Chapter 74

Pat arrived the guest house, everywhere was filled with security, she observed that the checking routine was strict this time more than what she saw the last time she was there. Even as she came in one of the known official cars, it was also thoroughly searched. That made her know how serious the issue at hand was. As soon as she stepped down from the car, a lady walked up to her, carried her luggage and asked her to follow behind. She was taken to a room where she was to stay. The lady told her to feel free and use the phone on the table if she needed anything. When the lady left, she looked at the table, there was a leaflet with different phone numbers for different purposes. All she wanted was to see Mira and possibly talk about her trip back to Africa. She sat down for a while, then got to, and locked the door. She then removed her clothes, went into the bathroom and had a shower. With that, she regained strength and looked refreshed. She came out, dressed in a more casual wear which made her loo sporty. The next thing was hunger. Pat called the number that indicated kitchen and ordered for a plate of Rice and egg sauce. She was enjoying the meal when she heard a knock on the door, she went close and asked who that was, Miras voice was positive, so she opened the door and allowed her in. Mira allowed her eat without talking, she glued her eyes to the news on the TV. It was the era of politics, so they were always in touch both on tv and online with what was happening. Her Dad advised them to make sure they listen to interviews and news so they would know and track how and what their opponents were doing. When Pat was through with her food, Mira moved her attention towards her. She first of all, apologized for taking her unawares and bringing her out from the hotel to the guest house in that manner. She added that she hoped she would understand, because it was a security concern that led to that. She informed her that some of the Senators boys were protesting and intelligence gathered, said some of them were going after anyone they suspected that he or she contributed in any measure to the predicament their boss was into. So they decided to move Pat to a safer place. Pat appreciated her and the family, but told her she was already planning to leave for Africa so she could process her visa to the US to see Olivia. 

Why get to Africa first? Mira asked.

I wouldn't know the possibility of getting it here since my passport isn't French, Pat responded.

She was actually praying in her heart that what she wished would happen. It would save her a lot of stress and money too. She also knew that if Mira's Dad was to help, all the expense would be on him. While she was prying seriously, Mira was quiet for a while before she made a call. Pat waited patiently while Mira discussed on phone, it was a long call and intermittently Mira would ask her for one information or the other. She asked of the passport number, her full names and other neccesary things she felt whoever she was talking to may be needing to do the needful. While she was waiting for her to end the call, she focused her attention on the news on the TV. In a little while, Mira was done with the call, she asked Pat to forward a copy of the biometric page of her passport to her wassap immediately. Pat searched out the passport and placed it on the table then used her phone to take a neat and clear picture of it. The picture came out excellent, being that her phone was the latest promax series of the Apple brand IPhone. She sent it to Mira who got it and forwarded it to the person she spoke to who presumably demanded for it. As soon as that was done, Mira then opened up to Pat, she told her that although the Dad would still talk to her, there was plans for her to relocate to Paris and work with his team. This came as a surprise to Pat, she never anticipated such. Mira did not wait for her reaction before she added that her expectation would be that she would have a return ticket to and fro US, to possibly resume training for the job. Pat saw how serious she was and had no option than to submit. Mira told her to feel free and relax as her visa was being processed and she would check on her again. As she was about to leave, Pat asked her how the senator was arrested. She turned her face and looked at her smiling;

Welcome to the Hart family, she responded and left the room shutting the door behind her.

It took Pat some good minutes to replay the answer on her head, analyse it and digest it. At least, she was sure of her visa and possibly a paid trip to the US, that alone made her happy, not to talk of the job offer which she knew would have a huge amount attached to it. She had always heard how people who work for him in any of his firm live well. Pat had to relax since everything she was meant to travel to handle was being done for her. She had a very long and sound sleep for the first time since her arrival to Paris. She had really been bothered over a whole lot, including the accident. But the most problematic was just taken off her shoulder, that being the senator. She wouldn't have known how to handle him and his request.

Olivia and Lucy had a swell time together, though Lucy felt bad because of Brains, but the issue was not raised again while they drank. Rather Mike was partly the topic of the day. They expressed their happiness and joy seeing that he was recovering very fast. Then they brought up the business that they came for, they were supposed to go visit the firm the next day. All arrangement had been done, including the driver that would take them. Olivia called the Director procurement that morning to remind him of their scheduled first visit and he said he was waiting. So Olivia told Lucy they had to retire to their various room for a good night rest so they would wake up early the next day for the visit. They had just got out of the lift, as soon as Olivia took the right wing were he room was, Lucy turned to her left, and there was Brains standing in front of her. He just missed Olivia by seconds. He apologized to Lucy for keeping her waiting, but related what happened. Lucy had nothing to say than to accept the apology. Brains told her his new room before hey said good night to each other and left for their various rooms. One thing was certain, Brains was being careful not to get into commitment with any lady again, he took his dream so serious and wanted doing all he possibly could to avoid being confused when it came to his choice of woman. Another factor was that he had made up his mind to make effort to avoid playing women games anymore. These were reasons for his change of attitude towards Lucy. But Lucy wouldn't understand, she doesn't read minds, so she could only see it that Brains was tired of her and that made it worse for her. Being a woman who knew her level, and knew how beautiful she was, she would look herself in the mirror and ask what was wrong with her that Brains was treating her the way he did. She decided that there was only one way to find out exactly what the problem was, she would schedule a dinner date, make sure James, Olivia, Mary, would be there, and knowing that James would be all over her, also being a very handsome young man more handsome than Brains, she would watch his reaction. With that resolved in her mind, she slept off.

