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FOUND (1st Draft) - Literature - Nairaland

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FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 9:46am On Sep 07, 2020
(c) 2020
All rights reserved.
John Spurgeon

It has been a while I wrote a story or even posted one. All I've done these few years is read. A lot of great stories here on nairaland and okadabooks. Someone asked me if I would ever do a sequel to my last story - OF ALL THE GIRLS IN LAGOS. I don't think so. Most of the reader feedback I got held no reference to a continuation. Classic and Complete.

I got inspired to write FOUND for a movie producer (a movie script) and so the tone of the story over compensates for a lack of comments on the emotional journey of the characters with a lot of physical cues and action narratives. I wanted to try my hand on a fast-paced action comedy and the following story is the outcome.

After he finds a bouquet of flowers with an ominous message on his office desk, Eddie's quiet retirement suddenly becomes embroiled in a conflict as his past comes bounding after him.

Tag your reading group. This is going to be fun.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 9:52am On Sep 07, 2020
The four-story office complex with a wide parking lot is having a quiet afternoon as usual. There are various businesses located on the various levels of the office complex with their sign posts on the building. A few cars which are owned by people who work in the building or their clients are parked at the lot.THE PEEPHOLE SECURITY SYSTEMS AND CONSULTANTS is boldly designed on the signboard on the last floor.

A TOYOTA SIENNA XLE drives into the parking lot and pulls up at a parking space. Arit a young woman in her early thirties alights from the car. Her belly is swollen with a pregnancy already in its last trimester. She goes to open the front passenger seat for her daughter SARA to alight. Sara is a pre-teen in a school uniform - an untucked sky blue shirt and navy blue shorts. Arit locks the SUV with its remote key and they both walk towards the front entrance into the building.

Across the street outside the building complex, Gbenga is sitting at the shogun seat of a blue Volkswagen Passat wagon which is parked at a corner.

Abdul who is sitting behind the wheels looks at his wrist watch. “Right on time! I hope Junior and Frank are on point already.”

“They better be.” Gbenga replies. “Older or not, I bet Eddie is still as cunning as a fox, and if we don’t succeed today I doubt if we ever will.”

“We’ll get him today,” Abdul says with an air of certainty. “We have surprise and more numbers on our side,” he continues, pointing at the mother and child entering the building. “He has a pregnant wife and a kid. That will definitely slow him down.”

Gbenga gives his childhood friend a bemused look. “Someone is extra confident today.”

“Sarah says Mr. Lobo doesn’t expect otherwise. So the plan has to work.”

Gbenga grunts.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 10:08am On Sep 07, 2020
The entrance door into a large office is pushed open. The office is wide with windows that ran from ceiling to the floor offering a view of the bustling traffic outside.

Eddie, enters the office holding a stack of files. He is tall, dark and has a physique that exudes strength and confidence in an affable and easy going manner. He is dressed formally as he is at work. He stops in surprise when he sees a bouquet of roses beside his laptop on the work desk. He frowns as he walks to his wide oak desk, eyeing the flowers in suspicion. He places the files in a drawer. He reaches for the intercom on his desk and speed-dials a number and hears the ring back tune. He picks up the bouquet and examines the roses while waiting for his call to get taken. He sees a small card tucked inside the bouquet and takes it out, replaces the flower on the desk while he opens the small card to read what is written on it - LOST BUT FOUND.

Eddie looks puzzled.

His call gets taken.

“Hello sir!” A female voice calls out.

“Chichi there are a bunch of roses on my desk!”

“Oh! Yes! There was a delivery guy earlier,” Chichi replies over the intercom. “There is a note attached. The delivery guy said he was told you’ll recognize the sender from the note.”

“Is that so?”

“I assumed someone heard about your appointment which will be announced on Monday and sent some congratulations! I didn’t think it would be a problem!”

Eddie picks up the flowers to examine it some more. “It isn’t!” He says, not in a convinced tone. “I’m just surprised that’s all. Free me up for a couple of hours. My wife is coming in to drag me out to lunch.”

“She is here already, with Sara.” Eddie overhears her greeting someone familiar.

“Good… send them right in.” Eddie ends the call, still staring at the note.

There is a knock on the door. Eddie turns quickly to see the door open and Sara run into the office followed by Arit. Sara runs to Eddie in excitement, screaming in happiness. “Daddy! Daddy!” She has a shrilly voice.

Eddie mimicks his little girl like it’s their usual game. He scoops her into his arms. “’Sara! Sara! How was school today, honey pie?”

“I had the highest score in math daddy! Ten over ten!”

“That’s my girl! You’re awesome! And getting heavier too!” He puts her down on the floor. He turns to kiss Arit. “You hear that, my Queen? Daddy’s princess is going to be a pilot someday! Right, Sara?”

“Yes! Pilot! I’m going to be a pilot! A pilot flies an aeroplane!”

Arit stands there watching them with an amused expression on her face. Then she notices the flowers and the amusement turns to curiosity.
“Nice flowers!” She comments. “I see the congratulations are beginning to come in. ”

“That’s what I was trying to figure out before you guys came in” Eddie says. “The sender didn’t leave an I.D so I don't know who sent it.” He shrugs. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright… the fever is down a bit and I feel stronger.“

“Mommy, I’m hungry!” Sara says, reminding Arit why they came to see him.

“Well at least, the sender knows your favorite flowers. Let’s go feed your daughter, you’ll figure it out later.”

Eddie grabs his keys which are on the desk and takes Sara’s little hand. They all head out of the office together.
Eddie turns to take one last look at the bouquet on his desk wondering what the note means.

*************************************************************************************************************

Junior is behind the wheels of a WHITE BMW driving slowly to a hidden spot off the road where he pulls up.
He alights from the car and goes to stand on the middle of the road, pulls off his dark shades and looks around the quiet neighborhood.

**********************************************************************************************************************

Gbenga and Abdul are still in their car parked along the street across the office complex from where they watch the building. Gbenga has drifted off to a light nod but Abdul keeps watch on the entrance to the office building. Abdul sees Arit, Sara and Eddie exit the building talking among themselves as they walk towards Arit’s SIENNA.

He nudges at Gbenga. “There they are.”

Gbenga takes out his cell phone and speed dials a number.

******************************************************************************************************

Junior is on top of a scale-able part of a fence. There is a farm of cassava behind him. He drops onto the floor of the compound set with interlocking stones with a light thump and looks around. When he notices a CCTV swinging automatically in his direction, he hurries to a blind spot beside some clean laundry hanging out to dry.

The rest of the yard seems vacant. He goes to try the kitchen door but it is locked.

His cell phone rings.

