It was their tenth anniversary. Ten years of being married to the woman with the softest heart and the widest smile that could get him to lose his guard whenever he thought of going south. Not to forget, ten years of “yes sirs" to his father-in-law who was practically the head of their home, in every sense of it.
He was definitely the head.
When Mary was going to have their first son, they had registered in a private hospital down the Lekki drive, close enough to them just in case labour began at an odd time. Something sophisticated enough for the daughter of an oil mogul, but unfortunately not good enough for the oil mogul himself. Without prior notice to David, Chief had prepared papers and arranged for her to be flown abroad even without the husband's consent.
The news of her departure got to David when she was about to board the flight to Canada. Of course, only the head of the home could pull stunts of this nature.
David was a die hard romantic. He had something all planned out for this anniversary, something he had not shared with his wife. It was meant to be a surprise, and he was going to keep it that way.
That morning, the sound of Ed Sheeran’s “I've found a love” filled her ears from dream land, only to wake up to the reality of it in their master bedroom that had been decorated with red petals and balloons.
“ Happy anniversary, my love” David's husky voice sounded.
She opened her eyes trying to make sense of all that was happening in their bedroom. She didn't remember it was their anniversary, but she tried really hard to pretend.
“ You forgot, I guess,” David said, walking down the dresser to drop the flowers in his hands.
“I'm sorry, Dee. You know it's been hard for me lately.” Mary tried to pacify her husband.
As he made to respond, a knock interrupted their conversation, so he got his rope, Mary's last birthday gift, and made for the door.
A loud scream came from the sitting room and forced Mary out of the bedroom.
It was too late!
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She saw the black tint glass Corolla zoom off immediately. She tried to run after the car, but it was of no use. Her speed couldn't match up.
Her head got really hot. She needed to call someone. For some minutes, she couldn't find her phone, only to find it thrust between the bedside sofa.
“We have your husband. Do not dare call the police or even your father, else you won't see him again!” The line went dead before she could even say anything.
Tears began running down, as her hands trembled. She had to talk to someone else, she would lose her mind, but feared the caller's warning.
She heard a car honk outside. She dashed into the rest room just in case they had come back for her. It was Sarah, her younger sister. She had left the door open so she walked in announcing her presence with the loud sound from her phone.
“Madam Mary o! Where are you na?” She shouted. She turned the knob of Mary's bedroom door but it was locked. She had a feeling her sister was in there so she wouldn't stop knocking.
Mary's phone rang from inside and betrayed her silence.
“I know you're in there. Come out o!” She yelled again. Mary knew her sister. She wouldn't leave unless she opened the door, so she had to save herself the stress of being disturbed by her.
Her trembling hands opened the door, and she couldn't hold the tears as it began rolling down her cheeks. “Sisi, what is it?
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She began to cry even more and handed the phone to her sister. She wouldn't say a word.
The phone began to ring again. The same unknown number. Her hands began to tremble.
“ Pick your call na” Sarah said to her.
“ If the money doesn't come, your husband will be gone.”
“ Please, don't kill my husband, I beg you”
“Who is about to kill your husband?” Sarah asked, snatching the phone from her. She wouldn't respond. Sarah immediately gave her a look that made her know she meant business and wouldn't accept her silence.
She poured it all out.
Sarah was the fixer, and she was already making calls to people she knew could give solutions.
“ Ten million naira!” Mary screamed. That was what they needed as ransom. She didn't have such money, and the only person who could give it to her was not to hear about the kidnap.
Lawrence’s face was the last one she expected to see. Sarah had called her to help them track the callers. Mary wore a look of uneasiness as he walked in, but she knew too well that this wasn't the time to let past hurts stop her from getting help.
They called again!
Lawrence had advised her to sustain the call so he could track the location of the caller. She kept begging as tactics to prolong the call, and it worked.
Lawrence's commercial mini bus came in handy. They didn't get there alone. They parked at a vantage position and came down trying to locate the building. The street was filled with abandoned houses and it was hard to pinpoint.
As they got closer, the coordinate pointed to a particular house. They quickly moved behind. Mary had joined them.
Her first step into the background, he saw him, walking freely. “David!” She whispered in surprise. How was he walking freely when he had been kidnapped?
Lawrence and the other police men immediately joined her. She stood dumb founded for some minutes. She wanted to believe it was a lie, but it wasn't.
He had planned the kidnap. He knew her soft heart would make her raise the money in no time. The police men immediately grabbed him along with the others.
As he was pushed out, his eyes met with Mary's, but she quickly looked away, lest her fragile emotions get the best of her.
