C5 CHAPTER 5

Chris walked Annie to a sofa to sit her down, but Seth got hold of her arm and drew her back to himself again. Chris yanked her arm away from his grip and looked angrily at him in the face.

" Stay away from my lady you fool! I wont let you go scott free when next you cross her path," Chris said with rage.

" I don't care if she is your woman or not. I want her!" Seth yelled.

"Go get someone else, leave her alone, she is mine!" Chris replied.

" Haha! I love challenges dude and you know that. I don't want to hurt you because you're my bro, but i might not consider that now that I'm in love with her," Seth said with a cold smile.

"Is that a threat?" He asked.

" I don't threaten boys like you, I screw them," he replied between clutched teeth.

"You can as well go to hell Seth, am not afraid of you," he said with rage.

"I can see that you've grown wings Chris," he laughed, "I will break them for you I promise," he replied.

Annie stared blankly into space, she was feeling very dizzy and was trying her best to stand strong. Why was her life going upside down by the day? Why was her past coming back to ruin her for good?

Tears came flooding down her cheeks, making her sight go blurry . They

had created a scene, which had drawn everyone together around them, demanding to know what was going on. When Annie couldn't stand the weakness that had eluded her, she allowed darkness sweep her off her feet. Chris reached out for her before she could fall to the ground. She had gone unconscious, and needed medical attention immediately. He picked her up and gave Seth a killing glare that would have sent him to his early grave if looks could kill, before rushing out to his car. He drove off as soon as he was inside the car and headed towards the hospital his family's doctor owned at the outskirt of town.

Barr. Jackson stepped out of his study with Prof Olayinka following closely behind. They had been discussing inside the study and weren't aware of what was going on down stairs. He walked up to Seth who was sited with a sober countenance, to find out what the matter was.

"Whats the noise all about Seth?" He asked.

"A lady fainted," he replied.

"A lady? Is she one of my staffs?" He asked.

"I guess so," he replied with a wave of his right hand.

"Where is Chris?" He asked again.

"Am not taking any more stupid questions from you dad. Tell Chris to stay away from that lady, if he doesn't want to know the other side of me!" He said and stood to his feet.

"I don't know what you are talking about Seth, what do you mean?" He

asked with a very confused look.

"You know exactly what I mean dad, am out of here now," he said calmly and left the house with his men in anger.

Barr Jackson sat on the sofa with a sigh. He gave his employees a stern look that made all of them flee from his house in a matter of seconds. He reached for a bottle of whisky, poured some into a glass and gulped to calm his nerves. Prof Olayinka took the bottle away from him before he could take a second round.

" Don't tell me you want to damage your kidney because of what that silly boy said? A boy that you could handle with your fist," he said with disgust.

" Prof you wont understand, there is more to this than you've viewed it," he replied tiredly.

"You stood right here and watched that boy you birthed, insult a learned man like you? Am highly disappointed," he said.

Barr jackson sighed and looked up at Prof Olayinka thoughtfully for a long time and shook his head pitifully.

" It's not as easy as you think prof. I still don't understand why Chris can't stay away from unnecessary trouble."

"Chris is not to blame here barrister. With the look of things, this boy must have crossed his lane in the first place. Who is the girl he was talking about?"

"Prof, right now I can't tell. I have to hear that from Chris himself."

His phone rang from his pocket and he reached for it immediately.

"Unknown number," he said and glanced at Prof Olayinka before picking up the call.

"Hello good evening," he greeted, "Yes am Barr Jackson," he said after a while, "What!" He exclaimed and stood to his feet, " How did it happened? I will be there in few minutes," he said and rushed to get his car keys.

As soon as he was out from his room, he hurried outside with a confused looking Prof Olayinka following him without knowing what had gone wrong.

**********

Rose paced up and down the reception area of St. Mattew's hospital with tears all over her face. She could hear Mike telling her to calm down, yet she couldn't. She was scared of losing her elder sister, her only immediate family member.

Rose sat next to Mike murmuring few lines of prayers for her sister and her boss. What would become of her if something eventually happens to Annie? She pushed the thought away from her mind and let out a throaty cry that got her into Mike's arms again.

"It's okay baby, everything will be fine," he said.

"The doctor said my sister is in a very critical condition. For crying out loud she was unconscious before the accident, what will become of my dear

sister now?" She cried bitterly.

