This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.
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CH48: FIRST TARGET DOWN
Nigerian Department of Intelligence Headquarters, Abuja.
In an office at the Nigerian Department of Intelligence HQ, Special Agent Danjuma had just ended a call with Special Agent Ndike. He turned to face the monitor in front of him. He said,
"There you have it, Kola. Your brother is doing well. So far, there's no cause for worry. Besides, I thought you said he could take care of himself. I don't see why you are so worried."
The person Special Agent Danjuma was having a video call with was Colonel Kola Balogun.
Colonel Balogun replied, "I am not worried about his skillset. It's his experience I'm worried about. This is his first commando-style mission. Can you tell me about these Okafor Brothers that he presumably executed?"
"There are somewhat low levelled but they have their hands in almost everything. Drugs, Loan shark, Smuggling, etc. You name it, they've probably done it. While they didn't have the means to go bigger, they know how to cover their tracks. We suspect this is why a bigshot like the head of NDz smuggling operation took a liking to them. Though they're suspected of multiple crimes. Murder, arson, kidnapping, smuggling, rapes. They've never left behind enough evidence that stuck."
"I think I know why Korede killed them. He has always been touchy on the issue of repeat rapists. Actually, this reason and the fact that he played a role in Operation CatchingFire, I can't help but worry about what the kid would do to the Duke when they meet."
"Well, that's a matter for the future now."
"You are right. Anyway, thanks for the update, Muritala."
"No problem."
The video call ended. Special Agent Danjuma opened his computer and looked through the new intel Special Agent Ndike mentioned.
NDI Safehouse, Onitsha.
It was already late into the evening. Korede stood up from the bed. He dressed up in a suit and left the apartment with the duffel bag in hand.
Korede got into the Corolla and drove off. The clean-up crew had returned the car while he slept. About an hour later, Korede arrived at the Delta nightclub.
Delta Nightclub was one of the most popular clubs in Onitsha. The club was packed full of customers every night. Large amounts of cash flowed through here every day. This was used as an excuse to station a relatively large number of guards at the club.
However, those in the know were aware that the club was actually a front for the Smuggler's money-laundering operation. He funnelled his illegal money into the club and claimed it to be legally earned profits. The guards weren't there to protect the customers, rather they were there to protect the Smuggler's money.
Korede came to the club to apprehend Chidozie Agbu a.k.a the Smuggler. Since Korede needed to interfere with the major drug deal taking place in a few hours for his plan, he needed to get to Chidozie quickly.
Chidozie's whereabouts were usually elusive, however, Nnamdi Okafor was able to give Korede an accurate location because the Okafor brothers were supposed to meet Chidozie at the club to run an errand for him.
Being a nightclub, Korede couldn't take a direct approach due to all the potential civilian casualties. Luckily, Nnamdi had also given him a way in.
He walked up to the VIP section with the duffel bag in hand.
A guard stopped him.
"Sorry, sir. The VIP area is invite-only."
"Your boss is expecting me. Tell him, 'There's nothing in this world money can't buy, even a life'. He'll know who I am."
The guard went to inform his boss, the Smuggler, about this 'guest'. Chidozie was surprised when he heard the words. A frown appeared on his face when he saw a face he didn't recognise. He approached Korede.
"Friend, may I know who you are?" Chidozie asked.
"I'd rather you not know. It's best for both of us. Mr. Leopard couldn't make it, he had to stay with our boss, your client. We want to know if the product is available. If it is, a sizeable bonus has been prepared." Korede said.
He opened the duffel bag a little and money could be seen in it.
A smile appeared on Chidozie's face. He said, "It just so happens that the product has been delivered to me an hour ago. I would have asked one of my boys to deliver it to you. But since you're here, did you bring someone to confirm the viability of the product?"
"That won't be necessary, that's why I'm here." Korede said while Chidozie looked enlightened.
Though he didn't like doing business with somebody he didn't know beforehand, the other party had used all the right security phrases that should only be known to him and the client. He had little reason to doubt his guest. Besides, the money he was showed swayed his decision.
Little did he know that there weren't only two people that knew the security phrases. Nnamdi Okafor had accidentally heard them too when he went back to get something he forgot at one of their multiple hideouts. He didn't let Chidozie know he was there because he knew how cautious his boss was. There was a strong chance he might be killed to prevent any possibility of a leak.
"Come let us continue this discussion in my office." Chidozie said.
He ushered Korede towards his office. At the door, he wanted to dismiss his guards as this was a trade he didn't want the Duke to find out about. Just before the guards left, Korede said to everyone's surprise
"Since you've acted in good faith, I should reciprocate."
He removed a pistol from his back and handed the gun to one of the guards. He placed the duffel bag on the ground and made a gesture for the guards to search him.
Since the other party submitted himself to a search, Chidozie didn't say anything and just opened the office door.
He knew the guards wouldn't find anything. He knew the man was just telling him that he was a professional and he, the smuggler, shouldn't play any tricks. He didn't plan on doing anything anyway. He wanted to start a new business for himself so he had to make sure his name was trustworthy.
