:::::::::::

Adaobi

It didn’t happen in slow motion this time, everything flashed before her eyes in a blurry haze. She heard the voice shout for the kidnappers and quickly sprung to action, she wasn’t thinking, it didn’t even feel like she was the one controlling her movements.

She picked up the sharp bottle piece that had fallen from her hands when the sight and smell of blood had gotten under her skin, literally; in her haste to pick up the glass she had stepped in the blood, which had refused to clot and still flowed freely from the dead kidnapper's head wound.

The voice got closer, and louder. It also sounded irritated. Ada hurried to the side just in time as 3F swung the door fully open. The door covered her view partially but she could see the woman look round the room, stunned.

At first 3F was fixated on the empty bed, then she focused on the dead kidnappers. She looked at the genesis of all the blood (the busted skull) without emotion. The fucking drunkard!

Something caught her eyes; footprints, bloody footprints. She traced it, turning round and raising her customized sleek .32 gun as she turned.
She saw the sharp bottle just a second before it pierced her throat.

:::
Ada lunged at 3F the moment she saw her look at the footprint. The room was spacious and 3F was a couple of feet from her. She let out a chilling sound and it was like a rehearsed choreography move when 3F turned fully, offering her slender, giraffe-like throat as an offering. There was a terrible splitting sound for a second, as the shard of glass pushed in, rupturing every vein and artery in its path.

All these happened in less than two seconds and the low chilling sound emanating from her throat had increased in tempo and 3F fired a shot into the ground as the gun in her hand fell to the floor. She raised both hands to her throat automatically, trying to stop the blood. Her eyes were glazed and everything was getting blurry, she saw the young girl walking towards her. There was a wild look in her eye, and in that instant she looked like the exact replica of her old man.

Not to mention the crazy bone chilling cry that vibrated 3f’s ears and sent echoes of doom up her brain.


:::::::::::::::
The keke was waiting for two more passengers when Bami jumped down from the bike even before it stopped. He threw 1k at the rider without turning or stopping and ran past the line of tricycles waiting to load up. He squeezed into the front seat with the driver.

“Driver let’s go, let’s go….I’m going to number 14!”

“Calm down oga, e still remain one more person.”

“let’s go, I’ll pay for the seat.”

The driver scrutinized Bami and Bami almost, almost pulled out the gun to point at the driver’s big head and order him to shut up and drive. Instead he threw 500 naira on the dash. “I’m in a hurry, abeg let’s go….keep the change too…let’s just fucking move!”

The money disappeared like a magic trick and the driver began to smile as he pulled on the pulley to get the engine running. His greedy eyes caught movement in the side mirror however and Bami felt he stalled for a couple of seconds until the woman from the mirror got to the vehicle.

“Round about?” She asked

“Hold your fifty naira.”

It took just one pull this time and the engine came alive. The keke pulled into the smooth tarred road and began accelerating slowly but steadily.

“No forget na number 14 I dey go.” Bami reminded.

“I no forget Oga, e no go reach two minutes.”

Bami stared at both sides of the road. Number 14 shouldn’t be far away but there wasn’t even a number 1 yet.

On the left was a football field, basketball court, lawn tennis court. A hotel on the right, an event center, then a couple of swing sets, sea-saw and the likes. Most were occupied with little children, some still in their school uniforms, having made a detour on the way home. Their laughter and excited shouts rang loud and Bami enjoyed the scene for the few seconds while the keke sped down the road, between the groomed trees on both sides of the road.

What kind of estate is this? He thought to himself. Finally the first house came into view, the numbering was crystal; 1.
Opposite was a duplex with the number 2.

Bami slid his hand into the polythene bag and flipped off the safety of his Smith and Wesson. His heart was already beating and he couldn’t help it. The houses flew by; 7-8, 9-10, and the keke slowed gradually till it stopped at the house with the number 14.

Bami’s eyes were roaming everywhere. He was actually going to 15, not 14 but this way he could check out the surroundings a bit and-

“Haaa, oga you no go come down?”

Bami couldn’t make out any movement but he needed to be sure. Any mistake from him and the girl could die, if she wasn’t dead already. The other passengers were getting impatient so he looked the driver in the eye and said, “give me my change.”

The frown was instant. “Ah oga, I no get change na, but…..you….you been dash me the change, you say make I take am….”

Bami was hardly listening, his eyes were on the next house. The windows were shut and the drapes closed. “You no get change….for this era wey change dey rule us?” He could see a pickup van in front of house 14 and a slick BMW parked in front of it.

“But you said….” The driver said weakly, opening a metal tin with a peeled Nescafe wrapper. “I no get change….” He turned the money in the tin about, looking for a high denomination. Meanwhile the passenger was not even paying attention, but studying the next house intently.

The driver turned to the passengers at the back. “How much you hold madam?”

Suddenly Bami sprang out of the keke. “No worry driver, next time…”

He didn’t see the smile since his back was turned but he heard it in the driver’s voice. “You too much Oga!”

As the keke sped off, Bami ran across the yard of house 14, jumping over the 4 feet high picket fence into the lawn of house 15. He heard the sound immediately. It was like a spiteful chant, full of grief and anger…….and craziness.

Bami peeled the nylon off the gun and approached the open screen door. His gun into the doorway first, before his eyes and then his body.
The spiteful chant continued going on and on…..

Bami moved slowly, every hair on his body was standing, as a fresh wave of goosebumps washed over him.

He approached the partially opened room door, where the eery sound was coming from. Gun first as usual and he peeped discreetly. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw.

Ada was kneeling down, and even from behind it was clear she was soaked in blood, even as Bami watched on, more blood splashed on her face. She was kneeling over the bleeding body of 3F, stabbing and stabbing her all over; stomach, chest, neck, even….even the face.
It was a horrible sight and the deadly wailing which now sounded like crazy despair, followed each stab, creating some kind of dark order that was almost musical.

Bami walked round the room slowly, watching Ada with sadness. She was never going to remain the same person again. There had been a paradigm shift in her, she had almost puked earlier on at the sight of blood but now she was stabbing away, getting stained with more and more blood, holding a piece of broken bottle which had been reduced to about an inch long.

Bami could recognize the change because over a decade ago it had happened to him.

A killer had been born.


:::::::::::::::
In Brota the first vehicle approached the main gate. The two security personnel watched the screen intently. It was a pickup truck and they could see the cartons of drinks and bottle water in the back. They got the delivery every 6 weeks and indeed the vehicle was no stranger to the security men.

The truck waited for the gate to slide open then blew its horn impatiently.

“Open it.” The armed guard named Ed said.

“No way…didn’t you hear what Bami said?”

“Ehen, but this is old man Rosco making the normal deliveries. Plus we’ve been out of beer for like 2 weeks now.”

“Bami said we shouldn’t let anyone in, apart from that grey hair man. Remember there is a woman and small boy inside, a lot of lives are at stake, we can’t afford to Bleep up.”

The security who was armed to the teeth and apparently over confident shrugged. “Na wa for you, you just dey fear as if it’s not your job you’re doing. Tufia!”

You know this thing called pride; it clouds better judgment especially when it is riled up. It makes us do the most stupid things for even stupider reasons.

Just like that, Cornelius the security manning the electronic device pushed a button and the gate slid open.

The truck drove in.

“What are you doing, are you crazy?”

“Oh, now who is afraid?”

“You have a very serious problem, Why did you open it like that? At least you should have let me go scan for explosives first.”

“Is it not Old man Rosco, that’s his truck na.” He pushed a button and the gate slid back shut.

“I don’t know, maybe you shouldn’t have opened it, everyone seems really scared plus the bomb from the morning…”

“Then why where you pushing me to let him in?” Cornelius had began to perspire.

As they watched the camera feed on the monitor, the old man got down as usual. He went round to open the pickup space and bring down the crates. Normally Jimoh would have been waiting with a cart to wheel the drinks and water to the refrigerator or stotage.

The passenger door opened and another man got down. Sometimes the old man came with a young boy- apparently his nephew who did all the heavy lifting. However this man was much older to be the nephew, maybe a younger brother.

“Let me go and let them know we’re on lockdown…why on Earth did I open the gate…..Oh! I’ll surely lose my job…..the both of us…” Cornelius had been explicitly warned by Bami earlier on and now his false bravado was gone.

“Can you just shut up for a minute! He’ll drop the drinks and be gone before anybody gets back. The people in the building don’t even have to know. Now stay here and don’t let anyone in until I come back and tell you to open the gate to let them out.”

Cornelius nodded, he felt foolish as he watched his partner open the other door and head towards the entrance. Few seconds later Ed was back. “This will just get in the way.” He dropped the automatic rifle on the floor in the corner beside a shotgun.

He put his index and middle finger to his eyes then to the computer screens then back again. “Watch the cameras…any sign of movement from outside make sure you buzz me immediately.”

“Ok, ok, ok….now go quickly before they decide to carry the drinks inside by themselves….”


TBC (let's call this an appetizer)

Vulcanheph:
Dear souloho
I just finished reading "delayed diagnosis" and all I can say is I'm totally impressed.
First of all I would commend for the awesome story, it was top notch.
I noticed that you dwell a lot on development of your characters (something I rarely see in Nigerian authors).
Rex obasi developed from a scared wimpy banker into a full fledged hero literally in my eyes.
Strange eyes the suspicious agent became bami the reliable friend.
Andy the gambling addicted family guy became the sleek smooth agent. Etc
I also noticed that your writing skills have improved drastically between the first and second book.
Finally I beg of you to please make sure this story makes it to the big screen or at least it gets published because I know box office/best seller material when I see one. I wanna advice you to rename the books so that it becomes more of a series I.e.

