My trust is for sale

The mission begins

A few minutes after 7:00 PM, Sharon was already dressed in black jeans, black shirt and black trainers. She could hear her mother’s voice from her room. She was a bit nervous. She had always been red blooded but the task ahead of her now was scary. Something told her she was leaving her house for the last time.

This was a crime to be committed nevertheless, she knelt down and prayed. As she walked out, her mother saw her and said, “where are you going to?”

“I need to see Suzzy. I mean Suzan.” She lied. “Her mother is on a three day trip and she can’t stay all by herself.”

“I don’t think your father will be happy with this.”

“All he needs is an explanation, mum.”

“Yes but I won’t be the one to do that. You have his number. Do that yourself.” She smiled. “But I trust you my baby. I know you will never do anything to bring shame upon us. Always remember the family values, virtues and vindication. The …..”

“Three Vs.” Sharon completed. She had been hearing this for all she could remember.

“Avoid bad friends. Avoid bad friends.”

Sharon felt her hard throb in her heart. Why was she mentioning that now? Could she see that she just met some bad girls and was going to committee a crime now? Zina was waiting for her and they were going to break into an office at the refinery. That was scary. That was place was highly secured.

“Thank you mum. I will adhere.”

“Promise?”

What? What was going on? Should she give this thing up? But the money! No!

“I promise.”

“What is wrong with you? You look nervous.”

“I am okay.” She glanced at the wall clock, “I need to run ma’am. You thought me not move around late.”

“Sure. Take care of yourself.”

Sharon left the house. She got outside, checked her pocket and found the only cash she had left in the world: two hundred naira. She was tired of being impecunious. She needed money and all she had was this deal. She was going on with it.

While she waited for a cab, she felt the movement of someone at her back. She turned her head swiftly and saw the last person she had expected at that time: Tobi.

Tobi was very tall, with a body rippling with muscles. He was dark, with clean shaven face. He was a hooded jacket and bowler hat.

“My Pretty.” He said with his thick voice.

She was shocked.

“Tobi.” She managed to say. “How far?”

“Cool. So, what’s up?” I am sorry I could not make it last night. I had to drive the old man out. Since he fired Joe, he has turned me to his chauffeur. You did not train today.”

“Yes, I did not.”

“Why?”

“I was not in the mood. I just stayed back at home.”

He held her and drew her closer. He kissed her on the forehead.

“I want to put you in a nice mood today. We are going to have a romantic night. Guess what, we are going to chill at Deluxy. I came with pop’s ride.”

“That is great.”

He noticed her unenthusiastic response.

“Sharon, I said we are going to Deluxy tonight. We have been dreaming of going there for the past three weeks. I just got some money and I plan to burn it with you.”

“I heard you.”

“But you don’t look excited or interested.”

“I am not interested Tobi. I am sorry about that.”

He felt as if she just poured molten brass into his ear.

“Did you just say that?”

“Yes but don’t get me wrong. As you can see, I was on my way out. We can go some other time.”

He put his hand in his pocket and removed a stick of cigarette.

“Tobi, you are in front of my house.”

“Oh, yeah. I am flummoxed. I need to calm my nerves. You know it is not every day. I  may burn this money and don’t know when I will get it again. I may end up going for a ‘shack’ at the beer pub with my dogs.”

“If it will make you happy, please do. All I need is your happiness. Don’t worry, any time you get another money, we will go. I have to see a friend of mine.”

“Which of your friends is more important than hanging with me?”

“She needs me too.” She said impatiently.

“Are you seeing another guy?”

“Listen Tobi, let’s not argue over this here. I am not seeing another guy. It’s my bad luck that I am in a brooding mood today. We will talk about this some other time. I must leave.”

“My Pretty, please let me know if you met someone else?”

“I said no. I said I am not in the mood. We will talk tomorrow.”

“Okay, let me give you a ride.”

“Thank you but I will rather take a cab.”

He smirked.

