Capital crime episode 14

CAPITAL CRIME EPISODE 14
Trust me…Hold on.
JERRY
We sat in AJ’s former office and I wondered how all these turned out to be heading southwards. Like, I’m lost here and the idea of a certain device just changed the wh0le ball game. Even the prsident seemed clueless after the call with Seth, When she said “ We will find a way”
In my mind I was like “ Las las na to find my way o”
Itoro was telling Matthew about a certain and unidentified caller to Stella Chaltone’s direct mobile. Nobody cared to know what I thought about all these happening. Fine.
” Lets a get a cup of tea” Matthew said to Itoro.
“ Im tasty. ” He turned to me.“ Want Some?
“Sure” I replied.
“ Okay! ” He said and they both left the office.
I stood up immediately when I noticed they were out of sight, dashed for the elevators. Leaving the Yellow Towers, I made way for the apartment given to me and Ife.
I half ran, half walked and fought against my wit. My breathe siezed. I managed to control it when I reached the door on the second floor of the building.
I told the guards at the door that Matt demanded their precense. They glanced at each other.
I forced them to believe me. And they left reluctantily.
The door closed swiftly behind me when I entered. Ife looked up and glance at me. It was obvious she was bored already with the TV program she was seeing.
Her face became gloomy when she noticed the joyless look on mine.
She asked what had happened.
I checked for hidden cameras, spy bugs, I peeped through the window panes and watched the guards, earlier at the door, aboard a car and zoomed off.
Below the three storey building, there was another vehicle. A black Toyota Camry, latest model.
She asked what was wrong, again this time more worried than before.
She said “ Baby?”
I began “You remember what you told me yesterday at the chapel? ” I held her shoulders firmly “ About your dad’s call, the long story about your momma and that which you said you’d want to do?
Ife shook her head.
“ And I told you: we can’t just do such simply because your mom is on a sick bed… And I promised we will do so after I’m relieved off all these mess?
“Yeah, I remember” Ife said“ Why ? What’s up?
“ I think now is the perfect time for it”
“ Really? Now? Just like that?
Thats enough. I told her to get her bags, emphasizing why I had insisted on traveling light. Nevertheless, I told her to get anything she could be able to carry.
“ What about the bags?
“ Forget them all !”
She got our passports and flight return tickets.
I dashed into the kitchen and my eyes searched for a piece of metal. I found one. I easily broke it off the rails of a plate rack. Returning to the living room, I grabbed her hands as I surreptitiously led her through the corridors. Down the stairwell and eventually outside, past the reception and into the open.
“ Are you sure about this? She asked again.
“Trust me… Hold on”
I let go off her palms and maneuvered the driver door, with the metal in my other hand. I pushed her in slightly after I opened the passenger door for her and circled the car, back to the driver’s.
The plan was simple or so I thought: I would drive straight through the South gate aided by my new agency tag “ Contract agent”. And before the soldiers realize I stole the car, I’d blast my way into Central area district, from there: The airport and out of the this soon to be , dead zone. At the airport, I would work out something smart. I always did.
“ Put down the metal.. Step away from the car… Your hands on your head, where I can see them” Matt yelled angrily.
Matthew spoke harshly after he held up his Kruger .45 ACP, a deadly weapon, pointed towards me from a shooting range.
“ Nice and slowly… Step away from the car..I said , step away from the car” he repeated.
“ Turn around” Matt continued ” on your knees. Go down!!”
In seconds, Millitary officers; Agents and police officers surrounded me like bees. Such a caved in circle.
I obeyed as I locked eye contacts with my babe. She had stepped out of the vehicle too in confusion. My eye balls must have said it all“ I’m sorry dearie ”
The officers reached for and overpowered me.
Matthew told Itoro to put me in cuffs.
My eyes glanced Itoro’s watch. The time says One twenty PM. Monday afternoon.
*******
SAMUEL ALAKARA
The council reconvened in the squared office to discuss.
