The protest going on inside the school was out of the world and the first of its kind anywhere on earth. Students of various department were moving in mass as they marched from one department to another, from one faculty to another. Final year student who were seated in the exam hall waiting for their afternoon paper had to flee when hundreds of students barged into the hall with sticks, clubs, cutlasses, daggers, and other dangerous weapons, that mere looking at them, one would pass out. The few brave ones quickly joined in the protest as they moved from faculty to faculty, offices to offices, hostels to hostels, cars to cars.
The student leading the whole protest was no other person that the popular student activist, Joe, a final year student in the law department. Even though he had tried all he could to make the protest gentle, but some aggrieved students, especially those who had in one way or the other met with Dolapo, Darasimi and the other girls who had died were venting their angers on cars as they broke the glassed, destroyed school properties, beat security men to stupour, beat lecturers beyond recognition. The whole school was in great turmoil such that no security agent could try stop or talk to them.
Joe and his own group of students were just returning from the vice chancellor’s office where about fifty students were placed in his office to ensure that he didn’t escape while other lecturers including the Deputy vice chancellor were marched from their office to the ICT complex where Darasimi was shot.
Ngozi and her team of policmen were strucked in between thousands of students who had surrounded their vehicles inside which Deoye and his gang were, either dead or at the point of death.
“Give them to us and let us punish them according to the law of the land.” The guy said and immediately, about five containers of petrol were brought forward.
“I promise you the police will do their job accordingly.” Ngozi said without coming out of the car for the fear of being mobbed. But the student had no such thing in mind, they didn’t move near the policemen, they just barricaded them, they blocked their way.
Mike had tried to use forceful means on the students, but on word was enough to make him retreat, they threatened to lynch him if he tried anything funny and he became powerless. He couldn’t take on thousands of students at a time even if he is the most powerful man in the world.
Just then Clement arrived with about twenty policemen, this is the third time he would be driving into the ICT complex in the space of one hour.
“Inspector Clement is here.” Someone screamed and surprisingly, the students gave him a space that is enough for him to walk into the open where Ngozi was stranded with others.
“I need to see the SUG president.” Clement said and his request was granted. The president came out and as Clement made to lead him out of the crowd, the popular Joe came running.
“You can’t settle things with him without the students supporting it. I represent the voice of the students, the president is on the payroll of the government.” Joe said and all the student screamed and clapped for him. The three of them walked to a secluded corner away from the crowd and they reached an agreement. Though Joe refused to support everything that was said by the president of the student union. Therefore, any conclusion reached by Clement and Joe was okay by the president.
Five minutes later they returned and Joe spoke to the students in the language which they understood and they agreed to let the police leave but if the criminals are not tried and killed in two days time, they’ll be forced to storm the police station.
“Thank you very much.” Clement screamed at the top of his voice. The students dispersed with sorrowful looks on their faces but not without warning Mike not to ever step his feet into the school until they deemed it fit to forgive him and he agreed.
******
It was late in the night when Kelvin returned home looking a bit drunk but he still had a firm grip on his thinking and could control his action. He walked into the living room and met Onome seated on a couch reading a novel. As far as he was concerned, this is the first time he would be seeing Onome seated on any of the chairs in the living room, she was always restricted to the kitchen and her small room. The closest she had ever come was sitting in the dining area while other members of the family were in the living room. But that is the least of his worries now. Onome can sleep on his bed for all he cared, but he needed to see his father and clearify some certain things.
“Welcome sir.” Onome greeted.
“Where is your boss?” He asked.
“In the study.” She replied mouth agape. She couldn’t imagine Kelvin asking after his father in that manner, the last time she checked, he was his father’s favourite and the only thing which could warrant such attitude was in case of a misunderstanding. But what misunderstanding could have led to this? I must find out. She thought as she picked the television’s remote control and reduced the sound volume to the least, the first time she is using the remote too. Kelvin bounced off towards the stairs in a bid to confront his father.
“Hope no problem sir?” She asked. He would have loved to ask her a question why people from the east loved interfering in things that doesn’t concern them, but remembering he is from that region too, he kept quiet.
