Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

Egoh had shot Sola from the back, though he had aimed for a place that will only be harmful but due to the pain in his shoulder, he gathered his whole strength and ended up shooting her, though from the back but the bullet entered into her heart.

Sola who had already opened the door to leave the room before the bullet touched her, collapsed on the floor at the passage.

Egoh does not know what is happening to Sola yet as he writhes in pain, still trying to remove the knife in his shoulder. He struggles to wear his trouser back. It was after doing that he noticed that Sola was not moving anymore.

Meanwhile Janu who had been sleeping in the master bedroom, heard the gun shot and woke up looking around, but being a lover of sleep, he slept back. He was really tired before going to bed being the one that put on the gen and prepared the house for the arrival of the hostages before they were brought to the house. Janu is the most intelligent among them, he did not only clean up the place, he also followed them to kidnap the hostages.

Bolu and Bola had also woken up from the gun shot wondering where their mother is, but they could not go out since the door was locked. Bola is now cold and the atmosphere is not conducive for her health. Bolu holds her as she could not stop crying asking for her mother.

Egoh goes towards Sola's lifeless body which is on the ground and sees she's dead. He was petrified…)

EGOH : shit!.... Shit! I killed her...(Scared that Janu may come to the room)....damn it!...what do I do now...(Quickly, he turns the mattress upside down, covering up his own blood stain from being obvious. Still in pain, he manages to clean the blood stain on the ground, pulls Sola away from the doorway and goes to wake Janu....) Guy! Wahala dey o....
JANU : hmm...?..(Still feeling sleepy)
EGOH : wake up joor!
JANU : hmm what happened?
EGOH : there's problem...the woman is dead.
JANU : hmm...which woman?
EGOH : the woman we went to take. Wake up…
JANU : what... (With his eyes wide open)....what do you mean she's dead?...(Looking at him very well, he saw his shoulder and hands dripping with blood)....what happened to your hand?
EGOH : she tried to escape. She even stabbed me, that's why my hand is like this.
JANU : haa!...(Running out of the room. Egoh follows behind)....
EGOH : she tried to escape.
JANU : (gets to the passage and sees Sola's lifeless body on the ground)....oh my God! But, how did it happen?...wait did you shoot her?
EGOH : ehn....I was, you know I was watching them....so I wanted to pee o, I checked and saw that she was sleeping, so I went to pee, I didn't know that she was only pretending. As I was coming out of the toilet I had a sound so I was even thinking it was you...
JANU : (cuts in)...you didn't lock the door?
EGOH : since I thought she was sleeping nau...
JANU : but how did she remove the rope we used to tie her?
EGOH : I don't know o...
JANU : so what now happened?
EGOH : so, I thought it was you, as I just opened the door, the next thing I saw was the knife. In fact, she targeted my chest, I only weaved it, that's why it entered my shoulder.
JANU : but how did she get your knife?
EGOH : I...I ....you know they were sleeping nau, so me, I just left the knife in the room and went to pee.
JANU : (perplexed, he thinks for a while).... but why did you shoot her like this now? You should have shot her leg or something...and I don't think she can escape without her kids nau....
EGOH : actually, I shot her out of anger o....
JANU : that was a very stupid thing to do....now what do we tell Sarku when he gets here?
EGOH : what else can we do....she really annoyed me, I mean I would have been dead my now...she wanted to kill me...look at my shoulder.
JANU : shit!..(Looking at Sola's body)....what are we going to do now.....(Thinking)
EGOH : I don't even know...
JANU : When Sarku comes, leave the whole explanation to me. Don't tell him I went to sleep and left you with them o.....
EGOH : no I won't....em....(Thinking of what they can say)...you can tell him you went to check around.
JANU : yes....let's go. I'll treat your wound for you. (Looking at the cut)...I'll apply some ointment and you have to use something so you can sleep...(Looks at his wristwatch)... Its almost 5am....
EGOH : is there something here that we can use?
JANU : yes, I saw a first aid box when I was cleaning up.
EGOH : haa...hope the things wouldn't have expired o...
JANU : spirit and cotton wool?....at least for the meantime.
EGOH : okay.





