“There is a bomb in the building, get off there fast.” Ngozi screamed her lungs out but Clement couldn’t hear her. The more she tried to make him understand her message, the more it turned as if she wasn’t saying anything meaningful at all. All hell was let loose when Clement decided to return into the building so he can join them outside and just then the helicopter came hovering over his head, a few steps overheard, but still at arms length. “Inspector Clement sir, there is bomb implanted in the building and….” And just as if he had been waiting for the helicopter or the message relayed to him, he flung himself forward and held unto the base of the chopper which hurtled away as fast as possible from the building. But, in ten seconds a Jet will cover a certain distance double of what an aeroplane would cover in the space of ten seconds which is double of what a helicopter will cover. A naval officer while describing a chopper described it as a noise generating aircraft. Even if the chopper can’t move as fast the aeroplane or the Jet, it could generate a noise that even if an external speaker was attached to the other two aircrafts, it doesn’t make any difference. Just when the chopper left the building top and was hurrying to land somewhere outside the compound, the bomb went off, the four storeyed building collapsed, the noise generated as a result of the blast overcame the noise emeanting from the chopper. If it were to be a single blast, the outcome wouldn’t be as bad as this, but a blast in each floor just showed how much desperate these terrorists were. Clement as a result of the noise lost his balance, his hand slipped from the hanging he held on to, and from quite a distance, he came crashing to the ground like an unactivated missile which was released but ended up landing on the ground like a stone. “Uh!” Everyone murmmured. The journalist outside the building has been barred from moving anywhere near the police because their desperation to get stories written on the issue beclouded their reasoning. Regardless of the fact that Ngozi, the only lady in the police team explained to them that there was still an officer inside the building and a bomb threatens to go off in minutes, the journalist still did like it is not important, they still pressed on and Ngozi who was the only officer that gave them listening ears or decided to answer their questions went bersek as she ordered them to move backwards and towards the entry into the forest. But even if they had been embarrassed, the little they were opportuned to cover was enough to make them rich. Not in the history of a country like Nigeria had anybody recorded a live bomblast, how it went of and the build up to it, the commonest thing is just the aftermath of the blast, but in this scenario, about fifteen journalists, both freelance and the contracted ones were able to cover the blast, just the way it went off. “Clement.” Ngozi had already broken free and was running in particularly no direction, even though she knew Clement dropped to the ground somewhere beside the building. The other members of the police force were racing after her, even the injured ones felt no pain that moment, all they felt was Clement’s pain. They didn’t care about their own present state, the care about Clement’s survival. ————— Kelvin finished changing his clothes and crouched to the entrance of the pipe where he could see the police running up and down, he had heard a blast and he knew from where it had come from, but the reason why the police were showing their talents in athletics is best known to them. He returned into the pipe and faced Mike with his gun pointed at him. Mike struggled even with the ropes still tied around his body and the tape still draped tightly over his mouth, he was still pleading with his mind even though Kelvin could not hear. “I’ll kill you, but at the same time I will not. But I will drop you somewhere conspicous where your colleagues would be able to find you. Kelvin thought about his chances, he knew he is unstoppable, he has always been unstoppable, therefore, if he had single-handedly brought down Khal corp, then this shouldn’t be a difficult task. He released a quick and silent shot on Mike chest and after three seconds, he dragged him out of the pipe and place him just at the entrance in such a way that only a careful observer would see him. “You are under arrest.” A familiar female voice said from behind as he made to leave the scene back into the pipe where he would crouch to the other exit that leads to the other side of the forest. Kelvin considered his chances, if he could just turn back swiftly and take out Ngozi, he would be free. And as if reading his mind, Ngozi released a loud and defeaning shot