Delayed Diagnosis Episode 31

Delayed Diagnosis Episode 31
Written by Kingsley Olanrewaju Efughi

Rex…are you there?” Olivia was saying in my ear
I couldn’t reply. I held on to the handle tight but I kept on looking back.
I had managed to get both legs up and I kept on looking at what had once been a jeep.
It still burned brightly into the night and it was causing traffic as all the vehicles slowed down and entered the second lane.
I was numb for some seconds and Olivia must have thought my silence meant the worst had happened because she kept on calling my name over and over..her voice was breaking and a part of my brain registered Andy’s voice trying to calm her down, telling her I was alright.

The trailer kept on speeding, increasing the distance from the burning jeep. Finally, I snapped myself from the daze I was in.
“Olivia…I’m here..I’m alive” I spoke up.
She almost broke down in relief “Oh thank God….” I tuned out again thinking of strange eyes and Tonye. Had they been caught in the explosion?
I spoke up interrupting Olivia who was asking me what had happened and what the loud noise had been.
“Bami..hello Tonye..are you there?” No reply.

I tried to clear my head..I had to focus on the job at hand, I was hanging behind a container and if any car should get too close, the headlights would outline me and I might be taken for a thief trying to get to the imported goods inside the container. The worst that could happen was for a car to pull up beside the trailer and alert them that a suspicious looking man was hanging at the back.

I studied the door of the container..that had to be a very big padlock. I had the glock 9 hooked to my belt and I considered shooting the padlock but my aim couldn’t be steady not with the trailer moving the way it was and there was the possibility that the bullet would ricochet and strike me.

“Bami..Strange eyes..Tonye…are you there?!” I called again.
No reply…what am I doing..they’re dead…they’re gone, blown to the sky! I felt a sudden chill and I tried lifting myself..if I could get onto the roof of the container…
“Is somebody there…somebody help!” I heard the sharp cry from inside the container.
The voice sounded scared.
Another: “is someone there…please…get us out of here!”
I held on to the handle tightly with my left hand, brought out the gun and used the butt to smack the padlock..I hit it like 4-6 times and I was sure the padlock wasn’t going to give way.
I holstered the gun back then put my mouth close to the line where both doors met.
By this time there was an excited vibration from within the container, the widows had heard the noise and believed the Calvary had arrived.
I spoke up: “listen to me..listen carefully…I’m going to try and get you out..but I’d need your help..if the door should be opened, I need all of you to be brave”
A car was approaching and the headlights illuminated me. I cursed myself and tried lifting to the roof. But it was very difficult and the strain on my hands was just too much.

The car moved closer and I waited for it to overtake the trailer but instead it flashed its light and moved closer.
I was suspicious..and hopeful..maybe it was Strange eyes and Tonye after all..they might have survived the explosion and gotten another car…
Even as I entertained these thoughts..the person in the passenger seat stuck his head outside the window. “Rex…you need to jump…we’d move closer but you need to jump to the bonnet”

l would recognise that bald head anywhere…or that voice. It was Dr Rasheed aka Carmicheal..I knew Betran was behind the wheel and I could bet Mr X was in the backseat. I could see the outline of someone.

The car moved as close as possible and Betran maintained his speed.
I remembered a stunt from the movie fast and furious and I prepared to make the leap, but would you believe at the last minute I lost my nerve..suddenly I started feeling the pain in my hands and legs..where my skin had parted from my earlier rolling.

Dr Rasheed stuck his face out of the window once more.. “What’s holding you..don’t be scared you can do it..jump!”
Jumping from a moving car to another was no small feat..this wasn’t a movie, I wasn’t a stunt man and I wasn’t spider man I would most likely jump on the bonnet, and bounce off to the side of the road where another rushing vehicle would cream me to the floor before the driver could apply the breaks. I shook my head.
The trailer made a sharp turn and I almost fell off…we had gotten down from the bridge now..heading for the wharf.
The car was still following closely, expecting me to make the leap.
Carmichael still had his large head outside the window and I shouted: “I need a plier..something to break the padlock with..”
“There’s nothing like that here! Jump we’ll follow the trailer anywhere it goes!”
I shook my head…I wasn’t going to let the widows out of my sight. I held on tightly as the car slowed down…believing I had no intention of making the jump.

I continued hitting the padlock with the butt of the gun but I knew it was helpless..

There was an expectant buzz from within the container and I could hear the widows singing worship songs: “Paul and Silas they prayed..they sang..the holy ghost came down..Paul and Silas they prayed…they sang…the holy Ghost came down…”

The song had an effect on me and I began hitting the padlock with all my might..
Wham!
Wham!
Thuack!
Wham!..

