CHAPTER TWO

“Brendan, are you at the hospital?” asked a disoriented Dennis as he spoke into the phone.

“Sure. Why?” replied Brendan.

 “Alright, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” said Dennis as he cut the connection.

Dennis lay back on the bed in his suite and sighed. His head was banging. It was as if a train ran over him. What did that witch give him to drink?

“If I lay my hands on that beautiful witch, she is dead. How did that little witch drug me?” he asked no one in particular.

He stood up and almost fell back on the bed because of the dizziness he felt. When he got himself, he went into the bathroom, washed up and came out angry. He paused for some seconds as if in thought, and then ran for the drawers at the head of the bed.

“No, no, no. What the hell? She took everything,”

He put his hand deep into the top drawer and felt something. He brought it out and saw money in his hands. He counted it and it was a N100,000. He chuckled to himself and fell on the bed with a bounce.

“What sort of a thief is she? I know I withdrew N250,000, so she took N150,000 and left the remaining. I don’t understand. She should have taken everything. Wait, I think I really need to wake up. Who does that in this age? Leaving some doesn’t mean that I won’t still wring her neck if I see her. I will surely break that neck of hers. There is something fishy about this,” he said still in thought.

He stood up, checked his wallet and saw his debit cards were still intact. He checked for his Rolex watch and saw it was still where he dropped it on top of the drawers before he left for the bathroom last night.

“This is all so confusing to me. I can’t really think things through now. When I get back from the hospital, I will do that. For now, I can’t think through this headache. Gosh, if I lay my hands on her …”

Dennis checked out of the hotel and drove across the state and straight to the hospital where Brendan was working at. On his way, he saw a beautiful lady standing by the wayside; he almost stopped to pick her up before he remembered what he just went through and drove away with speed as if demons pursued him.

“Witches. They are all witches, and that Yvonne girl is their head. I can’t wait to just meet her and i will surely meet her one day”,

***  ***  ***

Rose was in so much hurry. The cab driver drove to her house and waited for her. When she got into their apartment, she quickly changed her clothes. She was just happy that Doctor Brendan was able to take her mother to the hospital. She quickly called Doctor Brendan and told him that she will be at the hospital soon. He told her that she should just stay home and rest a bit. He said her mother was resting now. She just sighed in relief and walked out of the apartment. She spoke to the bad driver and paid him off. She walked back inside after the man drove off and slept off on the couch she had sat on.

The next morning, Rose ran into the hospital and was on her way to Doctor Brendan’s office before she was stopped by a nurse.

“Excuse me miss, you don’t run in the hallway. You could bump into an oncoming person or worse still an oncoming patient. Things could go seriously bad for you or the patient”, the nurse said.

“I am so sorry. It is just that I have to meet Doctor Brendan as soon as possible. My mother’s life depends on my meeting him quickly”

“Your mother’s life depends on God. He gives life, and He takes life. Just trust in Him to keep her alive” the nurse said to Rose.

When Rose heard the nurse’s words, a tear ran down her cheek. Her words were encouraging. She bent her head and nodded. The nurse just squeezed her shoulders and left her. Rose wiped her face with her handkerchief and went her way. She was to turn right in the walkway but wasn’t looking up and she bumped into a warm wall with a beating heart. She looked up and her eyes opened wider in shock.

“I am so dead”, she said

Dennis was about turning left in the walkway before something soft and so feminine bumped onto him.

"Be careful", he said trying to steady her. He looked down into her face and was shocked to see the cause of his headache, right there in his arms.

"You", said Dennis with anger.

Rose tried struggling out of his grip but all her efforts were in vain.

"Please, I beg you; let me go to my mother. She is dying. You can do whatever you want with me afterwards but right now, my mom needs me. Please", she begged.

"Wait a minute. After you drugged me and stole my money, you still have the guts to make demands. Seriously, are you for real?" asked a very shocked and angry Dennis.

"Sorry to disappoint you, sexy thief, but we will be doing things my way, and what I meant by doing things my way, I meant for us to go to the Police station unless you have my money here with you" continued Dennis still holding her.

"Please, believe me. I can't leave here. My mum is dying. Please let me..." she said and was interrupted by Doctor Brendan.

"Dennis my man, how are..."

Brendan looked at them now registering their position. He scowled at Dennis and said:

"You better leave her alone, mister. And start explaining what you are doing with Rose. Rose, I hope he did not hurt you" said Brendan and continued” and please tell me you have the money with you. The pain is becoming too much and the pain relieving drugs are no more having effects on her"

"I have the money here with me. Can we go and do the operation now?" she asked almost in tears.

"We will. Just go to my office. I will be right there" said the Doctor to her and turned to Dennis just as she walked away.

"Dennis, please tell me what you were doing with Rose and I need the truth. That girl has suffered so much and I just hope you did not add heartbreak to her list of problems" he said almost shouting.

Dennis was lost for words. How was he supposed to tell his best friend that the so-called Rose whom he was trying to protect was a cheap prostitute and a thief as well? Even if she was dressed decently today, she was only pretending.

"Dennis, start talking" snarled Brendan.

"Yesterday on my way home from the business meeting I told you that I was going to, I saw her standing by the roadside. I drove towards her and we drove back to the hotel I was lodging at. I went into the bathroom and when I came out, she offered me a drink. I felt dizzy and slept off, only for me to wake up this morning with a strong headache and my N150, 000 stolen",

"Wait, you mean Rose did all that?" asked the Doctor.

"Yes. Don't act as if you don't know who she is. A prostitute, a liar and a thief" said Dennis with hatred dripping in his voice and continued “She told me her name was Yvonne”,

"Don't call her those names. Rose would never hurt anyone. She can't even steal from anyone. She is a good girl", said Brendan with a low voice.

"Well, she did both to me. She must have been pretending to you all these while. You can also add that to her Résumé", said Dennis.

"Don't say that. I trust that girl with my life. She won't do any of that. Please, we have to talk about this later. I need to take her mother to the theatre. Her mother has Fibroid, but let me tell you one thing, she must have been very desperate to do all that. Just go wait in my office; I will be with you both later. And please be easy on her. She has gone through a lot." begged Brendan.

"Alright I will. Later" said Dennis as he headed to his friend's office.

On his way there, he contemplated on what he was going to do to her. Would he have the heart to collect the money from her? If what Brendan said about her was true, then she really needed that money desperately.

‘She should have a job. Why will she go steal money when I am sure she has a job? She and I have to talk’ he thought to himself.

He got to the office and knocked briefly before he entered.