_
Tarasha opened her eyes to look down after seven seconds. The distance to the ground was quite far and the bright lights on the walls of the building at every floor made it impossible for her to see the ground clearly. She however saw traces of gathered people and concluded that Rex must have fallen to the ground and they were surrounding his dead body.
She turned and dropped to her knees weakly, she closed her eyes and then took in some very deep breaths. She opened her eyes after few seconds. She still felt so weak in her body but she managed to get up to her feet. She picked the other end of rope on the floor and dragged her feet as fast as she could to the structure at the centre of the roof. She knew that security officials would be making their way up to that floor at that moment, the fastest way for her to escape would be to leave with the rope through the back of the building.
She quickly located her phone where she kept it on the floor and also located her bag.
__
‘What did the boss say?’ Nicholas asked Cole for the umpteenth time.
Cole remained mute as usual as he tried to settle in the speedboat.
‘Are you sure you can sail this boat?’ the keeper of the boat asked Cole again.
‘Yes,’ Cole replied the man. ‘You don’t need to get scared,’ he added even though he was not so confident of his riding ability.
The man stared at Cole doubtingly. He had compromised the standards to release the boat that night after Cole offered him a huge sum of money. The speedboat usually goes with a sailor who works with the organization, but at that time of the night, the sailors had closed and the sailing company was supposed to have closed operations for that day. Cole had claimed to forget his license but needed to use the boat urgently, his enticing offer made the man compromise.
‘Or should I sail you?’ the man offered.
Cole turned and stared at him. He heaved a deep sigh of relief. He wondered why the man had not offered to help from the beginning.
‘But you would have to pay extra,’ the man quickly added on seeing that Cole was considering his offer.
‘I’ll pay right away,’ Cole accepted.
The man joined them on board and sailed the boat while Cole and Nicholas sat behind.
‘So is she coming to join us on the ship?’
Cole stared at him, he wondered why he won’t stop disturbing. He didn’t want to tell him the truth that Tarasha was dead like he heard from Rex because he wasn’t fully convinced that Nicholas was truly on their side. He didn’t want anything to stop Elvis Richards’ death. He knew that was one thing Tarasha wanted to do and he made up his mind to complete the task even if she wasn’t there.
‘Yes, she’s coming to meet us.’ Cole finally replied him.
Nicholas sighed. ‘You don’t trust me yet,’ he asked, amazed that Cole still doubted him. ‘What would you have done if your mother and child’s lives were in danger?’
Cole stared at him, unwillingly to answer. His phone rang at that moment.
‘Hey Henry, have you been able to ask for a stop?’
‘Yes, but it was quite difficult and still complicated, they asked me to speak with the company’s Rep on board. He wasn’t fully convinced it was his boss’ voice. He tried to contact his boss after speaking with him but I already redirected his boss’ call to me. They’ve agreed to wait but they’re expecting to see men in Erico’s company shirt, you might find it difficult to get on board since you don’t have their uniform.’
‘Alright, thank you so much Henry. You’ve done a wonderful job,’ Cole commended.
‘Okay, what about Tara? Is she there with you now?’
‘No, she’d join us.’ Cole replied, trying to hide the sadness in his tone. He couldn’t tell Henry that she was dead yet. He saw himself as the leader of the team in her absence and did not want to give any room for weakness of the team.
___
‘I tried her number and it isn’t connecting, you guys should play safe.’ Henry said into the phone before ending the call.
He looked at Madam Henrietta who was still staring at him. He still wondered how the woman got Tarasha to call her mother. Tarasha was a daughter of the Danjumas and the couple were dead. He couldn’t hold his urge to ask questions anymore. He got up from the chair and sat at the other edge of the bed where she was. She was quick to talk before he could begin with his questions.
‘Where is Omotara? Please tell her not to go anywhere, i have this strong feeling that she might never come back.’ Madam Henrietta said.
‘No please, don’t say that. Tara is coming back and one day, she would find a way for all of us to go back to our normal lives.’ Henry scolded her.
The woman shook her head sadly. ‘I don’t know, I don’t think that day is ever going to come.’
‘Come on Madam, stop talking negatively. It’s going to be well.’
Madam Henrietta let out a deep breath. ‘Can you tell me what she’s going to do?’
‘Just to round up our task,’ Henry replied.
‘Please tell me in plain words,’ the woman shook her head.
Henry sighed. ‘The Vice President is trying to escape from the country and she wants to stop him.’
Madam Henrietta’s face went blank for a moment as she pondered on his reply. ‘She’s gonna kill him?’
‘I don’t think so, she could stop him without killing.’
‘Are you sure?’ the woman asked, with her body vibrating.
Henry could sense fear all over the woman’s body. ‘The truth is she’s going to stop him, I don’t know how, she might end up killing him or just handing him over to the police.’
‘But that man is deadly, he can harm or even kill her and he…’
–5 Minutes Later —
In the ceiling of the building Dave had gotten into, after confirming the exact room where Henry had lodged the team from the hotel. He wanted to hear their plans and know their next steps.
‘Did someone knock the door?’ Dave could hear Henry’s voice. He was now very sure that he was in the ceiling directly above them. There was silence for a moment.
‘There’s no one at the door,’ Henry’s voice sounded again. Dave knew that it was the noise he made in the ceiling that attracted them to the door.
There was silence for almost one minute before Dave heard Henry’s voice again.
‘I never imagined that Omotara wasn’t a real child of the Danjumas, I always believed that she was the only girl and I think she also believed that she was.’
‘Yes, you’re right.’ Dave heard Chief Gab’s voice. ‘She only found out recently who her real mother was.’
Dave listened to them carefully as they talked, Three minutes later, he heard Henry on a phone call.
‘Cole, I’m coming to join you on board.’ Dave could only hear Henry’s voice but not the reply. ‘Don’t tell me not to, my mind is made up. I’m coming.’
__
The woman’s scream became louder as Rex dropped into the room weakly. She was an middle aged woman, she had come for a business meeting in Lagos for the next morning and had changed into her night gown to sleep for the night. She turned to the other side of the bed to have a clearer view of who dropped into the room. She saw him sprawled on the floor weakly. She couldn’t tell if he was dead or not.
She needed to talk to the reception and tell them about him immediately but she was scared, the landline placed by the hotel management for the room user to communicate her needs was at the side the body was. She watched him for seconds and after being sure that he could not do anything to her walk past him quickly. She picked the phone and dialed.
Rex was in severe pains, his head was terribly injured from Tarasha’s hit and the window glasses which he hit in the process of falling. He didn’t feel like he had any strength to get up until he began to hear the woman reporting his fall through the phone calls. With deep sighs and groans, he dragged himself up and dragged his backside on the floor to the woman, she screamed and dropped the phone on seeing his movements towards her. She jumped onto the bed and fled quickly to the door.
Rex picked up the receiver of the phone quickly and held it between his shoulder and his ear as he dialed Elvis Richard’s number.
‘El…Elvis Richards, please ask that the power of the hotel goes off again, this time for ten minutes before coming back on.’ Rex said panting into the phone.
‘Okay, I’ll tell him right away.’ James replied instead.
‘Have your ship moved?’ Rex asked.
‘Yes, it has.’
‘Make sure you watch all those men on board, do not trust any of them.’
Rex did not get a reply immediately. He heard James talking to Elvis Richards.
____
‘Can you swim well Steph?’ Dave asked as he got back into the room.
‘Yes, I can.’ Stephanie answered as she turned to him. She stared at him inquisitively on seeing the dust and cobwebs on his body.