The car increased its speed once more and Carmichael stuck his head out the window again. “We’re going to move close a bit..I’m going to throw a saw for you…!”
I nodded “be careful..don’t let them sight you from the side mirror!” I thought back to the explosion and the captain who had been shot in the neck and I shivered..I forced the images out of my head.
The car moved closer and I shifted a bit to the edge..if I could get close enough and stretch..I might be able to collect the hand saw from Betran or whoever was at the side of the door.
Betran drove steadily until his window was the same level with the spot I stood. He moved as close as possible but it still wasn’t close enough because I had to hold unto the handle which was situated at the center of the container…there wasn’t anything solid I could hold on to and maintain my balance while I moved closer to the edge.

Betrand was driving and he controlled the steering with his right hand, and had his left hand out of the window where he held a small hand saw.

A car was behind theirs and kept on horning loudly, expecting the car to overtake the trailer.
Betran was obviously worried that the continuous horning would draw attention from the side mirror. He threw the hand saw quite hurriedly and sped off.

By some kind of miracle I caught it..I held onto it tightly and only when my heart calmed down a bit did I feel the pain and realized I was holding the teeth of the saw and it was biting into my palm.
As a matter of fact my hand was bleeding seriously.

Now this was the risk. I held the padlock and used it for balance and with my other hand, I started sawing the padlock vigorously..I had to be careful because if I sawed it off successfully, I could fall off.

The widows from within were still singing,I could hear a renewed hope in their voices and it drove me harder and I sawed the padlock like a mad man.
I could feel it starting to give and I slowed down. I changed my grip, holding on to the handle instead.
I located the line I had been sawing and I began sawing it slowly again.

From the earphone I could hear Andy ask Olivia “what’s going on now…can you hear anything yet..?”
I thought of removing the earphone,it was a major distraction and I didn’t want Olivia to worry anymore…the battle was far from over…I made up my mind to do so the minute I had the padlock open.

I focused on the task at hand..biting my tongue as I made progress. The padlock was something else, it was really strong.
“R-rex..” A voice broke into my idle thoughts and I gasped and almost lost my footing….it was strange eyes!
“Bami…my God…you’re alive…you’re alive..thank God!”
“Rex…Rex..where’s Tonye?” He sounded weak.
I was silent…I didn’t have any reply, instead I said “Bami..where are you?”
“I’m in some kind of car..I’m just waking up…my leg was smashed by a speeding car when I jumped out…” He trailed off
“Its alright Bami…” I heard a voice clearly from beside strange eyes.
“Tell him you’re with Dr Rasheed”
Before he could repeat it, Betran interrupted
“Tell him to hurry up…we’re almost at the wharf!”

Hearing that, I tried the saw harder..the impact wasn’t the same with if I held the padlock in my hand. The teeth kept on getting hooked with the metal and not passing freely. Frustrated I threw the saw to the ground.
Strange eyes was saying “the car I’m in is ahead of the trailer…and we’re getting closer to the wharf….aaaargh!” I could tell he was in serious pain. “Rex…what of Tonye…where is she?”
I removed the gun from my belt and began hitting the padlock again with much force.
As I brought the gun down I spoke..replying strange eyes with yet another question. “What happened in the car..did you leave her behind?”
He groaned in pain again “no…no..after you jumped out..we were supposed to jump out also…I saw her open her door before I jumped out…I landed in front of this car and it climbed my leg…the next second..the car exploded”
“Hmmm…” I replied and gave the padlock a final strike and it opened….

•°•°•°••°°
Strange eyes was still talking asking and demanding about the whereabout of Tonye. I could hear Dr Rasheed try to calm him down and mention something about anesthesia.

I could only hear their voices in the background as I opened the padlock…it fell to the ground and I moved to the side to open the door fully.
The singing had stopped and there was a kind of hushed silence from within..I thought it wise to announce my presence as a friend.
“Hello…I’m here to help you..my name is Rex Obasi and I’m a friend…I’m going to come in now…”
I stepped into the darkness of the container and I didn’t know what to expect..a part of me was waiting for some kind of attack…these women had been severely abused after all.

I wasn’t ready for what happened next…they all enveloped me in some kind of hug and began thanking me…thanking God…crying out in relief…from my earphone I could hear Olivia also crying “Oh my God…he made it…”
Strange eyes was also quiet, either the doctor had put him to sleep or he was touched by what was happening.

