Dr. Patrick sat beside his personal aid as they went through the document once more. They had reviewed it a couple of times but something still felt amiss.
He took a sip from the glass of water on his desk and set it down again beside a table picture frame. It had been quite a long time since he had spent such a memorable time with her or even his wife. He sighed and went back to reviewing the document, one page after another.
"Did we capture all the line items as discussed in the budget?" Dr. Patrick asked Chima for the umpteenth time.
"Yes, I believe we did." Chima responded as he began to put the document away.
"I can't afford for this not to be approved after the hearing tomorrow." He said removing his glasses and cleaning his face with the sleeves of his shirt. "A lot is at stake here."
Dr. Patrick Okezie has been managing the affairs of the country under the Ministry of Works and Housing for almost seven years. It was becoming a tradition to always get edgy and disoriented anytime he was preparing to make a presentation for a new project to the House.
He was approaching his last year in office and there is only one thing in the mind of a Nigerian Politician who is wrapping up his tenure in office, loot. He was shaking inside of him, his phone has been buzzing with people of interest and some are beginning to sound like threats to him.
"Hand it over let me take a look one more time." The Minster collected the document and adjusted his glasses to commence another session of review.
It was a little over 3 pm and the sun was still spreading its wings across the city of Enugu. 1st Avenue wasn't left out of the savage from the heat. The Minister sat comfortably on the other side of his desk while Chima drew his seat closer to assist in the review. He noticed the sweaty forehead of his boss and wondered if the air-conditioning was not chill enough to douse the heat coming through the closed glass windows.
"Minister, do you want me to turn up the air-conditioner a little bit." Chima asked as he stood up to grab the remote control.
"No. It's fine, Chima. It is not the Airconditioner, I think I need a break from all these." Dr. Patrick said and continued his review. "We can't afford any mistakes." He said in finality.
His phone rang from on top of his desk where he had dropped it a few minutes ago. He was not interested in taking the call and didn't border to check who was trying to reach him. Mr. Samuel Bassey, the Minister for Health had called earlier to insist that his interest was to be protected in the project. An argument had ensued and they fell out. All these constitute distractions and all he wants is a quiet time to wrap this up.
The phone began to ring again and he decided to reach for it. He moved the mini statue of Fela Anikulapo Kuti that stood gallantly on his desk. He reached for his phone and as soon as he identified the caller, his worries melted away.
*********
Segun walked up to Mrs.Ike where she sat alone gazing into thin air.
"Hi Mrs. Ike, can I have a word with you?" He asked as he brought out a recorder.
"Sorry, I need a few minutes alone if you don't mind." She responded as she made to ignore the reporter beside her.
"I won't take much of your time." Segun said as he turned on the recorder and grabbed a notepad pretending to be taking notes.
"I said I need to be alone for a second, don't you understand?" Mrs. Ike insisted and Segun kept his stand, staring into her eyes as he broke the ice.
"What do you think the faith of your daughter is, now that you went against the abductor's instructions not to involve the police?" Segun asked looking into her eyes.
She was quiet for a while her gaze fell on Segun as she quickly recollected herself. "Sorry, who did you say you are?"
"My name is Segun Adeleke, I work with Independent 8 Broadcast network." Segun answered without breaking his gaze.
"How did you know what instruction was given to My husband and I?" She asked raising her voice and attracting others in the house. The cops and the other members of the press became quiet as they became interested in the question Mrs. Ike asked the man standing beside her. Her husband and Inspector Tobe walked into the seating room and noticed the absolute silence.
"What's going on, did they call again?" Inspector Tobe asked a young man dressed in his neat black-on-black Nigerian Police Force uniform.
"No, they haven't called. Mrs. Ike asked the young man how he knew the instructions that the kidnappers gave to herself and her husband." The young police officer answered as he walked cautiously towards Mrs. Ike and the Segun.
"Go on answer the question." Inspector Tobe urged Segun.
"Well I heard it from Mr Ike a few minutes ago when he was arguing with his wife," Segun said with the boldness he never knew he had. Everybody had eyes on him including the real press people. He had made up the News outfit he claimed he worked for and if the police ask him for an ID he will be as good as busted.
A little murmur started from among the press people and the Inspector raised his hands to instill quietness.
"Everybody leaves the house, enough with questions and photographs." Inspector Tobe ordered. He turned to and uniformed officer, "Jude clear the house, give the family some room for air."
Segun bent down and grabbed his recorder, he looked at the grieving woman and he saw that she still had her eyes on him.
"What would you have done if this was your daughter in question?" She asked innocently still looking into Seguns eyes.
"I will pay the damn money and save my daughter's life." Segun replied as quietly as her question had sounded.
He joined the entire cops and press people walking out the same door, he turned when he got to the door and she was still looking at him. He saw it in her eyes, she knew she had made the wrong decision in calling the cops.
************
The General paused to look at the men in front of him, everybody was there except for Segun. He looked at his watch a sighed, the eyes gazing at him are men who he had rescued one way or the other they owe him their lives.
His gaze fell on Zubi who he had saved from the hands of death when he was caught stealing along Abakpa road. If not for him the crowd were ready to carry out their usual jungle justice but he saw potential in the young chap.
He looked at Sabi. This one had attempted to pick the general's pocket, the thought of it still thrills the General. He had taken a lady out to Best Lounge and Restaurant at Agbani, David had pretended to have run into him mistakenly and the General's wallet disappeared.
"What's your name son?" General had asked him as he made to walk away.
"David, Sir, and sorry again for running into you." Sabi turned to leave.
"What if I tell you I can give you more than what is in that wallet if you give it back." The General said with a smile on his face. The boy was shocked, he stood there with his eyes dropped. The General stretched out his arm and the boy placed the wallet into his hand. The rest is history. He got his name Sabi for being good at what he does, pickpocketing and picking locks.
Koko stood by the corner with his left shoulder properly bandaged. The General had a special reservation when it comes to Koko. It came from the numerous events that had cemented their bonds. He is not one to trust but he trusts Koko and that is why he pushes him too far. He would be thinking of retiring from active duties soon and he can only think of Koko as a formidable authority and replacement if this empire must stand.
Koko has always been with him since he was five. He had found him alone at Ngwo recreational park in the middle of the night. He didn't know where his parent was or who they were. The general had taken him in and became his father.
Segun walked in and broke the thoughts running through the general's head.
"You are pretty late." The General said with stiff delivery.
"Sorry G, met with a little hitch but it wasn't too difficult to resolve." Segun answered and joined the others.
Seeing Segun reminded him of the day he had to rush a bleeding kid to the hospital. He had engaged in a knife fight along Agbani Road and got a deep cut above his abdomen. The Generals' quick intervention saved his life.
*************
She was excited to get off the plane and the heat from the sun was welcoming. It was obvious she had missed a lot of things behind when she left to further her studies abroad.
She entered the arrival section of Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, after grabbing her boxes from the baggage carousel. She made her way to the waiting area. There were lots of people waiting for either their family or friend. Some obviously didn't know who they came to pick so they had cardboard with the names of the passenger written boldly on it.
She keep looking from left to right at the entire confusion before her, it was obvious that it won't be easy to spot her mother in this bustling crowd.
"Nnenna!" She suddenly heard that voice. Somehow her ears had filtered away all other sounds and voices ravaging the arrival section. She could only hear one voice, she couldn't have been mistaken.
"Nnenna!" The voice called out again. It was a unique voice, it was eager to be heard. She turned to the right and saw lots of people struggling to gain visibility of the passengers coming out to the arrival section. Then she saw her, she was waving with everything she had to gain the attention of Nelly. It was her mother.