(EPISODE 17) MY WEDDING NIGHT

I picked up my gun and nervously pointed it at the huge white guy who simply scoffed, drew forward and grabbed the gun, slapping me at the same time and sending me down with a ferocious kick on my left leg. “bitch” he cursed coldly, while Esther placed a hand on his shoulder and laughed.

The White Guy: “i heard noises from my room. I couldn’t imagine who you were talking with by this hour, so i decided to check up on you” he explained while she nodded.

Esther: “yea i knew you would come. That was why i slightly raised up my voice when talking to the idiot” she replied and spit on me.

I stared at them like a caged animal, clueless on what next to do. The tape however was still in my jacket recording everything that was happening, but it equally added to the tension in me. I was scared they were going to search me and discover it.

The White Guy: “so what’s she doing here?” he asked Esther who shrugged and eyed me.

Esther: “the bitch broke out of detention to query me on how her silly husband died” she answered. “now what do we do with her, should we wake everyone in the house and tell them of her presence?” she asked the guy.

The White Guy: “we have to tie her up first before thinking of what to do next. Hold the gun, let me go get a rope” he answered and passed the gun to her. “don’t try anything funny if you still value what’s left of your life” he threatened and headed to the door while i shook with fear.

Fortunately as he opened the door to leave the room, a big stick landed on his head, sending him back to the room with a powerful force while he screamed out in pain. I couldn’t believe my eyes as i saw my brother walk into the room like a super hero. I was over joyed and stunned. But my joy was short lived because Esther instantly drew back with fear, aimed and fired the only bullet in the gun at my brother.

Precious: “nooooooo” i screamed and leaped at her like a hyena…. Of course the whole plan looked ruined that fateful moment.

=====================

I pushed Esther to her bed, grabbed the gun and rushed to my brother who luckily was still standing.

Precious: “are you hurt?” i asked nervously.

Precious Brother: “thank God she missed, let’s get out of here” he answered and held my hand, but instantly, Esther grabbed me from behind and dragged me back to the bed, delivering few punches on my face. My brother tried separating us but the muscular white guy closed in on him, throwing out a punch which my brother dodged. In no time, the room turned into a battle field. My brother and i desperately struggled to wade them off and run away, while Esther and her guy did everything possible to hold us back. It really was a violent confrontation.

In no time we were all bleeding. However the earlier gunshot and noise we made as we fought soon attracted everyone in the house. In a matter of minutes the room was filled with surprised white folks, the two Nigerian gate men and two other black male servants. We were instantly separated and surrounded while Esther smiled with a triumphant look in her eyes.

Esther: “they came to murder us in our sleep. Can you imagine?. She even brought a gun” She complained breathlessly, while every other person in the room gasped with shock.

Damian’s mother came forward and looked into my eyes.

Damian’s Mom: “how did you get out of jail?, why did you kill my son, why are you here?, and what did we do to you?” she asked coldly. Tears fell from my eyes, I breathed deeply and controlled myself. I had to act cool. It was the first time i was being given a listening ear.

Precious: “I never killed Damian, I never killed your son. I doubt if any black woman will kill a man who has good intentions for her. I came here looking for answers. I had to brave all odds to be here. The police believes Esther killed my husband. I had no choice than to try get a confession out of her” i poured out.

Esther: “don’t tell me you are listening to that bitch?” Esther suddenly shouted. I turned, looked at her and smiled.

Precious: “oh no they won’t listen to me, but will listen to this” i smiled, pulled out the small recorder which surprising was still recording, stopped it and turned on the tape. The whole room went dead as eve....CONTINUED IN THE NEXT EPISODE....FINAL EPISODE..STAY TUNED.

(EPISODE16) MY WEDDING NIGHT

Let’s go home first. I want to see mum
“So when do you plan heading to the house?” The detective asked seconds later.
“It should be tonight, by 10pm. The neighborhood will be dark and lonely by that time” I answered quickly. “That’s okay but without a good recorder and hand gloves, i doubt if your mission will be successful. I can get them for you. Thank me later” he offered with a smile.
“oh thanks very much. You are indeed an angel” I thanked him. “I think we are forgetting something. We are yet to come up with a plan on how to get her out of this place without your colleagues noticing” my brother queried suspiciously.
“Leave that to me. I’ll get your sister out myself, but you will be right outside the premises to pick her up. You will be the person to drive her to the house” the detective said while my brother nodded in agreement. “Now get ready, in thirty minutes we should be out of here” he added.
“but it’s still 6:30pm I thought she’s breaking into the house by 10pm?” my brother asked with surprise. “Yea she is, but I can’t be able to get her out of this place by that time. I can only get her out in thirty minutes while you take her to your house or anywhere till show time” he answered. I breathed deeply. I really was nervous.

By 7:15pm that fateful evening, the detective took me out of my cell and helped me out of the compound by hiding me in his car. We had no problem leaving the police premises. It really was the most easiest part of the plan. In a couple of minutes we arrived at the agreed rendezvous where my brother was already waiting. As i made to alight from the detective’s car, he held me back and stared at me with a worried look.
“please be careful. Here is the recorder i promised. It’s very small, uses micro card and has high recording capability. It’s already charged” he said with care, as he gave me the recorder with little lecture on how to use it. “here are the gloves as well. You need no lecture on how to use them” he joked.
“please don’t disappoint me” he begged. I nodded, gave him a reassuring smile and alighted from his car. The detective was just a perfect gentleman. “so what now?”My brother asked as i joined him in his car. “let’s go home first. I want to see mum” I answered quietly. He gave me a long look, licked his lips and drove me home without another word.
______
10pm arrived much faster than i expected. I soon found myself at the back of my husband’s house with my heart pounding furiously while my eyes examined the fence as i prepared to scale it. Yea i was born and raised in the village among boys. I knew how to climb perfectly well. My only fear was on how to achieve my mission

I surveyed the area for the last time, reached inside my black jacket and touched the pistol my brother gave me minutes earlier.

Precious Brother: “it has only one bullet. You are not going in there to shoot anybody but i’m giving it to you because no knows what might happen when you get there” he said as he gave me the little weapon, equally giving me a quick lesson on how to use it. With one quick breathe, i scaled the fence, wounding as barbed wires tore my trouser. But the injury was nothing compared to the wound in my heart.

I pushed on, very determined to finish the task ahead. In no time i was at the backyard. I quickly headed straight to the garden and stopped for a minute to take a look at the crime scene where the detective believed my husband was murdered. Tears instantly fell from my eyes.

Precious: “Damian I believe you are watching. I know you are right here. I know a murdered spirit is always at the spot where his life was taken away. Yes i believe in it. I believe in superstition. I can’t do this without you. Please help me” I cried quietly, picked up myself and walked into the building with determination.

All the security lights were glaring as i made my way into the big house. But instead of being caught with the help of the lights, I was guided to the guest rooms by the same wonderful lights. However it really wasn’t easy knowing the particular room to check. I had to start from the first room downstairs, but luckily the first three rooms were locked, leaving me with no choice than to move over to the fourth room. I slowly opened the door but the room was very dark inside. I couldn’t see anything. I drew back to the corridor, closed the door and checked my recorder which was in good working condition. I smiled with satisfaction, safely tucked it back into the breast pocket of my jacket, pulled out a small touch light from my trouser and slowly walked into the room, flashing my torch light.

Lady: “who the heck is that?” a lady suddenly screamed from the bed, switching on the electric table lamp by her side, and revealing her face in the process. She was no other person than Esther Hardey.

The lady I came looking for. I breathed deeply, drew back, locked the door and switched on the main lights of the room which equally revealed my face to the frightened lady.

Lady (Esther): “oh shit, you?? You got to be kidding me” she instantly smiled on seeing my face, equally regaining all her composure as if she was sure I wouldn’t do anything to her. I quickly pulled out my gun from the jacket while she scoffed on seeing it. “oh please” she hissed, sat up on her bed, grabbed a stick of cigarette and lighted it. “what the hell do you want?” She asked coldly.

Precious: “You have to tell me how you did it or i swear, I will blow off your head right now. I didn’t come all the way here to laugh with you” I threatened seriously. Esther breathed deeply, stared at me for some seconds before shrugging.

Esther: “fine, sit down you will have your story” she said cautiously. “don’t worry about me, just talk” I pushed on harshly. “but why the fuck do you want to know how your husband died?. Anyway here is your story. You are still going down no matter what” she said with a smile, reached for the bottle of strong wine by her side, poured out a shot and gulped it all down. “you Africans are very dumb. You are nothing but an opportunist. You deserve whatever that is coming to you” she breathed fiercely. “do you know that I’ve been with Damian since my childhood. We were together all through high school and college. We were together till a silly friend of his dragged him to Africa. Everything changed from that moment, but i still waited and hoped. Then what?” she stopped, shook her head, sucked on her cigarette and blew out thick clouds of smoke, equally studying me cautiously. “I heard that a fucking black like you has gotten him completely off the hook. It was unbelievable. I couldn’t take it. I swore to ruin everything” she poured out while my hand trembled. “I made plans with my cousin who agreed with me in everything. We all joined Damian’s mother and her train. Together we came to Nigeria” she stopped and blew out more smoke from her mouth.

Esther: “do you smoke?” she asked quietly.

Precious: “no just continue with the story?” i urged.

