Under Attack – Episode 13

Under Attack – Episode 13

© Brian Ngoma

K.B and The Man In Charge, Face to Face.

Not too long ago, K.B tried to reach out to Bella. It had been years ever since he heard anything about his children. He hired a private investigator named Marcus. They never met not even once but communicated through the phone. K.B had told Marcus everything he needed for the investigation. Within days, Marcus found Bella and the children. They were no longer kids but adults. The boy was working as an assistant accountant at a Loan firm. Fact that made K.B proud. The girl was pursuing her degree at one of the finest universities in the country. Bella had taken good care of her children.

“You have descent children,” Marcus had told K.B over the phone.

K.B sighed. “How about their mother?”

“Their mother lives with them and from what have gathered, she is a fierce lioness protecting her cabs. They have been told their father is dead. He killed himself, that’s what the children know.”

A lump forming in his throat, K.B couldn’t say much to Marcus but thanked him for the services rendered. He put down the phone and sat in his bed. Thinking back at how miserable his life had been. Bella, Astridah and Ellen. Three children who were now adults and two knew their father was dead. For Lena, his third child it was different. Ever since his divorce with Ellen, she had tried to communicate with him over the years, it’s only then that their communication suffered because of K.B.

Getting out of bed, he walked to his wardrobe and opened it. Laying down with a pair of clothes was a rope. He had bought it months ago. His heart was at peace. His children were all fine. They didn’t need him. He had done his part as a human being. Having worked for the Police for over 20 years, it was time to put down his tools. It’s only work that kept him from killing himself and now that it was becoming suffocating, he needed to leave the world and reunite with Astridah. At least this time, she would be proud of him that he worked and did something with his life.

Rope tied, chair placed properly, K.B got the rope and placed it round his neck and fastened it. He saw himself in the wardrobe mirror and felt ashamed. He looked away and faced down. He took a deep breath in and kicked the chair. No sooner had his legs hang in the air than the rope cut from the ceiling. He fell down hurting his leg. Breathing heavily and disappointed, he saw himself in the mirror scared and hopeless. This how he had become, he shook his head and punched the air.

Following day, he went to work and as usual, directly went to his office on the 5th floor. After settling down, Daniel came to his office.

“Halo K.B how are you?” Daniel had greeted him.

K.B just looked at Daniel and looked away.

“Typical K.B,” Daniel smiled and left.

***

K.B didn’t like Daniel but he wasn’t supposed to die like that, like an animal. The gunshot over the phone was deafening and savage. He placed his cell back in his pocket.

“Was that a gunshot?” The serial killer asked K.B.

As usual, K.B didn’t answer but continued walking with the serial killer behind him. He kept walking downstairs without a care if he would meet anyone. The gun in his hands had made him more arrogant. Not only that, he was fade up with everything. He wanted it over and he was going to do everything to end it all. They reached the 3rd floor where he had left Emma and the rest. He stopped and listened.

“Emma!” Nana shouted.

K.B quickly covered her mouth. Dominick’s office door opened and Emma peeped. Her face lit up the moment she saw K.B and Nana but she frowned when she saw the serial killer.

“What is he doing here?” She asked K.B

Ignoring her question, he asked. “Where are the others?”

The door behind Emma widely opened and Christina, the fluffy one and Dominick came out. Dominick had a grin on his face when he saw K.B. He looked at the serial killer.

“This must be the serial killer,” Dominick pointed at the serial killer.

“Let’s get in,side,” Christina said looking around.

They all went into Dominick’s office and settled in. The serial killer narrated everything that happened at the roof. He also apologized for getting Nana earlier claiming he was only scared and didn’t want to die.

“That gunshot?” The fluffy one asked looking at K.B.

They all stared at K.B.

“They have killed Daniel,” he said.

“What do we do now?” Emma asked.

There was silence in the room. Only Nana could be heard making some noises as she was eating some crisps Dominick had given her. It was like she had now understood the wh0le situation.

“Two detectives,” the fluffy one said. “Get us out of this situation.”

“Three,” Christina added looking at Emma. “Our lives are in your hands. Not forgetting the scared people downstairs.”

“If i don’t take him,” he pointed at the serial killer. “People will continue dying.”

“You promised me,” the serial killer stood up. “I can’t die here man.”

“I didn’t say I’m taking you down,” K.B glanced at the serial killer. “If anyone should die, it’s me,” he said without a care.

“No one is dying K.B,” Emma said. “If anyone should die, it’s him,” she pointed at the serial killer.

“We can’t do that,” Dominick protested. “That would just make us as evil as them.”

Emma and Dominick started arguing. The rest watched in Surprise and looked up to K.B. He didn’t say anything too till they were done.

