PBMH 2 ; EPISODE 10

PBMH 2; EPISODE 10

 

 

EPISODE 10

                KP and Dora were having lunch in the garden. They looked happy. At least, that’s what I think I saw. “Did you guys go to church?” I asked as I approached them.

                                “We did. Please join us for lunch.” KP offered.

                I smiled faintly. “I have a lot to do. Have fun guys.” I replied. Dora didn’t say a word as she returned to her lunch.  “Hi Dora”

                                “Hi sis.” She replied quietly.

                I probed her with my look. “Are you alright?”

                                “Yes, I am good” she replied with a quick nod.

                I shrugged and walked away. I immediately turned on my laptop and sent a message to the manager of the hotel where I intended to lodge Sameer. In the spirit of Muslim festive season, Sameer had insisted in wearing his turban into the country. I was trying to hide him from Chidi Obi’s guys. He wouldn’t bulge.

                He had said on our conversation on Skype. “Insha Allah, I will be in this Turban.” He said, displaying his Red and White Turban.

                                “It’s for your safety, Sameer.” I pleaded.

                He smiled. “If I die because of this, it’s for a good cause. Barka da Sallah”

                A staunch Muslim faithful can’t be unnerved.  I immediately dialed Tom Frost, the American that owned the exquisite ‘Emerald Hotels and Suites’ he had been a friend of the family for a while now. So I had asked him for a favour to bring Sameer in from Dubai from his trip as an escort. Sameer was dressed like a Muslim lady as he had insisted that he wanted his Turban on.

                Fifteen minutes later, Tom’s call came in. “Emerald Hotels Check! Suite 105.”

                                “Copy.” I replied and cut the call. I was a bit skeptical about Sameer’s safety. I didn’t want his location compromised. I was going to meet up with them at the hotel in about an hour. I trusted Tom Frost to be a good host, but I wanted to see Sameer. I called a cab to pick me up.

                I arrived at the hotel in about 45 minutes and went up to Suite 501. Tom Frost had told me the Suite in reverse as 105 just in case we had a situation.

                                “Darlene Williams.” Sameer said as I stepped in with Tom Frost. “Good friend Tom here has been helpful.” He said, smiling at Tom.

                We ordered a bottle of champagne as we started our discussion. “How was your flight?”

                                “Swift. Thanks for the first class treatment.”

                I smiled. “You are welcome. All I want is for the truth to be told.”

                                “Obi is a bad man. He robbed Mr. Davis and I want to see him pay for his crimes.”

                We spoke at length before I decided to leave the hotel. “Please I want you to stay safe Sameer. No wanderings and please do your prayers indoors. After Wednesday, you’ll be free to return to Dubai.”

                                “Thanks a lot, Darlene.” He said. “I’ll be careful.” He added.

                I left for the bar where Mr. Davis was waiting.

                                “How is the witness?” he asked.

                I took a seat. “He is in good spirits. I advise we stay away from this hotel till the case is over; I don’t want us traced to Sameer. He is our only lifeline.”

                                “In that case, I suggest we take our leave. I am scared of my grand daughter’s life being in danger.” He said, standing up. “I just want my family safe.”

                I could understand Mr. Davis’s plight. Dotun and Wura had a baby girl, any crook would go after the weak link and probably have the child kidnapped or harmed. “Why don’t you fly them out?”

                                “I already made arrangements for them to love the country tomorrow, but I am concerned, there’s a lot of hours from tonight till tomorrow for Obi to strike.” He said as we strolled out. “How tight is Sameer’s security?”

                I rubbed my chin. “A guy is sharing his suite; two guys are staying opposite his Suite. I have some guys opposite the hotel watching from a distance. There’s a standby get-away vehicle just in case we get compromised.” I continued as I briefed him on the security details.

                                “Safe to say, Sameer is well guarded.”

                I nodded in agreement. “I have the best guys in the country guarding him. Just keep your family safe, Sameer will be fine, Insha Allah.” We chuckled softly and approached his Car.

                Gunshots went off immediately from the pent suite of the hotel. Tunji Davis and I ducked quickly behind his car as we tried to hide. I stared at the shattered blood stain glass and it could only mean one thing, Sameer had been killed. Now we had to take cover. Tunji Davis and I tried to get into the car and he sped off.

“We are been chased, Mr. Davis.” I bleated.

                He took a quick peek through his mirror. “Reach for the glove box and get my gun. That should distract them a bit, I guess.”

                I tried reaching for the gun. “Here” I pointed it at him.

                                “Shoot at them”

                I shook my head in disagreement. “I don’t know how to use a gun.” I begged.

                                “Oh my God.” He sighed. “Please dial Dotun and tell him to vacate the house as soon as possible.”

                I immediately delivered the message to Mr. Davis’s son. Oil money is no joke! People kill for Oil. I sent a distress call to the police and tried calling my Dad.

                                “What is it, Darlene?” he asked desperately.