THE REX OBASI CHRONICLES
Book one: Delayed diagnosis.
Book two:The hole in the wall
Book three : B.r.o.t.a.s. at arms(it's just an idea I came up with o!)
Book four: Icarus
(inbox me if you wanna know why/how I came up with book 3 and 4 titles)

Kudos bro
America has Alex cross, Jack Bauer.
Britain has James bond, Sherlock Holmes.
Nigeria has Rex obasi.

Wow!!!

I knew there was going to be a trilogy wrap up sometime last December...was even thinking of naming it; "Operation wrath Of God" - but that brothers in arms blew me away, nice play on words bro.
I'm inboxing you right away!

Thanks a lot man, Jah bless!!


And dear readers I'll drop an update today thanks for your patience

Nathalya:
Souloho,Souloho,Souloho...how many times did I call you..It just occured to me,who was Beatrice(Fome's lover) pregnant for?

Honestly I can't even remember....are you sure Beatrice was pregnant? Pls juggle my memory....

do4luv14:



ok, we are all expecting, and I hope it will be spledidious creative

I hope so too bro

Jellymusty:
Wow....thats all I can say cos am outta words

Grácíàş!

Vulcanheph:
Finally caught up after 3 days of binge reading.
Love the story, I actually got to find out it's a sequel and I'm going to start reading "Delayed diagnosis" while waiting for updates so I can understand this one better.
I love your characters especially short Sam...but I feel as if Andy is one hell of an unfortunate guy.

Thumbs up!



N.b
I would love to know if there are any other prequels before "Delayed diagnosis"

Thanks bro, it all starts in delayed diagnosis. Enjoy!!

Nathalya:
Souloho19 I read Delayed Diagnosis last year and I'm impressed with your work...Just started Hole in the Wall a few days back and realized that some characters like Sam being the FM was predictable,Tom's and the Journalist's death were also predictable...I'm a huge fan and your work makes me stay awake to the wee hours of the morning...Thumbs Up

Thank you. I admit I was more into linking the events of the hole with delayed diagnosis so I didn't bother much with suspense. Thanks for your comment and sparrow, honourable, oroolorun, ebonyqueen and everyone who pointed out correction spots, I appreciate much...Jah bless

Jenkvnq:
Oga souloho......�

We dn wait for yhu sotay we dn d lose weight �

mitchelljnr:
Oga Souloho19 wetin happen na, Abi u want us to lose weight? Hope you're OK sha. God bless.

My bosses bear with me, would mention everybody when the update(s) drop sometime this week. I think it's really ending this time around. Gracias

Solly1:
Souloho, abeg i just vote Atiku finish now. Come give us update.


God bless

Lol, me I'm #teamSowore
Sorry for the delay fam, having some little issue but update is inbound. Gráçiàs!

EkopSparoAyara:
I have watched things happen,I have seen things unfold from the corner that I stay and watch and I have this to say...

SOULOHO19

In as much as your inconsistency can be pardoned by me as one of your many ardent followers,there's something going on in between me that is begging to be given a voice...
More often than not,I keep shoving down those voices but I need to err it out now...

First of all the inconsistency has made this story to lose it initial vibes...Then it lost the most important ingredient, ”UNPREDICTABILITY ”...
You can imagine how everyone was able to deduce that Sam was the First Minister.. You made it too obvious man...
This isn't the creativity I saw in Delayed Diagnosis and the almighty “The Devil Wears Okrika”(That story was superb)..

I loved it when we were all guessing who the real shadow was...But it got bad when he died just like that,it appeared too cheap..

The descriptive aspect is still okay but add some oil to it...

The Hole In The Wall doesn't have such creativity,no,not anymore and that leaves me with the question... What changed??

So many people may not like this,but I just have to say this very truth....I read this story and at the end of the update it becomes boring, nothing to be longing for..

Cc:Souloho19

Honourable356...You haven't been here for sometime now....

Bro, thanks for this I once said I was my harshest critic and that has never changed. Everything you noticed have long been aware of it. That spice of delayed Diagnosis and tdwo for the most part of the story has been missing, true.
What changed you say?, well a lot of things changed and is still changing, but I'll say the pivot of creativity lost its balance for a while and I've slowly been guilty of writing another story and freelancing frequently, you know man must wack.

Also I saw a post reminiscing on the days updates dropped daily and sometimes hourly. I've not been as free as previous times. It got so bad I was tempted to go awol but for two reasons:
-I can never leave my readers hanging
-I believe in finishing projects I start.

EkopsparoAyara thanks for your input cos it got me thinking deep. The funny thing about this story was I just started it on a whim, dropped the first update and proceeded to let the story tell itself as usual but I guess this time was not the same.
But believe me, the ending of the hole in the wall is...well let me just stop there.

As for all my readers, penning words of encouragement and constructive suggestions, Jah bless you all. Be rest assured, you haven't seen the best of souloho. My best story is still in my head, indefinitely on hold cos I don't have the required information and research, most of which Google can't help with.
Stay blessed people, happy weekend .
Phoenixchap take are bro!

Also I would advice y'all to stay away from arguing politics during this period, it leaves you with a hoarse voice and pounding head and the argued points never changes a thing. We sadly don't have a large youthful population of radical thinkers and revolutionary visionaries yet. Who realize the country is ours and we shouldn't settle for crumbs.
I'll keep on fighting for freedom of our country with the written and spoken word, but fam stay safe from unhealthy arguments.

Oroolorun:
I can't wait to see Ada draw the map of the federal republic of 9ja on the face of 3f with the broken bottle.
Oga Souloho19 stop delaying the war now, let the war begin!

Boss mi, the war would bring the curtain call, that's why we need to savor each delayed Diagnosis lol. The story is ending real soon

:::::::::::::
I had thought deeply about it and I was convinced. The hole was basically (and literally) too deep to make a mistake like that. In this case the mistake entailed selecting a driver for the heir apparent of the powerful cabal called The Hole.

The driver had to be in on it somehow, he probably didn't know deeper details or even plain details about his boss' activities but there was no way the hole could leave a potential whistle-blower as the first minister's driver. Even though he was told to leave the car whenever his boss had to take a call, and was never privy to deep conversations, there was the possibility that he would at least notice something (cause well, he's the driver after all) and then talk to someone. (maybe a wife or friend or even a darn dog) about how secretive his job was.

And the hole didn't play games. They didn't joke with maybes or possibilities at least that was one thing I now knew. The driver with the three names had to know something. No matter how unimportant the knowledge may be. He was hiding something. I was certain of that. I was also almost certain he was going to give it up. We were not here to play games. I had a wife and kid that needed me back home.

This house was definitely not meant for living, but probably for what was going on now, i.e; interrogation/torture. I sat on the only table. In the small room, the matching chair was a wooden pile on the floor broken when the driver had been shoved back by Tonye's heels. The driver's phone was in my hands. Luckily for him he didn't have a password.

He had a very boring call log when I checked. I redialled the numbers, starting from the very last and farthest number which was two days ago. Nothing important or even remotely interesting apart from two of the numbers were switched off I tried to run a True caller search with my phone. The first number kept searching and searching with no result, but the second turned up a registered name: Uyi Ebueyu. I would run it by Short Sam, see if anything would pop up although I doubted it.

That reminded me about Ss and his family. I hadn't gotten feedback yet from Bami even about Andy.

I was about to call him on my phone when someone picked the call on the driver's phone.

It was a woman. "Honey, why haven't you called me yet. This was not what we discussed oh! Should I still be expecting you today or your boss won't give you chance as usual?" She sounded like a pissed off girlfriend.

My eyes grew wide as my brain began to race. This was a dicey situation. If I played it just right and smart I could get valuable info.
I coughed,
"Oh....he's sleeping madam. We drove all night and he did most of the driving, but I'm driving now and I came with him so that I would drive our boss through out today and he would have time to spend with you."

She suddenly sounded excited "wow that's wonderful. Is he there? Let me talk to him."

"mmmmmmm........mmmmmmmm...." the driver tried to call out but Tonye knelt on his chest, stifling his cries with the soaked towel.

"errrm he's asleep. Like I said earlier he drove overnight. Just tell me where you are and I'd drop him before going to work. I have to drive our boss somewhere by 6"

I held my breath and glanced at Tonye. She glanced at me and increased the pressure on the towel. The muffled protest seized immediately and the driver began to jerk like he was dying but I knew it was more likely to be from the different stale scents and ordour from the filthy rag.

"it's our usual guest house now, not far from the hotel because that his yeye boss can call anytime so that he'd be there immediately but since you said you're the one driving this time, let me send you my home address so you bring him....wait what's that noise?" She asked curiously while I was busy thinking of how to get her to give me the other address close to the 'hotel' the 'boss' lodged.

"errrm.." I glanced at the source of the noise and I thought of a quick lie. Instead I found myself sounding exasperated as if the question was absurd. "Are you trying to tell me he just started snoring recently or you've not seen him for so long you forgot what he snores like or maybe it's because it's over the phone and to be honest he's tired"

She laughed nervously, "abi o....okay lemme give you the house address. You'll need to locate Ikeja along first, then..."

