Delayed Diagnosis Episode 19
Written by Kingsley Olanrewaju Efughi
“Know why they call me shadow..cos I operate in the dark!” I heard his voice and he didn’t sound polite anymore.
He sounded crazy and I could easily Imagine him penning the letter my mother gave to me.
He sounded some steps in front of me and the briefcase refused to open.
I swung it madly catching a wide arc and hoping to catch him on the side of the head.
Swwwoooosh!
The sound must have given away my position.
I continued moving closer swinging and swinging but in the dark I hoped to catch him on the side of the head. The briefcase was heavy and if I could hit him he would touch the ground. That was for sure.
I must have swung like 6 times but apart from the ‘air’ I hadn’t hurt anything.
“Just look at you..you really are an easy prey I must have over hyped you that’s for sure”
He sounded to my right. How had he gotten there so noiselessly?
I heard Olivia whimper behind me and I knew I was in error.
When this man had killed Sule he had been so swift. The darkness hadn’t stopped him I shouldn’t even leave Olivia’s side for one second.
I retraced my steps until I gratefully felt the wheelchair nudge my leg.
“You bastard..show your face…you killed Sule! You won’t kill anybody again”
“The only way to kill a shadow is to shine the light..but you lack the light.”
I was fumbling with the briefcase..why did it choose to Bleep me up now especially!
“Enough with this games..you are not in my league” he sounded like he was to my right then he sounded to my left..I was looking to and fro like a tennis match spectator.
Olivia must have a side button that controls flashlight on her phone because her Android phone blasted a strong beam of white light all of a sudden. I saw the shadow a few steps to my right and the needle glistened and reflected in the strong flashlight.
Anger blinded me and I swung the briefcase in a perfect arc..expecting to hear the sickening thud of his skull cracking.
I was soo wrong. He stepped back and caught my wrist and twisted so swiftly. I shouted in pain as the briefcase fell from my hand. It hit the floor and the bastard opened.(just imagine!)
He had my hand pinned behind my back and he twisted my wrist till I saw stars. The pain was blinding!
“I over estimated you it seems..I should just inject you now once and for all..you weren’t worth my time after all.”
He brought the needle closer to my eyes and I struggled but my shoulder was feeling like it would get dislocated.
“I would kill you then I might have the widow in this very room..while your lifeless eyes watch us” he laughed and I knew the man was truly crazy.
What he said angered me and I tried to move but he just twisted my arm tighter and forced me to my knees.
“Make sure you think about-“
SMAAAACK!!!
The problem with sociopaths and psychos generally is that they talk too much.
Olivia had somehow managed to wheel herself closer and she used her phone which was as large as a tablet. To smack him on the face.
All 12 inches of the screen and it was quite a smart slap!
It only made him angrier it seemed and he looked at her with red eyes. Her phone clattered to the floor and the light pointed to the ceiling.
“Infact I’d save some pentothal for your bitch of a friend” he sounded really mad..and not just crazy but mad angry!
The needle got closer to my neck and I didn’t even have any final thoughts…no faces flashing in memory of my family members, no reflecting of the things I was yet to do in life.
I had gone through all that on previous occasions when I had stared down the barrel of the gun.
The door opened suddenly and light from the corridor swept into the ward.
The doctor whom I had previously assaulted had returned with two security personnel.
One of them was very huge..wrestler status and I almost cried out on relief.
“You need to have seen this mad man..there he is!…wait what’s going on here?!!”
Shadow released me immediately as the doctor switched on the light.
The needle disappeared in his cleaner’s coverall and he moved towards the security guards.
“Doctor..this man was about to rape that woman! Thank God you’re here”
I was still on the floor at the foot of Olivia’s wheelchair, blinking rapidly trying to clear my eyes and I knew it could really look that way.
“That’s a lie..that man is a killer!” Olivia shouted.
The burly security stepped forward.
“Nobody move..you!” He pointed at me “on your feet now!”
Tosin aka the shadow had reached his mop bucket and he stopped when the burly guard ordered everyone to be still.
As the security came closer however he unhooked the mop stick and rolled it in both hands martial arts style. He caught the guard in his face then rolled it again then cut him off at his knees.
For all his size it took just a mere mop stick to bring him to his knees. Although shadow was a professional and he probably knew the right spot to strike.
He hooked the stick on the guards neck who was swaying on his knees then twisted. I heard the snapping noise and the guard fell to the ground.
I struggled to my feet. My arm was killing me. I saw the briefcase partially open on the floor and my brain jump started.Some dollar bills had gotten out. I dived to the floor to retrieve the silenced gun from case.