I was feeling happy too..and I hope my manhood would still be intact if I admit that I got teary eyed a bit…

But then they almost suffocated me…every one wanted to touch me…probably to prove they were not dreaming…all hope had been lost before now and they hadn’t seen any other human being apart from their abductors for God know’s how long.
“Its okay…easy…I can’t breathe…”
“God is good!”
“Oh..thank God!”
“Oh…welcome…”
“It was so horrible…!”
“I miss my babies…!”

“Sisters…let’s take it easy…this man is here to help us…we need to be gentle please” a voice stood out and every one fell quiet immediately…I immediately knew she was some kind of leader figure.

I was about to ask her name when I noticed the trailer was slowing down…we were approaching the wharf!

The speed slowed and remained so for the next few minutes. By this time they had given me much needed breathing room. I went to the door of the container which was still wide open and I swung it shut.
Immediately a murmur arose..why did I close it? They needed their freedom..they were prepared to jump!

“Look..everything would be alright…there are just two shadows…just two men..we on the other hand..we’re 499 in number…the minute that door opens, we need to attack them and take them by suprise”
“But they have a gun” a woman from deep in the container said.
“So do I” I replied, trying to sound assured and bold.
The place was a volcano…so many bodies crammed in a tight space with little air..this was the height of wickedness.

I could feel the women were not really buying my idea of fighting…I couldn’t really blame them, they had seen their fellow women gunned down before their eyes for showing some form of resistance.

I didn’t have as much time for a pep talk like I would have liked because almost immediately the trailer came to a stop.
I held my ear “strange eyes…are you there…I need back up!”
No reply….then: “,Mr Rex…its Dr Rasheed..your friend is asleep..the pain was too much and he was hallucinating…he kept mentioning one Tonye something…he’s asleep now”
“Where are you..you could help me!”
“Rex…” He said sadly “I’m just a doctor…a crooked one at that…Betran can hardly identify a gun talk less of firing one”
“What of Mr X?” I asked frustrated
“He’s not here..we traced you because we wanted to warn you about him…..he has something evil planned and we just can’t go through with it anymore..”
I was about to ask what his plan was but the trailer had come to a stop and I heard the slamming of doors.

After some few seconds: a Shadow’s voice:”what happened along the way?..the minute we got your call we headed here straight away”
“We were attacked on the road”
“So what about the convoy…big mummy…shadow zigma and Delta?”
A pause then: “they’re gone…all gone…”

“Shīt! What about the widows?”
“They’re locked up in the back”
“Okay..let’s hurry up then”
“The shadow is tallest!”
They all echoed: “sunset!”

The women began to chatter frightfully and worriedly…I was also scared now…I had heard about three different voices ask different questions which the other two answered which would mean there were about five shadows outside.
“Don’t be scared…we’re more than them”…I tried to convince them..but my voice wasn’t so assuring anymore.

“Heey…didn’t Zigma lock this door?”
“I’m sure he did…”
“Well its open”
“Hmmm….”
The voice got closer and I cocked the gun…it felt like the end but I was going to go down fighting.

The minute the door opened, I threw myself at it, knocking back the shadow backward…I tumbled to the ground and rolled my eyes…trying to take in everything at once…I fired my gun at the shadow I had taken down and I hit him square in the face…that was one down, four more to go…but I was a sitting duck, surrounded by trained assassins with just a hand gun for my shield…I squeezed the trigger countlessly in every direction until a bullet took me down…it got me in the chest, and I had the bulletproof vest on, but the pain was still unbelievable.
“Who the hell is this?” I heard the voice…it sounded far away…and I could see a masked face staring at me with the mop stick raised…I could see the gleam of the blade in the darkness and I thought once more: its all over…but the widows came to my rescue…they shouted and charged out of the container…shouting, with fists flaying and anger and rage in their movements…they knocked the shadow back and I struggled to my feet when I saw him roll his blade…ready to cut the women down.
Their movement was stopped, when a shadow… raised his gun and fired into the sky: ratatatatatatat!
They all scrambled and ran for cover. Holding their ears and getting on their knees.

I had my gun up and was looking for the source of the gunshot when a sharp pain stabbed me at the back of my knees…I hit the ground immediately..
It was a shadow…he had the mask on and he looked like my worst nightmare…and when he said “so you want to be a hero don’t you?” I remembered my worst nightmare…but he had taken the place of big mummy the witch.
I lay on my back watching the sharp gleam of the blade for the second time that night and the same thought ran through my mind…”it really is over now” I could hear Olivia crying uncontrollably from the ear phone and I cursed myself for not disposing it earlier.
“Alpha terminate that fool immediately!”

