She plans to kill me

Campus rift

2005

The act was getting more intense, less words, louder breathing, and moving hands in the darkness. Now the senses were blocked, reasoning suspended and lust at the peak. Clothes began to part from the body and it was just a matter time, minutes or seconds before they were drowned in consumption of forbidden fruit when a sudden knock brought them to an abrupt split.

Damn!

Who the hell was coming at the wrong time? Wrong time? It was almost 1:00am. Denny quickly stood up, leaving her still breathing hard, making an effort to stabilize her breathing. And she cursed whoever it was.

“ Who is there?”

“ Open the door!”

“ Who are you?”

“ NPF”

“ What do you mean by NPF?’

“Nigerian Police Force.”

Police? What did they want?

“ Just a moment.”

He switched on the light, wore his shirt and asked her to dress up. He opened the door to find two mobile policemen standing with guns.

“ Good morning officers. How may I help you?”

“ We need you to identify someone. He is just behind your house.”

“Who?”“If we knew, we would not ask you for identification. It won’t take long before you come back to your….”the cocky eyed policeman eyed Tessy, “ room.”

Denny did not like any of this.

“ May you identify yourselves?”

“ You dey craze!” One of the policemen, who was a coporal, said harshly. “ You no see our uniform and Ak?”

“ I have said nothing wrong. We have heard of fake policemen or military men dressed in uniform and commit crimes.”

“ If we wanted to hurt you, we would have done that long  ago.” Said the coporal.

Denny said okay but Tessy sprang up and followed him.

“ I am coming with you!”

“ She has to come with me.”

“ No problem.” Said the other policeman who was a sergeant.

The sergeant allowed the coporal to take lead, the tagged behind while he started after Tessy’s bum. ‘Chai! These students dey enjoy o!’ he thought.

They went to the back of the building where three more armed policemen were waiting. Denny saw their truck parked at a distance.

What was going on?

Then they saw who was to be identified.  He was lying on the ground, in a pool of blood, with his clothes soaked with blood and mud. There was a gun lying beside him and a thin line round his neck showed sign of strangulation.

Tessy grabbed Denny and screamed, taking her eyes off the body.

“ He is a student.” Denny said with a shaky voice.

“ He was a student.” Said the sergeant. “ An eye witness said he asked for  where you lived and a few minutes later, he was found dead .What do you know about this?”

It was very cold but Denny felt his face clammy with sweat as he stared at Tek’s fresh dead body. Who did this? 

2008

He walked meticulously into the big courtyard with a tiny mini swimming pool as if he was scared of hurting the floor.  He met her lying on her back, resting her head on a risen headrest while a tray was kept on a stool beside her. A tray containing what she called goodies.

“ Black,me labari(Black, what is going on?” She asked the very dark skinned man.

“ There is bad news ma.”

“ What is it?”

“ The case has been reopened.”

She paused, inhaled devil’s powder, shook her head then took in a deep breath. She was dressed in bikini and gave no hoot about the level of her exposed body.

“ What case?” she lit a wrap of hashish.

“ Danny Adam is back in court.”

“ That is no bad news. Naturally they should appeal. He was sentenced to death. They won’t give up easily but…where did they get the money?”

“ There is a group of lawyers who take up case for free.”

“ There are many. Okay, I wish them luck.”

“ The lawyer is a young girl. It is her first case.”

Jezebel laughed.

“ She needs something to do. But she can do nothing.”

“ She is dangerous. I don’t like the way the case is going. Her investigative prowess is disturbing.”

“Has she opened any can of worms?”

“Not yet.”

“Yet? Do you anticipate trouble?”

“ Just feel we should be proactive, or be more watchful.”

She puffed out smoke, her eyes were becoming thinner, bulgy and red as she intoxicated.

“ I doubt if she can do anything. I got him hooked up and don’t see how he can escape this. But keep watching…..When is the next sitting?”

“ Tomorrow.”

“ I think it would be fun to go and watch how a castle is built in air”

Black frowned.

“That is a bad idea. It is not advisable to show your face.”

“ Damn! Black, I don’t run my games by hiding. That is why I always clean up. I make a lot of money and make sure I make ways to spend it freely. They have nothing against me. I am clean. The only mess I had was the file and it is long gone. I burnt it, and spread the ashes. So fu** it!”

He said nothing.

“ I want to know what has been going on, come here….give me a massage  me while you talk. I got oil here.”

“ There has been five sittings. I don’t know if that is the term for it. They adjourn each time because the girl is troublesome. But I feel the case is coming to an end.”

“ We got the file before Uthman died, and all those that could implicate me are gone. Except my core men like you. You have been with me since my university days, black. Please be more tender, start from the shoulder, then back ,waist and anywhere else……tell me how the trial has going in details.”

