13/01/2031
Dare and Evelyn drove into Julal Ltd by exactly 7.30am on Monday morning. Dare was unusually silent throughout the journey, he kept stealing glances at Evelyn who seemed surprised by his behaviour. He kept avoiding discussions anytime she tried to start one.
Several had been floating through his mind since he had the conversation with his Dad on phone. The man had suggested that Evelyn could be a fraudster, but he didn’t think so. She appeared so calm and sincere to him, lovable too. She has been the only person who had been able to break the chain of clubbing every Friday night for him, since the three years it started.
Could she really be a fraudster? He stole another quick glance at her face as he turned off the car engine. ‘Here we are’ he said to her.
She made a sign of the cross and smiled to herself, wondering where she learnt it from, she had never been religious. Well, she was taught how to act very well.
‘You seem nervous’ he said with a smile.
‘I am nervous’ she said and turned to look at his face. ‘I’m meeting with the chairman of one of the biggest cotton companies in Africa’
‘Well’ he gave a chuckle. ‘He’s my father and I can assure you that he’s not hard to deal with’
She stared at his face. He gave a nod and smile to reassure her.
‘What are we waiting ? You should get going’. He opened the door at his side. ‘I have some other things to do here too’
‘Okay’she smiled and arranged her suit jacket properly, waiting as he turned to open the door for her. ‘Thank you.’ She stepped out.
‘Hey! Dare’ someone called, making Dare turn back.
‘You should go now. Beep me when you’re done’ he said and gave her a pat on the cheek before turning to face his caller.
‘You’ll have a nice time with my Dad. That’s if you’re not a fraudster.’ He frowned and bit his lips as she left his present.
‘Dare , what did you say?’ His friend asked.
‘Not you’ he smiled and shook his hands with the friend. The walked away.
**8.10**
‘Welcome Miss Evelyn Alex.’ Jubril Lawal stared at her intently.
‘Thank you sir’ she said and adjusted her sitting position.
He sat into the swivel and turned his desktop screen to himself. ‘Just a minute’ he pleaded as he focused on the computer.
The dark complexioned man was dressed in a black suit and blue shirt with a white tie to complement it. He looked too active and strong for his age. Except for his face and his belly which slightly protruded out, one could mistake him him for a few young businessman.
‘Alexander Amaechi’ he murmured to himself as he read through something on the screen.
Tarasha seized the moment to study the physical appearance of her target very well. She also studied the office and figured out the position of the camera. The window was also large enough to escape through after killing the man but the barrier was the burglary proof metals.
‘I heard you only arrived in Nigeria few days ago, hope you didn’t have issues locating this place?’
‘Dare helped me, he brought me here’ she answered.
‘Your Dad is a very good businessman. I wonder why I’ve never heard of him before.’
Evelyn smiled back. ‘He’s kind of based in Canada and doesn’t really do business outside of North America’
‘I see… So what attracted him to us here?’ Jubril asked.
‘I’ she replied. ‘I had a business idea and shared it with him and he liked it. I told him I’ll like to travel to Nigeria and he agreed’
‘He agreed? You look too young to handle a big business idea ‘
Evelyn smiled. ‘I might be young but when it comes to business and investments. I’m a very mature lady’
‘Hmm…I see’ Jubril paused for a while and tapped his pen on the table before he continued. ‘So does that mean we’re dealing with you directly?’
‘Something like that, but I’m still working under the cover of my Dad’s company so he’s gonna be involved too’
‘I want to get it right’ the man said as he adjusted on the seat. ‘Are working with you as another firm or with AA Ltd, your father’s firm?’
Evelyn smiled, she was impressed by the man’s quick action in gathering information about her supposed father, Alexander Amaechi and the company. Vladislav, the Russian had done the great job of organizing the trick after the last video chat she had with him.
‘My father’s firm’. She blinked. ‘Let’s just say I’m their representative’
‘Why don’t you just do it with your own name?’ The man relaxed in the swivel as he asked. ‘I believe you are planning to develop your own brand, don’t you think it will be nice if your brand is first to market our kind of cotton in Canada?’
‘Hmm…’ Evelyn stared thoughtfully.
‘I think it will give the new brand a quick image boost’ Jubril quickly added.
‘I already thought about something like this sir’. Evelyn began, mentioning each word slowly. ‘But the challenge I may have now is getting a license to import into Canada. The laws there are kind if strict on new firms’
‘That’s where your Dad comes in’ Jubril leaned forward. ‘You can register under his umbrella for now and pull out when you’re strong enough’
Evelyn heaved a sigh and rested back into her seat, considering the man’s suggestion. After some seconds she sat up again.
‘I’ll discuss it with my father’ she said with a smile, in a concluding manner. ‘Let’s discuss the real deal now’
‘Oh yea, sure’ Jubril obliged
……………..
‘Mr Henry’ Sylvester called as he walked into his office. Henry was already seated on the visitors seat, waiting for him.
‘Good morning Mr Sylvester.’ Henry stood up and extended his hand to the man.
‘Good morning Mr Henry, how are you doing today?’ Sylvester replied, taking Henry’s hand in his.
‘Fine, thanks’ Henry answered as Sylvester walked to his seat.
‘So, whats new?’ Sylvester questioned as he sat down.
‘Nothing is new’. Henry said bluntly.
Sylvester looked up and stared at his face. ‘We can’t locate the bug manufacturer’ Henry continued. ‘But the manufacturer can locate us’
‘What do you mean?’ Sylvester placed his hands on the table.
‘Every connection has been caught off by the manufacturers already, we can only trace it to them if the manufacturer decides to reconnect’ Henry explained.
Sylvester shook his head in frustration, unable to let out any word as his mouth opened and closed again.
‘I’m afraid they would not connect again. I mean why should they? They no longer need the bug for anything, I’m sure they have several of it’
‘So are you saying there’s nothing we can do?’ Sylvester asked, vibrating.
‘Yes, except the manufacturer decides to connect back to it’ Henry continued boldly. ‘And when we sense any connection… ‘ Henry paused and stared at the man’s face.
‘When we sense any connection?’ Sylvester asked eagerly.
‘It would be a trap, the Assassins would trap us the same way Robin was trapped’ Henry stated.
Sylvester breathed heavily. He placed his hand on his head in a sorrowful manner, murmuring words to himself.
‘Is anything the problem?’ Henry asked with a note of concern in his voice.
‘Everything is.’ Sylvester answered. ‘My job is at stake here’
Henry laughed. ‘Come on sir, stop being a “sisi” ,don’t let the government push you around like a toy’
Sylvester looked up to his face as if to ask for more explanation. ‘Yeah’ Henry continued. ‘I thought you work was to make sure the surveillance cameras security are not hacked again?’
‘Yes, but how do we do it if we can’t locate the source’
‘Sir?? Henry stared into his face. ‘Do you know that other countries, including America have related cases too? No other country has made so much progress like we’ve done in the investigation of this case, so the government cannot do anything to you, they should be thanking you for your efforts’
Sylvester remained silent and kept his eyes on Henry.
‘See what I’ve got here.’ Henry dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a tiny metal chip. ‘This is the material used to send audio and video signals to the manufacturer’s server’
Sylvester watched keenly and listened with rapt attention. He stretched his hand to receive the chip and it was placed in the middle of his palms. ‘This looks strange’ he said.
‘It’s not Nigerian, I’m sure it was made outside Nigeria’ Henry added.
‘Or could it have been made in Nigeria here by a foreigner’ Sylvester suggested.
‘Yes, that’s another likely possibility’
‘I think the perpetrator of these crimes are not Nigerians. For the fact that it’s even happening in other countries’ Sylvester said.
‘True.’ Henry nodded as he reasoned Sylvester’s suggestion. ‘There has to be a connection’
‘Well, that’s the police’s job’ Sylvester quickly added. ‘Let’s find a way to stop the breaks in the camera transmission that has been occurring’
**
Henry heaved a relief sigh as he got into the driver’s seat. His meeting with Mr Sylvester finally ended on a good note. He picked up his phone to check the time, it was one o’clock noon. His mind drifted slowly to Evelyn. He stretched to pick his laptop from the back seat and placed it on his lap as he pressed the boot button. After about three minutes, he dialed Evelyn’s phone number.
‘Hello’ Evelyn’s voice came up.
‘Hi Evelyn, how are you?’ Henry began excitedly, punching some keys on the laptop keyboard.
‘Fine’ she answered dryly.
‘Where are you now?’ Henry asked.
‘I’m in my house’
‘Are… you… sure?’ He pronounced one after the other as he got her location on the laptop. “Ely Max Hotel” was the location spotted, it was just fifteen minutes drive from where Henry was.
‘Yes… Why are you asking?’
‘Nothing really’
‘Okay’
‘Yea… I’ll be waiting for you outside the hotel in twenty minutes time, would you let us meet?’
‘What hotel?’
‘The one you’re in, ElyMax, I know you’re not at home’
‘Oh… How did you know where I was?’ She asked with a chuckle.
‘Never mind for now. I may tell you if you agree to meet with me’
‘Okay, but let’s meet in the hotel, I don’t want to go out, we can stay in the restaurant and talk’ Evelyn suggested.
‘Hmm… Nigeria girls, she wants to eat so she asks for a date in the restaurant’ Henry smiled as he murmured to himself. ‘No problem’ he said aloud.
**20 minutes later * *
Tarasha carefully observed her image formed in the mirror as she posed in front of it in her pink mini gown. Her makeup was well done to match her the attachment used to plait her hair and her dressing as a whole.
Her phone rang as she picked her bag to walk out of the room. Dare was calling.
‘Hello’ she said in a low tone, she wasn’t expecting his call.
‘Hello Evelyn, I’m on my way. Let’s have lunch’ Dare spoke hastily.
‘Huh? Dare, we can’t…’ She was still talking when the call ended.
She paused for a while to think of her next step. Henry just called that he was already waiting for her and now, Dare was also coming for her.
‘Well, it’ll work together’ she said to herself and headed to the restaurant.