He takes the phone out of his pocket and frowns at the name on his screen. He answers the call speaking in hushed tones. “Yes Gbenga, what’s up?” “We don see am koro-koro!” Gbenga’s excited voice rings up.

Junior smiles in obvious relief. Junior tip toes towards the front yard, keeping flat to the walls of the building and still holding his phone to his ear. “Good. I’m already in. Stick to the plan.” He ends the call. He fixes his gaze at the gateman’s security post.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 10:12am On Sep 07, 2020
Eddie’s gatemen is eating fufu and okro soup. His back is to the entrance, facing a CCTV monitor screen on a desk at a corner of the room showing the front of the gate and some other parts of the wide yard scape. However, the gateman’s attention is on a small android phone with which he is chatting on the messenger app while he eats. He notices a shadow fill the doorway and turns to see Junior pointing a gun at him.

He raises his hands in surprise and surrenders to the unexpected intruder. A mold of eba is in his right hand and his mouth is agape and full of chowed fish.

************************************************************************************************

Frankie walks into a restaurant holding a sports’ newspaper. There are a few customers inside the large eating hall. Eddie and his family are sitting at a corner next to a large window.

Arit’s back is to the entrance door while Eddie is sitting opposite her. Frankie looks straight at him and smiles. Eddie catches his eye and looks down at his food. He frowns in thought, and watches Frankie from his peripheral vision.

Frankie goes to sit at another corner and opens his newspaper pretending to read. He shifts his eyes in Eddie's direction and meets his gaze already watching him. Frank smiles slyly.

Sara and Arit are making jokes, oblivious of any danger.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 11:55pm On Sep 08, 2020
Arit walks in front of a Jailer along a narrow, lighted corridor.

Arit is wearing a prisoner’s uniform and the Jailer is wearing hers and holding a baton. Arit is trying to arrange her hand-plaited hair as she walks.
There are jailers everywhere and a few other prison inmates.

Arit and her escort walk past several gates before entering a door that leads to a hallway and right down onto a small hall.

There are three armed guards at the three exits in the hall. The visitation chairs are empty except for Eddie sitting at a desk at a corner.

There is a fast-food take-out bag on the desk. Arit’s escort stops and sits at a corner to watch them while Arit continues to join Eddie. Her sad eyes warms up a bit to smile at him and leans forward on the desk between them to take his hand.

“You look good baby,” she says.

Eddie smiles in appreciation. “Thank you love. I still don’t think orange suits you, but you don’t look so bad yourself.”

Arit smiles sadly. “Liar! But thanks all the same.” She takes his other hand in hers, kisses his palm and cups it around her cheeks. “I miss you baby,” she says in a low tone. “I can’t wait to be released. it’s been eighteen long months.”

Eddie strokes her cheek. “Just a couple more days, my queen. We’ll be back together again.”

“I can’t wait to leave this place,” Arit looks around. “The experience isn’t something you’ll wish on someone else, not to talk of doing it again.

Eddie’s takes her hands in his. “I’ll make it up to you. I swear I’ll make it up to you.”

Arit shakes her head. She is silent for a minute thinking about all the events that led up to her present circumstance. Then she leans in closer over the table between them. “I have never complained, even though it’s because of your carelessness I’m on this side of the table.”

Eddie sighs. “Arit… Let’s not have this conversation. Not here. Not now.”

“I just want it to be all over - all the secrecy, working odd hours, gun under your pillow when we sleep at night, drugs. You always said you were going to quit, but I think it’s time to stop procrastinating and quit. If you really want to settle down with me as you say. I can’t spend the rest of my life watching my back, or watching out for the police. Worse still, risk coming back here. You get me baby?”

Eddie stares at her. Arit doesn’t flinch. “Please, for me. If you really love me. This is how I want you to make it up to me.”

Eddie gets to his feet. “I need some air. I need…”

Eddie looks at her a really long time, then he stands and walks towards one of the exits. He stops to give her one last look, but Arit looks even more resolved. Eddie snorts and exits the visitation room.

************************************************************************************

A taxi switches lanes to take a one-way exit off the highway. Eddie is sitting alone at the back seat. He’s staring blankly at the buildings they drive past.

Eddie’s fist clenches reflexively as the taxi pulls to a stop outside a tall hotel building. The taxi driver looks up at Eddie via his rear mirror. “Oga we don reach.”

Eddie is still immersed in his thoughts. The taxi driver turns to tap him on his lap. “Oga passenger,” he smiles at Eddie as he jolts back to the present. “We don reach.”

Eddie looks out of the window and sees the six-storey hotel building outside. It has a large compound and a penthouse on top. He takes out his wallet and slips out a ONE THOUSAND NAIRA NOTE and pays the driver. The driver takes out a wad of notes from his chest pocket. He gives Eddie a TWO HUNDRED NAIRA NOTE.

Eddie alights from the cab while the driver returns the money to his chest pocket and drives away. Eddie walks towards the hotel entrance
.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 12:14am On Sep 09, 2020
Eddie walks into the reception lobby. It’s empty except for the receptionist sitting at her small desk behind a counter. She looks up from her computer to see Eddie heading straight to one of the doors marked GENERAL BAR. She waves at him in a familiar manner. Eddie nods at her but without a smile and enters the bar room.

The bar is darkly lit. Small, round strobe lights chase itself all over the place. Soft rap music is playing from the speakers. The tables surrounded by neat and comfy-looking sofas and single cushions are all vacant except for a few guys who are at an extreme end of the bar. They are elderly, huddled together and drinking, talking in low tones among themselves. They don’t even look up when the door opens.

Tunde is the bartender. He’s wearing a white shirt and black trouser with a bow tie, wiping the counter. Tunde looks at his rubber watch and at the vacant chairs. He sees the door open and Eddie walk in and straight to him at the counter. Tunde smiles at him. “Oga Eddie! You’re back!”

Eddie’s sits on one of the long stools at the counter leaning heavily forward to heave a sigh. “Scotch, please!” “As usual huh.” Tunde hurries to serve him. “Leave the bottle.”

Tunde isn’t surprised. “Let me guess. You go visit madam today?” Eddie hides his surprise with a frown. Tunde smiles and leans forward over the counter. “E no hard to sabi when you visit am. When you come back, you dey drink pass fish wey fisherman catch, mercy, throw-way back inside water.” He laughs at his own lame joke.

Eddie grunts in disapproval. “Tunde I am not in the mood. Just leave me alone and go worry someone else.” Tunde looks at him for a while then grins. Eddie frowns at him suspiciously. “What?” Eddie asks him. Tunde darts a glance at the oldies huddled at the corner. You remember that time I tell you say I suspect say big Oga dey follow do money laundering, wey you talk say na lie?”Tunde moves closer to speak in lower tones. “Mr. Ade come this evening. E dey with big oga for up. Mr. Ade na popular guy wey dey sell diamonds for black market. Everybody for street sabi am. Na so big oga dey launder im money be that.”

