Tarasha The Brutal Assassin Part 2 Episode 9a

 Tarasha tried her best to avoid the stares she was getting from the rest of the team as Cole drove them out of the house in one of the Senate President’s cars. Except for the Senate President’s eyes which were staring in fear, the others were expecting an explanation for their new change in plan. But Tarasha wasn’t ready to talk much, they would understand the new plan as time goes on.

‘Park there,’ Tarasha pointed to a small empty space as she ordered Cole who took a glance back and then pulled over immediately. ‘Everyone should step out.’ She added.

She started by stepping out first and then the others followed her. Cole who was still in the guards uniform was the last to step out. ‘Our car is parked six metres away from here, we’ll leave this here and get into that.’ She explained and then held the Senate President’s hand in hers, she began to lead the way.

‘Come on smile, we ain’t flogging you.’ Tarasha said to Nasiru who gave a forced smile immediately.

Before leaving the Senate President’s house, Tarasha had promised the guards that the man would be returned to them before twelve noon the next day. She also made Nasiru force his guards not to report to the authorities or alert the guards outside. It was also easy for them to drive out of the house because Cole was putting on a guard’s uniform and the cap to cover his face, the guards outside all thought that the Senate President was going somewhere not too far with his guests as the man was made to smile at them and promise to return soon as they drove out through the gate.

They got to the car in less than one minute, Tarasha took out the keys and handed it over to Cole. She and Aisha entered into the backseat with the Senate President in the middle.

‘Drive to where Benny’s car was parked,’ Tarasha said after Cole started the car engine. ‘When we get there, Benny and Aisha would get into the car and follow us. We may need to go different ways later on but you can always locate this car with the tracker.’

In five minutes time, they got to where Benny’s car was parked, Benny and Aisha did as they had been instructed. They cars followed closely behind each other, they kept driving straight forward without making any turn for twenty minutes. Tarasha was quiet, so was the rest of the team where they were. Only Nasiru had begun to shiver uncomfortably and Tarasha noticed.

‘What’s the matter?’ She asked, even though she was sure why the man was trembling.

Nasiru’s lips vibrated for sometime without making any word, then after forty seconds he was able to find his voice. ‘It’s past thirty minutes already and the bomb hasn’t still been deactivated,’ he said half stammering.

Tarasha smiled and stretched her hand to pick a device behind them, on the screen were two timers not reading and regulators beside them. She typed in a password and turned on the first one which had six minutes left and used the regulator to increase the time to twenty minutes.

‘I turned off the bombs before, thank you for reminding to switch them on.’ She said with a smile before returning the device.

Nasiru’s trembling increased and he started mumbling words to himself, Tarasha listened carefully and found out that he was reciting words from the Quran. She laughed in her heart and sat properly, she stretched out her hands and began quote some prayers from the Hisnul Hasin loudly. Nasiru paused and stared at her in shock.

‘You’re a Muslim my daughter,’ he said in a shaky voice.

‘Who the hell is your daughter? Don’t you get that no God is going to come save you here?’ Tarasha slammed. ‘The gods you serve are murderers themselves, more brutal than the ruthless assassins ever.’

The man was shocked at her words and decided to remain silent, even Cole glanced back at Tarasha after she spoke. Nasiru dipped his two palms in between his knees, he shut his eyes and kept making prayers in his heart. After sometime he stopped and summoned more courage to talk. ‘Please you can kill me or do anything you want with me but don’t harm my family. My wife and daughter are still in the house.’

Tarasha chuckled, ‘who told you I was going to kill you? I know your life doesn’t mean anything to you, that’s why I want to take the lives of those that mean much to you.’

Tears rolled down the man’s cheeks and he rubbed his palms together in a pleading manner, ‘please don’t do that. Punish me for whatever offence I must have committed against you. I know I’m a man with multitude of sins and blood in his hands, please punish the offender and leave the innocent ones to live.’

Tarasha pulled her bag from the back and opened it. She began to search in it for the book she had taken away from the study in the man’s house. ‘Wipe off your face now and keep quiet until I ask you to talk. If we’re stopped by the police or anyone else on the road, consider your wife and your daughter gone.’ She said to the man.

Nasiru quickly wiped off the tears and cleaned his nose, he sat properly and relaxed his back.

‘Good,’ Tarasha continued after he was settled, she had found the book but she hid it under her bag on her lap. ‘Now answer my questions quickly,’ she paused and checked the bomb timing device at the back, six minutes was gone already. ‘You have twenty three more minutes to answer my questions and save your wife and daughter, hope you would cooperate.’

‘Yes, I will.’ The man nodded in agreement.

‘Good boy!’ Tarasha smiled and smack her lips. ‘The Vice President called you on phone while we were in your study, what was your discussion about?’

Nasiru took in a deep breath and sniffed, ‘he called to inform me that Don, one of our boys was almost caught by the police today.’

‘Your boy, how is he your boy?’ Tarasha asked, sounding more interested in the conversation.

‘He used to work for us several years ago but we stopped calling him for…I mean I stopped calling him for jobs, I had no need of his services again since I stopped the bad activities we were once involved in.’

‘Hmm… ‘Tarasha chuckled, ‘we’ll come back to those your bad activities. But why did you call him back?’

‘I didn’t call him back, Vice President Elvis did. He called him when he…’ Nasiru paused and drew in another deep breath, staring at Tarasha’s face in fear.  ‘He called him back when we got scared of your presence in Nigeria, he saw that you have taken out all the remaining people that we used to be work together and we were expecting that we will be your next targets.’ Nasiru continued with his face and voice full of regrets. ‘Elvis has always been the one who has the boys under direct control, so I don’t know much about their activities apart from what he tells me. I just know that he called back Don to find you before you get to us.’

‘Interesting!’ Tarasha licked her lips like she was enjoying his story. ‘So you brought Don for Samantha Osman?’ She asked, staring at his face, he nodded in agreement. ‘Then what was he doing in Henry E.G’s house earlier today?’

‘We got to find out that Henry worked closely with you, so he tried to get to Henry, so that he could get to you through him.’

‘How did you find out that Henry worked closely with Samantha?’ Tarasha asked, putting on a serious look.

‘We get our information directly from the police, Chief Elvis is working with them on your case.’

‘On Samantha Osman’s case you mean?’ Tarasha corrected him.

‘Yes, Samantha Osman. Are you not her?’ Nasiru asked.

‘I am, but I’m so many people also.’ Tarasha paused and faced the road. ‘Take the left turn,’ she said to Cole and then picked out her phone.

‘That’s out of town boss,’ Cole stated in a bass voice.

‘Yes, I know. We’re going back to the first house we landed in Abuja.’ She replied. Cole spoke back no more and he turned as he was ordered to, he took a look at the side mirror to see Benny who was driving behind them, he made some signals to him with his fingers.

‘Aisha,’ Tarasha spoke into her phone. ‘You and Benny should go back to the hotel where we came from, gather all your loads and tell me when you’re through gathering them.’ She ended the call and began to search for something in his bag. He would need to blindfold the man so that he would have idea of where they were going to.’

~~~

11.30pm

Agent Dakolo hissed severally as he stretched and turned round the bed to look for his phone which was ringing for the second time, he finally found it, the call was from the office. He shook his head partly in annoyance as he sat up. He had been busy all day and worked overtime. Now, it was time to rest and someone was still disturbing him from the office. He was very sure in his heart that it was a matter that could wait till the next day.

‘Hello,’ he said as he answered the call reluctantly.

‘Agent Dakolo, there’s an emergency right now.’ A female voice came through, Dakolo readjusted himself as he heard the word ’emergency’ and noticed the urgency in her voice. ‘We just got a call from the Senate President’s mansion that the man has been abducted over an hour ago by a group whose leader claimed to be Samantha Osman.’

‘Damn!’ Dakolo cursed as he flew up from the bed, not waiting to hear what the caller still had to say. He proceeded at once to the wardrobe to select the clothes he would put on.

‘Are you still there sir?’ He heard a shout from the phone he dropped on the bed as he tried to button his shirt.

He picked up the phone again, ‘sorry, I didn’t hear the last thing you said.’

‘They implanted a bomb around the Senate President’s daughter’s body. She’s still tied to her bed as at now and can’t move until the bomb us deactivated and removed.’ The female voice repeated aggressively.

‘Shi*t! Thank you, how many men do we still have left in the office?’

‘Less than ten sir.’

‘Okay, mobilize them into two vans. Let them take all the highly sophisticated weapons with them. But first, mobilize the head of the anti-bomb squad.’ Dakolo ordered before ending the call.

He dialed Ken’s phone number immediately, it took sometime for the call to be answered.

‘Agent sir,’ Ken’s sleepy voice spoke.

‘Ken, the Senate President has been abducted by Samantha Osman. They’ve also installed a bomb around his daughter’s body, meet me there as quick as possible.’ 

‘Yes sir,’ every note of sleepiness had been eliminated from Ken’s voice by the news.

‘Make sure you carefully take note of anything you see on your way.’ Dakolo added before ending the call.

~~~

11.30pm

Tarasha and Cole and Nasiru had arrived at their first Lodge in Abuja, the same place they had to leave when Henry found out about it. The Senate President was sitting in the three seater old rickety sofa while Tarasha sat on the sofa opposite his. The place had become so dusty again within the brief period it had not been occupied by anyone.

‘Mr Nasiru, what would you like to take?’ Tarasha finally broke the silence.

Nasiru shook his head in negative, folding his arms like someone who was freezing in the cold.

‘Tell me, so that I would tell the rest of the team to get it from you on the way.’

Nasiru still gave no reply. Tarasha got up, taking her bag along with her, she was still dressed in the same gown she wore the the man’s house. She sat close to him on the arm of the sofa the man was seating.

‘Since, you don’t want anything. I guess you’ll like to speak up before I blow up you daughter and the whole house.’ She threatened, bringing out the timing device. She had prolonged the time to two hours.

‘I’ll tell you anything you want,’ Nasiru finally spoke, realizing that his daughter still had the bomb tied around her body.

‘Good,’ Tarasha smiled and took out a book. She wiped off the sweat forming on her forehead, cleaning the makeup with it. That part of her face began to show its real colour. She took out the book from her bag, ‘these books documents some of your secret deals, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it does.’

‘And all these people whose names are written here,’ she pointed to the part of the front cover where the names were inscribed. ‘They were in your group?’

‘Yes, we all did illegal businesses together peacefully until some of us change political parties.’

‘How many of them are still alive?’

‘Two of us… Ermm maybe three. I’m one of the persons alive, the vice President is also alive, you killed thre…’ He cut short his statement as his eyes met with hers, he noticed that the colour on her forehead had changed.

‘Who is the third person alive?’

‘Gabriel, I’m not sure if he’s really alive. The last I heard of him was when he was released from prison, it was said that he suffered from stroke and had run to hide himself in Benin Republic.’

‘Hmm… Why didn’t you help him? Wasn’t he your former business partner?’

Nasiru paused and sniffed in mucus, he took a deep breath and stared at Tarasha’s face, trying to find the best way to answer. ‘Gabriel is our enemy.’

‘Our? What do you mean by our?’

‘He betrayed us; I, the Vice President, Chief Jubril, Chief Nnamdi and Kelechi Edwin. He betrayed us.’

‘How did he betray you?’

‘Ermm…’Nasiru began to stammer as he couldn’t find words to support his accusation.

‘Hehe,’ Tarasha got up and stood at his front, then she squatted and looked into his eyeballs. ‘You’re still lying to me Mister, I guess you don’t know what I can do.’

‘We actually betrayed him,’ Nasiru finally confessed. ‘Elvis Richards brought the idea of sending him to prison and wiping out his family.’

‘So you wiped off someone’s family and sent him to prison?’ Tarasha got up slowly, ‘and now you’re trying to do charity up and down to cover your sins right?’

Nasiru gave no reply, tears began to drop down his cheeks. ‘Just kill me now, I know I have to pay for my sins. I’m ready.’

Tarasha took her gaze away from his face as Cole walked into the living room at that moment. She walked away to meet Cole, she said something in his ears before returning. Cole returned back to carry out her orders.

‘We won’t kill you,’ Tarasha said to the man. ‘We’ll keep you alive until you stop cooperating. If you cooperate till the end, we’ll let you go but drop you on another country.’

It sounded like a miracle to Nasiru as his eyes lit up with hope.

‘We’ll need you for a video tomorrow.’ Tarasha added.

‘A video, would my face show?’

‘Of course it would,’ Tarasha replied with a short laugh. ‘Or do you prefer dying?’

‘No, I prefer the video.’

‘Good,’ Tarasha clapped her hands. ‘Now, get up. Let me show you the room you’ll pass your night.’

The man got up and Tarasha led him to a room, she made him sit on the bed and the handcuffed his left hand to the wooden part. Tarasha’s phone rang.

‘Hello… Okay, just come.’ She spoke briefly and ended the call. Then she dropped the phone just beside Nasiru. She bent to pull off his shoes.

‘We’ll record the video tomorrow, don’t try anything silly.’ Tarasha said before turning back. She walked out of the place leaving her phone behind.

As soon as Nasiru could no longer hear her footsteps, he picked up the phone and dialed a number in a hurry.

‘Hello… I don’t know where I am now but I’m still with the assassins, you can get this location by tracking this phone call… Yes, I’m safe for now. They promised not to kill me if I cooperate with them.’

Tarasha tried her best to avoid the stares she was getting from the rest of the team as Cole drove them out of the house in one of the Senate President’s cars. Except for the Senate President’s eyes which were staring in fear, the others were expecting an explanation for their new change in plan. But Tarasha wasn’t ready to talk much, they would understand the new plan as time goes on.

‘Park there,’ Tarasha pointed to a small empty space as she ordered Cole who took a glance back and then pulled over immediately. ‘Everyone should step out.’ She added.

She started by stepping out first and then the others followed her. Cole who was still in the guards uniform was the last to step out. ‘Our car is parked six metres away from here, we’ll leave this here and get into that.’ She explained and then held the Senate President’s hand in hers, she began to lead the way.

‘Come on smile, we ain’t flogging you.’ Tarasha said to Nasiru who gave a forced smile immediately.

Before leaving the Senate President’s house, Tarasha had promised the guards that the man would be returned to them before twelve noon the next day. She also made Nasiru force his guards not to report to the authorities or alert the guards outside. It was also easy for them to drive out of the house because Cole was putting on a guard’s uniform and the cap to cover his face, the guards outside all thought that the Senate President was going somewhere not too far with his guests as the man was made to smile at them and promise to return soon as they drove out through the gate.

They got to the car in less than one minute, Tarasha took out the keys and handed it over to Cole. She and Aisha entered into the backseat with the Senate President in the middle.

‘Drive to where Benny’s car was parked,’ Tarasha said after Cole started the car engine. ‘When we get there, Benny and Aisha would get into the car and follow us. We may need to go different ways later on but you can always locate this car with the tracker.’

In five minutes time, they got to where Benny’s car was parked, Benny and Aisha did as they had been instructed. They cars followed closely behind each other, they kept driving straight forward without making any turn for twenty minutes. Tarasha was quiet, so was the rest of the team where they were. Only Nasiru had begun to shiver uncomfortably and Tarasha noticed.

‘What’s the matter?’ She asked, even though she was sure why the man was trembling.

Nasiru’s lips vibrated for sometime without making any word, then after forty seconds he was able to find his voice. ‘It’s past thirty minutes already and the bomb hasn’t still been deactivated,’ he said half stammering.

