TARASHA Episode 4 – Oyin Oluwatosin Emmanuel
Tarasha took a sip of juice after she pasted a copied text from the internet to a word document titled “Nnamdi Okafor”. The first page of the document served as the title page which had the name “Nnamdi Okafor” boldly typed in the middle of the page. “Minister of Health” was typed below the name but not in a font as bold as that of the name.
The information sent to her by the Chief for the job only contained the address of the man’s house, office and some of his family members. It also contained a brief history of the man, his companies, assets, his business associates and high profile friends.
She felt the data provided wasn’t enough for her to work with as she would be stupid to ust attack and ki*ll the man in Abuja, the country’s capital where the man’s businesses and main house was located; she had to start seeking for more information.
The internet provided her with so much in just few hours, she had learnt that the man would be coming to Lagos State for a conference in ten days time. She also discovered that the Hosts of the conference was Derl Pharmaceutical Industry; largest medicine producing company in the country and that they were also inviting other popular health practitioners from outside the country. The conference was scheduled to take place in Eriental Conference hall, Ikeja Lagos.
Since the organizers of the conference were Derl pharmaceutical company, Tarasha concluded that they would also be in charge of the welfare of their guest speakers of which the minister was one. She decided to visit the company’s headquarters in Lagos the next day, Thursday.
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Her phone rang just as she saved and closed the document, a look at the phone’s screen showed that it was Chief calling.
‘Hello Chief, where have you been?’ She asked as she answered the call.
‘Hi, I went out to meet someone. I just saw your missed call now’ Chief replied.
‘Okay, I wanted to discuss something with you on Skype’
‘What’s it about? Can we discuss now?’
‘Just, I’ll log on immediately’ Tarasha ended the call.
The first thing she did was to put on her mask, then she opened the Skype software on the laptop; the Chief already sent a connection request.
‘Hi Chief, you’re looking very happy today’ She commented cheerfully immediately the video came on.
‘Thank you Tarasha, I met with some old friends this morning and we had a very nice discussion’ the Chief replied with a smile.
‘That’s cool Chief, let me go straight to the point now’ Tarasha said and faced the webcam directly. ‘I’ll be moving into the house you prepared for me very soon, precisely next tomorrow’
‘Wow!’ Chief Gab exclaimed happily. ‘Wow! Wow! What made you reconsider your decision?’
‘I didn’t reconsider my decision, it was my plan all along to move in there later’
‘Oh! Well, so what plans do we have to make for you now? The place is well decorated already, I’m sure you’ll like it’
‘I believe that the kind of place I would like to stay was already communicated to you before I came to Nigeria’
‘Yes, we have five large empty rooms in the house, two sitting rooms, two rooms rooms already designed for sleeping and we have a work room there also with three computers’
‘Okay Chief, what I need there now is a laboratory; I’ll send you a list of equipment, gases and the chemicals I need there’ Tarasha explained. ‘It has to be set tomorrow so that I can start the job’
‘Tomorrow? What kind of lab do you want?’ Chief was surprised at the request. ‘Hope you don’t need so many things because I don’t think it will be possible to set up a standard lab before Friday’
‘That’s why I’m telling you right now; once you get the list in your email, start working on getting them’ Tarasha replied calmly. ‘And also remove every camera you may have installed in any part of the house, I’ll reinstall them myself’
‘Tarasha, I can’t assure you that the lab is ..
‘I’m not negotiating Chief, the lab must be ready unfailingly by 12am on Friday morning’ She interrupted. ‘I’ll also need some of your men to start working with me now, so select two of your men; they must be intelligent,fast drivers, with good IT knowledge and also very good gun users’
‘Selecting men for you is not a problem, I can give you twenty if you want but…’
‘Chief, I need two guys not twenty; I’ll tell you if I need more’ she said, standing up from the seat. ‘You’ll have to excuse me now, please make sure everything is set up by Saturday. Have a pleasant day’
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‘Don Don’ Chief Nonso spoke at last, after staring at the man seated behind his table for some seconds. ‘This joke you’re telling now is not funny at all, maybe you should try another’
‘I’m serious Chief; I’m very sorry, we’ll try to recover your goods as soon as possible’ Don replied, his face showing remorsefulness.
‘Are you kidding me? How can you tell me a girl outsmarted your boys?’ Chief Nonso replied him in an angry tone. ‘Why did you send learners to carry out a job for me?’
‘No Chief, the guys weren’t learners. I don’t just know what happened to them’
‘What the hell are you talking about? You should have told me you weren’t capable’
‘You know I’m very capable Chief, this is not the first time I’m working for you’ Don answered back, anger was gradually welling up in him. ‘Why are you talking like this?’
