"I told you to destroy all the evidences in that God-forsaken place . How on earth did they find an evidence?!"

I froze and released my grip on the door knob. Mom.
I didn't wait to hear the rest, I went back downstairs all the while stabilizing myself with the wall and rails. The revelation that threw itself at me was too much for me to stomach - Mom knew about what happened. How?
Then I recalled the day I got back, I didn't tell her I lost my memory but she knew! She knew it right from the start. She knew everything.
The end is near.

"Karleen, what's wrong?" Someone was asking but I wasn't listening.

The only word I could hear was Joshua's from yesterday, RUN. And I ran like never before , to Mom's room.

F scream was deafening. "Don't act stupid , Karleen. Karleen!"

But I wasn't having any of that 'take it slow' vibe. I flung the door open, panting heavily and searched effortlessly for Mom. The room was empty. I spent the next few seconds calming down before I saw Chichi walk through the hallway.

"Where's Mom?" I gritted.

"Don't you know? She isn't at home," she busied herself with the hem of her skirt.

"What do you mean? I saw her few minutes ago!" I was frustrated.

She frowned and eyed me. "See ehn Aunty Karleen, me don't know who you saw o but I swear down Madam no dey. She don commot te te (she's not at home, she left since.)"

Am I losing it?

*
Everyone was present except Dad. There was a more important press conference he had to attend at Abuja. Not like he would have been present either way. Not that I cared also, the people I needed most were here with me.

They called this a mini trial. If I was found guilty, then this would become a court case. My fate would be decided there.

"Just calm down dear. It'll just be questions and answers but be as honest as you can," Dara whispered and I nodded. "I'll go to meet the crew. We're still waiting for the Minister."

"Okay."

They came in few minutes later. Jumoke's Mom, Lara was supported by her husband as they walked in. They were dressed in matching purple Ankara. As Lara spotted me, she fought her way out of her husband's grip and ran over to me.

"My daughter. Baby, why did you make Mama wait for some long... Why? Why? Don't you miss Mama..." She pulled me into a bear hug and her tears fell on my forehead.

I felt her pain, grief and heartache. A strong hand snatched her from me and everyone watched in pitiful silence as she was dragged away. She shouted incoherent words and threw her legs in the air in protest but it had little or no effect on the huge man that carried her.

She was pinned beside her husband who looked so frustrated but still tried to calm her down. After minutes of trying to no avail, the white figure that was part of their entourage stepped forward with a hypothermic needle.

"Sweetheart the needle hurts. I'm not mad. Tell her. It hurts... It ... Hu...rts me..."her voice trailed away agonizingly as she pleaded with her husband to stop the Nurse. Dele took her two hands and kissed it as the Nurse injected her left shoulder.

She slept.

Dele shot everyone a forced apologetic smile. "We can start the session now. The last thing I want is for her to witness err this."

His words were laced with the grief and pain his physical appearance lacked. I owed my head as tears threatened to fall. Intentionally or not, I caused it. That was too hard for me to bare.

"It's not your fault."

I looked beside me to see Kathleen and I was surprised. That was the first good sentence she'll say to me and I managed a weak smile that lacked convinction.

"We'll commence the open questioning now. Is anyone in opposition to this?" A woman in her late forties asked.

When no one signified to be in opposition, the open questioning commenced.

"I'm Intelligence Dami and I'll be in charge," the woman introduced before continuing. "The accused should please step forward."

I stood up and begged my feet to drag me to the carved out box I was supposed to be in.

"Media please? Okay. So... Miss Karleen Coker, will you speak nothing but the truth today in honour of your late bestfriend?" she brought out her glasses and let it rest on her nose.

I licked my lips nervously in an attempt to wet it and my eyes scanned around the mini growd in the great hall. My family... Her family. No sign of Sonia or Joshua.

"Yes," I closed my eyes. I couldn't let my mind wander.

"Due to the fact that the accused has still not regained her memories, we'll skip some questions. The body of the deceased was found on the 26th of September in a storey building. A necklace was also found in that same room," Dami explained as if it was something interesting.

Maybe it was.

"Necklace?" I raised a brow in confusion. "What has a necklace got to do with this?" But in my mind, I silently prayed it was not the scary necklace.

A young boy came forward with a jewelry box and placed it atop the glass table. He put on a glove, opened the box and brought out a beautiful but unfamiliar gold necklace that screamed fortune.

"Excuse me, am I supposed to recognize the necklace or something?" My lips trembled as I spoke but I fought hard to talk firmly.

"No. Maybe your family would like to explain that. Chief Mrs Stella Coker, would you please step forward?"

Mom rose to her feet with her head up high like this was some beauty pageant and I rolled my eyes in disgust. So far, it seems everyone was enjoying this.

"Is this necklace familiar?" Dani asked, clasping her hands.

Mom applied too much mascara that it almost seemed impossible for her to breathe but she did anyways. "No. My daughter doesn't like jewelries. Not even expensive ones."

Dami was silent for a while. "Thanks, ma'am."

Mom walked back to her seat and I let out a sigh of relief. Dami nodded at the boy. "Well, we have witnesses. Bring her in."

All heads turned. She wore a red, knee-length Chanel gown and held a small purse. How could she walk in with so much confidence?

"Miss Sonia, do you promise to speak nothing but the truth before this gathering here today?" Dami asked.

She walked inside the witness box without locking eyes with me.Her voice was firm, I hoped she knew what she was doing. "Yes."

"Two days ago, our headquarters got a call from Miss Sonia regarding this case. Would you please repeat what you told us?"

She didn't even blink. "Two days ago, I found these earrings in Karleen's jewelry box."

I felt a tear fall.

Mom stood up. "Who gave you the right to make reports abo-"

Dami interrupted her. "Sonia was employed by the NAVE to watch Karleen's every move. Part of her duty was to find a matching jewelry to this necklace."

My knees failed to support me and I bowed my head, trying to cast some spell on my legs for strength.

"You worthless and insolent bag of trash. You we-"

Dami interrupted Mom, again. "Mrs Stella, I'm afraid we'll have the security team escort you out if you prove to be a threat. Are we clear?... Then please sit."

I watched Mom shot Sonia a death glare before sitting. I just stood glued to a spot. No tear, no pain. Just numb.

Dami smiled at everyone. "If we all look closely at the matching jewelries, we'll see bloodstains on the earrings. Karleen, explain how you were in possession of the earrings."

A sarcastic laugh filled the air and it took me seconds to realize I was the one laughing. "How am I supposed to know?"

Dami faced Sonia. "Who's the owner of the jewelry?"

"Jummy. We bought it few hours before they both disappeared."

"Why didn't you buy? Where did you guys go after?"

She narrowed her eyes like she was watching the scene. "It was too expensive for me while Karleen doesn't like jewelries. We had a dancing class but i went alone. Karleen successfully convinced Jummy to accompany her to someplace. If Jummy hadn't listened... She never missed her dancing class. Jummy..." Her voice faded as she sniffed.

Dami typed some words on her laptop for the first time and smiled at the other agents. "Who was the driver?"

I slowly closed my eyes and balled my fists. This wasn't going to be easy and it would be longer than I expected.

***
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