Dedicated to..

Preciousbouy bimberry1307 Evold Oroolorun mimilight MhisTahrah iamloyalty Honeydawealth Silensa explosive Bleeze2 Ann2012 olatoun261 queenitee donkey phoenixchap Charminee ekopsparrowayara Helenbee...


::::::::::::::


In exactly 32 minutes everyone had freshened up.

Utebo had dressed the kids like they were going to church or for a birthday Party. She herself wore something casual, just a Jean and polo shirt but it was nothing compared to the smile she wore.

Tonye was the last out of the shower, she rushed into the parlour scrubbing her hair dry with the towel to the corner the little bag she and Kirsten had packed had been hurriedly dropped before.

"I've booked a taxi already, he will be here soon...." she said as she rummaged through the small box and selected a BROTA inscribed shirt to go with the pant trousers she had on. She observed the young family dressed and buzzing with excitement.

" you guys are looking good!"

" thank you...a car just pulled up... I think the taxi is here" Utebo said staring out the window

"wow that was quick... Just give me a minute!"Tonye said and rushed into one of the rooms.

She was out in 30 seconds with her big black pistol in her hand. It was in the holster but she didn't strap the holster to her belt. Instead she grabbed her bag from the dining table and buried the gun in it.

"that won't be coming out today" she said sweetly and
Utebo smiled. She had seen a lot of guns, her husband was in the military after all and not to mention her big headed brother who had turned to be some kind of Rambo two years ago and always wore a gun to visit ever since.

But for now she was glad the gun was staying in Tonye's hand bag and at least out of sight. It was a joyous moment they were in and she could do without seeing a gun for a few hours.

The taxi was parked patiently on the curb when the two women and three children filed out. Utebo shut the gate and locked it then she filed into the back seat with her children. Tonye slid into the passenger seat and struggled with the seat belt. When she was strapped in safely, she looked at the driver. "why aren't we moving?"

"where to Madam?"

"ah ah...I filled the destination online now..."

"oh!...the hospital!" he started the engine and Tonye studied him with a frown, "you look farmil.....wait are you not the same driver that took us there two nights ago?"

He nodded sheepishly "yes Madam...this whole area from the stadium to the catholic church at the other end is my beat"

"Jeez! I totally forgot about you when we left...we haven't even paid you for the other night...how much do we owe?

" don't worry Madam, when we get to our destination,I charge by the meter and it's all tabulated in my mobile device...I'll calculate everything once"

Tonye nodded but didn't say anything. As a former government agent, the one thing you were trained for was to be on the look out for the slightest irregularity, coupled to that, since she met Rex Obasi and formed a part of BROTA, she had learnt coincidences were always almost non existent...

She clutched her bag in her lap tightly and studied the driver from the corner of her eye.

"Radio?" the man asked politely

"yes please"
he was what.....early forties...no outstanding features apart from the mustache...average build. He seemed calm, like a normal driver..but then again calmness was just a facade someone could master. It was all in maintaining a stoic disinterested expression and regulated breathing..

Seal began crooning from the car's speakers about being kissed from a rose or kissing a rose..Tonye could never figure out the lyrics.

"ooh I love this song!" Utebo said happily.


:::::::::::::::::

"you're very lucky mister man, the skin integrity is still intact...although you need to take the antibiotics I prescribed for you" the doctor patted my shoulder while I flexed both hands.
The doctor had applied some kind of lotion that felt like ice and left a tingling sensation in my finger tips before numbing my hands totally of all sensation.

"normally the burns shouldn't have gotten past your epidemis but you wasted too much time before you got here...but what matters is your subcatenous tissue that is your hypodemis is still very much intact...."

I tuned out as the cheerful doctor Ernest continued his monologue.

I had a flight back to Benue in the next 3 hours and my dad had added his strong opinion to my friends' that it made no sense to travel looking the way I was. It was going to be best to look good for my wife. She had gone through hell and it wasn't fair of me to go see her looking like the devil..

"don't let her see you looking like a mad man, even your mother too is there" he had said amidst the sounds of encouragement from Andy and Bami.

So as it turned out, Bami and I were getting a thorough check up at the hospital.

The real shadow's body had been deposited at the coroner's office to run an autopsy. All though cause of death was clear from the gulf ball sized hole in his head, we wanted to know what the shadow was made of....or had been made of...literally.

"....aaaaaaagh!" I yelped in pain suddenly as the doctor lifted my arm up.

"sorry...but I have to bandage your rib tightly. It's going to heal itself but for it to heal you need to allow it to rest, stop doing whatever it is that made you have a cracked rib in the first place...although the painkillers will.."

"no doctor...no painkillers" I reaffirmed clenching my teeth so I don't cry out in pain. I wasn't about to get drugged again and miss my flight. It was true I needed rest but there's a time for everything afterall.


::::::

My father and Bami were in the hospital lobby waiting for me.

Bami didn't seem to be in much pain, he seemed way fitter than me.

"we heard you crying like a baby" he jested as I wobbled to where they sat.

