

Vera: you look good girl.

Laura: thank you. You do not look bad yourself.

Vera smiled then noticed the ring on Laura's finger. It was an engagement ring.

Vera: wow, that's so beautiful. He proposed?

Laura looked at the ring with a sad face then nodded and hid her finger.

Vera: I'm truly sorry for your loss Laura, I didn't mean to bring it up.

Laura: no that's okay, I should be telling you the same. It's just hard that he had to die just a few months to our wedding.

Laura didn't look very disturbed like a person who had lost a loved one and vera could fill in the dots that she was in it only for the money..

Vera: that's a nice car out there. Is it yours?

Laura: no. It's was Lawrence's but now it's mine. The person who killed Lawrence stole it but the cops brought it back after I presented the log book.

Vera: the person who killed him, wait, you know the person who killed him?

Laura: I haven't met her but I understand it's some woman driven by some psychotic demon killer in her.

Vera looked shocked. Could it be the same woman posing to George as Thompson's secretary?

She thought to herself before her thoughts were interrupted by a waiter.

Waiter: what do I offer you?

Laura: some good steak. Nicely fried with anything to accompany it. Oh! And cold passion juice.

Waiter: and you madam?

Vera: I will have chicken wings.. thanks.

Laura noticed the look on Vera's face and their eyes met as Laura was staring.

Laura: are you okay?

Vera: yes I am.

Laura: you don't look okay. Is it something I said?

Vera: no. I'm just thinking, is it a coincidence that both Thompson and Lawrence would die withing the same month, I feel like there is something that is not adding up.

Laura: you think Thompson was killed too?

Vera: yes, it's the way he died that makes me doubt if it was a coincident....

Flash back to a few days before Thompson's death

George: is it done?

George asked the mechanic who had spent a few minutes tampering with Thompson's brakes.

Mechanic: yes. I cut the brakes and whoever you want dead will surely die. I don't fail in my job.

Vera handed him the money then he got out of George's car and George drove off.

Vera: I'm scared George. What if he does not die?

George: then he will not know we are the ones who attempted to kill him. You are his fiancee, I'm his best friend, why would he suspect us and we don't even do s**t in his face?

Vera: you are right, I'm just nervous.

George: you should not be. The guy assured us of having done a good job and i want to believe he did.

Vera: what about the rest. Do you think they will keep their mouths shut?

George: if they don't, we eliminate them too starting with Lawrence. It bothers me that he and Thompson are also close and I know he could be telling him all the things we know.

Vera: I think so too because why else would he agree to kill him?..

The waiter brought back their orders and placed each of their orders before them and they started eating.

Laura: the police are looking for the woman who killed Lawrence, maybe when they find her, we will know if she had something to do with Thompson's death as well. He was a good man.

Vera: yes he was.. what really happened, how did the woman get access to Lawrence's house, i thought the place was..

Laura: it is..

She didnt wait for her to finish that sentence...

Vera: i see...

Laura: i think the lady bought her way in.. Lawrence had called for a cab and from what the guards reported, she paused as the cab driver.

Vera: that's crazy.. i hope they find her..

Laura nodded then watched Vera get her phone. She looked at Laura who had her eyes fixed on her as she dug in her food like her mind wasn't on it..

Laura: you are needed somewhere?

Vera: no....sorry, it's work. Can I respond to an email real quick?

Laura nodded then switched her focus to her food.

Vera

I'm with Laura. She says a woman killed Lawrence and the police are looking for her. Could your mystery woman be the one involved in Lawrence's death and why?.

George

I will find out tonight. If yes, get everything she knows and put a bullet in her head. Good job.

Vera

Wait did you say tonight, are you going to sleep with her?

George

I have to get information from her somehow right, you are mine and she is not so relax.

Laura: that must be a very serious email you are responding to.

Laura said sipping a glass of her juice after noticing how serious vera had become.

Vera looked up and put her phone away.

Vera: yes but I'm done..sorry about that...

Laura thought something was off about her but she decided to play cool. She was not worried about vera for she never saw her as a threat. She just didn't like her too..

Lucy, George's secretary came into his office after George had left the meeting room and showed him to her tablet.

Lucy: the reservation is made sir. The payment is done and your room will be ready when you get there.

George: thank you Lucy. I will be leaving the office in the next hour. If there is anything pending I needed to deal with it right now.

Lucy: okay sir but everything is okay.

George nodded and Lucy left after he dialed a number on his phone and place the mobile on his ear and waited for a short while before it was picked..

George: hello beautiful?

Lexi: hello handsome.

She said rolling her eyes and making faces..

George: okay, you are flattering me..I'm not that handsome.

Lexi: you don't know that.

George: okay, if you insist that I'm handsome who am I to say I am not.

Lexi: it's awkward you are calling me after the way you talked to me in your office earlier.

George: and how did I talk to you beautiful?

He asked in a low soft tone like he was trying to seduce her which he was..

Lexi: like you were suspecting me of something, anyway.. what do you want?

George: I want you... Tonight... I want to be able to apologise like a man... For the way I treated you earlier you know. You did not deserve that.

Lexi: it is good you acknowledge that you treated me badly but it's too late. I m not interested any more.

George: come on baby girl, I said I'm sorry. Listen,..give me one chance to make it right. This time, I will treat you like a queen I promise.

There was silence from Lexi's end like she was trying to take a moment to figure out how geniune the call was because she thought it was awkward for him to call her. What had he found out about her?..

George: where do I pick you up from, where I dropped you last time?

Lexi: no. How about we meet where you want me to come?

George: now,. that won't be romantic will it?

Lexi made a sigh.

Lexi: okay fine, I will text you the address..

George: okay beautiful, see you later?

Lexi: okay...

George ended the call and smiled. He talked to himself for a second then pulled the drawer to his desk and pulled out a gun. He looked at the gun for a while then stuffed it inside his bag.

George: let's see what you have rolled up in your sleeves Lexi...