With
his eyes on the man in the white caftan, Steven pulled his phone out of his
jacket inner pocket. The man ahead of him was a senator in the House of
Representatives. As well as a traitor and a Boko Haram collaborator.
Dialing
Oliver, Steven trailed behind the senator, watching him leave the hall through
the doors, swerve to the right and go down a corridor.
“Hey.”
Oliver came on the line. “Do you have eyes on the senator?”
“Yes.
He’s heading east.”
Honorable
Bala Adoo paused in front of a wooden door on the left. He pushed it open and
entered.
Steven
murmured into the phone, “He’s in the gents. I’ll just go up and make his
acquaintance.”
“Great.
Let me know what he has to say.”
“Sure
thing, bro.” Steven ended the call and walked into the room.
The
man was in front of the urinal, fiddling with his trousers.
At
Steven’s approach, the senator glanced up automatically, and then nodded
blankly in greeting.
Steven
nodded a response and started to pass behind him, as if he was heading to the
next urinal.
Head
bowed, the senator returned to working on his trousers.
Too
easy.
Steven
shot his arm out and using the side of his right hand, slammed it into the back
of the senator’s neck.
He
fell forward, crying out.
In
seconds, Steven was upon him. He hooked his right arm around the man’s neck,
pressing against his throat, jerking him backward. With his left hand, Steven
captured his prisoner’s right arm, twisting it up and behind his back.
His
trouser tumbled to his ankles, exposing dirty white briefs. The senator
screamed in pain and shame. Sweat oozed out of his pores, his eyes jumped
crazily.
He
struggled to croak, “W-what d-do you w-want?”
“Thanks
for asking.” Steven said, grinning. “We know you’re working with Boko Haram-”
“N-no!
I-I s-s-swear, I’m not.”
Shaking
his head, Steven continued, “Sure you are. We know.”
“I
s-swear, I-I’m not-”
“Hush
now. Tell me where your partner is. The one with the remote detonator.”
“I
d-don’t k-know…”
Steven
laughed, and then whispered into the man’s ear, “Thanks for making this fun.”
And
then he shoved the man straight into one of the wall-mounted mirrors.
***
Right
in front of the double entrance doors, Oliver paced. What was taking Steven so
long?
Every
minute, more and more guests flooded in. The place was filling up. They were
running out of time.
He
peered at his Bulgari watch for what seemed like the zillionth time.
His
phone buzzed. Oliver blew out air in relief and answered the call.
“What
took you so long?” Oliver asked.
“He
was shy.” Steven said. Then, “His accomplice is at the car-park. A fat man with
a full beard, wearing white. He says he’ll be easy to spot.”
“Okay,
I’m on my way.” Oliver cut the connection and headed toward the area. Once he
was out of sight from the VIPs exiting their cars, he broke into a jog.
The
harsh African midday sun reigned in the sky, bathing the earth with its heat.
The hot air fanned his face.
Other
guests, those not fortunate to be dropped off at the entrance, strolled toward
the entrance. A few of them stared at him as he passed by. They were probably
thinking: ‘Who is this oyibo man in a
suit and why is he running in the heat?’
A
few minutes later, Oliver arrived at the park.
His gaze skimmed the area and then zoomed in on
one individual lingering at the edge of the car-park: A heavy-set, full-bearded
man, clothed in white: white shirt and trousers, eying his watch. Got you.Share this post on social media if you enjoyed it.
Learn about the heroes and heroines in the Character Profile page
The Unhinged Book Series; Book 1, 2, and 3 will be out this 2016. Find out more at the Unhinged Books page