I looked at him "how come it doesn't pain you like that?"

"actually I have a high threshold for pain"

I scoffed and rolled my eyes "the doctor gave you painkillers didn't he?"

He nodded vigorously "yea... It works like magic...the pain is gone and I feel so energetic!"

I shook my head in amusment then looked at Emma.
She wasn't asleep anymore but standing and resting on my father's legs. She looked dull and unhappy.

I sat down beside my father "hey Emma...my baby..."

Sh looked at me and I must say I was a bit disappointed when her eyes didn't brighten like it usually did. She didn't even run into my arms as usual. She looked at me then gradually her mouth which was turned downwards at the edge straightened but it didn't turn up in a smile.

Hey... I'll take whatever I can.

She moved to me slowly and I carried her and gently began bouncing her on my lap.

"how are you my princess...daddy loves you okay"

"I want mummy"

I looked at my dad, he shrugged "hey don't look at me...you and your sisters were like that..always crying for mummy...now you know how it feels" he said with a smile.

I smiled back but I knew there was something there...I was never really close to my father..none of us were really...not when we saw him as this huge formidable man....

"hey where's Sparrow?" I asked suddenly unwilling to go down that memory lane

"honesly who is that guy?" my father asked "one minute he is here sitting beside me, the next I just bend down to try and get Emma to smile and whowoooo! he's gone...just like that!"

I looked round the half empty lobby wondering where the Sensei could be at the very moment. After his brief outburst in the office about taking down the hole he had withdrawn and like a closed book had become unreadable.

Still he followed us to the hospital but now he was gone.

"Rex so this Beatrice person what do we do about her?" Bami asked after a while.

"honestly I don't know...I just want to see my wife honestly...but she's Gonna pay one way or the other for what she did...at the very least on the grounds that she broke the law"

"and you mean she was Fome's lover..."my dad murmured to himself. He was still very much stuck on that.

There was a very long silence while I cooed at my daughter who wasn't in the mood.

" well what next?" my dad asked

" let's try and reach Andy and find out if they've gotten across to the reporter lady yet"

"okay...but can we leave this hospital...I've really gotten to hate hospitals in the last two years."

"let's head back to brota we'll call Andy from the car.. Then I'll still like to ask Buzz some questions before we hand him over to the police"

Buzz was in our small holding cell that had never been used. It was ironic that the first cell mate to be locked in would be a member of BROTA. Well ex member..that backstaber was definitely out...


:::::::::::::::::

Helen Koker was an investigative journalist who most times got caught in the hunt of a story. She had the rare kind of dedication most reporters lack... The kind that made them always put the story first.

There was nothing as sweet and exhilarating as uncovering a plot, a secret no one knew about. That was her rush...and a very potent rush it was indeed, more effective and perhaps more dangerous than any drug.

She was Lois Lane in the modern and busy city of Lagos but without any superman.

That was until Andy saw her.

The newest BROTA recruits had accompanied him for the briefing and handing over of the sensitive material (all copies of course, the original had been locked in the safe) to the 'nosy and annoying' reporter.

Nosy and annoying...

Those had been his very words earlier when he had read the article she had written about the agency. But now......

They were seated in a corner at a popular chicken republic joint in Ikeja. The moment she walked into the eatery Andy knew she was the one. As in the one they had been waiting for...the reporter they had been waiting for...or the one he had been waiting for?

He shook his head sending all thoughts flying away.

The last time he had felt this way was when he had met Mona.
Although he had managed to make a fool of himself on that occasion, stuttering and stammering. It was a wonder she had given him her number then.

And to be honest he had still messed up just this past week, flirting with the doctor's assistant then getting his ass kicked but still....the way he felt now was totally different..like the wind was knocked out of him and knocked into him at the same time...


They had chosen a booth not easily visible and he watched her as she scanned the diner searching for her 'source'

"I think that's her" Dagnet commented as the lady put a phone to her ear, looking left and right.

Few seconds later Andy's phone rang. He half stood hurriedly causing the juice on the table to spill. If not for Bigelow's quick hands it would have been quite a mess.

The little commotion was what brought her attention to their corner and Andy waved her over.

She was pretty, full of confidence and energy and the few steps it took her to get to their booth, Andy was already a goner..

They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries and she sat down next to Bigelow and brought out her tape recorder.

"so BROTA has finally agreed to give me a statement" she said.

There was silence.

Bigelow and Dagnet were looking at Andy. Despite their special ops and paramilitary background he was their superior now and they would never break protocol.

But Andy was lost in her eyes. Never had he seen eyes so full of life and intelligence before. Never.

Bigelow finally managed to connect with his shin under the table. A quick sharp kick had him blinking several times.

"ehem....errm....ehem....actually not a statement...we have a story for you...and it's huge but dangerous... You have to make sure nobody knows what we're about to tell you...work on it until it's ready for publication without anybody knowing about any of it... Not even your editor"

"hmm... Okay" her interest was piqued.