Esther: “We arrived in Nigeria and I still tried my best to stop him from marrying you but no he wouldn’t listen. So after the wedding when everyone was carried away with excitement. I discreetly told him to meet me at the garden by 12am. It was a long wait, but he finally showed up and I got him distracted while my cousin slit him up. It was a clean revenge, but the whole plan changed when we got to the room and saw you deeply asleep. Instead of killing you, we decided to pin the crime on you by getting your prints on the murder weapon. Unfortunately your mother in law spoiled everything the next morning by pulling out the knife from her dead son’s body. Anyway you are still damned. I heard the case is being moved over to my country” she concluded with a laugh while a cold shiver ran down my spine. That exact moment, somebody pushed on the door leading to the room which I earlier locked, drawing my attention and equally making me take my eyes off Esther. With that split opportunity, she pounced on me like a tiger, knocked me down and opened the room door. A white muscular guy walked in and grinned at me. “oh what do we have here?” he asked with a cold smile. I instantly knew he was the murderer. The idiot that murdered my husband......to be continued

written by olulizzy

(EPISODE 15) MY WEDDING NIGHT

“so tell us what you have in mind?” the detective asked curiously. “well before i say anything, I’ll like to know if the so called Esther that got me into this mess is still staying at my husband’s house?” i asked while the detective nodded. “yes she is at the house. She chose staying their with your mother in law and four other people while the rest moved to a hotel but my department is still in possession of all their passports. So what has that got to do with your plan?” he answered and asked seriously. “a lot officer. It has a lot to do with my plans” i answered calmly. “yes go on” my brother urged desperately. “i can sneak into the compound, sneak up on Esther and make her confess. I know the house very well and i very much know the weak spots i can
use in gaining access to any room i so desire” i poured out breathlessly. My brother scoffed while the detective laughed. “you must be kidding, how on earth can you get her to confess?” my brother asked with disbelief “have you forgotten that i’m a woman. I know how to get a fellow woman to talk. Moreover Esther won’t find it hard opening up her mouth, since to her, i’m good as dead and it equally would be her word against mine. But if i can record everything with my phone without her knowledge won’t the case be solved?. Please just allow me to have access to the house, i’m very sure i can do it” i pleaded desperately. The detective scratched his head and breathed deeply. “have you forgotten that you are supposed to be in police cell?. How do i explain your disappearance?. No no no, even though your plan sounds tempting, i can’t allow it. I can’t put my ass on the line in such way” he said slowly, while i grabbed him strongly. “this is the only chance i got, please help me. If things go bad you can say i escaped from jail. You can fabricate anything and put on me. Please i beg of you” i begged passionately. He breathed deeply and nodded. “fine i’m in but if things go bad, you are on your own” he accepted, drawing great smile from me with his words. I hugged him with gratitude. “just pray it doesn’t go bad.This is the only shot you got to redeem yourself.
Don’t waste it” he advised while i nodded. It all appeared too easy to say but deep down i knew it was a very difficult task with high risk of failing. However I was very determined to carry it out. After all i had nothing to lose trying.
To be continued

(EPISODE14) MY WEDDING NIGHT

Later in the evening my brother came visiting with a flask filled with food, but food really wasn’t what i needed that moment. “i’m sorry for coming late, i really was held up with work. Dad is now safely home. I spoke with him few minutes ago” he said pleasantly while i ate slowly. “so what’s up, any breaking news?” he asked when i was done eating. I forced out a smile, thanked him for the food before telling him all that happened earlier in the day. He listened eagerly, frowning when i got to the suicide part of the plan. “no no no i don’t support that. What’s the detective thinking by suggesting such nonsense. No that’s bad” he said seriously, but before i could answer, detective Jeremiah showed up that moment with a heavy frown on his face. “i’m afraid i brought more bad news” he said as he stopped before us. “the Americans are now pushing for the case to be moved to their country” he calmly announced. My brother and I gasped with shock. "i got a call few minutes ago to prepare and document every thing i have on the case. We don’t even have the two days anymore” he explained seriously. “but that’s impossible!. The murder was committed in Nigerian soil. The trial should be here” my brother protested seriously. “I think you should take that up with the federal government if you have the right connections. I really had the feeling such a thing could happen but kept it to myself. Our leaders hardly deny the American government anything and this case is nothing different.
Seriously many things has been happening which are swept under the carpet without the public knowing” he summarized with resignation. “but i can go to court. I can stop them legally?” my brother asked seriously. The detective breathed deeply and shrugged. “well if you can get the court to sit before your sister is moved out of the country. Then yes you can. But she’s married to an American citizen which somehow makes her an American as well, moreover i learnt her dead husband already procured all necessary travelling papers for her before his death, which makes everything a lot easier for the Americans” he answered. “d--n” my brother cursed. “but we still have till morning to come up with something new” he added while i cleared my throat and spoke out for the first time. “i think i have a plan” i suddenly announced, surprising my brother and the detective with the cold smile which appeared on my face with the revelation.
Of course i had a new plan in my mind. A plan which was nothing close to the suicide attempt the detective proposed earlier in the day. So what kind of new plan came to my mind that crucial moment? C? Hmmmm

(EPISODE 13) MY WEDDING NIGHT

“I can do anything to free myself. Please just speak up” I pleaded. The detective shook his head, bit his lips and stared at me.
“hmmmm, if i’m unable to make any breakthrough within two days, you will have to harm yourself in a way that it will be impossible to put you up for trial. That’s the only way out” he said cautiously.
“wait a minute, I don’t understand. You mean i should harm myself?, in what way officer?” i asked with disbelief. He drew closer to me and squatted by my side. “that’s the only way to escape trial for some days. I can smuggle in some pills that will knock you out. So instead of finding yourself in the courtroom, you will find yourself in the hospital.
However it can be added to your charges but i believe your lawyer won’t have a hard time winning over the charge. But you also have to swear t keep your mouth shut if it comes to that. You know i can equally end up in prison over it” he said seriously, while i nodded. I couldn’t even find the voice to talk.
The plan was just so terrible to hear. Of course it was nothing but a sucidal plan. I knew the health implications of such deed, but it was a better option than prison. Seriously the detective was going out of line just to save a clueless lady like me. It wasn’t as if we paid him to help me. He simply was doing it for free. As if he knew what was going through my mind. He reached out and held my hands.
“when i joined the force newly. A young male student was picked up by our patrol team some miles away from a Robbery scene. We all knew the boy was innocent but still held him just to prove a point that we were working. Unknown to us, the boy was asthmatic and as soon as he was thrown into the cell, his health condition go very bad and before we could run around. He died. Since that moment, i decided to help the innocent. But you see, in police work it’s not always easy to be on the right path because we all obey orders and answer to our superiors whether we like it or not” He said softly. “you are a bright young woman but i’m afraid, if i fail to get good results. You will have to take your destiny in your hands. You will have to harm yourself. That’s the only thing that can buy us more time. Yes you will try committing suicide but I’ll be right on time to save your life. Anyway let’s pray it doesn’t come to that” he concluded and stood up while my head swelled with thoughts.
“God please don’t allow things to get that bad. Don’t allow me to try out suicide as an option” i prayed softly. It was such a difficult moment and decision to take. However i still had two days which was enough time for a miracle to happen...to be continued.

(EPISODE 12) MY WEDDING NIGHT

“I know you are helping me officer but you got to do more, you have to try every necessary means to
free me. Please i beg of you” i cried, kneeling before Detective Jeremiah who quickly looked away with embarrassment” “please madam stand up, don’t kneel for me, i’m not God” he begged but i still knelt, shedding more tears. A junior officer came into the detective’s office that moment bearing a file. “here are the rest of the results sir” he said to the detective who quickly snatched the file from him while i looked on hopefully. “you can leave now” he dismissed the officer before going through the file. “nothing new jeez, this case is really something else” he said to himself as he went through the file while i swallowed hard, confused on what next to do.“does it mean i’m going to hang for a crime i didn’t commit?. Can’t you run more tests” i asked curiously. “my dear our police department is one of the best in Africa. I have conducted all the necessary tests including fingerprint and DNA matching. The people that killed your husband had it well planned out and left no trace of anything. The only clear  found on your husband’s body belongs to
you, the rest are blurred. The murder weapon had only your mother in law’s prints on it. So you see
there is nothing we can use from the test results, we have nothing. The person that killed your husband
probably wore gloves, only if we can get those gloves” he concluded, while i cried out with the last strength
in me. “hey shut up, you are in the police station, don’t you know?” the detective frowned and stood up. “please shoot me, shoot me, shoot me” i begged with tears, forcing him to look away once again. “seriously madam, this is slowly slipping from me. I have only two options left, which are pretty hard” he said and swallowed hard while i stared at him hopefully, wiping my tears. “Number one. I play the good cop bad cop tactics on Esther, by secretly getting another audience with her. This time with another officer. We will then
present some selling lies and my colleague will ask for money to keep us quiet. Most whites think we are all
corrupt. So i feel she will buy my offer, and through that opportunity, i can get her to talk. The only bad
side of it, is that if it goes bad, i can be fired from the force. The second option is presenting my facts to
your mother inlaw, get her to reveal more details about her white guests to me. I’ll then do what we call
profiling, which will enable me get the man who killed your husband. Esther is no fool, she had no time to
hire a local hitman. She probably brought the killer along as her brother, cousin or friend. The only bad side
of this plan is that it may take more than two days to accomplish which then leaves us with one option
which you must do yourself to avoid trial. If i fail to meet up with the deadline” he concluded
seriously.“so what’s the option?” i asked. “oh it’s very dangerous. A very dangerous option” he
murmured.
To be continued.

