At exactly 12 midnight on the dot, the boys jumped into the black 4X4 Lexus jeep and unhurriedly drove over to the pastor’s house at Kings & Queens Crescent. They were careful and took the back streets, avoiding the police checkpoints and night policemen on patrol. O’Brian was under the wheel and Danny sat in the passenger’s seat while Stan and Ette Uche sat at the back, their guns within easy reach.
“Don’t stop for anybody, not even the police,” Danny warned O’Brian. “When we get there, you two,” he said to Stan and Ette Uche, “are to go into the compound first. If the coast is clear, Kenny and I will come in, is that clear?”
“Yes,” they answered.
“O’Brian, you are to remain in the car. You have to be alert at all times. We may have to leave in a hurry, okay?”
“Yes, boss,” O’Brian nodded.
“You have to be alert and agile. Don’t shoot for any reason. We don’t want any trouble. All that we need is the girl and nothing else, okay?”
“Yes, boss,” they chorused again.
“Again, don’t be tempted to rape any girl. That man is a holy man; we don’t want any trouble with God,” Danny warned.
At the mention of that, Stan’s heart skipped a beat. “Did you say he is a man of God?” he asked worriedly.
“Yes, any problem with that?”
“No, no,” he said hurriedly. He didn’t want them to get the impression that he had lost his guts. This would have been an easy job had it not been in a man of God’s house, he thought. He dreads God and holy things like he dreads poison. Even if he were starving, he would not steal from a man of God or a church. He was really disturbed. If he had known she had something to do with the man of God, he would have opted out. But somehow, it was too late to turn back now. He swallowed hard. He had the uncanny feeling that they might not succeed. He has heard so many heart rendering stories about Pastor Okechukwu to be afraid of him, but the money was too tempting to give up too easily, besides he has already started it and he must see it through, he thought as he caressed the butt of his gun unconsciously.
Meanwhile, Ette Uche was thinking of his girlfriend who is 3 months pregnant for him. When the deal is over, he had promised himself that he would resign from crime and invest his money in a good business, probably motor business and be a good family man to his wife and children. But that is when it was over, and until then, he has to think of a way to make this outing a success. He, too, like the rest of the gang had that same uncanny feeling that something could go wrong. But he stubbornly refused to tow that line of thought. They will succeed, it was all a question of going in there and picking up the girl and he will become a rich man.
Danny meanwhile was still lost in thought. For the umpteenth time, he wondered what he will do if he succeeds in kidnapping the girl. Give her back to Chief? He thought. But that would be wrong, knowing very well she doesn’t stand any chance at all. Run away with her? Yes, that will be the best thing to do. Yes, he will persuade her to run away with him, run away to a place where Chief and everyone that knows them cannot find them. He might even persuade her to marry him. But what about her child, he wondered, would he be able to father and love another man’s baby? The idea had him going. He was still thinking of what to do when they got to Kings & Queens Crescent.
The moment Kenny, who was asked to keep watch over the house, saw the black 4x4 Lexus jeep; he came out from his hiding place. Danny was the first to spot him in the darkness.
“Park the car and stay under the wheel,” he said to O’Brian. “You have to be careful and vigilant. We may have to leave in a hurry.”
“No shaking, boss,” he said and rolled the car away. O’Brian is a professional driver and can do anything with a car. In fact, it’s often said that cars listen to him just like football listens to JJ Okocha and Lionel Messi. His driving skills have saved the mob from danger on countless occasions.
“Hi, boss,” Kenny called.
“All clear, Kenny?” Danny asked.
“Yes boss, all clear. We can walk in and take her now.”
“How many people are in there, do you know?”
“About 10 or so, I don’t know. I saw the pastor and his wife, 3 of his daughters. The driver, cook and gardener stays in the boys’ quarters, which is a little distance from the main building. Two night watch men keep watch, but they are old, sleepy fools. They won’t give us any trouble.”
“Where are they now?” Danny asked.
“Both of them are sleeping in the gate house. You can even hear them snoring from here.”
“Good, I think we have to go in now and take her,” Danny said. “Ette Uche and Kenny, you are to take care of the gatemen while Stan and I see what the house looks like. No slip ups. Any question?”
“No question, everything is clear, boss. We can go in,” Kenny said.
“Then, let’s go,” Danny ordered.
“Good luck, boss,” O’Brian called out softly from the car. He was feeling really nervous and apprehensive. He wished they could pull this through without hiccups. He had promised himself this will be his last deal. He was tired of this dog eat dog lifestyle and wanted something else for a change. He once served as an apprentice shoe maker, and with a half a million naira in his account, he could start up a shoe manufacturing company and before long, he will make it big. His palms felt wet and to calm his nerves, he lit up a cigarette, instinctively feeling for his gun at the same time.
