Susan ekerete - S02 E02

3 years ago

Susan ekerete - S02 E02

Read Story: SEASON 2 EPISODE 2

Once again, Susan found herself in the police station close to her office. When she had called Inspector Samson Udofia to inform him of the situation, he had urged her to come over to the police station where they could keep an ear out on the police radio for any progress in the search for her ex-husband. It had been a welcome suggestion.

But even as distraught as she was, she had not missed the tense undercurrents inSamson Udofia’s small office when she showed up with Michael in tow. The Inspector had been far from happy to see Michael, and she guessed it was because of the policeman’s own interest in her. But she chose to ignore the ill feeling between the two men as she settled into one of two seats opposite the Inspector. Michael settled down in the chair beside her and promptly gripped one of her palms in his. She saw the policeman narrow his eyes atthe gesture but she chose to ignore that aswell. She had bigger issues on her mind.The office was warm, the lone ceiling fan sluggishly pushing the still air around, so the heat bounced off the blue-painted walls. Susan sat, sweating her make-up away, listening intently to the voices coming from the radio on Samson Udofia’s table. He kept up a running commentary, explaining what they were hearing and with each passing minute her misery increased. She was glad she had convinced Cherish’s teacher to go to her own home, promising the young lady she would keep her updated on any new developments. So when a call came into her phone, she quickly accepted it, thinking Jennifer was calling in to find out any new information.

Susan swallowed her own worry and adopted a gentle tone. “Jennifer, the search is still on…”“Search? What are you searching for? A daughter with her father?”Susan pulled the phone away from her ear, confused, and stared at the screen. Then her confusion cleared even though it was an unknown number. She knew who that voice belonged to.“Asuquo, where is my daughter?” she yelled, pressing the phone to the side of her head again. Michael and Samson immediately sat up as they realized who she was talking to. “I swear if any harm comes to her…”“Correction. Our daughter.” Asuquo sounded amused. “And I would never harm her. You know that.”“Let me speak with her.” Susan pleaded.“There’s no need for that.” Asuquo snapped. “And I don’t see what all this fuss is about. I only did this to teach that her silly teacher a lesson. She was behaving like I would steal my own daughter.”And that’s what you did, you idiot!

Susan yelled in her mind. But she didn’t want to antagonise him so she kept the thought to herself. Asuquo made rash decisions when he got angry; it would be unwise to bait him. “Please, Asuquo. Bring her back home. She is not safe with you. You know the police are looking for you.”“And whose fault is that?” Asuquo yelled. Susan was taken aback by what he was implying. Why would Asuquo blame her for the fact that he was wanted by the police? He had committed fraud and somehow was willing to put the blame on her? Truly, her ex-husband was unable to see his own faults.

Asuquo started talking again, and then hisvoice softened as he addressed someone in the background. Susan heard lowered voices and recognized Cherish’s among them. Her throat closed up so tight she had to cough before she could start speaking again. “Asuquo, I can hear Cherish.” She croaked. “Please, please justlet me talk to my baby.”“Tell Mr Udodiong that he can’t get away with this. I’m coming for him!” Inspector Udofia said loudly, chest puffed out angrily. Michael glared at the policeman.“I’m not sure this is the time for declarations of …” Michael began heatedlyand stopped when Susan signalled the both of them to be silent.

She could hear Asuquo move away from his daughter before he responded. “I recognize those voices- sounds like Samson Udofia and your new boyfriend fighting for your attention like two rabid dogs. Hmmm! You went to the police?! Susan, this was meant to just be a prank. Ionly planned to keep Cherish with me for afew days, maybe a week. But as you’re determined to surround yourself with men,maybe I should keep her forever, safe from your corrupted lifestyle!”Susan gasped in horror. She knew that tone in her ex-husband’s voice.

His quick breathing assaulted her ears as he cursed at her in a low voice. He was angry and when he made threats in that mood, he usually felt obliged to see them through. “No, Asuquo, please, don’t…!”But she was speaking to herself. Asuquo had ended the phone call. Susan dropped her phone limply, unmoving as the policeman collected the mobile device andscrolled through for the number Asuquo had used to call her, barking tense instructions to other policemen to start trying to trace the number.

Michael squatted in front of Susan and held her hands. The empty look in her eyes alarmed him. “Susan? Hey, Susan, look at me. I’m here to see you through this. Talk to me.”She could hear his words but she refused to respond. Only one thought was cycling through her head. After all these years of having her daughter as the centre of her universe, could she survive if she never saw her again?