( Episode 10) MY WEDDING NIGTH

Two days officer! You have just two days
Esther tried opening her mouth to say something, but the lawyer quickly held her hand, stopping her. Don’t say anything. The officer is bluffing. Hes trying to make you say something that could incriminate you he said to her before facing detective Jeremiah. If you really have the evidence to arrest my client, then go ahead, arrest her. But if you don’t, then shut the fuck up and do your goddamn work. Mind you, time is running out and you have only two days. The next time you will see me will be in court he threatened, shocking the detective with his words.
Of course not only the detective was shocked, I equally was very shocked because Esther was probably seconds away from confessing or making an unguided comment before the lawyer recovered himself and stopped her. Two days officer. You have just two days, else I will tear you apart in court the lawyer threatened and dragged Esther out of the office.

“We were just close to making a breakthrough damn the detective hissed with despair after they left. So what next? I asked with fear. He breathed deeply, opened the case file on his table, went through it and shook his head. Things are slowly adding up in your favor but we don’t have time on our side. We surely need a miracle he replied, Looked up at me and smiled to make me feel relaxed but I surely wasn’t.
“Remember we talked about the possibility of your husband going out to the garden that night to either smoke or see someone? he said while I nodded. According to the report in this file, there wasn’t any cigarette stick, ashes nor even anything similar found at the garden which then leaves us with one theory. He went out there to see someone, probably Esther, before a stronger person grabbed him from behind and stabbed him he concluded. how then do we find the mystery man that struck the fatal blow which killed my husband? I asked desperately. The detective shrugged. That’s what Im saying, we need more time, as it stands, Esther alone probably holds all the answers but we cant touch her he replied with resignation.
Tears instantly dropped from my eyes. The police had every reason to detain Esther but couldn’t because she was a foreigner. Instead I was the person being detained without due process..to be continued in the next episode..

(EPISODE 9) MY WEDDING NIGHT

After freshening up in one of the bathrooms, I was led to the detective’s office, where I sat and waited for the so called Esther Hardey to show up.
She showed up precisely ten minutes later with the same annoying white lawyer who threatened my brother.
They all stared at me with surprise as they walked into the detective’s office. “What is this murderer doing here?” the lawyer asked with anger. Detective Jeremiah smiled and shook his head.
As a lawyer, you should know that no suspect is guilty until a court of law gives verdict. Shes a suspect just like the lady that brought you along he answered the Lawyer who bit his lips angrily.
“Im taking none of this s--t any longer. If you cant do your job, better resign. My clients are tired of being detained in this country for no justifiable reason. They all want to go home and I give you two days to make it happen, else the fury of the American government will be on the whole Nigerian police force. You cant just keep everyone hostage he threatened.
“Oh I see you are representing all the Americans involved in this case, but I feel that will change soon the detective added quietly.
“What if I tell you, I have enough evidence to throw one of your clients in the cell right now? he pushed on.
Esther Hardey, she was at the house when the crime was committed. She was Damians fiancée, am I wrong? he asked the lawyer who kept quiet.
Esther had the motive and mindset to commit such murder and according to test results we have so far, she was physically present in one of the crime scenes which invariably places her in a bad position. I pin the murder charge on her. Phewwww case closed. I get promoted The detective concluded with a smile, while the lawyer instantly grew tense and stared at Esther with a coloured face.
Of course the detective had nothing strong to pin down the lady, but as a good officer he pulled a fast one on the white lawyer who for the first time looked beaten. It was time to prove how good a lawyer he was.
I prayed silently. I prayed for the detective’s stunt to work.
your client should use this opportunity to come out clean or Damian’s mother won’t like what I plan telling her the detective pushed on, while Esther colored up. It was obvious she was hiding something
oh Lord, make her to confess I prayed................CONTINUED IN THE NEXT EPISODE.

(EPISODE 8) MY WEDDING NIGHT.

Precious: “Officer Im all ears, tell me the news you bear I asked with fear. The detective threw a swift look at Nancy who shifted uneasily.
Detective: Well I don’t think now is a good time. It’s something private he replied, forcing me to smile quickly.
Precious: Nancy is like a sister to me. She knows almost everything about me. You can say anything in her presence I urged him nervously.
Detective: Esther Hardey he instantly called out, searching my face for any reaction. But the name he mentioned only drew me into another pit of confusion. The name sounded so strange and unfamiliar.
Precious: I don’t understand/ I haven\t heard such name anywhereI breathed with confusion.
Detective: That’s the name of your husband’s fiancée. A white lady he was supposed to Marry. The lady he left to marry you in order to fulfill the promise he made to you he explained.
A cold shiver instantly ran through my spine.
Precious: “So are you insinuating that Damian married me just to fulfill a promise? I asked sadly,
Precious: well I never knew he was engaged to any woman, seriously I thought all the ladies he played were just flings I murmured.
Detective: That’s not the problem he continued, breathing deeply. The lady in question is currently in Nigeria and was among the people that came into the country with your husband’s family and equally was present at the house when the crime was committed he explained, while I stared at him with a little hope.
Precious: That isn’t bad news, is it?. The lady definitely killed him. She had the motive and opportunity. Unbelievable I poured out desperately but the detective simply shrugged.
Detective: Yes she has the motive and opportunity, but we can’t just arrest her without strong reason. All I can do is to invite her for a little questioning and equally pray she doesn’t lawyer up he answered, breaking my worn out spirit. however we are still matching the DNA stuff we got from the scene and your husband’s body. I believe something positive will come out of it, but my only problem is that my superiors are putting much weight and interest in this case. They are pushing for closure and speedy trial which really will put you up as the scapegoat, if you are to be dragged to court without me finishing my investigations. You really need to pray my dear. You know how bad our judicial system can be, moreover the Americans want you to hang he concluded, while my heart froze. I instantly fell, collapsing on the floor within seconds.

I fainted

I soon regained myself to see two female police officers and Nancy by my side. Detective Jeremiah stood a distance away, watching me with great interest.
hope you have eaten today? One of the female officers asked me.
“Yea I nodded, breathing heavily.
“You have to get a grip of yourself if you ever want to win this case. You got to be strong. Esther Hardey will be here in few minutes for questioning the Detective said to me.
“Please i want to be present when she’s being questioned. I want to see her face I begged weakly.
“No I cant do that, I have already broken a lot of protocols for you he answered quickly.
I beg of you. Remember we are talking about my husband’s murder. Help a widowI pushed passionately.
He breathed deeply and shrugged.I hope I don’t get fired for all Im doing for you. Well you have to freshen up first, secondly you must promise not to say a word to the lady when you meet her he said seriously.
“Oh yes, I promise not to say a word I answered, while he smiled and left.
“The detective is a wonderful man. He will help you out the second female cop said to me, nodding with a smile...
To be continued

(EPISODE 7) MY WEDDING NIGHT

have to hold on tight dear, we are getting you out in no time. The detective promised to give you special treatment. So just hold on for a little longer my brother begged before leaving with my dad. However my day never had a dull moment because soon after they left, two of my colleagues came to see me as if they cared. I already knew they simply came to confirm things with their eyes, but thats one of the things in life we have no control over.
No matter what we do, we must have haters, we must have people who pretend to care and we also must have people whose only motive is to bring you down. Later in the afternoon, my friend Nancy also came to see me. It really was painful receiving such visits in a police cell.
Yea you guys should just for a moment reflect how it feels to be receiving your friends and colleagues, days after your wedding in a police cell. Horrible isnt it??. Nancy shed real tears on seeing me, her face coloured deeply. The shock in her very apparent.
I heard Rumours, I never believed till this very moment she said quietly. I swallowed hard and nodded. Nancy was my old time pal. We attended the same university, stayed in the same hostel and did our Nysc the same time, though in different states. Her parents were a bit wealthy and lived in the capital city. She
returned to live with them after Nysc while i came over to live with my brother. However i was fortunate to get a good job while
she managed a little teaching job in her neighbourhood. We still remained very close even after we disagreed over Damian. She was of the opinion that i was being overly ambitious, insisting that i was throwing away my life for money. I guess she was right?, but she merely objected to my relationship with Damian simply because i dropped my young boyfriend whom she much preferred, in order to move on with Damian. Yea Justice was the boys name, we were age mates and equally served {NYSC} the same time. He was a good kid but cmon I couldnt waste my future by waiting for him. He was even yet to get a job till the very moment I landed in the police cell.
Justice had a lot to do before thinking of settling down and I couldnt take the risk of waiting for him. At least I was good enough to keep him till we rounded up with Nysc unlike some of my course mates who dumped their boyfriends to get married in final year.
Damian brought only trouble just like i feared. My God this is a terrible Nightmare Nancy sobbed. I simply stared at her, not knowing what to say. But just that exact second, detective Jeremiah showed up with a dark smile.
you may not like the news i bear he announced and came forward while I almost fainted with fear.....

TO BE CONTINUED.    ......