*5 mins later *
Henry and Evelyn sat opposite each other on the table as they awaited the return of the waiter.
‘So are you really shy or you’re just pretending?’ Henry broke the silence.
Evelyn chuckled as she turned to face him. ‘Do I look like a shy person to you?’ She asked in a melodious manner.
‘No, not at all.’ Henry gave a short laugh. ‘I never knew you could sing too’
‘I don’t sing.’ She said and relaxed back into her seat, giving enough space for the waiter to serve them.
Henry gave a look at Evelyn as he watched the attendant serve, he was surprised that she only ordered for drinks. He continued after the waiter left. ‘Are you new in this city? Or what are you doing in a hotel?’ He suddenly changed the subject.
‘I’m new’ she answered with a smile. ‘I’ve spent almost a week here, I’m came to do business’
‘Ok… Where are you based?’ Henry rolled his eyeball.
‘Canada, with my parents’
‘Oh! I see. I was thinking you were just one of our linguist here, your English doesn’t sound Nigerian’
Tarasha chuckled. ‘For how long were you in Canada?’ Henry continued.
‘Over ten years of my life’ she replied. ‘My parents relocated there when I was at a very young age’
Henry paused and shook his head from side to side in a doubtful manner as he murmured ‘Canada, Canada, Canada. Your English doesn’t really sound North American either’
Tarasha’s phone rang, interrupting their conversion. ‘Please, excuse me’ she said before answering the call.
‘I’m in the restaurant’ she answered the caller’s question. ‘With a friend… Yes, come over’
She ended the call and stared into Henry’s face in a pleading manner. ‘I’m sorry, a friend of mine wants to see me’
‘It’s okay’ Henry sounded indifferent. ‘Let’s make an order since you already asked the person to come here’
‘Don’t bother, maybe when he comes’ Tarasha said. ‘He doesn’t really take soft drinks or juice’
‘Ok.’ Henry felt strange as she revealed her visitor was a male.
‘So you can have friends?’ Henry continued in an attempt to make the atmosphere lively until the visitor comes.
‘What do you mean?’ She laughed. ‘Everybody has friends’
‘Is that so?’ He laughed too. ‘You sometimes look too serious to have friends’
‘How?’
‘How? Except for today, you don’t look as m friendly as this on the other days I met you’
‘Hmmm’
‘Or you’re not always friendly to strangers?’
‘No… I’m friendly to anyone I can be friendly to’
‘But the day we first met. The day I bumped into you in the gadgets shop, you were…’ He paused. ‘You responded in a very harsh manner and …’
‘And even reported you to soldiers’ Evelyn completed his statement. Her face turned dull. ‘I wasn’t really in a good mood that day, I’m sorry and you were…’ She stopped.
‘I was what?’ He demanded anxiously.
‘You were scary that day. The way you followed after me got me really scared’
‘I thought I knew you from somewhere before. Sorry about that’
‘It’s okay. I should be the one apologizing’ She held his hand which was placed on the table.
Henry laughed suddenly, shaking his head side to side. ‘What?’ Evelyn asked with a surprise smile.
‘It’s just funny remembering what happened that day’ Henry raised up his head to face her. ‘What did you tell those guys that day? They were not even ready to listen to me’
Tarasha joined in the laughter. ‘Did they hurt you so much?’
‘Not too much, a friend came to my rescue’
‘I’m sorry’ she said holding his two hands on the table in a manner.
‘Its okay.’ He smiled.
‘I have a question to ask you.’ She said after taking a sip and relaxing back into the seat.
‘Yes, what question is that?’
‘How did you know my location? Have you been following be around?’ She gave him a serious look.
The question met him unprepared. The juice spilled from the glass cup he took a sip from as he coughed. He cleaned his mouth with an handkerchief and apologized.
Evelyn stared at him indifferently. She handed him tissue paper to clean the table and continued to stare at him with waiting eyes.
‘I… I have not been stalking you’ he managed to say. ‘In fact, I’ll never try that after what happened before’
‘Okay, how then did you know my location?’ She cut in impatiently.
‘I…’ Henry was looking for words to say when he got distracted by Evelyn’s eye movement. He turned back to see a guy staring at them from few metres away, a look of discontentment was on his face. The guy slowly approached them.
‘Your friend?’ Henry whispered as Dare came nearer.
‘Good evening’ Dare greeted as he added a third seat to the table.
‘Welcome Dare, meet Henry. Henry, Dare ‘ Evelyn introduced both guys to each other.
Dare struggled to turn and look at Henry’s face, Henry already extended his hand to him. Dare was about to take his hand hesitatingly when they recognised each other. Two longtime enemies had just met again.
**flashback **
8 years ago
Dare stormed into the house in a furious manner. He stopped at the living room and to stare at his two friends playing a video game, they both stated back at him in surprise, the look in their eyes demanded an explanation for his attitude. He ignored the duo and proceeded to his room.
He returned in few seconds, holding a pistol. He was about to dash out of the house when he was blocked by one of his friends.
‘Where do you think you’re going to with that thing in broad daylight?’ Julius questioned, pointing to the gun in Dare’s hand.
‘Julius, leave the way’ Dare replied in an angry manner.
‘Leave which way? Give me the gun first’ Julius ordered.
‘Julius, leave the way now. I have to drop the two of them’
‘Abeg, give me something jare’ Julius dragged the gun from him unexpectedly and pushed him to the floor.
‘You want to implicate the rest of us? You don’t even know how to use a gun well yet’ Julius fired as he returned back to his gaming position.
‘Julius’ Dare grumbled as he got up from the floor. He clenched his first and teeth as he stood in between the gamers and the television.
‘What is wrong with you?’ Julius barked. He shook his head furiously and gave a calm down signal to the other friend who was about to flare up.
Julius and Justice were three hundred level students of the university while Dare was an hundred level student. Dare’s wealth, father’s influence and frequent clubbing were what attracted Julius to lure him into the fraternity just after the first semester.
Dare did not go through the rigorous initiation process as he was seen as an “Ajebutter” and his money was really needed in the fraternity at that time, so the leaders of the group did not bother.
Just three weeks after his “gentle initiation” , Dare began to behave in an unrestrained manner.
‘Jennifer dared to lie to me, she said she doesn’t want to have a boyfriend now and I’m found her passionately hugging another guy’ Dare lamented.
Julius stared at him awkwardly. ‘Is that all?’
Justice picked his bag, hissed and shook his head before leaving the sitting room.
2 days later
The scar faced guy zipped his button and put on back his trouser. He spat on Jennifer who was panting heavily on the floor, he never knew he wouldn’t enjoy having sëx with a virgin. Her clothes were torn off her body, her legs were widely spread and tied apart with different ropes, her hands were also tied in the same manner.
Dare bent to have a last quickie but was slapped on the back by the third guy. ‘Is it not okay?’ he whispered angrily. ‘Let’s get out of here’
Henry’s vision was still blur as he was still suffering from the impact of the butt of the gun on the back of his head, but he could clearly recognise Dare who he had met before. His sister, Jennifer had also told him that Dare was asking her out.
As soon as the rapists left, he turned his face to the direction where his only sister was tied and was panting heavily. He managed to get up after a few staggers , his vision was still very blur as he proceeded towards her. She was already having an asthmatic attack.
He frantically searched through her torn clothes for the inhaler but it was nowhere to be found. Tears flowed down his eyes as he watched his sister struggling for her life helplessly.
Shakily, he got up and struggled to untie the ropes. It was after four minutes he was able to cut off the ropes. His sister had stopped breathing.
**PRESENT**
‘My sister died that day and till date, I’ve not been really able to stop missing her. We were so close, always found moving together when it wasn’t school or work time’ Henry fought back tears as he narrated the story to Evelyn in his car.
Evelyn placed a palm on his shoulder, she stared into his eyes as she thought of what to say to him. What bothered her mind most was that her plan hadn’t worked out, she wouldn’t have allowed them meet each other if she had any idea that they were enemies.
Still, she wasn’t feeling any pity about Henry’s sister’s loss, but she had to make herself feel something so that the acting could go on smoothly.
‘I understand how you feel but didn’t you take any step to report the matter?’ She managed to say.
‘I did, but there was no proof. My parents even had to pay for damages as ordered by the court. His father was a very influential man then, so it was easy for him to go scot free’
‘What about the two other guys?’ Evelyn asked.
‘I couldn’t recognise them, I’m sure I would have seen them with Dare after then but I couldn’t point accusing fingers when I wasn’t sure’ Henry explained. ‘Dare was later withdrawn from the school by his father before the next semester and was sent to restart his university education overseas’
‘Hmm’ Evelyn sighed.
‘My sister’s death doesn’t really hurt me as much as the manner at which she died’ Henry continued. ‘She died in a most horrible manner, they stole her dignity which she held in high esteem and after then took her life’
Evelyn helped Henry cleaned his face as drop of tears rolled down his face. She really wondered how he felt. And what dignity was he talking about? She frowned.
Well… She and numerous other girls were molested sëxually for several years by uncountable ruthless men in the Nefary Clan in the most brutal way. R@PE meant nothing significant to her anymore.
‘Sorry I had to make you meet an enemy, I never knew Dare was that kind of person’ Evelyn apologized.
‘It’s okay, I forgave him a long time ago’ Henry muttered.
‘You’ve forgiven him?’ Evelyn seemed surprised. To her and the Nefary Clan, forgiveness was a sin. Those who forgive are weak and deserving of death
‘Yes’
‘You don’t want to get back at him?’ She stared into his eyes, a strange kind of emotion began to overwhelm her. ‘You don’t feel like making him pay? Or making sure he dies too?’
‘No, I’ll rather act like God. God doesn’t kill even when you wrong him, he still loves you’
‘Naaaah…’ Evelyn suddenly screamed and flung the door open. ‘god is a killer and love doesn’t exist’
‘What? ‘ Henry got out of the car, shocked by Evelyn’s new display. ‘What do you mean?’
Tarasha was dumbfounded. Even she was shocked at her outburst. A button had been pushed, her emotions weren’t dead, some elements of feelings still remained in her.
