Delayed Diagnosis Episode 13

Delayed Diagnosis Episode 13
Written by Kingsley Olanrewaju Efughi

“I’m assuming you know nothing then..But I’m sorry. There can be no loose ends”
Andy’s mouth fell open and I knew what was happening. I threw myself at the open door crushing whoever stood at the other end.
Andy stood rooted to the spot while I opened the door and dragged the person inside.
I saw the gun on the floor just as I had feared.
“Get the gun and lock the door” I hissed at Andy who was watching everything with his eyes wide in shock. He hurried to get the gun and shut his door.
“Oba there is a car outside and I think there’s someone inside”
I had been dragging the gunman by his dreadlocks and giving him the occasional kick when he protested. I planned to tie him up to one of the chairs at the dining table.
What Andy said made me panic..another one?
“Did he see what happened?”
Andy went to the window and peeped outside.
“I’m not sure..he is just sitting in the car”
“Okay…get me something to tie this guy”

Andy looked at me…”Oba..I wanted to blame you for this..you seem to attract violence but…this man mentioned my wife…what is going on?”
I dared not remind him of Mona’s demise..not when he still held the gun in his hand.
“Andy we will find out out soon enough but first get something to tie him up and please drop the gun”
He looked at me for seconds and I could tell he was getting worried. “Rex where is Mona”
“Give me the gun first”
The gun man had began to struggle and I walked over to Andy and took the gun from him. He didn’t struggle, just sat down and put his head in his hands and I knew he was beginning to believe me.
The gunman was looking at me. His face was contorted in pain and he kept on holding his wrist. The door had closed on his wrist when I had slammed it and I guessed it must have dislocated it.

I smacked him on the head with the gun then looked around.. nothing like a rope suitable for tying and I feared his partner would come to check up on him any moment.
“Andy..Andy!”
He snapped his head up.
“I need you to focus..watch over this man..keep him in place..I need to go through your kitchen door and get his partner..once I get him we will get all the answers we need I promise.Hold this gun.” I handed it to him.
“Just keep it pointed..I’d be back now..”
He took the gun and pointed it at the man and I wondered if giving him a loaded weapon was wise but there was no time to think it through.
I hurried to the kitchen then grabbed the pestle from its position.
I opened the back door carefully then tiptoed round the corner.
I could see the car. The driver had left the engine running and I could see the brake light on.
I could also see the red light of his cigarette reflected in the side mirror.
It would take me about 15 steps to get the car and I wondered if he could see my reflection from the side mirror. I didn’t think so..my shirt was a dull colour but if he saw me I had to be fast enough.
I quickened my pace and my luck held because I got to the car and the man remained unaware, blowing smoke outside.
I could see him check his wrist for the time then look towards the house.
Without thinking too much I smashed the pestle to the side of his head. I tried to moderate the force since his window was already down to enable the smoke escape.
But I feared I had used too much force.
Hope I didn’t kill him…God..I’m not ready to kill a man!
And what will it matter..you indirectly killed Mona and Fome by calling strange eyes and releasing the gas from the cylinder! the all too clear voice in my head reasoned.
That was the worst part.. The part I found hard to believe..that I could be responsible for their deaths.
I pushed down the voice then dragged the unconscious body to the house.
He was quite fat and it took me twice as long as it should have.
The door was locked and I knocked while looking around nervously.

“Who is that”
“Andy for Gods sake open the door”
He opened it and I dragged the unconscious body in.
Andy shut the door. “You know he is bleeding sha”
I looked down at the trail of blood that was following him..coming from his ear.
Andys voice had changed

