Reuben700:
Very interesting story

kweensheba:
Interesting

Thanks.

The line had already been cut off. He called the number back, but it never went through. Damn! Now, what could he make of this puzzle? Some hours ago, Guba tried to kill him by poisoning him. Just now, the wife of his boss called to warn that he should go away from his residence and his working place. Everything pointed to the fact that his boss and employer was the one plotting to eliminate him. But why? Why would Chief
Kashi want to get rid of him? He thought he was the boss' confidant and most reliable aide. He had even been trying to father a child for him and he, Sam, had been promised something as a reward for the effort. Was this the reward? Was this the reward for helping a man to be a man?

Bisi returned from the kitchen with a tray containing a bowl of custard, a packet of cubes of sugar and a tin of evaporated milk. Sam smiled at her and behaved as if all was well. Of course, he remembered that Bisi was a relative of the chief. He must be careful about how much he told her.

She added sugar and milk to the custard and stirred. His mind was suddenly alarmed. Just like Guba, what was the guarantee that Bisi was not secretly working for the chief? What was the guarantee that there was no poison in the custard?

'Take your food on time,' she said. 'I'll soon be going to work. I earlier called to inform them that I would be coming to work quite late. Now, I'm on my way. Take your food and your drugs. I'll advise that you call your office and tell them that you'll be resting at home today as a result of what happened.'

Sam managed to smile. 'I really appreciate what you have, dear. You're an angel.'

She beamed in smiles. 'We thank God. I'm on my way. See you.'

'Yes, see you in the afternoon.'

'Thanks. Bye.'

She left the apartment. He could hear her footsteps as she moved to the gate of the house and out of the compound. Sam sighed and stared at
the custard as if that would make him see if indeed poison substance was inside. He shook his head. Yes, Bisi had aided him to the clinic last
night, but he could not just trust himself to taking this food. Had he not thought Guba genuinely offered him the meats and the drinks?

Going by the warning he had received, he should not waste minutes further in that apartment. He must go far away from Chief Kashi before the
man would realize he was alive and he would send goons to come and assassinate him.

He stood up swiftly and went to the bedroom to pack some clothes in a leather bag. He thought of all the essential things he needed. He took
the wallet containing his international passport, driving license, id card, ATM card, and also took some other vital things.

He would have to go with the car. That was his most valuable asset. He packed his things inside the boot and drove out of the house. For safety
purpose, he decided to drive to Ikorodu Round About where he would get a new sim card.

As he drove towards Ikorodu Round About, his phone rang and he quickly checked the caller. It was from Guba. He must be calling to know if he
was alive or dead. Sam contemplated if he should answer or ignore the call. On an impulse, he decided to pick it but would not say anything.

'Hello, Sam, is that you?' Guba asked. There was no response. 'Sam, are you there? Sam ...?'

Sam allowed him to ramble on until he, Guba, cut the line. With a friend like Guba, Sam thought grimly, you didn't need an enemy.

Guba was confused. Who answered Sam's call? Was it Sam himself, or another person? If it was another person, why didn't the person say anything? He called the number again, but this time around it rang on and on without response. He needed to know if Sam had died. Chief had
told him that the powder stuff he was given was a very powerful one, although it had a delayed reaction. He had carefully mixed it with the suya meats. Not only that, right in his presence, Sam had eaten some of the pieces of meat. Surely, he must be dead by now or he must be knocking
at the gate of hell.



Fear No More: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/fear-no-more-18/34302

Nice update

He had carefully mixed it with the suya meats.

Not only that, right in his presence, Sam had eaten some of the pieces of meat. Surely, he must be dead by now or he must be knocking at the gate of hell.

Then, Guba's heart beat faltered. What if Sam had not died? What if Sam had a grueling experience, but survived?

That would mean that he, Guba, had failed. He shook his head. The chief must not hear that he had failed, and he must not fail.

