The Deathlike Mission - Episode 9

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Throughout Thursday morning, Kari could not help but wish it would be evening soon. Jide will be meeting with her, he had sent her a message to that effect last night after an agonizing one week and three days of unending wait.

"SORRY FOR THE LONG SILENCE. WE MEET AT EAT RIGHT RESTAURANT 5:30PM TOMORROW."

Within Kari, she knew if this message had not come when it did, she would have lost certitude in him finally. After all, the little light of belief that was beginning to burn in Laura had been put out, and she in turn did everything in her effort to make Kari forget Jide as well . Paul on his part was vehemently against her association with him no matter how hard she explained she did all that mostly to make it up to him. Not that she was expecting anything short of his reaction, Paul really liked her and he already perceived Jide an active rival, all thanks to Laura.

Her father was no different from others as he kept instilling fear and doubt into her just to make her stay out of harm's way. She was indeed more than grateful when his message came through last night at least she finally had something to hold on to.

Even though it was a huge relief he finally contacted her, she was a little bit discomfited at how terse his message had appeared. No pleasantries or salutation

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. She knew he must have something very acute to show.

At the strike of 5:00pm, she began packing a few of her stuffs into her handbag ready to leave when Laura suggested they hang out for the evening purposefully to foil any chance of meeting with Jide.

"You know that's impossible. I have a meeting right about now and you are supposed to accompany me," Kari whispered.

"You alone, not with me."

"Ok. So what were you thinking when you agreed to be part of our team?"

"You know what they say about someone consenting to something unpleasant under duress? That was exactly what happened to me." said Laura squeezing her face.

"You are really unbelievable. Get ready, we leave right away."

"Not going anywhere," she rebuffed.

"Please," begged Kari realizing force wasn't going to solve it. "Look if after today you remain uninterested, I won't bother you anymore, I promise."

"Kari listen, not that I wouldn't want to go with you," she replied loosening up. "But Paul's going to kill me if he realizes I'm still part of this. Also regarding how urgent Jide had sounded in his message, it's best you go alone, you know how badly I spoil things," she winked.

"Really?"

"Yes really. Listen, if you are still meeting with that young man, you need to leave right away, it's almost time.

"OK then, I'll report every detail to you when I get back," replied Kari picking up her bag."

"That's fine. But before you leave, I must say this. Between you and I, that Jide of yours is really good at what he does, if he keeps up like this you guys might get at those criminals in no distant time, you know what I mean."

Kari smiled at her friend, place a hand on her shoulder indicating that they leave. "Please see me off to my car," she said coldly still smiling. Inspite of herself, she wondered why unlike the first time, she did not get mad or react at her friend addressing Jide as 'hers'. The answer was an area she feared to tread at the moment, so she decided she will ponder on it at her leisure.

Fifteen minutes later, she arrived the eatery, thier meeting point, made her way in and found Jide seated at a corner close to the wall where their discussions could hardly be eavesdropped on. He was looking handsome as ever in a navy-blue cotton T-shirt, worn on what seems to be like a blue jean she observed from his seated position. There was a black brief case on the table where his both arms rested and his defiant look further told her there was something really serious he found out.

"Sorry for the long silence," Jide apologized after they exchanged pleasantries and have sat down. "It was really tasky gathering all I did and communication could have posed a problem, hence I decided it wise to cut all forms of it till yesterday, really sorry for all inconveniences caused."

"It's fine, I was only worried. But here you are now," Kari replied.

"Thanks. And why is she not with you, I mean Laura?"

"That one, I tried but she would rather I come report to her instead, you know how she is."

Jide grinned. "And you, how have you been," he asked giving her a look that made her feel he cared about her.

"I have been well, but will be finer if whatever information you got in there was worth the wait."

"You bet it is," he replied removing some papers from the black case. "Take a look at all these," he said as he displayed three different enlarged close-up photograph of a man about his 50's each on a wide paper.

"Who the heck is this?" she asked impatiently, picking one of the papers up to take a closer look. "All are photographs of one person."

"Yes, Damian Waba, notorious criminal known for dirty drug dealings, terrorism related crimes and many more."

"How does he connect to our investigation and how is he in league with the murdered suspect?" Kari questioned further.