(EPISODE 5 ) MY WEDDING NIGHT

seriously i dont think things that happened when we were dating has anything to do with his death, believe me i said slowly.
The officer simply folded his hands and breathed deeply.
Nothing is hidden under the sun for long. Sooner or later i
still will find out, so i believe its in your best interest to tell me all I need to know he pushed with a smile.
I battled with myself one more time before making up my mind to open up.
Damian was stealing from the company. He was doing it with a colleague in the records department. I found out
about the whole deal three weeks into our relationship but couldnt do anything apart from confront
 him. He ended up convincing me to keep quiet, equally promising to marry and take me to his home country. His plan was to get me established over there. I was a woman in love with a whole lot to gain. Of course I kept quiet and helped him steal more. He kept
his word and married me, only to die before fulfilling the last part of his promise. Now what has that got with his death?? I poured out with tears.
And the colleague in question, do you think he has a hand in his death? he asked curiously.
Of course not, they had seperate accounts and divided proceeds evenly. No he is much more valuable alive than dead to the man I answered seriously.
well in a murder case we dont rule out any possibility until the crime is solved. I admire your honesty. You bravely confessed being an accomplice to another crime.
I appreciate and will keep my promise by watching your back. It should interest you to know that your husband might have been murdered in his garden, we saw some drops of blood down there, which now gives us two crime scenes he said while i gasped with shock.
yea Damian loved smoking and probably went to the garden to heat off while i slept, but how the hell did he get back to the bed, if he was killed in there? I asked with disbelief.
its time to go to your cell my dear. Ill permit you to keep your phone. Just pray something new never comes out to incriminate you further, as for now the latest  discovery works on your side he added with a cold smile, got up and led me to a quiet cell where I had the most terrifying night ever.
I kept seeing my dead husband all through that night. Oh it was one nasty experience.
Dear friends, I spent the second night after my wedding in a police cell. What can be more horrible than such.
Hmmm

TO BE CONTINUED....

(Episode 2) MY WEDDING NIGHT

I really can’t write how hurt and empty i was that fateful morning. I can’t describe how devastated i was nor how my heart bled. I was totally broken and dead. I couldn’t even call my brother to tell him the bad situation i found myself. In fact my soul and my spirit ran away from me. I was just a shadow of myself. The devil just took time to urinate on my destiny. Damian’s mother never bothered nor cared about my feelings, instead pulled out the knife from her son’s body when my cries brought her to the room and almost stabbed me with fury, screaming some incoherent words, until other members of the family came in and held her. “i said it; nothing good ever comes out of Africa.
She stabbed him, she probably did it in her sleep, or maybe it’s witchcraft. God save my soul” the old woman screamed and cried. I simply sat beside the bed and cried out my heart. I was just like a cornered rat. I was simply in the midst of foreigners. In the midst of people who saw me as a second class animal or probably a gold digger. None of them spoke to me nor asked how it all happened. I barely had changed my night wear when an ambulance arrived with men from the force headquarters. Before i knew what was happening, i found myself at the back of a police SUV while the perpetrator of the crime walked freely, probably watching the unfolding events from a safe distance.
 Another problem i had was that i didn’t know who to suspect nor accuse. They all looked the same to me. They were all a bunch of conspirators. I felt like taking my life as the police took me away, because there wasn’t any need living again. I knew the justice system would easily convict and close the case than investigating. “Who am i among a bunch of whites all accusing me of murder??”. I had nothing to prove my innocence. I was the only person in the room with Damian. The murder weapon which might have saved me through finger print test was already compromised by Damian’s mother. My life was nothing but over. Kiri kiri prison awaited me with a dark smile.
How do i save myself?, how do i prove my innocence?.
To be continued...

(Episode 1) MY WEDDING NIGHT

write with Tears, I woke up after my wedding night to see a knife buried in my husband’s
chest, our bed sheet soaked with blood. I couldn’t believe my eyes, i couldn’t believe it was all real. I held
my dead husband and looked around. “no this can’t be happening” i breathed, trying hard to control myself. But itwas all real, Damian was cold and still. He was dead for real. “nooo” i sobbed
quietly, wondering what to do, wondering the next step to take. There was any doubt, i was about
experiencing a very terrible twist in my life. Damian was definitely murdered by someone who was so desperate to destroy my happiness. I sat down on the floor while my mind flashed back to how i met my husband. After NYSC, early the previous year. I came to Abuja to live with my elder brother who was a doctor in one of the city hospitals. He had no problem getting me a good job in a very popular construction company inside the city.
Seriously i counted myself as a very lucky girl because i was the first to get a job among all my classmates and friends. I started work in Damian’s office as a secretary and that was when my life took a dramatic turn. Damian who was my boss, a white and an American citizen quickly took interest in me. He was so sweet and caring but equally a womanizer.Everyone warned me to be careful. My colleagues advised me to be professional when dealing with him and never give in to his demands, which i obeyed. But surprisingly he continued disturbing me, even after turning him down so many times. The more i turned him away, the more bolder he got. This continued until i finally gave in to him. We had a very sweet relationship that soon became the talk of the town. As our relationship progressed, i started getting threats from his old girlfriends both in Nigeria and abroad, but it never stopped me from giving up on him. Three months into the relationship, he proposed to me and met my people, drawing another shock from everyone, especially the white community. Our marriage was quickly fixed and i insisted for it to be done in Nigeria because of my family and friends which he accepted without hesitation. Damian’s mother, family members and friends arrived the country two days to our wedding. I had a very long talk with his mum and cousins who all tried to be nice to me even though the resentment on their faces were noticeable. The church wedding and reception went very well. Damian really spared no cost in organising the whole show. We planned travelling to Dubai the next day for our honeymoon, which made us spend our first night as husband and wife in his big house where almost all his family members and friends slept. Anyone of them could have crept into the room as we slept and struck him, but there wasn’t any doubt i would be the major suspect…. “Oh no” i wailed with a loud voice, drawing the attention of everyone in the house. Within minutes, almost every member of the white community was in Damian’s house. It was as if they were all waiting for such news…. I couldn’t believe i was married only for one night…
TO BE CONTINUED... (EPISODE 2).

(Final Episode 14 ) JUMAI

Mark looked at Jumai then moved his attention from her, she wasn’t his focus now; he had men to deal with. He was not sure exactly how many of them he had to deal with or how armed they were. Did the drug prevent bullet penetration? Would he be able to dodge the bullets? He had too many questions. He would have to find answers to them behind the door.
He felt a surge of pain go through his body and he screamed.
“Mark, are you okay?” Jumai said, grabbing his arm.
He pushed her away and flexed his muscles. For a few seconds he waited as a wave of heat swept across his body; he could take on a thousand men if they stood in front of him right now. He looked at the girl on the ground at his feet, was she an enemy or a friend? She would be so easy to break in two. He laughed. That is Jumai, she is the reason you are doing this! He looked at the girl again, she looked so weak it made him angry. Pick her up and get out of here. He grunted in disgust and picked up the girl.
He stood in front of the door, hoisted the girl on his shoulder and punched the door with both hands. It flew off the hinges and into the room next to his. There were about… – he did a quick scan of the room, there were five soldiers in the room and now their attention was on him. He dropped the girl in a corner and faced the men. They stood slowly, curious about the door that had flown across the room. One of them recovered from his shock and grabbed his gun. Mark jumped across the room and with one blow knocked him unconscious. Mark looked up and laughed; this felt great.
The remaining four men had their guns pointed at him now but their eyes were on their fallen colleague.
“Shall we do this?” Mark said.
He wanted to feel their skull his hands while he broke their spines. Remember you are doing this to get her to safety. He looked at the girl crumpled in the corner, she was crying. He would get her to safety but first; these barbarians.
He ran towards the first one and the gunshots started, now was the moment to show how great he was. He was on top of the soldier before he could fire his first bullet. The other soldiers fired at the spot where he had been, haha; they missed. They soon found his new location and fired at him but he blocked the bullets with the body of their friend. He rushed towards the next one and knocked him over with the head of his colleague, he kicked the guy and he was out. Two to go.
“Wait.” He shouted.
For some stupid reason, the soldiers stopped, guns still pointed at him. He could imagine how afraid they were. He looked at the girl in the corner, he wished she had a camera to record his awesomeness.
“I am clearly outnumbered here, I think I should surrender.” He said.
He went on his knees and put his hands behind his head. The men looked at each other, they were confused. He jumped at one of the men and slammed his fist into his throat. He snatched his gun and fired at the other man and in less than ten seconds they were both down. This was fun. He was sure there were other men outside, he was going to kill them all. Every one of them.
Jumai, she needs to leave this place.
He looked at her and walked over to where she was lying, her face to the ground. She wasn’t impressed with his skill? He picked her up and she screamed.
“Hey shut up, I will get you out of here but not if you continue screaming like a tortured dog.”
“Mark.” She whispered through her tears.
You love her, get her to safety.
He looked through the window and just like he expected, there were men waiting outside. They must have heard the gunshots because they had guns ready. They were on the first floor of a storey building, most of the soldiers were on their floor, all he needed to do was get to the ground fast enough to avoid too much of a fight. Why would he want to avoid too much of a fight though? He grinned.
She would get hurt in a fight, get her to safety.
Damn the voice in his head! He needed to get this girl to safety on time so he could come back for a bigger fight. He held the girl in his left hand and readied himself. He took a deep breath and kicked the door off its hinges. The bullets started flying immediately. He took a step forward and threw the girl over the railings and she flew through the air towards the ground; head first. He jumped after her, grabbed her and landed on his back, the girl safe on his chest.
He stood and ran as fast as he could – which was very fast, away from the house and the soldiers who he so longed to fight. He ran and ran till he got to a forest. He looked behind, he could not even see the house anymore. Here was safe enough, he could drop the girl and go back for the fight.
“Mark.” The girl called him. What did she want now?
“Huh?” He grunted back at her.
“We need to get to the camp, you need to take the antidote.” She said.
“What antidote?”
“You can’t remain like this for too long, remember what happened to the others?”
What was she talking about? He looked back the way he had come by, he needed to go back and deal with the soldiers. He took a look at the girl and started back towards the house. Go back for her. She needs you as much as you need her. That was it! He was done listening to the stupid voice in his head. He knew what to do and he would do what he wanted now. He grinned and increased his pace; this was awesome.

