Chapter 22 When The Plan Backfires
All the kids had slept and Mrs Roberts was already dozing off. Amanda stayed awake, her anticipation building. She glanced at her phone repeatedly, checking for messages from Mrs Laura. Mr. Kenny too didn't call her.
The silence was deafening and anxiety began to creep in. She could no longer hold it in. She woke her mother.
"Mother!"
Mrs Roberts woke up at once. She had intended to see the plan through before sleep took control.
"Yes, what is it?
"Are you sure this was a good plan?" She questioned her mother, doubt gnawed at her.
"Why do you ask? Mrs. Roberts responded questioning, still trying to rescue her eyes from the sleep.
"I was wondering if this is the right way to deal with Mr. Kenny".
Amanda's mind raced as she considered the possible outcomes and consequences of her actions.
"How else would you have dealt with it? And you can't say it's a bad idea yet." Mrs. Roberts answered.
"I have not gotten any message from them, both the husband and wife. I am worried something might be wrong."
"Amanda, please keep your mind at rest. You don't expect a fighting couple to start calling you. You should get some rest. It will soon be morning and you will have your answers." Mrs Roberts said retiring to the couch.
"Mother, you should go in to get some sleep." Amanda persuades her mother.
"Whenever you are ready." She answered.
Minutes soon turned into hours, and still, there was no sign of messages or calls from either Mr Kenny or Mrs Laura.
Amanda's anxiety deepened. Her sense of unease grew to an uncomfortable point.
She convinced herself that it was nothing. If not for herself, for her mother who is sleeping uncomfortably on the couch. She wakes her up for them to go to bed.
The following morning, Amanda woke up late. She was cranky from the lack of sleep the night before. Her mother was still sound asleep.
"Mummy, My head is hurting," Adora said, as she cried into her mother's room.
"Come here, baby" Amanda carried her and realized that she was hot.
Amanda felt Adora's forehead and realized she had a fever. Concerned, she rushed to the medicine cabinet to find some fever-reducing medicine. That was when it dawned on her that there wasn't any in the house.
She looked at her mother sleeping, she did not want to put her through any more stress.
After giving it some thought, she decided to take her to the hospital. She tried to reach Alex but he had already done a double shift for her sake.
The phone rang several times with no answer.
"Mummy, it hurts." Adora cries.
"I will take you to the hospital," Amanda said.
She woke the other kids and told them to prepare for school.
By the time Amanda was ready to take Adora to the hospital, her fever had worsened.
The worries about Adora's sickness had enveloped Amanda that she had totally forgotten about Mr. Kenny and his wife.
While the doctors were attending to Adora, she sat in the waiting room trying to reach the other children on the phone to confirm if they were ready for school.
As she ended the call, she noticed a familiar face. The person looked remarkably like Mabel. She tried to look in that direction again but the person was nowhere to be found.
Amanda was puzzled. She wondered if she had seen Mabel or someone else.
Mabel had seen her the moment she came into the hospital. When she noticed Amanda looking in her direction, she quickly ducked out of sight.
Adora was soon discharged and Amanda took her home. She was just stepping inside the house when Alex's call came in.
"Where are you?" Alex asked, disturbed.
"I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Something happened at home and I had to quickly attend to it," Ananda responded.
"Are you alright? He asked again.
Confused. "I am alright," Amanda said.
"Then you should come to the office right away," Alex said and he dropped the call before Amanda could say anything.
Amanda checked her phone again to confirm if the call was disconnected.
Mrs Roberts was already awake and she handed over Adora to her.
Amanda was consumed with different emotions. She was worried about Adora, concerned that she didn't get any message from Mr. Kenny and his wife, and then Alex sounded strange over the phone.
At the entrance of the hotel, Amanda received a message from Rowan.
"Where are you?"
She wondered why he could ask her such a question, he didn't even inform her he would come to the office. She ignored the text and went in.
As she entered the hotel, a hushed atmosphere enveloped the hotel, her colleagues exchanged somber glances and Amanda's heart sank. Something is not right she said to herself.
She walked straight to her office. What's going on, Alex? Why is everyone so quiet?" Amanda asked, her voice trembling.
Alex checked the corridor to see if someone was coming. He then closed the door behind him.
"What have you done?" He asked quietly but with all seriousness
"What do you mean?" Amanda asked, confused.
"Don't act as if you do not know what is going on. When you told me you had found a way to deal with Mr Kenny, was this what you meant?" Alex asked.
Amanda understood immediately what he was saying. She remembers saying those words to him. Worries crept into her flesh.
"Is Mr. Kenny at work?" Amanda asked.
"How can he be? Aren't you aware? Alex said, confused too.
"Aware of what?" Amanda asked, impatient.
Alex sighs. "Mr. Kenny passed away last night."
A chill ran down Amanda's spine. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Is that a joke?" Amanda asked.
"No Amnada. The police found his corpse in a hotel room this morning. The news is everywhere."
Amanda's mind raced as she tried to process the news. Questions and doubts flooded her thoughts.
"Had their argument escalated to something more sinister? Could her involvement have unintentionally played a role in this tragedy?" She asked herself.
She felt a heavy weight of guilt and confusion.
Alex interrupted her thoughts.
"Now answer me, what did you do?"
Amanda's mind was in turmoil trying to piece together the sudden turn of events. She had not expected this outcome and her guilt was overwhelming.
"Amanda!" Alex called her name again.
She looked at Alex, scared and uncertain about what to say.
Her phone vibrated in her bag. It was Mrs Roberts.
"Mother!" Amanda cries when she picks up the call.
"I just got the news, the manager is dead." Mrs. Roberts said, fear evident in her voice.
Not knowing what to say, Amanda stammered. Tears had welled up in her eyes.
"Just calm down. The police are investigating. We will soon get to the root of the matter." Mrs. Roberts encouraged her.
Amanda shuddered. The situation had spiraled out of control beyond anything she could have imagined.
She bursts into tears the moment she dropped the call.
"Amanda, you can talk to me. What did you do?"
She wiped her tears, she was about to explain when the receptionist knocked on the door.
"The police are here. They would like to speak with you." She told Amanda.
"Hi! I am Albert Wills. You can call me Detective Wills. I have a few questions for you and if you are sincere, this would be brief.
Amanda nodded, still feeling scared.
"Ma'am please, you need to stop crying, It won't help the situation here
Amanda wipes her tears with the back of her hand.
"What is your relationship with the deceased?
"He is my boss. The hotel manager." Amanda said, sniffing.
"Nothing more?" Detective Wills asked.
Rowan bangs into Mr. Kenny's office. "Amanda!" He called out, looking for her in the room.
"I am here" Amanda answered.
"Why are you talking to her?" Rowan asked the police officers. "If there is someone you must talk to that someone has to be me. We are already down with the situation, don't make it worse." Rowan yelled.
"I am sorry about that but she is directly related to this case." Detective Wills said.
"What?" Rowan exclaimed in confusion.
The detective continued.
"You said you he was just your boss right? Then how do you explain your texts to the manager."
Amanda was quiet.
"They were sexual" The detective continued. "Which indicates that you were having an affair.
"what? Rowan was shocked. He looked at Amanda for answers.
Amanda wiped her tears again.
"We were not having an affair."
"Then explain what you were doing with him at the hotel," the Detective asked.
"I was not at the hotel" Amanda responds very sharply.
"You booked the hotel. "the detective fired back with the same energy.
Rowan was dumbfounded. "What is going on here, Amanda. Tell me all of this is not true."
"It is not what you think it is" Amanda responded.
"Then tell me what it is." Rowan yelled at her.