‘Are you okay, Evelyn?’ Henry moved closer to her. She was the one who needed consoling now.
‘Please, can you get in?’ He motioned her back into the car and winded up the windows, cutting away the stares of several onlookers in the garden.
++++
Dare threw his phone angrily on the sofa as he stormed into the living room. The maid that opened the door for him had quickly hid herself to avoid receiving his anger.
He never knew he was going to ever meet Henry again. He had stopped involving himself in cultic activities since he started the new university in the united kingdom. He had also dropped his other vices, of course except for partying, alcoholism and womanising, those ones were inbuilt “talents”.
Henry had suddenly showed up now that he had decided to drop womanising and partying as he already started developing feelings for Evelyn. He wished they had gunned down Henry that day. He suggested it to his friends but Julius refused, advising him that the way to really punish people was to leave them to feel their pains after the torment.
He bit his lips in anger as he sat briefly on the sofa, loosening his shirt buttons. He had to act quick and act wisely. Killing Henry now would make Evelyn dread him more or even testify against him, he was sure that Henry would have told her about his bad deeds after he stormed out of the restaurant immediately.
Maybe he wouldn’t have stormed out in that manner, he could have waited and tried to pick up a conversation with Henry in pretence that they did not know each other and deny the accusation vehemently of Henry tried to raise any. Or he could have been the one to stay and would have allowed Henry to leave and then feed Evelyn lies about him. But it was too late, he had already acted like a criminal caught red handed.
He scratched his head. Henry had to die, and Evelyn too. He thanked God his feelings for Evelyn had not developed into something big, he could still do without her.
Moreover, she was a friend to his enemy and a friend to his enemy was also his enemy.
‘Hello Afo’ he said into the phone. ‘Meet me at my house in the next twenty minutes. I have a job for you’
………
Chief Jubril sat comfortably into the leather sofa, skimming through the Weekly Sun newspaper. The newspaper was just a distraction, his mind was on something else. He was thinking about the event of the whole day.
AA Ltd according to his research would be a very good partner to do business with. It would further improve the image of his own companies in the international sight. The only thing that troubled his mind now was his doubts about Evelyn. She could just be an impostor claiming to be Alexander Amaechi’s daughter. He needed to find a way to confirm her story.
He smiled as his thoughts drifted to his son. The boy must really be ‘jobless’ for him to leave his own company matters and accompany someone else to do business. He wished his son could just have investment ideas like this Evelyn seemed to have, he would just make his own billions in few years. But his son wanted to become a lawyer, he was even studying law before he withdrew him from the Nigerian university after suspecting that he had begun to move with bad guys.
He picked his phone and dialed a number as another thought flashed across his mind. He bit his lips, waiting for the call to be answered.
‘Hey Afo’ he hailed and smiled at the response. ‘Were you at the office today? … okay, there was a lady who came to the office with Dare, I want you to keep an eye on her from tomorrow. I want to be know her movement’
He heaved a sigh of satisfaction as he dropped the call. No one could play pranks with him in Nigeria, the country is his domain.
++++
‘Who’s that?’ Dare asked the haggard looking Afo who just ended a call.
‘It’s one of my clients’ Afo hid the truth from him.
‘Ok…’ Dare continued. ‘There’s this girl I’ve been going around with recently, have you seen her with me?’
‘The one you came to Chief Jubril’s office with?’ Afo asked.
‘Exactly’ Dare nodded in affirmation. ‘I want her dead… and there’s this guy following her around now’
Afo exhaled deeply as he thought about compiling the father and son’s job together. The father wanted the girl monitored while the son wanted her killed. Wh@tëver beef was between the girl and the family was not his business, he only needed their monies.
Dare racked his brain trying to put together what best description would tge second target. He remembered that he saw Henry’s ID card hung on his neck. ‘His name is Henry, he works with the cameras security corps’ he explained.
‘You don’t have his picture?’
‘No, you have to do that job. When you find out someone who you suspect to be him, send me his picture for confirmation.’ Dare said and got up to leave.
‘How do you want the job done? Should we hide away their bodies or leave it in public?’
‘Let the bodies never be found’ Dare stated. ‘I want them killed on the same day and it must happen before Friday’
Henry ushered Evelyn into the living room after turning on the light. She walked in briskly and sank into the sofa before he joined her.
He walked past her and proceeded into the kitchen. He returned thirty seconds later with a chilled bottled water and a glass cup. Kneeling beside her, he poured the water into the cup and handed it to her.
He stared at her exposed thighs in the mini gown and licked his lips as she gulped the water. He immediately rebuked himself as he tried to return his mind back to the matter at hand after it had drifted to sëx.
Evelyn returned an empty cup to him and relaxed back into the sofa. Henry got up and dropped the cup and bottle on the centre table before taking his seat beside.
‘Are you okay Evelyn? You seem to be destabilized since I mentioned “God” in the car.” Henry begun, with great concern heard in his voice.
Tarasha swallowed hard as she tried to frame up something. Except for the first outburst she made which even took her own self by surprise, the rest of the emotional trauma she had been performing were all acting to cover up the outburst.
She gave a scream when Henry talked about God’s love, does that mean she still had some emotions in her. No, she thought. Her emotions had been killed, she was supposed to have no feelings.
Her scream at Henry’s mention of God had been prompted by a bad memory that flashed back through her mind.
‘Is there any problem? Talk to me, I can help you’ Henry asked again when he got no reply.
***Flashback – 17 years ago ***
May 27, 2014.
‘Happy birthday you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you Taraaa… Happy birthday to you’ little Omotara blushed as her family sang and danced around her joyfully. It was her eight birthday and the family was celebrating her in their usual manner of celebrating each other.
Omotara was blessed to have a very joyous and family. She was the only girl amongst the four boys, so she was somehow treated specially.
‘How old are you now? How old are you now? How old are you now Taraa… How old are you now?’ She beamed with smiles as they waited for her reply.
‘I’m eight years old now, I’m eight years old now…’ She sang back in response and as cheered by everyone.
‘Now, you’ll cut the cake at the mention
of the name JESUS’
‘J..E…S…U…S. Jesus!’ Everyone called as Tara slid the knife through the small cake. The family moved close to her and hugged her one after the other. After which they proceeded to the dining room.
After few minutes of enjoying the fried rice and chicken specially prepared by the mother of the house, Lydia, the family moved to the sitting room and settled down with their bottles of soft drinks. As their custom was, the celebrant, Omotara sat on the rug in the middle of the sitting room. She would be answering questions from every member of the family that had one for her after which they would answer her own questions and then she would wrap it off with a wish , which would be provided if possible immediately and prayed for together by the family if it was for the future.
‘Aunty Tara’ Joe, the youngest boy began. They usually begin in ascending order of their ages.
Everybody stared at the four year old boy wondering what he had to say. The boy became shy as he noticed that everybody’s gaze was on him.
‘I don’t have any question’ the four year old boy said in his babyish voice and quickly buried his face in his mother’s lap.
Everybody’s moved their gaze to Jerry who was sitting with his legs crossed, a small pillow was on his laps and his arms were resting on it.
‘Ask your question’ Tara sneered at Jerry who was delaying.
She and Jerry had always been like rivals. The young man who was just six always tried his best to bully his sister with his manpower, but Tara who was a girl with unusual strength refused to allow him ride her anytime he tried to, she always confronted him boldly.
The recent duel between them had been three days ago when their Dad had gotten “Puff puff” for them from work. Their parents had left them to share it amongst themselves while they proceeded to the room.
Tara did only rebuke Jerry for picking his portion before her, his elder sister and Jerry had aggravated the matter by rubbing his oily hand on her nose. She didn’t take it lightly with him as she pushed him hard and he fell on the sofa. He dashed with speed towards her and before their older brothers could say anything, they were already rolling over each other on the floor, kicking and hitting themselves hard.
‘Do you love me, Tara?’ Jerry broke the silence with a question that surprised everyone.
‘Yes, I love you Jerry. You’re my brother’ Omotara replied.
‘When would you stop fighting me and respect me like a boy?’ Jerry continued, with a serious look on his face.
‘The day you start respecting me and treating me like your elder sister’ Omotara answered again. Everybody turned their eyes to Jerry again, expecting the next question.
Their father spoke when he was sure there no other question was coming from Jerry. ‘ Jerry, you see… Tara is your elder sister and you have to start treating her with respect, if not even I , may have to start forcing you with my cane’
Jerry squeezed his mouth, he stared at his father’s face for a while before getting up and walking towards Tara. He pecked her on the left cheek and apologised. ‘I’m sorry’
‘Good’ everyone clapped and cheered as the two hugged each other.
On and on went questions and answers until it was the father’s turn. He asked Tara what she would like to be in future and why?
Tara cleared her throat before she began. ‘I would like to be a medical doctor. I don’t like seeing people sick or dying. I like to save lives and save people from pain. I want to discover the cures for so many diseases which has kept people in bondage’
Danjuma listened to his daughter in silence, he knew she would do all she said. She was intelligent and had a strong will also, he had seen her display it several times. It wasn’t long after that he became distracted by some strange sounds.
He stood up and walked to the window, he slightly opened the blinds to check what the sound was, the rest of the family were still listening to Omotara with keen interest.
‘Get into the room, all of you’ Danjuma suddenly ordered in a panicking manner.
All eyes turned to him for an explanation for he continued to stare outsidpe the window.
‘U zobu zobu, U zobu zobu!’ Strange distant chants were heard approaching.
Danjuma looked horrified as he saw several people who tried to run fall down as bullets pierced into their bodies.
‘Get inside!!!’ He shouted louder this time. Lydia picked her children and led them as they scampered in fright to find an hiding place in the house.
Danjuma began to fasten all the locks and close every light entry into the house. He never imagined that a day like this would come..
Danjuma began to fasten all the locks and close every light entry into the house. He never imagined that a day like this would come. When he was transferred from Lagos state to Maiduguri in Borno state seven years ago, the country was not experiencing any visible terrorist attack then. All of a sudden the group sprang up from nowhere, it was rumoured that they’ve been underground since the regime of the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The area he and his family stayed in Maiduguri was one they that was believed to be safe from these attacks but recently their environs had began to feel the heat.