***
Mark sat on the car and looked around, this wasn’t as awesome as he imagined. He had not taken as much time, effort or skill as he thought he would to deal with the soldiers. He looked at his right shoulder, blood trickled down from the wound. Deliberately getting himself shot to increase the challenge did not work either; men were too weak. What would he do now? Go into the city and look for more people to fight? He shook his head, what would be the point of fighting civilians? They would be too easy. Maybe he should look for a military barracks. He remembered one of the soldiers made a call before he killed him, maybe whoever he called would come with soldiers.
He felt a squeeze on his face and he rubbed it with his palm; his face felt dry. He jumped off the car and walked into the house, maybe he needed water. He looked around, there was no single water container standing aright; he had done a lot of damage to the house. He found a mirror in one of the rooms and he looked into it. His face looked strange; it was blacker and the part he touched earlier was wrinkled. What was happening?
Remember the other men? You are dying.
No way, he was not dying. He was super-strong and awesome. He punched the mirror and it shattered. He just needed more people to fight, that was it. He needed a fight. He walked out of the house, he would go into town, even if all he had were civilians.
He heard a sound behind him and turned around. His lips parted into a huge smile, there was a truck filled with soldiers slowing to a stop in front of the building. He rolled his fingers into a fist and started to bounce on his toes; Christmas came early. Thank you Santa.
The first soldier out of the truck saw him and cocked his gun. Mark ran towards him and grabbed him by the throat. Another soldier saw them and shot in his direction; he shifted the soldier swiftly and his body took the bullet; perfect human shield. But that was close; the bullet was headed for his stomach. Was he getting slower? Get out of here now! No way. He wanted this, he really wanted this. Most of the soldiers were still in the truck, maybe he could finish them off easily. He went to the front of the truck and pushed it; it moved. Great! He pushed it again and he applied more pressure and soon it was moving away from the house at a good speed. He looked and saw a slope, it was perfect. He pushed the truck to the slope and let it go, it ran down towards God knows what. Some of the soldiers jumped off the moving truck, they would come to him. He turned around and ran back to the house.
There was a different car in front of the house; a hummer. He looked inside the car; it was empty. He heard voices coming from inside the house. A sharp pain shot through his neck and he dropped to his knees. He held his neck and rubbed it; it felt like his face felt earlier. Did it mean his neck would be black and wrinkled too? For the first time, he feared; this was not good.
Get to the camp now!
The camp? The IDP camp! He looked at his palms, they were wrinkled too. Panic shot through him, he was not ready to die. He had to find the girl, he needed her. Jumai. He needed to find Jumai.
The men talking inside the building came out. They were two; a soldier and another man. He knew the man, he was a dangerous man. He killed Baban, you need to get out of here. Yes, he remembered now. The man was the one who brought the soldiers, he was the bad man.
Mark stayed low and crawled around the car. They were a few feet away from him now, he felt pain in every joint in his body but he had no time for self-pity, he needed to make a move now. He rose gently to his feet and jumped at the soldier and with a blow knocked him out. The bad man brought out a gun but he knocked it away before he could use it. The man raised both hands and looked around. Mark knew what the man was looking for but he was not going to find any.
He walked over to the man and grabbed his hand and knocked out a shoulder joint. The man screamed.
“Do you want to die?” Mark growled into the man’s ears.
The man grunted and shook his head.
“You’re going to drive me to the IDP camp. Now move it.”
“I don’t know where it is.” The man said.
Mark pushed the dislocated shoulder and the man screamed.
“Do you know the place now?” Mark asked.
He pushed the man into his car and he climbed in into the backseat. He put a hand around his neck and squeezed it gently.
“This squeeze can get a lot harder if you do any nonsense.” Mark said.
“Your hands looked all wrinkled up.” The man said. “I hope you know that means you are about to die. The kulunix kills you on its way out.”
“Just drive.” Mark said.
He knew the man was right, why didn’t he remember this before? And Jumai, where was she? Where did he leave her? He had to get to the camp fast.

***
His hands were barely tight and his eyes were already closing when they entered the camp. He was in trouble now, he was sure. Even if General Babatunde who he was sure was already sensing his weakness did not kill him, there was a good chance the kulunix would do it. He needed the antidote but the chance of him finding it before he became too weak to move was low now.
“We are here.” General Babatunde said.
“Thank you General.” Mark said.
“Thank you?” The general said. “The kulunix must have worn off. Would you please get your wrinkled hands off my neck?”
“Not yet. Get me to the office area then you can go.”
“Why on earth will I do that?”
“Because I still have my hand on your neck.” Mark said and squeezed the general’s neck.
Pain surged through his hand and through his body and he let go of the general’s neck. He shouldn’t have squeezed harder, using that extra energy was too dangerous, and it was going to kill him. He rolled in the back seat as his stomach turned and his head burned.
“Well, I guess I don’t have to take orders from you anymore.” The general said. “Now, we will take a trip to my house, I have a little place where I kill people like you.”
Mark looked through the window, the car had turned around. He could not let the general take him out of the camp. He reached for the car handle and opened the door. He jumped out of the car and fell on his face. He mustered all the energy he had and stumbled towards the offices, the antidote would be somewhere there.
Behind him, he heard the car stop and a door open. There was no point stopping to see what the General was doing, he needed to get to the office.
“Mark!” He heard a voice ahead of him.
He looked; Jumai! She was safe! She was here!
He caught a second wind and ran towards her, she ran to meet him too. He smiled, it felt like he was the star of an Indian movie. Except his beautiful Indian princess was a beautiful Nigerian one with a large syringe in her hand. The antidote! He dropped to his knees, he would survive.
A gunshot rang through the camp and for a second it looked like the whole world stood still.
Jumai came back to life first. She screamed, threw the syringe away and grabbed him. She held him and screamed in his ear. Behind her three men with cameras ran towards him – the pressmen he had invited earlier in the day. It felt so long ago.
Jumai held him at arm’s length and he saw blood on her shirt.
“Jumai, you are bleeding.” He said.
A trickle of blood slid down the side of his mouth. He looked down at his stomach, he was bleeding too. His hands felt weak and they dropped to his side.
“Jumai…” He mumbled.
“Shhh, don’t say anything.”
Pain hit his stomach and he crumbled and lay on his back. From the corner of his eyes he saw General Babatunde running back to his car with a gun in his hand. His eyes widened; he had been shot!
Oh no!
“Jumai,” He whispered. “I have been shot.”
“Stop talking Mark.” She was fidgeting with her phone. “One of the cameramen has gone for help.”
“You are doctor, you are the only help I need.”
“Conserve your energy Mark.” She said.
“Conserve it for what? You? I have you here already and that’s all I need.”
“The pressmen got that shooting on camera and I promise that man would not get away with it. My father will make sure of it.”
Mark smiled. He did not care about General Babatunde. Even if they arrested him, there would always be another bad man. With the doctor gone and Baban dead, no one would be producing kulunix anytime soon. He wasn’t dying for nothing. He closed his eyes, he had never felt more at peace.
“Mark, open your eyes.” Jumai said.
Her voice sounded like it came from across a large room, a beautiful large room; heaven maybe.
“Come on Mark, Joey Tribbiani wouldn’t die on me.” She said with a nervous chuckle.
Haha Joey. He laughed and coughed, blood spurting from his mouth. He opened his eyes and looked at her; he could not believe he met her less than a month ago. He reached for her hand and held it. If he could write his life’s story he would title it Jumai. He smiled at his own stupidity.
“Mark.” She said his name so beautifully he wished he could hear it one more time.
“Jumai.”
He whispered her name softly and it echoed in his mind as his eyes closed for the last time. It would continue to echo, maybe even for all eternity.
Beautiful wise.....

THE END.

Authors credit : josh stories.
brownstories#jumaifinalepisode#tosynbrownblog#

(Episode13) JUMAI

was falling into place now for Baban. The men on kulunix were doing exactly what he wanted; maybe a little more. Soldiers had been killed and a few of the men had been killed but it was getting attention from the government. But he knew it was just for the meantime, this needed to be the beginning of many more attacks. He had leaked a few pictures and videos to reporters and a few people were talking about the ongoing incident. He needed more than a few people, he needed the whole nation talking about these new terrorists. He needed men who would pay to have his drug and his sponsors needed the government to buy weapons. Everything was good except for one missing man; Doctor Coker.
Where the hell was he? He had alerted his sponsors and they had put a flag on his name so he could not leave the country.
Dongo had just returned from his house and from the look on his face he could tell he didn’t have great news.
“What did you find?” Baban asked Dongo.
“Nothing?” Dongo said.
“What do you mean you found nothing?”
“I didn’t find Coker or his family.”
“They are gone?”
“That’s the crazy thing, it doesn’t look they’ve gone anywhere. Their car is still in the driveway, their passports are all in place, ATM cards too.”
“I don’t understand.” Baban said.
He really didn’t. If Coker didn’t take anything there was no way he could escape. Except he had help.
“Sir,” Dongo said. “Do you know where he could be?”
“If I knew where he was would I be here worrying?”
He paused then said. “Maybe your friends do.”
Baban raised his eyebrows. “Friends?”
“Yes sir. The general and his friends. They know all about this project and seeing what is happening now they must see how profitable it is.”
“Yes of course they see how profitable it is, that’s why we’re in business.”
“What if they wanted to eliminate the middle man and want the drug for themselves?”
Baban stood and began to pace. “There’s no way they would do that; they won’t betray me like that. They get their profit from their gun sales and I handle the drugs; that was our deal.”
“And you think they won’t stab you in the back if they get the chance?”
Baban shook his head, there was no way they would do that to him. He was the one that brought them this business in the first place, why would they steal from him? Money! They would do anything for money and so would he.
If their plan was to hurt him, he would hurt them first.
“Can you find out for sure if they have Coker?” Baban asked.
“I’m already on it.”
He had to make plans now he had the chance. He knew General Babatunde was smart and wouldn’t waste time in putting a mark on him once they decided he wasn’t of use anymore. And there was Fauziat whom the General had already threatened already. All of a sudden things didn’t look so good anymore.
“Sir, there’s also the problem of the girl we have here and Mark who we haven’t found yet.” Dongo said.
Baban slammed his hand on the table. There was only so much his brain could attend to at once.
“I don’t need the girl anymore, I have more problems.” Baban said.
“And Mark?”
“He doesn’t know anything or he would have said something by now.”
Dongo turned to leave. “Do you want me to take care of the girl?”
“No, I will do it myself.”
He had started the day with hope but just one conversation was sending his day spiralling to hell. I am a warrior! He wasn’t where he was but crumbling under problems, he would solve it all one by one. Starting with killing the girl.

