chapter two

DONNIE

I dialed tobi's number and he picked on the second ring.

"we've been waiting in front of the bank for ages!" he yelled.

"this stuff isn't rocket science. There is a process and I have to follow it so we won't get caught."

"did you call to lecture me or did you call to tell us It is done already?"

I sighed in exasperation," it's done."

"thank you!" he bellowed rather pissed.

I dialed asuk next,"now"

"got it" he said and cut the call.

I placed the phone on the table beside my laptop and stretched. All they had to do was get the money and I would be finally and totally free. Since I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel already, I decided to go job hunting on line. I know it was futile but I had to try, if it didn't work I was going to free lance no matter how small it was going to be as long as I was going to go out of the G business.

For the sake of clarity, G business or yahoo yahoo is what Nigerians call people who scam people of their money online. Me and some set of people who are safe to call business partners actually do this as our main source of income together.

There were five of us. Tommy, dozie, tobi, asuk and finally me.

We all met through tobi except asuk. Tommy,dozie,tobi and me used to attend the same university.

I was a computer science major with a knack for hacking. When I was still in the uni I planned to be an ethical hacker working for big companies,the EFCC or the central bank of Nigeria at large but with our country's deficiency in tribalism and favouritism, with my exceptional 4.8 CGPA in a 5.0 grading system and an exceptional o'level I couldn't land any of these jobs. Although I was okay with the little jobs here and there that I got, but I had an impulsive buyer for a mother and couldn't pay off the debt she got herself into with the meager salary I got. Coincidently, tobi, the big shot in school those days, apparently needed to recruit a programmer for this oh so ethical job. I wasn't stupid but I closed my eyes and accepted the offer. He promised it was going to be a one time job; which eventually lead to the stream of jobs we got. It was through these odd jobs that tobi recruited tommy; a law student who majored in programming laws. His job was to find out if we were out stepping any boundaries that could get us caught and tell us the manner in which we had to maneuver pass them. Dozie; theatre arts major in school and our creative content director, He was the guy to construct some act if we were on field missions like going to make cash deposit at banks and asuk; who was just 21, five years younger than me,dozie and Tommy and he joined us when he was 16. He was the only one that tobi hired outside school. He became part of us because of some incident were the EFCC was onto to us and we almost got caught. So tommy came up with an hypothesis that proved to be true and a solution. We almost got caught because I stayed at one of our previous hideout to hack into the bank's surveillance cameras and put it in replay. The EFCC noticed me and a few days later tracked us down to the hideout. We would have been caught if I didn't notice the tracker and we didn't evacuate the hideout as soon as possible. We decided to have two programmers on the team. One would be at a particular location while another would be at a random place hanging out with friends to not create suspicion. My own part was to do the main job while the new recruit's sole job was to hack into the surveillance camera of the bank and put the display on replay. So asuk came to us for the job and he got it. I wasn't in support of a minor being initiated to the world of crime but he reminded me of my old desperate self who needed to make ends meet and I had no other choice but to keep mute. I could say he was one of the closest to me because unlike the others he was somewhat predictable.

Tobi was the big dog and he was the oldest; 29 years old. He majored in business management in uni. Unlike most people, I was convicted that he didn't go to school solely to learn but to scout and lucky for him, he found us at our worst and utilized our situation to his benefit. He was the one who brought in the jobs and did most of the decision making. I felt uncomfortable around him because he came off as sly and most of the time we walked on eggshells around him because he had this unpredictable anger issue.

I logged on to this blog I got subscribed to that was just about posting job opportunities. I scrolled through the endless list and stopped at the one that fit my description perfectly. It was a company that chose to keep its origin secret. It was in need of a full staff of tech developers, most especially a programmer. I would have thought it was a scam but it was on a prestigious site so it was supposed to be legit, plus I checked through it IP address and was okay. So I picked up the email and proceeded to writing the application. After putting on my description and the actual application, I attached my CV and passport then sent it.

One of the phones on the desk rang; it was the phone I programmed solely. I checked it and it was the bank manager. I cleared my throat and chose the chief's voice on the voice filter.

"hello?" I said.

"chief douglars?"

"Before?Mister manager if this is about the cheque I sent please cash it out quickly and don't ask me nonsense questions. My boys knows your cut so make it quick."

