The Phone Thief

6. Good Thief

This time again, Abubakar forgot to get Adam's number. And they haven't agreed on when next to see. But Abubakar was this time very sure that Adam will come. However, when its three days since their last meeting, he became worried.

Earlier, Umar asked Abubakar of what transpired between the two of them. Abubakar said "Adam had told me a lot, but then, he swore that I am the only person living that he told. So I can't tell you, and I don't know when he'll show up but he'll definitely come back. When he's here I will ask for his permission whether to tell you. I will very much like to."

"Okay fine" said Umar.

Something was telling Abubakar that Adam will show up that day but he didn't. The last day that they met was a Sunday. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday all came to pass. But on Friday, they met.

It was after Friday prayer at Al'furqan mosque, Alu Avenue. Often, if not always, people tend to be congested at the gate when going out of the mosque and as such, movement is very slow.

"Jumaat Mubarak." was what Abubakar heard. Instantly, he knew who said it and to whom. It was Adam. His voice is very distinct. He was right behind him but Abubakar wondered why Adam had to raise his voice as though he was talking to someone farther away.

When they moved out of the crowd, they shook hands. Abubakar was very delighted. It registered on his face. "I have been very worried." He said.

"What are you worried about?" Adam asked. But before Abubakar answered, he said "wait for me here, I'll be back in a moment."

"Where are you goi..."

Adam is already striding away. Abubakar keenly watched Adam, he prays that Adam wasn't going to steal. After like a 20 seconds walk, Abubakar watched Adam stopped a man, who was about to drive away a Range Rover Evoke. At first, Abubakar thought the man might think Adam is a beggar, but then, he realized he wouldn't have such a thought because Adam was wearing a well sown and ironed getzner brocade and his cap is shining....just typical of the appearance of a rich person. Abubakar moved to take a closer look at what's about to happen. He decided on a safe vantage point.

Abubakar saw Adam brought a phone out of his pocket and gave the man. Adam stole another phone Abubakar thought. The man came out of the car with a perplexed expression on his face. He was obviously thanking Adam. They briskly spoke and Adam walked back to Abubakar.

"What just happened?" Abubakar asked Adam.

"I returned his phone." Adam pointed.

"But I thought we were working on closing the investment right?" Abubakar said, using the term investment because there were people within earshot.

Adam laughed "actually, he wasn't my client. He was someone else's client. I got the stock from another person....another thief stole the man's phone and I stole it from him and return it to the man." Adam whispered as he smiled.

"What?" Abubakar asked. Bewildered.

"Yes you heard me right, let's go."

As they started moving, Abubakar continued to ask questions. "But...wait, how did you know the thief stole it from the man and how did you stole the phone from the thief?"

"well" Adam started explaining. "A good soldier will know someone is a soldier in less than a minute, a good police will know someone else is also a police in less than five minutes, a prostitute will know that another woman is also a prostitute in less than a second. In a group of people, an experienced thief will pick out another thief in less than a minute. Our eyes are scanners. They are like x-ray machines. If a thief goes to a place where he intends to steal, he'll search for a target, then he'll look around for threats, then an opportunity to act. So a thief can spot another thief doing this SWOT analysis.

That man was called while we were praying. After the prayer, he brought out the phone. It's this Huawei phone. He called back and returned the phone to his pocket. The clothe he wore is flabby and the pocket shallow. I realized the man was a soft target, he is too fat. So if he makes the mistake of going out in that crowd, rubbing shoulders with people, he'll be victimized. He'll be nervous you know. He'll think people will be mad at him for being fat. At that moment, a wise thief can take his chances.

At the instant that I made the realization, I looked around in search of any other person who is thinking what I'm thinking. Then I saw this guy by my right, the thief, four people in between us. He was biting his lips and his breathing was faster....his pulse has increased. I knew he was the thief." They were walking as Adam narrated how he caught the thief.

"And what next? Continue." Abubakar plead.

"So I stopped looking at him immediately because I know he will also look around. When the man stood up, the thief tagged along just behind him, and me too, I followed them, staying behind the thief. In that congested place, the thief moved to the side of the man. You know, because of the closeness of people to one another, no one can see what the other is doing with his hands and that was when he took the phone and slid it into his pocket while at the same time holding the phone's side volume reduce button to silence it . He would have moved away immediately from the man but I put my hand in his pocket and he knew he was caught.

All this while, you were casually walking ahead of us. I shouted that "Jumaat Mubarak" at the same time I was placing the phone in my pocket. The thief looked at me and I looked back at him. He knew that I don't have the intention of exposing him. And he can't alert the people around that I stole the phone either because he doesn't know who I am, whether I'm security or I'm together with the man. So he moved away. He was watching just behind you as I returned the phone to the owner. I have saved hundreds of people from thieves. Some knew and thanked me, others don't, I thank myself."

"So how did you prevent the thieves from stealing" Abubakar asked.

"Many ways. I may just make sure the thief notice me noticing him. Or I may warn him verbally, or I may steal the item as he watches and I'll return it without the owner knowing what happened." Adam stopped talking and walking at the same time.

"What?" Abubakar asked.

"Maybe I should demonstrate how I steal while you watch, then go to a restaurant, eat and move out without paying. What do you think?" Adam asked.

"No please. That's not necessary. I have given you the highest reverence in stealing. I don't have to see you do it." Abubakar disagreed.

"So where do we go to now, our house or yours?" Adam asked Abubakar.

To be frank, Abubakar didn't see that coming....Adam inviting him to his house? He couldn't believe it. "We should go to your house?"

"Yes, let's go to my house." Adam said "its not as far as yours from here."

Abubakar wouldn't resist. He was dominated and captivated. Adam has trusted him this much?

"You know, people like talking about their profession." Adam observed. "It gives them a sense of elevation and prestige. The feeling when you know something that your audience know not. You see, I have never spoken to another person about my profession beside myself. You're the first person I'm talking to about all of this. So I'm sorry if I'm being loquacious and proud or stupid."

"Oh come on, you know that I am more than interested and intrigued by your explanations. I can't imagine. Its like you're opening my view to a new world under my nose, that I ever knew existed. Please never hesitate to feed me more. I promise you that I'm a discreet confidant." Abubakar ascertained.

"Okay. Let's walk before we get a Napep. Now let me tell you something about market thieves, like Sabongari Market pickpockets. Do you know that they have something like an association? And that they coordinate their daily thefts?" Adam asked Abubakar.

"Seriously? You mean it? How?

............

No one is totally bad, and no one is totally good.

Are you enjoining the story?

☆ ★ ☆