CHAPTER 7, PART 5: TARASHA

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• **8.12.2030**
  - 8am-
  
  Cole quietly compiled and arranged his tools and devices into the small bag. He looked around the floor to check if there was anything left, there was a microphone with the desert reporters’ badge on it. He picked it up, standing from his squatting position; he dropped it carefully into the opened bag.
  
  Tarasha walked briskly into the room in her ‘Gloria disguised form’, she took a glance at Cole. ‘Hope you’ve got everything ready?’
  
  ‘Yes Boss, I’m ready’ Cole answered, pinning the Desert Reporters’ chest tag to his front pocket.
  
  ‘You take Aisha along when you’re  leaving the place’
  
  ‘Okay, is Benny coming to meet us?’ he fastened the bag to his back.
  
  ‘No, Benny is taking care of the other pilot, he’ll return on his own ’ she answered. She hung the ID card tag on her neck and adjusted her short skirt. ‘Don’t forget the instructions, your job as a journalist ends once you stick the needle to John  Obiano’s collar’
  
  ‘Yes’ he affirmed, ‘and I’ll go to wait for you at Onne’ he said shaking his head funnily.
  
  ‘What?’ Tarasha asked, responding to his funny stare.
  
  ‘It’s just that I don’t know these places, what if you don’t drop at the place we speculated?’ he answered.
  
  Tarasha frowned, ‘isn’t that why I have a tracker on me? It’s your business to  find me if I get lost’
  
  She shook her head degradingly and walked out of the room, Cole followed after her feeling embarrassed, blaming himself for talking like an amateur.
  
  
  +++++++
  
  9am
  
  Benny sat in a red Benz quietly, waiting for his target to come out of the house. He was properly disguised with a beard and his face was lighter than his normal skin, there was also a dark scar on his forehead to make himself look uglier.
  
  He had lodged into a hotel close to the target’s house the day before, he booked two rooms on two different floors , at different times and as different persons. First as the young light skinned man with the dark scar, he took a room at the third floor and the second time as an old man with his normal chocolate skin, he took another room on the third floor.
  
  His target, Lovina was the second final year student that was selected to copilot the plane with Jude. She had rich and influential parents, their connection plus her intelligence earned her the privilege of flying the plane though she was not the most qualified student. She lived off campus with her parents in their house located in the Port Harcourt GRA.
  
  Benny glanced at his wristwatch from time to time, getting impatient already. The police might get attracted to him very soon if he wasted too much time parking his car illegally. His plan was to send in a bullet into the girl’s arm or leg if possible and flee back immediately to his hotel to escape the ever working policemen in the area.
  
  The gate was opened at exactly fifteen minutes past eight; Benny started his car engine and got prepared to move. A black jeep was seen driving slowly outside, a guy who he presumed to be the driver was at the wheels and two girls at the back seat. He recognized the girl on the side visible to him to be Lovina.
  
  He drove slowly after them in order not to raise suspicion; it was after they had gone far enough from the house he began to level up with them.
  
  He smiled at the driver who replied him with a casual look. Still flashing his teeth, he brought out his revolver. He let their car move forward a little so he could be on the same line with the girls seated at the back.
  
  Ignoring the cars horning behind him, he raised up the revolver and pointed it at the girls . They let out a scream in horror but he missed his shot, he was taken aback by what he saw at the back seat.
  
  ++++++++++++
  
  ‘Hey Gloria’ Jude called, approaching her with two of his friends.
  
  ‘Hi’ she smiled happily at him.
  
  ‘I’m so glad you came’ he smiled back, his friends left him with her after waving in greeting to Gloria.
  
  ‘I wouldn’t dear miss it!’ she exclaimed.
  ‘Thanks, how are you doing this morning?’ He asked, extending his hand to her.
  
  ‘I’m fine, what about you?’ she replied, accepting his handshake.
  
  ‘I’m great’ he answered. He took a look at his wristwatch and touched his forehead with a handkerchief. ‘Hope you’ll be here for long?’
  
  ‘Yes, why?’
  ‘The Governor and Minister would be here anytime from now, the plane would fly by thirty minutes past ten’
  
  ‘Oh! I’ll still be here’
  
  ‘Good’ he chuckled. They both turned and faced the transparent glass wall which showed the plane on the runway.
  
  'Don't you think this is marvelous?' Jude commented.
  
  'Yes, it is' she answered, full of smiles once more.
  
  Their attention was drawn to somewhere else, journalists were gathering round someone walking by.
  
  John Obiano had arrived the airdrome, several new medias rallied round him, pressing further even though they were resisted by guards. Gloria smiled as she spotted two Desert reporters' journalist, she signalled to Cole to carry out the Job quickly before he would get noticed.
  
