Capital crime episode 7

Capital Crime episode 7
With due respect Ma’I began “ I think there is a pattern somewhere. All these can’t be happening randomly. There is a link. We just have to find it”
“ You think so” The chocolate skinned man , sitting opposite, asked.
“ I have a deduction ,sir. Not yet a theory.”
“ His excellency, the first gentleman” Bukola began as she referred to her husband, the man on the left “ thinks these are lone wolves- crisis of turbulent times, as he puts it”
At once, I remembered what Itos had said earlier that same day at the crime scene. I could not stop but wonder if the young lad was still awake or sleeping in the guest lounge of the Aso Villa .
“ If I may say this Ma” Al Hassan killed the silence“ My men will get to the bottom of this in-”
“ Enough already!” President Alakara bellowed “ Don’t feed me that Chicken sauce anymore. Since Morning, You ‘ve repeated those same lines over and over again”
“ Sorry Ma”
“ Pity yourself”
“ Yes Ma’am”
The man on the left cushion smiled. He scoffed and sipped away from his cup. He shook his head in a funny way.
“ How do we tackle this puzzle, as a team? She focused on me” I need all hands on deck”
Shit. You need my ass on deck. I had wild thought in my head. las las,na me go work all the work, I thought in pidgin English.
I rampaged on every positive situations and outcomes. The umpteenth of them being that Aremu was in the hospital, though alive , he had sustained minor injuries- major at least , to an extent and would be active fully by Monday. The doctors said he needed rest. So he will get enough. Let’s put him out of the picture for now.
Then. There was only one option. Just one left. I guess.
“ A rough link. If I put it lightly” I wished I had said that but instead I uttered“ Someone can still help us. I know a young man.”
“ Help? Did you just imply help? The man at the corner said “ You must be joking” He had a very nice accent. Polished and squeaky clean.
“ Your Excellency, he is a formidable asset”
The POTFRON asked “ Is he a soldier? She seemed tired.
I declined“ He is a criminal.” I paused to ascertain the reactions on their faces- three of them“ And currently serving two and half years term of house arrest. He was key to the capture of the kingpin who attempted to end your life , Ma.”
“ You mean Ray’s Ally” She raised an eyebrow.
“ Past ally , now enemies”
“And this enemy of my enemy-”
“ Is a friend ” I completed it for her.
“ And I’m not sorry to say this too, madame. I lost alot of good men on that fateful night- a stormy one indeed. Men I considered brothers but that criminal or ex- criminal- he saved my life”
“ Good! Where is he now?
“ I can have him down here in the next available flight ”
“ Please do so. As we wait to hear from the abductors ”
Immediately, the door slammed open, the military officer at the door tried to prevent a white man and his body guards- two of them- from barging into the office. I somehow recognized one of the two men: Gerrard.
“ I demand to see her! ” The man in front said with authority.
“ Sir, you’ve violated our laws of diplomacy” S.A Sam said as she blocked the Whiteman who had a well curled and relaxed grey hair.
“ Under diplomatic laws. I have the right to see her- more especially if it affects me or any other expatriates. The United States in particular”
“ Sammy, ” President Bukky called “ Please let him in”.
Samantha slightly shifted sideways when the man gave her an elbow bump. His two body guards stared furiously at the military personnel.
“ Leave us please” My GCFR said. The three men and woman obeyed, leaving only the ambassador at the door.
“ Mr Green” The man at the left corner said“ It’s so nice to see you”
Mr Green had other thoughts. He said disapprovingly“ With due respect, Mr. First gentleman, sir. I currently don’t have the time to exchange niceties. Yet I appreciate the effort you’re making. Thank you”
He turned to the President.
“ The news are all lies! A jolly good fellow would realise these are cooked up stories. No casualities? No passengers except the pilot- God bless his sacrificed soul-” He laughed “ I hærdly believe any of these. Prove me wrong madame President”.
He paced up and down frantically.
“ Calm down ambassador” President Alakara said“ We are yet to confirm if she was on board. The news-”
“ The news?’ He cut in“ why the lies?
‘It’s to reduce panic among the masses’
“ Oh! Believe me, md. President, standing before you is a freaking shit h0le of panic. Imagine my daughter arrived Nigeria yesterday and your D.S.S – your – they deemed it unworthy to inform my secretary. Or the consulate at Lagos” he sighed.“ And guess what?
“ Calm down sir”
“ No, guess what?
“ Okay” she followed with the cue.
“ I woke up this morning and my secretary’s gone. AWOL.”
“The same D.S.S agents were having breakfast at the embassy’s cafeteria. Now, honestly, tell me: Of what importance are they to me there. Huh? Mere observers ?
No one told me anything. My soldiers, able-bodied men- at the embassy, no one saw anything. My secretary disappears just like that. MiA . ” He scoffed“ I can’t believe this- and you know what- you know , they actually said they saw her drive off the premises and that was it. Just like that– piffft. Off radar she went. GPS disconnected. And now
He sighed heavily before reality dawned on him “ Now my daughter is missing too. Gawd!”
“ Take it easy sir” Bukola placed a palm on his shoulder from behind.
“ How did you find out about your daughter?
“ Her friends from New York called my direct line” he ch¡pped in calmly.
“ We are doing our best, sir” I interrupted“ thanks for the info you shared. We will take the lead from here. For now-”
“And you are?
“ This is detective Panshark” Bukola said“ He is incharge of the operations and coordinations at field level”
Mr Green was not impressed. He said plainly after being down-casted“ Please find my daughter”
“ Be patient with us sir-” Alhassan said before he was cut short by Mr Green’s outburst.
“ Don’t tell that. Save it for the press!”
“ And those agents at the embassy are worthless. I don’t need them there anymore. I never did. I told you so from the inception of it all.”
“ I will repatriate them to the Villa” Bukola suggested.
Bukky signalled and quietly urged me to do something quick. I acknowledged and excused myself. It was so weird to experience inferiority complex being displayed by my country men because a white man stood in our presence. This is our country for God’s sake. We should be the ones calling the shots, and not the other way round, bickering and trembling at the mercy of some white-haired man because somehow, he considered himself a high being and closer to God. Yea, call me a racist. I accept.
But then again I understood, it’s not easy loosing you only daughter to the cold arms of terrorism. I wondered what I’d do if I was in his shoes. Too bad.
While I made way for the door, Mr Sam Alakara – the first gentleman followed closely and we both exited the office and the heat of Mr Green’s anger.
President Bukola called out“ And Matt! Please get your P.A Mr Itoro to see me. ASAP. Please.”
“ Sure! I’d do just that”
Indeed I will.
To be continued.