Thirty Five

A week and some days had passed since Ludo had communicated with Hunter. She had left him several voicemails but he didn’t call her back. She wanted to let him know about the progress she was making. She had become closer with Evan and he had started opening up to her about his family matters. The only worry she had was Erica and Ethan. Erica made it known that she was not a fan of her, and Ethan was mysterious as usual. Elise on the other hand had gotten busy taking care of the company and was hardly seen. Ludo even started taking care of Mr. Hamuumbu whenever she went to the house. On most occasions, with Elise's busy schedule, Mr. Hamuumbu was left alone. Elise didn’t like the idea of hiring anyone to take care of him, she preferred to do it alone but didn’t mind Ludo taking care of him.

“Why are you smiling all by yourself?” Zamiwe asked Ludo while they were watching a movie.

“Smiling?” Ludo asked.

“Yes. You seem happy the past few days, what is it?”

“Hmmm, it’s nothing mom.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Can’t I smile knowing I’m with you?”

“That’s another kind of smile,” Zamiwe said.

“Whatever mom!” Ludo smiled.

“That smile,” Zamiwe pointed at Ludo.

“Eish mom, leave me alone,” Ludo chuckled.

“Who is he?”

“Who?”

“You have reminded me of the days I was falling in love with your father. I couldn’t hide the smile on my face,” Zamiwe said thoughtfully.

“That’s sad.”

“Get out, I was happy. I wonder where your father is,” she sighed.

Ludo could feel her mother’s sadness.

“When was the last time you visited Mrs. V. at the hospital?” Ludo asked, changing the topic.

“The day before yesterday, why?” Zamiwe asked.

“You should visit her again. She enjoys your company and I have also noticed it takes your mind off some things.”

“You’re right. I’ll visit her tomorrow.”

Ludo and her mother continued watching the movie in silence. Ludo’s phone rang and it was Kate. She excused herself and went to her bedroom to answer the call.

“Hi Mrs. V, how are you?” Ludo greeted her.

“I’m fine. Any news from your friend, Hunter?” Kate asked concerned.

“Nothing till now ai.”

“Maybe he thought of us as a baggage difficult to carry and decided to exclude us.”

“Hunter cannot do that,” Ludo said.

“But where is he?” Kate asked and went on. “I did what he told me to do and you’re also making progress. It’s time we do something; I’m growing impatient.”

“What can we do, you and I, Mrs. V?” Ludo asked. “Let’s wait on him.”

“I’m doing something Ludo. We cannot wait for him forever.”

“Don’t do anything Mrs. V. I’ll go check on him tomorrow.”

“You',d better. Call me,” Kate cut the call.

Ludo could hear Kate’s impatience in her voice. Unlike her, she was not in a hurry. Something had changed over the past few days. She no longer felt like she needed everything to be done with. She threw herself on the bed and smiled looking at the ceiling. She grabbed her phone and hesitated.

“No, he will think I’m stupid,” she threw it away. “What’s happening to me?” She laughed.

The phone rang.

It was Evan.

Her smile widened as she answered the call.

“Hello Evan!” She said composing herself.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I’m reading,” she lied. “What’s up?”

“Can I disturb you for a second?”

“What is it?” She asked.

“I’m parked outside your house.”

“Evan, it’s late. Mom will not allow me to come outside.”

“Please.”

Ludo felt her heart sink.

“Five seconds.” she said

“That’s enough for me.”

Ludo left her bedroom and found that her mother had dozed off on the couch. She opened the door, got the keys to the gate and went to meet Evan. She found him by his car standing with a tall erect posture. Ludo walked to him trying to hide her smile.

“Hey you!” She said.

“Hi Ludo.” Evan smiled at her.

“What is it? I have to go back inside. Mom is waiting for me.”

Evan opened his car door and bowed, getting something. He got some flowers and a box of chocolate and gave it Ludo.

“Here you are,” He smiled handing them over to her.

Ludo hesitated.

“What do you want, Evan?” Ludo asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know but I don’t like this.” Ludo frowned, “You’re playing with me. All the visits and the nonstop phone calls and texts, what’s your end game?” Ludo stared at Evan.

“There’s no end game Ludo,” Evan put the things away and sallied forth.

Ludo felt her knees weaken.

He grabbed her hands and looked her direct in the eyes.

“I don’t know how to explain this but I’m falling for you,” Evan said.

“What does that even mean?” Ludo droop off her head.

“It means I have feelings for you Ludo.”

“No No No,” she shrugged stepping backwards. “what about Melanie?”

“Melanie and I are no more, “Evan answered.

Ludo kept quiet. She had never had feelings for anyone and no one had ever told her they had feelings for her. Everything was new to her.