Eddie frowns at that piece of information. Ade is here. He has to go upstairs earlier than he planned. He looks at his scotch in regret, and up at Tunde. He signals Tunde to come closer. Tunde does so. Eddie grabs his right ear and twists it. Tunde shrieks in pain and tries to pull away but fails.

“This your big mouth go put you for plenty wahala very soon if you no take time. You no go focus the work wey they give you make you work. Big oga go cut your tongue comot if im hear this kind talk.”

Tunde’s eyes widens in terror. “Oga Eddie, you no go tell am abi? Abeg. I no go hear again.”Eddie hisses. “Damn right! You won’t!” Eddie releases him.
He turns to see the elderly customers watching them in bewilderment. Eddie smiles reassuringly at them. “No problem here, sirs. Tunde just needs his ears pulled sometimes.” The customers shrug and go back to their drinking.

Eddie throws a warning look at Tunde, takes the scotch bottle and his glass, and exits the bar room.

**********************************************************************************************************

Junior is sitting with Frankie on opposite chairs at a table on the balcony. There is an open door behind Junior. Both of them are dressed in suit and ties which are loosened around their necks.

An ongoing game of chess is on a table between them.

Junior has a wicked smile on his face as odds of the game are on his side. Frankie is scowling at the board . It looks like one big puzzle to him. “I hate when you use that evil mind in a simple game with a layman like me.” He jokes.

Junior laughs. “Sorry, the game isn’t for laymen.” He makes one more move. “Checkmate again!” Junior says. Frankie sighs and lays down his king and looks up to find Junior gloating. “I once heard a rumor back when I worked downstairs,” Frankie says, a mocking note creeping into his voice. “Eddie is the only person you ever lost to.” Frankie says, jeering.

The gloating look slowly fades from Junior’s face replaced by a deep scowl.

Frankie doesn’t care about hurting his feelings though. “Seven schedules,” he continues. “Three games each schedule.” Junior looks down, suddenly self-conscious. Any talk of Eddie’s superiority always sets him off. His ear begins to ring at the memory of that particular humiliation. There had been numerous others.

Frankie’s eyes light up in amusement at Junior’s demeanour.

“Twenty one wins for him!” Junior says.

Frankie nods. “Twenty one losses for you.”

“I’ll beat him one day,” Junior says. Frankie laughs at the absurdity and starts setting up the next game.

“I’ve noticed he always skips town every now and then. I wonder where he goes. I’ll like you to help me find out.”
Frankie shrugs. “He goes to see his girlfriend who is in jail. The police found Eddie’s gun in her house during a raid. She covered for him and went to jail.”

Junior is surprised. “Are you serious? How come you know this and I don’t?”

“Tunde told me once, after I bought him a couple beers. I know Sarah knows, so I assumed everyone else does too.”

Junior smiles cynically at the information. “I doubt my father does.”

The elevator door dings and slides open. They hear heavy footsteps approaching.

Junior glances at his wrist watch as Eddie walks into the balcony, carrying the almost full scotch bottle and his half-filled glass.

“Heeeeyyyy guyyyyzz!” His words are slurred.

Frankie smiles at the tipsy and tired look on his face. “Oga Eddie, you’re back. Mr. Lobo was asking for you last night.”

“Is he in?” Eddie asks.

“Yes, in a meeting at the conference room. Sarah is with him.” Frankie responds.

“I just need to get to the kitchen. I’m famished.” Eddie leaves them without a look or word to Junior who is focused on arranging his pieces on the board.

Eddie walks through another doorway which leads into a corridor dimly lit fancy colored bulbs installed in the ceiling above. The corridor is not long and there is an open doorway at the opposite end.

An open window on the left wall looks into a small conference room. Eddie stops to look in.

Mr. Lobo is sitting at the head of the table facing the window. Sarah is sitting on a chair beside him. An almost empty bottle of water is on the table in front of her. Ade is sitting opposite them with his back to the window. Everyone is dressed in formal clothes. Mr. Lobo is wearing red suspenders on his white shirt. Ade is dressed similarly under his jacket and is wearing a heavy gold chain around his neck. He is patting a large draw bag on the marble conference table in between them as he speaks.

Sarah notices Eddie at the window and shakes her head at him subtly while still smiling at what Ade is saying.

Eddie turns to go back when Mr. Lobo notices him. “Eddie! Finally! Get in here, boy!”

Eddie sighs and proceeds to the door into the conference room and enters. He greets everyone.

Eddie is still on the clothes he wore to visit Arit at prison. Sarah is scowling in disapproval at the wrinkled state of them.

“Ade, you must have heard of Eddie - my head of operations.” Mr Lobo makes the introduction.

“Eddie has a bottle of scotch.” Ade observes.

“Leave the kids to what they love eating as long as they are efficient, eh?” Mr. Lobo barks a short laugh. “I think everyone has the right to spend his evening as he likes so long as he does his job right, right?”

Ade nods in agreement. Eddie sits on one of the chairs and places his bottle and glass on the conference table next to the draw string bag.

“I’m just kidding anyway. Eddie and I did a side job once upon a time, when I was no more than a boy.” “That’s right.” Eddie slurs, and laughs for no reason.

Mr. Lobo pays Eddie no mind. “Really!” He turns to Sarah. “Remind me to ask Eddie about it later when he is sober,” he says and returns his attention to Ade. “The both of you must’ve made an interesting pair.” “Yeah, so interesting we never spoke to each other after that,” Eddie says sniggering, ignoring Sarah’s disapproving frown.

Ade says nothing.

“You missed dinner last night Eddie. You won’t miss it tonight.” Mr Lobo says with a smile.

“I don’t plan to, sir. I am actually famished and I miss Sarah’s home cooking.”Eddie rubs his palms ruefully.

Ade smirks but the humor doesn’t reach his eyes. He obviously has no intention to speak to Eddie who pays him no mind either. Ade looks at his wrist watch. “I’ll have to be on my way Mr. Lobo,” he says. “I’ve got one more appointment today.”

“You mean you won’t stay for dinner? Sarah prepared…”

“I’m sorry sir,” Ade cuts him off. “I’ll take a rain check on that. I need to get moving.” Ade touches the drawstring bag. “Fifty million, uncut, unclean, unregistered.”

Mr. Lobo signals Eddie to pass him the bag. Eddie lifts it and finds it heavy. He carries to Mr. Lobo who opens the gem bag and looks in, admiring the diamonds.

“Just how I like my money - beautiful,” he says. He signals Eddie to take away the bag. Eddie looks into the bag, admiring the glittering diamonds.