"It's okay Rosy, you have to be strong for her, please," he pleaded.

Sarah rushed into the hospital along side her cousin sister. She sighted Rose sitting with Mike's arms around her and ran up to her. She took her into her arms and held her tightly, this action made Rose cried more loudly and bitterly.

"It's okay bae, what happened?" She asked calmly.

"I don't know bae, I haven't seen my sister yet, I just received a call that she was involved in an accident and I rushed down here," Rose replied amid tears.

"It's alright dear, you have to be strong for her please," Sarah replied.

"Sarah am scared, I don't wanna lose my sis."

"You wont lose her Rose, she wont be happy if she sees you this way. Please, just be strong," She said.

Sarah looked up at Mike's sober face and gave him a weary smile.

"You look exhausted Mike, you need to go home and have some rest. I will look after her, okay?" Sarah said.

"Alright, have a wonderful night, will be back tomorrow," he said and planted a soft kiss on Rose's fore head.

Rose watched him go and snuggled into Sarah's arms. Joke, Sarah's cousin

took over Mike's seat and sat quietly without muttering a word.

Barr Jackson walked into the hospital with Prof Olayinka behind him, he made enquires about the doctor's office from the receptionist on duty and ran towards the office without a second glance. He knocked on the door and dashed in immediately.

"Good evening doctor," he greeted, "I'm Barr Jackson, I received a call this evening, that my son was here and my attention was needed."

"You are welcome Barr. Jackson," he said and shook hands with him, "Have a seat please, good evening sir," he greeted Prof. Olayinka.

" Doctor what happened to my son? How is he now?" Barr Jackson asked.

"Your son is in a pretty bad shape right now. According to the report we received from the police men on patrol, he had a collision with a truck. He was actually on a very high speed before the accident," he said.

"Was he alone?" Barr Jackson asked.

" Not alone, he was brought in along side a lady that was identified as Annie Karl, a lawyer with Jackson Law Firm."

"She is my employee, how is she?" He asked.

"Hmm, She is in a critical condition right now, if not that she was brought in just on time, the story would have been different."

"What is the way forward now, doctor?" He asked calmly.

" We are still having a close look on the patients, they are responding to treatment though, they will be fine," the doctor said hopefully.

Barr Jackson sighed and looked at Prof Olayinka sadly.

"Can I see them now?" He asked.

"Yes of course," the doctor replied and lead the way.

Rose stood to her feet as soon as she saw the doctor and Barr Jackson coming their way.

"Can I come to see my sister too, doc?" She asked with a shaky voice.

The doctor looked at her for a while and nodded his head in approval. They all went into the ward where Chris and Annie were laid side by side. The sight of her sister on life support brought unstoppable tears down Rose's cheek. Chris was not having much injuries, but he was unconscious though.

After a close look on the both of them, the doctor ushered them out quietly, he said they needed some rest. Rose went back to her seat and wept bitterly. She looked at Sarah fearfully in a way the latter understood that all was not really well.

Barr Jackson sat weakly on a seat facing Rose's seat with Prof Olayinka right beside him. The doctor went back to his office leaving them behind.

As they sat quietly starring at themselves, they heard footsteps approaching them in a very slow pace. Looking up to see who it was, their faces went white with anger.

" What the hell are you doing here, you animal?" Rose said and stood to her feet in anger.

"Am here to see Annie," Seth replied calmly.

"Oh really! So you could finish up what you've started? You wanna make sure she is dead huh?" She asked in tears.

"It wasn't intentional, I didn't mean to hurt her in the first place, I just, just wanted to tell her how I felt about her. I'm in love with her, I wanted her to know that, but she was being harsh on me because of that good for nothing pig that calls himself Chris, that..."

"Shut up that dirty mouth of yours, you fool! Did you just addressed your younger brother as a pig? Are you out of your damn mind?" Barr Jackson asked angrily.

"I'm not here to trade words with you dad. I've told you earlier to warn your son, and I mean what I said," he replied and made to go towards the ward where Annie was.

Rose blocked his way in rage, "Where do you think you are going to?" She asked.

"Get out of my way bitch!" He yelled.

"You will have to kill me before you get to my sister!" She yelled back.

The doctor and some nurses came out at the noise.

"Whats happening here?" The doctor asked.

"Doctor l came to see the lady that was rushed in here after she was involved in an accident few hours ago, but this whore wouldn't let me go in," Seth explained.