***
The car spluttered again and the engine went off. Mark knew the car wasn’t coming back to life this time around, there was no point pushing it. He beckoned to Mohammed and they exited the car. He stuffed his pocket with the kulunix the Indian Baban had forced him to take and Mohammed carried the flask containing the antidote the doctor had given him. He cast a final look at the car and they began to walk towards the camp.
He expected to meet soldiers on the way but they were not at their posts. He could see the camp ahead; everything looked the same but something was strange about what he was looking at. It did not matter now that he knew who was holding Jumai and who was behind what happened with Sule. He closed his eyes and shook off the thought of Professor Tanko’s smiling face as he made promises to help WAAP.
“Uncle look!” Mohammed shouted and pointed.
Mark looked at the direction Mohammed’s finger was pointed to, on the floor a few feet off the road a man lay prostrate on the floor. Mark ran up to the man and knelt beside him. He checked the man’s pulse, he was dead. He looked exactly like the man he and Jumai had found behind one the buildings. This was kulunix. Was there an outbreak on the camp?
“Let’s hurry Mohammed.” Mark said.
They ran as fast as they could to the camp. As soon as they entered the camp Mark knew something major was wrong. He looked around and saw similar sights like they had seen on the way; bodies laid prostrate on the floor. There was a chance some of them were not dead but he couldn’t do much on his own, he needed help.
He ran towards the office area. If there was an outbreak of kulunix, there was a good chance that the staff were dead. He swallowed at the thought.
He turned around a corner and stopped! It looked like a full battle had just finished here. There were dead bodies lying on the floor; soldiers and men from the camp. Mark’s blood boiled at the sight. What had Professor Tanko done? This wasn’t just about Jumai, the man had killed men just to test run a drug? There were still a few men running around the offices, it was obvious they were on Kulunix. It was possible there were people locked inside those buildings or maybe they had escaped. He had to do something about this.
He removed his phone and took a few pictures and uploaded them online; it was time to expose Professor Tanko.
He tagged the first picture; ‘This is what this man would do to test run a drug.’
He tagged a few online newspapers but he knew it wouldn’t catch on until he mentioned who the ‘man’ was. Professor Tanko had Jumai, it was not smart to give up all his leverage.
He uploaded more pictures telling the story but not mentioning the name. One of the newspapers sent him a message privately, they wanted to know who the man was. He shook his head, he still had to save Jumai.
He scrolled through his contacts and stopped on Professor Tanko’s number. He dialled the number.
“Mister Mark, where have you been? We have been worried.” Professor Tanko said as soon as he answered the call.
“Professor, you can drop the act, I know who you are and what you are doing, Baban.”
The professor stayed quiet for a few seconds then said, his voice very cold. “If you know who I am then you will know I have Jumai and I am very dangerous.”
“Is she okay?” Mark asked, fear getting the better of him.
“She is okay, for now. You do anything stupid and she is dead.”
“Oh yeah, that’s what I called about. I have started talking about you to the press but I haven’t mentioned your name but I can’t keep that secret very long.”
“I already told you, don’t do anything stupid.”
“Release Jumai and you have my word I won’t be giving the newspapers already calling me your name.”
“I can arrange that.”
“And on time because these newspapers are already mounting pressure.”
“I’m one hour away from the camp.” Professor Tanko said. “I will come with Jumai and you will hand over all you have on me. Do we have a deal?”
Mark nodded. “Yes we do.” He ended the call.
Mark looked at his watch, he had one hour to make a plan that will leave him alive. He knew Professor Tanko was lying, there was no way he would hand over Jumai and let him go with the knowledge that he had. In truth he didn’t have hard evidence against Professor Tanko, but he could get his evidence. If he could get news men secretly filming the exchange, he would have evidence that Professor Tanko kidnapped Jumai and that way he would survive. The Professor would not want to worsen his case by killing him on camera. Hopefully he wouldn’t.
He had a lot of calls to make. He hoped he could get the cameras here before one hour. More importantly he hoped he would still be alive in one hour.

***
“How far out are you?” Baban asked.
“Just ten minutes.” Dongo’s reply came over the phone.
“If you don’t pick him up please don’t come back here. I want him alive in case he has told someone else. But if taking him alive will allow him escape then by all means put a bullet in his head. I want him here in thirty minutes, dead or alive.”
He ended the call and smiled. The small fool threatened him? He was already dealing with threats before the boy was born. Once the boy was here, he could die next to his girlfriend. That was the second problem almost solved. Now he had to think of what to do with his back-stabbing partners.
The door opened and General Babatunde happened.
“Speak of the Devil.” Baban mumbled.
“What did you say?” General Babatunde asked.
Baban faked his best smile. “I wasn’t expecting you here today General.”
“Forget the niceties, we know what you’re doing and it’s not going to work.”
“What are you talking about?” Baban asked, he was truly confused.
“Your doctor, he suddenly fell off the radar now when his creation is finally working, coincidence?”
“What?”
“You cannot hide him for long. What would you tell us? He escaped? He’s dead?”
“What is this? Some sort of reverse thing? You have my scientist and now you accuse me of hiding him?”
General Babatunde laughed. “So that’s the angle you want to play? We have him? For what?”
“So you can have all the business. If you have the scientist, you don’t need me.”
“Hmm, that is actually very true. When we find the scientist, we will kill you and we will have all the business.”
“Are you saying…?”
Their phones rang at the same time, stopping Baban in the middle of his question. General Babatunde walked to a corner of the room and answered his call.
Baban answered his.
“Dongo, do you have him?”
“Yes sir, I do.”
Baban sighed, finally. “Is he alive?”
“Yes he is, a little unconscious though.”
“A little unconscious? What does that even…never mind. Get here fast!”
Baban ended his call and saw the general staring at him.
“Who is Mark Ademola?” General Babatunde.
“He’s nobody. He works for the charity people. Why do you ask?”
“Well, your ‘nobody’ is getting attention on social media telling people about a certain man testing drugs in IDP camps.”
“What?” The bastard. “Did he mention my name?”
“I’m not your press secretary. The important question is, did you know about him and did nothing about it? Or is this part of your plan to deceive us?”
“My guy is bringing the boy in now. He’s not a problem to you or to me.” Baban said. “And about the doctor, I don’t have him. I actually thought you did.”
The door opened and Dongo pushed Mark in, gagged, hands tied and blindfolded.
“That was so fast.” Baban said.
“This is the boy?” General Babatunde asked.
The general looked Mark over then removed his blindfold and gag.
“How did he find out about you?” General Babatunde asked.
“I don’t know.”
“He found Doctor Coker.” Dongo said.
“What?”
“He has a very low threshold for pain, he told me everything before I landed the second punch.” Dongo said.
“Where is Coker?” General Babatunde asked.
“He doesn’t know for sure but I can find him.” Dongo replied.
“Okay then. We have the boy, we will have Coker soon and the government is already interested in talking to us.” General Babatunde said then turned to Baban. “I think your work is done.”
“What?” Baban knew what that statement meant but there was no way General Babatunde would kill him in his own place, surrounded by his own men.
“Face it Tanko, you are of no use anymore. You are actually a liability right now.”
Baban laughed nervously. “You will kill me here? Among my men?”
General Babatunde smiled and turned around. “Soldier, handle this, will you?”
Soldier? Baban looked around and turned on time to see Dongo point the gun to his head. No way!
“Dongo, you? You are my right hand man, we made plans together.”
“I’m sorry, I have my orders.”
The door opened as the general walked out and Baban saw the number of men outside, there was no way out of this for him.
“Dongo, please I have…”
The gunshot rang through the room and Baban’s body fell at Mark’s feet.