The Boko Haram group became more noised around the world when on the night of 14 – 15 of April 2014, they kidnapped over 270 girls at the Government Girls Secondary School in the town of Chibok in Borno State.
Since then a strange kind of fear had beclouded Danjuma’s heart but he refused to voice it out as the Man of house. He resorted to praying and hoping that the terrorism would end soon.
He ran around the house piling up heavy loads at the door of the main entrance to the house. In case the attackers break through the door, the obstructions would give him more time to escape with his family.
Before he knew it, several voices had already assembled at their doorstep, banging on the door. Danjuma ran around the house, trying to find where the rest of his family were hiding.
Gbam! There was an explosion. A metal plank hit Danjuma on the back as the loads he placed at the door scattered about from the effect of the grenade. He fell to the floor bleeding profusely.
Seven men with hoods covering their faces barged in through the exploded entrance. One of them sighted Danjuma immediately and charged towards him.
The terrorist dragged him up. ‘Where your family?’ He asked in pidgin English, demanding where the rest of Danjuma’s family were hiding.
Danjuma stared at him helplessly without saying any word. The man dragged him on the floor and proceeded with the rest of the crew to search the rooms.
After five minutes, two of the terrorists returned with the mother and five kids to the destroyed living room. Rikau who seemed to be the leader of the team dropped Danjuma on the floor and licked his lips as he sighted Lydia open thigh in her gown. He motioned towards her with a evil smile.
‘Drop am for floor’ he ordered the terrorist holding her by the collar.
He smiled wickedly again before he knelt down beside her and stretched his hand underneath her gown. She tried to resist but he slapped her face hard and blood rushed down her nose.
He smacked his lips and pulled out her tight underwear, dipping his finger into her privates. She screamed.
Danjuma stood up with the remaining strength left in him and charged towards the molester but was stopped halfway when someone hit his back with a metal rod. He fell down flat.
Rikau left Lydia temporarily while two of his men held her down for him. He removed a dagger from his pocket and motioned towards Danjuma. Another two of his men lifted Danjuma upright for their Boss’ attack.
The dagger was pierced into Danjuma’s left eye and the ball was plugged out. The children screamed in horror as they saw this. The second boy couldn’t take it anymore and rushed to Rikau and dealt him punches at the back. His attack was short lived as machete was ran through his neck and his head fell off immediately.
The rest of the children sobbed uncontrollably as two other men pointed a gun at them to keep them down. The eldest son, who was sixteen at that time began to offer emergency prayers to God amidst tears.
Rikau continued his evil and pierced the dagger into the second eye. He plucked it out too.
‘These heads and blood is for god’ Rikau laughed scornfully. ‘Dear god in heaven, accept our sacrifice. We know you are pleased when we kill unbelievers and spill their blood to you. Please prepare a nice place in heaven for us as you have promised’
He screamed and th-ru_sted the dagger into Danjuma’s belly before he returned to complete his unfinished business with Lydia.
She screamed uncontrollably as he molested her viciously. He got up after satisfying himself, he spat on her and watched she panted heavily. But he was still not satisfied yet. He turned his gaze to the children and gave another wicked smile, motioning one of his boys to bring Omotara forward. He licked his lips wickedly again.
‘Comot her cloth’ he ordered.
The boy wasted no time in carrying out the order. His strength was too much for Omotara to resist as he undressed her in less than two minutes. Rikau stared at the underdeveloped body with an evil eye. His eyes were fixed on her Brë@šts which were just shooting out. Someone held on to his legs tightly as he motioned forward. He turned back to see Lydia pleading for him to leave his daughter. His anger was kindled the more.
He signalled to two of his men and they dragged Lydia up. He used his dagger to tear off her cloth which was already soaked in blood. He pulled away her bra and squeezed her brea$t wickedly with his hands. He took his dagger close and sliced the left side. Her screams echoed through the whole building as the men laughed sardonically.
‘My god, this is for you. We thank you for your provision’ he shouted as he drank out of the blood oozing out from her body.
‘Our god is great! Our god is great!’ The rest of his men chanted happily.
Rikau ordered his men to drop Lydia’s body on the floor and he turned back to face the horrified girl as he dropped the dismembered part. ‘Lay her on the floor for me’ he commanded.
Joe, the youngest boy escaped from where he was kept and raced to Rikau who was already bouncing on the body of his sister.
Two quick bullets were sent into the boy’s forehead and he fell down immediately. The shooter did not stop at that, he matched towards the lifeless body and detached the head with his machete. His evil act was followed by another round of chants ‘god is great! god is great!’
Omotara’s screams filled the atmosphere as Rikau handled her with no pity. Her two brothers, the eldest and Jerry the immediate younger one , remnant of her family watched in tears helplessly as their sister was abused by the wicked hood wearing man.
**PRESENT**
Tarasha wiped her face with her handkerchief as she relayed her story to him. Henry moved closer and drew her body nearer to his. He engaged her in a tight hug as tears dropped off his eyes too.
‘You had such a bad past, I’m sorry for bringing back those memories’ he said as placed a hand on her back. ‘But God can help you forgot those memories and focus on the future’
Evelyn moved her head from his chest and stared into his eyes angrily. She gradually removed herself from his grip and got up in a hurry.
‘I’m sorry, but I was just saying the truth.’ He stood up, watching as she put on her shoes hurriedly. ‘Look, you can’t blame God for what some evil men did’
She proceeded towards the door without paying attention to him anymore. He followed after her and held her bag to stop her. She turned to look into his face.
‘I don’t know how you feel Evelyn, but I know you must feel very bad’ Henry said in a calm tone. ‘But God didn’t send those men to your family’
‘Then why didn’t he save my family from them?’ Evelyn screamed as she dragged her bag from him. ‘Why didn’t he save us from them?’
Henry stood speechless for a moment and watched as she barged out of the house and hurried away.
‘Let me drive you home’ he shouted and followed after her again when he regained himself. She has walked away into the darkness already.
+++++++++
8am, next morning
Jubril Lawal had just walked into his office with his personal assistant when his phone began to ring. His P.A handed the phone to him. The call was from an international number.
Jubril settled into the swivel before answering the call. ‘Hello’
‘Hello Mr. Jubril’ a mixed kind of accent was used to answer him. ‘How are you doing today sir?’
‘I’m fine. May I know who’s on the line ….’
‘Oh! Pardon me. I thought you were expecting my call. I’m Alexander Amaechi, director, AA Ltd Canada’ the voice came bolder.
‘Oh! Good morning Mr Alex’ Jubril spoke cheerfully. ‘I wasn’t expecting the call so early’
‘Oh! I prefer to do it early if it’s business’ the caller said a chuckle. ‘My daughter told me about your discussion with her and I showed interest in speaking with you directly, she gave me your mobile number’
‘Yes, she told me that I should expect a call from you’
‘Good. I started a little research about you from the day she told me about your company’ the man continued in his baritone voice. ‘I’m a Nigerian myself’ there was a pause.
‘But I was a little bit disturbed when she told me about coming to Nigeria for the cotton business. It’s not easy to do business with Nigerians nowadays especially when it’s a Young person. I didn’t want her to fall into wrong hands’
‘I understand’ Jubril replied with a smile. ‘I had a little research about you too, I wanted to be sure of what I’m getting into’
‘Well… I believe you’re the right man. I’ll be speaking to her from time to time. The monies needed for any transaction would be transferred from the AA account at any time’
‘Okay, you agreed to fund her deal’
‘No, the monies we’re dealing with is for her, she saved it up’
‘Oh! I see’
‘Yeah’
‘I must commend you. You really did a great job in bringing her up, she’s a very focused young lady’
‘Hmm, Thank you. I’m always very proud of her’
‘Good!’
‘Well, I’ll talk to you later ‘
‘It’s okay’ Jubril said and dropped his phone. He made a signal to his P.A who motioned forward.
‘Trace that number for me, find out who owns it.’ He handed the phone to the P.A.
The P.A gave him a puzzled look. ‘Find an expert who can do that, I didn’t mean you should do it yourself’ Chief Jubril fired at him.
‘Okay’ the P.A replied timidly after which Jubril dismissed him with a wave of the hand.
………
8am
‘How far?’ Benny asked as Cole ended the call.
‘Good, went as planned’ Cole answered standing to his feet. ‘No true caller application can detect where and who the call was from’ he boasted as he walked towards the TV to switch it on.
‘I trust you but I don’t trust that voice disguiser, I almost recognised your voice when we tested it’ Benny said.
‘We tested it at a close range, it could misbehave. But you still said my voice sounded more like an older man’
‘True’
‘That’s enough for us, the man doesn’t know me before so he can’t even detect any resemblance to anyone’s voice.’ Cole returned to the sofa.
‘I believe so’ Benny gave a light smile. ‘Has the boss called you still?’
‘No, she hasn’t’ Cole answered with a frown. He picked his phone from the stool. ‘It’s strange of her not to pick her calls, since yesterday evening’
‘Hope everything is fine with her’
‘Sure, nothing can be wrong’ Cole sniffed as he dialed her number again. He stared at Benny. ‘It’s switched off now’
‘Switched off? I hope nothing has gone wrong’ Benny frowned.
‘I’m sure she’ll call us soon, don’t bother your mind.’ Cole concluded. He smacked his lips and rubbed his palms together as Aisha walked into the living room, he was expecting an announcement about breakfast
Aisha stared at both of them curiously, wondering why they stopped talking when she appeared. ‘What are you guys hiding?’
Cole and Benny laughed in unison. ‘Hiding what?’ Benny asked. ‘Please is breakfast ready?’
………..
9.15 am
Henry dialed Evelyn’s phone number for the thirtieth time that morning, it was still switched off. He rested his back into the office seat and loosened his tie.