Tarasha smiled and stretched her hand to pick a device behind them, on the screen were two timers not reading and regulators beside them. She typed in a password and turned on the first one which had six minutes left and used the regulator to increase the time to twenty minutes.

‘I turned off the bombs before, thank you for reminding to switch them on.’ She said with a smile before returning the device.

Nasiru’s trembling increased and he started mumbling words to himself, Tarasha listened carefully and found out that he was reciting words from the Quran. She laughed in her heart and sat properly, she stretched out her hands and began quote some prayers from the Hisnul Hasin loudly. Nasiru paused and stared at her in shock.

‘You’re a Muslim my daughter,’ he said in a shaky voice.

‘Who the hell is your daughter? Don’t you get that no God is going to come save you here?’ Tarasha slammed. ‘The gods you serve are murderers themselves, more brutal than the ruthless assassins ever.’

The man was shocked at her words and decided to remain silent, even Cole glanced back at Tarasha after she spoke. Nasiru dipped his two palms in between his knees, he shut his eyes and kept making prayers in his heart. After sometime he stopped and summoned more courage to talk. ‘Please you can kill me or do anything you want with me but don’t harm my family. My wife and daughter are still in the house.’

Tarasha chuckled, ‘who told you I was going to kill you? I know your life doesn’t mean anything to you, that’s why I want to take the lives of those that mean much to you.’

Tears rolled down the man’s cheeks and he rubbed his palms together in a pleading manner, ‘please don’t do that. Punish me for whatever offence I must have committed against you. I know I’m a man with multitude of sins and blood in his hands, please punish the offender and leave the innocent ones to live.’

Tarasha pulled her bag from the back and opened it. She began to search in it for the book she had taken away from the study in the man’s house. ‘Wipe off your face now and keep quiet until I ask you to talk. If we’re stopped by the police or anyone else on the road, consider your wife and your daughter gone.’ She said to the man.

Nasiru quickly wiped off the tears and cleaned his nose, he sat properly and relaxed his back.

‘Good,’ Tarasha continued after he was settled, she had found the book but she hid it under her bag on her lap. ‘Now answer my questions quickly,’ she paused and checked the bomb timing device at the back, six minutes was gone already. ‘You have twenty three more minutes to answer my questions and save your wife and daughter, hope you would cooperate.’

‘Yes, I will.’ The man nodded in agreement.

‘Good boy!’ Tarasha smiled and smack her lips. ‘The Vice President called you on phone while we were in your study, what was your discussion about?’

Nasiru took in a deep breath and sniffed, ‘he called to inform me that Don, one of our boys was almost caught by the police today.’

‘Your boy, how is he your boy?’ Tarasha asked, sounding more interested in the conversation.

‘He used to work for us several years ago but we stopped calling him for…I mean I stopped calling him for jobs, I had no need of his services again since I stopped the bad activities we were once involved in.’

‘Hmm… ‘Tarasha chuckled, ‘we’ll come back to those your bad activities. But why did you call him back?’

‘I didn’t call him back, Vice President Elvis did. He called him when he…’ Nasiru paused and drew in another deep breath, staring at Tarasha’s face in fear.  ‘He called him back when we got scared of your presence in Nigeria, he saw that you have taken out all the remaining people that we used to be work together and we were expecting that we will be your next targets.’ Nasiru continued with his face and voice full of regrets. ‘Elvis has always been the one who has the boys under direct control, so I don’t know much about their activities apart from what he tells me. I just know that he called back Don to find you before you get to us.’

‘Interesting!’ Tarasha licked her lips like she was enjoying his story. ‘So you brought Don for Samantha Osman?’ She asked, staring at his face, he nodded in agreement. ‘Then what was he doing in Henry E.G’s house earlier today?’

‘We got to find out that Henry worked closely with you, so he tried to get to Henry, so that he could get to you through him.’

‘How did you find out that Henry worked closely with Samantha?’ Tarasha asked, putting on a serious look.

‘We get our information directly from the police, Chief Elvis is working with them on your case.’

‘On Samantha Osman’s case you mean?’ Tarasha corrected him.

‘Yes, Samantha Osman. Are you not her?’ Nasiru asked.

‘I am, but I’m so many people also.’ Tarasha paused and faced the road. ‘Take the left turn,’ she said to Cole and then picked out her phone.

‘That’s out of town boss,’ Cole stated in a bass voice.

‘Yes, I know. We’re going back to the first house we landed in Abuja.’ She replied. Cole spoke back no more and he turned as he was ordered to, he took a look at the side mirror to see Benny who was driving behind them, he made some signals to him with his fingers.

‘Aisha,’ Tarasha spoke into her phone. ‘You and Benny should go back to the hotel where we came from, gather all your loads and tell me when you’re through gathering them.’ She ended the call and began to search for something in his bag. He would need to blindfold the man so that he would have idea of where they were going to.’

~~~

11.30pm

Agent Dakolo hissed severally as he stretched and turned round the bed to look for his phone which was ringing for the second time, he finally found it, the call was from the office. He shook his head partly in annoyance as he sat up. He had been busy all day and worked overtime. Now, it was time to rest and someone was still disturbing him from the office. He was very sure in his heart that it was a matter that could wait till the next day.

‘Hello,’ he said as he answered the call reluctantly.

‘Agent Dakolo, there’s an emergency right now.’ A female voice came through, Dakolo readjusted himself as he heard the word ’emergency’ and noticed the urgency in her voice. ‘We just got a call from the Senate President’s mansion that the man has been abducted over an hour ago by a group whose leader claimed to be Samantha Osman.’

‘Damn!’ Dakolo cursed as he flew up from the bed, not waiting to hear what the caller still had to say. He proceeded at once to the wardrobe to select the clothes he would put on.

‘Are you still there sir?’ He heard a shout from the phone he dropped on the bed as he tried to button his shirt.

He picked up the phone again, ‘sorry, I didn’t hear the last thing you said.’

‘They implanted a bomb around the Senate President’s daughter’s body. She’s still tied to her bed as at now and can’t move until the bomb us deactivated and removed.’ The female voice repeated aggressively.

‘Shi*t! Thank you, how many men do we still have left in the office?’

‘Less than ten sir.’

‘Okay, mobilize them into two vans. Let them take all the highly sophisticated weapons with them. But first, mobilize the head of the anti-bomb squad.’ Dakolo ordered before ending the call.

He dialed Ken’s phone number immediately, it took sometime for the call to be answered.

‘Agent sir,’ Ken’s sleepy voice spoke.

‘Ken, the Senate President has been abducted by Samantha Osman. They’ve also installed a bomb around his daughter’s body, meet me there as quick as possible.’ 

‘Yes sir,’ every note of sleepiness had been eliminated from Ken’s voice by the news.

‘Make sure you carefully take note of anything you see on your way.’ Dakolo added before ending the call.

~~~

11.30pm

Tarasha and Cole and Nasiru had arrived at their first Lodge in Abuja, the same place they had to leave when Henry found out about it. The Senate President was sitting in the three seater old rickety sofa while Tarasha sat on the sofa opposite his. The place had become so dusty again within the brief period it had not been occupied by anyone.

‘Mr Nasiru, what would you like to take?’ Tarasha finally broke the silence.

Nasiru shook his head in negative, folding his arms like someone who was freezing in the cold.

‘Tell me, so that I would tell the rest of the team to get it from you on the way.’

Nasiru still gave no reply. Tarasha got up, taking her bag along with her, she was still dressed in the same gown she wore the the man’s house. She sat close to him on the arm of the sofa the man was seating.

‘Since, you don’t want anything. I guess you’ll like to speak up before I blow up you daughter and the whole house.’ She threatened, bringing out the timing device. She had prolonged the time to two hours.

‘I’ll tell you anything you want,’ Nasiru finally spoke, realizing that his daughter still had the bomb tied around her body.

‘Good,’ Tarasha smiled and took out a book. She wiped off the sweat forming on her forehead, cleaning the makeup with it. That part of her face began to show its real colour. She took out the book from her bag, ‘these books documents some of your secret deals, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it does.’

‘And all these people whose names are written here,’ she pointed to the part of the front cover where the names were inscribed. ‘They were in your group?’

‘Yes, we all did illegal businesses together peacefully until some of us change political parties.’

‘How many of them are still alive?’

‘Two of us… Ermm maybe three. I’m one of the persons alive, the vice President is also alive, you killed thre…’ He cut short his statement as his eyes met with hers, he noticed that the colour on her forehead had changed.

‘Who is the third person alive?’

‘Gabriel, I’m not sure if he’s really alive. The last I heard of him was when he was released from prison, it was said that he suffered from stroke and had run to hide himself in Benin Republic.’

‘Hmm… Why didn’t you help him? Wasn’t he your former business partner?’

Nasiru paused and sniffed in mucus, he took a deep breath and stared at Tarasha’s face, trying to find the best way to answer. ‘Gabriel is our enemy.’

‘Our? What do you mean by our?’

‘He betrayed us; I, the Vice President, Chief Jubril, Chief Nnamdi and Kelechi Edwin. He betrayed us.’

‘How did he betray you?’

‘Ermm…’Nasiru began to stammer as he couldn’t find words to support his accusation.

‘Hehe,’ Tarasha got up and stood at his front, then she squatted and looked into his eyeballs. ‘You’re still lying to me Mister, I guess you don’t know what I can do.’

‘We actually betrayed him,’ Nasiru finally confessed. ‘Elvis Richards brought the idea of sending him to prison and wiping out his family.’

‘So you wiped off someone’s family and sent him to prison?’ Tarasha got up slowly, ‘and now you’re trying to do charity up and down to cover your sins right?’

Nasiru gave no reply, tears began to drop down his cheeks. ‘Just kill me now, I know I have to pay for my sins. I’m ready.’

Tarasha took her gaze away from his face as Cole walked into the living room at that moment. She walked away to meet Cole, she said something in his ears before returning. Cole returned back to carry out her orders.

‘We won’t kill you,’ Tarasha said to the man. ‘We’ll keep you alive until you stop cooperating. If you cooperate till the end, we’ll let you go but drop you on another country.’

It sounded like a miracle to Nasiru as his eyes lit up with hope.

‘We’ll need you for a video tomorrow.’ Tarasha added.

‘A video, would my face show?’

‘Of course it would,’ Tarasha replied with a short laugh. ‘Or do you prefer dying?’

‘No, I prefer the video.’

‘Good,’ Tarasha clapped her hands. ‘Now, get up. Let me show you the room you’ll pass your night.’

The man got up and Tarasha led him to a room, she made him sit on the bed and the handcuffed his left hand to the wooden part. Tarasha’s phone rang.

‘Hello… Okay, just come.’ She spoke briefly and ended the call. Then she dropped the phone just beside Nasiru. She bent to pull off his shoes.

‘We’ll record the video tomorrow, don’t try anything silly.’ Tarasha said before turning back. She walked out of the place leaving her phone behind.

As soon as Nasiru could no longer hear her footsteps, he picked up the phone and dialed a number in a hurry.

‘Hello… I don’t know where I am now but I’m still with the assassins, you can get this location by tracking this phone call… Yes, I’m safe for now. They promised not to kill me if I cooperate with them.’

‘Have you blocked all access to this location?’ Tarasha asked as she stepped into Cole’s room.

‘Yes Boss,’ Cole replied, taking a quick glance as she journeyed towards him. She sat beside him in the bed and then laid back flat.

‘Hope you used the right IMEI?’ She asked, rubbing her palm on her forehead.

‘Yes, I did.’ Cole replied and the room went silent for few minutes. Cole was acting as if he was busy with his laptop but he wasn’t concentrating. His mind was in Tarasha’s body which laid beside him. He glanced down her thighs once again and took in a deep breath. After a hard day’s work like this, a girl with Tarasha’s kind of body would have been the best thing to refresh his body. He wished he could have her right away.

He turned his face back to the laptop and cautioned himself in his heart. What he needed was rest, he thought to himself. How on earth was he even thinking about sex when his whole body was still aching? He had only managed to escape death from Nasiru’s personal guard, he should be thanking God for his life.

‘He should have finished with his phone call,’ Tarasha said and stood up swiftly.

‘Yes, he’s done.’ Cole said after minimizing a window to check the call monitoring app.

‘How many minutes is the recording?’

‘Forty nine seconds,’ Cole answered.

‘He made only one call?’

‘Yes, only one.’

‘Okay.’

+++

‘Inspector,’ Agent Dakolo called from his car after pressing the horn twice when he saw Ken at the gate entrance.

‘Sir,’ Ken turned around to answer. The agent drove away to park somewhere suitable but very close.

‘How long have you arrived?’ Dakolo asked as he stepped out of the car and locked the doors hurriedly.

‘Just now sir, not up to a minute.’ Ken replied, walking towards the man.

‘Has the anti-bomb squad arrived?’

‘Not yet,’ Ken answered, shaking his head to emphasize his point.

‘Are they not supposed to be on standby?’ Dakolo asked no one in particular, taking out his phone as he hurried towards the gate. Just then, they could see the headlights of two vehicles coming towards them. They recognized the vehicles as the police vans.

‘I think a lot of them are not used to being called up by this time of the night,’ Ken replied.

‘That’s… Hello,’ Dakolo turned away from Ken as his call had been answered. ‘Where is the anti-bomb squad? They’re nowhere to be found yet… Okay, they have to hurry up and get here as soon as possible.’ He ended the call and turned back to Ken. ‘She said they had to come to the office first from their house to pick some tools, they’ll be here soon since there’s no holdup in traffic.’

Ken and Dakolo walked up to the security men standing in front of the gate and began to ask questions.

‘How did it happen?’ Dakolo was first to talk.

A man with a stout figure was the person who replied him, he had a thick Hausa accent. ‘About two hours ago, we saw the Senate President drive out of the house in one of his favorite cars. The first thing that got us suspicious was that neither his personal security officer nor the assistant were with him but we saw a man in our uniform driving the car, so we thought it was one of us. We thought it was only three of the guests that were with him since we didn’t know the driver of the car was disguised, we believed that there was still one of the guests in the house. What made my suspicion rise more was…’

‘Inspector Ken,’ Dakolo cut the man’s talk. ‘Please excuse me,’ he said politely to the guard and turned back to Ken. ‘Go in with some guys to check the situation in there.’

‘Okay,’ Ken said and moved back to select the boys that were going in with him.

‘Please go on,’ Dakolo said to the guard after they had given way for Ken and four police officers to enter.

The stout figure guard cleared his throat and continued, ‘as I was saying, I began to suspect something fishy when the man did not return in thirty minutes time. I knew he could not go out for that long if he wasn’t with his security officer. Then I tried to call his personal security officer but the call wasn’t answered, I had to go in to ask of him. That was when I noticed the unusual quietness in the house, I saw Mrs Nasiru laying on a chair in the parlour while the nurse was attending to her. The other guards explained that the Senate President’s guests which he had been preparing for all day turned out to be assassins, they were led in here by Samantha Osman. We later found Mr Nasiru’s personal security officer and one other guard in a room upstairs unconscious.’

‘But why didn’t they call immediately that the noticed that the guests were strange people? How on earth were they able to penetrate into this kind of tightly secured house without the an alarm being raised? How did they get into a room with the man’s daughter and still had the boldness to fix an explosive on her body? That means they must have spent much time here’

‘They came in some minutes after eight o’clock and we didn’t conduct any search on them, that was the instruction we got.’

‘Interesting, I need to…’ Dakolo was interrupted by a loud horn. The anti-bomb squad had arrived.

—-

“Madam, hope they didn’t hurt you’ Ken asked Mrs Nasiru with so much concern shown in his voice.

