Rescued 6
The barrister and his secretary walked to the stage and took their seats quietly. He ran his eyes around the hall to be certain that the defendant was around. It was easy to spot him because he was the youngest. Then, the barrister chuckled when he did not see Mr. Denise Bailey.
‘Just as Louis said, not even their cat was at the meeting.’
He thought. Then the meeting began at 8 am on the dot. Like the barrister, the Patriarch was not surprised when he did not see any member of Arthur’s family. He knew that that day’s meeting was just a façade. They would rather not be accused of dragging a fellow kinsman to court, which was against their constitution. Then, the meeting began.
“Mr. Stephen Bailey, do you have any evidence to support your claim that Mr. Arthur Bailey was using his late brother’s widow as a nanny or any infringement to her right as a widow?”
The question took the murmuring elders unawares. They stopped their murmuration instantly and focused on the defendant. As a matter of fact, they were more interested in the question than the barrister because that will give them an insight on how Mr. Arthur Bailey had lived with his late brother’s widow after her husband’s demise. At least with such evidence, Stephen will be justified and Arthur would be held accountable for ill-treating a widow. However, to their astonishment, he was dumbstruck and Arthur’s haters were a disappointment. Then, the Barrister, who had waited for him to speak, continued.
“Mr. Stephen Bailey, in the absence of any evidence from you, I want to believe that my client was justified in his claim and the demand for a compensation.”
After all the formalities, the barrister made the compensation of the plaintiff known.
“Mr. Stephen Bailey, as you must have read from my client’s petition, he is demanding a compensation of one million for defamation of character. You embarrassed his personality, especially before his children, which had cost him his respect as the head of the family and had jeopardized the unity of the family.”
Before the Patriarch could say a word in defense of Stephen, the house went berserk. The family heads who had contrary opinions jumped on their fees at once, but one person’s voice overshadowed all and asked.
“Barrister, you did not give our son the opportunity to say his opinion. Did he really say those things that Arthur accused him of?”
Now, the Patriarch clung to the last speaker’s boldness and requested.
“Yes. It is necessary to hear from the accused. Stephen, let us hear from you.”
The half repentant Mr. Stephen Bailey, who could not imagine pulling out one million as compensation to Mr. Arthur Bailey, felt it was time to defend himself. He stood up with the meekness of a lamb while the barrister and the other family heads looked on.
“Thank you our Patriarch, thank you my elders. Arthur is just telling lies against me. I did not insult him before his children.”
His claim sparked up another uproar from the elders, as everyone wanted to talk at the same time. Now, Mr. Brown Bailey, who was sitting on the stage with Patriarch, spoke.
“In that case, Stephen is free. I see no reason to compensate Arthur if Stephen is not guilty of what he accused him of.”
He took his seat and waited for the lawyer to say something. The lawyer, whose expression was as calm as the time the meeting began, looked at the elders and said.
“Please, listen to this conversation.”
Now, the hall became quiet as the barrister played the conversation between Stephen and Denise. The elders began to whisper among themselves.
“Is that Arthur’s voice?”
“I don’t think so.”
At the end of the conversation, the barrister asked.
“Mr. Stephen, did you recognize your voice in that conversation?”
“Yes. I recognized my voice.”
“Thank you. What do you have to say?”
“What I am saying is that I did not insult him before his ….”
“Shut up and sit down. One million compensation? Then Arthur is too lenient.”
Mr. Brown Bailey, who became ashamed of himself after listening to the conversation, yelled. Now, the Patriarch was speechless. The other family heads who were bent, on taunting him laughed sarcastically and mocked.
“Can anything good come out of the Brown’s famila
“Stephen. Are you ready to pay the compensation or not? We are ready to hands off the matte, allow the matter to be handled by the court?”
Now, the family heads turned their eyes on Stephen, switching them intermittently to the lawyer and the Patriarch. After a few minutes of silence, Stephen, who had been standing defenselessly, spoke with a voice filled with emotions that they mistook for repentance.
“Our Patriarch and my family heads…”
The facinorous and pretentious Mr. Stephen Bailey paused and looked at the lawyer to read his countenance, but it was unreadable. Then he proceeded as he feigned a sob.
