Delayed Diagnosis Episode 11
Written by Kingsley Olanrewaju Efughi
I heard the knock two minutes after 11.
I had locked up both Jumbo and Mathias who were now unconscious and had been pacing outside nervously.
The Chief was inside but I didn’t see any other light come on in the house.
The man obviously preferred the dark.
When I heard the knock I had hurried to the gate praying it was Fome on the other side of the gate.
“Who is there”
“Who are you expecting?Mathias open this door joor”
It was Fome’s voice.
I swung the gate open happily and saw the all too familiar nuzzle of a gun aimed at me.
“Fome wait a-“
For a minute I thought I was dead. I was horizontal, my body stiff…my brain seemed to black out and I when I came around..the shock was too painful to contemplate and I could taste copper on my tongue.
For s brief second I thought she had shot me but then she bent to retrieve the two wire points she had shot into my chest..
A stun gun it had to be I tried calling her name but my lips wouldn’t open.
“Who else is here?she asked roughly” gripping me by the collar.
She was unrecognizable her eyes had a killer glint in them and her voice was cold harsh and she brought the stun gun frighteningly close to my eyes.
This person was supposed to be my wife!
My brain was getting unscrambled but I still couldn’t catch my voice.
She dragged me up by my collar and I feared she planned to smash my head to the floor.
Karma had probably caught up with me for Jumbo’s sake.
The thought was enough to get my joints moving.
I lifted my hands which where numb and my voice found itself..although it sounded more like a frogs croak.
“Itsme….itsme..”
“Rex!” Her voice dripped disbelief and shock.
She helped me to a sitting position so she could lock the gate.
“My God..what are you doing here..this is too dangerous you don’t understand”
That got me angry but I controlled my voice.
“Someone is coming to kill you any moment from now..”.
The chief stepped out from the compound “what is going on there.. Mathias!” He hurried down the steps.
Fome helped me and I got grudgingly to my feet.
“Who was knocking..fofo is that you?”
For a second I thought she was going to use the stun gun on Chief. I was fully behind her..although I had become weary of her..my heart still hadn’t settled from the jolting of electricity.
However she smiled..”Big Chief it is I o..”
They then exchanged words in an urhobo dialect and the chief gestured to the house.
As she went with him he said:”wait”
He turned to me “what are you looking at?”
“Sorry sah”
I retreated to the gate house thinking l had to do something now..I had to get the gun.
The chief had held Fome’s hand and they stood talking.
I was thinking something wasn’t right..the Chief had looked at me strangely just now..or was it my imagination?
I fumbled with the key.
And I heard the knock again.
I looked back and both the chief and Fome had stopped talking.
“Mathias open the gate “
There was no way I could do that. that was literally opening the door for the angel of death.
I stood rooted to the spot as the knock sounded again..
“Mathias!” Chief was sounding furious. “Are you deaf open that door”
No way sir I thought to myself..I turned to the door fully intending to rush for Jumbo’s gun which was just on the shelf inside.
From the other side of the door came the voice..
“Rex….?”
I thought she sounded scared and I looked back at the chief just in time to see his look of disbelief.
I moved towards the gate
“I no deaf oga.. I hear am”
I unhooked the gate and stood to the side..and in came Ada walking slowly..she was visibly shaken and as I wondered why, the gun followed..in came the old crooner leading Ada in a hostage like situation.
I was beside the gate and once more I had reacted too slowly because only when the old crooner was in the compound and gripping Ada more tightly holding the gun to her neck that I realized I should have broken her feeble bones by slamming the gate shut on her the moment she had entered.
But now she had Ada in a right grip and was accessing the situation..she looked at me but either the cap and uniform changed my look or she didn’t register me in the heat of the moment.
I was 100% sure that if she recognized me she would gun me down instantly. I knew I had been a thorn in her side,same way she had been a thorn in mine
The moon had decided to shine fully that night and I guess it broke away from the clouds because all of a sudden the compound was very well lit.
Chiefs mouth hung open and I could see this was the last thing he had expected to see.
Ada was silent but shaking and I knew she was close to tears.
I cursed myself and thought of my options.
The old crooner pointed the gun at me and gestured I move towards Chief and Fome.
Fome had been stationary but she had been shocked by the arrival of Ada and the old assassin.
“Chief the gods really smiled down on me when I saw the very same car I had used in tracing the boy on so many occasions. Imagine my surprise when I would find this lovely lady”
She used the gun to part Ada’s hair from her face and when I saw the tears down her cheeks I hated myself…she was just 19 for Gods sake..barely a kid. I had let myself get carried away and just see the result.