"promise me" Andy insisted

She looked at him strangely then nodded "okay I promise"


To be continued...

Oroolorun:
I thought I hate the journalist (after publishing the fake news about BROTA) until Rex mention her now and I can't help pitying her. Who knows maybe the Holes were the one who delivered the letter bomb at Dele Giwa door step.
Who is tha 1st minister?

Ha! Boss....



About the first minister, as soon as I know you'll know.
Thanks chief... I appreciate you!

queenitee:
Wow, feels so good to be back. Been so busy with exams. So I'm glad Emma is safe and everything is almost back to normal. This new discovery about Fome is wow.
Souloho19, been long, how have you been?

Yay! I trust you killed the exams..
I'm doing good...jst tryn to dig out this hole but it keeps getting bigger...
Welcome back

phoenixchap:
Bless you my brother.... I was starting to wonder what was happening but I get you needed the break to get the gist back on track, the latest update just opened another serious can of worms I also hope u will take pity on BROTA boys and reduce the beat up they take because I can foresee more beat up but in the end justice always prevail....

I also was hoping to see name like
Baban*****a
Obas******o and others on that list before sha .... Na joke I dey oo if u take me serious na at your peril oo

hehe...thank God for disclaimer sha... everything is only imageenashion...But maybe the equivalent to the hole exists in real life o...

Well in J.Cole's voice:'I'm just playing..but every good joke contains true sh*t!'

Gracias for sticking with me bro.

MhisTahrah:
Souloho19, nothing must happen to that journalist o.
Another update served piping hot as usual.

I don't want anything to happen to her too. But but.... :- lemme not make any promises sha
#fingerscrossed
Tnx for your comment

Ann2012:
Thanks Souloho19

The Hole is very wide

iamloyalty:
Ur imagination runs really wide. Still ur fan.

Tnx ma'am.... Jah bless!

Silensa:


Thanks but no thanks Soul.

Why the sudden change? We did everything together before the red letter showed up, now u want to read it alone. Not cool man, better invite me before I kidnap Emma personally.

Brotherly just incase the letters are laced with anthrax that's why I had to do that....to be on the safe side so I won't start stammering when queenitee ask me for her husband
Thanks for your comments man..Jah bless

mimilight:
bia soulho19 don't you dare think because the real shadow is dead you can treat us anyhow o.... first you dish one small food (update) for us now come update we no see you. You are lucky shadow is no more else I will have paid him to treat your fuckup. oya report here now or else!!!!!

honestly would have updated earlier but the tab I've been using got bad and I haven't been able to get it running yet...just downloaded swift key now to type this update. Updates would be more regular from now "hopefully"
But...is that how you would just send the shadow to me just like that

Honeydawealth:
Phew!! At long last I'm here... A lot of things av happened in my absence. Soo much, DAT I can't begin to mention. Souloho19, u are too busy to notice my absence abi?? .(just kidding though, how many absentees will u notice? Lol..)
So back to the reason I wanted to comment....




Just to tell u DAT U ARE GOING PLACES, WHETHER THE DEVIL LIKE IT OR NOT.
Remain blessed. More update pllllssssss!

Wow! Welcome back Oyinda...its been long, honestly thought you'd forgotten about us here on NL.
Thank you for your kind words... Jah bless

Dedicated
Bleeze2 rowdymind eberechi24 bimberry1307 waacut Ann2012 IAmkingoludav Evold exosive04 phoenixchap clover Mhistahrah paqman preciousbouy
Phoenixchap princiology silensa Kaycee9242 mynet11 paafin wonderz1 nkemdave pweetygiftofGod whocarex samwobi Honeydawealth do4luv14 Oroolorun mimimight EkopsparoAyara helenbee cbarminee silvertrinity...


:::::::::::::::::

"oh my God....that's wonderful news.... Oh my God...thank God.....I'll call my agent right away sir.....she's in the hospital with your wife and Olivia..." Tonye babbled on and on into the receiver. She couldn't believe her ears, Alli no joy had just called with the best possible news. "sir how is Rex... And Bami and Andy.... I hope they're all okay"

"yes they're....they all just ran outside not long ago...theg got a call that.......what is it son? Whoa.....I gotta go"

Alli no joy ended the call and Tonye wondered what was happening that very moment. She hoped it wasn't anything dangerous but when BROTA was involved, danger was never far off....

"was that my dad...What did he say?" Utebo had woken up when Tonye had shrieked happily and now she stood by the door rubbing her eyes tiredly.

Tonye was in the kitchen, standing over the electric kettle, waiting for the water to boil so she could make coffee. She turned happily "they've found Emma.... She's in his hands this very moment"

Utebo's eyes brightened immediately "wow...oh my God!"

She rushed to Tonye and hugged her, over filled with joy and excitement.

"I want to call my assistant now to tell them the good news... She's in the hospital with them" Tonye said happily as the women embraced

"mum what happened...has grandma come?" the twins had also woken up and the both of them stood at the entrance. The two boys had their younger sister in their middle and they held her hand protectively as little Soma yawned, still groggy from sleep.