“Did I tell you there is a problem?” He asked. He marched upstairs without waiting for her reply, but he was sure he heard her mumble something like she is sorry.
———-
“Kelvin, where did you put your manners? How dare you barge in into my study without any form of knocking?” Chief Obi Patrick asked.
“Dad, where did you put your dignity when you decided to indulge in dirty politics?” He asked defiantly.
“And what on earth are you lacking that made you join a terrorist group. Is it money you need that I don’t give you or what?” Chief Patrick asked his son.
“I am a terrorist because I wanted to be one and it is a lucrative job. You have no worries and you are always secured.” He replied.
“Fine. I want you out of Khal corp immediately, call Maleek and tell him you wanted out.” His father ordered. He gave a short laugh as he jumped and sat on his father’s desk.
“Dad, you know its impossible. You guys drafted the constitution of the corporation. Remember, you can only opt out when you are ready to die.” Kelvin replied. Chief Patrick knew it was impossible for his son to opt out of the corporation even if the order came from the president, he’ll have to pay with his life. The only thing that could be done is team up and achieve success together.
“So, what do you suggest we do?” He asked his son.
“There is nothing to be done, other than to keep moving as the time changes.” Kelvin replied with full confidence. It was then Chief Patrick realised how much his son sounded like the Danger-kelv he has always spoken to on phone.
“But there is a problem.” Chief Patrick said.
“What problem?” Chief Patrick took his time to explain how he saw a leftover browser on his laptop where someone was getting more information about Eagle group, a notorious group of smugglers and assassination executers in the early seventies when Nigeria first had her general election for a democratically elected president, a northerner. The Eagle group many decades later changed to Khal corp to satisfy their hunger for power.
“Rachel had everything with her. But I was able to get it off her when I visited her.” Chief Patrick concluded.
“She is on the to-be-killed list.” Kelvin said in almost a whisper.
“How sure are you that she hadn’t told anyone?” His father asked.
“That’s not the point. Whoever she told would be too afraid to come out to make an arrest. But Rachel has to die for this.” Kelvin said.
——–
Onome was standing outside Chief Patrick’s study eavesdropping father and son heated arguement now turned mind rubbing conversation. Would anyone believe that an arguement which began in a very high note and threatened to turn bloody could end up becoming a conversation where the two parties will reach a compromise?
So, Chief is the one sponsoring Khal corp? Kelvin is a member? Is she safe? But why was Rachel mentioned? Were the questions going through her mind. Even though she didn’t hear the part where Kelvin whispered about Rachel, but she heard Chief Patrick saying something about Rachel having something in her possession which he had since gotten back unknown to her(Rachel)
“I need to talk to Rachel.” She thought as she tip toed back down the stairs.
—
Rachel walked out of the bathroom to join Clement on the bed where he was working on his laptop and at the same time making calls. Since he returned and told her about the failed attack on Dolapo, she has been moody and thinking deep into the possible outcome the trauma could have on her.
“But why will the doctors sedate her?” She asked as she joined him in bed.
“You need to see her reaction when she was revived after she passed out. She wanted to run out of the hospital, probably to meet Darasimi or anybody. She was just behaving weird.” Clement replied.
“The poor girl is loosing her mind.” She added. Clement continued working on his laptop, the event of the day kept playing in his mind. How would a human being be so wicked that he had no value for a fellow human’s life? Deoye and hos goons won’t go unpunished, even if the powers that be calls for their release, he would refuse. Thank God, a human right group and the Association of Nigerian students at the National level had written a pettition to the president and the state governor of Lagos state, calling for immediate trial of the killers with welcomed development. Justice must be served, no matter who was involved.
“Who is staying with her in the hospital?” Rachel asked.
“A few of her friends that I know and trust would be spending the night with her. She is actually in a restricted ward with about ten policemen assisting the hospital security in keeping the hospital in a lockdown.” Clement explained.
“Poor girl. I would have loved to go stay with her, but my baby is still young to be exposed to the smells in the hospital.” Rachel said. Just then her phone rang. She checked the caller and realised it was Onome, her friend and councellor.
“Hello.” Rachel said.
“Hello Rachel, there is a problem o.” She said.