His mind had been unsettled since the last night when she left his apartment. He had driven after her in a bid to catch up with her on the street and drive her home but she wasn’t found, she just disappeared into thin air. He began to feel guilty and wasn’t going to forgive himself if anything happened to her.
He stared at his phone, confused about what to do. He thought of going back to the hotel to ask about her but he had only little information about her. The only thing he knew was her first name.
He got up and took off his suit jacket and hung it on the rack by the wall after which he began to pace around the office. The landline on his table rang.
‘Hello.’ He answered the call.
‘Hello Mr Henry’ Sylvester’s voice came through. ‘I’m sending someone to you office right now, he has a job for us and I think only you can handle it well’
‘Okay… Send him in’ Henry replied after a brief moment of hesitation.
‘Right away’ the went off.
Henry put another call through to his secretary after putting back on his jacket and knotting his tie. ‘Hello, someone is coming from Mr Sylvester now, please send him as soon as he gets there’
Someone pressed the bell two minutes later. ‘You may come in’ Henry answered.
A tall dark man in a black suit walked in smiling. He looked like someone in his early forties. Henry rose to greet him.
‘Good morning sir’ Henry stretched his hand to shake him.
‘Good morning Mr Henry, I’m Debo Ola’ the Man introduced himself as he took the handshake.
‘I’m pleased to meet you sir, please have your seat’ Henry motioned him.
‘Thank you’ the man settled down.
‘Yeah, Mr Sylvester said you have a job for us’
‘Yes’ the man replied, pushing a paper forward on the table. ‘Here is it’
Henry picked it up to look at it. ‘This is a mobile number. Canadian right?’
‘Yes, Canadian. It has the Canadian code but we’re doubting the authenticity. That’s why I’ve come to you’ Debo replied.
‘What’s the reason for the doubt?’ Henry asked and began to scribble the number into a notepad. ‘I mean it looks authentic to me’
‘It’s the number of one of our invisible business partners’ Debo explained. ‘We need to verify if we’re discussing with the right person or someone is just playing tricks with us’
Henry gave him a stern look. ‘But do you know that this is illegal? You’re asking for confidential details of someone which shouldn’t be released’
The man dipped his hand into his suit inner pocket and brought out his ID card. ‘I’m a private investigator approved by the government’ he displayed the card to Henry.
‘Okay then, just a minute.’ Henry turned to his computer after confirming the man’s identity.
After seven minutes, he turned back to the man. ‘The number is really Canadian but I’ve not been able to verify the owner’
‘Okay. But is it possible?’
‘Yes, it is. I only need to get data from the network bearer in Canada. It may take us sometime and cost us some money’
‘How long will it take?’ The man enquired.
‘Three days should be okay’ Henry replied with so much positivity. ‘As far as the authorities cooperate and provide us what we request for’
‘Okay, how much will it cost?’
‘Five hundred thousand naira should do’
‘Five hundred thousand?’ Debo looked surprised.
‘Yes’ Henry replied unperturbed. ‘We would be charged by any of their authorities we pass through’
‘But it’s kind of much’
‘It’s okay’ The man said, dipping his hand into his bag. He brought out his cheque book and began to write in it.
‘I should write it payable to who?’ The man asked after signing.
‘Ermm… I think Mr Sylvester would handle that’
‘Alright.’ Debo returned the cheque book and pen into his bag.
‘Is there any other thing left?’ Henry asked.
‘Nothing, I only want to be assured that we’ll get the report in three days’
‘You will, I assure you’
‘Okay.’ Debo rose to his feet. ‘I have to go now’
‘Alright’ Henry rose too and shook hands with the man again.
‘Thank you Mr Henry’
‘You’re welcome.’ With that Debo walked out of the office.
Henry sat back into his chair and stared at the number on his notepad for a while. He wanted to begin work on it but he felt restless. His thoughts immediately drifted back to Evelyn. Without much thinking again, he grabbed his car key and proceeded out of the office.
…………
9.20am
A police Hyundai sonata parked right beside the cameras security office. A young officer came out of the car thirty seconds later and proceeded to the gate. He met the security man in charge.
‘Good morning sir’ the young officer greeted.
‘Good morning officer’ the security man answered.
‘I’m Officer Paul from Division A’ he said, displaying his ID card. ‘I want to know if there’s any Henry working in this organization’
‘I’m sorry Inspector, I don’t have the right to release such information’
The young officer laughed. He dipped his hand into his pocket and brought out a card. ‘Why are you hiding a criminal? We found his national ID card in a crime scene yesterday’ he displayed the card to him.
The security man opened his mind in shock. ‘Yes, we have one and that’s him. He’s inside’
‘No, we don’t want to arrest him now. We want to trace him to his accomplices’ the young officer tucked in the card into his pocket. ‘What kind of car does he use?’
‘He has different cars but he brought a blue Honda accord today’
‘When does he close from work?’
‘Four O’clock’
‘Okay, here’s our number’ the officer handed a card to the security man. ‘Please call us anytime he’s leaving this premises’
‘No problem, I will’
‘We’re watching you, don’t try to aid his escape.’ The young officer warned with a crooked smile before he turned and returned to the car. He was satisfied that he could put fear in the older man’s heart. He got into the back seat where Afo was also sitting down, dressed in the police uniform also.
‘How did it go?’ Afo asked.
‘Fine, the man’s gonna call us. He says Henry uses a blue Honda’
‘Did he notice anything about the fake national identity card and was the picture correct?’
‘He couldn’t have noticed anything and the picture is the right one. I sent it to Dare for confirmation after I downloaded it from Facebook’
‘Good’ Afo applauded after which he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
‘Hello… Has the girl come out of the hotel at all?’
……..
9.20am
Evelyn finally got up from the bed after what seemed like the longest night she had had in several years. She stood up and stretched, she felt a little at peace than she did the last night. The only thing that still kept the event still fresh in her brain was a sharp headache she felt. She clenched her teeth as she walked to the window and opened the blind.
A strange anger against herself was welling up as her head continued to bang. It was wrong for her to feel headaches. It had been ten years ago she had one, at least not one that made her feel as terrible as this. She was sure that it was a result of the emotional stress she went through the last night. But how did the emotions return, she thought they had died long ago?
She couldn’t describe what she felt when Henry spoke with her. Her mind raced back to the feeling she had when she stared into his eyes as he narrated his story. She had tried to deny the feeling before but she felt it again now as she remembered the faint glow in his eyes.
She rebuked herself and turned away from the window, she was not supposed to be thinking of him, a total who was only going to be used in the course of her operation. The only right thing for her to think about was the operation.
She suddenly remembered her phone as she sat back on the bed. She quickly looked for the bag she went out with the last night and picked it out. It was switched off.
‘d@mn!’ She cursed. It was supposed to be always on as she was expecting a call from Jubril Lawal.
The first three messages that entered when the phone came on were from MTN, her network bearer. The fourth message was from Henry. She closed her eyes and dropped the phone as she saw his name. His face popped up in her mind again.
Wait! Did she tell him the story of her family’s massacre? How did he get her to do so?
She clenched her fists and opened her eyes, it was bloodshot. Her phone call distracted her.
She clenched her fists and opened her eyes, it was bloodshot. A phone call distracted her.
‘Good morning Miss Evelyn’ came Jubril Lawal’s cheerful voice.
‘Good morning sir’ Tarasha managed to sound calm.
‘How are you?’ Jubril asked.
‘I’m fine sir, how about you?’
‘I’m doing great Miss. I spoke with your father this morning and we had a pleasant conversation. I’ll like for us to meet and conclude the deal terms’
‘Oh! Okay. When can I come to meet with you?’
‘Let’s make it tomorrow morning, 9am prompt’
‘That’s okay sir’
‘Good, we’ll see tomorrow. Take care’
‘You too.’ With that the line went off.
Tarasha got up and wiped off the sweat forming on her forehead. She began to take off her ruffled gown slowly. Henry’s calm voice sounded in her head again.
** Flashback**
~~ December 20, 2020 ~~
‘Tarasha, Tarasha’ A voice sounded in whispers through the window. Tarasha’s eyes popped open, it was Marvin calling her.
She rolled down from the hardwood quietly and buckled her bra well. She sniffed and began to tiptoe carefully in a bid not to wake the other occupants of the room.
She shivered as the door creaked while she tried to open it. She turned to see if anyone was woken by the noise but no was awake, only a few itchings and turns, she proceeded outside slowly, careful not to make any other sound. Marvin had turned from the window side to the door.
‘Come’ she grabbed Marvin’s hand and they ran behind the lodge to a hidden place.
‘Tara’ Marvin who was bare chested and was covered with a torn towel-like material called her name softly.
‘Yes?’ Tarasha urged him, already getting impatient, staring around from time to time to see if anyone was coming.
‘Tarasha’ he called again.
Tarasha stopped to stare into his eyes. He never called her full name except that was something really very serious. ‘What happened?’
‘I’ve come to say goodbye to you’ Marvin began. ‘I may not have the opportunity to say it anymore’
‘What? Goodbye? Where are you going to?’ Tarasha bombarded him with questions.
‘I’m not going anywhere. I may die tomorrow’ He said in a sad tone. ‘I overheard our Tent Lord saying that there would be a zonal bloodbath tomorrow and they plan to eliminate fifteen weak ones’
Tara stretched out her hand and touched his face. ‘Fifteen weak ones? But that has nothing to do with you, with us’
‘Tarasha’ he removed her hand from his face. ‘Let us be real, don’t let us pretend as if I’m strong’
‘You’re strong Marvin, you can scale through’
‘No, I’m not strong’ Marvin argued. ‘We all know that I only managed to escape death the last time. Now it’s here’ Marvin said as he turned his back on Tarasha.
‘No, you won the battle, you didn’t manage’ Tarasha turned back his body to face her. ‘And you are stronger now’
Marvin stared into the darkness for a moment, tears formed in his eyes. ‘Tara, I’m not scared to die. I’m scared of leaving you. Ain’t we even dead already. I think it’s better we die before these people finally turn us to animals who kill without thinking’
‘Don’t we kill without thinking already?’ Tarasha asked him.