He closes the bag and carries it out of the conference room while Mr. Lobo stands to shake Ade’s hand. “It’s always nice doing business with you. I hope to see you again soon.”

“Of course sir! Any time!” He turns to the lady seated next to his customer. “Good bye my lovely Sarah! And please extend my regards to my friend Eddie!”

Sarah smiles and nods curtly. “Good bye Ade. Thank you for going through the trouble of bringing the stones yourself.”

“Well of course. Only the best services for my best customers.” Ade says and turns to exit the conference room.

Sarah gets to her feet to grab the scotch bottle and glass. She exits the conference room just as Junior walks in followed by Frankie.

“Well daddy, that’s done and over with, right?” Junior asks.

“Yes, dinner’s up next boys! Talking with Ade always gives me a healthy appetite.”

Eddie walks into the kitchen in time to see Sarah pour the scotch remaining in the glass down the sink and hide the bottle in one of the kitchen closets. She turns and is surprised to see Eddie watching her.

“What do you think you are doing?” Eddie asks her. Some of the tipsiness is gone from his face but he still looks so tired.

“It’s been a full year of occasional drunk binges. That will not happen tonight, Eddie.” Eddie looks surprised. “Yes, I’ve noticed.” Sarah says. “Everybody has noticed.”

“Just give me the bottle please.”

Sarah sighs. “I need you to talk to me. That would help much more than a bottle of scotch. Two heads are better than one. At least they used to, back when we were together. They still can.”

Eddie frowns then chuckles. “Why does something tell me you have an idea?”

“An idea about what - that Arit has been in jail these six months for your carelessness?” Eddie’s jaw drops open. “That barman downstairs is not a good drinking buddy, that is if you want to keep any of your personal secrets to yourself around here.”
Eddie makes to go past her to the closet but she stands in the way. “Sarah, get out of my way!”.

“I don’t like raised voices around me.” Mr. Lobo’s old monotone - the one they’ve gotten to know means the boss was cross - came from behind Eddie. They turn to see Mr. Lobo enter the kitchen. “It’s no good for my health,” Mr. Lobo continues. “Both of you know this.”

“We’re sorry, Mr. Lobo,” Sarah says.

Mr. Lobo nods and sighs. “Now, where is the scotch?”

Sarah turns to open the closet and bring the bottle out. She hands it over to Mr. Lobo. “Get Eddie a fresh glass, bring me one, and one for yourself if you’re interested.”

Sarah is surprised, but obeys. She gives Eddie his glass, scowling at his smirk. She gets a fresh tumbler for Mr. Lobo from a wall closet. Mr. Lobo pours a drink into his tumbler and hands Eddie the bottle to do the same. Eddie does and returns the bottle to Sarah who closes the bottle and places it on the kitchen counter.

“I told Sarah to contact you yesterday for an errand I wanted you to run for me, but you were not reachable.”

“I apologise for that Mr. Lobo. I went to visit a close friend out of town who needed my help.”

“Money has a code, Eddie. Time is money. Next time you plan to leave town, I want to know about it.”

“Okay sir!”

Junior enters the kitchen, closely followed by Frankie.

“Mmmm. This is good scotch Eddie.” Mr Lobo says. He turns to Frankie. “Frankie, take that bottle to my study.” Frankie takes the bottle from him and exits the room. “Junior you’ll make a delivery tonight. Sarah will give you all the details.”

“Yes dad,” Junior replies trying his best not to show the excitement he is feeling.

Sarah appears surprised. “It is Eddie who usually runs this. Dozie and his crew don’t know Junior and that could cause problems.”

Mr. Lobo frowns at Sarah. “I am hungry Sarah! Please dish the food already and stop telling me what I already know.”

Sarah is surprised at his vehemence. She goes to do as ordered. Mr. Lobo goes to sit at the head of a table in the middle of the large kitchen. “Where is Gbenga?” He asks. He turns to look at Junior.

“You sent him and Abdul to Apapa to show the new clearing agent the ropes.”

Mr Lobo looks at Eddie. “Good!” He rubs his palms in anticipation as Sarah serves him a tray containing a plate of steaming hot, delicious smelling jollof rice, a plate of vegetable salad and a large fish tail in pepper soup.

Frankie re-joins them at the kitchen. He and Junior go to sit around the kitchen table. Sarah serves them too.

Sarah eyes Eddie lingering at a corner of the kitchen staring into his glass at the last of his drink. “Eddie,” she calls out to him. Eddie looks up at her.

The answers you seek aren’t floating around in that glass, her look seems to say. Eddie drains his glass, places it on the counter and joins the rest at the kitchen table.
Sarah serves him and herself last. She passes a bottle of table water to them all and sits next to Eddie.
“Eddie, say the grace!” Mr. Lobo commands.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 4:01am On Sep 09, 2020
Eddie is sitting alone at the kitchen table an hour later. He’s still eating - very slowly, as his mind is far away. The rest of the table has been vacated.

Sarah returns to the kitchen and goes to load dirty plates into the dish washer.

The noise jolts Eddie out of his thoughts. He looks up to see her back turned to him. Her long pencil skirt is filled out nicely by her lower figure. He feels a longing growning in his lower abdomen but controls himself. “Nice cooking, as usual,” he says instead.

Sarah looks at him over his shoulders. “Is that why you’re picking at it?”

Eddie drops his fork on the tray and leans back on his chair. He stares at a corner for a moment, and shakes his head. He turns to see Sarah now facing him, watching him with some concern on her face. She walks to him and sits on the chair next to his - the chair she’d had her dinner on.

Eddie sighs, his pent up emotions are all over his face.

“She says I have to -” He sighs. “I think I need to talk to Mr. Lobo. Where is he?”

“In his study of course. Why?” “You won’t understand.”

Eddie drinks some water. “Thanks for dinner dear.” He kisses her forehead and stands to walk out of the kitchen, leaving Sarah to stare after him in confusion.

*************************************************************************************************

Mr. Lobo is standing in between two large and fully stacked book shelves. He’s wearing reading glasses and is slowly flipping the pages of the book he is holding. He hears a knock and looks up to see Eddie standing at the doorway.

“May I come in? I need to talk to you about something,” Eddie says.

Mr. Lobo waves him in. “They say the day you stop reading is the day you start failing. A book is a whet stone for sharpening the mind.” He gives Eddie a warm smile and points to one of the vacant seats on the other side of his large desk. “Sit! Take a load off!”

Eddie walks into the room and goes to sit on one of the chairs in the reading room. Mr. Lobo goes to join him at his desk. “Keep it brief! this is reading time,” He says.

Eddie hesitates.

Mr. Lobo frowns out of curiosity. His henchman is rarely reluctant. “Yes? Out with it!”

