CHAPTER FIVE

Zamiwe walked into the living room throwing her hand bag on the floor and herself on the couch. She put her legs on the table as she exhaled heavily.

“What a day!” She sighed. “Ludo!” She called.

She was very tired that she dosed off within minutes of sitting down.

“Anybody home?” Joe asked as he entered the living room.

He was equally tired from his trip. He saw Zamiwe sleeping on the couch and memories flashed back. He remembered how good they were together before Ludo’s sickness kicked in. They were a small happy family. He walked to her and sat beside her. He looked at her and smiled. Her face was covered with her hair. He moved the hair to the side. He was looking at her face clearly now. She was still as beautiful as ever. If only she could have been this beautiful even when she was awake, perhaps they could have been happy but behind this sleepy innocent face was a nagger.

She felt him touch her and woke up. She looked at him and smiled.

“You are home?” She asked.

“Yes Zamiwe,” he answered. “I’m hungry,” he touched his belly.

“I just got here too. Let’s go and eat, I saw something on the dining table,” she said standing up.

As she was walking to the dining room, he stopped her and held her from behind.

“Joe!” She complained.

“What?” He held her tightly. “I miss you Zamiwe.”

“Really?” She held his hands.

“So much. I don’t know where we went wrong.”

“Ludo’s condition happened,” she said.

“We were supposed to grow closer.”

“All we do is argue about the best treatment for her.”

“But we can make it better. Ludo has grown. She knows when we argue and fight,” Joe let go of her and turned her to face him.

“Do you think we can make it better?” She asked looking at him teary.”

“I know we can,” he answered assured of himself. “Don’t cry on me, you’ll spoil my boner,” he wickedly smiled.

“Let me see,” she reached for his bulge.

“Are we going to eat or?” He looked at her.

She wrapped her hands around his neck. He pulled her closer while his hands held her waist tightly.

“I still love you Joe,” she told him.

“I do too,” he kissed her.

He led her to the bedroom.

“Ludo!” She called.

“Leave her, I guess she’s sleeping. Let’s enjoy our time,” he said.

“Our time,” she giggled closing the door behind her.

An alarm woke them up at 5am.

“I’m not going anywhere today,” Joe whined.

“Neither am I. I just forgot to switch it off,” Zamiwe said yawning. “I’m pressed though.”

“Go and relieve yourself before you pee on the bed,” Joe covered himself with the sheets.

Zamiwe got out of bed and went to the restroom. She got done and was on her way back to the bedroom when she noticed Ludo’s bedroom door opened and her bed made. It was five in the morning. Where could Ludo be going? She asked herself.

“Ludo sweetie!” She called walking to the room. “Where are you going to this morning? Do you have an appointment with Mr. Visashi?”

She got into the room and there was no sign of Ludo. Fear creeped in. She went to the kitchen and all the other rooms but Ludo was nowhere to be found.

“Joe!” She yelled.

Joe quickly got off the bed and ran to Ludo’s room where Zamiwe was at.

“What is it?” He asked concerned.

She pointed to the bed.

“What?” He asked confused.

“I think Ludo didn’t spend the night here,” she answered scared.

“What do you mean she didn’t spend the night here?” Joe walked around the room checking the closets. “Isn’t she in the bathroom?”

“I’ve checked her there already, she isn't there,” Zamiwe bit her nails.

Joe went back to the bedroom and got his phone. He called Ludo’s number but it was off. He went back to Ludo’s bedroom.

“Her phone is off,” he looked at Zamiwe. “Are you sure you checked all the rooms. The study?”

Zamiwe nodded.

Joe tried to call again when Zamiwe showed him Ludo’s phone. Despair filled Joe and he went into a rage.

“This is the thing I talk about. You are careless Zamiwe. I found you home and our daughter was not here and you didn’t bother to check on her. What kind of mother are you?”

“Don’t you dare question my parenthood Joe. If it wasn’t for your libido, I could have checked on her,” she said angrily.

“You were supposed to check on her!” He yelled.

Zamiwe sat on Ludo’s bed thinking about where Ludo could have gone to. Joe left the bedroom and went to check outside.

“Ludo!” He called.

Zamiwe followed him. She watched him walk around calling their daughter’s name.

“Does she have friends?” He asked her.

“None I know of,” Zamiwe answered. “I doubt if she could go anywhere without her phone.”

The sun came out and they were still outside.

“Let’s call the police,” Zamiwe suggested.

“Not yet. We don’t know if she’s missing. For all we know, she might have gone for a run,” Joe said. “Let’s wait a little longer.”

Nancy came and found the two outside. They looked worried but Nancy never liked to meddle in other people’s businesses especially her bosses. She greeted them and walked past them.

