Capital crime episode 22

Capital Crime
Episode 22
A Divided House
SETH
My men raised their weapons inmediately he uttered those words.
“woah! Hey! Put them down” I said.
The killings were enough for the day. I turned towards Ray, draw him to a corner and told him about my intentions to send him outside the country and about the device. I checked my wrist watch and said there was’nt enough time left, just four minutes before the fedral troops come knocking around these axis.
Ray got angry, “ You should never dictate to me when and how to do things.”
“ Sorry ? What? ” I replied with shock.
“ Im fucxking saying why would you break me outta jail only to have me on my heels, running, again.
“ Aint that stupid? Fuxck it! ” Ray said,“ I’m going nowhere. And the boy dies. Trust me, you don’t know –.”
“ Trust? You dont even trust my own judgement” I raised my voice“ The boy lives. And he comes with us. I know what Im doing. And you little bro, Ray you must leave this country right away–.”
Ray walked out on me. “ mtcheww” he sighed.
“ Raymond?
“ What? He turned in disgust.“ What? Huh? He raised his voice“ You know-”
I cautioned. And said in between my teeth “Put you voice down… you little imp. ” My voice roared“ And dont talk back at me… Now listen here…Dont make me regret–”
“ Are we doing this?– ” He scoffed“ Cant believe we are doing this , again. Out here? Because of this boy?”
“Dont make me do this.” I began“ Dont change my plans”.
Ray scoffed. “ To hell with your plans. You just changed it already”
“ No I did not. Just made some adjustments”
“Fucxk you did. And who gives a fuxck about manners and obedience? You know that shit aint for me.”
“ Calm down bro”
“ Stop telling me to calm down”
“ Dont force my hand, Ray.”
“ So what? What will you do? Shoot me? Go on then. Shoot me. ” He said after a scoff“ I have people who look up to me. I promised them I’d set them free. You should have just let me do things my way. I could have done it better. Much better than you, big brother.”
I looked up and noticed the skies where getting dark. Clouds clustering together and wind began to blow… A rain was imminent and we have to leave this place as soon as possible.
“ Ungrateful heart. Now…listen, you little fool.” I said with my arm raised up to sound a last warning “ Dont make me do this. I promised Mama I’d-”
“ Now you are bringing Mama into this? Seriously? No respect for the dead?”
Raymond reached for his gun. It was obvious we were not on the same plane anymore.
“ You know the rules. Two kings can not reign together in the same territory.” Ray said.
He c*cked his pistol, focused at Jerry who was still in a state of shock.“ And Im not letting go off my throne.”
I came to the rescue and aimed at my little brother from an angle of 45 degrees. Ray did not blink. Strange. He has changed. This isnt the Ray I risked my life for. The Ray I knew from our childhood. This isnt the Raymond I trained in medical school. Someone I gave up everything for. This was somebody else. A stranger who would not fit in my plans.
Regret flushed through my face.
His eyes grew red with regret and anger from the pit of hell. Shocking. No. I cant let this stranger ruin my plans with disobedience.
“ The boy lives.” I said “ Put down your gun.”
“ He is a f-cking spy” Ray retorted. “ And he dies, come hell …or highwater… And I am …hell and Highwater.”
Jerry limped away and stared at us in disbelief.
Ray reached for the trigger. He squeezed it.
“ Don’t you dare.” I growled “Ray!!!!–.”
A loud gunshot recoil reported just the same moment a rumbling thunder clapped acrossed the horizons in the dark cloudy skies.
*****
IFE
Its ten- thirty three. A Tuesday morning and the worst day of my life so far.
On a normal day, I would believe the fact that Samantha Walsh and everyone in the Emerge- Room 002 could allow all these happen without lifting a finger. They did not flinch.
Everyone saw what happened. They heard it. They had the location pinned.
Itoro ( the Prvt Detective) had placed a gps somewhere, someplace hidden. I could not care any more now to know where, but we could have sent in back up or something.
I cautioned my emotions, urging them to not make a scene. If only that were possible until I gave a reaction even my deepest emotion could not create.
“ How could you?”
“I cant believe you just sat there and let them die?
“ All of you? How can we be this heartless? I yelled after taking a glance at everyone in the room.
Then a reply came: “ Pull youself together. ” It was from the Ag. Director of the DSS, Miss Samantha Walsh.
I countered angrily, “ No. You pull yourself together.”
I stormed out of the room before anyone could say more.
As I walked out, I bumped into a man. Initially, I took no note of his entourage nor his fierce look. I only uttered, “ S- sorry” after seeing two military personell behind the group of men.( Rumeh Kadiri was a part of them.)
Without much thoughts to this, I left them in curiosity. A tear wanted to escape my eyes and i willingly let it drop.
★★
Narrator
The young lady apologised for stepping on his foot and he accepted it cheerfully. He bothered himself with the issue that brought him to the Towers more than everyother thing on this planet. Even at the moment.
The police inspector, Al Hassan was so disturbed at his sudden presence in the room. He could tell. Everybody in the room jerked to their feets. Even those who had been standing jerked out of their skeletons and glued hopelessly to their muscles.
“ Mr Vice President.” Samantha said. “ What a pleasant surprise. Sir.”
