CLANDESTINE 8

 🔸 CLANDESTINE🔸 

CHAPTER 8 

The following day at work Mr. Allan didn't show up at his office all through the day.That was unusual,he wasn't the type who would miss a day at work. Since she started working with the Howells Publishers, Mr. Allan was always there in his office before she arrived except a few times when he was delayed by traffic.

A visitor would be forced to believe he normally slept over at the office. Was he sick or had an accident?..may God have mercy... or maybe he travelled during the weekend and couldn't return home for reasons she didn't know. 

Or he could probably be at home relaxed inside a duvet taking a warm coffee being tended for but by who? She knew he was very single. Then suddenly, Maureen walked in 

"Good morning Davis. I have a report from Arnold Wills."

"Yes"

"A bandit broke into the building last night and catered away with Mac Murphy's approved manuscripts,all of them."

"What!" She was on her feet with wide open eyes jerking.

"I was going to tell Mr. Allan but he's not in his office."

"What? oh my God!" Her hand was over her mouth. What do we do Maureen?"

"We should reach out to Mr. Allan immediately as Mac Murphy will be greatly displeased with this devastating news." She turned to the door.

Davis Moore went with Maureen to inspect Arnold Wills office. Nothing else was amidst except the stolen manuscripts Arnold tried to calm Davis Moore as she looked with fear in her eyes though she tried to conceal it. She was tired so she closed from work that morning.

She was at home by the pool trying to cool off before calling Mr. Allan on the phone. After several attempts to reach Mr. Allan she gave up and was asleep on the couch. She was awoken by the sound of Mama Freda's car, Mama Freda who was exhausted and had taken a day off which meant she wouldn't be at the hospital by morning but rest althrough the day.

 Davis Moore served her a plate of fries and retired to her room for the night. Before she got on her bed she tried Mr. Allan's number again,it rang severally but he wouldn't pick up she decided to send a message to him instead.

 After she did,a news update popped up on the screen of her phone: A FAMILY OF THREE DIED OF FOOD POISONING TWO NIGHTS AGO. When she'd tapped on it and scrolled down,she screamed and immediately placed her hand over her mouth to muffle the uncontrollable sounds she was making. 

She managed to totter to her mother's room and saw her kneeling perhaps she was praying,in thoughts or meditating. 

"Mother!" She cried out. 

"Davie!" She called out immediately and sprang to her feet. She rushed to her daughter,the fear and pains were visible in her eyes. She wiped her face and made her seat,she was quavering. 

It was obvious that something was amidst but Mama Freda wouldn't ask her to begin the violent gist immediately, she rather emptied a can of an evaporated milk into a tumbler,a small quantity of chilled water was added. 

After she had drank it,she laid quietly on the bed afraid to spill the sad news already,she didn't know how to begin. 

"What happened to you Davie?" 

With tears soaked eyes she was looking at her mother. She grabbed her arms and caressed them She knew she was impatient,she wanted to know what could have caused her to act like someone suffering from convulsion. 

It was difficult to open her mouth so she passed her her cellphone and after she'd read the news she hung her head and when she'd raised it,her face was vague. 

"Suzanne... Dead..?" Mama Freda queried.

"Died of food poisoning two nights ago." 

"Surprising." 

"Shocking." 

She looked at her daughter having that same gloomy countenance she usually picked on herself when Pa Moore's memory roamed her mind. She seemed to have a lot in her mind and had a lot of things to say but her lips were heavy,tension had glued her lips together.

Mama Freda stood by the kitchen sink and rinsed the tumbler and after she'd returned it to the glass rack, she bent over the dinning table and drops of tears began to splash on the table top but she still had her head hung down in case her daughter stepped in and found her weeping.✍️ 

©️ Queensley Alfred