The chief on the other hand cut a figure of apprehension and I heard him catch his breath when the old crooner caressed Ada’s face with the gun.
“Chief” she continued “your daughter is not why I’m here..but I need the complete money for this job plus the extra 750 balance now..when I kill the second one.”
She looked at me when she said ‘second one’ and I knew she must have recognised me all along.
“Listen to me..anything you want right now I will give you but the moment you lay a finger on her head there would be no place on earth you can hide!”
The old crooner smiled “I know..but could you hunt me from the grave?”
“Yes I can” he said it with much authority.
I was watching Ada and she was quiet as if in a trance.
Fome too was almost invincible but then again nobody wanted a bullet.
The old crooner nudged Ada forward
” Mona delivered the a sum of 250 million..I would like the papers right now…and your daughter [sup][/sup]would go free.”
The chief didn’t blink.
“They are upstairs”
“Good. We all go”
She pointed the gun at Fome and I
“A single file..Chief you stay at the front. ,you!” She signaled me with the gun “stay after the girl(Fome)”
Like obedient pupils we formed the line and began a slow march to the house.
“If I see any funny movement I would shoot before I ask questions!”
That would surely mean the death of everybody because once I stepped into the house I sniffed the air and caught the distinct ordour of gas Coming all the way from the kitchen at the other end..
chief started to ascend the stairs followed by Fome then me. I could hear Ada’s controlled sobs behind me.
The old crooner who obviously hadn’t smelt any gas..potential riches being all she could smell sounded out another warning.
“My right hand has arthritis so my trigger finger hasn’t responded since I tried to shoot since yesterday..so it may respond any moment at the slightest agitation am I clear?”
“Yes ma’am” even the chief responded.
As we headed upstairs I thought of Emenike..he was upstairs in one of the rooms I was sure..probably in a different planet now.
I sniffed the air again…this time I couldn’t smell the gas. This time around I smelt doom.
We got to the Chiefs room and he seemed to fumble about for the key.
“Adaobi baby its alright. You’ll be alright” he said this in Igbo.
“Answer me Osiso” the woman replied in igbo. it seemed she could speak any language whenever she pleased.
I used the opportunity to lean into Fumi as we stood waiting for Chief to open up.
“Gimme the stun gun”
I couldn’t see it on her body but I knew she was with it.
She was quiet.
“Gimme the gun now”
She didn’t reply and I thought she was scared..I gritted my teeth in frustration.
“What’s the hold up? My fingers are twitching o” the old crooner prodded the chief. He opened the door and we filed in.
Chief seemed to take time to locate the switch.
“Now..pass it now” I whispered to her ear. But still no reply.
“Don’t mess with me put on the light” the old crooner shouted, she did something that made Ada gasp out in pain and chief hastily switched on the light.
“Why was she scared..she could have given me the gun easily..The gun in the old crooner’s hand was liable to go off and I knew I needed to act.
Something nagged at my brain..something my subconscious was hinting at but which I did not want to consider before..but all of a sudden I had a flash back to about a year ago. Andy’s marriage to Mona had been about 9 months old then and Fome and I had still been our usual ‘rosy’ selves. The four of us used to go out together a lot..Andy and Mona were in the early days of marriage and love was shooting out of both their eyes.
Me on the other hand had been nursing the idea of marriage and so dragged Fome with me every time. The usual ploy of getting her around married people to make her susceptible to the idea..you’d think at 26 she’d be thinking along those lines but no..I was the one doing all the prodding back then.
Anyway, standing in the Chiefs room that night, as the lights came on..I recalled a particular Sunday from one of such outings with Andy and his wife.
The four of us had been at the beach..and we were pretty drunk or to be specific I was pretty drunk..Andy was halfway gone too but had been keeping himself in check because he was on driving duty and you remember he was super careful with his driving.
Anyways that day we had been under the shade just watching the water and enjoying the breeze.
I was holding what had to be my 4th canned beer.
Andy had been on the phone.(he had been trying to cut down on his gambling so he only called the barman of the place he gambled to place bets for him. Then covered the guy on weekends.
That day Andy had been making one of such calls and as I waited for him to finish so we could continue our argument about football I had looked at Mona and Fome where the both of them had sat laughing and talking.
“Wow! Are you guys twins?” I had belched loudly feeling very merry..”you guys look soo much alike..Andy don’t they look alike?”
