An Evening With Eva

Episode 46

The Colonel spoke in hushed tones captivating
the attention of Sean and Eva with his unique
plan. He told them about his history with the
General and brought to light secrets they never
knew. He explained how his son was killed
and how he had been on the trail of the
Ghosts Corporation. He made his speech quick
and straight to the point, with no emotions.
He spoke as a matter of fact and did not hide
his intentions. He wanted the General dead
which also meant taking down GhostCorp.

They were either with him on this or against
him.

He explained that he had killed Tawo in self-
defense when he was ambushed in his hotel
room. In return Ahmed was killed. The Colonel
wanted retribution. And he would not stop till
he got it.

“It was so easy to get to you two. If I wanted
you dead, you would be dead. Taking you
down along with Marcus would be silly when I
know I can have you on my side. Think about
it.” The Colonel said.

He handed them a little chip attached to a
small paper. Sean looked at the note.

“This whole room is bugged. Get to a safe
place and use this chip on a brand new phone.

Make sure you are alone.”

Sean looked up at the Colonel and nodded.

“One more thing. I have relocated your
parents. I have released both your mums from
the men who were keeping them hostage.

They are currently on a plane out of the
country as we speak. You are not required to
act under duress anymore.” The Colonel
finished.

Sean could not believe his ears. He had tried
to locate his mum but all his efforts were
futile. He knew his mother was safe. He spoke
to her regularly. He knew she was in Mushin
but he did not know where exactly she was.

She was moved around a lot and she was not
allowed to disclose her location.

He had called her one night and she had
broken down in tears. She was scared. One of
the goons that the Corporation had protecting
her had just shot and killed someone in front
of her. She was scared and was begging Sean
to return home as soon as possible.

Sean reassured his mother that all that was
happening was for her own good and that he
would be home soon. Now this man had taken
his mother from under his nose and relocated
her. He was beginning to take this man
seriously.

“How do I know you are not leading me on?
How can I trust you?” Sean asked.

“For one, you are still alive. Second, no matter
what you decide, I will hand your mother to
you. I just want you to read up everything you
have on that chip. Then make your decision.

We’ll go on from there.” The Colonel replied.

“How do I get in touch with you?” Sean asked.

“You don’t find me. I find you. I will establish
contact at 18:00hrs.” The Colonel replied.

He turned and looked at his daughter.

Emotions welled up in his heart. He wanted to
reach out to her. Hug her. Listen to her and
catch up on all the years they had been apart.

But he couldn’t. At least not yet. Before now
no one new that he had a daughter. The
people closest to him were all dead. Ahmed
was dead. Abbey his son was dead. His wife
died during a complication while giving birth
to his son. Involving Eva in an emotional
triangle would not be good for any of them.

“Eva, I know about all your take outs. I have
passed some fake information to the police
and it has taken them off your trail. I am
aware of every move you have made thus far.

You were pretty careless.” The Colonel said.

He brought out a tiny mini disc from his hip
pocket and handed it to her.

“Here is all you need to do to take the agency
off your trail. Marcus had been so blinded by
his desire for revenge that he forgot to cover
his loopholes. I have done that for him.

However, when you finish cleaning up the
mess, you need to get out. Lay low. By the
time I am done, you will be a free woman. And
if I am still alive, we will talk.” The Colonel
finished.

Eva made to get up, but the Colonel gave her
a very stern look. Eva remembered the infra-
red target marker and relaxed again.

“I am done here. I will contact you in nine
hours Sean. Or is it Agent Bravo? I think this
would be a good time to call your Sidekick,
Bruno. I intercepted his email too. He is
waiting for your contact. There’s a full chicken
in the oven in the kitchen. It would be
completely cooked in ten minutes. When you
hear the sound, then you can get up. Not
before.” The Colonel finished.

He picked the cartridges on the floor and
inserted them back into the guns. He put
them back in the double gun hostler he had
strapped on. As he walked towards the door,
he looked back at Eva. They were still rooted
to the spot their bums on the chair.

He shut the door after him without another
word.

Immediately they heard the sound of the Oven
that the chicken was done, Eva and Sean got
off the chair with light speed in opposite
directions. Eva turned the table in the sitting
room and hid behind it. Sean crouched behind
the couch, using it as a shield. Both were
expecting a barrage of gun fire. They stood
still for seconds expecting the windows to
shatter any moment. Nothing happened.

After two minutes of waiting, Sean got up and
courageously walked towards the window. He
kept to the dark side of the room, avoiding
getting into the line of fire. He stood by the
side of the glass windows and bent slowly, his
eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the sniper
who was aimed at them. As a trained sniper
himself, one of the trainings he had undergone
was how to locate a sniper in the tallest of
buildings. His eyes had been carefully
adjusted and perfected to single out snipers at
whatever distance they were shooting from.