‘I kill on orders and I feel remorse for every time I had to do it’ a tear dropped off his eyes as he spoke. ‘But the Nefary clan is not comfortable with that, they are taking us to the level of killing without feeling any remorse. Imagine, they made you kill your friend, the cook.’
Tarasha sighed and turned away. ‘I had no choice, I had to do that. He was already changed into a beast too’
‘I know but they’re going to make us do more. I heard that they do send some inmates to murder their families’
‘Do we have families?’ Tarasha turned suddenly to ask him.
Marvin was about to answer her when they heard a noise coming towards their direction.
‘We have to go now’ Marvin’s eyes shone in panic as he peeped to see who was coming. He quickly grabbed Tarasha’s hand and they hurriedly tiptoed away.
* Next day
Tarasha could hear the loud chants of male as thirty of them girls were led into the “Hardness hall”. The boys were already been lectured in the hall.
The hall was a very large one, it was made of thick brick high walls. It had no widows in it but was unroofed. The floor was made of natural rock, hard, cold during evening and early mornings but hot in the afternoon.
‘Love is a sin committed by weak people and it makes them weaker. Any object of love that is found beside you has to be eliminated’ the voice in the thick Russian accent continued to shout. ‘The day you start to love someone is the day you start to die’
Tarasha could spot Marvin where he stood, blindfolded. He was number two on the line in his group. That meant that he was the second person to battle. Tarasha looked around trying to locate Marvin’s likely contender but before she could, the tent lord had already returned to blindfold her and the other girls. The girls were later arranged on two line but none of them knew their position on the line.
The battle was to take place in a cage and the enemy was not known until they got into the cage.
The first battle began and the first two fighters were sent in. Shouts and groans were what notified the other young assassins that the battle had begun.
After about ten minutes, the first battle ended and a winner with a bruised face emerged. Then the first set of girl fighters were sent into the cage. After another ten minutes, another winner emerged.
Then it was Marvin’s turn. Tarasha knew it, she had seen him stand in the second position on the line. But she didn’t know his contender until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She was then dragged and pushed into another section. Her blindfold was taken off and she found herself in the cage with Marvin. Several fighting weapons laid on the floor for their use. The bell rang for the battle to begin.
The lovers stared at each other for a while without making any move. The whole hall became as silent as a graveyard.
‘Come on, attack’ Vladimir, the zone lord shouted angrily.
Tarasha just couldn’t move. Just few months ago, she had been made to slaughter a dear friend of hers, Stanley Bob. Now she was being asked to fight Marvin whom she loved.
She sniffed and rubbed her nose with the back of her hand. ‘Love is for the weak ones, the stupid ones without a strong heart. Kill him before he kills you’ she could hear a voice say to her.
‘No, don’t kill him. If you do, you’ll be totally losing your good heart’ another voice argued.
‘Who needs a good heart?’ The first voice laughed. ‘It would only make one become a fool who can be manipulated by feelings’
‘There’s nothing wrong in letting good feelings take control over you’ the good voice began but was interrupted.
‘Shut up! Remember who you are, nothing should take control over you. You were made to kill and nothing should stop you from killing. Nothing including love or any feeling you have’
Tarasha was awoken to reality when she heard a clang sound, Marvin had picked up a sword. It seemed he had finally made up his mind on what to do.
Tarasha picked up a sword too and positioned herself for the fight. The duo began to move in a circle, each one trying to set a trap for the other.
Marvin was the first to strike, his sword went in direction of Tarasha’s forehead but was stopped by her sword. The battle continued and the murmurings among the other trainees increased as the sound of continued clanging of swords filled the air.
After about four minutes of the sword battle. The two warriors spaced themselves. Both of them already had sweat dripping from their body. Marvin threw his sword away and clenched his fists. Tarasha understood the message and dropped her sword too. It was time for a battle without weapons. They moved close to each other.
Marvin sent a blow to her but she ducked down and he missed her face. She stepped aside without returning his attack. They stared into each other’s eyes as they vibrated their bodies from side to side, moving in a circle. Marvin launched the same attack again and Tarasha ducked again but this time sent a heavy blow into his belly. He winced as he grabbed his belly and staggered forward.
He recovered quickly and stood straight again. He stared again into Tarasha’s eyes, she seemed to be less interested in the battle. He remembered saying to her that he wasn’t afraid of death, but he really was. Now, he was desperate to live even if it meant taking her life.
Marvin was an handsome boy, two year older than Tarasha. He stayed with his parents in Ghana until the day he was kidnapped alongside with four other boys and brought to the clan. The reason for his kidnap was not known to him until he spent two months in the clan.
Marvin was a soft person in nature but the four other boys which he walked and played with were bullies. Due to their big stature and strength, they maltreated everyone they could. Marvin was close to them because of one the leader of the boys happened to be his next-door neighbor. The kidnappers had observed the boys’ cruelty for sometime and concluded that they had the tendency to become great assassins. Marvin was only unlucky to be with the bullies on the fateful day.
Back to the battle. Marvin carefully observed where Tarasha was standing, the weapons were out of her reach. He seized the opportunity and he picked up his sword again. He smiled at her wickedly as she looked at him in surprise. Maybe she thought her love was still in his head, he thought. But this was a matter of death or life, he still wanted to live for some more years and probably get out of the Nefary City alive. He shouted on top of his voice as he raced towards her, targeting her belly.
Tarasha was scared and undecided for a second but the adrenalin rush in her body made her react. She turned back immediately and made a short run to the wall where she took three steps on and projected herself over the attackers head, she landed at his back and he almost fell as a result.
A blow hit Marvin’s face before he turned to her with the sword. Another hit his jaw when he tried to raise up the sword, it fell from his hand. Tarasha continued to deal him more blows on his face until he was bleeding profusely. He was too weak to defend himself. She held his neck and tightened her grip on it until he was he was out of breath. She was breathing heavily as she let his body fall to the ground. She stared at him on the floor for some seconds, murmuring inaudible words to herself.
‘Bring his head’ someone shouted as she turned, reminding her that her job wasn’t completed until she presented his head as her trophy. She motioned towards where the sword was and picked it up. Then she went back to Marvin and detached his head in few seconds.
**PRESENT**
‘No room for emotions’ Tarasha murmured the same words she murmured after killing Marvin. ‘No room for emotions, kill every object of emotion before it kills you’
She kept murmuring it to herself as she stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. Her phone rang again. Henry was calling.
‘Hello’ she said as she answered the call.
‘Hello Evelyn, can you meet me outside right away?’ Henry asked in a serious tone.
‘Give me ten minutes’ she replied and ended the call.
She opened the wardrobe to select the clothes to wear. After three minutes, she was done with her dressing. She wore a black tight fitted trouser and top with a blue jacket on it. She sat back on the bed as she wore her boots. She checked the time and it was just five minutes gone out of the ten minutes. She had noticed the seriousness in his voice but wasn’t concerned in anyway.
She drew out a briefcase from underneath the bed and placed it on her laps. She punched in the passcode and it opened up by itself. Knives and daggers of different sizes were carefully arranged inside. She selected three small ones and carefully tucked them into the space made available for it in her trouser. The small knives should be enough to take life out of Henry’s body.
+++++++++
‘How far Debo?’ Chief Jubril asked as his personal assistant stepped into the office.
‘Fine sir. The call was from Canada but we’ve not been able to verify the user’s details’
‘When would that be done?’
‘We should get the report by next tomorrow’ Debo answered.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, very sure sir’
‘Good…’ The man paused and focused on his laptop for a minute before he returned his gaze back to Debo. ‘Do you know what is happening next tomorrow?’
‘Yes sir.’ Debo smiled sheepishly.
Jubril Lawal smiled back. ‘I want you to organize a banquet for me. The venue would be my villa. Send invitations to every friend on my contact list’
‘Okay sir’
‘Invite Evelyn Alex also.’ The man paused and cleared his throat. ‘I’ll like her to meet with some of our other business partners that would be involved in our partnership. Make sure you also mobilize for proper security’
‘Okay sir.’ Debo bowed and proceeded out of the office, trying to come up with ideas on how to organize for the birthday celebration.
Tarasha eyes began to search around for Henry in the reception as she came out of the elevator. She took out her phone from the jacket and dialed his number.
‘Where are you?’ She spoke into the phone.
‘Outside the gate’ a gruff voice which was not Henry’s answered, Tarasha noticed.
‘Okay, I’m coming’ she replied and ended the call. She dropped the phone back into the jacket’s pocket and proceeded out of the building.
She spotted Henry’s blue Honda car parked behind a police sonata as soon as she stepped out of the gate. She noticed that three uniformed police officers were at their car with a non uniformed person. The officer at the front seat beside the driver’s came out looking at her direction. She took out her phone and placed another call to Henry as she proceeded slowly towards his car.
‘Hey Madam’ the police officer accosted her.
‘Hello, what can I do for you?’ Tarasha ended the call she was trying to make and turned to attend to the officer.
‘Are you Miss Evelyn Alex?’ The officer asked.
‘Yes, I…’ Tarasha was cut short by what she saw. The “non uniformed officer” which appeared to be Henry was motioned out of the car by another officer which was huge in size.
‘Do you know that man?’ The officer continued, looking towards Henry.
Tarasha paused for a while before answering. ‘Yes’ She stared at Henry as the huge officer motioned him towards their direction.
‘You were with him yesterday?’ He asked again.
‘Yes’ Tarasha answered.
‘Your attention is needed in our office’ he said.
‘For what?’ She inquired.
‘Just to answer some few questions’ the officer replied with a brief smile.
Tarasha stared at Henry’s face for an explanation but he just stared back until she spoke. ‘What’s all these Henry?’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand too’ Henry replied. ‘I asked them to leave you out of this but they said that we must go together. I believe that Dare must have told huge lies about us to the police’
‘May we leave now?’ The huge officer interrupted, eyeing Tarasha wickedly.
‘Can I have my phone to make a call now?’ Henry demanded, stretching out his hand to the slim officer.
