CHAPTER 41
Janu and Egoh came out of Andy’s compound, fantasizing about the money they are about to get, unknown to them that police men had been told to park on that street. The moment they saw them, they were surprised…)
JANU : haha…when did these ones get here?...(looking ahead)
EGOH : shit, policemen…(checking if his gun is intact and not about to fall)
JANU : hey, just act normal so they don’t stop us. Thank God we didn’t bring a car…
EGOH : okay, I got this…
JANU : they are on their own and we are on our own too, let’s just walk past them quietly…(moving close to the check point)…no lele…
(The moment they got to where the policemen were, they were called for a search. Egoh tried to run but the policemen caught up with him, frisked them and arrested both of them, after finding a gun with Egoh.
The policemen locked them up in the same cell without hearing any kind of explanation from them.
Egoh and Janu were surprised with what happened to them, they could not stop thinking about it...)
JANU : just look at what you caused now... I told you not to hold that gun you didn't listen.
EGOH : but I didn't know policemen will be there...after all, they were not there the last time we went there. Moreover, if not for that gun the other time, that man would not have allowed us to see the man. Don’t forget that we were going to blackmail someone, how then do you want us to protect ourselves? What if the man tries to kill us?
JANU : na that one go save us from this place now abi?
EGOH : who we wan call nau?
JANU : shit! And we told the man that we will come tomorrow....what will happen if he doesn't see us now....(Hisses)
EGOH : (thinks for a while)...I just can't believe that this policemen could search us.
JANU : how do we get our money now?
EGOH : we should think of how to get out of here first.
(Meanwhile, back at his house, Andy calls the DPO....)
ANDY : have you gotten those men?
RECEIVER : yes I have sir, in fact right now, they are already here in the prison.
ANDY : that's very good. Make sure they're not bailed. Those boys have been to my house several times to harass my staffs. And when they came today, they threatened another staff of mine with a gun.
RECEIVER : don't worry sir. They will be here for a very long time. We still have their gun here.
ANDY : make sure they don't come out from there.
RECEIVER : don't worry sir. I'll do it, even better than you can imagine.
ANDY : good. I'll send my boys to you.
RECEIVER : alright sir....thank you sir.
(Finally after much agitation, Januri was allowed to make a call, he could only think of Sarku, he calls him, telling him what had happened. Sarku was with Timo when he received the call...)
SARKU : what! What is wrong with you two! Why did you go to the man's house?
CALLER : I am broke damn it! What do you want us to do? I had cut off my contacts with my other guys, thinking that the kidnap deal was going to pay off.
SARKU : notwithstanding, you should have held on. I just wanted to finish some things I have in my hands now and come with Timo so that we can think of what to do to collect our money from him.
CALLER : anyway, that's not the issue now, please help us to get a lawyer and bring him here. I can't talk for too long now. When you get here we will talk.
SARKU : ehn eh...okay.
CALLER : thank you. Please do fast abeg.
SARKU : hmm.....(Hangs up)
TIMO : what happened?
SARKU : it was Janu o. He said they went to the minister's house....(Explains everything to Timo)
TIMO : what! Are those guys crazy? Who will come to prison to see them?
SARKU : no mind am...I suspect fowl play somewhere. If not, why didn't he tell us what they wanted to do before going there? May be the man got them arrested somehow and he has even turned the tables.
TIMO : hmm...who knows, maybe they have asked them to name all those involved and they have called our names...
SARKU : I'm sure it was a set up.
TIMO : you better disappear.
SARKU : before nko?
(About a year later, the gubernatorial election in Cross-River state was conducted and the former governor was re-elected.
Andy and Silvia have moved to their home town since the beginning of the campaign. He was with some of his party members when the election was going on.
After the election result was announced, he became furious, he could not control his anger anymore as he gets home. He kept hitting almost every object that he came across.
Silvia saw the way her husband kept taking out his anger on everything around the house...)
SILVIA : take it easy Andy...
ANDY : (cuts in)...take what easy! Haven't you heard the result?
SILVIA : I heard...
ANDY : (cuts in)...and you're asking me to take things easy! Do you know how much I've spent on that damn campaign?
SILVIA : I understand...
