Episode 6: Caught Unawares
Vengeance, that was the only recurring thought on Aisha’s mind, vowing to retaliate, she admitted that she’d carefully contrive her next move and catch Bravo unawares.
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Frank and his wife had prepared to travel to Abia state on Sunday, he told her they had to visit his brother Chudi at Aba to find out how their shoe business was faring. He knew his time at Grey Law Practice was long overdue and had saved some money aside for his budding shoe business. He’d only wondered why his boss kept advancing loans yet stifled his progress at work. He’d observed that for over three years he never concluded a matter in court. Somehow at the trial or final written address stage of a likely win, Mr. Johnson would suddenly come with an application on behalf of his client to settle the matter out of court, file terms of settlement or withdraw the suit by filing a notice of discontinuance if the client was the plaintiff or claimant. It was darned glaring that Mr. Johnson was keeping up an appearance he didn’t understand.
He had often been reminded that his admission into Grey was a coincidence.
One fateful meeting day, Mr. Johnson recounted how he mistook Frank for Chief Ekeh Odogwu’s relative (one of the earliest clients of the firm). Several times, during client interview, he evaded introducing Frank as an associate, he’d just dived straight into the conversation after greetings were exchanged. Even worse was an incidence where he talked down on him in the presence of law school students during the law firm attachment season two years ago.
He’d sent out several applications to other law firms, not a single one invited him for an interview. He’d endured being an after thought for high profile briefs or being apportioned residues. He felt like an extra tyre. He knew he was only being endured at Grey.
He tried everything to win his boss' favour by suggesting strategies on how to carve a niche in Energy Law Practice, he presented a training course template during one of the Friday meetings but somehow Mr. Johnson dismissed his proposal only to find out later that he’d published several articles on Renewable and Low Carbon Energy in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Journal. He was shocked when he learnt that Victor was reviewing the concession agreement for BON CONSTRUCTIONS PLC, that was the straw that broke the carmel’s back. Everyone at Grey knew he was the renewable energy advocate and had copiously blogged on this topic. It was time to leave.
On Friday after the office meeting he had carefully finalised the best laid plan, he’d earlier told his wife that they’d travel to Aba for a week, and then he would find a way to prolong their stay. His wife had confided in him about her fears for Junior’s love for water and how he’d gleefully slip silently under his kiddy pool. He also knew that his son loved water too. That storyline would work should his colleagues ask for his whereabout: “His Son Drowned”, he thought again about this response. At least it would add to the rumor since Junior fell into a deep puddle at the beginning of the July rainy season.
Very early on Sunday morning at about 5:30am, he and his family set out for the sojourn to Aba in his Toyota Camry, he had paid up the car loan only about four months ago. As he drove out of the compound, his neighbour asked where he was going to early in the morning. Junior is not feeling well he said as his wife stared back at Junior who had already fallen asleep, evading her neighbour’s eyes.
Why did you have to lie she chided as they connected into the main street. It’s not his business he retorted.
Are we coming back she asked? He didn’t have to answer, she would have to figure that out.