~Author's POV~

The flight to Enugu was accompanied by silence that lingered between the girls and their grandmother.

They were on the road now to the village, and Grandma spoke to the girls about meeting with their maternal grandmother to bring the skeletal remains of their mother.

Homa curled herself in the back passenger seat of the sienna, watching the fast views loom and wane out of her sight as the Uber car sped past plantations of palm trees and dust-pelted buildings.

Grandma, on the other side of the back passenger seat, seemed to be doused in some kind of awakening sleep. No one could tell if she was asleep or awake. Because even though her eyes seemed closed, she was still very responsive to the little conscious conversations that prompted her at each interval.

Somi sat in the middle of the back seat between Mama and Homa; she had fallen deeply asleep from her raging thoughts. She had thought about Adams' involvement in helping her family get the justice they deserved, even though she had persisted that her family could handle it without his help.

Sarima seemed to be the only person who still managed to keep her sanity uptight as she sat beside the driver navigating up and down the hilly roads that raised a concerning amount of red dust at every turn.

The long and tiresome journey finally rewarded them with the sight of their maternal home. The small bungalow was nestled amidst several other compounds.

The man drove into the compound with no fence or gate barricading guidance over the place.

When they finally alighted from the car, they were welcomed into their maternal grandmother's home with Nnò-s and daalü. Although her demeanour depicted a cheerful and welcoming mother, the girls could see the traces of melancholy beneath the mask of her delighted expression. She looked so old and frail, That Somi was thankful that her paternal grandma, who was actually older in age, looked way healthier and, although old, not as much as this.

Calista's mother's caregiver ushered them in after exchanging warm pleasantries with Grandma, who had asked for the presence of Oby. The young girl helped Mama welcome them to a table of okpa she had made, and while they were there, they discussed plans for the abrupt burial.

They conversed in Igbo, and the girls listened in as they weren't that good in speaking their mother's language, periodically adding their piece and mixing it up with English.

And just while they talked about how Calista's mom had preserved the rest of Calista's bone, Oby came into the scene as she was back from Lagos to the village already. Adams had arranged for her movements.

"Ndeewo," She greeted everyone as she walked into the tiny living room that smelled of snuff and old hollandis wrapper. Sarima and Somi got on their feet to take her hands into a handshake.

"We are very grateful, Aunty. For your bravery and for speaking out loud."

"Inukwa, Please, I should have spoken up earlier." The woman laughed.

"Well, we wouldn't have discovered our imposter mother and daughter-in-law if you had not spoken at all," Mama said in Igbo. She was quite good with the language too.

"So we owe you a lot of gratitude. This means so much to us," Somi added.

"That troublemaker of a Caroline. I hope she reaps what she sows. And I pray the judge doesn't spare her the bits of the crime she committed," Oby said.

"That devil? Wherever she is right now, I'm sure she knows she has the slimmest chance of winning. In fact, she cannot win it all," Homa was seething; it was very evident she hated the woman to her bones.

"We were just discussing going to the mortuary to retrieve our mother's remains," Sarima said.

"Chai, Ndo o, may her soul rest in peace."

"It will when that monster has been given befitting judgement," Homa added.

After rounding up the conversation, they drove down the hill to Saint Martin Mortuary, where they retrieved Calista's skeletal remains in the finely polished wooden box.

And once again, the driver that came with them from the airport drove the coffin to another mortuary in Port Harcourt. At the same time, they booked another ride and went to stay at a hotel as their flight for Port Harcourt was going to be the next morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following week had marched the girls and a few sympathising relatives to the burial mass of the late Mrs. Calista Amadi.

Despite being hit by dizziness from all the stress and burial preparations of the past weeks that morning, Somi was grateful for the presence of Adams, who had constantly called to check on her and know how everything was going.

He had been quite choked up with some important new clients, Flying to Ogun state and Ondo to attend functions and get things done, he barely had time too.

Somi recalled sleeping almost all through the mass until the priest had requested the congregation to be on their feet.

And finally, Calista was lowered into the ground close to her husband's grave in the man's compound.

Somi grabbed a glass of water in the kitchen and away from all the visitors around, pausing to take a drink; she looked at Adams, whose watchful eyes were on her from her phone screen.

"I know people have been yelling profanities and hoping for nothing but the worst for Caroline. But I feel everyone, no matter how much they commit, deserves a means of justification."

"And that is why we are having a trial," He responded.

"You know what I mean, a ray of light. The tiniest display of compassion and mercy."

"I may not know what it feels like to lose a mother and have an imposter mom, but I do know that you need a lot of rest. You look drained." He looked worried.

"Do not dismiss me like that," Somi said almost in a bawl, but her eyes pleaded for a listening ear.