“ I only discovered today. Garba called me. He gave me a brief explanation but I asked him to get a more detailed briefing and that has to be today before the sitting tomorrow.”

“ Hmm…don’t be scared. I got it under control. I made sure I am clean. Now go lower, use the oil…..”

Then her phone rang, she grimaced, then picked it, still lying on her stomach.

“ Jezebel,” someone said from the other end, “ have you heard of the on going case concerning Danny?”

“ Yes.”

“ There is going to be a verdict tomorrow. We can’t take chances. The young girl is dangerous.”

“ What do you suggest and why is everybody scared of this girl?”

“ I am just a court official but I hear lawyers talking about her. I mean she is new but got the admiration of top lawyers. She is not lazy. From her presentations, she takes time to investigate and scrutinize every detail. We don’t know what she has up her sleeve.”

Jezebel did not like this. She felt the agitation was a storm in a teacup. She had sealed all loopholes. She felt there was nothing to be scared of.

“ I need you to come see me. I want to know who this girl is. Today and not tomorrow.”

“ She is Bello Kankia’s daughter, the Kaduna based lawyer.”

“Who does not know that i***t who is a fool but feels he is incorruptible. His wife is another b***h so I think they got a b***h as a daughter. He was in Lagos for years, before relocating to Kaduna but he got offices all over. That useless family?”

She pushed black’s hands off her butt and sat up, her bulgy thin eyes looking dangerous.

“ Where are they lodged?”

“ We can always find out.”

“ Let me get dressed. I want to know……now.”

2005

“ They are trying to pin the murder on me.” Denny said, as he was led out of the police cell. “ I have been here since yesterday.”

“ Teks was there to kill you.” Jib said.

“ I guesses so.”

“ Now you gotta leave here.” 

“ I don’t want my people to know. I was with Tessy at 1:00AM . what will I say? Sleeping with a girl that is not legally married to me?”

“ What have they done to you?”

“ Three slaps and a promise of torture. They said he was after me, he asked for my house so I must have known something.”

“ Okay. I called someone who can help talk to the DPO and your name will be completely out of this case.”

“ Seriously? They have been using big law terms.”

“ Big terms have big neutralizers. Okay ,she is here.”

It was the first time Denny saw the big fair complexioned woman with thin, fiery eyes: Jezebel.

She walked in majestically. All she needed was a flick of finger and Denny was out. But it did not end there. This was the day Denny met Jezebel

2008

Maryam came out of her car, took nimble steps into a supermarket, bought a few groceries then walked back. She opened her car door, sat under the wheel then took a sip of fresh milk. She was exhausted.

It was a long trip back to Abuja and she had driven herself. She closed her eyes for a few seconds, pictured her bed then decided to go and have a good rest before the next day which may be the final battle.

She was not sure of a total success. She did not trust him. But she hoped it would be dug out. It had been two years of fear and silence. This could be a panacea if he was smart.

She started the car engine, then cringed as she felt a cold rod touch her neck.

“ If you shout, I will shoot you.” Black said from behind. “ Now move the car according to my direction. Welcome back from a safe trip. What do you have for the boys?”

She had only spent five minutes in the DPO's office when he accompanied her out and it was conspicuous that he revered her.Denny was released at once, given back his belongings and they left the police station Located at Laranto. She got under the wheel of her 2005 Ford Escape SUV, and a very dark complexioned guy sat at the passenger's side. Jib and Denny took the backseat.

All these while, she never said a word to Denny. Jezebel was dressed in a black jeans, black T-shirt and a black bowler hat. She had bling-bling round her neck, diamond bracelets round her wrist and a big Rolex wristwatch.

Immediately she started the car engine, she lit a cigarette ,and slot in a Cd and a song which 50 Cents featured Olivia began to blare. The CD player and speakers were so heavy that Denny felt as if the beats were been made in his stomach.

She began to rap along

I'll take you the candy shop

I'll let you lick the lollipop

Go ahead, girl, don't you stop

Keep going 'til you hit the spot, whoa

When it got to the part of 'til you hit the spot' she hit the steering wheel and exclaimed " Whuuu!! I love them lyrics!"

Now it was Fifty's part. She was shaking her head to the rhythm, waving her hands, twisting like the rappers do. Denny remembered his grandmother who once came into their room to find them watching rap musical video.When the old woman saw how a rapper was twisting, gesticulating, and waving his hands, she said, " God Sarki. He is epileptic and yet he can sing."

You could have it your way, how do you want it?

You gonna back that thing or should I push it up?

Then she was silent, just shaking her head to the rhythm. Denny was a bit uncomfortable with the speed at which she drove. What a rough driver she was. Smoking, dancing, rapping and driving all at

once.