Dave flashed a glance at Lizzy. ‘Liz, we’d be going together to Lekki Port, we’d make a stop at the NIS office to get some swimming kits. Please make calls right away to any officer on duty to bring out the kits necessary for an emergency water operation.’
‘It’ll take us a total of about twenty five minutes to get to Lekki Sea port,’ Lizzy said, looking at the time. She considered the traffic at that time of the day.
‘Thirty minutes,’ Dave corrected her. ‘Five minutes to stop for the kits,’ he said and then turned to Stephanie. He began to use a towel to wipe off the stains on his body. ‘Steph, you’d get to Inspector Dakolo at the hospital and tell him we need reinforcement, Elvis Richards is trying to escape by sea and the likely meeting point of the assassins and Elvis Richards would be on that ship.’
‘Okay,’ Stephanie replied with a nod. She picked her phone and the key on the table and proceeded to the door.
Lizzy picked her things and also followed behind. She got to the door and turned back to look at Dave. She was surprised to see him still standing. He looked like he was being disturbed by something.
‘Is anything wrong?’
Dave shook his head slightly, carrying a narrow gaze on. ‘Nothing’s wrong,’ he replied.
‘Then, what are you waiting for?’ she raised her brows.
He shook his head and proceeded towards her weakly.
___
‘What the f*** is Henry coming to do here?’ Cole wondered to himself after the call ended. Tarasha’s instructions was that he remained with Chief Gab and Madam Henrietta until the mission ended.
He looked at his phone’s screen again, Henry was not answering his calls. Nicholas kept stealing glances at him but did not bother to ask any question.
Cole closed his eyes and rested his back on the backrest. He took a deep breath as he remembered his boss again. He couldn’t believe that she was dead already. It made him realize that death was truly inevitable for humans, no matter how powerful or dangerous the person is.
____
‘Guys, I want you to take a very good look around this ship. We must make sure we check anything that looks suspicious, we must not give rooms for any nonsense this time.’ James gave instructions to his men. A total of seven in number, he had ordered for them to come together after he received the call from Rex where he warned them to be very careful.
‘But why has the ship stopped?’ Ayo asked, wondering if the reason was related to the warnings given. He had gone to call the other men when the ships came to a halt.
‘I just asked the sailor, he’s says Erico Company has to add something to the goods in store.’ James replied.
‘Well, I don’t like the idea of taking a pause here in the middle of the sea.’ Ayo said.
‘That’s why we have to keep checking around now and remain alert, the sailor says a staff of the company is coming here. We have to check that staff before we let him come on board,’ James replied. ‘Please go now, spread out and leave no stone unturned.’
All the men turned and left the room immediately. James turned back to see Elvis Richards already walking into the room.
‘I don’t like the idea of the ship stopping too,’ Elvis Richards complained.
‘I’ll get it to move as soon as possible,’ James said with a reassuring look to his father. ‘I think Rex wants to come here too, it’ll give him sometime to catch up with us.’
Elvis Richards let out a deep breath and proceeded to sit on a chair.
‘Dad, all you need to do is remain here. The ship is safe but this part of the ship is the safest, no one knows you are here.’ James told him.
Elvis Richards nodded in reply.
‘I have to join them now and ensure they are doing what they need to do,’ James said and got a consenting nod from the man before he left. He got out of the quarters assigned to them and after five minutes of walking around got to the front verandah of the ship. He met some of his men already surrounding someone. He walked quickly to see what was going on. A battered lady was right in the centre of the circle.
Ayo landed another blow on her face. ‘You b***h! When are you going to speak up?’
‘Where did you find her?’ James asked, directing his question to Ayo.
‘They found her loitering around, one of our man has monitoring her since we got on this ship.’ Ayo replied.
‘We caught her sneaking on us,’ one of the men joined in. ‘She got into the toilet to make a call and we caught her asking someone where he was. It appeared he told her he was on his way.’
‘I knew that the Erico’s company call for the ship to stop was a fake one,’ Ayo put in.
James stared thoughtfully, he looked at the face of the lady on the ground in anger. ‘So what’s your mission here?’ He asked, he was about to squat to look into her eyes directly when he caught a glimpse of something moving afar off on the water. He stared at it for a while so nice that he attracted the attention of all the other men.
‘Take her somewhere in,’ James said to one of the men. ‘Everybody should take strategic positions, that looks like a Catamaran, the man she was calling may be the one coming in it.’
‘More like a speed boat,’ one of the men put in.
___
‘I think Tomi has gotten into some trouble, she isn’t answering her calls anymore,’ Cole said aloud. He was worried. She had called him and asked where he was, after reporting that Elvis Richards had not less than ten men on board, the phone call ended abruptly and since then she had not answered his calls.
‘Maybe she was discovered,’ Nicholas put in.
Cole looked at him but didn’t say a word.
‘Do I wait for you guys, are you returning immediately?’ the boat sailor turned and asked Cole.
Cole found the question difficult to answer. ‘Well, I can’t tell, you can come on board with us and wait for a while.’
‘No, if you want me to wait, I’d rather stay in my boat. I don’t want anyone to mark my face for working at the prohibited time.’ the man replied.
‘It’s okay,’ Cole had no choice than to agree.
They got closer and closer to the ship. Cole could see some men on the large verandah at the exterior. They seemed to be about their own business and oblivious of his coming until the speed boat got so close to the ship. He saw the three men gather together as expected, looking towards their direction.
____
Tarasha checked her time on getting to the port. The place was not so busy like it used to be during the working hours. The last ship for the day had left and so everywhere was deserted. She glanced around, looking at all the standpoints of all the different Sea travel agencies around. She needed to get something to follow the ship that had left.
She took out her phone to dial Cole’s number while she waited. It began to ring. She noticed something like a Jet ski coming towards the sea shore. She paid closer attention to see if it could be her opportunity to get on the sea faster. She walked down to the direction where the Jet ski was facing. Her phone call to Cole wasn’t answered but she did not bother as her mind was already preoccupied with getting the jet ski.
The man soon got to the sea and got out of the machine. He took out his was dialing a number on his phone when Tarasha approached him.
‘Hello sir,’ she said with a smile.
He stared at her with suspicious eyes. He noticed bruises on her face and some worn out parts on her clothes.
‘Hi,’ he forced out a reply.
‘Can I rent your machine for the night?’
‘No,’ he stared at her with a scornful look. ‘I was about to call the owner, he’d be coming right away for it.’
‘You have to tell the owner that I’m borrowing it,’ Tarasha said as she dipped her hand into her pocket and moved closer to him. He took a step back but didn’t go too far away to stop her from touching him.
__
‘What do you guys want?’ one of the men questioned Cole and Nicholas after they step onto the ship. The man who sailed the speed boat waited in it.
‘We’ve come to add this to the package for Erico Group Of Companies,’ Cole replied. Nicholas remained silent.
One of the men stepped forward ‘One, there’s nothing like Erico group of companies and secondly I don’t recognize you two as workers at Erico.’
The man looked different from the two others, while the other two looked like security officials with guns in their hands. He looked ordinary, he wore an Erico labelled shirt on a black plain trouser.
‘I mean we were contacted to bring this here,’ Cole tried to cover up. He could see other men appearing from other sides of the ship. He remained as calm as he could, he didn’t expect it to be easy but he was sure he would fight at his best. ‘We do not work for Erico, we were only sent here.’