"wait wait wait....just get me the first address first... We will need to go see our boss then maybe I'll drop you both later" Damn I was a smooth liar.

"ah! Oya be coming na... I'll wait.."

I rubbed my temple trying to be patient but the frustration headache was building.

"okay where are you now?" I tried again.

"the usual place close to the hotel or you people are not staying in Orientals this time around?"

Orientals hotel? Oh good. So contrary to my earlier assessment, the chief did lodge in a hotel, a four star hotel.

I almost ended the call immediately but I decided to play the part to the end.

"how do you expect me to know your side exactly. There are plenty places near Orientals, or you think your...." I didn't know if to say boyfriend or husband. I settled for the personalized word ladies love to hear, ".... Your man talks about things like that when if Oga hears it he'll fire him."

"okay, I'm in a guest house...hakims guest house two streets away but when you're done call so I'll come out and you can drive us to my-"

To hell with role acting. I cut the call and tossed the phone on the floor. Tonye finally eased up on the driver and stood up.

She looked at me , "well?"

"I think I know where the first minister is in Lagos."" I said.

"so what do you propose, we head to lag with the tickets Jimoh booked?"

"no....i don't want us to leave my family yet.... And yet stopping the bastard is the only way to really end this."

"we're stretched thin in Lagos we don't have any manpower to spare." Tonye reminded me.

I scratched my Jaw and Tonye snapped her fingers, "hey I'll go... I' can still make the flight and I can stake out the hotel at least."

"Are you sure? It's really dangerous oh!" I said

She looked at me drily. "of course it's dangerous, I'm not going to do anything but just observe, see what's happening, if he's meeting someone or not, his security detail whether heavy or not. It seems he likes moving low key without security."

I nodded, "but since the airport chase he may have switched up. It's a good plan, just gather enough Intel like how long he'll be staying there and the purpose and any other thing you can grab then I can contact Sparrow, he was talking about an offensive strike planned by Mr X or something like that"

Suddenly there was a shout from outside. The driver was on the floor, the knee press had really sucked the air out of his lungs and he could hardly breathe, let alone talk.

The shout from outside however was the other driver. I had forgotten him in the back of the ambulance. Where the bad road bounced his unconscious body about. But now he was conscious. His shouts weren't really audible because the widows were up but he wasn't trying to open the doors. Tonye and I rushed outside and I could see his form, bent in the driver seat. It looked like he was trying to hot wire the ambulance and drive away.

"all my mind was even on the other driver I forgot all about this one." I said as we watched the stationary ambulance for a second. The keys were in my hand and Tonye stretched hers for them.

"well if I'm to meet up with my flight, it has to be with the ambulance, sirens blazing and all. I'll just leave it in the airport park or something with the key so you can get it later.
"
"Hmmm...but what about the driver?"

"which of them?" she replied/asked.

I shook my head in exasperation. "that one jumping up and down in the ambulance you plan to drive."

We observed the man, the wipers were swinging now, he was messing with the wires, trying to hot wire the ambulance.
Tonye brought out the tazer which was hooked to her belt. "an ambulance speeding with its siren on, needs to have a patient" With that she walked briskly to the ambulance. Opened the door with the key and met the weak punch the driver (who was still a little disoriented) threw at her with the tazer. Shocking his knuckles then moving the current to his body when he jerked his fist back. In less than a minute Tonye was driving off, sirens blazing with the patient in the floor in the back, oxygen mask over his face. Heading to the airport once more.

I reentered the house to continue my interrogation, but I couldn't help thinking; Tonye was a bad ass.


It took me less than a second to realize the driver was no longer on the floor, among the pieces of broken chair. The rope was on the floor.

From the corner of my eye I saw the movement and turned around right in time, raising my hand to block the chair leg blow aimed at my head.

My hand got most of the impact, pain (which was a lot) but my sudden defensive swing must have sprained my currently healing broken rib because a sharp pain shot from my side and I almost doubled over. I might have if not for the fact that I had a mad man swinging a broken piece of wood at me, which I just realized had a dangerous nail at the head. The blood trickled from my hand where it had pierced skin.

The bastard was aiming for head again. There was only one option and I did it. I threw my entire weight at him, to knock him off balance, and I succeeded. He missed the swing, the deadly wood making an arc sideways. I grabbed his hand, gritting my teeth but still groaning. Why in earth did this pain decide to spring out now?
Thank God for feet. I can only imagine my attacker had forgotten we were also blessed with legs as we struggled for the wooden spear, like it was a gun. That was until I placed a good goal kick to his balls.

He doubled over and fell to the ground. The scuffle was over almost as soon as it had started. The wooden stake fell to the floor and I clutched my side, pressing the bandage the doctor had wrapped the previous day in the hospital as the pain subsided.

There was no time. I thought angrily as I straightened up after some seconds, panting like a cheater after a long sprint. I had to find out about the incoming attack on my family because it was surely coming. If this fool couldn't help me then I was done wasting time with him.

He was still on his knees, groaning in pain and clutching his manhood. I couldn't imagine the pain he was going through and frankly, I didn't want to.

"when is the attack taking place? Who is the person, what is the purge. How does it work?" I barked

"Jesus!" he rolled over and I saw his eyees glistened with tears unshed."you're a psycho....i don't even know what you're talking about....aaaaaarrggghh......i don't know what the purge.......arggggg...why did you kick me in the nuts?" he complained, with his face contorted in pain.

Somehow I knew he wouldn't know anything about the purge. Well I could as well go stay with my family to offer extra protection as we played the waiting game but I couldn't just let the fucker go or leave him there......... It was hard to say it, I'd sound like a dangerous killer.....i frowned in thought, I couldn't just leave him alive....

There had to be something else I could do... I'd figure something else....but first.... I barked again: "when is your boss planning to attack my home? Tomorrow right?"
No reply. The bastard was unconscious.


::::::::::::::::::::
Lagos,

S.s spent a few minutes downstairs d- with his family. His wife was in the kitchen with Dagnet, they were eating jam donuts. His little boy had had his fill and was in the corner lost in a super Mario computer game in one of the open assistan's office. It was Jimmoh's. He must have rushed off to the hospital after receiving the call and Short Sam watched his son staring intently at the screen, fingers tapping the keyboard game control buttons expertly.

That was how his journey into the hacking world also began. First love for computer games then the software that make the games, then software in general. . He shook his head. His son would do better than him, would be better. He couldn't see the other agent (Bigelow) but his wife seemed to be getting along well with Dagnet. Who was telling her some of her solved cases as a detective. He drank a cup of cold water and ate a donut before heading back upstairs. He was going to attempt to piggy back on the signal that had locked onto his home network earlier and try and trace it.

:::'
Meanwhile in the underground holding unit, Bigelow slapped the man Sparrow had knocked out. The man didn't wake, just made some noise and resigned unconscious. Whatever Sparrow had done had been very bad.

Bigelow was formerly with the counterterrorism division so he was a master interrogator. Which meant he was well versed on torture techniques even without tools.
Another slap....heavier than the last and the eyes blinked and fluttered open.

Bigelow was going to find out all about the henchmen and foot soldiers the hole had.

:::::::
In a self contain apartment in Apapa Lagos, a rather huge man walked around the unkempt apartment deep in thought. Every now and again he would stop and read a message on his phone.

you saw the news. Find a way to finish your job. Something controlled, no other casualties, very important. Go creative on this one big, I trust you. But do it fast.
.- fm

That was exactly the kind of attitude that had seen Sam emerge as a acting leader and personal boy to sir Holly.
He knew how to get the best out of his people. The chief had once been a threat to the position especially with his success and crazy money influx, from his various trafficking schemes.

But Amunike had become too careless...power drunk and he had been taken down while the first minister had cemented his status as the main man by keeping the hole away from the spotlight and even using his position as in law to the golden boy to campaign for the senatorial seat which he eventually won.

Right now the huge man who really had extra large feet glanced at his phone screen once more as he hit the center table.

Go creative on this one big!'

He was an artist, he took great care in his work. And he never missed. Even now, his initial target had been the reporter and he hadgotten her one time. It would have been a perfect two bird one stone scenario, or. In this case one bomb.....but the motherfucker had survived. Or according to the latest update was fighting for 'her' life.

Go creative on this one big!'

He stopped pacing, looking lost into space...lost in the world of explosives and chemical reactants. After a while he began to smile. He needed Something small and contained, to get only one person, in this case the survivor...the private investigator and no one else, that automatically ruled out a lot of explosives and planting/detonating techniques and meant it would probably not kill the person outright but inflict terminal injuries. Now he smiled.
He was creative enough, he would design a get well card which would really be a paper bomb. He would make sure it gets to the agents room himself.

The huge man who was around 6'5 stopped pacing restlessly. He began to hum, he was about to create something beautiful, something just like art, the type that could kill.

[b]:::::::::::[b]
The area was a nice spot for young boys going to school to pluck mangoes. The trees were many, towering over each other and providing shade with big fresh juicy looking fruits that always never seemed to go out of season.

The man standing in the center of the shade was definitely not interested in the fruits. He had both hands joined together and eyes closed. His lips moved though it seemed there was no sound. He was squatting but balanced on just one leg, the other was stretched out in front of him. It looked so tedious, even imagining it alone was tedious but the man seemed to be very relaxed. He was shirtless and there wasn't a single sweat on his back, as a gentle breeze swept the dried leaves on the floor. But the peculiar sight was the birds, just like the tattoo on his right arm, they all gathered, on both shoulders and on his outstretched leg. All the other birds remained in their nests in the tree, observing and probably tweeting about the spectacle below. They were not invited to the session. All the birds around the shirtless man was one specie; Sparrow.