‘She’s okay,’ the nurse attending to her replied.

Mrs Nasiru was seated on the settee with a worried look on her face as she was been administered drugs by the nurse.

‘They only injected her some substances to make her so weak and she’s fast recuperating from the weakness.’ The nurse explained.

‘Please can she talk to us now?’

‘Yes, but I won’t like you to bother her with so many questions or anything that’ll bring anxiety.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ Ken dragged a footstool and placed it close to the woman, he sat on it and waited for the nurse to finish attending to her before he started.

‘I’m sorry about the unfortunate incident madam, but the police are ready to bring back your husband to you hale and hearty. That’s why you need to provide us all informations you have to help our work.’ He explained and then paused for a few seconds as if to get the woman’s approval before starting the questions. ‘Ma, did you also meet with those guests?’

Mrs Nasiru didn’t reply immediately but continued staring at Ken’s face with a pitiable expression on her face. Then she sniffed in and exhaled. ‘I met them, I served them, they ate on my dining table.’ She replied in a low voice with so much grief.

‘Who did they say they were?’

‘My husband told me that they were Nigerian delegates from a charity organization in Canada. They had come to work with the Ata’s foundation in their vision of eradicating poverty. He said that they had a plan to organise a conference to educate the elites in the country on the relevance of helping the less privileged.’

‘Is that all you know about them?’

‘They organized a food campaign for people in the slums of Katsina sometime last week where they distributed several bags of rice, cooking utensils and other food stuffs.’

‘That means they’ve been like partners with the Ata’s foundation?’

‘Yes, but just recently.’

‘Okay,’ Ken paused and quickly typed in some things into his Android device. ‘Did you notice anything strange about them when they arrived?’

‘No, they looked like normal people. We thought they had only come to pay us a visit and return to their lodge tomorrow morning.’

‘Then how did it all change?’

‘It all started after the meal, I was preparing their rooms with the maids while my husband was showing them around the house. It was surprising for me when he called that I should come downstairs immediately. He told me that it was like their systems were reacting to the meal they just took, asking if we had put something unusual to spice up the food as two of the guest had already been rushed to the toilet.’

‘Oh! I see…’ Ken’s phone rang, he checked his screen and then excused himself from the woman. ‘Sir.’

‘Inspector Ken,’ Dakolo’s voice came through, ‘please take care of the situation while I go in search of the assassins  or any clue they must have dropped closeby. The anti-bomb squad has arrived already and will be with you shortly.’

‘Okay,’ Ken replied and the call ended. Just as he was about to return the phone into his pocket, three men dressed in anti-bomb squad uniform walked into the living room.

‘Inspector Ken,’ one of them called.

‘Inspector,’ Ken walked back a little and received a brief handshake from the leader of the squad.

‘Where’s the girl and have you seen the bomb, how it was attached?’

‘No, I’ve not seen her.’ Ken replied.

One of the guards walked towards them quietly, ‘she’s still in the room’ he said pointing in direction of the way to take.

‘Okay,’ the leader of the anti-bomb squad said and they followed the guard.

‘What’s this thing I’m hearing about bomb?’ Mrs Nasiru asked, looking seriously worried and tensed. She had not been allowed to see the same picture her husband had seen that made him scream then, so she wasn’t aware of the danger their daughter was in. She had also been sedated for a long time and the guards didn’t tell her anything about the bomb or had daughter when she woke, they only told her that her daughter was fine and outside the house. ‘Where’s Fatima?’ She asked, fidgeting all over.

‘Don’t worry ma, Fatima would be fine.’ Ken replied, oblivious of the fact that she wasn’t aware about her daughter’s plight. ‘The police are in charge of the situation.’ Ken returned back to the stool and sat in front of her.

‘What happened to her?’ She asked stretching her two hands forward, her face clearly showed her ignorance about the matter.

‘Nothing madam,’ this was when Ken realized that she didn’t know a bomb was tied round Fatima.

‘I was told she was outside,’ the woman said, struggling to get up.

‘Yes, I met her outside.’ Ken said, trying to stop her. The nurse also ran forward to them and tried to put the woman back to her seat.

‘No, I want to see her now, I want to see my daughter now.’ The woman was adamant and she pushed the nurse away. Ken followed, trying to convince her to wait and relax but he tried his best not to touch her. She didn’t take more than six steps forward before she collapsed.

**

Dakolo sat in the front seat of the van with the driver as they rode recklessly. The roads were very free at that time of the night, so there was a very little possibility of an accident.

Dakolo’s eyes were wandering all around the place, searching for the car with the description that he got from the guards. Although he knew it was a fruitless search as the assassins would have gone a long way with it already, that was if they did not change the car like he expected them to. He had it in mind that it was possible that the assassins could have killed the man and left his body in the car somewhere.

His phone rang and he checked the screen, it was from Ken. ‘Inspector Ken.’

‘Agent sir, where are you?’

‘Just a few distance from the house. We’ll be coming back now to the house. Have you gotten any information from the woman?’

‘I got only a little and she’s even unconscious now but the security staffs here said that they received a call from the Senate President some few minutes ago but the number which he used to call was not displayed. Also all their trials to track the number has been futile.’

‘Okay, I’m coming back now. Get every information about the call from them. Then call the office and relay it to them, let them track it and tell us the location the call came from.’

‘Okay sir,’ Ken said and the call ended.

‘Please take the next turn back,’ Dakolo said and returned to the phone to his pocket. ‘Wait!’ He shouted suddenly again. ‘Isn’t that the Bentley Jeep they described to us?’

***

‘Boss, the police are everywhere in Asokoro, a lot of patrol cars are going around.’ Benny said as he stepped out out of the car and Aisha from the other side.

‘Hope you didn’t have troubles getting here,’ Tarasha replied, walking back to the entrance of the house. She had been the one who opened the gate for them to enter.

‘No, we were seen as late night travelers, there were no weapons in my car.’

‘Good,’ Tarasha chuckled. ‘Hope you got the bulbs I asked you to get?’ She asked as she opened the door for them to walk in. She walked in after them and closed the door.

‘No boss, all the stores were already closed.’ Benny replied, keeping a sorry look on his face.

‘Dumb reason, I wasn’t expecting you to buy it, I know you couldn’t get by this time of the night. I was expecting you to uninstall them from any house or place you see them. Now we’ll have to wait till late morning to record the video.’ Tarasha said and walked away into the room where she left Cole.

Benny stood motionless for a while, Aisha was smiling at him. He couldn’t imagine that she was expecting him to steal bulbs at that time of the night when the police were raiding all over.

*

‘Has he made another call yet?’ Tarasha asked as she entered into the room.

‘No boss, I think he’s being careful not to raise suspicion.’

‘Who did he call?’

‘He called his home, he told them that he was safe for now and wasn’t going to be killed. He asked them to track the call and find his location.’

‘I need him to make more calls, I want him to call the police officer who gives them information.’

‘Hmm…’ Cole hummed, wondering how that was going to help them.

‘Most importantly, I want him to call the Vice President. I need to confirm if all the stories he told me were true.’ Tarasha added.

Benny walked into the room, taking off his shirt, unaware of Tarasha’s presence. He flung the shirt away, only for it to land on his Boss’s shoulder.

Benny quickly dropped to his knees on realizing what he had just done. She took the shirt away and threw it on the floor. She gave him a crooked smile. ‘Don’t worry, you’ll return the man’s dead body to his house tomorrow.’ She said it with a serious tone, although she didn’t mean it.

‘Huh?’ Benny opened his mouth in shock, he felt the punishment was too severe for him. Any other punishment would have been better but this would definitely get him caught by the police.

‘Boss, what about the assignment you said we were going to handle immediately after this?’ Cole asked, trying to help Benny out of the situation.

‘I’ll handle that, but I won’t attack, he will be expecting me now. I’ll either wait for him to find me or send you guys to him later. It’ll be easier for you to handle since he was your boss.’ Tarasha said and walked out of the room.

Benny who did not understand her words turned to Cole who looked like he understood better.

‘She’s talking about Don, he was hired to find and kill her.’ Cole explained to Benny.

‘We found nothing in the car. They must have entered into another car from there. ‘ Dakolo was speaking with Ken as they walked down the car park being led by one of the guards and three uniformed officers following behind.

It was past twelve noon and the Senate President’s house was still busy, the gates were wide open and the security officials could be seen working up and down.

The anti-bomb squad had just finished uninstalling the bomb on Fatima’s body successfully and they were coming out of the house with the bomb they had just removed.

‘Hello,’ Dakolo beckoned to the leader.

‘Yes sir,’ the man responded and changed his direction towards Dakolo.

‘Is the girl okay and would she be able to talk to us now?’

‘Yes, I think so. I don’t think there was anything wrong with her before, she was awake.’

‘Okay, so apart from the bomb, they didn’t do anything else to her?’

‘I wouldn’t know that sir, the medicals are attending to her already.’

‘Okay then, thanks.’ Dakolo waved and watched them leave. He turned to Ken. ‘Lead the guys to the car and check everywhere carefully. I want to see if I can talk to the girl.’ He said.

‘Okay sir,’ Ken accepted and continued his walk with the rest while Agent Dakolo turned back to the direction of the house.

The guard continued to lead Ken and the officers until they got to the car which was brought by the visitors.

‘Have you guys searched it at all?’ Ken asked the guard.

‘No,’ the guard replied.

‘Okay,’ Ken took out his phone and turned on his torchlight as there was only a little reflection of light at the other side of the car. He walked in a circle around it, trying to observe the body, the juniors also joined him. After searching the outer body, Ken tried to open the door. He applied force but was unsuccessful. He stepped back and took out his gun, he was about to shoot when a junior raised an alarm.

‘Stop Inspector!’ the officer shouted. He was by the back right hand side of the car. ‘There is a note here warning us not to open the car.’

Ken turned around to the officer’s side and looked through the glass. ‘Don’t try to open the door, the whole place would go up in flames.’ Ken read out what he saw on the piece of paper. ‘What’s the meaning of this?’ He asked aloud, although to no one in particular. He brought his eyes close to the glass and tried to see if anything else was in the car. He could see something on the ground close to the backseat. He brought his phone closer and pointed the torchlight to it.

‘Shi*t!’ He cursed as he rose up and turned to the other men who were expecting him to announce what he saw. ‘There’s an explosive in the car, someone should get the anti-bomb squad before they leave.’

~~~

Dakolo was already close to the door when a call entered his phone. Without halting, he dipped his hand into his pocket to bring out the phone. He checked the screen, it was from the Vice President. Dakolo let out a sigh before answering.

‘Good morning your Excellency,’ Dakolo greeted politely.

‘Agent, nothing is good about the morning.’ Elvis barked from the other end. ‘What on earth is happening? The media is already reporting an unconfirmed rumor that the Senate President has been kidnapped, I hope it’s not true.’

‘Sadly sir, it’s true.’ Dakolo replied without apologies in his voice, he wondered what the man was doing up at that time reading unconfirmed stories on the internet instead of resting himself. ‘I’m at the Senate President’s house now and we’re keeping the situation under control.’

‘Control my foot,’ Elvis slammed, ‘this has gone out of control already.’

‘We’re making our investigations now and we hope to bring the man back alive soon, hale and hearty.’ Dakolo said, hoping to put an end to the phone call with that.

‘Better do,’ the man said and ended the call.

Dakolo returned the phone into his pocket and continued his walk into the house.

‘Where’s Fatima?’ He asked one of the officers he first met in the living room.

‘She’s upstairs,’ the officer replied.

‘Lead me there,’ Dakolo said as he placed a hand on the man’s shoulder and followed the lead.

‘I don’t really know the place, I’ve not gone there.’

In five minutes time, he got to the room with another officer who knew the place better. He walked closer to the bed, slowly, two of the medical officials were still with Fatima.

‘She was tranquilized before the bomb was attached,’ one of the medical officers said as he saw Dakolo come closer.

‘I see… But is she strong enough to talk to me now?’

‘Yes,’ Fatima replied by herself. ‘I can talk.’

‘Good morning Fatima,’ Dakolo walked closer to the left side of the bed where she laid. He squatted before her, supporting himself by placing a hand on the bed. ‘Sorry I have to trouble you. It’s just that we need to get every information as soon as possible so that we can start work and bring back your father soon.’

‘I know, what questions do you have for me.’ Fatima sniffed in, trying to fight back tears as she used her palm to clean off the drops from her face.

Dakolo waited for her to finish cleaning her face before he began. ‘Did you see the visitors?’

‘Yes, I met them when I came in. My Dad introduce me to them.’

‘Is there anything familiar about them?’ Dakolo asked. Fatima looked confused about the question so he had to rephrase. ‘I mean have you seen any of them around you or your family anywhere before?’

‘No, it was my first time of ever seeing them.’

‘But did you notice any strange thing?’

‘Ermm… I did but it was already late.’ She said and took a short pause. ‘When I came into this room with one of the ladies who wanted to use the toilet, I noticed on a closer look at face that the makeup was a quite special one, it looked so much like another skin was laid upon her face.’

‘Then what did you do?’

‘I didn’t do anything, I wanted to ask questions about what brand of kits she uses but I needed to wait for her to finish using the toilet as she was acting uncomfortable then.’

‘But what made the makeup look suspicious to you?’

‘When she came out of the toilet. I think water had touched her palms and part of the cream she used in lightening her hands had washed away. But I ignored because she caught me staring at her hands and didn’t look bothered.’

‘So what is your conclusion based on that?’

‘I think they came in disguised, we may have not really seen their real colours and faces.’

‘But how possible is it to disguise so well with makeups?’

‘Very possible sir, but this lady’s own was quite different. I was just admiring her style of makeups and the neatness, I didn’t think it was a disguise not until the cream washed off her hands.’

‘But why didn’t you raise an alarm immediately?’

‘Alarm?’ She asked in a surprise tone. ‘Well, all that just began to make sense to me after she attached the bomb to my body.’

~~~

‘Hello Chief,’ Tarasha spoke into the phone.

‘Tarasha,’ the Chief replied. Tarasha could hear him yawning from the other end. ‘Why did you decide to call by this time of the day?’

‘Because I need to speak with you now, so listen up.’ Tarasha said in an impatient voice.

‘Okay,’ the Chief replied, in a more serious tone.

‘Very soon, you’ll hear of the death of the next target, Nasiru Attahiru. But before he dies, I want to give you an opportunity to reveal some secrets which you may have hidden from me, so that I can help conceal them from being exposed to the public.’

‘Ermm… Tarasha. We can’t really discuss that on phone, we have to see.’

‘When do we see?’

‘Maybe you should take a flight to Lagos tomorrow.’

‘Huh? Come to Lagos? You’re kidding right?’

‘No, so that we can…’

‘We would talk through video chat Chief, it’s a waste of time traveling.’ Tarasha interrupted him.

‘But there’ll be a limit to…’

‘You have to find a way to break the limits,’ she cut in again.

‘Okay,’ the man finally gave in.

‘One more thing.’

‘Yes.’

‘This target Chief Nasiru and the next, Chief Elvis is already expecting us and I believe you should know they would be. They already sent one of your boys to monitor me, so you should also watch your back.’

‘One of my boys? Who?’