The four men had no problem scaling the half wall that serves as the pastor’s fence. But what seemed like a melodrama ensued when all of them turned blind the moment their foot touched the holy ground. Danny was the first to experience it. As the boss, he had jumped in first. At first, he thought it was the darkness, and later a joke. But as reality dawned on them, the four men became hysterical.
“Gaddem, it’s really damned too dark in here, guys,” Danny cried, rubbing his eyes.
“Me too, I can’t see a thing,” Ette Uche complained. “Where are you and where is the house?”
“Oh my God!” Stan shouted the moment he jumped in. “Where’s the road? Why is everywhere so dark? I can’t make out a thing.”
“Men! I’m blind. I’ve lost my sight. I can’t see a thing,” cried Danny, running his hands across his eyes.
“Me too, I …I think I’ve gone blind,” Kenny complained.
“My God, I’m blind too. I can’t see a thing. Let’s get out of here.” Ette Uche cried.
“Get out?” Stan retorted. “How can a blind man find his way out? I warned you, but you wouldn’t listen. I told you he is a man of God.”
“Are you blaming me then?” asked Ette Uche.
“Oh, shut up and stop shriveling let me think.” Danny snarled.
The unseen angels of God at work at the Pastor’s house did not only blind them, he also confused their thoughts and they could not think straight or act with a meaningful purpose. Like zombies, they continued roaming the compound till the early hours of the morning.
O’Brian took another instinctive and worried look at his wrist watch. It was almost 2 hours and yet, there was no sign of any of them. He brought out his mobile phone to call Danny, but changed his mind. He might not be in a position to receive calls. He lit up another cigarette as he tried to control his flaring nerves. He wondered what could have gone wrong and why they were taking so long. There was no sign or noise to show there was a problem. He got out of the car and roamed round the house restlessly. But he could observe or see nothing, so he went back to the car and waited. Yet, the hours dragged by without any sign of any of them. He checked his time again, it was a few minutes before 4:00 am, picking up his phone, he dialed Danny’s number.
“Hello, who’s this?” an unfamiliar voice asked.
O’Brian cut the call and switched the phone off immediately. Without waiting for a second warning, he started the car hurriedly and he drove off.
Like one driven by demons, he zoomed over to his house, all the time wondering where he will run to. He knew sooner or later, the police will be watching all the airports and seaports and that soon enough; his photograph will be in all the major news papers, TV stations and social media. From a distance, he heard the wail of a police siren and he knew they were probably looking for him and that the black 4x4 Lexus jeep was an easy give away. So he dumped the jeep immediately and picked up a taxi. Once again, he contemplated his future grimly. He knew his house will be Chief’s or the police’s first port of call.
He felt trapped.
Then he remembered Cyndi and a flicker of hope beeped in his alcoholic ridden and hemp colored eyes. One good turn, surely, deserves another, he thought as he remembered their first meeting. He met Cyndi some six years ago in a most dramatic way. A rich client had hired him to keep tab on his cheating wife. One night, while O’Brian was hiding behind the shrubs where the two love birds were hanging out, he saw a young girl of about 16 years with a day old baby in hand emerge from the dark. His interest was ignited when he noticed the girl tiptoeing and looking furtively around. He knew she was up to something and had followed her silently from a distance, his camera ready. When the girl reached the end of the alley, she paused and looked furtively around. As he wondered what she could be doing in such a deserted area at such a time, she bent down and dumped the baby in the dustbin and took off, but not before being caught severally by O’Brian’s candid camera. Realizing she had been photographed, the girl took to her heels but O’Brian pursued and caught up with her. From that day on, she became his slave.
“We are in Bandana street, sir,” the taxi driver cut into his thoughts.
“Number 9, please,” O’Brian said, bringing out his wallet. “You’ll hang on a moment. There’s this woman I’ll like you to drop off for me at Hillcrest hotel, okay?”
“Okay sir,” the taxi driver said as he pulled over. “Go and call her, sir.”
“She’s deaf and dumb, so don’t talk to her, okay.” He selected 10 one thousand naira notes from his wallet and gave the driver. “I hope this covers your expenses?”
The driver’s eyes widened. “Thank you, sir,” the taxi driver said as he stared at the pieces of crisp one thousand naira notes. “Oga, go call am, I dey wait.”
Hurriedly, O’Brian went upstairs to his room and made straight to the wardrobe. He pulled out a suitcase he had packed and kept ready for a time like this. Inside the suitcase, he brought out a lady’s wig, a brassiere and selecting a red gown and matching shoes and handbag, his disguise was complete. He slipped out of his clothes and adorns his new attire. A patch of makeup, glasses and a wig turned him into a charming and an irresistible young woman. He examined himself in the mirror, satisfied with his looks; he stepped outside and got into the waiting taxi.