THE PRICE OF GREED
384 Words
Sadiq drove through the empty streets, relieved that his part in the operation was finally over.
For the first time that night, he allowed himself to smile.
The money Kabir had given him sat safely beside him.
It was more money than he had earned in months.
His phone suddenly rang.
The caller was an old friend.
"Have you heard?" the voice asked excitedly.
"Heard what?"
"Somebody robbed Alhaji Musa tonight."
Sadiq's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"What are you talking about?"
"The whole city is talking about it. They say the thieves got away with cash and diamonds worth hundreds of millions of naira."
Sadiq felt his heart skip a beat.
"Hundreds of millions?"
"That's what I'm hearing. The diamonds alone are supposed to be worth a fortune."
The call ended a few moments later, but Sadiq barely heard the rest of the conversation.
His mind was already elsewhere.
Hundreds of millions.
The words echoed inside his head.
He thought about Jamal.
He thought about Kabir.
Then he thought about the small amount he had accepted for risking his life.
A bitter feeling settled in his stomach.
They had walked away with a fortune.
He had walked away with scraps.
For the first time that night, regret began to creep into his thoughts.
Ahead of him, flashing lights appeared.
A police checkpoint.
Sadiq immediately sat upright.
His heartbeat quickened.
The officers waved him to a stop.
One of them approached his window.
"Good evening. Where are you coming from?"
"Just visiting a friend," Sadiq replied.
The officer studied him carefully.
"Open the trunk."
Sadiq obeyed.
Another officer conducted a brief search of the vehicle.
Minutes felt like hours.
Sadiq could feel sweat gathering on his forehead.
Finally, the officers returned.
Everything appeared normal.
Nothing suspicious had been found.
"You're free to go," one of them said.
Sadiq thanked them and drove away.
As the checkpoint disappeared in his rearview mirror, he let out a long breath.
But relief was not what occupied his mind.
It was greed.
The diamonds.
The money.
The fortune that should have been his.
By the time he reached home, a dangerous idea had already taken root in his mind.
He needed to find Jamal and Kabir.
And this time, he intended to take a much larger share.
- Writer
