Chapter 14.
“This is where he lived before moving out years back”, Biggie pointed at an abandoned duplex while Mr. James and stared at it.
“This place looks so creepy”, Mr. James remarked with his eagle eyes running all over the place as though X-Raying it.
We alighted from the vehicle and advanced toward the building with Biggie taking the lead and Mr. James the rear. Each steps taken was like walking into the devil’s nest. The abandoned property was that of Mr. Lekan, but the reason for abandoning it was still a mystery. No one knew why, but one thing was sure and it was something of huge benefit to him.
“Careful now, we might stumble on some of his boys guarding this place, don’t be deceived by its quietness, for there are people here…watching over something hidden here”, Biggie murmured as he tip toed toward the back of the building.
As if in clue to Biggie’s words, someone sneezed.
“Was that you?”, Mr. James asked me while I nodded in the negative.
“Biggie smiled as he indicated we keep total silence that people were inside the building. We soon arrived at a broken window, Biggie scaled it follow by Mr. James, I was the last.
“Check out that pyramid”, Mr. James murmured pointing at a mini pyramid of bags at the far end of the room.
“That’s his other business he deals in underground. Those are drugs”, Biggie whispered to Mr. James who quickly noted down something as I brought out my camcorder to capture photos.
We moved away to another room following the voice of a man who seemed to be on the phone with someone. At first, the words were not comprehendible; but as we moved closer, it became clearer.
“No boss, the packages are all ready for his boys to come and pick up”, The voice informed the person on the other side of the call.
Gradually, we snug up and the owner of the voice on call came into view.
“I know him, that’s Labo…Mr. Lekan’s right hand man”, Biggie pointed t the man on call with a low voice to avoid detection.
“According to the call, looks like another group is coming or would be here soon”, Mr. James pointed at the mini pyramid of bags.
“Let us hide somewhere, because most times the transaction can be bloody”, Biggie informed us as we found some space and cancelled ourselves from sight.
It wasn’t up to thirty minutes when the sound of vehicles could be heard from outside. Six men all cladded in black up and down walked in. Four of them brandishing guns, one holding a suitcase and the last who appeared to be their leader stepped forward wearing dark shades.
“Where is the package?”, He demanded at no one in particular.
“Where is the money?”, Labo who is the leader of the selling group demanded back.
“I see you lack courtesy”, The leader of the buying group replied Labo stroking his over grown beards.
“Says someone who does not have manner of approach”, Labo retorted.
“I see…”, The leader of the buying group smiled evilly as he gesticulated to the one holding the suit case.
The man with the suitcase stepped forward and dropped the suitcase on the floor at the center of both parties.
Labo nodded at one of his men who walked cautiously to the suitcase, opened and inspected it Lab who looked up in satisfaction the buying group’s leader.
“Now, where is my package?”, The buying group leader demanded.
“Be calming down”, Labo responded as he signaled two of his men who brought two large envelops each and dropped them on the floor at the center of both groups.
The buying leader nodded to two of his men who cautiously walked toward the envelops, opened and inspected them before nodding in satisfaction.
“Pick them up and carry them to the car”, He instructed them, both men carried the envelops and hurried out.
“Nice doing business with you”, The buying group leader nodded towards Labo who nodded back.
Gradually, the buying group retreated facing Labo and his men as if afraid they’ll be attacked if they turn
their backs on them.
“I hope you took photo shots of the whole scenario?”, Mr. James whispered into my ears as I nodded in the positive.
“The deal pulled off successfully, he will call Mr. Lekan now, from there we’ll pick the next clue and tail them to where the will be taking the money in the suitcase to”, Biggie murmured but loud enough for us to hear him.
“Won’t that be risky?”, I asked Biggie who shook his head in the negative, still staring at the gangs who already were closing and loading their packages and finally one of them carried the suitcase, following Labo out of the building.
“They are going to deliver the money now, let’s follow them out of here but we must be very careful so as not to be seen”, Biggie instructed while Mr. James and I nodded like obedient children. We tip-toed from the building following where we followed in with Biggie taking the lead. We soon exit the compound and located our vehicle at the hidden place we parked it.
“They are ahead, we will give them a slow but long chase, let’s be prepared for anything that might happen”, Biggie announced as we took our individual positions in the car with Mr. James taking the wheel with Biggie taking the front passenger seat. I sat quietly at the back seat going through all the photos I have captured.
“Seems like you made tones of photos there”, Mr. James teased as he drove.
“Enough to make an album”, I teased back.
“I don’t think those guys are taking that money for deposit or whatever, I am having this feeling they are taking it somewhere…I think for trade or exchange”, Biggie pointed ahead of us as the vehicles Mr. Lekan’s boys were driving made a turn into a deserted area.
“I think you are right”, Mr. James chirped in as he slowed the vehicle pointing at a Hilux truck parked by the side of the bush.
“I think I recognize that Hilux van, pull into this bush path now”, Biggie reacted on impulse and Mr. James did as instructed.
We alighted from our vehicle and covered it with leaves and branches we could lay hands on to cancel it from sight. We began crawling through the bush towards the direction where the truck was parked. On arrival, we laid still in the bush. Mr. James was busy noting down things as I busied myself taking series of photographs, Biggie on his part held tight to the revolver he was holding.
“I think they are supplying them gun”, Biggie whispered as two men in uniform carrying out stuff wrapped in black sacks and handed them over to Mr. Lekan’s men .
“The magazines are all the boxes as well as the bullets”, A soldier informed Labo who nodded in satisfaction as he pulled over a hood covering one of the stuff they were giving them exposing an Ak-47 assault military grade riffle, I quickly captured it before they could cover it.
“Here is the money”, Labo informed the soldiers as he handed one of the suitcase containing the money.
“Tell Mr. Lekan that Captain Umar sends his regards”, One of the soldiers informed Labo as he led the remaining three soldiers into their truck and drove off to another direction.
“Please ensure those packages are securely hidden and well kept, also check around to be sure we are the only once here. I have been having this feeling since that we are been following or monitored”, Labo instructed as he scanned the bush and subsequently walked towards our direction.
“Don’t panic, lay still and low”, Biggie instructed as he aimed his revolver at the approaching figure.
Labo soon stop and let out a sharp cry alarming the rest that people were in the bush, immediately Biggie jumped out of our hideout to cover me and Mr. James with the instruction that we should find out way to the vehicle while he buys us time and would join us sooner.
“Go to the vehicle now, start the ignition and wait for us”, I instructed Mr. James who looked at me as though I was crazy.
“How about you? I thought Biggie asked us both to leave?”, Mr. James asked as I ignored and pushed him away.
I watched as Biggie swiftly gunned down of Mr. Lekan’s men including Labo, the rest scampered into their vehicles and drove away leaving their dead comrades.
“Let’s go”, Biggie called out to me after inspecting the dead bodies.
Biggie led the way to our vehicle, I followed behind closely. I’ve captured the scenes of the action with my camera. I knew for sure one thing was clear, we have started what would take us time, resources and sacrifices to end.