When fifty got to a part which seemed to thrill her, she joined him, raising her voice.

If you be a nympho, I be a nympho

In the hotel or in the back of the rental

On the beach or in the park, it's whatever you into

Got the magic stick, I'm the love doctor

And Denny had a second thought about hip-hop. He was a hip-hop lover but it was obvious the lyrics had subliminal messages. It was either about s*x , drugs or violence. And there was no doubt, it had negative effects on youths.

Hip hop aside. Who was this bizarre woman, dressed like this yet seemed so powerful ? Jib said she was his what? Did he even mention anything about their relationship? Okay, whatever , she just saved him from a real tragic ride.

They finally arrived a storey building located at a lonely place behind Farin Gada. She drove in and parked the car while the gatekeeper locked the gate at once.

The building had eight bedroom and six rooms at the back. It looked like a girls hostel. Denny saw girls, scantily dressed all around. They were mostly young girls between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.Denny was taken to a room upstairs and asked to take a bath. The room was fairly furnished and clean. He needed the bath actually after spending two days in cell.

Immediately he came out of the bathroom, he met a girl standing in the room.

" SubahanGod!" He exclaimed and ran back into the bathroom. He was naked because he did not want to use the towel he saw. He never shared towel.

The girl laughed.

" What are you hiding?" she said, " I have seen them in all colours and sizes yaro. Queen asked me to bring you clothes, shikenan. Sakarai kawai. If it was sharp guy, you could have e' kagane ai(hope you understand) " She laughed and went out.

Making sure she was gone, he peeped, then ran to the door and locked it. Who were these people? He was glad to see the neat multi coloured cotton top and black straight jeans. After dressing up, there was a knock at the door.

He opened the door and found Jib standing before him with a smile.

"You look better. Come and have dinner."

Denny followed him to a large living-room with variety of food displayed on the dining table. There was rice, sauce, chicken, mutton pepper soup, gurasa, miyan taushe , qashi, tilapia pepper soup ,and varieties of drinks.

" You look freshened up." Jezebel said with a wide smile as she came out of a bedroom. She was now wearing a pyjamas. It was a few minutes after eight o'clock in the evening.

This was the first time she was speaking with him. She joined and took a seat.

" My name is Binta." She said, "but you can call me Jezebel. Denny wondered if she knew what Jezebel meant when she proudly asked him to call her that. If he could remember, it meant a woman who was sexually irresponsible. But on a second thought, the name seemed to suit her.

" Denny Adam. I am pleased to meet you ma."

" Come on ,dude, cut that ma off." she said , " Let us eat. I am sure you did not enjoy the nonsense they fed you there.It's not really fun to be a police guest."

" Yes."

They began to eat. Denny was hungry and the way he consumed the food showed that.

" I guess you wonder about what is going on here, right?"

Denny just nodded.

" Okay ,let us just say, I care for the youths and I do whatever I can to give them a voice, a choice and a life. This I have been doing since my university days. This led me to SUG and Later NANS and I fought relentlessly for the right of students and youths.

These girls you see here were going through different difficulties in their lives. I chose to help them. Send them abroad and get them schooling and working Some are sent to Saudi, while some go to Italy, France, USA, and many more."

Did she think he was nipper? Was this what they called women trafficking? Sending girls abroad to prostitute and subject them to slavery. What did he get himself into?

He was right. Women trafficking was one of her many shady businesses. Jezebel also had a contact with almost all cult groups in Universities. She used them for business. Being an active member herself during her days, she knew the routes round the underworld.When she was a NANS executive, she made sure the NANS president was her underworld protégée , and acquiesce was in play. He was the figure head, while she ruled ruthlessly from behind the scene.

She would instigate students, make the protest against the authority and NANS would be called in. Then would promise to talk to the students and that meant settling some of the unscrupulous executives.

Even after leaving the university, she ruled Jezebels for one year before Comfort Arinze took over.

" Your life was in danger." She said, "and could still be in danger. Jib is one of the beneficiaries of my scholarship program. And he belongs to a group of secret vigilante group protecting students against cultists.

That was how he found you and saved you that night. But Teks was bent on killing you. You could have been in your grave by now. And it would have been a painful death because you were probably on Tessy then."

Damn! So vulgar!

" So, Jib swung in and saved you."

So it was Jib who killed Teks.

" Unfortunately it was reported and the policemen on patrol were alerted. You know the rest of the story. Jib did not abandon you. He called me and explained everything to me."

That was lie.

It all started when she was stalking Uthman who was her greatest pain in the neck. When Fateemah got admitted into University of Jos, she began watching the poor girl. Then Danny came into the picture.