“Give me a chance Ludo,” Evan broke the silence.

“What chance?”

“To be your man.”

“Hell No. I can’t.”

“Why?” Evan asked.

“I know what kind of man you are Evan. I cannot let that happen. I’m going back inside. Goodnight,” Ludo turned around and started walking to the gate.

Evan ran to her and stopped her.

“Tell me you don’t have feelings for me and I will never bother you again,” He told her.

Ludo was confused. She didn’t know what she was feeling neither did she know how to explain it.

She put her hands on her hips staring at Evan.

Evan pulled her closer which she didn’t expect. Everything happened in a split second when she found her lips locked with Evan’s. She felt cold and her knees weakened. She found herself wrapping her hands around his neck. She couldn’t explain the feeling. It was as if reality had ceased and was no more.

Evan slowly parted lips with her and stared at her. Her eyes had become dilated and they looked like that of a cat.

“Tell me,” he said.

“Tell you what,” she let go of him and folded her hands.

“That you don’t have feelings for me.”

“It’s late. Bye, Evan,” she ran to the gate and entered.

She sat on her bed and couldn’t stop thinking about her first kiss.

“What was that?” She thought out loudly. “Hunter will kill me if he finds out this ever happened.”

She kept thinking about the kiss and fell asleep. Her alarm woke her up the following day. She checked her phone and found Kate's text saying she shouldn’t forget visiting Hunter. She got out of bed and prepared herself and went to Hunter's place. She found the gate was widely opened. From the distance, she saw two men standing and talking to each other. She could tell they were policemen because one had a police radio with him and the other had a badge and a gun on his hip. She decided to ask what had happened. She walked to them.

“Hey young lady, this is a crime scene, walk away,” The officer told her.

“What happened here?” She asked.

“What’s your business?”

“I know the person who lives here.”

“How?”

“I used to bring him Chikanda (African dish). He is my customer,” Ludo lied.

“Oh that’s sad. He’s body was found all burnt up a week ago.”

Ludo’s stomach turned.

“What did you just say?”

“Yes, some neighbours reported a fire and when the fire fighters came, it was too late. They only found the body.”

Ludo couldn’t believe what she was told.

“No No No, that’s not him. Hunter cannot die, not now.”

“I’m sorry, young lady, but he’s dead. You should be listening to the news more often.”

“Did you check the body? How sure are you it was him?”

“Are you questioning our job?”

“No sorry,” Ludo waved her hands.

“Ok, now go away unless you have something to tell us that can help in the case.”

Ludo walked away feeling despaired. She texted Kate and told her about what had happened to Hunter. Kate didn’t reply. Ludo walked to the bus station blaming herself for everything.

Evan called her. She looked at her phone and hated herself more. While she was busy romancing with Evan, Hunter had been killed. She loathed what she had become.

“What?” She answered the phone.

“Hey, what’s the problem? You sound cold,” Evan said.

“State your business.”

“Can I see you?”

“Why?”

Evan became quiet.

“I want to talk in person. Where are you?”

“Going to town.”

“Let me find you at Society park.” Evan said.

Ludo got on a bus to town. She had not realised that she was crying until a woman who sat next to her handed her a tissue.

“What do I do now?,” she whispered wiping tears.

Elise and Erica were both at the house reviewing some papers they had received from their accountant. Elise was not happy at all. She had expected the income to rise but the company was making losses.

“I told you. You don’t want to listen to me. Let’s get rid of her,” Erica said.

“This has nothing to with Ludo,” Elise said.

“Everything is her fault. Ever since she came into our lives, a lot has changed. To make matters worse, she even tends to dad.”

“Because no one wants to take care of him, just be grateful.” Elise rebuked

“Get rid of her.”

“She will lead us to whoever is sending her. Ethan took care of one already. I have plans, don’t underestimate me.”

“Who did you take care of?” Erica asked her jaw dropping. “And what happened to your driver, mom?”

“We found the car but he was no where near it. I assume he got tired of working for me and decided to run away.”

Erica laughed and asked, “Wasn’t Mr. Jabulani the highest paid driver here?”

Elise didn’t answer her.

They continued reviewing the documents when they were disturbed by the maid telling them that there were some people outside looking for Elise.

“Who are they?” She asked.

“I think they are policemen.” The maid answered.

Elise and Erica looked at each other. They both stood up and went outside. They found four policemen with guns in their hands waiting for them.

“Which one of you is Elise?” One officer asked.

“Me,” Elise answered.

“You are under arrest for the murder of Bertha Banda. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do shall be held against you in the court of law,” the officer said as he cuffed her.

“Mom,” Erica said, amidst tears, looking at Elise being taken away.

“Call Evan and my lawyer,” Elise shouted.

