Just as Zarah said, the two left shortly after their meetup. They left the event individually yet ended up in the same placeâRahma's apartment as usual. Rahma didn't waste a second before she spilled out everything she remembers to Zarah, not leaving a detail about Maria's threat to her foster father, or to her friend, out.
Zarah snapped her fingers, as her brows drew in, "So it's her" She muttered, sitting cross legged while Rahma remained standing by the window.
Somehow, she couldn't find it in her to sit and be calm about the situation like Zarah. Pacing about as she explained the story is the only thing that kept her sane. She nodded, hands akimbo as she turned around to look at Zarah, "Yes she is the one. That I'm sure of"
Zarah looked at her, brows still drawn in. Though she's looking at Rahma, her mind is far. She seemed to be in some sort of trance.
"So..." Rahma rubbed her two hands together, "Can I be free now?"
"Free?" Zarah asked, the girl's words snapping her out of the reverie.
Rahma nodded, "Yes. Free"
Zarah shook her head, uncrossing her legs. "It's not that easy"
"I thought we just need to find the murderer. Now, we're sure it's her. That means, I did not kill him. It proves my innocence"
Zarah inhaled deeply then exhaled, racking her brain for words to explain the situation to the girl in words she can understand. She clasped her hands together, "We just find out something that hints she might be the murderer. There's still a possibility that she's not the killer"
"Then who else if not her?" Rahma asked, her voice raising slightly. The frustration of what she heard not being enough, the fear of ending back in jail, and the overwhelming feeling of seeing her only siblingâalbeit adoptiveâagain was taking a toll on her. "The only people that were in the house that day were me, Maria and..." She trailed off, brows drawn in as her eyes narrowed at Zarah, "Tell me you don't suspect Noah..." She couldn't hide the anger in her tone.
She wasn't angry and the possibility of that though. She's irked that Zarah could even think of something that absurd.
"We can never be too sure--"
"No" Rahma shook her head, refusing to listen to listen to Zarah's baseless accusations anymore. "There isn't a possibility of that. The man was his father. How can you think such?"
Zarah sighed and waited for Rahma to calm down first before she spoke calmly, "You can never be sure in cases like this. Between us, I'm the lawyer here, I'm the one with experience on such cases"
"And I'm the one who stayed with them. I am the one who knew both of them"
"For a day"
"It's still better than you. At least I knew them even if it was just for a day unlike you, and I know that Maria did it! Lawyer or not, you can't keep underestimating me. I get that you're helping me, but you have to listen to me too. I know them better than you and I am sure that Noah could've never done that. I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be disrespectful or anything but for all I know, you might be using this case to help yourself!"
Zarah stared at Rahma with a calm expression, contradictory to the girl who looked livid. She didn't say a word to her as she watched Rahma glare at her. She couldn't judge the girl for her outburst. However, she knew it was uncalled for and she planned on letting her know. "That was uncalled for" She stated calmly once she noticed the slight slump of Rahma's shoulders after a couple of seconds.
Rahma ran her hand over her face. She exhaled noisily, making her way over to the couch opposite the attorney. She drew her knees to her chest and threw her head back, closing her eyes to calm down. When she looked up, she looked much calmer than she was earlier, "I'm sorry. I know" She shook her head, "This whole thing is getting to me"
Zarah nodded, figuring the girl is now stable enough for her to tell her what her original thoughts were, "As I was saying. What I was trying to point out earlier is that there might've been another person in the house who could've done it, aside from you three. You were asleep when it happened so it's a possibility too"
Rahma kept shut as her eye brows furrowed, then released. "You really think so?"
"Yes. But still, it's just a possibility. Overhearing Maria make a threat to your father though surpass that theory. However, we can't use that alone to prove your innocence. We need concrete evidence, something like her admitting that she did it"
"And how do we do that?"
"Easy" Zarah reached out and picked her bag up. She slipped her hand inside it, and after a couple of shuffling, pulled it back. This time around, a small black box, similar to the one she gave Rahma in the morning rested in her hands. "We use this"
"What's this?" Rahma collected the box from Zarah. She pulled it open, revealing a device slightly bigger than the one Zarah gave her earlier.
"It's a recording device. You just need to plant it in Maria's house the next time you're there. Plant it somewhere she sits around in a lot. Maybe the living room or an area she works in" She shrugged, letting the girl know that she could pick anywhere she deems fit.
Rahma released a long, low sigh, "You said it's easy but planting this will be hard. She's very observant"
"And you are smart. You managed so far, you can do this"
Rahma slumped in the chair and muttered, "Okay" She placed the box beside her, "I also stumbled across Noah"
"Really?" Zarah's hands stopped from where she's zipping her bag up. "What happened?"