The second security had a tazer and he charged at shadow who dispatched the tazer before he could even reach him. He turned 360 and used the stick to send the guard to the floor. Just one strike and I was surprised but when I saw the blood I realized the end of the stick had a sharp blade. It was buried in the mop like a normal cleaning tool, but when it was out and unhooked, it was a formidable weapon!
The doctor had fled since! Probably when the first security had his neck snapped.
Shadow turned at me with a wicked smile but then he saw the gun I held and his smile disappeared.
I had nothing to say to him. Just one word: “Bastard!”
I squeezed the trigger three times.
This shadow of a person was something else.
He threw himself backwards, did a back flip and flung himself out of the room through the thick door and out of the corridor.
I couldn’t believe it! I missed!
I must have said it out loud because Olivia answered me.
“No you didn’t see the blood near the door”
I looked closely and sure enough there was blood on the floor. I had hit the bastard. Not enough to kill him apparently but I’d take what I could.
“We need to leave here quick! Where is your room? I’m sorry I dragged you into this..I wish-“
She interrupted me.
“Are you serious? You’re not leaving me behind! Take me with you.. I can’t spend one more minute in this hospital!”
My eye caught a lab coat on a rack on the wall and I put it on. I kept the gun in my breast pocket. That way it wasn’t visible but I had easy access to it. Olivia held the briefcase in her lap.
I wheeled her out of the ward like she was my patient.
She looked away as we passed the security guards bodies on the floor. Outside the corridor was empty. I saw the trail of blood just drops here and there.. from shadow and I wondered where the bullet had got him. I hoped in his balls.
I prayed my luck would hold and I wouldn’t run into anyone in the corridor like her fat mean doctor for instance. I pushed her quickly towards the stairs.
On the side meant for wheelchair I pushed her down then I saw the woman and her daughter who had been in the ward just minutes ago coming up the stairs.
She first thought I was the doctor who had attended to them.
“Excuse me doctor..but one of this drugs we already have it and the pharmacist insists on selling it to us .wait you’re not the doctor!”
She eyed me suspiciously.
“The doctor is downstairs..don’t go In they just brought in a new emergency case..very bloody and that place is not somewhere you should be now..especially with your daughter”
She turned back frustrated and I hurriedly wheeled Olivia the rest of the way down.
I was looking at the floor but since the stairs, I hadn’t seen any sign of blood anymore.
That had me worried.
“I forgot my phone!” Olivia said suddenly.
“Lemme run back and get it”
“No no no…just let’s go please..that man could still be anywhere and there are dead bodies in there!” She looked sick and I could tell it was her first time.
Sadly me on the other hand was becoming a veteran..I couldn’t even count anymore.
I played it cool downstairs and I tried to look relaxed and play the part of a doctor.
Outside in the open breeze I breathed a sigh of relief and increased the speed
I used the remote to open the door and I helped her onto the passenger seat.
The wheel chair was the foldable type and I folded it and dumped it in the backseat.
So many things were on my mind..I felt watched and I feared this shadow could be watching me with the intention of following me home..also I was taking Olivia away from her medications which were still ongoing..although she Didn’t look like she was in pain at the moment.
My parents were at home and I had no idea how I was going to explain her presence. The most important thing was getting her to safety first.
I started the car and my phone vibrated it was Andy.
“Oba what’s happening? Any show?”
“I’d explain later..how about my parents?”
“They’ve been asking and asking I told them it must be traffic.. What happened”
“I’m with Olivia now..”
“The widow?..what happened?”
“Later Andy..see find a way to sneak out of the house and meet me at Alakija junction…I have a feeling this assasin is going to follow us and that would be a big error!”
“Okay no problem…what’s the plan?”
“I’m just going with my instincts”
“You and your instincts…I’d be there..when you’re approaching you flash me..together we can loose the killer..and good job with the widow..with her on our side the initiative is good as gone”
I cut the call. Sometimes Andy also talked too much.
I put the car in reverse but looked at Olivia first.
“I’m sorry”
“For what?”
“Your life is about to be turned upside down”
We were at a point now and we both knew it. She had one leg in but she could back out now. Whatever she said next would determine if she was in or not.
We looked at each other in silence for some seconds but then she said “my life turned upside down a week ago”
She had stepped in.
I reversed the car and drove into the night looking at the rearview mirror every few seconds.
The ride was a long one and I broke enough traffic rules.
Olivia had about a thousand questions for me and she kept on asking one after the other. I tried my best to allay her fears but then I noticed a particular set of headlights. It had been following me since the hospital and the way it switched lanes constantly I knew it had to be the shadow in the car.
“So who exactly are this people that you got mixed up with?”