And he sounded reserved.
For a moment I feared he had killed the man I told him to watch but when I checked, the gun man was still how I had left him..with his head lolled to one side.
I searched the bleeding man who was unconscious but his pockets were empty..was it possible I had miscalculated?
I gave Andy the pestle then retrieved the gun from him.
“Oba…talk to me..is Mona dead?”
“Yes she is..she and Fome” better to be direct.
He said nothing. He walked out of the kitchen and I wondered what he was going to do.
I felt the pulse of the bleeding man and was relieved to find out he was still alive.
Now for the second guy..I took a bowl from the cabinet then filled it with cold water from Andy’s dispenser. As I was doing this I caught sight of a pot of jollof rice on the gas. Andy must have warmed it but refused to eat.
My stomach growled…I hadn’t eaten in a while and I knew Mona was a good cook…but God rest her soul.
The use of past tense was not deliberate but it occurred to me that any reference to Mona and Fome would now be ‘was’ not ‘is’
The realization had me pouring the cold water on the gun man angrily.
He jerked from the chair and his eyes opened. He looked at me then held his head and I knew the gun slap left had left him with a splitting headache.
“Listen to me..you see your second on the floor?” I pointed to his partner who was knocked out with the bleeding ear. His eyes followed my hand
“He is dead” I let that sink in then brandished the gun. “And you will be too if you don’t give me answers”
He nodded and I could tell he was terrified.
“First what’s your name?”
“Fluxmind” he replied with trembling lips.
“What kind of stupid name is that?” I dragged a chair and sat down opposite him “Any lie you tell would be very costly for you”
“Its no lie I swear”
I nodded.
“Who sent you here?”
He hesitated. I brandished the gun. “I would shoot you and dump your body on the highway..answer me”

“Wait wait hol up..Andy emerged with a bottle of ammunition. I need to drown my sorrows..since I’m a widower right now.”
I hadn’t expected Andy to turn to alcohol..I had expected..rage.. even tears and him basically breaking down. But his eyes were unusually bright and he slammed the bottle on the counter then took a mug from the rack.
He looked up “continue..continue..don’t let me stop you”
He filled the mug then drank it down.
“Oba this guy needs to explain how this initiative whatever is connected to my wife..because somebody must die..I swear somebody must…” He refilled the mug “..must die”

Andy was getting me me worried but I needed to focus on getting questions from the gunman.

“I repeat” I snapped my fingers drawing his attention to me “who sent you and what is the widows initiative”
The man glanced at the clock and I had the feeling he was stalling..probably expecting someone..I checked the time and was surprised to see it was after 3 in the morning…I hadn’t even slept and I needed to be clear headed and refreshed when I went to see Dr. Rasheed later in the day. The earlier I got answers the better.
I needed to scare this person to tell me what I needed to hear and it seemed the gun wasn’t doing that.
I remembered the knife and rose to get it.
“Fluxmind..you see this…I would cut off your genitals if you waste my time..”
His eyes widened and I knew I had gotten through…”I don’t know much…I’m just an errand boy..I’d tell you what I know please…!”

Andy passed his mug of ‘ammunition’ to me. I frowned at him but he shrugged. His eyes were getting red now. He grabbed a stool then sat by me. Instinctively, I moved the gun to the left side of the table and out of his reach.