Andy had glanced impatiently at me lost in the betting world.
“Thank God you are not driving us home tonight” Fome had laughed.
“Abi..he’s really tanked..how can he say we look alike?”
We had laughed it up and when Andy had ended his call we continued arguing Liverpool and man United’s dominance of English football.
The flash back was like a revelation.
It seemed the nagging thought that had previously been dancing around my mind finally touched down.
I looked at Fome in disbelief.
The old crooner
Pointed the gun at us. “Sit on the bed”
I sat immediately but Fome remained standing.
She took a step forward to the chief.
“Where are the papers?”
Chief Amunike’s mouth fell open for the umpteenth time that night. He stared at the old crooner in surprise half expecting her to caution or maybe shoot Fome, but the woman said nothing only smiled.
I reached my hand into my pocket as no one was looking at me and thanked God I had removed my phone lock.
I swiped the screen then with experience guided my finger to were my dial symbol was I tapped it twice…strange eyes was my last dialed and I hoped I just dialled his number right now.
Chief looked at Fome
“What are you doing” he looked at the old crooner as if in protest..but I could see in his eyes that reality had dawned.
“Shut up..remember my finger” the old crooner warned
Fome walked round the chief who it seemed was stricken to the spot.
“You have no right to ask questions” she splashed out suddenly with much venom and hatred.
She looked at me and I could tell she had forgotten I was in the room.
” Oh Rex honey..your clothing makes me think its Mathias that is here..I keep on forgetting..just hope I don’t forget and shoot you” she laughed.
But alarm bells were ringing..what kind of joke was that?.
“What’s going on?” I asked her..
She paced round the Chiefs room..checking the walls, the drawers..there was the painting of the sunset on the wall and she took it down to inspect the wall..for a safe I thought.
“You’re going to give us the papers chief unless we’d make an example with her”
“But why…?
The old crooner seemed to hurt Ada who cried out..chief threw up his hands in horror..
“Stop stop stop..I’d give you”
Fumi gestured to the old crooner to stop..
“Wait..I’d tell you why..” She looked at me “so maybe you can understand and forgive me”
I thought of my phone and prayed strange eyes had picked and was listening and tracing this call..
I hoped the fool will come with sufficient back up this time and thought that if he could hear I better alert him to the gravity of the situation.
“Please don’t shoot her..don’t SHOOT her please”
“She would only be shot if we don’t retrieve the papers”
“I’d give you..” The chief assured.
“Sit down first..” She pointed the stun gun at chief and he hurried to the bed.
I shook my head..he didn’t look like a master planner anymore.
Fome went to the window and stared outside.
“24 years ago..a woman had two daughters of ages 4 and 2” she kept quiet and closed her eyes as if remembering a certain painful detail.
By this time I had decided she was the 2 year old girl in her story..the age fit perfectly.
She continued her journey down memory lane and I had a feeling she hadn’t recounted this in a very long time.
“This woman had just lost her husband who had been very wealthy with a fast growing business on the rise”
I felt the chief tense beside me.
“Do you want to tell us the kind of business eh chief”
He said nothing.
The old crooner laughed or rather cackled wickedly.
“Enlightenment always comes after the darkness”
“True..just as sister used to say” Fome smiled lovingly at the memory and I couldn’t take it anymore
“Just what exactly is your relationship to this old woman?”
The old crooner hissed and bared her teeth at me and I wished I had my cane with me to open 32 windows in Her mouth.
“Rex this is someone I see as my mother mind you”
“The same way you saw the chief as your Father abi”
“This man” she walked to the chief and I feared she was going to shock him “is not my father. This man took everything my father had..” Her voice shook as emotions seemed to boil over..
“What kind of man moves in on his friend’s home after his friend’s demise and takes advantage of the wife’s naivety and ignorance to rip the family of everything the husband worked for?”
She searched my eyes looking for understanding..but I was still stuck on what I first heard..”like your mother?..This woman killed Fumi!..she tried to kill me! She was suppose to kill you”
“I never knew about Fumi or you and I’m sorry”..she pointed at Chief “that’s the culprit”
Who was this woman before me?
I thought of how I had ribbed Andy saying what had he married even called him easily blinded not to have seen through Mona’s veil but look at me now..my case wasn’t soo different, what was I even saying..they were sisters!
She moved to Ada who had stopped trembling and was now taking everything in with wide eyes.
