The LONGEST WAIT

Chapter 6

Tim's Stories' THE LONGEST WAIT

CHAPTER 6

I thought I was dead, but I was surprised that I didn't feel the pains of any bullet hitting me. I opened my eyes in fear and realized with shock but relief that three of my assailants were dead and their guns laid beside them. The remaining two were stunned and for a moment, they crouched low while trying to figure out what had just happened. Then I heard a voice call me from the opposite direction.

"Buchi! Buchi!!" I turned my head and saw a mini van parked on the other side of the road. The engine was still running, and the driver seemed to be in a hurry. "Get into the car." He shouted.

I got up from the ground where I was laying and ran towards the car. I was taking chances because I didn't even know whom I was running to. It could just be another killer. I could just be running to another danger. But I cared less. Whoever was in that car had killed the people who tried to kill me. So, that made them mighty friendly to me. I had to take my chances; I would worry about who he was later.

I got into the car and at that same moment, the slow-witted remaining two assailants recovered their senses just in time but it was too late. I was already in the car, and it was moving at top speed. The assailants fired nevertheless but we had gone too far, and their shots were beyond range. I could imagine their anger and frustration as they began to count their loses.

When we had covered a good distance, I noticed that there was someone at the back seat, but I couldn't see his face. So, I decided to engage the driver in a conversation.

"Who are you people?" I asked.

"We came to rescue you and it was a good thing too that we came just in time." The man at the back seat replied.

I turned around and looked at him and that was when I recognized him. He was the cold receptionist I had met on my first day at the Hotel Residense MaryHouse.

"Jesus Christ!! I recognize you. You are the receptionist at the hotel. Oh my God! How did you know where I would be?" I asked.

"Armelle. She told us that you had been asking questions about going to Europe by road. She said she had directed you to Frank. As soon as she mentioned the name, Frank, we knew you would be in grave danger. So, we decided to come to your rescue."

"Thank you very much. Thank you so, very much. I am so grateful that you came. I would have been a dead man by now."

"Don't thank me, thank Allah. May honour and praise be upon his holy name."

We branched into a side street and continued going at top speed. The driver seemed to be taking us to the outskirts of the city.

"So, you are insinuating that Frank was the one who sent those guys to kill me?" I asked.

"Yes."

"But why? I didn't' wrong him in any way."

"That is what you think. That is because you don't know who Frank is. He is the biggest human trafficker and drug lord in these parts. He is very dangerous. You took a greatest risk going there in the first place. Armelle doesn't know much about him that is why he sent you there."

"Jesus Christ!!"

"He hates when people come asking after loved ones who have gone missing. He believes it will complicate the business and bring the police to his doorsteps. He hates having any confrontation with the police because he is a hardened criminal.

He saw your presence as a threat, especially with the kind of questions you were asking. He knew you weren't going to give up the search for your missing wife so easily. He knew if you decided to contact the police, the first place they would come to would be his shop. That is why he decided to eliminate you before it becomes too late."

"Now, he has me to contend with because I am going to seek justice. For trying to waste my life for no reason, I must avenge." I was resolute.

"Don't think it is so easy. He is very dangerous and highly connected. He even has some members of the forces of law and order in his payroll. For example, the guys who came to your hotel room the other night."

"They were from him?" I asked, surprised.

"Yeah."

"But how did they know about me. How did Frank know about me? I had not even met him by then." I was confused.

"Marcel is the one who told him. Marcel works for him. Marcel told him that there was someone lodging in the hotel who has been asking questions about the trafficking business. Frank contacted his men at the immigration to go take a look at you. They didn't come there to kill you; they were just taking a look. Even before you went there today, Frank already knew who you were. That is how connected he is."

"Wow!! This is more serious than I had anticipated."

"Yeah, you are now engaged in the crime world of Cotonou, Benin. You have to pray that you survive. But don't worry, we will protect you."

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Xavier."

"Okay, Mr. Xavier. Why did you decide to help me? What is in it for you?"

"Two reasons. Firstly, your quest looks legitimate to me, and the second reason is connected to the first reason."

"What is the second reason?"

"I have a personal score to settle with Frank. My younger sister died off the coast of Lybia because Frank helped trafficked her. She was desperate to travel out of the country and I personally told Frank not to let her go. He refused to listen. He arranged for her to leave, and the rest is history. Ever since then, I have been looking for some fiendish way to pay him back. This is my opportunity."

"Oh!! I feel sad about your sister. Please, accept my condolences."

"It's alright, what has happened has happened. I just feel bad that I couldn't protect her. She was my only sister. That is why I felt a lot of peace today when I was able to take down three of Frank's men. I had always wanted retribution and I had it today. That was just the beginning. I won't rest until Frank goes down."

