*******
Chambers with a happy smirk on his face boarded one of the numerous long buses plying the long frustrating highway that leads to the notorious Mararaba Nyanya, an overcrowded and criminal prone satellite settlement bothering the superficial Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa state. Mararaba is a settlement with a large population of struggling Nigerians who could never afford the outrageous house rents in Abuja and some closer satellite towns within short proximity to the city centre. Therefore, this group of Nigerians from various regions across the country, including foreigners from nearby African countries of Niger, Chad, Ghana, Cameroun, Togo and Benin republic, daily troop into this slums that made up one of the most populous areas closer to the capital city.
This was where Chambers had been living all the while in Abuja, waking up daily to find his way into the city, and sometime heading back home again by all means, depending on his soberness. He lived among other ten or more tenants in a ramshackle compound with boarded walls and plank toilets. He knew most of his neighbours were already in their various hustling in the city and any one at home would be surprise to see him at this moment. His normal time of coming back home was usually around midnight when he staggers home amidst the barking of the dogs in the area, a police patrol team or the local vigilante as they harassed him. However, he was used to all their harassment and they on the other hand were now used to him and his night cruise. The urgency in the present situation was too important for him to care about his neighbours and their curious faces. He thought, as he stared out at the heavy traffic ahead of their crowded bus through the window from his rear seat. The sun was already fading out of the sky and a cool breeze blew across his face as he reflected on the event over the last few hours. He knew he had a very big task ahead of him to cover the big lie he had told Colour and Ken Solomon.
What Colour and KS never knew was that Chambers gave them one of his imaginary lies that afternoon as they discussed the refinery deal. Sensing that he might be schemed out of the juicy business, he had thought it wise to lie about where they could find Smoke. However, his imaginary brain had given him the idea of Kaduna, a state of about two hour drive from Abuja. The fact was Smoke never told him where he and his secretive team were heading to that afternoon at the Mercury. Chambers had been too dazed and confused with the crispy dollar notes in his hands that he even failed to notice their convoy of cars as they disappeared through the wide gates. Smoke had deliberately concealed this information from him, just like any other outsider, including their lawyer and broker who never knew where they were at present. Therefore, Chambers finding himself in a tight corner, coupled with his desperation to be part of the dollar spill had quickly thought it sharp to name Kaduna, believing that the trail might lead them somewhere along the line. Again, this might also afford him the opportunity of an adventure across the states, he had imagined as they deliberated on the journey.
Now seated quietly inside the bus, he grinned as he remembered his lie about Smoke’s phone number. What number? He almost laughed aloud. Smart, sharp men with corny minds like Smoke never give people their numbers just like that. He told himself. If only these two gentlemen have an idea of whom Smoke was they would not have asked him of his phone number. All the same, the lie he spilled them was good enough. He assured himself as the crowded bus swaggered dangerously along the dead-trap road. Chambers closed his tired eyes, he was eaher to get down at his favourite bus stop for some two, three or four chilled bottles of Gulder, accompanied with a plate of steamy goat head pe-pe soup, before heading home to prepare for his adventurous journey the next day.

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