Some beads of sweat dotted his brow. He had no doubt that chief Kashi would not take it kindly with him if he did not succeed.

About fifteen minutes later, when he called Sam's number again, the service provider informed that the line was switched off. Damn! He would have to wait to know the exact outcome of event.



Sam gave his fingers for the bio metric data to be captured. He got the new sim card, removed the other ones and slotted the new card into his phone. He left the place and drove long to Ota.

He had an old friend there who worked in a pharmaceutical company. He had decided he would stay there for a couple of days while he decided on what next to do. He would call Bisi later to tell her not to worry about him; that all was well as he only got an urgent call from his father in his home town at Ado-Ekiti.

Sam would tell her that the old man had called that he wanted to see him, and that was why he had to travel. But he would not tell her the exact place he was and the exact truth. He did not trust her to that extent. He did not trust anyone anymore.


* * *

A couple of hours later, Chief Kashi called Sam's number. He wanted to know if he would answer the call or not. He could not get through as all his lines were switched off. It was already minutes past ten in the morning and Sam had not come to work. It was unusual of Sam not to come to work and not be reachable on the phone.

Could it be that he had resumed at his residence?
He called his wife. 'Hello, dear. By any chance, did Sam come to resume over there?'

'No,' she replied, a little bit too fast. She would never tell him she spoke with Sam early that morning.

'Good.' He smiled.

That meant Sam had been dealt. No man would sleep with his wife and live to tell the story. It was true he had encouraged Sam to have affairs with his wife, but it would be too risky to allow the young man to live. He could still turn around to come and lay claim to his child.

Then, how would chief still relate cordially with Sam, knowing that he had carnal knowledge of his wife? Kashi was convinced that his decision to eliminate him was the best way out.

Many hours later, after he closed from work, Chief Kashi decided to pay unscheduled visit to his Igbogbo house, where Sam resided. It would look like he had come on a routine visit but the fact was he had come to see things for himself concerning Sam.

The compound looked deserted when he got there. The tenants of the main building had not returned from work. He moved to the Boys' Quarter. Music was coming from one of the rooms there. It was from Bisi's apartment.

He knocked at her door. Within seconds, she opened the door.



Fear No More: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/fear-no-more-18/34302

Nice update.

Chief want to cover up his shameful track.

Cool

Many hours later, after he closed from work, Chief Kashi decided to pay unscheduled visit to his Igbogbo house, where Sam resided. It would look like he had come on a routine visit but the fact was he had come to see things for himself concerning Sam.

The compound looked deserted when he got there. The tenants of the main building had not returned from work. He moved to the Boys' Quarter.

Music was coming from one of the rooms there. It was from Bisi's apartment.

He knocked at her door. Within seconds, she opened the door.

'Ah, uncle, welcome, sir. Good evening.' She normally called him 'uncle', ever since she was a kid.

Kashi nodded. 'Bisi, how are you?'

'Fine, sir.'

He looked towards Sam's deserted apartment. 'And how's your neighbor?'

'He's fine, sir.'

Kashi's heart skipped a beat. He was fine? Sam was fine? No, no, no. That was not the kind of response he expected to hear.

'Where's he? He didn't come to work today. I tried his line but I couldn’t get through to him.'

'Oh, you mean he didn't tell you? He said he had to travel as his father urgently asked him to come and see him.'

Kashi could not believe all these he was hearing.
'Sam travelled? Are you sure of what you're saying?'

'Yes. That was what he said to me on the phone.'

‘You were able to talk to him on phone?’

‘Yes, he called me.’

Kashi nodded. 'When did you see him last?'

'This morning. He was on admission in the hospital last night but, thank God he was okay by this morning. I left him in the house when I was going to work.'

So, Sam did not die! That chap did not die but managed to slip out of his hands!

But Chief Kashi remained calm. He managed a smile.

'It's like he's going through some distress these days,' she went on. ‘But, thank God, he survived.’
'Yes. Thank God he survived,’ Kashi said listlessly.