“I get it. You won’t even let me know where you are going, huh? And you say it is just a friend…”

“Tobi you are as nagging as a mosquito. Can’t you save it till tomorrow? I told you that I am not in the mood.”

He brought out a lighter.

“Tobi, any of my brothers could see you. You can’t smoke here.”

“I don’t care. Let the whole world see me. Not just baz-up  but I bombo too. Have a nice time.”

He walked away angrily, got into his father’s car and drove away.

She sighed. Let him go. When she demanded for something, he would complain. The little he gave her, he did it with pride. Now that she was at the verge of becoming independent, he was playing ST. Valentine

She stopped a cab and hoped she was not late.

As the cab moved, she thought about Zina. Zina impressed her and was her new role model. She was calm, calculative, smart and gutsy.

Forty million naira! Phew! She would become a big girl. She dove into reveries and saw herself driving posh cars. Sorento was her dream car.  She would fix heavy CD player that would blare heavy sound as she cruised. What would she use as a private number? Sharry? Independent? No, Sharry will do.

She could picture her wardrobe stashed with designers, plus expensive basketball kits. Okay, enough of the daydreams, she cautioned herself, face realities first.

The cab stopped and she alighted, paid and walked on the pavement of the boulevard. She heard Zina’s neighbor blaring music so loud. As she pressed the bell-push, she realized her heart beating rapidly.

Zina appeared with a soft smile on her pretty face.

“Come in, you are ten minutes late.”

“I am sorry. I had….”

“Don’t bother about an explanation. I understand how it is.”

“Thank you, That is so nice of you.”

After they both sat down, Zina said, “I hope you know that I have implanted a lot of confidence in you. I saw this from your aggressive style of play. I was the one who discovered you and set Layla to recruit you. You are physically strong, fast and fit. Do not be scared. I got it all worked out. Never think of negativities. I am not saying you should not be realistic but thoughts like failure, being in the hands of those brutal military men, should not cross your mind. They will affect you confidence. Just look at success and think about forty million naira.”

Sharon nodded.

“Do you drink?”

“I do.”

“Okay, I don’t drink but I got you Calypso. You will need a sip.” Zina said and got her a glass of wine.

After two glasses, Sharon felt more relaxed. They left the house.

“I do not have a car. I arranged with a cabby but he has not come and we don’t have all the time in the world.

Sharon felt her fears drift away. The ethanol was streaming into her nervous system.

“It’s 9:00 PM already.” Zina grimaced. “We have jut today and this big headed cabby is fuc*ing up. I can’t even reach him on his cell phone.”

“Can’t we use a commercial ride?”

“The cab is also commercial. The part we are going to alert is bushy and it is a distance from the city. Let us try.”

Zina touched the butt of the pistol in her pocket. She had stolen it from a cultist while still in school. She had never used it, except when she was training on how to use a gun, until she gunned Hassan down.

There was no cab. Zina was agitated. They had to be there before 10:00 PM. They had to do it today and fix Jibril the next day. Now it was worse after what Rabi told her. From the description, that was Alhaji Mu’azu and his dangerous mouthpiece, Boro.

So there was compeRemmyon and a tough one. Mu’azu was known to be mean, persistent and connected. This meant they had to be fast and vigilant.

Zina was confused. There was no hope now to find a cab. Was this the end of the mission? After all she had been through to get here?

A navy blur Kia Jeep pulled up ahead of them. There was a heavy sound of music blaring loudly. The sound made Sharon felt as if the drums were been made in her tommy. This was her dream: to have a posh car with heavy sound systems.

Zina heard the music lowered, and the car reversed. The person behind the wheel switched on the car lights. He was dressed in white jogger, white plain T-shirt, and, white wristband white headband.  He wore plain round rimmed glasses.

“Hi, neighbor. Once again, I am Devon. That pesky neighbor of yours.”

“Hello Devon.” Zina said with a smile. Sharon saw the ball on the backseat, his looks and guessed he was a basketballer like her.