‘I wasn’t sent here with you,’ Cole was shocked beyond words to hear the words come from Nicholas. He turned slowly and widened his eyes in shock as Nicholas moved from beside him to the men’s side. Nicholas took a pistol from one of the men and pointed at Cole.
‘Who’s this?’ Ayo asked as he stepped back into the verandah with James.
‘I see Rex’s secret man in Samantha Osman’s gang is here with a member of the gang,’ James replied. Rex had showed Nicholas to them while they were in Solace Hotel and they were both present when Rex gave Nicholas the assignment of tricking Samantha Osman or any of her men into their trap.
‘He’s here and he’s expecting Samantha Osman to join him.’ Nicholas said to James as he came closer to him.
The other men took out their guns and pointed them at Cole too.
Cole wanted to curse Nicholas loudly but the sound of the speed boat speeding away interrupted him. He glanced back and saw the sailor already on his way back. The man must have been scared by of the guns he saw been taken out.
‘That’s just the man who brought us here,’ Nicholas said as he stepped forward and joined James and Ayo. Ayo stretched out his hand to give Nicholas a handshake.
‘We should get the ship moving again, I was forced to make the call to stop the ship on Samantha Osman’s orders but I also saw it as an opportunity to bring this fool here.’ Nicholas said and looked Cole in the eyes with spite. ‘Rex would not be glad if he finds out we are not moving, I’ll go tell the sailors to continue.’
Nicholas got on the way before James could reply him. James only nodded and watched him go. He then turned to one of the men. ‘Go bring that girl here,’ he ordered and the man responded immediately.
Two minutes later, the man returned with Tomi whose hands were tied behind her. They motioned her and Cole to the centre of the large verandah and asked both of them to go on their knees.
Cole had four men pointing their guns towards them from different directions. Inspector James and Ayo were standing in front of them. He studied the positions of all the gunmen carefully and began to conceptualize how he could get his way past them without injuring himself or Tomi. Another major challenge he faced was the ropes used to tie Tomi’s hands.
‘You guys should search him and take any gun or weapons you find on his body out,’ Ayo said to one of the men.
Cole breathed in gently, it could just be the opportunity he was waiting for.
‘No, don’t do that.’ James objected and the man who had made the move step back. He then looked at Cole eye to eye. ‘This guy looks smarter than that,’ he said and chuckled. ‘You know what boy? You’re going to take out everything in your pockets and put them on the ground.’
Cole was disappointed by the change in instructions. He could feel his phone vibrating in his backpocket again as he put his hands in his pocket to take out his gun. He put down the only gun in his pocket and his phone after silencing it, he pushed it forward towards Cole and Ayo. Then James signalled for the man pointing the gun behind to move closer and search his body
‘The sailors are dead, the two of them.’ A voice sounded from behind.
It was Nicholas. Ayo and James raised their eyes to look at him.
‘I saw traces of a female’s hair on them, I think she killed them,’ Nicholas added, accusing Tomi.
Tomi turned her neck to stare at him. She was the only female there, so she was sure he was referring to her.
James stared thinly at Nicholas’ face for a while trying to compare the time at which he met with the sailors and when Tomi was found.
‘So you killed the sailors already?’ Ayo asked, staring at her with furious eyes.
Tomi only stared at his face for a moment but gave no reply. James took her silence to mean she was guilty of killing them. He concluded that she must have done it immediately he left the sailors after he went to ask why there was a pause in the movement.
‘Now, we have a very big problem here if we can’t move the ship.’ James lamented. ‘Is there no other person who can sail it?’
‘I asked, but the security men do not seem to know what to do.’ Nicholas replied.
James stared at Tomi angrily he took out his gun and pointed at her. ‘d@mn you b***h! He said and fired a quick unexpected shot at her and the bullet entered straight into her belly. Everyone was surprised, they didn’t expect he would shoot her that we quick. She fell on her side and gave up the ghost.
Cole widened her eyes on seeing her fall dead. His heartbeat changed and his blood began to boil. Even though he and Tomi had not been the best of friends, her fall still had some huge impact on him. He was still boiling in anger visible when one of the men behind kicked him at his back with the knee and he fell face flat.
‘Don’t kill him yet,’ Nicholas cautioned as he saw James trying to pull the trigger angrily. James and Ayo looked at his face for explanation. ‘He’s the only one who can easily trick Samantha Osman to us, we lose if we kill him. I can’t do that because she doesn’t trust me completely.’
____
The speed boat sailor zoomed as fast as he could. He had believed Cole and Nicholas when they told him they were from Erico company and one of them had to meet with the ship. He was surprised to find the men taking out guns on he ship and he decided to flee immediately since he had already been paid for his own services before they get him involved in wh@tëver their business was.
He could see another small water vessel coming from afar, at first it looked like a canoe from afar but as it came closer, he wondered what someone was doing with it on the sea and going in that direction at that time of the night.
Two minutes later, that got to the same point and he had a better view of her. He knew who owned the ship and he was confused about how she got it but he remained silent and focused on his way. Five minutes after he passed her and the Jet ski was out of his sight, he saw something else that surprised him. A raft coming afar off from a different direction but towards the same direction of the ship carrying the Erico goods. He could see from afar that the raft had three people on it. He shook his head as he wondered what could be happening that night.
___
‘You’ve previously gotten information from Samantha Osman, you can’t say she wouldn’t talk to you when you haven’t given it a try yet? Why don’t you try?’ Ayo suggested.
‘I’ve been away from them since morning, it gives her room to be suspicious. She would believe I could have changed sides within that time,’ Nicholas said, reemphasizing his point that she wouldn’t trust him. He however picked up Cole’s phone which was on the floor to show them he was willing to try. He unlocked it and switched to the call history where he dialed Tarasha’s number on. He placed it close to his ear to listen.
‘She’s not answering,’ he said after the second time of trying without the call been answered.
There was silence for a few seconds.
James took out this phone and dialed Rex’s number. ‘Hello Rex, we have a problem.’
‘What problem is that? I hope your ship is still moving,’ Rex replied.
‘I’m afraid it’s not,’ James answered in a low tone. ‘It stopped and when we checked both sailors were dead.’
‘What the f***! I told you to watch carefully and ensure you do not have any enemy on board,’ Rex answered angrily.
‘I truly do not know how she got on board with us but she’s dead now, Nicholas also led Samantha Osman’s right hand man to us.’
‘But you gotta get the f***** ship moving immediately.’
‘I’m afraid but…’ he stopped to look at Ayo’s face. ‘There’s no way we can, I don’t know anyone here who can navigate the ship.’
‘You have to move it anyhow… Oh f***! Now listen, make sure that Chief Elvis remains in that room and does not take off his disguise. I’m close to the port and I’ll join you soon.’
‘Okay Rex,’ James wondered why Rex sounded so afraid, he expected that Rex should have killed Samantha Osman like he said he was going to do before leaving Solace Hotel.
He returned the phone into his pocket. ‘One of you should take this body and dispose it off,’ he said, referring to Tomi’s body. ‘Pick him up and take him in, we’d remain watchful with all our man while we wait here for Rex.’
James signaled to Ayo and both of them walked in, leaving the remaining with Cole.
‘Get up idiot!’ one of the men said as he slapped Cole hard on the back. He put the gun at the back of his head to show his seriousness. Cole forced himself up and raised his hands in the air like he was instructed to do. He turned to look back and watched as Tomi’s body was taken away, he was aggrieved in his spirit but he still had not gotten the right opportunity to attack the men who could easily overpower and kill him if he made any mistake while trying to attack them. His eyes met with Nicholas’ and he gave him the deadliest stare ever. Nicholas replied with a confident look. He unlocked Cole’s phone again and dialed Tarasha’s number.
