CHAPTER 23

We drove into the discarded place. Two men in uniform stood with their pistols in their hands. Paul, our driver looked back at me in trepidation. I nodded before alighting the car.
       When we got down, the two men approached us, one whispered something into the other's ear before pointing his gun at Paul.
       "Hey, hold on......" Before Paul could say anymore, one of the men shot the gun at him. I knelt in front of him and place his hands in mine. "Run..." He struggled for words. Blood was already flowing from his forehead. He squeezed a tiny paper and flash drive in my hand before breathing his last.
       "Why? Were you so eager to pull your trigger that you couldn't spare this innocent life?"
       "I warned you. I told you to come alone but you didn't heed my instruction. Just like little children, when adults make mistakes, some consequences follow."
       "Where is Rosie?" I fretted.
       "Where's the money?" I scanned the room back and forth before opening the car.
       Liam. I should have told him I was coming here today. What was I thinking about keeping this thing away from him? I know he's upset with me but I should have just told him. Finally, the world will know the truth about Rosie. All her crimes would be revealed soon. I sighed before handing the box containing 10 million to one of the men in black.
       As if Rosie wasn't enough, I took 10 million from Liam's employees' salaries to pay these men. Rosie had caused more damage to my life than Lisa and Diana ever did. Why did I have to become friends with her? Liam and I could live happily once the truth is out. "No. This isn't the right time to think about this." I murmured.
       "Ok. You can leave now."
       "Hold on," I moved a little closer to them. One of the men gave me a dead stare with his fists tight and his mouth folded.
       "What did you say?" He asked sternly.
       Look, all I'm asking is for you to tell me everything you know about her. She's ruined my life and has destroyed the relationship my husband shared with his dad....."
       "Yes, we indeed promised to help you but you disobeyed me. Now I've made up my mind, I won't give you all the information you need. I'll just give you a bit."
       "Sure."
       "Go to Mr. Smith's old factory at 5 pm, there you will get all the answers you need."
       "Old factory? Where is the old factory? I've never heard of that before......." Before I could finish talking, the men entered their car and drove off. I moved Paul's dead body to rest on the pillar before entering the car.
        When I got to the office, Diana was there along with Liam. She was whispering something to him. As soon as I opened the door, she jumped down from his table and adjusted her dress.
        "Hannah, I didn't know you were coming in today." She said innocently.
        Drop the act. I know you were responsible for what happened to Granny. You can't deceive me anymore. Those were the things I wanted to say to her, but how could I when I had no evidence? Plus, all the evidence pointed at Rosie.
        I threw her a forceful smile before dropping my handbag on the chair. "Yes. I just thought I should stop by and see how my husband is doing."
        "Oh. He's doing good. I'm here, there's nothing to worry about."
        That's enough reason I should be worried. I sighed. What was she up to? Had she changed? Why was I finding it difficult to trust her?
        "Hannah.." Liam's deep voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
        "Yes,"
        "I've been yelling your name for the past 5mins but you seem to be preoccupied with something."
        "I'm sorry..." I apologized. "I just can't stop thinking about what happened to Grandma. "Who could have done such a thing?"
        "Why do you stress yourself over little issues? Grandma was only in an accident. Plus, why would anyone want to hurt an old lady?"
        "You are right. Maybe I'm just exaggerating." All the time Liam and I were discussing, I kept my eyes firmly on Diana. She had a gloomy expression. It was hard to tell what she was thinking. I walked up to where she was sitting and patted her shoulder. She looked up at me with pity before cleaning the tears in her eyes.
        "I just pray granny gets better. She's like a family to me." She said.
        "Diana, everything will be okay. Very soon we will find out what happened to Grandmother."
        "You think someone did this to her?"
        "Mmm."
        "I'll be right back." Liam motioned as he walked out of the office to answer his buzzing phone.
        Diana had her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She appeared more worried than everyone. I paced around the office with my right hand on my chin and my eyes going to and fro. I had not even told Liam about everything that happened today. And Paul, how was I going to tell his newlywed wife that her husband is late?
        "Sir, the workers are asking if they can take today off." Ariana, Liam's assistant asked. "They haven't had any break for two months."
        "Sure. They can all go home when they are done."
        "Thanks, sir." When she walked out, Liam got up from his seat and picked up his bag before turning off the laptop.
        "I'm starting to get bored, let's go home."
        "But I just arrived," I replied.
        "Hannah if you wanna stay you can. I'm leaving. Diana,"
        "Behind you. Hannah, let's go with him. He's just feeling sad that's why."
        "Alright."