::::::::::::::
Just like Rex had predicted, the first minister was pissed . But if wasn't even because of the hotel chase and him rushing like a criminal to the jet. No, it was the news that reached him about the killed operatives, in different operations and locations. He had shouted like a psycho, but he was thinking of the old man. Still old but very much aware of every single event, everything that happens reaches sir Holly's ears immediately.

He began to put the heat. He reached out to Bigfoot, contracted the eleven killer and called to confirm his wife's flight ticket was reserved. The hacker was still alive, that fact was annoying and instead the hit team was missing, the clean up cops had been murdered in the scene.

He couldn't stop his voice from rising, because the stress Rex Obasi, the rascal had put him through was still so frustrating.
In no vague or uncertain terms he told 3F stay the Bleep away from operations.

At which point she flared back (this was when Ada heard her shout)

Then why was the kidnapped girl brought to this her rent free house in the first place?
The first minister had apologized immediately. That guy had mastered a kind of chilling politeness that was scary.

He assured that he was going to reach out to Flacko, who was a liason and member of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria group as well as hole member. They were going to mobilize a bad strike team. It was unfortunate the shadow was dead, he was perfect in missions like this but they still had enough sheer manpower volume to raze BROTA to the ground. But first she needed to get rid of every evidence and vacate the surulere address where the girl was.

"Oh relax I already poisoned her and I'll have her buried soon.. If not for this call that took me outside. Flacko just got these guy's in electricity costumes in my place with the girl."

"did they touch her?"

"no... She said no"

"the electricity was the theme of the strike....but it didn't go according to plan. Before tomorrow we should get her brother. Then I think I can get sir H to approve the prison hit on Amunike. He has been a liability for too long....". The first minister never liked the chief and vice versa.

3f hurried inside, slamming the door and shouted for the useless jump suit kidnappers to come dig a grave, she planned to bury the girl...then that slight pulse she had felt on the girl's leg earlier would die a natural death.

"where are you guys? Hurry up load the truck and the jeep..." she snapped but then stopped, the room was half open and she could see a stretched leg on the floor.
She hurried to the room and pushed the door open, there lay the dead bodies of two of the stupid kidnappers.
The bed was empty.

Tbc, pardon any errors in this particular update.
Jah bless!

Dedication
HisGrace0000001 do4luv14 light4life Cerowo phoenixchap Kaycee9242 arrestdarrester Oroolorun Evold Princevirus mitchelljnr explosive04 Ann2012 dimssy Uthman51 Cylovee EVARISTOMONARCH HelenBee Solly1 Kimmiebabie Slimynonny paqman winie EbonyQueen001 MarianIsy (so sorry it'd coming do late but happy birthday and more blessings) Assurance1000 Chiprince007 xeenoblack15 Gracious Spyrodee mimilight princessadeola stevodot22 princessadeola stevodot22 queenitee charming MhisTahrah WAACUT rowdymind honourable356 silvertrinity



::::::::::::
Both kidnapper A and kidnapper B were now rolling on the floor, groaning. Ada lay still, crippled by indecision. There had been at least four men the night before, but ever since she had regained consciousness she had only seen these two. They had been the ones to carry her to the bed when 3f had ordered it, that had been the moment she knew they were going to kill her.

She hadn't really heard any other voice or had she? The house was silent, that is apart from the low groans emitting from the dying men on the floor. To think the pills were that deadly, to cripple two grown men who were quadruple her size. And the cold hearted bitch had fed it to her like baby food. Ada wondered if the cold hearted bitch was still in the apartment. Surely she would have heard the death cries of her minions. She would have come running to the room to see what was happening or at most she would have yelled as usual.

But nothing, Ada opened her eyes and rolled over to the edge of the bed, watching the half open door intently for any sign of movements. She looked at both men, they were definitely dead or quarter to the grave anyway. She thought they were dead but they still gave the occasional twitch.

A suitable weapon was the next thing on her mind and there it lay, where it had rolled, under the table when the leg of kidnapper B had knocked the empty bottle over. She grabbed it and didn't have any idea what to do with it. All her experiences with bottles had always been about tipping the contents into her mouth but now she was going to smack the anorexic bitch on the head with it if she had to. If she wanted to survive. And she wanted to survive, oh she wanted to survive badly for Bridge-the only guy she had ever really loved. Rex had been a brief infatuation, not love. The last trace of the teenager in her, swooning over a liar who she thought owned a fictional magazine and was the key to the actualization of her fashion career dreams.

But at 21 she was way more mature and above his bullshit.
And then she met Bridge.....

The first drop didn't threaten before rolling down her cheek. She grabbed the bottle from under the bare table, adjusting her gown as she straightened. She had to be strong, she had to keep her head straight. For Bridge. She owed it to him.
She didn't cry this time, thinking of his name, but she took a deep breath and began to move slowly to the open door.

Left leg, right leg, left leg, right leg, she followed the order, putting one foot before the other. The floor was cold and she was barefoot which meant she didn't make any shuffling noise but she moved painstakingly slow, it was silent, which was good but the floor was really cold.

The bottle held and pointed in front of her like a gun as she moved round the body of kidnapper A. Her hand was steady, not shaking like earlier. It felt like she was living a movie. Or that she was in a cinema (with Bridge) front row seats, munching on popcorn and watching herself in HD as she crept toward the door.
Suddenly a hand gripped her leg and she screamed, with her heart almost flying out her mouth in shocked fear. This was like a zombie scene, and it wasn't a movie, it was reality.

Kidnapper B was all but dead but still trying to drag himself up and he had managed to stretch his hand round her ankle. He was the same pervert who had been touching her earlier. The bastard was determined to die touching her legs.

By some kind of miracle, the bottle hadn't fallen to the floor when she jerked and screamed and as the dying kidnapper tried to grab her leg again, groaning and crawling on his belly, she brought the bottle down on his head, with a force she normally would be incapable of creating but which was in accordance with the high rate of her pulse at the moment.

Smaaaaaaaash!

The head which had been partially raised and drooling disgustingly, literally fell to the floor from the smashing impact. This time there was no more occasional twitch.
That had been the nail in the coffin. She opened her eyes; she had shut it reflexively and pieces of glass had been shattered around, but the main shard was lodged in the deep bloodied cut on the kidnapper's head. It was a horrible sight. She looked away quickly and glanced at what had become of her bottled weapon. Mostly just the handle was left but there was a shard with a sharp end attached to it.

The head smash could not have been more fierce and it was definitely the impact that had snuffed out the dying embers of life the kidnapper had been fanning and clinging to.

Suddenly, blood flashed through her mind as the thick blood formed a pool around the body. Realizing what it meant felt just like she had used the same glass to slit the throat of the 3f woman, coupled with the brief second flash of the kidnapper's head wound. She shuddered at the crimson scenes in her mind and the bottle remnant fell from her hand. She had goosebumps all over her body and she rubbed her arms as a chill swept through her.

She was certain there was no other person in the house, not with the kind of noise plus her earlier screaming.

Maybe if she had been thinking of something else it wouldn't have happened but just as the thought of being alone crossed her mind, she heard a noise that had to be from outside and the definite sound of the main door (probably the parlour) opening and closing.

Someone had just entered the house.

::::::::::::::::
Bami spent some seconds staring at the car park, precisely at the red venza which already seemed to have accumulated dust in just less than 48 hours where it was parked. His wife's car, an item seized from the bastard lawyer who had been flirting with her. Every time Bami thought about the car, he thought about the lawyer exco man of the widows initiative, and he got angry, very angry. Good thing the bastard was rotting in prison.

Right now he couldn't reminisce or even miss his wife, a young girl was counting on him. He hoped to God that she was still alive and that the address Ss had given him was correct. He hurried to the gate house after beeping his car open with the remote control.
"Hey I'm driving out. Don't let anybody in...nobody at all!" He was about to rush back out when he thought of Sparrow.

"Cornelius remember the man that broke in that time?"

"Yes sir" the young man manning the computer replied miserably. How could he forget the berating he had gotten because of the man. How on earth he had broken in was a mystery and would remain a mystery for eternity.

His boss was still talking, "silver hair...or grey....grey hair and he has a tattoo of a bird on his right arm..."

"yes sir I remember." The security operative reaffirmed.

"he may come by, let him in...only him if he comes if not use the microphone to announce that I'm on my way and he should hold on. He'd understand it's for security reasons."

Bami turned and rushed out of the security house but Cornelius called out; "sir is he driving?"

If he was driving then the second guard, the one armed to the teeth like a soldier in call of duty would have to go out and inspect the car, for explosives mainly, unless the camera would be able to zoom in on the face which would be unlikely.

Bami poked his head back into the room and blinked.,"eerrm I don't know if he's driving...just announce with the microphone that the driver step out for identification. It's very important that you not let any other person in and none of you step out."

With that he rushed off to his car and as he reversed and turned around, the gate slid open. There was no one on the other side. The camera hadn't even picked up any movement. They had one more camera further ahead, which offered partial view of the main road but apart from the blur of speeding vehicles there was nothing headed their way- yet.

Bami drove out and watched the gate slide shut in his rear view mirror. He quickly tried his phone, and gratefully Sparrow picked.