"That I'll explain. Here," he passed another copy of white paper bearing a detailed information about the suspect to her before he continued. "Damian Waba Join the Nigerian army in 1984, got dismissed in 1992 for illegal discharge of duty which caused the death of one person and injured about five others in Barka village Northern Nigeria. He was tried for murder against other charges, but convicted for a lesser charge of manslaughter and was imprisoned thereafter. He got released in 2010, probably on pardon, but still got himself invovled in drug dealings and terrorism related crimes and got into jail again in 2012. This time, no charge was found on him for lack of evidence. Almost a year later, he was arrested for illegal importation of deadly arms and was kept in custody at the Police headquarters in Abuja. He broke out of detention and ever since then, he has been undercover perpetrating his evil deeds with the help of some powerful forces under the pseudonym Pitcher Silva."

"This is Pitcher Silva? You got him Jide, I knew you were unto something, well done." Kari exclaimed.

"Hush now. With the way you are going, we might be caught." Both of them laughed then he continued. "Indeed Kari, I was unto something big and dangerous too. His name isn't really Pitcher Silva but Damian Waba."

This is so much to take in," Kari commented. "So, what can we make of all these?"

"His involvement in terrorism crimes is a pointer he had something to do with the dead suspect," replied Jide scratching his left eyebrow.

"Quite so, coupled with the fact that one of the failed charges against him before now was illegal importation of arms, that was how the suspect was arrested you know. Jide Pitcher Silva and John Malik belong to the same syndicate I'm sure of that."

"If your hunch is right, it  means we have a fresh clue."

"Yes," Then she paused. "But we can't be too sure just yet, there are a thousand terrorists and criminals in this city. The fact that both parties on our table are invovled in the same crime doesn't make them related."

"Kari, how easily you forget. May I remind you that the name Pitcher Silva was involved in the suspects financial records?" asked Jide, "And on very sensitive dates that couldn't have been coincidental."

"That's correct. Sorry, just that I'm amazed at how the dots connect, it's like we might be making some mistakes in our conclusions."

"Not at all, you have to trust me dear, we are making no mistakes I assure you."

"If you say so."

"Now, I saved the best for the last."

"Meaning?"

He brought out three photographs. "While i was on his trail throughout last week, I spotted Pitcher Silva in the company of the former Major General Ali Mudu on several occasions and these are some of their moments together I could capture."

"So many names to take in. Who is Ali Mudu she asked before looking closely at the photograph. 

"He was a Major General in the army, but got dismissed the same time as Pitcher Silva was. And from the closeness in these pictures, one could tell there's something common between them. This is quite mysterious don't you think? Kari, are you alright?" He asked when he noticed her over concentration like she was trying to remember something as she stared at the photograph. "You look preoccupied," 

"This man. I think I have seen his photograph somewhere, maybe among my father's belongings," she replied looking confused.

"This is ridiculous, are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I am"

"This man we are talking about might be the head of the syndicate you know?"

"I'm aware."

"Also, your dad has never been in the military what could this criminal's photograph be doing in his possession?"

"I don't know, I'm as confused as you, but I'm sure I am not seeing this face for the first time. But whatever it is, I will find it out."

"This is getting twisted. If you are sure of what you said just be tactical how you go about asking your dad about it.

"Yeah. So why was this Ali Mudu dismissed?"

"Mutiny amongst many other charges."

"So, you think they might be a deeper connection between he and Pitcher?" 

"We have reasonable cause to believe so. Like I was going to say Kari, this Ali Mudu might be the mastermind of all this crimes. If he could be rebellious twenty five years ago, he can be more rebellious now. What I mean is this man is worth investigating."

"I agree with you totally. How then do we go about this?"

"Tracking down the syndicate, from what I gather, they operate from Lagos here."

"Huh?" exclaimed Kari. "That is too deadly to dare."

"I understand our fears, but there's no other way," Jide replied. "Unless we give up now."

"No ways! So where do we start?"

"I will get back to you on that because I still have things to find out, while I'm at it, follow my every instruction."

"Ok"

"And one more thing, no one must know about this if we must be safe."

"I guarantee you that this will remain between us."

"Good, now don't you think these files will be safer with me?"

"What! I had no intentions of keeping them, maybe only the photograph will I need to enable me ask my dad some questions."

"It's ok" Jide replied with a chuckle. "Here you are then," he handed her the photograph, while he packed the other papers into the case. "The rest will be in my possession. So let's take a break, what would you like to eat?"

"I don't know, I'm just filled with so much information that i feel I'm no longer hungry."

"Sure you are. Leave it to me I shall order on your behalf," he replied with affection as he signalled a waitress in front of him.

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