‘That’s all for now Chief,’ with that Tarasha ended the call.

~~~

Dakolo was through questioning Fatima, he was proceeding back outside the house. His phone rang.

‘Officer, what location have you found?’ Dakolo asked the caller.

‘None sir, it is directing us to Mars.’ The caller replied in a thick Yoruba accent.

‘Maths? What’s that?’ Dakolo asked.

‘Planet Mars,’ the caller corrected.

‘How on earth is that possible?’

‘It’s impossible sir, the location has been secured by a strange kind of technology.’

‘Strange indeed,’ Dakolo said, licking his lips with a frowned face as if he had just tasted something extremely bitter. ‘Please keep trying and keep us posted.’

‘Okay sir,’ the caller said and the call ended.

Dakolo paused for a while, his thoughts drifted to Henry and there pitiable health condition. Maybe investigating Henry was a huge mistake after all. Henry’s loss was also a big loss to the nation as he was the one whom they called during times like this. He could now imagine how Henry would look when he becomes strong enough to talk. A useless dummy he would be, not remembering anything about himself or even having the ability to use his brain for anything new.

Samantha Osman was really a curse to the nation, he thought. Maybe a punishment for the nation’s sins. She must be brought down at all cost. And Henry was a blessing to the nation, he must not be given up on, they must do everything to help him out of the situation they had put him.

Dakolo shrugged and continued walking on, an idea came into his mind. He remembered that the NSCC had just employed more experts, he could call Sylvester and request for the NSCC’s help on tracking the location where the call came from. He took out his phone immediately and executed his thought.

~~~

***Ten minutes later***

‘Good morning Evelyn,’ the caller greeted.

‘Good morning sir,’ Tarasha recognized the voice as Mr Sylvester’s.

‘I’m sorry Evelyn for disturbing your sleep at this time of the night, the police just called me and requested for an urgent tracking to be done.’

‘What do they want to track?’

‘They said a phone call that they got about two hours ago.’

‘Two hours ago? Why are they just tracking it now?’

‘They’ve been trying but all their efforts to track it have been futile.’

‘How did that do it? They would have to request for data from the base of the network operators to do that.’

‘Yes, they’ve done so and still couldn’t track.’

‘Okay, let them forward the data to us.’

‘Thanks dear,’ Mr Sylvester said in a happy tone. ‘Sorry I didn’t ask about your mother, how is she now?’

‘She’s feeling quite better. ‘

‘Thank God. I’ll get them to forward the data to you as soon as possible and I’ll expect an excellent job as usual.’

~~~

***2am***

Vice President Elvis kept pacing around his living room uneasily, his mind could not be at rest. All his guards and maids had already gone to sleep as he has earlier retired to his bedroom before getting the news of the kidnap. He didn’t believe that Nasiru whom he had just spoken with few hours ago had been already caught by the Samantha Osman group, when he thought that the Police and his man Don was already keeping her on the run. In fact, that was how Don had made it look to him when they spoke for the second time the last night. Don had told him that he had met with Samantha that day and almost caught her if not for the police who came in and disrupted all his plans. Don also promised that very soon, he would deliver to him the head of Samantha Osman.

Elvis took out his phone and dialed Don’s number. After ringing thrice, Don finally picked his call.

‘Hello VP,’ Don spoke in a sleepy tone.

‘Blockhead, you’re there sleeping while Samantha Osman has just captured someone else.’ Elvis slammed.

‘Huh?’ Don seemed surprised. ‘That can’t be, she was on the run yesterday and couldn’t have carried out any operation.’

‘Dummy!’ Elvis cursed him again. ‘As I speak to you now, she has the Senate President in her custody. And all these happened after you told me that you gave her a hot chase last night.’

‘Yes, I met her yesterday and I would have trapped her if not that the Police came with their unfortunate heads.’

Elvis shook his head in self pity, to him Don was sounding like a confused fellow. Samantha Osman would surely not be stopped if he was depending on Don to do it, she had clearly shown that she was above him in every way.

‘You are helpless Don, I don’t think you can carry out this assignment.’

‘I can,’ Don tried to argue.

‘Shut up! See me first thing by daybreak,’ Elvis said and ended the call with that. He dropped his phone on the table. He continued his pacing around, thinking of what he could do to save himself.

For a moment, his thoughts drifted to the person who could be the person sponsoring Samantha Osman. One person that came to his mind was Gabriel. But how on earth could Gabriel be the one? Gabriel who had been stricken with poverty was also sick with stroke and was hiding in a remote village in a poor African country, the only thing that was being awaited was the news of his death. It couldn’t be Gabriel, Elvis thought. Then who could it be?

That was a question he had no answer for, but he knew he had to do something drastically to save his life. He began to think of which other person could handle Samantha Osman but he could find no other trained and expert assassin as Don. He sank into a sofa, frustratingly. Was he going to end his life just like that? No. How could he who had been a terror to the hearts of many now be terrorized by a young girl?

An idea suddenly struck his heart and a broad smile appeared on his lips. He got up and picked his phone from the table. He unlocked it and began to search through the contacts. He didn’t find what he was looking for. He chuckled and hissed at his stupidity, how was he even expecting to find a phone number which he had not called for over fifteen years now on a recent phone?

He began to walk away from the living room, on his way to his study. He was very sure he would find Matvei’s contacts. If he couldn’t find a valid phone number, he was sure he would get a location address or an email address with which he would be able to get in touch with the man. What he needed now was another competent assassin, one who was specially trained, preferably more trained than Samantha.

**6am**

Stainless could perceive the thick odor of weed emanating from somewhere inside the house. He began to wonder if Don was already up as early as that and the only thing he could think of was to smoke. Stainless gulped down the bottle of water and flung the empty bottle into the waste bin. He closed the door to the refrigerator and turned off the light in the kitchen before exiting the place. He began to trace the smell to where it was coming from.

True to his thoughts, he was led to nowhere else than the room where Don had passed the night. He pushed widely open the door which was left ajar. Don took a glance back at him and turned again to face the mirror in front of which he was sitting.

‘Don, this thing you’re smoking, don’t you think it still attract unnecessary attention to us here?’ Stainless asked, charging towards Don.

Don didn’t not reply immediately but took in another drag and let out a huge mold of thick dark smoke.

‘When did it become illegal to smoke in one’s residence?’ Don asked, giving Stainless a nonchalant attitude.

‘But I only come to this place to hide, I never announce my presence to the neighborhood.’Stainless argued.

‘And who’s announcing your presence?’

‘You, don’t you know they’ll be perceiving the smoke all around and would surely know that it’s from here.’

‘Okay, you win.’ Don finally agreed to stop, knowing that Stainless wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

There was a long silence between them. The duo stared at their reflections shown in the mirror facing them. Stainless was putting on a white turned brown single and a blue boxers while Don was in his black trouser jean with nothing to cover his chest.

‘Don’t you think you need to cut your hair again? You’re looking like the wanted man again.’ Stainless broke the silence, trying to mock Don but Don didn’t feel mocked, he also had been thinking of cutting his hair too and shaping his beards, which was contrary to his style before he was declared wanted.

‘I don’t think she’ll come anymore,’ Don said, ignoring the last remark made by Stainless.

‘Who?’

‘Who else? Samantha.’

‘Okay but why do you think so? Weren’t you the one that suggested she’ll be coming very soon for us and we are already making plans to trap her?’

‘She won’t be coming soon anymore, I think she has a lot to do already.’

‘What do you mean?’ Stainless sounded confused.

‘She kidnapped the Senate President yesterday.’

Stainless was dumbfounded. He closed his eyes for a while to assimilate the news. ‘You mean she wasn’t hiding from the police like we were yesterday?’

Don stared at his face without responding. The kind of look in Don’s eyes already expressed his reply. Stainless could read it as, ‘do I look like someone who doesn’t know what he’s talking about?’

‘But how come? How could she do it that same yesterday? Are you sure she was the one we met at that house?’

Don still didn’t reply immediately, he just remained calm staring at Stainless’ face, he folded his arms.

‘If she’s not the one? Then who could it be?’ Don asked, getting up from the seat.

‘So what do we do now?’

‘We have to go look for her,’ Don replied.

‘But the plan was that she’ll come to meet us.’

‘Plan has changed Stainless, ‘ Don said. ‘She would not come to look for us now, I don’t even think she’s thinking of us yet.’

‘Then what do we do?’

‘We’ll go in search of her.’

‘But that would be dangerous,’ Stainless opposed. ‘We don’t have any idea of where she operates from right now and she could lead us into a trap, we don’t know her next plan yet.’

‘We know her plan,’ Don retorted, Stainless gave him a quick surprised look. ‘Yes, we know her next target.’

‘Who?’

‘The Vice President, that’s why the man is impatient about the matter. I think Tarasha is doing more than just political assassinations for Chief Gab, it’s a vengeance mission and Chief Elvis has been able to trace it, so he knows he’s the next in line.’

++++

**6am**

Jefa wondered who was knocking on his door early as that. He rarely had visitors, so he thought it was one of his neighbours who had come to relay the landlord’s message to him. Jefa rolled around the bed, using his hand to search around for his torchlight. Then he noticed that the mattress was larger than usual and raised above the ground level. He sat up and that was when he realized that he wasn’t in the room of his rented apartment. The events of the recent past days flashed back into his mind, he then remembered that he was in his younger sister’s house.

The knock came again and he heard Omotara’s voice. ‘Come in, I didn’t lock the door.’ He said on top of his voice.

Omotara gently opened the door and stepped in, she turned on the light and paused to look at her brother who was squinting to accommodate the new brightness the light had introduced.

‘Good morning… Ermm…sir’ she stammered as she wondered what the right words were to address him with. She had long forgotten what it meant to have an elder brother or even how to greet one. ‘Good morning brother,’ she greeted again as she proceeded towards the bed and sat by the side.

‘Good morning Omotara,’ Jefa replied with a smile. He rolled out of the blanket and placed his legs on the floor.

‘How are you feeling this morning?’

‘I’m feeling better, the treatment has worked quite better than what I received in the hospital.’ Jefa replied happily. Omotara smiled back at him mischievously, if only the man knew that some hard drugs which she mixed with the medicine were part of the reason why he felt so strong, he wouldn’t be so glad about his new feeling.

‘How was work?’ Jefa asked.

‘Fine,’ she smiled, taking a look around the room. She noticed that it had been disorganized. ‘What happened here?’ She asked with a slight frown.

‘Nothing,’ Jefa’s smiling face gave way for a deep frown as he remembered his dream and the plan he had to leave Omotara house and life forever. ‘I was trying to search for the clothes you brought for me.’

‘But why? I thought I showed you another collection of new clothes.’

‘I want to return home this morning Tara, I want to go back to my house.’

‘Why brother? You’ve not even finished receiving treatment, the nurse is still here.’

‘I’m strong already,’ Jefa got up and jogged on the spot to emphasize his point.

‘No, you can’t go home now. This is your new home.’

‘No, I don’t want to stay with you. I don’t want to bring my bad luck upon you.’

‘What do you mean brother? What are you talking about?’

‘I’ve been having a lot of bad dreams recently. It started since I saw you and began to look for you. All those dreams have been pointing to something; they’ve been warning me not to reunite with you, it could cause a disaster.’

‘Come on, don’t worry. Dreams most times are just a reflection of the contents of our minds and nothing really serious; that means you’ve been scared of meeting with me.’ Omotara said with a smile, moving closer to him on the bed. She had an unusual feeling of warmness when she talked with him, something she had not felt for a long while.

‘No, these dreams are real and the signs have began to show already.’

‘No, they are not real.’ Omotara argued, placing a palm on his knee. ‘Just clear your mind off the wrong pictures.’

‘They are,’ Jefa remained adamant. ‘I was listening to the radio late last night after another bad dream and I heard that your boyfriend has been seriously sick in the hospital for some days now, since the same day I had the accident.’

‘My boyfriend?’ Omotara muttered, looking lost.

‘I don’t want to disturb the peace between lovers, I also don’t want to bother you with my problems now that your boyfriend is also seriously ill and needs your attention.’ Jefa continued without paying attention to her face. He held her palms tightly in his.

‘My boyfriend? Who is that?’ She asked in a low voice, hoping he wasn’t referring to Henry.

‘Isn’t he your boyfriend? Or are you people married already?’

‘Married? I’m not married to anyone.’

‘I’m talking about Henry, Henry Ekene. His love for you is always seen in his eyes anytime he speaks about you.’ Jefa revealed.

Omotara slowly released his hands and stood up from the bed, she folded her arms and turned her back against him to hide her facial expression which had turned evil at the sound of Henry’s name. She hated thinking about him now, she hated all the emotions which he had brought back into her life and regretted allowing the feelings to control her to the point of forgetting the ampoule in his house.

Jefa got up and stood behind her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘He loves you, I know he truly loves you.’ Tarasha’s heart melted at Jefa’s words and her shoulders dropped, her heart began to beat fast as Henry’s helpless picture flashed back into her mind. She could remember the disappointed look on his face when he saw her in his house and that look he kept when she was done setting up the drip.

‘I was going to his house that day, he called me to warn you if I see you anywhere, not to come into town for now. He sounded concerned about you, like you were in trouble of some sort.’ Jefa paused, he noticed her countenance, it looked like she was sobbing. He held her elbow from behind and turned her to face him. Her eyes looked teary, he thought she could burst out loud in tears any moment from then. She buried her face in his chest and he embraced and patted her back, consoling her for what he was unaware of.

~~~

7am

All through the night, Chief Elvis kept turning around the bed, unable to have a good night rest as he met with a nightmare anytime he closed his eyes. A girl with a masked face was always pursuing after him, telling him to confess his sins to the nation and whole world else she would kill him sooner than he expected.

A message entered into his phone and it beeped. He quickly got out of the bed and picked the phone on the drawer. His mind began to beat fast as he saw the notification, his email message had been replied to already. He opened the message and quickly read through. The Villary Gang had gotten his message and confirmed his previous relationship with them. They also attached in the message two phone numbers which he could use to contact his old associate, Matvei.

Chief Elvis quickly copied the number and pasted it on his dialpad. He clicked the dial command and placed it on his ears.

‘Hello,’ a gruff voice came through.

‘Hello Matvei,’ Chief Elvis smiled as he could recall the voice of his old time Russian associate.

‘Who is this and how can I help you?’ The voice continued in a thick Russian accent.

‘It’s your friend Matvei, it’s Elvis Richards from Nigeria.’

‘Elvis Richards,’ the receiver seemed to think for a while, maybe trying to recall the name. ‘Elvis Richards?’ The voice repeated.

‘Yes, Elvis Richards, I and my associates used to supply you fresh raw materials from Nigeria.’ Elvis explained more.

‘Oh!’ The gruff voice exclaimed. ‘It’s been a long while, your voice sounds older now.’

‘Yes, yours sounds older too.’ Elvis replied with a brief laugh.

‘Well, that’s the effects of aging.’ Matvei remarked. ‘So what’s the purpose of this call? You want to start business with us again? You want to supply us goods?’

‘No, not that business now. I know whom to call if it’s to start supply again’

‘Humm… I hope you’re not talking about Vlasdislav,’ Matvei said.

‘Yes, of course Vlasdislav. Is there any problem?’ Elvis asked, noticing the uneasiness in Matvei’s tone.

‘Vlasdislav has betrayed us, he’s betrayed the Villary Gang, he doesn’t work for us anymore. He took some trainees with him to an enemy gang.’

‘Wow! That’s interesting. So he works for another Gang now?’

‘Yes, he works in the Nefary Clan. I’m aware that they have one of their bests in your country now.’

‘Huh? One of their bests?’

‘Yes, a girl who is one of their bests is in your country now. It was reported on the world news how she kidnapped your Senate President at night time in your place.’

‘Huh?’ Elvis widened his eyes in shock at the quick spread of the news. ‘That’s exactly the same reason why I’m calling you.’

