by Eu Aristos
"You want revenge in the hottest way; that's not my dad. You always told me that revenge is beat served cold. Now you have grown so hot. What's the difference between you and him? Tell me?! We've not spent all this year's just so we get ourselves in the wrong side of the line. Think about that."
Mr. Bastion was silent all through.
"I'll be in town soon. I need to see Mama Mary. He blurted out. I hope I get to see you when I arrive. I'll have to find someone to find her and provide directions to her place."
"That won't be necessary."
"Why?" He sounded threatened.
"Cause I already met her yesterday."
∞∞∞
Chapter 26
Seems there's something they are hiding. So, I've asked him to get it to me. We are meeting this evening." Joe said proudly.
∞∞∞
The next day, Bawa called up all the forces he could foster. He knew it was just a matter of time before he faced Bastion. If all things worked according to plan, he'll have to eliminate all of them just so he preserves his dignity in the city. His phone beeped. It was a message from Joe.
"I'll like to see you sir. Urgent."
“No problem. Meet me at the office later today." He responded.
He was ready for his office runs. But he had some personal meetings to run downstairs. Nelson's Burial was in some days and he wanted to be sure all things were in place; especially for his special guests of honors.
"I'd like some personal space between myself, my family and every other person in attendance. We wouldn't want to hear all the rubbish those naught will be saying." He said to the organizer.
"OK sir." The organizer bowed with his hands crossed.
"That will be all for now." He dismissed the Organizer. He figured that no one should he trusted to be around him now. Not even those who claimed to be well wishers. He took his briefcase and made out to the car.
∞∞∞
The knock came at the door and it was Kunle.
"Hey dear…"
"Hey..." They hugged.
"What a pleasant surprise…" Nk smiled broadly. Kunle had not come to her office ever since she handed him a sack letter.
"Yea... I'm delighted that you see it as a surprise. Mission accomplished." Kunle said as he clapped for himself.
"Hahahahah, be careful. You know the last time you were here I sacked you." She joked.
"Hehehehe, and this time I'm here to ask you out for lunch." He said proudly.
"Oooh... Sure. Why not? You'll just wait a bit for me to clear this little proposal for vetting by the council and I'll be done." She said pointing to the document she was holding.
"It’s OK. Should I wait outside?"
"No oo... That's not necessary..."
"Uhmmm... Let me just say hi to some of the guys around..."
"Ooh. Owkkk."
"See you soon..." Nk smiled.
Seconds later... She heard Kunle sharing some jokes with her PA outside her door and she felt that ting of jealousy again."Oh...he still makes me feel this way. Wonder if he really means business." She bit her pen jealously.
∞∞∞
At Bawa's office, Joe had just briefed Bawa of his exploits so far.
"I have cause to believe that my lead is credible sir…"
"Hahahaha, Sit down son.” Bawa motioned to the seat in front of his desk."You are chasing shadows." Bawa laughed.
Joe felt embarrassed. "With all due respect sir, I caught them in your son's building the night he was murdered and you call that 'chasing shadows'?'
"Well... That could be considered." Bawa smiled evilly.
"What do you mean sir?" Joe asked because he was lost.
"I know who my enemy is. And I have plans in place to tackle him." Bawa bragged.
"Who's he sir?"
"Don't worry. Just follow your lead and maybe you can use them to get a promotion or something." Bawa waved his hand.
"So you want to just throw away this info even when it led to your son's supposed best friend?"
Bawa frowned. "How's he involved in this?" He sat upright from his seat.
"He had help; that help is who I'm after. They took the CD record of your son's house. Seems there's something they are hiding. So, I've asked him to get it to me. We are meeting this evening." Joe said proudly.
Bawa felt betrayed by Harry. "...how could Harry do this to me? All the while we took him in as family!" He stood up and paced up and down angrily. "Find out what's in the CD and let me know. I wanna know every detail including the personality behind the mask."
"Will do…" Joe said as he stood up to leave.
"Wait to pick up a check downstairs. Just a little something in appreciation of your efforts..."
"Thank You sir..." Joe smiled.
∞∞∞
"Surprise..!" They all shouted as Kunle and Nk walked into the eatery.
"Hahahahah, what's happening?!" Nk asked surprised.
"Happy Birthday NK…" Kunle said.
"What…?! Is it my birthday already?! Oh I totally forgot my birthday!" She jumped up happily. They all laughed at her. It was at the lounge where Kunle had taken her for lunch. She didn't expect it, but she truly forgot her birthday.
"Vicky I know this was your plan..." She hugged Vicky
"Yeah... Yeah. I figured if we left it till evening you may just remember and the surprise velocity will not be strong on you." Vicky said.
"Hahaha… thanks dear." Nk blushed.
All through the lunch party, Harry was moody. Minutes later he excused himself from the table and went out to answer a call. Kunle noticed his moodiness and told Nk who then went to ask Vicky what was happening.
"I don't know oo. She said with hands spread out. He's been cold the last few days. I try to ask and he pushes it away." She folded her face.
"Mind if I talk to him?"