Rahma shrugged, "It's crazy but...he genuinely looks like he doesn't recognize me. I thought he'd figure out but he didn't look he does. Though I know looks can be deceiving but..." She tutted, then shook her head, a distant look in her eyes. "...he just did not seem to recognize me"
Zarah smiled slightly, placing her bag away, "I told you so. You've changed so much, no one can recognize you" Instead of elation masking her features like Zarah expected, Rahma looked gloomy. "What happened?" She asked the girl who had her eyes fixated on her hands.
"I just..." She sighed, her facial expression downturned, "This woman at the event who Maria introduced me to, offered me a job at her advocacy. I can't help but wonder, if all this wasn't going on, I would've agreed without a second thought"
"You can always do it once all this is over. 11 days is all we have left; it'll be over before you know it"
Rahma shrugged. The mere mention of the days dampened her already sad mood. They hadn't gone far, and she doubts they can get anything in just eleven days. However, she didn't say anything about it and decided to just change the topic. She fidgeted with her fingers, "Have you found anything on my uncle that I told you about?"
Zarah grimaced. She wanted to avoid telling her the truth for as long as she can fully aware that it will only demotivate the girl. Still and all, it seems like she can't hide it anymore. She fumbled with words for the first time in years. It's not the first time she had to break bad news to a client. Nonetheless, Rahma isn't just any client.
Rahma noticed her sudden mood change. This made her smile sadly. "He's dead isn't he?"
Zarah nodded heavily.
Rahma shrugged slightly as she exhaled, her shoulder slumped. "It's okay, you don't have to feel bad. I didn't know him so I'm not that affected. I actually expected it" In between losing her real parents, and a foster father, this is nothing compared to the pain she feels on a daily basis.
"I do have good news" Zarah stated, piquing Rahma's interest.
"Good news?"
"Yes. Speaking of job offers, I actually have one for you"
Rahma moved her legs off the bed, planting them on the tiled floor. She then crossed her arms over her torso, leaning back on the couch. "What kind of job?"
"It's similar to the one that woman offered you. Only better. Do you remember the man I told you about, the one that gave good recommendations about you to Maria's partners?"
Rahma nodded. How could she forget? He's the reason why she got that job offer in the first place.
"Well, he's opening up an advocacy. Actually, he already opened one and he wants you to be the head there" Zarah grinned as Rahma's eyes widened.
"Are you serious?" She sat up, hands resting on her thighs as she inched closer to the attorney.
"Dead serious" Zarah bobbed her head up and down, feeling a wave of content crash over her as a grin took over Rahma's gloomy expression. "There's just one thing"
Rahma's grin turned into a frown, "What is it?"
"You get to start tomorrow. Actually, the launch is tomorrow so you have to attend so you'll be introduced as the head there and well, basically the owner"
"Well that's not a problem. Plus, it'll help us with Maria, right? I can earn her trust more that way. If she believes that I 'own' this advocacy, then all the doubts she has about me will be gone right?"
"Exactly"
"I have one question though" Rahma said, making Zarah raised a brow. "Why is this man helping me? He doesn't know me; I don't know him so why is he helping me? He basically hands over an advocacy to me without ever meeting me or knowing if I'm qualified or not. Isn't that a bit too much?"
Zarah kept shut as the words reminded her of the same ones she asked him yesterday.
"I have this new advocacy I've set up. The launch is in two days and I want Rahma to be the head and interim owner there" He said, fixing his glasses as he goes through a folder amongst the stack on his table.
Zarah who sat on the chair opposite him looked up, her brows furrowing in confusion, "You want her to be the head there? You know she has zero qualifications for that, right?"
"I know" He glanced up from the folder which has 'Tallafi Advocacy' written on the front. His eyes rested on her for a brief second, "Remember, I know more about her than you do"
She nodded quietly, choosing to not speak more on that. Her eyes shifted over to the name on the folder, "Is that for the advocacy we're talking about"
"Yes" He nodded, "And like I said, I want her to be the head there" He stated simply, not wanting to elaborate and let her know that the advocacy is under the girl's name. She doesn't need to know that for now. Neither of them do.
Zarah hesitated with her next words. It's something she had been meaning to ask him since he hired her for the job but she never did, since she didn't want to prod in more than he let her know. However, her curiosity is slowly eating her up.
"Go ahead. What is it you want to ask? You seem restless" He said, still not taking his eyes off the pages. He didn't need to look at her to know she has something she wants to ask. He had been in the business world for long to understand people's emotions by their gestures after a couple of glances.
Zarah gulped, "If you don't mind me asking...why are you doing all this for her? Are you two related?"
He stopped what he's doing, closing his eyes momentarily. After a while, he looked up to look at the attorney, "I owe her a lot" He stated simply.
