They finished taking breakfast.

It had been relatively calm, and Chris was grateful that Elaine was getting over the worse. He knew some questions still needed to be asked, and assurances needed to be given. He was also filed with questions, particularly the origin of that incriminating photo on her phone.

Sent by a friend? A foe?

Of course, he was a public figure, and their engagement had been well-covered by the press, but who would hide and take such a picture and forward it to Elaine? Happenstance, coincidence or something far weightier and evil?

He would wait for the policeman’s arrival, listen to him, then in the comfort of their bed and the calm of assurance after they made love, he would ask for some answers.

Sisi was helping Elaine to wash the used plates and cutlery when the security doorbell sounded. Chris used the CCTV screens to verify that the two sleek police sedans in his driveway were Chief Inspector Steve Hollison and his men. He pressed switches that opened the electronic gates and went out to meet them.

The Chief Inspector was in a nice black suit and white shirt, and with him were four burly policemen in uniform.

Chris extended his hand.

“Pleased to meet you again, Chief Inspector.”

“Pleasure’s mine, sir,” Steve Hollison said grimly and turned to his men. “Wait here. Map out the perimeter, and stay sharp. Can we go inside, sir? I’ll like a word with your fiancée.”

Chris scowled slightly.

“What’s going on here, please? This focus on Elaine is not making things any easier for me. You mind telling me what it is all about?”

Steve looked at him grimly.

“I believe I’m doing what I think is best, under the circumstances. Please, trust me. The most important thing is for you to trust my judgements and meet me halfway. If your fiancée agrees that I let you in, I will. But, I sincerely believe she’s in the best position to let you know what’s going on.”

“I don’t think I like the sound of that, Chief Inspector,” Chris said coldly. “Follow me, please. let’s get this over with.”

He led the policeman into the luxurious living room, and Steve pointed to a bottle on the table.

“Jack Daniels? Mind if I have a shot, please?”

Chris regarded the cop with calm eyes.

“Straight?”

“On the rocks, if you don’t mind.”

“Have a seat. Will be with you in a moment.”

Chris went to the kitchen where Elaine and Sisi were coming towards the living room. Elaine noticed Chris’ expressionless face and knew something was amiss.

“Is that the cop?” she asked carefully.

“Yeah, and he wants to talk to you first.”

“Me?” she asked with bewilderment. “Why me?”

“He wouldn’t say,” Chris said calmly. “But those thugs that attacked us in the park once again told me to leave you alone. As I told you, one was captured. I believe whatever is happening is tied to you somewhat.”

Elaine looked frightened.

“How so? I don’t really have any enemy that vicious.”

“It’s alright, darling. Just hear him out. Sisi, my princess, kindly wait in your room, okay? I’ll be with you soon.”

Sisi nodded and hurried upstairs.

Chris scooped ice pellets from a box in the refrigerator into the ice bucket and carried it to the living room. He took a tall, slim decanter, filled it halfway with iced blocks, and poured a generous amount of Jack Daniels whisky into it.

The Chief Inspector took it with a murmur of thanks and drank half of the contents, then he looked at Elaine calmly.

“Big Mac is in town, Miss Boateng,” he said softly.

Elaine gasped, and a look of sheer horror crossed her face, making her stumble for a moment, almost falling, and Chris reached out and held her tight.

“Darling, are you okay? What’s going on?” Chris asked as he glared darkly at the policeman.

He could feel Elaine trembling, and her fear was so acute that it had twisted her features and almost made her beautiful face look like a ghastly mask.

“I see your fiancée understands,” Steve Hollison said calmly, drained his glass, and set it down. “The man who’s trying to hurt your daughter is called…”

“No!” Elaine screamed with horror and shook her head at the policeman. “Please, it’s okay, please. Leave my fiancé out of this.”

“Come on, Elly!” Chris said with exasperation. “Who’s this Big Mac? What’s all the secrecy? You should let me know! The bastard has attempted to hurt Sisi twice, and by the look on you he’s a shitty guy, probably used to hurting you too!”

“No, my darling, please,” Elaine said desperately. “You remember I told you I was very busy when you came to the States to try that case? I knew him then, and we had some unfinished business before I left the States and came here. Please, trust me, I’ll sort this out.”

“Is it about money?” Chris asked, still bewildered. “If you need money I have more than enough! Is he blackmailing you? Let’s go and meet him and settle this!”

“No, sir,” Steve said. “He wants to meet Miss Boateng alone. Please understand. I promised to take Miss Boateng to him.”

“Where? Take her where?” Chris asked, beginning to get angry.

“Can’t tell you the location, sir,” Steve said. “But rest assured that I’ll be with Miss Boateng throughout the time she would be with this dude, and I’ll bring her back when they sort out whatever is between them.”

“I’m coming along,” Chris said grimly. “You can’t tell me this. If that guy threatened a little girl and traumatized her because of Elaine, I wanna be there, Chief Inspector. I’m going too.”

