FORCED COOPERATION

'Who is Paul?' The inspector asked, with the black eyes still on me.

'I am Paul,' I said. I didn't recognize my voice; it was low and frightened, and I felt shame for revealing my fear to him. 

The inspector stood in front of me. I smelled beer in his breath, and I wondered if it was from a hangover. He stared at me for a couple of seconds longer and I shifted my eyes to his middle again, seeing the pistol tied to the side of his hip.

'So, you are Paul?' he asked, and licked his lips. 'I heard you are stubborn. But as a policeman it is my job to deal with hardened, stubborn criminals and believe me, after eighteen years in the force I know how to do that. It's what I do every day; I deal with criminals, and I love the job. In fact, I was born for this job.' 

He paused and I imagined it was to allow his words to have the proper effect on me.

'You don't want to be stubborn or difficult with me or with my friends here,' he said, 'because you will regret it.'

He stepped closer and his starched uniform touching me. More beer smell found its way into my nostrils and my empty stomach began to churn in protest.

'Do you understand me?' he shouted.

'Yes,' I answered, praying that he will move away before I pour out what I ate the previous night—unto his pot belly. 

'Okay,' he said. 'It's better you cooperate with your colleagues and finish this job, or I will make sure you rot in jail. Do you understand?'

'You can't force him,' Mr. Potter said. 'You can force him to do what's wrong—'

'Pink man!' Inspector Chris shouted, turning to face Mr. Potter. 'You will talk when talked to; do you understand? I am a racist and I don't like white people in the same way you don't like us. You are in the most populous black nation in the universe and the earlier you realize that and keep your pink mouth shut the better for you. Do you understand me, madman?'

'You are supposed to protect the innocent,' Mr. Potter said, his voice low. 'Why—'

'I said don't speak until you are spoken to,' Inspector Chris barked again. 'I will protect whoever I want to protect. I am the law, and you do whatever I tell you!'

Mr. Potter shrugged. Inspector Chris glared at him awhile before turning his attention back to me. He pointed his index finger at me.

'Cooperate and finish this job, or I—'

'You can't force me to—' I said.

I saw the movement of his body, but I never saw the right hand moving through the air. His palm connected with the left cheek and sent me reeling backward and I bumped into Tolu, knocking him backward. We staggered and collided with the window. We straightened up and I felt the hot sting piercing the side of my face. I stood that way for a couple of seconds, my left ear ringing like a church bell, only faster.

Inspector Chris stared at me, cleaning his right hand with a white handkerchief that needed washing a week ago.

'Cooperate with them,' he said, 'or you will find yourself in the lagoon. The only reason why you are not dead right now is because of you friend Eric. He insists we should not do away with you for reasons I don't understand.' He dropped his hand. 'These are my boys, so don't think about going to the police because I will be waiting for you.'

He turned and walked back to the living room and Dracula and Eric followed. Joseph went out last, closing and locking the door. We heard their voices in the living room and then they went out of the building. A moment later they went out of the gate a car started and drove away, its sound going away.

'A corrupt policeman,' Tolu said, his voice filled with disdain. 'What did I tell you about the police?'

'I have heard of bad cops,' Mr. Potter said. 'I never thought I would meet one in person.' He turned to me, a small sad smile on the sides of his lips. 'I told you to leave when you had the chance. Now you can't.'

I said nothing. The inside of my left ear still clanged with the sound of a persistent alarm and a nasty headache had started at on my forehead. I turned away from the window and found Tolu staring at me. 'Are you alright?'

'Yeah,' I said. My voice was coarse, and it sounded like I had a cold. 

I turned to Mr. Potter. 'Do you know your wife is coming?'

 'My wife?' Mr. Potter said. 'Coming to Nigeria?'

I nodded. 'She is bringing the two hundred thousand pounds for your ransom.'

'Two hundred thousand pounds?'

'Yes,' I said. 'They changed the figure. Does your wife have that kind of money?'

'More,' Mr. Potter said. 'She might have to sell some stock to raise the cash though.' He looked at me. 'Is she really coming?'

'Yes,' I said.

'I need to see her one more time,' Mr. Potter said. 'I might strangle her for cheating on me.'

'It's not necessary,' I said. 'Forgive her—'

'You are not a priest!' he shouted. 'Don't talk to me about forgiveness.' 

The vein on the side of his neck rose and fell with rapidity.

'Okay,' I said. 'Take it easy.'

'You take it easy,' he retorted.

'Once they get the ransom,' I said. 'They will kill us all. The Inspector won't allow us to divulge his secret.'

'What do you have in mind?' Tolu asked. 

I paused, looking between him and Mr. Potter. Then I took a deep breath. 'We have to break out of this place.'

'Break out?' Tolu asked, his voice rising. 'They have guns; how can we break out?'

'We will lure Joseph in and get the gun,' I said. 'Then—'

'Are you mad?' Tolu said in a whisper. 'Do you want to kill yourself?'

'Hear me out,' I whispered back. 'Then decide if it's okay or not.'

Tolu stared at me. 

'We are all ears,' Mr. Potter said.

I told them my plan.