ANDY : no, you don't! You have no idea!
SILVIA : just take it easy...remember I told you to hold on till after he uses his second term...
ANDY : damn those people! After all the money I spent in the primaries, they should have told me I really don't have a good chance!
SILVIA : it’s okay..
ANDY : it’s not okay! No it’s not! Just look at the margin? It was only both of us, other parties retreated, so I'd thought I'll have a good chance, yet, it was a thirty-seventy win! That margin was too much...
SILVIA : come on, you won the primaries and that shows you can still be their only candidate for the next election...
ANDY : will that bring back all the money I spent for this last one? Have you forgotten that I'll have to spend another money for campaign again?
SILVIA : just take things easy...I'll serve your dinner...(Leaving his room for the kitchen)
ANDY : I'm not eating anything!
SILVIA : (turns back)...haha....please o, I don't want to become a widow soonest...
ANDY : I can't eat anything!
SILVIA : (coming back to him)...please my husband, you're not getting any younger, please eat, going on hunger strike won't make you a governor...
ANDY : just leave me for now...I want to be alone...
SILVIA : (takes a deep breath)...okay…
(Fews weeks later, Andy is still brooding at home when his party chairman called him....)
CALLER : Andy, I can understand your anguish. I know a lot of money has gone into this, but you should not give up.
ANDY : Ime, you want me to keep doing what exactly?
CALLER : we wait till another election of course....you think you have wasted money, but you have not. Look, that was your first attempt. We used that to bring you out into limelight, now if you come back after Okoh's second term, believe me, your votes will be very high. Okoh only won because it’s his second term, the same thing will happen during your time.
ANDY : hmm....are you assuring me?
CALLER : look, you know Okoh was in our party before he de-camped?
ANDY : (cuts in)...yes but people still voted for him...
CALLER : yes I know, but notwithstanding, our party still has its support from the masses. We were the one that brought Okoh up as our candidate, so the people trust our judgment.
ANDY : so you're telling me I still have a good chance?
CALLER : of course. So don't give up.
ANDY : okay.
CALLER : let's just wait for about two to three years before we start another campaign.
ANDY : (takes a deep breath)...okay...
CALLER : alright. I'll see you next week.
(It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, Tade is at home, on the phone with Sk....)
TADE : hmm....SK when do you want to get married? All your friends are married! I'm a grandfather already. What else are you waiting for?
CALLER : but you're older than me nau...
TADE : with just about three years? What's that?
CALLER : apart from that...so, you want me to get married and have kids ehn?
TADE : yes nau....
CALLER : thank you. Have you forgotten that it was your own daughter that paid for what you did to Jide?
TADE : (surprised he's bringing that up)...no I've not.
CALLER : then have you forgotten that it was my sister and her children that paid for giving me the advice?
TADE : what are you getting at?
CALLER : I don't want to have kids.
TADE : (laughs)...wait? You don't want to have kids....is it because of Jide's issue?
CALLER : yes nau!
TADE : haba nau...its not that bad, after all we have asked for his forgiveness.
CALLER : does that forgiveness bring his parents back? Or have you forgotten that its because of us his father died?
TADE : Sukanmi, ask for God's forgiveness and everything will be fine.
CALLER : I hear you....abeg, leave that one jare, what of Toyin?
TADE : yes. She's doing very fine o.
CALLER : and the baby?
TADE : a big boy now.
CALLER : that's good...I'll come visiting soon.
TADE : alright. We will be expecting you.
........................................................................
(Three years later, Andy is at his party chairman's house discussing his next move with him....)
IME : we should start soonest. The next election is in a year and as we all know, other parties are contesting.
ANDY : yes I'm ready.
IME : I've gotten you another campaign manager. He's good.
ANDY : oh really? Who is he?
IME : you will meet him tomorrow. He even said he will introduce us to this person who can sponsor your campaign.
ANDY : really?
IME : yes.
ANDY : that will be very nice.
IME : Just get the funds you have ready.
ANDY : I hope this time around all my money won't go in vain.
IME : by God's grace, it won't. You were the minister for petroleum and no bad news erupted from that sector when you were there, so you have a better chance.
ANDY : alright. Let's get to work as soon as possible.
IME : good!