                                “Dad, we are being chased by some assassins.” I cried into the receiver.

                                “Your location.”

                I immediately provided him with the location and dropped the call. I slid over to the back seat and watched the vehicles chasing us frantically. Mr. Davis maintained a speed of 200km/hr and above and he was doing fine.

                Two vehicles were soon catching up and then we received a call from the police instructing us to lead them into an ambush. We drove right into the lonely dark street where the police men were in waiting and then turned off the engine. The vehicles stopped behind us. I said the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ repeatedly as some men approached Mr. Davis car from the parked vehicles.

                Mr. Davis smiled. “It was nice working with you.”

                I smiled back boldly. Gunshots went off bodies dropped like Dead birds that were hunted down. After there was calm, there was a light tap on the window.

                                “It’s the police here. You can come out.”

                We remained in the car and didn’t unlock it. If they were police indeed, there had to be a proof. My phone vibrated. I had put it on the vibrating mode immediately the chase started. Dad was calling.

                                “It is the Police honey, you guys can come out.”

                I wasn’t convinced. “How can you be so sure?”

                                “I just got a call from them that you are refusing to step out of the car.” He replied. I stared through the tinted glass and saw Police officers surrounding the vehicle and some taking notes of the killed men.

                Mr. Davis held his rifle boldly and pushed the door open. He shot into the air and the Police scrambled to the floor. I joined him outside staring at dead bodies of the assassins who chased us.

                                “Hi Darlene.” One of the police officers said.

                I turned to see his face. “Hey, I remember you. Officer Philip, right?”

                He nodded with a smile. “Ya. How’s Jake Behaving?”

                                “He’s been good since community service.”

                He raised an eyebrow. “For real? That guy doesn’t seem to me like one to change from his ways. He is a trouble shooter.”

                We both laughed. We were escorted home in the Police Van by Officer Philip. We dropped Mr. Davis off first, luckily, Dotun and his family had fled instantly on his Dad’s order. They had a chopper on their pent house so fleeing wasn’t a big deal for them.

                I rushed into Dad’s arm as soon as I got down from the truck. “It’s okay my angel, this is just a few of the slight things you might face as a lawyer.”

                I released myself from the hug. “Dad???”

                He smiled. “Of course D, what did you expect? We are talking about Oil here, that’s a demon on its own. So much money is involved baby.”

                I frowned.

                                “Okay, I am sorry. Are you alright?”

                I nodded. “Yes I am. Thanks Dad.”

 Jake pulled up in his car and rushed to me. “Are you okay?”

                                “How did you hear about it?”

                He hissed and hugged me. “What do you care?” Jake and I left for the house while Dad spoke to the Policemen. Dora was waiting in the hallway.

                                “Darlene!” she said ecstatically and hugged me. “You had me scared to death.”

                ‘Yeah yeah…perfect chance to have my life in total, Jake would be all yours if I had died’ I thought. I released myself from the hug. “I am fine now. I need to take a shower.” I said, leaving for the stairs.

                                “I will make you something to drink.”

                I shrugged. “I don’t think I want anything.”

                                “Come on D, you need to take something.” She urged.

                I rolled my eyes. “I am too terrified to eat.” I replied.

                                “Darlene, you need something.” Jake said.

                I raise my hand up in defeat. “Fine.” I said and left for my room.

                I knelt down and offered a prayer to God for keeping me alive. I then put a call through to Tom’s phone. It went to the answering machine. “Sameer…” I murmured softly and broke down in tears. I had grown fond of my Arabian Witness. I loved his faith, will and strength and now he was no more. I remember him saying that if he died for this cause, it would be noble. How more noble could a man be? I thought.

                There was a light knock on my door. I opened it and saw Dare standing before me. I hugged him tightly.

                                “I am sorry.” He said, as he wiped my tears.

                                “I was so scared.” I confessed to him.

                Jake cleared his throat as he placed a glass of juice on the table. He had brought Dare upstairs and was standing behind Dare when I hugged him. “I’ll be in the kitchen.” He said, and closed the door after him.

                I led Dare to a seat. He cleared his throat and started, “Sameer is…”

                                “Don’t bother.” I said, sniffling.

                He took a deep breath. “Sameer is in my house.”

                I widened my eyes and smiled with so much joy. “Are you sure?”

                He nodded smiling. “Yes, Tom brought him over. They killed some guys and had to flee, luckily, they called the Firm and I picked them up.”

                I hugged Dare again. “Thank you” I whispered.

                                “Darlene, I love you and I don’t want you to get hurt.” He said. I slowly released myself from the hug and cleared my throat. “Could you please pass the juice?” I requested.

                Dare nodded and passed the glass of juice. “I’ll be downstairs.” He said and left for the door.

                                “Dare.” I called. He paused as he held the door knob. “Please don’t go.” He stared at me. “At least not now, I am a bit scared. Everything freaks me out now.”

                He sighed and took his seat. I stayed close to him and leaned on his shoulder into the night.