***
Mark crashed into the room and for a few seconds he kept his face on the ground. He was dead for sure now. They had not hesitated to kill Professor Tanko who he assumed was the person to fight all along, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill him. He was stupid, so stupid. He shouldn’t have been caught. Now he was going to die, so would Jumai and the poor doctor and his family. He was so stupid.
He felt a touch on his back and he flinched.
“Mark?”
He raised his head. “Jumai?”
He hugged her tight and held her for what looked like an eternity but still it wasn’t enough. He was never going to let her go. The men who would kill her would have to pry her away from his dead cold hands.
“Mark?” Jumai gently released herself from his hug.
“Are you okay?” Mark asked, looking her over.
“Hmhmm.” She said, tears forming in her eyes.
He pulled her closer and rocked her. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
They sat in silence for about five minutes. Mark wondered why this had happened to him of all people. His life was simple. He helped people for a living and now most of the people he had spent his time helping were dead or dying. Where are the women? He had not considered that, he could only hope they were okay. His boss, Jumai’s father, the whole team, they were all somewhere unaware that he and Jumai were about to die. Nobody would miss him but Jumai, she had people; parents, a fiancé. She shouldn’t die like this. She won’t die like this.
“What are you doing?” Jumai asked.
“What? Nothing, I haven’t even moved.”
“Something about you just changed and I have a bad feeling you are about to do something stupid.”
“Well, it’s true I want to do something stupid but I can’t even think of any stupid thing to do right now.”
“You don’t have to do anything. I’ve made my peace with God and myself, I already know I’m going to die. I’m just glad to see you again before that happens.”
“You are not going to die. I will get you out of here even if it’s the last thing I do.”
“That sounds heroic and stuff but except you’re ‘the Hulk’ and you can transform into a power machine, I don’t see that happening.”
Mark laughed. “Don’t make me laugh Jumai, I need to think right now. Although if I could transform I would have because I am very angry right now.”
“Can we just sit and wait for them? At least I will have the comfort of knowing I died with someone who loved me.”
Mark looked at her. “Love? I never said I loved you.”
“Are you saying you don’t?”
Mark pulled her closer. “Remember Faruk? He’s the reason…”
“Who?”
“Faruk, your fiancé?”
“What?” Jumai laughed. “You actually believed that?”
“What are you saying?”
“I don’t have a fiancé, I was just messing with you.”
Mark chuckled, this was great news. If only they were not about to die.
“You were messing with me…I am very angry right now.” Mark said. “Why can’t I just transform into the green monster already?”
“I think it is money they call the green monster actually.”
“Do you really want to argue that right now? The Hulk is the…” Mark stopped and dipped his hand inside his pocket and brought out a pill. “Oh my God, I can actually transform.”
“What are you talking about?” Jumai asked.
“This is the pill Sule took, it is called Kulunix.” Mark said. “I can actually transform.”
“Wait a minute, what are you talking about?”
“If I take the pill, I’ll get the super strength that can break walls and fight off the men outside.”
“No, no Mark. No, you won’t do something that stupid.”
“So this is the stupid thing I should have thought about since?” He took Jumai’s hand. “We can’t just wait here and die. I can’t just watch you die or watch you watch me die.”
“Sule died from this thing.”
Mark sighed, that was true. Doctor Coker told hime Sule died and so had many other men who used the drug. But he had to take the chance.
And there was an antidote!
“There’s an antidote. It is back at the camp but we can maybe get there before…”
“No Mark,” She walked away from him. “You won’t do this.”

continued in  the final episode.....

(Episode 10) JUMAI

Mark opened his eyes and immediately shut it. The light hurt his eyes and worsened the banging in his head. Where was he? He opened his eyes slightly and looked around; he was in the infirmary. Why was he here? He leaned forward and his sight swayed. He paused for a few seconds then sat up on the bed. The infirmary was empty. Why was he…? Jumai! He jumped to his feet, his head reeled with pain and stumbled towards a wall. He held on to the wall and moved towards the door.
He pushed the door halfway open and heard voices, he paused and peeped. The corridor was empty. He opened the door and walked down the corridor. The voices were coming from the office at the end of the corridor, he stopped just before the window of the room and listened.
“There’s no way I’m waiting for the police; that is my daughter.”
That had to be Jumai’s father. She is missing? The drugged man took her? Mark leaned against the wall and for a while could not hear the words being said inside the room. What had happened in that hostel? Why did that man seem to have superpowers? What has he done to Jumai with his superpowers? His heart raced. Why was he here doing nothing?
He groped the wall, moved to the door, pushed it open and entered. The men in the room looked up at him.
“Mark?” It was his boss. “How are you?”
“Is this the man?” Jumai’s father asked.
“Yes sir.” Doctor Aderoju answered. “He was there when your daughter was taken.”
“What did you see? What happened?” One of the men Mark did not recognize asked.
Mark reached for a chair and sat.
“I need water.” He said but none of the men moved. They were not used to serving others.
“Mark, answer the gentleman.” Doctor Aderoju said. “What did you see?”
“I need water.” Mark said.
Doctor Aderoju walked to a refrigerator in the corner of the room and brought a bottle of water. He handed the water to Mark and he gulped down the contents of the bottle.
“So?” The man who asked the question earlier, said.
Mark cleared his throat weakly. “A man took Jumai. They called him Sule.”
“Sule Ahmed, he is the only one not accounted for in the camp.” Doctor Aderoju said.
“Did he kill the others all by himself?” Professor Tanko who he had not noticed before asked.
“Yes he did.”
“How is that even possible?”
“I don’t care!” Jumai’s father said. “I need to find my daughter now!”
“A helicopter…” Mark said.
“What?”
“If you get an helicopter you can cover more ground.”
“I can get a helicopter.” Professor Tanko said.
“What if they are under a roof or tree or something?” Doctor Aderoju said.
“We already have people conducting the search on the ground, don’t we?” Jumai’s father said.
“Yes.” Professor Tanko said. “Mr Dongo has led out the search party.”
“Get the helicopter please Professor.”
Professor Tanko nodded, pulled out his phone and walked out the room.
“What happened back there Mark? Why were you in the hostel area?”
Mark wish he knew the answer to the former question. It had been on his mind before he had been knocked out. Why was the man so strong? Did he truly knock the man through the wall?
“Mark?”
“Sorry, we heard loud noises from the hostel area and decided to check what was responsible.” Mark said.
“And you allowed my daughter go?”
Mark wished he had not allowed Jumai follow him. It did not matter what these men were doing, he was going to find her himself. Mark stood.
“Where are you going?” Doctor Aderoju asked.
“I have a terrible headache sir, I need to lie down.”
Did he have a headache? Yes. Was he going to lie down? No.

Baban dialled Dongo as soon as he left the room, he needed to find that girl before anybody found her. More importantly he needed to find the man who had her. The kulunix was causing a stir and he was happy but he did not like the fact this was an isolated incident. It was not getting the attention they needed from the government. One girl stolen by one man was nothing despite her influential father. An American team killed by hundreds of wild men on the other hand would get the attention of the world.
Dongo answered the call.
“Any signs of them yet?” Baban asked.
“Signs, yes but we have not sighted them yet.”
“How far away from you do you think they are?”
“I’m not sure sir. They were moving very fast but looks like he’s slowing down now.”
“Okay, remember what I said.” Baban looked around, there was nobody. “Kill the men that are not ours. Nobody must know we found the girl.”
“Copy sir.” Dongo said.
Baban ended the call. This kidnap was not part of the plan but it could help. The girl’s father was rich and influential; news would travel fast about the killings in the IDP camp once it started.
He got to his car and entered. The driver started the car and they headed out of the camp. There was something confusing him though, why was only one person reacting to the drug? Surely he wasn’t the only one who took it. He needed to talk to Doctor Coker again.
He dialled the number, it was switched off. That was strange; he had told Doctor Coker to keep his line open at all times. He dialled the office phone; no one answered. Something was wrong.
His phone rang, it was Dongo.
“You found them?”
“We found her sir.”
“And the man?”
“We are yet to find him.”
Baban sighed, he needed the man too. “Look for him but I need to pick up the girl now.”
“I will send our coordinates to your driver. I’ll be waiting at the road just ahead.”
“Alright. Is the girl okay?”
“She’s unconscious.”
“That’s great, I don’t want her seeing my face.”
Dongo paused. “Are you letting her go?”
“No.” Baban said. “But I don’t want to take any chances. Find the man and let’s wrap this up.”
“Okay sir.”
“Wait!”
“Sir?”
“Have you heard from Doctor Coker?”
“Coker? No. Why?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
Doctor Coker had played his part, he didn’t have much to offer but he was loose end. He hated loose ends. Coker knew too much and he could produce the kulunix for others, that was bad for business, he needed him dead once and for all. He would deal with that once he settled this girl’s business.
Twenty minutes later he was parked by the road waiting on Dongo and his men. They came, one of them carrying the girl over his shoulder and another carrying someone else on his shoulder. Baban came out of the car to meet them.
“Put the girl in the car with me.” Baban said. “Is this the man?”
They set the man on the floor. He didn’t look like the man he had heard about. He was thin, emaciated even. His face was squeezed, there was no way anyone could recognize him. His body was perfectly still. Was he dead?
“Is he dead?” Baban asked.
“No, he is almost dead though.”
Something major was wrong with the kulunix. The men were not supposed to die just a few hours after taking it. If they died this fast he could not sustain a war. He really needed to find Doctor Coker.
“Get him to Coker’s lab fast.” Baban said. “I want him alive.”
“What do we do about the search? They are still waiting at the camp.”
It was true and it was only a matter of time before they found the bodies of the men who joined the search.
“You have to go back and feign an attack. Tell them the man who carried Jumai attacked you, killed some and ran away with the girl. That should buy me time to set my plan in motion.
Baban returned to his car and looked at the girl. She was pretty, almost pretty enough to make him change his mind about killing her. She was stirring. He cupped her cheek in his palm as she opened. She would be the prettiest girl he had ever killed.

