The Life And Times of John Kaiza

“Okay, I know he would ruin the moment, but…” “Jerome! Listen to me, this is no time for jokes…” “I’m I missing something? You look like you want to flee a murder scene.” “It’s complicated…and this may just end up being a murder scene if Gareth finds out that…” “Finds out what Cassie? What the fuck is going on?” His voice was significantly raised. “Your brother is in love with me Jerome…and I don’t think he will appreciate the idea of me being in love with you!” “And you choose now when we are naked and he is on his way to tell me this? So like you Cassie, perfect timing!” Cassie has had feelings for Jerome for as long as she can remember. In her late teen years, she falsely told herself that it was just sibling admiration glazed with adolescent hormones. She thought those feelings would just fade away eventually. But, eventually came and her feelings for her brother became even stronger with each day they spent together. Of course, she could not do anything about it. They were sibling...

“Oh! My! God! That in there was amazing!” “Yes it was, you were great out there!” “I know right! But seriously thank you so much for the opportunity…I never really thought anyone would give me such a chance let alone nail it!” “Well as a local bank, ideas like yours just smell like more money…” “Money smells a lot like strawberry cakes right now huh?” The two gentlemen both burst into laughter. Twenty-four-year-old John had scored his first investment deal. John had just hung up after calling Nancy to give the news when the whole board that he was presenting to came out to the foyer. “Mr. Kaiza, you are quite the investment genius son…” “Thank you sir, it was such an honor!” “Your presentation was very refreshing and…” “Ah! John, I see you have met my father…” “W..wha..what?” he stammered, “The David Kilisho is your dad?” “Not dad…father!” “I don’t understand!” John said looking confused.

Jerome was born in Matter Hospital, Nairobi - a private hospital that was headed by their family doctor. This was in 1988. The family was now complete. John cried that night and the first time he did so since he got into a relationship with Nancy. He was extremely happy. Secretly there was nothing more he wanted than his own family. He had had a rough childhood. After his parents died in a grizzly road accident on the Nairobi-Naivasha highway, he bounced from one foster home to another. He stayed just long enough to get his annual grades and then moved on to the next. He was really bright though, even the really bad guardians that he stayed with could testify to that. He knew quite early that no one could give the unconditional love that his parents gave him and therefore not staying with a family for too long spared him the eventual heartbreak. He fell in love with art at a young age. He was always fascinated by how artists could create intimate stories on canvas - some canvases...

After two days, detective Lemi made his first visit to the Kaiza mansion. He had been grumpy for the most part of those two days. He had not had much sleep. The mystery angle in the case gave him insomnia. It was impossible for him to sleep when he knew there was something in the investigation he was missing. His work had become an extension of him. One day he wore black-light goggles, very eager to solve his first murder case in Nakuru. When he took them off, seventeen years had passed - no family, no life outside his profession. When it came to investigations, he was the best. He had achieved numerous accolades in the force, including the highest for a detective; a medal of honor from the Commander in Chief. He had the highest ratings for crimes solved by a single detective in the whole state. He was commonly used as an analogy for exemplary work in almost all of the cadet classes. He had reached legendary status, a yardstick in the force. Everybody who joined the police was made awa...

“I have been patient with you John, giving you your space to deal with this…I am tired! What in God's name is this? What are you doing Whatsapping this bitch anyway? …and do not bring me work excuses, please! Please! It’s really gotten stale! I don’t buy that bull anymore!” She had never been this furious, but the subject of Hannah, the other woman, had come up one too many times. “This is the second time John!” She lamented angrily. Twice was one too many for Nancy. “Why are you doing this to me? Why are you doing this to us? Do you think I deserve ‘the other woman’ drama?” “You are the only wo…” “Then who is this? What are you doing texting her at one in the morning?” She screamed throwing his phone to his face. John protected his face with his arm and his phone ricocheted to the floor. “I have done everything to show you that I love you! I have been the good woman, I don’t nag, I don’t put my friends over you, I come home to you every night whether we are okay or not, I have giv...

The doorbell sounded. “Our first customer!” A young Nancy exclaimed. When she came in from the back room, a young man was standing at the corner of the store staring at a painting. “Can I help you?” “Ummm! Yes actually, I need two things” “Are those two things in this store?” “Well yes as a matter of fact.” He moved to the counter. “I need a freshly baked fruit cake, extra resins please!” “All our cakes and pastries are fresh sir and all our fruit cakes have extra resins!” He paused and looked up at her and for the first time their eyes met. Those brown piercing eyes that just pulled you in. She had never seen such a face, such arms, such a physique. His sweater was wrapped around his shoulder and his hand in his pocket – a typical college grad. He had been chiseled in perfect proportion. Not a single thing about him was out of place. They were momentarily lost in each other’s presence. The sound of the bell at the door snapped them back to reality. “Ummmm…” “I will have two twelve-pac...