The blade was coming down in a mini second but then I heard the gunshot….distinct this time…it cracked through the night and I wondered where it had come from..or more importantly…where it had gone…
In reply to my thoughts, the shadow fell to his knees…then the stick blade fell from his hands with a loud clatter…he had been shot between his eyes…a clean professional shot..
For a minute I remained on my back…looking at the stars, not thinking of anything in particular…

The shadow with the gun sprayed bullets in an unseen direction: ratatatatat! And a single bullet was fired in response…he also fell to his knees.

Suddenly I did the math…I had killed one..and two had just dropped dead..that meant two more shadows were remaining….
I struggled to my feet slowly as I heard the voice clear: “This is the end of the line for you shadows…the light is here!”
Guess who..it was Tonye!!

I went mad suddenly…
I leapt to my feet…the two shadows were leaning on each other’s backs…rolling their deadly sticks in their hands..they didn’t have guns with them…I recognized the shadow who had been smoking and slapping and my vendetta was rediscovered.
I shouted at the top of my lungs…
“They’ve run the widows initiative for years…but now its time for freedom…the freedom initiative!!!!!”
I gave a war cry and the widows all went mad…they got up from their various hiding places…some of them who had been too scared to leave the container jumped down and we approached the two shadows slowly…
Each step was a challenge..my legs were bleeding seriously but when I saw Tonye emerge from the shadows..her deadly gun in her hands..I became a brave heart.
And just as brave heart once shouted in the movie…I shouted at the top of my voice: “For freeeeeeddddooom!!!!!”

The two shadows were rolling their weapons,they stood back to back..providing cover for each other..they didn’t seem frightened..they probably thought they were going to take down as much of us as possible…
I didn’t plan to give them the chance to do so. Tonye had emerged from behind a container across and from the reflection of the moonlight I saw her look at me…

I raised my gun and shot the first shadow in the leg.
Only when he went down on his knees did I marvel at my accuracy…I didn’t even think about it, I just pointed the gun and squeezed the trigger and the bullet had obeyed my intentions.
Tonye did the same…or not really the same, she pulled the trigger but she didn’t go for the legs…she shot the shadow somewhere in the neck region..his weapon dropped from his hands as he fell dead to the ground.

The last shadow (who had been blowing smoke and ass slapping the widows) was on a knee..I must have shot him in his right leg…probably damaged his femur. Now he was down on a knee like he was about to propose.

He still swung the stick madly…and I slowed down..the blade was making a swooshing sound that was really intimidating and it made me stop just outside the arc.

I didn’t want to shoot him yet but I might not have a choice..I raised the gun but then I stopped. Tonye had snuck up on him from behind while he had his focus on striking the stick in the direction of me and the widows. She grabbed the stick suddenly with such force.

That was all the widows needed.
I had been angry with this particular shadow and hated him because of what I had seen him do to the women..but I never thought how much more hatred the women must have harboured towards him..for other hideous things he had probably done in the past.
This was a rare chance for revenge and they took it.

They rushed,attacked and mauled the shadow….he had been brave all along…he hadn’t even shouted out in pain when I had shot his legs, but now he couldn’t hold it anymore..he shouted: “Yeeee!Aaaaaaagh!”

There was no way I was going to tell the women it was okay or that they should stand down..I stood back, beside Tonye and we watched in silence..
Every single widow wanted a piece of the action, and it seems they were taking shifts.

“I thought you were dead” I said to Tonye after sometime.
“I lost my headphone when I jumped down..I had to-“
“Yeeeeeee! I beg of you…!” The Shadow’s shrill cry interrupted her.
“Hmmm…so shadows beg..”I muttered.

After what seemed like hours, the attack died down slowly. I could hardly make out the shadow on the floor..he looked like he was dead.
He had been shot in his lap and it seemed the shot wound had been kicked continuously…he was presently in a pool of blood…I approached him slowly..the pain in my legs were getting much worse and each step was difficult.
I studied the shadow..this was the definition of black and blue..he had been pounded and he remained still and unmoving.
I held his wrist and felt the faintest pulse.

“So what do we do from here?” Tonye asked me.
I didn’t have any idea. I wasn’t getting anything from the earphone and I called out: “Dr Rasheed. .where are you?”
He replied immediately “I’m so glad you’re alive…that was a brave thing you did there-“
I interrupted him. “Where are you doctor?”
“We’re driving in now..give us some minutes”

