Tarasha The Brutal Assassin Story Part 1 (Episode 18)

‘How’s she?’ A middle-aged man asked no one in particular as he rushed into the hospital reception, he had a pot belly which clearly showed it round signs from the neatly ironed shirt.

He turned to Lovina who was sitting in the reception sofa with the driver, three uniformed policemen were seen standing beside them. ‘How’s your sister?’ The man asked again.

‘Loveth is fine’ Lovina answered, folding her arms as she stood up with tears formed in her eyes. ‘The doctor said she didn’t lose much blood because we brought her in early, they just have to take out the bullet’

‘Thank God!’ He exclaimed, rubbing his palms in the air in appreciation. He turned to the three policemen that stood beside Lovina, ‘but how did it happen? Who was the criminal that tried to kill my Loveth?’

‘We don’t know sir, but our men are after him and would surely get him’ one of the officers replied.

He turned back to Lovina, ‘I think you should go back to school now since Loveth is already on treatment. I’ll see the doctors’

‘Huh?’ Her eyes widened in disbelief. ‘Dad! That guy tried to shoot me also she exclaimed.

‘The criminal is already being pursued by the police, he can’t come after you again’ he reassured. ‘These officers would also follow you there’

‘Dad, I’m scared’ she said as she ran into his warm embrace. ‘I don’t think I’m stable enough to fly the plane anymore’

‘Don’t be scared dear, my enemies have failed’ he said, patting her on the back. ‘I’m sure they only want to stop you from flying the plane successfully’

‘Would you go with me Dad?’ She looked into his eyes and asked.

‘No’ he replied, he could read the disappointment in her eyes. ‘I have to stay with your sister’

‘OK’ she agreed hesitatingly, ‘ I’ll go’

She picked up her bag and looked at her father again for reassurance before she walked out of the hospital, two officers and the driver followed.

The man sat into the sofa where Lovina where Lovina got up from, he ignore the gazes of other waiters in the reception and buried his face in his palm. He wondered who it could be that attacked his daughters, he wondered who wanted them dead. Loveth, Lovina’s twin sister was a student of the university of Enugu and had come on a short break to grace the special event with her sister. The assailant’s target was surely Lovina but the great resemblance of the twins must have confused him and he decided to shoot both but failed.

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Jude paced the floor, already getting impatient waiting for Lovina. He was already dressed in his pilot’s uniform, the flight was to take off in the next twenty minutes and he was to walk out with his partner and pass through the security protocols before going to settle in the airplane.

His mind became at rest when he noticed a figure behind him, he heaved a sigh of relief.

‘Lovina, why did …’ He was saying at he turned to look at the figure. His sorrow returned when he turned back to see Gloria dressed in a pilot uniform.

‘Jude’ she called and smiled at him.

‘What?’ He barked at her turning his back to her, ‘I’m in a serious dilemma here and you’re playing games with me’

‘I’m here to help you Jude’ she said calmly.

‘What stupid help?’ He growled, he narrowed his gaze at her and examined her appearance. He asked with a threatening tone ‘where did you find this uniform?’

‘I’ve come to help you Jude’ she ignored his question and continued. ‘Lovina is not here and I don’t want you to lose this opportunity, I can represent her’

‘You know that’s not possible’

‘It is’ Gloria insisted

‘It’s not, all the students and lecturers present already know who is supposed to fly with me’ Jude argued.

‘But they would not notice, they’ll only be watching us from far’ She put in. ‘I won’t stay out of the plane so long for them to see me’

‘You can’t even get into the plane’ he said sternly, ‘Only Lovina’s ID card and mine would be allowed by the security to enter the plane or even access the runway

‘I have one here’ she displayed an ID card to him.

‘What? How did you get that?’ He asked, his look turned into a suspicious one.

‘Shhh…’ Gloria hushed him, placing a finger on her lips. ‘Stop raising your voice, I only want to help you’

He narrowed his gaze first and then raised his brow, ‘I don’t need that kind of help, it could get me into more trouble’

She moved closer to him, removing an android device from her pocket. She opened her chat with Aisha on the instant messenger, revealing some pictures and videos.

‘Here’ she pointed something to him on the screen. He refused to look into it first, but he saw something familiar that caught his attention. The picture she was showing him looked like one taken in his sister’s hostel room. He moved closer to have a clearer view.

