₦airaland Forum

Iretii0511:
You said it was already available on Okadabooks. I got there and bought the old blackmaria.

Iretii0511:
I bought the wrong one from Okadabooks

Mantee:
Please provide link to Okadabook. Or how to get the PDF

Palmerbarry:
Nice one, LarrySun.
Did you skip update 17?

Kimmiebabie:
Its been so long I used nairaland. Gosh I've missed so much. Hi Larry

ChemicalReaction:
Larry, sorry to ask, did you edit your story to suit the current DNA saga in Nigeria or it's just a coincidence?

Divepen1:
Top Crime/Thriller/Mystery Novel
Black Maria- Larrysun - 34 (Winner)
The Last Adventure of Agent Ikenna- IamPlato- 4
Restless- Oyinprince- 1
Delay Diagnosis- 3

hidhrhis:
larrysun please how can i get the book 4 that u are writing. I use to subscribe per episode for 50 naira but lost my phone
lost ur no and im no longer using whatsapp but only telegram
u can check the number on my profile

ghettochild:
Whose got black Maria ebooks??
oderindemotayo@gmail.com

nkemdave:
I thought Solo is dead or is this a different Solo

Update 10

III

Peter Black stepped into the governor’s office while the guard who had brought him remained at the corridor, just outside the door.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” Peter asked the huge man who was sitting behind a large desk.

“Have your seat, Peter,” the man ordered.

This surprised Black. He was a prisoner standing in the office of the governor, and he had just been told to sit down. He sat gingerly in the same seat Basket had perched himself a few days ago.

“I’m not going to waste your time here, and I don’t expect you to waste my time either.” The man expected to see Peter react nervously but the young man remained nonplussed. At this stage of his life, nothing really scared him anymore. Just like he had told Basket, he was already down, what else could be done to him besides death. And as a matter of fact, Peter was not scared of that either. He believed it was not yet his time to die. If he was going to die young, he would have died a long time ago, especially the time Chief Balewa ordered his boys to have him killed, and after that, he had escaped death on many occasions. And if he was any superstitious, he would have believed that all the people he knew who have died had died in his stead. But he didn’t believe that – well, the only thing he might believe, so far, was that he was probably cursed. Everyone close to him always ended up dead. He had suspected it and Basket had confirmed it.

“What’s wrong, sir?” Peter asked the man.

“I have just one question for you – What is your plan, Peter Black?”

Peter frowned. “My plan? I don’t understand the question, sir.”

“A few days ago, I received the Chief of Police in this office.”

“The Chief of Police?”

“You know him, don’t you?”

“You mean Bas – John Balewa?”

“Exactly. I heard he paid you a visit first before coming to me.”

“That’s right, sir.”

“He told me you were planning to break out of this prison. Well, he had already informed me about that the day you were brought into this prison. Then he came again to emphasize about it. So, I’m asking you again, what’s your plan?”

“I don’t have any plans, sir. I don’t know where the man must have got the idea that I wanted to break out. I am only here to serve my time. I did not come to cause any trouble.”

The man leaned back and stared at Peter, studying him. “So you mean you have no intention of breaking out?”

“Of course I don’t, sir. Even if I do, how would I be able to escape the guards, the walls, the bars, the gates and the wires? It’s simply impossible.”

“Listen to me carefully, Peter. I like you a lot. Regardless of whatever you might have done to bring you here, I still feel that you’re a nice chap. You don’t look like a criminal to me. That is why I chose to look away concerning the benefits you are enjoying. You are smart and intelligent. You carry yourself with grace and honourable poise. There is something about you that sets you apart from most of the other inmates. That is why you are sitting comfortably in that chair in front of me. Someone has broken out of this prison under my watch before, I will never allow that to happen again. I sincerely hope you are not here to frustrate my career.”

“I have been accused of committing a crime; it is only fit that I do the term, sir.”

“Does that mean that you have accepted the fact that you would be spending the rest of your life in this prison?”

Peter Black almost laughed hysterically at the question. If he had not been in this vulnerable situation, he would have laughed so hard that his intestines would stretch. But instead he merely shrugged and said, “I have no choice now, do I?”

