ALL IN A CIRCLE Episode 120
Clement walked into the
room, he
had just finished dinner.
“Darling, are you a sleeping
already?” He asked as he hung a
towel over his shoulder and
proceeded towards the bathroom. Few
seconds later, she could hear
the sound of water running from
the bathroom. To her suprise, she
stopped hearing the running
water, she was hearing it at a
distance. Her mind seemed to be far away, she
could still remember
the look on her father-in-law’s face
when he saw her on the stairs a
few hours ago. The outline of his
face still plays clearly before her,
when he moved closer to her and said he
wasn’t convinced. Its about
time they return to their own
apartment was her conclusion. But
she still hasn’t gotten all the facts
she wanted. She still wants to get in
his study one last time before she leaves.
Her younger sister, Chidinma, a
youth corper serving in the city of
Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo state,
a state in the South-west Nigeria, a
country in West Aftrica. She’ll try and explain
what she saw in Chief
Patrick’s study, give her the
photocopied papers and pictures
of him. Keeping the secrets all
alone to herself is a burden to her
and she has been having sleepless nights, and
unless she spill it out to
someone else, she won’t be at
peace.
Chidinma seemed to be the only
reliable person close to her, she
knew Chidinma will advise her on how best to
handle the situation.
Clement would have been the best
candidate, but she knew Clement
will personally hand his father to
the police. And she is not ready to
be the cause of enemity between father and
son. She considered
Onome, but she wasn’t a member
of the family and couldn’t be
trusted that much. Finally, she felt
Kelvin would have been a lot more
helpful, but she couldn’t phatom why she
hasn’t told him anything
yet. But what was he watching on
his laptop in the afternoon? She’ll
have to find out all by herself.
She snapped out of her reverie
with a start. “Where have you been?” Clement
asked smiling.
She wanted to talk but no word
came out. She kept panting and
breadthing hard.
“What’s the matter? Have you been thinking?”
He asked placing her
head on his laps.
She turned her head to look at his
handsome face. She wanted to
smile and tell him there is no
problem but she couldn’t bring herself to
looking him in the eyes
for five seconds. She was still
feeling guilty about her short fling
with Doctor Rapheal.
Then Clement picked up his phone
and dialled a number. He spoke into the
reciever for a few minutes
before bading the person a
wonderful night rest.
“Ngozi right?” She asked playing
with the hem of her nightie.
“Yeah. She had an accident today and she is
in the hospital.” Clement
replied.
“An accident? Where? How?” She
asked, concern written all over her
face.
“She was electrocuted and smashed against
the wall today.
We went on searching a certain Mr
Ayo Okorie’s residence which was
invaded a few days ago by some of
our men.” He explained.
The name Ayo Okorie rang a bell in her head,
she wanted to ask more
question but she let them go.
“So, how is she feeling now?”
“She is much better.” He replied
kissing her forehead.
If only he would spend more time with her and
show her the love
and care that she deserved, she’ll
have no time to think about
Rapheal and his advances.
“Which hospital is she in? I may
want to say hi to her tomorrow.” She asked.
Mentioning the word hospital
reminded her that she intended
talking to her husband and
requesting for a change in hospital.
She wanted to go as far as possible away from
Doctor Rapheal’s
vicinity.
“St Battahias hospital.” He said.
“That reminds me, Doctor Raphael
sent his regards.”
Talk of devil, he even sent his regards through
her husband.
Even if Ngozi is at the point of
dying, she won’t visit her. Even if
her(Ngozi) means survival is in her
hands.
“I can’t wait for you to have my baby.” He
said changing the topic
and caressing her baby bump.
“Why?” She asked smiling. But still
not looking at his face.
“I’ll become a daddy, a proud one
at that.” He replied. She bursted into laughter.
“Wait till then. The proud father.”
She said.
“How about if we…” He said.
“If we what?” She asked, this time
she glanced at him and took her face away.
“You don’t expect me to say it, do
you?”
“How about if I sleep? Good night.”
She said carefully rolling to the
other side of the bed. “You dare not.” He said
laughing.
Don was standing at the centre of
the living room, five mean looking
guys were standing round him.
They all kept quiet as they seemed
to be going over a period of mourning. But
their faces didn’t
look sorrowful, it looked mean,
bloodshot and ready to kill.
The room was so silent that you
could hear a pin drop. The only
reoccuring sound in the living room was the
ticking sound made
by the clock. The time showed
7:52pm.
The door into one of the rooms
opened and a young girl of about
twenty-two walked out fully dressed in a pink
top and a black
jean trouser.
“You are through?” Don asked as
she approached him.
She nodded her head slowly as she
bowed to the five guys standing around the
centre table.
Don dipped his hand into his back
pocket and removed his wallet. He
counted wards of Naira notes and
handed it over to her.
“That’t ten thousand naira? Eight thousand for
the job and two for
your transport.” Don said putting
his wallet back into his pocket.
The lady smiled as she counted the
money for confirmation and slowly
kept it in her handbag. “I’ll call you once you
are needed.
Now get out of here.” Don said to
her sharply. She bowed her head
greeting the other guys again and
with one last look at Don and the
room, she walked out of the house.
The door into the room from
where the lady had come out two
minutes opened and Deoye
walked out looking handsome but
dangerous in his all black attire just like the
other five guys had done.
Only his cousin, Don was putting
on an all white attire.
