FED UP [xLiv]

(continued...)

                Mabel answered the call. Margret spoke to her in a low tone like she didn’t want to be heard or something was wrong.

 “Are you ok?” Mabel asked her after they had exchanged pleasantries. “Your voice is not sounding right.”

Margret told her she was okay.

  “Why are you sounding like that?” Mabel asked.

Margret told her she was suffering from catarrh.

  “Are you sure?” Mabel asked.

                Margret reassured her that she was okay and asked her where she was.

  “I am in my house,” Mabel said.

Margret said she would like to see her.

 “Is there any problem?” Mabel asked.

                Margret said she just wanted them to hang out and catch up.

  “Ok where are you now?” Mabel asked.

She told Mabel where to meet her.

  “This sudden meeting,” Mabel said. “I just hope there is no problem.”

                Margret told her nothing was wrong.

  “If you say so, I will meet you there now.”

                Margret told her not to waste time.

  “I will be there in a jiffy.”

                Mabel hung up and remained quiet for a while trying to figure out what could be going on.

  “Is there any problem?” Coker asked her.

  “I don’t know,” Mabel replied.

  “How do you mean ‘you don’t know’? Who was that and what did the person want?”

  “It was Magi.”

  “Segun’s cousin sister?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is she ok?”

  “She said she wants to see me as soon as possible.”

  “Did anything happen?”

  “She said there is no problem but I sense something fishy. She was whispering all through.”

  “Did she tell you where to meet her?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can’t let you go there alone. I will go with you.”

  “Ok. Let me get my handbag.”

  “I will go with you too,” Coker’s brother said. “At least I have more biceps than Coker to protect you in case any fight comes up.”

                Coker laughed. Mabel just smiled and walked briskly to the staircase and up to her room. She checked herself in the mirror, did some hair and cloth adjustments and wore her perfume. When she was done, she took her hand bag and locked the door. On her way downstairs, she stopped at Mama Risi’s house and told her she would be back in thirty minutes time. Then she went downstairs. They got into the car and Coker drove out. Mabel told him the fast-food restaurant where Margret was and he drove there. Twice along the road, Margret sent Mabel SMS asking her where she was. Mabel replied the first SMS telling her she was coming. She tried calling her when she got the second SMS but she did not pick up.

  “I just hope all is well,” she said.

  “We will soon find out.” Coker said. “I am here with you.”

  “We,” Coker’s brother said. “Point of correction.”

  “I have heard you. We.”

When they got to the place, Coker cautiously surveyed the environment and ensured there was no strange movement before he drove into the parking lot and parked.

  “That’s her car,” Mabel said, pointing to the car.

  “Which part did she tell you to meet her?” Coker’s brother asked as they alighted.

  “She just said I should come inside when I reach.”

  “Should I hold your hand as we walk in?”

  “Guy free her na,” Coker said as he locked the car.

                Mabel just smiled and walked ahead of them towards the entrance.

  “Don’t walk fast like that,” Coker told her. “You don’t know what’s up.”

                Mabel slowed and waited for Coker. His brother went in front of her, acting like her body guard. They laughed and entered.

  “Where is she?” Mabel said, looking around.

                Then she heard someone cat-calling her. She turned and saw Margret waving at her. She moved towards her and suddenly stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” Coker asked her. “Why did you stop?”

                She pointed at where Margret was sitting and said, “Segun.”

(...to be continued)

Nedu Isaac