When Senator Crusoe was arrested with Tim, he was taken to the secret agency office where Tim was formally held. While they were going, he was more anxious to know the whereabout of Chase, he felt he may have escaped when the security personnels stormed their location. It was a smooth job that was well carried out. He never knew everything was staged for him to step in and be caught red handed. The news had aired his arrest with some Guns and huge amount of money. It was alleged that he had planned to pay some criminal gang the money and hand them over the guns to execute his dubious plan. He never knew how it happened, he and Chase had gone out very early that morning to buy the guns from an agent who unknown to him was also part of the plan, he paid and the guns were handed over to him. He had to place them in the trunk of his car, with the confidence that Chase being a policeman would be a coverage. When they got to the place they had in mind to discuss and the boys would take off, Chase told him to allow him stand outside and watch. So he accepted and went in with Tim and other boys. They had just shared the guns and got ready to move after their discussion, then the already positioned team of security men sorrounded them. They had to act the script, by shooting the other boys who were with the senator and Tim, but with rubber bullets. The boys who were also part of the plans feigned dead, this made the senator and Tim surrender. The team took them, and packed the money and the guns as evidence. That was how the senator found himself in the detention room of the secret security agency. His phones were taking from him and no one was allowed to see him. He was kept in a separate room from Tim, and they made sure he was given the daily newspaper to read. All plea by him to reach his lawyer fell to deaf ear, as the order from above was that until Ben himself sees him, no one else was permitted to see him, no matter how long he stayed in there. If anyone had told the senator that he would one day lose his freedom, he wouldn't have believed it. While in the room, he was still repeating the same statement " i am finished". He actually knew what was waiting for him, being that there was evidence and there was nothing he could do to destroy them. Even if he tried, what he never knew was that there were other serious evidence packed somewhere waiting for him.

Chase who left the scene as soon as the team arrived drove straight to the house. He hadn't been home for days now. He was suppose to stay incommunicado for atleast two days according to plans. So he felt it was a good opportunity to rest and have fun with Brenda who was always calling on phone and complaining. When he got to the house, he parked the car and carried out all he bought from the grocery store. Then he locked the car and went inside. There was no one at home at that time, so he quickly took a shower and made himself some cereals with milk, drank it and lay on the bed. He turned the TV to news station so as to be abreast of what was going on out there as regards senators arrest. Alicia was first to get home, when she drove to the house and saw the Hyundai Genesis, she knew that Brains was home. She quietly got into the house and tip toe towards his room with the mindset that he might be with Brenda. When she got there, the door was wide open and Brains was snoring. She shook her head, knowing he must have exhausting alot of strength. She had watched the news and heard them say his whereabout was uknown. Having known it's a staged job, all she would be waiting for, was for him to wake up so that they would chatt and laugh. She quietly went back to her room, refreshed and relaxed too. 

It didn't take long for Brenda to return. She was excited at seeing Chase'car outside, and she quickly rushed into the house shouting. By this time, Chase and Alicia were already watching the news, discussing and laughing. They also has drink on the table which they were taking to chill with. They did not notice Branda's entrance until she got to the sitting room and speedily rushed Alicia and hugged her, then she moved over to Chase, sat on his laps after hugging and kissing him. The three had missed each other so much. She asked them if they had eaten, when they said no, she promised them that food would be ready in few minutes. Then she took the remaining drink in their cups and gulped them down one after the other, as she rushed into her room to change and head for the kitchen. While she left, Chase stole a glance at her backside, and in his mind, he knew he had missed her a lot. It looked to him though that the hips increased in size as the way it rolled and bounced even in the gown she was wearing, while she walked, sent a message to his head. He already made up his mind that he was going to have it all that night. Alicia who noticed all that was going on, decided to feign ignorance, she concentrated on her gist with Chase while smoking her cigarette and enjoying the drink. Their discussion was centred on the senator and how he reacted when he was arrested, rumor had it that he shouted "I am finished" hence Alicia and Chase' laughter. At intervals while they discussed, one of them would say 'i am finished' and that would trigger laughter. Meanwhile when that was said, and the laughter followed, Brenda would rush out from the kitchen to know what happened, she would notice they were laughing, them get back. After a while, the food was ready and she called them. They ate as a family once again after so long a time, not without the winking and signalling of hands and eyes between Brenda and Chase. After the meal, they all gathered in the sitting room and continued their gist, this time Brenda was included. They drank and smoked the much they wanted, knowing they werent going anywhere the next day. Luckily for Brenda, that next day was her off duty.