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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

(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.

Been years since i commeñted on a story here. I like the casualness with which the plot is unfolding. Even though the story is in first person, it will be more interesting to add subplots so we can have major twists later on. Priscilla's angle. Chidi and Hide should get more active roles. Hope you haven't forgotten Sonia either.

Over all I love the how real it is. Kudos.

HORLADSTAR:
IN TAYLOR SWIFT VOICE (DON'T BLAME ME )

CHORUS
Don't blame me
Literature made me crazy
If it doesn't, it's not making impact
Lord bless me
Reading is my hobby
Will keep reading till the rest of my life
VERSE 1
Souloho19, is Every-One favorite
And I just wanna call him mine
It's a pity
Cos am not a Lady

Souloho19, is Every-One favorite
Everybody wanna know the guy
Wanna shake him
Cos he's a genius

Souloho19, is Every-One favorite
The number one guy in nairaland
Gat no rival
Cos he's the master
HOOK
As in for you
Peo-Ple come online
Just to read some line
Cos it makes impact
They love all the interesting paaaarrt
CHORUS
Don't blame me
Literature made me crazy
If it doesn't, it's not making impact
Lord bless me
Reading is my hobby
Will keep reading till the rest of my life


I'm Viewing this story in 4d mehn, continue
#Horladstar cares

Hehehehe. Boy you're weird.

souloho19:
REX
I waited my turn patiently, tapping my steering wheel to the old school tune coming from the radio. I didn't know who it was and in fact was tapping my fingers partly to stay awake. I glanced at the dashboard checking the time, it was 10:44am. A normal person should be energetic and would be a little bright eyed no matter how tiring the day was. But when you could hardly boast of 5 hours sleep in the last 72 hours then you were no longer normal.
I leaned hard on my horn although it was fruitless, I was still about four cars from the pump but at least it jerked me fully awake.

The last two years.. 19 months to be precise had been a....I still run out of adjectives to describe what had taken everyone by storm and what was still referred to as the devil's initiative. Trust the media to at least come up with a provoking if not witty headliner.
I had been at the center of it all, well to be precise, we were a handful of people but I had been at the core of the center, from the moment I had found out that Mr Amunike or Chief Amunike, business tycoon and owner of the "Sunrise Steel" company, (not to mention the now out of favour ammunition alcohol drink) had been trafficking helpless women, mostly widows out of the country, It had become my life's calling to expose him. The scars still burned, I had lost Fomé, Andy had lost Mona and his unborn child. I worried about my friend. He had lost his wife and unborn child and while I found Olivia by some unbelievable luck, he had no one. He had thrown himself fully into our PI firm, taking on case after case, closing down surveillance, security meetings and had even engaged himself in field work with Bami and Tonye. And trust me, the BROTA agency was engaged in lots of field work. Although it was relatively safe but when I say relatively I mean 60%. We had the backing of the Government, at least the Lagos State Government (I had saved his life after all) and when the clients multiplied and the case load became too much we had to recruit new agents. I fully trusted Bami and Tonye's capacity when it came to field work and left that aspect in their capable hands. Both had saved my life and I had so many memories to remind me, was it when Tonye's shot cracked the night when I had been flat on my back expecting the blade from the shadow with 500 scared widows behind me? Or when Bami had-
The blast from the horn jolted me again but this time it was from the car behind me. I started my engine and covered the space that had been freed ahead
I opened my shirt button and dug out the chain I had round my neck. There was a heart shaped pendant at the center and I opened it and stared at the two pictures on either side. No, there was no way I was getting involved in any field work or any case that looked the least bit dangerous.
I smiled at Olivia feeling a love so intense my chest burned, but then I glanced at the second picture. At the clear eyes so much like mine, the curly hair, sweet dimples buried in her fat cheeks and the heat became warm immediately. Emma, my Emma, my daughter. She was a year and two months...two weeks, 3 days and a couple hours old (heey...I was once a banker) anyway I had a different kind of responsibility now and I couldn't afford the kind of heroic charge that once burst through my veins and brought me a whisker from death on too many occasions to run free.
Which was why the past couple of days had been hectic, troubling, stressful with all manner of thoughts going through my mind.