They were about to enter into the interior of the ship when one of the men caught a glimpse of something coming afar off the sea. He called the attention of the others and they all delayed their movement to check what it was.
‘What could that be?’ Nicholas asked loudly.
‘Looks like someone else is coming here,’ one of the men answered.
They were sure another boat was coming towards them but what they could not ascertain yet was how many people were in the small boat. They waited for more than one minute before they could see clearly that it was only one person in a Jet ski.
Cole used the opportunity to observe each of them, four out of the five men were holding guns while the fifth one and Nicholas were without guns. It wasn’t still the right time to attack them, they still kept an eye on him even as they watched the coming vehicle. His eyes caught Nicholas’ eyes and Nicholas seemed to know what he was looking back for. Nicholas raised his brows and nodded his head gently. Cole stared at him suspiciously not understanding the meaning of his gesture.
‘Someone should tell James that someone else is approaching,’ one of the men said aloud and then turned to look at the vehicle well.
They dragged Cole with them as they walked back towards the guard rails, three of them spreading themselves out while one stood behind Cole with a gun.
Cole also took a brief look towards the coming vehicle, he wasn’t expecting anyone but the structure of the person sailing the Jet ski caught his attention. He stared more attentively for about thirty seconds and couldn’t believe who it was when he saw her.
‘She’s here,’ he said aloud with confidence, his mind gaining some peace of mind. He couldn’t contain his joy on seeing her again.
‘Who the f*** is here?’ the man standing right behind Cole asked.
Before Cole could answer or make any move, someone screamed from behind. All the men glanced back to see Nicholas attacking the man beside him.
____
The speed boat sailor was glad as he journeyed towards the land. He had heard a gunshot sound after he left the ship and he imagined in his eyes that they had shot Cole.
As he got closer, he saw a man walking towards the direction he hoped to park his speed boat. He hoped it wasn’t what he was thinking, he wasn’t ready to talk about the speed boat with anyone else that night.
__
‘Get the f*** down now,’ Rex ordered with his gun pointed at him.
The man jumped out of the speed boat immediately. He longed to call the attention of the security men but he noticed that he couldn’t catch a glimpse of anyone around.
He watched as Rex got into his boat and sped off with it. He was frustrated as he walked the seashore wondering what kind of debt he had put himself into. He suddenly spotted a man lying on the floor, he rushed to the man to see if he was alive. The man was breathing. He recognized the man as the one who rented the Jet ski from another man earlier that day.
‘Hey man, we need two speed boats, I want you to give me the fastest ones you’ve got.’
‘Oh! Not again,’ the speedboat sailor fell on his knees as he heard another voice requesting for a speedboat.
‘Come on, get up and answer us quickly.’
He raised his head and saw three people standing before him, a lady and two men. He recognized one of them as a SSS agent who had once come to use a speedboat from his company. The two men had two big backpacks behind them while the lady was holding only a small bag.
Dave knelt down beside him to check the body of the man who was on the floor. ‘The guy has only been put to sleep, he’d be awake soon. Just leave him.’
The sailor stared at Dave’s face for while, considering whether to believe him or not.
‘He just told you the truth,’ the other male agent put in.
The Sailor heaved a sigh. ‘So, what happens if I refuse to give you any of our speedboats this time around?’
‘I’ll make sure you’re arraigned for being accessory to crime,’ Agent Emmanuel replied with a mischievous smile.
The sailor shook his head. ‘Where is your identity card and permit?’ he asked.
The SSS agent brought out cards and showed it to him. The sailor nodded after confirming the veracity
‘I hope there would be no delay in payment or replacement this time around,’ the sailor asked as he began to lead the three to where the boats were.
‘I can’t give you an answer to that, only the government who sent us can answer you.’
The sailor did not speak again.
‘Thank you for agreeing to help Agent Emmanuel,’ Dave said as they proceeded on. ‘Please d not forget any part of the plan and keep listening with the devices for my instruction.’
‘Sure man,’ Agent Emmanuel replied.
Dave turned to Lizzy, he tapped her on the shoulder. ‘So we go on the ship together, you’re ready?’
‘Yes, I am. But I still do not understand what he is going to be doing with the emergency kits at a distance far away from us,’ Lizzy replied.
‘He’s not going to be at a distance far away,’ Dave corrected her notion. ‘He just has to stay at a distance where he would not be seen, this to ensure we escape quick if the need arises.’
____
On The Ship
Nicholas gave the man a final jab which made the man release his gun and then kicked him to the ground before firing a shot at him. It was too late by the time the other men turned back, Nicholas was already in full control of the gun. Cole decided to sieze the opportunity and grabbed the neck of the man standing behind him with the gun, the man had been distracted by Nicholas.
___
‘What’s wrong?’ Ayo asked the man who rushed into the cabin leading to Chief Gab’s room.
‘We found another speedboat coming in our direction,’ the man replied.
Ayo stared at his face for a while. Then he stepped back and shifted the curtain to poke his head into the room. He saw Inspector James talking with Chief Elvis.
‘Please inspector, there’s something we need to attend to.’ he said to James.
James turned and stared at him for a moment, he then said something to the Chief before getting up.
‘Inspector, a speedboat is on it’s way here.’ Ayo said to James as the latter stepped out of the room.
‘Is it the same one that came before?”
‘No, a different one…’ sounds of gunshot interrupted his reply.
‘F***! We can’t afford to lose this battle after coming this far,’ James said as he pulled out his gun, he hurried towards the exit.
____
Cole and Nicholas were able to take down the four men in a minute and they were now left with each other, each pointing his gun to the other’s face.
‘You gotta trust me Cole, I’m sorry for Tomi’s death but I am fully with you. We would have found it more difficult if I did not act like I was with them.’
‘But you watched and did nothing while he killed Tomi,’ Cole argued, still feeling pained about Tomi’s death.
‘I never knew he was going to shoot at her, I would have stopped him somehow.’ Nicholas defended.
‘Why can’t I, why can’t I just believe you?’ Cole said after a silence of about five seconds.
‘You have to believe me, I didn’t know that he was going to react that way. I would not have told him she killed them.’
‘So she didn’t kill them?’ Cole asked with his brows raised.
‘Yes, she didn’t.’ Nicholas replied. Cole narrowed his gaze. ‘I killed them to stop the ship from moving until Samantha joins us here.’
Cole took in a breath.
‘F*** you, you idiot!’
They were surprised to hear James’s voice. He had appeared at the entrance and fired shot at them. They both tried to flee in the opposite direction as they shot back at James. A bullet hit Nicholas in the shoulder but he still managed to escape.
____
James fired on at them as he walked to the middle of the verandah, with the two men behind him supporting. Nicholas and Cole had gone back into the ship through the opening at the other side.
James walked quickly to the guard rail to have a quick view. He saw the Jet ski just about two metres away from the ship but there was no one in it. He looked at the space beside the vessel, there were signs which showed that someone had just gotten into the water. He fired two shots at the side where he could see the bubbles but there was no sign that the bullet touched anyone. He stepped back and looked around carefully, he saw Ayo and two other man still looking around for Cole and Nicholas. He turned and proceeded straight into the interior. He was going to instruct the remaining six men on the ship to look for the anybody trying to access the ship from any side while he would focus everything to make sure nobody touched Elvis Richards.
He determined not to fail after getting so close to victory. Even if it would cost his life to ensure the escape of the Chief, he was ready to give it.