(It’s a Monday morning, the express road had been quite busy. Sarku and Timo had left Lagos very early in the morning, but a tanker had spilled fuel on the road over the night and this had caused some hold up on the way.

He got back to the house late and immediately Janu saw him, he tells him all that happened the night before...)

SARKU : shit!....where's Egoh now?
JANU : he's in the room resting. I had to help him treat the wound.
SARKU : let me see him...(Going to see Egoh)...he shouldn't have killed her, damn it....!
JANU : so I said too...(Walking towards the room)...

(They get into the room and Sarku sees Egoh asleep, he kicks him to wake him up...)
SARKU : what the hell were you thinking killing her?
EGOH : hmm.....(Still quite deep in his sleep)....
SARKU : (kicks him again) wake up damn it!
EGOH : huh!....(Sitting up)...
SARKU : you fool! Couldn't you have being more careful?
EGOH : it was a mistake...
SARKU : that was a very stupid mistake! Now all the plans are ruined now...we kidnapped someone to get money, now that the person is dead, what happens?
JANU : maybe we should not tell them that the woman is dead...
SARKU : (looks at Janu surprisingly)....will you bring your sister to replace her? Or your girlfriend?
JANU : no, you don't understand, (moves towards Sarku)....this people didn't tell us they want to see her, I mean, they didn't say they will come and see them did they?
SARKU : (thinking about what he just said)....no, so what are you getting at?
JANU : good!....we organize someone else...after all, it’s just going to be a phone thing.
SARKU : what of the kids?
JANU : they are still in the other room...
SARKU : you messed up! You shouldn't have left Egoh alone with the woman.
JANU : I only went to check around o because I was hearing some kind of sound from outside. Who knows, we may have been followed....
SARKU : and did you see anything?
JANU : erm.....not really.
SARKU : anyway, the man will get in touch with us today....
JANU : hmm....there's something else o...
SARKU : what....
JANU : even after we've completed our job, we can't let any of the kids go o.
SARKU : why did you say that?
JANU : because they've seen our faces....remember it was Egoh and I that went inside to get them....
SARKU : hmm....
JANU : we have to get rid of them because they can identify us.
SARKU : hmm....let's see how it goes.
JANU : okay....
SARKU : wait a minute...what of the woman's body?
JANU : it’s still in the other toilet.
SARKU : dispose of it before it starts smelling nau haha...
JANU : but how?
SARKU :  you can drop it on the roadside?
JANU : is that advisable?
SARKU : yes nau! They'll just think it was an accident.
JANU : (thinks about it)....okay. But we're actually supposed to just bury her o.
SARKU : who will dig?..if you can dig no problem, go and start digging. You know Egoh's hand is paining him, so you can't expect him to dig and I can’t do that for you because the mess was done by you and Egoh so you two should take care of it.
JANU : (thinking of the stress involved in digging a six feet hole)...okay. I just don't want a situation where they will see her corpse and identify her.
SARKU : who will? Do you know how many people die by road accident every day and nobody knows?..(Hisses)...abeg...






(Andy got to Henz office as early as 8:30am...)