“ Sir. You too. Mr. Senate president, sir” Samantha said again with even more shock written all over her face.
“ Wow! Please! ” She gestured the him and his entourage to available seats.
“ Keep it to yourself” He said to her. “ Im shutting down this building. Everyone of you will be tried and prosecuted for mass murder and breaking the rules of engagements” He turned to Alhassan “ especially you. For acting without orders.”
Sam tried to beckon his attention when she said “ But sir– we are working under directives. Direct instructions. Sir. Besides, we never re-engaged.”
“ The more reason why you will imprisoned for life.” He cut in.“ Sending all those men to their early graves. You are lucky if their families do not clamour to see you hanged”
“ We were under direct orders sir.”
Casmir Orji asked: “ Whose orders?
His voice was indifferent when he found himself a seat.
“ Mine.” A voice replied as it entered the room.
She was accompained by Mr Green and her personal guard. She continued “ They are working under direct orders from me.”
Bukky Alakara made him feel uneasy with her statement. She looked at the soldiers who immediately stood at attention upon her entrance.
“ At ease.”
“ You know the rules of the land.” He said. “ Rules must be observed. And offenders never go unpurnished.”
Bukky said she would take full responsibility of whatever outcome this wh0le crisis posed. Her eyes stared at Rumeh Kadiri. Something seemed out of place, however, the young man looked away, trying to avoid contact.
Casmir Orji smiled and rose to his feet. He walked about the large room. Took hold of an art work and dropped it to the floor. The bronze piece shattered. He noticed Bukky blink impulsively.
Everyone became startled. Good. Atleast they acknowledged his power.
“ Thats a mess” He began, “ similar to how you often create mess and there is always someone to clean it up.” He walked towards her. Adjusted his tie.
A snivel escaped his nostrils then he said “ This time. You are the mess. The right wind of change will clean you up and away.”
“ I will do my best to resolve the issues” Bukky said without flinching, “ But remember, Casmir, a divided house can not stand tall.”
He told her that she had put the country in great danger through the uncensored manslaughter at capital of the Edo state. It was everywhere on the news. A heist. But he knew better: she made silly mistakes.
“… And here you speak of houses and tall buildings. Such hypocrisy.”
She had started a tune that will send her into political oblivion.
“ Obviously!” He said“ And im concerned.”
“ Yet. You are incompetent and in unsound mind to rule this country” Casmir Orji continued “ The house of Reps has sent a bill to the Senate. A third of the house passed a vote of no confidence about you.”
Bukky said “ So it seems. I got the memo. But the senate has the final say. Our party has the majority…”
He scoffed. “ You dont know, do you? Aya ya ya.. ya ya. Md.”he smirked“md. President, just because the news hasnt gotten to the screens, courtsey of my desk, the half the senate wants to see you out of power. Even your own party members. You are this close to loosing it all. Look at my fingers” He said“ This close. This tiny.”
Bukky asked the Senator who had arrived with him, “ Is this true? Tell me, Alex how true is this?”
The man gave a nod.
She said there would be no need for all that. The process of hearing will take a long time. She would make it short for them.
“ I’ll resign– ” She said to everyone’s shock.
The Vice President gave into a shrewd smile but he uttered“ Hmm-mhh?
“ Immediately I resolve this wh0le issue. Just give me time.” Bukky Alakara continued, “ In 73 hours. I will abdicate, if I dont” She paused“ resolve the crisis.”
Casmir and his entourage rose to their feet. He led the motion and others had followed suit.
“ Very well then. I’ll leave my men here.” He pointed to the soldiers and at Rumeh Kadiri who had arrived with him.
At the door, he turned and said “ They will help you in any way possible.”
“ I dont need to remind you” Bukky corrected“ That these same men of yours are my military staff. I am their commander– in –chief. Or that also, I am still your boss?
He was too sure all these would soon phase by. He said “ Not for long. You have 48 hours to fix this mess, else– Im sorry, I may not be able to help you then”
He turned away. But momentarily looked back, straight into her eye balls. He knew she hated him, but had to put up with his nomination as a running mate. The decisions had come from the party, and here they were at cross roads for the umpteenth time after many years. To him, she was a fragile woman who just did not fit into the world of ‘men’. Disgust was evident in his eyes and he was tired of feigning concern and pity. Tired of being her “male” shadow. Her number 2.
He said “ Goodluck, your exellency.”
He left while smiling from cheek to cheek. One military officer led the way. Two agents flanked him and the senate president on both sides.
Senate President Alex Atanda was a pawn in his games. Casmir is his god -father in politics and as such, the man owed him gratitude and surbodination. ( The things men do for power)
His plans of ursuping the presidency of his country and becoming the first citizen was taking physical shape. How fortunate the universe is to him. How fortunate he is. These thoughts gladened his heart as he left the Yellow Towers.
★★
BUKOLA
I stood silent. My deputy just dissapeared into the elevators outside the Emerge– room 002. The elevator was in the same lobby as the Emerge- room 001– The largest hall where activities took place.
I turned to my staff. All eyes were on me. No one spoke a word. Silence. Waiting for me to say something. What can I say?
The story continues….