Sex, Drugs And Being An Agbero

Episode 19

10 am …

We couldn ’ t leave Shade before we exited the country … . she had staked her life for Bayo … we also realised this could be the last journey of our lives …
I called Mr Ahmed …

Mr Ahmed: Do you have my money?
Me: No… but I have the consignment you originally asked for . .
Mr Ahmed: stop toying with me …
Me: it will be in Accra by 12 : 45 pm . . tell your guys to pick it up , same arrangement like before …
Mr Ahmed: in its entirety ?
Me: yes …
Mr Ahmed: you owe me $30 k as interest if the consignment arrives intact … . if not , you will be dead , you and Cynthia . . .
Me: but how did you know … .
Mr Ahmed: dont be worried … its pretty straight forward… my stuff or you and Cynthia can make babies inn Heaven.
Me: check ur email , I sent a convo to you … . its most enlightening .
Mr Ahmed: very well Nathaniel..

11 : 30 am

Bayo knocked Alhaji ’ s gate … . Kamoru opened it with a hiss … as soon as he saw Bayo … he wanted to attack him then he saw the pistol..

Bayo: where Shade dey ?
Kamoru: she dey back … abeg no kill me … abeg… you know say I like you … I swear … . Alhaji na bad man … abeg …
Bayo: where Alhaji dey ?
Kamoru: him go festac …

Bayo and I dragged kamoru to the store … we saw shade … it was a mess … her both legs had been shot… it was decaying … gangrene had set in… she had fever … she was smelling like s corpse… I called Cynthia and explained the happenings so far… We locked up kamoru in the store … his last advice for us was ‘ run ’…

12 : 15 pm

We got a bus driver ready to take only Shade to Abuja… he agreed for 80 k … he definitely wasn ’ t from Mazamaza … she was semi conscious, but there was a hospital there where she would be treated as a guest of Mr Ahmed , with full protection.

2pm

MR Ahmed called to tell me the Medical equipments were of good quality . . . the consignment was ok… Alhaji called Bayo for a truce … . saying he only needed me … he said Shade ’ s legs was a mistake … Bayo hung up …
Alhaji called back to say his only regret was not killing her … but he will sure kill all three of us…
I booked a flight online for Myself , Cynthia and Bayo … to Ghana under Mr Ahmed ’ s protection , atleast for a while … Cynthia would connect to Lagos via Kaduna. . then we all go to Accra . .

5pm . .

We were at Ikeja Airport… Cynthia’ s aero flight was being delayed for thirty minutes … Bayo and I were anxious . .

6: 40 …

Cynthia joined us at the international terminal … she was on a top and shots … I told her to pack sparingly. . . Bayo ’ s ecowas travel certificate was ready… we had picked it up earlier at Festac passport office…

7: 00 . .

We had started checking in… Cynthia wanted water so I escorted her to get a bottle . .
I felt so lucky that this nightmare was about to be over …
I was going to start everything afresh …
Then I got a text…
Text Message: where u dey ? … we don dey wait you for check in… u no fit run …
Since it was Bayo ’ s former phone… the caller ID showed who it was… Taofeek had found us. .
I didnt want Cynthia to panic . .

Me: Baby … just go and check in… I will meet you at the boarding gate and if I dont … then I will see you in Accra.
Cynthia: no I am not going without you . .
Me: but you must . .
Cynthia: please dnt let me … please dont…
Me: just go … now ! … and if u see me … dont talk to me until we are on the plane …
Cynthia: please come in one piece . .
Me: I love you …
I tried calling Bayo but his number wasnt connecting . . . then I remembered his phone was dead .
I let Cynthia go in ahead of me , I saw her check in… that was relieving … then I turned to look for Bayo …
He was with a copy of complete sports. . as he saw me he smiled and approached . . . he saw I wasnt smiling . . . I started running towards him…
Then I saw Taofeek behind Bayo … he stepped out from the shadow of a family congregating . . Bayo saw my shock so he stopped walking … . and was asking through sign language why I was running… and what was happening . .
It must have been painless … because the blade
went through Bayo ’ s throat swiftly… his head fell backwards… a fountain of blood sprung up … nobody would have noticed except eyes that were on Taofeek or Bayo … as Bayo fell on the ground in a pool of blood… people started screaming … . I looked up from Bayo ’ s body … Taofeek had disappeared . . . like he wasnt ever there . …

7: 07 pm

Bayo died.
I am used to different kinds of pain … emotional or physical … It must have been necessary for the profession I chose. But Bayo ’ s death brought an unimaginable kind of pain . I wasnt used to it . I caused his death. If I had escaped on my own from the park he wouldn ’ t have been dead . I thought of him from the beginning… from the moment I woke up and saw him. . I remembered being his conductor… I remembered his love for Chelsea…

I was on my knees … infront of me lay my brother… someone who was ready to give up everything for a stranger like me … just because he liked me . His eyes were rolled backwards … . his mouth slightly ajar… the offensive smell of death filled the air …
Airport security surrounded us… they asked if I knew him… silence … they asked if I had witnessed the murder . . . silence … some mobile police manning the entrance, came and pushed me away… they must have suspected that a killer wont be on his knees infront of the dead … a traveller said I was a doctor working for the airport, another whispered that it was Boko haram that killed him… flights were temporarily cancelled …

Cynthia was calling but I ignored the calls… Infront of me , Bayo ’ s corpse was lifted and taken to an awaiting Ambulance… .
I lodged in at Ikeja Airport hotel , the jaguar I had hoped not to see in a while was packed in
Tantalizers … Allen junction .
I dialled Cynthia’ s number . . .

Me: where are you ?
Cynthia; I am at accra now , Mr Ahmed ’ s people
are taking me to kwame Nkrumah Circle… where are you ?
Me: im still in Nigeria . .
Cynthia: why ?
Me : Bayo is dead … .
Cynthia: oh my God … . oh my God … please come … please . . .
Me : there are somethings I must finish … if not you and I will keep running for the rest of our lives …
Cynthia: we can go anywhere in the world. . . you know we can !
Me: for Bayo … I must stay… just for a while …
Cynthia: when will I see you …
Me : very soon … I trust Mr Ahmed … he will take
care of you …
Cynthia: I love you … . im sorry about Bayo … im sorry…

I hung up …

The world seemed bigger than normal , and I was smaller… I remembered when I went to pick him up at the hospital … I had asked him why he looked sad . . he told me … in less than two hours in which he was at the gate … . too many dead people have been brought in… he wondered if we would be among… .

I screamed … but the pain showed no abating . . . I screamed some more … . then I cried … I pulled everything I wore and cried… I cried till I started laughing. … then I cried again…
My phone rang …

Me: Hello
Caller: its me Mr Ahmed …
Me: yes …
Mr Ahmed: my boys told you didnt arrive with our lady Cynthia. . .
Me: no I didnt …
Mr Ahmed: perhaps you can join me at Aluminium village at Dopemu … say 11 : 30 pm…
Me: im sorry I Can ’ t. . . I am working on something
Mr Ahmed: I assure you it will be worth your
time …
Me: ok…
Mr Ahmed: im sorry about your friend ’ s death. . .
Me : … how did you … . dnt bother …
Mr Ahmed: 11 : 30 … I just arrived lagos myself . . . see you soon…