“I’ll like to resign.”

Mr. Lobo barks a short laugh to hide his surprise. “Did I hear you right?”

Eddie clears his throat. “Yes, Mr. Lobo. I’ve - I’ve thought of how best to broach the subject. I’m not one for wit, so I’ll just put it out there. I’m quitting, sir.:

Mr. Lobo gets off his chair to walk to the entrance door and close it. He turns to walk back to his seat with a heavy scowl on his face. “Suddenly you want to leave? You have to be insane! Isn’t your pay good enough anymore?”

“No! It is not about the money, sir.”

“Then what on earth is more important to a man than his pay check?”

Eddie is reluctant to speak.

Mr. Lobo opens his eyes wide in realization. “Ah! A woman!”

“No, not exactly! I’m just… I’m tired of this kind of life. We both know I wasn’t going to work for you forever - not this kind of work anyway. I want some peace and quiet. I want to raise a family without these hassles with the law.”

Mr. Lobo chuckles. “And I want to be Governor of this great state! Hell! I even want to be President of this godforsaken country!” His laugh dies off as quick as it began. “You are too in to get out, Eddie!” Mr Lobo says. “You know the rules. You know how very relevant you are to my work here. You know the ins and outs Eddie and you also know I won’t agree to this, so why are you wasting my reading time?”

A staring contest begins.

Eddie looks down in defeat a couple minutes later. He sighs and gets up to walk out of the room. Mr. Lobo frowns at his retreating figure and returns to his reading when Eddie closes the door behind him.

Eddie goes straight downstairs to the hotel bar where he finds a vacant table at a corner to sit. Party music is loud and the ambience if full of drunken fun among couples and groups. He signals Tunde and places his order.

A few hours later Eddie is at a corner table with four bottles of Budweiser in front of him. Three of them are empty. He flicks some ash from the cigarette he’s holding into an almost full ashtray. There are more than a few cigarette butts in the ash tray among a small mountain of ashes.

Eddie seems oblivious of the the dancing and partying going on around him as he is lost in his thoughts - thoughts which are anything but calm nor collected. He looks defeated and angry. Thoughts of disillusionment and confusion as to what to do next cloud his consciousness. He knows Mr. Lobo is right. There is no exit. He can’t lose Arit - not after her sacrifice and loyalty. As if. He also can’t disappear from the face of the earth. Where would he go even if he has the money to make it happen. His rainy day fund wouldn’t be enough.

He looks at his wrist watch and frowns in surprise at the time. He signals Tunde once more who immediately attends to him. Eddie takes some money from his wallet and gives it to Tunde who thanks him and hurries away to attend to others. Eddie gets up and goes to exit the bar.

It’s windy outside and the air smells of impending rain. A loud peal of thunder crashes as Eddie walks to where his Mercedes is parked at the lot behind Mr. Lobo’s hotel. He is a bit drunk. He makes to unlock the door but his unsteady hands drop his bunch of keys. He bends to pick it up and that is when he hears two familiar voices conversing and stops to eavesdrop.

“Sarah says it’s fifty million naira.” A voice he knows too well says.

“Fifty! Bulk! He stacks that much?” The second familiar voice replies with a tone of incredulity.

I already know he stacks money from the sales. I just don’t know where. I won’t miss this chance.” The first voice returns. Eddie takes out his phone and hits the record button on the shortcut list.

“Wow! So how do we do this?”

The first familiar voice lays out a rough plan to his audience - both seen and unseen.

Eddie hears a car engine start soon afterward. He quickly ducks in the shadow between his car as headlamps turns on illuminating some parts of the lot. Eddie perks up to watch Junior’s white BMW drive away and sees Frankie walk back to the main hotel building.

Eddie saves the recording and climbs into his car. He pauses a moment to mull over what he’d just overheard. He starts his car and follows the BMW’s trail. He knows where Junior is going anyway and doesn’t need to track him.

About an hour later, Eddie’s Mercedes pulls up at a dark corner along the street outside a noisy bar. The rain is pelting down hard now. He watches the opposite side of the bar from behinds his wheels.

Junior’s white BMW drives towards the parking space outside a microfinance bank building just as Dozie exits the back entrance. Dozie is holding two heavy duffel bags in both hands as he walks to Junior’s BMW which is doing a U-turn - to face the trunk at him.

Junior pops the trunk.

Dozie checks out the surroundings. Everywhere seems clear of any danger. He turns to the BMW’s trunk, lifts it and drops the duffel bags next to Mr. Ade’s draw-string bag. He loosens the draw string bag and takes a quick look. The huge stone glitters in the dull moonlight. He seems satisfied.

He carries the draw-string bag and walks back to his own hilux truck which is the only other vehicle in the small parking lot outside the microfinance bank. He opens the back seat and hands it to a middle aged man sitting there dressed formally in a dark suit. He is the bank’s manager “Looks good,” Dozie says.

“Then let’s go,” the bank manager replies. Dozie turns in the direction of the BMW and gives it a thumbs up. He climbs in behind the wheels of the Hilux truck himself. The engine is already steaming. He puts it on drive and drives off onto the street.

The BMW is close behind him.

“Here we go.” Eddie mutters to himself as he watches both vehicles. Dozie hits the asphalt and drives towards Eddie and on past him while the BMW drives off in the opposite direction. Eddie starts his car and drives after the truck.

Eddie follows the hilux maintaining a reasonable distance so as not to appear obvious. He takes a look at his rear-mirror and notices a TUNDRA following one car behind him. A minute later, he takes another glance and sees the Tundra directly behind him. His suspicion grows. He decelerates to pull up beside the road letting the TUNDRA drives past him, and peering into the dark interior as it drives past. He can make out three occupants including its driver, all oblivious of him.

Eddie frowns as one final wave of hesitation washes over him. The right thing to do would be to protect his boss’ partners. Arit’s voice is strong in his head though. “I know business is good but this business has got to stop.”

Dozie’s car turns off the road into a narrow street ahead.

The TUNDRA is quick to follow suit.

Eddie doesn’t follow them into the narrow street but pulls up at the junction. He alights, takes out his pistol to check the clip and continues into the narrow street on foot.

The street is dark and almost deserted. The three men in the Tundra puts on socks over their heads.

The driver of the Tundra speeds up and closes in on Dozie’s car. The man in the shotgun seat takes out his pistol and shoots at the Hilux’s left-back tire. The tire bursts and the vehicle begins to wobble. Dozie struggles to control the car and pulls up on the side of the road.

