by Eu Aristos
Tears dropped from Kunle's eyes.
The doctor turned to Harry. "Your wife... Fiancée is stable for now. We do not know the extent of the damage by the bullets until the surgery is completed. We are hoping she doesn't lose the baby."
"What are her chances?" Harry asked with his hands on his mouth.
"She's in very bad condition. We'll know by tomorrow."
Time check 04:24am.
∞∞∞
7:15am the next morning, Bosse was the first to be at Bawa's place. At his sitting run, he paced up and down until Bawa joined him.
"What did you do?! You didn't have to do that!" He blasted without a greeting.
"Shut up you coward. I took my chances. That witch and her son had a hand in the death of my son." Bawa shouted.
"But you know who did it already!" Bosse shouted back at him.
"And so..? They are just collateral damage." Bawa shouted.
Bosse bit his lips angrily.
There was silence between them as they tried to cool off.
"Hahahahah" Bawa laughed. "I know you still miss, or should I say love your former wife." Bawa taunted him.
Bosse looked at him angrily.
"But for now, you have just one job to do." Bosse frowned. "Get me Bastion! And I'll reward you richly. “I relieve you of all the obligations on the land. Just get me that bastard Bastion! He's next! You may even keep the papers to the land if you succeed.” He said that to get Bosse really interested.
∞∞∞
That morning, Kunle and Harry were seated under a tree in the hospital brainstorming on how to get back at Bawa when Harry's phone began to ring. He glanced at it and showed the name of the caller to Kunle.
"Pick it up. Place it on loud speaker."
"Hello." Harry said after placing the call on loud speaker.
"Hello Mr. Harry. How are you doing?"`
"Hello Joe. You should know better than to ask me that question. Why would you do this to us?"
"Wait... I have no hand in it." Joe lied
"That's a lie!"
"Please I'm so innocent…" He lied again.
"Where's Nk???" Harry asked.
"Oh...who's that?" Joe still lied.
That question angered Harry and Kunle.
Silence.
"If anything should happen to either Vicky who you and your animals as well as Bawa have placed on a hospital bed, or to Nk who you've taken, I'll kill you Joe." Harry threatened. He was in tears at the thought of Vicky.
"Calm down man. I know how to get Nk back. But you'll have to get something for me in return."
"What..?! So you know where she is?" Harry said.
"Let's just say, I have my ways." Joe bragged.
"I'll kill you Joe." All this while, Kunle was fuming silently with his hands akimbo.
"Just get the documents of that land that belongs to mama and I'll make sure NK returns to you squarely."
"What..?! What business do I have with any land?"
"Ask your friend and he'll tell you." Harry looked at Kunle who stared at him.
"If you don't get me the documents, I'll make public the Almighty secret in your closet. I'm sure your friends do not know yet. And you still get to lose Nk by the way."
"You are a fool!" Harry cursed as Joe dropped the call.
There was brief silence between Harry and Kunle.
"What secret does he have on you..?" Kunle asked Harry shockingly.
∞∞∞
Chapter 28
She imagined the pain of losing him. She imagined the joy that comes with knowing he was safe. She waved her head sorrowful.
∞∞∞
8:12am
"Hello daddy." She has been at the office since the night. She thought she should enlighten her dad on the latest development.
"Hello my sweet daughter. How are you..?"
"I'm OK. You..?"
"I'm fine... I just got up." He said.
"What's happening?"
"The woman you wanted to come see was attacked by unknown gunmen last night."
"Oh my..! Bawa..! What..?! I suspected he might want to attack her for the death of his son." He added
"What's her connection with it?" She asked her dad.
"She was our boss. She makes him feel inferior. He's just transferring aggression." Bastion said.
"Oh my..."
"Yea, where's she at?"
"The hospital; her condition is really bad. The doctors say she must have been pushed so hard and the fall fractured her spinal cord and she's in coma." Bianca spoke with so much concern. Her dad did not respond.
"Hello... Dad are you still there..?"
"Yea, I'll be coming tomorrow. I hope you help me see her then."
"Please... Can't you just let it be for now? It just doesn't feel right for now. It’s not the right time."
"No. It has to be now. I feel, if I don't, I may never do it again. Sides I need to see the devil too. His son will be buried tomorrow and I need to see him feel the pain."
"Dad I don't want you here!" She shouted into the phone.
"You can't stop me my child!" He shouted her down. "I can see the effort your force is making." He said sarcastically. "Mama is in coma as a result. I have to stop this! He may have just ruined my chances of a reunion with her. So prepare to pick me up tomorrow morning." He dropped the Call.
Bianca knew from her father's voice that his mind was made up. She just had to make plans on how to protect him from himself. She picked up her pen and wrote a letter requesting for a leave for some days. Submitting the letter to Kola, he declined her request.
"Sorry... Not at this time. We need to see to the end of this; so…no." He said.
∞∞∞
15munites later, Kunle was still trying to get Harry to speak.
"It’s a long story."
"What do you mean? Is there something we need to know that has been detrimental to our safety?! What does he have on you?!" Kunle blasted him.
Harry was silent.