“Adaobi, you have been like my sister…but years ago when I was still a child your father took everything from me and my family..we were cast on the street and had to turn to beggars..while he went about building an empire and gathering wealth which the source of which he had forcefully taken, tricked and conned from his dead friends family”
Where was strange eyes?..he should have heard enough by now and the phone had been connected for long hopefully.
I caught the scent of gas..it would have spread to all corners of the house by now..especially downstairs..time was of the essence.
Me I didn’t need the money..just a piece if paper which one Dr.Rasheed had recommended for my ‘delayed diagnosis’
“Fome look…you know my family well..they love you..they are all in danger..look in the papers..there is one particular document…I need it urgently to take it somewhere tomorrow please my Family is at risk..my mother!”
She knew my mother was very fond of her and the feeling was mutual. I saw the emotion in her eyes..she turned to Chief..”you can hear the rest later now get the papers”
The old crooner who still held on to Ada tightened her hold and I was really angered “you don’t have to keep doing that..she has been hurt enough already besides the chief is going along with your demands.”
Fumi said “that’s true..let her sit down”
The killer was displeased I could see but she released Ada who staggered.
The chief made to hug her but the killer stopped him with the gun. “Ehn ehn..get it right now”
She squeezed her nose “ki’ lo ruun’ “
(What is smelling) I knew what was smelling alright gas..the explosive type..I thought it best to announce my previous action..so everyone. Would be fairly warned especially the old crooner who seemed trigger happy.
The chief had gone to his wadrope, opened it then slid another door open inside which no one but him knew was there. He brought out a suitcase. The type that used combinations.
“Hurry up” the old crooner snapped pointing the gun in her hand.
“Calm down..if you shoot even by mistake we all die” I warned with my voice rising.
“What do you mean”
They all looked at me.
Before I could talk about what I had done in the kitchen downstairs we all heard the voice outside.
At first I thought it was strange eyes but then I listened:
“When you want it, when you need it…you’ll always get the best of me!”
It was Emenike obviously wasted, singing a Brian Adams song like it was pasuma.
His voice got louder as he got closer.
“Who is that?” The crooner asked
‘That should be Emenike?”
She looked at the Chief.
“Who else is here?”
“Just us”
But then it seemed Emenike passed the room.
I heard his voice as he muttered to himself “Mathias sorry but I have sly you…sorry o…”
His voice faded away and I gave a sigh of relief.
But then he was back and the door handle began to turn.
“Big chief..are you here?”
Emenike entered the room and swayed taking all the faces in.
“What’s going on here?” He asked no one in particular as he barged in the room.
The old crooner had been waving the gun at him but his eyes passed over her. He seemed to be looking for his dad..when he saw Ada however, the recognition was too strong and he blinked and seemed to regain his train of thought..”Ada! What are you doing here? Who are all this people?”
He turned round the room looking at us. Ada was on the bed now I was beside her…the old crooner stood a little to my left where she had been breathing down Chief’s neck where he stood about to enter the combination. Fome stood to his right.
“Young man sit on the bed or I’ll shoot you” the Old crooner came closer…and I had a feeling of déjà vu from my front seat of the action.
48 hours ago I had stepped *close* to Emenike holding a pestle when I found out about him and Mona. He had dispatched it from my hands with lightening reflexes.
It seemed he was faster when he was intoxicated because as the old crooner got close with the gun pointed..Emenike’s eyes drifted to his father And he must have understood what was going on in a second.
The kick was swift! A quality round house kick. It caught the old killer squarely on her wrist and she yelped out in pain
As the gun flew out of her hand and landed a couple of feet from my side of the bed.
For a second add was still. I expected Emenike to finish of with another perfect kick preferably to the face but he began bouncing like a kick boxer as if waiting for the old crooner to throw a punch so he could parry.
The stun gun from Fumi shot into his back, and the duration of the shock convinced me that this was more potent than the one she had shot me with but still Emenike didn’t touch the ground his response to stimulus must have been numbed by all the substances he had in his system He fell to his knees however as his legs gave out from under him and I could hear his teeth as they clattered together. All this happened in a matter of seconds.
I looked at the gun then at the old crooner..our eyes met and we were thinking the same thing.
I would have begged her for the gun and shot myself if she had beaten me to it. But I’m proud to say on that occasion, sheer youth won. Before she could bend towards it, I had the gun in my hand and pointed at her.
The tables had turned..now it was hunter hunted!
I looked around the room madly as I tried to keep my heart under the speed limit.
“You dirty old frog..sit on the floor!” The old crooner looked at me and complied grudgingly.
I felt like going to give her a sound kick but decided I remain at a distance..bullets traveled after all!