The hunt for the last shadow had kicked of quite expectantly. The media had branded us the golden detectives, the Governor along with a senator had gifted us a golden budget to bring the bastard Chief Security Officer of Sunrise Steel and the head and last remaining member of the sunset shadows. For the first time I had access to the kind of intelligence I watched on the big screen so many times. Tonye and Bamy were ex DSS agents with reliable sources, the Government backing had linked us with different agents from different agencies and I come across fancy gadgets and fancy strategies but Mr Kehinde continued to elude us. He remained the last shadow, always disappearing into thin air without a trace. One day he was in Australia, the next day Japan, the next he had been sighted from a satellite image and was definitely in the Caribbean. He remained elusve and it had been a blind chase from one country to another.
At least we had traveled the world. But then time went by, Olivia's stomach started to get bigger and my priorities started to realign.


The moment the nurse had placed Emma in my hands and she had looked up at me with big black eyes I knew I had to kiss my short detective career goodbye.
I started my engine again when the car moved and crawled forward while I remembered the conversation I had with Bami in the hospital corridor the night of Emma's birth;
"Bami...its over, I'm done, I can't risk my family again man...I'd take my old job back. Ariyo would take me back at the bank" even as the words left my mouth I knew it was folly.
Bami had looked at me strangely (with his strange eyes)
"That's crazy...you can't expect things to be the same as before...things changed and you know it but you're still Rex Obasi...you're the R in BROTA...you're my brother....you're Andy's brother!"
The guilt had been amazing and I felt very selfish then but then we talked, really talked and he could understand my fears. I had been trained by the best teacher which was experience and a good teacher didn't need to repeat himself twice.
Finally I found the perfect compromise agreed to take over Olivia's old job, running the desk at the agency was relatively safe and Olivia had gladly taken indefinite leave so to be frank I was the new receptionist/secretary. And whenever I stamped a case file or read a confidential detective report, I felt the longing deep deep deep down. But that's all it can ever be. I was going to be 31 in three months and I planned to remain a loving father and husband for the rest of my life and I wanted it to be a long one.
Which was why I was worried sick since the last three days. It all started with an anonymous mail and it brought back hunting memories.
The moment I saw the address I had felt a cold chill inside of me.
@therealshadow.
The message had been chilling.

"Your sun has been bright and overhead for a long time. Hope you enjoyed it but now sunset is here and you know what that means..."
I immediately remembered the messages the crazy shadow killer used to send me and how he had almost killed Andy the night at the wharf.

I knew better than to tell Olivia and it had taken me just a second reading of the threat to know what I had to do.
First I convinced her to spend the weekend with my parents who always called to speak to and ask about their granddaughter daughter almost every night. Then I arranged with Bami to have two of the best agents arrange shadow security...which ironically meant Olivia had no idea she was under security watch.
72 hours of running around in circles with no lead, no reply to my bold(who the hell are you?)enquiry and no meaningful clues from anywhere to go on. This could only mean Mr Kehinde was back and he was coming after me. God. Why me?

So here I was thinking about thinking, sitting in a fuel station just a car away from the pump.
I finally bought fuel, filling my tank cause of the scarcity rumours that had been flying about lately.
As I drove home my phone rang. I checked the caller ID. It was Sam, aka S.s (Short Sam)
Sam was my buddy from the university and a brilliant hacker. He had helped me hack into the widows initiative website two years ago and still helped me out frequently. My phone was connected to my car's Bluetooth and since the window was up and I was the only one in the car, I answered the call.

