CHAPTER 3:
Killer woke up with a cold splash on his face, his vision blurred at first and everything in sight seemed to be twins, even the gun on the table opposite him "wait, a gun?" that seemed to click his factory reset button and everything seemed to be one again, except the gun was still two.
There really were two pistols on the table.
It was then he realized there was a second person with him in the dimly lit room. A young man with neatly trimmed beard and sparkling black obsidian eyes was standing with a bucket in hand, the bucket which obviously the cold water had come from.
"Who are you?" killer tried to sound fierce, but it came out as a whisper barely audible to he himself and he tried again, this time it came out as a whimper accompanied by a pain on his neck, he tried to rub at it but he found out he couldn't move his hand…his hands…nor could he move his legs…he had obviously been tied to a chair after being knocked unconscious.
Fred smiled at the man's attempt to sound fierce and brave, but he knew what he really felt…fear.
That's what they all feel
Killer watched as this smiling devil took a chair and sat opposite him with what seemed like a tool-box, he couldn't help but gulp, was this motherfucker going to torture him? He couldn't help but sweat coldly.
Fred felt satisfied, now he was beginning to show his fear, he liked it. He always did.
"I ask the questions, you do the answering. Are we clear?" killer heard the man speak leisurely like someone taking a walk in the park. Had he done this before? He sounded so relaxed which ironically seemed to spread the fire of fear in his heart.
The devil opened the tool-box.
What killer saw made him wet his pants; he literally did wet his pants. Who was the 'killer', the name seemed to fit this devil incarnate sitting across him with a smile and look of pleasure on his face better.
Killer gulped when his left pinkie was grabbed "no" he screamed in horror.
"hey quiet, you don't even know why I'm holding your finger and you're screaming already, don't be a sissy" with a little chuckle at a corner of his lips, he picked up something like a scissors…but twenty times sharper, he inspected it like he was admiring his new born baby and continued "now I'm curious as to how you'll sound when I really take it from you".
Before Killer could scream or beg…or even open up his mouth, something like the click of a scissors was heard…but this time it clicked through flesh and bone. The shock came before the pain, 'why does everything come before the pain with this guy?'
A squeak like that of a pig escaped killer's mouth, followed by a hoarse scream, it sounded scary and surprising how a human was capable of producing that sort of sound…a pity it was cut short by a fierce slap to his face, the slap was so hard that it made killer gargle and choke. "I hate noise, it's just a little pinkie, why make a fuss about it" killer almost spat blood, not due to the pain but anger 'you dare call that little pinkie, you dare tell me not to make a fuss? Bro you just cut off a human's finger, don't make it sound like a piece of string'.
"Who are you" came the calm voice again, suddenly putting on that innocent face; it's amazing how someone can switch between moods like that.
With a pained face and great effort not to make a noise, so as not to receive another fierce slap…killer feared he might die from the next one "I...ki…I'm kill..Killer" slap! A large five finger imprint was left on his face "don't use that name before me" Fred said while inspecting his fingers like he was worried they were stained by killer's face.
"I'm pa...patr...pa...pa...Patrick" killer replied with snort flowing down his nose and tears stinging his face, "I'm an as...sass…sassing" he replied while shaking and whimpering in pain.
"Who sent you" came the interrogation again, but this time from behind him
"an anonymous, they…they offered to pay 1.5million for your life and I was told I will be balanced when the job is done" crying like an aggrieved baby, killer was filled with grieve and regret, 'these guys never told him he was going to assassinate a superior' he wished he could just hunt down those bastards and send them packing to hell, but obviously, he had to get out of this first.
"Please spare my life, I have a daughter" killer decided to resort to empathy, he didn't want to die…he was just a little above thirty.
"1.5million, I'm only worth that much?"Fred stood arms akimbo while shaking his head as if aggrieved by his value "I'm disappointed" he continued again with a sigh like he was really sad. "You can go now" he said while moving towards killer.
Killer seemed shocked 'did he just say I can go? He's not joking right?' and then a gun was raised to his head and before he could utter a scream of horror.
PA! He was shot in the head.
'Didn't he say I can go?' that was the last thought in killer's head before a hole was punched through it by the bullet.
He was right, he could go…to hell.
.................................…
These past four months had been eventful for both Fred and Julia, they had been at Julia's favorite spot at the park three more times, and they had been to the beach, various restaurants and other parks. They had even been to the swimming pool once, Julia hadn't liked it, and she was scared of being in the pool which earned the nickname 'mermaid' from Fred. They didn't visit any more pools after then.
No other assassination attempts either.
Today was one of such dates and fun outings with Julia; Fred was dressed in a joggers and short sleeve with a long, loose jacket and a timberland shoe. He was standing outside his apartment, apparently waiting for someone…obviously Julia.