"okay sir. Chief ! Chief!"

I remembered one of the call recordings between the chief and the manager and the name he used to call the manager, so I used it," money man. Shebi you know it is one of my slush funds so make it quick before anybody notices."

"sure thing chief."

I ended the call and relaxed. It will take a few weeks for the chief to notice because I was in control of his phone and even if he did all he could do is just ask the manager but he won't be able to do anything about it. A few minutes later the phone beeped with a debit alert.

"annnnd. We are done."

My original phone rang. " hello tobi."

" we are out."he said simply.

"okay."I cut the call to dial asuk.

"we are done. Don't forget to get rid of the phone and the sim card."

"sure thing." He replied and ended the call.

I stood up and stretched for real. I was finally free......well not totally. I still had one more obligation.

"video time!" dozie yelled racing into my apartment 20 minutes later. I slammed the door after the last person and let out a sigh of exasperation.

Tobi slapped a mask to my chest. "do we have to?"

"are you really asking me that?" he asked and walked away. I turned the mask in my hands before putting it on. "Donnie, turn up the music!" dozie yelled from the little space we used as the video making room. I put on our usual jam local scammer by g-boys and one other guy and made my way to the video making room/ office.

There were already dancing with the money they got from the bank when I joined them. I moved my body this way and that because I wasn't feeling at all excited. I knew it that even if I went off the team, they would still recruit another programmer and promote asuk. They felt this was going to last forever but I knew it won't. if they got caught later, I would still be dragged into their mess.

Dozie came to me and shook my arms harder. He picked up the money and flung it at the screen and moved to the next person. I didn't wait for the song to round up, I walked out of the room and into the kitchenette. I brought out a glass then some wine and poured myself a reasonable amount. i was expecting them to drop my cut on the desk as usual, turnoff the music and leave unnoticed. But instead, after turning off the music, heard their footsteps approach the kitchen and for the umpteenth time, I heaved a sigh of exasperation.

When I heard them stop somewhere close to me in the kitchenette I swung around, pointed at tobi," no"

At dozie,"no"

At tommy,"no"

Then at asuk,"no"

"what do you mean no? we haven't even said a thing" tobi leaned on the door and crossed his arms.

"you guys want to tell me about this very awesome job that you have just landed and you also want to tell me how benefiting its going to be and try to persuade me to help out just this once and my answer is....no"

"god you have to be so witty all the time,eh?" Tommy remarked with his flawless British accent.

"you can't just say no without hearing out the details. Can't you just here us out?" Dozie whined. He was the baby among us; even asuk was way more matured than him.

"why would I? we made and signed a deal that I was going to be let off after this job. I don't see why I should still hear out the details of the job I won't be working on."

" I knew you were going to be like this if we asked politely but then they insisted we do it this way," tobi spoke up. " but now you refused so we have to do it the hard way, donny?"

"according to the agreement a clause was added---" donny began.

"after I signed?"

"before you signed. Apparently you disregarded it because you believed it couldn't be possible."

" what clause is this?"

"that I Donnie will not be a part of the team, tobi,asuk,dozie and tommy formed or do any business whatsoever with them after we have concluded the Douglass operation unless they hit a gig three times larger than the largest gig we've had......"

"how large is the gig?"

"four times than our largest gig."

"the contract said three."

"jesus Christ, it's still larger than the largest! what's up with all this insane bullcrap when it's money we are talking about here!" dozie yelled.

"keep it low." Asuk whispered.

"can't you just close your eyes like you've been doing all along and just do this last job? I don't care for a next time we can always hire someone then....."

"that's one good thought," tobi snapped his fingers.

"eh?" dozie scrunched his face at tobi.

"you just said something that made sense for the first time." Tobi said.

Dozie widened his eyes in disbelieve,"that's not a compliment."

"no it wasn't .asuk?"

"yes sir?" asuk rearranged his stance.

"you are going to take over the job!"

"yes si....wait what?"

"on no" tommy pinched his nose.

"no,no,no,no,no,no,no.......no nah!"

"yes nah." Tobi retorted.

"tobi boss. Just calm down small nah. This job is not the one to be doing pride with. Calm down let us talk to this Donnie small. You people don't know how to handle him. Me I know how to get to him. Don't make it worse by hurting his...ehm. Just don't say anything!"