‘Huh? Did you think she came from us?’

‘No, I don’t have an idea of where she was from. You see, the person she kidnapped last night was one of my colleagues who was part of the team that used to send you raw materials.’

‘Oh! So your Senate President was part of the team?’

‘Yes, but he wasn’t the Senate President then, so was I not the Vice President then too.’

‘Oh! You’re the Vice President now?’ Matvei said with a roar of laughter. ‘Your country keeps voting in corrupt leaders.’

‘Ermm… Don’t talk like that, I’m not corrupt anymore, that’s why I stopped doing business with you.’

‘Okay, I see Mr Changed man.’ Matvei said with a mockery tone. ‘Why then did you search for my contact again?’

‘Yes… Ermm…’ Elvis struggled to find words. ‘That girl, who you say is from your enemy Gang has killed all the rest of my business partners. Only two of us are left alive and the Senate President who happens to be the second person has also been kidnapped by her gang. I’ll be her next target. The police are helpless about the situation and that’s why I’m calling. I need another assassin who can help me kill her and whoever is her sponsor.’

‘Do you know who her sponsor or sponsors are?’

‘No, I don’t.’

‘But that should not be difficult to know. It should be one of your associates. As at the time of your deal with us, you were the only Nigerians we had business with, and Vlasdislav was the one communicating directly with you. I’m sure it would be someone who still has Vlasdislav contact.’

‘Ermm… I don’t care who it is right now. All I need is another competent assassin who can protect my life.’

‘But I thought you guys said you’ll never need use of assassins then when we offered to give you ones that would help your political careers.’

‘Yes, I know we said that but my life is in danger now and I seriously need protection. You can’t start judging me by what I said twenty years ago, things have changed. I need your best man right now.’

‘Okay, you need our best man?’

‘Yes, your best man.’

‘That’ll cost you a lot of money.’

‘There’s no problem, I can pay anything.’

‘Cool then… Call me back tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why not later today?’

‘No, call me by  three am your time tomorrow.’

‘But…’

‘It takes time to select the best or isn’t that what you want?’ Matvei scolded him.

‘Okay,’ Elvis finally gave up.

‘Now, I’ll send the billing information to your email in thirty minutes time.’

‘It’s okay,’ Elvis replied. After some few seconds of more unnecessary talks, the call was ended. Elvis returned to his bed and sank into it. He began to think of the next step to take, it might take sometime for Matvei to help him arrange the assassin and he wasn’t sure Samantha would wait that long before coming for him, he needed to do something quick.

He began to think of Gabriel who was possibly still alive, could it mean that Gabriel was the one sponsoring Samantha? But how could it be? Gabriel had nothing left and was terribly sick without care from anyone. There was something more to it. Maybe there was another unknown enemy elsewhere whom his group had greatly offended.

He also began to think of leaving the country for a while but his position and responsibility as the Vice President of the nation would not permit him to do that. He tightened his fists and banged his hands on the mattress in frustration.

His phone rang again, distracting him from his temporary madness. He climbed off the bed and picked the phone. The call was from Don.

‘Sir, I’m in your living room now.’

‘Okay,’ Chief Elvis replied and took a long pause to think of what more Don could do for him. ‘ Ill join you soon,’ he finally said, rubbing his beards.

7. 45am

Omotara pushed open the room door with her left leg as she carried in the tray which contained the sliced bread, plate of fried eggs, a cup and a jug of tea. Jefa smiled on seeing her, he sat up and dragged the short stool closer to the bed for her to place the tray.

‘But why do you bother? I thought you were going to call me to the dining table when the food was ready.’ Jefa said, smiling as she dropped the tray on the stool.

‘I just thought not to bother you, you don’t need to come there when you can enjoy your breakfast here.’

‘Hmm…’ Jefa took in a deep breath as he watched the hot vapour rise while Omotara poured the tea into the mug from the jug. He didn’t remember ever being served like this in his life. He wished he could listen to Tara’s pleas to allow her get an accommodation for him close to herself.

‘You have to eat now, the nurse said you have some medicines to take by eight o’clock,’ Omotara said to Jefa, taking a glance at the wall clock.

‘Thank you,’ Jefa moved closer and placed his hand on the tray, wondering whether it was the bread he should take first or tea. He finally had to take the bread first and quickly when he noticed that Tara had her eyes on him and was smiling.

‘I have to go out soon,’ Omotara said, few seconds after Jefa began to eat.

Jefa took a quick questioning look at her, ‘I thought you were just coming from work, won’t you take a rest at least?’ He asked with bread still in his mouth.

‘I’ll rest when I return,’ she replied, smiling. ‘It’s important that I go out now.’

‘Okay, if you say so. But please, do come early so you can rest well.’

‘Yeah I will, please call me on phone if you need me to get anything for you.’ She said before walking out of the room.

+++

‘Good morning Ken,’ Dakolo greeted as he walked into the station. Ken was gathered with some other officers at the reception.

‘Good morning sir,’ Ken and the officers turned to salute the Agent.

‘How far Ken?’ Dakolo said, extending his hand to Ken for an handshake. ‘Has there been any success report on the anti-bomb squad’s trial to remove the bomb in the car?’

‘No sir, what they are talking about now is moving the car away from the compound.’ Ken replied, walking alongside with Dakolo.

‘That’s interesting! Those mechanisms are weird you know. Until now I’ve never come across such in all my years of experience.’ Dakolo said. They began to climb up the stairs together.

‘I’ve never come across them too.’

‘Well…I think the best option now is to move the whole car like they’ve said. When are they moving it?’

‘They’ve written to authorities for the urgent provision of the heavy duty vehicle needed.’

‘Okay,’ Dakolo opened his office and walked into the office with Ken.

‘I’ve sent the sample from the bottle to the hospital already, ‘ Ken said as they took their seats.

‘And have you gotten a reply from the Doctor confirming that he has received it?’

‘Not yet, it’s just eight o’clock and the Doctor would just be resuming, I’ll wait till eight thirty and call if I don’t get a reply by then.’

+++

‘Good morning nurse,’ a young man with brown coul coloured hair greeted as he approached the reception.

‘Good morning sir, what may I do for you?’ A slim dark nurse answered him.

‘I need to see the head laboratory scientist’ the young man said.

‘What’s your card number?’ The nurse asked.

‘No card number,’ he replied, shaking his head. ‘I only want to see the officials in charge of the laboratory, I’m not a patient.’

‘Why sir? Do you need a lab test or something?’

‘Yes nurse, kind of.’ He brought out an ID card and displayed to the nurse. ‘I’m also a lab scientist, a Clinical Pathologist. I work in Government City Hospital, Capetown South Africa.’

‘Okay, so do you have an official letter referring you to this place?’

‘No, actually I’m here on a personal visit. I actually came to Nigeria for a short visit with some of my friends and we discovered some liquids, that’s why I need to see the lab scientist.’

‘Okay,’ the nurse said and took some steps away. She dialed a number on the landline and said some few things before returning to the visitor. ‘You may be seated, a nurse would come and pick you up now.’

‘Oh! Thanks,’ he replied with a smile and joined some others at the reception seats.

In a short while he saw the nurse pointing him to a younger nurse dressed in a different colour of uniform with an ID card around her neck. He got up and approached the new nurse.

‘Please come with me sir,’ the new nurse said to him and led the way. From her stature and her voice, he could tell that she was less than twenty years old.

‘Are you also a full time nurse here?’ His curiosity led him to ask.

‘No sir, ‘ she replied him smiling as they climbed up the stairs. ‘I’m an IT student from the university of Abuja.’

‘Oh! I can see, that explains the ID card you have on your neck.’

‘Yes sir.’

‘So for how long have you been here? I mean how long have you started your IT here?’

‘It’s two months now.’

‘Okay, that means you should know your way around the place well.’

‘Hmm… Yes, I do.’

‘Ermm…’ The young man wanted to continue his questions but they already got to their destination. The student nurse knocked on the door and opened after listening for a response.

She ushered him in and closed the door behind.

‘From Government City Hospital, Capetown?’ The aged clinical pathologist behind the desk asked, raising his thick lens glasses.

‘Yes sir,’ the young man replied.

‘Do have your seat,’ the pathologist pointed him to one of the visitors seat. ‘You may leave now,’ he said to the young nurse who curtsied and turned away.

‘Thank you sir,’ the visitor said and settled into one of the chairs, he also thanked the young nurse before she stepped out.

‘Yes, Good morning. What can I do for you?’

‘Morning sir, like I told the nurse downstairs, I came to spend my holiday in Nigeria with my friends and we discovered some fluids which I’ve been conducting some tests on but I’ve not been able to access enough facilities to do so, that’s why I need to make use of your laboratory to finalize my research.’

‘Where’s the fluid and where did you get it from?’ The older man asked, relaxing back into his chair. He dragged his eyeglasses down a little and gave the young man a searching look, more interested in the hairstyle.

‘Here’s it,’ he took out a bottle from his bag and handed it to the man. ‘We found the liquid in bottle at a garden.’

‘What have you concluded on it so far?’

The young man replied by handing him a paper which contained the answer to the man’s question.

‘Hmm,’ the old man let out a deep breath after going through it. ‘Please may I see your ID card?’

The young man took out the ID card and displayed to the man.

‘So where are your friends whom you discovered the fluid together?’

‘We were supposed to come here together but one of them had an emergency to attend to.’

‘Okay,’ the man said and rose to his feet. He picked his lab coat from where it was hung and put it on. He then picked the fluid bottle from the table. ‘Let’s go to the lab.’

The young man got up and followed him immediately. The pathologist led him out of the office and walk in direction of the lab.

The young man’s phone rang and be quickly halted to answer the call.

‘Hello… What?’ He shouted as if something bad had happened. ‘Alright, I’m coming now.’

‘Hope there’s no problem?’

‘Ermm… Sir, there is one. I was just informed that one of my colleagues was just involved in a fatal accident. I’m sorry, I have to go now.’

‘It’s okay, but can we get your phone number?’

‘Let me get yours sir, I’ll call you once I get home.’ The young man said and quickly typed in the number as called by the pathologist. ‘Okay sir.’ He turned to the opposite direction.

‘No, take here. This place is faster.’ The pathologist said. The young man turned back and took the direction he was asked to take. The lab scientist saw the man off to the stairs before returning to his office, still with the bottle in his hands, staring at it from time to time.

++

‘Thanks officer, I’ve gotten your message and I’m starting work on it now.’ Doctor Tobi was speaking into the phone in a very formal tone.  ‘Well, Henry should be better now. I’m just resuming duty and I’ve not checked him yet…. Okay, thanks.’ He finally ended the call and dropped into his swivel, he picked up the document and began to read the report that accompanied the sample. As he progressed in reading, a serious look began to form on his face. He picked up the bottle containing the sample from time to time and stared at it as if to ask the content if it was really it that had such a report written for.

After sometime, he got impatient and got up from his chair. He picked the bottle and document, he dipped them back into the box they had come with and proceeded out of his office, planning to go straight to the lab. He did not take more than five steps when he realized that he had not performed the compulsory morning ward round. He reluctantly returned to his office and sat back on his seat, he picked up a file which contained the list of all patients he was responsible for, he picked the file and quickly hurried out to check the patients.

Henry’s ward was the last one he visited, he met only one police officer watching over Henry instead of three. He didn’t bother to ask about the others but just proceeded to check the patient.

Henry was seated with his back rested. His face looked dull, he had drastically reduced in weight and his bones were appearing under his neck, he was pale shadow of his former self.

The Doctor opened the file and began to write in something as he got to Henry’s front. The patient made no visible body movement, neither did his face or eyes move in response to the person who just stepped in front of him.

Doctor Tobi moved closer to Henry and stared into his face, he used his fingers to widen Henry’s eyes and carefully observed the colour. He jotted down some things before leaving the ward and proceeding back to his office. He picked up the box he was supposed to take with him to the lab and with the file still in his hands, he walked back out of the office, then to the nurses station and dropped the file with them before proceeding to the lab.

+++

‘How did it go?’ Tarasha asked Benny as he opened the door to the passengers side of the car.

‘Fine,’ he replied, taking his seat.

‘Everything went as planned?’

‘Yes, there were no errors made.’ He answered, taking off the attached beard to his chin. He ruffled his coloured hair with his palms.

‘Don’t worry, you only need to rinse well with water and it’ll be gone.’ Tarasha said to him. He stopped ruffling the hair and took off the waist bag and moved it to the back seat.

Tarasha started the car engine and drove off in silence. Benny kept stealing glances at Tarasha all the time, she looked relaxed and refreshed of some sort, he wondered what or who she went to meet in the house. They got to their destination after forty five minutes drive.

The living room was already set as instructed by Tarasha. A backdrop had been improvised to one side of the parlour and a one seater sofa decorated and placed in front of it, the other sofas were moved away to create space in the middle.

Tarasha and Benny took into the house the bulbs Tarasha had gotten from town. Tarasha climbed on Benny’s shoulder and inserted the new bulb to the lamp holder while Cole set up the camera.

‘Go get the man,’ Tarasha ordered Benny after everything was set for the recording.

One minute later, Benny returned with the handcuffed man and led him to the seat prepared for him.

‘Well, did he make any other call?’ Tarasha speaking only to Cole’s hearing.

‘Yes, to the same number,’Cole replied in the same low tone. ‘He told them that we were planning to record a video of him but he didn’t know what we were expecting him to say yet.’

‘Hehe,’ Tarasha chuckled, ‘that means he’s not ready yet, he still needs some special preparations for this video.’ Her phone rang and distracted her attention. She took it out and looked t the screen, then she took some steps away before answering.

‘Hello sir,’ she spoke into the phone.

‘Hello Evelyn, I’ve been waiting for your reply.’ Mr Sylvester’s voice came through.

‘Yes sir, I’ve been trying but getting the same results on my laptop. I need to come make use of the app facilities in the office, I’ll be coming this afternoon.’

‘Okay please, I’ll expect you. Greet your mother for me.’

‘Okay sir,’ she said and ended the call. She switched off her phone before putting it into the pocket of her trousers.

‘Boss, what do you say we do now?’ Cole asked in low tones.

‘You know, I think the man trusts me a lot,’ Tarasha said to Cole’s hearing alone, glancing at the Senate President who was also looking towards her. ‘I think he trusts me because he heard me recite the Quran in the car, he still believes that I’m a Muslim like him. That’s why he’s feeling comfortable that I promised that we won’t kill him, he trusts my word and he’s not panicking, else he would have communicated with more aggression in his phone calls. He needs more preparation,’ she paused and turned to take another look at Nasiru again. ‘Bring him here,’ she said loudly, to Benny. She signaled for Cole to leave the front of the three seater sofa where he stood.

Benny led the man gently to Tarasha and made him sit before her on the sofa.

Tarasha placed a foot beside the man’s knee on the chair and bent to stare into his face.

‘Did you really believe me when I said we weren’t going to kill you?’ She asked gently but in a strict voice.

Nasiru was quite surprised at the question but he made no visible expression and no response.

‘Did you really think I wasn’t going to kill you?’ Tarasha asked again.

Nasiru stared into her face for a while before finally replying. ‘You,’ he said and paused, he took quick glances at Cole, Aisha and Benny and then returned his gaze to Tarasha. ‘You don’t look like a killer.’ He finally said with a serious look, moving his head slowly.

Tarasha smiled at his words and then took her legs off the sofa. She paced around for some seconds and then turned back to him.

‘You don’t look like a killer,’ Nasiru continued when Tarasha kept looking at him without saying anything. ‘For some years of my life now, I’ve been working with people who are passionate about helping people and you look like one, I can tell you have a good heart.’