HENZ : its better we call him now and see what happens from here. Once he does the transaction we'll just let the boys know and they can take them back to their house.
ANDY : (bringing out a new phone, he hides the number)...yes....(Dialing a number on the phone)....I've gotten a phone for it.
HENZ : here's the number...(Handing out a piece of paper to Andy)
ANDY : (dialing, he listens to the ear piece).....haha...the phone is switched off...
HENZ : (shocked).....how can he switch his phone off very early Monday morning?
ANDY : that's weird....(Looks at the time)....it’s almost 9am...(He dials the number again and listens)....Damn it! What sort of nonsense is this!
HENZ : it’s still not going?
ANDY : at all....
HENZ : what do we do now...I hope this doesn't ruin our plans....I've told the boys the whole transaction will end today. I told them they will return them by the end of today....now this....why did the fool switch his phone off...(Thinks for a while)... maybe he got home yesterday, couldn't find his family and is devastated or something.....
ANDY : that's weird...his family had being kidnapped, its only logical for him to be at alert with his phone.
HENZ : so I thought....
ANDY : but are you sure the line is active?
HENZ : yes sir.....we had called him anonymously some days ago to make sure he's still using the line.
ANDY : and he picked it?
HENZ : we even confirmed he's the one....
ANDY : so then what's going on.....what should we do now?...we can't possibly go to his house...
HENZ : maybe we should ask his wife for another number....
ANDY : that's true....let's call those boys...
HENZ : okay...(he brings out his phone and dials Sarku's number)....hello, Sarku...
RECEIVER : hello sir
HENZ : are you at the place?
RECEIVER : yes sir.
HENZ : okay....please go to the woman and ask for all her husband's numbers.
RECEIVER : huh....but I thought you have it sir?
HENZ : the one we have is not going.
RECEIVER : eh ehn....
HENZ : yes. So go and ask her. We're at the office. Once we call his number and tell him what we want him to do, we will give you his number to call him and let him hear the voice of his wife, okay?
RECEIVER : o...okay sir.
HENZ : so go and ask her now. I'm expecting your call...
RECEIVER : okay sir.




(Meanwhile, Sarku was confused on what to do. He goes to Janu to explain to him...)

SARKU : Janu, there's problem o.
JANU : wetin happen.
SARKU : the Boss just called. He said we should ask the woman for her husband's number. They said the number is not going, so they need another number.
JANU : haa....(Thinking) what do we do now....erm.....okay let's just tell him the woman does not know her husband's number off hand, that it’s in her phone.
SARKU : hmm....(Thinking of what he just said)
JANU : that's a very logical explanation....
SARKU : but how will they now get in touch with the man, since his number is not going?
JANU : hmm....that's true o...(Thinking)...okay we can just send a note to his house nau...that....he should put on his phone we'll call him.
SARKU : that one na long thing o....
JANU : hmm....we don't have a choice nau....and we can't let them suspect anything.
SARKU : chai! Which kain wahala be this ooo.. See the kain wahala wey Egoh come cause for us.....(Hisses)
JANU : na way out we suppose think of now o....just tell them the woman is proving stubborn and she doesn't know her husband's phone number off hand....
SARKU : (reluctantly)...okay....but wait, what of the children?
JANU : hmm...those ones have been crying for their mother.
SARKU : chai! See wahala...
JANU : I don't think they will answer us.
SARKU : shit!....
JANU : just tell them what I said, it will work.
SARKU : I'll try it...





(About thirty minutes later, Henz receives Sarku's call....)

HENZ : yes tell me....(Bringing out the pen and piece of paper to write down)...
CALLER : oga, she does not know her husband's number off hand o.
HENZ : what do you mean she doesn't know her husband's number off hand?
CALLER : in fact we tried to force her sir but nothing and you know we have to be careful with her.
HENZ : but there's no way we can talk to her husband, you have to make her talk.
CALLER : b..but...but how do you want us to do it sir?
HENZ : don't know....just do something....torture her if you have to, I don't care.....
CALLER : but we've done that. We even threatened to kill her son but she swears she doesn't know his numbers off hand.
HENZ : damn it!
ANDY : tell him you'll call him back...
HENZ : I'll get back to you!....(Hangs up)
ANDY : Henz, even my wife doesn't know my number off hand....
HENZ : so what do we do? How do we get in touch with the man?
ANDY : we have to think of something....
HENZ : maybe someone should go to the house and check on him....
ANDY : will your boys be ready to do that? I mean who will show his face to that bastard? Maybe we should just wait...at one time or the other this man will put on his phone, won't he?
HENZ : but we don't have time....for how long will we wait? I don't like the hostage situation at all sir....
ANDY : let's just wait till the end of today.
HENZ : okay....
ANDY : come over to my house after work...(Standing up to leave)
HENZ : alright sir. (Standing up)...I'll see you off.