  'John Obiano the genius' Jude hailed loudly, John Obiano noticed him and stopped to greet.
  
  'Hey Jude, hope you're ready?' He asked cheerfully.
  
  'Yes Boss' Jude replied in a friendly tone.
  
  'Good one' John replied, taking a long stare at the girl beside him.
  
  'This is my friend Gloria'  Jude quickly introduced.
  
  Gloria smiled, she stared at his collar in search for the pin but it wasn't there. She later found a thin line in his suit pocket, Cole had done a better job.
  
  'Okay, she's the other pilot?' John misinterpreted, unable to hear properly due to the noise around.
  
  'No, she's just a friend' Jude tried to clarify, but John had moved on already after being pressured by the guards to continue walking before the journalists number increased.
  
  'Do I really look like a pilot already?' Gloria asked excitedly, both watching John as he moved on.
  
  'Yes, you do' He answered with laughter, he glanced at his wristwatch again. 'I have to go now, I need to meet Lovina'
  
  'Okay then' Gloria waved reluctantly as she watched him go. 
  
  

End of 4, of 7

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CHAPTER 7, PART 3: TARASHA

**4pm**

‘Gloria’ someone called, trying to catch up with her as she was about to enter the Year 1 lecture room. She turned back to find the same guy she met that morning during the morning exercise. He had spotted her walking towards the lecture room as he came out of his, with his friends.

‘Hi’ she greeted as she turned back.

‘Hi Gloria, I see you’re a year one student’

Yes, I am’ she squinted flipping her hair backwards, she switched her hard cover note to the left hand. ‘Where did we…’

‘You don’t remember me?’ he cut in, falling for her trick. ‘The guy who stays Hostel Block C, we jogged together this morning’

‘Oh!’ She exclaimed cheerfully. ‘Pardon me, you just look very different from the person I saw in the morning’

‘I’m the same person’ he chuckled, following as she walked into the empty lecture room. They took their seats beside each other and continued with the conversation.

‘When did the lectures end for today?’ he asked.

‘Two pm’ she answered. She placed her book on the table and brought out a pen and the school’s customized tablet from her bag.

‘Oh! You want to study?’ he asked a question with an already obvious answer

‘Yes’ she answered.

‘Maybe we’ll talk some other time then’ he said, getting up from the seat. ‘Would you give me your phone number?’

She stared at him awkwardly for a moment before she spoke, ‘I don’t even know you yet, and you didn’t introduce yourself’

‘Oh! Sorry’ he sat back hurriedly. ‘Forgive my manners please; I’m Jude, a final year student in this same institution’

She looked unimpressed as she received his offer for a handshake. ‘You’re final year?’ She asked again.

‘Yes, final year’ he repeated. ‘I’m particularly one of the best students in my level’

‘Hmm’ she sounded indifferent. ‘Can you help me with my courses then?’

‘Yes’ he replied happily, ‘I will help you, just tell me the course or topic you want me to help you with’

‘This’ she opened her hard cover note and showed him a topic.

‘How far have you gone with this?’ he asked, moving his body closer to hers. He could perceive the fragrance of her perfume.

‘I’ve not started at all’ she answered with a note of sadness. ‘I resumed school late, the lecturer had gone far beyond before I was admitted in the third batch list’

Ermmm… It’s kind of long o’ he gave a slight frown, ‘I can finish teaching you if I start now’

‘Why?’

‘I have a meeting by four pm with some of our professors’ he answered. ‘I’m one of the students that’ll be flying the Governor in John Obiano’s plane’

‘Oh! You’re really going to pilot the plane?’

‘Yes, I did with my partner during the several test runs’ he stated excitedly. ‘I can’t miss this opportunity to fly the governor’

‘Wow! That’s awesome. I really like the fact that students are in control of everything’

‘Yes, we are’ he smiled happily. ‘Some years back they wouldn’t have allowed us fly a Local government chairman talk more of the Rivers State Governor’

‘How come they are now allowing students do it now?’

‘They believe in us now, the professors are sure of what they thought us and can brag with their lives that we’ll deliver properly’

‘Wow!’ She continued excitedly, ‘I believe this will give you employment immediately you graduate’

‘Yes, I just need to finish my youth service and I’ll be employed immediately’

‘Congrats’ she offered him a handshake.

‘Thank you’

She stared at him in silence for some seconds, ‘I wish I could watch you fly that airplane’

‘Oh dear, I wish that was possible too’ he replied sympathetically

‘Can’t I be allowed to be one of the flight attendants?’ she pushed further.