That was all he said. After that, he didn't say a word more to explain their connection.
"He does this to people like you. It's no wonder he owns an advocacy right? It is what advocacies do; help the voiceless by supporting them to make their voices heard. That's what he's doing. Helping you"
Rahma had many questions afterwards, but decided to trust the attorney and not ask them. For now, that is. "Alright" She nodded, "I'll attend the launch tomorrow"
~*~
4th MARCH, 2017.
ABUJA, NIGERIA.
Rahma fixed the wrist watch strapped around her wrist before she held her clutch tightly and then stepped out of the room. As promised, she's about to head out for the launch where she would be introduced as the head and owner, as Zarah said. She doesn't know how that will work considering by this time, in ten days she might be behind bars again but she does not plan on complaining.
If she does land back in jail, at least she'd experienced something she had never dreamt of. She's thankful to Allah for that much luxury, even if it's fake.
The same driver drove her off the place as he seems to know the direction. Zarah must've told him since she had zero idea where it'd be heldânot that she knew the place.
It took a longer drive than she expected. But, she eventually did arrive there just before it started. She met someone waiting for her outside, and together they made their way in. Everything from the introduction to the opening passed in a blur for her. All she knows is that she had smiled so much that her cheeks aches.
She'd be lying if she said she didn't prefer the company of those people over the ones she met the day before. The event was much bigger, but the people were more down to earth. She'd chose their company over the other's any day. At least around them, her smiles and intentions weren't completely fake.
At the moment, she's walking around the place, taking note of the environment when she stumbles across someone. She tends to do that a lot, and internally, she scolded herself for absentmindedly walking around like that.
Before she could apologize though, the person spoke up, "I'm sorry" He said, stepping away from her.
"It's okay" She offered him a smile though her cheeks still ache, she wanted to be polite.
"It's nice to meet the owner" He grinned when he realized who he stumbled across,"I'm Mubarak Saraki" He waited for her to say something that will show she recognizes his name but he was met with nothing but an introduction of hers too.
"Rahma Turaki"
"Youâ"
"There you are!" A voice came from behind Mubarak, this had the two looking behind him.
A familiar face Rahma did not expect to see showed up. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and instead focused on maintaining the polite charade of hers.
His eyes moved from Mubarak to Rahma, a grin taking over his features when he saw her. He ignored his friend's presence, "Oh great, I see you've met Rahma" Tahir said, standing beside his friendâstill offering Rahma a grin that made her internally roll her eyes.
For some reason she didn't want to form any sort of friendship with him. Maybe it's because he's close to Maria, and she still doubts his intentions. To her it just seemed weird for him to want to be 'friends' after they met at Maria's. Whichever it is, it sure is making her wanting to stay away from him. Another thing she learnt from prison is to not trust people easily and that's the same thing she's going to use.
However, she masked her annoyance with a smile that she hoped looks sincere though it wasn't. "It's nice to see you again, Tahir"
"Finally got my name right" He chuckled turning around to look at his friend who stood quietly watching their exchange. "I didn't know you wanted to launch an advocacy, I could've helped"
Mubarak quietly waited for her response, wanting to hear what it'll be. He wanted to see how she'll handle the situation, especially with Tahir on the way.
"Maybe next time" She answered simply, not wanting to divulge inti details. How could she when even she had no idea of the whole advocacy thing until the day before. Going down that lane might just take a sharp turn down expose street. And she did not plan on visiting there any time soon.
She wanted to ask how he got invited but refrained from it. It wasn't her place to ask. It would seem out of place if she does. The only thing she could do at the moment is use his presence to her advantageâwhich is by him reporting to Maria about her thereby improving her image.
Just as Zarah said, it's a bit easy if you know how to play the game accordingly. This is the game Maria started and she intended to play it to the best of her abilities.
"Well if you do need anything, I'm here to help"
"That's nice of youâ" Rahma's smile fell when her eyes moved across his shoulder, falling on another familiar face. The only difference is that this time, she couldn't afford to let the person see her. If she does, it would be the end of her. She gulped thickly as her eyes widened, "I have to go now" She didn't bother to hide the nervousness in her tone as she turned around and all but ran away. She ignored Tahir as he called her, asking what happened.
She probably should've just ran as far away from the person but she didn't. She made the mistake to turning around and looking at the person again. And unlike the first time when the person didn't see her, their eyes met at the moment.
And she wasn't sure of what would follow, but she was sure of one thing.
She's done for.
~*~
Hello yall.
Jumuat Kareem!
I wanted to update yesterday but my network was dragging class for me. Las Las your update is here
Might drop another chapter later so check your notifications.
Love, Jannah.