"For sure. When it comes to making sure that Frank goes down, you have an ally in me. I want him dead too. So, what is our next step? What is the way forward?" I asked.

"I will tell you when we get to our destination."

We drove again for another thirty minutes before we came to halt in front of a tattered looking house. From the look of the surroundings, we were either in the outskirts of the city or we were in a village close to the city. We all got out of the car and went into the house. The interior of the house was a marked contrast to the exterior. The interior looked clean and modern and had modern furniture and well decorated walls and ceilings. I now figured that the outside look of the house was simply a decoy.

Xavier asked me to accompany him to another room in the house. When we got into the room, he peeled off the thick rug on the floor and I realized that the floor of the room had an opening like a door. He opened the door and revealed a makeshift flight of wooden stairs. We went down the stairs and I found myself in a small airtight room with all types of guns, ammunition and military equipment.

"This is my control room. This is where I do all my planning is this is where we will plan our next move. Have a seat Mr. Buchi."

I sat down and he asked the driver to leave. He asked him to make sure the doors are properly locked and secured and to keep watch for any eventuality. The driver obeyed and left.

"Mr. Buchi, have you ever used a gun before?" He asked and I almost laughed.

"Of course, Mr. Xavier. I have handled guns for many years."

"How come?" He looked surprised but impressed.

"I was a member of the MEND for many years."

"MEND? What does that mean?"

"Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta."

"Oh yeah. I heard about you guys. If what you are saying is true, then none of the toys here are new to you." He spoke, looking around the room.

"I can handle every one of them, Mr. Xavier."

"Good, now I want us to come to a consensus. I want you to help me take down Frank. After we are done with him, I will take you to Niger and then to Libya to see how we can retrieve your wife. What do you say about that?"

"Count me in. The two factors concerned are both very motivating. Firstly, to take down Frank and then to find my wife. I am in, Mr. Xavier. When do we go?"

We started planning our move on how to eliminate Frank. It was very obvious that by now, he had realized that his men had been killed. He must have now realized that I am not a simple pushover than he had thought. He had now realized that I had external help. There was someone helping me, and he had to try to get to that person. That meant my hotel was now off limits. I couldn't go there especially as Marcel was the one on duty. He would tell him immediately I came around. Xavier, however, told me not to worry. He said he would get my stuffs for me.

We decided that we would launch an attack on Frank in two nights from today. Xavier told me that once a week, he Frank, takes supplies to the border guards between Niger and Benin Republic. That was how the guards allowed him carry out his cross-border businesses without any real interference. Xavier said his men on the watch had told him that Frank always waited until after midnight before going to the border town. So, we decided that we would ambush him on the road and eliminate him and his band of miscreants.

It was the day for the operation. We were all heavily armed and we went ahead of Frank and took up positions on either side of the road. We are about four of us because we wanted the operation to be as covet as possible. It was just me, Xavier, his driver and one other trusted aid. We didn't reveal the operation to anyone else for fear of the possibility of Frank having an insider amongst Xavier's men.

At about thirty minutes past midnight, in the faraway distance, we saw the approaching headlamps of a single car. Everyone became alert and we all checked to make sure our weapons were loaded. We all wore our night-vision glasses. Satisfied, we stayed silent and waited for its approach. When the car came close, we realized that it was a Land Rover, just the type of car that was fit for that kind of operation.

As soon as the car came close to us, I fired a single shot to the driver's head, killing him instantly. As he slumped forward, laying on the steering wheel, his foot pressed heavily on the gas pedal making the vehicle to swerve wildly out of control. It finally hit a tree by the side of the road and came to an abrupt stop. The time for caution was over. It was now time for action. We left our hiding places and rained bullets on the car. We expected the occupants to return fire but they didn't. They were either dead or too stunned to do anything.

When we got to the car, we realized that five of its occupants were dead except one. That was Frank. He looked stunned and dazed but he was still alive. Xavier roughly dragged him from the car and laid him on the bare ground. He pointed his flashlight in Frank's eyes and spoke.

"Do you know who I am?"

"No, please. Don't kill me. I have money. Please, take it and spare my life." Frank begged.

"I don't need your money. I came to revenge my sister."

"Your sister?! Xavier!!" Frank was shocked.

"Yes, it's me. Say goodbye to her." Xavier spoke and planted two bullets in his head. He twitched and laid back. He was dead.

Two hours later, we were back to our base. The operation had gone successfully. We had something to eat and then, went to sleep. In the morning, Xavier called me in the operations room.

"Mr. Buchi, thank you for helping me yesterday. My sister has now been avenged. Her spirit can now rest in peace. Prepare yourself. In a week's time, we go to Niger to begin the quest for you wife."

TO BE CONTINUED...