He bowed his head in the manner
which the girl had done and the
five guys responded by holding their left elbow
in the palm and
bowing too. Don with a snap of his
fingers motioned him to come
forward to where he was.
“How was it? Hope she treated you
well?” He asked. Deoye nodded his head
affirmatively. He was suprised
when the girl who introduced
herself as Chelsea arrived 7pm,
about fifty five minutes ago. Don
asked him to lead her to one of the rooms and
comply with whatever
she asked him to do. He was not
only suprised, but scared when the
lady started undressing and before
he could get a grip on himself, he
was already banging the girl with reckless
abandon. The girl who
seemed to be acting on
instructions given tried as much as
possible not to make a single
sound throughout the act. She only
gave stiffled moans all through the act. At
some point, she dugged her
teeth into the only available pillow
to prevent her making noise.
Even though he enjoyed the time
with her, he wanted to ask why
she was doing that type of job, because she
was still very tight
down there and her hole had a
very firm grip on his member
despite the flowing juices which
has lubricated the walls of her
private. But time was not on his side and
moreso, he personally
doesn’t have a straight answer as
to why he joined or got involved in
cultism. But he succeeded in
getting her number and promised
to hook her up some other time. “Take this.”
Don said giving him a
plate of filled with whitish powder
and two straws. Also, on his other
hand was a bottle of five acoholic
drinks mixed together.
He wanted to question why he had to inhale
the white powder, he had
no problem with the mixed drink.
He was a reckless drinker before
hand and also a chain smoker. But
he had never inhaled cocaine in his
life. With one swift gulp, the drink was
down his throat and in two
successive deep breadth, he
inhaled the whitish powder. He
could feel his head spinning and
ringing aloud, he felt like sleeping but the
feeling only lasted a few
seconds. A minute later, he felt on
top of the world, he felt like
sleeping on fire, he felt he could
walk on broken bottle without a
cut. “Now lets get out of here.” Don
said leading them all out of the
living room with Deoye following
him closely behind.
Even if they didn’t mouth or
mention a thing about where they are headed
or what their missione
was, someone in his right frame of
mind would know they are headed
for a mission to kill. But since
Deoye is the main man being
equiped, no doubt, they are headed for the last
phase of their
campus killing. Tolani and Dolapo
are the main target.
Meanwhile Tolani is yet to say a
thing to anyone about the paper
she recieved a few hours ago in the lecture
hall.
Don was standing at the centre of
the living room, five mean looking
guys were standing round him.
They all kept quiet as they seemed
to be going over a period of mourning. But
their faces didn’t
look sorrowful, it looked mean,
bloodshot and ready to kill.
The room was so silent that you
could hear a pin drop. The only
reoccuring sound in the living room was the
ticking sound made
by the clock. The time showed
7:52pm.
The door into one of the rooms
opened and a young girl of about
twenty-two walked out fully dressed in a pink
top and a black
jean trouser.
“You are through?” Don asked as
she approached him.
She nodded her head slowly as she
bowed to the five guys standing around the
centre table.
Don dipped his hand into his back
pocket and removed his wallet. He
counted wards of Naira notes and
handed it over to her.
“That’t ten thousand naira? Eight thousand for
the job and two for
your transport.” Don said putting
his wallet back into his pocket.
The lady smiled as she counted the
money for confirmation and slowly
kept it in her handbag. “I’ll call you once you
are needed.
Now get out of here.” Don said to
her sharply. She bowed her head
greeting the other guys again and
with one last look at Don and the
room, she walked out of the house.
The door into the room from
where the lady had come out two
minutes opened and Deoye
walked out looking handsome but
dangerous in his all black attire just like the
other five guys had done.
Only his cousin, Don was putting
on an all white attire.
He bowed his head in the manner
which the girl had done and the
five guys responded by holding their left elbow
in the palm and
bowing too. Don with a snap of his
fingers motioned him to come
forward to where he was.
“How was it? Hope she treated you
well?” He asked. Deoye nodded his head
affirmatively. He was suprised
when the girl who introduced
herself as Chelsea arrived 7pm,
about fifty five minutes ago. Don
asked him to lead her to one of the rooms and
comply with whatever
she asked him to do. He was not
only suprised, but scared when the
lady started undressing and before
he could get a grip on himself, he
was already banging the girl with reckless
abandon. The girl who
seemed to be acting on
instructions given tried as much as
possible not to make a single
sound throughout the act. She only
gave stiffled moans all through the act. At
some point, she dugged her
teeth into the only available pillow
to prevent her making noise.
Even though he enjoyed the time
with her, he wanted to ask why
she was doing that type of job, because she
was still very tight
down there and her hole had a
very firm grip on his member
despite the flowing juices which
has lubricated the walls of her
private. But time was not on his side and
moreso, he personally
doesn’t have a straight answer as
to why he joined or got involved in
cultism. But he succeeded in
getting her number and promised
to hook her up some other time. “Take this.”
Don said giving him a
plate of filled with whitish powder
and two straws. Also, on his other
hand was a bottle of five acoholic
drinks mixed together.
He wanted to question why he had to inhale
the white powder, he had
no problem with the mixed drink.