to his right leg and that was it, his gun fell off and he lost balance. — Activities were burstling around the police headquarters as police officers celebrated their victory over terrorism. The months of struggle is finally over, same with the months of security unrest. The state governor, the acting president, the minister of Defence, the Director General of every security angencies, well meaning Nigerians had called the Lagos state police command to congratulate them for their success in the last one hour and Ngozi who could well be placed as the only officer who didn’t suffer much injury except a headache which she felt at the end of everything, but in terms of internal injury, she suffered the most, she was the only one who was thrown off a staircase as a result of an electric shock which surge through her body, even though she told no one about it, not even the medical teams. She just didn’t want to visit the hospital and her wish came to fruition. She was presently overseeing the affairs in the headquarter and in the last one hour, she had spoke with people whom she never thought she would see from a distance, not to talk of speaking to them and introducing herself to them. And the part which got her giggling was when she introduced herself to the President. “Detective Ngozi! I heard about your heroic deeds. I must say congratulations and you are beautiful too.” And all her life, she had never seen things done this way and even if there is a major even in a country that required congratulating the country as a whole, the president of such country is the ideal recipient of such calls. Even though Ngozi didn’t recieve calls from other world leaders which was what said it all that world leaders will call the president who must have spoken to those involved in the events. Sylvester walked into the office which shared by about six officers out of which two were dead now. “Hey.” Ngozi said immediately Sylvester sat on Mike’s table. “Whatsup?” “Nothing much, so many calls.” She replied. Sylvester only smiled in return and started checking books on Mike’s table as if he lost something. “So, how is Clement?” Ngozi asked since she knew that Sylvester has also been in the hospital with the others. “He’ll be fine, I think he broke a few bones, but they’ll mend it.” He replied. The reply was not convincing enough, but she couldn’t press any further. “Chances of Mike making it?” She asked when she realised that she is on the verge of loosing another colleague. “Um, well, we don’t know for now. We just hope he makes it.” Sylvester replied. A minute later, Sylvester was up and was heading to the door. “Ngozi, I love you.” He said. Ngozi was not only suprised but scared at the same time. The reason she couldn’t explain. And before she knew it, he was moving towards her table. Her mouth had ran dry, she couldn’t tall him to back off, she didn’t want to kiss him, she didn’t know the exact thing that was going on. The next second, he was holding her hands and slowly, he brought down his face on hers and his lips enveloped hers. After what seemed like hours, she was loosing her breathe and she wanted to push him away when the door opened and Tobiloba stood at the door with an expressionless face. “Oh my God!” Ngozi exclaimed pushing Sylvester away angrily, as tears welled up in her eyes. “Mr Sylvester right?” He asked calmly. “Yes.” Sylvester replied. “Congratulations on the recent success.” He said shaking hands with Sylvester. “And if you’ll please excuse us.” “Sure.” Sylvester replied and walked out. When he had shut the door, Tobiloba looked at Ngozi from head to toe, as if trying to see something strange. “Hi.” She greeted. “Can I sit?” He asked. “Sure.” She replied. After a minute of silence, Tobiloba broke the silence. “You know, I have tried to get accross to Clement after I helped him call the nigerian Navy, and I have been to the hospital, I was denied entry.” He began. Ngozi was suprised at what he was saying. “What Nigerian Navy?” She asked. “He asked me to call them. He explained his predicament to me about being hooled up inside his Dad’s residence with so many security outside. So I had to call the School of aviation where they sent the naval officers the address and they went to rescue him.” He explained. Ngozi was proud, even the police who handled the gun in fighting terrorism didn’t do as much as the young man before her who pulled strings from his room. After about thirty minutes of discussion and recounting her ordeals, Tobiloba announce his departure. Ngozi wanted to apologize about the scene he met when he entered the office thirty five minutes ago. “Ngozi, I can no longer continue with this relationship of ours.” He announced before walking out. Three weeks to