They were becoming to reliant on the guy, but who cares? The guy was damn good and they needed him.

"what's going on?" sparrow asked. He sounded like he was jogging or at least walking really fast.

"we have a lead on the girl. Where are you? Did you dispose the bodies? Can we meet up?"

When Sparrow replied, his voice wasn't so soft anymore, it sounded a bit jagged."too many questions you ask Mr Bamidele...my soul is weakened at this moment and I am not at my peak, I need to recharge my batteries...meditate, connect with the wind my element." plus the shot of alcohol with the school gatemman earlier hadn't helped either. Or it had helped in a healthy way, it was roots and herbs after all. But still, alcohol weakened the qi,which was in essence, life's essence.

Bami would have thought Sparrow was as crazy as he sounded if he hadn't himself seen massive results of the 'craziness'

"How did you know my full name?" he asked, easing up on the accelerator a bit as he watched the speedometer needle danced close to the 100 mark. .
But the call had already been disconnected.

Bami fumed;
Sparrow had been troubled in spirit earlier because of the people he had killed or "the blood he had shed" as he would have so eloquently put it.
The bottom line was, Bami was alone.

That had never been a problem.

He controlled the steering with one hand and opened the arm rest with the other. It contained a semi automatic pistol with two magazines. He hoped the kidnappers liked to read.

He smiled at his own wit as he expertly inserted one of the cartridges into the gun. It wasn't until 12 minutes later when he came across a red light and had to slow down completely that he pulled back the top of the gun, loading it and chambering a round. Ten bullets ready to be fired in quick succession.

His one wish was to beat the rush hour traffic and he hoped fervently that the road would be clear.

Maybe the day was world anti-wish day, because just as with Ada earlier, the moment the thought of traffic crossed his mind, he came across a complete stand still. It was that bad that car ignitions were turned off to save fuel and sum drivers were taking a nap. He lowered his widow, making sure to hide the gun discreetly in his lap. There was a gala seller moving through the maze of cars and the scene reminded him of a stunt he had once pulled on Rex Obasi with a gala seller two years ago.

He asked the seller, "what is causing this traffic?"

"Na tanker, the two tires burst and e dey carry fuel. E block the whole road. Na only Okada fit pass and when them reach there they carry the machine over the corvette and follow one way if not them no go pass"

"Shit!" Bami tried to reverse but he was boxed in now. A Danfo bus had already killed its engine behind him and some passengers were coming down, probably preferring to walk, and asking for a refund from the conductor who was arguing with them.

He watched them through the rear view as he dug into the arm rest again and removed the second clip. He stuffed it in his pocket and thanked his informant (who had been hoping to make a sale) before rolling up the glass. Next he opened his pigeon hole and retrieved a gun extension, a silencer. He hardly used it but now he was glad he remembered it.

His fingers danced in the air as he gazed round the car. He was a little bit nervous. Despite the fact that he had done this a lot of times. Finally he dug under the passenger seat and pulled out a used chicken republic plastic bag.

He had been in a neat location he couldn't throw out the nylon on the road, unless different civil servants spring out of thin air and arrest him for polluting the environment. He remembered Tonye had been driving but he couldn't remember where they had been going. But he knew he had been hungry and as he dug into the snacks, he pushed the nylon under the seat. Somehow it had remained there, even when he washed the car (more like wiped it with a wet rag) on weekends.

He stuffed the gun into it, it didn't really do much to conceal the shape because he had to wrap the polythene around it or carry it by the handle. Finally he switched on the gun safety then gripped the gun with his finger on the trigger, wrapped the nylon round the weapon as much as he could and opened the car. He had no choice, he would have to leave it there.

There was a kind of panicky feeling amongst the people because the tanker was apparently loaded with fuel which was why most people had decided wherever they were going could wait. They weren't ready to come and die because they were going back home, or going to the mall or going to see a lover or friend.As a result there were quite a few empty vehicles and roaming bikes and Bami hailed one and gave him the address. Unbuttoning the middle button of his shirt so he could slide and hide the gun in his right hand in, but then he thought; To hell with it!

"Oga I no go fit reach inside that street na only keke them dey allow but I go pay am for seven hundred naira." the bike man announced.

Without a word Bami hopped on the bike and they sped off.

HisGrace0000001:
Souloho19 is viewing.
Anything for us bro?

Evening bro, the update has even been ready for days but my phone suddenly decided to antagonize me by acting up. In a matter of minutes bro the update would drop.

Solly1:
Oga souloho19 abeg I don tarry wait for update till this hour.

Please be kind to mention me when the next update drops, I'll be honored... Thanks in Addy.

j


I'll definitely do that bro. I just can't post the update now. It has so much error I'll miss and it can be confusing. I'll mention you when it drops, I'm honoured you stayed awake cos of it. Jah bless

Thanks for your comments fam, about to pick the pen now so tune in by morning the update should have dropped then.
Kimmiebabie I see you viewing, it's a pleasant surprise your family name is Obasi.
I think I speak for everyone here when I say we've come to love that family.
Slimynonny thanks for the kind words boss!

arrestdarrester:


Souloho you're welcome to take up the offer.

As for the challenge, it has to do with closing a good story. How do you close a very good story like this?

Different readers have fallen in love with different characters here and to them a happy ending would only mean the survival of their fond character.

I hope at this point you're not asking yourself the same question I'm asking myself, which is: how will this all end?

I really hope you have 'the end' scripted in your heart.

Well-done Soul, well-done.

Thank you sir, I will shoot you a mail very soon.

As for the challenge, it came to me like an epiphany some time late last year. And I knew that no matter how the story twists or get out of hand it's going to end in that scenario.
A little spoiler, Mynet11 may just become a little despised on this thread cos of the assassin I fashioned after him.

dimssy:
Souloho19, I am here waiting patiently oo

Welcome bro.. Let me just leave this one here too...




::::::::::::::
For sparrow,
Finding a spot to dispose the bodies proved to be a challenge at first. He drove round the city in frustration. There was always that one person too close, or too bored or too nosy. Selling tomatoes and cranking their neck, or a group of old men under a tree playing checkers and studying him as if a cheat move to get kinged was on his face. Then the hungry loafers, roaming around like data, looking for something mega tobyte Some times they were two and most times more. Lagos was indeed overpopulated.
Finally, after driving for 40 minutes, he came across what looked like an abandoned government school. A two minute observation of the school building plus a keen sense of smell gave him the perfect idea to gain entrance to the building. The 'baba' who lived in the school premises and was the gate man slash security man sold alcohol, soaked in herb roots.
Monkey tail, Jedi, washing and setting.... Sparrow was well cognizant with the various street lingo of the drink and was able to flow with the man. He bought a huge bottle and engaged the man from the van. He asked if there was any dumping site around, that he had garbage bags in the back of the van. The man had given him directions to the back of the school.

"Against the fence you go see am. Na the students start am o, from their classes them go dey throw paper, nylon even condom....Hahahaha." The few teeth still standing were terribly and irredemably stained with nicotine.

Sparrow played along, and when he drove round the school fence to the back he was irritated with the amount of filth. Schools were on holidays so where did all the dirt come from. Plus the man had made it sound like it was just papers and leaves, items that burned quickly but Sparrow could make out some kitchen refuse in the dump also.

It was true one had to meddle in filth once in a while but not this time for him.

He parked the van as close to the dump as possible then he went to the back and poured the small petrol in the Jerrycan round the van, mostly drenching the three bodies piled on top of each other.

He hoped no one would come to dispose trash in the next few minutes and move close to the van. The sun was blasting full gear and he spent seconds with the side mirror, twisting and turning until he was sending the reflected beam into the van, directly on the fuel soaked bodies.
It would take a couple of minutes, he would share a shot of the potent drink and be on his way to brota before the van would burst into flames from within and in a matter of seconds the fuel tank would explode.

:::::::::::::::::
After the call she looked at her father and watched each slow agonizing breath. The short conversation began to replay in her head and before long she had made a fist.
"I'll be right back dad." she leaned in and kissed his forehead. He didn't even twitch.
She saw a nurse on the way and asked about Betran. How's my father doing?"
"oh he's doing great, I'm sure by tomorrow we will discharge him."
"okay thanks."

But what was the need? He'd be here again in a week.

They went their separate ways and she headed for the very first floor. She made a turn and navigated through corridor turnings till she was at the door that had the sign; test, blood pressure, sugar level, diagnosis test.

She didn't bother to knock. She barged in the office and there were two young interns; the guy was going through a long list of what looked like whatever... while the the girl was peering into the microscope.
She looked up immediately. "sist-" she glanced at her new colleague who was busy checking out the new arrival.

"Christie where's the doctor?"
The male student replied, "oh he just stepped out, he didn't tell us where he was-"

"hey thanks but I'm having a private conversation if you don't mind!" she had meant to say it mild but firm and it sounded like that, except for the mild part.
"he would be back in like an hour time."Christie said hurriedly.
She - Beatrice looked frustrated and turned and left the lab.

Her sister followed her immediately. And once in the hallway she explained
"he went to their usual Thursday morning meetings in the auditorium with other doctors."
" grrrr....that's like one hour!" she pulled at her hair, which without the weavon or wig couldn't grip. "who's the dweeb in there?" she jerked her thumb towards the closed door.
"oh he joined about a week ago. Project research stuff..." Christie waved it off. "The explosion from this morning has been all over the news, they won't release the second identity and they maintain it's a female but there's been whispers that it was a male caught in the blast....a brota operative...Andy to be precise.. "

"how the Bleep is that my concern?"
Beatrice said. But her voice shook a bit
Her sister stared at her with narrowed eyes.