They looked cute.

Filled with so much love, Utebo bent down and swept her children in a big hug. When she turned to look at Tonye there were tears in her eyes. Tears of joy.
"why don't we all go to the hospital, I would like to see Olivia"

"yea.....aunty Olivia!!" The twins shouted.

Tonye thought of it for a second but a second later there was nothing to think about.
"you know what...that's not a bad Idea.... Let me shower then I'll book a Taxi"

"great....alright kids come and brush and have your bath....we're going to see grandma and aunty Olivia"

"and Emma?" Soma asked

Utebo beamed at her daughter "yes baby....and Emma"


:::::::::::::::::

Bami, Andy, Dagnet, Sparrow, Bigelow and I all filed back into the office. My dad was on the phone and he took one look at our expectant expressions and rushed through his call.

"was that mama?" I asked

"no...that was the other agent Tonye....she's going to get in touch with your mother right away"

"good....I'm going to get my assistant to book a flight today and head there with Emma"

"what about this red letter stuff?" Andy asked

To hell with the red letters... To hell with it all, I almost said that, but instead I looked at the ribboned package in Bami's hands and nodded. "let's see what it contains first"

Bami opened the ribbon slowly, like he was unwrapping a valentine gift, then he opened the first of the papers and spread it on the table. We all gathered round.


The covenant of the Hole

Founded in 1973 by Sir Holly Nestrodemus

Oath

I ______________ solemnly swear to be a member of the Hole in blood and sweat, ready to die protecting the Hole and to place nothing before the Hole. I vow to uphold the code and secrets as laid by Sir Holly and to enjoy the benefits that will come from my actions and in actions alike.

_______________
Signature.



"this is like some kind of blueprint....their oath.." Bank said thoughtfully.
He took the second sheet and scanned it

"who is this sir Holly whatever?" I asked as I scanned the page

"never heard of him..." Sparrow said

Bami handed the next paper around, and the next one. It was all the same with the oath the only difference was this time the lines________ was filled with names and signatures.

Most of the names were unknown to me but some other names made my blood turn cold.

The head of the new Metro police department was sprawled clearly taking the oath as well as his signature.

"that sick bastard", Dagnet hissed when she saw it "he offered to let me keep my job if only I would give him MouthAction"

I noticed Sparrow's eyes narrow a bit at that but there were more Important things to notice than the bubbling chemistry between the two of them.

The head of the department of state service, the head of the National Intelligence Agency, some more unknown names that were vaguely familiar... A billionaire philanthropist and of course our very own Timothy Amunike Snr all of them were there, boldly written taking the oath and sealing it with their signature.

"who's this guy....he doesn't give his full name, he just signs his own oath as first minister" Bigelow said with a frown

"first minister you say...." Bami craned his neck to search the paper in question "Tonye told me short Sam came across a certain first minister address that gave orders to the counselor"

"hmmmm....." I said deep in thought. But to be honest the only thing I could think of was my wife in the hospital. I couldn't wait to get to see her and see the look on her face when she saw the....

"Rex" Andy's voice brought me back "how many are you with?"

"errm....three"

"okay that means there are 21 in total.... 21 names.... 21 members and I'm very sure most of them are in Abuja" Bami said

"we can research and take down the ones in Lagos first" Sparrow said

"whoa....slow down.....take down....? I don't think so" I said sharply

"what do you mean? We allow this people to continue with their sinister activities?" Sparrow asked

"I didn't say that....but maybe it's not in our place to..."

"Then whose place?"

I softened "I know you're desperate to avenge your father's killers but...."

"You guys should chill first...there's more" Bami said before things got too intense between Sparrow and I.

The man was cool and never gave any emotion away but just then I could see he had his own demons waging wars inside him.

Bami passed another sheet to us and I took my time to read every name when it got to me

The hole

1. Sir Holly retired
2. First Minister
3. Zebulon Chigozirim
4. Fidel MacGyver (counselor Mark) deceased
5. Olujide Mecury
6. Marcus Ayara deceased
7. Timothy Amunike
8. Alhaji Mesut Mesa
9. Uweke Ajangba deceased
10. Flacko Fikayo
11. Enem Suzuki deceased
12 Florida Florence Fumilayo
13. King George
14. Smithson Goodwill deceased
15. Gen Olith Yellow
16. Finidi Olakola
17. Robbie Zantangello deceased
18. Lennis Saint
19. Festus Papaya deceased
20. Simon Steele deceased
21. Collins Hugo Roberts


I reread the list slowly when I got to number 12, I looked up. "wow there's a woman among too..." then I scrolled up to number 6 as something clicked in my brain "Marcus Ayara..." I glanced up at Sparrow.
He had a pained look in his eyes

"My sensei back in the temple always told me that my name was my identity... and I should never lose it.... I thought he meant the sparrow because my element was the wind the birds would always come around when I was meditating.... But I know better now"

Sparrow Ayara, the son of Marcus Ayara a former drug trafficker and member of the Hole who had been killed when he wanted out.