‘No’ he answered sadly. ‘It’s only two of the best final year female students would be picked to do that job’

She looked depressed immediately, her countenance fell. She turned and faced the wall, backing Jude.

‘The only thing I can do is to take you along so you can watch the plane fly’ he tried to give another option. ‘But you might not be allowed to come close because of the security officials that would be with the Governor and Minister; you have to stay with other spectators and the journalists’

Don’t bother, I just met you and I’m giving you too much troubles already’ she said turning back, she tried to fake a smile.

‘No, I’m not troubled. You have to be there that day to experience it’ he insisted.

‘Well, I’ll think it’ she answered. ‘I’ll come if I’m chanced’

‘Please clear your schedule’

‘Okay’ she replied and placed her hand on her book. Suddenly remembering something, she turned to face him again, ‘Who is copiloting the plane with you?’

‘A final year student also, her name is Lovina’

‘Hmm, Lovina’ she whispered, nodding her head slowly.

‘I have to leave right n..’ he was saying as he got up from the seat, a Lady interrupted walking in noisily into the lecture room

‘Gloria, you’re not reading?’ she exclaimed, using her two hands to cover her mouth. Gloria got up suddenly and rushed to her friend, she covered the girl’s mouth again as the girl dropped her hands.

‘Don’t mind her’ she smiled at surprised Jude, still covering the girl’s mouth with her hands. ‘ She talks too much, you can go now Jude’

‘Okay, but not without taking your phone number’ he said, bringing out his phone from his pocket.

‘23480….. ‘Gloria called the digits, still covering her friend’s mouth.

‘Okay, I’ll give you a call’ Jude walked past the two friends, giving them a surprised look.


**
Gloria ensured that Jude was gone before she took her hand off the girl’s, her hand left ugly dark marks on the girl’s face.

‘Dummy’ she slammed at Aisha. ‘You didn’t use enough quantity of the powder and you didn’t allow it dry properly before walking under the sun’

‘I’m sorry Boss’ Aisha apologized, realizing that she almost blew their cover. She had used her hand to clean off thee powder meant to disguise her face when she used her hand to cover her mouth.

End of 7, part 3

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CHAPTER 7, PART 2: TARASHA

**11.11.2030** 

John Obiano sat alone, busy with his Ipad as he waited for the Desert Reporters’ journalist. The cafeteria where he sat was the biggest one in school; it was mostly patronized by the rich students and sometimes patronized by the not-too-rich after saving money to spend on a special day. 

His yellow designers shirt drew so much attention to him, coupled with the fact that he was fast becoming a celebrity as the first student of the school and the second in the country to manufacture an airplane. He was proud of himself, seeing people glance at him from their table several times, he knew they were referring to him and probably discussing about his exploits with their partners 

He took a sip of the fruit juice occasionally and glanced at his wristwatch from time to time, looking up to see if the journalists are forthcoming. In a little while, he saw two people approaching him at exactly two minutes before the interview time. 

‘Good afternoon Mr. Obiano’ the chocolate skinned lady greeted, offering him a handshake 

‘Good afternoon, Miss…’ 

‘Samantha’ she completed it for him as he took her hands in his. 

‘I’m James’ the guy who accompanied her also introduced himself. 

‘Welcome’ He replied with a smile. ‘It’s nice to have you here’ 

‘Thank you’ Samantha said as they took the seats facing him. 

‘Would you like to take something?’ he offered. 

‘No, thanks. We’ll just go straight to business’ she rejected politely. 

‘Okay, I’m all ears’ he said, sitting up right. 

‘We’ll like you to tell us a little about yourself first, your personality and views about life’ she began the long series of questions. 

John Obiano replied intelligently to the interview questions, giving answers that’ll convince the listeners that he was truly a guru. 

‘So how do you feel? Having the Governor of the state and the Minister of Aviation coming to have a flight in your own produced airplane?’ 

‘I feel awesome’ he smiled cheerfully, ‘it’s a great honour to have a flight with great personalities like them’ 

You’re gonna be flying with them?’ She asked 

‘Yes, I will be seated with both of them in the plane’ 

‘Wow! But I thought you’ll be flying the plane while they enjoy’ 

‘No, I’ll be seated with them, we already have two pilots who are going to fly with us’ 

‘How many of you are going on board?’ 

‘Seven; His Excellency, Honorable, myself, the two pilots and two flight attendants’ 

‘Oh! I see. So where are you flying to?’ 

‘Just around Port Harcourt, we’ll be flying around for just thirty minutes before we return to the airdrome’ 

‘I know several media houses have been denied the opportunity to have look and take a picture of the inner view of the plane, when would we be allowed to do that?’ 