“What problem?” Rachel asked glancing at her husband who had stopped whatever he was doing and was looking at her intently.
“Its about Kelvin and his father.” She said in a whisper. Rachel stylishly stood up and walked out of the room with the phone pressed tightly against her ear as Onome explained all she heard to her.
“So what do you suggest I do?” Rachel asked.
“Tell your husband about it. He should be able to do something about it.” Onome said.
“Ok, thank you.” Rachel said and hung up. She wanted to cry, because the thought of what would happen if Chief Obi decided to attack her is enough reason for her to slump and die without being touched. She headed back into the room with a broken heart. She was unsure of how to explain to her husband.
“Who was that?” Clement asked. Surprisingly, he didn’t touch his laptop anymore, the moment she went out.
“Onome.” She replied.
“Okay. So what problem is she talking about?” He asked further.
“Ermmm.. Ermmm. Its about her children, they needed to pay their exam fee and she couldn’t afford it, even with all her savings.” She lied.
“Was that why you went to receive the call outside?” He asked eyeing her suspiciously.
“I felt I was disturbing you, because you stopped working when I picked the call.” She replied.
“Are you sure?” He asked.
“Yes now. Come on, stop giving me that look. Its not as if I am lying or anything.” She said hitting him playfully and the shoulder and that did the trick, he let the questions on his mind slide.
“How are you going to help her?” He asked.
“I promised to credit her account tomorrow morning.” Rachel replied. Is this the best thing to do? Lying to her husband. What does it cost her to come out clean and explain the ways of his father and brother to him? But he might hold it against her. She would just find the right time to explain to him.
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*****
Onome looked from left to right and back to front towards the balcony, when she realised the road was clear, she walked out of Chief Patrick’s private gulf club at the back of the house and tip toed towards the main house, hiding behind trees occasionally, in a bid to avoid the light from setting up on her. Just as she took the last turn out of the garden, she saw a masculine figure disappear into the house very fast and suspiciously. Without being told, she knew it was Kelvin and a right thinking human being would know that she had overheard her conversation with Rachel and a mentally stable individual who knew the kind of person Kelvin is wouldn’t take a chance by sleeping in the house that night because, one way or the other, she would open her eyes the following day in a whole new environment filled with people in white, flying and praising God.
And she remembered the last time she was there, many years ago before God sent her into the world to do her own part. She bravely walked into the house and silently made it into her room, she took all of her savings for the last three month which she hadn’t saved half and sent the other half to her twins in the village with her mother. There is no point wearing another cloth or packing her belongings with her, this would further make her escape slower and suspicious.
As she stood at the doorpost, she could see Kelvin walk into his father’s study, probably to report her and plan on the next line of action. She stolled accross the living room towards the gate.
“Where to?” A mean looking dude asked.
“I am the maid here. I need to get something outside the estate.” She replied. He had no right to restrict her movement, but he felt suspicious about her.
“Without the car?” He asked.
“I don’t know how to drive, but if you’ll be willing to drive me, then I don’t mind.” She said knowing fully well that the drivers in the compound had retired into their quarters and won’t be coming out until daybreak and the mean looking dude before her would be unwilling to take chances by driving her that night, abandoning his own duty. He pushed the gate open and Onome stepped out of the compound, for the first time in about a month.
The last time she stepped outside was the day Rachel fainted and she had to call the doctor who lived in the next compound. She began a typical Isrealites journey from Egypt to Cannaan that night as she trekked towards the gate into the estate.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
“Sweetheart, where did you spend the night yesterday?” Rachel asked. This is the first time Tobiloba would be returning home since she returned herself a few days ago.
“Have I asked you where you went for two days in just your short nightie?” He asked angrily. The look on his face showed how bitter he is about everything.
“Believe me, I went to a friends place.” She replied.
“A friend that I don’t know of? I called your friends who reside in Lagos. They all claimed not to have seen you.” He said.
“Do you know all my friends?” She asked.
“When I called Bola, she gave me Tricia’s number who inturn gave me Doyin’s number.” He explained. Her heart skipped a beat. “You passed the night with Kelvin in a hotel right?” He asked.
