A Table of Two

Chapter 9

I ran outside like oil from a punctured oil drum, my toe slightly hitting the edge of the door frame. Blinded by the thick cotton which I struggled to take off me, you had think it's a child learning to remove his shirt. I headed down towards the gate, through it gaps I could see a blue German Machine packed by the front, adrenaline ran through me from head to my spine and my heart beating with much excitement and expectation like the call of prayer in ramadan.

 I held the small door and pulled it towards me that's when I saw Bala, standing half akimbo on call with only God knows who.

There was no one in the car though it was tinted and I could see beyond the first two white seats which were empty.

Bala? In dismay I asked

He turned and noticed my presence and we exchanged pleasantries

Whose car is this? I asked with suspicion

Nawa ne ai, boss.

Congratulations i said with little regard for any worldly attachment

Take me to Minister's house I continued as I narrate the whole incident to him.

Bala was my personal assistant at the office for over five years until the death of his uncle three months ago. Bala was not just an assistant he was almost like family. We met couple of years back at the gala night organized for the Emir of Kano. 

He was one of the waiters we arranged for the event, we being the planners. He has this charisma, one that makes everyone who came close to him trust him. It became a project for me to make sure a young potential like his gets its true potential. He is more of a street boy as we say, he has the profile of almost every politician, rich man or influencer especially in Kano. With new projects in mind, Kaleb consult had to move to Abuja after the event which was our last in Kano. I took Bala with me as a personal assistant whose office was every physical space I cover except of course my home. He had almost every detail about my work, my ethics and relations with people, he is a good adviser with lots of wisdom.

Boss, I know you are confused right now and probably not in a good mood for any argument but I want you to leave everything in my hands and I assure you zamu gano ko waye ne and get back your family, Bala expressed.

Kai, calm down I said, I am not out to solve any puzzle kanaji. I just want my family. No catching who or who not just my family safe and home with me.

Ok let's do this. I will be the bad cop and you the good one. Bala smirked and continued while I looked at him with a grin face

I will chase blackmamba and you continue tailing Hamza. If it's one person we will meet at a cross junction otherwise it's a roundabout and boss you've been running in the circle for way too long. He added

I dropped a heavy sigh as all clarity seem to be back again like harpic dealing with a dirty surface.

We were at minister's a quarter to noon. I sent Bala in to confirm if the family are inside. For 15 minutes I waited, quarter which seem like an hour of torture. Before then I had dialed his line more than I could count yet he came back empty in fact with more painful concerns.

Mama na nimanka, she is in deep pains. Even when I went in she was at that parrot's square; her grieving spot.

Muje, I voiced with broken tone.

Afterward we were both silent like guilty Mexicans crossing American border.

Like a detective I tailed Hamza to his house, I met Tomi by the door crying. What's this again, I cried in my heart.

Her face hiding her tears evenly yet I could see some tears resting between her long nose and red eyes. Come here I said, she ran towards me like over pampered girl. It is Hamza again,

What? Don't tell me it's that girl again,  Kayla, I inquired.

She was quiet and after a while she said

I don't know her, but I think it's something mamba

Tomi? I pushed her away from me gently. Is it Blackmamba you saw?

Not saw, Walid. She calls him something mamba and they've been talking on phone of late. Sometimes he hides at the car pouch to talk to her and he snicks on me so often these days.

What?

Excuse me I said. Tomi, it's not what you think, it's no woman.