jadeliyi:
wow this is very exceptional.

YeSJacky:
I remember an old police in book one that broke Peter from cell. He is believed to be the same man with peter's photograph in the same transit with bro pee on his way to the west.

Hmmmmmmm, before u see monkey, Basky, monkey don see you.

I guess the man is alive.
I'd like to know more about him.

ifemism02:
Thanks Larrysun, I think next episode should focus on Black followers, Yinka and his Sister and also Maria's state.. we're enjoying your all. Welcome back

Rick9:
Nice one @Larrysun.
The black followers again. Eh you have lots of explaining to do.

dhesire:
Larry has done what only Larry can do on the Nairaland street.


Big ups, man Larry.

Ultimategeneral:
This is nemesis catching up with basky.

silverlinen:
Larrysun
Come do update to abeg
But come ooo
Why Basket come hate Black like this na
Basket is not being fair here
Maybe he should die self

PEACE

LarrySun:
Yes, I do. Remember I mentioned The Black Followers in the prologue of Book 1.

Oh really, I have forgotten oh.

Nmezor:
Thanks for the update Oga Larry

LarrySun:
Space reserved.

LarrySun:
Space reserved.

TheCork:


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

LarrySun:
Huh? I don't understand.

LarrySun:
Huh? I don't understand.

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

honourable356:
So Basket finally put his friend in jail...

He sigh...!

I will follow this until I get the complete story.

Your works are admirable.

Best morning everyone!

EkopSparoAyara:


I've missed you around.. Good to hear from you.. I hope you're back to stay..

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.