The dreaded man (referencing his dreadlocks not a feeling of fear) looked from Andy to me. He still held his wrist obviously in pain..”I was sent here just to find out if you knew anything..I don’t know anything I swear!”
“That’s impossible..I’m going to ask you only once” I kept the knife/dagger on the table before me and the blade glinted the light from the fluorescent perfectly. “And ig you lie, I am going to cut off your fingers..look here people died because of this initiative whatever and for the last time I’m going to ask you..what is it about?”
Andy got up. And moved behind me. I turned sideways and thought he left the kitchen.
The potential killer whose name had been given as Fluxmind stammered and his eyes widened “I’m just a hired thug I swear it..I’m sent to do the Job and I do it..I don’t ask questions!”
“Who sent you?…Andy!!”
Andy grabbed the dagger off the table, he must have been lurking behind me all along.
I turned and saw him already warming the knife on the gas burner which he had lit without my knowledge (And he’s the one supposed to be drunk!)
“Andy! What are you doing…?”
“Oba ask this fool the question again…” His eyes were red and they looked quite mad.
I started to protest but then I thought better. I had the gun he had the inigw but something told me not to argue with him.
I turned back to The man.
Shaking my head in a ‘you see yourself’ manner I asked him once more. “What is the initiative about? Tell me all of it”
His eyes were different now and I could tell what he was thinking as he looked at the knife heating up.
The knife must have had some kind of oil on its surface because it began to sizzle and smoke with a hissing noise..
“Okay..okay..this is all I know I’d tell you what I know!”
“Go on”
“The widows initiative is a legitimate private avenue that helps out widows with children..it is completely non government privately owned..and has been supporting widows since its inception.”
It was like hearing him read something online. But I was nodding..at least we were getting somewhere!
Andy however had other ideas, he turned the knob off and by this time the knife was practically red hot. Even me..I flinched reflexively when he passed me by.
As he approached the table..the ‘dreaded’ thug who had visibly relaxed after seeing me nod my head slightly started squirming in his seat, he began to get up..the panic too much for him to take sitting down, but Andy was lightening quick! he was upon him and he forced him down with his left hand which suddenly possessed the strength that his skinny muscles didn’t show. The knife was positioned at a killers stance and even me who was behind Andy, flinched and half carried my leg up, grimacing and half covered my eyes expecting an impact..Andy was very unpredictable at this point. He appeared unstable at and looked like he really could strike.
“Your wife and her sister..your wife was the first person to to benefit from the widows initiative!” He rushed the words out in a shout and Andy’s hand remained in mid air still poised to strike.
“What I know is your wife’s mother was the first person the widows initiative took care of.” He went off sounding like a rapper with the way he rushed his words..his eyes not leaving the blade once!

I got up and stood beside Andy..but I made no attempt to touch him. “What year was this thing formed?” I asked.
“1989..that is what I know!” His eyes hadn’t left the knife when he replied and Andy apparently wasn’t satisfied.
“What happened? what is soo important about this thing that my wife was killed for it..that you came herw adking me questions?answer me!” .he shouted his words and I looked outside worriedly..his voice must have Carried outside but come to think of it who would be outside by 3:16 am in the morning? Then again there were three people in this house who had no business in here in the first place and I was one of them!
I could see the man try to strain but he didn’t put much effort to it because his eyes never left the point of the blade which was point sharp and still smoking.
“Your wife’s mother was involved in some kind of problem with my boss..believe me I don’t know the nature of it….but the initiative withdrew all support from her family just a year after it started.” He was sweating profusely and I knew the suit he had on would have been something he regretted although he probably would have been feeling like a professional killer when he put it on.

“So your boss is the Chief then?”
I asked him.
“No…its his wife..she is the CEO of the widows initiative..please I’m saying this tospare my life…” He tore his eyes from the knife to look at me an Andy for a second.

Andy lowered his knife and looked at me for the first time. His eyes were still very red, he shook his head in disbelief. “So they are truly sisters?”
It seemed he was coming to terms with the news of Mona’s demise..the alcohol having been worn out…or maybe the depth of the truth was so shattering that no amount of intoxication could keep it buried for long.

“Andy whatever I tell you, no matter how crazy it may sound..its the truth..I have no reason to lie..not to you.”
I could see his eyes boil with emotion but he held it in..
The idea of revenge always provides a temporary point of escape from the pain over a lost one, and in some cases the thought of revenge could be the one thing that drives someone and somehow I knew Andy could turn to one of such when he turned roughly on Fluxmind and gripped him by the collar at the same time holding onto the dagger, leaving the hot blade a few inches from his face. “Where can I find this woman? Tell me!”

I had noticed that although terrified the dreaded thug had glanced too many times at the clock.
I grabbed the gun from the table and went to the window.
“Andy!” I said his name warningly..the street was still empty with the car still parked in front of the house.
The knife must have touched the cheek because he shouted in pain.
It sounded like the howling of a wolf.

“Andy gimme the knife!..we are in this together..we have to stick together..now go and get something in this house that we can tie them up..we need to do something quick”
I pointed to the heavy set driver on the floor who was breathing heavily..the bleeding had stopped but he lay motionless, apart from his breathing. with the up and down movement of his pot belly the only thing that showed he was alive.