“Good, that is what I want to hear. But in any case, you always have a choice. Even thought you might be condemned to this prison, you can still lead a productive life.”

Peter was not ready for that kind of motivational talk. He wanted to end the discussion as quickly as possible. “Concerning that, I wanted to talk to you about something, sir, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, please talk to me. That is why I’m here.”

“I’m thinking of joining the prison school.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I want to do something productive with my life.”

The man frowned. “I’m not trying to be pessimistic; I’m just wondering what use that would be for you. The programme is for people who have hopes of leaving the prison someday. If you get your diploma here, there’s no company in prison that would hire you. I know I’m not being professional with what I’m saying. These kinds of words should not be caught in my mouth. But I’m being realistic here; the programme is not for someone of your situation.”

“Does that mean that I don’t qualify?”

“Oh no! Of course not! I’m only telling you that you don’t need it.”

“It does not matter if I need it or not, sir. What matters is what I want. And I want to be educated. I want to be certified even if I would never use my certificate.”

The man was silent for a moment, then he asked, “What was your qualification before your arrest?”

“Well, I don’t really have any qualification. The only diploma I have to my name is my primary school leaving certificate. I was writing my Senior School Certificate Examination but was unable to complete it for some obvious reasons.”

The governor nodded. He perfectly understood what Peter meant, and for another reason unknown to him, he felt sorry for the young man.

“How old are you now, Peter Black?”

“I’m twenty-five years old, sir.”

“Well, it’s still not too late for you to achieve whatever you want – it’s never too late, no matter what age you are. In about three months’ time, there would be an SSCE. I will register you for the examination. But you will have to study very hard to be able to meet up.”

“That’s not going to be a problem as long as I have the right materials.”

“Don’t worry about that. I will provide all the textbooks you will need.”

Peter bowed his head in gratitude. “Thank you, sir.”

“Come back to me in three days and all your textbooks will be ready. If you can pass the examination, then you will be able to join the tertiary class. What course would you like to study?”

Peter thought for a moment. Then he suddenly smiled and said, “Law.”

The governor laughed. “That’s not going to be possible. Felons cannot study law.”

“Then I will have to think of another course.”

“I will give you a brochure that would help you select the right course to study.”

“Okay, sir. That would be very nice of you.”

“It’s my job.”

Peter started to rise. As he got to the door, the governor called him back. “There’s one finally question I need to ask you, and I would appreciate your honest reply.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Look at the image of the man on the wall by your right. Do you recognise the person there?”

Peter directed his gaze to the picture. He had met a lot of people through the journey of his life. His path might have crossed with this person but he couldn’t recognise the face. This might be one of the people he had robbed in the past, or someone he had helped.

He shook his head. “No, I don’t know him. Who is he?”

“Are you sure you don’t know him? You should take a good look at him.”

“Am I supposed to know him?”

“Are you? I don’t know. Chief John Balewa seems to recognise him. and by the way he’s so devoted to your cause, I’m thinking you might know the man too.”

“I don’t think I know this person.”

“Maybe you might recall him by name – does the name Khalid mean anything to you?”

Peter shook his head immediately. “I don’t know anyone by that name.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m very certain, sir. If I did, I would tell you. I don’t know anyone named Khalid.”

“I’m just wondering why Mr Balewa would claim to know him. He seemed to believe that the man had some connection with you.”

“Who is the man, sir?” Peter asked. “He’s wearing a prison uniform. He must have been an inmate of this prison.”

“You’re right. He was once an inmate of this prison. He was the prisoner who escaped.”

Peter became suddenly interested in the man. “Really?” He was inspired by the person. If Khalid could successfully break out of this prison, then he could too. He decided that he was going to learn as much as he could about the prisoner. Knowing about this person might help his plan. What he would give to have just a five-minute discussion with the man. People had always called him, Peter Black a legend – but he had just found a greater legend. For him to be able to break out of this prison, he must have been a highly-intelligent person. He must have been almost as intelligent as Maria. Peter had never known anyone as intelligent as his late wife.