The TUNDRA overtakes Dozie’s car and pulls up in front of it blocking it off from the street ahead. Two of the three masked men alight from the TUNDRA, brandishing automatic rifles. The driver remains behind the wheels. All three opens fire on the car. A few bullets hits Dozie who is still in his seat behind the wheels. He groans in pain and dies. The masked men stop firing. The front of the car looks like a sieve with all the bullet holes on it.

The two men on foot go to open the door and see Dozie dead behind the wheels of his car. He’s bleeding all over his bullet-ridden body. One of the masked men opens the back door and sees the bank manager huddled over and groaning in pain. He carries the draw-string bag and shoots the man begging for mercy. The bank manager slumps over dead.

Frankie shouts from behind the wheels of the Tundra. “Hurry up boys, let’s move!”

“Not so fast there!”

The masked men turn to see Eddie come out from the bushes holding his gun. He shoots the two masked men before they can react and Frankie drives away in a hurry.

Arit’s voice is still replaying in a loop in his head. “Please… for me… if you love me…”

Eddie hurries to grab the bag on the floor beside one of the dead masked men and runs back to where he parked his car at the beginning of the street. He opens his back door and dumps the bag on the back seats. He climbs in behind the wheels and drives off.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 4:17am On Sep 09, 2020
Arit snaps her fingers twice at Eddie;s face. “Eddie!”

Eddie snaps out of his thoughts to see Arit frowning at him.

“You never even heard a word I said, right?” She asks. “What were you thinking of - the flowers?” She has a concerned look on her face.

Eddie throws a glance at Frankie’s direction. A waiter is offering him the menu. “It was a warning,” Eddie tells her. Arit is surprised.

“A warning! I don’t understand.”

Eddie takes out the flower card from his inner pocket and gives it to Arit. Arit opens the note. “Lost but found!” She reads. She looks up at him confused. “What does it mean?”

“They are already here. Whoever sent the flowers sent the warning too late.” Eddie looks detached - calm but calculating.

A worrying thought begins to circle around her mind, but she still can’t pinpoint what the thought is. A nagging fear stemming from an old sore resumes its growth. “I don’t understand. Who is here?” She turns to look around in bewilderment and misses Frankie altogether.

Eddie leans across the table to take her hand in his. His tone is stern. “You are panicking! This is not what Sara needs from her mom right now!”

Arit calms herself down and smiles at Sara who is eating while looking at them curiously. “Your former boss is here?” It is more of a statement than a question. She takes a sip off the glass of orange juice in front of her.

“My former colleague is in here. I bet others are lurking around.”

Arit is alarmed. “What do we do about Sara? She’s too little for this… and I’m quite heavy.”

Eddie is deep in thought. “There has got to be a way out of this. Get Sara out of here first. I’ll try to get past Frankie and whatever back up he has.”

“Are you sure you can handle this? It’s been a while you, you know… you’ve been on a desk for some time now.” Eddie chuckles confidently. “Old habits die hard.” Arit looks at him in disbelief.

“Okay sweetheart. If you don’t hear from me by seven this evening, go to the house. There is a steel briefcase in a wall safe.” Arit is surprised. “A wall safe in our house!” “It’s behind one of the picture frames hung on the wall in my study. The combination is Sara’s birthday. Take the brief case and run. I’ll find you.”

Arit finds it all hard to digest. “But I’ll hear from you before seven, right?”

EDDIE gives her a reassuring smile. “I promise!”

Arit nods. Eddie nods back at her. She dabs at the corner of her mouth with a napkin and drains her juice glass. “Sara honey, it’s time to go.”

Frankie gives them a quick glance and goes back to sipping his soft drink.

“But mommy, I’ve not -” Arit stands and carries Sara. “-finished eating yet - I’m hungry.”

“The food here is not very good…” Arit explains. “Let’s go and buy MOI-MOI and SALAD at CRUNCHIES.” Arit takes her hand bag and starts towards the exit.

Sara turns to see Eddie still on his seat, watching them leave. “Daddy come, Mommy is taking us to crunchies!”

“Shh! He’s coming later!” Arit replies. “Don’t disturb other people who are eating.”

SARA giggles conspiratorially. “They don’t know the food is not good. We should tell them.”

They exit the eating hall.

Frankie looks up from the newspaper he is reading and notices Eddie watching him. He feigns surprise . “Oga Eddie! Is that really you?”
“Yes Frankie!” Eddie smiles back in acknowledgement. “How have you been?”

Frankie carries his drink and newspaper to join Eddie at Eddie’s table. “I’ve been good!” They shake hands with a false sense of pleasantness. “Just another day at the office. You know how it is. Fancy running into you here. You’re not looking bad! Added a lot of weight. Was that your family that just left?

“Yes! My wife and daughter!” “Wow! I guess congratulations are in order! You’ve been living the good life.” Eddie laughs, watching him warily. The mood on the table appears light beneath Frankie’s cynicism.

********************************************************************************************

Arit put her daughter into the back seat of her Sienna and straps her in. She hurries around, into the driver’s seat. She starts the car.

Abdul and Gbenga are in their car across the street - adjacent to the parking space outside the restaurant. They are watching Arit’s car reverse out of the parking space and drive off into the traffic. Abdul is behind the wheels and has the car’s engine already running. He drives after Arit.

*************************************************************************************************

Eddie watches Frankie order another drink. “So how’s everyone?” He asks, mood still pleasant. “Mr. Lobo, Sarah, Junior… the rest of them.”

“Oh! They are fine! Mr. Lobo especially is happy to find you after all these years! All this while we were misled into thinking you’d left the country. Besides fifty million can buy more leverage eight years ago than today. You can’t imagine how surprised we were to learn that you’re here in Uyo. Nice little town to hide in by the way. Mr. Lobo says he can’t wait to visit it.”

Eddie laughs and leans back on his chair. “Let me guess. Gbenga and Abdul are outside, just in case I slip away from you.”

"Nice! You remember the drill after all these years. You must know there’ll be no disappearing act this time.”

“I wasn’t planning on that. I too have been waiting to sit with Mr. Lobo himself once again. I'm sure we'll both be pleased to catch up after all these years.”

“Fantastic!” Frankie exclaims gleefully smacking his hands. “That’s why I’m here - to take you to him.”

“And I want my family left out of this. It is me Mr. Lobo wants.”

“Well, I guess you’ll have to tell that to Gbenga and Abdul… I’m here to take you to Mr. Lobo, but their instruction was quite different.”

Eddie frowns for the first time. “I don’t understand.”

Frankie shrugs. “We altered the drill a little bit. This time the order was to get both you and your family. Especially the kid.” Frankie chuckles at the surprised look on Eddie’s face.

Eddie soliloquizes. “Oh no! Sara!”

