Chapter 2 Where is Stella

Motun stared in disbelief with her mouth widely open. She had been like that since she entered Clara's office a few seconds ago. Not in her wildest imaginations had she expected the person who made the call to be The Clara Adichie, best therapist in Lagos and one of the best in the country. No, she had not. She was here anyway, no need acting stupid. So she closed her mouth.

"Detective," the woman stretched her hands. "Clara Adichie."

Motun took the hand and shook it. "Hello, Doctor. Motun Banks." And gesturing towards James, "My partner, James Maduka." She said.

"Hello."

James shook Clara's hand with a smile. "I have to say, Dr Adichie, those magazines and blogs are doing no justice to your looks. It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

Motun rolled her eyes secretly. YEAH, RIGHT. Classic James. He was at it again. Not everyone can help talking when they are supposed to be quiet.

"Well, thanks, Detective. I get that a lot. The pleasure is all mine." Clara responded.

"So, would you mind telling me why you think your patient is missing? I mean everything I need to know." Motun had to add that last statement. She had dealt with and had enough of people keeping things that turned out to be important to past cases.

"I don't." As if catching herself, she gasped and said with a smile, "My bad, please have your seats." She lowered herself into one too.

Motun mumbled a 'Thanks' and proceeded to asking her questions.

"How long have you discovered she is missing?"

"Well, she went for her practical on Sunday evening and we spoke when she got back."

"Practical?" Motun asked, wondering why Clara used the word like she was supposed to grasp the meaning just like that.

"Sorry. It is a part of therapy where patients take big steps that are important to them getting better. In Clara's case, she was supposed to go out."

"Oh."

"And she did before we spoke on Sunday night. Now, normally she would have called on Tuesday night to confirm her Wednesday morning appointment but she didn't. So, I just concluded she forgot. Then, she didn't show up for her appointment on Wednesday. I tried her cell a few times but her line has been unreachable."

"Ok. Can you tell me general things I should know about Stella? Let's start with your meeting."

Clara told her everything, from when she met Stella to her progress in therapy and how Sunday's outing was a big step for her since the fire accident that changed her life.

Motun listened, not interrupting but taking notes when necessary. She then looked over notes to be sure she did not leave anything out. Clara seemed to have said everything. So, "Thank you very much for your-" Wait, why wasn't there a 'how' in Clara's account of meeting Stella? She either forgot or deliberately left that part out. Clara Adichie was not the type to forget important details so Motun settled for the latter.

"Thank you for your time, Dr Adichie. We are almost done here and I'll proceed with the paperwork since it has been over forty-eight hours that you last heard from her. There's one more question I want to ask." She looked up, waiting for a go-ahead.

"Sure, ask."

"How did you meet Stella?"

Motun saw Clara's smile freeze for a while before it defroze again. Then she blinked twice. A lie was coming.

"Errr, well... the way therapists meet patients?"

What was that supposed to mean? "You mean she booked an appointment?"

"Hmmm, technically, yes."

Motun knew Clara was not lying. Basically, all patients book an appointment with their doctors. But Clara was not saying the exact truth. She did not want to push it, because she knew she would eventually find out as investigation proceeded. So, she stood up.

"Well, then, thank you for your time, Dr Adichie. Here is my card if you need to speak with me."

"No, THANK YOU for your time. And you can call me Clara. You are welcome anytime." She nodded at James, "Detective James."

"Definitely, Doctor. Do enjoy the rest of the day."

"You too, thanks."

Back in the car, Motun buckled in and started the car.

"That was one hell of an interview. And with Clara Adichie! God, I almost can't believe it." James exhaled loudly.

Motun looked at him in disbelief and shook her head. She wondered what part of the interview was hell. She could not believe all James was focused on was being in the same breathing space with a celebrity doctor.

James stopped smiling when he saw her reaction. "What?" He asked.

"You want to tell me you don't know she was lying to us back there?"

It was James' turn to stare at her. "You think she lied?"

"I don't THINK she lied, I KNOW she did."

When James kept staring at her with his mouth open, she started to explain.

"The conversation was going on well until I asked how she met Stella. She suddenly blinked twice and her smile froze. Then began the usage of 'err' and 'hmm'. How could you not notice all of these and will you close your mouth before you drop drool on my seat?"

James instantly shut his mouth. "Sorry, my bad. To answer your question, I was too busy checking out the office. My gawd! The interior décor, the golden troph- did you at least see those trophies? All those-"

"James!"

"Sorry. So, that was why you concluded she was lying? Because she blinked? Blinking is a reflex action taught in basic science, hellooo. How dramatic." He rolled his eyes. Then he adjusted on his seat. "On a second thought... I loove, love drama."