‘Of course, it’s in the car. Let’s proceed first, then you can make your calls on the way’ the officer made way to return to the car.
‘You go with her in the Honda’ the huge officer, Afo , said in a commanding tone.
‘Okay’ the other officer obliged and led Tarasha who followed silently to the Honda.
The officer in the driver’s seat of the Honda already started the car engine before they entered into it. They drove away from the hotel fence in few seconds.
Tarasha kept a searching gaze on the officer accompanying her. He stared back intimidatingly into her eyes when hers met with his. ‘Is this how you pick up people in this country?’ She asked a question which made the officer look stunned. ‘I wouldn’t have followed you if I didn’t see Henry with you’
‘You have no choice madam.’ He gave a wicked smile as he answered. ‘You don’t defy police orders here’
‘I have a right to know why I’m going with you’ she snapped at him.
‘I’m only inviting you for interrogation’ he snapped back. ‘Madam business from Canada, don’t provoke me’
Tarasha looked away from him and carefully examined his words. He just qualified her as “Madam Business from Canada”. Wh@tëver he meant by the phrase, it revealed that he had found out from somewhere that she was from Canada and was doing a business. She glanced at him again with suspicion in her eyes. She began to search around his uniform again, searching for something to confirm her suspicion.
Henry had also become suspicious too when he asked from his phone from the huge officer and he replied him coldly. ‘It’s with my colleague in the other car, you’ll get it when we get to the station, we can’t pause our journey just because of you’
At this time they had driven for about fifteen minutes.
‘Officer’ Tarasha called softly. She placed a hand on his chest seductively covering the pocket on the shirt.
‘Yes…’ He answered, his body shivered as her fingers proceeded behind the buttons.
‘What’s your name?’ She asked.
‘Erm…’ He stammered and looked towards his chest to check the name inscribed on the tip of the pocket. He flung her hand away from him suddenly as he figured out what she was doing. ‘What that flip’ he cursed and brought out a gun, pointing it at her immediately.
‘I know you’re fake, you don’t own the uniform’ Tarasha said bluntly and sat back properly, ignoring the gun pointed at her. ‘Who sent you?’
‘Shut the hell up’ he shouted at her, still threatening with the gun. He searched his pants pocket with the left hand and brought out his phone.
‘Hello, this girl don burst me o’ he informed his colleague that he has been busted by the girl in pidgin English.
‘No problem, just keep her there. We would be at the workshop in the next two minutes’ the huge man answered through his phone in the police car. He brought out his gun also and pointed it at Henry.
‘Boy, it’s better you cooperate with us without making noise or I’ll burst your brains’ He said in a harsh manner, terrifying Henry.
‘Who sent you?’ Tarasha asked the slim officer again as they drove into a large compound. He replied her with a wicked look.
‘But this is not a police station’ Henry protested as he looked around the bushy compound.
‘Shut up and get out of the car’ Afo ordered and pushed Henry out angrily.
Tarasha was also escorted out of the car with a gun by the other guy. The drivers of the cars came out of the car two with their guns, making it four armed men against Henry and Tarasha.
‘Get into the house’ Afo commanded, motioning them with his gun. Henry and Tarasha began to walk slowly into the brick walled building covered with corrugated iron sheets at the front section. The door was opened by one of the drivers and they were led into the poorly lit room, the windows were not opened and it made it hot. Three other guys appeared from another section of the building and hailed their Boss Afo.
‘Kneel down there’ Afo commanded the two, pointing his gun at them as he lit a cigarette with his other hand. ‘Raise up your hands’ Afo added after they obeyed his first instruction. He brought out his phone and dialed a number.
Tarasha carefully dipped her right hand into her jacket’s pocket and made sure nobody noticed as she took out an item and attached it into her sleeve before slowly raising up her hands.
He puffed out some quantity of smoke before placing the phone on his ear. ‘Hello… We’ve got them here’ he said through the phone to his call receiver, staring deeply into Tarasha and Henry’s faces. ‘My boy told me that you called and said you wanted to see them before we finish them off’
Afo inhaled another quantity of smoke before he continued. ‘That means your money has increased, you’ll add twenty percent… Ok, we’re expecting you by evening time’
‘Who sent you to kidnap us?’ Tarasha asked in a calm voice.
Afo chuckled mockingly and hissed as he stared at her face. He turned to Kalu, the guy who was with Tarasha in the Honda car. ‘Where are those chairs?’ He asked searching round the room. ‘Get the chairs and tie them up’ Afo ordered and walked out of the building hurriedly.
++++++++++
‘Good’ Dare stamped his feet on the floor in joy as he ended the call. He rejoiced with himself in his office. He would finally put to rest his past which just resurfaced and was trying to haunt him. The only painful part of it was that Evelyn had to go with it.
He remembered the look on Henry’s face when they met again after several years. Henry’s gaze had sent shivers down his spine. What his guilt made him see was thirst for revenge in Henry’s eyes. Then he decided that there was a need to totally wipe out the past of which Henry is a part of.
His phone beeped. He quickly picked it up and checked the screen. He smiled. It was a reminder for his Dad’s sixtieth birthday which was coming up in two days time. He began to think of what gift was best to present to his father.
What could his money buy that his father couldn’t get? His father was a hundred times richer than he was. The only gift he knew his father would be impressed by was a profitable business idea. ‘d@mn!’ He sighed. His father was so business and money minded that it was possible for him not to remember his birthday on the day. He was sure there was going to be no party, his father barely attends social functions nowadays for the fun of it. He only did it if he was going to meet his business partners there. Or should he organize a surprise birthday bash for his dad? He thought.
No, the man would not appreciate that. Instead of getting pleased with the action, his father would probably be disappointed.
Dare shook his head thoughtfully and dropped his phone on the table. Then he returned his focus back to the files on his table.
**1.55pm
‘Hmmm…’ Henry kept shouting out words which were inaudible as he struggled on the seat he was tied to. His chair and Tarasha’s were placed backing each other. She was also tied in the same manner. Each legs tied to corresponding leg of the chair and both hands tied together at the back of the chair and their mouths covered with a large plaster.
‘Ooh shut up you idiot!’ One of their abductors barged into the room angrily and smacked Henry on the face.
‘Leave him alone’ another one said as he came in bare chested with a red jersey hanging around his neck. ‘Let him scream all he can now, he might not have the opportunity to scream again until his next life’
The first guy hissed and turned towards the main entrance followed closely by the second who hurriedly put on his shirt. Soon they were out of the compound, the sound of the gate closing could be heard.
Henry became calm all of a sudden, his mind was full of sadness, for Evelyn and his parents. Evelyn was just an innocent girl whom he put into trouble. His parents also depended on him as their only source of joy and proof of their parenthood. He could not think of what would happen if he was killed, his parents could die just from the shock of the news.
He struggled fruitlessly again to set himself free, shaking the chair vigorously, his head hit Evelyn’s. She gave a soft groan, the only sound that she made after several hours that they had been tied.
**2.00pm
Tarasha could still feel the steel on her wrist, now she could sense that it was time to use it. She used the rope tied on the wrist to push it down and it cut her jacket and fell in between her palms, causing a small cut on her middle finger. She took a hold of the knife’s handle and carefully moved it up and down the rope, slicing it slowly. Her hands got free in a minute.
She stretched her fingers before removing the covering on her mouth. The heavy breath she let out after got Henry’s attention, he suspected that her mouth was free and made some noise to alert her in case it really was. She looked at him but ignored and continued to cut the rope off her leg. After the rope was off, she got up and stretched her legs. Henry noise was louder as he was fully aware that she was now free.
She hid back her knife before she walked to him and took off the covering on his lips, then she bent down to loose the ropes on his legs.
‘How did you loose your ropes?’ Henry asked impatiently without waiting for Evelyn to finish setting him free.
‘They didn’t tie it as tight as yours is.’ She said after setting him free totally.
Henry got up and stretched his body tiredly. He looked straight into her eyes but she turned away and walked towards the window to peep.
‘Thank God’ Henry said. Tarasha stood suddenly still. Henry did not notice and he continued. ‘Thank God, I’m sure he’ll still get us out of here alive.’ He turned to look at Evelyn as she wasn’t responding to him
Their eyes met. Henry had never seen such fury like he did on anyone’s eyes. He couldn’t explain it but he knew there was a kind of dangerous anger in her. Then he remembered that he had just given “God” the credit.
Tarasha suddenly remembered the reason for all the knifes in her pockets. This could just be the right time to drain out life from his body, she thought.
+++++++++
Mallam Jefa carefully arranged his the seats in his joint. Very soon, several of his customers would begin to troop in to fill their bellies. He deals in toasted bread, tea, noodles, roasted cow skin (ponmo), “suya” and assorted drinks.
Jefa was well loved and patronised around the area. Many atimes, his customers would not leave after filling themselves but would stay and have fun as it would turn to a large gathering. Jefa always had to send most of them away when they began to lit their cigarettes or drink alcohol heavily to avoid violence and destruction of property.
Mallam Jefa whose real name was Jeffery was not an Hausa man nor does he dress like one, he only earned the nick as a result of his job, height and popularity among young men of the Hausa tribe.
Merely looking at Mallam Jefa’s face, one who conclude that he was in his early fifties or close to sixties as wrinkles and spots had begun to show on his face. But it was not to be so, Mallam Jefa was just in his early thirties, a young man who looked so aged and troubled because of problems and several misfortunes that had befallen him in the past.
Very jovial and kind he was to everyone but a closer look at him would reveal his sorrowful mind. One who’s heart wasn’t at peace, one who only tried to feign happiness even though he never was.
As Jefa opened the window, he could see two of his customers stroll out of their compound which was just about three metres from his joint. He knew they were coming to him as they turned to his direction. He quickly cleaned two seats for them and returned to his stand room where he attends to customers.
‘Mallam Jefa’ one of the guys hailed, putting up his hands as they strolled into the neatly made wooden building.
‘Hey!’ Jefa hailed back. ‘Welcome my guys’
‘Thank you’ the first guy said as they took their seats. The other guys just continued to puff his cigarette in silence.