Frankie makes to pull out his gun but Eddie is quicker. Eddie throws the table with all the plates on it on Frankie’s face. Frankie falls off his chair and staggers to his feet. He tries again to draw his pistol, but Eddie again is quicker - closing in on him and punching him on the face. Frankie’s pistol falls from his grip and clatters on the floor. Everyone one in the restaurant had been shocked at the beginning of the fight but now they all scream in alarm on seeing the pistol skid across the tiled floor and they all run for safety.

Some take cover under the chairs, others run out of the restaurant.

Eddie swings at Frankie again, but Frankie ducks and wrestles Eddie to the floor. Eddie rolls them over till he’s on top of Frankie. Eddie gives him two heavy blows on the face, and then gets off him panting for breath.

He bends to take Frankie’s cell phone and car remote from Frankie’s pocket, and then he goes to pick up Frankie’s gun. “Tell Mr. Lobo that I have information more important to him than my family! He better not hurt them.”

Frankie sits up groaning in pain and bleeding from his lower lip to watch Eddie stagger out of the restaurant. .

Once outside, he straightens and stuffs the pistol into the waist of his trouser and buttons his suit to hide the bulge. He looks around the area staring back at the onlookers who’d fled the restaurant at the start of the fight.

Traffic beyond them is fast, he notices. He presses the remote car key and Frankie’s red DODGE which is parked at the far end of the parking space beeps. He hurries to the car, unlocks and climbs in, starts it and joins traffic

***************************************************************************************************

Arit is driving along an asphalted minor road, oblivious that Abdul’s car following closely behind. Sara is in the back seats reciting a nursery rhyme. Arit’s phone rings suddenly. She takes out her phone and tears her eyes away from the road ahead for a quick glance at the CALLER I.D before returning her attention to the road, sighing in relief. She picks the call…

“Sweetheart, are you okay?”

Eddie is sitting behind the wheels of Frankie’s red DODGE speeding through traffic on a major road. He’s holding a cell phone to his ears. “Yeah! I’m fine! Where are you?” He tries to sound reassuring but cringes at his attempt.

“I’m along C-LINE. I’m going to the house to pick up the things you asked for.”

“Okay. Is any car following you?”

Arit looks at her rear mirror. She’s sees Abdul’s car closing in on her rapidly. “Shit!” And braces for impact. Abdul’s car hit Arit’s from behind.

Eddie hears the sound of a crash from his end. “What the hell was that?” He asks.

The phone drops from Arit’s hand to her lap as she struggles to keep her car steady. “Baby, are you okay?” Arit hears Eddie shout over the phone.

Arit ignores the phone and struggles with the car. She looks at Sara through the rear mirror.

Sara is staring back at her with wide frightened eyes.

Gbenga shoots at her back tire as Abdul overtakes her. Arit stomps on the brakes and her car screeches and wobbles to a stop.

Sarah is crying at the back seats.

The few pedestrians on the road run helter-skelter.

Arit quickly alights from the car, leaving the door open as cover in case she’s fired on. She hurries to open the back door. Abdul alights and opens fire on Arit. He shatters the window of the open driver-door. A bullet hits the back car door just beside her hand which is on the door knob. Arit withdraws her hand in fright.

She sees Abdul coming closer, and a sob escapes her mouth as she runs away looking for cover, bullets trailing her. Gbenga alights to join Abdul. “Remember, Mr. Lobo needs all of them alive.” He shouts to Abdul as they run to Arit’s car.

They see Sara there crying for her mommy, but don’t see Arit.

“Which way did the wife go?” Gbenga asks scanning the area.

Abdul joins him. “I didn’t see. Get the kid and let’s get out of here.” He says looking around. Last thing he wanted was onlookers getting emboldened.

Gbenga opens the back door and carries Sara who tries to fight him off, pounding and screaming as he carries her to Abdul’s car, with Abdul following suit.

They drive away.

Arit comes out from her hiding place behind a few bushes that line the road. Tears are rolling down her cheeks. A small crowd of onlookers begin to gather, still keeping their distance, but watching her and talking among themselves. Frankie’s red DODGE is seen approaching at top speed and pulls up in front of her.

Arit’s body shakes in sobs when she sees Eddie alight from it. Eddie runs to meet her and hold her, looking inquisitive. “Where is Sara?”

Arit buries her face in his chest and sobs. Eddie’s eyes mists but he blinks back the tears. He hugs Arit to him tighter.

They hear sirens approaching and quickly disengage. “We have to get out of here.”

Arit goes to her bullet ridden Sienna and picks up her cell phone from the car floor. Eddie goes to start Frankie’s red DODGE and waits till Arit joins him before driving away from the scene.

Arit stares at her Sienna as they drive past. A thought gnaws at her. “What if the police trace the Sienna back to me?”

Eddie shakes his head but he keeps his eyes on the road as he hightails away. “Don’t worry love. Everything is registered to fake names and out-of-town addresses.” Arit doesn’t even appear surprised. “I should’ve known better to trust my instincts.” She turns to look at him after a moment of staring out the window. “We have a plan, right?” She asks.

“Don’t worry, baby. We’ll get our daughter back, and then disappear for good.” He reaches for her hand and squeezes it reassuringly. Arit nods in apprehension.

********************************************************************************************************

Eddie jumps down a fence into his back yard noiselessly. He takes out Frankie’s gun and walks cautiously to the kitchen door.

Outside the compound, Frankie’s red DODGE pulls up in front of the gate and horns a few times. Arit is behind the wheels. The gate is opened by the gateman and she drives in.

Junior is hiding inside the gateman’s lodge. His gun is trained on the gateman’s back through a window. Arit drives on towards the garage where a FORD EXPLORER is parked. “Lock that gate quick.” Junior orders the gateman.

The gateman obeys, one eye on the gun Junior is pointing at him. Junior exits the lodge once he is sure the gate is locked. He walks to the gateman and motions him towards the Dodge which Arit parks at the front porch.

Arit alights from the car and is surprised to see Junior roughly pushing the gateman towards her and pointing a gun at her.

“Raise your hands where I can see them.” Junior orders her.

“Madam, I sorry o… I know sabi where…” “Shut the Bleep up!” Junior kicks the gateman from behind. Arit is frightened. Junior calms down a bit. He is sure he is in charge of the situation. “I said raise those hands! Don’t make me repeat myself!” He is less frantic now.

Arit obeys.

Eddie is in the kitchen, moving quickly and quietly through the house. He hurries through a corridor to a locked door under the staircase. He quickly takes a key from his pocket and unlocks the door looking around cautiously. There is no one around. The door creaks a bit when he opens it and he slips into the room. The room is his study. It is small with shelves lined with a few books. An office desk is vacant apart from a slim hp notebook.

Eddie walks to his desk and opens the lowest drawer. He takes out a TASER GUN and checks the charge. He takes out his cell phone and speed dials a number as he moves to a window and parts the blinds a little to peep outside.