He was greatly shocked by what he saw. His younger sister, the only sibling he had and the only surviving member of his family who was a law student in the port Harcourt university couldn’t come to the event because she had an exam that day. He was terrified seeing her tied to a chair in the room, blindfolded wearing a bomb jacket.

‘Who are you and what do you want with my sister?’ Jude asked shakily.

‘I want nothing with you or your sister and I won’t harm any of you if you cooperate with me’ she spoke, tapping in some commands into the android device, she switched it off and flung it into a locker. She returned to face him, ‘all I want is to get on the plane with you’

‘But that’s not possible’ his eyes was full of pleas.

‘Then you have to sacrifice your sister ‘ she said bluntly. She rolled up her sleeve and showed him a device placed around her wrist close to the watch, she placed her hand on the red button. ‘All I need to do is touch this and your sister would join your parents’

‘No no, please’ he pleaded with tears forming in his eyes, he knelt on the floor.

‘That won’t work Jude, what I want is to fly plane with you, I’ve have a message for one of our passengers’ she continued without no pity in her voice. She glanced at her wristwatch and turned her back on him, ‘we have only eight minutes to board the plane, your sister or I pilot the plane with you?’

‘Okay’ he finally agreed, wiping off his face as he got up from his kneels. ‘But you have to promise me that nothing will happen to her’

‘Nothing would happen to her’ she said with a smile.

‘Let’s go’ Jude said as he matched forward to the exit.

‘Wait!’ She ordered, ‘clean off your face properly, no one must suspect anything’

‘Okay’ he used an handkerchief to mop his face and tried to put on a smile.

‘Good’ she smiled again. ‘We’re going straight into the plane after we pass the governor’s security officials, no wasting of time’

She walked back to the second exit which she entered from and opened the door slightly. She  inserted a metal into the lock and fastened it like a bolt, she left the site slightly opened and turned back to join Jude.

Jude led the way out and they proceeded where the plane was parked. Gloria took care not to look back at all as she could hear several voices chanting the names ‘Lovina’ and ‘Jude’, they thought she was Lovina since she was wearing a wig of the same hairstyle Lovina had on. They passed the governor’s security officials easily after they displayed their ID cards and were searched.

She avoided looking towards John Obiano who was outside, looking fly in his black shiny suit complimented with a red tie as he chatted with the minister and the Rivers state governor, Kelechi Edwin.

The Aviation minister was also dressed in a black suit and shirt but he had no tie on. The only odd one was the Governor, he was adorned in a native attire and a black hat to match it, he always loved to represent his culture especially when he was in a program that was being televised internationally.

Gloria greeted the dignitaries briefly and walked into the airplane immediately with Jude to settle in the cockpit. Jude took the Captain’s position at the left while Gloria took the first officer’s seat, a drop of sweat rolled down her head from underneath the wig she wore.

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‘Hey!’ A lady dressed in an air hostess’ uniform carrying a black bag approached Cole in the midst of several students and guests walking in and out of the field.

‘Hey’ Cole replied with laughter in seeing Aisha, ‘you looked great in this uniform’

She poked him by the side playfully and joined in the laughter, ‘are you done with your job?’

‘Yes, I’ve been waiting here for you all day’ he replied.

‘Well’ she continued and they began to walk slowly, ‘my task was a little bit cumbersome’

‘What were you asked to do?’

‘To handle the pilot’s sister and also exchange one of the flight attendant’s bag’

‘And how did it go?’ He asked.

‘Fine, how was yours?’

‘Good, it was easier than I thought it would be’ he replied, ‘I only dropped a needle into John Obiano’s pocket’

‘Needle?’ She asked, facing him.

‘Yea’

‘I think there was a pack of needle in my bag too, but the main thing was a parachute’

He chuckled as they continued walking, ‘I was almost wondering how she intended to drop off the plane before’

‘Your task was simple ‘ Aisha teased. ‘No one could have failed that’

‘Huh?’ He gave her a sharp look. ‘Do you know how many bodyguards I had to go past?’

She hissed playfully, ‘stop magnifying it’

‘See you’ he gave a playful hiss and peeped into the bag she was carrying. ‘What do we have there?’

‘Nothing edible, stop sniffing’ she pushed his nose with a finger. ‘Except you want to eat first aid materials and other hostesses’ kits’

He replied with a prolonged hiss showing his disappointment

Cole stopped suddenly, he looked shocked as he stared at someone approaching them. Aisha paused to see what he was staring at, the same look appeared on her face.