‘Who told you that?’ he frowned, ‘several pictures of the inner view are online already’ 

‘But there seems to be a notion that the pictures online are not real’ she countered. 'People say they are pictures of a foreign built plane' 

‘They are real, I posted some by myself’ he replied confidently. His interviewer paused for a while and then continued with the concluding series of questions. 


++++++ 

**14.11.2030** 


** Port Harcourt School of Aviation** 

A CRV jeep sped past, splashing the stagnant rain water on Gloria’s body as she carried out the early hours jogging with several other students. Only few girls could be seen amongst the joggers, and the few girls were with their male partners. 

She jogged to the area of the road shoulder close to the drainage, smiling broadly to guy who was also jogging beside her. 

‘Hi’ he greeted, panting heavily 

‘Hi’ she replied, flashing her teeth 

‘I’ve not seen you with us before, it’s like you just made a decision to start exercising your body’ he continued in a cheerful manner. 

‘No, I’ve been exercising my body. I just decided to join you guys today’ she said. 

‘Well, today must be a very special day then!’ He exclaimed 

‘Why did you say that?’ she gave an inquisitive look. 

‘It’s not every day I wake up to see such a pretty lady very early in the morning’ he commented, admiring the beautiful eyes on the chocolate skinned face. 

‘Oh!’ She blushed. ‘Come on, stop flattering me’ 

‘I’m not flattering you’ he replied, gradually reducing his jogging speed. ‘I’m only saying the truth’ 

She chuckled, ‘Thanks anyway’ 

‘You’re welcome’ he smiled back 

‘Why?’ she asked in respect of his reducing speed, he increased it back to level up with her. ‘Are you tired already?’ 

‘No, I just jogged past my hostel’ he answered 

‘Your hostel?’ Gloria looked back at the hostel building and they gradually came to a halt. ‘Your hostel is Block C?’ 

‘Yes’ he cleaned his face with the hand towel placed round his neck. ‘But never mind, I’ll see you off to yours’ 

He motioned to keep jogging but she refused. ‘No, I don’t stay on campus’ 

‘You stay off campus?’ 

‘Yeah’ 

‘Does that explains why I’ve not ben seeing you jog with us?’ he questioned 

‘Yes’ she replied with another smile. 

‘Would I see you again?’ he requested. 

‘If you want to’ she gave a sharp reply. 

‘Hope you don’t stay too far from school?’ he asked and without waiting for a response continued, ‘may we meet this evening?’ 

'This evening? Let’s make it afternoon, my lectures for the day will end by noon and I might be going home immediately’ 

‘Come on Gloria! Let’s go’ someone shouted from afar. ‘We’ve got a practical course today’ 

‘Gloria is the name?’ Is she your friend?’ he asked double questions 

‘Yes, I’ve got to go now’ she turned to leave in a hurry. ‘We’ll see later’ 

‘How do I reach you?’ he shouted without getting any reply, Gloria already jogged off with her friend 

** 
‘We’ll return to the hotel now and return as students’ Tarasha spoke to Aisha as she started the car engine. ‘Remember to always put on your ID card when you are in the school premises’ 

‘Okay’ Aisha replied calmly and remained quiet, secretly staring at Tarasha often times as they journeyed. 

‘Do you have any question?’ Tarasha startled her. ‘Ask your question and stop looking at me like that’ 

‘No question really, I was just wondering how you were sure that he was going to start a conversation with you’ 

‘I wasn’t sure he was going to start a conversation with me’ Tarasha replied. ‘I was going to start something with him if he didn’t’ 

Aisha gazed at her, the look in her eyes showed that she still had unanswered questions. 

‘I would have fainted and fall on his body if he didn’t notice me’ Tarasha added. ‘He only made things easy for both of us by not ignoring me’ 

‘Hmm, I see’ 

‘Yeah’ 

End of part 2 of the seventh chapter

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CHAPTER 7, PART 1: TARASHA

Cole quivered as he got up from the bed, blood pumped in his heart abnormal at a speed faster than that of Usain Bolt. The first time he ever had a nightmare was in his University days, when a dreaded cult group was after his life because of a girl that was in love with him.

This time around, he dreamt that he was being given a hot chase by the Rivers State Governor's body guards. He outsmarted them and hid in an uncompleted building where he slept off for hours, only for him to open his eyes and find several guns pointed at him by a group of policemen.

He glanced at Benny who was sleeping peacefully on the left side of the bed despite the hot condition of the room. He took off his wet shirt and proceeded out of the room bare chested, using the shirt to fan himself. He first headed into the kitchen to quench his thirst after which he proceeded out of the house with an extra cup of water to seek fresh air in the compound.

