Bernard couldn't leave Ngozi and her children alone in the hospital based on the fact that she just lost her mother. She needed to be consoled. The more Bernard and Dr. Anthony pet her and her daughter, Anita, the more tears flowed freely from their eyes like a heavy downpour. Glancing at the wall clock made Bernard realize that the day had been far spent. The wall clock had just struck 11:00 P.m. He had insisted on going to report the case of his missing wife and Ngozi's sister, Chioma to the police but Dr. Anthony had urged him to stay behind for the sake of his safety too. He told him to postpone it to the next day. He solely advises that going to report as early as possible the next day is preferable to go in the dark.
"Who knows who could be on your trail at this hour of the night? It will be very dangerous to move about this night. Please, stay till tomorrow" Dr. Anthony advised.
Bernard released a heavy sigh after listening to Dr. Anthony's advice. He wished he could just go on his own to Ngozi's house to investigate whatever could be wrong but still, the security personnel at the estate gate might not want to open the gate for him, he reasoned that they might be obliged if he explained in details about Chioma and Gloria's disappearance and offer to help him with security details and necessary information but then, it was quite late and nothing much could be done that late at night.
The night seemed to be the longest he had ever spent in his entire existence. He wished the day could just break its shell while he dashed out to do the needful but instead, the sluggishness of the night metamorphosing into day weighed him down. Gloria was symbolically the bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. Gloria and Chioma had been missing for more than eight hours with no trace at all. Not even either of their cell phones is going through. This alone brought tension and fear to him.
"I can't trade my daughter for anything on earth. Her happiness is my happiness too. Her joy is my joy. I wonder why she had chosen to marry a poor graduate like you instead of my friend's son who owns many companies and is very wealthy. Anyway, you can go ahead and marry her but if anything bad happens to her, consider yourself dead already! Mr. Eugene had stated during his conversation with Bernard one certain evening. Mr. Eugene was Gloria's father who had previously been against their marriage as soon as he heard that Bernard was still a university graduate who was yet to get a job but had wanted to marry Gloria for the sake of the love between them. Gloria pleaded for many months but he did not succumb to their union. Dejected, Gloria decided to commit suicide by taking rat poison but with the help of God and good Doctors around, she survived. To make sure that such never repeated itself, Gloria's mother had to plead on her behalf to her husband to support the marriage and leave them in peace since that's what Gloria had wanted.
Benard sighed again. The memory rushed into his memory like a vision. He needed no one to tell him what would happen if Gloria was not found alive. The poor woman had suffered so much for him. Can anyone call him a poor graduate today? He was very sure that if not for Gloria's love and support, he wouldn't have been the successful man he was.
"Oh Jesus! Who did I offend to deserve this??? What am I waiting for again o!" He wept silently. He prayed silently to God to protect Gloria and Chioma wherever they could be. He thereafter stumbled into sleep but was awoken by a woman's voice. The woman was a patient who had been rushed to the hospital the previous day. She was suffering from a strange and painful ailment that made her shout at intervals. Bernard heard the woman's voice one more time before she was injected with some drugs and she fell asleep thereafter. Bernard could no longer sleep as he was once again troubled about how to set out and report to the Police about Chioma and his missing wife. He checked his wristwatch, the time was 5:15 a.m
Ngozi was awake almost at the same time. She checked on her baby and Anita to ensure they were sleeping peacefully. Satisfied, she opened the door to meet Bernard who was sitting outside on a plastic chair. She felt pity for him over the discomfort he must have been passing through.
"Good morning.", Bernard greeted. I thought you would still be sleeping by now. That's why I don't want to disturb you. How are you doing?" he asked.
"I don't think I am fine. Please, have you heard anything about Gloria and Chioma?" Ngozi asked.
"Not at all. I hope they are fine wherever they are. Let me go and report the situation to the police station and still go and to other places which I think they might be" Benard pressed further.
"All right. Can I go with you? Ngozi asked.
"No. Don't worry. Just take care of yourself and the children. Benard replied.
All right then. I will be here praying for you" Ngozi said.
At this point, Anita was already awake. "Good morning sir. Good morning ma. I hope Aunt Gloria and Aunt Chioma are back?" she asked.
"No. But I hope they will join us very soon" Benard explained. He bade them goodbye. Hardly had he taken some steps forward when a call came through on his phone. It was a call from Tunde, one of his close friends.
"Hello, Bernard. Did you listen to the news this morning? It was said that a car had an accident around 1.00 am today. Two men and two women were found in the car with some ammunition. It seems those men were armed robbers who met their waterloo. It was reported that the men lost their lives instantly while the two women were badly injured and have been rushed to Federal Government Hospital. I will suggest you go there now to check on the identities of the women because from their descriptions I have a feeling it could be Chioma and Gloria who you have been searching for."
Alarmed by the information, Bernard raced to his car and drove hastily to the hospital, praying fervently for the well-being of Chioma and his dear wife.