There was silence as the words sunk in until Bami cleared his throat and proceeded to share the remaining of the letters. There were so much of them with different dates, some as far back as ten years ago and the few ones I got sent a chill down my spine.


Good day, Sir Holly asks about the latest info about the explosives we sent to Borno. There is fresh information about the soldiers route in the forest so laying an ambush would be easy but the boss needs to know about everything. He likes details.
For the Hole!
-First minister

-------------

Counselor it has come to the notice of sir Holly that the identity of the hole is threatened by a certain lady named Fome. Use your resources to make sure she is caught....
FirstMinister

--------------

Keep tabs on this Rex Obasi character. There is intel about a group he and his cohorts are forming. Sir Holly doesn't want them squashed yet but he wants them monitored....
First minister

---------------

The black box from the plane crash must never be found, make sure of it. No excuses!
For the hole!
-first minister



"This minister guy must be the one in charge.... I'm very sure that sir Holly must be very old by now..." I observed as I skimmed through the letters.
No one heard me, every nose was buried in a letter. Apart from my dad who was caught up with what was happening, but not enough to take his eyes from his grand daughter.


Election plots, money laundering plots, impeachment plots and some vague instructions which had very very scary possibilities.

One thing was certain, BROTA was out of its league. In fact we were still in relegation, these were the big dogs.

I wasn't the only one who thought so because Andy asked suddenly "we can't possibly tackle these people...what do we do?"
I wondered the shocking info he had just read to come up with the conclusion.

I looked at Sparrow but the sensei was silent with unreadable eyes

I looked round the office but everyone was looking at me.
Looking for a solution from me. Why me? I hated this kind of responsibility.

Finally I said "remember that journalist that wrote the damming article about us? Let's give her the story of her life"

"are you sure?"Dagnet asked

"sure...that's the best way to fight this kind of power....It worked against the chief"

To be continued....

Eberechi24:
wow! a lot has happened in my absence,
the greatest of them is soul winning the 5k award- it was my utmost desire then. I appreciate everyone who made it possible!!

I appreciate your mentions Mr soul, even in my absence. Soar like an eagle. you are going places.

welcome back! you're a wonderful person and its a privilege to have you here

The last update is quite short....hopefully I'll be completing it later today once I finish reading the red letters....tnx for sticking around, Jah bless!

Dedicated

EkopSparoAyara genius43 Ann2012 Oroolorun rowdymind IAMkingoludav Evold Criis cylovee paafin explosive04 Abelranking dimssy mimilight phoenixchap paqman Stevodot22 Funnyfun Charminee MhisTahrah Eberechi24 speakout03 samwobi pweetygiftofGod RegArmani bimberry1307 Preciousbouy WHOcarex pinkfeet sensivity1254 okeyben10 helenbee teameeMoses silvertrinity



::::::::::::::



Bami, Andy and Dagnet hurried out excitedly. If it was true and the shadow was indeed dead killed by Bigelow, well........
That would be unbelievable luck, or maybe unbelievable luck plus karma and goodwill...

Agent Sparrow was looking at me strangely while my father was still stuck on Emma looking down at her with powerful fatherly love.

"What is it?" I asked Sparrow after he continued looking at me strangely

"your aura.....its full of confusion, pain and regret.....you need to ask the question"

"What question?" I asked

"What question?" My dad raised an eyebrow

"I don't know, only you knows the question that will bring you peace...you need to ask it"

I looked at my dad, Alli no joy made a shrugging expression with his mouth.

I cleared my throat "This hole....like how many members are they and just how come.....as in, how have they been able to remain undetected for so long?"

Sparrow looked dissappointed "That wasn't the question"

"but it was a question wasn't it?"

Sparrow shrugged "I don't really know, and believe me I've been searching for answers for years.....the thing is, the hole was created along with the Country, so they are powerful individuals on the highest echelons of power......believe me, the reason why so many things suddenly get forgotten in this Country is mostly as a result of this group....why murders, thieves and strange news trend for days only to fade away into nothing and from memory without justice is because this people make the law, I mean they make the law for the lawmakers....they smother any presidency and administration to only bow to their every whim, so its like a crack in the foundation of the country....like a hole in the foundation..."

"Like a hole in the wall....." I said

Sparrow nodded "There has to be something in what you just said....a hidden meaning, I heard the murder that took place in the hotel happened through a hole in the wall?"

I nodded "Yes but Fo.....err...Beatrice used it as a figurative play of words to get me to a location, somewhere that had some kind of history for Fome and I"

"And you believe that's just it?" Sparrow asked but before I could answer he said "wait hold up....one thing I never could not understand was how Mr X got to give up his revenge....We couldn't get him to bulge but somehow you managed to get the code to stop the sarin gas that day and saved hundreds of lives....how did you do it?"

