"Please don't stoope to her level, she didn't mean that." Ada begged profusely as she held out her right hand as an act of gesture.

Imade casted a disgusting look at Aderonke who was shouting and raining insults simultaneously. She shook her head and steadied her posture with a firm hand on her waist, then turned to Ada.

"I won't descend to her level, I don't have time to exchange words with a crazy woman, she's obviously in pain." Imade stated clearly as her lips curved into a frown.

"But what I don't understand is why she is insulting me." Imade continued as she turned to look at Aderonke.

"Did you just call me crazy?" Aderonke asked as her mouth flew open in disbelief.

"Please can we just discuss all this in my office?" Ada enquired as she stuck her hands into her pant trousers.

"Discuss what? I am not interested in a conversation, especially with her included. I can't stay here any longer, seeing her makes me to want to vomit." Aderonke retorted angrily as she stormed out of the station.

The crowd that lurked around for an impending battle slowly dispersed and the station returned to it's dry and normal self.

********

"I am Ada George, a detective. I am taking on the case that surrounds Bimbo's death." Ada introduced as she stretched forth her hands.

"I am Imade Johnson, Sade's mother." Imade replied as she shook Ada's hands happily.

"I really understand if you are angry madam, that woman is really troubled by her daughter's demise." Ada said flatly as the duo began conversing in the small office.

"I am not bothered about her attitude, I actually understand from a woman's perspective. It's not easy to get over the loss of a child." Imade responded as she nodded her head briefly.

"You are certainly right, Anyways I would like to request something crucial. I want the girls to come to the station every saturday morning. We need them for a mere questioning. It's nothing serious." Ada replied as she flexed out her arms which had began to grow stiff.

"Alright, I can discuss with their parents, I am quite familiar with them." Imade replied gently.

"Thank you so much Madam." Ada exclaimed as she reclined into her seat with a relaxed auora.

"Anyways I have to go, the girls are outside and I have to take them back to school." Imade stated as she rose on her feet amidst shaking Ada's hands.

"Have a wonderful day, Detective." Imade added as she leaned against the door briefly before snapping it shut.

Ada simply gave a curt nod and took a huge breath, relief washing into her bones. She picked up a bottle of water which was lying on the desk and took a large gulp. She recounted the events that happened few minutes ago while placing her legs in the desk and loathed Aderonke even more.

A dry knock on the door startled Ada and broke her from her reverie.

"Come in!" Ada screamed, dropping her legs on the ground with a quiet thud.

A man clad in a black jeans and a white shirt that outlined his muscular frame walked in and with each step he took, his biceps contracted. His face was pure beauty sculpted by God, he twirled a wooden chair and sat on it. His face turned into a malicious grin which showcased his handsome dimple that settled on his right cheek.

On sighting him, Ada rolled her eyes and let out a groan of displeasure.

"Kola, what are you doing here?" Ada asked, opening her drawers to avoid looking at his tempting smile.

"I came to see you." Kola replied, as he scooted closer to the table.

"Are you here to tell me about Bimbo's autopsy?" Ada asked as she looked at the ceiling to avert her gaze away from his.

"What?" Kola asked dumbfoundedly.

"Have you forgotten that you deal with the dead, Aren't you a forensic pathologist?" Ada continued as she jammed her pen on the table.

"You don't have to take it personal. The autopsy would be out tommorow." Kola scoffed.

"I am not taking it personal, since you don't have anything useful to tell me. I suggest you go back to your department." Ada replied, sighing heavily.

"I came to ask you one question." Kola began, rubbing his hands to reduce the tension he felt in his limbs.

Ada nodded and tilted her head in affirmation.

"Why did you break up with me? Why did you call off the engagement? I never cheated on you, so tell me Ada. Why did you deliberately hurt me?" Kola asked sadly, as he shook his head in pain.

"That's not a valid question. I decided to break off the engagement because I wanted to." Ada shrugged.

"And that's not a reasonable answer either. You just decided to wake up one day and break up with your fiance over the phone. Do you realize that you have jeopardized the relationship between you and my mother? She hates you so much right now. Ada, stop avoiding the question and give me a reason." Kola yelled as his voice grew louder.

"Let me give you a friendly advice, move on with your life and tell your mother that I am sorry for everything. There's so much to life than being a bitter ex. Please grow up." Ada pleaded as she gave him a faint smile.

"I am not bitter, I am just sad that you are still the same selfish and self centred person I know." Kola retorted angrily.

"Excuse me? You can't come to my office and insult me, I am your superior and you have to understand that you might be the stronger than me outside but in this station, I am your boss." Ada glared at him coldly.