"Yea… no problem." NK was about standing up to go out when she saw him coming back to the table. She sat down. All was silent. Harry looked at their faces and smiled weirdly
"I have something to tell you guys." He said. They all looked at each other.
"What's it? Kunle asked him. Shoot. We've seen a lot the past few weeks. A little more won't kill us." Kunle scoffed.
There was uneasy silence...
"I've been in touch with Joe." Harry said.
"Who's Joe?" Nk asked.
"Detective Joe..?" Kunle sat upright? "What does he want?"
"Who's Detective Joe??" Nk asked them again
"The one who almost caught them at Nelson's house…" Vicky answered her.
"Oooh Jeez... What does he want?!" Nk fumed.
"He demands that I should give up the CD plate and the second person - Kunle."
"Oh no... That is not happening!" Nk flared up."Why can't he just get on with his life and let us be?!"
"How did he know it was you?" Kunle asked calmly.
Harry figured that answering that question would cause more harm than good. "That's not necessary. What we have to think of is how we are gonna treat his fuck-up." He bit his lips and looked away.
Silently Kunle thought. "We'll give him the CD..." He said.
"What?!" Nk and Vicky shouted.
Harry looked at him.
"Yes we have to…" Kunle said.
"That's suicide mission! We do not know what he wants and who he is working for or with." Nk said.
"Still... Your face is on that video." Vicky said discretely.
There was silence as they all assessed the situation.
"We do not have another option." Kunle added. "When does he expect it?"
"This evening... more like tonight." Harry said calmly.
"Then we'll have to meet him."
"That's suicide!" Nk whispered to them.
"There's no other way." Kunle said emphatically while looking at her.
∞∞∞
It was 7:30pm when Kunle and Harry arrived at the lounge to meet with Joe.
"Oh... I see... Yo
u both decided to come in person." Joe clapped for them as they stepped in.
"What do you want Detective Joe?" Kunle asked.
"Good evening....Did you come with the CD?" He smirked.
Harry dipped his hands into his side pocket, picked it out and passed it across to him gently.
"This is the original?" Joe asked as he didn’t trust them.
"The installing-company's name is on it." Harry said.
Joe tried to verify it.
"What were you at that house for?" Joe asked after putting the CD plate into his pocket.
"It just coincided that we met. We do not want any trouble. Just back off and we will go live our quiet lives." Kunle tried to dunce the whole talk. Joe looked at him and how gently he talked. He looked at Harry waved his head, stood up "I'll be in touch" he said as he walked away.
"Do you think he bought my talk?" Kunle asked gently.
"We shall see in the next coming days." Harry said waving his hands for a waiter.
∞∞∞
Time check... Past 7:00pm
"Hello sir. I have gotten the CD and I'm en-route to your place now." Joe spoke to Bawa on phone as he stepped out from the meeting with Kunle and Harry. From all he could see, the second guy wasn't as harmful as he thought. He could easily just pass for a person at a wrong place at the wrong time.
In a little over 15 minutes, He was at the Bawa estates – an exotic building with radiant lights that could pass for the brightness of the sun. He noticed that security had been beefed up at the Bawa estate. But since he was expected, he was ushered in without delay.
"What's the content of the CD plate?" Bawa asked him as he collected it.
"I don't know sir. I haven't gone through it yet."
"Then let's check it out." Bawa said as he led the way in.
Once inside Joe marveled at the beauty of the structure. What he beheld was indeed of an exotic class. The corridors were golden and full of beautiful sculptures. Bawa led him into his personal study where he turned on his computer and inserted the CD plate. In seconds, the content was displayed in the screen.
There they watched the numerous parties hosted by Nelson, he sexual escapades, his rape of a girl and his alcohol and drug abuse. Not wanting to see much of this, Bawa fast forwarded to the last records and there they saw the drama between Nelson, NK and Kunle.
"I know those two. They are related to Mama Mary. Oooh... So she has a hand in the death of my son?!" Bawa said when he saw them.
"But sir the video shows self defense..." Joe dived in.
"Damn the video!!! So she knew my son and this contributed to his death! " Bawa barked in anger.
Joe was silent as Bawa picked up his phone and dialed a number. "Carry on with the initial instruction." He said and dropped the phone.
∞∞∞
After their meeting with Joe, Kunle and Harry stayed back for some drinks. When it was past 10pm they decided to go to mama's house since that was where Vicky and the rest were. Some distance away, they began hearing gunshots. Suspecting that it was from their area, they parked at a spot they were and picking up their guns and began to run home. On getting home, their fears were confirmed. Gunshots had destroyed a chunk of the house. Frankie was cowed in a corner, having fallen with his clutches. Nk was nowhere to be found.
Mama lay at a corner and Vicky, the pregnant Vicky was shot.
∞∞∞
11:02pm
As soon as they were sure there was no one in the building, Kunle and Harry picked mama who was lying still but who had a pulse and took her to the Car parked outside. They came back in and Harry picked up his bleeding fiancée and took her to the next car. While Kunle picked up Frankie. Inside the car, Kunle questioned Frankie.
"Where's your mother???" He asked Frankie.
"They took her...." He said frighteningly.
"OK. Stay calm. We are going to the hospital now."