Emenike had his back on the ground by now and as Fome bent to retrieve the wire points I pointed the gun at her.
“Stay where you are!”
“Rex!” She looked shocked.
The chief straightened up..
“Rex my boy I’m soo glad..all I need is one call now..everything will disappear tonight..this woman that killed your friend, she’s a goner”
I didn’t even want to think about that right now if not my own finger could start to seize and I could smell the gas all to clearly.
I stopped him in his tracks as he made to come closer
“You were opening something”
“Rex..is it the money you want…its yours..I let you have it the first time..but you did nothing to it..and when I was able to get it back I knew you didn’t deserve it”
Something else was nagging my brain..if Mona had returned the papers then why did Fome and The old crooner come for it again?
I looked at the old crooner then Fome..just what was their real reason for coming here?
My business however was the coordinates..I needed to get the papers and take it to Dr Rasheed asap and get my family and I off the kidons ‘blacklist’
“Open it up..when I see what I need I’d take it” I instructed him waving the gun for emphasis.
Ada came to stand beside me and I was expecting a protest from her but she folded her arms and glared at her dad.
Fome took another step closer “Rex calm down..put the gun down”
I knew I had to take a stand.
“Fome you too” I gestured to the ground with the gun.”sit on the floor” she looked at me in disbelief,
“Rex..it is ME..its Fome o”
“Exactly,..who exactly is ‘me’?.. sit on the floor Fome”
She obeyed.
“Throw the stun gun towards the door”
She shook her head. “Rex what are you doing to me?”
I gestured impatiently and she complied.
The old killer was to my left silently watching me but she did not move. Which was smart because a part of me dared her to try she had nothing on her (her big purse was not in sight) save for her fists (which were only deadly holding a gun).
I on the other hand could not use the gun to shoot but I could very well use it to smack her unconscious.
I sensed she could feel the murderous rage I felt towards her because she kept her distance. But I could see her watchful eyes sharp and on the lookout for the slightest mistake to pounce.
I was determined she wouldn’t get one
The chief had the briefcase open. The situation was quite tricky because I had to maintain my grip on the gun keeping it level and ready to point in any direction. From the old woman to the chief then fome’
(Left,middle,right)
Ada however was beside me I looked to her.
“Help me get the papers”
She looked at me with such frostiness that it felt like a cold shoulder.
My eyes were darting around the room watching for any movement “I’m sorry for what I put you through..I didn’t expect it to escalate like this”
I tried to keep my voice down but the Chief had been watching me so intently that he probably read my lips.
“By the way Ada..what are you doing here” he stood beside the bedside table where he had opened the suitcase.
“Daddy don’t even start..so this is the India you’ve being going to?..in this very Lagos! Kai..I’m a fool! and this idiot (she nudged Emenike with her foot who was beginning to stir) knew all along…what of mummy!?” That would mean she had believed the story she had told me before..and I had believed her to be lying. However,
I couldn’t afford to let her ramble…I wondered at their sense of smell..I could smell the gas more distinctly now and I wondered why none of them could smell it also. Probably because only me knew what I had done but still..
The chief wasn’t ready to supply any of those answers because he turned the suitcase for me to see. I could see a bunch of papers on top a slim file. But the rest of the briefcase was filled with paper..the green kind!!
The currency was dollars, the stacks were neat and the rows were much!
I stared at it for seconds..and I could see the old crooner squirming on the floor trying to get a good look.
Fome however was looking at me she hadn’t stopped looking since I had literally ‘put her down’
And I was watchful but right now the not so handsome face of Mr.Benjamin was looking quite appealing as I stared at the wads of paper.
“This whole suitcase is yours..hell! I can give you more..God knows it wouldn’t touch me but forget about the other paper you mentioned”..he shook his head…”that was very unfortunate”
“It is indeed unfortunate because I don’t plan to be buried with money..my primary interest is that paper Chief..all these” I encompassed the suitcase with my eyes
“All these is secondary” but my eyes lingered.
“Why do you need that paper anyway that was a silly mistake..I wanted to set a little trap for you so you’d be in my debt because
I wanted you to join in my business’
“Yes my boy..business..it is a business” he added when I frowned at the word “And soo much money is involved, just look at the evidence before you..and this is just chicken change…
He brought out the folder and removed some papers and I knew they were the previous ones that had been stolen from me. “Somehow..a very vital piece got mixed with the papers and I didn’t find out until it was almost too late” he took a step closer and lowered his voice which I thought odd since we were the only ones in the room..and the house..even the compound. I had locked the gate after all..hadn’t I? I tried to flash back…
The old crooner had entered and I had been by the gate..thinking of how I should have slammed the gate..she entered then pointed her gun to me to join Chief and Fome where they stood….which I did on double time.