(Amode has been looking for a job, to help his son out of jail but his qualification could earn him none has he does not know where his certificate is, neither is anyone ready to give an ex-convict a job.
After searching for so long, he decided to be a wash-man alongside searching for a security job. On day during his regular job-search, he saw a board in front of a house, on which was written "security man needed". He knocked at the gate and after sometime, a woman came out of the house. She’s in her thirties and sure looks like one of the owners of the house...)
TINA : yes can I help you?...(looking at Amode’s mode of dressing)
AMODE : good afternoon madam?
TIMA : good afternoon.
AMODE : yes please, I saw the notice, that's why I came...(Bringing out an envelope)
TINA : (looking at Amode)...a gate man, speaking english like this...what's in the envelope?
AMODE : my CV.
TINA : (laughs)....CV! Gate men too now have CVs?...nawa o...okay bring it....(Collects it from him)....I'll be back...come and sit inside let me tell my brother...
AMODE : okay. Thank you ma....
(Tina goes into the house to talk to Sam her brother...)
TINA : brother, someone is here for the security job o. In fact this one is so funny. He has a CV...(Bringing out the CV to read)....his name is Amode Degbejoh. Eh! He was once a manager at...
SAM : what?
TINA : yes o, manager…(still studying the CV)...Brother, its either this man was been rich before or he forged...
SAM : (cuts in emphatically with pain in his voice)....what did.... you call his name?...
TINA : Amode Degbejoh...
SAM : that's him....that's the man we have been looking for....
TINA : what…! Oh my God...(Now recalling the name)....oh my God, that's true!.....I totally forgot the name o....I'll go and bring him inside...(Leaving for the gate)
SAM : please do...God thank you
(Amode noticed Tina came back outside with a different countenance entirely...)
TINA : uncle please come inside sir.
AMODE : I should come inside the house?..(surprised she called him uncle and used sir)
TINA : yes.
AMODE : oga does not want to come out to see me?
TINA : he said you should come inside.
(He was surprised. All the places he has being going to search for his security job, people have always come out to talk to him. He follows her all the same.
He was led into a room he suspected to be a bedroom. Immediately Tina opened the door of the room a terrible odour emanated from it, it smells like a decayed body. The smell made Amode retreat from entering...)
AMODE : madam please what is this I can't...(covering his nose)
TINA : (cuts in)...Uncle Please, it’s my brother that's inside, please...
AMODE : (cuts in)...what? Your brother? I thought you said you need a security man, I didn't tell you I'm an undertaker, it’s the security job I asked for, I don't wash dead bodies...(still covering his nose with his hand)…
TINA : (cuts in)...I know sir...please my brother is not dead.
AMODE : eh? He's not dead...(Covering his nose)
TINA : he's sick....(Opens the door wide to reveal the person inside)...look at him..
(Inside the room is a man lying on the bed. The left side of his body is decayed, as if he got burnt in fire but the wound never healed up.
Amode was shocked at the sight he saw, he could not step in. He was still contemplating when the sick man spoke out...)
SAM : please...come inside sir, I need to talk to you.
AMODE : no please, I'll wait here...(Still covering his nose)
SAM : please sir....I've been looking for you...it was God that brought you to my house.
AMODE : eh! Looking for me...(shocked as different thoughts started coming into his head. He thought of different things like money rituals, kidnap, etc and took to his heels immediately before he won't be able to handle the situation anymore.
As he ran outside, Tina runs after him…)
TINA : Uncle please wait!....
AMODE : wait for what?...(running out of the house)…. I don't want the job again o! Thank you!
TINA : (Going after Amode)...it’s about the person that sent you to prison!
AMODE : (refusing to listen to what Tina is saying)….God forbid, this is how someone will enter inside shrine o! God I thank you!
TINA : please sir! My brother wants to confess his crime to you. What he did against you!
AMODE : (hearing Tina’s last words)…don't worry o! He did not offend me!....(Getting to the gate, he runs out)
(Tina got to the gate and saw Amode running away as old as he his. She returns to her brother panting....)
TINA : he didn't wait to. He has gone.
SAM : oh my God...(Thinks for a while)....did he leave an address?