their wedding?Ngozi was seated with Sylvester standing beside Clement’s bed inside the hospital ward. “How are you feeling now?” She asked. Clement smiled, his body was draped in bandages all over, the neck, his legs, his hands and even around his waist, while the doctors said he would be fine as every wound and dislocated body parts would heal within a matter of weeks, major concern was his spinal cord which the doctors couldn’t place the exact thing that was wrong with it. According to the tests carried out on him, it was revealed that his spinal cord was still intact, unharmed, unaffected, but lifeless, they claimed blood isn’t flowing through it as it ought to, and the effect of that could be temporary or permanent paralysis. According to the doctors, they said he needed to be flown abroad for further treatment on his back region, but the likelyhood of he using his legs is quite slim. While he could stand on his legs for twenty minutes, he couldn’t just take two quick steps which automatically ruled out walking in the list of natural things he could do. “I am getting much better.” He replied glancing at Sylvester who beamed at him. “What did the doctors say? I mean, is there anything new?” She asked. Clement went silent for a while, his mind drifting into very serious thoughts. He could’t have imagined himself in a situation like this in his life, even as a kid, no one houvered over him looking after his health or whatever, but now as an adult, everyone is pitying him. “I was suprised to see Tobiloba yesterday. You know, he actually did a lot for me when I was fighting off dad’s security details.” He began expertly changing the topic. “But I thought you two would be coming together, you know, since yesterday was sunday.” While everyone is trying to play a game that favours him/her, Clement wanted changed the topic from the one that hurts his heart, but unknown to him, he ended up bringing up a topic that also hurts Ngozi’s heart. “We are off.” She replied with a sad smile. “You are joking right?” “Not at all. Its all for the best.” She said, the sad smile still on her face. “What kind of best is that?…” “Shhhhhh. We’ll talk about it later. What will you like to have? Tea? Or something edible?” She said. Just then the door into the office opened and Clement’s doctor who over the months had become his friend. The first time they met, he was the one who treated his gunshot wound, he once again treated Ngozi’s wound, she treated late Tolani(Dolapo’s friend) and also Dolapo, when she passed out as a result of shock. “Mr Clement, a certian Kelvin claims he wants to see you, can I let him in?” Doctor Kolade asked. Clement exchanged looks with Ngozi and Sylvester probably asking for what to say. “Sure.” Ngozi replied. And a minute later, five policemen led Kelvin who was cuffed both in the arm and legs into the ward. “Hey, strong chap.” He greeted stodding off towards the bed while the police officers ran after him. “Leave him, he can’t do anything.” Clement said and the policemen retreated. “I thought you had died, I learnt you dropped from heaven. How was the dive?” Kelvin asked. “I bet you don’t want to know how it was. You’ll soon be embarking on a journey to heaven.” Clement replied and closed his eyes. The thought of his only brother loosing his life is disturbing. “You know its impossible, dad will pull strings, I’ll be out before you know it.” He bragged. “Only a free man can save you. Dad is in custody.” Clement replied. Everyone in the room kept quiet, they allowed the two brothers to talk because anyone trying to interfere will only make things worse on Clement’s part. Psycologically, he is unstable. The thoughts of his father and brother going to prison or being sentenced to death is disturbing. Kelvin opened his mouth but no word came out. He wanted to scream, or even hit someone, but he couldn’t, he was dumb that moment as his eyes travelled round the room. “Ah ah! I will die afterall, but I achieved quite a lot of things. I killed my brother’s wife, I fvcked the sexy officer sitting by my right, I killed many policemen, I worked with many policemen.” He said proudly. Ngozi shifted uncomfortably on her chair. “I am prepared to die. Provided he would go with me.” He said pointing to Sylvester. “Get him out of here, he is loosing his mind.” Sylvester said nervously. “He is a mole, we worked together for quite a long time. He sold the police force out.” Kelvin said and at once he walked to the exit as if under control. Sylvester trembled as he moved backwards until his back was touching the wall. “I think I will just leave.” He stammered. “Most definitely, but first…” Ngozi replied removing the ever present pair of cuffs attached to the belt hole of her jean trouser.