“How dare you accuse me of such?” She asked but her voice gave her away.
“Well, if you must know, my friend Brown, his sister was the attendant who gave you the key.” He said. She was left dumbfounded. No wonder, she was trying to figure out where she had met the lady because she resembled someone she knew. “You slept with him and now you are bringing the remains back to me.” He said as he inched closer to her and his anger took over his reasoning as he slapped her and made to start beating her.
“Baby, he ra.ped me. He molested me. Believe me this once.” She pleaded weakly. Just then the gate into the compound was yanked open forcefully bringing about absolute silence in the living room and the whole compound. A few seconds later, a sharp knock sounded on the living room door, and thanks to the darkness in the room.
“Open this door for me now?” A male voice shouted. Tobiloba managed to hide Ngozi inside the wardrobe in the visitors room before he went to open the door for the gunmen who immediately pounced on him.
“Where is your police wife?” They asked.
“She is not here.” He replied and one of the guys hit him with the butt of his gun. “She is spending the night with her friend. We have a misunderstanding last week.” He lied.
“Guys, check every nook and cranny of this house and bring the girl to me.” Their leader said and sat down.
“This is the last time I would be asking this question and I want the truth.” Hakym said and paused.
“Where is your police girlfriend?”
“I cannot lie to you people. She angrily left to her friends place since last week and I haven’t seen her.” He replied and immediately the other guys pounced on him. From the look of things, it seemed like for every word or sentences he said, he would be beaten. And he was sure that by the time these evil men are through with him he would have turned a shadow of his former self.
“Let him be for now.” Hakym ordered his men who stopped immediately but not after hitting his twice each.
“Now that my men has searched everywhere in your house with no sign of your girlfriend, what do you suggest we do to you now?” Hakym asked. Tobiloba kept quiet, so many thoughts racing through his mind. He knew he could be killed, and whats the gain dying because a woman who cheated on him? Whats the gain dying because of a woman who paid little or no attention to his thoughts or advices. Maybe he would have to tell them where she is. But what if the men decided to spare him and had planned to leave that moment, telling them where she is will mean he made them kill her if things turned out bad.
“Do you have an idea of where she keeps her things? We need a map from her.” Hakym said after a minute of silence.
“I would have given it to you if I know what you are talking about. Please what map are you saying?” Tobi asked.
“A paper map she picked inside the underground of Mr Ayo Okorie’s house.” Hajym replied. He knew it, this underground will put her in trouble and now it has finally brought trouble into their house.
“She didn’t bring anything of such into this house, maybe its in her office.” Tobi replied. Hakym thought for a while before making a final decision.
“I know she’ll come home one day and we must drop our message for her.” He said.
“You can drop it with me, I’ll deliver it.” Tobiloba said.
“You won’t be one to deliver it, but you’ll help us convey the message. Guys kill him and attach our letter on his body.” Hakym said as stood up from the three seater couch.
“Please don’t kill me. I will give the letter to her and even persuade her to bring the map to you herself.” Tobi pleaded.
“Kill him.” Hakym said with a tone of finality. One of his men corked his gun and was a few millisecond away from pulling the tirgger when they heard a feminine voice.
“Don’t.” Ngozi said as she walked into the living room. The guy refused to remove his gun off Tobiloba’s head. “I said don’t shoot him. He did nothing wrong, you are here for me. Then take me.” She said confidently. Hakym loved the way she spoke and he would have loved to flirt with her a little but time was not on his side.
“We need the map.” He said.
“Its still in Mr Ayo’s residence and it is heavilly guarded.” She replied.
“You’ll go there with one of my men while the rest of us stay here with your boyfriend. You know you can try something funny by turning his loneliness to your advantage.” Hakym began. “Don’t hesitate to press the botton on your cloth if things go wrong. Immediately we will blow off his head head.” Hakym said to his man and at the same time warned Ngozi.
“I could loose my job.” She said.
“At the count of three.” Ngozi was led out of the house by the man, a gun placed on her head, and immediately they entered the car, he cuffed her hands to the back of the passenger seat.
“Sweet baby.” The guy said starting the engine and caressing her laps in the process. He zoomed out of the compound.
–to be continued–