TINA : the CV that he brought....(Goes to get it)...but what will you do with it?....don't tell me you want to go there...
SAM : no. You will go there and talk to him. Beg him and tell him why I want to see him.
TINA : okay o.
SAM : please...
(Amode did not bother going to another place on that day again. He goes straight home feeling he has escaped a tragedy...)
AMODE : God I thank you o!....if not for you... I'm sure those people would have used me for blood money...or maybe they want a replacement for that man's body....chai all this because I was looking for a job!...I think it’s better I go back to washing clothes...but this wash-man's job is not good for me, ehn....
(Kola Olafioye was a student of investigative criminology at the University of York before he worked briefly with the FBI. He came back to Nigeria about a year ago on assignment by his recent employer.
He was at his prestigious office when he receives a call from his Boss....)
CALLER : how's it going?...(Talking so confidently with his husky voice)
KOLA : very well sir...I've got info on each of them. I will mail them to you.
CALLER : good. Will tell you what I think.
KOLA : Yes sir.
(Amode was returning from his job search when one of his neighbors told him that someone was looking for him. Wondering who it was, he sees Tina sitting on a stool waiting for him....)
AMODE : (he immediately recognizes her)...are you not the same woman from that day? For God's sake what do you want from me? If you don't go I will shout on you o?
TINA : Uncle please I need to explain some things to you. Just give me some minutes...
AMODE : explain what?
TINA : please we can't talk here...just allow me talk privately with you. I'm sure what I want to tell you is very important to you.
AMODE : (thinks for a while and takes a deep breath)...okay...(he picks his key and opens the door)...come inside...(entering into the house that has only a stool and an old mattress kept on the floor beside the stool)
TINA : thank you sir...(Entering inside the house)
AMODE : please sit down....(Giving her the stool)
TINA : thank you....(Sits down)....Uncle, my brother has been looking for one Mr. Amode Degbejoh for some time now and he told me. When you came, my mind didn't even go there until I went to tell him about....
AMODE : (cuts in)…no it can’t be me. In fact, it’s not me. There are several other Amode Degbejoh, I’m sure. You just need to search more.
TINA : you were in prison for years, isn’t it?
AMODE : (shocked at her words and confidence)…em…yes…but how do you know?
TINA : my brother knows everything that happened on the day you were framed. That's why he wants to confess his sins?
AMODE : (confused)...haha...he knows everything how?
TINA : yes. And he has being suffering for hiding the truth that is why he has to confess.
AMODE : this is strange....
TINA : please just come and see him. The pain he's going through is too much. He wants to die in peace....he even wanted to come here but with his predicament...
AMODE : I understand....(takes a deep breath while thinking of what she just said)....okay. I'll try and come.
TINA : thank you so much sir....I'll take my leave now...but I'll be expecting you.(Standing up)
AMODE : alright.
(It has been weeks since Kola returned to Nigeria. After giving him enough time to settle down, Kola's employer calls him to know how far he has gone with his assignment....)
CALLER : your info on Target A...
KOLA : yes sir. He's coming out again sir.
CALLER : with the same party?
KOLA : yes sir. His campaign started last month.
CALLER : good. Things are working as planned....and the old man?
KOLA : he's still alive.
CALLER : what's his situation like?
KOLA : in a pathetic state. He's somewhere in the suburbs.
CALLER : I see...how are things with him?
KOLA : not good. From what I gathered, his son is in jail.
CALLER : hmm.....okay. Pay him a visit. I'll tell you what to do.
KOLA : Okay sir.
CALLER : did you get any info on AC, anything new?
KOLA : yes sir.
CALLER : tell me...
KOLA : AC is about to have its silver jubilee and they are celebrating it in a big way.
CALLER : I see...and the reunion?
KOLA : it will be done in threes this time.
CALLER : good. Get in touch with the school. I want that set singled out. No extras.
KOLA : yes sir.
CALLER : get me whoever is organizing it. Tell them I'll sponsor it all.
KOLA : okay sir.
CALLER : another thing...get in touch with my lawyer, he's coming over here in a few weeks, he'll give you some information, I want to know everything about them.
KOLA : okay sir.
CALLER : I'll send some more money to you.
KOLA : okay…(he hangs up)
To be continued....