They were supposed to have dinner at his house but at the last moment, Julia changed plans to have him over at her parent's house for dinner---an opportunity he had been waiting for---
"Oh someone is visiting a club house" Julia seemed to appear out of nowhere, she seemed to do a lot these days.
"I just had to slide into something fast, since you said you were around the corner…he tried to look around to see where she might have popped out from, then he concluded "which you obviously were".
Julia inspected him head to toe, seemingly unsatisfied like she could perform magic and instantly have him dressed in a black tuxedo with a bow tie and a matching black shoe to make him look like someone really attending a proper dinner and not---not this hot style which screamed 'club! Party!' but there was no time.
"Let's go" she pouted and said in a commanding manner and led Fred to her parked car---it really was around the corner---
Julia's house was really a grand pavilion, many times larger and grander than his rented apartment, seemed like the difference between heaven and earth…a well and an ocean, which made sense as this was a colonel's home and his was just a rented apartment in the posh area of Edo.
'You don't have a dog in there, do you?" Fred asked with feigned fear which Julia believed but was too angry at his irresponsibility, dressing like that to attend dinner with her family, didn't he know who her father was? "You're gonna come in or not" she sounded clearly angry, Fred knew better than to argue with her…so, he followed obediently, not even glancing at the heavily armed security personnel.
Contrary to his expectations, the inside was actually quiet and peaceful, no rush, no noise…he didn't expect this peaceful atmosphere, he was expecting to see about five soldiers at the door, ten in the sitting room.
Stepping into the sitting room, actually before another sitting room…'damn, this man sure has taste' Fred was ushered into the dining section of the house, which made it obvious the family had been waiting for his arrival.
He was greeted with a smile from the colonel, Colonel Adesiyan and his beautiful wife who Julia took a lot from, he couldn't help but imagine her taking after her father.
He blanched, wouldn't be a good sight to behold.
He liked the 'older Julia' the instant he saw her, which made his mission the more difficult, how would she look being sad
"Sit!" he was snapped out of his thought when a stern voice from the colonel was sent his way and he sat directly opposite the colonel…this reminded him of what people said about 'eating with the devil' he just couldn't find his own long spoon, all he could see was an embroidered spoon, a fork and a knife, none of them long enough.
Gracing his sight was a variety of food, a whole chicken…fried with just the neck and legs missing…plus there was two of such, was it like this because he was joining them or they ate like this every day…this style of eating was enough to ruin a whole country. He was going to ask Julia when they were done.
"Let us share the grace"…was he hearing wrong? The colonel was able to wait for prayers, so patiently…even had his eyes tightly and earnestly closed.
"What's your name?" the colonel asked as he chucked a big slice of chicken down his throat, perhaps an habit formed from stealing from the country's funds, God! He really ate like a thief.
"Fred Olajide sir" Fred replied honestly with a straight face that did nothing to betray his bad thoughts and impression of the man. "I like it, Fred" the colonel said while savoring every bite of his food…"nice name" continued the minister.
"So, what do you do?" with a well meaning smile, the colonel asked again. Mentally striking himself on the forehead, frustration started to set in on Fred, he really needed to consider having a side job…that would at least save him from having to lie each time this sort of question was thrown at him.
"I'm a computer engineer sir" he had no choice but to resort to the work Julia believed him to be involved in.
Again, it worked its magic.
"I like engineers, you really look like a computer wizard" looking at Fred carefully again "you're dressed like one too" he added in a low voice but audible enough for everyone to hear...Julia looked down at her legs, they seemed to be sore.
"Do you hack?" the colonel asked with a bright smile like he was hoping Fred would say yes.
Fred burst into a light laughter, 'this man sure has a dry sense of humor' "no sir, I don't" Fred replied amid his laughter.
"Not even for me?" the colonel continued with a wronged tone, which reminded him of Julia 'she had taken something from him after all'
"Anything for you sir" Fred said with a relaxed smile "even with bonus".
The colonel broke into a long and loud laugh; everyone thought he was going to choke.
He didn't.
"I like you boy" he said as he walked out of the dining room.
Julia's mother seemed satisfied and gave Fred a wink. Julia had obviously gotten her mischief from her.
.................................…
"You will have nothing to do with that girl" came a shout with a stern, commanding tone. Noah stood rooted on a spot with a hard look on his face and standing before him was a round ball with hands and legs and whiskers like moustache with a bald head to match, dressed in overflowing agbada and armed with a finger pointed at Noah's face like a pistol, that was Noah's father, Mr. Williams, he had always been against Noah's desire for Julia, a daughter to his hard-core enemy. Everyone knew how much they loathed each other, even the president did, why would his own son betray him this way, "this boy is a bastard" he tells himself each time 'the Julia conflict' comes up.
"You will have nothing to do with her" he gave a last shout and walked out, obviously in anger…although it felt like he was rolling.
Noah smiled, his mind made up. He put a call through.
"Do it!"