___
Cole and Nicholas rushed into an empty cabin. It was unkempt and smelling. Nicholas quickly sat on the floor behind a wall. He used his left hand to grab the bullet wound on his right shoulder.
‘Let me check it,’ Cole offered to help after locking the door of the cabin.
Nicholas took his hand off to allow Cole see the bullet wound.
‘We gotta stop the bleeding, let me take off your shirt and tie it.’ Cole said.
Someone began to hit the door of the cabin from behind, trying to gain entrance.
Nicholas flashed a glance at the door and then looked at Cole. He took out the phone which he had picked on the floor and handed it to Cole. ‘Don’t worry about me, just go, help the boss, finish the mission and kill Rex.’
‘No, I can’t leave you this way.’ Cole protested.
‘You gotta go, and trust me this time,’ Nicholas insisted. ‘I need Rex dead as much as you do. My mother and child are in danger because he lives,’ he added with a reassuring look.
Cole let out a breath and stared at him emotionally for a while. He squeezed his palm and then proceeded out through the opposite exit.
Nicholas jumped on his feet quickly and the door opened forcefully at the same time. He sent a kick to the chin of the first man who rushed into the cabin, slamming his head to the wall. The second man entered with a gun but Nicholas grabbed his hand and directed the gun upwards. He kicked him in the belly and then fired a shot into the man’s chest with the gun in his hand.
___
Cole had just gotten into the next cabin when the phone in his hand began to ring. He checked the screen and saw that the caller was Tarasha, he proceeded into the next place before he answered the call.
‘Hello…’ he answered with uncertainty, not sure if the phone was still in Rex’s hand or if it was now in Tarasha’s hand.
‘Cole, where are you?’ Tarasha’s voice sounded.
‘I’m in ship boss, where are you?’
‘I’m hanging somewhere on the body of the ship, have you located the position of Elvis Richards on this ship?’
‘Not yet, but according to Tomi’s findings; this ship was meant to be for goods only but Elvis Richards had made them provide a cruise section on the same ship so that it would only be on record that the ship moved only goods.’
‘And what section of the ship are you on?’
‘Close to the sailor’s side, I’m trying to locate the link to the cruise section.’
‘Okay,’ Tarasha replied him, she said nothing else before ending the call.
Also read – Tarasha 2 – Chapter 15 Part 3
Cole heard another gunshot again from Nicholas’ direction. He hoped in his mind that it was Nicholas shooting someone else. He returned his phone to his pocket and proceeded out of the part he was, he heard three more gunshot sounds as he got to the exit. He stopped and took a glance at the door, considering if he should go back to assist Nicholas or not. But he realized there was no going back at that point, even if he could have helped Nicholas, it was already late. He proceeded on into a cabin, it was dark inside but he could see that the place was filled with neatly arranged cartons of goods. The darkness in the room did not let him quickly see someone charging towards him. Before he could use his gun, a heavy blow hit him in the belly.
___
Tarasha jumped into the verandah, her backpack strapped to her body and her gun held firmly in her right hand. She walked carefully towards the door, observing the place and the dead bodies. She could hear the sounds of someone behind the wall at the entrance waiting for her. She continued like she was unaware of his presence.
He launched a kick at her but she bent quickly and hit him with her foot on the knee of the standing leg.
___
‘We’re finally here,’ the young man in the raft said as they got to the ship. ‘Let’s go in.’
He positioned the raft well for easy access to the ship stairs. He looked back as the Chief climbed up the stairs, he could see a speedboat coming from afar in that direction.
___
5 Minutes Later
‘Is she here?’ Elvis Richards asked James again.
‘No Dad but she’s got some of her men on board but we’re fishing them out and Rex is also close,’ James replied.
The frequent sounds of gun shots had returned the man to his state of panic. His hope of living a good life again had suddenly vanished and the fear of Samantha Osman had dominated his heart again.
James stared at his father’s face for a while. The man had cleaned up the disguise when he took a shower, contrary to Rex’s instruction that it was to be kept till the trip ended. However, he did not want to blame the man nor make him feel bad or afraid. He also did not tell the man that Samantha Osman men mentioned that she was coming there.
James phone rang and he picked it up immediately.
‘James, I hope the Chief is fine.’
‘Yes, he is.’
‘Any sign of Samantha Osman yet?’
‘No sign yet,’ James replied. ‘We’ve got only one of her men on board and that guy Nicholas seems to be on her side now.’
‘Okay, I can sight the ship already. I’ll be there in two minutes.’
‘Okay Rex,’ James dropped the phone and turned to his father. ‘Rex would be here in two minutes…’
James’ sentence was cut short when he heard a crash sound from the room leading to the place. He got up immediately and picked his gun.
‘Let me check what it is,’ he said to the Chief before getting up.
____
Rex climbed up the ship weakly and stepped into the verandah. The sea wind swept across his body, making him feel dizzy. His legs shook as he proceeded but he marched on, the drugs he had injected himself after getting out of Solace Hotel had not gone much in restoring his strength nor reducing the pains he felt all over his body. He took out a pistol from behind as he proceeded, he had two extra pistols at both side pockets.
He got to the helm of the ship and checked what kind of set up it was, he heaved a sigh of relief after he discovered that it was an easy one for him to steer. He proceeded into the other areas with the aim to check if Elvis Richards was still in safety and confirm that Samantha wasn’t on the ship yet before he continued sailing it.
In the first room he walked into, he saw four dead bodies scattered about the floor, he could identify all of them as his men and he recognized Nicholas especially, there was a bullet hole in Nicholas’ shoulder and two holes in his chest.
Rex did not waste time looking at the bodies, he proceeded onto the next place. Soon he could hear sounds of a fist fight from the parts of the ship in front. He clenched his fist and his fingers in anger but instead of feeling strength, he felt deep pains all over his muscles. He realized he did have the strength to engage anyone in a fight that night, the impact from the fall he had was still so much. He took out a second gun and ÇOçked it.
___
Tarasha could hear the footsteps of someone coming from the other room as she kicked the third man in his groin, making him fall back. She had killed the first two men who attacked her in the room. She hurried towards the door and got there just as Inspector James stepped out with the gun in his hand pointed, she grabbed his wrist quickly and directed his hand to the side, towards the man who she had just kicked in the groin. The bullet hit the man in his belly. She punched James in the belly as heavy as she could and dragged him by the hand to her front. Before he could raise his head, she used her knee to hit him in the face and followed with a blow to his chest.
He staggered back but was unwilling to give up nor let the gun in his hand drop. He tried to point it at her but she grabbed his wrist with her left hand and directed the bullets from his gun to the right as she elbowed him with her right hand. He wasted three bullets in succession to the ground. She twisted his hand and passed under his arm to stay at his back as she tried to collect the gun from him. He struggled with her and his finger pressed the trigger mistakenly, the bullet entered into the side of his belly. He became weak instantly and struggled to remain on his feet.
She was able to collect his gun from him and after that kicked him to the ground. He fell and laid on his back flat. She turned and fired a bullet into the body of the man she was fighting with before James showed up, she turned back to fire at James again but the bullets in the gun had been exhausted. She flung the gun to the ground and left him to die in pains.
__
‘I think we’re almost close to where Elvis Richards would be,’ Henry said as he led Madam Henrietta and Chief Gab into the Cabin. Just like they had been seeing from the verandah, there was blood all over the floor and dead bodies on the ground.
They proceeded into the next room and saw four dead men.