Motun could feel the car get smaller, the heat rising. But, No. "I don't even know why I'm wasting my time talking to you." God, she missed J.K. The only person who understood her hunches and gut feelings.

She met Juliana Kolawole, J.K. while taking the Force exam fifteen years ago. Then, she had just completed the one-year mandatory service as a National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) member after earning her Bachelor's degree in Criminology and Security Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State. She was having a hard time locating her exam center when she met a lady who also had the same exam at the same center but unlike Motun, the lady knew the way there. The lady introduced herself as Juliana and offered to help her.

"This way," she said smiling.

"Thanks," Motun had replied, finally relieved she would not miss her exam all because of her inability to locate the center.

They had sat the exams and met again outside. Motun thanked her for her help earlier.

"It's nothing."

J.K. had then asked how the exam was, to which Motun gave a positive response. They then had a little chat before exchanging contact info with each promising to contact the other soon. Their friendship started there and then. Fifteen years down the line, they were now close friends and detectives. Six of those years, they have been partners and together they had many solved cases to their credit. Together they had solved all the cases assigned to them. Except one. One cold case that seemed to be the only reason they could not have a hundred percent case solving rate.

"So, are we leaving or you want to go back in and try telling it to Clara's face that you think she lied?" James asked.

"Shut up."

"Now that I think about it, I actually don't mind waiting in the car."

Motun said nothing and simply glared at him.

"I'll be a good boy and not touch anything." He pestered.

"Get out of my car."

James smirked, said 'sorry' and instantly kept his mouth shut.

Motun drove out of the compound on which Clara's office was built. No matter how much she thought of it, she could not ignore the feeling that Clara's response to her last question was a blatant lie. She could only hope it was not too late by the time she found out what she was hiding- because she would- and that it had nothing to do with Clara being missing. She glanced at the clock, it was almost time to get off work and pick the kids from school. She only needed to drop by the station, get a few things, pick the kids from school and head home. To another tasking part of her life.

* * *

The school compound was deserted, save the security. It was almost as if no one attended the school. What had she expected? It was past 4pm. School closed by 3pm and all parents were expected to pick up their kids between then and 3:30pm. She was the only one who always picked up her kids last. The security nodded at her as if wishing her the best

"Mommy!"

Motun lifted the six-year old bundle that hit her a few seconds ago and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Hel-lo sport, I'm so sorry I'm late. Missed me?"

"Yes!" then opening the bag and ruffling through it, he asked "Did you buy me something?"

"You bet I did. But you can only get that if you tell me what you did in class today."

"I got A's in aaallll my class work. Aunty gave me two sweets and I did not share with anybody because nobody played with me yesterday."

That last statement was all it took for the pain to start all over. The pain a mother feels because of her child- that no matter how hard he tried, T.J. will not be able to have friends and do things like normal kids do. Not because he didn't try to, but because his classmates were so cruel- so cruel for a bunch of six-year-olds that they would not play with him because he just could not keep up with their pace. Every single day of the week, T.J. would come home saying the same thing- nobody played with him. She felt sorry for her him. Her poor baby. IT IS NOT HIS FAULT!!! She wanted to scream at those mannerless kids every single time. But-

"-Hey, mom."

"Jerry, darling, how are you?"

"Stop calling me 'Jerry', mom. Gawd!"

Motun smiled, her second born didn't seem to care about her lateness. There was only one reason- he got into trouble in class again. He sometimes had good reason too and sometimes he was just being naughty. Motun trusted him to not be unreasonable. But because he was by far the most understanding even though he was only nine-years old did not change the fact that she ought to apologize.

"I'm sorry I'm late. Again."

"Oh, it's fine, mom. I know you are busy." He nodded towards his sister, who was approaching them. "She is the one you should talk to." Then he winked and made a run towards the car.

"You are late again." Amanda walked past her.

"That is no way to-"

"-talk to my mother?" she scoffed. "Try another catchphrase, mom."

Motun picked up T.J., settled him on her hips and picked up his lunchbox.

"Look, I'm sorry. I had to go for an interview and

"So, it is no longer traffic but interview? Nice try."

Motun knew she had messed up again. Initially, when Amanda was younger, she would tell her the traffic was terrible just to make her feel better. Now, she was almost fifteen and could not be bought over by such things again. So, Motun resolved to tell her the truth but even that did not seem to be working because Mandy had concluded that Motun was giving excuses for her unavailability as a mother.

"I'm sorry, Mandy." Was all she could say.

Amanda said nothing. Motun knew they needed to have a long talk.

"Okay, sport," she looked at T.J. "Let's get you home."

"Yaaayyyy."

Motun buckled T.J. in, started the car and headed for G.R.A, Ikeja. Her home. Where she was not catching bad guys but was struggling to not be one.

* * *