‘What do you want me to offer you?’ Jefa asked.
The guys whispered to themselves. ‘What do we take?’
‘I’ll go with moi moi and bread first, then a bottle of beer later” the cigarette puffing guy spoke.
‘You want to stay here and drink?’ The other guy asked in low tones. ‘You know we’ve got to watch over those “dogs” back there’
‘I know’ came the reply in a harsh tone. ‘There’s no problem, they can never get away with those ropes used to tie them’
‘What of if Afo comes?’
‘Afo would return by three thirty and this is just two pm’ he said after glancing at his wristwatch. ‘We still have a lot of time’
‘You guys are selling dogs now?’ Jefa asked innocently as he served their order.
‘No, we’re just keeping them for someone’ the first guy replied with a smile.
‘Okay now’ Jefa smiled back.
Several customers trooped in one after the other and Jefa soon got busy. His first two customers did not stay as long as expected, they paid him and walked away by exactly two thirty pm.
+++++
02.30pm
Tarasha motioned slowly to Henry, her hand slowly finding its way into the pockets where she hid the knifes. Henry stood still, puzzled as she approached him. The look in her eyes was unexplainable as well as the atmosphere around. Just two steps away from him, the gate clanged and she stopped. She removed her hand from the pocket and turned back. Their abductors were returning.
Tarasha’s strange mood suddenly returned to normal. Her eyes blinked severally as she let out a deep breath, an unusual calmness overwhelmed her .
Henry quickly walked to the window, he opened the curtain and peeped, two of the guys were returning inside. He motioned back to Tarasha and grabbed her right hand. ‘We have to get out of here’ he said and dragged her along with him. They walked further into the other rooms in the house, all the rooms were dark except one that was brightened a little by a dim torchlight. Henry picked up the torch and pointed it round the room, looking for something to use for their defence.
The main entrance door creaked open. The smile on the guys’ faces changed into a deep frown immediately as they saw that their captives had gotten loose already.
‘d@mn!’ The first guy cursed under his breath and brought out his gun. The other man followed suit.
‘I believe they are still around, we didn’t stay long at Mallam Jefa’s.’ The second put in.
‘Afo would kill us if they escape’ the first guy whispered. He bent down to pick something, a wristwatch. ‘They went this way’ he said, pointing towards the direction their captives took.
‘The backyard door is closed’ the other added softly. ‘So, they must be in the house’ he brought out a phone and turned on the flashlight. He returned it into his pocket to hide the light, planning to bring it out when it’s necessary.
The guys proceeded in slow steps in the same direction their captives took.
Tarasha sat at the corner of the room, looking pale like an helpless person. Henry felt the need and the responsibility to protect her. He already found a rod, with the help of the dim torchlight, a huge long one whose proper use was to close tightly the door at the back.
He positioned himself behind the wall by the entrance of the room, planning to take by surprise anyone that enters first.
The room was silent so the slow steps and breathings from the guys could be heard softly by Henry as they approached the room.
Henry raised up the rod in anticipation as someone got behind the door and touched the handle. The person paused, Henry paused too and strained his ear to listen. ‘You… backyard’ was all he heard. There was another pause again, footsteps could be heard walking fast away from the door. Then the handle was turned and the door opened.
The first thing that entered was the ray of light from the flashlight, then the person’s right leg and the whole body. Henry landed the rod on the back of the man’s head and he went down immediately, his gun falling away, blood began to ooze out of his head. Henry quickly dropped the rod and picked the gun. He checked if it was loaded and gave a brief smile before bending to search the man’s body. He found a phone. He squatted and began to type into it.
‘I’ve been kidnapped, report to the police and let them locate this phone number, that’s where I’m kept. Henry’ Henry quickly sent a text to his boss, Sylvester.
+++++
Sylvester hurried into the police station with the security guard running after him.
‘Hello officers’ Sylvester greeted as he got to the reception stand. The officers who recognised him saluted back and gave him attention. ‘I heard you brought in one of my new workers to your station today’
‘When exactly?’ One of the officers asked with a frown.
‘Few hours ago, between ten am and twelve noon’ Sylvester replied looking to the security man for confirmation.
‘Yes’ the shivering security man replied.
‘Sir, are you sure it’s our station? We’ve not brought anyone in today’
Sylvester turned to the guard. ‘Please explain everything to them, the same way you explained to him’
The guard began his explanation in details of how the officers parked beside the corporation and one of them approached him and asked him questions and how they also took Sylvester when he drove out of the gate.
‘And they said it’s Division A?’ An officer interrupted.
‘Yes’
‘Nobody has been brought in here today and none of our officers have gone out to make an arrest along your direction today’ the officer spoke after checking through the records in a book.
‘Are you sure of what you’re saying?’ Sylvester asked the guard again.
‘Yes’
‘Why didn’t you tell me early ?’
‘I couldn’t get to you, so I told the secretary’ the guard replied.
‘You told Bola?’
‘Yes’
‘But she never told me anything’ Sylvester said and turned back to the officers. ‘Please can I see any of your senior officers?’
‘Let’s check is anyone is available first’ one of the officers said and walked away from the reception.
‘Have you called the person who was arrested on phone?’ Another officer asked.
‘Yes, his line is switched off. That’s what’s making me alarmed, I believe I’m the first person he’ll call if he gets into any trouble’
‘Hmm… But you’re the Boss of the Security cameras corporation. Have you checked the tapes?’
‘There’s no record. I’m suspecting that he has been kidnapped by the same people who have been hacking our security, I only want to confirm if he’s here first before I make a report’
‘Okay’
Sylvester’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He brought it out and checked. It was a text message.
+++++
2.30pm
In a large uncompleted building, an abandoned one. Boys could be seen sitting on the window edges, smoking Indian hemp and drinking. Another guy was parading the compound with a cigarette in his mouth.
A policeman stood right in front of the compound’s gate. He looked around the environment to see if anyone was watching him before opening the gate slowly and walking in.
‘Hey you!’ The parading guy was the first to accost him. The other guys also jumped down from the windows, alert. ‘What do you want?’
‘Your boss, Afo is waiting for me’ the policeman replied.
‘Okay’ the parading guy nodded and signaled to the other guys while the policeman proceeded to the building. One of the guys led the policeman to their boss.
Afo was seated on a set of neatly arranged six inches blocks. A half unclad lady was seated on his laps.
Afo noticed the policeman’s entrance and engaged the girl in a kiss before dropping her off his laps. He then smacked her on the buttocks playfully before asking her to excuse them.
The policeman turned to look at the girl walking away and she eyed him mockingly. He turned again to look at Afo who’s body was thrice of the girl’s He shook his head in pity for the lady, wondering how bad she would scream when Big Afo starts banging her mercilessly.
‘Miko’ Afo hailed, extending a handshake to his guest.
‘Afo’ Miko replied unenthusiastically, still looking at the girl who was walking slowly away, rolling her buttocks in the process.
‘Miko!’ Afo hailed again and tapped his guest playfully on the shoulder. ‘Do you want me to arrange an “opeke” like this for you”
‘No’ Miko shook his head in disagreement. ‘I don’t need that’
‘Well, that’s your problem’ Afo brought out a cigarette and his lighter. ‘Why have you come here in your uniform today?’
‘There was no time for me to change before coming, I had to come like this’
‘Okay, so what have you come here for?’
‘What have I come here for?’ The officer asked with a look of surprise on his face. ‘Didn’t we have an agreement?’
‘What agreement?’ Afo asked, blowing some smoke into the air.
‘Come on Afo. Didn’t I release a car and some uniforms to you today?’
‘Oh! That?’ Afo feigned surprise.
‘Yes, I’ve come to get it. That’s our agreement’
‘Ermm… It’s true. That’s our agreement, but…’
‘But what?’ Miko was getting impatient.
‘I still want to use it’
‘No, I have to leave here with everything now’ Miko disagreed boldly.
‘Calm down Miko, I’ll triple your money’
‘It’s not about money, I’ll get into trouble if I don’t return with them this evening’
‘Then don’t return at all’ Afo said coldly.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Go somewhere else’
‘No, I can’t ‘
‘You can’
‘No, the police would find me anywhere I run to hide’ Miko retorted.
‘I know somewhere where they won’t find you, I can help you get there’
‘I’m not…’ Miko couldn’t complete his statement as a bullet sank into the back of his head.
‘Take out the idiot’ Afo commanded the same guy who shot from the back.
Afo took in another large amount of smoke as turned back. He picked out his phone and dialed a number. ‘Mr. Dare’
‘Afo’ Dare answered from the other end.
‘How far? Hope you’ll keep to time, we are expecting you by 4pm like you said’
‘No, I’m sorry’ Dare sounded down. ‘My Dad just called me, he wants me to meet with him after work immediately’
‘It’s okay, so should we still wait for you?’
‘No please, drop the both of them’
‘Alright’
‘You can do that immediately, make sure that their death is slow and painful, especially for the man. And do make sure that their bodies are never found’
‘Okay, I will ensure that’ the call ended. Afo dipped the phone back into his pocket and finished the stick of cigarette before proceeding out of the uncompleted building.
+++++
‘Come, let’s get out of here’ Henry motioned Evelyn who was already coming towards him.
They locked hands and crossed over the dead body at the entrance of the room. They began to head back in direction of the main door, Henry leading the way and guiding her with his gun.
‘I can’t find them anywhere.’ Henry and Evelyn paused as they got to the first room where they were tied before. The man who had gone to check the backyard was returning through the entrance.
Henry ÇOçked his gun, he made Evelyn to hide behind his body and got set to take down the approaching enemy. The door opened and the guy came in unsuspecting, a bullet entered into his chest immediately.
Henry jumped up and rejoiced with Tarasha as the second enemy fell flat. ‘Let’s get out of here now’ he said to Tarasha who was looking indifferent.
They opened the door and began to run to the gate. The gate creaked, Evelyn and Henry paused in fear. Then the gate began to open slowly, a car was behind. Their fears were confirmed, Afo and his other men had returned.
…to be continued
