Bimbo leaned on Femi’s mum as the driver drove. She didn’t understand the need to go to Ogun state with her step-father and a woman who continued to act like she was her daughter, but the song playing softly from the car stereo sang “Lord I trust you I trust you with my life, Amasihu kai kadai,” by Solomon Lange.
The doctor had said it was safe to now listen to songs again.
She had begun to listen to the songs recommended by Femi. He had refused to get her former memory cards, and truthfully, the new songs were not for a pity party unlike her former songs- a playlist of people comparing their wounds and receiving no healing- neither was it sedating her to sleep.
“Bimbo, are you worried again? Or do you need something?” Mrs Elihana, who had proved caring to her from day one asked to which she nodded in the negative. Her most important belongings had been put in the car booth. She didn’t own a lot, so she wondered why there was the need for another car for Femi and his father. It could be bonding issues, she thought and wished for sleep. unfortunately, sleep was not included in her belongings which were in the booth neither could the kind woman who wanted a girl child buy her sleep, even if she asked.
Femi sat in the back of his father’s car with his father while they tried to catch up with their lives. They got to a police checkpoint and were stopped by a stern-looking policeman.
“Good day officer,” the driver curtsied while Mr Ademola whined the backseat glass down.
The policeman was asking for different documents when another officer who seemed to be higher in rank than the first walked towards the car.
“Chief, good day, Sir,” the police officer hailed when he drew near. Femi looked at his father with a “what?” look. his father hadn’t talked about being a Chief. No wonder he had the red bead on his hand. He had thought that it was just for fashion. Well, the journey from Ibadan to Ogun state was too short for them to catch up on the tales of sixteen years.
“Good afternoon officer,” Chief Adegoke replied.
“Investigations are underway. We found the hideout just like you told us even though it was a difficult task.” The first officer had the good sense to stop what he was doing and leave for another car.
Chief Adegoke nodded, a sign that the high-ranking officer should continue.
“And I’m sorry for your detention in Ibadan. I should have done a better job when you informed me that you were going to see your daughter in Ibadan.”
“I guess that was just punishment for my sins.”
“My brother, you’re still talking this way. Old things are passed away. You stopped all these things and reported to the police. It’s not likely that the judge will punish you along with them,” the officer said in a familiar tone.
“What about the judge in heaven? I committed my sins and I’m being punished for them.”
“Jesus already paid the debt of your sins, but let’s not argue scriptures. We’re going to their hideout tonight. I wasn’t going to tell you, but I think you need to know. That’s why I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Can I come with you?”
“You have no experience whatsoever sir. You cannot come. We’re a special squad that has undergone rigorous training. I wish I hadn’t told you this.”
“But you might need my help with planning even if I don’t go with you.”
The officer nodded. The grey-haired man had grey hairs for nothing. “We could do that, but you’re leaving for home as soon as you review the plan.”
Femi’s father unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
“Femi, I’ll be back home later today. The driver will take you home,” he said to Femi before closing the door.
Femi watched his father get into the police van and get driven off by the high ranking policeman. Truth be told, his father was a changed man. The driver drove off the checkpoint as he dialled his pastor’s number to give him updates.
Mrs Elihana sighed as she watched her ex-husband get into the police van and be driven off. She had also seen the car drive Femi off. She had watched everything from the spot where the driver had parked, not too far from the checkpoint. It was a good thing that Bimbo was sleeping when she hurriedly told the driver to park on sighting the car that looked like the one that had Femi’s belongings, especially the foodstuff she had brought for him, stopped by the police. Bimbo who was still trying to heal in every aspect would have been scared at the way the driver had swerved to obey her command.
“I thought he was going to be arrested,” she said out loud.
“Madam, Oga na trustworthy person. He’s trying to fight ritualists with the police. Police no fit arrest am. He’s a very good man,” the driver said and Mrs Elihana tweaked her nose, not believing.
“Even though we know say him do ritual before,” Mrs Elihana’s ears grew longer when the driver said that.
“Please continue,” she urged him.
The driver smiled as he checked her image from the centre mirror. The suspense was unmistakable. From the way she looked, he knew that she was the former wife that Chief had often spoken about.
“He no fit keep that kind thing secret from us. He say im be Christian now. Na him make me believe in God.”
Mrs Elihana’s ears were full. She had heard enough. “Can we continue our journey please?”
“Yes madam. E just be say police go ask us why we hide from them. Them go search us tire.”
She understood what he was saying. The police wouldn’t easily believe that they weren’t hiding something.
“Just tell them that you had to pick a call.”
“Oga say Christian no fit lie even when trouble dey. We go just tell them the truth.”
“That what?” her alarm went off.
“That you were spying on my oga,” he smiled.
Femi’s mum realized that he was just toying with her and laughed.
“Wetin be your name?” she asked him.
“Peter. I’m chief’s PA” Peter said in Queens English and looked back. The shock on Femi’s mum’s face was palpable. The bicycle seat on his head had just been removed to reveal a new person.
“Chief wanted you to be okay. He didn’t just want you taking care of Bimbo for nothing.
I don’t think that telling you is professional, but his regret about everything that happened is as deep as the ocean.
Peter drove off as the tears rolled down her cheek.