Madam Henrietta screamed on seeing the way a particular man’s face was totally disfigured. She froze at the entrance where she was, Henry and Chief Gab stopped to look at her.
‘Let’s go madam, these people are dead already.’ Henry said, urging her to step forward but she remained there frozen to the spot and shaking. Henry walked back to the entrance and held her by the elbow, trying to speak soothing words to her.
Unknown to them, Inspector James was still alive and was conscious of their presence. He was bleeding profusely from his wound and was feeling severe pains but he managed to hang on to his life.
____
Cole dodged a jab from the man and sent a heavy blow to his mouth, making him spit out blood. The man staggered forward and almost hit his head on the wall but was able to stop himself and turn back immediately. He was however sent to the ground with a kick from Cole to his head. Cole followed him and began to kick him in the belly until he laid flat on his back weakly. He placed a knee on the ground and tightened his fists around the man’s neck to squeeze out life from him.
The man was still struggling for his life when Cole heard a sound from behind him. He looked back and saw something that shocked him. Rex already at the entrance already pointing a gun at him. The fear of Rex which he had in his mind affected his ability to think fast. Before he could make any move, a bullet entered into his side, breaking through one of his ribs. The impact jerked him and he unconsciously fell with one side of his bum on the ground. He looked helpless as Rex stepped forward and fired another bullet into his chest.
Life oozed out of him totally in a second and his body fell to the ground. Rex took another step closer and fired another into his body, to make sure he was dead completely.
Also read – Tarasha 2 – Chapter 19 Part 6
___
Tarasha looked around the dark room for a while without seeing anyone, she could hear sounds of slight movements coming from the wardrobe direction but she was yet to see who or what was making the noise. She proceeded slowly to the wardrobe area, she could hear more sounds and she was now certain that someone was hiding at the side of the wardrobe.
She proceeded carefully until she got there, leaving only two steps to get to the edge where she sensed the person was. She took one more step closely and then tapped her feet on the ground.
Chief Elvis Richards rushed out of his hiding place weaving a knife. He tried to stab her but she moved back immediately, he followed her and made another attempt but she swerved to the side this time around and he almost fell forward, she grabbed him by the hand raised it up. She gave him a kick with her knee in his belly. He groaned and tried to fight back but she landed a blow on his face and followed with another on his chest. He fell to the ground and the knife fell from his hand behind him.
He stared at her face for a while and got scared by the terror he could see on it.
‘Please, let me live.’ he said as he struggled to get up. She stretched his hand to pick the knife but she kicked him in the belly and he hit his back against the glass door exit.
Tarasha picked up the knife and raised it up. She smiled as she looked at the shiny blade and looked at the man’s face again. He was also staring directly into her eyes.
Her anger continued to increase with every second she could see himstill breathing. This was the man who changed the course of her life totally from her eighth year birthday and destroyed the life of her whole family. After and before that time he had also destroyed the lives of so many others, but here was he, striving to end his life peacefully and even begging to be left alive.
‘Please for…give me,’ he stammered with the whole of his body trembling and his bladder already releasing urine. He couldn’t look at her face anymore, she was visibly fuming in anger and it could be seen in her eyes like a fiery furnace. He managed to get up and got out through the opened space into the back verandah where he was previously sitting.
There was no where to run to. He stopped at the guard rail and looked down. He could have jumped into the water if he knew how to swim but he was sure she would still come after him if he jumped. He dropped to the floor weakly and spread out his legs. He closed his eyes as he saw her step out into the verandah. He knew this time that his death was inevitable.
____
Inspector James turned his body gently to see the three people who had come into the room. He reached out for the second gun in his pocket. It took him sometime to bring it out and ÇOçk it.
Chief Gab was the first to hear the ÇOçking sound of the gun but he couldn’t tell where it was from. Henry also heard and pulled out his gun as he turned back immediately.
It was however too late for Chief Gab as James fired two shots into his body, before he could changed the direction of his gun, Henry had fired into his body three times and he gave up the ghost immediately.
Madam Henrietta screamed and fell to her knees on seeing Chief Gab fall to the ground. Henry quickly picked her up, ‘Madam, we have to get to Omotara now.’
__
‘Are you ready for this right?’ Dave asked Lizzy as they both stepped into the ship.
‘You know I’m always ready. What makes this night different? You’ve asked this same question more than once that?’ Lizzy replied as she pulled out her gun. They both had their NIS masks on.
They stared at the dead bodies on the floor for a while and then Dave signalled for her to go towards the right side while he would go in through the main entrance.
‘Agent Emmanuel, stay alert please.’ Dave said into his communicator as he proceeded to the entrance.
__
Tarasha heard a scream after the sounds of the gunshots. The picture of her mother flashed through her mind but she shook her head to wave it off. Her mother was safe with Henry and there was no need to bother about her, she thought. She proceeded to Elvis Richards, she wasn’t going to let anything stop his death.
She planned to stab him multiple times, at different parts of his body and leave him so disfigured to symbolize the lives of the several people who the man had left destroyed. She held her knife firmly as she got closer. She pulled him up by the collar and made his back lean against the guard rail. She was about to raise the knife when she heard her name.
‘No, Omotara. Don’t kill him,’ Madam Henrietta pleaded running forward with Henry following behind her. She stopped some distance away from Tarasha where she could see her clearly and also see Elvis Richards, she placed her hand on the guard rail for support as she leaned on it weakly.
Tarasha was shocked. She stared thinly at the woman as Henry joined beside her.
‘Henry, what are you doing? Why is she here?’ she asked, terribly mad at Henry.
Henry remained quiet.
Madam Henrietta was still shaky, her eyes were full of tears and her hand were trembling.
‘Omotara, you should not kill him.’ she managed to say. She swallowed in deeply. ‘He is your father,’ the words dropped out of her mouth one after the other.
Tarasha narrowed her gaze at her mother, wondering if she was talking in her right senses.
Elvis Richards also stared at madam Henrietta’s face wondering what she was talking about.
‘She is the result of what you did in Gabriel’s office twenty five years ago.’ Madam Henrietta said, breathing loudly and staring at Elvis Richards.
___
Lizzy walked carefully through the dead bodies on the ground, this particular cabin was stacked with carton of goods and the cartons were already stained with blood. Her eyes roamed about for a moment and she stared in shock as she saw Cole’s dead body staring at her. She rushed to where he was and knelt beside him.
Her hand became weak and the gun dropped. Tears rolled down her eyes as she placed her palm on his face to close his eyes. She felt like a failure. She had not recognized love when she found it, and she had even helped the enemies destroy the person whom she loved. She laid on the ground weakly, her heart was totally shattered.
___
‘Mom, what are you talking about?’ Tarasha gave the woman a questioning look.
‘He is your father, Gabriel wasn’t your father, Elvis Richards R@PED me that day.’
FlashBack
Location: Solace Hotels.
‘I don’t want to hear any of your apologies anymore Chief Gab, I’m tired already.’ Madam Henrietta said. She wondered why Chief Gab kept on saying he had something to tell her. He had said it first before they were kidnapped and he kept on repeating it anytime they were alone.
‘Adunni,’ she Gab said and let out a breath. ‘I never R@PED you, I did not do it that day.’
Madam Henrietta looked at him with disbelieving eyes. ‘You liar, what do you stand to gain this time? I’m not asking you to accept the child any longer.’
‘No, you don’t understand. I truly did not R@PE you, I have never R@PED anyone in my life.’ Chief Gab insisted. ‘You yourself do not remember how it happened that day.’
