Chapter 12
“Are you all ready?” Isadora asked as we all sat round the table, all four of us in a private room in one of Agnes’ eateries.
We have decided to use Biggie’s game against him, using Isadora as the bait, once in our net, we rope him.
“We are all set, ensure the phone is on speakers so everyone hear what he is saying”, Mr. James instructed.
“Alright…here we go”, Isadora dialed his number and it began ringing, Biggie picked up on the fourth ring.
“Hello my baby bird, I knew you will call to apologize for being a naughty girl back there”, Biggie’s arrogant voice burst in through the phone speaker, Isadora’s face turned red with anger but Agnes pat her shoulder to remind her what was on ground.
“Hi Biggie…good afternoon”, Isadora began trying hard to hide the anger in her voice.
“Common baby bird, that is not how to apologize and you are not even sounding romantic”, Biggie replied from the other end, Isadora looked at me while I smirked and nodded my head for her to oblige him. She shook her head in protest but later reluctantly agreed after seeing the serious look on my face.
“Okay, as you wish your highness…I am sorry baby for what happened baby, I never should have done that, you know o was embarrassed by what you did there…”, Isadora began but was cut short by Biggie.
“You mean I embarrassed you?”. At this point, Agnes whispered into Isadora’s ear. Isadora’s eyes widen before shook her head, I signaled her with my hand to do what Agnes whispered to her.
“No…no…no baby, that’s not what I mean and besides, it’s bygone now. I wanted to feel you deep inside of me”, Isadora began while looking at me, I was struggling to stifle my laughter.
“Be frank…or are you kidding me?”, Biggie’s voice sounded with doubt.
“He had fallen for the bait”. Mr. James murmured more to himself than into my ears.
“I am serious my dear, I want you to break my virginity…meet me somewhere, we’ll pass home from there for a very long racing. Please come with condoms”, Isadora instructed Biggie who laughed selfishly.
“Alright, I will be there in thirty minutes time, just drop the address of the place, but what made you change your mind if I may ask? You never let me, even while we were still dating”, Biggie’s voice boomed from the other side.
“Don’t worry, we will talk about everything when you come, I’ll text you the address the moment the call ends”, Isadora assured him.
“Will be expecting”, Biggie responded and the line went dead, Isadora quickly typed and send Biggie the address.
“Bravo!” Mr. James exclaimed.
“You did well”, I grinned.
“Thanks to you all for putting me in the ashawo situation”, Isadora rolled her eyes at us.
“Let’s get the place set up”, Agnes called our attention.
“Sure; Isadora, you will stay visible in the room, Thompson and I will hide behind those curtains with ropes to tie him up. You know he can be dangerous, so maximum precaution is needed. As for Agnes, you will be the waitress that will show him the place he is to meet Isadora, don’t just show him, also introduce yourself as his personal guide assigned to him by Isadora to make him feel more comfortable around you and bring him here. Isadora, in all you do; please ensure he sits on the chair backing the curtain so Thompson and I can easily sneak on him and tie him up…you know the rest”, Mr. James strategized while we all nodded in agreement.
We were all in our positions waiting patiently as Biggie walked into the room accompanied by Agnes. Agnes excused herself leaving Isadora and Biggie in the room, Biggie hurried over to Isadora but she slowed him down and led him to the seat that was backing the curtain. Next was engaging him in conversation on their past memories. Gradually and silently, Mr. James and I sneaked behind him from our hideout and immediately wrapped and tied the rope before he could react. Although he struggled, the element of surprise gave us and added advantage over him, we over powered and tied him up securely in the seat. He ended up sitting still after realizing he had no choice. Just then, Agnes returned back to the room holding a knife.
“Seems like we finally caught the guy who had been threatening and stealing from us”, Agnes smiled mischievously at Biggie who eyed her suspiciously as Agnes advanced toward him menacingly.
“This is no time for pay back, this is the time for cooperation”, Mr. James called out to Agnes who stopped in her track and then faced me.
“Alright…go ahead”, Agnes responded as she stepped aside.
“Mr. Joseph, we are not or planning of harming you, all we want is your cooperation, nothing more, nothing less”, I announced while Biggie looked at me as if deciding.
“What guarantee do I have that you won’t go back on your words with this lady brandishing a knife at me”, Biggie eyed Agnes suspiciously for the second time.
“Here…”, I collected the knife from Agnes and used it to cut the rope that was used in tying him down to everyone’s surprise while Biggie sat up tensed as though he to run but then relaxed and sat comfortably, the rest of us also took our seats.
“Did you know why I threatened to kill you?”, Biggie began.
“No…why”, I asked him curiously.
“That was because I wanted to remain hidden…dead”, Biggie flashed a toothy smile at Isadora.