"He picked up his phone and dialed Kola's number." As soon as he heard Kola's voice he started talking.
"They attacked mama, Vicky and Nk at home. Nk is missing. I suspect she was kidnapped!"
"Geez..! I'll be at the house ASAP to check out things myself." Kola responded.
∞∞∞
Chapter 27
But he seemed to have wisely refrained from such public stunts before now – taking upon himself a title of pastor in recent years just so he could deceive the world.
∞∞∞
Kola called Bianca immediately the call from Kunle dropped. Earlier in the day, they had finalized talks with the attorney general to bring Bawa in. But being a high profile arrest, some protocols had to be observed. He was mad as he drove out of his house. He punched his starring in anger. If only they had allowed him arrest Bawa as they planned that day, this latest attack would not have happened.
∞∞∞
12:03am
"What have you done?!" Joe asked angrily!
"Hahahahahaha. What I was supposed to do long long long ago." Bawa sounded happy.
"Don't you know you will implicate me?!"
Bawa scoffed. "Who are you???" He asked mockingly.
Joe stood up angrily "Those guys will suspect that I tipped you off and that was why you attacked them." Joe said angrily as he sat down.
"I don't care what they think. It’s a free world to think. But then very few have the power to carry out what they want!" Bawa barked with smiles on his face.
"Oh my..! You are insane!" Joe said pointing at Bawa.
"Yes! I am insane. That why I got to where I am today! And I'll like to remain there and no one, not even you can stop me!"
"You wanna ruin my life!" Joe said, standing up and pacing up and down the room.
"Which life..? Did you have a life?! I knew you were swallowed by your gambling habits which has left you in debt. So when you came to me, I had to use you. You owe me now boy."
Joe was humbled.
"So what shall it be? Work for me and get your life back? Or work out that door and become an enemy of the soon to be strongest man in this city?!" Bawa tried to entice him.
Joe sat down. Looking down, he placed his two hands behind his head and shook his head in disbelief.
"Good boy. Now we have to forge a new part to my redemption. I need to finish them off."
∞∞∞
Bianca was already dosing when the call came in. She quickly dressed up and stepped outside. Oblivious of why she had to b called up that late, Kola picked her up.
"Hey...good evening"
"Good evening sir." She responded sleepily.
In seconds, she placed her arm on the door of the 2017 Honda Fling and supported her head.
He looked at her briefly. "You look sleepy."
"I was sleeping." She said looking up briefly at him.
He smiled. “Sorry. But that's the job."
She returned her hands to position. "So what's the deal?" Bianca asked.
"There was an attack at Mama's house. I guess you know that already. "
"No I don't, what happened?!" Sleep cleared from her eyes.
"Unknown gunmen…" He said looking at her.
"Jeez. Anyone hurt?"
"Yea... One of Mama's friends was shot and the other was kidnapped."
"Oh my…" Silence prevailed.
Soon they arrived and were greeted the house by the commotion caused by the attack. On the walls where signs of gunshots and as he went close he could see bullets scattered all around. It was obvious that the job was carried out by high profile hit men. Bianca was speechless. That this was the house she and Kola came to visit sometime was unbelievable.
Kola was glad Bawa finally showed himself. They've been waiting for him to make this move for so long, just so they could track him and pull him down. But he seemed to have wisely refrained from such public stunts before now – taking upon himself a title of pastor in recent years just so he could deceive the world.
"What do we do sir?" Bianca asked.
"Call up appro
priate units. Make sure you don't touch anything so that you don't contaminate the crime scene." Kola instructed.
"OK sir." She walked away while pulling out her phone.
∞∞∞
"The order was to kill the woman and not to get me back a hostage!" Bawa berated his men.
"But sir we thought she'd be of interest to you."
"Hell no..! She's useless."
"Sir she's..."
"Tawai!" He sounded his man a hot slap. "Don't argue with me." He warned him. They were about leaving when he came to his senses. "Wait wait wait.... Is she the same lady that was in the video?"
"Yes... She is." Joe responded.
"That was what I was about saying sir." The one who was slapped interjected.
"How did you know that?" Bawa asked him compassionately.
"Nelson told me he wants to date her but she was stubborn…" The guy said.
"Oooh... She contributed to his death?!"
"Not verifiably sir…" Joe interjected.
"Kill her!" Bawa said angrily.
"What?!" Joe was flabbergasted.
"Kill her!!!" Bawa shouted again.
"Calm down, sir... You wouldn't want extra blood on your hands."
"And who says I'm concerned about that?!
I've killed even more. And I'll kill more!" Bawa shouted as he sat down angrily on the cushion.
There was silence.
"There could be another way." He thought briefly. "Get those guys to get me the documents for that land which is in Mama's name and I'll let her live. If I am to take revenge, I'll have to take it all!" He said as he stood up and left angrily
∞∞∞
4hrs later, when they went to see the doctor, his assessment was heartbreaking.
"Mama has suffered a stroke and it affected her cerebral and cerebellum. So it's gonna take grace for her to be OK." The doctor said to Kunle’s dismay. Kunle waved his head in pain. "Reports we have from the X-ray department suggest a broken spinal cord too." The doc continued.