“Barry! Barry!”

7: 50 am was the time, and Barry, who was still in bed, stirred at the sound of the voice of his wife. Rubbing his face as the lingering of his dream about winning a $300 million contract faded off, he sat up from his bed, grumbling a bit. Waking up from such a good dream was so annoying. Whatever it was that had Barbara shouting his name had to be good.

“Barry!”

“Yes!” he responded sourly as he sat up. Barbara entered the room, an expression of shock on her face.

“Barry, the news. Breaking news. You won’t believe this…”

He narrowed his eyes, still in sour mode. “What?”

“It’s Gilbert. He and that his white woman. They’re dead.”

Those narrowed eyes popped open. “Huh?!”

He had been so wrapped up in the dream, he had honestly forgotten about the task.

“Hmm. Yes oo. Gilbert Addison. He’s dead.”

So those new guys actually did get the job done? Wow…

“According to the news report, he and his Belgian lady were at some function last night. Up until about 1 am. They left for home with some two guys. Never returned. Now they found the two of them in their car around Achimota, with gunshot wounds on the woman and some marks on Gilbert’s neck. Serious oo!”

All Barry wanted to do at that moment was throw his head back and cackle his unresponsive butt off. This was news worth waking up to! Finally, that treacherous, two-timing bastard had had his comeuppance!

But he simply raised his eyebrow and murmured, “Wow. I see.”

“Hmmm. Me, I knew he’ll be dealt with one day, but this feels a little cruel. But, well, it has happened. Not that I feel too sorry for him, to be honest. See how he was moving around town, showing off his wealth by heart. Why won’t some criminals target you? Let’s see what the police will say. Anyways, now that you’re awake, ready for breakfast?”

“Oh, definitely!”

As she left the room, Barry frowned.

And it had nothing to do with the fact that Barbara had clearly now bought into Josiah’s point of view from that day they picked them up from the airport. It was something more pressing.

What he had been waiting for had finally come to pass. That heartless fool had finally been dealt with for the evil he had unleashed upon him. Surely his heart should have been overflowing with joy that revenge had finally had its day.

Yet he felt… nothing.

No inner satisfaction. No joy. No sense of contentment.

Just… nothing.

So anticlimactic, and he just could not understand why.

***

The capital has been thrown into a state of shock after the gruesome murder of a man and his girlfriend last night. Gilbert Addison, 49, and Elisabeth De Mulder, 49, a Belgian national, were found dead in their Nissan Patrol around the Achimota area. The bodies have been retrieved and deposited at the morgue while investigations have commenced…

Barry stared blankly at the television screen as the news anchor gave an update on the latest big news to grip the nation.

News that was supposed to have set off euphoria extreme in his heart, but for some reason had not.

Well, his sons certainly were not mourning.

“This was pretty horrendous. But chale, I don’t feel sorry for him in the least,” Josiah declared as he walked over to the living room.’’

“Me too,” Joseph agreed. “He’s reaped what he sowed. Hw3! He thought his deeds won’t catch up to him? He thought he’ll continue partying and enjoying life till thy kingdom come? Now there he dey! Next time!”

Barry simply stayed silent as they continued to comment on the news of Gilbert’s brutal murder.

“Daddy?”

He turned in their direction as they called him.

“You feeling okay, Daddy?” Josiah asked.

He nodded and smiled. “Yeah, Josi, I feel okay.”

“How are you feeling about the news?” Joseph asked.

Barry shrugged. “I dunno, I just… I guess I need to… fully process it, I guess…”

“Yeah, that’s understandable,” Joseph agreed. “With all that’s happened and stuff, it won’t be easy. Don’t worry, just do what you need to do. No matter what, we’re always here for you.”

“Sure.” Barry smiled at them as he turned back to the television.

It sure felt good to have the backing of his family.

That did not change the fact that he still did not feel the joy he should have felt.

Why? Why don’t I feel delighted that my aim has been achieved? Whyyy?

***

“Good evening, Mr. Evan.”

Looking at the number in annoyance, Barry shook his head.

It was evening. The boys had gone for a church program and would be joined by Barbara later. So Barry was alone, busy with a laptop on his lap with the TV on, when the investigator for his previous case called.

To say he was annoyed was an understatement. How appropriate that after covering Gilbert’s ass, he was now readily calling him as a potential suspect in this murder case.

He put the phone on speaker and responded bluntly, “Yes, Mr. Fynn?”

“I hope you are doing well.”

What the fuck do you care about that? He thought to himself as he replied, “I’m okay.”