"Should I tell you your biggest problem? You are too tied to your work. When we were still dating, you would stand me up because of work and when anytime we went out, we celebrated your promotion at work. You have forgotten that we work in the same building. So tell me Ada, what did I do wrong? I can't get over you because you are the only one I love and will always treasure . I promised to love you and I am still doing it. Get that into your hand and stop all these attitude." Kola barked as he rose up on his feet.

The corners of Ada's mouth twitched slightly as she responded.

"Get out of my office, Kola!"

Kola wasn't affected by her words as he stared at her intently, drinking in her beauty that bloomed even more after months of separation.

"Are you dumb or deaf?" Ada questioned with an impatient look, wondering if his sanity was still intact.

"You haven't still convinced me on why you broke up with me. You keep rambling and avoiding all my questions." Kola laughed bitterly.

"I don't care, just get out of my sight." Ada yelled as she threw papers from her desk to the floor.

"Even after your cold treatment towards me, I won't stop asking that question. I won't stop chasing you Ada." Kola stated lovingly as he strode towards the door, gripping the knob tightly.

Ada buried her head in her hands and sobbed quietly after she heard the clicking of the door being shut. Kola's presence drastically changed her mood and left a ache in her heart. Her phone vibrated and she lifted her slender neck to check. She saw a message sent by Kola, she hesitated a bit before checking it. She saw a picture that Kola took of her a year ago, stuffing her mouth with chicken.

The memories that Ada wanted to bury, rose up from the ashes and she dropped the phone flatly on the desk, wiping her tear stricken eyes clean with her fingers.

*******

Aderonke drove round the estate with anger written all over her face before she finally went home. She opened the car door and refused to acknowledge Uche's warm greetings. She walked briskly as her gold wristwatch jingled as a bell.

She didn't notice her husband sitting on the settee, holding a magazine and reaching out for a glass of juice. She made to ascend the stairs but was halted by his hoarse voice.

"Where did you go?" Wale asked calmly as he flipped the pages out of the magazine without sparing his wife a single glance.

"Can't you greet your wife before asking questions? I was at the spa, if that satisfies your curiosity." Aderonke responded proudly.

"Really Aderonke? You were at the spa or you were busy causing trouble at the police station?" Wale asked mockingly.

After a long silence, Aderonke took a huge breath and replied, "I wasn't causing trouble, I was just worried about the investigation."

"You don't know how to tell a lie, the video that confirms it is now viral and do you know that people are making a laughing stock out of me? they are saying that I don't know how to control my wife on social media. I am the CEO of a food production company and you are ridiculing me like this?" Wale asked, looking into his wife's eyes.

"Our daughter is dead and that's all you are worried about? Do you even feel pain or discomfort? You are supposed to be mourning." Aderonke yelled as tears fell from her eyes.

"Don't change the subject and stop blackmailing me emotionally. What you did was completely wrong, why would you take Bimbo's friends to the police station and tag them as murderers?" Wale muttered as he stood up from the couch.

"Because they are." Aderonke screamed.

"I won't talk to you about this anymore, because I am tired. I am completely stressed and worn out and you are adding to it. I don't care anymore, do as you wish." Wale finalized, dropping the magazine on the table before climbing the stairs.

Aderonke hissed and flopped on the couch, she picked up the glass filled with juice on the table and drained the content into her mouth. She placed a palm on her forehead and sighed. The quick sound of someone approaching filled her ears and she looked up to see Sewa.

"Good afternoon ma, are you ready to eat ma?" Sewa asked shyly, placing her gaze in the tiled floor.

"I don't think I have the appetite for anything. You can go." Aderonke muttered as beads of perspiration settled on her forehead.

"I can make your favorite food ma, I'll make pounded yam and vegetable soup." Sewa replied obstinately.

"I said I am not interested." Aderonke retorted as she fought the urge to scream at the maid who was rambling on her knees.

"Or maybe I should call Bimbo." Sewa continued but stopped on her tracks on realizing what she had said out of stupidity.

Time froze for a long time as Aderonke engaged in a staring competition with the maid. Her chest rose and fell in harmony as she thought of what to say.

"Repeat what you just said." Aderonke retorted as she rose up on her feet drastically.

Sewa moved backwards, as her small frame shook with pity," I didn't mean to say that ma, It slipped. "

"I can't believe this is happening, so you are mocking me in my own house. Aren't you scared?" Aderonke asked as she advanced briskly towards the maid.

Before Sewa could respond, a slap was imprinted on her left cheek and she winced in pain. Her body shook with trepidation as she fell over and landed on the ground.

"Repeat what you said earlier." Aderonke asked once more as she acted obvilous to the pain that Sewa was feeling.

"I am sorry ma." Sewa pleaded as she groaned in pain.

Aderonke reached for the glass cup and made to shatter it on Sewa's head but stopped when she heard her husband's calm tone behind her.

"What are you doing?"