Tarasha paused and stepped back to think for a while. Did the man really mean what he said or was he just trying to gain pity from her? She asked herself. She took another glance at his face and concluded from his facial expression that he wasn’t saying it to gain pity. But did her face really look like somebody who was passionate about helping people? Like someone with a good heart? No, it couldn’t be. That was a description for weak people and she couldn’t take it. She couldn’t be weak.

She closed her eyes tightly for a while and then realized what must have caused the hogwash the man was seeing in her. It must have been her recent heart talk with her brother, that had spark off emotions in her again. She remembered the warm feeling she felt while talking to him, that could be the reason why she suddenly looked like a person with a good heart.

And that was it, that was the reason they had always been warned during her training times not to give room for emotions at all. It could make one weak and render one useless at the end of the day.

She was angry with herself, for allowing herself to relate with her brother so passionately. Now, she had to allow him leave her life like he wanted, forever or she would be forced to render him useless like Henry or better still, kill him.

She opened her eyes again and this time it was bloodshot. She was breathing heavily but slowly. She moved back slowly to Nasiru and placed her foot back on the sofa, staring back into his face.

This time, a sudden fear beclouded Nasiru’s heart immediately. He began to tremble visibly. Tarasha didn’t look the same to him anymore, she had been transformed into the devil just by closing her eyes.

‘Sorry man, I’m not that person with a good heart.’ She said as she dished out a deadly blow to his face.

**2.30pm**

‘Good afternoon sir,’ Evelyn greeted Mr Sylvester as she entered into his office with a laptop in her hands.

‘Finally Evelyn, we have you here.’ He said smiling, he got up to his feet to turn on the air conditioner. He motioned for her to sit down on the visitor’s seat before he returned to his own seat and settled into it. ‘All the other guys have been working on this project too but you’re the only one sounding with much hope about the matter. But first, how about your mother?’ Mr Sylvester asked, sounding really concerned.

‘She’s better and would be going back home this week,’ Evelyn answered him without paying much attention, her focus was on the laptop which she was working on.

‘Thank God,’ Sylvester said and heaved a sigh of relief.

‘Thank you so much sir for your care, I also got the money you sent for the hospital bill.’

‘It’s nothing,’ Sylvester replied, smiling sheepishly.

Evelyn worked on the laptop for a few more seconds before turning the screen to Sylvester.

‘Inaccessible!’ He exclaimed after staring at the screen for some minutes.

‘Yes inaccessible,’ Evelyn replied him and turned back the screen to herself. She paused to stare at his confused looking face for some seconds. ‘We could push further to break through their security,’ she began again, Sylvester’s anxiously waiting eyes and ears widened at the news.

‘Then let’s push further immediately, so that we can provide their location to police as soon as possible. You know that the success of this project could cause a great lift in your career, in our careers.’ Sylvester replied back excitedly.

‘But there’s a problem,’ Evelyn positive tone suddenly changed to negative.

‘Problem?’ He let out a deep frustration at the change in her tone.

‘Yes, it could lead us to a trap. Like what happened to Robin Kahn.’

Sylvester swallowed hard as if something was really in his throat. ‘Then what can we do to avoid this trap?’ He asked slowly, but there was a bit of impatience in his voice.

‘We can only be very sure of the location if we track during the phone call, that means we should keep tabs on the receiving number and hope that we get another call from the same location soon.’

‘Then I have to speak with the Agent immediately,’ Sylvester rolled back his swivel a little and opened the drawer to take out his phone.

~~~

Cole was sitting in the bed with his laptop placed on his laps and earphone stuck into his ears. He had two Android phones placed by his both sides.

He just finished editing the video of the Senate President that was recorded and it was perfect for all that they would require to do with it.

Now he understood the reason for the Boss’ change in plan. Killing their next target, the Vice President would not be too difficult for them if all if the new plans worked well.

One of his phones rang, he saw ‘Benny’ displayed as the caller ID at a quick glance.

‘Hello Benny, you may go in now. All is settled. Remember the position of your trackers and all recording equipments.’ He said into the phone without waiting for the caller to talk first.

‘Okay,’ Benny replied and cut the call. Cole returned to his job on the laptop. Few minutes later, he noticed his door opening slowly, Aisha walked in from behind.

‘What’s up babe?’ He said as she walked closer to the left side of his bed, looking bored and lonely.

‘How long do we have to keep that man alive?’ She asked and sank into the bed, sitting close to him.

Cole chuckled and stared at her for a little while before returning his gaze to the laptop’s screen. ‘Why do you ask me? Don’t you think the boss should know better?’

‘But you should know too, we all know you’re closer to her and she seems to always reveal most of her plans to you before letting us know.’ Aisha answered.

‘No Aisha, your insinuation is wrong.’ He said, staring back at her. ‘She doesn’t reveal her plans to me before you people. I only get to know more because she works closer with me on technical issues.’

‘That’s not the issue now jor,’ Aisha seemed not to agree. ‘Just tell me where we are on this job, are we dropping the man or not?’

‘Definitely, we are dropping him but when it would be is what I don’t know, I can only make a guess.’

‘And what’s the guess?’

‘We’ll kill him after Henry EG’s death is announced and maybe after we upload the video we recorded today or send it to the Vice President to threaten him.’

‘I thought they said on the news that Henry EG was slowly recuperating from his sickness, so how come we’re expecting the news of his death?’

‘Yes he’s slowly recuperating, that’s the lie the police and Doctors told the media but Doctor Benny is going there to end his life, today or tomorrow.’ Cole said with a mischievous smile.

‘Huh?’ Aisha was surprised.

‘Yeah,’ Cole said and turned back to his laptop, ‘I guess you were in the kitchen while we devised that plan.’

‘Benny? How is he planning to do that when Henry EG is heavily secured by police officers in the hospital?’

‘Benny is disguising as a Doctor from Capetown and we’ve just edited the hospital’s contacts on their directory.’

‘Oh!’

‘Yeah.’

‘Well, I wish him the best.’ Aisha shrugged. She seemed not to understand most of Cole’s explanation but decided to refrain from asking more questions.

~~~

‘Sir, I was told you came looking for me,’ Doctor Tobi said to the Pathologist.

‘Yes, I came looking for you because he called about twenty minutes ago and he’ll be here very soon.’ Mr Albert said in reply.

‘Wow! How soon would that be?’ Doctor Tobi asked, searching the pockets of his coat for his phone.

‘I don’t…’ Mr Albert paused as a call entered his phone. ‘In fact, he’s the one calling right now, that means he’s here already.’

‘Ehen, I’m coming back now. I have to get my phone from my office,’ Doctor Tobi said and walked away hurriedly.

The visitor was already in Mr Albert’s office before Doctor Tobi returned. He was sitting comfortably in the visitor’s seat while the Pathologist was on his feet discussing something with him.

‘Oh! Here comes the Doctor who has the similar sample.’ Mr Albert introduced.

The young lab scientist turned to greet. ‘Good morning Doc,’ he got up and said with a smile, offering an handshake.

‘Good morning sir,’ Dr Tobi replied back with a smile, taking the handshake.

‘I’m Dr David,’ the lab scientist said.

‘I’m Dr Tobi,’ the Doctor replied, glad that the person he was going to be working with was also a young man.

‘Nice to meet you sir.’

‘Oh! My pleasure.’ Dr Tobi’s phone rang and he quickly took it out from his pocket. ‘Please excuse me,’ he said politely and stepped back to answer the call.

David returned to his seat and faced the Pathologist who was now seated too. ‘Sir, you said they got the other sample from the premises of a poisoned patient.’

‘Yes, a poisoned patient. Henry E.G actually.’

‘Henry EG?’ David sounded as if the name was familiar.

‘Yes, Henry EG. He’s popular for his computer science and camera operation works.’

‘Oh! I think I’ve heard the name before.’

‘Surely, you must have heard of him.’ The Pathologist smiled.

‘Yeah… But I thought that it was announced that he was only sick.’

‘Ermm… Yes but that was based on the Police’s instruction. They didn’t want the public aggression as they were sure the real truth would stir up public sympathy.’

‘Hmm…’

‘Dr David,’ Dr Tobi called, he had just finished with his phone call. David turned to answer. ‘I think you need to come with me now,’ he said courteously.

‘Okay then,’ David replied, then turned back to the Pathologist and smiled.

‘It’s okay Dr David, nice to meet you.’ Mr Albert said and offered him an handshake.

‘Thank you sir,’ David got up and took the handshake. He walked out from the seat and followed the young Doctor.

Doctor Tobi led Dr David all the way from the Mr Albert’s office to the hospital laboratory. Benny walked in and took in a deep breath, he first paused at the doorstep. Everything looked strange to him, the lab was a more complex one than the mini lab his boss had used to teach him what to do. He silently prayed in his heart that he made no mistakes.

‘Dr David,’ Dr Tobi who was already walking to a section of the lab turned back to David who still at the door.

For some seconds, Benny totally forgot that he was now Dr David, he even forgot where he was and was asking himself what he was doing there.

‘Dr David,’ Dr Tobi began to walk to the lab scientist who seemed lost in the environment.

Benny regained his memory before Dr Tobi got to him, he rubbed his face and proceeded forward.

‘What happened?’ Dr Tobi asked.

‘I was just remembering my friend who had an accident, he is my senior lab scientist, I was making a silent prayer for him.’

‘Oh! Hope his condition is not that bad.’

‘Bad but everything is under control.’

Dr Tobi’s phone rang. He hurriedly dipped his hand into his pocket to bring out the phone, he was not supposed to be with a phone as they were restricted from bringing phones into the lab but the police matter he was involved in necessitated his bringing it in.

It was too late before he could take out the phone and silence it. All eyes were on him already.

He stylishly stopped Dr David and turned back, avoiding the gazes of all others in the lab. ‘This person calling needs to see both of us, please we’ll come back here.’ Dr Tobi said and began to lead the way back out.

‘Who is that?’

‘The person responsible for the patient whom I got the sample from.’ Dr Tobi replied, trying to hide the fact that it was a police officer they were going to meet.

He turned to another direction after they got out of the lab and they climbed up a stairs before getting to their new destination.

Dr David looked at the faces of the mean police officers outside the ward, they all stared at him with the same scrutinizing look on their faces. He stared back at them like a less concerned person.

Dr Tobi opened the ward and ushered Dr David in before entering and closing the door behind. Officer Dakolo was waiting inside for them, sitting on a stool, another officer of the same rank with Ken was with him. Both officers were not putting on uniforms.

‘I didn’t know you were so close to this place already, ‘ Dr Tobi said as he walked towards the Agent.

‘I was close already and there was no traffic jam on the way, so the journey was smooth.’ Dakolo replied. The officer who was standing beside him moved away immediately Dakolo began to talk; like a preplanned action, he walked close to the door and stood there.

Benny took a glance back and smiled at the movement, he knew they were were suspicious of him and were blocking the way in case their suspicion was true.

Benny recognized Agent Dakolo, who would not recognize the man whose face had been shown severally on TV for solving top notch cases and nabbing the most dangerous criminals in the country. On a normal day, he would have been afraid to be in the officer’s presence but he wasn’t today. He had not come by himself or in his own name, he had come in the name of Tarasha after she had prepared and trained him well and also informed him of the importance of displaying confidence at all times.

‘Meet Dr David, the lab scientist from Capetown who has a similar sample to ours.’ Dr Tobi did the introduction.

‘Dr David,’ Agent Dakolo smiled, extending an handshake to David. ‘I’m Dakolo,’ he introduced himself, consciously omitting the Agent or officer title.

‘Nice to meet you sir,’ Dr David replied back with smiles.

‘I’m the patient’s brother,’ Dakolo continued, we found the sample beside him after he had been poisoned through the drip, the culprit must have forgotten it.’

‘Oh!’ Dr David exclaimed, he laughed in his heart about Dakolo’s lie of being Henry’s brother. ‘The case must really be a serious one considering the number of policemen outside there,’ Dr David commented loudly.

‘It’s serious,’ Dakolo shrugged and formed a pity face.

‘I’ve been briefed about his case and I believe that with God on our side, something can still be done about the matter.’ Dr David said.

‘Amen,’ Dakolo answered and readjusted his sitting position. ‘So what hospital are you from?’

‘Government City Hospital, Capetown.’ Dr David answered.

‘Hmm,’ Dakolo took in a deep breath and made an eye signal to the officer standing by the door. ‘So you work as a lab scientist there?’

‘Yes, I work as one of the lab scientists.’

‘And what are you doing in Nigeria?’

‘I’m…’ Dr David paused as his eyes met with someone else’s. All these while, Benny didn’t look at the face of the patient laying on the bed. Although he knew that he was in the ward where Henry was, he was a little bit tensed as the Henry he saw was different.

To make matters worse, Henry had just opened his eyes at that time and was staring at him as if he was recognized but Benny remembered that the Boss already said that Henry had been turned into a dummy and couldn’t recognized anybody or even himself.

‘I’m on holiday,’ Benny finally said, turning his face back to the Agent. Benny could see from the agent’s expression that he was being suspected, so he decided to act a little more drama. He moved closer to the patient and placed his hand on the patient’s forehead with pity in his eyes. ‘So this is Henry EG, the African computer guru?’ He asked in a rhetorical manner and stared at the faces of the Agent and Doctor Tobi. ‘I’ve read so much about him,’ he said and then used his fingers to widen Henry’s eyes, he looked into it as if he was observing something.

‘Pale right?’ Dr David asked and moved closer, already deceived by Benny’s good acting skills.

‘Yes,’ Dr David replied and stepped back. He turned to Dakolo. Dakolo too was almost convinced by Benny’s act but his detective side still needed more to convince him further.

‘I think we’ve got to go now Mr Dakolo, I don’t have much time here.’ David took a glance at his wristwatch. ‘Do watch over your brother while we try to come up with a solution to this situation.’ He said and turned to Dr Tobi. Dr Tobi turned to Dakolo and moved his shoulders in a questioning manner, as if to ask whether they could leave or not.

‘Thank you Dr David,’ Dakolo finally spoke with a smile. ‘Dr Tobi, we’ll see later.’ With that Dr Tobi led Dr David out of the ward and they made their way back to the laboratory.

‘Quick!’ Dakolo said to the officer in the ward with him as he got up from his stool. ‘Call the office and tell them to contact Government City Hospital in Capetown to confirm if Dr David is really a lab scientist there and also if it’s the right one we have here.’

~~

Benny smiled to himself as Dr Tobi led him back to the laboratory. He had passed a stage of the police trouble, he knew now that they would try to confirm if he was really from where he claimed to be from but he was confident that Cole had settled that already. There would be no problem for him, he would succeed in contaminating all the samples and would personally inject it into Henry’s body. He was already proud of himself, he had never done a job like this that’ll require him to kill the victim even with the police heavily guarding. It would turn out to be the best one man task he had ever embarked on.

‘This report looks quite similar to this,’ the clinical pathologist, Mr Albert said to doctor Tobi.

‘Sir, who was the person who brought this other sample?’ Doctor Tobi asked in reply.

Both of them were standing behind the long lab table, they were tripod stands, pipettes and several other laboratory apparatuses on the table in front of them. There were also some other people in the large laboratory, mostly young Doctors, standing at the left end of the lab.

‘It was brought by a Doctor from Capetown South Africa. He said he discovered the liquid here in Nigeria with his friends,’ Mr Albert replied him.

‘When is he coming back?’ Doctor Tobi asked.

