Mission on 8th.

In one of the most glorious mornings at the Golden Oak Residency, Claire enjoyed the her solitude as she went about her daily house chores.Days like this were always best for her given that Angela had gone to work . She alternated between performing the chores, listen to her favourite beats of pop music and attending to her school work. It was about a week before she was obligated to retire back to school. How she longed to reconnect to her school friends? Her favourite and most trusted Maggie. She happily recalled how this same Maggie had chanced her to experience the realm of love. She wanted to call it first love but Kelly was driving her into other worlds that proved that she was no longer a beginner.

As if Kelly just heard what she was thinking about, her phone interrupted her and to her surprise it was Kelly calling. She picked it and her heart almost skipped out of her chest. The best of the best feeling to hear his voice.

" How are you feeling my dear?" She returned after a warm greeting to Kelly.

"Lovely my heart! Still missing you so madly baby girl!" seduced Kelly. Claire was thrilled. She felt his love penetration through her delicate heart.

"I miss you more Kelly."

"I love you so much that I can't wait..." he paused and breathed in deeply.

" Wait what?" Claire had cut in impatiently.

"Wait to see you." completed Kelly with a slight laugh and continued. " Would you mind if I give you something special?"

" I would never mind. You know how I love gifts Kelly."

" Okay would you be available today so that I can get to see you?"

" At what time? I need to keep a watch so that my sister wouldn't find me."

" Three in the afternoon?"

" I'll be studying during that time . What of four?"

" Even better my dearest love!"

" See you then!"

" Okay bye bye. Loving you always!" Kelly concluded and hung up the call.

Deep in his heart he knew he lied to this innocent girl. He knew how he had done this before and thereafter the girl would fall victim of Hussain's snares. He swiped his phone and found Claire's picture that she had sent her previously. He looked at her innocent beautiful, her cool and humble eyes that showed no hint of what a barbaric act that would befell her .The most striking of all was her tender age that yearned for care and protection rather than being a bait to some malicious men.

Dismissing the compassion and pity that he had over her, he suddenly felt an imperceptible joy on remembering the pay. How his boss always pays him well and high above his two colleagues. He relived of the last time Hussain lavished him with a lot of money that he got confused. He thought of the recent retreat. The expensive shopping that Hussain gave them. The money that he added on top without taking great care as to why he had given them.

With his thumb still on Claire's name on his phone, he scrolled down the contact list and located Hussain's name. An inexplicable energy surged through his hand and into his thumb to dial his number. His heart pounded threateningly in his chest as he let the feeling of connecting with the high and mighty overtake him. It did not take many seconds when a strong broken voice of Hussain vibrated on the other end of the line.

" Hello my boy!"

"Hello boss! I just called to confirm to you that I have tried out our today's work and everything is just flowing smoothly." Kelly narrated.

" That's my pleasure! So she has accepted to meet you?"

" Yes! But there's a little hindrance."

" What is that exactly?" Hussain probed.

" She has a little of restrictions from her guardian and she plans it a little bit earlier. "

" So It won't be our usual time?"

" It won't. She said we do it at four."

" Four?" Hussain asked and paused as if he was thinking about something then completed with finality. " It's okay I'll organize my squad for it earlier enough!"

" Okay boss!" Kelly concluded .

" Prepare by that time. I depend on you remember?" Hussain reminded just before Kelly had put off the call.

Back at the Big Blue, work was rushed and George in particular, was more overwhelmed. Hussain passed around each department . He passed by Collins office and made him aware of the evening mission. Collins smiled and nodded with agreement. He cared less of the time they were to go out. On his was to George's office, Hussain called Bruce who was not so many kilometers away on the road. He was the one possible delay and deterrent to this plan. He had to catch up before four so that the squad would be complete.

He finally met George in his office and likewise, briefed him of the impending mission. George was not particularly in good terms with these missions. He thought of the recent incident where Hussain had handed them ammunition. He was not sure if it was okay with him to go to the mission with it. Collins and Bruce were more comfortable with it. It seemed like they had the most little knowledge that the possession of unregistered pistols could potentially send them in jail or even worse ,death! Something inexplicable and inevitable was slowly eating him inside. The feeling and the need to free himself from this . He did not want this criminal dealings at all.

It was twenty five minutes to four in the evening when the unexpected happened. Hussain had made sure that both George and Collins had completed their work and allowed them to rest for the remaining minutes before time. The whole problem was Bruce. He had not yet arrived. He specifically explained that he was just about seven kilometers away and. had been seriously caught up in a traffic congestion. Hussain gritted his teeth. He was not okay with that. He thought of the possible solutions but none was viable. He approached George for an assistance in this.

" Bruce says he's caught up in the traffic jam and this would delay our plans!" Hussain grumbled impatiently.

" But master what if we do it in our normal time? Around seven ?" George suggested clearly not having a clue of how Hussain usually worked . How he organizes with another gang to lure the victims.

" Please don't dare to suggest that! I work with time okay?"

" It's okay." George muttered timidly.

"If it's four it need to be four. Don't ruin my schedule. I want your help in this! What is your solution to this?"

"I have one which is not sensible but could work."

" That is what we want now! Anything that can help Bruce to be here is okay."

" Okay! This is what I think. We go take one store man that I know can make a good driver. Since the place is not far from here, we can let him drive the truck here. Meanwhile we go and pick Bruce with a motorbike."

Hussain widened his eyes in surprise to the absurd yet workable solution of George. He then nodded in pleasure and total confrontation that he has accepted the idea. " Yes! Now you're becoming more and more useful."

As Hussain searched for ways he could find a motorcycle rider, George approached the store man . The man was surprised of being chosen from amongst others and being assigned to drive the lorry to the Big Blue. He did not understand. What troubled him was the urgency that the whole matter was put. He felt skeptical of the unusual look on. George's face.

Just then a motorcycle had already arrived and the man boarded it up to the place that Bruce's truck had been stuck in the traffic jam . Bruce was amazed by the idea. He did not think that Hussain and. George could hatch up such a great idea like that. He alighted and let the truck in the hands of the store man. He then went back to the Big Blue on the bike.

It was fifteen minutes to four when Bruce finally joined his fellows in preparation for the journey. They went into the van and dressed up for the mission. Hussain inspected the van thoroughly and went back to his previous office . Inside the van , only Collins , who normally sat at the back seat, had his face mask on. His identity had been perfectly secured. Bruce and George, who sat at the front seats, had gloved themselves perfectly but had not dressed up in their masks. Whether it was a mistake or just a deliberate choice , none of them new.

Susan had alerted Alice to come and witness all the happenings. From calling an impromptu motorbike to picking a random store man from the rest. They both watched it from the corner of the main building that had George's office upstairs. They suspected something offing was about to happen. More surprise was when Bruce came minutes later, on the same motor bike. Alice could now believe in Susan's words when she had earlier on enlightened her if the illegal activities that went around at the Big Blue. They watched as the suspicious men got into the secret black van . Susan looked and his phone that Angela bought her and remembered she was once on a mission to probe these same same men. She felt an urge to emberk on the same thing again and find out what crime exactly do these men do.