I was trying my best to shake of the tail without her knowing. I couldn’t do that and maintain a conversation.
“Olivia I promise you once we’re safely behind closed doors and under lock and key I’d tell you all you need to know”
She accepted this with a slight nod and I focused on the driving. The car was directly behind me now ,I switched lanes and it followed me.
I would be getting to Festac in about 15 minutes.
I dialed Andy. He picked up on the first ring.
“Andy where are you?”
“I’m at the junction..where are you?”
“I’m close..about 15 minutes away..but a car has been following us since the hospital and I fear the worst”
“Don’t worry..I’m well prepared”
“What do you have planned?”
“Just make sure you alert me when you’re like 5 minutes away..don’t worry everything would be fine..peace”
This time he cut the call.
Olivia was struggling to turn back.
“You mean we’re being followed?”
I nodded solemnly.
“But trust me..he would be stopped before we get home”
She was silent.
“How’s your leg?”
“It doesn’t hurt as much… The pain is more mental”
I didn’t want to ask her about it..when she was ready to talk about it,she would talk..besides this was not the time.
“I keep on dreaming about it..and seeing his dead face” she glanced at me “I’m sorry..you obviously have no idea what I’m talking about”
Actually I did..the accident that had claimed her husband’s life and left her with a broken leg. But that was something she had to tell me herself.
“It haunts your dreams every night?”
She nodded “every single night” she frowned thoughtfully “apart from last night tho..I wonder why?”
Hopefully because you met me.
We fell into a comfortable silence which was strange considering we had a deadly killer on our tail.
I had the timing spot on. I called Andy.
“Andy we would be at the junction in five minutes”
“Okay..can you describe the car that is tailing you?”
I checked the mirror. It was two cars back.
“Andy its pitch black..I can’t see anything..okay the headlights are round..like a Mercedes kind”
“Okay that’s good enough…see what you’re going to do. When you get to the junction you’d see a tanker parked on the side of the road. The headlights would be on..what you do is you slow down completely, flash your headlights so I know its you.. then at a snail pace you move forward little by little then stop. I’d do the rest”
“Okay..its making sense a bit but whatever, it has to work..”
“Just do as I said..wait wait…when you move you park so I’d get in..no leave me abeg”
I speeded up a little and the car tailing me also increased speed. A jeep now separated us.
“He’s not even bothered that I can spot him..this guy is truly crazy”
I could tell Olivia was getting scared.
“Hey its okay..trust me..this guy would get lost in the next two minutes.”
She tried to brighten up. “God knows what I’d dream about today..I can still see the dead security vividly”
“I’m sure my experience would help you..okay here we go” I slowed down as I got to the junction.
I saw the tanker parked at the side. Facing the road with its headlights on full blast. I flashed my headlights then slowed down. The jeep was behind me and the shadow was in the car behind the jeep.
I slowed down completely and as I got closer the tanker started up and entered the road partially.
“Andy you genius…he wants to block off the road!”
I moved slowly and the tanker also entered the road more.
There was one problem however. The jeep behind me was a typical Lagos driver and he had no plan to allow the tanker enter his front. He followed me bumper to bumper and I began to sweat. I thought of speeding up suddenly but then what if the tanker didn’t respond in time? The jeep would breeze through and so would the shadow and we would be back to square 1 again.
PAAAAAAAAM!!!
The driver in the jeep forgot his hand on the horn. Probably wondering what was making me move so slow.
I continued crawling and the tanker entered the road. It was now beside my car but the jeep hadn’t relented he kept following me closely and blasting his horn at the same time.
“Chai..this guy just wants to Bleep us up sha!”
I inched the rest of the way forward and before the jeep could follow me the tanker rammed into it. And brushed it off the road. The driver of the tanker must have been crazy as well because he kept on accelerating and forcing the jeep to the side of the road.
I could hear the driver in the jeep shouting crazily..I could also hear shouting from people on the side of the road.
“Which kind driver be this?”
“You dey craze?!”
“Omo him don damage that range o!”
I was too shocked to breathe. I watched the rearview mirror and the driver of the tanker jumped down and ran to the car. Lo and behold it was Andy!
He yanked open the door and jumped in.
“Oba move move move abeg..them fit burn me for here!”
I revved the engine then shot into the night.
I watched the rearview until I couldn’t see anything again. The road was blocked! The tanker was blocking the road and the jeep had been forced to the side walk. I could guess the fender was a write off! And the good news was that the shadow was on the other side of the tanker stuck!
“Andy..you have bursted my fucking brain! What was that…who gave you tanker for Gods sake..mehn..you’re too good to be true! And you’ve been wasting your talents in customer care since!”