"he's right! I've been thinking of suggesting it to you for a long time now."I said.

Dozie turned around and shot daggers at me. "suggest what? You'll not shut up and let me talk what I want to talk all."

" I should shut up?"I demanded. He smiled at me and touched my arm," is not you na. I'm just saying you should not say anything again let me do all the talking." He coaxed.

"There is nothing much to say. He said he's not doing it and he won't do it because he has this disgusting pride that we've been stroking for way too long. Asuk, you're taking on the job."

"But I can't do that. I'm not good yet."

"You're saying that means I'm a bad teacher and I feel offended."

"no.urgh. no. I'm just saying I'm a bad student."

"I have a reputation for turning bad brains. Are you saying I've been wasting my time all this time?"

"no you've not been wasting your time.."

"so it means you understood everything and can do what I can do?..."

"of course...."

I crossed my amrms and he wiped his face with his hands roughly when he noticed what he agreed to.

"bottom line is," he turned to tobi and looked at his feet," I don't want to to take his place."

Silence reigned for quite sometime and it felt light it was ten years later when opened his mouth.

"fine."

"fine?"asuk asked? "fine like I'm not doing the job?"

"if don't want to."

"I don't want." Asuk affirmed.

"fine then."

"fine as in Donnie is still on the team?" dozie asked.

"no."

"god!" he yelled.

"fine as in what then?" tommy asked.

"fine as in we are letting go of Donnie, recruiting a new programmer and also..." he turned to asuk. "we are letting go of asuk."

"what?"dozie yelled again.

"but I thought you said it was fine?" asuk asked dumbfounded.

"yes I did. Buut I didn't say it was fine to have a free loader on our team."

"but I do stuff."

"like sitting around and hanging with your friends while playing with some tablet?"

"I hack with it."

"are you talking back to me?"

Asuk realized himself and lowered his head. "no sir"

"I will let you off the team and recruit two new programmers...."

"I will do it." Asuk interjected.

"then our business is done here." Tobi said and turned to me," have a nice life."

"you too." I retorted.

Tobi cracked a short lived smile and walked out.

I rubbed asuk's hair,"do me proud." He swatted my hand glared at me and walked out behind tobi.

"let your pride not kill you one day o" dozied eyed and me and left too.

"I'm not one to hold a grudge. So keep in touch." Tommy said and patted my back.

I closed the door behind them and behind my criminal life. I had a gut feeling but I made sure to push it down. If I was free then I was free indeed.

I ran to my room and flopped on the bed and into a deep sleep.

The make shift workspace was my main aim when I woke up the next morning. I brought out crates and began to pack up most of the things that was linked to my g business. I lined up crates of equipment and put them next to the door. They were going out when next I was taking out the trash. When hard evidence was put together, I pulled the chair and plugged in the laptop, soft evidence was next.

I almost began deleting some of the software I used for hacking that I got for tens of thousands when an email popped up on my notification. I hesitated and hovered over the notification before clicking on it.

Congratulations!

I paused for a good ten minutes before I clicked on it.

From: whistle tech

Dear donnnie oluwatoyin oladipo,

Your application for the post of the high tech programmer and advisor for our company afore mentioned, has been reviewed and accepted. You are therefore invited to the interview for successful applicants on the date and location that will be communicated to you if you indicate that you have received this message by clicking on received.

This was a spam message. This had to be a spam message. I feared google was crashing for them to let a spam message get through.

For two three years, I had applied for jobs such as this and none had sent back a reply, ever, talk less of in a couple of hours. So this had to be a spam message.

I ran it through some scanners and everything came back negative. There were two things involved: it was either, the hacker was someone better than me or.......it was actually legit.

I put up my firewall, crossed my fingers and clicked on the received button and an automatic reply came back with the time and location. It was on the 16th which was the next day and it was to be held at..........

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

GILL CORP. HOTELS

The big sign at the top of the 16 floor building read. I cleaned my eyes with my knuckles and opened them again. I was still wearing my black tailored suit that was way too tight on my body since it was five years old and barely worn, I was still clutching onto my satchel that held my credentials. I raised my eyes to the top of the building and it still read gill corp. hotels.