‘I don’t know but he said he’ll call me later. He had to leave because he had an emergency,’ Mr Albert said.

‘Okay, I need to find out from him what else he has found out about the liquid. I want to run some more tests on it, it seems that it’s going to be the antidote to the situation of one of my patients.’

‘But since when have you gotten this sample?’

‘Just this morning, it was sent to me from the forensics team of the police headquarters.’

‘Ever discovered anything like this before?

‘Not really, but traces of the liquid were found in the blood samples of the patient. I think it’ll be a cure for his situation.’

 ‘But there’s a notable difference between the two samples, the one you brought seems to boil faster than this other one.’

‘Yes, that just shows that there’s something in this one which is absent in yours.’

‘Of course, that’s what it shows.’ Mr Albert said. Both of them stared in silence for a short while. ‘You said the sample was brought by the police? Mr Albert broke the silence.

‘Yes.’

‘That means you’ll have to get back to them before you take any step, especially before altering the chemical composition of the liquid.’

‘Hmm… Okay sir,’ Doctor Tobi replied, pondering in his heart whether to follow the man’s suggestion or not.

Alright then,’ Mr Albert began to take off his hand gloves. ‘I’ll wait for the young man’s call and get back to you immediately I get it.’ He said and patted Tobi at the back before walking away.

Doctor Tobi remained still staring at all the instruments an liquids which were before him. The sample brought to him could partially cure Henry’s situation if used properly but he also needed to be careful in administering it, so as not to waste or use it wrongly or inefficiently. That’s why he had to wait for the stranger whom the clinical pathologist said had a similar sample of liquid.

++++

‘Congratulations Chief,’ Chief Nonso smiled broadly as he walked into Chief Gab’s sitting room.

‘Chief Nonso,’ Chief Gab looked up and dropped his legs from the footstool. ‘Yes, congratulations to us.’ He got up and walked to his friend to have an handshake and also briefly hug each other.

‘Wow! It’s easier than I thought.’ Chief Nonso said, all smiles as he took the seat next to Chief Gab.

‘Yeah… All we are waiting for is the news of the Nasiru’s death which is going to happen soon.’

‘Ah!’ Chief Nonso stressed in a relaxed manner. ‘That’s inevitable, the news of his death would soon fill everywhere.’

‘Yeah… So what would you like to drink?’

‘Nothing really, I’m in a hurry.’ Chief Nonso said and sat up. ‘I have to go back to the office as soon as possible, so I’ll appreciate if we could go straight to the reason you called.’

‘Okay,’ Chief Gab cleared his throat and readjusted his seating posture to a more serious one. ‘I may need to leave this country soon, I need to go and hide somewhere.’

‘Huh? Why?’ Chief Nonso questioned with a serious look.

‘Tarasha called me yesterday and she actually warned me to be careful, she said that Elvis is already aware that she’s coming for him.’ Chief Gab explained.

‘Hmm…’

‘Yeah, and you know that they all believe that I’m out of the country and sick somewhere in Benin Republic.’ Chief Gab said in a kind of questioning manner.

‘Yes,’ Chief Nonso replied.

‘And you also know that Elvis has volunteered himself to work with the police on Tarasha’s case?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. My fear now is that Chief Elvis may reveal to the police some of our connections and they may name me as one of theirsuspects. That would make them start to trace me and they would find out with time that I’m here in Nigeria, hale and hearty.’

‘Hmm… I get you.’ Chief Nonso took in deep breath and squinted as he pondered on the situation. ‘We really need to do something drastic about it, ‘ he said after some few seconds of silence.

‘Yeah, thank you. That’s why I’m thinking that I leave the country silently to another African country apart from Benin Republic that I can easily get to without the use of an airplane.’ Chief Gab suggested.

‘Okay, so which country are you thinking about?’

‘Any country would be good, we just need to make sure that they are not able to trace us or our movements at all.’

‘Hmm…’ Chief Nonso paused to think for a while, he placed an elbow on his knee and his chin on his palm. ‘But what about Tarasha now?’

‘I’ve not spoken to her about my plans yet but I have an appointment online with her later tonight and I’ll reveal it to her.’

‘Okay… But how do you deal with her from there?’

‘That’s simple, we’ll continue using technology since she doesn’t even like coming face to face with me.’

‘Alright then, let the arrangement begin.’ Chief Nonso said and relaxed his back on the backrest of the sofa, staring deeply frontwards.

+++

‘What other businesses did you do with your group, the heavy seven?’ Tarasha asked, accompanying the question with another huge blow to the Nasiru’s face. The man fell off the chair with a loud scream. His face had already been battered, his mouth was swollen and blood was dripping from his lips. Tarasha pulled him up to the seat again and straightened his face.

‘I swear, I can’t start mentioning all. We did a lot and I’ve forgotten most of them.’ The man struggled to say with tears dropping from his eyes and his body vibrating in pain. ‘I’ve recounted the major ones I remember already.’

‘But where’s the rest of this book that has all your deals?’ Tarasha asked him, dragging him by the collar as she placed her right foot on the sofa again.

‘We used to have several copies of the book until the group split into different parties. We decided to burn it off so that we don’t keep evidence of the our corrupt deals for the police to find and use against us later in the future but every one burnt theirs except for Chief Elvis. I, late Chief Onwuli and Chief Gab discovered it in Chief Elvis’ study. When we asked him why he kept it against our agreement, he said for us to remember some details of our deals, in case we had any situation we needed to recall. Then we told it to the whole group and all concluded that we divide the book into four parts, two were given to the part of the group in the opposition party while the remaining parts were taken by me and Chief Elvis.’

‘Well… I hope you live to tell the story on another day, ‘ Tarasha said and stepped away from the sofa. She turned to Benny and made a signal for him to get the man. ‘He’s ready for the video now.’

Benny dragged the man up and led him to the sofa placed in front of the backdrop. He made him sit well before returning to where he was previously standing.

‘I want you to give a tell a summary of all you wicked acts in five minutes,’ Tarasha began. ‘A summary,’ she stressed again to emphasize. ‘Then in one minute, you’ll encourage Chief Gab to cooperate with us and give us the money we need.’

Tarasha paused for a while and moved closer to the man, she stared at his face for some few seconds and then pulled him by the little hair on his head and his and bent his face backwards. ‘Do you understand all I’ve said?’

‘Yes, but…’ Nasiru struggled to say, Tarasha released his head. ‘But I can pay you all you need if you had asked me.’

‘No,’ Tarasha made an evil chuckle. ‘You don’t have enough money anymore,’ she turned to Cole and made a signal to him. Cole understood and quickly walked away from the living room.

‘We’ve been using your money all this while, the bags of rice and other materials we made available were funded by you. We got all the money from your bank accounts.’ Tarasha continued talking. ‘And we still need you to do something for us,’ she paused and turned to Cole who just returned. Cole handed to her a tablet device. She swiped open the screen and began to punch in some commands. After two minutes, she handed over the device to Nasiru, placing it on the man’s handcuffed hand.  ‘We want you to confirm all the transactions we’ve made on all your bank accounts through the mobile apps, so that the banks don’t come looking for us. ‘ she said to him with an evil smile.

Nasiru raised his hands closer to his eye and  read through the several bank account statements that had been opened to him in awe, so much money had been transferred from his bank accounts without him being alerted. He began to sob silently, his hands began to shake and the device almost fell from his hand.

‘Shi*t!’ Tarasha cursed as she stopped the tablet from falling. She stared at him with a smirk and bit her lips, she placed it back on his hands, supporting it with her own hand. ‘You have to log in to your mobile apps and make your thumb print to confirm that you really carried out the transaction.’

~~~~

‘And are you sure that he’ll return to his normal state of mind if you’re able to manufacture the cure with this sample?’ Dakolo asked Doctor Tobi.

‘No, I’m not assuring you yet but I believe that his condition would be improved by whatever we are able to manufacture from the sample,’ Doctor Tobi replied him.

Dakolo turned to look at Henry who was still in the same sitting position he had been since he woke, staring blankly without responding to our recognizing any sound or his environment.

‘And what if your assumption turns it l out to be wrong?’ Dakolo turned back to the Doctor. ‘Would he have to live like this for the rest of his life?’

‘Ermm… Yes,’ Doctor Tobi stated blankly. ‘But what we have are not just assumptions, with the several tests we’ve made on the samples, I can say that they’ll be a reasonable improvement in his state.’

‘Hmm… But Doc, I made a little study about his condition after the other Doctor told us the name and I got to find out that nobody who had ever suffered from the same condition survived or came out from it.’

‘Yes, but none of those conditions were induced. In Henry’s case, the poison was introduced into his blood. It could have be possible that if we had gotten the sample earlier, his condition wouldn’t have gotten this far. The poison has eaten deep and it’s still eating deep. By next week when you come here, you’ll surely meet him worse than this.’ Doctor Tobi explained.

‘Huh?’ Dakolo widened his eyes in fear.

‘That’s the truth officer.’

‘But why don’t you start working on the sample, so that you can administer the product to him on time.’

‘I’ll start working on it as soon as possible, I’m only waiting for the other Doctor who has the similar sample.’

Dakolo took in a deep breath and placed his hands on his waist as he stared thoughtfully. ‘You know Doc, part of the reason I’m here is because you mentioned that someone else came with the same sample.’ Dakolo began in a warning tone. ‘I came with four more policemen, they’re outside and they’re going to join the other three in watching over Henry.’

Doctor Tobi stared at him and opened his mouth in surprise. ‘Yes,’ Dakolo continued, ‘the only person that could have that sample would be the same person that dropped it.’

‘But this person was from Capetown, South Africa.’

‘You believed that?’ Dakolo questioned, squeezing his face. ‘Please notify the officers here once the person comes back.’

‘Okay, I’ve not met yet but I believe I will when he returns. I’ll tell the officers and call you on phone too.’

**2.30pm**r,’ Evelyn greeted Mr Sylvester as she entered into his office with a laptop in her handsng really concerned.
‘She’s better and 
‘Good afternoon siwould be going back home this week,’ Evelyn answered him without paying much attentio.
‘Finally Evelyn, we have you here.’ He said smiling, he got up to his feet to turn on the air conditioner. He motioned for her to sit down on the visitor’s seat before he returned to his own seat and settled into it. ‘All the other guys have been working on this project too but you’re the only one sounding with much hope about the matter. But first, how about your mother?’ Mr Sylvester asked, soundin, her focus was on the laptop which she was working on.
‘Thank God,’ Sylvester said and heaved a sigh of relief.
‘Thank you so much sir for your care, I also got the money you sent for the hospital bill.’
‘It’s nothing,’ Sylvester replied, smiling sheepishly.
Evelyn worked on the laptop for a few more seconds before turning the screen to Sylvester.
‘Inaccessible!’ He exclaimed after staring at the screen for some minutes.
‘Yes inaccessible,’ Evelyn replied him and turned back the screen to herself. She paused to stare at his confused looking face for some seconds. ‘We could push further to break through their security,’ she began again, Sylvester’s anxiously waiting eyes and ears widened at the news.
‘Then let’s push further immediately, so that we can provide their location to police as soon as possible. You know that the success of this project could cause a great lift in your career, in our careers.’ Sylvester replied back excitedly.
‘But there’s a problem,’ Evelyn positive tone suddenly changed to negative.
‘Problem?’ He let out a deep frustration at the change in her tone.
‘Yes, it could lead us to a trap. Like what happened to Robin Kahn.’
Sylvester swallowed hard as if something was really in his throat. ‘Then what can we do to avoid this trap?’ He asked slowly, but there was a bit of impatience in his voice.
‘We can only be very sure of the location if we track during the phone call, that means we should keep tabs on the receiving number and hope that we get another call from the same location soon.’
‘Then I have to speak with the Agent immediately,’ Sylvester rolled back his swivel a little and opened the drawer to take out his phone.
~~~
Cole was sitting in the bed with his laptop placed on his laps and earphone stuck into his ears. He had two Android phones placed by his both sides.
He just finished editing the video of the Senate President that was recorded and it was perfect for all that they would require to do with it.
Now he understood the reason for the Boss’ change in plan. Killing their next target, the Vice President would not be too difficult for them if all if the new plans worked well.
One of his phones rang, he saw ‘Benny’ displayed as the caller ID at a quick glance.
‘Hello Benny, you may go in now. All is settled. Remember the position of your trackers and all recording equipments.’ He said into the phone without waiting for the caller to talk first.
‘Okay,’ Benny replied and cut the call. Cole returned to his job on the laptop. Few minutes later, he noticed his door opening slowly, Aisha walked in from behind.
‘What’s up babe?’ He said as she walked closer to the left side of his bed, looking bored and lonely.
‘How long do we have to keep that man alive?’ She asked and sank into the bed, sitting close to him.
Cole chuckled and stared at her for a little while before returning his gaze to the laptop’s screen. ‘Why do you ask me? Don’t you think the boss should know better?’
‘But you should know too, we all know you’re closer to her and she seems to always reveal most of her plans to you before letting us know.’ Aisha answered.
‘No Aisha, your insinuation is wrong.’ He said, staring back at her. ‘She doesn’t reveal her plans to me before you people. I only get to know more because she works closer with me on technical issues.’
‘That’s not the issue now jor,’ Aisha seemed not to agree. ‘Just tell me where we are on this job, are we dropping the man or not?’
‘Definitely, we are dropping him but when it would be is what I don’t know, I can only make a guess.’
‘And what’s the guess?’
‘We’ll kill him after Henry EG’s death is announced and maybe after we upload the video we recorded today or send it to the Vice President to threaten him.’
‘I thought they said on the news that Henry EG was slowly recuperating from his sickness, so how come we’re expecting the news of his death?’
‘Yes he’s slowly recuperating, that’s the lie the police and Doctors told the media but Doctor Benny is going there to end his life, today or tomorrow.’ Cole said with a mischievous smile.
‘Huh?’ Aisha was surprised.
‘Yeah,’ Cole said and turned back to his laptop, ‘I guess you were in the kitchen while we devised that plan.’
‘Benny? How is he planning to do that when Henry EG is heavily secured by police officers in the hospital?’
‘Benny is disguising as a Doctor from Capetown and we’ve just edited the hospital’s contacts on their directory.’
‘Oh!’
‘Yeah.’
‘Well, I wish him the best.’ Aisha shrugged. She seemed not to understand most of Cole’s explanation but decided to refrain from asking more questions.
~~~
‘Sir, I was told you came looking for me,’ Doctor Tobi said to the Pathologist.
‘Yes, I came looking for you because he called about twenty minutes ago and he’ll be here very soon.’ Mr Albert said in reply.
‘Wow! How soon would that be?’ Doctor Tobi asked, searching the pockets of his coat for his phone.
‘I don’t…’ Mr Albert paused as a call entered his phone. ‘In fact, he’s the one calling right now, that means he’s here already.’
‘Ehen, I’m coming back now. I have to get my phone from my office,’ Doctor Tobi said and walked away hurriedly.
The visitor was already in Mr Albert’s office before Doctor Tobi returned. He was sitting comfortably in the visitor’s seat while the Pathologist was on his feet discussing something with him.
‘Oh! Here comes the Doctor who has the similar sample.’ Mr Albert introduced.
The young lab scientist turned to greet. ‘Good morning Doc,’ he got up and said with a smile, offering an handshake.
‘Good morning sir,’ Dr Tobi replied back with a smile, taking the handshake.
‘I’m Dr David,’ the lab scientist said.
‘I’m Dr Tobi,’ the Doctor replied, glad that the person he was going to be working with was also a young man.
‘Nice to meet you sir.’
‘Oh! My pleasure.’ Dr Tobi’s phone rang and he quickly took it out from his pocket. ‘Please excuse me,’ he said politely and stepped back to answer the call.
David returned to his seat and faced the Pathologist who was now seated too. ‘Sir, you said they got the other sample from the premises of a poisoned patient.’
‘Yes, a poisoned patient. Henry E.G actually.’
‘Henry EG?’ David sounded as if the name was familiar.
‘Yes, Henry EG. He’s popular for his computer science and camera operation works.’
‘Oh! I think I’ve heard the name before.’
‘Surely, you must have heard of him.’ The Pathologist smiled.
‘Yeah… But I thought that it was announced that he was only sick.’
‘Ermm… Yes but that was based on the Police’s instruction. They didn’t want the public aggression as they were sure the real truth would stir up public sympathy.’
‘Hmm…’
‘Dr David,’ Dr Tobi called, he had just finished with his phone call. David turned to answer. ‘I think you need to come with me now,’ he said courteously.
‘Okay then,’ David replied, then turned back to the Pathologist and smiled.
‘It’s okay Dr David, nice to meet you.’ Mr Albert said and offered him an handshake.
‘Thank you sir,’ David got up and took the handshake. He walked out from the seat and followed the young Doctor.
Doctor Tobi led Dr David all the way from the Mr Albert’s office to the hospital laboratory. Benny walked in and took in a deep breath, he first paused at the doorstep. Everything looked strange to him, the lab was a more complex one than the mini lab his boss had used to teach him what to do. He silently prayed in his heart that he made no mistakes.
‘Dr David,’ Dr Tobi who was already walking to a section of the lab turned back to David who still at the door.
For some seconds, Benny totally forgot that he was now Dr David, he even forgot where he was and was asking himself what he was doing there.
‘Dr David,’ Dr Tobi began to walk to the lab scientist who seemed lost in the environment.
Benny regained his memory before Dr Tobi got to him, he rubbed his face and proceeded forward.
‘What happened?’ Dr Tobi asked.
‘I was just remembering my friend who had an accident, he is my senior lab scientist, I was making a silent prayer for him.’
‘Oh! Hope his condition is not that bad.’
‘Bad but everything is under control.’
Dr Tobi’s phone rang. He hurriedly dipped his hand into his pocket to bring out the phone, he was not supposed to be with a phone as they were restricted from bringing phones into the lab but the police matter he was involved in necessitated his bringing it in.
It was too late before he could take out the phone and silence it. All eyes were on him already.
He stylishly stopped Dr David and turned back, avoiding the gazes of all others in the lab. ‘This person calling needs to see both of us, please we’ll come back here.’ Dr Tobi said and began to lead the way back out.
‘Who is that?’
‘The person responsible for the patient whom I got the sample from.’ Dr Tobi replied, trying to hide the fact that it was a police officer they were going to meet.
He turned to another direction after they got out of the lab and they climbed up a stairs before getting to their new destination.
Dr David looked at the faces of the mean police officers outside the ward, they all stared at him with the same scrutinizing look on their faces. He stared back at them like a less concerned person.
Dr Tobi opened the ward and ushered Dr David in before entering and closing the door behind. Officer Dakolo was waiting inside for them, sitting on a stool, another officer of the same rank with Ken was with him. Both officers were not putting on uniforms.
‘I didn’t know you were so close to this place already, ‘ Dr Tobi said as he walked towards the Agent.
‘I was close already and there was no traffic jam on the way, so the journey was smooth.’ Dakolo replied. The officer who was standing beside him moved away immediately Dakolo began to talk; like a preplanned action, he walked close to the door and stood there.
Benny took a glance back and smiled at the movement, he knew they were were suspicious of him and were blocking the way in case their suspicion was true.
Benny recognized Agent Dakolo, who would not recognize the man whose face had been shown severally on TV for solving top notch cases and nabbing the most dangerous criminals in the country. On a normal day, he would have been afraid to be in the officer’s presence but he wasn’t today. He had not come by himself or in his own name, he had come in the name of Tarasha after she had prepared and trained him well and also informed him of the importance of displaying confidence at all times.
‘Meet Dr David, the lab scientist from Capetown who has a similar sample to ours.’ Dr Tobi did the introduction.
‘Dr David,’ Agent Dakolo smiled, extending an handshake to David. ‘I’m Dakolo,’ he introduced himself, consciously omitting the Agent or officer title.
‘Nice to meet you sir,’ Dr David replied back with smiles.
‘I’m the patient’s brother,’ Dakolo continued, we found the sample beside him after he had been poisoned through the drip, the culprit must have forgotten it.’
‘Oh!’ Dr David exclaimed, he laughed in his heart about Dakolo’s lie of being Henry’s brother. ‘The case must really be a serious one considering the number of policemen outside there,’ Dr David commented loudly.
‘It’s serious,’ Dakolo shrugged and formed a pity face.
‘I’ve been briefed about his case and I believe that with God on our side, something can still be done about the matter.’ Dr David said.
‘Amen,’ Dakolo answered and readjusted his sitting position. ‘So what hospital are you from?’
‘Government City Hospital, Capetown.’ Dr David answered.
‘Hmm,’ Dakolo took in a deep breath and made an eye signal to the officer standing by the door. ‘So you work as a lab scientist there?’
‘Yes, I work as one of the lab scientists.’
‘And what are you doing in Nigeria?’
‘I’m…’ Dr David paused as his eyes met with someone else’s. All these while, Benny didn’t look at the face of the patient laying on the bed. Although he knew that he was in the ward where Henry was, he was a little bit tensed as the Henry he saw was different.
To make matters worse, Henry had just opened his eyes at that time and was staring at him as if he was recognized but Benny remembered that the Boss already said that Henry had been turned into a dummy and couldn’t recognized anybody or even himself.
‘I’m on holiday,’ Benny finally said, turning his face back to the Agent. Benny could see from the agent’s expression that he was being suspected, so he decided to act a little more drama. He moved closer to the patient and placed his hand on the patient’s forehead with pity in his eyes. ‘So this is Henry EG, the African computer guru?’ He asked in a rhetorical manner and stared at the faces of the Agent and Doctor Tobi. ‘I’ve read so much about him,’ he said and then used his fingers to widen Henry’s eyes, he looked into it as if he was observing something.
‘Pale right?’ Dr David asked and moved closer, already deceived by Benny’s good acting skills.
‘Yes,’ Dr David replied and stepped back. He turned to Dakolo. Dakolo too was almost convinced by Benny’s act but his detective side still needed more to convince him further.
‘I think we’ve got to go now Mr Dakolo, I don’t have much time here.’ David took a glance at his wristwatch. ‘Do watch over your brother while we try to come up with a solution to this situation.’ He said and turned to Dr Tobi. Dr Tobi turned to Dakolo and moved his shoulders in a questioning manner, as if to ask whether they could leave or not.
‘Thank you Dr David,’ Dakolo finally spoke with a smile. ‘Dr Tobi, we’ll see later.’ With that Dr Tobi led Dr David out of the ward and they made their way back to the laboratory.
‘Quick!’ Dakolo said to the officer in the ward with him as he got up from his stool. ‘Call the office and tell them to contact Government City Hospital in Capetown to confirm if Dr David is really a lab scientist there and also if it’s the right one we have here.’
~~
Benny smiled to himself as Dr Tobi led him back to the laboratory. He had passed a stage of the police trouble, he knew now that they would try to confirm if he was really from where he claimed to be from but he was confident that Cole had settled that already. There would be no problem for him, he would succeed in contaminating all the samples and would personally inject it into Henry’s body. He was already proud of himself, he had never done a job like this that’ll require him to kill the victim even with the police heavily guarding. It would turn out to be the best one man task he had ever embarked on.