Jib was assigned to do that. He did not know that Danny had a twin brother. He kept trailing both of them thinking it was one person, until things began to add up. He noticed a slight difference in personality. Denny was more on the quiet side and never really mixed with girls.

When it was established that Danny and Denny were in a relationship, Jezebel began to plan a way of wiping the whole family and pinning it on Danny which she did.

She began stalking Fateemah and Danny herself while she sent Jib on Denny. Jib told her that Denny was a potential material.It seemed he was after Smalls and Murphy.

She asked him to find out if they ever had a rift. Yes, Danny or Denny was mugged by the group. He could not find out if it was Denny or Danny that was mugged that day but he knew it was one of them.

So she said Denny should be initiated. Jezebel was a matron in the cult Jib belonged to: Wings. Tessy was used as a bait. She had broken off with Teks who belonged to a rival cult. Jib had been protecting her so when he asked her to date Denny, she obliged.

He knew Teks would find out and react. And from what he saw in Denny, he was a stubborn guy. He would fight them but would soon realise he could not face guys like that on his own. Teks fell for the trap which got him killed.

Jib was a dab hand when it came to slaying. He had snuck after Teks, gave him a fatal knock, then used a club to hit his head and chest. Using a thin wire he called road to hell, he wound it round Teks' neck and finished the job.

Denny needed to feel unsafe and need their protection. Then, without knowing it, he would be drawn closer until he is in and once you were in, there was no going back.....alive.

That was what they were doing now. Trying to get him sitting on the fence, not by the fence.

He may not know the details but he was sure he was at the wrong place. He just did not feel comfortable around them. He would cut all relationship with them.

" I hope you know how to keep secret." Jezebel said. " Telling this to anyone means putting the person's life at stake. Not even your twin brother."

" How did you know I have a twin brother?"

" I would not accept to help you without a little background check. The police said I should watch your behaviour. Closing or reopening the case depends on my opinion about your behaviour..."she set her thin ,red eyes on him, " I hope you would be of good behaviour. When this is let out, you would not have only the police to reckon with, but the Ake boys will come all on you for killing their soldier."

" Are you blackmailing me? You know I did not do it?"

She smiled.

"Figure it out yourself. I hope you will be of good behaviour. You stand  to gain a lot. Do this for your brother and your widowed mother."

Oh my God! I am trapped! Denny bleated in his heart.

It was at that point a lady came to announce the arrival of Uwale.

" Who is Uwale? Oh...the woman who has been bugging me. Did she come along with her?"

" Yes, Your Majesty."

" Shoot them in."

" Pardon?"

" Send them in and don't go shooting them."

" Okay, Your Majesty."Five minutes later, an elderly lady came in with a young girl.

The woman should have been between fifty and fifty three. Jezebel asked them to sit down after salutation.

" I am listening." Jezebel said.

" This is the girl I was telling you about. She is an orphan. Her parents died three years ago and I have been taking care of her. Her two younger sisters are with her grandmother. I am her father's elder sister. I cannot afford to keep sponsoring her education.

The money she inherited was lost when armed robbers attacked me when I was travelling to Kano to buy goods which I sell to make gain for her. I was told that you help people. Please Hajiya, I want her to go to Saudiya and work so she can be sending what she makes home and I would help her take care of it."

Jezebel looked at her and smirked. It was obvious this woman was just using this girl. The claim of been robbed was a cockamamie. She embezzled her inherited money and now she wanted her to go and hustle for her.

"She would stay with me for six months while I study her. I am based in Abuja but I come here frequently . This house is mine and I have people to take care of. She would stay here for six months before she goes out but not Saudi....she will go to Italy."

" Alhamdulillah!" the woman said happily.

" How old is she?"

" Fifteen."

Denny who had bowed his head and not looked at them, feeling disgusted raised his head when he head that she was only fifteen.

She looked older than her age. She was slightly chubby ,and had an expression that broke his heart. You could see pain in her large eyes which was adorned with long eyelashes and arching eyebrows. Her nose was hooked and lips tight and firm.

There was something serene and seraphic about her that sent a chill through Denny's heart. She looked innocent, and broken. She was beautiful, and he guessed she was either shuwa'arab or Fulani. How could they subject this girl to prostitution?It was obvious she was naïve and did not know what was at stake. No!

" What is her name?" Jezebel asked, impressed with her beauty.

" Mina."

This was the day Denny met Mina. He changed his mind about leaving these people. The image of this innocent looking girl would hunt him for the rest of his life. He would hang on and do what ever it took to extricate her.

Mina raised her ace for the first time end their eyes met. She quickly took off her eyes but the impact lasted on Denny for one week. That glance was the glance of the century because he made up his mind.

This was the beginning of the story of Denny and Mina.