Tarasha

"I don"t have a choice, I was hired to stop and stop you I

will" Audu barked back as Tarasha stood staring at him. "I

don"t give in to threats by ladies"

"Then, can we see what you can do without the gun"

Tarasha challenged, motioning him to put down his gun.

He smiled in response and began to unload the gun,

taking up the challenge.

"Don"t try to play fast with me" he warned as he showed

her the empty gun and dropped the pistol on the floor.

He adjusted his trouser belt and positioned himself for a

fist battle.

Soon, they were close to each other bouncing around in

the little s.p.a.ce left in the aisle between the computer

systems.

Tarasha threw the first punch which Audu dodged

effortlessly. He returned it with a blow to her side leaving

her shaken a bit. She chuckled, straightened up and

continued.

He threw a punch to her face but she dodged. He send a

left punch to her belly, she blocked with her right hand. A

right one, she blocked again with her left hand. This

exposed his chest and belly for attack and she quickly

grabbed the opportunity and made a heavy stamp of the

soles of her foot on his chest. He staggered backwards

and winced in pain, placing a hand on his chest. He didn"t

expect such heaviness in her kick, it felt like he had

developed an heart attack.

He cracked his knuckles and rotated his neck before

moving forward to her again. This time after making

some mock gestures with his fists, he directed a kick with

his left leg to her neck but she bent her head and took off

his other leg from the ground with a kick from her left

foot. He landed on the floor thunderously. His leg pulled

a wire from a computer set mistakenly and the whole

computer desktop was pulled and dropped on his legs.

Tarasha sniffled as she brought out her gun. "I"ve got no

time for more games, you ain"t got the b.a.l.l.s"

"But you said…" He was saying when she fired a bullet into

his chest.

+++++

"Go meet the boss" Cole said to Benny, watching Benny"s

position on his device through the redirection which

Tarasha had done on the system. "I think she needs your

help right now"

"Give me directions, is she upstairs?" Benny asked, staring

straight into a camera being sure that Cole was watcing

him.

"Yes, upstairs" the reply came. "Just keep moving, I"ll tell

you where to enter" Cole minimized the clip to the DVD

homepage and searched for clip which had Tarasha

captured.

"Cole" Benny"s voice sounded again. He already got to the

entrance security department corridor without any word

from Cole.

"Calm down, I"m trying to find where she is again" Cole

answered. He selected an option and saw Benny walking

slowly and glancing at the dead bodies. "Hey, go into the

third room by the left"

Cole saw Benny pause to listen and then continued

walking straight. Tarasha came out of the room before he

got to the third door. She was still in her underwear, little

drops of sweat fell from her body.

"Here Boss" Cole could hear Benny say as he handed over

the extra gown to Tarasha. He saw Tarasha"s mouth

moving but he couldn"t make out what she said.

"Oh s--t!" Cole cursed as he minimized to check the way

for them. Four security officials were at the end of the

stairs, three men and a woman.

"What"s the matter?" Benny asked on hearing the curse.

Tarasha walked where her ripped gown was, beside Afo

and Blade"s dead body and picked it up. She dipped it

into the nylon after bringing out the new one which she

hung around her neck.

"You guys have more problems to handle. More officials

are climbing up the stairs"

"D--n!" Benny cursed too. Cole could see Tarasha turn to

ask Benny what the problem was.

—

Tarasha tapped the device in her ear on, she waited some

seconds for it to connect. "How many of them are down

stairs?" She asked Cole.

"Four and it looks like they are calling for more people"

Cole said, Tarasha could hear him taking a deep breath.

"They are coming upstairs already" Cole added.

+++++

The cold dilution gas condensed on Henry"s forehead as

the security officers sprayed. Henry could breath

normally now, he took off the mask and picked his

phone which had dropped on the floor. He stood and

followed the direction which the security officers were

giving.

A lot of the victims were just recovering and were being

helped by the officers to stand up. Henry was not really

given much attention because he was able to stand by

himself already. He only received a hand gesture from an

officer for him to go out of the hall immediately.

"He took that direction" Henry could see a junior police

officer pointing at the stage exit where the killer took,

explaining something to his senior. He recognised the

senior officer as the one who interrogated him and

Evelyn two days ago. The officers joined with another

group of officers and hurried towards the direction the

murderer took.

Henry paused and turned back. His mind was not at

peace because he had not seen Evelyn. Even though he

was suspecting her to be a fraudster, deep inside, he still

cared for her safety.

"Keep moving please, everyone out of the hall

immediately" a voice shouted at his back. Henry had no

other choice than to keep moving, a crowd of staggering

fellows who were being supported to walk was surging

towards him from the back.