He was a reckless drinker before
hand and also a chain smoker. But
he had never inhaled cocaine in his
life. With one swift gulp, the drink was
down his throat and in two
successive deep breadth, he
inhaled the whitish powder. He
could feel his head spinning and
ringing aloud, he felt like sleeping but the
feeling only lasted a few
seconds. A minute later, he felt on
top of the world, he felt like
sleeping on fire, he felt he could
walk on broken bottle without a
cut. “Now lets get out of here.” Don
said leading them all out of the
living room with Deoye following
him closely behind.
Even if they didn’t mouth or
mention a thing about where they are headed
or what their missione
was, someone in his right frame of
mind would know they are headed
for a mission to kill. But since
Deoye is the main man being
equiped, no doubt, they are headed for the last
phase of their
campus killing. Tolani and Dolapo
are the main target.
Meanwhile Tolani is yet to say a
thing to anyone about the paper
she recieved a few hours ago in the lecture
hall.
Darasimi announced her
departure.
“I thought you’ll be sleeping over.”
Tolani said.
“Yes, I wanted to but I am travelling
tomorrow.” Darasimi
replied.
“Travelling to where?” Tolani
asked.
Dolapo was nowhere in the room.
She was probably in the bathroom taking her
bath.
“Osogbo. My dad wants me home.
But I’ll be back by Sunday to get
prepared for my exams on
Monday.” She explained.
Then Dolapo walked into the room dripping
wet with a towel tied
around her body.
“Who is coming back on Sunday?”
She asked picking up her nightie
from her own compartment in the
wardrobe. “Dara is travelling home.” Tola
replied.
Dolapo kept mute and continued
pulled the night gown over her
head. She straightened the hem
that it stood below her knee. “Don’t tell me
you are leaving.”
“I am leaving.” Darasimi replied.
This time, all set and ready to leave.
“Don’t you think it is late? Moreso,
you can get back to your hostel
before seven tomorrow and leave for the park.
Why not sleep over.”
Dolapo said persuasively.
She was half afraid of being
attacked on the way, even though
a few students were still walking
around, those returning from library, those
going for night
classes, those going to town for
their daily business, those
returning or just going to a nearby
canteen or restaurant for their
dinner. “I have some packings to do. You
guys shouldn’t bother seeing me
off.” Darasimi replied.
Tola exchanged a ‘lets do it’ look
and they both stood up.
“You won’t pass through the school gate. Lets
take the shortcut,
that Tinubu hall.” Tolani explained.
She hesitated for a while but her
friends were adamant, therefore
she gave in after a series of
argument. “This nightie is transparent right?”
Dolapo asked her friends.
“I can see through it. What is this?”
Tola asked pointing to her chest.
“Ask yourself, shebi you have it
too.” Dolapo replied. The three friends laughed
before
Dolapo got herself a small jacket
and wore a tight beneath the
nightie.
The three friends all got outside the
gate and took the right turning towards
Tinubu in silence.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Don, drove into the school through
the west gate, different from the
main gate where they took the last
time. “Why not drive in through the first
gate?” Deoye asked. This time he
could control his lips, he could
control what he was saying. But his
brain seems to be under influence
of something he couldn’t fathom. He knew he
had to do something,
he was ready to do anything. But
his emotion is rushing back, but he
won’t let that control him or what
he had to do.
“You know, we won’t be able to see their
hostel from here.”
Another gave a reason why they
should drive in through the main
gate.
“I understand what you all meant,
but this place gives us a better escape. We’ll
park behind Tinubu
hostel and Deoye can use his legs
for the remaining distance.” Don
explained.
They all reasoned with him and
applauded his suggestion. Even if they can’t
really call what they do a
job, his wealth of experience has
been a plus for the group over the
years, since he took the leadership
role two years ago.
He brought the car to a halt behind the fence
of the popular Tinubu
hostel and started dishing out
instructions.
++++++
Tola and Dolapo had succeded in
seeing Darasimi off to where she boarded a
cab to her lodge. Its
now the two sisters walking in the
silent night.
Dolapo wanted to bring up a
conversation because the silence
alone is the reason why she was afraid
because she kept picturing
ugly attacks against them as they
walked on. Tolani on the other
hand loved the silence, she was
afraid of an enemy hearing their
voice if they say something. But how long can
they keep mute in
the five minute journey.
“Awww!.” Tola winced in pain. She
had hit her leg on a very big stick
lying on the floor.
“Sorry.” Dolapo said. Tola picked up the stick
and they
both continued walking.
“What do you intend using the
stick for?” Dolapo asked.
“So another person won’t fall
victim of hitting their legs against it. I’ll just
drop it off into a bush or by
the roadside.” She replied.
Always wanting to protect
someone else. The verse in the
bible which says “Be your
brother’s keeper,” if written as “Be your sister’s
keeper’ Tolani is
adhering to the biblical advice.
Tola used that opportunity to
explain what went down in class in
the afternoon, how she recieved
the note and went after the guy only to see
him drving off, but she
wrote the number plate.
“Tola, so you are this dangerous?
You can kill someone o. You mean
you recieved a life threatening note
and you kept quiet?” Dolapo screamed.
“Don’t make noise. I couldn’t trust
Darasimi to that extent.”
“Are you with your phone?”
Dolapo asked.
Tolani shook her head in the negative.
“We’ll call Inspector Clement once
we get to the room.” Dolapo said
ALL IN A CIRCLE Episode 121
Clement drove toward the Lagos
state University teaching hospital
(LUTH) with total recklessness and
carelessness. Even though he was
a law enforecer, he found himself breaking the
law. He felt he has a
role to play in the safety of the girls
even though someone else is
overseeing the case and another
policeman keeping watchful eyes
on them. Hearing that one of them was shot is
a reason for him to
leave where ever he was, even if it
was at the dead of the night.