I was slightly worried because my wife chose not to involve her real cabinet and executive council instead of the amateurs in this office.
All I saw in the office were Ambassador Green who was on a call to his country’s president; Al Hassan : the inspector General of Police; Gerrard Finder, the ex Navy S.E.A.L of America; Samantha Walsh, the Security Adviser and acting director of the S.S.S ; Matthew the Detective and his sidekick Itoro , and myself.
I wonder why she did not involve the Chief of Army staff, the real executive council, the vice president and every other top officials in her government. What was her plan? I fear that this wh0le thing may boomerang and affect her.
But she’d not listen to me. She never takes heed to my advice, she does whatever she likes. The same thing happened last year when I tried to warn her against visiting the rally at Benin City. At Garrick Open field, Ekehuan – where she got shot.
Almost fifteen years ago or more when we were still younger and newly wedded, Bukky had only been a supervisory councilor in Abuja municipal and under the then FCT minister, El -Razak. She only began her political career then. She had been in charge of a demolition crew in the year two thousand and three.(2003)
I had warned her also against joining forced with the then Minister to demolish houses in Abuja, especially at Karimo and toward Dape Village, near the express way to Gwagwalada.
She had disobeyed me. She loved her job . Could not sacrifice it for anything or anyone. Not even for me.
“The master plan of Abuja must be met. Those people are building illegal structures. It’s only right that the minister rids the capital off these structures” She had said.
“But not a the expense of those poor families in the Villages of Dape and Karimo. Try to be emotional for once in your life.” I argued with her.
Bukky was simply logic and reasoning over emotions. She had said “ I have a job to do. It will affect my career if I go against the Minister. Those buildings need to be put down. Simple! She said “ This is the federal capital, not their local villages”
Now, we are here again and it seems that nature was taking a strong toil at her and she still does not want to listen to me. It’s terrible!!!
Now, Ambassador Green is through with his call. “ Okay Sir. I understand perfectly. Thank you”
He hung up and told the council that it appears that his country the U.S had abandoned him. The ruling president was a strict man, he said the mess was Mr Green’s to take care of and they can’t interfere neither will they meet the demands of the terrorists. The United States will never risk the lives of millions by trying to save one live in a suicide attempt. He was going to say more but eventually uttered “ They left me to my own fate”
I dont know why but a part of me felt that this man wasn’t saying everything.
Gerrard told the council that the U.S would never negotiate with terrorists, no matter the consequences. He stamped the point clearly.
Samantha Walsh added“ Well…This is Nigeria… Anything can happen….Anything is possible”
“ We don’t need them” Bukky began “ We don’t need the United States drones either. It appears the device is stronger than any of them. This is our country. We solve this puzzle ourselves. ” She paused “ We have three options: Diplomacy, which didn’t work. (2) Military , which is too much force and third, The Department of State Security”
Al Hassan brought up the topic which concerned Aremu’s arrest. Bukky said she needed someone to put the blame on. Someone needed to be the scape goat. She quickly glanced at me and our eyes locked in a mini gaze.
I could not stand her, in shame I looked away. Samuel what are you doing? Why are you like this? I asked my self. Well, endure. Just endure Sammy it would be over soon.
Mathew was asked why Jerry wanted to elope. He replied by saying the young man was only being logical and trying to save his fiance’s life. He was a bit too afraid for his loved one.
“ I’ll talk some sense into him … We need not worry about his allegiance. It’s right where it should . Trust me on this one”
“ Why do you support that young man so much? I was forced to speak now. “ You protect and over protect him. He is a very dangerous individual and may cause you more trouble than good. I hope you realize that fact?
Matthew replied “ I know. He turned out this way Because he was exposed to the harsh society as a very young boy. Then, he did not have anyone telling him his right from the left. An orphan from age seven or less, he was subjected to the vices of the society. To the streets of the rough part of Benin City. Can you blame me now for trying to tame him?
Bukky said it was alright.