‘Experiencing food poisoning is not a palatable one. It was indeed a trying time for him.'

Kashi feigned ignorance. 'Food poisoning? He had food poisoning?'

Again, Bisi was surprised that Sam had not told him. 'Yes, food poisoning. He was on admission at New Life Hospital throughout the night and was treated for food poisoning. It was just this morning he started getting better.'

'You mean he went through all these and he didn't let me know?'

'The thing must have disoriented him,' she explained.

He was suddenly curious. She seemed to know a lot about him. Although they were neighbors, the way she answered glibly showed that it was very likely the relationship between her and Sam was more than just neighbors.

'I see,' he said. 'Alright, Bisi. When next you speak with him, tell him I've been trying to reach him. Tell him to call me. I may also call you to ask about him, or you call me about him. You have my number, right?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Good. I want you to inform me about him. Sam is such a good guy that one must not abandon him in his trying period.'

Innocently, she nodded in agreement. ‘I’ll do just that, uncle.’



Fear No More (18+): https://okadabooks.com/book/about/fear-no-more-18/34302

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He was suddenly curious. She seemed to know a lot about him. Although they were neighbors, the way she answered glibly showed that it was very likely the relationship between her and Sam was more than just neighbors.

'I see,' he said. 'Alright, Bisi. When next you speak with him, tell him I've been trying to reach him. Tell him to call me. I may also call you to ask about him, or you call me about him. You have my number, right?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Good. I want you to inform me about him. Sam is such a good guy that one must not abandon him in his trying period.'

Innocently, she nodded in agreement. ‘I’ll do just that, uncle.’





Sam drove straight to the expansive premises of Tulux Pharmaceutical Company at Ota. At the entrance gate of the company, the security men asked him his mission.

'I want to see a friend, Mike Duro.'

'Okay, drive in and park at the parking space.'

Sam nodded and parked the Hyundai jeep on the parking lot under the glittering morning sun. He locked the car and went into the building. He
could perceive the pervasive smell of syrup and other patent medicines. At the reception hall, he told the lady behind the desk that he wanted
to see Mr. Duro of the Engineering Department. He was asked to sit down and wait. After several minutes, he was given the visitor's tag and
directed to go to the first floor, last room by the left.

'Thanks,' he told the lady.

In brisk steps, he climbed the stair case and moved to the directed room. He knocked at the door once and entered the office.

'Samuel, the great!' Michael hailed him as soon as he entered.

'Bobo Michael, this is your face. Long time no see.'

The two friends shook hands.

'It's good to see you, after such a long time,' Sam said. 'How's work?'

'Work dey o. How're about you? How's Lagos?'

'Lagos is fine, but I cannot say the same thing for myself.'

Michael looked at him curiously. 'Hope no problem?'

Sam sighed. 'There's one. It's not a very big one, but it's such that I needed to leave Lagos for a while and cool off far away. That's why I'm here. I need to put up with you for some days.'

Michael stared at him. 'That must be a serious thing. I hope you've not committed serious a crime there.'

Sam laughed shortly. 'Oh no. Let your mind be at rest that your old buddy, Sam, has committed no crime. Rather, my coming is to avoid some ugliness and miscarriage of justice. Let me say I'm the victim here, not the culprit.'

Michael stared at him. He and Sam were buddies, right from their polytechnic days at Ibadan. They had belonged to the same cult group. He knew that though Sam looked nice and innocent, he was capable of many terrible deeds. Sam must be on the run for something grave. He knew the old boy.

'I hope you did not sleep with your boss' wife,' Michael said.

Sam was struck by how accurate Michael could be. But he would not admit anything like that, at least for now.

He smiled it off easily. 'No such thing happened. I only had a conflict of interest with my boss and it degenerated to his having big suspicion for me. In the circumstance, my leaving that area for now is the best option. As soon as the dusts settle down, I will go back and things will be reconciled and back to normal.'

