While Chidera was being handcuffed in the bush, death was knocking at Gloria’s door.
Chief Philip, Gloria’s husband had returned but could not find his wife.
He noticed that the kitchen was strange because it was locked. Gloria never locks the kitchen.
He stood at the kitchen door. He had his key in the keyhole.
GRITY-GRITY.
Inside the kitchen, Gloria squeezed Junior tight, waiting for the explosion.
Philip turned the key.
CLICK.
The lock opened.
But Philip paused. He didn’t push the door.
He sniffed the air near the doorframe.
Sniff. Sniff.
“Gas?”
His eyes widened in horror. He dropped the box of pizza he had bought for his wife.
“GLORIA!” he roared.
He knew that if he pushed that door open, the friction of the hinges or the rush of fresh oxygen mixing with the gas could cause a spark.
He left the door. He ran to the main switchboard outside the house.
PAM.
He killed the electricity. The house went dark. The deep freezer motor died completely. No spark.
He ran back to the kitchen door. He took a deep breath, covered his nose with his shirt, and kicked the door open with one powerful blow.
GBAM!
He rushed into the poisonous fog.
He saw his wife and son slumped on the floor.
“Jesus!”
He grabbed Gloria with one hand and Junior with the other. He dragged them out into the compound, away from the gas
They collapsed on the grass.
“Gloria! Junior! Talk to me!” Philip shouted, shaking them.
Gloria coughed. Cough! Cough!
She took a deep breath of fresh air. “Junior…” she gasped.
Junior coughed too. He started crying.
“Thank you, Jesus,” Philip whispered, tears rolling down his face. “Thank you.”
THE NEXT MORNING – THE POLICE STATION
It was a day of reckoning.
Mrs. Gloria and Junior had been treated at the hospital and discharged. They walked into the police station with Chief Philip.
Behind the counter, sitting on the cold floor of the cell, was Chidera.
When she saw Gloria, she burst into tears.
“Madam! I am sorry! Please forgive me!” Chidera begged, clutching the iron bars.
“It was the devil! I don’t know what came over me!”
The DPO (Divisional Police Officer) placed the bag of gold on the counter.
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