‘Gosh!’ Cole whispered. They stared at Lovina and the two officers approaching hurriedly.

 

Episode 18 B

Hi guys, please manage this update, pardon the errors; I’m too tired to proof read it
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Benny was jerked off with a knock on the door to his hotel room. He quickly rushed to the mirror to check if his disguise was still in order, the knock sounded again.

‘Come.. in.. ‘ he answered, forming a weak voice.

The door was opened before he could finish talking; three police officers barged into the room.

‘Good afternoon sir’ one of the police officers greeted politely on seeing the old man.

‘Good morning’ the old man corrected.

‘Sir, didn’t you hear the alarm that was sounded some time ago?’ The officer went straight to his point. ‘Everyone was asked to come out of their rooms, there’s a criminal lurking around’

‘I heard it, but what could I do?’ The man replied in a pitiful voice, he took a glance at the other officer who was searching the room. ‘I came out and tried to use the elevator but it was locked, I had to come back into my room. I can’t use the stairs because of my bad leg…’

‘There’s nothing here ‘ the officer searching around interrupted.

It’s okay sir, you’ll be allowed to go downstairs soon but in the meantime, don’t hesitate to raise alarm if you find anything strange’ the officer concluded and they walked out of the room in a hurry.

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Officer Dakolo and the rest of his team in the control room fixed their gazes on the screen as the surveillance tapes were played. The first tape played showed the back view of the young man walking to the elevator and then another one was played that showed the front view, the video was zoomed and a screen shot of the man’s face was taken. Another one was played and it displayed the criminal in the elevator, the viewers were watching intently, then the criminal faced the camera and pointed a gun straight at it. The bullet was released and the streaming stopped immediately..

‘Damn!’ Dakolo cursed under his breath, he turned to the manager. ‘He was headed for floor 3 right?’

‘Yes he was’ the manager replied.

‘Let’s see more of the tapes’ Dakolo demanded.

Several other clips were played but there was none that showed the same young man leaving the elevator or entering any room.

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‘Where have you been Lovina? Everybody has been waiting for you’ Aisha said as she approached Lovina who gave her a confused look.

‘I had some problems’ Lovina replied hesitatingly, trying to answer the stranger politely.

‘Its best you go change immediately, it’s only five minutes to the flight’ Aisha advised, glancing at her wristwatch.

‘Oh! That’s true’ Lovina confirmed from her wristwatch.

‘Your uniform is there’ Aisha pointed to a different changing room, in an attempt to mislead her but Lovina surged forward, half running and walking towards three girls who were her course-mates. Cole and Aisha hid behind a wall to listen to them.

‘Where have you been?’ One of the girls scolded her as she ran towards them, the police officers followed slowly, one of them looked back for signs of Cole and Aisha. The girl turned to the other two girls who were looking shocked, their arms were folded. ‘I told you that girl wasn’t Lovina’

‘But who was she? ‘ another girl with a roughly bleached skin spoke, looking stunned. ‘Their back-view and hair are the same’

‘I don’t know’ the black third girl joined. ‘I only suspected that something was amiss when she didn’t turn back to greet us when we called her name’

‘Even Jude was not looking well, he couldn’t respond to us’ the first girl added again.

‘Has the plane taken off?’ Lovina asked, she sounded frustrated.

‘No, but they were about to when we left there’

‘I have to go and stop them now, that impostor would be in serious trouble’ Lovina said and she raced towards the pilots’ lounge where Jude and Gloria went into the runway from.

‘Stay back’ Lovina shouted at the police officers who stood at the entrance, some other students and lecturers who had seen Lovina also came closer.

Lovina pushed opened the slightly opened door and entered the room where Jude and Gloria had their last discussion. The door was jammed by the last of the three friends who came in.

‘Damn!’ Lovina cursed on seeing the plane through the transparent glass wall. It was already moving . She proceeded towards the other exit that led to the runway and struggled to open the door but her struggle was fruitless, it seemed the door had been locked from outside, one of her friends joined her in the struggle while the two others tried to open the door they came in through. It couldn’t open also, they had been trapped.

