The Emerald Chase - Episode 40

*TWENTY THREE YEARS AGO..

Benson stood at the edge of the bed watching his son's slow breathing.

A bandage tied around his small head.

Several machines attached to his little frame.

He watched keenly as the doctor Injected a substance into his son's body. Done, he lifted himself up and faced him.

"Mr. Benson.. Are you sure this is your final decision? I mean, your son is too young for such medication"

"Yes doctor. It's my final decision. I don't want him remembering anything once he wakes up"

"Very well then Mr. Benson. But please, this medicine is temporary. So make sure to give it to him regularly. Either mix it in his food, juice or administer it by injecting.."

"He won't remember anything right doctor?"

"As long as you follow my instructions but like I said this medicine is temporary so anything can trigger his memory. For eg, constant talk about his mother or anything related to what happened that night."

"Very well doctor... I guess I'll have to send him out of the country"

Benson muttered to himself. The doctor nodded and walked out.

****

"I said sit Stone!!! And you too Tyrone. Now!!"

Darren screams jolting Benson back to reality...

"I asked you a question father and you have been staring at me like a zombie hmm?"

"I don't know what you are talking about Darren..

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-emerald-chase

. You have always been stupid and making unnecessary assumptions. Before you came in, I was having a conversation with them so please leave now and get a life!!"

Darren smiles

"Your discouraging words don't hurt me anymore father. They don't.. Now answer me father... Why am I even wasting my time... Let's do this the easy way..."

He gets up, takes a sip of his tequila and shouts

"All the maidservants. Assemble in the living room. Now!!"

In seconds, all six maidservants rushed to stand before him..

"Who amongst you is responsible for preparing my food?"

"I sir"

one of them says, her head bowed

"Hmm.. What do you add to my food before serving?"

The maid looks up in shock and shakes her head

"No...nothing sir"

Darren folds his arms in front of him and taps his jaw.

He stops when he notices the eldest amongst the maids exchanging glances with his father.

They seemed to be communicating with their eyes.

She was in her late fifties and Benson had sent her with him several years back to the states to take care of him..

"Aunty"

he calls out to her but she didn't respond.

She looked nervously at Chief Benson who shook his head at her... Without another word, Darren takes her hand and leads her upstairs into his room.

***

"We are alone now aunty. Please tell me the entire truth please.. You have been with me ever since I was a boy. You are like my mother. Is there anything you think I should know? Please aunty"

The elderly woman sighs.

She could see the desperation in his eyes.

"Honestly Darren I don't know anything.. But all I can say is, after your mother passed away, your father made some papers for me to leave the country with you and take care of you. There was this doctor that always came to me to give me a particular medicine. He told me, you're a sickle cell patient so I should add them to your food every month for your health"

He stares at her wide eyed, unable to believe his ears.

He was a sickler? Really?

"Seriously? Is that what you were told? That I'm a sickle cell patient?"

"Yes. Did I do something wrong?"

She inquires He smiles warmly

"no aunty. Thank you for telling me"

and then he kisses her cheeks She chuckles

"you haven't stopped this habit of yours have you? We are in Ghana now not Britain where you can be kissing me anytime"

"Well no. In fact I would have done more to you if you weren't so much older than me aunt"

his eyes sparkles with mischief

"You are a very cute boy. You are a beautiful man, you know that?"

"Yhup!"

"So go find yourself a woman and leave me alone. May I go back to my post now? I left the food I'm preparing on fire"

"Okay aunty.

Read " Daddy's Girl " by the same author ( eliza )

. Thanks"

He watches her walk out and then he follows..

***

Chief Benson couldn't stop pacing about.

He was worried that the elderly woman would tell his son everything.

He turns to find the maids still standing there.

"What the hell are you looking at? Dismiss!! Get out of my sight!"

He yells and they scurry out in different directions.

He begins pacing again and stops suddenly when he spots his son walking down the staircase... His face was totally emotionless and he couldn't tell what he was thinking.. For the first ever since Ben had threatened to expose him years ago, he was feeling scared.

Scared of the fact that he was soon going to be exposed, exposed by his own son, the same son he had deprived of having a mother when he murdered her... Hmm. Mother.... He sucks in his breath as Darren walks to him, his eyes throwing daggers.

He opened his mouth to speak, possibly to try and defend himself but Darren walked past him towards the glass door without a word.

At first Benson was confused.

Wasn't he going to confront him? Why was he leaving? And then it hits him.. He gasps

"Are you going to report me?"

Darren doesn't stop, instead he continues walking.

"I'm talking to you Darren answer me!! Are you going to report me?"

Silence.

"Damn it!!! I'm your freaking father so I demand an answer!!"

Silence.

Darren was at the door now, sliding the glass door so he could walk out.. No!! He had to stop him.. Somehow.. There was no way his secrets would get to the police.. What to do!! What to do! Chief Benson looks around and he spots an empty bottle of wine which was yet to be disposed off by the maids.

He grabs it and without a second thought, throws it towards his son.

The bottle hits the base of his head, breaking into tiny pieces and Darren drops immediately to the floor, unconscious, a small pool of blood forming near his head staining the white tiles...