Chapter 7 - The Murder ChargeThe police surrounded the compound.

Their vehicles blocked both ends of the road.

The village watched from a distance.

Chief Inspector Balogun stepped forward.

“Emeka Okafor.”

Emeka slowly exited the house.

Chioma followed him.

“Don't touch him.”

Balogun looked at her.

“Madam, step aside.”

“He has done nothing.”

“We have a warrant.”

“On what charge?”

“Murder.”

The crowd murmured.

Ebere covered her mouth.

Balogun unfolded a document.

“Three years ago, Donald's elder brother, Kelvin, was found dead.”

Chioma frowned.

“Why didn't I know this?”

“Because the matter was handled quietly.”

Emeka looked at the officer.

“Where did he die?”

Balogun said nothing.

Emeka smiled bitterly.

“At Donald's property.”

Chioma looked at him.

“What aren't you telling me?”

Balogun answered:

“The victim had your fingerprints on his phone.”

Chioma froze.

“What?”

Balogun continued.

“And Emeka's fingerprints were found on the vehicle used to transport the body.”

“That's impossible.”

“Both of you are coming with us.”

Emeka stepped forward.

“I have evidence.”

“So do we.”

The inspector signaled his men.

Handcuffs clicked around Emeka's wrists.

Chioma watched helplessly.

Then Donald arrived.

A black car stopped outside the compound.

He stepped out wearing an immaculate suit.

He looked at Chioma.

Not angry.

Not surprised.

Almost amused.

“You should have listened to me.”

Chioma stared at him.

“You did this.”

Donald smiled.

“You always were dramatic.”

“You beat me.”

“You betrayed me.”

“You married me for land.”

His smile disappeared.

“You don't understand the things you are talking about.”

“I understand enough.”

Donald walked closer.

“Do you?”

He lowered his voice.

“Do you know what your mother did for you?”

Chioma flinched.

Donald looked at Ebere.

Then back at Chioma.

“She begged me to marry you.”

Ebere began crying.

Chioma stared.

“That's a lie.”

“Ask her.”

Everyone looked at Ebere.

“Tell her.”

Ebere remained silent.

Donald smiled.

“She knows.”

Then he turned toward the police.

“Take Emeka.”

The officers led him away.

As Emeka passed Chioma, he whispered:

“Don't trust anyone.”

The police vehicles disappeared.

Chioma stood there shaking.

Donald remained.

“You still wear my ring.”

Chioma removed it immediately.

He watched her.

“You should be more careful.”

“Why?”

“Because the truth can destroy people.”

He looked toward Ebere.

“And sometimes the truth destroys families first.”

Then he walked away.

That night, Chioma confronted her mother.

“Did you beg Donald to marry me?”

Ebere cried.

“Yes.”

The answer devastated her.

“Why?”

“Because I knew he could give you everything.”

“You sold me.”

“I thought I was saving you from poverty.”

“You sold me!”

Ebere slapped herself.

“I was wrong.”

Chioma turned away.

Then Dubem entered.

“I found something.”

He held up an old laptop.

“What?”

“I recovered footage from the memory chip.”

Chioma stared.

“From the ring?”

Dubem nodded.

They opened the file.

Static filled the screen.

Then an image appeared.

Donald.

Kelvin.

And Ebere.

All standing inside the same room.

Chioma's breath caught.

The recording date was three years ago.

Kelvin was alive.

Donald handed Ebere an envelope.

Then Kelvin said something.

The audio was weak.

Dubem increased the volume.

Kelvin's voice became clear.

“You cannot do this to Chioma.”

Donald replied:

“She won't know.”

Then Kelvin said:

“What about Emeka?”

Donald turned.

“He will disappear.”

Ebere started crying.

The screen suddenly went black.

Then a second file opened automatically.

It showed Kelvin running through a dark corridor.

Someone followed him.

The face was hidden.

Kelvin screamed.

And just before the recording ended, he shouted one sentence:

“EBERE, YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD TELL HER!”

Chioma looked at her mother.

“What did you promise him?”

Ebere's eyes were full of terror.

“I promised…”

She stopped.

Then the door behind them opened.

A stranger walked in.

He held a photograph of Kelvin.

And he said:

“Your mother didn't kill him.”

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A pause.

“But she knows who did.”