This was real. This was way too real that I felt like it was a dream. I pinched myself hard and whimpered at the sharp pain. Okay... that hurts too much to prove I'm actually not dreaming, I thought. Since this was real I had..... about ten minutes to get to the 15th floor of the building, I made to start running when a black beamer honed loudly at me causing me to jerk and hence moving me to step back into a puddle of smelly water that I didn't notice from before.

I pulled my leg out of the water and checked out my shinny loafers to find it utterly soaked. I held onto my satchel with all the anger expecting an apology but the beamer zoomed past me.

"hey!" I yelled, "a sorry won't hurt!" I added. She won't probably hear me but it helped me pour out all the anxiety that was killing.

Suddenly, a little ahead the beamer halted and reversed to where I was standing. I stepped back and braced myself to accept her heartfelt apology.

The backseat window rolled down to reveal a lady in what I presume was in her early twenties. She pulled off her sunglasses and I inwardly gawked. All the anger from before seeped out as I stared at the beauty, just....wow."

"you were saying?" she asked pushing the sunglasses from her face in a questioning pose.

"uh..."I pointed at my soiled loafers. "you soiled my shoes with the murky water."

She leaned on the window pane and stared down at the shoes. I raised them higher incase she wanted a better look.

"urgh that stinks." She waved a hand in front of her nose.

I bit my lips and nodded in enraged agreement, "totally. And it's kinda all your fault, yeah."

"my fault,eh?" she nodded.

"yeah."I nodded too mimicking her.

"I would love to say sorry but that's not why I wasted my fuel to reverse and burn it to hold this conversation." She kept on nodding leaning and putting her hands on the window pane.

"really?" I nodded too.

"yes. I was just curious."

I tilted my head still biting my lips, "about?"

"why you were standing in the middle of the road and staring like a lost puppy."

I paused my lips and put them in a straight line.

"yeah... I know it hurts. You might also think I'm mean but honestly... I'm really considerate. I mean other actually mean like red with meaniness drivers would've ran you over and sped off like nothing happened. I stopped," she began counting her fingers, "came back, burned my fuel, pointed out who was wrong and gave you advice... I couldn't be any nicer,yeah?"

"does it..."

"bye." She said over me, tapped the driver seat and the car zoomed off with her still staring at me.

What just happened? I stared confused as the car drove to the underground parking lot.

I cursed quietly, shook off some of the dirt and rushed into the building.

I wanted to get into one of the elevators as soon as possible but I didn't want the smell my shoes emitted to offend somebody, especially if that somebody would turn out to be my interviewer. The restroom was not too far from the entrance so I located it quickly and cleaned the shoes thoroughly using toilet paper and air freshener. I took the shoe to my nose and almost barfed. It smelled like a composite farm and that wouldn't do. I picked up the bottle of fresher and dumped it on the shoes.

Five minutes later, I walked out smelling like freshly clean toilet and gbc. At least it beats the smell of composite farm.

When I got to the elevator, compared to earlier on, a small crowd had formed in front of it and there was a lot of murmuring. I weaved through the crowd and to get to the doors when a hand stopped me half way. I traced the hand to a smirking woman.

"what do you think you're doing?" she asked me still smirking.

"what.." I began glaring at her hand on mine,"do you think you're doing?"

"impressive suit, nice hair cut, satchel that probably holds promising documents of achievements, I'd be damned if you're not here for the interview." She said pulling me out of the crowd. I snatched my hand from hers. "good thing you know I'm here for the interview and not chit chat,so can I leave now?"

"fine."she sipped her coffee.

"thank you."I said and turned to get in the crowd again.

"you're welcome, tarzan." I heard her say.

I ignored her and went ahead into the crowd. Unlike earlier on the crowd parted for me to go through. I was getting weird glances as I got to the elevator doors. I punched the button and waited patiently. After a while I checked my wrist watch and punched it again.

"ehmm uncle." I heard someone say behind me. I checked around to see if it was me and got shocked to see everyone's eyes were on me. I put a hand to my chest,"is that me sir?" I asked the elderly man.

"of course who else is acting like they are about to perform a miracle by bringing down the elevator that has refused to come down?"

Just on cue, the voice of the announcer boomed through the speakers.

All elevators are undergoing crisis that would be fixed in no time we plead your indulgence as we handle the situation. The announcer repeated the announcement again and I felt utterly stupid. I lowered my head and walked out of the crowd.