(Meanwhile Bolu and Bola are still up, crying to see their mother. The kidnappers have tried everything to shut them up but they kept crying.

Egoh and Janu are at the back of the house smoking, close to the window of the room where Bolu and Bola are kept. They seem to be tired of it all...)

EGOH : omo, I never do this kain thing before o...children thing...and person no fit touch them, if not I for beat them ehn…
JANU : ehn no be you kill their mama?...see wetin you cause now.
EGOH : (hisses)...they've been crying since.
JANU : let's get them food. Sarku gave me some money to get them food.
EGOH : look, they should do something about them today o, I can't stay another day with them here.
JANU : come Egoh, there's problem o.
EGOH : (paying more attention)...what is it?
JANU : those children will recognize us o, because at the end of the day they will know that we had something to do with their mother's death. They can identify us.
EGOH : for where! I'm not staying in this country after I collect my twenty million naira mehn! I'm taking off.
JANU : notwithstanding, we have to take precautions. You know it was the two of us that went to their house to get them, and up till now not even Sarku or Timo have shown their faces to them. We are the ones in danger o.
EGOH : you have a point o....(Thinking about it)...so what do you advice we do now?
JANU : get rid of them once the road is clear for us of course. I can't allow some kids to spoil show for me o. I want to be able to walk freely on the road without checking my back
EGOH : hmm....you have a point o. We're the ones in danger....I think I agree with you...

(Then Bolu started banging at the door shouting for help. Egoh and Janu enter into the room to see Bola on the floor panting. The smoke of the continuous cigarette in the house keeps affecting the poor girl...)

BOLU : call mummy, she needs her inhaler!...(Holding Bola on the floor as she gasps for breath)
(Egoh and Janu look at each other, confused...)
EGOH : what inhaler are you talking about? What is wrong with her?
BOLU : she's asthmatic! Where's mummy?
JANU : oh my God!...(Looks at Egoh)...what do we do now?
EGOH : don't look at me....I don't know...
BOLU : please call mummy she knows what to do!....(Holding Bola)....mummy! Mummy!
EGOH : (hisses and leaves the room)...damn you...
JANU : Egoh!...(Looking at him as he leaves)....Egoh!.....(Follows him)....
BOLU : please bring my mummy!....(Looks at his sister)...Bola, hold on....(Looking at her trying to catch her breath, he holds her on his laps as they sat on the floor...)...please hold on, I'm sure they've gone to get mummy...




(Meanwhile Lekan just got a break, from the hearing and he goes outside to make a call. As he was doing that, one of the lawyers in charge of the case walks up to him....)

BARR : what's wrong? You've being down-casted since the beginning of the hearing, hope there's no problem?
LEKAN : I'm worried about my family. I've been trying to call my wife since yesterday night and her line has being switched off.
BARR : maybe she needed to switch it off....
LEKAN : never...not my wife. She wouldn't do that even if she's going to bed. Not to talk of when she knows that I didn't go with my phone. She wouldn't do that.
BARR : that's weird then....why not try someone you know that will be around her or something?
LEKAN : yes, I would have done that but I forgot all my phones in the car when coming, so I don't have anybody's number. I don't even know my assistant's number off hand. I would have called him to go and check her for me...
BARR : oh....that's bad....what will you do now?
LEKAN : I guess I have to go back to Lagos tomorrow if I don't hear from her by the end of today.
BARR : I just hope they're okay.
LEKAN : they just have to be okay. They're my life.
BARR : another thing is, she may have lost the phone somehow...may be it fell from her leg when she went to drop the kids at school or something....
LEKAN : (thinks for a while)....that's a possibility...she has lost her phone a couple of times through that....though, the kids are picked up by their school bus, she only takes them to school if they don't meet up.
BARR : ...don't worry, they're fine, don't be worried.
LEKAN : thanks.

To be continued....