He hurried out of the hall. Several people were rushing

out of the main compound and police officers were

scattered everywhere looking for the person with the

description of the killer they had gotten.

++++

Tarasha and Benny quickly positioned themselves for the

coming enemies Tarasha searched Afo and Blade"s body

and took out their pistols. She ran to hide behind the wall

by the entrance, squatting below the fire we extinguisher

while Benny hid behind the curtain hung on one of the

doors, holding with him the gun Tarasha gave him.

"Oo!" The first official that got to the landing, in front of

the corridor exclaimed on seeing the dead bodies.

Two rushed into the corridor without noticing Tarasha

behind the wall and she remained quiet and watched

while the men scrutinised the dead bodies in awe. The

other security man and the lady joined in the same

manner except that the new man and woman were more

careful. They c.o.c.ked their guns immediately they saw the

bodies and walked into the corridor, glancing around for

signs of the killer

++++

The group of five policemen led by inspector Ken paused

as they got behind the backdrop. One of the officers bent

down to pick the black suit jacket on the floor, he dusted

it to see if anything would drop from it. Nothing did.

"The killer dropped his suit?" Ken stared in disbelief. The

officers all surrounded and checked the suit together.

"Then he must have joined the crowd already" an officer

added.

Ken paused and stared briefly at the ground. He squatted

and used his pistol to pull a piece of hair closer to

himself.

"Did they say the killer had beards?" Ken raised up his

head to ask.

"Yes" an officer replied him briefly.

"That was just a disguise, here"s the fake beard" Ken stood

up. Another officer putting on an hand glove bent to pick

the hair.

A man putting on a the events centre security uniform

opened the backdrop and joined them. "Have you seen

anything officers?"

They showed himthe jacket and the beard. "The killer

escape through this place"

"He couldn"t have pa.s.sed through here without meeting

our men on the way"

"But you wouldn"t have known, he changed his disguise"

Ken said.

"Guests are not allowed to pa.s.s through here, our

security men would have stopped him" the man said and

began to lead the way. The officers followed carefully

searching around the dark walls to see if anything or

anyone was hidden.

++++

The security woman was the first to see Tarasha, but a

bullet was fixed into her skull before she could do

anything.

The man with the c.o.c.ked gun turned immediately to

shoot but Tarasha was faster, a bullet into his belly

brought him down. The other two officials were taken

with one bullet each from Benny from their back.

++++

"If guests are not allowed to pa.s.s through this place and

your men have not caught anyone yet. Does that mean it

was done by an insider? One of your men?" Ken accused.

"NO" the man turned back suddenly to refute strongly. It

could be one of the external cooks and attendants that

were… " he was cut short by the sound of a gunshot. It

sounded like somewhere far away.

The policemen were alert at once. One of them ran to

peep through the backdoor and check if it was from the

hall but it wasn"t.

More gunshots sounds followed. "Where could that be

coming from?" Ken asked widening his eyes.

"It could only be from two places. Outside the hall or in

the security department block"

++++

"Is the way clear now?" Tarasha pressed the Bluetooth

device against her ear as she spoke to Benny.

"No, six more officers are on the way" Cole replied her in

a shaky voice.

Tarasha"s brain began to work fast, she started

considering their chances of leaving that place without

being caught and the options they had. Engaging the six

new policemen in fight would be a waste of time because

that would only create more time for more security

officials to come.

She then remembered Audu, she didn"t see him return to

the security department by the stairs, he just

disappeared mysteriously at her back in the computer

room. That means that he had returned through another

route, perhaps a secret escape.

She walked to the female security official"s body laying

lifeless on the floor and examined it. In few seconds, she

began to pull off the uniform on the body. Benny stared

for some seconds before he understood what was

happening. He joined her and selected a dead security

man whose body was almost same size and height as his.

"They"re on their way up" Cole"s voice sounded in both

Tarasha and Benny"s ears. Tarasha took a quick glance at

Benny and gave him a signal. She had already taken off

the lady"s top and was halfway with the trousers.

Tarasha got up hanging the uniform"s top on neck. She

dragged the lifeless body with her and entered into the

camera"s security room again where she fought with

Audu. Benny followed her immediately and they locked

the door behind them.

In few seconds, Tarasha was already changing into the

security uniform. She still had the new gown around her

neck and the old one in a nylon with her.