He once drove his wife and
gateman to the hospital around
1am in the morning, and the time just said
9:02pm, he saw no reason
why he shouldn’t drive to the
hospital. He has called Mike and the
so called Robert who was
expected to keep watch over the
girls. He was almost sleeping when his
phone rang, it was quite unusual
of him to make calls after returning
from work, his beautiful wife was
sleeping on the bed while he was
finding out some things about Khal corp. His
wife didn’t know where
he went to, and he was quite sure
that she’ll be dead worried by the
time he returned from the hospital.
++++++++
Dolapo was outside in the waiting room crying
profusely, Tolani’s
parents had since arrived and were
with one of the doctors while
Tola’s boyfriend was consoling
Dolapo, telling her everything will
be fine. “Jide, Tolani sacrficed her life for
my safety.” She said to him.
Jide was his name.
“She’ll be fine, that should be our
prayer point.” He said.
He was suprised as his own consoling ability,
because he was
the shy type that talking to a lady
was the most difficult task for him.
How he asked Tolani out was still a
mystery to him and his friends.
Everyone knew they were best of friends, he
loved her and she loved
him. He wanted to date her but the
fear of being rejected and loosing
his only friend was the reason why
he friend zoned himself. Tolani on
the other hand was head over heel in love with
him but the African
mentality that a man should always
make the first move made her
suffer in silence as her heart yearn
for his love. Just fresh from an
heartbreak then, he managed to ask her out
one faithful night, at a
friend’s birthday bash. Over two
years now they have been
together and they planned of
tieing the knot after their service
year. Now, evverything seemed
impossible, even though he
assured himself that she’ll be fine.
He was not that convinced.
Darasimi was seated on the floor at
the far end of the waiting room, her knees
were held high up
against her chest as she weeped
silently.
She knew it is only in a matter of
hours when she’ll arrested for
questioning by the police. She was being
watched for almost two
weeks and no one was killed or
attacked. Just today that she was
released, one of her friends was
shot a few minutes after they
parted. She wanted to console Dolapo, but
she realised that she needed to be
consoled herself. No doubt she
would fail her final exam. Not with
all the happenings around will she
pass the exam. Inspector Clement barged into
the
waiting room still dressed in his
pyjamas.
“Dolapo, how did it happen?” He
asked.
On seeing him, Dolapo bursted into another
round of wailing as if his
presence fueled her cries.
“Aunty, you are disturbing other
patients.” One of the nurses said
rudely.
“You must be very silly for saying that. You
should learn to talk to
people in subtle manners. She is
emotionally down and as a nurse,
you ought to know what to do. Or
what to say.” Clement said angrily,
not minding the crudity of his words or how
vulgar they sound.
The nurse hissed angrily and was
humming.
“You said you already called her
parents. Where are they?” Clement
asked. “They are in with the doctor.” Jide
replied.
Clement opted to go and see the
doctor to be sure of the situation of
things. Just then he met them at the
doorway. “Doctor Kolade.” Clement said
greeting the doctor. He was the
one who treated him when he was
shot at Mr Ayo Okorie’s residence.
“Inspector Clement. What are you
doing here? How is your arm?” Doctor Kolade
asked.
Clement decided to let the question
go by. He faced the two elderly
couples standing beside the
doctor.
“Are you…?” He asked immediately he noticed
the sharp resemblence
between Tolani and the woman.
“Tolani’s parents.” Her father
replied while her mother bursted
into tears.
It was now a game of crying, Dolapo was
crying, Darasimi cried
to God asking why she has to be
connected to these deaths one
way or the other. Tolani’s mother
was crying, no one would want to
loose an only daughter. The men were busy
consoling the weaker
vessels, the women.
Jide himself was shedding tears
but he had to hide it and be brave.
She was lost in her own thoughts
thinking and imagining how life
would be without Tolani in it. She
once asked herself how life would
be after they had graduated. She won’t mind
being posted to serve
in the same state and if possible,
the same place of primary
assignment. Her life after service
would be miserable, how she
wished they could just live in the same
apartment as spinsters. And
when they eventually get married,
they should be neighbours.
If wishes were horses, beggers
would ride. But now that wishes
were far from being horses, there is nothing
anybody can do to
change it.
It wasn’t as if Tolani was her best
friend, but the event of the lst
couple of months and weeks has
made her sought friendship in Tolani. Her best
friend and sister,
Dayo was the first to be killed by
Deoye a few days after Hadiza,
Deoye’s girlfriend was killed at a
party. Everyone believed Deoye
was paying them back because they
convinced her to follow them
to that party where she met her
death. Even though she was not a
fan of such concluded thoughts.
She still considered everything a
coincidence. After Dayo’s death, Chioma took
it
upon herself to protect the girls
and give them a shoulder to cry on.
Just when they were all about
moving on, Chioma was killed.
Tolani took it upon herself to be there for
Dolapo, the weakest of
the five girls in terms of emotion.
Just when the two girls were
moving on and looking forward to
the day they’ll officially sign out of
the school as students, that day when their
final paper shall be
written. Two days before the first
paper, Tolani was shot.
What will become of her? Will
Tolani die?
—– Doctor Kolade walked into the
waiting room with saturated eyes.
