chapter 8

Tap, tap, tap! Three successive silent but audible knocks landed on Mr. Rex's gate just a few minutes past 8 in the morning. Usually, the postman would have dropped the mails in the mailbox neatly carved outside, so Silas couldn't understand why he decided to knock this time around.

Who else would it be? Peasants wouldn't come knocking at their door at any time of the day, let alone early in the morning. The second set of knocks disrupted his thoughts, and he finally stood up and yawned on his way to the gate.

Yuck! he blurted out. It was the cops, and most importantly, Walton. He couldn't even take a second glance at him; he felt sick instantly. By this time, the cops demanded that he lead the way, and he obliged. None of the rest of the family were awake yet.

The leading sergeant asked for Mr. Rex, and Silas replied that he was still in bed. Mr. Rex woke up with a start, feeling dizzy, but Silas kept pressing that his immediate attention was needed in the living room, without daring to disclose it was the police to prevent him from relapsing. Mr. Rex managed to get downstairs but was dumbfounded by what he saw.

The cops were in his house, and there was Walton, wearing a top-notch Italian-made suit, tailored to perfection and accentuating his success and prosperity. The last time he was in his house, he only had a few pairs of shirts and trousers. Now, things were different. A police officer presented him with his arrest warrant, and he followed suit.

Silas had gone to wake Rhea and Lilian and only returned when Mr Rex was being led out. They didn't see Walton but they knew he must have brought the cops. “Call my lawyer”,Mr Rex managed to say before he got out.

“I'm really sorry but you might get a life sentence”,Mr Rex’s lawyer added after two hours of discussion. Mr Rex bowed his head in regret and exhaustion. He was tired and he could no longer bear it. His image was tarnished. His own business and health were both deteriorating. He had spent 18 days in Police Custody.

Laundering over ten million dollars and looting more than five million dollars in total was no small crime especially when his prosecutor was his worst enemy. In the next three days,he would be charged to court and he knew serving a jail term was inevitable. Back at home,Lilian could only brood and lament and Rhea couldn't do more.

Silas thought it was time to leave Lilian and Mr Rex Family at large. He had only stayed because of their wealth although he was also rich. Greed ran in his blood and one couldn't blame him if he decided to leave them. The whole family was in a dim light of sadness. He gave a flimsy excuse that he had a very important meeting to attend but gave no reasons why he packed all of his belongings.

Water swelled in lilians eyes because she was downcast.

Sorrow,grief and melancholy were now part of her daily life. Her friends stopped associating with her because they felt they couldn't befriend a criminal’s daughter. Actually,Walton hadn't shown any personal prejudice against the family yet. The only reason he had Mr Rex arrested was because he stole a large amount of money from his new In-laws.

Mr Bates wanted Walton to go for his honeymoon but Walton insisted he would prefer to stay with him because he had plans. Rachel couldn't agree more. She didn't want to be anywhere far from her grandfather especially with his health conditions. So instead they stayed in another apartment which was still part of Mr Rex Mansion.

The following day,Walton told Rachel his plans to visit the Police Station Mr Rex was being held in and she decided to accompany him. After some minutes,Rachel appread before Walton and she was breathtaking. She wore a high silky gown with a shade of red and a set of intricate jewelry accentuating her stunning beauty. Walton was more than grateful for having Rachel as his wife.

On getting to the station in a chauffeur-driven limousine car,they were instantly recognised by the officers who accorded them with so much respect and admiration. Rachel was given a seat in the Sergeant's office as they divided to talk about business and all while Walton went straight were Mr Rex was being held.

A narrow beam of light reflected on the unpainted reinforced concrete room where Mr Rex was being held. He sat on a bunker bed less than 2 metres in length and nearly the width of one of his arm length. A very small and compacted area served as the toilet.The only noticeable thing in the room was a little plate with which he was being served his daily ration.

Walton entered the place and stood at a corner taking a full view at Mr Rex and his pitiful condition but he didn't show any form of sympathy on his face.He simply told him he had a good news for him and Mr Batela animalele salbatices eagerly listened with rapt attention. Walton took a deep breath and said some words with a plain face.

“As your lawyer must have explained to you,you should know you'll be sentenced to nothing less than a life imprisonment so I'll do you the favour of helping you out but with a price”. Tte price as earlier stated by Walton wasn't in cash or cheque. It was “A priceless Price”.

Mr Rex face well when Walton disclosed what the price would be. He hadn't see it coming but he was left with no other choice. He sadly agreed as he didn't want to spend the rest of his life in prison. After Walton confirmed his affirmation,he then proceeded to the Police chief's office to discuss Mr Rex bail.

He explained to the Police chief that the charges were not accurate and he would like that Mr Rex be released. The Officer asked him to sign some documents and that he would be released immediately. An officer was sent to fetch Mr Baes and he was given his clothes. But Mr Rex wasn't going home. He was going to the Walton's house as a servant. That was the price he had to pay.

He was no longer a free man and would work forever in Walton's house as a maid and his family would be only allowed to visit him once in three months.