He got a little surprised when he met the door unlocked but he shook off his fears, his mind suggesting to him that Tarasha must be the one outside

He was right! There in the middle of the compound was a female figure lying flat on the long bench that used to be at the verandah, she seemed to be busy with something and didn't notice his presence. He tiptoed carefully towards her, trying his possible best not to announce his presence.

He stopped halfway when he saw her insert a magazine into the revolver she was playing with, she seemed to also halt with his movement. He was contemplating whether to turn back or not when his name was called.

'Cole' he quivered at the sound of his name, still on the same spot, he watched her unload the gun before he proceeded further.

She rose from her sleeping position and sat up, smiling at Cole who stared at her funnily.

'Why were you scared?' She asked mockingly.

'You loaded your gun like you wanted to aim at something, I was scared that you didn't know I was the one coming' he answered, feeling slightly embarrassed.

'I knew it was you and I wasn't planning to shoot' she collected the cup of water from him and drank slowly.

Cole watched her taking in the water, like a kid who was already dying of thirst. He had the opportunity to notice her very young face, she looked like an innocent girl in her early twenties. Her face was the youngest he had ever seen involved in the assassination business, several of her mates he has seen involving themselves in crime only participated in petty robbery and as informants.

'Cole' she startled him, his eyes was still hovering round her body in awe.

'Boss' he called back, scratching his head as he looked away.

'Why are you staring at me like that?' She asked.

'No, nothing. I was just wondering what you were doing outside here'

'What else should I be doing? I was sleeping' she answered.

'Sleeping? How? I saw you awake when I came out of the house'

'You woke me up, I was asleep before you came out' she insisted.

'Asleep? How?' He looked bewildered. 'No one can sleep here with all the mosquitoes around,'

'Forget about me Cole, you should tell me why you are awake' she looked sternly at his face.

'I couldn't sleep, my mind has been occupied with all we did yesterday' Cole explained his woe. 'I can't seem to figure out how we'll be able to accomplish our task here'

'That's for me to worry about. I give the plan, all you need to do is to follow'

He looked at her face in an awkward manner as if to ask why she way arrogant, or why she thought she knew everything.

'Young girl like you, who made you a devil? I could kill you now if I want to' He said in his mind.

'The greatest mistake you'll ever make is dealing with me like the ordinary person my face projects' she cautioned immediately add if she heard his thoughts. 'You may lose your life the next time you think that way'

'Hu..uh' he stammered and got up shakily from the bench.

'Come on, go inside now' she said in a command tone. Flinging the cup away, she returned to her former position on the bench.

Cole hurriedly returned into the house, scared to look back until he entered and closed the door. He paused to think for a while leaning his back on the door, the sound of his heartbeat echoed in his ears.

Maybe she was more than who he thought she was. She is probably an adult hiding under a younger body or a young girl endowed with diabolical powers.

He tried to calm himself and waved off his thoughts as ridiculous, she wasn't a super human, she was only good at playing smart with their emotions. He decided to put up a bold response if there was a next time, why should he be scared of her anyway? He had worked with several make assassins and none made his heart filled with fear like this.

'Go and sleep Cole, we have a lot to do tomorrow' her voice jerked him into action again, he proceeded to his room with no further delay

**
Tarasha was already thinking of different possible plans for their new task. Earlier that day when she and Cole worked to gather information about the Governor on the internet, they also visited his twitter profile and studied several tweets mentioning his handle and those including his name in the text. Out of the several hundreds of tweets that had his handle mentioned, three got Tarasha's attention.

One was from the Rivers State Commissioner of works and transport, reporting the progress of a bridge project. The other was from a popular artiste who displayed his invitation to a dinner night with the governor.

The last one was from a news reporting media, Desert Reporters. They tweeted one of their headlines which talked about an Engineering student of the Port Harcourt University who had just successfully manufactured a small airplane singlehandedly. The tweet read “Governor of Rivers State, Kelechi Edwin commends engineering student John @Johnnonexistent who manufactured an air plane, plans to visit on…”

With the tweet as a lead, Tarasha visited the student’s twitter profile and gathered more information about the record breaking feat achieved. She got to know what kind of airplane it was and specifications of the size, she also found out that the plane had been tested by several professors of the University and experts from outside the country already. The video of the several test run was recorded and uploaded on YouTube and had since attracted so many views from in and outside the country.

Governor Kelechi Edwin and the country’s minister of aviation were to visit and have a special flight in the plane on the eighteenth day of the month.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**9.12.2030**

‘Wait! Scroll up a little, I think I saw Samantha now’ James said to secretary who scrolled down the list hurriedly. He had been standing beside her for minutes, watching while she logged in to the School Administrative portal to get a list of all the pharmacy students in thee school.

