BENSON ESTATE – EARLY EVENING
The house was too quiet.
Mrs. Benson stood by the window, hands shaking as she clutched her phone. She had just listened to the news, and now her heart raced like thunder.
From the hallway, Mr. Benson walked in, straightening his sleeves like nothing was wrong.
> "You look pale," he said coolly.
> "I just saw the news," she said, voice low. "Sapphire Police held a press conference. They arrested Julie. And they said... the money came from you."
Mr. Benson's eyes narrowed slightly, but his tone remained flat.
> "Don't be ridiculous."
> "Don't lie to me, Benson!" she snapped, voice rising. "They have statements from Malik and Tanko. They said you gave Julie money to silence Nelly!"
He poured himself a drink, trying to stay calm.
> "Do you have any idea what kind of damage that girl was doing? She was stirring up trouble, threatening our name—our peace."
> "Our name?" she spat. "A boy nearly died. That girl was nearly destroyed. And you stood there, smiling in your expensive suit like you weren't behind it!"
He took a sip, cold as ice.
> "I did what I had to do."
⁸brought into our home. You tried to murder a child, Benson!"
> "I never said kill. I said silence."
> "Do you hear yourself?!"
At the door, Edna overheard, frozen with a plate in his hand.
---
BREAKING NEWS – SAPPHIRE POLICE HEADQUARTERS
Cameras flashed. Reporters shouted. A podium stood at the front of the briefing hall. Detective Musa stepped forward, flanked by officers.
> "This evening, the Sapphire Police Department is officially issuing a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Benson, in connection to the attempted murder of student Jimmy Benson and the attempted setup of Nelly Markcus."
Gasps echoed.
> "Through confessions and evidence, it has been confirmed that Mr. Benson funded the operation, using Julie — a housemaid under his employment — as a middle agent. The bullet that struck young Jimmy was originally intended for Miss Nelly."
> "We are working with legal forces to ensure full justice is served. No one is above the law."
---
BACK AT THE BENSON ESTATE
Mrs. Benson stared at her husband, voice trembling.
> "The police are coming for you."
Mr. Benson finished his drink.
> "Let them come. I'll walk out with my head high."
She stepped forward.
> "You deserve everything coming to you. Because unlike you—I actually saw the girl as a human being."
Just then—
Police sirens rang outside.
Lights flashed through the windows.
Mr. Benson slowly buttoned his jacket and turned to his wife.
> "Let's see who still stands when this all ends."
She didn't say another word. She only stepped aside... and let them in.
SAPPHIRE POLICE STATION – THE NEXT DAY
Mr. Benson sat in the interrogation room, sweat beading his temples, but still dressed like a billionaire. Outside, his lawyers argued. Inside, he was quiet — surrounded by cold stares and thick evidence files.
Detective Musa paced slowly.
> "You think your money can clean this? You think silence can protect you forever?"
Mr. Benson's jaw clenched.
> "You can't make this stick."
> "Oh, but we already did."
Musa slapped down bank records, recorded calls, and testimonies from Julie, Malik, and Tanko.
> "Your reputation bought you silence. Now it's buying you a prison cell."
---
COURTROOM – A WEEK LATER
The gallery was packed.
Julie, dressed in faded blue prison garb, stood beside Malik and Tanko, heads bowed.
The judge's voice echoed:
> "Julie Okeke, Tanko Garba, and Malik Audu — for conspiracy, possession of an unlicensed firearm, and attempted murder — you are hereby sentenced to life imprisonment at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison."
Gasps.
Mrs. Benson lowered her head in shame.
Mr. Benson sat in the gallery, chained but furious, unable to stop what was unfolding.
---
BEFORE THE SENTENCING – HOLDING AREA
Julie stood quietly in the prisoner cell, hands cuffed, eyes red and tired.
The door creaked open.
Nelly stepped in, escorted by officers.
Julie looked up in disbelief.
> "You came?"
Nelly nodded softly.
Julie's voice cracked, her arrogance finally gone.
> "I was jealous. Angry. Lost. You were just… in the way. And I hated you for it. But I never wanted Jimmy hurt."
Tears streamed down her face.
> "I know what I did. And I deserve this. But I just… I'm sorry, Nelly. I truly am."
Nelly looked at her, silent for a moment.
Then spoke gently:
> "I forgive you, Julie."
Julie broke down. Shaking.
Nelly stepped closer, voice firm now.
> "But forgiveness doesn't erase consequences. People almost died. You broke lives."
> "I know," Julie whispered. "I'll carry it."
Nelly nodded once more, turned around, and walked away — stronger than ever.
Julie watched her go, mouth trembling.
> "Tell Jimmy… I didn't mean to hurt him."
---
OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM
Omar met Nelly with a soft smile.
> "You did the hardest thing."
Nelly exhaled deeply.
> "I had to. So I could finally breathe."
SAPPHIRE POLICE STATION – NIGHT
Inside a dimly lit office, two officers sat hunched over reports.
The room was tense.
Detective Musa was away — called to Abuja for a separate case. And in his absence, the snakes came slithering in.
Mr. Benson sat on the other side of the desk, his hands cuffed but his eyes… confident.
> "You boys look tired."
The junior officer didn't respond. The older one shifted in his seat.
> "Let me guess. Salary delayed again? Rent due? A mother in the hospital, perhaps?"
Silence.
Mr. Benson leaned forward.
> "I've transferred ₦3.4 million. Right now. No trace. Just... misplaced paperwork. Lost files. It's not like anyone truly wants this story to go further."
The younger officer hesitated.
The older one swallowed hard.
> "You're a criminal," he muttered.
Mr. Benson smiled coldly.
> "And you're hungry."
Minutes later, the signature pad was handed over. Files were removed. Cameras... mysteriously went dark.
---
NEXT MORNING – NEWS FLASH
> "In an unexpected turn, all charges against renowned businessman Maxwell Benson have been dropped due to lack of evidence. The case has officially been closed."
---
NELLY'S SHOCK
At Omar's mansion, Nelly dropped her spoon as the TV blared.
> "No… no! How?!"
Omar stood up, fists clenched.
> "He bribed someone. I know it."
> "This isn't over," Nelly whispered. "He thinks he's won—but this time, I'm not stopping."
---
MEANWHILE – MR. BENSON'S ESCAPE
Back at the estate, Mr. Benson arrived with champagne in hand, smirking.
Mrs. Benson stood frozen.
> "You got out?"
> "Freedom tastes sweet, doesn't it?"
> "You bribed your way out!"
> "And I'd do it again."