        When we got home, I carried, Tanya in my arms. "Hey cutie," She looked at me with wide eyes and I  nodded to the staff to leave.
       It was amusing how attached I got to Diana's cousin. Her gorgeous dark green eyes looked into mine and for a sec it was like she could see through me. A small smile formed on my lips as I dropped her gently on the sofa.
       It had been 2days since Grandma's accident, the house had been quiet since then. Jeremy and Max sat in the sitting room with their girlfriends watching romantic comedy while Mrs. Smith sat in the dining room with Nanny Mai beside her. Mr. Smith paced around the room with his phone in his ear.
       "Too bad your mum isn't doing well," I said gently to Tanya who kept her tiny eyes on the clock. I smiled again at her. She looked at me for a while before looking back at something behind me.
       When I turned, I noticed a tiny recorder placed cautiously in a flower vase. It had the shape and size of a button. One could hardly tell it was a recorder. I kissed Tanya on the cheek before grabbing the recorder and running upstairs. Today I'm going to find out what happened to Grandma. I mumbled excitedly.
       When I got to Mr. Smith's study room, it was the only safe place in this house. I turned on the recorder and placed it close to my ear.
       "I'm going to tell my grandson everything." I could hear the fear in Granny's voice.
       "You'll do no such thing." I gasped at the familiarity of the voice. Lisa? No....no..how could it be Lisa? Why was she here? What connection did she have with this family? All this while I thought it was Diana but I was wrong. It was my sister.
       "No... I'm sure they were talking about something else." I assured myself. I pressed the play button again.
       "It will be in your favor if you kept your mouth shut, old hag." Lisa continued.
       "No. I won't let you deceive this family anymore."
       "Hannah deceived this family and that's okay, huh? What have I done wrong? Granny, I had no choice, I was helpless."
       "When children make mistakes, it's up to their parents to correct them. I won't let you make another mistake. I'm going to tell my grandson."
       "Granny......granny....."
       "I'll tell the family how you deceived them by........" The recording stopped playing. I turned it off and on again but it stopped in the same place. Out of frustration, I threw the recorder on the sofa and fumed.
       How did Lisa deceive this family? What was I missing here? Did she know this family before the whole marriage thing? I breathed out. 
       While I was about to leave, Diana rushed into the room with a smile on her face. What's up with her now? I sighed.
       "Guess what."
       "What?" Her unusual friendliness scared me the most. How could someone just change so fast?
       "Granny is awake!" She screamed excitedly.
       "Really? ...this is the best news ever. I'm so elated that I could kiss you right now."
       "Save that for Liam."
       "Diana..." I called her when she was about to leave. "Have you perhaps heard from Lisa again?"
       "Not really. I've been so preoccupied with the office and granny that I couldn't visit home. Why?" There was concern written on her face. She was telling the truth.
       "Well, I think Lisa had something to do with Granny's accident. I have a recording of their conversation."
       "That's great news. We can give it to the police and they will help us find her whereabouts."
       "That won't happen, Diana. The recording was incomplete and on top of it, I smashed the recorder. I have no evidence now."
       "Granny is awake. She would tell us everything."
       "Yes. How could I forget?" We rushed out of the room and down to Granny's room. All the while we were holding hands. Diana appeared happier than everyone. She ran in front pulling me along. Her thick brown hair danced to the tune of the fan with her elbows going back and forth.
       When we got to Granny's room, we noticed Jeremy standing outside the room motionlessly. His eyes were red and his cheeks were swollen. When he saw us, he quickly turned the other way and cleaned his eyes. Diana looked at me with worry before whispering in my ears.
       Jeremy wasn't the only one crying, when we entered the room, Mrs. Smith was sobbing profusely while Liam comforted her. Mr. Smith was still arguing with the doctor over something. I ran towards Nanny Mai and hugged her tightly before pulling back.
       "What's going on, nanny? Granny is alive so why is everyone crying?" I inquired with my heart pounding very fast. I hope what I'm imagining isn't true. I thought to myself before pushing her a little. She was lost in her thoughts. Nanny and Grandma were very close. I recently just found out that nanny Mai had been living with them since Mr. Smith was 2yrs. She and Granny formed a special bond when Mr. Smith's father passed away.
       "My dear," she sobbed.
       "Yes, nanny. What has happened to Grandma?"
       "Your grandma is okay. Nothing's happened to her."
       "Then why is everyone crying?"
       "It's just, Maria, will never be able to speak again. The doctor said, due to the shock, she lost her voice."
       "But she's alive, right? Isn't that what's important?" I tried my best to hide my tears. This family needed support and not another burden. More still, if I told them my sister was responsible for everything, Mrs. Smith wouldn't spare me. Diana held my hand tightly and patted me gently.
       "Everything is going to be okay." She whispered.
       "Hannah is right," Liam said. "What's important is that she's alive. I know she will get better soon. Diana,"
       "Yes"
       "Take mum to her room." He instructed.
       "Ok."
       "Nanny Mai, Dad....."
       "Ok, son." After everyone had left, Liam walked over to where his dad stood and sat close to him.
       "Grandmother will be okay." This was the first time I saw sympathy in his eyes for his dad. They never really spoke like father and son.
       "We already lost Anna. Why have all these misfortunes befallen our family?"
       "Since when did you become this weak." He asked calmly. "The dad I knew doesn't believe in these things. Whatever happened was meant to happen. If you break down, who's going to look after Mum?"
       "You are right. I'll go check on your mother."
       "Ain't you leaving?" Liam asked after Mr. Smith had left the room. I sat down close to Grandmother and pulled her bed cover up before replying to him.
       "I'll stay here with her. You can go."
       "I'll stay. You leave."
       "Didn't you hear what I said? I yelled.
       "Are you going to argue with me over such a trivial matter?"
       "Fine. Let's stay here together. Granny would be pleased to see us by her side in the morning."
       "Alright. Hey," he sat on the other side of the bed and kissed his grandma. "You went out with Paul in the morning, but you didn't return with him."
       "Paul is dead."
       "What?" He asked in bewilderment. "What happened?"
       "Well, in the morning, I..." We chatted the whole night. Neither of us could fall asleep because of the whole drama.
       
       
        
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