Officer Segun and Dr. Hammed also came to the school with him. They had gone to see the Vice chancellor of the school who then redirected them to the pharmacy department and instructed the department’s secretary to show them a list of the pharmacy students in their database.

‘That’s 200 level not 300’ she replied him without bothering to obey his order

‘Let’s see it’ he insisted stubbornly

She scrolled up and halted where she saw the name, ‘this is Samantha David, isn’t it Osman you’re looking for?’

‘Can we see her profile?’ he requested

She clicked on the name and the student’s profile appeared. Samantha David was in 200 level, eighteen years of age and had the matric number 745666.

‘Is this the girl?’ James asked, turning to face the doctor.

Doctor Hammed stood up from the sofa where he and Segun was seated and walked to the table to get a clearer view of the passport photograph displayed on the profile, ‘No, not this one. Samantha Osman is not as dark as this’

‘Please, let’s continue’ James pleaded with the secretary.

The other Samantha that was found after scrolling the whole list was a 400 level student which Dr. Hammed responded negative to. James was forced to ask the secretary to profile of all the 300 level female students but none was identified as the doctor to be Samantha Osman.

‘We don’t have any Samantha Osman in our department’ the secretary stated for the second time.

‘But she was wearing the school ID card’ James talked back.

‘Maybe she was a student of another department’ she replied. ‘You should check medicine or nursing’

‘No, she said she was a pharmacy student’ Dr. Hammed mentioned each word one after the other.

‘I think it’s clear now’ James continued after taking a deep breath, ‘that girl was on a mission and that mission was to get some information for the killers’

‘She could be a student studying another course’ Segun who had been silent began, ‘I believe that if we get a database of all the students, we can fish out every Samantha Osman we find or better still every girl named Samantha in the school’

‘No!’ the secretary exclaimed. ‘Who’s gonna go through that herculean task? Do you know how many students the school has?’

‘It doesn’t matter how herculean the task is’ James countered. ‘She was with the school’s ID card and that confirms that the suspect is your student’

‘How are you sure it was our ID card?’ she queried. ‘Did any of you check it? How did you know it wasn’t fake?’

Her question was answered with silence; the officers stared at each other and at the doctor, each expecting one to come up with a counter opinion.

James gave in, ‘you’re right, it may be fake but you still have to help us confirm it is’

‘Or better still, let us have access to the database, we’ll check it ourselves’ Segun suggested.

‘Better!’ The secretary got up from her seat , adjusting her skirt. ‘I can’t help you with that, you have to return to the VC’

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

‘I got it Boss’ Cole announced, looking into his laptop. ‘I got access to the account’

‘Good!’ She exclaimed, approaching him with a plate of potato chips. ‘Any useful communication between them?’

‘There is a conversation here, but I don’t think it is useful for us’ He gave more space for her to sit closely beside him. ‘They’ve got an interview with him this Wednesday’

‘Where’s the venue of the interview’ she asked expecting no reply as she saw the details in the message for herself. ‘I think we can make use of this’

‘How? How do we go about it?’

‘We’ll be the ones to interview him’ she answered, offering him chips which he refused politely. ‘Now, you have to monitor the two accounts closely. Send the student a message from the desert reporters’ account’

‘What message?’ he asked, frowning.

‘Must you ask about everything? Come on use your head’ she slammed, getting up from his side, she faced him. ‘Send him a message, change the time and venue of the interview’

‘I thought you said you were the Boss ’ he mumbled like a kid. ‘You said the thinking and planning was yours and we should only obey instructions’

She laughed loudly, ‘come on, send him a message now’

He gave her puzzled look, ‘but they’re gonna know that their account was hacked when they see the message’

She returned his look with an awkward one, ‘delete the message once it is delivered, then monitor until he replies’

‘Then?’

‘Delete his reply once it gets into their inbox so that they won’t see it’

‘Wow! I grab’

‘You have to keep tabs on it, they must not get any message, you should get them first and delete’

‘Okay Boss’

‘Then you send a message from his account which you’ll delete afterwards, inform them that he won’t be able to make the interview anymore. That way, we’ll keep the Desert Reporters away while we carry out the interview and get more information from the student’

End of part one of chapter 6

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CHAPTER 6, PART 4: TARASHA

**05.12.2030**

‘I don’t remember her name’ Dr. Hammed stated for the umpteenth time

He was sweating in the air conditioned room though he was putting on very light clothes, the endless sessions of interrogation which started on Saturday had begun to wear him out.

At first, it was the EFCC who started questioning him on Saturday, their lists of questions never seemed to end. Several of the officials would come asking questions, most which he didn't have answers to, they would leave after they had threatened him and didn't get results, only for a superior to to show up in a space of two to three hours with another set of questions when he thought the session had ended.