This time before I could answer, the intercom buzzed. It was Bami

"Hey Rex! you guys should get to the car park! You're going to want to see this!" he shouted

Sparrow stood up and I looked at my dad but he was already settling into the vacant plush leather chair.
"I'm here with her son, you go.....go check it out"

So I wrapped the towel tightly round my body like a woman fresh out of the shower and followed Sparrow out the office, down the corridor and out the sliding double doors of the agency.


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Bigelow waited impatiently while the sleepy eyed guard rambled on the inercom, finally he came back outside with a renewed spring in his step. His superiors must have told him to let the truck in immediately.

He operated the lever and the gate slid open and as Bigelow drove in the man gave him a salute, a sign of respect. Bigelow smiled and returned it.

He drove towards the car park and was suprised to already see Bami and Andy with the ex police woman waiting for him.
He killed the engine, not bothering to park properly

"Ryan....why did you take off after the shadow and leave us stranded?" Bami asked as he jumped down.

"My brother's killer was getting away.....I wasn't about to let that happen, not again"

"I know" Bami softened "But we're a team, that's how we work....you don't just endanger your life alone....we endanger our lives together...that's BROTA for you, we're brothers...."

"dude forget this preaching......Big you really killed him?" Andy asked eagerly

"Yes I did"

"As in the real shadow? how did you do it....were you hurt?" Dagnet asked

"No.....I don't even really know....everything just happened really slow....." He moved to the trunk and opened it "I guess sometimes the hardest people to kill are the ones who die easily...although it wasn't easy" he held his sprained shoulder and winced in pain "But it was worth it....gimme a hand here"

"Are you sure he's dead?" Andy asked cautiously as he and Bami approached the body. He didn't need anyone to tell him about life and the suprises it sprang up out of nowhere. A killer suprise would be if the shadow got up that very instant...now that would be nasty.

"He is dead....just one accurate head shot was all it took"

Bami and Andy both held the body by the legs and dragged him roughly to the floor.

Dagnet had her gun out, just to be on the safe side but when the body landed with a thud and bounced lifelessly, she put it away.

Andy removed the helmet and they studied the face for some seconds then Bami turned and gave Bigelow a Hi five.

"you killed him Ryan....you really did...."

"I know....now my brother is avenged and can rest in peace"

"That's a nasty hole in the face....what gun do you use?"

"How did it happen?"

"Tell us....did he suffer?"

The questions kept firing like a turret locked on a target and Bigelow raised both hands up until Dagnet asked "did you search him?"
He looked at her "no...not yet"

"He may have the letters" she said

"What letters?" Bigelow asked

"That's true...the letters...Andy frisk him" Bami said

"Why do I gotta be the one to search the dead man" Andy grumbled but he got on his knees and began going through the shadows flowing garments.
Hand greenades, death stars, daggers, pistols, frag grenades.....all came out one after the other and there were still more weapons

"Where on earth does he keep all these, does he have some kind of pocket in his skin?" Bigelow asked in suprise

"hold up....I feel something..." Andy pulled out a parcel, it was tied in a red ribbon and folded in a thick envelope.

On one side the words '...FIDENTIAL' could be made out and on the other 'CLASSI...'

"Confidential and classified....this has to be it" Andy said....."this has to be the red letters that lesbian bitch wanted Rex to get"

"Andy...your language, I'm a woman!" Dagnet cautioned
"But you're straight na....with the way you were looking at the sensei..." his voice trailed off. He suddenly remembered Dagnet was just a new member and they were not really on the kind of terms for his jokes. Andy liked to goof around especially when he was standing over the dead body of the deadliest assassin and the antagonist of his best friend. He glanced at Bami, expecting the strange eyes to be staring at him with dissaproval but Bami was already on the phone "Hey Rex...you're going to want to see this!"

Just checking in fam, sorry for the delayed diagnosisupdates....will work on it today

Adefresh007:
Pls don't keep us waiting for too long. Thanks
I'm so engrossed in this story�

Mad man

Dedication:

danyCEO rowdymind mitchelljnr mekonglobal Helenbee Charminee silvertrinity SPDAZZY chibestjerry KpagoGIN queenbetsy Sunak Preciousbouy arrestdarrester Ann2012 virtuedagirl mimilight paulohgirlie stevodot22 stephengee12 silensa IAmkingoludav bigbauer explosive04 Oluwaseunliz sussybae dimssy Abelranking Criis queenitee Evold Kaycee9242 joshnes bakeuhappy honourable356 pweetygiftofGod coolniks divinelypruned majorgain and the 4 guests who are viewing right now...


:::::::::::::::::::
The silence following Sparrow's revelation was heavy and intense. I looked at Bami, Bami looked at me. I looked at Andy, Andy looked at me. I looked at Dagnet, she was looking at Sparrow with love and admiration in her eyes. I looked at my dad, Alli wasn't looking at me. He was staring at Sparrow with suprise and confusion.

No one spoke for a full minute until Alli no joy echoed our thoughts. He thundered "Whaaaat!"

Immediately Emma stirred "ehee....eheeeee...."