He was careful at first taking care to make
sure only his left eye was visible from the
window. He quickly pulled his head back.

Nothing happened. He repeated this again.

Still nothing happened. He got bolder, put out
his whole head and pulled back in one swift
motion. No gun shot. He relaxed by the
window and breathed hard. Eva was watching
him and was scared to death. She worried that
Sean might get himself killed trying to dare
the sniper who was somewhere outside the
hotel. She shook her head at Sean. She knew
he was about to do something crazy and she
feared the outcome. Hiding behind the table,
she shook her head vigorously at Sean,
communicating with him not to try what he
was thinking of doing. Sean winked at her and
smiled. He nodded.

Sean put out his right hand expecting it to be
shot at. Eva closed her eyes. Nothing
happened. Sean waved it a few times. Still
nothing happened. He noticed the infra-red
target marker on his palm as he waved.

“What in hell?” Sean said as he came to a
sudden realization.

He left the side of the window and stood in
the line of fire, arms akimbo. The target
marker was on his neck. He moved sideways
to his right and stretched his left arm. The
marker was on his shoulder.

“Come on out Eva. There’s no sniper out
there. It’s a decoy.” Sean said, standing again directly in the line of fire.

Eva got up and came to where Sean was. She
stood beside him, and waved her hands
around the target marker. Nothing happened.

She turned and hugged Sean very tight. Seeing
her father had brought back memories and
emotions that she had buried for three years.

She cried on his shoulder. Sean held her tight
and didn’t say a word. He let her express
herself.

Five minutes later he whispered to her ears.

“Your father is right. He would not have come
all this way for nothing. Let’s get out of here.”

Sean said.

On the roof of an insurance building 100
meters north of Sean’s window, The Colonel
lay flat on his stomach. He knew Sean had an
eye for spotting snipers, so he had already
painted his sniper rifle blue. He painted his
face blue as he drove to the building and wore
a blue face cap.

He watched the drama in the pent house and
smiled as Sean stood in the line of fire. He
was tempted to take him out. When Eva
hugged Sean tight and cried, The Colonel’s
already weakened heart gave way. A tear fell
from his left eye, while his right was glued in
the scope attached to the rifle. He pressed a
hand to his right ear. He had dropped a bug
in the room immediately he barged in.

He heard Sean say they had to leave and how
he was right. The Colonel silently prayed that
he had done the right thing by bringing Sean
and his daughter in. He had no choice. He
needed every one he could get on his side. He
packed his weapons and left the rooftop.

---

Ambrose was walking towards a parked car
when he got the message from Sophia. There
was nothing he could do. He was walking with
Special Agent Ken. He had no doubt in his
mind that once he got into that waiting car he
was going to be history. He had about thirteen
more steps till the door opened. Ambrose
looked around the terminal. He picked out
about 6 cops in strategic positions. They were
watching him but were hiding it very perfectly.

He smiled as he remembered the story that
Agent Ken had cooked up. He was good.

Agent Ken was supposed to kill him but when
that did not work he had quickly concocted a
backup story and was now leading him to his
end.

Six steps more.

Ambrose needed to take a decision. He needed
to act.

As they got to the car, Ambrose hit Ken in the
ribs with his elbow and broke into a run. Two
cops got out of the car and screamed at Ambrose.

“Stop!” pointing their pistols at him.

He was already twelve meters away,
zigzagging through the crowd. The cops could
not risk taking a shot as innocent civilians
might be harmed.

Half a dozen cops pursued him threatening to
shoot and shouting at civilians to give way.

The whole train terminal was in commotion as
Ambrose pushed bystanders aside and ran
through the crowded station. People dived
away from the path of the ensuing fracas as
the cops gradually closed the gap between
them and Ambrose.

Just then the train began to move. It started
to move slowly and gradually picked up.

Ambrose moved to his right and ran after the
train. The train gained momentum and was
picking up pace. Ambrose tried to get in
through the last door but it closed shut before
he could put his hand in between the doors to
close it. There was a tunnel approaching. The
cops were eight meters behind him. The crowd
was thinning. He had no choice.

He took one last bold step and plunged
forwards. His right hand caught a panel at the
back of the train while his boots grazed the
rail track. He managed to pull himself up and
hold on to the panel that saved his life. The
cops paused and shot into the darkness at the
train. Ambrose was already on the roof of the
train.

“Set up a blockade at the Maitama
intersection. I need eyes in the sky! I want him
dead or alive! I prefer the former. Somebody,
get me that bastarrd!” Special Agent Ken
shouted to no one in particular.

The cops around him scrambled away, making
calls and walking away.

The Agent did not move. He continued to
stare surprisingly into the darkness of the
tunne