The Man From Lagos

by Bayo Fasinro

  Idowu still felt uneasy and unready to call it a mission accomplished.

  “What of the IG who was coming for you?” he asked, looking directly at Sade.

  Femi gave a sarcastic laugh. “We finished him also. His career is dead. We leaked evidence of him taking a substantial bribe.”

  Femi went on to explain that the day Sade was summoned to come to his office, they were suspicious of his intent and took a countermeasure. The plan was for Sade to look for a chance to plant a camera and mic Femi had given to her before they walked in. When she’d gotten upset and stormed out of his office, that was it—Sade lingered at his door on purpose and found a place on the front panel of a small table by the door. It was perfect, as it faced the IG’s desk so he was in full view of the mini-camera.

  Ultimately, they recorded Adama for a few weeks before they got the incriminating evidence that they needed. Femi had people in the press and was able to send the evidence anonymously to his contact who splashed it on the front page of that newspaper. Adama never suspected Sade—not of this. He most likely thought it was an inside job, and was out of his family’s trade in disgrace before he could ever connect the council’s murders to her.

  “Everything is finished now.”

  “Everyone has paid for Baba’s death,” Femi concluded proudly.

  “And for Sarah’s death,” Sade added while looking at Idowu. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Events that were beyond their control brought them back together. They both had gotten the closure they needed. It was time for Femi to leave. He had a lot to do now that they could go back to focusing on taking care of the business. He stood up as he extended his hand to Idowu.

  “Mr. Peters, it was good to finally meet you. I hope we will see you again soon. Take care and safe journey back home,” he said with a firm grip on Idowu’s hand while smiling.

  Idowu hugged him and thanked him for everything. He also thanked him for being there for Baba and also making sure that nothing happened to Sade. “You are a good man. If you ever need anything, call me any time, and I will be there.”

  Femi waved goodbye and left the office.

  Sade said, “Femi is a good man. I’m lucky to have him by my side.”

  “I know sis, I know,” he said.

  He sat back down and looked at his sister. She looked happy and her face was without worry. She would be able to take care of things. She knew the business like the back of her hand; she had grown up at Baba’s side. She was going to be fine. It was time to ask her the question that had been haunting him.

  “Sade, what did you think of the kids?”

  Idowu didn’t have to explain what kids he was talking about.

  “I am still in disbelief about what I saw that night, believe me.” She was in awe of them just as he was. No one would believe the story, even if they swore to its truth on a Bible.

  “I know, sis. So, what do you think will happen to them?”

  Sade thought for a moment. Her expression told him that she hadn’t thought about the question at all. He, on the other hand, had had three weeks in bed to think of nothing else. She gave her brother a look and smiled.

  “Idowu, what are you planning?”

  He had gotten out his phone and was idly swiping through the pictures he had taken before he’d left. “I want to take those kids with me back to the States, if any of them want to go. They deserve better than what they have today. Sarah would have them if she was still alive. I know it.”

  Idowu was expecting Sade to say something to dissuade him from taking the futures of four other human beings into his own hands. But what she said took him off guard.

  “How can I help?” she said, excited.

  That was all he’d needed to hear. Then and there, he knew she was his sister for sure. Under the tough and confident exteriors, they cared about affecting people’s lives for the better. He didn’t need her help, per se—just to know she supported the idea. Didn’t think he was crazy. She thought it was a great idea.

  “I will take care of it. I have some friends back home who can help me get them into the country the right way—with all the right paperwork, but fast.” She gave him that knowing, curious smile. He kept waiting for her to ask about the card from Mr. Vue, a card that led them to a house in a part of town that she’d hardly ever visited; a house run by a woman who’d started a clinic for the poor, but ended up running an underworld hospital thousands of miles from her home, with kids as her surgical team.

  Idowu didn’t say, and she didn’t ask. He was fine with that. Maybe one day he would tell her about his special training with Homeland Security’s investigations division. But not now. Not today. He had a call to make.