Janu and Egoh came out of Andy’s compound, fantasizing about the money they are about to get, unknown to them that police men had been told to park on that street. The moment they saw them, they were surprised…)
JANU : haha…when did these ones get here?...(looking ahead)
EGOH : shit, policemen…(checking if his gun is intact and not about to fall)
JANU : hey, just act normal so they don’t stop us. Thank God we didn’t bring a car…
EGOH : okay, I got this…
JANU : they are on their own and we are on our own too, let’s just walk past them quietly…(moving close to the check point)…no lele…
(The moment they got to where the policemen were, they were called for a search. Egoh tried to run but the policemen caught up with him, frisked them and arrested both of them, after finding a gun with Egoh.
The policemen locked them up in the same cell without hearing any kind of explanation from them.
Egoh and Janu were surprised with what happened to them, they could not stop thinking about it...)
JANU : just look at what you caused now... I told you not to hold that gun you didn't listen.
EGOH : but I didn't know policemen will be there...after all, they were not there the last time we went there. Moreover, if not for that gun the other time, that man would not have allowed us to see the man. Don’t forget that we were going to blackmail someone, how then do you want us to protect ourselves? What if the man tries to kill us?
JANU : na that one go save us from this place now abi?
EGOH : who we wan call nau?
JANU : shit! And we told the man that we will come tomorrow....what will happen if he doesn't see us now....(Hisses)
EGOH : (thinks for a while)...I just can't believe that this policemen could search us.
JANU : how do we get our money now?
EGOH : we should think of how to get out of here first.
(Meanwhile, back at his house, Andy calls the DPO....)
ANDY : have you gotten those men?
RECEIVER : yes I have sir, in fact right now, they are already here in the prison.
ANDY : that's very good. Make sure they're not bailed. Those boys have been to my house several times to harass my staffs. And when they came today, they threatened another staff of mine with a gun.
RECEIVER : don't worry sir. They will be here for a very long time. We still have their gun here.
ANDY : make sure they don't come out from there.
RECEIVER : don't worry sir. I'll do it, even better than you can imagine.
ANDY : good. I'll send my boys to you.
RECEIVER : alright sir....thank you sir.
(Finally after much agitation, Januri was allowed to make a call, he could only think of Sarku, he calls him, telling him what had happened. Sarku was with Timo when he received the call...)
SARKU : what! What is wrong with you two! Why did you go to the man's house?
CALLER : I am broke damn it! What do you want us to do? I had cut off my contacts with my other guys, thinking that the kidnap deal was going to pay off.
SARKU : notwithstanding, you should have held on. I just wanted to finish some things I have in my hands now and come with Timo so that we can think of what to do to collect our money from him.
CALLER : anyway, that's not the issue now, please help us to get a lawyer and bring him here. I can't talk for too long now. When you get here we will talk.
SARKU : ehn eh...okay.
CALLER : thank you. Please do fast abeg.
SARKU : hmm.....(Hangs up)
TIMO : what happened?
SARKU : it was Janu o. He said they went to the minister's house....(Explains everything to Timo)
TIMO : what! Are those guys crazy? Who will come to prison to see them?
SARKU : no mind am...I suspect fowl play somewhere. If not, why didn't he tell us what they wanted to do before going there? May be the man got them arrested somehow and he has even turned the tables.
TIMO : hmm...who knows, maybe they have asked them to name all those involved and they have called our names...
SARKU : I'm sure it was a set up.
TIMO : you better disappear.
SARKU : before nko?
(About a year later, the gubernatorial election in Cross-River state was conducted and the former governor was re-elected.
Andy and Silvia have moved to their home town since the beginning of the campaign. He was with some of his party members when the election was going on.
After the election result was announced, he became furious, he could not control his anger anymore as he gets home. He kept hitting almost every object that he came across.
Silvia saw the way her husband kept taking out his anger on everything around the house...)
SILVIA : take it easy Andy...
ANDY : (cuts in)...take what easy! Haven't you heard the result?
SILVIA : I heard...
ANDY : (cuts in)...and you're asking me to take things easy! Do you know how much I've spent on that damn campaign?
SILVIA : I understand...
ANDY : no, you don't! You have no idea!