My dad began to rock and coo immediately till she settled back to sleep then he looked at Sparrow and whispered "What?"

Sparrow seemed shocked that we didn't have this piece of information. He looked at me in suprise
"You didn't know?"

"Nooo of course I didn't know!" I exploded in a whisper. Thank God for Emma if not our voices would have been raising the roof already.
I mean how could I know that my fiance had been bumping tacos with another woman? Or that the other woman in question now hated me and saw me as the reason they were not together.....as in together with my fiance....Fome? Chai this world was a crazy one!

"Wow...." Sparrow said with an embarassed shake of his head "I know this would come as a shock but Fome is not the one who kidnapped your daughter, she loved you after all...."

"How do you know all these?" Andy asked

"Well she told me herself she said she was going to leave Rex...."

"Wait a minute hold up, are you trying to tell me Fome was a lesbian?" my father asked. He was still stuck on that revelation. It was unbelievable to him.

On the other hand I was stuck on something else Sparrow had said.

"She was going to leave Rex.........."

That statement took me back in time to the phrase that had started it all. To the sunny day Fome had come to my room and uttered the words that had covered my sun. She had said 'I'm leaving you, I'm in love with someone else.....'

I believed her then and had tried everything save for tying her to my bed post but she was stuck on leaving. Later when the business with the Chief began to unfold I began to think she had left me in a bid to protect me from the chief and his evil gimmicks. But now......maybe she had truly left me because she loved someone else.....a woman? This Beatrice of a person who had shot my wife in the knees and kidnapped my daughter?

"Rex......Rex......"

I shook my head and blinked at Bami.

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly

I nodded. I couldn't trust myself to speak just yet

Sparrow looked at me with so much pity that it was almost insulting but before I could say anything my dad said "oya continue....but wait, wait.....how did you meet them"

Sparrow cleared his throat. He looked at each of us one after the other. When his eyes got to Dagnet he smiled a little and their eyes held until someone- probably Andy cleared his throat. "ehem.."

"okay, well years ago it was revealed to me that my father was an errand boy for a top secret cult in Nigeria, he had been the point man in the drug smuggling, an avenue I found out the cult used to make billions, apparently he was so good that he was never caught, in any airport of the world, smuggling huge kilos..but then he wanted out but there was only one way out.....so they killed him." he looked at us again and I marveled at the man's communication skills. It was like he held us bound with some kind of spell, we were all caught up and hypnotized by his voice. He might as well have held up a swinging pendulum and ordered us to follow the motion of the ball.

"Well.....it was tough for me, I was basically running blind with no information at all until I met someone. I was in a golf club in lekki then, working undercorver because I had intel that a high member of the club with a golden pass was affiliated with this same 'hole' cult, I met a man......" He looked at me "I think you know him as Betran, well he introduced me to Mr X. This man was full of hatred and bitterness, he had lost his wife to prostitution and his daughters to poverty, not to talk of the foundry business he had started up....well this man was all for revenge but he needed my help. It turned out the chief his nemesis was a member of the hole and involved in drug, arms and human trafficking and was almost untouchable. Of course I began to get interested at the mention of drugs because that was my father's field" he shook his head sadly. "However, the problem was that Mr X didn't just want the chief to pay, he wanted everybody affiliated with the chief dead, plus every powerful individual that had covered and protected him from justice while he rose to the powerful man he is today"

"He was powerful but not anymore.....he's locked up now" My dad corrected

"Actually dad, he is still powerful" I said "Please continue"

"there was a correspondence between the members of the hole, from as early as the late 70's when the group was formed, every new member has his name inputed in this correspondence, and Mr X wanted it, he wanted to destroy them all....not to mention the coordinates containing the trafficking activities of Chief Amunike's evil deeds. The only thing was that a nosy and greedy young man working in a bank had stolen the correspondence and coordinates." He looked at me pointedly "That was you, We had a short meeting and it was decided I'll get you to the doctor Rasheed to scare you into giving up the documents and if not, Mr X was going to contract a hitman to take you out"

I gulped. "You......you got me to go to doctor Rasheed?"

Sparrow smiled mischieviously "Yes, it was me at the hospital that night....that gave you instructions to go to the doctor and declare the delayed diagnosis"

I almost scratched my head but my hand itself needed scratching so I just stared in wonder. I remembered the night in question, how the light had gone off and the man had held me with a blade to my throat and said the tip of the spear would visit me.....

"I don't understand, what night...which hospital?" Bami asked

I looked at Andy "Andy remember that night....the night I hit your neighbour Alhaja on the head with a stick?"

"Oh......yeah, men Rex you have really committed in this life" then his eyes grew wide and he pointed at Sparrow "Nooooooo"

Sparrow nodded solemnly "yes it was me....and that night was when I learnt that the both of you were involved with Mr X's daughters....I did some extra digging and found out you were married and engaged to them and I relayed the information to Betran but it seems the hit had been set and when it was called off, you snatched the briefcase containing the call off money from Betran and the doctor so the assassin took it personal"

"Wait.......if Mr X knew about his daughters since why didn't he reveal himself to them.....but let them continue to think he was dead?"

