Under Attack – Episode 10
Under Attack – Episode 10
© Brian Ngoma
K.B and the Serial Killer
His first day at work, K.B was the only white man at the station. With his excellent physical and theoretical performance during the training, he was directly sent to HQ. Whenever he went to work, he only wanted to do his work and go back home. He didn’t have much to say to anyone or join work groups. Everyone tried to engage him but they later got to know him as the silent one.
In his third year of working as an officer, K.B finally got a partner against his wishes. It came with a promotion as a detective. He had tried to resist but it was mandatory. Working with someone wasn’t so bad after all as he had thought.
“I’m Richie,” K.Bs partner had introduced himself.
“Kerzner Botha,” K.B had extended his arm.
“Afrikaans, right?
K.B only nodded.
“Aangename kennis,” (Nice to meet you ) Richie had laughed.
“Dieselfde,” (Same) K.B had looked away.
K.B and Richie got along just fine. They both didn’t talk much. They only knew work and nothing else. They never asked each other about their personal lives. They both kept to themselves. K.B finally found a human being that acted according. Their partnersh¡p was shot lived when Richie got a stroke. He was laid off work and K.B was alone again. From then onwards, he refused any suggestion to have him a partner. He preferred working alone.
During these years, HQ was being renovated. One Sunday afternoon, all the lead detectives were called by the then I.G. They were taken to the 3rd floor where they were led to a secret passage that withheld criminals. It was a torture room as well as a a safe place for the most dangerous ones awaiting trials. This was top secret.
Nothing stays hidden forever. When the government learned of it, they fired the then I.G. The other detectives were put on suspension. Lucky for K.B, during the investigations, they couldn’t charge him with anything. He was quite all the time. He only said he was following orders like any subordinate does. That was when the passage was locked down. They couldn’t destroy it fearing the wh0le building would collapse. Since then, the secret passage was history.
***
Still recovering from their disappointment, the hostages sat miserably anxious for their near future. Looking through the windows, the sun was about to set and they could see bright flashing lights from police cars. No one knew what was happening outside and those from outside had completely no clue whatsoever what was going on in,side. The hostages watched the man in charge standing with the I.G and the now awaken Izukanji whose head had been badly battered.
“So now tell me where is the serial killer?” The man in charge asked the two men.
Izukanji spat on the man in charge.
He was punched to the face and kneed in the stomach by one of the criminals.
“You don’t do that to me,” the man in charge yelled. “Tell me where the serial killer is,” he looked at the I.G.
“I don’t know,” Daniel answered.
“You’re joking, right?” The man in charge grabbed Daniel’s head and pointed it to the other hostages. “Do you see these people, do you want to risk their lives to protect a serial killer?”
“Every life matter as***ole,” Izukanji said getting to his feet. “What? You’re now a judge?”
The man in charge laughed. “You have balls but do you know that i can cut them off right here right now?”
“Cut them!”
“Lets not go down that road,” Daniel said raising his hands. “Detective tell him what he needs to know.”
Izukanji sadly looked at Daniel. “I’m telling him nothing.”
“If this is how it’s going to be then let it be so,” the man in charge turned around to the hostages, looked at them and pointed at the sobbing girl, Natasha. “Come here!”
Everyone was shaking.
“What do you want with her?” Calvin shouted.
Samara yelled too. “Leave her alone.”
Ignoring them, the man in charge called her again. Scared, Natasha slowly got up looking at the two boys she was in love with. She walked through the other hostages and got to the man in charge. As she reached where he was, he grabbed her by the hair and pointed his gun to her head.
“She dies first if you two don’t tell me what i want to know,” he looked at Daniel and Izukanji.
“Kill me instead!” Both Samana and Calvin yelled at the same time.
Their mothers protested angrily at the boys stupidity.
“Even if this ends, do you think either of you boys will be with this girl?” The man in charge looked at the boys. “She loves the both of you, so you’re all going to live happily ever after, the three of you? Please!”