"I didn't have anything to do with it, the guy's existence and demise have no interest in me. And even the reporter lady for that matter....you know what? Bleep you! How dare you accuse me like that!" her voice began to rise a bit.

"I didn't say anything like that sister...come on you're my sister..." Christie the med student who had kicked Andy's ass 2 weeks ago assured her.

Beatrice calmed down a bit.

"how's uncle?" Christie asked

"he's just there you should visit him."

"okay, has he done his-"

"look look look....Ayara called me earlier, there's no time for chit chat. The moment the doctor returns, call me."

"okay I would do that." she said but as her sister turned she held her shoulder.

"I may be transferred out of the hospital."

"ridiculous....you have like 4 months left to complete your course! Where to?"

"I don't know maybe badagry. Apparently my fight with the agent caused some serious monetary damage."

"so is he going to go unpunished while you suffer for it?" She fired, her voice rising again. Anything affiliated with rex and his group, brota or broka whatever.....she always took it up with heat.

"No....the lab mailed them the bill, and most of it and it was quite hefty. meanwhile I'll finish my program in the badagry general hospital and return to school for defense and final exams."

"wait wait do you hear that?"

As they spoke voices grew closer. Then the source came into view as they rounded the stairs. it was doctor Rasheed or Rilwan as he was known in this hospital, arguing with a colleague if his;
"I'm telling you those tests showed some irregularities. Left to me they should hold her off for a week first, study her and place her on some balanced diet. All her food should be blended together, spinach, kidney, goat liver, banana, egg yolk, maybe some red beef-"

"thank goodness it's not left to you" the second doctor said lightly but with an underlying seriousness.

"hey! (Dr Rasheed seemed to take professional offense)"if you don't know, the prognosis I adviced are serious drugs that would aid his body plus the special diet which is just like recreating blood cells and it also increases hemoglobin. I'd expect you of all people to know the dangers of putting someone on the surgical table with that kind of-

The doctors fell quiet as they approached the entrance of the lab. Where the two ladies stood watching them.

"hey... Christie what's going on...are you done with the recordings?" Carmichael, aka Dr Rasheed, aka Dr rilwan asked and totally ignored Beatrice, focused only on his assistant


The very first time she brought her father in for dialysis and they talked in the lobby about the man they both loved and respected and the weight of never delivering me X's dying wish of the red letters balanced heavily on his shoulders, the way it was on the doctor's too.

The second doctor was was busy checking out Beatrice. "Dr introduce me to your friend na." he urged.

Dr Rasheed got rid of his friend finally after fake assurances that Beatrice would call him.

"Have you seen Rex recently?" Beatrice asked. The doctor looked about to insult her and chase her off but she hurriedly added: Sparrow called me just now...concerning the X project"

"no I haven't seen Rex since then he was attacked by the chief's goons and and landed in the hospital."

"we need the key sir.."

"don't I know it... I knew I should have just seperated the bunch!"

The key in question had been snatched from Rex by one of the Chef's retribution team who had been sent to teach him and bami a lesson for disturbing his meal. The mercenaries had never even given Rex or Bami the chance to have any remembrance. With their Precise and effective knockout strikes.
The only memory was the bunch of keys-They were gone.

"That key opens everything Mr X ever owned..call Rex to find out if he's with it" the doctor said

"is that where the...."

"everything."

Wow....but still over her dead body before she calls the lizard.



::::::::::::::::::::
Concentrate. Try and remember her ss2 excursion from the visit to the national museum. Ss3 and assistant senior prefect boys Jeptha had sat beside her during the bus ride but he was copping a major feel, or 'rapping current' as they used to call it. his hand sliding up her thigh while she enjoyed the bumpy bus ride.

she couldn't cause comparisons now but she focused on that memory while The creep had rubbed(probably having some sexual fetish with laps) her thighs till they were sore. Then just when his finger circled her inner thigh and she knew she couldn't take it anymore, she would rather truly be dead than allow him do that to her.

3f had shouted from the parlour or wherever she was. She must have been on the phone and the necrophiliac hurried off to see what was wrong. (Well Ada wasn't really dead but he thought she was and his intentions were clear.)

She had approximately 2 seconds to adjust her oxygen tank before footsteps got closer again. This time it was another one of the earlier kidnappers. He was still in the odd looking jumpsuit and had a half open bottle of JD and an ounce in a small glass cup which he sipped from as he observed her.

She stayed still...not even breathing as the man came closer. He looked around, clearly surprised and wondering where everybody was.

"Saanu?" He called out and drained the quarter liquor in his cup and placed it on the bare table he topped off his glass and just in time as 3f shouted something. She sure sounded pissed.

In a haste the tipsy kidnapper hurried off, drinking from his glass cup but leaving the bottle on the table.

I'm sure there's a quote that says 'A woman's boson is full of mysteries and if not let it be on record, Rex Obasi said so.

In a second, two pills appeared like a mystery and were popped into the bottle of hard liquor, watching the doorway intently and listening for footsteps and at the same time shaking the bottle vigorously to fully mix the contents with her palm acting as the cover. Then while it bobbled down she took up her position once more on the bed. Dead..

The first man reentered. Soon after the second guy who had hung around appeared also
.
"wetting dey do am, why she dey shout like that?"

"aaaaah na today? E be like dem kill some guys..I no really....wait who bring alcohol?"

"I think say na just we go dey I no know say madam Dracula go show up"

"no worry she go soon commot she dey go airport meet whoever I no catch the rest." his eyes didn't leave the body on the bed for one second even when he grabbed the whiskey botte and gozzled its contents.

"hey small small don't go and vomit o!" the first kidnapper warned, he collected the liquor bottle, a bit alarmed at the stage his colleague had reduced it. He raised the bottle to his lips and gulped the rest. They were both thinking one thing and they needed to be very drunk for it.

"you watch out for 3f and give a signal." the first said finally

"look man I don't know, it's too creepy..."

"eeeh no body is forcing you"

"why not just wait till she goes, you yourself said she's leaving soon." the thug with the bottle suggested. His companion nodded and he took to gazing at the hot body in the shot dress on the table while his friend sucked and drained every ounce of alcohol from the bottle.

"why the Bleep didn't we do this when she was alive?" he asked, shaking his head.

"because of 3f dumbass...you know what they'll do to us if she told..,anyway it's just a matter of time..the body is still very fresh at this stage. It will almost be the same you know I studied..".

The second, interrupted him irritable, "biology and you didn't read it as
in you wrote it in jamb"

"and passed. 244" he chipped in.


Ada had since discreetly gasped for air while they tassled between themselves. After a while she began to wonder if the pills were estrogen.

Finally both men fell silent, waiting for their boss to leave and call them with directions to dispose the body. They didn't know they were also waiting to die. Amy minute from now and their nervous system would be failing.

"who poisoned her?" one of the men asked

"who else" was the reply.

"what did they give her?"

"beats me."

Ada would also have loved to know. But she didn't. No one except 3f knew what the pills were.
But would start manifesting in the boys soon enough.


what they didn't know was that it was a deadly narcotic called tetrodotoxin found in the organs of the famous Japanese puffer fish. And just like Mario Icardi with a brace, paralysis would strike both goons in seconds, the first stage of a slow agonizing death.



Ada listened intently but apart from the low frequent groaning of the men on the floor, she couldn't hear the woman's agitated voice again. Maybe she had left already. And maybe Ada could too. Could she just stroll out of the house?


::::::::::::::::
Benue safe house

"gurgrlrgurglgurglrgurglrgurhltgurhl....

OK I'll tell you everything..."he coughed like his lung was gonna fly out but his head was held back in place so he continued gargling and sounding like he was choking on it.

" my name...my mother is a Muslim from Kwara and also yoruba while my father is from Enugu...."

I shut him up again by pouring more water over his toweled face. The filthy towel.

When I took a break, from gushing the water over his face. he had fast-forward his biographical gibberish, finally agreeing he would not be driving to Abuja
"It's Lagos.... He said when I arrive he'd give me the locations we'll be going." he coughed some more.

" Where do you people lodge?"

" oh....erm I don't know it's never in the same place and his assistant usually takes care of it."

I knew he was lying because of the pause at the beginning of his sentence."But how would you rate the service of the hotel?"
Tonye looked at me in suprise and I held a finger up. There was a slight hesitation from the drenched driver and I believed my earlier ascertion They never lodged, the first minister was surely an A list guest material and had some wealthy friend maybe hole member he stayed with.

The driver on the other hand thought really slow, well in his defense he wasn't on his feet: "oh the hotel is good, good service you'll really enjoy it."

We didn't even bother to ask him the name of the hotel.


:::::::::::
In Brota, the magician without a wand, performed his magic in silence. S.s was dangerous in the confines of his home, eating chips and sipping boost but under pressure, with the dying need to go see his family downstairs, he was unstoppable. He was able to uncover the real plate number and with a host of software which allowed him to bypass firewalls although he laughed, there was nothing fiery about these walls, saying the security was really lax.
Few minutes further and he had a registered dry cleaning organisations which the van was registered to. He placed the microscope under the company and got an address. He was about to turn in the address and rush down to his family but he stopped. This address was too close to the highway. It didn't seem like a smart kidnapping option. A part of him still wanted to let it go but he settled into his chair fully and furthered his search. The spotless drycleaning service was under a chain of companies mostly known as 'spotless jewelries.'

