Ex Officio (#3 EX TRILOGY)

Chapter 11

In Ghana, the next morning, the Vice President's private jet arrived at the Kotoka International Airport to meet the excited group of Ghanaian dignitaries and ministers as well as the President. Some pressmen were present with their paparazzi to capture the recuperating Vice President for the first time since his sick leave to the UK as everyone was told. The Vice President descended the staircase and walked slowly on the red carpet to meet the President, the First Lady and Second Lady who was rather unexcited about her husband's return because he had managed to leave without her. She failed to hide her disappointment in her half-hearted hug and kiss on the cheek before hurriedly stepping away from him.

"I heard you went running off with that girl with dyed her," the Second Lady muttered to him as they walked towards the cars waiting to pick them up. "Where is she? She is the only person who is not here."

The Vice President snorted and shook his head. "Be careful what you listen to, love," he said slowly. "The most important thing is that I am back, and I am healthy again." He winked at her before climbing into the backseat with her. "I gave her a long leave," he added quickly.

She frowned and looked away, wondering what had changed about her husband since his trip. Some months earlier, his most notable response would have been a cheek. She faked a smile to hide her suspicion but secretly kept a close watch on her husband for any signs of cheating.

Not far from the entourage, one of the cameramen who seemed not to be associated with any journalist at the scene slowly pulled away from the rest and made a phone call to a contact whose number he had saved 'Pokichu2'.

                  *************

Poku picked the call and listened. After saying, "Good. Thanks," he ended the call and joined the rest of the Realers gang for breakfast. Three more members: Yiruo, Gabby and Ida had joined them from a classified midnight operation. Poku glanced at Akoma who seemed to be eating her rice pudding slowly while in deep thought and pursed his lips. As he stood in the doorway tossing his phone in his hand in silence, he thought about the news he had received and wondered how their anti-Ex Vivo operation was going to succeed with no sign of their target. This was not the first time things had become complicated at a moment when it appeared everything was ready. Some months earlier, their first attempt to infiltrate the Ex Vivo headquarters cost them the lives of seven of their best marksmen, and the shocking part was that they did not even need to cross over into a 200-metre radius within the vicinity. The cyborg guards just took them out effortlessly from a distance that night. Whatever happened, Akoma's enlistment to the Realer gang had to come with purpose, and he was prepared to bet everything on the success of their new plan.

Dufie had been absent halfway through breakfast. Poku totally ignored her because he felt he had better things to think about. She finally joined them at the table but hesitated and opted to lean against the wall to eat because the only vacant seat was next to Akoma. Akoma averted her eyes and glanced at Poku. When their eyes met, Akoma quickly suspected some bad news. She sat up and cleared her throat. Everyone looked up and turned to stare at Poku in silence.

Poku took a deep breath and finally said out loud, "The Vice President is back from his trip to the UK. Unfortunately, our spy at the airport says he saw no sign of his aide. Ender did not return with him." TT and the twins, Pee and Kay, started to murmur amongst themselves. Yiryuo looked unperturbed by the news. Ida shook her head and Gabby snorted. "Guys, relax. We have no idea where she is. Dufie will have to help us with that."

Dufie bowed her head and refused to say anything in response to that. She merely shot an indignant look at Akoma and left the room. Poku stepped out of the way to let her through the door and shook his head.