Like I always say, everyone is innocent till they are not, everybody can kill if, given the right motive, death is told to be the opposite of life and life itself is ready to end another life if it increases the chances to last.
I don't know what happened and why but I have to do what I do best according to Grace. I honestly don't know what she meant, and obviously don't know what she knows about me or how she thinks, she is like me in every possible way and that scares me to some extent, she could be capable of ending a life but not that of family, but again family sometimes is who we choose despite blood.
The day is bright and the surrounding is as usual, calm. Her car was parked at a corner off the road, I could see that she was alone and she is keeping are head down every time someone walked past her car. she was very scared when she called me, but as she said, she is one of the lucky ones. I walked up to the car and open the door, I can see the fear and shock in her face as I sat close to her, she is afraid but calm and all I could do was sit in silence as she process what is happening.
Are you alright? I asked.
Obviously not.
What really happened?
I don't know where to start...
relax, it's fine now, everything has been sorted out.
Things like this don't just vanish or get fixed, this is a crime and the police will be looking for me.
No, the police will be looking for a criminal to close the case and that criminal could not be you if you play your cards in time, here nothing is investigated properly, if they have someone to blame and that person has anything to do with the even in the slightest chance, that person is the criminal for he can't prove he is innocent as well, that the case is officially close.
What are you trying to say?
I ask the questions here not you, if you want my help I recommend you start talking, what happened?
When I was driving to the hotel yesterday, I notice I was being followed by a motorcycle, I thought it was nothing because he didn't follow me till I got to the hotel.
He didn't have to, that is the only hotel in that area, but I did warn you.
Yes, I know, I didn't go to sleep straight away, I ordered food and I eat it in the hotel restaurant and that's when I noticed the men at the end of the restaurant, they were the same men that followed me to the bar. I took my food to my room after that and closed the door, that's when I brought out the gun because I was scared, I knew it was only an amount of time before they will come. I waited for them the entire night but they never came until this morning. Room service knocked at my door just once and tried to open the door but as I've said I locked it. I talked to her and told her what I needed then she left. About two minutes later I started hearing footsteps close to the door, that's when I picked up the gun and point it at the door. The next thing I know the door was open with a bang and I reacted by pulling the trigger, twice. Everything happened so fast, the next thing I heard was footsteps fleeing the scene and a man on the ground bleeding out.
You are lucky, I said.
Don't you understand? for what I know he could be dead and that means I have killed somebody.
Imagine you didn't shoot, you would have been dead or since you are a beautiful young lady, they might just have fun with you and in the end, they will have to kill you so it does not get back to them. This is how places like this run, you wanted to know, now you know.
So I am a killer?
Here, killers we all are.
How do I get out of this?
You see, on my way here I made some calls, if there is a shooting in most cases, it takes about five to six hours before the police are informed, and it takes hours may be days before they respond depending on the case. Enough time to change the story if you know-how.
How? she asked.
Here the first security personnel to arrive at any scene is the security of that area, here we call them ( bakasy), I happen to know the chairman, I push him some paper then he tells the police what I tell him.
what did you tell him?
That it was a gang fight, they came to kill someone of the opposite gang then things get a little messy and some few people got injured. The one's with critical injuries were rushed to the hospital while the one's with minor injuries fled the scene.
Of course, the police won't buy that story.
They accept victory when they get it. If they go to the hospital and found the guy, then it will be true without further questions but, if he is dead they will simply arrest whoever took him there, no one is truly innocent here.
But that will be unfair?
Would you rather go to prison?
No, but...
No buts, besides where did you even get the gun?
I bought it from a guy the first day I lodge in the hotel, he said everyone has one here.
And you just believe him, you are a fool. I think the gun was why they came and you asking too many questions about this James makes them think you are the police.
I don't understand, do I look like the police?
Here every stranger is a spy till they are not. A complete stranger comes into town and starts looking for Barron who happens to be the gang leader of this street, and very few people know his real name, and that name happens to be James, what a fine coincidence, right?
Y E S, she screamed, you believe me right? she asked tearfully.
Yes, I do. but they do not.
What do I do?
I see you come with very big baggage, before I solve one another one is on the way. The only thing you can do now is leave town.
You don't understand...
No, you are the one not understanding, if you stay you die and I can only keep you alive for a limited time.
The truth is if I leave without achieving good results I die, and if I also stay I die.
What? What did Grace tell you, wait, did she threaten you?
Wow, So you are James, the James? why didn't you tell me? you would have saved me all this trouble.
I did, you just didn't believe me.
You told me if I was looking for James then everyone here is James, how was I supposed to believe you?
You..., so you couldn't see the facials resemblance. you are not a good reporter.
I know, why did you think your sister made me come here?
Why, do you work for her?
Of course not, but then again, yes. it's complicated.
Oh, I see, so she has something on you or your family so she can tell you to do whatever she wants, wow. Now I see why you bought the gun. Start the car, this place is not safe for either of us.
.
it's been a few minutes since we've been driving.
Where are we going?
Somewhere safe, I said.
I can't trust you, where are you taking me.
My place and please, never trust me.
The better saying is never trust the Osimhen's.
Is that what they say or you just made that up?
it's a saying many people know, so... I was told you happen to be the richest.
Did they leave the part that I am a bastard?
Bastards we all are, Madam Grace loves to say.
Are you close to the family?
I wouldn't say that but in a way yes.
How?
My father is a friend of your father and Joyce happen to be my best friend.
Oh, but I thought Joyce was a bastard?
Hmm, yes. The thing is, the mother of Joyce happens to be a step aunt of mine, from my fathers' side, so if you look at it closely we are family.
You are related to Joyce and that is that, you are not family, at least to many of us.
I know, so how did you come to know madam Grace given that it was not long you were introduced to the family.
I was never introduced to the family, It seems you and Joyce have been charting about things you shouldn't. I believe that's how you got into this mess with Grace.
Not at all, I was never supposed to be involved but it appears I poke my nose in places they ought not to be.
Is that a way of saying you know too much?
Maybe?
Alright, drop it with the half-truths, you are good in this but you can't get something from me and expect I wouldn't want the same. Do you even know why you are here?
I tried to ask but the reason I was given didn't make sense.
Do you know who I am?
Not really, she said.
She sent you here not to investigate me, she expects you to make a mistake and hopefully get yourself killed without lifting a finger and she almost succeed.
I believe we are here.