Hostile Takeover

Chapter Nine

The energy around was heavy; somber. There were inmates everywhere on his sides. Arista could see Nolan on the other side of the thick wire fencing that separated the inmates from the visitors’ bay. Right behind Nolan was a massive-closed steel gate for vehicular access and a short pedestrian gate about eighty centimeters high everyone would squat to pass through. On Arista’s right side was a pathway to the prison heavily guarded by armed officers.

‘How have you been, brother?’ Nolan asked.

‘Been alright,’ Arista replied.

‘How are you?’

‘Oh, I’m well,’ Nolan said, his eyes searching.

‘Don’t get sentimental on me now. I made peace with this situation days back,’ Arista said with a reassuring smile.

‘It’s only been two weeks,’ Nolan said.

‘I know, I can count days pally I’m not exactly in a windowless room, and I go to therapy most days.’ Arista responded.

‘Okay, how is that going?’

‘It keeps me out of everybody’s air,’ Arista replied.

‘That’s good.’

‘How is community service?’ he asked.

‘Terrible man, they’re making us clean the drainage around town; scoop out the filthy stinky mud, all the drainages man it’s a lot of work. Then, after that, only God knows where they will take us,’ Nolan replied.

‘Well, you get a chance to make your city clean.’

‘Very funny,’ Nolan commented.

‘I’m sorry, I brought you this troubled man,’ Arista said.

‘Who’s getting sentimental now? Are they giving you meds that are messing with your emotions up in the psych ward?’

Arista laughed awkwardly.

‘It’s not a psych ward, it’s the therapist’s office dummy.’

‘You eating well?’ Arista asked.

‘Why don’t you just go ahead and ask me what you really want to ask?’ Nolan replied.

‘We can’t touch it, it’s still hot,’ Arista replied.

‘That’s not what I mean, that’s not what you really want to ask about,’ Nolan said, looking his friend deep in the eyes.

‘Okay, how is she?’ He finally asked.

‘Pissed.’ Nolan started,

‘She paid me a visit yesterday; she was asking a lot of questions, bro.’

‘What about?’ Arista inquired.

‘You know exactly what about.’

‘What did you tell her?’ he asked.

‘Nothing, I told her to ask you so she will be paying you a visit real soon,’ Nolan answered.

‘She’s not stupid man.’

‘She won’t come here, have been waiting for her to visit bro, I haven’t spoken to her since the church incident, don’t even know where we stand,’ Arista said somberly.

‘Oh, she’s coming, and you better be ready. Look, man, if you truly plan to work things out, which I’m sure you do, I suggest you tell her; everything,’ Nolan said.

‘Brighton?’ Arista asked.

‘I don’t know, haven’t seen him in a bit. You may still have a chance; they don’t stick around if they don’t want you … you told me that, remember?’ He replied.

‘I hope so.’

‘Alright man, I have to run. Talk to you soon.’ Nolan said.

‘Alright bro, thanks for coming.’

‘Keep your head down.’

As he returned to the yard, Chishala and two goons were waiting for him on a rock.

‘You took your time, didn’t you Loony? You kept me waiting, told you I wanted to talk to you,’ Chishala said.

‘What do you want?’ and I have told before, don’t call me that, I am not a lunatic.’ Arista spoke.

‘Why the bitter attitude? We are all friends here, aren’t we?’

‘Right,’ Arista replied.

‘Yes, friends and friends help each other, don’t they? So, I ask again, how did you make those fakes you’re so famous for?’ Chishala asked, his goons all over Arista.

‘I have told you already, I didn’t make them.’ He spoke.

‘Yeah, who did?’

‘A guy I met once.’

‘Who?’ Chishala demanded.

‘I don’t have contact, we met once.’

A hard fist thudded in Arista’s diaphragm, and he dropped on his knees wincing in pain.

‘Hey! What are you doing?’ someone yelled from a distance.

‘This isn’t over Loony, we’re not finished,’ Chishala said and walked away.

At 9 in the morning, he could still vaguely feel the impact of the punch he had received the previous afternoon. He had just been called for visitation.

‘It’s going to be a very long three years.’ He thought as he felt yet another depressing noon approaching.

‘Another visit, could this be her?’ he thought as a guard escorted him by the elbow.

As they headed to the visitors bay, he saw her, standing clumsily with both hands clasped onto her purse. In a floral knee-high dress, low healed brown pumps on her feet. She looked absolutely gorgeous, which made him feel even sicker with nerves. Her pregnancy was now very visible. As he was brought near, they locked their eyes, hers were a hard stare.

‘Hi.’ He said.

‘Hi,’ she replied.

‘How are you?’ he asked.

‘Good, you?’

‘Never better,’ he said, smiling.

But his smile died as quickly as he saw her face as hard as a statue.

‘The baby?’ he asked.

‘Healthy.’ She replied.

‘That’s good, how’s Aunt Maureen?’ he asked.

‘She’s fine, Arista, I am here for one thing and one thing only; the truth.’ She said,

‘spill.’

‘I don’t understand,’ he said.

‘You think you have everyone fooled, don’t you? Whatever you and Nolan are up to, tell me, everything.’ She whispered.

‘Patra what are you saying?’

‘Cut it Sta, after everything you’ve put me … put us through, the least you can do is have some respect and give us some honesty.’ She said, rubbing a hand on her lump.

‘Patra, I am sorry for all my actions and what the consequences have costed you both. I really am, I can make it up to you, I promise.’ he said.

‘The truth Arista, tell me.’ She whispered to him, two teardrops now running down her cheeks.

Arista felt his soul sink, then his heart burning. He could give anything to hold her close, he would hold her and never let go. He could give everything to feel his child kicking. But there was a heavy-duty wire barrier between them.

‘We won’t waste away because of you. If you don’t tell me the whole truth right now, I’m leaving, and I’m going to make my own choices for myself and my child.’ She said.

‘Patra, what truth?’

Before he could finish, she was turning away.

‘Wait …’ he said, gripping the fence tightly.

The guard took two steps towards him, and so he let go.

‘I love you Pat, I love you both so much.’ He said, his eyes glittery.

‘If you really love us, tell the truth.’

He paused, his lower lip shaking, his heart rate rising.

‘Now! Arista.’

‘Talk to Nolan, he will tell you everything.’ He said with a depressed sigh.

‘No, you tell me, I’m asking you.’ She protested.

‘I can’t, we don’t have that kind of luxury. Tell Nolan. I said Red herring … he will tell you.’ He replied.

‘What the heck is that? What is a red herring?’ she asked.

‘Talk to Nolan, he will tell you, come back soon, please.’