Ex Gratia (#1 EX TRILOGY)

Chapter 35

They waited in silence for Akoma’s response, and she also bought that time thinking of what to do next. Of all the things she had thought of, one that still cut her deep was the fact that the only way Ex Gratia decided to punish their rogue agent was to make him hurt her and use her scorn to get him killed for their gratification. She closed her thighs, and just then she remembered that two very important things were still under her dress. Somehow, the Ex Agent had proven himself a gentleman indeed by not groping her at inappropriate regions to search her.  The next thing was to get herself freed from bondage, and that required those outside the room to walk inside.

“We are still waiting for your answer, Akoma,” the voice said slowly. “There is no time. I have my hand caressing the valve that will determine your fate in the next couple of minutes. You can easily walk away from death by accepting this offer.”

“Why should I?” Akoma asked, glaring at her reflection in the glass.

“If you have been listening from the beginning of the conversation, you will appreciate the options I have presented to you. Are you trying to waste our time? I promise you that you only succeed in speeding your death.”

Akoma smirked. “Then you will have to hypnotize me to make me do that,” she said in a firm voice. "I am in full control of my own will right now and I will not let you take it from me.”

There was some silence, and then Akoma heard the sound of short bursts of poisonous gas let into the room through the vents. She held her breath and shut her eyes, but she could not dodge the cough and irritation in her throat.

“Stop! Stop it! I will do it! Argh!” Akoma shouted and coughed. She spat phlegm onto the floor and saw traces of blood in it that made her gasp.

She finally opened her eyes and looked up at the vents to find them cleared. A remnant of the gas was moving across the ceiling faintly.

The voice sighed, and then there was a series of beeps that sounded like a combination being punched on a keypad. The door opened slowly and a hand bearing slender fingers appeared and gripped the edge to push it open. Akoma held her breath. The door opened slowly, and then Jake walked into the room in a dark tuxedo with a white inner shirt. He walked slowly towards Akoma and stood a few yards from her, staring into her eyes without any expression on his face. Akoma stared back and remembered. Jake had been there at Top High the first time she had gone to pick up the first package from Ender, and somehow she had found the box moments after he had left. Could he have been the one sent to deliver it or serve as a distraction for Ender herself to drop the package?

“You,” Akoma mumbled. “So you connived with them to kill your own friend? Is that what you people do for a living?” She scoffed and shook her head. “So you knew about the divorce long before it happened. You were part of the plan all along. That’s why you lied to me that he paid you to process it, eh? You were acting on Ex Gratia assignment. Hmmm. Well done, Jake.”

Jake shrugged. “These are some of the things you will get used to when you begin as a full time Ex Agent. You have chosen a very good thing. Well done.” He finally smiled.

“What’s good about this?” Akoma asked harshly. “Killing people for divorcing others? Who are you to judge?”

Jake raised his fingers close to his eyes and picked his nails with his thumb. “You are in no position to criticize our ways because you have experienced scorn in the hands of a man first-hand. We are expecting you to find this cause worthy. People are more savage than they appear on the outside, Akoma. Sometimes, you have to do some of these things to teach the nation a lesson. The economy is not doing us any good, and it will be too much to add a heartache to it. It is like a – um – a naked wound in the scorching sun.”

“So you also lost someone you loved to Rich or something?”

Jake bit his lip. “Yes. Yes, I did. I found him sleeping with my wife. I caught them red-handed. It took time to forgive him and decide not to harm him, but then my wife left me because of guilt and shame, and I could not let it go. I went back for the grudge and was found by Ender. It was easy to work with me because I did not resist. I was assigned to be the lawyer to pull a few strings to set you on fire.”

Akoma grimaced and cocked her head. “Rich. Hmm. So what happens to Gracefield? I am concerned.”

Jake nodded at the exit and there came the sound of moving wheels, and table on wheel emerged from the darkness beyond the room. The person pushing it appeared, and Akoma squinted at her. She was dressed just the way Ender usually does, and her height, frame and long legs betrayed her identity as the lady who had been the ‘eagle eye’ who had recruited her in the last few months. She pushed down her mask, took off the shades and slowly pulled off the wig to reveal a face which would have been pretty, except for a scar across the lower half of her face running from the left nostril over her upper lip, all the way to her chin. She sported a Mohican haircut with her hair dyed red. She narrowed her eyes and stared at Akoma as she set the table between Akoma and herself. There was a form on the table and a sharp instrument lying on it instead of a pen. Akoma eyed it and contemplated its possible use to her advantage.

“Hi Akoma,” Ender said and nodded at her. “You look shocked to see me. Is it because of the scar? It’s the price I had to pay for love.” She laughed loudly. Jake shook his head. “Finally – you get to see my face. Nobody gets this privilege. Count yourself blessed.” She grinned, and Akoma felt her stomach churn upon seeing the eerie effect of the scar on her grin. "About Gracefield, we don't need her. She's just a victim of circumstances."

Akoma suddenly remembered Nii and the story the neighbour at her former apartment had narrated about his death, and the woman who had been present when it occurred. She also remembered Nii’s first encounter with Rich and the little tension she observed. Nii had mentioned Rich’s sister, implying that they knew each other, but Rich had denied it, which could have been a lie after learning of his previous involvement in Ex Gratia and the fact that he was being manipulated. Ender had also admitted obtaining the photos and videos of Akoma from him and had ruled him out as having no involvement in the entire setup. What she was not sure of is why he died – or why he was murdered – and why he had totally been unaccounted for. Perhaps Ender could tell her the truth.

“Can anyone tell me about Nii?” Akoma asked, and she was pleased to see the puzzled looks on Jake and Ender’s faces. “You obtained photos and videos about me from him, and then he died. That’s all I heard. Do you know anything about it? Ender said no. Now – “, she leaned forward. “Tell me what really happened.”

Jake and Ender exchanged looks, and Jake twitched his right eye to signal to Ender. She nodded and turned to the exit. “Derrick?” she called. “Can you come in here and tell them about what happened to Nii?” She chuckled and turned to smile at Akoma.

Akoma heard footsteps and fixed her gaze on the exit. The person emerged slowly into the light – feet first, and then torso – and then the face. It was a man, and he was tall, rugged and appeared dignified in his tuxedo. His thick black beard was still in place, and the only thing that was absent was his camera. Akoma gasped.

He walked slowly towards Akoma, each sound of his footstep causing her to wince in fear. He unstrapped her from her restraints with his eyes fixed on her and extended a hand to her, waiting for her to shake it. He smiled and said, “My name is Derrick. Nii is my alias. I’m an Ex Agent too. Welcome.”