SILVIA : just take it easy...remember I told you to hold on till after he uses his second term...
ANDY : damn those people! After all the money I spent in the primaries, they should have told me I really don't have a good chance!
SILVIA : it’s okay..
ANDY : it’s not okay! No it’s not! Just look at the margin? It was only both of us, other parties retreated, so I'd thought I'll have a good chance, yet, it was a thirty-seventy win! That margin was too much...
SILVIA : come on, you won the primaries and that shows you can still be their only candidate for the next election...
ANDY : will that bring back all the money I spent for this last one? Have you forgotten that I'll have to spend another money for campaign again?
SILVIA : just take things easy...I'll serve your dinner...(Leaving his room for the kitchen)
ANDY : I'm not eating anything!
SILVIA : (turns back)...haha....please o, I don't want to become a widow soonest...
ANDY : I can't eat anything!
SILVIA : (coming back to him)...please my husband, you're not getting any younger, please eat, going on hunger strike won't make you a governor...
ANDY : just leave me for now...I want to be alone...
SILVIA : (takes a deep breath)...okay…
(Fews weeks later, Andy is still brooding at home when his party chairman called him....)
CALLER : Andy, I can understand your anguish. I know a lot of money has gone into this, but you should not give up.
ANDY : Ime, you want me to keep doing what exactly?
CALLER : we wait till another election of course....you think you have wasted money, but you have not. Look, that was your first attempt. We used that to bring you out into limelight, now if you come back after Okoh's second term, believe me, your votes will be very high. Okoh only won because it’s his second term, the same thing will happen during your time.
ANDY : hmm....are you assuring me?
CALLER : look, you know Okoh was in our party before he de-camped?
ANDY : (cuts in)...yes but people still voted for him...
CALLER : yes I know, but notwithstanding, our party still has its support from the masses. We were the one that brought Okoh up as our candidate, so the people trust our judgment.
ANDY : so you're telling me I still have a good chance?
CALLER : of course. So don't give up.
ANDY : okay.
CALLER : let's just wait for about two to three years before we start another campaign.
ANDY : (takes a deep breath)...okay...
CALLER : alright. I'll see you next week.
(It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, Tade is at home, on the phone with Sk....)
TADE : hmm....SK when do you want to get married? All your friends are married! I'm a grandfather already. What else are you waiting for?
CALLER : but you're older than me nau...
TADE : with just about three years? What's that?
CALLER : apart from that...so, you want me to get married and have kids ehn?
TADE : yes nau....
CALLER : thank you. Have you forgotten that it was your own daughter that paid for what you did to Jide?
TADE : (surprised he's bringing that up)...no I've not.
CALLER : then have you forgotten that it was my sister and her children that paid for giving me the advice?
TADE : what are you getting at?
CALLER : I don't want to have kids.
TADE : (laughs)...wait? You don't want to have kids....is it because of Jide's issue?
CALLER : yes nau!
TADE : haba nau...its not that bad, after all we have asked for his forgiveness.
CALLER : does that forgiveness bring his parents back? Or have you forgotten that its because of us his father died?
TADE : Sukanmi, ask for God's forgiveness and everything will be fine.
CALLER : I hear you....abeg, leave that one jare, what of Toyin?
TADE : yes. She's doing very fine o.
CALLER : and the baby?
TADE : a big boy now.
CALLER : that's good...I'll come visiting soon.
TADE : alright. We will be expecting you.
........................................................................
(Three years later, Andy is at his party chairman's house discussing his next move with him....)
IME : we should start soonest. The next election is in a year and as we all know, other parties are contesting.
ANDY : yes I'm ready.
IME : I've gotten you another campaign manager. He's good.
ANDY : oh really? Who is he?
IME : you will meet him tomorrow. He even said he will introduce us to this person who can sponsor your campaign.
ANDY : really?
IME : yes.
ANDY : that will be very nice.
IME : Just get the funds you have ready.
ANDY : I hope this time around all my money won't go in vain.
IME : by God's grace, it won't. You were the minister for petroleum and no bad news erupted from that sector when you were there, so you have a better chance.
ANDY : alright. Let's get to work as soon as possible.
IME : good!
