Hunted by Hawks

It could be regarded as a blissful marriage for Ikenna and Nonye with four children of two boys and girls apiece in their twenty-two years of marriage. While Ikenna owned and managed his successful private business of a five star hotel in the coal city of Enugu in the eastern part of Nigeria, Nonye his wife was a career woman who works with the state Ministry of Justice. Apart from having a joint legal advising firm, she occupied a sensitive position as Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, a position she rose to by hard work, commitment and dedication. She had that passion for justice but could not commit so much to her career due to their growing family. But now that the children are all in the higher institution she dedicated more time to her career. Dozie is their eldest son and has been a very bright boy from his childhood. It was not so surprising when he sat the University Matriculation Examination that he made excellent result that secured him admission to study Medicine and Surgery in the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ikenna’s joy knew no bounds as he could hardly believe he would have a medical doctor in the making from his loin. Now in his penultimate year, Dozie has grown into a full-fledged man with responsibilities of his own. At twenty-two years, he is very matured and reasonable, with a career to look forward to. Ucheamaka takes after her mother in nature and brains; tall, elegant with slightly round body and curvy shape, a figure that keeps men starring with open mouth. She was very much aware of her effect on men and so maintained her stature. Being the first daughter and second child, and currently in her third year as law student, she prefers being addressed as Barrister-in-the-making. She was also in the same school with her brother. Despite being two years younger than Dozie, she was more in control of things because she has eyes for details and could argue with the last breath in her. Her siblings avoid arguing with her as much as possible. Ucheamaka can be quite economical and would make a good manager especially when it comes to shopping. But she is not so good in arithmetic as much as she was in literature which was one of her reasons for choosing the arts subjects in her secondary school. She likes sports especially football but can hardly kick an orange. Chidaalu and Emeka are amazing twins when they were growing up until few months after they gained admission into the university. Being the last two they were often treated as kids but once they got into the university, the twins called a family meeting to officially inform them they deserved more respect than being treated as children. Since they could be in the university on their own, they deserve the adult treatment just like Dozie and Ucheamaka. Unlike other twins, Chidaalu and Emeka never agree with each other, but when a third party is involved, that is when they have each other’s back. Chidaalu studies Economics and Statistics while her twin brother, Emeka studies Computer Science. Like their older siblings they were also admitted into the same University only that while Dozie and Ucheamaka were in Enugu campus, Chidaalu and Emeka were in Nsukka campus. The house bubbled with life whenever the four children were home on holiday. Ikenna enjoyed watching them from his bedroom window whenever they are coming back from school, walking through the main entrance of the house. He did that always to secretly admire how good they are turning, not anything like him. He always felt like a proud father seeing in them fulfilment of what he wanted to be; he was happy they were actually living his dream. With a wife like Nonye he could only live the best life has got to offer. She is always there to support in the children’s education especially when he was not able to do so. Being a very clever woman she does not allow her husband’s shortcomings to show where their kids are. She has a way of handling such situations without the kids knowing what was happening. On his part Ikenna had to use basic knowledge to guide them through. He spends so much time with them especially when they were growing up as it gave him an opportunity to learn from them. With the little basic reading, writing, comprehension and arithmetic he picked up early in life, he was not a total failure to his kids in education. He has a ting of satisfaction being able to help them out. He knew if he had the opportunities they have, he would have been much like them. Few months after the twins got admitted into the university Nonye began to notice remarkable difference in one of the twins, Emeka. Initially he always came back with his twin sister irrespective of who finished before the other. But when they resumed after a two months industrial action which was typical of most institutions, everything about him changed. He started with staying almost two weeks after school vacated and he never had any reasonable excuse to justify himself. He claimed he had assignments to submit and would rather finish it in school before coming home. Even when he eventually came home he seemed so distracted from his siblings. “Darling, did you notice anything about Emeka lately?” Nonye asked one night as they went to bed. “If this is about his flimsy excuse to stay back in school, I suggest we leave that matter for tomorrow. As you can see I will be useless in discussion now cos I am very tired,” he replied, turning the other way to continue his sleep. She ignored him, “Not just that but he is just not the same. He is always quarrelling with everybody and even threatened Dozie,” she complained. “Dozie! Ok can we visit the issue tomorrow, please??” he asked. She still was not listening, “I did not tell you because I stopped the fight that could have broken out between the two. I told Dozie to keep it quiet and warned Emeka sternly if he doesn’t want you to hear it.” “Fight? Maybe it’s not as serious as you think. Ok I will talk to the boys tomorrow,” he replied trying to catch his sleep. “You don’t think it’s a big deal?” “No it isn’t. Boys their age quarrel occasionally; they are growing up, darling. I shall handle it later, I promise.” “You needed to see Emeka becoming physical and loud. Honestly I was terrified by his outburst,” she still could not let it rest. “Darling I shall caution Emeka about his behaviour. That is unacceptable in this house,” he affirmed to close the discussion. He was too tired to be bothered. Besides he did not think it was much problem and so dismissed it as women’s worry over nothing. Nonye worries over nothing just like most women do. Besides the boys are grown up and so such tussle was only natural. Even at that he decided he would have a word with his younger son so he does not disrespect his elder brother, and then he could be free from Nonye’s hassling about the issue. The next morning Ikenna went to the boys’ room to find that Emeka was not on his bed. Initially he thought he would be in the toilet so he left to come back later as he did not want to wake Dozie who was in deep sleep; it was just about five in the morning. He was surprised after waiting for almost thirty minutes and there was no sign of him, he went to the knock on the toilet door. Without getting a response, he opened the door and he was not there. It felt strange for Emeka not to be on his bed by that time so he woke Dozie up to asked of his brother. “He should be around somewhere. He slept before me and I did not know when he got up,” Dozie replied. They searched the house being careful not to wake up anybody but he was nowhere to be found. They were left with no other option than to wake every other person up. Nonye was terrified as much as the girls were. There was no clue as to where he could be neither could his cell phone be reached. “Are you sure Dozie that both of you did not have any clash last night?” Nonye emphasized