"no be only you they find work,small boy" (it's not only you that's seeking a job, young man." Someone murmured behind me.

I got to the back of the crowd and caught the humored eyes of the young lady from earlier own. I sighed in defeat and turned away from her.

"so.....are you just getting here?" she asked coming to stand beside me.

"yes. What about you?"

She raised a tag and waved it slightly," nope. I've gotten my tag."

"good for you."

I checked the time. I still had fifteen more minutes.This was no problem. Atleast I was there on time for the interview it's just an unforeseen circumstance caused by them that made me to not be present to get a tag. All I had to do is wait and.....

"oh my god!" someone screeched behind us and everyone turned to look at where the sound was coming from. A sickly looking guy stood in shocked horror looking at the crowd.

"what is it?" the elderly man from earlier yelled.

"sorry sir." The guy apologized putting his two hands to his mouth.

"what is it that you people want to kill me with heart attack?! First of all it is my son running around with someone else's daughter and now it's kwashiorkor like you that want to render me deaf."

"oga please respect your old age and keep shut already! It's not us that asked you to give birth to a good for nothing son. Stop giving us updates on your failed life" Another middle aged man yelled.

"eh?what did you say!" the old man yelled gripping him with two hands by the scruff of the neck. I put a hand to my face as the crowd tried to rip him off the younger man.

"princess." The lady snickered. I looked her over and she shrugged. "I'm not being rude. We know each other already."

"don't you ever call me princess again and what is going on here. Why is everyone standing around like that? Is someone giving out candy or did the elevator break down?"

"the elevator broke down."

"what?!" he shrieked again. Everyone turned back to him and he laughed nervously. "sorry, pardon me. Don't mind me here. Just a useless kwashiorkor creating a ruckus. Nothing to see here. Get back to you know....doing your thing... looking at the you know the elevator...hehe." he turned to us and whispered harshly.

"The elevator did what?"

"it broke down."

"o my god, o my god, o. my .god! what am I going to do? Could it be true? The fortune teller was right. O my god he was right he was so right. I was never going to get this job. I was..." before he could finish smirky lady's hand landed across his face making everyone to turn around once again.

"would you hold it together?" she yelled at him.

"did you just slap him?"

"If I didn't he would have kept on going on and on."she shrugged and then turned to him,"what is this you're wearing?" she demanded ggripping his tag causing it to strangle him.

"ah-ah... a tag?"

"what does it mean?"

He narrowed his eyes in thought," I'm not quite sure?"

She gripped it harder.

"ah ah!"

"you are not qualified for this interview. Your IQ is like what? Below zero?"

"when I'm in panic situations? Like this one?"

"urgh," she groaned pinching her temple. " that tag is assurance that you shouldn't worry in a situation like this. It means you were already here until this unforeseen event happened. The one to be worried here is..." they both turned to me and their eyes trailed down to where my tag was supposed to be resting on chest.

"tagless guy?" princess asked.

"why would I be worried?" he asked panic beginning to form in the pit of his stomach.

"uh... you don't have a tag?" smirky lady stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"what about not having a tag?"

"it means you were not here?" princess stated.

"but I am here." I said my voice raising a notch.

"god,"she said pinching her temple," you're worse than princess."

"stop calling me that!"

"you were here for sure. But then... who saw you?"

"uh.. you guys.." I turned to the direction of the elevator where the elderly man and the other guy were still arguing," the angry mob?"

"look at them and us thoroughly..." she came toe to toe with me," do we look like we are on the panel?"

Then it began to come to me.

"this is being careless of you. There are like a hundred interviewees and they are looking for ways to cut down on the number and you my friend are making that easier for them...."

She was still talking and I spaced out. Many things came running to my mind. Tobi, the gang, being embarrassed, mother,,,,,,,

"oh my god!" I stated looking back to her, "I'm screwed." I turned to princess. " I'm totally screwed."

"totally." He raised on the perfect gesture at me.

"oh my god. Like I'm screwed, like I'm totally screwed...."

"don't panic...." Smirky warned slowly, " I hate it when people panic."

I blew out a calming breath," okay I'm not going to freak out." I blew out another calming one," I'm not panicking. I'm going to do some panicking instead of thinking I mean thinking instead of panicking..."

"you're panicking aren't you?" she asked dryly.