Mark moved through the hostel corridors. The atmosphere was still subdued, they had lost three of their children that day. A hurried burial had been done for the dead boys but the halls wouldn’t be quieter if the bodies were still lying in the sand. He was sure they would want to be left alone but he couldn’t. He needed to find Jumai. He had questions and he needed answers.
He knocked on the door of the room that had belonged to the late Aliyu and the missing Sule. There was no answer. He pushed the door and entered. On the lower bunk of one of the beds laid the man Sule had dropped to go after Jumai. He did not look up when Mark entered. Mark moved close to him and sat on his bed.
“Are you okay?” Mark asked.
The man’s eyes looked glazed and lost, Mark wasn’t even sure he could hear him.
The room was empty; the other occupants must have moved to other rooms; he couldn’t blame them. He already heard someone say among the crowd who watched what Sule did say that he was possessed by a powerful demon. If any such demon existed it would not be safe to stay in the room where it possessed their friend.
It was hopeless trying to get anything out of this man. He stood and headed for the door. He heard a movement on the top of the bunk where the man lay and turned to look. A small boy was lying on the bed, very close to the wall. He knew the boy, he was the one who spoke to him when the fight was on.
Mark beckoned to the boy and he climbed down from the bed.
“What is your name?” Mark asked.
“Mohammed.” The boy said.
“Is this your room?”
The boy nodded.
That was not right. Boys of Mohammed’s age were not supposed to be in the same room as Sule and Aliyu.
“You know Sule and Aliyu?”
“Sule na my brother.” Mohammed said.
“Where you come from?”
“From here, inside bush. I don come before, Sule come three days ago.”
Sule was part of the new batch admitted into the camp. Most of the men who came in newly were very malnourished and sickly. It was strange that Sule had shown so much strength if he came in weak and dying.
“Wetin do Sule?”
The boy dropped his eyes. “I no know oga. He dey sleep before, Aliyu dey wake am na so he angry beat am.”
“He was sleeping?” This wasn’t making sense. “Sule dey smoke?”
The boy did not answer; Sule probably did. It was against the rules to smoke in the room, smokers had to go far away from the hostels. The boy was trying to protect his brother. Smoking was the least of his concerns at the moment, he needed to know what gave Sule his super strength.
“Where Sule bed?” Mark asked.
The boy pointed to the bed he had climbed down from. Mark climbed up and sat on the bed. It was laid properly, he wasn’t sure if this was the work of Sule or Mohammed. On the bed was a brown paper bag, he opened it and emptied the contents on the bed. There was a bottle of *ROBB* and a tube of mosquito repelant. There was a pack of cigarettes and the antibiotics supplied by Professor Tanko. There were some small items also, nothing of note. He put everything back in the bag. If there was something to be found, it wasn’t in that bag.
He jumped down from the bed. He had not found his answer here, he had no idea where to go to next. He looked back at the paper bag, maybe there was more to what he had seen. Maybe he had dismissed it all too soon. He grabbed the bag.
“Mohammed, I go return the bag.” He said to the boy. “I want to check something.”
He dipped his hand in the bag and removed the antibiotics, he handed it to the boy; that did not need testing.
He exited the room. It was dark now. The later it got the less chance they had of finding Jumai. The men who went to search for her had returned – some of them had. If Sule had killed the men like they said, Jumai had no chance. He shook his head, he could not bear to think that way. Sule wasn’t in his right mind, surely that would change. He would get off his high and realise what he had done and return Jumai.
Or maybe Jumai was dead.
He shuddered at the thought. She was fine, she had to be. His phone vibrated, he had a text. He removed the phone from his pocket and checked.
It was Jumai. The text read;
“Baban.”

(Episode3) : JUMAI

Baban adjusted his tie as Dongo opened the door for him. He loved wearing a three piece suit and a tie. It was strange for people in his line of work to but he wasn’t like most people in his line of work. He was the next generation, he was the future. The future was here though, it was time to make things happen. Making things happen depended a lot on one man – Doctor Coker.
Baban paused in the reception and looked around. The building looked like any other chemical research lab he had ever seen. It wasn’t anything to pay attention to. What would come out of the building on the other hand would get everyone’s attention. Everything being equal. Making and keeping everything equal was easier said than done.
“Sir, Doctor Coker has been informed of your arrival. He is waiting in the laboratory.”
“We mustn’t keep the good doctor waiting.” Baban said.
He followed Dongo into the elevator and waited for him to punch the appropriate buttons.
“Did you do what I asked you to?” Baban asked.
“Yes sir. Everything has been arranged.”
Baban nodded.
The elevator door opened and he stepped into the long corridor. On either side of the corridor, chemists and whoever else Doctor Coker had hired were working. It was good they could not see through the glass on their end. They got to the end of the corridor and Dongo pushed a button by the door. Two seconds later, the door opened. Doctor Coker stood behind it, smiling like he had just seen an old friend.
“Welcome Professor…”
Baban raised his right hand and Coker stopped. “I’ve told you to call me Baban until this project is over.”
“Sorry Baban. You are welcome. I’m glad to have you here sir.”
“Hmhmm.” Baban said. “Dongo here told me he sent 15 million naira to you.”
“Yes sir, he did,”
“Are you happy with the money Doctor?” Baban asked.
“Yes sir, I am.”
Baban moved closer to Coker. “So why aren’t you making me happy Doctor?”
“Sir, I promise we are doing our best. You just need to be a little patient sir.”
“Patience…” Baban said and stepped away Coker.
Dongo and his other men knew he hated to hear the word ‘patience’, apparently the doctor didn’t.
“Follow me sir.” Coker said.
Baban turned to face to Dongo and nodded. Dongo turned and left the room.
“Where are you taking me doctor?” Baban asked.
“To my office sir.” Coker said.
“Why Doctor? Do you have the finalised Kulunix in your office?
“No sir.” Coker said. “I just want to show you the last test we did.”
“Really? Tell me about it.”
“We tested on one of our research monkeys. I could show you the video sir.”
“How about we run the test again? What do you say Doctor?”
“I wish we could sir but we don’t have any test monkeys here sir. The previous ones died during the test. The new batch we bought will arrive in three days.”
“Do we need to use a monkey?” Baban asked with a smile.
“No sir. Absolutely not. We just need another mammal. We just figured a monkey will be better because it’s closer to the human.”
“How about we use a human?” Baban asked.
Coker’s eyes widened. “What?”
“A human. You know, like you and me.”
“Sir, I would not recommend…”
“Follow me Doctor.” Baban said.
Baban smiled as the doctor stumbled after him. He wanted to protest but what would he say? Even the doctor knew there was a limit to which you could challenge Baban.
He led the doctor to one of the test facilities. He had been running these experiments with other scientists but none of them had ever come close. It was a wonderful day when he stumbled on Doctor Coker’s thesis. He had offered to sponsor his research and like a true fund-starved researcher he had jumped at the opportunity. One year later, the doctor was close to the ultimate prize. He just needed a little motivation. He would get it today.
“Okay, let’s run another test.” Baban said.
“Sir, how do…”
“Shhh.” Baban said. “I need to see this.”
Baban knocked on one of the test tanks and pulled up a seat.
“Please sit Doctor.” Baban said.
“I’ll stand.” Coker said, his eyes glued on the tank.
“Suit yourself.”
A door opened on the other side of the tank and Dongo entered his back to Baban and Coker. He was pulling something in front of him.
“Are you sure you don’t wanna sit?” Baban asked Coker.
Coker remained standing, fear clearly written on his face.
Dongo stepped aside to reveal a young boy sitting on a chair.
“James?” Coker shouted.
“Our test subject today.” Baban announced.
“That is my son!” Coker screamed and ran for the door.
He got to the door and turned the handle, the door did not open. He rammed his body into the door. It was stupid. He more than anybody should know that the door was electronic.
“What are you doing?!” Coker screamed. “That is my son!”
“Will you calm down so I can explain?” Baban said, his voice calm and steady.
Coker ran to the tank and banged on the glass. His son was asleep or drugged. Or dead.
“Doctor Coker, listen to me.” Coker turned around, his eyes red from anger and grief. “When this drug is done, you will have done something phenomenal. You will be wealthy, popular. You may even get a Nobel prize out of this.”
“You are about to kill my son. The drug is not ready.” Coker said through clenched teeth.
“Finally, we are on the same page.” Baban said and stood. “I’m about to kill your son because the drug is not ready. Wait a minute, I’m not killing your son. You are.”
Baban knocked on the tank. Dongo returned into the tank.
“Don’t do this.” Coker said.
“Was that a plea or a threat?”
“Don’t do this.”
Baban gave Dongo a ‘thumbs up’. Coker looked at Dongo bring out a syringe and he charged at Baban. Baban sidestepped Coker and he crashed into a chair. Baban reached into his pocket and brought out a small knife. He picked Coker off the chair, pinned his hand behind his back and pressed the knife against his neck.
“You are going to watch this.” Baban said into Coker’s ear. “If in four days my Kulunix is not ready, I’ll bring in John. Four days after that, I will bring in Janet. You get the picture?”
Dongo pushed the syringe into the boy’s neck and left the tank. Baban watched to see what would happen and for about ten seconds nothing happened. Then the boy stood to his feet and he ran and crashed into the tank wall. The impact felt like it would bring down the glass wall. He stepped back and tore off his shirt. He flexed his muscles and screamed. He grabbed the chair in the tank and pulled it apart.
“Please.” Coker whispered.
“Shhhh.” Baban said and pressed the knife harder into his neck.
James Coker was doing things his natural strength could not do. It was amazing. He stopped and grabbed his neck. He began to sob and he sank to his knees. He looked up and for the first time saw his father.
He stretched his hand forward. “Daddy?”
Baban let Coker go. There was nothing he could do now.
Baban headed for the door. He got to the door, stopped and looked back.
“Give me my Kulunix or in four days John would be in that tank.”Baban said and walked out.
Doctor Coker was paying him no attention though. His son was dead.

To be continued in the next episode .....