“Good, good. I believe by now, you’ve heard about the death of Gilbert Addison by now.”

“Uh huh, yeah.”

“Perchance, you wouldn’t happen to know anything about it, would you?”

Barry sat up, getting irritated. The absolute nerve of this investigator!

“No, I don’t. I’ve just been in my corner, forgiving and forgetting as you told me to,” he responded sarcastically.

“Mr. Evan, there’s no need to be sarcastic. I’m just doing my job.”

Barry snorted. “Oh yeah, doing your job. Tell me, was telling me to forget about a crime committed against me also part of your job? Huh?”

“Mr. Evan-“

“Don’t Mr. Evan me! Please, as far as I’m concerned, I’ve been in my miserable little corner, forgetting about what happened to me and just moving on with my life. I don’t know anything about Gilbert’s murder and I really don’t care. I’ve done as you said, and I would appreciate it if you leave me alone so I can move on with my life. I don’t need this stress.”

“Look, Mr. Evan-“

“And just so you know, I still have that text message of yours. Asking me to forgive and forget. It’ll be quite an interesting thing to put out in the open, you know. Get the people to know how much they should actually trust the police force. I’m sure they’ll love to find out that criminals can ride roughshod over them and the officers who swore to defend them would rather tell them to forgive and forget than to help them get the justice they deserve, right?”

There was a long silence.

“Have a good evening, Mr. Evan. Sorry for bothering you.”

The line went dead.

“Stupid son of a bitch,” Barry murmured as he placed the phone on his lap.

He had not expected Investigator Fynn to back down so easily; he had already begun forming the dry, straight and caustic answers he would give in the interrogation once the officer forced him to it. But hey, good to have that issue off his shoulder. The officer obviously feared the public backlash that would follow if Barry went ahead to expose that text.

Having dismissed this investigator’s probe, he continued to sit in front of the television, deep in thought.

Yes, he had won the battle. He had sought revenge and obtained it. Now Gilbert Addison was dead and had paid for his wicked deed toward him.

But there was still no joy in his heart.

As a matter of fact, as the day passed, this lingering question began hovering around his brain.

Was it worth it?

A few weeks ago, it seemed totally worth it. After all, the criminal justice system had failed him and was not interested in helping him, and Gilbert was happily frolicking around the city, showing everyone what a wealthy man he now was. Certainly, it was totally worth dealing with him by hiring hitmen to do one better than he did. Respond to his stone throwing with boulders to show him he wasn’t going to get away with it.

Yet, as it had finally happened, the answer was not as straightforward as he had believed.

And he couldn’t understand why he felt that way.

It wasn’t about getting caught; clients of Rex Bruschi barely ever got exposed for wanting someone hurt or dead, as far as he had heard. The hitmen were unlikely to get exposed in any way.

“So why do I feel this way?” he grumbled to himself. “This is what I wanted, for Pete’s sake! I wanted that man dead! He sent cold-hearted bastards into this home to come and damage my spine just because I asked for my money which I gave to him, and he promised to pay back. I’m the victim here. I’m the one who deserved justice. So why all this? It is worth it! It is!”

But did you get your money back?

Are you sure it’ll make you sleep better at night?

Will it fix your legs?

Was it that necessary that an innocent white woman had to lose her life as well?

All these questions flew at him as he made this declaration, just like arrows at a shield-less soldier, in clear response. He placed his hand over his eyes, frustrated at this sudden onslaught.

“Ugh, I don’t care about the money anymore! It wasn’t about the money, it wasn’t about getting healed or whatever, it was about him paying for his wickedness! And I couldn’t care about that Belgian girlfriend or partner of his. It’s the least of my concerns. I-“

He stopped as he heard a key unlock the front door.

“Joseph? Josiah?” he called out, wondering if it was one of the twins. Maybe they had forgotten something and were coming to take it.

Whoever it was did not answer him, as the key continued to turn in the lock.

Barry was confused. Neither Joseph nor Josiah would refuse to answer him.

“Joseph? Josiah?” he called out again. “Who is it?”

The door opened.

Barry opened his mouth, ready to scold whoever it was for refusing to respond to him when he called.

“AH, why didn’t you respo-“

He stopped short when the person stepped into view.

His heart jumped into his throat when he saw who it was.

It wasn’t Joseph. It wasn’t Josiah.

And it certainly wasn’t Barbara.

It was someone else.

Someone he did not expect would show up at his home.

Who could it be? And as we arrive at the end of this dark journey, how will it be?