“No!” Elaine shouted and put a hand on Chris’ chest. “My love, if I ever meant anything to you, believe me on this one, please. I’ll take care of it and see you soon. I promise to tell you everything about it when I come back. I’m sorry about this, really, my love. Please, forgive me for all these horrible attacks on Sisi. Let me do this, and end it.”

“Jesus, Elly, be fair!” Chris said fiercely. “How am I supposed to live through the tension? I need more than that, and I’m not letting you see that psychopath alone, never!”

“Mr Bawa, do trust me!” Steve said sharply. “There’s something else, though. I need you to stay here, but I want your daughter out of this house.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Chris asked grimly. “She’s not going anywhere, not leaving my sight! That will never happen!”

“Don’t be stubborn, sir!” Steve exploded. “I’ve not had any rest since this whole shit started. I’ve asked you to trust me, so please do. Until Miss Boateng clears up the air between her and Big Mac, your daughter is not safe with you! They can attack you here and use her to blackmail you. So she needs to be somewhere neutral, somewhere safe where those motherfuckers can’t touch her, just for today. Find someone whom she can be with for today, just today, and my four men outside will guard them with their lives until the issue is cleared up. Just for today. If you want the attacks to end, then trust me and do this just this once!”

Chris was not happy about the arrangement, but the urgency he saw on Elaine’s and the cop’s face finally made him capitulate.

“You said Sisi is close to that teacher, this Effe lady, and she loves her,” Elaine said, and her voice was still unsteady.

“Oh, come on!” Chris said. “I told you I don’t want to involve her.”

“Effe Kedem? That teacher? Yes, she seemed quite nice and protective,” the Chief Inspector said. “Call her and let Sisi stay with her for today. My cops will protect them.”

“My love, just for today, just this once,” Elaine said desperately. “I believe you. Let Sisi be with her, and you wait here for me. I’ll be back shortly to explain everything to you.”

Chris pointed a finger at her.

“You’re driving me nuts now, Elly!” he hissed. “What you’re doing is not reasonable, and it is not sensible, and it is pretty childish. I’m your fiancé, I love you, we’re going to get married. I have money, I can help you. So why don’t you just trust me and tell me what’s going on?”

“Not now!” Elaine screamed into his face. “Trust me! Not now! I’ll explain everything later!”

In the end, Chris had no choice than to agree with the arrangement. He called Effe five times, but they went unanswered. He tried for the sixth time, and she picked.

“Chris,” she said, and he could hear the unease in her voice and the note of despair. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“It’s about Sisi,” he replied, striving to remain calm.

“What happened to her?” she shot back instantly; her voice concerned.

“Oh, she’s fine, she’s fine,” he said quickly. “Something came up, and the Chief Inspector thinks it would be best if Sisi stays with you for today, away from me and the house. Hold on, speak to him.”

Effe quickly agreed when Steve explained what was happening. She said she was in church but would set off immediately and meet them at the Accra Mall.

Forty minutes later, they met at the Mall.

Effe was already at the car park, leaning against a modest Toyota Camry.

Dressed in a white dress that enhanced her colour, she looked ethereal, and Elaine felt an uneasy lurch of her heart all over again, and she wondered briefly if she had been wrong to suggest this girl should take care of Sisi.

She noticed how regal Effe was, how sublimely beautiful in a perfect, pure, and unblemished way, exuding an aura of innocence and sheer exotic allure at the same time. Indeed, she now understood why Chris had been swayed off his iron principles by this woman, and Elaine made a mental note that when the storm passed, she would ensure these two never met again.

Effe bent and hugged Sisi, and conversed in low tones with the girl, striving hard not to look at Chris.

“Well, that’s it then,” Chief Inspector Steve Hollison said crisply. “Miss Boateng, let’s get a move on. Mr Bawa, my boys will go with Miss Kedem and your little girl. They would guard them until the coast is clear, so you should go back home now and wait for us.”

Chris nodded miserably and put his arms around Elaine. They kissed briefly.

“I’m dying with worry here and still not satisfied that this is the best way to handle this,” he said softly. “But I trust you, and I’ll wait. But, whatever it is, don’t keep too long over there otherwise you’ll drive me crazy.”

She smiled demurely and squeezed him.

“I’ll see you soon, my love,” she whispered. “Don’t fret yourself.”

He opened the door for her, and she sat in Steve’s police sedan. A moment later, they drove out of the park.

Chris then looked at Effe.

“I want to come over,” he said softly.

“Chris, no,” she said, suddenly alarmed. “The Chief Inspector said it would only be me and Sisi!”

“I won’t go inside your house, Effe, or stay anywhere near,” Chris said quickly. “I just want to know where you live and where you’re taking my girl. Just want to know where Sisi will be. And I won’t bother you after that, Effe.”

She looked at him with wide eyes, and then she nodded.

“Alright, then, Chris. let’s go.”