“Tell us all you know and stopped smiling at me like an idiot”, Isadora frown at Biggie.
“I mean no harm my baby bird…”, Biggie had hardly finish speaking when Isadora landed him a resounding slap on the cheek.
“I am not your baby, talk more of your bird…stop calling me your bird, I am a human not a bird”, everyone excluding Isadora burst out laughing.
“Nice one, nice family. I envy how everyone is, but I am afraid with this lane you want to take…you will be stepping into an area you will be forced to be looking over your shoulders till it’s all over; either for good or bad. So think it thoroughly, if you really want to follow this path, I on my part I have nothing more to lose”, Biggie replied calmly.
“I don’t understand”, Mr. James interjected Biggie.
“I lost everything and everyone I loved and cherished including my wife and children except one who was at a friend’s place, they were all burnt to death in their sleep by the group of persons you want to go after”, Biggie paused for his words to sink in.
“Groups?”, Agnes asked Biggie.
“Yes, group”, Biggie clarified.
“Oh I see...”, Agnes responded absent mindedly.
“One of the many reasons why I’ve been demanding money from Isadora was to gather it and send my son far away from here to a distant friend of mine who will help me care for him till he comes of age since I couldn’t come out and work or do anything openly again. To go somewhere, I need disguise myself before I can step out”, Biggie explained.
“I understand you perfectly well my friend”, Mr. James patted Biggie’s shoulder.
“Can I ask for a favour”, Biggie requested.
“What is it? Shoot”, I responded as Biggie took a deep breath.
“I don’t know if I will survive this or not, but should in case I don’t…I want you to take my son to this person”, Biggie handed me note diary book he had retrieved from his pocket.
“Alright…it’s a promise”, Mr. James crossed his arms.
“You said something about being married…were you married all the while we were dating or before or…”Isadora began.
“I was already married already before I got involved in all these scandals. No need to lie now, I only needed a job to keep body and soul together since I was finding it to get a job and there was no startup capital. A friend introduce me to Efe, he was the one that took me to his boss…Lekan, I got the job of delivering parcels to some persons and was paid handsomely for the delivery service I was doing. I was naïve and desperate to survive, I was doing all these to put food on the table for my family and also train and take care of them. When I got poisoned, I realized I had to stick with you in getting some cash to support my family while figuring things out”, Biggie paused while Isadora grabbed his shirt.
“So you were among those using me to pass time and as a success ladder?”, Isadora asked Biggie angrily.
“Isadora, let him be…”, I began but Mr. James cut me short.
“Let them be, let them iron out their pass and clear everything themselves…don’t intervene”, I nodded while eyeing Isadora with a pleading look.
“See, Isadora I‘m sorry. Baby bird…”Biggie began but received another hot resounding slap from Isadora.
“I have told you I am not a bird haven’t I?”, Isadora eyed Biggie dangerously.
“But I wasn’t going to call you my baby bird…”, The word got stuck in Biggie’s mouth as yet another slap fell on his cheek.
“Isadora is going nuts, Thompson hold her before she injures someone with her uncontrolled slapping habit”, Agnes called me while Mr. James shook his head dissuading me.
“Don’t joke with me…so all you wanted was passing time with me and rip me off my money right? But you proved to be a better friend, good thing there was we never got intimate if not I don’t know how I would have bear the guilt of sleeping with another woman’s husband”, Isadora spat.
“I am sorry for everything Isadora, I promise to make it up to right all my wrongs…even if it means sacrificing my life for it”, Biggie appealed to Isadora who looked away.
“Enough with woman with their dramas, let’s get down to business Joe”, I called Biggie’s attention.
“Okay…one night, we got a call from Mr. Lekan our ring leader that we hijack and deliver three human packages. We invaded the hospital on the night when all the three nurses were on duty and abducted them away. We only delivered them, that was it all. The following day, I heard the news that they were dead. I had no hands in their death, I have never killed or shed an innocent blood. All I wanted was to put food on the table for my family and not to take a life I can’t create. A week later, Mr. Lekan invited us to his house for a celebration party, according to him; a new deal that’s bigger than our previous just landed. The four of us who carried out the hospital raid and two other guys were the only one with Mr. Lekan. When food and drinks were brought, Mr. Lekan took a particular glass and poured himself wine, we began to drink and make merry. After the first round of drinking, Mr. Lekan excused himself for the night, not after urging us to continue till mama calls. More drinks and meat were brought to us, and that was the one containing poison…”, Biggie paused before continuing, “…Mr. Lekan is just a cog in a big wheel, hope you are all ready?”.
“No matter what it takes, we are ready”, Agnes swore under her breath.