Erica didn’t know what to do. She had no clue of what had happened but she knew who Bertha was. She had heard a lot about her when she was a child and when she read Ludo’s manuscript, her death was vividly described. Erica called Evan and told her about the arrest.

“Who was that?” Ludo asked Evan as she was with him in his car when Erica's call came in.

“Erica,” Evan paused. “Mom has been arrested.”

“Why?”

Evan only looked at her and drove to the house. Evan knew that Erica wouldn’t be happy to see Ludo. He told her to go to the garden.

“What’s up with you and her?” Erica asked.

“Nothing. Have you called the lawyer?” Evan asked.

“Yes I have. He’s on his way to the police station. We should go too.”

“Alright, let me change,” Evan rushed upstairs.

He got back and found Erica waiting for him. They left the house. Evan texted Ludo that he was coming back soon and that she should wait for him.

They got to the police station and found the lawyer waiting.

“Why aren’t you with our mother?” Evan asked.

“She’s talking with Ethan.” The lawyer answered.

“Ethan?” Evan asked, opening the door.

“Do it!” Elise said to Ethan inside.

“Do what?” Evan asked, interrupting.

Ethan looked at Evan and walked out of the room leaving them.

“Evan sit down,” Elise ordered him.

Evan sat down while the lawyer and Erica entered the room and sat as well.

“Mom, what was Ethan doing here?” Erica asked.

“The same thing you are doing here. Let’s get down to business,” Elise said looking at the lawyer. “I’m been charged with murder.”

It was nightfall and Ludo was still in the garden. She was admiring it. It was taken care of pretty nicely. She got tired and bored. The garden made her feel somewhat at ease. It made her thoughts run away from what she had been told about Hunter. While sitting, she felt something move and quickly stood up. She saw Mr. Hamuumbu seated on his wheelchair. All this time he had been there and she hadn’t seen him. She walked to him and felt sorry for him. It was obvious they had forgotten he was in the garden, with all the fuss.

“Oh poor man…. yet so rich,” she said looking at the still Mr. Hamuumbu. “Let me take you inside.”

As she started wheeling him, she heard the flowers screeching behind her. She turned but couldn’t see anything. She got afraid and decided to leave the garden as fast as possible. She wheeled Mr. Hamuumbu and bumped into Ethan.

“Ethan!” She yelled.

“I’m Brawler; you have forgotten,” he walked round the wheelchair.

“I was just taking Mr. Hamuumbu inside,” Ludo said nervously.

“You have caused this family so much havoc, girl,” Ethan looked at Ludo. “Now mom is apprehended.”

Ludo trembled.

She heard the flowers screech again. Perhaps, it was a dog, she thought to herself, thinking about what was to happen to her with Ethan standing in front of her.

“You have anything to say before I kill you?” Ethan was standing chest to chest with Ludo.

“Please,” Ludo said.

“I have no time for this,” Ethan grabbed her by the neck and strangled her, pushing Mr. Hamuumbu’s wheelchair in the process.

Mr. Hamuumbu fell on the ground and off the wheelchair.

Ludo fought for her life. She tried to scream and shout but the garden was far away from the house.

“Help please!!” she cried.

In that moment, she thought about how stupid she was. She had realised that she had put herself in harm's way and the only person who could have protected her was no more.

While resisting, she looked at where Mr. Hamuumbu had fallen, he wasn’t there.

“I’m sick and tired of this,” Mr. Hamuumbu's voice came from behind Ludo and Ethan.

Ethan let go of Ludo to look at his father who had just spoke. He turned around and found him stretching himself holding a Maxim 9, handgun silencer combo.

“Father!” Ethan exclaimed.

“What the hell?” Ludo said holding her neck.

“What is happening?” Ethan asked, looking very shocked.

Mr. Hamuumbu walked to Ethan and said, “I have never been sick, son,” he hugged the confused Ethan.

Ludo watched in shock.

Ethan was equally shocked.

Ludo heard a silent gunshot and screamed. She looked at Ethan and his father and saw Ethan falling to his knees.

“I’m sorry son,” Mr. Hamuumbu said looking at Ethan in the eyes.

Ludo witnessed a father killing his son.

After laying him on the ground, Mr. Hamuumbu got up, walked to Ludo and stood in front of her.

“Aren’t you going to say thank you?” He asked her.

“You killed your son,” Ludo said.

“I grew tired of his shit,” Mr. Hamuumbu said.

Ludo was shaking.

The flowers screeched even more. Mr. Hamuumbu and Ludo turned their heads in the direction of the noise.

Ludo jumped to her feet in shock.

“Old friend,” Mr. Hamuumbu said blowing the tip of his handgun.