"So you're defending her or trying to see reasons?" He asked, frowning.

"I have a twin, and I know what it feels like when made an antagonistic of one and a hero of the other. And I know what it feels like to bear the burden of anything that goes wrong without any investigation. She's human, and despite her inhuman deed, she deserves compassion and love, and maybe she never got enough of it?"

"Baby..." Adams began but was interrupted.

"If my mom, while she was alive, has taught me anything, it's being compassionate even to those we think do not deserve it. And if this is a way of homage to her, then I will do it. Maybe try and see reason with her sister."

"Okay," He finally gave in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stephen stood in front of the jury, his eyes scanning the room. He knew he had a slight chance of winning, but he was determined to defend his client to the best of his abilities.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began, his voice confident and steady. "My client is here today because she has been accused of murder and impersonation. But I am here to tell you she is innocent of these charges."

He went on to explain the details of the case, pointing out inconsistencies in the prosecution's arguments and highlighting evidence that supported Caroline's innocence. He was calm and methodical, taking the jury through the facts of the case step by step.

And while he spoke, the jury listened intently, their eyes fixed on him. He followed by calling to stand one of the prosecuting witnesses.

"Your honour, the defence would like to call one of the prosecuting witnesses, Miss Obiaghelli Uche."

"Objection!" Emmanuel said.

"On what grounds ?" the judge questioned.

"Your honour, if the defence wishes to defend his client, he should scout for his witness and not poke on the protecting witness' already said testimonies."

"Your honour, this line of questioning is relevant to my client's defence," Stephen defended his action.

"Overruled. Mrs. Uche, you may approach the stand; please continue with your line of questioning," the judge said.

"You testified that you were there when the murder happened."

"Yes, I was."

"Since you never spoke a word about it, doesn't this make you an accomplice?"

"Objection!" Emmanuel bawled.

"I'll rephrase. Why didn't you speak up?"

"I was afraid that I would be wrongly involved in it."

"So why did you come out now? Did you stop being afraid?"

"Ever since the people thought Caroline went missing, I had suspicions that it was Calista because I walked into the compound and noticed some strange movements from Caroline. So when the land buyers discovered a grave, it confirmed my suspicions."

"But your testimony on the 19th of July 2023 said you witnessed the murder firsthand, and now you have suspicions? Your honour, the basis of this testimony is based on assumption, and I, therefore, plead that it should be waived."

"But... I know what I saw." Oby said.

"Mrs. Uche, before the missing Mrs. Calista Amadi, you were known to have a dispute with the accused. Isn't this testimony of yours biassed based on the fact that you caught her sleeping with your ex-husband, and ever since, you have been looking for a way to repay her?" Stephen questioned, his eyes raging with flames of anger.

"I know she murdered Calista!" Oby cried.

"Objection! defence is badgering the witness," Emmanuel yelled.

"Sustained. Mr. Briggs, this is the last warning to put your act together in my chamber," the judge warned.

"The defence rests," Stephen said with a sigh of relief that they had one strike against the opponent.

There was a thirty minute recess, as the judge had given to let the congregation blow off some steam.

After which, they returned to the courtroom, everyone resuming their seat, as well as the judge who gave approval for the commencement of the closing arguments.

"Your honour, the council wishes to approach the bench," Emmanuel said. The judge looked from both attorneys to the congregation and the jury; peeking through her spec, she finally accepted the request.

"You may approach the bench."

Both attorneys stood before as the congregation waited through the silence and hush whispering of the judges and the lawyers. Returning to their seats, Stephen stood up to give his closing arguments, pleading with the jury and the congregation in a captivating speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, it is your duty to carefully consider all the evidence presented to you in this case and to arrive at a verdict based solely on the facts and the law." the judge said

Retrieving the judgement from the jury, the Bailiff read out loud.

"Mrs. Abayomi, you have been found guilty of the charges of murder and impersonation. The court has taken into account the seriousness of these crimes and the impact they have had on the victim's family and society as a whole. Therefore, as a result of this, you are sentenced to 40 years in prison without possible parole."

The congregation and family members of the defendant gasped in disbelief as the sentence was read out. Everyone had hoped for a more lenient sentence, but it was clear that the court had taken a firm stance on the matter. Caroline sat motionless, her eyes fixed on the judge.

"As you serve your sentence, I hope you will use this time to reflect on your actions and the harm you have caused. The court does not doubt that justice has been served today and that the victim's family can finally find some closure. This court is adjourned."

With those words, the judge brought the proceedings to a close. Caroline was led away in handcuffs, her fate sealed for the next four decades.

******

A/N

Where they too harsh on Caroline? 😬