Forgive the Godfather

13: A private detective is called in

Luke Dew was idly flipping through the social media posts from the WhatsaApp application on his phone when suddenly, the phone began to chime his favorite rock hit music.

Luke had spent hours listening to his wide range of rock music collection, and had specially selected this particular rock hit which he set as his ring tune.

Luke glanced at the caller's name which he'd stored as simply, DGSSS.

Luke hurriedly took his feet off the glass-topped desk, punched the option of 'answer' on his touchscreen phone and held the phone to his ear.

"Xclucive Services. Luke, speaking," he said curtly.

"I need to see you," the thick baritone voice which Luke immediately recognized as belonging to Kris, said, "Urgent."

"Where are you?" Luke asked.

"You know my hideout," the voice said. "Not the Presidency." The line went dead.

Luke jumped to his feet, picked up his jacket and swept through the outer office without looking at Rita his secretary. He walked briskly toward the elevator which was surprisingly idle, entered the spacious, curved, well-padded air-conditioned cage and thumbed the button for the first floor.

He stepped out on the first floor and strode to where he'd parked his Mercedes coupe in between a Hummer and a Tundra double-cabin truck. Luke started his car and drove to the ground level, and carefully joined the busy vehicular traffic. He was asking himself whose house was it on fire,? It had to be something serious for the Director of State Security Service to want to see him urgently.

Luke had no problem locating the obscure, secluded and heavily secured operational headquarters of the SSS away from the presidential premises.

Come to think of it, he was one of the few people who knew about Kris Kopp's secret hideout, as he called it.

Luke thought it was smart of the man to operate from such an obscure location, instead of the official public office located within the presidency, with all its attendant buerocratic protocol.

The security man recognized Luke's car and let Luke pass through the heavy metal gate without fuss.

Luke parked his car and found his way into the building. Moments later, he was being announced to Kris by the smartly dressed young assistant.

"Luke is here, sir" Tida said and stood aside to let Luke through the door, which swished closed behind him.

Grinning broadly, Luke walked up the huge desk and sat down in one of the chairs facing the huge mahogany desk.

Kris didn't bother to get up, or offer to shake hands. He sat looking like a thin hawk behind the desk.

"Luke, did you fly?"

Luke continued to grin. "When I heard, 'urgent' I made it urgent."

"You don't waste time, do you?' Kris said. "Might as well. The matter at hand requires urgent action."

Luke beamed. "That's what am known for, ain't I?" he said.

"Please note," Kris said. "This is strictly a police affair, but I'm going out if my way by dropping it in your lap, and I hope that you won't disappoint me."

Luke became serious all too suddenly. "When was the last time that I let you down?" Luke asked, putting his elbows on the desk and leaning forward. "Tell me just one time."

Kris looked hard at Luke. "If I'd thought for one moment that you won't be able to handle this, I would not have bothered with you."

"I believe completely in your judgement. Trust me,"

Luke said. "Let's have it. I'm raring to go."

Kris cleared his throat. "Like I said, this is strictly a police job, and I'm sticking out my neck giving it to you."

"Oh, Kris please come on," Luke appeared to look hurt. "You know that I work hand in hand with the police, except you know sometimes I can't stand their methods."

"I've heard them complain about your methods,"

Kris said. "But that's beside the point."

"Let's get down to business then," Luke suggested.

"Alight," Kris said, "Here it comes. Mr Labo Yowa. Ever heard the name?"

"I guess I have," Luke said. "Retired civil servant, private accounting firm, presently eyeing the governor's seat."

Kris couldn't stop himself from smiling. "You keep abreast, don't you?"

"It goes with my job," Luke said.

"His daughter was kidnapped today," Kris announced shortly. "He wants her back home safely, and in one piece."

Luke blew out his cheeks. "That's a tough one."

"Which is why I called you," Kris said, looking quizzically at Luke. "Do you think that you can swing it?"

"Depends what is expected of me," Luke said. "We both know what these kidnappers want. Money, isn't it? So, he wants his daughter back in one piece, fine. Pay the ransom."

"That's where the problem is," Kris said. "They are demanding for five hundred million naira."

Luke sat back and gapped at Kris. "I can see a bit of a problem there," Luke said. Then went on, "You know, it's like an open market. More often than not these guys are ready to bargain. What has he got to offer them?"

Kris shook his head. "I didn't ask him. Perhaps you could take that up with him," Kris said, and then added quickly, "That's if you have accepted the job."

"Unless I know what is expected of me," Luke said, "I may or may not take the job. Here's why. Dealing with kidnappers is always a tricky business. It also depends on the motive. Money may not be the only factor. The man is going into politics, and like they say, it is a dirty game. His opponents simply may not want him in the race. Could be anything ."

Kris remained thoughtful for while. "You may have something there. I wasn't looking at the political angle but now that you mention it."

"It's neither here nor there," Luke said.

"I agree with you completely. Listen, Luke, why don't you first have a chat with this guy Labo? Then you can make up your mind to take the job or not. That's fair enough, right?"

"Right," Luke said, getting to his feet. "Where can I locate him?"