"Hurry" Cole voice came through again. Tarasha could

hear sounds coming from outside the room, the security

officials were already there. She quickly began to put on

the trousers while Benny was still struggling with the

shirt. The sleeve of the top was longer than Tarasha"s

hand but she rolled it neatly after putting on the trousers

which was slightly oversized.

A violent knock sounded on the door. Benny was putting

on his trousers already. Tarasha began to look around

the room, she remembered that Audu had come out

from behind a shelf. She walked towards the shelf to

examine it.

The officers outside began to attempt opening the door

with force.

**Outside the door**

Ken stood alert with his gun raised above his shoulders as

a junior officer tried to open the door with kicks.

"That"s a waste of time, the door is well secured" the

security man said to the police officers. He got up from

his knees where he was scrutinising the dead bodies of

his colleagues and proceeded towards the door. He

touched the k.n.o.b and tried to open it but it was stiff. He

shifted back and aimed at the k.n.o.b with his gun. Three

shots and the door gave way

++++

Henry began to search for the car in the park. He

couldn"t remember the exact spot it was parked, so he

attempted asking the security officials but they were too

busy looking out for the criminal and trying to control

the crowd"s rush to answer him.

The only option left for him was to leave the venue

without a car like so many people were doing but he

couldn"t stop worrying about Evelyn. He couldn"t leave

without her, at least he had to see her driver first to know

if the driver had any information about her whereabouts.

He removed his phone and dialed Evelyn"s phone

number again. It was busy. That was the reply he had

been getting for several times he had tried.

"Get away, you fool!" Someone who was rushing out

cursed loudly as his phone dropped on collision with

Henry, he didn"t bother to stop and pick it up. That"s

when he suddenly remembered something, he had a

smaller phone which he dropped in the car, he could

track the number to know where the car was.

"Please, you have to exit the venue right now" an official

accosted him.

"I"m sorry, I can"t leave, my girlfriend is still here" Henry

replied, feeling surprised with himself that he had called

Evelyn bus girlfriend.

"Just go out, she may be outside waiting for you" the man

said and began to push him forward, threatening him

with a rod in his hand.

++++

**Port Harcourt, Rivers State **

Dakolo drove his CRV Jeep into his compound after

several days of absence. He was too fatigued to even

respond to the gate man"s welcome greeting. He turned

off the engine and released his seat belt. He took another

deep breath before opening the door. His kids and wife

were already rushing out of the house to welcome him.

He quickly to turned to the back seat and picked up a

nylon bag. He didn"t forget to buy biscuits for his kids this

time and a gift for his wife despite his tiredness.

"Hey Young man" his little boy ran into his legs as he

stepped out of the car. He picked the boy up gave him a

peck before taking out is brief case from car. His second

and third boys hugged him one after the other and took

the brief case and nylon bag from their father. Dakolo

dropped the little boy and left him to run back into the

house with his elder brothers. He was left outside alone

with his wife.

The smile on her face made him smile too, he had missed

her so much. Just too weeks in Lagos and it looked like

they had been away from each other for years. They

engaged each other in a deep embrace and afterwards a

long kiss before saying anything to themselves.

"I"ve missed you so much" she said after they broke away

from the kiss.

"I missed you too" he replied and held her hand, they

began to walk into the house slowly. She rested her arm

on his shoulder. He knew what she was asking for and

immediately lifted her up into his arms and carried her

all the way to the living room.

He dropped her on his laps as he sat on the three seater

sofa beside his briefcase. The maid, Lydia greeted before

taking the kids into their room. The couple engaged each

other in another long kiss before speaking again.

"So, how was your trip" Angela finally asked, looking into

her husband"s eyes.

"Great" Dakolo replied, avoiding her eyes.

"How did it go?" Angela got up from his laps and sat

beside him. The maid returned with a gla.s.s of water for

Dakolo.

"Still on the matter… No lead suspect or new discoveries

yet. Samantha Osman seems to have no one related to

her in this country. No blood relation, no friends, no

acquittances" he replied before taking the gla.s.s of water

from the stool. He gulped it down immediately.

"That serious o" Angela hissed. "So you guys did not make

any progress?" She asked another question, starting

intently into her husband"s eyes.

He still avoided her gaze for some reasons, he had some

news to give her which she might not like. "Not really, the

criminal is a d--n professional" he replied, biting his lips

after.

"Shhh…" Angela hushed him, glancing around the sitting

room. "You shouldn"t use such words around, the kids

might pick them up"

Dakolo gave a short hiss. "Yeah, sorry about that, it"s just

frustrating" he said and bent down to start taking off his

shoes.

"Well, we"ll talk more later" the wife said, getting up from

the seat. "Let me make sure your food is served first and

prepare your water for bath" she began to walk away.

