An Evening With Eva

Episode 34

“Who is Eva?” Ahmed asked the Colonel
Ahmed had not seen his Uncle in this kind of
emotional state in a very long time. The last
time his Uncle was like this, was when he got
the news that Ahmed was shot in an operation
and would nearly not survive. Ahmed got out
of the coma and the first image his eyes fell
on was his Uncle’s sad face. It shattered his
heart that the only person who ever loved him
was going through such emotional torture just
because he did not want to lose him. That
was eight years ago.

The same countenance was now very visible
on his Uncle’s face. He was sure that whatever it was, this Eva girl was behind it. He left the computer and joined his Uncle on the couch.

“Uncle, can you please talk to me? Please?
Who is this girl?” Ahmed asked
compassionately.

The Colonel raised his head up. His eyes were
red. He was close to tears. Ahmed had NEVER
seen the Colonel shed a tear. A tiny little tear
drop fell from the Colonel’s eyes. It fell on his
right thigh. He cleared his throat and heaved
a very heavy sigh.

“Eva is my daughter.” The Colonel said.

Ahmed could not close his mouth.

---

Sean finished scoping the two exits and stood
by railings on the overflow inside the event
hall. There was one exit to the left of the small
stage at the far end of the hall, and another
exit by the door that led to the bathroom. All
he needed now was to see what the VVIP
Suite looked like and he then he would make
his move. As he descended the stairs, he
scanned the hall, trying to make out faces.

The hall was not at full capacity. He wondered
when the ‘Nigerian Time’ factor would come to an end. Most of the people in the hall were standing in little groups of twos and threes.

He guessed that they were greeting, making
acquaintances, getting business deals or
introducing proposals.

As he got to the last step he saw a lady who
looked familiar sitting at a table a few meters
to his right. Her back was turned to him as
she was bent typing away on her phone. She
wore a black sleeveless gown. Her exposed
shoulders glistened in the fluorescence emitted
by the chandelier in the hall. He had this
strong feeling that he knew her, that he had
seen her somewhere before. He approached
her and tapped her gently on the shoulder.

“Good Evening my lady.” Sean greeted,
flashing his most amazing smile.

She looked up from the phone in her hand to
see who had disturbed the game she was
playing. She looked so pretty. Her pretty eyes
lit up in recognition. She lips parted slowly as
she took in the handsome hunk before him in
one single gaze. Tall, broad shoulders, cute
dimples, well-built and a pretty smile.

“Evening” Eva replied
“May I sit down?” Sean asked.

“By all means.” Eva answered with a little
smile.

Sean positioned himself beside her, settling
his frame inside the chair adjacent her.

“You look very familiar. I think I have met you
somewhere before” Sean said.

Eva giggled.

“Are you for real? Don’t tell me that’s the best pick up line you’ve got, handsome.”

Eva said.

Although Sean did not mean it as a pick up
line, he laughed at the lady’s wit. She seemed
funny and very bold. He had not had a
relationship in years. She seemed a good
prospect. He was sure he had seen her or met
her somewhere before, but he could not really
remember where. He decided to relax and be
free with her.

“Oh dear, Silly me. Pardon me my lady. Pretty
ladies have a way of making me uneasy.”

Sean said laughing and continued,
“My name is Frank. My friends call me
Frankie.” Sean finished stretching his hand
across the table

“I am Rebecca. You can call me Becky.” Eva
said, taking Sean’s hand.

Still holding Eva’s hand, Sean got up and bent
low, kissing the back of her hand lightly.

“It’s a pleasure to be acquainted with you
Beckilicious” Sean said, releasing her hand.

Eva put her free hand on her mouth as Sean
flattered her. She was wowed by this romantic
gesture from a total stranger. Butterflies
danced ‘skelewu’ in her belly.

“The pleasure is entirely mine, handsome.”

Eva replied.

They engaged in small talk for a while, talking
about similar interests, sports, politics, and
books. Eva was explaining why she loved
horse racing and preferred it to car racing
which Sean liked when the target walked into
the room. Sean noticed him immediately he
walked into the room. He made sure that Eva
did not notice him as he monitored the
Brigadier’s movements from the corner of his
eyes. Eva also noticed the Brigadier’s arrival.

She also noticed Sean’s sudden interest in the
man, but she continued the discussion like
nothing had happened.

Sean stopped her as she was gesticulating,
trying to demonstrate the way she handled the
reins during her first horse ride.

“So sorry to cut you short Becky but I have
got to go.” He said bringing out his phone.

“Can I have your number please?” He pleaded.

“Sure. Not a problem.” Eva replied taking the
phone and putting her number.

“Thank you very much. I hope we can continue
this conversation sometime soon?” Sean
asked getting up.

“Absolutely. Call me” Eva said and winked.

“I sure will.” Sean said and walked away from her.

He walked across the hall, buttoning his
jacket as he moved. The target was
surrounded by three other men who looked like
they were important people. As he got to
where they were, he took out his phone and
began to type an imaginary message. He
bumped into the target and his phone fell on
the floor scattering into a few parts.

“I am so sorry,” Sean said as he bent to pick
the parts of the phone he could see.

“It’s okay. Did you pick up every part?” The
Brigadier said as Sean got up.

“Yes sir. Please forgive me.” Sean repeated.

“You can go. It is wrong to use your phones
while walking. Don’t let this happen again.”

The Brigadier scolded.

“Thank you sir. It won’t.” Sean said and
continued to the bathroom.

He entered a cubicle in the MENs toilet and
locked the door behind him.

He took out a tiny white wireless earplug from
his pant pocket and put it securely in his left
ear. From the pocket inside his jacket, he
brought out a small circular transmitter which
had a tiny screen. The screen fit perfectly in
the center of his palm. He pressed a button to
put it on . A red dot blinked on the screen.

“Austin can you hear me?” Sean whispered,
pressing the earplug in his ear
“Yes I can sir.” Austin replied through the
earplug.

Austin had a similar transmitter designed as a
wristwatch. He looked at it as Sean spoke.

“Target is activated. I need my eyes.” Sean
said
“Your eyes are ready sir. Ready whenever you
are.” Austin replied.

“What is the target status?” Sean asked
“Target still in the hall. About 20 meters to
your 8’oclock.” Austin replied, watching his
wrist.

“Right where I left him. Don’t go blind on me.”

Sean warned.

“I will not sir.” Austin replied.

Sean opened the cover of the water closet and
dropped his transmitter. It sank to the bottom
of the water closet.

He flushed and walked out of the toilet.

Someone was going to die tonight.

---

Eva watched as Sean walked across the room.
She saw him slip something up the Brigadier’s
sleeves just before he bumped him
deliberately. He was very good and executed
the move perfectly. But she had trained eyes.

She had spent 13 months watching and
learning different methods of bugging targets.

He was definitely a professional. She watched
him go into the bathroom. The Brigadier and
his pals continued their discussion oblivious
of what just happened.

Just then she received a text message. It was
from Shina.

“Is the rooster happy?”
She did not know if to inform him that there
was someone else involved in the whole
operation. Her instruction was to watch the
Brigadier and report any form of suspicion in
his behavior. She decided to take up her new
acquaintance on her own terrain.

She sent Shina a reply.

“Weather is as clear as the summer time.”

She got up and went towards the bathroom
determined to get to the bottom of whatever
Sean was planning.