Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Having slept almost immediately I got back to the hotel from Vivian’s place the previous night, I woke up quite early in the morning, somewhat around 4 am. I couldn’t remember what I dreamt of, or if I dreamt at all but I sure had had enough of sleep. But despite being sated with sleep, there was this feeling of dullness in me that had me just lying on the bed without doing anything serious. Nothing was of interest to me including gaming on my laptop or watching a movie such that I found myself at several points switching on and off the TV. I finally settled for listening to a playlist on my laptop with my headphones.


I remained in this state, listening to some songs I had long forgotten were in my PC before sleeping off again after about two hours or so of shuffling the playlist. Being one who hardly turn in bed when sleeping, I didn’t hear the phone ring because of the headphones, but I was awoken due to its vibrations on the bed. Vivian was the caller.


Although I had no plans lined up for the day, I wasn’t exactly keen on going out. But when she asked, I felt she wanted me to, so I sort of agreed to go with them if she wanted me to. I had hoped she would say no, but she concluded I was going when she mentioned it to Audrey who was obviously with her that I was coming along.

When she ended the call, I started regretting not being straightforward with my answer that I didn’t want to go, especially to Tinapa. I’ve never been a crowd person and knowing how filled up Tinapa Water Park would be on a day like this, it wasn’t an outing I was exactly looking forward to. I began to hope something else would come up so I wouldn’t go.

Fortunately for me, about two hours after I got the call from Vivian, I got another phone call but this time the number wasn’t on my phone’s contacts list. The caller introduced himself and I was able to recognize him as someone I once had a drug related business deal with. He told me some big money spending kids from a federal university in the western part of the country were in town for a tour of the state. According to him, he tried reaching me the previous evening but my number wasn’t going through and that the guys were to leave for Obudu cattle ranch in a couple of hours with some Calabar chicks.

He was a fast talker, providing immediate answers to the questions I asked him about them, while also assuring me they were willing to pay what I was quoting because of the assurances he gave them about me and the quality of my products.

It was very common for students from other universities to visit Calabar and throw money around, so I no reason to smell trouble or suspect any foul play from him since he provided answers to my questions. Again, I needed a justifiable reason to cancel my outing with Vivian, and here it was. Although I dare not tell her I was no longer going because of a drug deal, the money I stood to make was enough motivation to get her a little pissed. Not to forget I was also looking a means to get rid of my remaining stash before I travelled.

He asked if I could make it available ASAP, but I declined, telling him if they really needed it, they should give me an hour from then to get it for them. It was my style never to look desperate to sell, as I had to create the impression my products were not just available like an over the counter drug in a local pharmacy. The guy then proceeded to give me an address for the delivery, but I cut him short, telling him I’ll notify him about his pick-up address. It wasn’t his place to tell me where to make the deliveries, I usually chose where I felt was safe enough for a transaction. He accepted and apologized, saying he had almost forgotten I made the decision on deliveries but encouraged me to hurry.


An hour plus later after our conversation, I drove into Mobile fuel station by the highway. After refueling, I then proceeded to park next to some other cars also parked in the premises and gave the guy a call. But before now, I had left my hotel room back to my safe house to get what he had ordered. Freshened up in the apartment before heading back out to meet with him. All the while, he had called trice begging to meet up with me himself and just get it as the guys said they were leaving by 2pm. But I told him it was not up to 12pm yet, so he still had enough time to make his delivery once he met with me. By his act of desperation, I concluded he was definitely going to rip off these guys, hence he didn’t want to lose the opportunity.


Although I was planning to meet him on a more secluded road, a little voice in my head asked me to just meet with him here in the open.


There was a cop patrol van parked facing the highway like they were expecting a robbery to take place, but I knew it was just for the festivity. No one would pay attention to us as the whole place was crowded with but cars and humans.


When I told him to meet me at the fuel station, he asked if that was where the exchange was going to take place and I said yes to which he objected. He said it was risky and again that voice replied here or no deal before I ended the call. I waited for ten minutes for a call back from him and was just about driving out when he called and said okay, and that he was on his way. It took him another fifteen minutes to get to the station and from my position I watched as he alighted from the cab and paid. He called me and I told him which among the cars parked there was mine.


Everything took less than five minutes and we were both on our ways out of the fuel station. I gave him what he had asked for after receiving a hundred and fifty thousand naira from him in three bundles. He had asked if was not going to count the cash he gave me, but I responded saying “I believe you know better”.
“So how are you celebrating today? You’ve not invited me o” He asked steeping out of the car
“I’m just going home to continue my sleep from where you interrupted it. Got nothing to do out here again” I replied with a straight face
“Alright, see you around” He said closing the door
“I hope not” I murmured, certain he couldn’t hear me.

From the station, I left for the hotel and was just about to collapse on the bed when he called again. At first I didn’t want to pick the call, but I eventually did. Without saying a word, I waited for him to speak first which he eventually did when he didn’t hear the usual “Hello” from my end.