(Amode has been looking for a job, to help his son out of jail but his qualification could earn him none has he does not know where his certificate is, neither is anyone ready to give an ex-convict a job.
After searching for so long, he decided to be a wash-man alongside searching for a security job. On day during his regular job-search, he saw a board in front of a house, on which was written "security man needed". He knocked at the gate and after sometime, a woman came out of the house. She’s in her thirties and sure looks like one of the owners of the house...)
TINA : yes can I help you?...(looking at Amode’s mode of dressing)
AMODE : good afternoon madam?
TIMA : good afternoon.
AMODE : yes please, I saw the notice, that's why I came...(Bringing out an envelope)
TINA : (looking at Amode)...a gate man, speaking english like this...what's in the envelope?
AMODE : my CV.
TINA : (laughs)....CV! Gate men too now have CVs?...nawa o...okay bring it....(Collects it from him)....I'll be back...come and sit inside let me tell my brother...
AMODE : okay. Thank you ma....
(Tina goes into the house to talk to Sam her brother...)
TINA : brother, someone is here for the security job o. In fact this one is so funny. He has a CV...(Bringing out the CV to read)....his name is Amode Degbejoh. Eh! He was once a manager at...
SAM : what?
TINA : yes o, manager…(still studying the CV)...Brother, its either this man was been rich before or he forged...
SAM : (cuts in emphatically with pain in his voice)....what did.... you call his name?...
TINA : Amode Degbejoh...
SAM : that's him....that's the man we have been looking for....
TINA : what…! Oh my God...(Now recalling the name)....oh my God, that's true!.....I totally forgot the name o....I'll go and bring him inside...(Leaving for the gate)
SAM : please do...God thank you
(Amode noticed Tina came back outside with a different countenance entirely...)
TINA : uncle please come inside sir.
AMODE : I should come inside the house?..(surprised she called him uncle and used sir)
TINA : yes.
AMODE : oga does not want to come out to see me?
TINA : he said you should come inside.
(He was surprised. All the places he has being going to search for his security job, people have always come out to talk to him. He follows her all the same.
He was led into a room he suspected to be a bedroom. Immediately Tina opened the door of the room a terrible odour emanated from it, it smells like a decayed body. The smell made Amode retreat from entering...)
AMODE : madam please what is this I can't...(covering his nose)
TINA : (cuts in)...Uncle Please, it’s my brother that's inside, please...
AMODE : (cuts in)...what? Your brother? I thought you said you need a security man, I didn't tell you I'm an undertaker, it’s the security job I asked for, I don't wash dead bodies...(still covering his nose with his hand)…
TINA : (cuts in)...I know sir...please my brother is not dead.
AMODE : eh? He's not dead...(Covering his nose)
TINA : he's sick....(Opens the door wide to reveal the person inside)...look at him..
(Inside the room is a man lying on the bed. The left side of his body is decayed, as if he got burnt in fire but the wound never healed up.
Amode was shocked at the sight he saw, he could not step in. He was still contemplating when the sick man spoke out...)
SAM : please...come inside sir, I need to talk to you.
AMODE : no please, I'll wait here...(Still covering his nose)
SAM : please sir....I've been looking for you...it was God that brought you to my house.
AMODE : eh! Looking for me...(shocked as different thoughts started coming into his head. He thought of different things like money rituals, kidnap, etc and took to his heels immediately before he won't be able to handle the situation anymore.
As he ran outside, Tina runs after him…)
TINA : Uncle please wait!....
AMODE : wait for what?...(running out of the house)…. I don't want the job again o! Thank you!
TINA : (Going after Amode)...it’s about the person that sent you to prison!
AMODE : (refusing to listen to what Tina is saying)….God forbid, this is how someone will enter inside shrine o! God I thank you!
TINA : please sir! My brother wants to confess his crime to you. What he did against you!
AMODE : (hearing Tina’s last words)…don't worry o! He did not offend me!....(Getting to the gate, he runs out)
(Tina got to the gate and saw Amode running away as old as he his. She returns to her brother panting....)
TINA : he didn't wait to. He has gone.
SAM : oh my God...(Thinks for a while)....did he leave an address?