"Ss....any development?"
He sounded tired "men its a dead end....whoever this real shadow that sent you the mail is, he knows what he's doing"
"So you couldn't trace the ip or something"
"There's just so little to go by, the address was created a week ago, and the IP placed the location at Sweden"
"Sweden?" I was baffled
"Then Russia, then Ukraine, then Croatia....the list is long not to talk of the firewalls"
I scratched the back of my neck tiredly "typical of a shadow"
"I'd keep trying, if anything comes out I'd let you know"
"Thanks Sam...I appreciate this"
"Hey, its all for a good course, finally my conscience is clear and I'm doing what I love"

I ended the call and tried Olivia's call through voice command.
She picked on the second ring.
"Hello darling...how are you?"
I could hear the ruckus in the background. The shouting of kids playing and having fun and I smiled. I also lied "I'm doing good....I've just been working out although the house has been quite lonely and I miss you like crazy" (at least that wasn't a lie)
"Awwww....well here has been the total opposite of lonely...Utebo is here with the twins and Emma and Soma have been playing all weekend." I thought her voice sounded strained. Soma was my immediate elder sister's daughter and just ten months older than Emma.
"How's mom and dad...is any of them there?"
"Dad just went out not long. But mama is is in her shop outside. Do you want to speak to her?"
"No I'd call her later...and I'd call you later, I'm almost home...give Emma a big kiss for me"
I could hear the smile in her voice. "I would, I'd collect mine when I come home"
"Okay bye I love you" I rushed and cut the call. I didn't want them home yet. Not until this last shadow threat was nullified.

I entered my garage and my phone rang again this time it was Andy.
He didn't waste any time for greetings.
"There's been a murder"
"Have you reached Bami....you know what I have on my hands won't give me time for-"
He interrupted me. "Oba, believe me you're going to need to see this one"

°•°•°•°•°•°•

I remember this story now. One of the best stories I read last year. Wish I can have a copy.