Olivia was equally impressed “you guys complete each other…together you’re next to unstoppable..its soo nice to see you again” she said to Andy.
Andy was breathing like a mad man…”men that jeep is messed up…drivers and their zero patience!”
“If you were the one would you wait?” I asked him playfully..the mood was lighter now and I felt free.
“If I hear say I wait” he turned back to look but the road behind us was empty.
“Wait who give you tanker?”
“Mehn..I had to smoke Igbo with the driver for junction O…plus 3k he still collected from me”
Wonders would truly never end.
“You? Smoke? With your light brain?”
“Men I dey see double like this…you know see as I take enter that jeep..e be like say the tanker dey fly!”
He recounted to us.
When I had called him, he had sneaked out of the house then got to the junction to wait. He initially wanted to wait for me to pick him up so we could figure out a way to sort the mess together but then he had seen a tanker pull up and the driver get down with a very big blunt and a small alcohol bottle in his hands.
The idea had began to take root. He had walked up to the driver and boldly asked him “bross I hail o..abeg how many gear be this?”
The driver eyed him with blood shot eyes as he dragged in smoke. “Omo na 12 o…count the tire well this one no be 4..no be 8..count am well!”
“Bross you too much o…my guy they tell me say I no go ever fit even to move am front but me I never see anything wey get tire wey I no fit move”
“Iwo’ ke’ (you ke!) O ti e le’ (you no even strong!)
“Bross forget that thing! Wettin person sabi he sabi”
“Oya drag this thing first” he passed the joint to him.
(At this point my liver wan cut..[Andy explained laughing] I remember for school my first and only time..they almost tied me up that day)
He had dragged carefully and tried not to cough. The driver had gotten very angry.
“Ogbeni..gimme my smoke abeg no dey waste am..commot for here jare!”
“Oya oya..” He had puffed and puffed until smoke exited from his ears and his eyes were crimson. He was worried about the time..the 5 minutes would soon be up in his brain and I would be calling.
The driver had laughed “e done do..no finish am for me..oya…I like your liver..take the key”
Andy had reached for the keys with his eyes already doubling.
“Wait!” He held it back “how much you go drop?”
“How much you…how much you want?”
“Bring 5k”
“Na 3k I get”
“Oya bring am”
They had exchanged the cash for the keys.
“Just move am forward ni o..no enter road!”
•°•°•°•°••°•••°°°
We laughed as Andy recounted the experience.
I pulled into the close.
“Andy you mean you smoked weed and you didn’t pass out?”
“Why what happened the first time?”
“We were in school-
“Oba!” He said in a warning tone.
“Don’t worry I’d tell you when he isn’t around” I assured her and she smiled at me and I wished everything could just remain the way it was and we’d keep on driving away from the troubles and assassins and responsibilities.
Wishful thinking and I parked the car in front of the gate and we got down.
“Is this your place?”Olivia asked. I got the wheelchair down and Andy and I both helped her into it although I did most of the lifting. I was beginning to suspect Andy was feeling the effects or should I say after effects.
“As far as my parents are concerned its mine..(or my dad to be precise…I hadn’t fooled my mother one bit) you’ll meet them inside..they are really nice..you just go with whatever story it is I tell them”
“What will you tell them..is it not better we have a planned story now?”
“Believe me when it comes to my parents..I’ve learnt the best thing is just to go with the flow”
I wheeled her in and had to stiffle my laughter as Andy staggered.
“Andy just go and sleep..no even fall your hand for my parents front abeg..God bless you for coming though for me once more”
“Oba all that one na grammar…belle done tear like this..I dey go drink Mumc bitter leaf soup..and we need to talk to Olivia about the widow’s initiative”
“What’s the initiative?” She asked me as Andy held the door open and I wheeled her in.
“I’d explain everything from the beginning”
We entered the house and I peeped into the parlour. My parents were no where to be found! I began to panic.
“I’d be right back!” I said to Olivia as I ran up the stairs. I could hear Andy rummaging around in the kitchen, looking for something to eat and cure.
I brought out the gun as I climbed upstairs and I had never been as scared as I felt at that moment in my entire life.
I checked the first two rooms..they were empty..
I almost called out but I thought it wise to remain silent.
At the third room I knew something was up…I opened the door gently and creeped in…with the gun in my hand.
I wasn’t prepared for what I saw…..
My parents lay on the bed asleep…and they were cuddling!
(Got you didn’t I?……..thank goodness they were safe)
I breathed a sigh of relief and I watched them for some seconds as my pulse calmed down.
This was definitely a first.
I smiled then closed the door gently.
I headed downstairs.
I owed Olivia an explanation