“Let’s make a plan before another person dies downstairs,” K.B said.

***

The man in charge stood with his gun over Daniels body while he stared at all the hostages. They were trembling with fear. He could look at the elevator doors waiting for them to open and at the same time kept his eyes at the stairs. His chest could be seen rising up and going down. No one was saying anything, not even his men. Fear filled the room.

“If the white man is not coming down in five minutes to face me, I’m killing another person here. He started it!” He yelled.

His men all stared at him. One of them walked to him and whispered something in his ears. Next thing everyone saw was him laying on the floor touching his cheek. He had just been smacked in the face for trying to reason with the man in charge.

“We are seeing this through. We are leaving with what we came here for. No discussions. Is there anyone in protest like this man,” he pointed at the just punched henchman on the floor.

The others all nodded their heads in denial.

“I don’t like to be kept waiting,” he walked away from Daniels body and went amidst the hostages.

Everyone faced down. They didn’t want to be the next body laying on the floor.

“You!” He pointed at Natasha.

“Please NO,” she cried.

“Bring her over here!” He told one of his men.

Natasha was brought henceforward. Calvin and Samana tried to get on their feet but were brought down.

The man in charge grabbed Natasha. “You were lucky the last time. I don’t think you will be this time.”

“I cannot die please!” She sobbed.

“Oh you will die if i don’t get what I want. 2 minutes remaining,” he looked at his watch. “Where is the white man, i need to be home for dinner.”

“Let her go!” K.B emerged from the stairs with his hands in the air.

Everyone turned their heads at him. A lot of them remembered him from earlier when he had reported for work.

“The ghost appears!” The man in charge shouted. “Finally, me and you, face to face.’

***

Earlier, K.B and Dominick agreed to face the man in charge once and for all but it was under K.Bs terms. No one was going to die. The plan was for K.B to go downstairs and try to negotiate with the man in charge and have him leave HQ with no police officers on his tail. Dominick didn’t like that idea but he couldn’t argue with K.B. He was to remain with the others and try to remain as calm as possible until K.B had finally bargained with the ‘SSS’.

“We must do something,” Emma said after K.B had left. “We just can’t do nothing here.”

“You heard the white man,” the fluffy one said. “Let’s just sit and relax. After all, he seems to be a veteran.”

Christina clicked her tongue. “Look at you,” she looked at the fluffy one.

Dominick was silent.

“What’s on your mind?” Christina asked him.

“We can’t just let him do this on his own. K.B is on a suicide mission. For him this exciting. He would do anything to face death,” Dominick responded.

“What are you suggesting?” Emma asked.

“We have two guns,” he looked at the guns on the table. “Let’s take down the 2nd floor. I only saw one uniform there.”

Emma grabbed one gun. “I am game. I have been waiting for this.”

Getting the other gun, Dominick said to Christina. “Remain with Nana,” to the fluffy he said, “Protect them. If we won’t be back, stay hidden till this wh0le thing is over.”

“How about this one?” Emma looked at the serial killer.

“What do you suggest we do with him?” Dominick asked.

“Let’s go with him,” she answered and walked to Nana, pinched her cheek and smiled. “Be a good girl.”

“I want shikulu,” Nana sobbed.

“I’m going to bring him back for you,” Emma said before leaving.

The three walked out of the office and walked downstairs. Dominick led the way while the serial killer was put in the middle with Emma at the far end. The uniform was still standing by the fire department entrance looking all bored.

“Distract him,” Dominick looked at the serial killer.

“Why me?” The serial killer complained.

“Now,” Emma said.

The serial killer had no option. He walked out of hiding. “Hey!” He shouted.

The uniform quickly turned to him pointing the gun at him. “Identify yourself!”

“I’m who you’re looking for,” the serial killer said. “The serial killer.”

The uniform started walking to the serial killer.

“Don’t move,” Dominick whispered as he and Emma walked back up the stairs.

The uniform reached where the serial killer was and looked closely at him. “Turn around,” he ordered him.

The serial killer turned around.

“Kneel down!”

Getting a radio out of his pocket, the uniform pressed it. Before he could say that he had the serial killer, Dominick jumped him hærd and threw him to the ground. Before he could react, he was banged on his face with the gun’s magazine he was knocked out.

“You guys are full of surprises,” the serial killer stood up. “Where is the girl?”

Dominick wanted to turn around and got the shock of his life. Emma hit him with a metal rod he dropped to the floor and blacked out.

“Don’t you dare move!” She pointed the gun at the serial killer.

“What!” The serial killer was in shock.

“About time this wh0le thing ends,” Emma said. “Now move, let’s go downstairs!”

The serial killer started walking with his hands in the air.

To be continued