Last seen in Lapaz by Kwei Quartey

Author:Kwei Quartey [Quartey, Kwei]
Language: spa
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

BY THE FOLLOWING MORNING, the previous night’s texts from Femi, Awuni, and Janet—pleading, insulting, and everything in between—had not abated. Ngozi decided to block them on WhatsApp, at least temporarily. She needed to banish them from her mind for a while, clear her head, and find her reset button, wherever or whatever that was.

Diamond’s presence in the house presented another dilemma: what to do with her. For now, Ngozi would move her into the servants’ accommodations while they treaded water and bought some time. Furnishings in the quarters were minimal to none, so Ngozi was happy for the distraction of finding simple but essential items to equip the bedroom and bathroom. Over the next two days, the women worked together to make the place comfortable, and Ngozi found herself bonding with Diamond. She was unsophisticated, but she had a sweet, gentle spirit. By the weekend, she was in good shape as far as her living quarters were concerned.

On Saturday afternoon, leaving Diamond at home for a while, Ngozi went out to get her hair and nails done. These kinds of routines were comforting. That done, Ngozi picked up some additional household items and food to cook for the evening’s dinner.

Returning home, she parked the Rover in her space and alighted to get the shopping bags out of the back seat. With both hands full, she shut the door with a deft hip, and started as she caught a shadow pass across the front of the garage. She began to turn but never completed the movement before someone got her in a chokehold.

“If you scream, I will cut your throat,” he whispered, showing her a knife.

Nevertheless, as he dragged her back, she tried to resist, kicking out her legs and writhing, but she couldn’t get out of his grip. She realized that the parked car to one side of the garage must have followed her in through the automatic gate, which had a sensor to prevent hitting incoming vehicles.

Her attacker had an accomplice, a short but burly man in a cap and Covid mask. Together, the two of them bound, gagged, and blindfolded Ngozi. Panic screamed in her brain, her first thought being that Awuni and Janet’s henchmen were kidnapping her in retribution for Ngozi’s “stealing” Diamond from the Alligator.

Are they going to torture me? Kill me?

The two men stuffed her into the trunk and slammed it shut. Only seconds later the car started up and pulled out of the yard. Hot gas fumes welled up from the vehicle, overwhelming her and rendering Ngozi faint and nauseated. She was drenched in sweat. She struggled against her restraints for a moment, but they were too tight to allow any meaningful movement. What was happening to her and where were they taking her?

The vehicle bounced and swerved several times. Whoever her two captors were, they were silent, but Ngozi could hear the muffled noise of traffic and people on a busy street. After another couple of turns, the sounds faded and they appeared to be on an unpaved road full of potholes, of which there were too many to count in Accra.

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