Andy still held onto the knife, but he released him and went into the inner door of the kitchen leading to the store. I could hear him rummaging for a rope of some kind and I looked at the face of the thug where his knife had left a print. The knife had branded his cheek and I thought I could see smoke rising from it..the pain must have been blinding, but he didn’t hold his face..he just shut his eyes with a grimace on his face.
I could tell the pain was almost impossible to comprehend because when he opened his eyes he looked lost.
But then he glanced at the clock again and I looked out the window.
“Why do you keep looking at the clock? Who are you expecting?”

“The cleaners” he replied. “My job is to kill, but someone else cleans the mess. That’s how its done.”
“That way no one knows what happened to you…in his case (he tilted his head towards Andy) your amputated body would have been discovered along Lagos/Ibadan expressway and dismissed as the work of ritualists”

“Why are they not here yet?”

He shrugged “maybe traffic”
At 3:39 in the morning?.
he touched his cheek tentatively and winced in pain.

Andy came out of the store. “Lemme check my room..there should be a rope there..Mona loved to get kinky..” He shook his head sadly in memory.
“Who told you to stand up?” He asked Flux who sat down immediately “Oba I think we should kill this men…then drive their their car far away with their dear bodies in the booth. We can drop the car at oshodi. What do you think?”
He was actually serious and I knew Andy would never be the gentle dove he had been before.

“That would not be right Andy”
“Which one is right again?. This people came here to kill me!”
“Get the rope first. We’ll decide whether to kill them or not when you come”
He nodded satisfied then went in search of the rope.
The potential killer couldn’t believe his ears and I could see he was beginning to panic afresh.
He looked at the body of his partner for the first time and must have noticed he was still breathing.
“Please don’t kill us..my job is to follow orders that is all..I’m paid for what I do..its nothing personal.”

I was still at the window. A lot was on my mind..The paper, getting it to Dr. Rasheed later in the day, this black September terrorist group that was going to come after me and my family for taking the paper. And now finding out that the Chiefs wife was another devil too.

A thought occurred to me. “Who called you and told you to come for Andy tonight?”
“The chief called me himself. He said your friends wife had remembered something she shouldn’t have and that I had to make sure there were no loose ends”
“So you work for the Chief then..not his wife”
” I work for the both of them..the Chief is the backer and sponsor but his wife is the president of the organisation.. please don’t kill me..I have answered all your questions…please I don’t trust your friend but I know he would listen to you. I don’t want to die!”
“How many men have you killed? In your lifetime?”
Before he could reply Andy returned with the rope. His eyes were swollen and wet and I suspected he had broken down in tears Inside.
He had brought a pair of jeans and a sweat shirt and he dropped it on the dining table.
“You need to change that ill fitting uniform..it makes you look strange!”
He was right. I still had on Mathias’ uniform. And the buttons were almost popping out due to my broad chest and shoulders.
“Let’s tie the fools first…we need to be quick..according to him another group is coming to clean up the mess that would have been your blood.”
“Why don’t we leave another type of mess for them?” He held up the knife and wiggled his brows suggestively in the thugs direction.
“I have a better idea…but we have to be quick”

20 minutes later, we had fluxmind and his partner (who was still unconscious) tied up on the back seat of their car.
I was behind the wheel and Andy was beside me. I reversed the car and parked it in front of Alhaja’s house (just beside Andy’s home)

“Now we wait” I said to Andy. He nodded at me. The blade was on the dashboard and I had the gun in my lap.
“Oba..what do we do..how do we get this Chief and his wife…we owe it to both Fome and Mona to find out what this is all about..”
“As long as we stick together Andy..everything would work out I’m sure..Just leave the Chief to me…I’m going to sign his death warrant in a few hours. What we’ll need to find out is what happened to Fome and Mona’s mother by 1989”
“Mmm…mmm..hmmmmm” I had rolled up a piece of clothe and stuck it in Flux’s mouth before securing it with the rope. So he couldn’t speak but he still tried, making a moaning noise from the backseat.
“Shut up or else I would cut out your throat” Andy warned and he became quiet immediately.
The time was 4:01am.
“Since Monday I haven’t slept well..and this is Thursday”
“Friday” Andy corrected and I became silent.. thinking.
My mother had said she and my father would be coming on Sunday..it had seemed quite far then but now just two days…and I had this black September group to worry about.
I was beginning to feel depressed. I had lost two people already..make that 3 people Mona would have been my sister in law after all if all had gone as it should have and I couldn’t lose any one else..no way! It wasn’t an option.