~~~

‘Tara, you’ve not still stopped to rest since. What’s the matter?’ Jefa asked his sister, staring into her face with that same look that a father who is deeply worried about his daughter keeps. Both of them were in the living room, Jefa was sitting in the armchair while Tarasha was moving around the house and working. She was just passing through the living room then when Jefa decided to question her.

She stopped and took a quick glance at his face and then folded her arms. She couldn’t keep her eyes on his face because she didn’t want the feeling it was giving her. It was a strange kind of feeling, one which she wasn’t supposed to have.

‘I’ll rest when I’m done with what I’m doing,’ she said, staring at somewhere else with her arms folded like a sulking wife.

‘What are you doing?’ Jefa questioned with a note of authority.

The authority in Jefa’s tone sounded funny to Tara, she took another quick glance at him and faced somewhere else again.

‘I’m only asking to know if I could do some things for you while you go and rest,’ Jefa continued, offering to help this time.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be done in few minutes time.’

‘Please hurry up,’ Jefa said in a pleading tone.

‘Thank you,’ she said and started to walk away.

‘Ermm… Sorry,’ Jefa began to talk again, just remembering something. ‘Did you come home with someone around 12 noon?’

‘No, I didn’t,’ she replied. ‘Why?’

‘Nothing, I thought I heard your voice and a guy’s own.’ Jefa said.

‘No, I didn’t come home at all.’ She said.

‘Okay, I was hoping you had come home with Henry.’ Jefa said.

Tara heaved a sigh at the mention of Henry’s name, she wished that her brother would stop mentioning him in every discussion. All she could hope for was that Benny should quickly execute his mission and end Henry’s life finally, then the only thing that would be talked about was his funeral.

‘No,’ she refuted. ‘I didn’t come home at all,’ she reiterated.

Tara took a glance at his face before walking away. He didn’t look like he was convinced that she spoke the truth but she wasn’t bothered, the most important thing she needed was that he stopped disturbing her with questions.

Jefa was partly correct, she had come home with a man but certainly not Henry. She had come with Benny to use the laboratory in the house.

Tarasha walked into the room and straight to the bed. She fell tiredly into it with her face buried in the pillow. She wasn’t tired physically, she had physical strength but what she didn’t understand was her weakness in dealing with herself when she faced her brother.

With the same determination and mindset which she changed to and spoke to the Senate President, she had come home to speak to her brother, so that they could plan his departure sooner than they earlier agreed. Though she had been the one who forced him to stay in her house, pleading with him to only go after he is declared fit enough by the nurse, she didn’t want him to wait any further because she realized and had begun to see the signs of the effects which his presence could have around her. The problem now was to face him and speak to him, there was an overwhelming influence he always had whenever she saw his face. Sometimes, it brings pictures of their father back to her, sometimes the whole family and sometimes, pictures of her loving brother. But she needed none of that now, all she required was a mind free of unnecessary emotions or attachment to fulfill her mission.

She turned to face the ceiling and then raised her knee, she took in another long deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. She needed to get Jefa out of her life quickly, else she would become a weakling.

Questions began to rise in her hearts and she began to wonder why she was even sent to her country of descent. Why wasn’t she sent to somewhere else in the world? Why didn’t they send her to another country knowing quite well that she could meet something in Nigeria which could make her get distracted?

Oh! Possibly it was purposefully.  Vlasdislav had done it purposefully, she thought. To punish her, that would be the reason. She remembered that she had offended her masters on several occasions and previous projects. She had even gone against the Nefary Clan’s rules once and when she was accosted by her bosses for it, she gave them a stubborn and nonchalant attitude and did not apologize (a skill which they impacted into her).

Twice did Vlasdislav and Ristoslav tried to kill her by sending her to kill two of the most senior assassins who became *** but she surprised m amazed them on the two occasions when she returned with the heads of the two senior assassins. Since then, she became a threat to themselves and they began to class her as a senior assassin too even though she hadn’t used up to the number of years required to be classified as that.

Ristoslav and Vlasdislav were also ‘veteran’ assassins but their old ages and too much use of drugs had weakened their bodies. That’s why they reduced the use of drugs for their own trained assassins. Both of them were the second and third persons in command in the Nefary Clan.

Vlasdislav was the assassin who had betrayed the Villary Gang and joined Nefary. He was one of the major men in the Villary Gang and was the most sent Agent to Africa during the nineties. That was when he got connected to a Nigerian politician who was a godfather to Chief Elvis. He gradually rose in rank in the gang and began to control some of their international activities especially their relations with the African continent. In the early 2000s, Matvei took over from him in controlling their relations with Africa as Vlasdislav had risen in rank and also aged more.

The year 2011 was when the Villary Gang’s deal with the Nigerian young politicians was strengthened, they began to receive supply of “goods” from Nigeria, their major dealers were the Heavy Seven Group of which young Elvis was the major leader and Gabriel his assistant. The Villary Gang’s operation with the Heavy Seven began to decline in 2015 when the coming elections procedure in Nigeria toughened, then it came to an abrupt end when the new Government came into power in May 2016.

Vlasdislav who was a major assassin and trainer in the Villary Gang began to have disagreements with some other major men in the gang that same year. Early 2017, he finally broke away, taking a hundred of young trainees with him to a rival organization called the Nefary Clan, Omotara was one of the trainees which was taken away by Vlasdislav. That was how she became a citizen and part of the Nefary Clan family. She learnt so fast, excelling in all her tests and her promotion to the next level was always rapid. Her fast learning ability made Vlasdislav take more interest in her out of all her age mates and those trainees he brought along with him. On a certain day after some thing happened, just in few years of her training, he changed her name from Omotara to Tarasha, a story to be told later.

Tarasha turned and faced the ceiling, raising one of her knees up as she took in a long deep breath. She just needed to do all that she could to move Jefa far away from herself. She got up swiftly and walked towards the table near the wall, she dragged the chair closer and took the laptop bag from under the table. She took out the laptop from her bag and turned it on, then she sat and relaxed her back, waiting for the computer to boot.

++++

Dr Tobi and Dr David busied themselves with experimenting the samples for several hours in the laboratory. Dr David seemed to be the one leading the tests, he took care of the mixing and heating while Dr Tobi joined only in most of the observations.

‘Seems like you’ve been working on this sample for a long time,’ Dr Tobi said.

‘Not really, but I’ve made quite some progress on it.’ Dr David replied.

‘Hmm…’

‘Yeah…’ Dr David lifted up a test tube and squinted as he stared at the blue coloured liquid. ‘I think we’re done with the drug now.’

Dr Tobi stopped to stare at the test tube too, ‘but I don’t think we can administer it to the patient, mixing it has made it contaminated.’

‘Why not? We can administer it,’ Dr David said defensively. ‘The foreign matter isn’t harmful to the body.’

‘Are you sure? We’ve not verified what substance it is.’

‘Yeah… But we’ve verified that it isn’t harmful.’

‘It’s not harmful to the normal body but it could be harmful to the patient in his condition.’

‘Hmm…’ Dr David stopped to think. ‘Well, you may be right there. Since you’ve been the one treating the patient all these while.’

‘Yes… I think it’ll be dangerous to him.’

‘So what do we do now? Do you have some quantity of the samples left?’

‘I don’t know, I’ll have to find out from the officer… Ermm…his brother I mean.’ Dr David said and took off his hand gloves, preparing to go out of the lab.

‘Okay,’ Dr David smiled, ‘but make sure you get all the remaining quantity.’

‘I will,’ Dr Tobi said and excused himself.

Dr David watched him leave, another stage of his mission has been done, he had contaminated the first sample of the cure. Now his next plan was to contaminate the remaining quantity of the liquid, that’s why he urged Dr Tobi to get all that was left. He had succeeded in wasting the sample of the liquid and wasting time also. To fulfill the mission, he had two options; contaminate the remaining liquid and encourage Dr Tobi to administer it that way or find a way to be left alone with Henry and he’ll infuse a poison into his blood cells.