The Robbery Attack - Episode 5

 

I'm sorry about the long hiatus guys. I'm back now. Please don't forget to leave your comment, like and rate this story. Enjoy.

      *************

To our amazement we saw Akpan caught in the glue on the stairs . 

“Oga, I nor fit waka again. My village people don do the one wey pass me oh . Because I don dey chop money now, dey live big boy life, them don dey vex for me.Abasi di yanga mi ”

We stood with our arms folded and watched as he lamented. Can this man not talk too much? After several minutes of his continuous whining, Seun tried to save him from his misery.

“Akpan, try and remove your legs carefully from your slippers and jump to the floor”

“Oga with all duz rehspek, I nor fit waka, my village people don come for me. Father accept my soul in your kingdom”. 

Our fellow tenants had come out from their respective houses as we watched the drama unfolding. Then we heard a banging at the gate. It’s definitely them. We had forgotten for a minute about them because we were distracted by Akpan. 

“Oga, na police dey gate. Them say make I call you come. Na him make me come before”

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/the-robbery-attack

. Akpan said

We stared at each other. Who called them? What are they doing here?

Seun left me where I was standing and went to unlock the big security padlock he had bought for the back door. This made a loud noise that made me run into the house to check if the kids were startled by the noise but my three musketeers could sleep through an earthquake. Seun was in front of the house by the time I returned. 

“Akpan, jump out of your slippers this minute” Seun said.

“Oga, leave me make I die for here, abeg send my mama my salary oooo” Akpan lamented.

Dayo and Seun held him by both arms and with that they lifted him off his slippers and onto the interlocking.

He ran and danced for a minute shouting “freedom” until we heard the bang at the gate.

The Police!!!.

“Good morning Inspectors, can we help you?”

 Seun asked the policemen who had stepped into the premises. I was within earshot but I wanted to be in the center of the action. I couldn’t leave the house by going through the back door which was locked from the front and my front door was filled with all sorts from glue to blowtorch to rat traps. I was trapped. I simply grabbed a chair and sat at the door.

“We heard about a note dropped here some days ago by the ‘Men of the Night’ that stated they would be here to rob tonight. So we are here to apprehend them” The policeman said. 

“And who informed you about this” Seun asked. 

“We have been following them for a while and our sources  told us that this house is the next target” Another policeman replied.

“As you can see police officer, there’s no one under duress here”. Dayo replied.

“Call us on this hotline, if they come and we would get here immediately” The Policeman said.

They made their way out of the premises.

“How did they know about the heist? It flabbergast me to behold the police force in our premises when they weren’t notified” Emeka said with his hands folded.

If only this one knows that it wasn't time for grammar.

"When they are needed, they won't show up but when it's time to be violent and brutal, they swing into action" Chinwe said.

“But where are the ‘Men of the Night’” Stanley asked.

“It’s past 1am and they didn’t show up” he continued.

We exchanged weird glances. Shouldn’t we be happy the thieves didn’t come rather we are out yet discussing about them I thought to myself. We went inside our respective flats as most of us were already yawning.

I was making food in the kitchen the next morning when Seun walked up to me.

“I just called my friend and he said, it’s very weird for them to drop a letter and not come”. Seun said.

"Good morning to you Mr" I said with sarcasm. No morning hugs nor kiss, he's simply obsessed with them.

"He asked who informed the police and when I told him no one, he said he wasn't comfortable about the whole thing". He continued ignoring me.

“Maybe all our prayers worked and God redirected their minds elsewhere or they have repented” I replied

“Don’t be naive Fotun, what could be the reason for their change of heart?”

"He said it has never been heard of that the 'Men of the Night' drop a note and not act". He continued.

Is this my husband okay? People are happy when afflictions and plaques are lifted off their shoulders and this one is here brooding over an averted problem. 

“Don’t dwell on it and please think of how to clean up the mess outside” I replied as I turned off the gas and walked away to prepare the kids for school and I for work.

“They didn’t come? But why?” Wunmi quizzed me when I got to work. She had called my number but I didn’t pick up. She screamed when she saw me and walked into my office with me.

“I don’t know, that’s the question on everyone’s mind but not me. I’m relieved but Seun says I’m naive. Anyway I’m happy I got  to keep my properties especially this family heirloom on my neck and ears”. I replied smiling. 

“Just thank your stars I’m a good friend, I would have picked this from your house without your knowledge”. Wunmi said pointing to my jewellery  on my neck and ears.

“ Babe, you nor fit”. I replied laughing.

The heirloom was a set of earrings, pendant and necklace that has been in my family for so many years. So the story about the heirloom is that, a goldsmith fell in love with my great great grand mother and to show his love, he made these items. It was passed on to me when my mum died. It has been a source of envy amongst my friends. Some go as far as getting a goldsmith to do a replica and are told something similar would be made for millions of Naira. I get more than a few glances everytime I wear it. 

I think ‘Hanty’s' respect for me started when she saw it on me during one end of year party.

Read " The Longest Night " by the same author ( Nancy Eseosa )

. That was the day she gave me the look of appraisal.

When Wunmi was ready to leave my office, I walked out with her to mingle for a while because I have isolated myself for a while. I was free and happy. 

***********************

“Who would be knocking by this time?” Seun asked as we glanced at the wall clock in the bedroom. It was 12midnight.

Then there was another loud bang on the door. Startled we woke up and ran to the door. 

“Who’s there?” Seun asked.

“Your friends the ‘Men of the Night'. A baritone voice replied.

I almost peed myself when I heard the voice. They are here. Just when we found balance and everyone had moved on, here they were. 

It’s been two weeks after the day they were meant to come. We had come to the conclusion that probably the investigation carried out by the police scared them but here they are two weeks after. 

“Let’s call the police”. I whispered to Seun. 

“Don’t even think about calling the Police”. One of them said as if reading my mind, Seun nodded.  I ran inside to get their card and dialled the number on my phone. After 5 attempts and with no response, we gave up, accepted our fate and opened the door.