“Doctor. How is she?” Dolapo
asked.
“Am sorry, we tried all we could
but we lost her.” Doctor Kolade replied just
like every other doctors
would say. It seemed that sentence
was what they were taught to use
if they ever began practicing.
“You did what?” She asked.
Then Tolani’s parent walked out smiling like
they had just won a
lottery. She was suprised, Doctor
Kolade who was not related to
Tolani was crying while her
parents were smiling.
“Daddy, Mummy, is it true?” She asked
Tolani’s parent going on her
knees and ready to faint.
Tolani’s father smiled.
“It is true, God wants her back
that’s it. We should be thankful to
God.” He said still smiling. Something is not
just right. The
affected people were smiling, the
unaffected person was crying.
“Where is Inspector Clement?” She
asked.
“Oh! That man? He is taking her to heaven.”
Tolani’s mother replied.
And that seemed silly, who goes to
heaven and comes back?
—–
“Dolapo.” Someone shook him
vigorously. She snapped out of her revierie
and came face to face with the
three people she saw in her dream
in the same waiting room.
“It is not safe for you to live in your
hostel, at least for now. I don’t know if you’ll
accept passing the
night in my place.” Clement said.
The three adults in her dream
nodded their head.
“Where is Darasimi and Jide?” She
asked. “I asked them to leave.” Clement
replied.
Her eyes darted towards the wall
clock. 10:56pm.
Clement conversed with the doctor
for a few minutes before he bade him
goodnight with the promise of
stopping by the following
morning. He greeted Tolani’s
parent too, before he led Dolapo to
his car downstairs.
“How is Tolani?” Dolapo asked. “She’ll be
fine.” Clement replied
trying not to sound nervous.
Doctor Kolade already told him
somethings that he was yet to tell
Tolani’s parents or anybody else.
“She’ll be fine or she is fine?” Dolapo asked
applying the seat
belt.
“She’ll be fine. You know, you
wasted time before bringing her
here and therefore she lost a lot of
blood.” Clement explained. “I can donate my
blood if there is a
need for transfusion to be done.”
Dolapo said.
Clement ignored her and ignited
the car, he slowly drove out of the
hospital casting occassional glances at
Dolapo who cried the
whole journey home. He would
occassionally hold her hands with
his right hand as he drove on with
his left hand.
Dolapo didn’t stop crying, but everytime he
held her hand, she
always felt relaxed only to resume
crying immediately he removes his
hand.
Clement parked his car in front of
the gate and took a few steps
towards the iron gate. In a bid not
to wake the sleeping neighbours,
he decided not to use the horn. He knocked on
the gate gently.
“Who be that?” Akpan asked from
inside.
“Akpan, na me.” He replied.
“Who you be? Who be ‘me’?”
Akpan asked. He unlocked the pedestrian gate
and came face to face with his
boss.
“Oga, so na you?” He asked beads
of sweat already forming on his
forehead. Clement knew something was not
right but he didn’t ask any
question.
“Open the gate.” He said as he
walked back to his car.
He stopped in his tracks when he heard a
voice, a feminine voice to
be preicise from inside Akpan’s
house.
“Baby who is disturbing you
outside?” The voice asked.
Akpan cursed under his breadth. “silly girl, na
my oga o. You got me
fired.” Akpan shouted as her.
Clement could hear scramblings
from inside the house but he
ignored them and entered his car.
He drove in. A young girl of about twenty
years
quickly came out to face with
Clement.
“Where are you going?” He asked.
The lady froze in fear as she moved
backwards. “I am going home.” She replied.
“Was that you initial plan?” He
asked gently as Akpan ignored
them and busied himself with
locking and unlocking the
padlocks on the gate. Dolapo who was already
out of the
car was laughing as she enjoyed
Akpan’s little showings.
“I believed you had plans of
passing the night here. Or even
spending the weekend.” He continued pointing
to the bag she
clutched to her chest.
The lady nodded in the affirmative.
“I am not sending you away. Its
late already, you can leave in the
morning.” He said as he beckoned on Dolapo
who followed him.
“Akpan.” He called.
With a start, Akpan rushed to
where he was and knelt down
before him.
“I can see we need to change those padlocks.”
He said pointing
towards the gate.
Akpan wanted to say something,
but he found himself smiling
because his boss was smiling too.
“See you in the morning.” Clement said and
walked away with
Dolapo.
Akpan wanted to scream happily
but he knew his boss hated noise
or jubilation. Like he would always
say, do not celebrate until you have achieved
your long time goal.
“Your boss is a very nice person.
Who is that girl? His wife?” The lady
asked opening the door into
akpan’s house.
“No o. Not his wife. I don’t know her.” Akpan
replied.
“No wonder.” The girl said.
“What? See, my oga is not that kind
of person. I trust him with my life.”
Akpan said pushing the girl inside.
+++++++++ “What will you like to eat?”
Clement
asked her.
Dolapo was busy looking around
the colourful living room with
fascination.
“Is that your wife?” She asked pointing to a
photographic frame
that stood on top of the small shelf
which house the dvd.
“Yeah. Rachel is her name.” He
replied.
“She is beautiful.” Clement smiled as he
helped
himself with a glass of water.
“What will you like to have?” He
asked once again.
“I’ll be fine. I only need to sleep.”
She replied even though she knew she was
going to be sleep eluded.
