For some days, I fell ill due to Gabriella's demise. I couldn't forgive myself for ignoring her calls that night when she needed me most. Lady B tried effortlessly to pacify me, but it was all in vain. I locked myself up and cried my heart out.
"You need to get over Gabriella's death. She is gone. I should be the one to take the blame for letting her go spend the night with a man I never knew was a human ritualist. Please, Natasha, come out and do not hurt yourself," Lady B told me one day while I was locked up in my room. But I was unmoved.
Another day, Lady B pleaded with me to come out of my room. When she told me that the police were investigating the murder case and looking for the culprit, I became reassured. I finally came out of my room as Lady B embraced me and took me to the dining table.
That night, I tried to catch some sleep when I heard Lady B talking in a low tone. It was unlike her. I didn't know what came over me, but I drew closer to eavesdrop on her conversation.
"Start organizing your trip to Dubai first thing tomorrow. Remember, we need to outsmart the police…"
That was all I heard. I strained my ears to hear more, but to no avail. Suspicion set in, and I came to the conclusion that there was a skeleton in Lady B's cupboard.
The next morning, when Lady B went into the bathroom, I sneaked into her room. I searched frantically for her phone and found it under her pillow. To my greatest disappointment, the phone was screen-locked. I thought of what to do. Then I turned and saw Lady B's photo frame on her chest of drawers. I used it quickly to unlock the Face ID.
I accessed her phone, checking her mailbox. I discovered she had been communicating with a certain Chief Harrison—a politician. She was appreciating him for a job well done and planning an escape route for him. I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn't notice Lady B walk in from the bathroom.
"What are you doing with my phone, Natasha?" Lady B bellowed.
"So, you are this evil? You had a hand in Gabriella's death!" I said boldly, standing up to her.
"What arrant nonsense are you vomiting?" Lady B roared.
"You've been in touch with the same man who murdered Gabriella, yet you pretend to be a good person. But why? Why connive with a man to kill a girl who saw you as a mother?"
Lady B gave a devilish laughter.
"Mother indeed! If I ever wanted to be a mother, I would have done that a very long time ago. Gabriella was never a daughter and can never be."
"Now I understand. You decided to exploit and get rid of this young girl, who had been nothing but loyal to you, simply because she quit working under you and chose a better life for herself. Why didn't you also come after me?" I asked.
"You dare not talk to me in that manner. I made you who you are!" Lady B thundered.
"To hell with you! You do not own my life, and you cannot toss me around like a doll. The last time I checked, you weren't even the one who encouraged me when I was distressed, nor the one who asked after my studies. It was Gabriella, the innocent orphan. And you ended her life!" I snapped, infuriated.
Lady B yelled, "You know, I never planned on harming you because you came from the same village as I did. But now, I have come to realize that you are such an ingrate!"
"And you are a selfish monster! A wolf in sheep's clothing—that's what you are. And you see this?" I said, raising her phone. "I will be going to the police with this as evidence of your atrocity."
"You can't do that, Natasha!"
"Oh really? Then maybe you should watch me do so now," I fired back, turning to leave.
"Wait," Lady B said, making me stop in my tracks.
"What is it?" I asked coldly.
"I can make you a billionaire if you don't expose me. Just name your price and I'll give it to you."
"And you think enticing me with your blood money will work? Will it bring back Gabriella? Will it?" I yelled.
As I made to leave, I felt a sudden push from behind. I fell down, and Lady B's phone slipped off my hand. Lady B ran hastily and picked it up. I stood at once and dashed to retrieve it. We struggled for the phone, but then I pushed Lady B fiercely. She fell, hitting her head on the tiles.
I expected her to rise and come after me, but she just lay there—speechless and motionless. My body tensed. I bent down, touched her, and felt her pulse. Only then did I confirm the truth: Lady B was dead.
My heart began to race. I had committed an indeliberate murder!
I thought of what to do. An idea struck my mind. I dragged Lady B's corpse into the bathroom and dropped it by the bathtub. I left her phone on the bed and ran out, shedding tears while calling Adamu, the security guard.
I beckoned him to come with me. As we got to Lady B's bedroom, I led him to the bathroom and showed him her lifeless body.
"Wetin do am?" he asked.
"I think she hit her head on the bathtub. I heard her scream and ran to check on her, only to find her dead. That was when I came to call you," I explained.
"This one na serious wahala!" Adamu exclaimed.
"So, what are we going to do now?" I asked.
"Make we call Madam's girls first," he suggested.
I wasn't too familiar with all of them, except Alice, whose contact I had on my phone. Without hesitation, I called her and narrated the situation. Within an hour, all the girls working under Lady B trooped into the house.
After much deliberation, an ambulance van was sent for, and Lady B's corpse was taken to the mortuary.
Throughout that day, my conscience pricked me. I had to stay longer than I intended, just to erase every suspicion. I pleaded with Alice to stay with me, because I couldn't remain in Lady B's house alone for fear of the unknown.