He had already sworn to return all the monies he had stolen and kept in both foreign and Nigerian banks after the officials at the EFCC cracked him, so that his judgment in the court would be tendered with mercy.  He now wondered why the police were after him again, he returned to his house from the EFCC's headquarters only to be welcomed by a letter from the police criminal investigation department inviting him for another session of interrogation.

‘We heard that you had an unusual experience on Friday after the Unilag girl visited’ An Inspector whose name he found out to be James asked, another dark skinned inspector was standing close to him.

‘I didn’t have any unusual experience’ the man countered.

‘But you slept off during working hours’ James focused his eyes on him and smiled mockingly. ‘Or is that how you sleep off lazily at work?’

James pushed a button with his statement and it was visible on Dr. Hammed’s face, he wished he could land a heavy punch on James’ face but his situation would only worsen if he acted stupidly.


‘Sorry sir’ James apologized calmly, ‘but we only want to help you, if you just tell us the truth , it would make our investigations easier and we would stop disturbing you’

‘I slept off truly’ Dr Hammed finally gave in. ‘I think I took something poisonous that day’

‘Did you found out what it was you took?’

‘No, I didn’t have the time. I’ve been very busy’

‘But was sleep the only effect it had on you?’

‘No’ the doctor stuttered for a while. ‘It came with loss of memory, I didn’t remember some of the things I did before I slept off’

‘Like two hours before you slept?’

‘Yes’ the doctor glanced at his face suddenly. ‘How did you know the duration of time?’

'Calm down sir’ James said and stood from the table he was sitting on. ‘Some of our men had a similar experience like that recently. For how long did you sleep that day?’

‘I don’t really remember, but I slept until someone woke me when it was almost closing hours’ He paused, licked his lips and continued. ‘But my eyes were still very heavy when I got home that day, I slept off without even taking dinner till morning the next day’

‘Hmm, maybe you were poisoned with the same substance as our men’ James stated, he returned to his former position on the table. ‘They slept from evening till early the next morning when they were found’

‘Incredible! Someone must have played far on me' the doctor exclaimed, covering his lips with his two hands.

‘You said you slept off after she visited?’ James pushed further immediately, taking advantage of the man’s new mood.

‘I don’t know when she visited, but everyone said I didn’t come out of the office for several hours after I went in with her’

‘You see, you need to remember her name so that we can trace her, she might just be a very dangerous criminal’ James emphasized.

Dr Hammed remained silent for some minutes, he cracked his brain furiously for answers. ‘I saw her name on a notepad she left in my office on Thursday, I don’t really remember but I know her first name was not a Nigerian native name’

‘Try harder sir, you can remember’

‘ I’m trying, I don’t just know what happened to me. Since then I’ve been forgetting things very quickly’

‘Well, our only hope for now is her name’

The doctor scratched his head, looking at James’ face, a feeling of regret suddenly took over him. He regretted the day he submitted his application to Derl Pharmacy, the day he was promoted and started to work closely with Dr Daniel Umaru and the day he succumbed to doing dubious deals with Dr Umaru.

Now, he was going to loose all he had gathered all his life, both the ones gotten legally and illegally. The case had prompted EFCC to investigate deeper and they dug out several other dubious deals that Dr Umaru had done, including his name in the ones he didn’t even know about. There was no way out for him, the only thing he could get was a very short prison sentence and that was why he decided to give up all his assets.

‘Her name is Samantha Osman, she’s a 300Level pharmacy student of the University of Lagos’ Dr. Hammed recited suddenly, his face glowed as he spoke.

'Samantha Osman, 300Level pharmacy student of Unilag' James repeated, scribbling it into his notepad.

'Yes, that's it' Dr Hammed affirmed.

'Good' James smiled as he glanced at the details written down once again. 'Do you also remember now if you saw her do anything suspicious when she went into the conference room with you?'

'No, I didn't see her do anything there. She only helped me move something from my office into the room'

'Alright, I think it's okay for now' James got up from the table again. 'Thank you for your cooperation, we'll get back to you if we need any other help from you'

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

**07.11.2030**

*5.30am*

Cole's mouth was left agape as he watched Tarasha silently from the window exercising her body, he was counting the number of pushups she was doing and she just got to two hundred without struggling or showing any sign of tiredness.

He couldn't hold it anymore, he closed the curtains and rushed outside to join her. She was already dusting off herself when he got outside. He was so disappointed as he hoping to see more action from her when he got outside.

'Good morning Cole' she greeted first, 'how are you?'