‘What kind of question is that? And do you know how much it costs? And you know how much the country frowns at Vinil? Apart from that, it is a very dangerous and Illegal substance, if the police finds it, I’ll be in serious trouble’
‘We’ll get it back for you Chief or we’ll refund the money’ Don said calmly, trying to keep his anger under control.
‘Well…’ The Chief replied in a calmer tone now, as he relaxed and swerved playfully in his swivel chair. ‘Thank God I didn’t rely on your bunch of lazy men, I’ve gotten the substance kept somewhere safe’
‘Huh?’ Don looked straight at him, his eyes widened in shock. ‘You have it with you?’
‘Yes, we only tested your ability and you failed’
‘Chief! You sent us an errand and you also came to attack us too?’
‘Yes, it was a test to know how capable you are and if you’ll be able to handle the other jobs. But I see you can’t, since just a Lady can defeat your guys’
‘No Chief, it’s not like that. I’m capable and I’ve got a lot of other capable guys; you know that I’ve never failed you. It’s just that those guys messed up that day and they paid for it already’
‘It’s okay Don, you should be more careful next time’ Chief said, using his biro to give a caution signal as he rested his hands on the table. ‘And you even went too far, how come you dropped everybody at the warehouse? ‘
‘Chief, don’t mind me . I was just mad at the guys, I thought they played tricks on me’
‘It’s okay’
‘Thank you Chief’ Don replied, a bit relaxed now. ‘But you’ve not said anything about that Lady you sent to them’
‘She’s Tarasha, I don’t know her as much as my friend Gab, but he says she’s a specially trained professional from Russia and she’s very deadly’
‘Come on, the fact that she outsmarted those two stupid guys doesn’t make her deadly like you’re describing’ Don said mockingly. ‘And I’ll also like to remind you that I was trained in Russia too’
‘Well, I’ve not forgotten that but I still think she’s really deadly’
‘Anything you say Chief; maybe you should even bring her to work with us since you say she’s quite good’ Don suggested.
‘She’s not quite good, she’s more than good’ Chief Nonso corrected with a serious look on his face to buttress his point. ‘And she can’t work with you; that’s even part of the reason I called you here this afternoon. I need you and to provide two of your strongest, most intelligent men that would work with her’
‘Work with her? What assignment did you give her?’ Don questioned, with a look of disappointment on his face. ‘You don’t believe in me anymore?’
‘No, It’s not like that. I didn’t give her any job of mine, Gab did. I have another assignment for you already’
‘Well, there’s no problem. How soon do you need the men?’
‘Let them report to me today so I can tell them what to do’
‘Alright, I’ll send them immediately I get back to my domain’
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‘Hey guys, there’s a new project for us’ James stated as he walked into the office, while the two other occupants worked on their computers.
‘Welcome sir, what’s it about?’ Segun replied, stopping his work to pay full attention this Boss.
‘Welcome sir’ Sandra joined
‘Thank you’ James continued as he took off his suit jacket and hung it on his chair. ‘There’s a conference coming up on the thirtieth of this November and we’re in charge of the security for the whole event’
‘What kind of conference is it sir?’ Segun asked, showing great interest.
‘It’s an health conference organized by Derl Pharmaceutical Industry in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and it would take place in the Eriental Conference Hall’ James explained. ‘Some dignitaries from other countries would be attending the conference to give speeches, so our job begins two days before the conference because most of the foreign guests would arrive in Lagos that evening’
‘Wow! That’s some work, we’ve not handled a big conference as this before’ Sandra commented.
‘Yea, but we’ve handled some other big ones; so we would do well with this also’ Segun responded to Sandra’s statement before he turned to his Boss again. ‘So who exactly is coming for the conference?’
‘Well, Ken Benson and Lee Yung Cho are the only foreign speakers and the Federal government already made special security and welfare plans for them, so our main job is to provide security for the African guests’ James expatiated. ‘That includes Ghana’s Minister of Health, The Nigerian Minister of Health, Lagos State Commissioner of Health and some others’
‘So many high profile people amongst them, why didn’t they inform is earlier?’ Segun queried, with a frown on his face.
‘The job had been given out before, it was just transferred to us; so all the men that had been trained for it would also report to us this evening’ James answered.
‘Thank God’ Sandra added, as she heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I thought we’ll just have to start preparing our men’
‘No, all that has been done already’ James replied work an assuring smile. ‘The job is a easy one for us’
‘Great’ Segun face beamed with smiles. ‘So what’s the next action, when will we meet the guys?’