  Chapter 45

  New Beginnings

  “Hello, you’ve reached the Pizza House. Is this for delivery or takeout?”

  Idowu didn’t want to make this call, but this was the only way he could pull this off.

  “Delivery.”

  “How many pizzas would you like for us to deliver?” the voice on the phone asked.

  “Five small pizzas, please, with all the toppings.”

  “How will you be paying today, sir?”

  “I’ll send you my information now.”

  And with that, Idowu had arranged for tickets, passports, and visas for the kids. He would visit them when everything was ready and surprise them. He hoped he could convince them to come home with him. He wished Sarah were here to experience this; but then he thought that if Sarah were alive, he never would have traveled back to Lagos and met these kids. Everything happened for a reason.

  The call finally came that the paperwork had arrived for the kids. He was given the location of where to pick up the documents—the US Consulate Office in Victoria Island. Sade was eager to drive him there.

  “Nieces and nephews for me to visit!” she exclaimed.

  “And the kids that Sarah wanted.” Sadness and happiness overcame him simultaneously.

  “They are smart, smart children. And they will get a better life in the US. Teach them all about who Sarah was, and they will help you carry her memory. I will come when I can.”

  It didn’t take us long to get to Victoria Island. Sade stayed in the car while he popped in. He walked up to the reception area and met a nice lady who greeted him warmly.

  “Hello, sir, how can I help you today?”

  “Yes, you have a package for me.”

  “And you are, sir?”

  “I’m the man from Lagos,” he said, looking directly at her.

  She smiled and reached under her table and produced a large manila envelope. As Idowu left, he made a mental note to thank Tyson for coming through so quickly.

  Chapter 46

  Missing Piece

  They landed at Minneapolis International Airport in the dead of night. Alexa still had the flight brochure in hand. She was keeping it as a memento after learning that the captain was a woman. Her eyes had opened wider than saucers when Captain Bianca Eikenberry came on to first welcome passengers aboard the flight to Paris from Lagos.

  Idowu made sure to have Alexa be last in line so she could spend a bit longer shaking the captain’s hand and asking a few questions. He wanted her to know that women could be anything they wanted. He told her that she could be a surgeon if that was what she wanted to do.

  They had arrived at a private gate at the Minneapolis International Airport. A black SUV was waiting to take them home. Even with sleepy eyes and jetlag, they were all still smiling. They all couldn’t believe they were all here. Home. They all piled in after their luggage was loaded. It was quiet for the first few miles as they headed toward Brooklyn Park on Highway 100-N.

  The kids just kept looking out the windows taking in their new environment, even though it was dark out. The only one missing from the group was Isiah. He would be joining them later during a break in his studies.

  Idowu thought about the chief and dialed her number. Surprisingly, she picked up.

  “Pete
rs!”

  “Evening, Chief.” He was all prepared to leave her a message and wasn’t expecting to talk to her with it being so late. “Chief, I’m back in the country. I’m going to need a few weeks off before I come back to work. I have to get my kids settled in first.”

  There was a long pause before the chief responded.

  “No problem, Peters, welcome back. I have something for you, also. Since your workload is going to be so heavy, I’m assigning you a partner to help you.”

  Into Idowu’s stunned silence, she continued, “He is fresh from the academy but he has the same drive as you. His name is Broderick Timmons. You’ll like him. We will talk more when you get in, and you can tell me what you mean by your kids.”

  And with that, the chief hung up.

  Yes, he thought. My kids!

  *

  The black Mercedes quietly pulled up to the now empty house in Yaba. Three men got out and surveyed the house and peeked through the windows. The house looked deserted and there was no evidence that anyone was home or currently living there. The leader of the group took out his mobile and punched in some numbers. After a few seconds, he started talking to someone on the other end in Hmong.

  “Boss, there doesn’t seem to be anyone here,” he reported. “Yes, boss! It is true. There is no sign of the kids or the woman.” He stood at the locked door, nodding. “Okay, we will head back to Singapore in the morning.”

  THE END