"I voiced this out times without number but he would always say when the time was right. To be honest I thought he was sensitive of his hideous looks and scared his daughters would reject him....he kept on talking about the first and only time he had made contact, how Fome had screamed in fear at him and they had chased him, thinking he was a kidnapper...."

"Yes he told me that story too....but Fome was just a little girl then" I said

"yes.....I think he always wanted to destroy the chief first but then his daughters died and he totally lost it all in one night"

There was another long stretch of silence. Dagnet was the one to break it this time "But this girl...who exactly is she?"

Sparrow rotated the chair a bit, looking at all our faces except for my dad who was standing on his other side. "Her name is Beatrice and like I said she was intimate with Fome, I met them once and I believe they were in love. The reason she hates you is that you've always been a threat to her, Fome loved you both and was undecided, then she finally decided to leave you and she got blown apart in a house and you were the one who released the gas.....The thing is she is Betran's daughter and she was quite aware of everything because Mr X had once saved her life and sponsored her hospital bill when her diagnosis was delayed sometime in the past, so she loved him dearly like a father and knew everything about the chief and the hole."

"What of this Betran guy.....where is he?" my father asked

"That's where it all started...he was diagnosed with leukemia and he has just few months to live. That was what really pushed his daughter over the edge and got her obsessed with the letters, killing off the hole and ruining Rex's life"

There was silence again.
I was ashamed of myself and I didn't really know why but I couldn't take my eyes from the floor tiles.

Sensei Sparrow continued his twisted and complicated monologue:
"Betran and Carmicheal, out of their love for Mr X had a meeting and decided to get her to make contact with Fome and Mona to let the sisters know their father was still alive, instead the two girls fell inlove and began to plan to elope, the only problem was that you stood in the way. Fome was finding it hard to leave you, until she found out about the real evil Amunike had done. I was still suprised that the daughters hadn't met their father till I found out they had hired a trained woman assassin and had decided to take matters into their hands and get the letters themselves. Fome wanted to do it for her father, Beatrice wanted to do it for Fome and for the man who had saved her life, Mr X....and the killer woman had some kind of motherly bond with Beatrice although I'm certain she wasn't her mother......and before long the girls became a coven and shut everybody out. To be honest, I didn't pay much mind to them, I had done my part....what I needed was the people who had killed my father, and yet here I am today no closer to finding out the names and content of the so called red letters....do you have it?" he asked slowly with a faint sign of hope.

I shook my head. The golden foolish note was still in the car.
"Was that.....was that woman the old crooner?"

"I don't know her name, but she was old and deadly....and I heard she used to sing for her targets before killing them"

But why did she kill Fumi?" I asked slowly. My head was too full, too much information still kept on opening the door to more questions, so many more questions that it was hard to remember them all.

"Who's Fumi?" Agent Sparrow asked suprised

"She was a co-worker in my bank.....I found her minutes before she bled to death and she said an old woman had shot her"

"I don't know....but if she was killed by the 'old crooner' then she must have been contacted by someone from the hole"

"And Sule too....my mechanic?" I asked

"Your mechanic was killed by the shadow in the hospital, from instruction by the Chief....Sule had spent some time in the Chief's house when your car had been turned up by Bami. The chief apparently thought Sule had removed the contents of your car and he was paranoid the letters had been in your dashboard....but apparently Emenike got high and said too much in front of him so he had to be killed"




"Rex get a towel boy, you're shivering" My dad said

True enough I was shivering but it wasn't really from cold. Goosebumps had taken over my body.

I looked at my daughter for a while to rediscover that passionate warmth from within but I was still cold.

I nodded and headed for the restroom. I shut the door and leaned on it for what felt like eternity, then I finally opened my eyes. Olivia's towel was on the rack. Her scent enveloped me as I wrapped the towel round my body.

I ran the cold water and let it run through my fingers, then I looked at the mirror.

To tell the truth I looked horrible, plain horrible. In fact I had trouble recognizing my reflection.
My eyes were swollen and red, my face was black
and I was filthy. The bandage that had held my side had since peeled off, or maybe it got burnt and my side was red and swollen.
I needed good medical care and lots of rest. And that was what I was going to do, to get my daughter, go see my wife and maybe check in beside her in the same hospital.
The dark humour was distasteful and I was disgusted with myself.


I heard excited voices from the office and I carefully shut the tap and went back out. The shivering had reduced a bit at least.

"What was that about?" I asked
as Bami replaced the landline to its cradle.

"Its the security, Ed...he said there's a man in a hilux outside claiming to have the shadow!" Bami said excitedly


To be continued

rowdymind:
Hmmm, A New One Lets See How The Events Unfold.
I Am Here Lemme Call My People
Youngzubi Honourable356 Souloho19 Helenbee Foxyflow Pradoic Make Una Cm Join Me Make Noise For Back Seat

Tnx for the invite bro....backbencher like us
op ride on!