Madam Henrietta seemed to consider his words for a moment. She truly did not remember how it happened that day. She had only opened her eyes to find blood stains on her skirt and realize that her virginity had been forcefully taken.
‘I drugged you that day,’ Chief Gab continued his narration in a regretful tone. ‘Elvis Richards previously gave me a liquid to use in drugging people. He said a little inhalation of the scent would get the victim fast asleep. I used the liquid on an handkerchief that day and covered your nose when it when you did not consent. But you fell like you were dead and I was scared. It was my first and only time of using it, I did not know how the victim was supposed to react. I called Elvis Richards and asked him to come immediately. He got to my office twenty minutes after and you were still sleeping. He laughed at me and encouraged me to go ahead with my plans of sleeping with you but I could not, I was too scared that something would happen to you if I did. He mocked me and decided to do it since I refused to. I hid in the toilet until he was through, feeling bad.’
Chief Gab paused and let out a sigh, a tear dropped off his eyes. When you came back with the pregnancy, i was scared again. I couldn’t say the truth because I was also guilty of the same crime as Elvis Richards. I had to reject it, I did not tell him it was what he did that resulted into your pregnancy because I knew how dangerous he was, he could have suggested that we kill you after you give birth and kidnap his baby.’ he paused and let out another deep breath. ‘I’m sorry for the pains I caused you, I’m truly sorry, I regret everything I did.’
Also read – Tarasha 2 – Chapter 18 Part 8
Madam Henrietta stared thinly at him, shaking her head slowly and tears dropping freely from her eyes. The pains and shame caused by their actions had not eft her mind completely.
She wondered what sought of evil man Elvis Richards was. The man knew he once R@PED her and acted like a saint to her years after when they get again. He had a casual sëx relationship with her and during those times pained Chief Gab as the evil man.
PRESENT
Tarasha could not believe her ears as Madam Henrietta explained the truth to her. The knife fell off her hands and she took a step back, her eyes staring at Elvis Richards and her mouth left slightly agape.
Chief Gab’s face was already full of tears and regrets. His body was trembling and his heartbeat was abnormal. He couldn’t imagine that he had lived his life as a total waste. He had started off as a young man chasing after a good life and had gotten into the wrong way when he met with Chief Afeez. He became as wicked as Chief Afeez and even more ruthless, killing people and destroying lives without compassion. He had thought he was gathering wealth for himself and his children only to find out years down the line that all the children he thought were his were for Chief Afeez, and then his life for the past nine months had been directed to fighting against the only one person who was his seed, the only person he ever fathered. His life was a total mess.
He stared at Tarasha’s eyes and saw the disbelief in her eyes, he knew she must be finding it very hard to believe that he was her father.
Tears continued to roll down his eyes. He took a step closer to her and raised his hand, trying to touch her cheek. He was yet to touch her when he saw Rex at the glass door, pointing a gun in Tarasha’s direction. He shone his eyes widely in shock, Rexwas about to kill his only daughter just within his few seconds of discovering who she was.
Tarasha had gotten so lost emotionally that she wasn’t paying attention to the footsteps sound even though she heard them. It was until she saw her father eyes shone in shock before she realized that there was trouble behind. She tried to turn to check what it was but it was late already.
Elvis Richards pulled her close to himself and stepped to the front turning his back towards Rex and shielding her from the bullets. Rex had already released two shots before he knew what was happening.
The first bullet entered into Elvis Richard’s back and the second pierced into the back of his head. He fell lifeless into Tarasha’s hand and she grabbed him.
Rex was confused as to what had just happened and he didn’t realize until a bullet from Henry entered into his belly. He turned his face towards Henry briefly, he had seen Henry there before but did not think Henry had a gun, his mind was focused on taking down Tarasha only. His knees buckled as he looked back again at Tarasha and found her face full of tears with Chief Elvis Richards body still in her hands. Another bullet hit his chest, he fell face flat to the ground.
Henry turned to look at Tarasha. She was now sitting on the floor with Chief Gab’s head on her lap, her back resting against the guard rails.
Sounds of people running about in the ship could be heard and then someone could be heard shouting commands. It was obvious that police officers had arrived.
Henry looked at Tarasha’s face frantically, he hoped she was in the right state to get them out without being caught by the police.
‘Tara, we have to get out of here,’ he said. ‘Take this,’ he offered his gun to her and brought out another. ‘We’d act like she’s our hostage,’ he said referring to Madam Henrietta who was beside him.
Tarasha rose up and collected the gun from him. ‘No, I’ll keep the both of you hostage, they might want to shoot and if you aren’t the hostage, you would be a target.’ Tarasha said in concern for Henry. ‘Get on your knees you both,’ she shouted and they both got on their knees. She moved to their back and rested her bum against the guardrail. She placed the mouths of the guns to touch the head of the two. She made sure it wasn’t ÇOçked to prevent accidental discharge.
She planned to jump into the water after the police had seen that she kept Henry and Henrietta hostages. They would take the both of them from there as victims of Samantha Osman while they pursued after her. That would put only her in danger while the police treated the other two as victims. She hoped the police would keep them safely for her until she comes back to get them on another day.
Dave finally stepped into the verandah, pointing his gun at her.
‘Samantha, let them go now.’ Dave shouted.
She gave him no reply.
‘Let them go!’ he repeated.
There was still no reply. They remained in total silence for close to a minute.
Dakolo ran into the verandah and stopped on seeing Dave, he quickly pointed his gun at Tarasha while he spoke to Dave.
‘So you’re here, I was trying to find out what part of the ship you were. I started coming immediately Steph informed me.’
‘You delayed me, I should have gotten to this part of the ship earlier but I was trying to answer your call. The network was so bad.. What about the reinforcement?’ Dave replied Dakolo, making sure he kept his eyes on Tarasha as he talked.
‘Few men are here with me, I’ve got others coming to join.’ Dakolo replied.
Dave nodded and returned his focus back on Tarasha even though he never looked away. He noticed the look on her face, he could see she wasn’t at the right state of mind. Or how else could she be placing the hostages below her instead of shielding her body with theirs, he was sure she planned to jump into the water. He positioned his gun properly and his finger slowly moved towards the trigger.
Tarasha’s eyes caught Dave’s eyes for a moment and she saw that he was trying to focus his pistol, it was then he realized that she had made it too obvious that she wanted to jump over with her position on the guard rail and she had also exposed her body for entrance of bullets by having her hostages kneeling down. Before she could make any attempt to readjust, Dave fired at her. The first shot hit in on the right shoulder, she didn’t bother to try to shoot back because her guns weren’t ÇOçked yet and he would have had more shots at her before she could shoot at him.
Dave fired another shot into her belly and she vibrated all over. Her hands got weak and she dropped the guns, she managed to hold on to the guard rails. She quickly tried to climb over and jump into the water. Just as her two legs got over the guardrails, Dave fired her two more shots which got into her body, and made her fall into the water without control.
Madam Henrietta and Henry widened their eyes in shock they watched her drop into the water with four bullets in her body. Madam Henrietta let out a loud cry while Henry collapsed on the ground and cried silently.
Dave proceeded carefully towards them, feeling confident and fulfilled. He had gotten it at the right timing just like he planned. He had allowed the assassins fight against each other until they got to their weakest level. He met Samantha Osman at her weakest time and it was easier to take her down.
He and Dakolo looked over the guardrail, they could see the traces of her body sinking in the sea.
‘Who’s gonna get the body out?’ Dakolo asked.