Michael nodded and patted him on the left shoulder. 'You're welcome, Sam. My home is your home and yours is mine. There's no problem. You
can stay for as long as you want.' He brought out his house keys. 'Do you still remember the place?'

'Sure, I do.'

'Those are the keys. See you later in the day.'

Sam shook hands with him again. 'I do appreciate this, Mick. Thanks a lot.’

* * *

Guba was on his way to the relaxation joint he frequented at Ojota when Chief Kashi's call came through.

'Hello, good evening, sir.'

'Bad evening, Guba. You must find whatever way you can devise to complete your assignment.'

'Assignment?' Guba was confused. 'I've completed the assignment you gave to me, sir.'

'No, you've not. As I speak to you right now, I can say authoritatively that Sam is alive.'

Guba could feel his heartbeat. The thumping was distressing, to say the least. 'Sam? Unbelievable.'

'You better believe it. I've been to his house and I heard it from good authority that he's alive.'

'Wonderful!' Guba exclaimed, for lack of any other expression.

'You must complete your assignment,’ Kashi said vehemently. ‘By whatever means, you must complete your assignment. I give you five days,
starting from this moment. If you can't accomplish the task within the stipulated days, then you must return my money.'

'I ... I ...' Guba stuttered, but the line was already dead. The chief had disconnected it.

Guba was aghast. How could Sam be alive? He had mixed the suya generously with the powder the chief himself provided, so how could he be
alive? How could Sam possibly survive the poison?

Guba was pensive. But then, he thought, if the poison was not potent enough to kill Sam, then, it was not he, Guba, that should be blamed for
that. Was it not chief that brought the stuff? How could that stuff fail to do what it was expected to do? Guba, however, knew he was only thinking this way to console himself. He could never confront the boss on this. He knew that as far as the chief was concerned, he - Guba - had
failed to deliver.



Fear No More: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/fear-no-more-18/34302

Guba will pay the price of betrayal. Thanks

Interesting story

Interesting story

Cool

Nice update

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Cool story

Saturn101:


Cool story

Thanks.

Guba was pensive. But then, he thought, if the poison was not potent enough to kill Sam, then, it was not he, Guba, that should be blamed for that. Was it not chief that brought the stuff? How could that stuff fail to do what it was expected to do? Guba, however, knew he was only thinking this way to console himself. He could never confront the boss on this. He knew that as far as the chief was concerned, he - Guba - had failed to deliver.

This news about Sam surviving greatly upset him. What would he do now? It was already few minutes past seven. Should he go to Sam's house to verify that he was alive, or what? He paused by the roadside to deliberate on what to do. All of a sudden, the joint he wanted to go and drink became the least appealing place to him. He would have to suspend going there.

His mind went over the option the chief had given him: that if he could not carry out the task within five days, he must be prepared to return the two hundred thousand naira he had been paid. The unfortunate thing was that just between yesterday morning and this evening, Guba had spent almost half of the money! He had basically spent the money on women, wine and playing lotto, called ‘Baba Ijebu’.

Where would he get the replacement of money for chief in the next five days? Yet, he must look for Sam and get rid of him. If poison failed, as it had done obviously, then the alternative ways to get rid of him would by stabbing, clubbing or shooting. None of these would be easy, knowing fully well that Sam was a smart guy. What would he do now? He decided that he had to confirm that indeed Sam was alive. He brought out his phone and called his number. Again, the network service provider indicated that his phone was switched off.

Guba sighed. Somehow, he had to go to Sam's apartment. But, what if he came face to face with him? How would he react to Sam’s probable belligerence?

Well, he would tell Sam that he became worried about him after he had tried severally and unsuccessfully to call him on the phone to come for another celebration. What if Sam accused him of trying to kill him by poison? Simple: he would deny ever trying to do that. He would remind

Sam of their friendship and that he could never do that to a friend. Besides, he would claim that he too ate from the suya meats!

