An Evening With Eva

Episode 31

Two men walked into a huge bakery. One of
them was tall dark and huge. He looked like a
thug. His biceps and chest rippled and
struggled against his tight black body
hugging t-shirt. He walked behind the other
man who was plump, had a bulging stomach
and was dressed in a suit. He was below
average height and smoked a cigarette. Smoke
filled the whole atmosphere as sweaty workers
mixed flour. They divided the mixed flour,
cutting it into different sizes and panning it.
They did not bother to acknowledge the men
as they walked past them, opening a small
door that led into a corridor. One of the men
was the Boss and had previously warned that
the workers always carry on with their work
anytime he came by. He detested recognition.

They closed the door behind them. There were
in another room now. It was a very tiny room
with pipes carrying water lining the walls on
both sides. They walked quietly for a while till
they got to the end of the room.

There was yet another man sitting on a chair
by the wall. Bloodied face, swollen lips and
one black eye that was now temporarily half
closed. The man looked up at his visitors, his
hands tied to his sides on the metal chair he
sat on.

“Water. Wa..tttt..ee..rrrrrrrr” The man muttered almost out of breath. He was barely audible.

One of the two men, who was the Boss,
brought out a plastic bottle of water from his
jacket and handed it to his partner.

“He want’s water. Shark, Let’s give him some water.” The boss said.

“Yes Boss.” Shark said.

Shark opened the water and approached Sean.

As Sean opened his mouth, Shark bent the
bottle in a vertical position and began to
gently pour. As Sean began to gulp, Shark
moved the bottle away from his mouth. He
slowly and deliberately poured the water on
the floor beside Sean, laughing wickedly as
the contents of the bottle emptied on the dirty
floor. Sean almost cried. He leaned his head
backwards and closed his eyes. He knew he
was going to die there. When it would
eventually happen, he had no idea. But he was
very convinced it would happen pretty soon.

The room was very small, cramped with pipes
on the walls on both sides. The only source of
light was a small bulb on the ceiling that
came on only when he had visitors. There was
a fan on the ceiling that croaked and worked
at an agonizingly slow pace. He was sweaty
most of the time. The whizzing of the pipes
when water passed through them was now
music to his ears. His only companion was
his thoughts.

He had lost track of day and time and had no
idea where he was. A very frail old man who
seemed in his late 70’s had brought him food
before his current visitors arrived. He did not
know if it was twice a day or once a day. The
last time the Old man visited seemed like an
eternity. He had tried to converse with the
man. The old man did not speak English or
any of the languages Sean had mastered. It
sounded to Sean like he spoke Tiv. The Old
man eventually managed a little, “me don’t
hear. Me speak” before feeding Sean with the
usual meager bowl of tasteless rice just
enough to sustain him. He was not even
strong enough to question the old man or to
strain his brain, so he let the Old man be. He
knew they were keeping him alive for a
reason. Maybe these two men were going to
tell him.

Shark dropped the bottle of water, squatting in
front of Sean.

“Did you kill the Governor?” The Boss asked
just behind Shark
“Who? What Governor? Is he dead?” Sean said slowly.

Shark landed a heavy punch to Sean’s
stomach just below his rib cage. Sean yelped
in pain as spurts of blood escaped his mouth.

He tried desperately to catch his breath.

They waited for Sean to get himself together.

“I am going to ask you one more time Sean.

Did you kill the Governor?” The Boss queried.

Sean looked up at the man. He was feeling
faint. He just wanted to die and give
everything up. It was not worth it. He wanted
to just spill everything but he thought about
his mother. She had done nothing and she did
not deserve to die for his crimes. He was
going to do this on his own. The Ghosts
always keep their word. As long as he kept
mute, his mother would be safe. They had
honor. These men interrogating him did not.

He had no doubts about that. He was ready to
die.

“I..do… not… know… what…you… are… talking
about.” Sean said very slowly.

“Are you crazy? You are talking back at the
Boss like that? What the fvck is wrong with
you boy?” Shark said irritated at Sean.

He made to hit Sean again but the Boss
stopped him.

“Stop. Easy Shark, easy.” The Boss said.
Shark moved away for the Boss, going farther
away from Sean. The Boss now took Shark’s
position. Only he did not squat.

“Sean, you are within an inch of your life right
now. We can protect you. Change your life.

Give you a new identity. Anything you want,
just name it. It would be documented and
signed. Its full proof, fail safe and very
genuine. We need people like you on our side
Sean. But first we need to bring down the bad
guys. And we need your help. We will make
you disappear. The whole government is
behind you on this one. You can disappear
anywhere in the world. It’s totally your choice.

The man you killed had a family. A wife, kids.

A duty. He was loved by everyone. The
Government is working at super speed. We
have a lot of good clues. The people won’t
rest till they have the killer’s head on full
display. That head doesn’t have to be yours
Sean. Do you understand me?” The Boss
asked.

Sean nodded.

Sean closed his eyes. He smiled within him.

These men were very good, but not good
enough. If he was a rookie, he might have
been bought over. He knew this routine the
way he knew his name. Good cop, bad cop.

The bad cop comes first, threatening and
abusing. Tries to scare the living daylight out
of the suspect. Then when that doesn’t work
out, then the good cop comes in. He acts like
he really cares, tries to be reasonable. Offers a
bottle of water, coffee or food. He tries to
warm up to you. He is the deadliest.

“Are you with me Sean?” The Boss asked.
Sean opened his eyes. Slowly he said “Yes, I
am”
“Good boy. Now who sent you to kill the
Governor?” The Boss asked.

“I do not know what you are talking about.”

Sean repeated.

The Boss kept his cool and walked to Shark.

He whispered something in his ears. Shark
gave Sean another trademark punch. Sean’s
chair rocked. They left him there and closed
the door.

The visits continued and the torture increased.

The food reduced and he hardly got enough
water for a day. Every time, they asked him
the same question. Every time they got the
same answer. He had emaciated so much.

The sixth day came. They visited him as
usual. He had sores on his skin. He could
barely talk. His breathing was labored.

He could not open his eyes.

They met a pool of vomit and blood by his
feet.

“He won’t make it. He can’t die here. Take
him to the electric room. Let’s end his
miserable life there. What a waste!” The Boss
said to Shark spitting beside Sean.

Shark untied Sean and carried him like a
groom lifting his wife for bedding.

Sean said a short prayer in his mind.

The end had finallly come.