Miles away, a room opened and in there went a strong and fierce guy with a bottle of water and chips laden with salad and fried eggs.

“This may be good for the baby,” he said as he gave the meal to the hopeless Yvonne Tonde. It was now a week since she had been kidnapped.

She received the food and put in on the bed she was on. Her memory took her back to that night when she was about to go to bed. She had gone to the door knocking. Mr Msiska had gone to open but never returned. Minutes later, she checked on her boss/lover but he was not there.

To her surprise, two masked men came in and blindfolded her. Another wrapped her mouth with a cloth to block her from screaming. Then she was taken and the next thing she was in that room.

“Madam, you need to eat,” the strong guy said, waking her up from her imaginations.

“Mr, why did you kidnap me?” Yvonne asked.

“I’m just a worker here. My boss knows it all,” the guy responded, standing by a small window in the room.

“Who is your boss?” Yvonne asked.

“Don’t even go there. I’m not paid to snitch!” he said angrily.

“Sorry, but don’t you think you are weak? I mean you are being paid to torture a fellow human!” she screamed, trying to tempt him into opening up.

“I could have slapped you but I have strict orders not to harm you. At least not until you tell us where your brother is,” he said.

“My brother? You mean you’ve abducted me because of Dennis Tonde?” she asked.

“You got it right. I think the waiting is over, where the hell is your bloody brother?” The strong guy moved closer to the bed on which Yvonne was seated.

“The last time I saw him was two and a half years ago! What is it?” she asked.

“That’s not important. I’m giving you 24 hours to respond. The boss gave me a week to get you talking. If you mess up, you’ll be dead,” he warned her sternly.

“Please don’t kill me now. At least let the baby see his father,” she begged.

“In case you don’t know, people think you are dead already,” he laughed at her.

“No way! Why?” she cried.

“We painted the house with a bloody note. Unfortunately, some gossiper missed it and thought it meant someone had been killed. Your boss is paying for that as we speak,” he said.

“Mr Msiska? Ooh no! Please at least tell the boss to do anything just to…”

“Shut up! I’m done with all this journalism. Remember, you have 24 hours. The countdown starts now,” he said and left the room.

Miles away back, Detective Nospoh knocked on Mrs Msiska’s door, around 8pm.

The door opened and there appeared Mrs Msiska in her sky-blue night gown.

“Hello.”

“Hi, what do you want?” Mrs Msiska asked while yawning.

“I’m Detective Nospoh Kamanga. I’m working on the case of the missing maid who some are assuming is dead,” he said, flashing his badge.

“I have nothing to do with her so leave my house,” she snapped.

“I’m here just to ask for clues. You are not a suspect – yet,” he advised and she reluctantly let him in.

Once they sat down, Detective Nospoh was quick to ask, “We heard you refused to move back in your maiden house because your husband and maid had cheated on you, is that true?” he asked and she nodded rudely.

“I also understand that you lied to your daughter that your coming had been delayed. There is a belief that you had a motive to kill the maid and decided to make it look like she had died while you were still abroad. What do you have to prove me wrong?” he asked, with his recorder on.

“I don’t know what I can say but I’m not guilty and I…” she looked ashamed, “I think my husband is innocent,” she finished in a low-pitched voice.

“I understand mom. You know, your husband actually handed himself in. I tried questioning him but we didn’t find a motive to kill her.”

“And the maid being someone who was carrying his daughter. You know, I know him. He wouldn’t kill his own baby mama. As much as I hate him now, I still think he had no such intentions,” she said.

“But he claims he killed her yet he can’t even point where the body is. I think someone is using him,” he paused and looked at her with a more serious look.

“I think you can be of great help in getting him to talk the real truth,” he suggested.

“No ways!”

“I’m not expecting an answer today. Give it a thought and answer me tomorrow. Remember, if nothing comes forth within the next 48 hours, the court will start hearing his case and who knows…?” he said then he handed her his card and left.

The next day, Mrs Msiska called Detective Nospoh who made an appointment for her and Mr Msiska.

He also advised her how she was to make her husband tell the truth.

Around 9am, Temwa’s mom was face-to-face with her husband.

“Yvonne is not dead. She was kidnapped because the kidnappers want her brother who has some evidence that incriminates them,” Mr Msiska said.

Tell us: How would you feel if you were wrongfully arrested for a crime you had no part?