“Nancy!” Joe called her.

“Sir,” she answered turning around.

“Did you leave Ludo here?”

“Yes sir.”

“What time did you sign out?” Zamiwe asked.

“The usual time madam. 5'oclock pm. Is everything ok?” She asked.

“Yes Nancy you can go in and start your work.”

Nancy was astounded with how her bosses asked her the questions. She got in and went to the kitchen. She found the plates and warmers the way she had left them in the dining room. She was hit that something was wrong. She knew Ludo would have at least eaten something. As a matter of fact, Ludo promised Nancy that she would eat. Nancy was used to Zamiwe and Joe not eating most times but Ludo, would eat something. She ran back outside.

“Where is Ludo?” She asked her eyes wide open.

Zamiwe and Joe looked at her surprised.

“I know Ludo is not here,” she said.

“Maybe she’s gone for a run,” Joe said.

“Ludo doesn’t run.”

“We know,” Joe and Zamiwe said at the same time.

The three waited for nothing until 9am. Zamiwe decided to call Mrs. Visashi to ask because she was the only closest person to Ludo apart from them.

“I don’t have Kate’s number,” she groaned.

“I think I do,” Joe reached for his phone.

“Why do you have her number?” Zamiwe asked.

“She was my daughter’s teacher. Why shouldn’t I?” He shrugged.

She clicked her tongue.

He gave her the number. She called Kate.

“Hello Kate,” she said.

“Hi Zamiwe,” Kate answered.

“Sorry to bother you this early but is there a chance that Ludo is at your house?”

“Ludo?”

“Yes.”

“No. What is it?”

“She’s not here. We didn’t find her when we woke up.”

“Don’t tell me!" Mrs Visashi exclaimed. "Have you called any of her friends?”

“She doesn’t have any friends. That’s the reason I called you.”

“Call the police.”

“My husband says we can’t fill in a missing person report because it’s only been hours.”

“That’s true.”

“How about her phone?”

“It’s here with me.”

“That’s strange.”

“Thanks Kate. I'm hanging up now”

“If anything, let me know,” Kate said cutting the call.

She looked at Kent whose jaws were almost dropping. He touched his head and got out of the bed.

“It’s them!” He said worriedly.

“We don’t know that Kent,” Kate said getting up.

“Where could she have gone then?” He asked. “One minute, I meet up with Brains and she goes missing.”

“Nobody knows that she’s missing.”

“You seem to be calm,” Kent looked at Kate.

“I don’t want to panic. I don’t want to think about what could have happened to poor Ludo. I’m keeping my mind positive. I know she’s safe wherever she is.”

“I hope so Kate,” Kent said thoughtful. “The man I met yesterday seems dangerous. From what i heard, the manuscript is pretty nasty.”

“Let’s wait. I’m sure Zamiwe will call me when she comes home. Stop thinking about the manuscript, it doesn’t matter at the moment.”

“Maybe she has a boyfriend,” Kent said doubting.

“I doubt,” Kate said.

Zamiwe, Joe and Nancy kept looking at the gate waiting for it to be opened by Ludo. They had sat on the veranda for three straight hours waiting for nothing. It was now lunch and Nancy went in to prepare something for them. She kept praying that Ludo was safe. She finished preparing and went outside to call them.

“I cannot eat anything until my daughter comes back,” Zamiwe refused.

Nancy looked at Joe.

Joe nodded.

Nancy was hungry but she knew eating would seem like she didn’t care. She joined the two and sat down.

The gate opened and they all stood up. It was Kate. After talking with her husband, they decided that Kate should visit Ludo’s house. They agreed not to mention anything concerning Ludo’s book being Non-Fiction. They didn’t want to worry Ludo’s parents because they didn’t know what was really happening and jumping into conclusions would put all of them in danger.

“Tell me she’s back,” Kate said walking to the three.

Zamiwe shook her head.

Joe reached for his phone.

“I’m calling the police,” he looked at his watch. “It’s almost 4pm. This is so not Ludo.”

The ladies looked at him in agreement.

Joe called the police and explained everything to them. He was told to go to the station and file in a missing person report.

“We should get inside,” Joe told the women.

They all got up and went inside. Zamiwe was quiet looking at her phone. The way she knew her daughter, she could have at least called her to tell her she was safe. Joe went to take a bath in readiness of his visit to the station. Nancy made herself busy in the kitchen. Kate sat with Zamiwe in silence.

“I’m done,” Joe said. “I will call you when I get to the station.”

Joe walked to the door and as he was about to open it, Ludo opened it from the outside and bumped into her father.

“Ludo!” Joe exclaimed hugging her.

Zamiwe got up and ran to them and joined in the hug.

“Where have you been?” Joe asked.