They said their goodnights after
Clement had shown her the
kitchen in case she needed
anything, he led her to the visitor’s
room and showed her the bathroom and toilet
attached. He
went to his own seperate room to
sleep.
——
As she laid down on the bed trying
to find sleep, she couldn’t find any. She turned
to the other side of the
bed, hoping to catch some sleep,
but nothing seemed to be
forthcoming.
She closed her eyes trying to force
herself to sleep. But all she saw was red, she
saw blood
everywhere. The bed was blood
soaked, the room looked like a
pool filled with blood.
She kept awake all through the
night, even though she didn’t know when she
was swept off her
feet by the strong arms of sleep.
ALL IN A CIRCLE Episode 122
Clement woke up early the next
morning and after checking on
Dolapo and seeing her still sleeping
soundly. He shut the door into her
room and scribbled down a note
for her. As much as he wanted to cook for her,
time was not on his
side. He managed to describe
where she could find cooking
utensils and foodstuffs.
He dropped three different clothes
which he guessed will fit perfectly into her
frame. He left a last
instruction with Akpan, to drive
her to the hospital if she insisted on
going.
On his way, he branched at a
nearby restaurant and grabbed a plate of rice
which he intended to
eat as soon as he reached the
office.
He knew he had so many places to
go, first, he promised Ngozi a visit
this morning, he promised to check on Tolani
and he was yet to call his
wife or anybody in his father’s
house.
He decided to call Rachel when he
gets to St Battahias private hospital
where Ngozi was admitted. After spending
close to five minutes with
her, he left with a promise of
checking on her in the afternoon
before she was discharged. Then
he proceeded to LUTH where
Tolani was lying in a critical condition.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dolapo woke up and saw the note
beside her on the bed. She read it
and proceeded to clean her mouth
and take her bath. She wanted to visit Tolani
before any other thing,
but the worms in her stomach
warned her against it.
She walked into the ktchen to
prepare herself breakfast.
“Who is in there?” A voice asked her from
outside the kitchen
window. She knew it was Akpan.
“Its me.” She replied peeping
through the window so he can see
her face.
“Sorry. Good morning.” He said. “Good
morning sir.” She replied.
Akpan went about doing his
duties. But she felt the urge to ask
him a question.
She walked out of the kitchen and
headed outside to talk to him. “Excuse me sir.”
She said to Akpan
who was putting his bedsheet on
the clothing line at the back of the
house.
“Yes?”
“What will you like to have for breakfast? Or
do you cook in your
house?” She asked.
Akpan smiled. Everything about
this girl is matured. Just like Oga
madam(Rachel)
“I actually do cook in my office there.” He said
smiling. “But if Oga
madam is around, I am sure of
getting a plate of whatever they eat
inside the house.” He explained.
“So have you prepared what you’ll
eat this morning?” She asked. “No. I don’t eat
until eleven in the
morning.” He replied.
“I will cook rice, then I’ll dish some
for you. Hope you don’t mind?”
He expressed his gratitude and she
walked inside. Even though she planned to
make
tea for herself, but now she has to
prepare rice for the gateman.
She went to the living room and
was watching a film on an
American movie channel. She seemed to be
enjoying the film, but
she needed company, she needed
someone to talk to. She stood up
and walked towards Akpan’s
house. She knocked on the door.
“Please I need your help.” She said. “My help?
How may I be of help to
you?” He asked.
“I am feeling lonely and I want you
to keep my company.” She said
pleadingly.
“Which film are you watching? Spartacus?” He
asked.
She knew it, his perverted self can’t
be hidded. She told him the title but
he refused to go with her saying
he won’t want a situation where
Oga Madam will be shouting on him.
“See, I can’t go in with you. If you
are ready to go to the hospital, call
me so I can drive you down there.”
He said walking into his small
house. She walked back into the house
and proceeded to remove the pot
of rice from fire. She dished it into
two plates and proceeded to
making tea.
Akpan came in a few minutes later and left
with his food. She couldn’t
explain how this happened, the
mug in which she made the tea
dropped and shattered into pieces.
Even though, she doesn’t believe in
superstitions, she concluded that something is
wrong. Her mind
immediately darted to the hospital
where her friend was.
She couldn’t eat her food as she
troubled Akpan to finish up with
his food and drive her straight to the hospital.
Clement was getting ready for a
double header questioning
session. First he had to see
Scorpion and get addresses of
where Deoye could be from him and then
proceed to the hidden
cell behind the station where
Viktor was being kept. And since
he wanted amnesty, he is ready to
change the colour of his skin.
It is only in America where the impossible
becomes possible, a
terrorist who has killed thousands
of your citizens with one
dangerous weapon. You
eventually arrest him and he
decided to play a fast one on them. He trades
his weapon for his
release, they’ll get the weapon
from him and keep it in their
museum, then fufill their own part
of the signed agreement by
releasing him and flying him out of America.
They forgot the adage
which says, “once a soldier, is
always a soldier.” Sooner or later,
the terrorist will develop another of
such weapon and gather a new
team in the new country he now lives in. He
might not not go back
to America, he’ll then travel down
to Africa where he can display his
spirited expertise in weaponry
without being caught. Simply
because Africa is thousand miles apart from
America and other
Western countries when it comes
to security expertise. Which is why
we still seek aid from them.