souloho19:
She slowed down the car and trafficated to a popular eatery..I was trying to maintain a cool front but I was observing left and right closely. "Are you really that hungry?" I asked as she killed the ignition.
"Rex I don't joke with food oh..I can eat ehn!"
I smiled and got down from the car first..I looked around the parking lot carefully, it was deserted save for a family of four taking pictures before they got into their car..I relaxed when I saw she highlighted from the car without her purse but held her ATM card.
"Pos?" I asked
"yes I don't like carrying cash around"
"I don't expect you to pay for anything"
She rolled her eyes "Rex your magazine is taking me to the next level.I can't ever pay you back"
It seems I came to my senses..here we were standing outside..inviting the 'gala seller' a potential attacker instead of hurrying to safety.
"I'm actually very hungry suddenly" she held out her hand (a habit she was fond of and I took it)
When we stepped through the sliding doors, i let out a sigh of relief..and i foolishly thought i had escaped strange eyes. I made up my mind to give him a stern warning all this mind games had to stop..for a professional, he was fond of amateur games. I found out i didnt really need to force myself to eat..although i ate lightly..you know beans is a musical food..and i wasnt ready to perform in front of her kind of company. Our conversation ranged from her school life, to social..to family..i noted she avoided talking about her father and i wasnt prepared to ask, honestly I was quite fed up with the chief and was finding his beautiful daughter as a welcome distraction. She asked me questions about my family and career..
"It must really be fun..managing magazines and such...I guess you sleep with a lot of models" she said slyly..staring at me as she sipped her drink..letting the straw play on her tongue with the ring glinting.
I almost choked on my drink..I forced it down..smiled at her then decided to play it wild also "you know something" i lowered my voice and whispered "thats the best part"
She laughed.."something about your honesty is refreshing"
She looked at me in a way that got me hot and I gave myself a mental shake..what was going on? I had to put things in balance..this girl was the definition of seduction.
"Ada look..I'm here for professional purposes only..I don't want-"
"Rex you need to calm down and learn to have fun..its so easy to mess with you" she seemed sincere and I was both relieved and disappointed..I signaled for the bill. "We should be heading back..we need to round up the plans..and draw out a suitable plan" what was I saying??..I felt bad when she stood up..she looked at me and I couldn't read her expression.."you are right..I'm soo excited" but she didn't sound so anymore.
I paid the bill and we left in silence..with me kicking myself mentally. She was several steps ahead of me and I actually fvcked up by not paying attention. I was replaying our exchange in my mind..wondering what I should have done right..her voice carried to my ears from outside.."please..I said I don't want gala..can't you hear!"
My brain jump started and I ran outside in just few steps..I saw a tall man..really young and very black just as he snatched her necklace from her throat. and took off..he threw his carton of gala which he had been pretending to sell and pushed her roughly..I was already in motion and broke her fall with my outstretched hand but couldn't stop her from landing on the floor..'strange eyes you idiot' I muttered to myself as I caught up with the 'criminal' who was very slow for someone who just stole..I made up my mind to fvck him up and not give him any chance to touch me. I jumped on him..sending us both to the floor we struggled for seconds..a I couldn't seem to get a hold on him..a part of my brain..was registering shouts from the few people in the parking lot and I wondered about the security positioned at the door..where was he? I felt the gala thief slacken and I found myself on top and smashed my fist into his face..the pain was blinding but my fury didn't allow me hold my knuckles and shout the way my previous self would have done. I rained a couple more punches on him and grabbed the necklace from his hand which I noticed was gold.."You don't steal from my lady..you hear!!" I was high on adrenaline and I punched his throat once more thinking I had knocked him out..I leaned to whisper in his ear "tell strange eyes..or John whatever his name is that I'd mess him up too"
I realized my mistake a second too late, the gala thief opened his eyes grabbed me by the collar..and in a flash I was in the air..for like three seconds..I landed on my face..and the pain was blinding..I tried to stand up but either my brain wasn't sending the command or my legs wasn't receiving it..I felt hands shaking me and feared for what will come next..but it was Ada "you got my necklace..oh my God Rex..i cant believe what you did..are you alright.." I rolled over and tried to sit up..by this time several customers were approaching including the security guard who had been no where to be found. "You're bleeding..I need to get you to the hospital.." I staggered to my feet as peolple helped steady me..I was feeling like a pussy..a furious cat..I looked around
but like I expected the gala thief was long gone. "Where the hell where you?!!!" I shouted at the fast food gaurd..
"I go toilet oga"
I could bet my left arm that toilet had strange eyes written all over it..he was so full of sh!t and I wished I could beat him up(our first and only physical encounter was too fresh in my mind)
Ada was already on the phone.she turned to me.."my mum said we should go straight to the house..our doctor is on his way..does it hurt?'
"Its just a scratch now..haba" I turned to the nearest car and my reflection was a pitiful one..I had scratches on my forehead, nose and chin and the blood was almost unstoppable..I looked down and saw my shirt was stained with blood..the sight was worse than the feeling..although the pain was bad..the majority was just headache"
The manager of the eatery had come outside and I could see him questioning the halogen guard furiously while glancing nervously in our direction..I followed Ada to the car..and my embarrassment was beginning to be replaced by something close to martyrdom. "You're really..strong" she said as she held my arm and we walked slowly as if my feet were damaged.."if I lost this necklace..I wouldn't know what to do..my favourite aunt gave it to me and she's late now...thank you" she kissed my chick.
I grunted in reply..just soo pissed at strange eyes..who did he think he is..playing games with lives..my life
We got to the car and Ada opened the car via the remote..."you know what touched me the most...it was when you called me your girl" she looked at me..and I almost panicked.. That was love in her eyes..I had seen the reflection in mine too many times when I stared at the mirror and thought about Fome..
I squeezed my face as if I was in pain..she hurried around the car..as I got in "our house isn't really far don't worry..and Dr.Essien is one of a kind" she started the car and I marveled at the smoothness of the engine..I thought to myself.."just a few scratches..no broken bones this wasn't soo bad.." I looked out the window where a small group of costumers were converged together..talking about the incident and watching us..Somehow I wasn't surprised when I saw strange eyes in the midst of them watching us. He showed a discreet thumbs up and mouthed the words: 'well done.'
In reply I mouthed 'fvck you' but I couldn't help it..I smiled.

she looked at me..and I almost panicked.. That was love in her eyes... Hahahahahaha. Can totally relate. Divepen1 put this on some list and it's totally worth it.

Good job Divepen1. At least I don't have to do trial and error this weekend. Thank you.