"Angela" Dakolo called softly.

She turned back and stared at him without saying any

word in reply. He had just taken off the shoe from his left

leg and he stopped.

"Come sit down" he said, motioning her to return to the

s.p.a.ce beside him.

"Yes" she said as she sat beside him. He turned to face her

and held her two hands, both staring into each other"s

eyes.

"I…" Dakolo tried to begin but was short of words. He

turned back to his briefcase and opened it. He took out a

folded A4 paper from it and gave to her. It was a letter, a

letter of transfer to Abuja.

She kept glancing at his face occasionally as she read it.

The transfer wasn"t really the problem, the problem was

that they won"t be able to stay with each other for the

next five months. How? They would have moved together

but for the kids who were still in the second term of the

school session. The education system in the country no

longer allowed for admission if new pupils into schools

after the first term, it only allowed for admission at the

beginning of a new session. That means Angela had to

wait with the kids for five months until the session ends.

They had never stayed that long apart from each other.

+++++

**Ikeja, Lagos**

Chief Gab sat quietly in his living room, his back well

rested on the couch"s back pillow and his legs on a short

stool as he busied himself reading articles about politics

from coolval site on his tablet device.

It had been about two weeks since Tarasha and her crew

had left for Abuja to execute his work and he had only

heard from her once. She only called him to request for

money to buy some necessary things, she didn"t even

update him on the progress of the job. But he was sure

she would do the execution perfectly so he didn"t bother

much about it.

"Happy birthday to Chief Jubril Lawal" he mumbled to

himself as returned to the front-page of the

Coolval22.com site, the thread topic was at the seventh

position. He hissed and was about to close the browser

tab but out of boredom, he scrolled up to see if he had

read all political topics on the main page.

"Pictures from Jubril Lawal"s ongoing birthday party" he

read the topic on the second position and hissed. Why

was his enemy"s news making the headlines today? He

hissed. He promised himself again not to read any news

that talks about Jubril or any of his enemies.

He scrolled further and saw the time on displayed on the

site, he realized that It was over an hour ago since he

loaded the front-page. He clicked on the refresh b.u.t.ton

to check for newer updates on the site.

It reloaded, the first thing his eyes met surprised him. He

wiped his face with his hands and checked again. "Jubril

Lawal Dead – Unconfirmed" was the new headline on the

front-page. Gab quickly clicked on the link to read the

news.

There was nothing long to read but there was a

screenshot to back up the claim. "The minister of

information just tweeted this now, we hope he"s not

talking about Chief Jubril" the details read and the

screenshot displayed under it. It was a tweet from the

minister of information who was also a guest at the

birthday party. It read, "Something drastic needs to be

done about these recent a.s.sa.s.sinations in our country,

how can a former minister of defence be murdered

confidently with all the security officials present?"

The source beneath the post was a link to Linda Ikeji"s

blog.

His phone began to ring as he started scrolling down to

read comments. He stood to pick it from the centre table

where it was and returned to his seat before answering

the call.

"Chief Gab" Chief Nonso"s voice rang in happily like

someone who had just been awarded a trillion dollar

contract.

"Yes, Chief Nonso. Good evening, I hope you didn"t forget

anything in my house?" Chief Gab replied.

"Noo, not that" Chief Nonso continued, "haven"t you

heard the breaking news?"

"What breaking news?" Gab feigned ignorance.

"Jubril Lawal was killed today during his birthday party by

an unknown a.s.sa.s.sin"

"Oh! Unknown a.s.sa.s.sin? During his party? Has he been

confirmed dead?" Gab expressed his doubts.

"Yes, the news was sent via text message through my

subscription to Linda Ikeji"s blog and I just confirmed

from someone who stays around the event centre where

there party took place" Chief Nonso answered.

"Well, if it"s true, then it"s good news for us. We need to

celebrate" Chief Gab excitedly.

"Yes, good news. I"m sure it would be all over the news by

tomorrow. Let"s just wait and see"

"Yes, sure. Thank you Chief Nonso" Chief Gab said and

ended the call. He glanced at the phone"s screen, he had

four unread notifications. He swiped down to check.

There was a message from Tarasha sent three hours ago.

"Job would be completed tonight, prepare the extra

allowance for my employees" he smiled as he read to

himself.

He closed the messages and opened the dialpad to

quickly dial her number but it was connecting, same way

it had been since she left for the operation, he had never

been able to reach her, she only reached him when she

wanted. All the same, he felt joy in his heart and he

returned quietly to his former resting position.

…