“Rex..where you shot?…are you okay” Olivia asked immediately.
“Olivia I’m fine…” I turned to look at the women. They were hurdled together but were all observing me. “Its all over…the women are here..”
“Its not yet over…”Tonye corrected me “there are a dozen shadows and we took down five now…plus the two from earlier…that means five more shadows are on the loose”
“Actually four…I killed one in this very wharf last week”
“Okay…four more shadows..” She sighed then looked at me… “What of..what of Bami?”
From her countenance I could see she feared the worst. I just smiled “the both of you are going to give birth to some very mean kids”
She looked at me and must have seen the truth in my eyes because she let out a sigh of relief and was about to say something..
“Excuse me…” A voice from behind made us turn. It was a widow..I recognised the voice as the one that had calmed the widows when I had gotten into the container.
“What’s your name?” She asked me
“Rex…this is Tonye”
“I’m Martha..” She replied.
Wow….that was my mother’s name.
“I don’t know how we are going to ever repay you…the next time we stepped out of the container..we were supposed to be in a strange Country..on another continent…”her voice shook from emotion and Tonye held her hands
“Its okay…that’s not going to happen”
She nodded…”what do we have to do to make sure the initiative doesn’t do this kind of thing together…we’re all ready to march to the police”
Tonye nodded in agreement but I shook my head…
“No…we’re not playing with Chief any more…he was able to get away with this for so long because part of the law was on his side…I don’t trust the police…they could find a way to twist the whole thing”
“So what should be the next step?” Tonye and the widow both asked.
I cracked my knuckles and my brain in thought ..but then Olivia spoke up: “my late husband was a journalist…I still keep in touch with most of his reporter friends…the best way to fully cripple the initiative first is by public awareness…every one has to know the truth”
I nodded my head…. “That’s perfect”
“What’s perfect?” Tonye asked
I had forgotten she had lost her ear phone.
“The first thing to do is to have interviews…news papers..TV stations…in 24 hours it all hits the stands..it gets aired…then we can consider the police”
They both nodded and the widow turned and hurried to the others. She must have relayed the news to them because there was an excited chatter amongst them.

“Let me start making the calls…the phone book is soo many” Olivia said
“Good, call as many as possible”
“Okay..I would have to take off the earphone…stay safe…I love you”
It felt so good to hear her say it.
“You too..I love you too..tell Andy we’d see in the morning”

Tonye smiled at me. “I’m so happy for you two”
I nodded “I’m happy for you two also” I replied
We studied the women. They were still talking and basically enjoying the open space. One of them was coming towards us.
“How do we transport 498 women out of here?” Tonye asked me
I shrugged..that’s what I had been thinking of all along.
A young widow approached us. She looked so young and I remembered she was one of the very first widows to be loaded up at the warehouse.
“Mr Rex…thank you so much Sir…I have a year old daughter and I thought I’d never see her again”
“Its alright…who’s she with?..how where you abducted?” So many things to find out.
“I was with my sister and daughter..we went to the supermarket to buy some baby things..we were about going back home…in the car park when this young man in the sales uniform ran after us anf said that I had been mistakenly cheated..my change wasn’t complete..” She broke off and smiled bitterly “I knew the change I had been given was complete but things were very hard and we were barely scraping by…I followed him, telling my sister to wait for me..I had my daughter in my arms…the man was really nice and polite and he offered to hold her but then my sister said she would hold her and wait…so I followed him…we were still in the car park..a popular baby food delivery van drove and parked in front and I remembered wondering that they deliver their goods to the supermarket themselves and thinking that the market must be very prestigious….the last thing I remembered was the van door opening behind us after we passed it…and I felt strong hands grab me from behind…I woke up in the container at the wharf some weeks ago we were transferred to the warehouse”

I had been silent as she recounted her ordeal and I shook my head…I could bet my left arm that the nice and polite young gentle man had been Tosin…I was sure of it.
The young widow was still speaking “but sir…you sir…you’re something else…you’re so old but you’re soo brave..the way you moved like you were 50 years younger…thank you so much sir..God would reward you”
I had forgotten all about my grey hair and beards..not to mention my leathery and weathered face.
I just smiled wisely “no problem my daughter…just be happy…you would see your daughter tomorrow…I can promise you that”

A car appeared from in between the containers. The headlights got closer and the women began murmuring worriedly.
I assured them that everything was alright. “Its okay…he’s a friend…”
“We need to leave this place” one of them said.
“Yes…” Another agreed

The car killed its headlights and Dr Rasheed and Betran got out.
They strode hurriedly to where I stood with Tonye and the young widow. Their eyes took in the dead shadows on the floor.
Betran was looking at the widows with his mouth open. I chuckled as I shook hands with him and Dr Rasheed.