A jewelry dealer. A further dig revealed the ugly and hard looking face of a thin mean lady.

"hey come check out this woman" he called out. "She has three houses listed but only one in Lagos and it's on banana island.."

"ouch...not likely the location..."

"yes but see this... She put up an
apartment for rent in surulere...it's listed as occupied but it's possible she's the one"

"what's her name again?" Bami asked scratching his head.

"Fumilayo Florence Flacko.."

"holy shit.... I know that name somewhere....i think in the red letters"

"I'll alert everyone." Ss said.

"no no no....we need all the agents to be focused... I'll sneak out myself and handle it... Just print out the address for me. Sparrow is out maybe I'll meet up wight him. Bigelow keep this place in lock down, you're in charge now"
.
.
.
.
.
.

Have to hang the pen for now

TbC

Aphroditee EVARISTOMONARCH rowdymind Jenkvnq benicta ladidacanon stevodot22 Tania a explosive04 MarianIsy Elfaris Paulo girlie Kaycee9242 MhisTahrah Evold uweminyang princessadeolaeola mitchelljnr vakjay08 Eberechi24 Oroolorun Destiny4fame ifemism02 Cerowo LightQueen EbonyQueen001 Chiprince007 Ann2012 Akinz75 Princevirus EkopsparoAyara KpagoGIN Oluwaseunliz do4luv14 Joislim queenitee xeenoblack15 phoenixchap charming helenbee silvertrinity..


::::::::::
Finally Bami was able to get short Sam to look at the video tape. The hacker was in a haste to go downstairs and be with his family but the tape was important as well. A girl had been kidnapped, anything could be happening to her. So short Sam synced the video to his laptop and ran it across several softwares while Bami and Bigelow breathed down his neck.

"okay I got a clearer plate number but it's obvious this was digitally altered and artificially darkened which would explain why the reflection from the dim lamp only highlights the last three digits on the plate."

Bami squinted at the screen as S.s moved the cursor and brightened the rest of the plate number.. He gasped when the number became clear; 13-brota

"we don't have any vehicle plates like that!" he shouted

"of course not." Short Sam said impatiently. "this was altered graphically as a frame up. Very poor photoshop if I may add.

"that makes sense." Bami remembered the bloody BROTA card that had been planted in the scene.
"but can you move around it, get the original plate number?"

"do I look like a magician?"

"oooh..."

S.s shook his head. Rex would have gotten the joke, no matter how ill timed. "it's going to take a while but I'm on it... How is my wife and son?"

"they're doing great....please I need a location quick, this girl's life may be hanging in the balance and every second counts.."

"once I get something concrete you'll be the first to know." with that S.s shut off and became immersed in the world of 0 and 1's.

Bigelow and Bami looked at each other.
"So what now? We wait for an attack?" Ryan Bigelow asked.

Bami looked at him and shrugged. After a while he said "yes"


::::::::::::::::
His driving license identified him as Agboola Chigozirim Suleman. I studied the names wondering how on earth he came to bear them. Meanwhile he was talking nonstop, shooting denials like a machine gun, claiming innocence. Tripple entendre intended.

I studied the scene as I frowned. Tonye was standing over him, 6 inch heels digging into his chest as she pushed the chair father back with her foot. The chair was dangling on its back legs and any minute it would be going down. Still the driver whom my in-law had referred to only as Junior remained adamant he was innocent of any wrong doing.

"I've told you I don't know anything....I'm just the driver he never even takes a call in my presence"

"what is your real name?" I asked him suddenly.

"huhn...?" he looked at me in shock and the little jerk was all it took. The chair went crashing down with him still strapped to it. He hit his head rather loudly and howled in pain.

"What are you people doing? AAAAARRRRGGGHHH!"

Tonye looked at me. This scene was like a dejavu. Suddenly I was back in time 2 years ago, standing beside Tonye and over another person strapped to a chair. This time it was Mr. Bright, lawyer and exco of the widow's initiative.

Tonye must have also hopped on the time travel train because she smiled at me. "Waterboard?"

I was already nodding. "damn right there's even a hose."

The driver was still writhing in pain and rolling on the broken chair probably getting poked in places I didn't care to know.

"you people can't do this! Its against the law. What kind of police men are you?"

"Ooooo...but we're not policemen, and you'll soon realize we don't care much about the law." I crossed over his body to the bathroom (the apartment was that tiny)

The hose was on the floor. I switched on the tap first to test the pressure. It was good.

There was no thick towel however but a balled up towel on the toilet floor which had been converted to a rag and had no doubt wiped off terrible stains, including blood.
Perfect.


::::::::::
In kirikiri maximum prison, a distraught Amunike paced round his comfortable villa over and over again. Making call after call. Calling in favours and begging for favours. But everyone he called feigned ignorance. His closest ally in the hole had been the counselor Mark and he normally took care of issues with just a phone call. Of course the strange eyed Bleep had been the pawn then. But now the counselor was dead. Killed by an army ranger who had performed the impossible task of taking down every agent on site and disabling the building before the shadow had finally done his fucking job and killed him.

Whenever the chief was upset, his vocabulary contained mostly expletives. And now he was more than upset. The only ray of sunshine in his otherwise dark life had been taken from him. For a minute he let himself think of Mr X or Donald as he had been called when they were best friends.

Was this how his old friend felt when he lost his daughters? The two of them, while he-Amunike watched the house burn just like he had watched their father 30 years ago.

The memory gave him a strange chill and he quickly shut it off, focusing on the sound of the phone ringing on the other end.

The retired General had made tens of millions once through Amunike. And all he had to do was provide information of possible black market arms dealers. He was also a member of the hole. But it's not like the members of the hole met for tea or anything like that. They didn't even have meetings. They knew they had formed a cult 45years ago and that was the core of everything else. And just like in every organization there was still a core of members in the hole. All important but some really just to fill up the numbers. Then the main ones who had seen it all from the beginning. The chief was never honest with himself so he believed he fell into the latter category. The rtd Gen on the other hand was certified core.

The last time the members of the hole had been in one location had been about 8 years ago during Sir Holly's 80th birthday. Even then, a handful of members had been absent due to the unavoidable demands of their all too important jobs. But then again they made up for it with the crazy gifts.

Finally the ringing stopped and a gruff voice came over the line.

"who?"

"Hello Olith, it's me Tim."

"who?"

"Amunike"

"Oh"

A short silence followed till it became clear that was the only reaction he was getting.

"how's the family, so sorry to hear about the wife. I was not-"

"what do you want?" The Gen sounded sick of him already and they hadn't even talked up to a minute and last spoke half a decade ago.

"My daughter. She was kidnapped last night, it's the hole. The old senile bastard is behind this. Please you have to help me, she's all I got."

There was no reply then he heard the dial tone.

"son of a b*tch!" he shouted and flung his phone on the wall.

::::::::::::::::::
Obasi residence.

Totally unaware of the worried tension in the house, the children played round the compound while the adults, more aware of the tension in the air but still unaware of the real danger about to literally get 20k feet in the air.

The Obasi compound was 50 shades of Grey and Olivia found herself in the darkest nuance, despite the sweet ringing of the children's laughter and her in-laws even taking turns to sit with her while she slept. But she was awake now and she needed her husband. She wanted to see his face, hear his voice and hear him assure her everything will be okay, she wanted to be held badly. But Rex was nowhere to be found so the best she could do was prop the pillows against her back in a semi sitting position and laugh at whatever stunt the twins were pulling. Emma seemed to have put her kidnapping ordeal behind her. Her daughter was playing with her cousin Soma, both girls laughing and plating the hair on their dolls. After which they would proceed to 'back' the babies with their grandmother's wrapper. Rex's eldest sister Cynthia was in the room with her, also focused on the spectacle the children put up. They had never really clicked; she and Cynthia, atleast not the way Olivia had clicked with Utebo.

Cynthia gave out this polite aloofness. Maybe it was the common thing with first borns; required to grow out of their snuggling and cuddling phase faster, 'grow up,' earlier than usual because of the arrival of a sibling. And in this case, with Alli no joy hunting for a boy but potting double X frequently. The result was a 13 year gap between Cynthia and Rex.

"that reminds me, I've ordered for another wheelchair in the meantime." Cynthia said, glancing up from the kids to look at her.

"Oh..." The hospital had given her a wheelchair when they left the night before. But the feeling of using a wheelchair was so depressingly familiar that she was determined to use clutches to move around instead.

But her sister in law was in mid sentence; "....control on the arm rest. Both arm rests, you can move and brake and rotate the seat 360."

"wow! If only there was reverse we'd be thinking of brake lights " .." Olivia said playfully, a feeble attempt to break the ice which her sister in law was to cold shouldered to notice.

"it's not needed, you just rotate to whatever direction and speed off. You'll love it. It's going to be here tomorrow."

"oh....thank you God bless you." she said. It felt like they were talking about a toy, a remote controlled toy gift. Not something she was meant to be confined in for a while.

She made up her mind then and there she was going to order her own clutches and slowly walk her way back to her feet.

Cynthia was focused on the children once again and Olivia's mind began to drift; Where exactly was her husband? What was he doing? What was he up to? What was happening?