Such was the case when Abdul
Maleek, a top official in a terrorist group in
America a decade ago, he
was nabbed alongside his
comrades and the Amereican
government decided to release
each of them to their respective
home government. Maleek was sent to Sudan,
his native country
and was sentenced to a life
imprisonment. He broke free after
six years, then smuggled his way
into Nigeria and became a
household name. The office in which he was
seated
was empty, his neighbours were all
not on sit, Mike was in Ibadan
facing a panel of top police officers,
Ngozi in the hospital, Habeeb
questioning the fifteen cultists arrested in
LASU a few days back.
The two other officers who
occupies the two empty chairs
were at a checkpoint or the other
searching every vehicle that passes
the route. He picked his paper and headed
for Scorpion’s cell.
“Good morning sir.” Scorpion
greeted.
He ignored him as he sat down
before him and uncuffed his two hands. He
slipped a pen between
his fingers.
“Give me the addresses of
everyone connected to Deoye. All
of them.” He said without smiling.
Looking at Scorpion’s face alone was
multiplying his rage, the sad
news he heard this morning was
enough to kill his mood, yet, he
was sitting face to face with one of
the people who was responsible
for the killing of the innocent girls. Scorpion
knew his loyalty to Deoye
had brought him to the end of the
road, he decided to do everything
within his power to make sure
Deoye was arrested. He wrote five
different addresses. Two in lagos, one of his
cousins
who studies at Yabatech and his
other cousin, Don who lived in his
own apartment downtown. One
address in Ibadan, Deoye’s elder
sister who was married with kids. The other
two were his parent’s
house in Minna, Niger state and his
uncle’s house.
“I’ll be back. But first, I have to
work on this addresses.” He said as
he cuffed his hands and walked out.
Immediately he started calling
distric police stations in Lagos,
while he called the Headquarters at
Ibadan and Minna.
+++++++++
He unlocked the iron bars and walked into the
cell. He click the
switch and the light flikered on,
illuminating the dark room.
Viktor raised his head up on
sighting Clement.
“How do you do?” He asked. Viktor looked at
him in
astonishment, he was a criminal
and he knew it. Why was he asking
how he was?
“Are you here with my amnesty
papers?” Viktor asked. “The presidency is
working on it,
but first, you have to help us. Give
me the names of the top officials
working for Maleek.”
Viktor smiled.
“I am no longer a member of the corp. But
before I left, Meleek was
the boss which we all know, he
has ten council of chiefs members,
no one knows who they are. There
is a certain Hakym, the head of
strategies, and another guy called Daner-kelv.
He goes by the name
Kelvin.” Viktor explained.
“Why did you leave the corp? The
ten men you mentioned, are they
always on mask like Maleek? Why
is it that you don’t know their names?”
Clement asked.
“I will only answer your question if
you go one question at a time.
Understood?”
ALL IN A CIRCLE Episode 123
There was a knock on the door.
Everyone in the room kept quiet
immediately and waited for
another knock to sound on the
door. “Who is there?” Don asked.
“Its me, the doctor.” A male voice
replied sharply.
“Go and get him.” Don said to one
of his boys who approached the
front door, and with one swift yank, the door
was opened. Doctor
Rapheal stepped into the room
holding a briefcase.
“Welcome Doctor.” Don said as he
rose up to greet the young medical
doctor. Rapheal smiled as he dropped the
briefcase on the table and looked
around the room for his patient.
“Where is he?” Doctor Rapheal
asked.
“Youshould at least grab a drink before
setting to work.” Don said.
“Nah, I had to put a student doctor
in my office. I have less than one
hour to spare. Take me to where
ever he is.” Rapheal replied.
Don snapped his finger and two boys
disappeared into one of the
rooms. They returned a few
seconds later carrying a stretcher
on which Deoye lay.
“What did you give him?” Rapheal
asked immediately he was dropped on the
floor. He wore his
gloves and set to work without
delay.
“The same dose was what I gave
him. Just the way you advised me
to use it on any on them” Don explained.
“Its over a month since any of your
boys was hit. Yesterday’s outing
must really be tight.” Rapheal said
cleaning the cut sustained from the
impact of the gunshot. Deoye stirred and
winced in pain.
“You didn’t sedate this guy. Did
you?” Raph asked.
“I did.”
“You only gave him the pain killer,
but the sedative drug was not added. I mean
that yellow liquid in
that glass jar.”
“It has finished. But he slep nau.”
Don pointed out.
“Yes, he’ll sleep. You know, there is
a little amount of sedatives inside a pain
relieving drug. Once you are
relieved, you fall asleep, but only a
full dose can make him feel
alright.” Rapheal explained.
“So, what’s going to happen
now?” One of Don’s boys asked. “I’ll remove
the bullet and get the
wound dressed. He’ll be fine in a
matter of days. Lets just hope, his
vein wasn’t affected.” Rapheal said
opening the suitcase and removing
all manners of instruments. “What if his vein
was affected?”
Don asked.
“He’ll have to visit the hospital.” He
replied.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Isabella has been in the kitchen right from the
time they arrived
from Sandra’s house. All efforts to
bring Frank back to his normal self
proved abortive.
She dropped the pot on the
kitchen table and proceeded to wake her
boyfriend before any
other thing. She walked into the
room and was suprised to meet
him awake.
“Sweety.” She said.
“Good morning.” Frank replied looking away.
She joined him in bed and held his
hand.
“Baby, look at me.” Isabella said.