“Are you the one who is Tonye?” The doctor asked Tonye immediately.
“Yes I am..do I known you?”
“No you don’t..but your boyfriend has been crying for you since..I had to put him to sleep because of the pain he was going through…but he’s in the backseat now”
“Pain…was he hurt?” I heard the worry in her voice and I was glad she had feelings for Bami too…she was just too tough a lady that I wondered if Bami’s feelings were not one way.
She didn’t wait for a reply but was instead running to the car.
“Betran…please close your mouth haba!” Carmicheal cautioned his partner who had been staring in open mouthed wonder.
“They’re just soo much..!”
“I know..why don’t you inform them on the luxurious buses that are incoming while I speak to Rex for a minute”

He grabbed my arm and smiled at the young widow who was still beside me. “Excuse us young lady…so nice to see you safe and sound”
He led/dragged me away while Betran held the hand of the widow and proceeded to join the rest.

“What buses?” I asked the doctor surprised.
“When I heard the other lady over the ear phone….” He pointed at his ear “this is very nice by the way…anyway I immediately made some calls for five big buses that would transport us all to the stadium for the interview”
“The stadium… Why the stadium?”
“Toor…I only thought it would be a good location…but whatever you decide”
“So the buses are coming now?”
“Yes….but that’s beside the point..”he lowered his voice.
“Tomorrow Chief Amunike is going to be honoured with a humanitarian award..foreign dignitaries would be present and even the Governor of Lagos State, his wife..hundreds of important people would be present….”
“What the Bleep are the they given him an award for?” I asked unbelievably
He sighed impatiently “that’s still besides the point…..look here if we don’t do something to stop it…everyone that attends is going to die tomorrow!”
I looked to the sky…my legs were still bleeding…my hands were still bleeding..my body was in serious pain…couldn’t I rest for one minute?

“What are they giving him an award for?” I asked once more.
Dr Rasheed scoffed “for his service to “humanity”….” He made quotation marks with his hands. “Didn’t you hear about the nomination for Lagos State personality of the year?”
I shook my head “believe me with what I’ve been engrossed in, Christmas could come and I wouldn’t know”
“Well..Chief Amunike won the poll and he’s going to be awarded with the award tomorrow and for the very first time a key to the city”
I shook my head in wonder “but what criteria….I don’t just understand..” I was baffled…was it the drug trafficking…human trafficking..or arms dealing?
As if reading my mind, the doctor replied “actually…it seems his philanthropic activities are being rewarded..but the truth is he has friends in the highest of places, so I’m not surprised”

The widows broke into a round of applause and cheerful shouts, I observed them for some seconds where they stood talking to Betran.
“Why where you limping…are you hurt?” Dr Rasheed asked me.
“Seriously hurt…” I replied. But my mind was worked up now “wait….wait…you said they’re all going to die…how exactly?”
“When the decoration team are setting up the Eko hall and designing it in preparation for the ceremony, a time bomb is going to find its way to the midst of every thing..its going to countdown and explode sometime after noon tomorrow, when the ceremony is in full swing”
“Mr X…how did he manage to…oh my God..but he said he planned to rip the chief Of everything..riches and take everything from him not just to kill him….and definitely not like this..”

The doctor shook his head “recently he became to consumed by his hatred…everyday he goes on about the Chief and how he was going to make his life hell..but then he saw the notice in the papers and he lost it..-“
The car door opened and slammed and Tonye made her way to us.
“We need to get him to the hospital..his legs are really swollen..he must be in so much pain” she said immediately she reached us.
“I sedated him…we’d get him to the hospital..I’m a doctor he’d be fine don’t worry” Carmichael assured her.

Ten minutes later and the luxurious buses arrived. Their headlights swept over our faces one after the other and the loud powerful noise ceased the moment the drivers killed the engine.

The widows wanted to go home…they had sisters/brothers/sons/daughters/fathers/mothers/cousins/grand parents they had left behind and they couldn’t wait to be acquainted with them.

I tried to assure them they would all see them tomorrow.
“Please… I would personally provide phones to you so you can call your loved ones and tell them you’re okay…but we need to have our own interview with the press tomorrow…to make sure we stop all future interview from the initiative from happening again”
“So where do we go tonight?” Someone asked me from behind.
I scratched my jaw…”have you all eaten today?”
“Eaten bawo?”
“For where?”
“No ooo”
“Not at all..”
The responses where many and in the negative. I made up my mind then and there.
“Okay…you know what..we’re going to drive to one of the best hotels in Lagos…we’re going to pair ourselves two per room and we’re going to have a lovely dinner..then we have a nice rest and move out first thing tomorrow for the freedom initiative interview…how does that sound?”
They all chorused their approval and I smiled.

