MERCEDES PLACE

We walked on for a while without any of us saying a word.

"I heard you postponed the wedding," I said.

"Yes," Talatu said.

"Have you fixed another date?"

"No yet."

"Sorry about that," I said. "Shit happens. You just have to adjust to disappointments. That's life."

We walked again in silence. 

"I am sorry about your fiancée," Talatu said, breaking the silence. "I never thought he would be the one to…"

"To hit and kill her?" I asked. "Well, he did. Now I can't get married to Sarag, and he is getting married to my former girlfriend. Isn't life grand scheme of wonders? He deprived me of happiness and he is about to be married and to live forever happy."

"It was an accident," Talatu said. "It could have been anyone—"

"He was drunk!"

The silence returned and we walked with the sound of our shoes speaking for us. We reached the car park.

"I didn't know he was drunk that afternoon," Talatu said. 

"He bribed the policeman who checked him to see if he had been drunk." I said, and clenched my fists. "And he told me to prove it if I can."

"He said that?" 

I chuckled. "You know me, Tala. I may not have money, but you know I am not a liar. He told me to my face that I should prove it if I can. And of course, there is no way I can prove it since he had bribed the policeman in charge of the investigation."

"I didn't know that," she said. "I know he has a drinking problem, but I didn't know he was drunk when he hit her."

"Well, he was. Of course, he has been able to hide it very well, but he is not going free. That's one thing I can assure you of, Tala. He is not going free."

The silence returned and we stood like a couple who had finally made up their minds to get a divorce. 

"You should go and get your father's drugs," I said at last. "But do understand that you are marrying a drunkard and murderer. He killed Sarah, and he is remorseful." I closed my eyes. "And because of that, he is going to pay. He is going to pay, Sarah. He will pay dearly."

I turned and walked to my car, leaving her staring at my back. 

I drove to the bank, and transferred one hundred thousand pounds to my Nigerian currency account. That was about 130,000,000 Naira. The bank manager and my accountant officer called me 'sir' many times that I got tired of the word.

I called Jasper and asked him to meet me at Mercedes Place. 

"What are you doing there?" he asked. "Did the white man sent you money?"

"Just come there," I said. "I will be waiting."

"Do you want to speak to mom? She is telling me to give her the phone."

I rolled my eyes. "Give it to her."

I knew that I was going to take a long time talking to her. 

"Paul, how are you feeling today? Are you alright?"

"Yes, I am alright."

"Are you coming to the house? I will cook your favorite dish if you want to come."

"Maybe tomorrow," I said. "I have to go, mom. I am alright now; no need for you to worry."

"Okay, if you want to come and stay in the house, I will ask Jasper to clean up your room."

"Okay; I will tell you when I want to come."

"Okay; but have you eaten today?"

I rolled my eyes again, wondering why I agreed to speak to her. There was something in my mind and I have to do it now or I may go crazy. It's time for a revenge and I want to do it with all my strength and as soon as possible.

What's the point of holding a knife in your hand and your enemy's back is within your reach, if you cannot strike it with the knife?

"I will eat mom," I said.

"Eat; because a member of in our church just died yesterday and they said it ulcer. They said she had it because she wasn't eating properly."

"I will eat, mom. Please give the phone back to Jasper."

"Okay; bye."

"Bye, mom. Jasper, please meet me as soon as possible."

"Alright; I will be there," he said.

He came twenty minutes later, and we drove into the Mercedes Land compound. It's a huge place and they sell nothing but Mercedes Benz cars and trucks.

"What are we doing here?" Jasper asked. "Are you buying a Mercedes Benz?"

"You will see," I said. 

"Damn. Where did you get money to buy a Mercedes?"

"I got lucky," I said. 

"It's that white guy, right? He was the one who sent the money to you?"

"Maybe," I said. 

We came out of the car and walked toward the offices opposite the range of cars and trucks parked in the open space.

"Why are you being so mysterious? I am your brother; you can tell me all your secrets, you know. Not another soul will hear it."

"I know," I said. "You will hear the whole story soon. But for today, I want you to help me do something."

"What?"

"I will let you know when you we are done here."

I saw a man approaching us; he had a wide smile on his face.

"Welcome, gentlemen," he said. "My name is Bature. What can I do for you? Are you looking for a particular model of our great range of Mercedes Benz cars?"

"Yeah," I said. "Do you have Mercedes E350? I want to have a look at one or two."

"That's a great car you have chosen," Bature said. "Follow me and I will show you gentlemen the best E350 that you can find in the whole of this city. It is one of the strongest Mercedes Benz that was ever build. I love driving that car; once you start it, it doesn't stop. And it is a car that hardly takes you to the mechanic. I am sure you are going to enjoy that car for many years to come."

We reached a part of the compound that had only the E Class range are There were about thirty different types. 

"How much are they?" I asked.

"Which one in particular?" Bature asked.

I pointed to a brown one that was looking relatively new.

"Excellent choice," Bature said. "You have picked one of our best. That would cost you just eleven million Naira."

"How much is the final price?" I asked.

"That's a good price, sir. You can't get a car of this quality and taste at the price I am giving you anywhere in this city. That I can assure and guarantee you. You can't get this price and this quality anywhere else."

"I will pay eight million," I said.

Jasper gasped, and I turned to see his eyes so wide that they were struggling to stay inside their sockets.

"That's not a good price, sir," Bature said. "This is a clean car; used but very clean. The owner probably used it for a year or two before selling it. It is a car in top form. You should drive this car and you will agree with me that getting this car at the price of eleven million is day light robbery."

"I will pay eight and a half million, and that's my final offer."

"Tell you what," Bature said in a voice that sounded sincere and appealing. "The last price for this car is ten and a half million. But because I want you to be my customer, you can have for ten million. I will do this to no one else but you. I will do it for no one else."

"Nine million and that's take it or leave it," I said. "I am not going further. You won't get a cent more out of me."

Bature looked at me with eyes that portrayed that his mother just died. 

"Well, what can I say?" he said and chuckled. "I know I won't get any commission on this price, but what can I say? I like you. I really like you. I will leave it for you at that price."

He smiled now and stretched out his hand. I took it. Jasper stared at me with his mouth opened.

"Now, where are your G-Wagons?" I asked.

"You also want to buy a G Wagon?" Bature asked with a voice that showed he could not believe what he was hearing.

"Yes, I also want to buy a G-Wagon: is that allowed?"

Bature smiled. "Can you pay for the E Class first before we talk about the G-Wagon? Let's finish things first things first, and then we can move to the next."

I pulled out my phone and handed it to him. 

"What's this?" he asked without collecting the phone from my hand.

"Just read the text message," I said.

He collected the phone and looked at the screen, reading the message. I saw his lips moving, and I knew he was counting the zeros that came after the other numbers.

"I understand," he said, and handed over the phone to me. "Forgive me for my stupidity."

I laughed. 

He took us to the G Wagon section, and thirty minutes later, I drove the G-Wagon and Jasper drove the Toyota we came in with. I left the E-Class with an instruction to be delivered to a destination of choice anytime I am ready. 

I felt a power I had never felt before.

And now is the time to go to work.

Taking revenge was the only thing on my mind.