"You do drugs..? Is that what he has on you?"
Harry looked up and scoffed. "No man, I dumped that long ago."
"So what's it?! Why would he be commanding so much authority in your life..?!"
"Will you give up the documents for the life of Nk or not? There's no time." Harry tried to dodge.
"Oh... I can see you are stubborn. "
"Don't talk to me anyhow man." Harry warned.
"I'm not. It’s just the fact. That you have been keeping a harmful secret and you think it’s nothing? – something that may have contributed to our pain..?!"
Again Harry was silent.
"Uhm, Maybe Vicky can tell us when she awakes." Kunle said.
"She knows nothing! And I don't want you mentioning this conversation to them; none of them!" Harry warned.
"So you'll tell me then?" Kunle stood akimbo.
Harry looked around and demanded that they both moved.
∞∞∞
“I cannot let you go now dear. You are far too important now, especially to this investigation.” Kola tried to convince Bianca.
"But it’s quiet important that I do what I want to do." She pleaded.
"Yet..? You are on probation. I'll not sign you in if I can't see you. I can't vouch for you in the force."
Bianca was silent as she imagined leaving her dad to the care of wolves. She imagined the pain of losing him. She imagined the joy that comes with knowing he was safe. She waved her head sorrowful. "OK then. If it has come to that, then..." She removed and dropped her badge on the table. "Thanks for the aid so far sir. I'm so grateful. But even if you sign me out or not, I'll like to do what I'll like to do now. It’s dear to me."
It took Kola some seconds to process her entire actions. If she was willing to give up her badge for it, that meant she really needed the leave.
"Wait." He said as she turned to leave. "I'll sign your leave. But I'll like you to assure me that you won't exceed the days stipulated."
/> She nodded. "I won't."
Kola signed the paper and handed it to her. "Make sure you come back to me safe."
She went across the counter and gave him a kiss. He didn't see that coming.
"I will." She walked out swiftly without looking back. It took her a lot of courage to do what she did. But she has never felt the way he made her feel. The little time they spent together was always amazing. Scrap that! She ordered a taxi and within minutes she was home. She needed to prepare her place for her father's arrival.
∞∞∞
"What..!" Kunle shouted.
"Don't shout. Don't raise unnecessary attention." Harry said as he looked around. They were now in an open field.
"So you at are telling me that you led the gang that raped Nk?!"
"Yea, see... After the incident that day, it was news that one of the girls was pregnant months later. You know university life.... So we all knew the girls we had union with. It was well planned. Nelson wasn't a friend then yet. He only got to know about it from another guy who participated in the attack and who was drunk."
Kunle had his hands over his head.
"We joked about it until years later when we got to meet again and I didn't expect him to use it as a means of blackmail."
Kunle's bewilderment turned anger.
"I'm not that bad anymore Kunle. I'm just sorry you should be hearing this especially when I know you've got a thing for Nk."
"Who's the father? Frankie's father.... Who is he?"
"He's late now, died in an accident."
"Better for him…" Kunle sounded particularly grateful for that. His face didn't fail to demonstrate his anger. "I'm actually very disappointed right now. You are like the worst person I wanna see around now. But because I need us to go get Nk, I'll pretend to forget the entire story. But we have to tell them. All of them about this." Kunle said.
"No man.... No... That will destroy everything I've worked to build. Please. Harry pleaded. Vicky will think I knew her before I came to date her. It’s gonna be traumatic."
"Did you..?" Kunle asked as he looked into his eyes.
"Did I what..?" Harry wanted to be cleared.
"Did you know her before you came to date her?"
"Damn no! It was Nelson who recognized her and Nk after I introduced them. That brat doesn't forget faces. But I tried to get him to shut up."
"It’s obvious he didn't." Kunle smirked.
"That bastard still causing trouble even in his death…" Harry said.
"He's to be buried tomorrow.” Kunle said.
“Do you think we should go?"Harry asked him
"No. That's like suicide mission." Kunle hissed and shook his head.
"Never imagined my year will be ending this scattered and annoyingly." Harry complained.
"We all didn't imagine it too. But this isn't time to begin to whine. So we have to go on with our plans." Kunle said.
"Yea..."
Kunle picked his phone and dialed Kola's number.
"Hey... Yea... It’s me. We'd like to see you. It’s important. Yea... I’m with Harry. We are in our way. OK. Bye." "Let's go." He said to Harry as soon as he dropped the call. The time was 10:30am when Harry's phone beeped. It was the doc. "Where are you? Vicky is awake now. She and the baby will be fine"
∞∞∞
12:08pm
"What took you guys so long?"
"Sorry we had to answer the doctor's call. Vicky was awake for the first time since the surgery."
"Oh. Good to know... "
"Please sit." Kola offered them a seat.
"Thanks."
"So... What do you have for me?"
"It’s no longer news to you who's behind the attack." Kunle said with Kola nodding in affirmation.
"We want to strike him back. Don’t shout... We know it’s unorthodox but hey, we all know that the system may not allow for him to be brought in."
"Yeaa... I've tried. We're still working on it." Kola acknowledged.