‘I don’t know, ‘ Dave replied and turned back. ‘You said more officers are coming already in their boats, I believe they include Marine officers, they’ll find her body when they come.’
Dave stopped to look at Madam Henrietta and Henry again. ‘These guys need to be taken care of,’ he said to Dakolo who took out his phone to call his other officers.
Dave walked away feeling cool with himself. He had the final victory.
(The Pictures Uploaded describes some of the water vessels used e.g Jet Ski, Speed Boat)
Tarasha 2 – Epilogue
® 18+ SNVL
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel
October 11, 2031.
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Five months after the death of assassin Samantha Osman, her body is yet to be found and the Marine officers have no explanation for it. Chief Nonso Onwuli has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for his involvement in employing the services of the deadly assassin. Security agents and police men who worked with Elvis Richards in perpetrating evil including Agent Tim have been arraigned and are preparing to face the court of law.
Henry Ekene George was declared not guilty after the final trial last week when the court discovered that he was a victim of the assassin’s mind control techniques. He has since been employed as a consultant to the ministry of defense on the use of technology in security and as an assistant to the chairman of the NSCC, Mr Sylvester.
Police Agent Dakolo celebrates his wedding anniversary yesterday with his wife Angela Dakolo and they had many dignitaries at the event including the Inspector General Of Police. Several agents of the SSS including Agent Elizabeth Thomas have been dismissed from the force for their involvement as accessories to secret crimes, some others have been served jail terms.
The Inspector General Of Police however assured the nation that Samantha Osman was gone forever and would never reappear in the history of Nigeria as she could not have escaped death after the secret agent shot her four times. He however noted that the search for her body would continue and the nation would be told when it’s found.
Ever since the death of Samantha Osman, politicians have expressed their fears and boldly encouraged people to avoid evil to ensure that an occurrence like Samantha Osman never has to repeat itself again.
‘d@mn it! d@mn it! d@mn it!’ Henry cursed loud and flung off the remote control in his hand. He didn’t see his mother coming.
‘Come on Henry, ‘ the woman scolded him.
‘I’m sorry mum, I didn’t see that you were coming.’ he quickly apologized.
Also read – Tarasha 2 – Chapter 21 Part 4
‘And what is wrong this time around?’ Mrs George asked and sat beside him in the three seater.
‘Nothing mum, I just finished listening to an exposé on the Samantha Osman’s case and they still haven’t found anything about her body.’ Henry replied.
The woman sighed. She wondered why her son was so obsessed with finding the body of Samantha Osman. ‘Listen Henry, she is already confirmed dead, I don’t understand why her body should still matter to you.’
Henry shook his head and let out a breath. ‘You won’t understand mum.’
‘Well,’ the woman shrugged and got up to her feet. ‘Dave James is in his car outside waiting for you, he says he wants to take you on a ride.’
‘Dave James? What the hell is he doing here again?’ Henry got up to his feet and stormed out of the house. He saw the Jeep parked in front of the house and walked straight to the Jeep.
Dave wound down the window. ‘Henry get into the car, I have something to show you at the Honesty Park.’
‘What? I don’t want to see anything,’ Henry replied, trying to be calm because of Stephanie George who was sitting beside him.
‘It’s important sir, please come with us.’ Stephanie said.
Henry let out a breath. ‘Okay, It’s not far from here, I’ll walk there and meet you in ten minutes.’
‘No, I don’t want you to walk.’
‘Then I’ll come in my car,’ Henry retorted.
‘Please join us,’ Dave pleaded.
Henry wasn’t about to accept until Stephanie spoke. ‘Please, come with us sir.’
Five minutes later, they got to the park. Henry and Dave sat at a table under a shed. They were served fruit drinks, Dave began to take his drink but Henry just stared at him.
‘So, how’s work Henry?’ Dave asked.
‘Stop asking me and go straight to your point,’ Henry slammed.
‘Hey! Cut the crap. I’m only trying to be friends with you here,’ Dave fired back at him.
Henry leaned forward with his hands on the table. ‘I can never be friends with you,’ he whispered.
Also read – Tarasha 2 – Chapter 15 Part 9
‘Because I did my job?’
‘I don’t know what your job is, but I know you killed Tara.’ Henry said with a gasp. ‘Look, I appreciate your help in exonerating me in court but I can’t just help this, every time I see you I remember how you shot and killed her.’
‘I was only doing my job, you can’t blame me.’ Dave replied.
‘I’m tired of hearing that.’
‘Well,’ Dave sipped his drink. ‘How is Madam Henrietta?’
‘She’s fine.’
‘Well, I was thinking of sending her some things for Christmas, I hope you are going to do the same.’
‘d@mn you Dave! Do you have anything else to say?’ Henry slammed his hands on the table and got up.
‘Anything else to say?’ Dave questioned.
‘Yes, you’re wasting my time here.’
‘Please sit and let me get to my point,’ Dave pleaded.
Henry sat back reluctantly.
‘I and Stephanie were thinking of a way we could make Madam Henrietta happy since she doesn’t have her daughter with her anymore,’ Dave continued.
‘Come on, you made her sad since the day you killed Omotara.’ Henry fired at him. Stephanie joined them on the table at that moment.
‘I did not kill her,’ Dave replied.
Henry raised his brows thinking Dave was crazy.
‘Yes, how could I have killed the only person left of my family? How could I have killed the only sister I grew up to know?’
Henry was more confused now. He stared at Stephanie’s face to see if she was confused like him.
‘You must have seen my name in the citizen’s records, it’s Agent DJ. DJ doesn’t stand for Dave James, it stands for Danjuma Jerry.’
Henry opened his eyes in shock.
‘I didn’t kill my sister, I shot her tranquilizers and she fell into the sea.’ Dave added.
Henry’s mouth was left agape for a moment. He closed it and then tried to ask a question but he couldn’t articulate.
Dave knew what he wanted to ask and smiled. He rested his back and just stared above his head.
Henry noticed that Stephanie and Dave were both staring at something behind him. He turned slowly and looked back. He couldn’t believe who was standing behind, just about two metres away from him.
Also read – Tarasha 2 – Chapter 18 Part 4
He blinked his eyes to check if he was dreaming but he wasn’t. He slowly rose from his seat. She didn’t look like a ghost, she was real.
Dave and Stephanie smiled on seeing Henry’s drunk-like motion.
‘So, only four of us knows now that she’s alive.’ Stephanie whispered to Dave.
‘Five of us actually, remember Agent Emmanuel.’ he reminded her.
She chuckled. ‘That man doesn’t remember a thing that happened,’ she said.
Dave raised his brows, ‘What do you mean?’
‘I added some benryl to his drink that night,’ she replied.
‘What? Where did you get it from?’ Dave asked, pleasantly surprised. He realized that it was the reason the Agent never spoke to him about it, he had always thought the agent was afraid not to be penalized for aiding Samantha Osman’s escape.
‘After you told me the plan that night, I returned to Samantha Osman’s previous base which the police has previously discovered and I took the liquid from the lab.’
‘Haha!’ Dave laughed loudly. ‘You’re an evil genius.’
They both stopped talking to watch the reaction between Henry and Omotara.
She stood where she was smiling at him but Henry was too dumbfounded to move his legs. It still looked like a dream to him until she began to walk towards him. He released a smile and let out a deep breath.
THE END
© Oyinloye Oluwatosin Emmanuel
All Rights Reserved
Thank you all and God bless you.
Encourage ur writer.. ?
??????????
Please Encourage Me By Sharing This story.
