and bag on the floor and herself on the couch. Sh

he sighed. “Lud

she dosed off within m

e asked as he ente

mall happy family. He walked to her and sat beside her. He looked at her and smiled. Her face was covered with the hair. He moved the hair to the side. He was looking at her face clearly.

r and woke up. She lo

home?”

wered. “I’m hungry,”

and eat, I saw something on t

dining room, he stopped he

She com

her tightly. “I

She held

n’t know where

ition happen

pposed to g

e about the best t

n. She knows when we argue and fight,” Jo

ke it better?” She aske

of himself. “Don’t cry on me, you’l

she reached

to eat or?” He

neck. He pulled her closer while

e you Joe,”

o,” he k

er to th

” She

e’s sleeping. Let’s en

iggled closing th

woke them

anywhere toda

o switch it off,” Zamiwe said

re you pee on the bed,” Joe c

y back to the bedroom when she noticed Ludo’s bedroom door opened and her bed

room. “Where are you going this morning? D

o. Fear creeped in. She went to the kitchen and al

She y

bed and ran to Ludo’s

?” He asked

nted to

He asked

spend the night here,

t here?” Joe walked around the room checkin

re,” Zamiwe b

s phone. He called Ludo’s number but it

t Zamiwe. “Are you sure you che

we n

e showed him Ludo’s phone. Despair

I found you home and our daughter was not here and you d

oe. If it wasn’t for your libido, I coul

sed to check on

where Ludo could have gone to. Joe lef

” He c

atched him walk around cal

ve friends?”

ered. “I doubt if she could g

t and they were

e police,” Zam

or all we know, she might have gone for a r

t Nancy never liked to meddle in other people’s businesses e

Joe cal

answered tu

leave L

s s

you knock off

m. 17 hours. Is ever

can go in and s

had left them in the dining room. She was hit that something was wrong. She knew Ludo would have at least eaten something. As a matter of fact,

” She asked her

e looked at h

is not here

gone for a ru

doesn’

nd Zamiwe said a

cided to call Mrs. Visashi to ask because she was

Kate’s number,

” Joe reached

ve her number?

’s teacher. Why shou

cked he

he number. Sh

Kate,”

e,” Kate

arly but is there a chance

ud

es

What

We didn’t find he

ave you called an

friends. That’s the

the po

l in a missing person report

t’s

out her

here w

’s st

nks

me know,” Kate sai

ere almost dropping. He touched

!” He said

hat Kent,” Kate

He asked. “One minute, I meet up

ws that she

e calm,” Kent

what could have happened to poor Ludo. I’m keeping m

man I met yesterday seems dangerous. From w

en she comes home. Stop thinking about the m

boyfriend,” Ken

t,” Kat

veranda for three straight hours waiting for nothing. It was now lunch and Nancy went in to prepare some

until my daughter comes

looked

no

ng would seem like she didn’t care

udo’s house. They agreed not to mention anything concerning Ludo’s book being Non Fiction. They didn’t want to worry Ludo

ck,” Kate said wa

nodded

hed for

looked at his watch. “It’s al

ooked at him

thing to them. He was told to go to the s

inside,” Joe

, she could have at least called her and tell her she was safe. Joe went to take a bath in readiness

“I will call you when

bout to open it, Ludo opened it from t

exclaimed

ran to them and

you been?”

Ludo answe

ou’re fine where

got out of the embrace

,” she smi

” Kate sai

whilst everyone includ

king at me like

about to go to the pol

he answered ge

here have you be

My friend will tell

riend?”

M

around and found a young

Mrs. Visa

” Melanie w

e asked. “Who is she

udo’s biggest bully back in high school and now she w

pupil two years a

e time Ludo was you

g at Melanie suspiciously.

d them and sa

Melanie?” Z

nk you,” Mela

tory. Where were yo

e, “Melanie

r ho

hed her head. “I can give you

occur to you that you were supposed to call

w about her condition

sorry,” Melanie a

oe looked at

s all that matt

ve your phone?”

dn’t find

Ludo, I didn’t give her a chance to get her phone. I was exc

faced

l us about Mela

here s

u’ll be seeing me aroun

calm. She knew something was wrong. The way Melanie was always answering question

I better be going,

you,” Kate a

came with my car

have

’s car,” s

let’s go,” Kat

about her suspicions but she didn’t know anything abo

rs. V,” Melanie

Kate said. “What ha

t busy running my

nd of bu

boutique

bout

V. It was nice seeing you,” Melanie left K

as back but couldn’t figure out why she acted the way she did. She knew they were

,” Ludo said avoi

something Ludo,

aten,” she got up and

y finding itself out. Before she realised, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She held in her voice not to cry but the

nding at the door. “I brought

mother’s hand and closed the door behind

fine sweetie?” Zamiw

I want to slee

me, what

nt to sleep. I’ll talk to yo

’s bedroom door. Ludo knew her mother

she tightly held