They did most of the dirty jobs for James.
"I don't care what they did to her as long she is dead. The man apparently killed my father. My judgement on him has just begun. I just feel for the innocent children."
James stared at me closely as though he had seen something in my eyes, something he didn't want to be there.
"What is the matter, James?" l asked him.
"Sorry, let me get you a drink; you need to get high, l think. Should l get the usual?"
"Anything will do," l replied.
"Panadol! please come here immediately," James said.
"Who is Panadol again?" l asked, raising a brow.
"Darling, I'm coming," a hoarse feminine voice answered.
"She be my medicine; no mind me," James explained.
What sort of name was that? l wondered.
"Yes, sweet, you called me," Panadol said with a smirk on her face on coming out. It wasn't the same girl whom James had told to welcome me. She looked masculine with a long neck, like that of a giraffe.
"No wonder the name Panadol," l mused.
"please, get this young man here a bottle of star from that freezer."
Within a minute, she was back with the drink.
James then continued. "But man, you are taking a risk here. You killed a man's wife and intend to also kill his first daughter, yet you still stay in his house, hoping to play the hide and seek game, eh?" James asked in a serious tone.
"I have thought about that, but if l just disappear now, he would confirm that l was the one who killed his wife. He already knows I'm a robber, James."
"That man is dangerous, from what I heard.
How about you staying in my place? l mean there is nothing wrong in staying here; That way, you would be much safer."
l knew James was being concerned, but Mr Alex would definitely conclude that l was responsible for his wife's death, if l didn't show up, since he had already seen me as a bad person and l didn't want to create the impression that l was the killer.
"James, you are a good friend; but trust me, everything would be okay. Bedsides, l don't want to ruin the blissful enjoyment you are already having with Panadol," l said smiling.
"You will never cease to amaze me; of course you know I'm not faithful, especially when it comes to woman. They come and go, just like every other thing."
"You can't be serious, Vitamin C; did l just hear you say that?" Panadol shouted as she came into the room. She must had been listening to our conversation.
"Gracious God! James, you are Vitamin C and she is Panadol," l laughed uncontrollably. "You both are already set to get married and, as your best man, James, l think l should answer procold," l said, laughing more wildly as James looked at me without uttering a word.
"Eh, see, Panadol, l was just joking; don't mind me. How can anyone replace you on this earth? Sweetheart, asanwa m oh, l was bluffing, you can ask my friend over there," James said, caressing her hair.
She turned to my direction and l looked away nonchalantly.
"Okay, James, because l love you. l love you so much and I don't want my heart to be broken," she said as she left us, sobbing.
l couldn't help controlling my laughter. "So, such a masculine figure could complain of heartbreak," l thought.
"Okay, James, you know what's next. Mary is her name," l said bringing out Mary's picture from my pocket and handing it over to James l had stolen it from her room on one occasion l had pretended to sweep her room. "Tell your boys to keep this one clean, too; l must be on my way to avoid any unnecessary suspicious."
"You don't have a problem. The job is done already," James said confidently.
l left James apartment after a couple of minutes and made my way to Mr Alex's house.
The family was in a mournful mood when l arrived. l tried my best to frown, to avoid looking casually okay, as if nothing had happened. Linda stared coldly at me as l walked in. She had turned red after crying for a long time.
"I'm sorry about your mum," l said, holding her hands. l just wanted to say something to her to make her feel okay. Her hands were just as warm as that of Mummy. And l thought about Mummy, hoping l could complete my revenge by killing her, too, just like she had killed Daddy. The thought of her as a mother was so awful that my entire body ached painfully whenever l thought of her.
It was as though the words l had said to Linda to make her feel better had triggered more tears from her tear gland. As she bent her head, fresh tears began to flow down her cheeks.
My heart thudded against my rib cage and l got confused on what to do or say next. "l didn't mean to hurt you. I'm really sorry," l said calmly, hoping that would make her feel better.
She began to laugh crazily, looking at me in the face.
"William!" l heard a deep voice upstairs and the fear of seeing Mr Alex enveloped me.
"Yes, sir," l answered a bit frightfully.
"Come and see me in my room now," he said furiously and walked quietly into his bedroom.
l stood up and followed immediately, still turning back to look at Linda, who was still laughing uncontrollably. My limbs started to tell me in his bedroom. l entered his room after some seconds of climbing the stairs. The air felt cool around us; l saw it as a good sign. l quickly turned to Mr Alex who was already looking at me as if he was trying to find something. l felt hot sweat flowing down my body.
"Do you know how your father died?" he asked, staring endllessly at me without blinking.