"of course I'm panicking! " I yelled. "It took me a lot to get to this stage in a verrry long time. Why won't I panic! In fact I've not gotten to this stage in like forever and I'm about to blow it just like that. What's most annoying is that I can't even think of a solution right now. My mind Is blank! Like I have no ideas! Nothing is coming to me. Zilch! Nada. What....."

Before I could finish off the sentence she grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and gave me a resounding slap. " get a hold of yourself would you?"

All was quiet as I tended to me flaming cheek. I put a hand to it and checked for any sign of bleeding. " I'm going to forget the fact that a total stranger just slapped me in ways that my parents have never dared to and ask what you think is the solution to my predicament."

" now you're talking, Although I'm not very impressed that you're still asking me that. Before there were elevators what did we have."

"the stair case." I said to myself and backed away to find it.

"you're welcome." I heard her say after me.

I searched around and found the help desk. I ran over to it.

"where... is the staircase?"

The receptionist smiled at me and pointed to the left.

"at the far left of the lobb....."

"far left, got it." I slapped the desk and raced there.

I didn't spend a fraction of a second to check out the length , width or condition of the stair case. Just as soon as I found it, I began ascending taking two steps all the while cross checking the time. The clock seemed to tick faster than unusual and that pumped me to climb with ,much more strength . The stair way was extraordinarily quiet, like there was no sign of life. I knew contemporary day stairway were deserted but then in this situation, I was guessing the stairways would be booming with life but I was shocked to see it totally empty. Apparently I was either the latest of the latest or our generation was just too lazy to exchange success with hard work. When I mean hard work like I mean climbing a 16-floor- high stair case kind of hardwork. It was the sound of my heavy footsteps on the concrete that kept me company.

I stopped on the landing on what I presume was the seventh floor and took a breather. I checked the time again, still had 10 minutes to get to the 10h floor to have myself tagged and I was already exhausted at the 5th.

I took one last breathe and was about to begin ascending when I heard the stairway exit door to probably the tenth floor slam shut. I looked up and noticed a lady ascend the stairs in a frenzy. Again maybe I was wrong about the lazy generation part. I breathed in again and moved to resume climbing when the door she just exited from open and shut behind a tall man dressed in all black plus a face cap. He seemed to be in so much a hurry as he took the stairs three at a time. I stared open mouthed. I looked down at me legs. Sure I was tall and well studded but then in this set of mind I couldn't think of stressing my already stressed legs so I began climbing again with my usual two steps at a time only to get startled by a loud shout followed by a loud grunt.

My head snapped upwards and almost popped at what I saw. The lady climbing initially was sprawled out on the stairs and three steps at a time dude was hovering over her. I squinted harder and almost freaked out at what I made out he was about to do. His hands were to her side and he was tilting her body away from the wall. I leaned down and blinked at the distance from where they were to the landing. If he was planning to push her off...

I cursed and yelled, "hey!"

He took his hands off her side and looked down to where I was. We stared at each other for what felt like days. Then simultaneously, he began running up the stairs with me hot on his heels. He pulled open a door and disappeared behind it. I came to stop beside the lady sprawled out on the floor. I put my hand under her neck and tapped her cheek continuously, "hey? Hey? Can you hear me?" I asked raising my voice. Her eyes remained shut. I put my ear to her nose and my hand to check her pulse. She was still breathing but was her pulse weak...or strong? I tapped her cheek harder clearly panicked. If anyone was going to die why did I ever take the stairs for chrissakes and why did that damned elevator get stucked? Why did the interview have to hold today of all days.

I put my hands in my pocket and fished out my phone. What was the country's emergency code again? i couldn't think of any number. Then it came to me. The emergency number I saw at the help desk. I dialed it and waited.

"hello?" a voice answered.

"oh hi."I replied startled that an actual person picked the call. I shook my head and rephrased it, "I have an emergency."

"ookay...if you're outside the hotel premises we can't help you. If this is a prank call..."

"this is not a freaking prank call! Someone is about to die in my arms why would anyone joke about that!" I yelled trying to shake her on the other hand.

"where in the building are you?"

"the staircase..."

"we are heading there. You might want to keep on the line until they get to you guys."

"sure thing! Uh- how long would it take to get here?"

"about ten minutes?"

"ten? Where the heck are you guys? Aren't you in the building?"

