Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

FURY

I never knew Vivian was this emotional. Don’t get me wrong, yes i know she’s a girl or lady (whatever that means), but Vivian has always had this aura of a dominant figure in her dealings with people. Always giving off this no nonsense attitude in whatever she does, so it was a bit surprising to see a tear run down her face in the car and when she finally met Jane.



Well, I guess people all have their soft spot if well searched. This girl must have been a really special person to Vivian i thought.


But on a second thought, i wondered why i had never seen them together or see Jane around our hood. Not to talk about the fact that Vivian had lived like nothing strange happened for the over two weeks the said Jane went missing and her friend shot. Quietly and lost in my thoughts, i followed the party behind towards the x-ray unit of the vast teaching hospital.


Talking about the girl Jane, though from my vantage position i had only seen her face briefly as she hugged Vivian, she was way above girls referred to as “plain Jane”. Though light skinned as Vivian, she was a bit darker but fleshier than Vivian. While Vivian looked like that girl who was carefully about what ever she ate in other not to get fat, Jane looked like that girl who ate whatever she wanted but remained slim and fit. Well, not exactly slim, but fleshy.


The colour or type of her hair do wasn’t visible to me as she tied a scarf firmly while looking like the Egyptian queen Nefertiti with her famous head wrap. With a long ankle length gown, and slippers, she looked so casual yet i could tell she was a stunner. Though I’m not an “butt0ckz man”, i couldn’t help but drop my gaze to her as as i compared notes with Vivi’s tight butt0ckz in her blue jeans.




Suddenly I realized i was searching for her p@nty line but couldn’t see it with the gown leaving an impression of what was a definitely soft butt0ckz cheeks.


I was jus about to conclude she had not p@anties on when i saw a p@nty line a little closer to her waist region. Thank goodness i cannot whistle with my mouth, because i would have done that as soon as i realised she was putting on a thong. “You’re such a perv Fury” i heard a voice say in my head making me smile. Having got loads of pictures of girls in thongs on my phone because i admire the way it beautifies the female asa crack, i was more than happy to know she had one underneath.
“Fury lets go” I thought I heard Vivian say to which i answered
“Huh?” I asked just in time to see Jane turning back to look at me. Her stare was just plain cold and i quickly looked away fearing she had noticed my gaze was on her butt0ckz earlier.
“Lets go” She repeated as i looked around my surrounding and discovered we were standing in front of the x-ray unit.
“Are you done?” I then asked. Their parents had gone into the building with Jane walking slowly behind.
“Yes. They still have some time to spend here in the hospital. I’ll see her later” Vivian said just in time for me to turn and see Jane entering the building.


***


As we drove back, i noticed Vivian was still deep in thoughts with nail of her right thumb trapped in-between her teeth.
“So where to now?” I asked when i got to the hospital gate
“Hmmm?” She asked indicating she hadn’t heard me.
“Where are we going to now?” I repeated
“I dunno o. Lets go home. Are you done with your lectures?” She answered me and then asked me a question
“No lecture till 2pm which will end by 4pm.
Else i’ll just hang around my department’s premises. Also the Colonel asked me to see him this evening. He…” I answered her, and was about to tell her what the man said about her but decided against it as she was already looking out the window again but not without scoffing at the mention of the Colonel.
“What did he say about me?” She then asked
“That you were a naughty flame last night” I said in a praise tone.
“What else?” She asked as a small smile crept through her face
“Didn’t talk much. Just said i should see him.



And that he also wants me to do something for him. Like he had a deal for me or something like that” I said glad she was now talking
“Ok o.” She said
“I told you she’ll be alright” I said after about 30 seconds of another silence in the car
“Huh?” She answered absentmindedly again
“Your friend Jane. I told you she’ll be fine.




Guess your dad wanted to surprise you” I told her
“Yea..” She replied, dragging the reply before looking forward
“So what happened? Where abi how was she rescued or is it found? Is that why they’re carrying out check up on her?” I asked different questions at once
“Something like that” She said which was in response to the last question i asked
A few minutes later we drove into our compound and I moved the car to her parking spot.
“So what will you be doing? Can i go back with the car?” I asked her
“Dunno what I’ll be doing. Don’t feel like going to school anymore. So I’ll just be indoors. Don’t scratch my car Fury. And fuel it” She said leaving the car



***

I got back to the school and my department’s parking lot but not without driving around campus briefly. Getting out of the car as i parked, i got a call from Biodun who asked what i was doing with Vivian’s car. Not sure where she had seen seen me with the car, i told her Vivian was sick this morning and had to take her to the hospital and she allowed me use of the car for the day. I said that in an event she had seen me with Vivian and not within the school.
“Ok. I just saw you drive past me a few moment ago” She then said and went on to ask how i was and all saying i should come home later in the day.