“I’m fine,” Ludo answered yawning.

“Don’t tell us you’re fine. Where have you been?”

“It’s a long story,” she got out of the embrace and walked to the couch.

“Hi Mrs. V,” she smiled at her.

“Hey Ludo,” Kate said surprised.

Ludo sat in the chair whilst everyone including Nancy looked at her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Ludo asked.

“Do you know that I was about to go to the police station?” Joe asked.

“I figured,” she answered getting a remote.

“Ludo sweetie, where have you been?” Zamiwe asked.

“It’s a long story. My friend will tell you,” Ludo answered.

“Which friend?” Joe asked.

“Me!”

Joe and the women turned around and found a young woman standing behind them.

“Melanie?” Mrs. Visashi shouted.

“Hi Mrs. V,” Melanie waved at Kate.

“Who are you?” Zamiwe asked. “Who is she?” She looked at Kate.

Kate was surprised. From what she knew, Melanie was Ludo’s biggest bully back in high school and now she was standing in Ludo’s house saying she was her friend.

“She used to be my pupil two years ago,” Kate answered.

“Isn’t that the same time Ludo was your pupil?” Joe asked.

“Yes,” Kate answered looking at Melanie suspiciously. “They were both in my class.”

Melanie passed them and sat next to Ludo.

“How are you Melanie?” Zamiwe asked.

“I’m fine thank you,” Melanie answered.

“Tell us the long story. Where were you and our daughter?”

“At my house, “Melanie responded.

“Your house?”

“My parents’ house,” she touched her head. “I can give you their number so you call them to confirm.”

“No need for that,” Joe cut in. “Didn’t it occur to you that you were supposed to call us and let us know where our daughter was?”

“And I’m sure you know about her condition,” Zamiwe eyed Melanie.

“I had no call card, sorry,” Melanie answered carelessly.

Zamiwe and Joe looked at each other.

“I’m fine that’s all that matters,” Ludo added.

“Why did you leave your phone?” Zamiwe asked Ludo.

Ludo couldn’t find the words.

“It was my fault, forgive me,” Melanie cut in. “The time I met Ludo, I didn’t give her a chance to get her phone. I was excited and wanted us to catch up. That’s why she left her phone.”

Ludo faced down.

“You didn’t tell us about Melanie,” Joe said.

“Well here she is.”

“And get used to me. You’ll be seeing me around often,” Melanie smiled.

Mrs. Visashi sensed something strange. She looked at how Ludo was trying to keep calm. She knew something was wrong. The way Melanie was always answering questions on behalf of Ludo was also suspicious. She just couldn’t put the pieces together.

“It’s getting late, I better be going,” Melanie stood up.

“I’ll go with you,” Kate also stood up.

“No I’m fine. I came with my car,” Melanie said.

“You have a car?”

“My parent’s car,” she chuckled.

“Alright then let’s go,” Kate led the way.

As they got outside, Kate wanted to confront Melanie about her suspicions but she didn’t know anything about her. It had been two years since she last saw her.

“You look good Mrs. V,” Melanie complimented Kate.

“You too Melanie,” Kate said. “What have you been up to?”

“Nothing much. Just busy running my parent’s business.”

“What kind of business?”

“They own boutiques, Mrs. V.”

“Just boutiques?”

“Yes Mrs. V. I’m parked there. See you later, Mrs. V. It was nice seeing you,” Melanie left Kate looking at her as she walked to the car.

Zamiwe and Joe stared at Ludo seated on the couch. They were glad their daughter was back but couldn’t figure out why she acted the way she did. She knew they were concerned about her and her condition but she didn’t seem to care how they felt.

“I’m going to bed,” Ludo said avoiding their stare.

“You have to eat something Ludo,” Zamiwe told her.

“Don’t worry I have eaten,” she got up and headed to her bedroom.

She sat on her bed and looked around. Her breathing suddenly changed. It was like whatever she had kept inside was finally finding itself out. Before she realised, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She held in her voice not to cry but the more she tried, the harder it became. She threw herself on the bed and bit her pillow and grabbed the sheets and screamed.

“Ludo!” Zamiwe called her standing at the door. “I brought your phone. Are you crying?”

Ludo got up and grabbed the phone from her mother’s hand and closed the door behind her. She laid on the bed and cried herself.

“Ludo, is everything fine sweetie?” Zamiwe knocked on the door.

“Go away mom, I want to sleep,” Ludo sobbed.

“Talk to me, what happened?”

“Nothing mom, I’m fine. I want to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Please go away.”

Zamiwe felt powerless as she left Ludo’s bedroom door. Ludo knew her mother had left the door. She continued crying.

“I’m sorry mom,” she tightly held on to her pillow.