‘This evening, they should be on their way to the barracks now’ James answered, glancing at his wristwatch.
‘Okay ‘
‘Yea, now this is how we are going about it’ James said with more seriousness in his voice now, he made sure that he was being paid attention before he continued. ‘I’ll handle all that pertains to Ghana’s Minister of Health and the other Nigerian guests while Segun would handle the Nigerian Minister of health and Sandra, the Lagos State Commissioner; that shouldn’t be a hard job, the commissioner is still in his state’
He paused and looked at their faces to confirm again if they were giving him attention. ‘We are not expecting any causality but we have to be on guard and do this properly; if we make any little mistake, it can make the IG and the government loose trust in our team. Hope you know that?’
‘Yes sir’ they replied in unison.
‘Good, details would be forwarded to you in some minutes and would always be updated as soon as necessary. So get ready for this’ James concluded with a smile and rested his back on the chair
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**Thursday morning**
Tarasha looked cute and smart in her well tucked in shirt, she combed her hair in a stylish manner as she stared at her reflection from the mirror in front of her. She hissed again on seeing the high heeled shoe laying on the floor, she would have changed it to a flatter one if not that she wanted to portray herself as a average stylish Nigerian girl.
She put on the suit jacket first and took another look at the mirror to check if any part of her dressing was conflicting with the other. After confirming that her combination and choice of cloth and accessories were okay, she put on the shoe.
She felt awkward as she took the first four steps with the shoe due to the fact that she hadn’t worn high heels for almost a year but her body had been trained to fit into any situation so she was quick to adjust as she proceeded out of the room. She picked up her hand bag from the table in the sitting room and walked out of the house.
She walked a little distance from the gate and stood by the side of the road to wait for a cab. Her decision not to drive to the company was based on her plan to present herself as a student. She already prepared a forged identity card for herself and was going to the Company to present herself as a student in the department of pharmacy of the University of Lagos.
She didn’t stay on the road for long before a cab stopped by and she got in. She negotiated with the driver who didn’t waste time as he kicked off the fifty minutes journey immediately.
The supposed fifty minutes journey was turned to an eighty minutes journey because of the traffic jam on the Lagos road. Tarasha wasn’t bored all through as she asked the driver several questions along the way, the driver also coperated well; providing answers and even expatiating further than he was being asked.
Tarasha waved at the driver after he dropped her right in front of the pharmacy; he waved back at her happily and drove off. She brought out the ID card from her bag and straightened her suit before she faced the company and walked towards the gate.
The guards at the gate didn’t disturb her at all, they clearly saw the ID card hung around her neck and believed she was one of the students on Industrial attachment. She greeted them pleasantly and walked to the main building where she saw the receptionist.
‘Good morning ma’ she greeted with a bright smile.
‘Good morning, how may I help you?’ the slim receptionist replied.
‘I’ve come to make some enquiries about health conference organized by the pharmacy’
‘Which one?’ She asked without paying much attention.
‘The one coming up on the thirtieth of November, with Ken Benson and Lee Yung Cho as guest speakers’
‘Okay, what do you want to know about it?’
‘I would like to see Dr Daniel Umaru, I need to ask him something’
‘Huh?’ The receptionist looked at Tarasha’s face, surprised. ‘What do you want to see him for?’
‘I have some questions and suggestions for him’
‘Sorry dear, I don’t think he’s got that time’ she said and placed a small piece of paper containing a web address on the shelf. ‘That’s our website address, log on to get any information you need about the conference and send your enquires to the email provided there’
‘I need to see him personally, I’ve already sent a mail to the email address already but it’s important I see him’
‘What? He doesn’t have time for you, he’s a very busy man’ the receptionist said with an angry look on her face.
‘But I know he goes around to supervise every Thursdays and Fridays, he may be able to spare some time for me today’ Tarasha persisted.
‘Please don’t let me force you to leave, go and wait for a reply to your email’
‘No, you can’t force me out’ Tarasha raised her voice, attracting several people who were around.
‘What’s happening here ?’ A short man in a lab coat approached them.
‘She says she wants to see Dr Daniel Umaru’ the receptionist answered him.
‘Huh? Is that true young Lady?’ He asked, turning to Tarasha.
‘Yes sir’ she answered calmly. ‘I really need to see him’
‘Come’ he said after giving her a searching look, motioning her with his head to follow him. ‘Who do you say you want to see and where are you from?’
‘I’m Samantha Osman sir; a pharmacy student at the University of Lagos. I want to see Dr Daniel Umaru ‘ Tarasha replied politely
‘Okay’ He replied, taking a look at the ID card. ‘What do you want to see him for?’