Outside, Arit’s hands are up in surrender. “Where’s he?” Junior asks her. She pretends to be surprised. “Where’s who?”

Junior waves the gun threateningly. “If you make me repeat myself again, then you’ll be sorry. I said where is your husband?” “My husband! He…” Her cell phone which is in one of her raised hands begins to ring. She looks at the CALLER I.D.

“It’s him, isn’t it? Give me that cell phone!” Arit lets him have the phone. Junior looks at the caller I.D and smiles in triumph. “Now get into the house both of you!”

He herds them towards the front porch of the house. They open the door to enter while Junior slows down to pick the call. “I got your wife, Eddie!”

Eddie is standing behind the entrance door into a large, tastefully furnished sitting room. The door opens. Arit and the gateman enter the sitting room.

Arit sees Eddie, armed and ready behind the door. Her anxiety clears off her eyes. Eddie places his index finger across his lips. The gateman doesn’t see him at first. Junior enters the sitting room slowly, still pointing his gun at them.

“Settle in guys! He will be here in time to…”

Eddie comes out from his hidden position behind the door and aims the TASER GUN at Junior’s back.

Junior notices the surprised look on the gateman’s face whose gaze is beyond him.

“Oh but I’m here already.”

Junior swings around fast to see Eddie behind him. His jaw drops in shock at the funny-looking yellow gun pointed at him. Eddie shoots Junior before he can aim his weapon. Junior groans and shudders at the shock his body is receiving and falls unconscious.

Eddie turns to scowl at the gateman. “You’re fired… effective immediately.” The gateman starts to beg and make excuses. Eddie picks up Junior’s gun. “If you make me repeat myself, I go shoot you for leg! Pack your things and leave my house now!” He meets Arit’s heated gaze and sighs in concession. “Call my office tomorrow! I’ll instruct them to pay you your salary for the next three months, so you’ll be okay till you find yourself a new job!”

The gateman is reluctant, but exits the room out the front door. Eddie turns to see Arit staring at him in bewilderment. “Baby, whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it right now. Go to the store and bring me ropes.”

Arit continues staring.

Eddie snaps his fingers on her face. “There’s no time woman! He’ll soon wake up.”

Arit hurries out of the sitting room via another door. Eddie watches her exit, his face filled with anger and remorse.
Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by johnspurgeon014(m): 12:12pm On Sep 12, 2020
There is light traffic along a major road. Rain is drizzling. A few pedestrians are on the road, some are holding umbrellas over their heads. The streetlights lined both sides of the road illuminating it.

Abdul’s car is driving on the wet road, its wipers is wiping rain off the windshield. Gbenga is in the back seat with Sara who is busy eating foreign biscuits and staring wide eyed out of the window. Abdul is behind the wheels. The atmosphere in the car seems tense.

********************************************************************************************

Arit is standing in the middle of Sara’s bedroom. A lot of pictures of cartoon heroes are on the wall. There is a small table and a chair at a corner and some elementary school books are neatly arranged on the table. The bed is neatly made. A tear rolls down Arit’s grief-stricken face. Arit stifles a sob, as she looks down at the framed photograph in her hands – a photograph of Sara and Arit at a beach, wearing beach clothes. Arit storms out of the room, her emotions in full display on her face.

Arit enters a corridor that ends at a staircase that only goes down. She descends the stairs, down to a narrow doorway which is slightly open.

Junior is tied to a chair in the middle of a room empty except for some old furniture covered with tarpaulin at a corner. He is rousing back into consciousness. Eddie is sitting on the floor at a corner watching him as he opens his eyes and looks around his immediate environment. Eddie is holding both Frankie and Junior’s pistols in both his hands. They both look up when the door creak further ajar and Arit enters. Her eyes are wet from crying.

Eddie gets to his feet. “Are you okay honey?”

Arit shakes her head. She walks past him and goes to where Junior is tied up. Junior is puzzled. Arit shows him the photograph in her hand. “Where is she? Where have your friends taken my daughter to?”

Junior frowns at the photograph for a moment then he understands. His eyes widens in recognition and laughs in derision. Arit slaps him hard across the cheek and scratches at his face with her beautifully manicured fingers.

Red lines appear on Junior’s face where her fake nails drags across.

“Arit that is enough.” Eddie calls out. “Come here let me show you something.”

Arit reluctantly turns away from the mockery in Junior’s raked face. She stifles a sob as she walks to Eddie. Eddie puts an arm around her leads her to the exit door, consoling her as they leave.

“They took our daughter,” She mutters at the foot of the stairs.

“We’ll get her back,” Eddie assures her. “We just have to calm down and wait. Mr. Lobo will call. I know he will call.”

They go up the stairs together.

Eddie and Arit enter his study. Eddie goes straight to a large, wooden frame holding an enlarged family picture. He takes the frame down the hook, and uncovers a wall safe. Arit watches in surprise as Eddie places the frame on the floor. He keys in the pass code and the wall safe opens.

“You keep a taser and a wall safe in your office? What other secrets am I living with?” Arit asks. Eddie cocks his eye brows at her as he opens the safe and takes out a small briefcase. A few stacks of naira notes and a handgun are also in the little chamber.

Arit follows him to the office desk where he places the briefcase and opens it. Arit is disappointed to see just stacks of paper in the briefcase and three international passports…

“What are the documents for?” Arit asks. “My money, plus some other interests.”

“Why did you have to take his money, baby? Now look at the pickle we have landed ourselves.”

“I didn’t have too many choices. It was either I go AWOL and lose my life or I lose you. I didn’t have any savings because of the kind of life we lived back then. I chose you. I couldn’t lose you, regardless of what Mr. Lobo’s orders were. But my disappearance was going to cost money. I saw my opportunity and I took it - for you - That’s what you asked for!”

“I never asked for this.” Arit protests.

“Neither did I! We are at this bridge now and we’re going to cross it. Together.”

Eddie pulls her into his arms and kisses her. She kisses him back and soon it gets heated and only ends when they are both out of breath.

“So we have his boy and money.” Arit mentions picking up a document and looking at it. “That should get Sara back safe and sound, right?” She looks up at Eddie, a question in the look.

“I hope so too.”

Arit sits down on a chair and her worries come back on her face.

“I always feared this day will come.” A thoughtful silence ensues. Junior’s cell phone rings shattering that. Eddie takes out the phone from his pocket to look at the caller ID on the phone screen.

He seems relieved.

He picks the call.

1 Like

Re: FOUND (1st Draft) by Odoogu(m): 7:44pm On Sep 14, 2020
bursting my brains cheesy nice one. waiting for the rest

(1) (Reply)

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