Chapter 17
1321 Words
Mpho was getting released from hospital, she had already signed papers of her discharge by the reception. Walking through the lengthy passages, headed to the exist of the hospital she met up with Karabo and Zukisani. Karabo had been staying at Zukisani’s place while Mpho was recovering at the hospital. He had received treatment too when he first left KK’s basement and he recovered quicker considering he had no stab-wound. Karabo was very happy to see his sister. He jumped at her, forgetting her injury in the process. Zukisani had to hold the hysteric teenage boy down.
“You feeling a lot better?” Karabo asked and Mpho could not hold back from smiling at his concerned puppy eyes. “Now that you’re here, yes.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too,” they hugged again—more gently this time.
Zukisani was giving them a ride back home. Karabo sat at the back, while Mpho sat across Zukisani at the front. “How far is the investigation with Tiger?”
“I can’t tell you much but no, we haven’t found him. However, we’re so close. And the case against him and the Lantern Brothers is building up. So far so good.”
“And the kids?”
“They have to testify against Tiger. They are in some place safe for now.”
“That’s good.”
“And I can’t thank you enough, Mpho. All of this is because of you and your intel. And your g**g. Really, you have done so much for the community and the station. So, thank you. I should never have doubted you.”
He dropped them off at their shack leaving them with his last words of the day, “If you need anything… Anything at all, you know where to buzz me.” They went in and started packing the little things they needed. “You know, he still loves you, right?”
Mpho tried to keep a straight face but she ended up smiling. She hated that.
“I mean, I know it’s kind of taboo for some people to go back to their exes but, I really think you two should get back together. You were relationship goals, you two.”
Mpho laughed, “Okay. Shut up! Focus on packing.”
“And where are we going? Honestly, I’m dying to know.”
“I told you, you’ll see. And remember to bring your books, okay? We’re going to stay there longer. At least, until all the dust has settled.”
Mpho reckoned that it was not safe for them to stay in their shack while Tiger was still out there. It was unsafe while the Lantern Brothers were still roaming the streets. The last time she heard about Pinky was that she was being protected by Nothile—the trusted messenger—and the rest of her g**g members. Mpho believed that Pinky was safe with Nothile.
It was unusual that there was no one to answer the door—and it was evening. Mpho pushed the door open. She and her brother entered the Crescent Castle. There was no one at the reception. There was no one at the elevator. There was no one tidying up the passage. It quickly dunned on Mpho that it was supper time. And the people at the Castle had began a tradition of eating together. Karabo constantly marvelled at every detail in the building. He was amazed. It was rare for him to go to such places.
“Oh, my God. So, cool!” he continued to say. “What is this place?”
“A place of safety and reunion.”
Karabo did puzzle over what Mpho may had meant by that. Mpho leaned on his brother to ease off the pain of the stab wound. She pulled her brother through to the dining room where she detected a noise. Mpho and Karabo found them dining. “Who’re these people?” Karabo whispered closely to Mpho. “Are they your friends?”
A man left the table and immediately, jumped at Karabo. It was Mr. Polile—one of the cleaners she helped out of Gama’s capture. Mr. Polile had been nagging Mpho to bring the boy over and now, she finally had. He embraced the boy with so much love. Karabo could only wonder what was going. No, he did not push the teary man off. He did not act weirded out. He only remained calm and patient. Now, the man released the boy to have a closer look at him. He saw so much resemblance. He began missing his deceased wife ever so. “My son! My son…” the man cried. “Look at you, you have gown!”
Karabo looked to Mpho and Mpho gently smiled while saying the words she was avoiding to say, “That’s—that’s your father. That is your family.”
“Dad?”
“It’s me! Yes, it’s me! Come, let me hold you more!”
Mpho should’ve been happy but she was very sad. An aching invaded her heart. She could almost collapse in tears. She watched the room rejoice over a reunion that only brought pain and anxiety towards her. That very moment, Mpho knew that she had lost custody of the boy she raised so well. It was throbbing to realise that her life changed right then and there. It may had started occurring to her that now, she officially had not family. In that moment, Mpho wanted to disappear and so, she did. She went to the balcony where she thought she would be alone to quiet down her rumbling agony.
Eagle found Mpho alone at the balcony. “I saw that,” he said, “and it was painful to watch.” She had no words for him. Her heart was too heavy with a pain she was trying hard to hide. “I can say I do have a glimpse into what you may be feeling right now. I felt the same way upon realizing that Innocent is not my son, he is Tiger’s son.” Eagle went and pulled himself a chair next to her at the small round table, “I lost it when my wife actually handed me some divorce papers. She said she always loved my brother more. Right then, I knew I had no-one. Not a brother, not a wife and not a son. Basically, I’m all alone.” This was shocking news to Mpho. Yes, she did see the resemblance on Innocent and Tiger but she never paid much attention to that. Still, Mpho could not stand seeing the man beat himself up like that, “Hey, you still have your boys, the Lantern Brothers. Well, they are going to jail soon but at least they had some integrity towards you.”
“Well, in that case, then you too are not alone. You have your g**g still roaming the streets. You just take out the bad ones and you have yourself a family. And that police boy too. I am sure he feels the same.”
Abashed, “Feels the same? What are you talking about?!”
“I practically raised the two of you. I saw things through the eyes of a spectator,” he laughed. Now, she was feeling a lot better. Especially, when he reminded her that Karabo was still her brother regardless of who may take custody of him. “So, how is operation Richie going? Is he of any help?”
“Yeah. Thanks to him, the end of a chapter is near.”
- Writer