He looked at Sharon.

“I will call the cops for impersonation if you don’t play B-ball.”

“She plays.” Zina said, “but not by 2:00 AM.”

“That is because she is not crazy. They say I am crazy.” He shrugged.

Both girls giggled.

“Really?”

“Yeah. People say it. Some said I am naughty. Some say rude, careless, spoilt, crazy. Don’t mind them though. They are just jealous of us.”

“Us?” Zina frowned.

“Yes. They saw it on my forehead that I am going to meet you someday and they want to tarnish my image. My image they can’t tarnish. Our love can’t vanish. Rather it will polish. And be together till we finish. No languish, vanquish but bliss and love will lavish….whoa!” He exclaimed, glanced at Sharon, “did you hear those flows?  I am going poetic. Poetic justice. Chai! Okay, I am Romeo, nice to meet you.”

“You are not Romeo, but Crazy.” Zina said. He amused Sharon.

“So where are you girls up to?”

Zina thought he was not going to ask. She had to be careful. She would not let him know where exactly they were going to. But she had no choice now. He may be their only chance of covering the thirty-six kilometers journey. Besides, she saw him as a shallow brained guy who may not think deep about it.

“Somewhere close to refinery.” Zina replied.

“Jeez, that’s some distance though. I won’t offer a ride but if you ask, I won’t say no.”

Crazy guy, Zina thought.

“I will ask.” She said.

“Then jump in.”

Sharon saw how he rolled the ball, juggled it and it rolled on his hand before he threw it to the back. She guessed he a s**t-hot basket baller

Zina sat by his die while Sharon went behind. Zina fell in love with the car. He switched off the light, allowed a car pass before he screeched the tyres and drove with a high speed. He was a rough driver.

“Where were you when we moved in?” Zina asked for want of something to say.

“Ohhh, I went to my third house.”

“Third house? How many houses do you have?”

“Three and a half.”

“Half?”

“I have three wives and each has her separate house. But the one close to you is half because you and I are yet to get married yet. So I call it half. When are we starting the wedding plans?”

“You are crazier that they said. You are not up to thirty and you claim to have three wives, rubbish.”

“I am twenty four and this is the best time to have three wives or four. I am still strong. Why should I wait until I start having needs for drugs to take care of my wives. I will start divorcing them when I am forty to save energy.”

“Hmmm….I have heard you. But you live here alone.”

“I do.”

She wanted to ask him if he smoked but hesitated. She had been perceiving the odour.

“Where are your parents?” My family house is about twenty kilometers away. My father has thirty children so I prefer staying here.”

“That is because you can afford the rent.”

He only smiled.

“I live there for free. He does not collect rent from me. I am lucky to have a free accommodation.”

“Sure you are. Why did he let you live in their free?”

“We have a relationship. He married my mother and they gave birth to me. He says I am his son and everyone says he is my father. About thirty of us call him our father.”

Zina shook her head.

“Simply say he is your father. Can’t you be normal for once, like talk normal.”

“I love being a step ahead people. When they are normal, I am abnormal. Two letters ahead. A and B. join me and see how cool it is to be abnormal. But to get the A-B is not easy though. You have to pay for it. Want to try?”

“No, thank you. I prefer to lag behind.”

The car pulled up and she was amazed how fast they had gotten there.

“Thank you Devon.” She said.

“It’s my pleasure. Wait, I can’t find my set.” He said turning.” I guess it dropped somewhere here. I have been searching for it before you came into the car.”

He gave her his number and she called. He saw it under his seat.

“Thank you. Once again….”

“You are Devon.” Zina completed. “I know right.”

He increased the volume of the music and sped off.

“What a character.” Sharon observed.

“That is my crazy neighbor . I just don’t like him.”

Sharon wondered why. She like him. He had this vivacious personality. Zina could be strange.

They crossed the road, and walked down the bush to disappear into the darkness. The mission began……