"How can it work out when one of you is working for him?" Harry said.
"Excuse me...?" Kola asked embarrassed.
"You didn't know?" Kunle asked.
"Who's he?" Kola wanted to know.
They men were silent.
"His name is detective Joe and he has been on our neck since Nelson's death." Harry responded after looking at Kunle for a while.
"But as recent as this morning he threatened us about the documents belonging to that land if we ever want to see NK" Kunle informed Kola.
"That's it!" Kola shouted. Harry and Kunle looked at each other. "If Joe says the document in exchange for NK that means they are affirming that they carried out the attack! That's the link we need to nail Bawa!" Kola said sensing their surprise.
"Yes... That's true." Kunle affirmed.
"But first let's play the familiarity game. Give me Joe's number." Kola demanded.
∞∞∞
Chapter 29
"I know about your demand from Kunle and Harry. Is your boss worth your losing your life as a detective?"
∞∞∞
12:15pm
At the other side of town Bawa decided to go see his visitor. As soon as he stepped in, he saw her cowed at an end of the room. Her hands were tied and her food plate was at an end. It was obvious she had refused to eat since morning. The room had a bed and a seat with windows fully covered by curtains. He picked up the seat and positioned it in front of Nk.
"Hello beautiful…" He said smiling weirdly.
She was silent.
"Hehehehehe, I wasn't expecting a response from you." He said while adjusting his sitting position. Still she said nothing.
"I'm sorry... You shouldn't be here. But shit happens and I'm delighted to welcome you to my home." Bawa tried to be cordial with a smile at the end of his statement. Nk was not in the mood. She was silent
"I noticed you didn't eat what was set before you. Why? You didn't like it..? we could bring another one." Nk looked at the food and away.
"Don't worry. I won't hurt you, at least just to honor my son's memory. Even though you didn't accept him while he lived." He paused and waved his head. "Now you'll accept him in death." He said meanly.
Nk looked up swiftly.
"Hehehehehe... You'll meet him soon. Even though they get me the document, you'll still be sacrificed in him!"
Nk could not help but wonder how it was possible that he moved from a comforting man to a monster. She concluded in her mind that he was indeed insane.
"…Its better you eat. You'll need it soon.” He stood up angrily and exited the room.
∞∞∞
04:17pm
Kola dialed Joe's number. At the first ring Joe didn't pick up. Picking up at the second call Kola tried to sound cordial.
"Hello Joe." Kola spoke.
"Yes who's this?" Joe answered tiredly.
"This is Detective Kola of the department of internal crimes of the city police." Kola identified himself.
"What do you want? How did you get my number?" Joe asked harshly.
"We need to see. We need to talk." Kola tried to ignore his previous question.
"No. That's not happening." Joe declined.
"Why?" Kola asked calmly.
But Joe didn’t answer the question. "Is there anything else I can do for you detective Kola?" He asked.
"I know about your demand from Kunle and Harry. Is your boss worth your losing your life as a detective?" Kola shocked him with that question.
"That's none of your business!" He shouted back at Kola.
"It’s my business because I am in the system and I know the amount of work required to get you to the level of detective" Kola said. "Unless you wanna tell me that you maneuvered your way to that position." He added.
Joe was silent. "It’s never too late to make a U-turn. I assure you that I will assist you to come out clean." Kola continued
Joe was silent a while. "Grand square, 2 hours, come alone." He said and the line went dead.
∞∞∞
04:07pm Bianca had left home almost an hour ago to get to the airport on time. She spent thirty minutes on the way and waited another twenty-five minutes before she could see her dad.
"Hello daddy. Welcome." Bianca hugged her dad who just arrived at the city airport.
"How are you my sweet daughter?" He looked at her with so much love in his eyes.
"I'm OK.” She said, although seeing him gave her a strange feeling. One she didn't want to admit. “Let's go.” She tried to wheel him along. But he refused.
"Stop, they will do it." He pointed behind him. She looked up to see 4 heavy looking men. And back to her dad. With that look that says "who are they?"
"They are with me until I leave."
"Where will they stay? I've got no such accommodation for them." Bianca complained.
"Don’t worry. We'll be at the hotel."
"What..?" She wiped her face with her hands. “I definitely didn’t see that coming” she said a bit surprised.
"I'm sorry... But I don't want you getting into this whole mess. You have a life to live now." Bastion tried to sound considerate.
"I'm involved already! They were my family too. You are my father." She whispered. He motioned to one of the guys and he willed him along to the car. Bianca trolled behind. She had to find a way to always be in the picture while not being there. Because it seems her dad was hell bent on keeping her away.
∞∞∞
6:00pm
"Hands up! Don't move. Give me your gun." Joe said from behind Kola. Joe made Kola drop his gun and he picked it up. "Are you sure you are alone detective?"
"Yes I am." Kola said.
"Sit." Joe ordered. Kola sat gently hands still up.
"What do you say you want?" Joe asked him.
"Can I take my hands down? Please lower the gun." Kola responded.
There was silence as they both sat whilst Joe observed the area. It was a park and because it was getting dark, people there was scarcely anyone around to witness their drama.