Chapter 13.
After the first revelation by Biggie, Mr. James and I started putting things together to get the full picture, Biggie on his part was a great asset to our investigation and we were not only working and finding and recovering Agnes’ daughter but also working on exposing top government officials and politicians in the country who were running drug and criminal activities. Our meeting point, or should I call it investigation office? Was the special room in Agnes’ eatery. We re-arranged and paint the room to serve its purpose, we also made it sound proof. We equipped the room with one desktop while coming with our individual PCs except Biggie. Biggie made use of the desktop. For security purpose, we installed few close circuit television cameras round at some strategic place around the eatery so as to be able to monitor and observe everything that is going on and people coming in and out of the eatery. An emergency escape door was made and disguised to look like wall to an intruder. The place was like a mini FBI office, feeding wasn’t a problem as Agnes provided us meals three times daily. At times Agnes would join us, but spends most times overseeing her business and ensuring our needs are met in the aspect of feeding. As for Isadora, she also joined us once she is free from work. Earlier, we informed her boss on a case we were working on, that the result would be a great hit for his media house. He obliged and gave us his support so our presence at the media house wasn’t much demanded except on certain days and time which we always honour and cease the opportunity to update him on our progress so far.
“Here we go”, Biggie announced as the social media profile of a man popped up on the desktop screen.
“Who is that?”, I asked Biggie.
“That is Umar, a Captain in the Army. Mr. Lekan has asked me to deliver some packages to him once or so. But along the line, I found out there’s more to just buying packages. He supplies Mr. Lekan guns and ammunitions, I am sure with the awareness of some of the big boys in the Army”, Biggie elaborated.
“Good…noted down, next”, Mr. James egged Biggie on.
“Then we have Mr. Okoro, an ex-Army personnel…attained the rank of a colonel, he usually meets Mr. Lekan in the guise of project inspection but working directly under a top government official. He and Mr. Ade are under this government official’s payroll. While Ade controls the media, Okoro controls the security forces”, I looked at Biggie shocked.
“Wow…this is getting interesting”, Mr. James whistled as he noted down something.
“Sound like a well-organized syndicate organization”, Isadora cut in.
“Can you tell me the name of the media house under their payroll?”, I requested while Biggie looked at me.
“Sunny Iwoh, Imoh Carl and Ike Jones are the heads of each of these media houses under their payroll. Mr. Jones was killed in a car explosion and Mr. Aminu succeeded his as the new chief editor, the editor resigned”, Biggie unknowingly dropped a bomb shell as Mr. James and I exchanged glances.
“So all those whiles we were there thinking we were working for a press house, not knowing we were working for terrorists and drug lords, I now understand why the chief editor always defended him no matter the level of evidence against him”, Mr. James shook his head.
“Too bad, that he tasted some dose of his medicine”, I joined Mr. James.
“Then comes in the big news which would lead u to Agnes’ daughter”, Biggie smiled while we all paid total attention.
“We are waiting sir”, Agnes looked at Biggie curiously.
“Well, it happened that the night we were poisoned, I excused myself to make use of the rest room the moment Mr. Lekan stepped out. But on getting to the rest room, I overhead him on a phone call. I was too pressed to pay attention to what he was saying but, it was when I was done that a particular word caught my attention. He mentioned Alhaji and all the time I have been working with him, I’ve only heard of one person who is address as Alhaji but later discovered there was another Alhaji which he never connected us or told any of us his boys about before, and funny thing is both have daughters. Alhaji Musa have a daughter who is an only child while Alhaji Danladi have two sons and a daughter. One is a minister and the other is a senator”, Biggie looked at me.
“Meaning we have two clues to follow to see which of them is our man right”, I asked Biggie who nodded.
“If Mr. Lekan should find out about me, he will stop at nothing till he kills me…”, Biggie informed me, seeing my face he continued, “…Don’t worry about me, I am the guy with the illegal gun here, do your journalism thing and please make sure they are all brought to book, the truth comes out and that justice prevails. That is the only thing that will make me happy where ever I shall be at the end of everything”, Biggie held my hands as he solicited.
“I will”, I replied.
“Promise…?”, He pressed.
“I promise…”, I crossed my arms as Biggie smiled.
“Now, here are the photographs of all the aforementioned persons”, Biggie displayed a group photos of all the names he mentioned.
“Send it to me”, Mr. James handed Biggie his flash.
“So where do we start from?”, I asked Mr. James who paced to and fro a bit then turn round looking at Agnes, then Biggie before uttering his reply to my question.
“To kill a tree, its roots needs to be removed from the ground. To get to the top of a tree, you first need to climb from the bottom. So we are starting everything from the bottom…Mr. Lekan”, Agnes smiled proudly at Mr. James.
“That’s my opinion also, because cracking his cans of worms will lead us into more secrets and more cans of worms”, I supported Mr. James who smile.
“”Agnes, go on with your daily activities, Isadora…you will be feeding and receiving information from us. Me, Biggie and Thompson will work from the field”, Mr. James instructed.
“As for the financial aspect, I’ll shoulder it”, Agnes chirp in.
“Don’t worry, the financial aspect would be a collective effort, my media house already bankrolled them”, Isadora informed Agnes who smiled and hug her.
“I have sent money to your son for his school and his upkeep, don’t worry much about him…I’ll be sending and keeping in touch all the while you are away”, Agnes spoke up facing Biggie.
“Thank you so much Agnes, I am so grateful”, Biggie held Agnes’ hand using it to touch his head.
“No, I should be the one to thank you instead. All the sacrifices you have made and still want to make, putting your life at risk to help get back my daughter”, Agnes smiled while Biggie shook his head.
“I committed lots of wrongs in the past, I want to correct and right those wrongs now”, Isadora smiled.
“Great, let’s go kick some asses now…”, Mr. James began, “…Team”.
“Team”, we all chorus as we placed our hands on top of each other over Mr. James’.