Words are spoken and nothing seems to make sense, not really. We hope people try their best to understand our point and how we see things but in the process of trying to express our feelings, we discover there are not just enough words. It is possible to make someone understand but we can never make them feel what we feel. For what we see is black, from the angle of another it could be white. Things and words are never as they seem or appear and this language we speak doesn't make it easier. There is always another word more fitting to the one we used, always something, something we didn't see and that is the reason we can't know it all. As we go in you pray she doesn't figure out your words as lies else you won't make it out of here alive. She doesn't have to believe what you say, sell it confidently like it's yours, and believe it, that's the only thing she will be guessing, not the story itself.
From what I've observed over the years, people fumble when they are scared or intimidated, it causes many to forget their words, it renders many speechless while for some they just stammered. In the end, it doesn't matter if what they say is true, their fear has already painted a clearer portrait for everyone present to see.
We walked in after a lot of hesitation on her part. The living room is quiet like always, intimidating even to people as wealthy as her. This was one of her many mind games and it is very infective. She always appears from nowhere and startles are guests, she puts on a smiling face to melt the ice pretending everything is cool, just enough to make her guests comfortable but never enough to feel safe, this is also a part of her game and she is good at it. She sniffs information like a mouse sniffs out cheese.
I could feel her presence, she was staring at us from upstairs. She already knew we were inside but she didn't predict I was stupid enough to bring her here and that's precisely why I did it.
Two rotten eggs finally stick together, how strange. she said from upstairs.
Hello to you too sister, stop sneaking around and show yourself, you are scaring your guest.
She appeared and started climbing down the stairs. You two are nothing but guests, you are family and this is your home, but what I don't understand is why you both chose to come here at this time. Don't tell me you suddenly fell in love? She jokingly said.
No, I didn't plan to stay for long, I just came here to tell you my debt has been paid. said, Sandra.
Oh, oh, is that so? It appears you've been speaking to this bad wolf here, he reeks his scent everywhere he goes, don't mind him or what he has installed in that head of yours, please do sit, you must be entertained before leaving. It is insulting if you are to leave without being entertained. What can I get you?
Actually, I have an appointment and I'm already late. You've always wanted your brother to sign the contract and be at your side and I actually made that happen, without getting my head cut off as you've predicted, if you want to insist I run errands for you, the type you rather not be associated with. I just gave you someone better and now he owes me. I believe he can tell you what really happened in Worri, I have to leave now if you don't mind.
You reek of rotten eggs, just like the guy sitting beside you, there is no way you can come up with something like this not except you had help, help from you James. But, I think your debt is paid, for now.
What do you mean? I asked.
Dear brother, the only way to really get out of blackmail is knowing something dark and incriminating about the one blackmailing you, and if you ever decide to go to the authorities, make sure the information you give doesn't come back to bite you, or you can just decided to send them to a distant land, I know for a fact that's how you will handle this case. You can go to this false appointment of yours. I no longer have need for you anyway, but do stay out of trouble and watch out for cars on the road, we don't want to hear you are involved in some kind of accident.
You don't have to threaten her Grace.
Sometimes you have to show how big your teeth are, but only when you know your teeth are bigger than that of your rival. Your father use to say that Sandra and in this case, your teeth are the small ones.
She walks out of the house without saying a word, I could see she was relief but that feeling didn't last long, fear and desperation could be seen in her face and body motion as she left. The atmosphere was cold and everyone was putting on a smiley face, but in reality, threats were on the air.
Now that she's gone, what have you been up to, Madam?
First, why did you bring her here?
The truth is, I know you wouldn't expect me to do that and that's why it felt right, and besides, you did say we are all family, are we not? You don't have to look so tense, or is anything the matter?
She sigh after a few seconds of looking at the door and sat down on a couch after pouring herself a glass of whiskey.
Mike was shot yesterday and he almost died, he is in intensive care as we speak, everyone with him when they attacked died. The chances of him surviving is slim.
Where did this happen?
I believe it was Liberty Estate here in Asaba. she said.
I thought this area was one of the most secure areas in Asaba?
It was, but you don't seem surprised she said.
Am not easily surprised, and you are not concerned about Mike. You are scared they could be coming for all of us , if you must know I was attacked yesterday.
What? she shouted. How..., what happened?
I send the guy on an errand to a distant land as you like to put it.
Are you serious?
I told you once and I'll tell you again, I don't do jokes.
Who sent him, she asked suspiciously.
I think you know much more than you are letting on, I actually came here to get answers. who did you think sent them?
You must know, I had nothing to do with it.
Then who did? I asked.
The list is very long James and it's way more complicated than you thought, I myself don't even know half the players of this game we call kill circle but, I believe everything was centred around father and the Osimhens.
I figured, please tell me what you know from the beginning.
They call themselves Saints. I think this association is older than I thought dating back to the 1950s. Dad was a very rich man but he never inherited anything from his father who was also filthy rich at the time. He was disowned by his father and later he took our family name from his mothers' side, which means we are all Yoruba but that is something he never talks about.
Then how did you know?
Father and I were closer than most people think and he tells me things about himself he never tells to anyone, not even Mary.
Who are the Saints and what do they want?
They are very powerful people and they want to rule, they have people everywhere, in the government, in finance, business, construction, import and export, in the military, everywhere in the system. When they want you dead, you die and no one will say anything. Father was one of their biggest members, sixty per cent of the money they make is by the Osimhens cooperation and they want it to stay that way but father, on the other hand, have other ambitions. Saints are not as powerful as they once were especially since the change of government in Nigeria and if they are to fall which they will eventually, the only ones that will take the fall is the Osimhens cooperation.
From what was read in the will, it wasn't close to half what the Osimhens are supposed to have, if we were that rich, where did all that money go?
We are involved in all types of business just to cover our tracks, father was good at that and I was good at catching up. We launder money in all our business all over Nigeria.
Father bought a lot of oil wells here in the south so no one knows and questions where the money comes from. but the oil is just one of the many backup businesses we are involved in. We also have construction companies, and the people we have in the government approves billions of naira for a small project which is not worth anything more than 100 to 200 million naira. most of the time the contract isn't even finished, and the money gets to be divided between the Saints, father and whoever approved the contract. This way the money gets cleaned and no one asks questions. There are a lot of other ways father and the Saints get money and power.
What went wrong? I asked
It's simple. power.