The questions were like a pillow, smothering her and when she couldn't take it any longer, she gasped, "where is Rex?"

"I think he's running an errand or something." Cynthia replied absent-mindedly.

"oh...please can you call him so I'll speak with him." The last time she had called him on the phone, her hands had been bloodied, her daughter was stolen and she was gasping into the receiver incoherently before the pain of the blown out kneecaps had knocked her unconscious.

Cynthia looked at her and nodded graciously. "of course."

:::
Out in the parlour, Alli tried to assure his wife that everything was fine.
Rex?
Errrm...Rex had quickly gone to use the atm.
Tonye?
Oh, she had followed him
The other two agents?
The reply was the sound of a car engine going off and the short blast of the horn.

"I'm sure that's them. You know they lodged somewhere else last night. You can't expect everyone to stay in the house Martha, it's not big enough and we're not having a camp here."

His wife nodded, her curiosity chastised for the moment as Utebo and her husband came out from the room.

"someone's out there?" Paul said, an unnecessary question.

"I'm sure it's Rex." Alli said standing up, but he was thinking. He had just chatted with Rex not too long ago.

Uh-oh.

He walked nonchalantly to the door, he could feel his wife's eyes boring into his back. She knew something was wrong, that woman. You couldn't hide anything from her.

Paul followed him out the compound. Rex's earlier speech of protecting the family was still playing in his head even though he didn't know what they were protecting the family from.

Alli had a pretty good idea although he still wasn't thinking dangerously enough. Come on, the so called first minister had been in his family, at events and family gatherings for about 18 years. He was his son in law, he had given his daughter to the man, he was family. You don't plot any attack against the family.
But still Alli no Joy had seen the worst side of humanity and mankind's appetite and capacity for evil. He had learned never to think everyone had principles like him and was honourable at least to an extent. So he closed his fist round his switch blade which he carried around mainly for the wine opener.

"who's there?" He bellowed.

"sir it's Clyde and Kirsten."

"your son sent us sir"

He opened the gate and the duo entered.

Clyde handed a small box to Utebo's husband. "Rex said to give this to you sir"

Paul took the box, felt for the weight and smiled. From the feel he knew what it was already; a loaded gun probably a sig sauer with an extra cartridge.

"That's it sir...he says he'll be here shortly"

"where are you going?" Paul asked as they made to leave.

"oh we'd be outside sir, keeping watch in strategic positions." Clyde assured him.

Kirsten looked longingly into the compound as the gate slid shut. She was not a field agent like Clyde. She was an assistant.

arrestdarrester:


I'm happy someone who read at full stretch says this about Souloho.

You're good men, you're damn good.

You face one major challenge however...

Pls I have one request for you, concerning an offer you made during delayed Diagnosis. Can I send a pm?
Concerning the bolded sir, pls I'd like you to tell me

phoenixchap:
He's fine. He's consulting with the gods before update drop. A little patience and it will be a good one

Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you lol.

benicta:
@souloho19, where've you been? I hope you're fine.

I'm fine thanks for askinh

explosive04:
after many months of absence because I lost my mum.. am now back and better.. @Souloho19,, I will say you always amaze me and you are just the best...

So sorry to hear this bro but glad you're better, may she continue to rest in peace. And remain blessed man.

uweminyang:
Good morning mr. soul, I don't think it will speak good of me if I fail to comment on the good work you are doing on this platform. I started reading this story last week, and I must confess you are one of the most endowed and seasoned writer this generation has gotten. I'm short of words to eulogise you. Well done brother.

Wow! Thank you brother, Jah bless

Continuation......




:::::::::
The huge glass doors were sealed and Short Sam took his wife and little boy, showing them round. He was well familiar with the building since he had actually turned down one of the offices, preferring to work from home.

Dagnet and Bigelow hung back in the reception with Bami.
"Where's Sparrow?" Bami asked

"He went to dispose the bodies." Bigelow said

"where? How will he do that?"

"he mentioned something about incinerating.." Dagnet said with a shrug.

"what have you been up to?" Bigelow asked him.

"oh it's the kidnapping case of the chief's daughter. Let me show you what I got in my office." Bigelow followed him but Dagnet remained in the reception.


After the downstairs tour, Ss returned to the reception with his family.

"where are they?" he asked Dagnet

"They're upstairs, Bami says you should come check out something."

He looked hesitantly at his wife and she nodded vigorously, "it's okay...I'm sorry for my earlier reaction..i was just really stressed." She said hurriedly, stretching each syllable for the sake of the little boy in their middle.

"Did your dad show you the kitchen?" Dagnet asked the little boy with inquisitive eyes.

He nodded.

"And you didn't take any snack, oya come. With me. Mummy you too, let's go for some cake and tea."


S.s watched them go before he hurried up the stairs, laptop bag in his hand.
He found Bami's office immediately. Two pairs of eyes were peering into the monitor, squinting intently at the low quality video.

Short Sam took the empty seat immediately and powered up his laptop.

"Sammy can you do anything about a poorly lit video?" Bami asked

He scratched his head. "I have some programs, why?"

"there's a very important video here but it's too dark, come and see.."

"hey man calm down, first things first if you're going to keep my family here, how secure is this place?"

"very, the gate is bullet proof with high voltage wires running across the fence, then the alarm system is..."

"hold up..I saw the key pad on the outside of the gate, I'm disabling it."

"Woa, can you do that?" Bigelow asked surprised

S.s looked at him with dry eyes as if to say really?

"oh...oh...well, good idea" Bami said.

"Then you can show me the video you're talking about..but in the mean time, what's the plan, how do we nullify this threat?"
short Sam was definitely in hyper mode. He rubbed his hands impatiently looking at them.

Bami looked at him, about to say something but he could see it clearly;

Bami: calm down man...
Ss: (barks) don't tell me to calm down my family is in danger!

With this dejavu-like foresight playing in Bami's head, he kept quiet and the question hung in the air till Bigelow spoke up.
"we have one of them in custody."

Sparrow had knocked out the driver and stuffed him into his booth.

"okay...." S.s was satisfied with the reply. He hit buttons rapidly with familiarity and a window popped up, divided with different camera views of downstairs, the compound and the camera at the main gate, showing the reassuringly empty driveway. "Good...I'm in....the keypad outside the gate is now deactivated."

"So no one from outside can open it even if they know the code?"

"exactly!"

Ss really wasn't taking any chances.


:::::::::::
Benue- Safe house


The addres turned out to be around the downtown location, which was quite a swampy area. But it was in a very secluded neighbourhood. I saw the key in the flower pot and messaged my dad. When I got his reply, I opened the door and the driver stumbled in, courtesy of a push from Tonye.

I stopped and turned to Clyde and Kirsten.

"Please my dad and Paul can use back-up, anything can happen, and it'd be best if you go there."

Kirsten looked relieved and turned immediately but Clyde had really been looking forward to the interrogation and maybe giving a few knocks of his own.

I shook his hand and gave him a reassuring shoulder pat and they were off.

I watched them leave and studied the neighborhood.
It was really secluded, we could act a horror movie and no one would hear the fearful screams of the victim. I wondered what my dad had used the place for before. He said he had 'a few locations scattered about..'

I shook my head and returned to the small house. My father was a dangerous man no doubt but I had someone to torture for information right now.


:::::::::::::::
In 1979, one hot August afternoon, there had been a knock on a young man's room door. The young man had been hiding out. Waiting out the two day duration before his flight to China. He was going to be a father very soon. He planned to marry his lover and start a family. He was done with the hole. During his numerous narcotic trips to Asia and back, his travel agent and he had become quite close and he was indeed now hiding out in his agent's house. His flight to Beijing was the next morning and he could hardly wait.

He walked to the room door, expecting to see his host or the wife bring his lunch like they always did. He opened the door and exclaimed in shock.

The man pointing the gun at him. Wasn't his travel agent, he was a stranger...a familiar stranger.
The hole had finally gotten him.

He thought about his unborn baby and his girl, he would never see them again.


The hole had killed Marcus Ayara because he wanted out of the organization and there was only one way out. Two bullets in his face and it was all over for him. The case would never be solved.
The only evidence was the extracted slugs which had the inscription: 11.

This was the only clue. It wasn't until a decade later when another Bullet would turn out with the same branding that the police would link the bullets as the signature of the killer.
But that was the closest they would ever come.

So in the intelligence and tactical world, the unknown killer would come to be known as eleven. No other inscribed bullet would turn out and so he was quickly forgotten, the case frozen.

:::::
20,000 feet in the air, the first minister typed a message.

The Purge
Target: Obasi residence,House 33b, Buhari Avenue, Benue.
Time : Tomorrow.....(he took a long pause before adding) 4 (he backspaced this and entered) 6pm. (His wife should have left by then)
Method: signature.
Find attached morning ticket to Benue. 8am flight.


:::::
In a car wash bar and grill in a chilling spot in Wuse Abuja, a phone vibrated.

Young Boys were busy hosing down an SUV, washing out the engine while another boy of about 15 was waxing another Mercedes at the other end. The name of the place was 'Mynet's car wash'

There was a dumbell in the corner and the owner of the car wash was lifting weights, he was in his mid 50s but still in amazing shape. His skin alone looked as tough as leather.

He had the tattoo '11' on his chest and a jagged scar across his stomach. He put down the dumbell and checked his phone.

He smiled as he read the message. Well well, looks like Mynet11 would be traveling tomorrow...


To be continued...