“If you have any information about him, please do not hesitate to let me know.”

“How would I know anything about the man? I don’t know him.”

The governor shrugged. “Maybe you have met him without knowing. He escaped when you were still outside. Perhaps you two met each other in the criminal world, no offense.”

“I would definitely have remembered meeting someone like you.”

“Anyway, you can return to your cell now.”

As Peter closed the door behind him and was followed by the guard, he kept thinking about the prisoner. He had heard that a prisoner had escaped the prison before but now that he had seen the man’s picture, he was very much interested in him. When he got back to his cell, his cellmate was reading a book. They hardly talked to each other; each had always kept them himself since the first day they met each other. But today, the cellmate was reading Peter Black’s favourite book – Things Fall Apart.

“That’s a wonderful book you’re reading,” Peter said honestly.

The cellmate looked up from the book at Peter and said, “I know. This is not my first time of reading it.” he looked at Peter curiously and said, “You seem to have read it too.”

“I have read it about twenty times. I know every word of it.”

“You must be exaggerating.”

“Twenty times is just an understatement. I have read it a lot more than that. For many years, it was the only literature I was reading. Believe me when I tell you that every word of the book is etched in my brain.”

“That’s interesting,” said the man, “You seem like a very interesting fellow yourself.”

“And you seem knowledgeable.”

The man smiled. “Appearance can be deceiving.”

“Talking of knowledge, are you familiar with a prisoner who went by the name Khalid?”

The man stared at Peter suspiciously. “Where did you hear that name? And what makes you think I would know the person?”

The sudden questions surprised Peter. He suspected that the person must have known Khalid personally. He decided to answer the man’s questions honestly.
“I saw his picture in the governor’s office. The governor was asking me if I know the man.”

“And do you know him?”

“How am I supposed to know him?”

“Then was the governor questioning you about him?”

“Well, John Balewa, the man responsible for putting me here, seemed to know him. And the governor thinks that there may be a connection between this Khalid and me.”

“Did you just say it was Officer John Balewa who put you here?”

“Well, he’s now the Chief of Police. Yes, he’s the one responsible for my incarceration.”

“Well, he put me here too?”

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I wish I were. My name is Solomon Kalu. I used to bear the name Solo. Officer John Balewa put me and Murphy in this prison.”

Peter frowned. “Who is Murphy?”

“Murphy Khalid – the prisoner who escaped.”

Update 9

***

“Peter, you have a visitor,” said one of the guards from the entrance of the cell Black shared with his strange mate.

“Who?” Peter asked.

“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that. Come on, I’m taking you to the person.”

As Peter followed the guard, he wondered who his visitor might be. He knew nobody in the outside world besides Basket. Well, there was Yinka and his sister Binta too, but the two had no reason to visit him. He wouldn’t want them to visit him either; he was a convicted criminal, they had no reason to associate with him whatsoever. Basket had been right about one thing, he needed to stay away from the few people he cared about or tragedy would strike, no matter how pure his intentions were. Nobody should be visiting someone like him; indeed, Peter didn’t want anyone to see him. He wanted to be left alone as much as possible. For his plan to break out of here to work, he needed to disassociate himself from others. He wanted no friendship, no companionship – his days of having partners were over. All he wanted to do now was just to get out of here and be reunited with his son. Then they would both disappear to where no one would be able to find them. He had made a grave mistake the first time by letting down his guard; that had made Basket locate his whereabouts. It was an error that cost him the love of his life. He had learnt his lesson; he would not make the same error with his son.

When he eventually entered the waiting room, he was surprised to see Basket sitting there. The first thing that immediately struck Peter’s mind was that Basket had finally known. Now that he did, what did he plan to do? The last thing Peter wanted was to be at the mercy of Basket again, but it seemed that was going to be the case now. Basket now had an advantage over him. He had come here for one reason alone – to blackmail him into giving up the location of the diamond. If that was indeed the case, the Peter knew he would not have any choice but to give it up. He had been cornered. He already felt it within himself. That was the only reason Basket would visit him – he had discovered that one of the two boys were his. He could see the anger on the face of the Chief of Police.