“Please, I am pleading, join me to plead with Arthur not to exact vengeance on me. You can see my dilemma. I know I have erred, but, let him spare me this time. I promise I will not be incautious again.”
Some of the family heads believed him and had compassion on him, while some refused to take his apology that was not good enough to them, as they turned up their noses at him. Then, the family head of Mr. Oscar Bailey, who was not happy with how he abducted Zoey, felt it was time to strike, and spoke.
“Stephen, you promised you will not be incautious again; incautious over what? Is it the kidnapping of our wives or attempting to sow seeds of discordance in our families?”
Such incisive speech knocked up the iniquities of Mr. Stephen Bailey, which the family heads were about to forget. They became infuriated and shouted on top of their voices.
“We will not plead with Arthur. Clear your mess.”
“Arthur is too lenient.”
“That will serve as a deterrent to you.”
“Pay the compensation.”
The Patriarch, Mr. Brown Bailey, and the barrister watched them as they aired their opinions provocatively. To exonerate himself from such rash jungle justice, Mr. Brown Bailey, who knew that he had the mandate to defend him and to avoid the wrath of their ancestors, stood amidst the ranting and spoke.
“Stephen.”
“Yes, my family head.”
Stephen, who was sweating blood, responded with the innocence of a baby written all over his face. His family head spoke intelligently and tactfully.
“We have had your plea. As your fathers, we will not fold our hands and watch you suffer alone. At a time as this, we have to wade in and ensure that there is lasting peace and harmony between you and Arthur because we are all kinsmen.”
He turned to the family heads, despite how they felt, and inquired.
“My fellow family heads, did I say your opinion?”
Since no one wanted to be the warmonger, who would not love peace in the family, they chorused.
“Yes. You said our opinion.”
“You are right.”
“That was what I was about to say.”
Now, Mr. Brown, Bailey, had given the Patriarch a clue on how to continue with the case. He capitalized on his position on the matter and spoke.
“Thank you, Brown. As we can see, Arthur nor any member of his family is not here and the lawyer is their representative.”He paused and looked at the lawyer, who nodded without allowing their talk to affect his expression before he proceeded.
“As a family, we are appealing to you, to plead with your client to be lenient to his fellow kinsman in his quest for justice. Let him remember that we are still kinsmen. Thank you.”
The Patriarch took his seat and the family heads including Mr. Stephen fixed their eyes on the lawyer who was their last expedient. The lawyer in turn fixed his gaze on them for a few minutes before he responded with the aura of a successful lawyer who had nothing to lose.
“I think my client is fair and civil enough by not having his children beat him up nor hand him over to the police. I don’t think you should take his leniency for granted and do not see it as a substitute for the compensation.”
After the barrister’s declaration, the hall became silence that one could hear a cotton wool drop. Then, the barrister and his secretary began to gather their stuff to leave. Likewise, the barrister looked at his wristwatch and continued.
“Mr. Stephen Bailey, I know you are a gentleman and would not want more trouble for yourself. You have between now and 9 am tomorrow to comply. I beg to take my leave.”
At that juncture, he stood up and began to walk out of the hall and his secretary followed, while the family heads and the Patriarch stayed behind to wrap up the matter.
“What do you have to say, Stephen?”
The Patriarch asked. Mr. Stephen Bailey, who had grown lean when he noticed that the barrister was unfazed and the thought of the accusation of embezzlement before him, resorted to the elders’ opinion.
“I am pleading that we should meet Arthur and plead for his leniency.”
The family heads stared at each other as though Mr. Stephen was asking them to escort him to the lion’s den. He forgot that it was Arthur who was involved and not Williams, and the effect of the armored car that Denise drove to the meeting on Sunday was still fresh in their minds. Then the Patriarch spoke.
“We would accompany you to plead with Arthur after you have paid the compensation. He will not accept our verdict that was why he engaged a lawyer, but if we approach him after the compensation, it may quell his anger and he would give us audience. Did I say your minds?”
The elders responded at once.
“Yes. That would alleviate his anger.”
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