So the gate should be open!
The chief had been talking “………..to very dangerous people. The type of danger you can not understand..for your sake don’t refer to it anymore.”
“I don’t think you understand what I’m telling you”
“It doesn’t even matter” the Chief hurried on still lowering his voice. “The papers are gone..in the hands they shouldn’t have left..which is not mine I can assure you”
“Spread all the papers in the bag on the floor. One by one..even that paper too on the money..yes” he made to do as he was told and I glanced at the old crooner.
“Just respect yourself like that if not I’d give you the ultimate disrespect”
She nodded in agreement but I could see her squinting her nose probably catching the scent of of the gas.
The chief was silent as he put began to arrange the papers on the floor. “We are wasting time..its not even in this country!”
My mind dropped like 20 stories but I did not waver “just arrange it and keep quiet.
The papers were quite much..more than the ones stolen from me.
“This is one of my personal suitcase I put other things there ” he explained. I watched his bald head which reflected the light bulb that hung from the Ceiling.
All was silent for seconds then the chief looked at Fome who was to his side.
“But I did my part by you..as Larry’s daughters I sponsored you and your sister’s education and I tried to keep both of you financially stable.”
Fome looked at him and her voice was low with emotion “you have no idea what my earliest years were like..the- The earliest memories that I can remember are of poverty and violence and the suffering, tears and self guilt of my mother which you caused.”
I cleared my throat “please let’s focus here..this is not a therapy session”
Fome glanced at me with expressionless eyes.
My phone- I had forgotten about it vibrated in my pocket. It was Andy “Oba where are you?”
“What happened”
“Mona said she was at the hospital but she hasn’t come back since..and this is almost 12. Have you seen her? Are you at the hospital?”
I had an idea of where she was heading to..and the gate was open in invitation!
Ayaiyaiyaiyai!!(rubbing head) The gods must truly be crazy in my case because everything just seemed to jumble up and add against me.
The call was a distraction and I cut it immediately.
“Hurry up” I reminded the chief who had been watching me trying to observe the conversation.
I checked the phone and saw that my credit had been extinguished on the strange eye’s call…But so far he was a no show..
Now I wished I hadn’t done that because now I had the situation under control or hoped i did and I hoped to get the papers and disappear from the house..the gas smell was more distinct now and I could notice Fome’s face had gone serious as she sniffed the air also..
But this Mona person…she could just enter the compound and I wouldn’t even know she could hang around the door and choose a suitable time to surprise or ‘stun’ me…no way! Once was enough…I had to lock it.
But the smell of the gas was growing..a fast exit from this room might be necessary and locking the door hinders that..
To and fro the thoughts went until Chief had spread all the papers in a double line semi circle.
But My mind won’t be at rest…I needed to lock the door so I could watch the papers well and keep an eye on my ‘hostages’
Emenike who had not moved in a while stirred again..and I considered giving his head a gun slap to put him to sleep. I didn’t need his 6’2 karate frame doing crazy kicks and hand tricks in this room.
Too much thinking before acting! I would curse myself because just as I made to move towards the open door..Mona stood beside it with something very wicked in both hands.
Now I’ve never been a gun person but I knew what she held had to be a .50 magnum probably a desert eagle.
Ada saw me looking past her turned around and screamed..she ran to my side and hid behind me and I couldn’t blame her.
“Drop that gun Rex”
“didn’t you smell the gas on your way up..you drop it”
But the whole of her gun nuzzle seemed extra wide and intimidating like a cannon.
“Gas?!” this came from the chief and he seemed to sniff the air for the first time . His face was white with horror…”that can not happen..things are in this house!…it can’t!”
Everyone began mummering at once with Fome crying out in shock..and the old crooner saying “I said it..I said it..”
I marveled at how we had come to this:Two guns trained at each other. Every one was restless since hearing the word ‘gas’ and I could tell the fear of getting shot was being replaced by the fear of blowing up.
Mona and I continued in our stare off but I could tell she was rattled by the gas.
The worst thing that could happen was for strange eyes to turn up now because for once it wasn’t ‘the more the merrier’ and I hoped the credit I had used in calling him had been so little that it had died immediately.
But deep down I knew I had had sufficient credit.
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