“She must be a prostitute. Yahoo boys have killed her,” someone said.

“No Joyce is a good girl. She was living near my house before now. Later she packed out. I don’t know where she packed to,” Tony told them.

“You see, you don’t know where she packed to. She must have gone to live with yahoo boys and they have killed her,” a woman said.

“I know her type. All these girls that run after politicians. They have donated her,” another woman chipped in.

“Madam you are right. My fiancée left me because of yahoo boys. If evil befall her tomorrow, will I cry for her? I don’t even need her again?” A young man said.

“If you don’t need her again, why are raising the matter here. You are not ashamed that your fellow man took away your woman. If you are man enough, such a thing will not happen,” a lady mocked him.

“Look at this lady, what is your problem? Did I mention your name while I was talking?”

Tony had to quickly leave them and boarded the next available taxi to the village to inform Joyce’s family of what happened to her.

When he got to the compound, he was surprised to see that canopies were mounted everywhere. He called someone aside to know what was going on.

He was informed that Joyce’s mum was celebrating birthday. He had to call an elder aside to talk to him.

“Good evening sir.”

“My son how are you? When did you come?” Mr. Donatus asked.

“I’m just coming now. I have not even gotten to our house. Something bad happened in the city. Joyce is dead.”

“Which Joyce are you talking about?”

“The one that her mother is celebrating birthday”

“God forbid! What exactly happened to her.”

“I was on my way to my business place this morning when someone raised an alarm that a corpse was lying beside the road. As other people were going to see, I decided to peep too. I was shocked to discover that it was someone I know,” Tony explained.

“This is a terrible news. How do we break it to the mother? I think that we should go and meet Julius his uncle. Let’s go.”

Mr. Julius was about going out when Mr. Donatus and Tony got to his compound. He greeted them casually and was about proceeding to his destination.

” Julius, you are the one we are coming to see,” Mr. Donatus informed him.

“Really? I hope all is well?”

“If I tell you that all is well, then I am telling you lies. The sun has set at dawn. This young man came from the city this morning. Unfortunately, he is bearing a bad news.”

“What exactly is the problem?” Mr. Julius asked.

“Joyce, your brothers daughter is dead?”
Mr. Julius was so shocked that he let out a shout.

His shout attracted the attention of some people who are at his brother’s compound for the birthday celebration.

“Julius please, be a man. The challenge now is how to break this news to your brother’s wife.”

“Donatus please take care of that. I can’t be part of it.” Tears filled Mr. Julius eyes even as he turned and went back to his house.

Mr. Donatus followed him to the house.

“Julius, please you have to come with me. This is your home and the issue at hand is a delicate one. You are the one that knows how to handle the matter.”

“Donatus I will prefer that you leave me out of this. Go and meet Juliana. It’s her problem, let her handle it,” Mr. Julius said firmly.

“What exactly is the matter? Did Juli offend you?”

“Offending me is an understatement. Juliana humiliated me. Joyce brought a news about a new job she got. I was not comfortable with the information she gave us, especially the money they wanted to pay her. I decided to ask questions. My brother’s wife got angry and accused me of being jealous of her fortune. She was lavishing the money that she doesn’t know the source. Now Joyce is dead. My pain is that my younger brother is not alive. If he is alive, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“If that is the case that woman have a question to answer. But then, we have to make arrangement to bring back the body. Please set aside whatever Juli has done to you. Let’s do the needful,” Mr, Donatus suggested.

As arrangement was being made of those that will accompany Tony to the city, the elders went to Juliana’s house. When they got there, everywhere was filled with people that came for the birthday party. They sat at one side and sent a woman to call Joyce’s mum.

“Why will the elders be calling me? I don’t want anyone to stress me. There is no special treatment for anybody,” Juliana told her.

“I don’t think that they came for the occasion. They are all acting strange. I don’t think that all is well. Though, your husband’s brother is with them.” The woman told her.

“Mr. Julius is calling for trouble. I will give it to him. So he decided to go and report me to those hungry elders. I will show them.”

She walked to the elders with a frowned face

“Elders I greet you.”

“Juliana, sit down,” Mr. Ben the most senior elder told her.

“Sir, please I cannot sit. You know that I have an occasion. My guests are already here,” she said firmly.

“Which nonsense occasion are you having? Will you sit on that chair?” Mr. Ben commanded.

Murmurs of anger from the elders filled the air.
Juliana had to sit reluctantly.

“We need some information about your daughter, Joyce. Where exactly is she working in the city?”

“I know that it is my husband’s brother that is behind this. But I must say what is in my mind. God has blessed me; no one can bring me down. Jealousy cannot stop what God is doing in my family,” Juliana announced.

“What kind of useless woman is this? Who is jealous of you?” Mr. Ben asked in anger.

“Mr. Ben please don’t be angry. Let’s concentrate on what brought us.” Mr. Julius begged.

“It’s alright. Juli, when was the last time you spoke with your daughter,” Mr. Ben asked, trying to suppress the anger, building up in him.

” It has been long. The day she resumed the new place she is working now, she called on phone to tell me. Since then, I have not been able to reach her on phone,” she answered.

Looking at the faces of the elders, Juliana was getting jittery. She began having the feeling that all was not well.

“It’s okay, give us the phone number of the employer,” Mr. Ben requested.

“I don’t have the phone number,” she answered while trying to scan their faces, one after another.

“No problem. What of the address of the place she is working, let’s have it.”

“I don’t have the address too.”

“What did you just say? So my brother’s daughter died for nothing?” Mr. Julius suddenly raised his voice in anger.

“Who died?” Juliana shouted.