Frank turned to face her and
waited for her to say whatever she wanted to
say.
“Breakfast is ready.” She said.
“I am not hungry.” He replied
sharply like he has been reharsing
that particular phrase all night.
“Starving yourself won’t solve this issue. You
need to talk to Sandra.
Make her reason with you that it is
impossible for you to do such thing
to her. Why would you? What do
you stand to gain? Is it the money
or what?” Frank kept quiet and was looking
at her without blinking away.
“According to the story you told
me. She sponsored your education
up to the university level, she got
you a job to work for her. She got you your
first car, rented this
apartment for you. What else do
you want? Just talk to her, I believe
she’ll listen.” She continued.
“The most painful thing is that
Sandra didn’t believe me. Even if she caught
me in the act, she ought
to ask if it was me or someone
else.” Frank said bitterly.
“Stop being childish. Learn to trust
no body. Trust yourself and
nobody else.” A knock sounded on the front
door outside.
“Who could that be?” Isabella
asked.
“Maybe, its the neighnour’s door.”
He replied. But when the knock sounded
again, Frank stood up and went to
the living room to open the
entrance door. Isabella was on his
chase.
“Good morning sir.” A postman greeted.
“Good morning.” Frank replied.
“Is this Mr Frank’s apartment?” He
asked.
“Yeah.” Frank replied.
“You have a letter.” Frank wanted to laugh at
the
postman’s reply. Do we still have a
functioning postal system in this
country, even if we do, you’ll
recieve your letter after a month.
He collected the envelope and signed some
form. The name
written on the envelope as the
addresee increased his heartbeat.
****
All through breakfast, Rachel
couldn’t look at her father-in-law
in the eyes. Everytime their eyes
met, she was quick to face her
food. It wasn’t like she was feeling guilty, but
she was getting afraid of
the man.
Kelvin was seated on the left side
of the dinning table and Chief
Patrick opposite her.
All she wanted to do was to eat and get out of
the dinning room.
She just can’t wait to see her kid
sister in town. She had called her
the previous week and made her
promise that she’ll be in town
today, being saturday and she’ll leave on
Sunday to resume in her
place of primary assignment.
“Dad, when is the party primary?”
Kelvin asked.
“In two months.” Chief Patrick
replied. “Who are you drumming your
support for? Do you have a Lagos
gubernatorial candidate? What
about in our hometown, Ebonyi?”
Kelvin continued.
“I am just a political observer at the highest
level. As a Board of Trustee
member, we are to make sure that
the president returns to office.” His
father replied.
“But dad, I have been thinking
about this. You as a politician, you ought to
have a son in the game,
so that the name Obi Patrick can be
on for a long time.” Kelvin said.
Chief Patrick laughed.
“So, will you join me in the league?
I can assure you of a local government
chairmanship slot for
a start.” His father asked.
“We both know I am not a political
person. Why not try Clement?”
“That one? He loves his job more
than anything. He can’t do politics.” Chief
Patrick replied.
“We can make Rachel talk to him.”
Kelvin enthused.
Rachel who has been
eavesdropping on their
conversation was grateful for being sidelined.
Her cutlery fell
onto the ground immediately she
heard her name.
“Sorry.” She said bending down to
pick the cutleries on the floor.
“No, don’t.” Chief Patrick said and she froze.
“A pregnant woman isn’t allowed
to bend down. It is not good for
the baby.” He explained.
“Onome, get me a fork and a
knife.” Kelvin bellowed. Onomen walked into
the dinning
from the kitchen adjacent to it.
“Here it is sir.” Onome said.
“Give it to her.”
Onome gave the cutleries to her
and walked out of the dinning without saying
a word.
“I’ll just go to bed.” She was
starting to feel dizzy.
Kelvin and his father exchanged
looks.
“What’s wrong with you?” Kelvin asked.
“Maybe, Onome’s presence
neausates her.” Chief Patrick
replied.
Rachel wanted to defend Onome
but she decided to keep mute. “From this
moment, Onome, you
have to stay clear of my daughter-
in-law. Okay?” Chief Patrick
bellowed.
“Okay sir.” Said a fallen voice from
the kitchen. Sitting and eating in the midst of
enemies can be killing at times. She
thought about Kelvin’s advice to
his father, that Clement should join
politics. Why not him?
Kelvin smiled at her acting prowess. She
stylishly dodged his
question by suddenly feeling dizzy
and sick. But unknown to her, he
was only trying to save his brother
from the pain of loosing close
relative while he was still a police. The
corporation are after him and
his wife. And as far as he is still a
policeman, he will always be on the
corporation’s rader.
How he wished he could just talk
to either of them and make them reason with
him without telling
them he worked with Khal corp.
The rest of the breakfast went with
little or no conversation with his
father. He retired into his room
after he meal as he prepared to visit Sandra
that morning.
His ringing phone caught his
attention. It was an unknown
number.
“Hello.” He said.
“Kelvin, its me Ngozi.” “Oh! Good morning.”
“I am in the hospital and I needed
someone to keep my company.”
She said.
“Send the address to my phone. I’ll
be there in a jiffy.” He quickly rushed to the
bathroom.
He was not concerned about her
being in the hospital, he just
wanted to be with her. She being
bored meant she was alone,
therefore, he’ll have all the time in the world
to tell her how he felt
about her.
ALL IN A CIRCLE Episode 118
#OpraDre
To be continued