“What do you want?” Peter asked as he sat before his old friend.

“I know what you did,” Basket said, his voice coarse. “How could you? How could you, Peter? You’re such a monster!”

Peter remained silent. He had no response to what Basket was saying. He knew Basket had come to use the information to his advantage, and he was waiting for that moment when he would be asked to give up the diamond.

“When did you become such an evil person? You used to have a line you would never cross but now such line has faded. Your humanity has disappeared. I couldn’t believe you could do something as terrible, as if you hadn’t caused enough havoc in the world already.”

“I did what I had to do,” Peter replied.

“The life of another human being now means nothing to you. You feel you can now kill people at will? Is that what you think? You think you are the hand of justice? You are on a vengeful mission, aren’t you? Who are you going to have killed next? Me?”

Peter frowned. He didn’t seem to understand what Basket was talking about. He looked up at the officer’s face and said, “What are you talking about?”

“Oh please! Don’t treat me like an idiot. For once in your life, take responsibility for your action.”

“Of course you’re an idiot, Officer Balewa, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’m talking about Roberto Bonifacio!”

“Bonifacio? What about him?”

Basket stood up. “Oh! That’s so rich! Now you’re going to deny knowing him?”

“I know who Roberto is. How could I forget the person responsible for the death of my wife? I’m asking you what’s going on with him.”

“Oh stop your pretense. It’s not cute at all. Are you going to pretend that you had no hand in his death?”

Peter’s frown deepened. “He’s dead? How? Who killed him?”

“You must be very stupid, Peter Black. Do you realise who you’re talking to?”

“Sure. I’m talking to the person who put me in this prison.”

“Then you should know I’m not someone you should lie to.”

Peter chuckled. “If I’m lying to you, that means I’m still scared of you, but those days are over. My days of being scared of you are over, John. You have hit me with your worst. What else is there for you to do? I am down already. Would you want to kick me when I am defenseless? There is nothing you can do that can hurt me anymore. Putting me here is the peak of your cruelty. As a matter of fact, it is you who should be scared. You should be scared of me. The victor should be wary of the vanquished, for he doesn’t know what the defeated would do next. I’d advise you to watch your back, John Balewa.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Peter scoffed again and said, “Look around you. Do you think I’m in a good position to threaten you? Or anybody for that matter. No, I am not threatening you. I am only advising you to be careful. If Roberto Bonifacio has been killed as you claimed, then you need to be very careful. Those who killed him might be after your life too.”

“And why would they come after me?”

Peter shrugged. “Why did Roberto come after me?”

“The diamond!”

“Exactly. The only reason they might have killed him could be because they thought he was in possession of the diamond. If they didn’t find it with him, then they might come for you next.”

“But I don’t have the diamond. You know that.”

Peter nodded. “Of course you don’t. But whoever had killed Roberto didn’t know that.”

“I could simply tell them you have the diamond.”

“What makes you think they would believe you? And even if they do, would they come and kill me in prison? Or would they think I would be holding it here in jail.”

“All you’re saying is nonsense. I know you have something to do with the death of the Italian.”

“I’m not surprised that you think me capable of taking another man’s life. You have always thought the worst of me ever since the incident with Rhoda. But I don’t blame you. I blame your black heart.”

“The killers are working under your name,” Basket said.

Peter looked up at him and said. “What do you mean?”

“Are you trying to pretend that you don’t know what TBF means?”

“What the hell is TBF?”

“The Black Followers.”

“And what the hell was that?”

“You tell me,” Basket shot back accusingly.

“Is there anything in that I need to understand or what?”

“Okay, I won’t allow you to play that game with me. The Black in the name obviously has a connection with you. It means that the people responsible for the death of the Italian were working under your behest.”

Peter laughed. “You think a lot of me. You actually believe that I have the power to order the death of someone as powerful as Roberto Bonifacio? Even while I am in prison? I must be a baron or something. I’m also probably responsible for the death of Bob Marley, or Malcolm X, or even Martin Luther King – even though I wasn’t even born before most of these people were killed. But somehow, I must be responsible for their deaths if I could be responsible for killing Roberto Bonifacio.”