"You are?" The doctor asked.

"Inspector Seth Jackson, the Inspector General of Police," he introduced himself.

"Inspector Sir you are welcome. I would have willingly let you go in to see her, but with the situation of things now, we don't want anybody in there. Please," the doctor said.

"So you are trying to say that I can't see her tonight?" He asked.

"Yes sir, you will have to come back tomorrow. She is in a very critical condition, she needs rest."

"Alright I will wait till tomorrow. But no one, not even you doctor will prevent me from seeing her when I come."

"Its okay sir. Thanks for your understanding," the doctor said and went back to his office.

The nurses left to their various duty posts with a sigh. Seth looked from Rose to Barr Jackson with a cold smile.

"The both of you can as well come and stop me from seeing her tomorrow if you can," he said.

"God will judge you, stupid man! If anything happens to my sister, I will

make sure you suffer for it with the last drop of my blood," Rose said in a teary voice.

"Hahaha! Thank goodness your sister was fortunate enough to win my cold deadly heart. Aside that bitch, I would have loved to go by this challenge you are putting up," he said coldly.

"I hate you!" She yelled.

Sarah took her into her arms and sat her down, soothing her with words of love.

"I want you to keep hating me brat, and I will do everything in my power to make sure you keep doing just that for me. One day little girl, you will find out I did you and your sister the biggest favour ever," he said with a hiss and turned to Barr Jackson who was sitting with his head bowed.

" Dad, I wish your son a goodluck, but it will be best if he fucking dies," he said and left.

"Seth!" Barr Jackson called after him in shock.

Barrister Jackson groaned in pains and strong hatred for Seth. He had always taunted him for as long as he could still remember. He just couldn't tell how he heard or even knew about the party, he only saw him in his house that evening with some of his police officers. He shook his head in regret and cursed the day he was born. He looked up at Rose's teary face and studied her for a while, she was a very brave child who was also fearless. He wished he was as brave enough as her, he would have taught

Seth a little lesson he would never forget.

He glanced at the wall clock that was hung at the reception area. It was 12am already and he was damn tired, but he wouldn't dare leave the hospital when he knew so well that Seth was all over the place. Prof Olayinka had left earlier before Seth came in, and he was grateful he had left when he did, if not, he would have even caused more troubles for him. Some police officers came into the hospital and made straight to the doctor's office. After a while, they and the doctor came out and walked towards Barr Jackson and the others.

"Good morning sir," they greeted.

"Welcome officers," Barr Jackson replied.

"Barrister, these police officers were the people that brought in your son and your staff after the accident," the doctor said.

"Oh! Thank you very much officers, God bless you," he replied soberly.

"Its alright Barrister, but we have a bad news. A little information about the cause of the accident," one of the officers said.

"Yes, go ahead," he said and stood up.

" Some one tempered with the brakes of the car. It was cut and that was why your son couldn't avoid the accident."

" What!" Barr Jackson and Rose exclaimed in disbelieve.

" We are doing some investigations on this issue, Sir. But for us to be

successful, we need your total co-operation," the police officer said.

" That wont be a problem officer, all I want right now is that you all will have to bring the culprit to book. He or she must not go scott free for any reason," Barr Jackson replied.

"Thats our job Sir, you have to trust us. So lets start this way, do you have any suspect? Someone you think is capable and responsible for this crime?" He asked.

"Its no other person but Seth! He was here moments ago threatening us, and he was the cause of everything that led to the accident, you people should question that fool," Rose said.

"Barrister do you think the same way? Is this Seth she is talking about, capable of doing this?" the officer asked.

"Officers I don't care if he is capable or not, you've heard her, I'm not in a right frame of mind to answer questions," he replied.

"Hmm," the officer exhaled, " Give us some information about this man, like where he lives, works and so on," the office said.

"He is your IGP, you should know the rest."

"What!" The officers exclaimed in surprise.

"Whats surprising about your IGP being the suspect? If you doubt us, then you forget about doing your job as the police," Barr Jackson concluded and sat down.

"Officers I can't say much, the way he behaved some hours ago when he came, said it all," the doctor chipped in.

"We will get back to you later, we have to see our DPO first considering the weight of your allegations against the Inspector General. Your presence will be needed at the police head quarters for your statements later in the day. Thank you so much for your time."The officer said and shook hands with them, then he left with other officers, leaving a silent filled hospital behind.