That was it! He went to Ojota bus stop to take a bus going to Ikorodu. About fifty minutes later, he was at the front of the door to Sam's apartment, pressing the bell. Bisi came out of her own apartment to attend to him.

'Hello, good evening. Who do you want to see?' she asked.

He smiled wryly at her. 'Good evening. I came to see Sam.'

She shook her head. 'He's not around.'

Guba scratched his head. 'When did he go out? Where did he go and when will he be back?'

Bisi was bemused. Why was everybody suddenly asking about Sam? Why was this man asking so many questions? Although he looked harmless,
one could never tell.

'I don't know where he went to and I don't know when he will be back,' she answered cautiously. 'Why don't you call his number and ask? And
who are you to him?'

Guba did not like being questioned, much less by a woman. He must however maintain a cool and friendly mien. 'I'm Guba, his very good friend.
I've been trying his number since morning. I became worried since I could not reach out to him. That's why I came around to his house to see if
all what well with him.'

She decided that he appeared a bit sincere and she would open up a bit to him. 'Frankly speaking, I think Sam has travelled,' she said.

Guba's heart sank. He had to strive to conceal his anxiety. 'Travel? To where?'

Again, she decided to be cautious. 'I don't really know, but I think he has travelled.'

An idea came to his mind. 'Sorry, when did you see him last?'

'This morning,' came the prompt answer.

Now, Guba was dismayed. If indeed what this lady was saying was true, then Sam was alive! He had known that his life was threatened and had
bolted.

There was no need Guba wasted further time there. He had confirmed what he came to confirm. He turned to go.


Fear No More: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/fear-no-more-18/34302

Interesting update

Interesting story

An idea came to his mind. 'Sorry, when did you see him last?'

'This morning,' came the prompt answer.

Now, Guba was dismayed. If indeed what this lady was saying was true, then Sam was alive! He had known that his life was threatened and had bolted.

There was no need Guba wasted further time there. He had confirmed what he came to confirm. He turned to go.

'Thank you, sister for your time. I'll keep on trying to reach him. Good night.'

'Good night.'

She watched as he left the compound. The sudden interest in Sam and the fact Sam himself had to leave hurriedly meant there was trouble somewhere.

She too tried to reach his lines again but could not reach any of them. That had been the situation since morning. Apart from when Sam called her to let her know that he had travelled out of Lagos, she could not reach him. Definitely, there was something sinister about the whole episode. She could only watch, wait and see.

* * *

The following morning, as early as six in the morning, Bisi received a call from Chief Kashi.

'Good morning, Bisi. How are you?'

It was quite odd that he was calling her so early, but she tried to sound normally. 'Good morning, uncle. I'm hale and hearty.'

'Thank God for that. Sorry I'm calling you so early.'

'It's okay, sir.'

'There's something I need to let you know.'

'What is that, uncle?'

'Sam has committed some fraud in the office, that's why he's on the run.'

'What?!'

'Yes, that's the fact. He has stolen money from the office running into millions of naira.'

She was stupefied and short of words.

'There's something you must do for me,' he continued. 'If you get to know when he's back in the house or in Lagos, alert me. Don’t confront him or let him know that I’ve revealed this secret to you. Just pick your phone and let me know he’s around. Do you understand?'

'Yes ... yes, sir.'

'Alright, have a nice day.'

'Yes, sir. Have a nice day too.'

She dropped the phone, feeling giddy. Was that true that the reason Sam bolted away was because he committed fraud? What was all this about? But what was the relevance of that to the fact that Sam was poisoned the day before yesterday?

If Sam had indeed committed fraud, how come Chief Kashi did not mention anything like that the previous evening when he had come around?

Certainly, something sinister was going.



Fear No More: https://okadabooks.com/book/about/fear-no-more-18/34302

Nice update

Interesting

Nice one

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interesting story

Nice work