A Place Called Darkness

Chapter 6

“What?”His whole body froze and his heart started to beat furiously in his chest. His cover cannot possibly be blown now, not when he was beginning to have hope of actually getting somewhere.
Augustine guffawed.” You should have seen your face. “He forced out a nervous laugh as the tightness in his chest begun to loosen. “How can you be his son? But the expression on your face is worth it.”
“Yes, you did get me, I was beginning to wonder if you are okay upstairs” he continued in a light tune as he resumed washing the black and white Ankara on his hand. He thought the rich people had washing machines and all. It was exhausting to wash the number of clothes he had to in a day; those people wore more clothes in a day than the kardashian’s wear in a week. He wondered how Denise survived .he always had to remind himself that all these was for a greater purpose.  “Why did he leave? The former driver I mean.” He couldn’t possibly let that opportunity pass.
“Hmmm,” Augustine shook his head.” I heard that he stole something from Oga.” He moved his head closer and lowered his voice.” But those are just lies if you ask me. That man is way too honest for that. In fact, I heard from a reliable source that something happened between him and Oga and the man decided to get rid of him.”
“Get rid of him?’
“You know these rich men, when you are working with them; you just have to close your eyes and ears. They are not like us; there is nothing they cannot do. I have been working for these kind of men almost all my life, there is nothing I haven’t seen.” That didn’t really answer his question but before he could ask another, kabiru, one of the various workers appeared and informed Augustine that his presence was needed by the Alhaji.
He bit his lower lip in frustration and continued to scrub the clothes a little bit harder than usual. He had learnt many secrets about the family in his short stay but nothing of substance to his case. He knows of the senator’s various escapades , Augustine swore that his new love interest looked like mami water (mermaid)  and is his second daughter’s age mate ; he knew that one of his son’s is in rehab though the family claims that he is in a university abroad. Once Ibrahim asked Augustine how he gets hold of all that information, and he spit the kola nut he was chewing before giving him a smile; the kind of smile you will give an ignorant child that do not understand life.” I have been working here for five years, five years.” He boasted.” I have my ways.” And since that very day Ibrahim knew he had found the person he needed.
But he missed home badly, he missed his Mother’s cooking and the way the whole house will smell of daddawa when she decides to make local dishes, even though he despised it so much. He missed his sister’s baseless arguments every morning. He even missed Samira’s smiles every time she passes by even though they had never been directed at him. 
The previous day he had called his mother, she informed him that his friend Ahmad came looking for him, and that bugged him more than anything else but to his great relieve he didn’t mention anything about that night to his mother . but he couldn’t help but wonder how they managed to get away , he consoled himself with the fact that they had their ways considering that it wasn’t their first time, still the nagging feeling wouldn’t go away, so he simply ignored it.
Augustine came back minutes later, complaining about beggars and what not. Apparently, some beggars were causing a ruckus at the gate and he had to help the other security man on duty get rid of them. Ibrahim pretended to be deeply interested in his rant before turning the conversation back to their earlier discussion.
“Can I tell you a secret?’ Ibrahim almost swallowed his tongue in surprise; he never thought Augustine had secrets considering how he never keeps his mouth shut about anything. He nodded his head in affirmative, hoping that at least this information will be what he was waiting for.” I think the man was framed for something big and horrible. I don’t know what exactly it is, but whatever oga is telling the world is a lie. He wanted to get rid of him. Once I heard him talking to his friend about how he sent the eagle to get rid of one of his workers for him.”
There is hope after all to prove his Father’s innocence, and he tried to let his anger towards Alhaji Datti slide, but he made a silent promise to himself, that he will avenge his dad. “The eagle?”
“According to oga, the eagleis a gang in Lagos. He said all you have to do is give them what they demand. And they will take care of everything for you. The friend needed them to take care of something for him and he promised that he will let them know.”
“Lagos? Where in Lagos?” he blurted without thinking earning him a weird look from the older man” erm,I mean , how did he even get in contact with them if they live so far?” he added lamely.
“You, there is something about you that I can’t put my finger on. I don’t know oo; I didn’t get to hear anything. Why are you even so interested in all this?’ Augustine asked suspiciously.
“Curiosity.” Was his simple reply. He had a lead. But Lagos is a very large city and he was a very determined guy.
“You better be careful, before that curiosity of yours land you in trouble one day,” he heard Augustine mutter as he walked away. Don’t worry, he thought, I don’t intend to get caught.

This chapter was written by Ibreathemagic. It is being published  with the permission of the writer. The writer has written and is writing romance and very relatable books on Wattpad one of which is 'A swim across time'.

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