Episode 4: The Blogger

It was awesome meeting her in real life.

I became overly fond of her, it was like I’d known her longer than now.

“May I call you Bel or Lin?” I asked her, since I had the habit of shortening the names of my close friends and associates.

She tittered…

“Maybe not Bel”, she retorted.

I spent the next few minutes having a fun- loving conversation with her.

She was extraordinary, down to earth and unbelievably welcoming.

You could tell her anything and she was very honest but most especially, intelligent.

She asked me about everything — my career, love life, family — it was more like an informal interview — she seemed to have wanted to know everything about me.

I didn’t hide anything from her — she sort of had the charms to make you want to tell her everything.

She also told me about a lady — though she didn’t mention her name, but who was a victim of domestic violence and on the verge of losing custody of her daughter. She also told me how this lady was beaten black and blue and stripped naked in the presence of housekeepers. She was accused by her husband of marital infidelity and was sent packing with absolutely nothing.

It was 12:00 pm and the president of the occasion had struck his wine glass like a bell to make a toast.

Belinda sighed — dropped her Margarita on the table and requested we go to a private place.

We were on the rooftop of the hotel now — beholding the whole of Victoria Island like two little black birds.

The night was faintly lively and extremely lit up.

“I might need your help Frank”, she said, staring at me eyeball to eyeball.

I didn’t even wait to think about it but gladly asked what I could do for her.

She sighed —

“The man is a selfish, conceited man”, she said.

Which man?

“The husband of my frie-” Belinda paused.

Oh, she’s your friend? I retorted.

Belinda sighed — she probably didn’t want me to know that.

Oh, sorry…

“Na, it’s fine”, Belinda shrugged, “she’s an old friend anyways — way back at UNILAG.

Belinda sighed —

“I detest domestic violence…” Belinda said, touching her heart… “I won’t have it done, even to my enemy”.

“I don’t know if the story about her infidelity is true, but what I know is that her husband is no saint as well — he’s a chronic womanizer and this time, I’m going to pin him down”, Belinda said, fiercely.

“You are going to help me trail him Frank”, Belinda said.

“Are you kidding me?” I exclaimed.

“Shhhhhhh… Calm down Frank”, Belinda said.

She looked around to ensure nobody was eavesdropping.

“If it were not possible, I won’t be telling you to do it”, she said.

“But why me?” I asked.

She smiled.

“I’ve read some of your short stories — are they really true or just works of fiction?”

Oh, you’ve seen them?

“Of course, don’t you tag me sometimes?” Belinda said, with a faint smile.

Oh, yeah…

“You see… I believe you got talent, Frank — you’ll make a good private investigator” Belinda said, “ — why don’t we test your God-given talent?”

I sighed.

She had cajoled me there.

After a few seconds of hesitation, I submitted to her will.

I was very nervous and prayed this wasn’t a bad idea.

This time, I equally looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.

“So how do I proceed?” I whispered to Belinda.

She smiled, till her set of impeccable white teeth were visible.

“Follow me to my car”, Belinda said.