Hanging out with my talk buddies, i waited for the 2pm lecture which didn’t begin until 2:30pm. And when the lecturer finally came it was to give us an unexpected 30 minutes test.


After the test, majority of the class left the hall cursing and swearing for the lecturer.



Past 3pm, no more lectures for the day and with nothing to do, i decided to call the Colonel to find out if i could see him then because I free. He said he would get back to me and also asked about Vivienne, who i replied saying she’s fine that i left her not too long ago.
“Send me her number now” He said ending the call.
“Ok sir” I replied feeling disappointed that him saying he’ll get back to me and now asking for Vivian’s number was in a bid to get rid of me and do business directly with her. “Anyways I got 20k from him” I said consoling myself as i typed and sent Vivian’s phone number to him. Done sending him the number, I plugged my ears piece and started listening to music from my phone since i didn’t feel like going home immediately.



Pulling out a lecture handout, i began to read in the noisy class.



Gradually the class became less filled as students started leaving for home. By 4:30pm i decided to take my leave. Refueling the car with a thousand naira worth of fuel, i drove back home. Vivian’s door was closed but i knew she was inside. Knocking, i returned the car keys when she asked me to come in. She hadn’t changed her outfit from the hospital trip and it was obvious i had woken her up. She asked if i met the Colonel and i told her what he said about getting back to me when he needed me.



Back in my apartment, i just turned on the air condition and home mini home theatre, fell on the bed and woke up around past 6pm. Vivian was knocking, told me she was going home. “I said ok” As i looked at her with red eyes indicating she had woken me up.
“Is everything ok Vivian?” I asked as she walked away.
“Yea” She replied. I knew she wasn’t telling the truth but couldn’t force her to.


That was when i discovered it had even rained while i slept. One of the effect of saying in the mid floors, you hardly hear the sound of rain drops. Back in my room i now got undressed and decided to prepare rice. I then hit the shower and came out just in time to hear my phone ringing. Picking it up, the caller on the screen was Colonel. With the smile that immediately shot across my face, one would think i won a lottery. “Hello sir” I said.
“Fury meet us at XYZ bar now”. He said and ended the call after i said “Ok sir”.
“Meet us?” I repeated when he ended the call wondering who he was with. Or did Vivian go there? She must be the one i concluded.





Getting dressed as fast as i could, i put down my uncooked rice from the gas and left the house. Picking a taxi for a drop, i went out to meet them. It was a wine bar somewhere around Ikot-Ansa, not too far from his hotel.




They were three young men who looked like people in their mid to late thirties and another man from his generation. They were all laughing and speaking Hausa when I approached their table. I greeted him and then said “Good evening sirs” to the rest of them
“Ahh.. Fury. Have a seat” He offered. Taking a free seat in-between two of the young men, he went on to introduce me to the men again with me bowing my head in respect as i greeted them for the second time.



They younger men asked me questions from why that kind of name, state of origin, year and department in the university, why the course and why Unical, how much I knew my way around Calabar et al. The other man remained quiet. Satisfied at my composure and the way i responded, the made several remarks in Hausa which i didn’t understand.
“Fury, you’ll be working for these guys from now. Drop your number with them and if you get into trouble just holla them. But i don’t expect you to get into trouble because you look smart” The Colonel just bloated out after the bar attendant served me a plate of pepper soup and chilled Maltina.
“This is my brother, Alhaji Sambo, the 2i/c state CIID Calabar” He said introducing the mam seated next to him. If there was any place you don’t want to find yourself in as a calabar resident or student, it’s the state police headquarters cell. Stories from them weren’t funny at all from students who one way or the other found themselves on the other side of the law.
“Good evening sir” I greeted him again.
“These are Army Lts. Idris, Ahmed and Navy Sub-Lieutenant Pam.” He proceeded to introduce the other young men indicating i had been sitting in the midst of officers of the police, navy and army.
“Do whatever they tell you and you’re good.





You’ll be getting their calls often”. He said before drinking from his glass.
“No problem sir” I said without the slightest idea what i was getting into.
“Get Vivienne for me” He said dropping his glass as if to see how effective or compliant i would be. “Her number has been switched off” He added.


I was just about to dial her other number when i saw her name on my screen calling me.




Silencing the phone before it could begin to ring, i waited a few seconds and picked the call.
“Hello”
****