‘It’s about the conference coming up soon’
‘What about it?’
‘Hum, I found out that he is the chairman of the organizing committee and I want to ask him some questions and show him some of my personal research work as a medical student’
He’s a very busy man, so I don’t think he would have time to attend to you. You can visit our website and send your enquiries there ; you can even share your ideas with us there’
‘I know sir, I already sent my enquires there but I still need to see him personally’ Tarasha insisted.
‘Hmmm well…’ The Doctor took another look at Tarasha, as his attempts to wave her off didn’t work. ‘I’m also part of the planning committee but I can’t attend to you now. You’ll have to come back tomorrow, is that okay?’
‘Oh! Thank you sir’ Her face radiated happiness as she thanked him. ‘What time do I come?’
‘Hmmm, let’s make it…’ the Doctor paused to think for a while. ’11am should be okay; I can go through whatever you have and give you a response’
‘Thank you sir, How do I get to you when I return tomorrow?’
‘Just ask of Dr Hammed Sheriff’ he answered, showing her his name tag on the lab coat. ‘And make sure that it is something that really worths my time, I won’t be happy if your research isn’t something reasonable’
‘I promise you it would be worth your time’ Tarasha assured with a smile.
‘See you tomorrow then’ the Doctor concluded and walked away, leaving her behind.
Tarasha glanced at the receptionist who kept an eye on them all through. The receptionist looked away immediately their eyes met and fixed her gaze on the book on her table.
Tarasha walked up to her stand and placed her two hands on the table, smiling.
‘What do you … ?’ She almost shouted, but stopped on seeing the annoying smile on Tarasha’s face.
‘I just came to apologize, I’ll see you tomorrow’ Tarasha turned and walked out of the building.
She removed the ID card hung around her neck immediately she got out of the gate and threw it into her bag. She brought out her phone and dialled Chief Gab’s mobile number.
‘Hello Chief’
‘Hi Tarasha’ came the reply
‘I called to tell you that I’ll br moving into that house by 7am tomorrow morning, so get everything prepared before then’
‘I’m on it, I already ordered for the lab equipments and paid the officials who are going to set it up. The equipments would arrive this evening’
‘Good one Chief, that’s very good of you’
‘Thank you Tarasha, but it costs me so much to do this especially because it is needed urgently’
‘I’m sorry about that Chief, but you should know that this job requires urgency expenditures always’ Tarasha replied with no note of pity in her voice.
‘Alright, I’m in the house now but I’ll be leaving for my office soon. Where are you? Maybe you can come around to inspect the arrangements’
‘That won’t be really necessary, I would still rearrange the place myself’
‘Okay’
‘Yea, and there’s one more thing left’
‘What’s that?’
‘I need another person who can cook very well’
‘That’s no problem, I already made preparations’
‘Thank you’ she ended the call and walked up the road to board a cab.
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**6pm, same day**
Chief Gab and his friend, Chief Nonso laughed heartily at the back seat of the Lexus 2026 model jeep as they cracked jokes about the day’s job. They looked very happy and the source of their happiness could only be traced to the several millions they made from their just concluded illegal business.
The bodyguard and driver occasionally looked at the front mirror and smiled to themselves as they watched the two elderly men play like like kids.
‘Don hasn’t seen anything yet, he doesn’t know that this girl is a fresh one from Russia, he has been here for long’ Chief Gab joked.
‘Don’t mind him, he even asked for Tarasha to work with him’ Chief Nonso added. ‘I asked him to screen the two guys very well before he brought them’
‘Sure, they have to be fit enough to work with Tarasha, I don’t want any mistakes in the job’ Chief Gab said as he looked back at the car coming behind them. That was his own car which conveyed two of his thugs and the two men sent to them by Don to work with Tarasha.
He brought out a device and punched a button on it as they got to the house. The gate opened up and they drove in.
‘Here is the place I prepared for Tarasha’ Chief Gab stated, adjusting his Agbada as he came out of the car.
‘This place is big o, is she planning to bring in her husband and children?’ Chief Nonso commented playfully.
‘Hehe’ Gab chuckled, ‘I don’t know for her , let’s just provide everything she needs’
The four guys in the other car walked up to the Chiefs and stood by the side, waiting for instructions to be given.
‘Come here’ Chief Nonso ordered the new guys who walked closer. ‘Tarasha would move in here tomorrow morning by 7am, you guys should be ready to work with her’
‘No problem Chief’ the guys smiled at themselves, their faces beamed with confidence.
‘The cook will join you here before 7.30, she went to get some foodstuffs’ Chief Gab added. ‘Don’t allow anybody else in except the cook and be very careful with Tarasha’
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