With that done, the duo entered the office. Chidozie switched on the radio and turned the volume up to the maximum. He sneaked a glance at Korede and saw that the latter didn't have the slightest change in expression. It was then he put down his last inhibitions.
What Chidozie just did was a simple anti-surveillance method. At the maximum volume, the content on the radio would mask the discussion of the duo in the room meaning that it would be difficult for any recording devices to pick up their discussion. Chidozie had also sneaked a glance at Korede because if he was a police officer, he would have shown a hint of disappointment at least. Since that was lacking, he was able to reasonably deduce that Korede wasn't a cop.
He opened his safe and brought out a cooler from it. He placed the cooler on the table. Korede stood up and opened it. Inside was a kidney in an organ-preserving fluid within a plastic bag.
"This is a very good product." Korede said.
"Of course. It was from a voluntary donation at a hospital. The donor, the hospital, and everyone involved was paid off as you asked. No complications."
"That's good. The money is yours. It's good doing business with you. I'm sure we'll contact you again." Korede said.
The Smuggler with a smile on his face opened the duffel bag.
He was stunned.
There were only few stacks of cash in the bag, not nearly enough to pay for his services. Not only that, underneath the money stack were guns and ammunition, grenade, explosives as well as other tactical gear. Alarm bells rang in his head but, alas, it was too late.
Korede had taken advantage of the small window caused by Chidozie's shock to stab a syringe into his neck. The fast-acting anaesthetic knocked the man out instantly and quietly. Korede held his body so that it wouldn't make any sound as it fell, lest the guards outside suspect anything even with the loud radio.
Korede went to the man's safe. It was easy for him to crack using {Sense Boost}. Chidozie had a bit of oil on his hands that was noticeable on the safe keypad under Korede's enhanced vision. So, Korede could tell which buttons he pushed last.
Each button on an electronic keypad had a distinct tone. Korede had heard the tone combination when Chidozie opened the safe previously. So he used an attempt to match a tone to each button that had oil on them. After which he typed in the right password based on his memory of the tone combination when Chidozie opened the safe.
He found cash and cocaine as well as some other documents in the vault. He packed everything into a bag he found in the office. He then started a search for a secret door.
According to Nnamdi, Chidozie was paranoid. He built a secret door into all of his offices and buildings. Not too long later, Korede found the hidden door behind a large poster.
He carried Chidozie and the bags as he made his way out through the secret door. He came out in the opposite direction of the club entrance. Unlike the entrance which was filled with people and well guarded, this place was secluded. Korede placed the man down in a corner blindspot and went to get his car. He drove carefully to avoid attracting the attention of the guard as he backed the car into the corner. He got out and placed Chidozie into the boot along with the bag he got from his safe. Korede put his bag in the leg space of the passenger's seat before driving off.
Korede brought Chidozie to another one of NDz properties. It was formerly a housing initiative for low-income earners. Two-floor buildings with five one-bedroom apartments on each floor. For some reason, the initiative failed and the government was forced to sell the property.
Korede randomly chose an apartment on the ground floor. After placing the man in the apartment, he locked it and made his way out. He hailed a taxi and got back to the Delta Night Club.
He went around back and saw what he came for. Chidozie's favourite possession. A Yamaha YZF R1 bike. He had already taken the keys from its owner's pocket so he just rode the bike away without alerting the guards who were more interested in guarding the building.
He got back to the temporary hideout to find Chidozie still passed out on the floor. He didn't look like he would wake up any time soon.
[I thought this guy was supposed to be paranoid. How did he get captured so easily?]
'Hey, it wasn't easy at all! Do you know how many brain cells I used up to achieve this?'
[What's so special about what you did? All I saw you do was make use of the intel you got from that cowardly guy.]
'There was more to the success of the mission than just the intel. Every word I said had to be chosen carefully. If I had made a mistake, things would not have gone so smoothly.
Let's take my handing over the gun for example. If I hadn't handed over my gun there, he would have had his guard up against me. If I had handed it over earlier than that, I wouldn't have looked like a pro. There was no way his client wouldn't have sent a pro.
Handing it over when I did, achieved three things. First, it made everyone think I was a pro. Second, it made both the Smuggler and his guards ease up. As for the final one, you'll find out later. I also went back for his bike partly for this last reason.'
[Well, I can wait to find out as long as I'm entertained. The last few days have been a little boring. You're a Martial Master for crying out loud. Where's the action? Or did you become a Cunning Master without me knowing.]
Korede chuckled.
'Don't worry. Very soon you'll get all the action you want.'
[Let's hope so.]
Korede rearranged the room into a style more suitable for interrogations. Two chairs separated by a table in between them. Though the effect might be small, it was good to set that interrogation vibe. Any little help counts in things like this. Korede closed his eyes and tried to recall the information he had on the Smuggler.
After a while, he settled on an interrogation method. He took the duffel bag he got from the safe and placed it by the foot of the table. He looked around and confirmed everything was in place.
He was about to wake up his captive when Aon suddenly said,
[I just realised something.]
'What?'
[If being a soldier doesn't work out, you can be a good kidnapper.]
'That's not funny at all.'
[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion matters to me.]