The silence stretched as we stared ahead..waiting for the ‘cleaners’. Andy and I both lost in our thoughts.

“How did she die?” He asked after a while.
“She was shot.” I responded after a moments hesitation There was no need to lie but that didn’t mean I had to step over the pieces of his broken heart. “It was quick..she didn’t feel any pain”
I assured him.
“But she is still dead..who exactly pulled the trigger? One of Chiefs men?”
“Mmmm…mmmmmm…” From the backseat again.
I turned. “Fluxmind..do you want to die a death almost as stupid as your name?”
I turned to Andy…”her death was indirectly my fault..I thought she was the enemy at the time and I called this secret agent..that was the worst mistake..because she met her death at the hands of his men”

Andy looked at me and I couldn’t read his expression.
“I’ve made some dreadful decisions this week Andy” I remembered the explosion and the roof shooting into the sky. And imagined Fome’s body turning to ashes in seconds.
“Oba you know how you are going to redeem yourself? You are going to call that agent and arrange him to meet us somewhere and we are going to torture him until he tells us the reason he killed Mona”
You don’t understand..she had a gun!..I wanted to say but then I remembered the way strange eyes had ushered the chief into the safety of the ford jeep hours ago..and how he had been relentless in his pursuit of Fome. Andy was right..strange eyes had never come clean with me and I needed to find out what he knew..if torturing him was what it took then so be it.

I nodded in agreement at Andy..”you’re right..but that would have to be at night..my life is like a time table right now..and I have to be at the General hospital during the day.”
“You mean we” he corrected.
“Andy I can’t ask you to risk your life..I’ve gotten myself involved in something very dangerous”
He waved it off “we are in this together..we stick together remember”
I nodded..I couldn’t trust myself to speak..the night(or day) had been an emotional one and it felt good to know I wasn’t alone anymore.

“There’s a vehicle approaching” I watched the rear view mirror as headlights got closer.
Andy and I both got down as the vehicle got Closer.
It passed us and came to a stop in front of Andy’s home. I saw it was a dry cleaners truck and the irony was not lost on me.
We watched as three men highlighted from the truck. Each had a plastic bag in his hand. They observed the street carefully and Andy and I instinctively bent down when they looked in our direction. We had parked the car in Alhaja’s driveway and they didn’t pay any attention to it or notice it as their ‘strike team’ vehicle because they headed to the front door satisfied that they were the only ones in the street.

“We need to be quick..but 3 men…it shouldn’t matter anyhow..the way I feel I could take down a dozen men.” Andy gritted his teeth.
“Exactly!” I agreed but then I squinted my eyes “wait..that’s a girl with them..two guys and a girl”
“Are you sure..” Andy also squinted..then he nodded..”you’re right…I see boobs”

They stood outside the door for seconds then one of them opened the door and they strolled in as if they were the ones paying the rent.

“Let’s move” I said to Andy who was already opening the door..with the blade in hand..the jovial goofy customer service banker now a fighter and potential killer also.
I was one to talk..

I looked back at the dreaded thug flux mind who had stopped with his mmmm’ noise and was watching us with wide eyes.
“Stay still..if you struggle..it would be your bloody shirt that the ‘dry cleaners’ would be washing!”
He nodded his head quickly..the coward!

Andy with the dagger in his hand and I with the gun in mine ran towards the house.
Time to take the cleaners to the cleaners..I thought to myself as I barged in first with the gun (which I had gotten used to) in my hand.
Andy was behind me and I could see the two guys standing by the dining table observing the trail of blood on the floor(From the fat driver when i l dragged his unconscious body on the floor)and scratching their heads wondering were Andy’s body was. They both wore white plastic lab coats and plastic gloves too with nose masks.
They turned in surprise as The door barged open.