She said Seth would soon call and they have to talk as she promised.
Not quite long, he did call. Seth asked why his demands were not being put into motion. Bukky told him that the U.S government will not play politics on this one. They rejected his terms. She advised him to make demands that were reasonable and feasible “ ….Don’t start what we can’t finish. Be wise”
A brief silence.
Then Seth said “ … well, I don’t need them and their stupid immigration embargo anymore. They can as well go to hell. I’ll soon bury the entire lanscape of America under a pile of ruins.”
Ambassador Green and Gerrard did not take this lightly.
“ What insolence! ” Mr Green muttered to Gerrard “ Can you believe this guy?
Gerrard urged him to keep it on a low.
“ Now madame President…” Seth continued“ You will reliease in less than eighteen hours” She cecked her wrist watch “ The prisoner with the tag “ 606” from Whitehouse Maximum corrections center in Benin City…”
He told her the location where they’d have him released.
She said she would try.
“ …. And included in the convoy, you must put old bills of one thousand naira each . A total sum of Eighty million naira, as earlier stipulated.”
“ Okay” She replied “ So how do we get the senators and the young woman back?
“ You keep to your own part of the deal. And I’ll do mine. I give you my word”
“Okay…And the device? Hello? Hello? ”
The lines went dead before she could say any further.
Bukky asked Alhassan who was the prisoner with the tag 606.
Al Hassan called Benin City. The comptroller of White house gave him the name.
“ Who is that?
“ The prisoner is…Raymond “ aka Ray” Omope”
“ What? ” She enquired to be sure.
Al Hassan repeated himself.
“ Will you set him free? I asked impulsively.
“ No! … No way!! Are you kidding me?” Bukky blurted out.“ He almost terminated- this is madness. I can’t do such. Oh God – this is insane. I can’t believe- ”
“ What?” She scre-med out again.
“ Your Excellency… ” Mathew tried to talk.
Bukky called ofthe meeting. She and Samantha walked out of the office. Ambassador Green tried to say something. Gerrard held him back. “ Let her be”
“ Can I talk to you? I went after Bukky in a bid to talk to her.
She refused.
“ I’m done talking. Speak to my secretary by the time this nation goes ablaze”
“ But if you don’t decide now, we will suffer”
She said as she walked away “ Then God help us all”
Matthew rushed behind her. “ Your Excellency-”
“May God help us all ” Bukky repeated in anger and walked away.
********
ITORO ABASI
Monday . Two, thirty P.M
Ife Harmony Chunedum, 19, was led quietly through the spacious corridor. The walls were white in appearance. White beams of flood lights from florescent bulbs lined the ceiling: per square inch and her physique casted a delicate but nice shadow upon the tiled floors. ( Cream tinted tiles).
Matt and I where with her and our boots stomped the floors while we walked.
We brought her into a room where Jerry had been held for the past one hour and more.
Matthew told her to sit down. He un-cuffed her. She sat opposite to Jerry across a metal table fixed to the floor.
He paced up and down in front of the boy. At his left, each time , he bumped into me. I finally left his path on the fourth collision.
Ife returned her gaze to Matthew. He had stopped moving about.
She must have seen something deep in Jerry’s eyes when she returned her focus on him. He was already in the act too.
Oh! Dear! She was foolishly in love with this young man. Glaringly obvious in shining salt and sulphur. The world can think whatever they want. Only one man existed in her heart. Jerry Osas. Her stubborn sweetheart. But now he was in cuffs, again, for the umpteenth time in their relationsh¡p of over four years.
What was he thinking? Why’s he bring her here?
She looked around. It was an air conditioned holding but had no windows. Just lights and a huge glass to her right, behind me. That was from where we had entered the room. A door on my left.
Why’d Matt bring her here? Why’d they both bring her here? In the first place?
Matt said finally “ Do you see a future with each other?
Ife and her boyfriend remained silent. I stood observing waiting for any of one of them to reply. Who would go first?…
The story continues..