"why were you using the staircase?"

"uh...because the elevator is broken?" I replied feeling stupid,

" we have to use the stair case. That's why its going to take long."

"Don't you think that's too long?" I yelled looking down at her. "she might die...in my arms before you guys get here!" I looked up," if you are using the stairs why can't I see you guys?" I demanded," is this some kind of joke!"

"you can't see us?" his voice sounded distant. "which wing are you in?" he demanded.

"there are more than one staircase?" I almost yelled in disbelief. "and you're just asking me that?"

"which one are you on?"he re-demanded.

"from the front entrance, I think I took the right."

"alright. You just made it a little difficult to get to you earlier." He said monotonously.

I looked down at her and put my ears to her nose again. " o my god! Her breathing is slowing down!"

"okay. Mr?"

"joe. Donnie joe"

"mr joe. At this point you can't freak out and risk passing out. You might want to do basic first aid. Put the phone on loudspeaker and drop it." I did as he asked and put her down as calmly as I could muster.

"okay. Done"

"fold your two hands together.."

"hands together.." I said setting them.

"put it to her chest and...."

"hold on hold on!" I said.

"yes mr joe?"

"did I forget to tell you she's a...she?"

"so? What happens if she's a she? I thought you said you didn't want a dead person on your conscience?"

"look," he began," for a split second. Just forget she's a she... and do what I ask you to do. unless you want..."

"okay, okay.... i'll do it."

"now put your hands on her chest, press and rest at every three count."

I shut my eyes flexed my hands and began pressing stopping at every three count.

"has she come up yet?" he asked after a while.

I almost cried out, "no. no she hasn't."

"mr joe?"

"yes?"I asked still pressing.

"stop pressing."

"but why? She...she hasn't come up yet."

"you're going to try something else."

"what?"I asked lacing my hand behind my head.

He got quiet for a while before saying, "CPR."

"CP...oh no man. That's the line."I said getting up. "that's too much."

"mr joe..."

"mr emergency guy!" I said over his voice, "you're not the one in this situation. I do not want an enraged feminist hunting me down for kissing her."

"you're not kissing her..."

"then what is it called? Mouth to mouth? It still sure as hell sounds like kissing to me."

"mr joe. Again, ignore the fact that she's a she and do what I asked you."

"I'm not doing it."

"mr joe. Donnie..."

"doesn't matter what you call me doesn't change the fact that she's female."

"you said you didn't want a dead person on your conscience."

"I didn't say that."

"she might die...in my arms... still sounds like i don't want a dead person on my conscience."

"I don't sound like that." I said grimacing.

"does it matter? Donnie,"he paused. "a woman is dying...in a stairway...where there are no cameras and witnesses..."

"the emergency response will soon be here."

"she'll be dead by the time they get there..."

I looked down at her. I almost forgot someone was actually dying.

"I have many cases on my hands to solve. I probably might not mind adding another one to the list but you my friend can't risk it. In a place with no substantial evidence and a dead victim... you're number one on the list of suspects. This call is being recorded. If someone gets tired of prolonging the case,they might manipulate it and use it against you and you might be acquitted for murder due to negligence."

"is it me or half of what you just said was on probability?"

i'm sure i could here a cricket or frog crying somewhere in the quiet.

"after all i just said.. that is all you could say?"

"yeah... i guess."

"do you know you're just the same as that lady lying down there?"

i looked down at her for a second or two, "are you indirectly saying i'm dead meat?"

"something like that."

"That doesn't sound so good."

I was still contemplating whether to save a life and either contract a deadly disease or have an enraged feminist on my case or wait for the team to get here and do their thing and risk losing her .....

Her eyes fluttered open and for a long split second and i could swear the one second was enough for it to judge me. when it was sure to have done justice to making me feel guilty, they rolled back in their socket and her eye lids fluttered shut.

the guilt forced me to my knees and made up my mind. I didn't care anymore if she was a crazed feminist, we could deal with that when she survives. if died, that look would haunt me for the rest of my life.

I pinched her nostrils together and leaned forward. I puckered my lips and was about to...do it when her croaked voice startled me, "what do you think you're doing?"

I jerked back in surprise. Her eyes were wide open and she was just staring at me dryly.

"I said, what do you think you're doing?"

*****