“Tell him,” Daniel whispered to Izukanji.
“He won’t do nothing,” Izukanji whispered back. “K.B is still up there.”
“Yes i know. We just watched a video of him trying to commit suicide.”
“Again? What’s wrong with that old man?” Izukanji was astounded.
“He’s troubled. I cannot blame him.”
“But i think i can get to him. I’m sure he has something wrapped under his sleeves. He’s K.B though silent but dangerous.”
“This man will kill these people Izukanji just tell him what he needs to know.”
“He’s bluffing.”
“Trust me he’s not,” Daniel assured him.
With the gun still pointed at Natasha, the man in charge looked at Daniel and Izukanji waiting for them to curve. “What’s it gonna be? This innocent girls life or the serial killer’s?”
Izukanji looked at Daniel. “Okay let her go. I will take you to him.”
The man in charge kicked Natasha away. He looked at Renard. “Go with him, bring me the serial killer. We need to get out of here and if anyone comes your way, kill them.”
Renard and two other men grabbed Izukanji away from Daniel and walked to the elevator. One of the men did something to it and the indicators came on. Whilst waiting for the doors to open, Izukanji had an idea. What if he pushed the other two men away and grab ones gun and hold him hostage and jump into the elevator and go up to come up with a plan. Perhaps he would work with K.B. He had seen him when he was attacked and dragged to the elevator earlier.
When the elevator doors opened, Izukanji punched the man on his right and elbowed the one on his left. He tried to grab Renard into the elevator but Renard cleverly slipped through his hands. Standing tall to tall with Izukanji in the elevator, Renard fired bullets at Izukanji.
The hostages saw Izukanji dropping to the elevator floor and the doors closing. The elevator went up.
***
“But what would you do with a serial killer K.B?” Emma asked him. “This is a bad idea, what if he hurts us?”
“Yes old man we have a child,” the fluffy one pointed at Nana.
Christina cleared her throat. “They need the serial killer. Once they have him, they are going,” she looked Emma. “I need to get out of here. We all need to leave this place.”
K.B said nothing in response and walked looking at the halls. The rest followed him. He reached a p-ntry before Izukanji’s office. He opened it and told them to wait. He entered and removed the things blocking a cardboard. He started pushing it and as expected, it moved. He pushed it further and entered.
The passage was dark and dusty. Walking through it reminded K.B of the past. He slowly found his way to a door. It was locked. He knew he wouldn’t find any keys anywhere. He removed a wire from his pocket and picked the door. A moment later, the door opend. He entered a small room. It was tidy and the air conditioner was still functioning. There was no one in the room, or so he thought.
“Have you come to kill me?” A voice behind him asked.
K.B froze. It was the serial killer. Any stupid action would cost his life but then again, he thought, this would be a good way to die. After all, he’s on a suicide mission. He thought of Nana and the rest, damn why did he care? He only cared about no one but himself.
“What’s happening out there?” The serial killer asked. “Have been hearing gunshots.”
Slowly turning around, K.B faced the serial killer who stepped backwards when he saw that K.B was wearing bombs.
“What the hell is that?” He raised his hands. “Are you insane?”
K.B had a good view of him now. He didn’t look bad after all. He was wearing a sweater and a jean, well shaven and looked immaculate. For the first time, K.B was surprised that this man was a criminal. It was true what they say, the devil comes in sheep form.
Flashing his badge to the serial killer, K.B motioned to him to start walking outside.
“You cannot talk or what?”
There was no response from K.B. The serial killer followed orders and started moving. As they started moving, they heard gunshots coming from downstairs. K.B rushed the serial killer.
“Whose been shooting who?” The serial killer asked as they sprinted to the corridor.
When they reached the corridor. They found Emma and the rest standing by the elevator. K.B got his cuffs and cuffed the serial killer to a door. He walked over to Emma and found the fluffy one dragging a body from the elevator. Looking closely, it was Izukanji with bullet h0les in his chest, dead with a disappointed face.
To be continued