I took the drivers to the side and gave them the name of a four star hotel as our destination.
“That’s a lot of money…you know how much a room would cost and we’ll need nothing less than 250…”
“Tonye..Tonye…Tonye..”I placed a hand on her shoulder “you can’t place a price on freedom”
To tell the truth, I was confident in the case full of dollars in Olivia’s care…I didn’t mind denting my account to take care of the widows..I had a safety net…a big bouncing castle and with prudent investment I would be set for life.

The drivers returned to the buses and revved the engine.
I cleared my throat and announced..
“Wonderful women…incase our number raises questions…we’re going for a church crusade…organised for women alone…and I’m your dear pastor”

I stood back and watched them all file into the buses.
“What do we do with the shadow?” Tonye asked me.
He was still on the floor in a corner. Still unconscious and out cold.
“He needs to be questioned…and if possible tortured..we need to find out every thing we need to know about the remaining shadows…they can’t go scot free”

“I called the agent watching over the lawyer..we can transfer him there and tomorrow morning during or after the interview we’ll get the answers we need”
She didn’t know I now had the responsibility of stopping a bomb from going off and killing hundreds of people…

The widows were settled in the four buses..some of them had to sit on each other’s laps…but they were just too happy..they began singing again and they truly looked like a church group.
“What do you do to the bodies..?”
I shrugged…”we’ll leave it for customs…when the papers hit the stands and documentaries are aired the day after tomorrow, the authorities can put two and two together”
He nodded…”about tomorrow…”
“Look doctor..I need a favour”
“Anything” he said eagerly
“I need you to help me transport a shadow to a location…the agent would go with you…and from there to please drop Bami in the hospital…”
“Wow..that’s a lot of-“
“Come on…it was your car that ran over him after all!”
Tonye had been observing us but now she shouted: “what?!!”
Dr Rasheed agreed quickly “okay…no problem..hospital…got it”

We squeezed the shadow into the booth of the car and I checked on strange eyes, he was still fast asleep but his leg looked ghastly..i concluded he was going to use clutches for a while.

I stood outside with Dr Rasheed, while Betran got behind the wheel and Tonye got in the back. She cradled strange eye’s head in her lap and I watched her stroke his face gently.

“How do you plan on going about it?” Carmichael asked me.
I shrugged…”I’d need to speak to Mr X first…I don’t know but it must be stopped…I understand his need for revenge..but not this way”
“That would be futile…his mind is made up I’m afraid”
I sighed…my legs were still troubling me and I couldn’t stand upright.
“We need to still see tonight and rub minds…I feel like I’m betraying Mr X but I can’t go through with this…my conscience can’t take it” the doctor said.
“Okay..when you’re done with the hospital, you come to the hotel then…that reminds me..I’d like you to bring someone from the hospital over…my lady friend in the wheel chair”
He nodded in agreement then hurried into the vehicle.

I studied the battle field for some minutes, then hurried into the nearest luxurious bus.
The five vehicles pulled out and drove away from the battleground…where some of the most dangerous assassins had been slain.

There was some serious singing and general chatter in the bus. The women were happy to be out and they now could talk about the experience that was so difficult to speak of before.

There was no space for me to sit, so I stood, feeling satisfied to listen to them speak within themselves. But when my legs almost buckled from under me, the nearest woman stood up for me to sit down.
I fell into the seat thankfully. My legs really needed medical care, I made up my mind to get doctor Rasheed look at it.
I rested my head on the headrest,the women’s voices was a pleasant background and before long, I was dozing.

Half an hour later, my eyes jerked open. The buses were in a single file and they were all slowing down. We were approaching the hotel and I got up and stretched. My phone rang immediately. It was Olivia.

“Hello..Rex..I’ve made calls….expect a huge turnout tomorrow…I didn’t tell what it was about..but I assured each of them it was a career defining story”
“That’s perfect…which venue did you give to them?”
“I’m supposed to text it to them later tonight”
“Hmmm….okay I’d get back to you”

Half an hour later and I left the reception of the hotel and went back outside to the buses.
I had over a hundred keys in my hands and I walked very slowly, not from my leg injury this time but from the weight of my empty account.
I had literally just emptied my account for the purchase of almost 200 rooms.
I shared the keys in the different buses.
“Please..you’ll need to share the rooms…maybe in twos and threes..its just for the night…”
They were all looking out the window..admiring the hotel which was really big and impressive.
“Sir..God bless you and reward you…what more could we ask for?”
“We’ve been crowded in a container for weeks..we are ready to stay ten in a room Mr Rex!”
I smiled “okay..let’s all wash up and relax for 30 minutes..I’d talk to the kitchen and we’ll all meet in the dining”
They all agreed.

I stripped down and put on the heater.
Ten minutes later, I stood under the shower watching as the red water(my blood)went down the drain.
I applied antiseptic to my hand and the back of my legs. I had to bite my tongue because of the biting sting.