Basket stared at Peter. A part of him told him there was no way Peter could be responsible for the death of Roberto, but he didn’t want to agree. There was a connection between The Black Followers and Peter Black, and he was going to find out that connection.

“I know you would say anything to exonerate yourself, but your words don’t move me, Peter Black. You’re a deceptive person. I know you more than any other person in this world. I heard you have been staying in a private cell. How were you able to accomplish that? Where did you get the money to pay for that?”

Peter stared at Basket. “It wasn’t you?”

“It wasn’t me what?”

“It wasn’t you who paid for that?”

“Why would I pay for a private cell for you? What in the world would make me do that?”

“If it wasn’t you then who did?”

“I am asking you. Of course it’s obvious – it was paid by your followers, and you keep telling me you know nothing about them.”

Peter sighed. “You know what? I am done trying to convince you. You should believe what you will. I don’t know any black follower. I am not connected with the death of the Italian. I know nobody. I’d like to be returned to my cell now if you don’t mind.”

“I will get to the bottom of this, I promise you. And if I find out that you are connected to the murder, I will make sure you hang.”

“I wish you all the best in your quest,” Peter started to rise.

“One more thing before you are returned to your cage,” Basket said. “Do they know where you kept the diamond?”

“Who?”

“Your followers.”

Peter shook his head. “You’re dense.”

“I will find out where you hid that diamond. I have stripped you of your freedom; I need to strip the diamond from you too. Without that diamond, you will cease from being so important. It’s the only thing giving you false hopes and I’m going to take it from you. It is only then that I will feel fulfilled.”

Peter smiled. “You will find it if you are really looking.”

“What does that mean?”

“Where is the best place to hide anything?”

“The bank?”

“Don’t be silly, Basky. It’s in the open – that’s the best place to hide something. In the open. If you put that in mind, you will find what you’re searching for. Good day, Chief John Balewa.”

Peter knocked on the door and the guard appeared. He led the prisoner back to his cell. After Peter’s departure, Basket went to the prison governor’s office.

“Hello Chief Balewa,” the governor rose and shook Basket’s hand. “Congratulations on your new promotion.”

“Thank you, Governor.”

“To what do I owe this august visitation?”

“I came here to see Peter Black. You remember him, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course. Who would ever forget Peter Black?”

“I understand that he has been kept in a private cell.”

The man’s expression changed from jovial to serious. “Who told you that?”

“I have my sources.”

“Well, it’s not exactly private. He shares the cell with another inmate. It’s not like he’s alone in the cell.”

“Well, I don’t care. I want him out of that cell as soon as possible.”

“Excuse me?”

“I want Peter Black taken out of that cell. He should share the same cell with the other general inmates.”

The governor frowned and said, “What makes you think you can come in here and tell me how to run my prison?”

“I’m just telling you to follow the normal protocols.”

“And you think you can teach me my job? Who do you think you are, Chief? Because you have been promoted, you think your rank has no jurisdiction? I have been running this prison long before you were born. I will not stand back and watch you boss me around.”

“Trust me, Governor, you don’t want to cross me.”

“Young man, kindly leave my office.”

Basket stared at him for a moment and said, “You will be hearing from me.” He rose up and turned to go out. As he walked towards the door, he found a picture taped to the wall on his right hand side. He moved closer to the picture.

“Who is this man?” he asked the governor.

“That’s the inmate that broke out of this prison.”

Basket paused and said, “I think I recognise this man.”

“You do?”

“I’m not sure. However, I am sure of one thing. If a prisoner could break out of jail under your watch, then you are not as competent as you think you are. What makes you think you can keep Peter Black in this prison?”

Basket walked out of the office, stepped out of the prison environment and entered his car. The image he had seen in the governor’s office was in his mind. He was sure he had seen the man somewhere before – but he couldn’t tell where.

Something was going on. He could feel it in his bones.

Nmezor:
Larry don't mind him. He is a troll

TheCork:
helllo brother how are u.hope u good.
Please wats the deal with u & my woman, Nmezor...whats going on sir!?