Road To Hegemony

PROLOGUE. CH8: TWO CONITIONS

“I agree but on two conditions."  Said Senior Detective Balogun with an expression showing no room for negotiation.

“Alright, name it. “ Colonel Balogun  coolly replied

Senior Detective Balogun stated his conditions “First, I want all medical expenses for my wife’s pregnancy paid by the family. Second, I want an inmate of my choice in a federal prison released and the record of his conviction expunged.”

Colonel Balogun was stunned. He did not see these conditions coming at all. He seemed to have just realized something. He jumped up and held his younger cousin’s shoulder, “Your wife’s pregnant?!  How come Bisola did not tell us such good news when she called?”

“Sit down bro. It’s not like I won’t answer.” Said Senior Detective Balogun. Colonel Balogun sat down. Senior Detective Balogun continued, “Bisola didn’t know. Even my wife just found out. However… ” At this point, his expression grew dark. “It’s not all good news.”

Colonel Balogun's excitement cooled down instantly. He asked, “What’s the problem? “

Senior Detective Balogun rested his back on the chair and looked at the ceiling. He went on to explain everything to his elder brother. When he finished, Colonel Balogun nodded, “as expected from a woman of the Balogun family. She made a decision, I’m sure, everyone in the family would support. I can’t guarantee how much money the family will release but I’m sure the old man will fund whatever is left. You know how much Father and Mother love her.”

Senior Detective Balogun chuckled bitterly, “Don’t remind me.” Colonel Balogun laughed out loud.

Ever since the first time they met, Shade, Muyiwa Balogun, Senior Detective Balogun’s uncle, and his wife Mercy Balogun hit it off. They’re so close that Bisola, that troublemaker, jokingly questions, if Shade was their daughter and Babatunde, was the one marrying into the family.

“So that settles that. Tell me about the second condition. Not even the old man can promise to release ‘any prisoner ‘ of your choosing. Tell me about the person and their circumstance.

Senior Detective Balogun also explained Bamidele’s case. Colonel Balogun agreed instantly. “For someone like this, you have my word.” He said.

To this, Senior Detective Balogun was truly grateful as it eased his burdens. He said, “Thanks, bro. “

Colonel Balogun's eyes caught the time on the wall clock. He stood up and said, “I have to go. I still need to report to the higher-ups tonight. “ Senior Detective Balogun stood up to follow him to the door.

Colonel Balogun shook his head, “You sure this is all you want. The two conditions are things I would ordinarily help you with anyways.”

“Yes. That’s all I want. It’s you asking me. I feel like I’ve taken advantage of you enough. Perhaps if it was someone else, I would have maybe, just maybe, asked for more.”

The brothers shared a hug and Colonel Balogun left.

Unbeknownst to them, Kola had not gone to his room as they thought but had stayed and heard their entire conversation. What was going through his head, only he knew.

Senior Detective Balogun spent the following week putting out the fires caused by the raid. He also interrogated gang members caught during the raid. Not for any new information though, just as a rouse to meet with Bamidele, without attracting attention, to reassure him and prevent him from taking other rash actions.

Lagos Island Police Station(Headquarters), Major Crimes Section

Two weeks after the Bahd gang raid, men in suits showed up at the force headquarters and were ushered to the conference room by the force’s management-level officers. The meeting went on for three hours.

After the meeting, an interesting internal memo was released. Those who had seen the memo gave Senior Detective Balogun strange looks. Though confused by the strange looks, he figured it had something to do with the latest memo. He shrugged it off and waited for Detective Emeka to bring back the copy he went to get. Right on time, Detective Emeka entered his office with the memo.

Immediately after he entered, Detective Emeka closed the door and said, “Boss, you have to read this.” Senior Detective Balogun became increasingly curious. He took the memo and read it.

The D.S.S was impressed with the Bahd gang raid that they came all the way to commend the police. They proposed setting up a task force, with its members comprising of D.S.S agents and the police. They even nominated Senior Detective Balogun to take the saddle as the head of the task force. However, they gave a condition. Senior Detective Balogun would transfer to the D.S.S but would also hold a role in the force as a D.S.S liaison. To this condition, the force’s upper echelon agreed.

‘Brother acts fast. It seems he has a serious pulling even in the D.S.S. He even gave me a way out of the force without making people feel like am betraying them' Thought Senior Detective Balogun. ‘Well, I can’t waste the opportunity ‘ He chuckled in his mind.

Feigning anger, he shouted, “These guys! How could they? “

Before Detective Emeka could stop him, he stormed out of his office and made his way to the Area Commander’s office.

Without knocking or greeting, he entered the office and raged, “How can you transfer me to a FEDERAL agency without asking me first? Am I commodity you can buy and sell at your whim?” It was after saying this that he realized that some of his anger might just be genuine.

Deputy Commissioner of Police(DCP) Bash Omase, the Area commander for Lagos Island, was shocked by Senior Detective Balogun’s sudden outburst. Although he expected some displeasure, he didn’t think it would be this serious.

‘I have to tread lightly. Senior Detective Balogun is well respected in the force. The backlash from bad management of this can be catastrophic.’ Thought DCP Bash Omase.

“Calm down and listen first, detective.” DCP Bash Omase hurriedly said.

Senior Detective Balogun also thought he might have gone too far, so he stayed quiet. Seeing him calm down, DCP Bash Omase was relieved. ‘It seems he just came to vent and not to let all hell breaks loose. He also understands the consequences. We probably gave out a great asset. Anyhow, what’s done is done. I have to give a satisfactory answer first.’ He thought.

DCP Bash Omase went to close the door. After which he invited Senior Detective Balogun to sit. Only when Senior Detective Balogun sat down did he then say, “We didn’t have a choice. They told us that they wanted you and indicated that they had already sent you an offer. They used various soft and hard tactics, we had no choice but to give in. Besides, most of the management staff agreed with the D.S.S that your talents are being wasted here. They strongly believe you can achieve more in the D.S.S. So, we agreed with your transfer and tried to get as many benefits for the force as possible. We felt it was a win-win.”

‘With me praising you like this, your anger should dissipate right?’ Thought DCP Bash Omase.  Indeed Senior Detective Balogun was put in an awkward position. It isn’t easy to punch someone smiling at you, is it?

After staring at DCP Bash Omase for a while, he said, “I just wished you had told me first before announcing it to the entire force. It involves my future after all. “

“That was an oversight on my part. I am sorry. “ DCP Bash Omase apologized.

Since the culprit has apologized, there was nothing Senior Detective Balogun could do anymore. So,  he left the office.

On getting back to his office at Major crimes,  he found Detective Emeka still there. Before he even entered his office to sit, Detective Emeka asked him, “So Boss, how did it go? “

Senior Detective Balogun didn’t answer until he closed the door and sat on his seat. He said, “The decision has been made. I will be a D.S.S agent starting next week.”

They both sighed and silence descended on the room. Then, Detective Emeka suddenly stood up and performed a salute, “It was an honor to be trained by you, learn from you and work by yourself side. You will be sorely missed.”

Senior Detective Balogun was amused and couldn’t help laughing. Detective Emeka was confused seeing him laugh. Senior Detective Balogun chuckled and he said, “Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of me that easily. Remember I’m to lead a task force, while I don’t know the number of members allowed, you are going to be my first pick from the police.” He then re-assumed a serious expression, “Besides, we have unfinished business. “

Detective Emeka  smiled and nodded, “Sir yes sir.”