15 minutes later, I was out and dressed. I put the gun on the dresser and left the room, locking the door. I brought out my phone and called doctor Rasheed.
“Hello doctor…”
“Rex..how are you?”
“Fine..not to fine…when you’re coming I’d need some bandages please…my legs are troubling me seriously”
“No problem..I just dropped of the shadow at the address you gave me…he was badly injured but he’ll survive..I’m taking the injured agent to the hospital now”
“Okay..that’s good”
“I’ll be with you shortly”
“Okay..don’t forget to bring Olivia”
“Sure thing….have you figured out a way to stop the explosion yet?”
“Doctor..one step at a time..one step at a time..”

I negotiated with the kitchen for 500 plates of food..the dining was empty by now, as the time was almost 11:30pm and it took the staff about 20 minutes to set up the place.

I wasn’t really hungry and I sat on the farthest table, picking my plate.
Coconut rice was the menu with grilled fish and fried plantain and five hundred plates left just double digits remaining in my account.
I didn’t really mind. My mind was busy thinking…I had to get in touch with Mr X, “the ugly”…there had to be a way I could stop him from what he had planned..
If not, I would have to find a way to get the program cancelled.
I wanted to call Tonye and find out how the lawyer and the shadow were doing but my phone wasn’t with me. It was currently making rounds from table to table as the women were calling their loved ones.

°•°•°•••°•°
Betran,Carmichael and Olivia entered the dining hall.
Betran was tasked with Wheeling Olivia while Carmichael hurried towards me on his short legs.
I saw Olivia’s eyes widen as she took in the women and the joy on her face was priceless.

“Rex..we have another problem…” Carmichael was saying but I wasn’t listening, my eyes were focused on Olivia as she blessed me with a radiant smile.

“I spoke to Mr X…and he isn’t installing a time bomb anymore..he got a tip off that there would be a sweep of the whole area before the program for all IED and he switched it to something more deadly”
He had my attention now…I managed to tear my eyes away from Olivia.
“What…what do you mean?”

“A timer has been installed somewhere in the hall…at approximately quarter past noon tomorrow…the timer is going to finish its count down and a deadly nerve gas is going to be released through the air vents..a/c vents..every vent for air!”
Betran and Olivia had reached us now, but she didn’t speak she was watching my expression which must have been horrified.
“What gas?” I asked breathlessly.
“Its called sarin gas”
“Sarin gas?”
“Yes..sarin gas..Its one of the deadliest nerve gases, hundreds of times more toxic than cyanide. Just one whiff and you’ll foam at the mouth, fall into a coma, and die.”
“Oh my God..” Olivia gasped.
I pushed my plate away. The rice had lost its taste and appeal.
“So every one who breathes it in…dies?”
“Yes..and it can’t be stopped…the only way is to input a code in the timer..this code would stop the counter from counting down and stop the discharge”
“You know the code?” I didn’t expect him to but I had to ask.
“No…no..I don’t”
“Who has it?” I asked although I knew the answer.
“Mr X…only Mr X has it”
“I need to speak to him…where is he”
“I could lose my life for giving you his address..but I don’t care anymore…I can’t go through with this anymore!” Dr Rasheed brought out a piece of paper, placed it on my table and scribbled an address hurriedly on it.
I looked at the address “he’s there now?”
“He doesn’t go anywhere else” Betran replied.

I scratched my head, deep in thought.
Someone tapped my back and I turned to see a widow giving me my phone.
“Its ringing sir” she announced.
I thanked her then picked the call.
It was Tonye.
“Tonye..how are you..what’s going on?”
“He’s talking..the fool is talking.. ” she sounded really revved up and out of breath.
“Who? The shadow?”
“Yes..according to him..all the shadows work in the security department of Sunrise steel and the c.s.o is their leader”
“Splendid….good work” I had a feeling she tortured him but I didn’t ask.
“We can take them all down straight away….tomorrow, after the interview!”
“Errrm…yes of course..no problem”
I ended the call.
Dr Rasheed was eating the extra plate of food..I had Olivia in mind when I ordered it,but she didn’t look hungry..she looked worried.
“What are you going to do?”she asked me.
“I have to go and see this man immediately..” If Andy could go with me it would have boosted my chances….maybe if Mr X saw his son in laws he might remember his daughters and tell me the code.

Whatever way, I had to apply the tactics applied by the good in the movie(The Good,The Bad and The Ugly) and disarm the gun belonging to the ugly.
But in this case, the gun in question was a poisonous nerve gas, capable of killing hundreds after just a whiff.

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