'Good morning Boss, I'm fine' he replied, with a note of disappointment still hidden in his voice.

'Why did you stay there peeping for so long instead of coming to join me?' Cole was taken aback by the questioned.

'How did you know I was peeping?' He asked.

'I saw you' she replied smiling, 'even if I didn't see you, I feel it when a pair of eyes watches me'

'Wow! But you didn't towards the window side at all?' He was confused.

'I didn't have to look there with my physical eyes, every part of me including the physical and non physical pays attention to the environment'

Cole shook his head, he tried to assimilate what she said but ended up greatly mystified. He wondered what it would be like if Tarasha comes against him, he'll definitely be hopeless and helpless. Tarasha's fear increased in his heart rapidly.

'I noticed you're the one who wakes up very early amongst the three of you' she disrupted his thoughts.

'Yes, I wake up most times before Benny and Aisha does' he responded.

'That's good' she said and began walking towards the well, Cole walked with her. She suddenly turned and faced him. 'You have to learn very well from this operation henceforth'

He stared at her face, the look on her face sought more explanation to what she started.

'I have an assignment for you' she continued, 'You have to complete the first operation we did'

'The first operation? Didn't we finish off the minister already?' He asked, puzzled.

'Yes, we finished off the minister but did not eliminate every trace'

'What do you mean?'

'Listen carefully' she said sternly, 'we left some traces that would be used to find us in the minister's operation and it is possible that we are discovered sooner or later'

'What? Why? How?' His heartbeat increased

'Calm down Cole' she said and took three steps further before going on with the discussion. 'If anyone is going to trace that murder successfully, it must be a very competent officer'

'But...'

'Shh...' She hushed, a smile gradually appeared on her face. 'Don't be scared Cole, it's only a game, my favorite game and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too'

'How? I don't understand'

'Its a game between myself and the police' she said and then gave a wicked smile. 'You, Cole will be my avatar for this first round'

'Boss, you're only confusing further' Cole was beginning to get frustrated.

'I want to weaken the security system in the state' She walked further to the well and picked up the fetching bucket. 'The trace is only going to lead a competent officer and his team to our trap and you will single handedly handle them when they come. Ot would be done in a way that would pount directly to you'

'I'm still confused' he said.

'Don't worry, you'll understand later' she said, drawing out water from the well. 'Go in and wake the others, it's time to reveal or mission here to you guys'

Cole's mind was greatly troubled as he walked away slowly into the house, he tried to figure out what she meant. She mentioned that he was her avatar in the game, that might possibly mean that she was playing games with him and his life was in danger.

She also said that she didn't eliminate all traces in the last operation so that the police could trace them and she'd set him up to face the police. That was something he had never done before, he never singlehandedly handled a police team before, he was only good at escaping when the police pursued a group of them and not when he was the only one being pursued.

How on earth was he even going to escape if a team of ten to twenty officers were sent to him? He wasn't even supposed to escape, the purpose of the game was to weaken the police force, that means he had to defeat the team.

The thought alone sent shivers down his spine and he quickly uttered a prayer that moment. 'Lord, if it is your will, let this cup pass over me'. But he wasn't Christ neither did he follow Christ, so God would not answer his prayer. He resolved in his mind to run away if she insisted on setting him up with the police.

**
Tarasha walked in after ten minutes to meet Cole, Benny and Aisha already waiting for her in the sitting room.

'Good morning Boss' Benny and Aisha greeted.

'Good morning' she answered and took suitable seat which faced three of them. 'I hope you guys are ready for today's job'

'Today's job?' Aisha spoke lazily, yawning. 'I thought we did everything already. We cleaned the house, cleared the bushes and ...'

'Shut up' Tarasha scowled angrily, making the jovial girl shocked. 'Are you crazy? Do you think that's all we came here to do?'

'I'm sorry ma' Aisha replied in low tones, greatly terrified. She wondered what went wrong and why Tarasha who was friendly with them the day before had suddenly become cold.

Tarasha got up swiftly, her frown changed into a smile surprising her audience more.

'Are you scared?' She asked laughin loudly, mocking Aisha who was shaky already. 'I'm not angry, I was only teaching you something, learn to switch your mood as it pleases you, don't let your feelings control you. So it's time to switch to the work mode'

Aisha heaved a sigh of relief, her rapidly increased heartbeat speed returned to normal. The two guys just watched in awe, wishing they could switch modes like that too.

'We'll start real work today' Tarasha interrupted their thoughts. 'We must drop our target, Kelechi Edwin before the end of the month'

Realization hit them as she walked away, Tarasha had brought them on a suicide mission. Killing the governor of Rivers State in office, with the quality of security surrounding him was an impossible mission.

End of 6

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