 

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‘What are we going to do now?’ Cole looked frustrated, looking to Aisha for answers. ‘The plan B has failed’

‘I don’t know, I think we should just get out of here immediately’ Aisha replied, she looked around and saw several eyes staring at them already. ‘Let’s leave here before we get into trouble too’

Aisha began walking furiously out of the school’s airdrome and Cole joined her hesitatingly. ‘We can’t leave the boss here, she might need us to escape’

‘Can’t you see that people around are suspecting us already?’ She asked, increasing her pace. ‘We might not be able to escape ourselves if we stay here any longer’

‘The car is here’ Cole pointed to a black car parked alongside with other cars outside the aerodrome.

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Tarasha wristwatch beeped as she piloted the plane alongside Jude, she knew at once that someone had entered the room but she was indifferent about the situation, everything was in control already, Lovina’s uniform had even been infected with dangerous substances by Tarasha and would cause severe itching to anyone who wore it.

She didn’t infect only Lovina’s uniform but several others that she found hung in the dressing room. This was done to stop anyone who tried to substitute Lovina and even Lovina herself in case Benny failed.

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‘That Tarasha is just too full of herself’ Aishat commented bitterly as they drove out of the aviation school. ‘Why didn’t she let us do the planning together?’

‘She’s a professional Aisha’ Cole said thoughtfully, ‘I believe she has other plans’

‘Professional my foot’ she stamped her fingers, ‘a professional that’ll soon be caught as an imposter’

‘She won’t be caught’ Cole spoke confidently as he drove, he paused and waited for the right time before turning into the road. ‘I believe in her’

Aisha bent to look into his eyes as if to ask if he is mentally stable, ‘just don’t drive to Orogbum, we need to stay somewhere else and plan on leaving this state immediately’

‘Oh!’ Cole exclaimed as he remembered something, he turned to look at the back seat. ‘Please bring that phone for me’ he said to Aisha.

‘What?’ She gave an inquisitive look as she handed the phone to him.

He ignored her question and placed the phone on his lap, using his left hand to swipe through. He opened a GPS application and waited for it to load. After successfully loading, it displayed a map and a revolving sphere appeared, under it was written “searching for target 0%”.

‘What are you doing?’ Aisha asked again.

‘Wait!’ He hushed her.

‘Just don’t drive to Orogbum, I can’t picture myself sleeping in the police cell’ she folded her arms in a stubborn manner.

Cole smiled as he glanced at the phone’s screen again, ‘it displayed “searching completed, one target found” and a red blinking dot appeared on the map.

‘What?’ Aisha was getting angry as she couldn’t figure out the reason he was smiling happily.

‘The plane is moving already’ he answered happily, ‘we’ll pick her up at Onne’

‘Huh?’ She asked with a doubtful tone

‘You heard me right’ he increased his speed rapidly and zoomed past slow driving cars before him.

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Jude watched in awe as Gloria controlled everything perfectly. Right from the takeoff time, he had been expecting her to look confused and watch him fly the plane but the reverse was the case, she flew the plane while he watched. He wanted to ask her questions but his mouth only opened and closed, no words could come out of it.

He was full of regrets for being so careless and unsuspecting of Gloria. He remembered the day they chatted in the lecture room, he had found several of the year one students having practical on the runway after he left her to meet with John Obiano. He wondered why she wasn’t involved in the practical but he dismissed the thought of her being an unserious student, he concluded that the lecturer must have divided the students into batches for the practical and that it wasn’t her batch’s turn.

‘Who are you?’ He asked in low tones, finally finding his voice.

‘Take control Jude, I’m going to ease myself’ she ignored his question, getting ready to stand up.

Jude glanced at the time, they had spent only ten minutes on air. He looked back at her to ask another question, but the look on her face had changed, her entire look had changed. The Gloria whose face once radiated the spirit of friendship and peace now radiated evil. The color of her skin was also changing, it was then Jude fully realized that he didn’t know who he was dealing with.

‘Ok’ he said fidgeting all over, scared to look back at her face.

She walked slowly out of the cockpit, a blow knocked out the first air attendant who came forward from the cabin. The noise attracted the other attendant and she appeared to find her colleague lying on the floor. She looked up at the pilot that was supposed to be Lovina but No, the Lady in the pilot’s uniform looked like the devil’s incarnate. The disguise makeup on Gloria’s face was already fading, that made her face and hands show two different colors; one of the real Tarasha and the other Gloria.

The air second hostess was silenced too but after letting out a slight scream. Tarasha saw the hostesses’ kits bag and checked to confirm if her parachute was there.

 

… to be continued