TINA : the CV that he brought....(Goes to get it)...but what will you do with it?....don't tell me you want to go there...
SAM : no. You will go there and talk to him. Beg him and tell him why I want to see him.
TINA : okay o.
SAM : please...
(Amode did not bother going to another place on that day again. He goes straight home feeling he has escaped a tragedy...)
AMODE : God I thank you o!....if not for you... I'm sure those people would have used me for blood money...or maybe they want a replacement for that man's body....chai all this because I was looking for a job!...I think it’s better I go back to washing clothes...but this wash-man's job is not good for me, ehn....
(Kola Olafioye was a student of investigative criminology at the University of York before he worked briefly with the FBI. He came back to Nigeria about a year ago on assignment by his recent employer.
He was at his prestigious office when he receives a call from his Boss....)
CALLER : how's it going?...(Talking so confidently with his husky voice)
KOLA : very well sir...I've got info on each of them. I will mail them to you.
CALLER : good. Will tell you what I think.
KOLA : Yes sir.
(Amode was returning from his job search when one of his neighbors told him that someone was looking for him. Wondering who it was, he sees Tina sitting on a stool waiting for him....)
AMODE : (he immediately recognizes her)...are you not the same woman from that day? For God's sake what do you want from me? If you don't go I will shout on you o?
TINA : Uncle please I need to explain some things to you. Just give me some minutes...
AMODE : explain what?
TINA : please we can't talk here...just allow me talk privately with you. I'm sure what I want to tell you is very important to you.
AMODE : (thinks for a while and takes a deep breath)...okay...(he picks his key and opens the door)...come inside...(entering into the house that has only a stool and an old mattress kept on the floor beside the stool)
TINA : thank you sir...(Entering inside the house)
AMODE : please sit down....(Giving her the stool)
TINA : thank you....(Sits down)....Uncle, my brother has been looking for one Mr. Amode Degbejoh for some time now and he told me. When you came, my mind didn't even go there until I went to tell him about....
AMODE : (cuts in)…no it can’t be me. In fact, it’s not me. There are several other Amode Degbejoh, I’m sure. You just need to search more.
TINA : you were in prison for years, isn’t it?
AMODE : (shocked at her words and confidence)…em…yes…but how do you know?
TINA : my brother knows everything that happened on the day you were framed. That's why he wants to confess his sins?
AMODE : (confused)...haha...he knows everything how?
TINA : yes. And he has being suffering for hiding the truth that is why he has to confess.
AMODE : this is strange....
TINA : please just come and see him. The pain he's going through is too much. He wants to die in peace....he even wanted to come here but with his predicament...
AMODE : I understand....(takes a deep breath while thinking of what she just said)....okay. I'll try and come.
TINA : thank you so much sir....I'll take my leave now...but I'll be expecting you.(Standing up)
AMODE : alright.
(It has been weeks since Kola returned to Nigeria. After giving him enough time to settle down, Kola's employer calls him to know how far he has gone with his assignment....)
CALLER : your info on Target A...
KOLA : yes sir. He's coming out again sir.
CALLER : with the same party?
KOLA : yes sir. His campaign started last month.
CALLER : good. Things are working as planned....and the old man?
KOLA : he's still alive.
CALLER : what's his situation like?
KOLA : in a pathetic state. He's somewhere in the suburbs.
CALLER : I see...how are things with him?
KOLA : not good. From what I gathered, his son is in jail.
CALLER : hmm.....okay. Pay him a visit. I'll tell you what to do.
KOLA : Okay sir.
CALLER : did you get any info on AC, anything new?
KOLA : yes sir.
CALLER : tell me...
KOLA : AC is about to have its silver jubilee and they are celebrating it in a big way.
CALLER : I see...and the reunion?
KOLA : it will be done in threes this time.
CALLER : good. Get in touch with the school. I want that set singled out. No extras.
KOLA : yes sir.
CALLER : get me whoever is organizing it. Tell them I'll sponsor it all.
KOLA : okay sir.
CALLER : another thing...get in touch with my lawyer, he's coming over here in a few weeks, he'll give you some information, I want to know everything about them.
KOLA : okay sir.
CALLER : I'll send some more money to you.
KOLA : okay…(he hangs up)
To be continued....
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