A big Blow

Clement and his gang were so happy, that they celebrated a successful operation. The place was loaded with slices of bacon, fish and different drinks. Kachi needed to tell him about the situation, Peter particularly. Calling his boss out of the gathering he explained his agreement with Peter to him. 'He was the one that shot Dickson'Clement looked in amazement, 'How did you convince that dude', he exclaimed joyously hugging Kachi. His dream finally is coming true, he has been planning on how to take down his friend for a while but never succeeded. It seems God wanted him to watch and get used to all his tricks before he strikes.It was a wonderful night for them, he made Kachi invite Peter over to see if what he was saying was true. He sincerely didn't believe in all those Dickson's boys, it could be another trick he is putting up to ensnare him.Not long Peter was there, he was welcomed as a new member and everyone hailed him for his bravery and how smart he ran the operation. While enjoying the hot party, he was later called into a private meeting by Clement and Kachi.'How am I not sure that Dickson pulled this trick?', Clement asked Peter.'I shot him, is enough proof of my loyalty''You think so, your boss is capable of anything. He must have put his life at stake to get me, right?'. 'No, trust me on this. I have always wanted to stop walking in Lighter's shadow', Peter proceeded showing full sincerity.It was appealing to Clement and he was convinced that the dude was on his side. He quickly got into the conversation, a risky task but a sure way to test his sincerity.'Dickson and I have a vault'.He began, explaining the whole reason for keeping a check on themselves. At first, Dickson noticed how shady he was, he was playing some underground games with their clients and this became a serious headache. Though they settled their differences but decided to keep a check and balance.Clement never knew his friend kept a record of all their transactions including the ones they did with the powerful people in government, this was the record he normally used on them which helped him gain power. When Clement noticed this, it was too late and his friend was already aware of all the moves he was taking.'I know where the record is, but the challenge is getting the key and the pin', he explained.'Key?...why key', Kachi asked confused'The vault is fashioned in a way that it needs but key and pin to open, though it's structured in the wall', giving them an ambitious look.'I have seen it before', he added.This so-called record is built in an underground house in a secret warehouse, a place no one would think of. According to their plan, Peter was to lure Dickson to check on the record to make sure it was intact so that they could tail him and get hold of it.'Our target now is his political career', Clement said standing from his seat before facing Peter.'Make him suspect that I'm looking for a way to link the record'.He stared into his eyes intensely.Standing up, 'I will do it', Peter replied in a more serious tone.To say the truth, Clement truly meant business this time unlike when he failed to attain his dreams, this very time was different and strategic, failing frequently had made him more accurate, while Dickson was interested in keeping his enemy close he never knew the game had changed long ago.**************************************************************************************************It was a good thing Dickson didn't stay in bed for long, the war waged against him was more severe than thought. He was discharged two days later, he fully understood the season now and it was time to play the game as well. No more keeping your enemies close as he always plays, his friend is more wise and strategic than before.'I think I underestimated him', he thought aloud in his reading room.He picked up his phone abruptly from the table and called his family for an urgent meeting. 'No more hiding it's better they know and protect themselves', he whispered to himself.It wasn't up to 30 minutes and the family were at home. Everyone came from their workplaces and I had to leave an ongoing class to attend to my dad's call. Seeing him disturbed and deep in thought I knew he wanted to open up to us or as well spill some of his fabricated lies. He further called in Lighter and Peter to show how important the gathering was.He stared at us one after the other, 'Where is Daniella?', he asked fiercely.Just then she burst in, looking unsettled, I thought it was just the fact that she was late but...'Dad, is everything okay?', settling on the chair next to me. 'On my way, I noticed that some guys were tailing me', she added.'What!'.....Dickson what's going on?', my mom reacted fearfully.My dad got angry, the look on his face said it all. 'That's why I called you all here', he replied with a husky voice, the one obviously sucked in pain and anger.The room became quiet and cool at the spot where the fall of a pin could be noticed.My dad started telling us the whole situation. Starting from the suspicious moves of his friend but paying no serious attention, thinking Clement had no strategic plan as he has always known him. 'Dad you could have ended this long again', David let out concerned.'I know, but keeping him close was the only way I could watch him and know his plans', he scoffed. 'But he had distanced himself unknowingly from me', he continued.Narrating the whole situation that brought the enemy from hiding, he entreated us to be extra careful and mindful of our movements, coming home early should be the start.'I will make sure Lighter's men watch you guys distinctively', turning to Lighter, 'Check for Clement's family and let me know', he further instructed.It was the right time for Peter to launch his trap, he racked his brain thinking of the possible way he would present the situation so as not to leave any trace of his involvement with Clement.He tried as much as possible to pay attention to what his boss was saying and when he was done instructing Lighter, he dived in.'Boss..', he called out standing to his feet.Everyone turned to him, wondering what he had to say, expecting another trouble since he was the one tracking Clement.'When I was busy watching Clement yesterday evening, I saw him driving into a buka' he paused then continued.'He was meeting Kachi in that pla....'He was still talking when Lighter cut in, 'Kachi?', he asked looking anxiously at him.'You know him?', my dad queried drawing closer to them.'Yes, he once worked with me''Oh...', he drifted away, nodding his head slowly. 'No wonder the dull boy got on me so well', he mumbled.Peter had mistakenly revealed one top secret and he was so scared to continue but pulling out now would only make the situation worse. We waited on him so he could continue.'I sneaked into the buka without them noticing and placed a record', he added pulling his phone from his right pocket.He went through it and played the audio of the so-called Kachi and Clement planning on the possible way of attacking my dad from his career now.'Dickson what's this vault about?' my mom asked looking agitated.This was the biggest secret I guess, My dad didn't just look good and the whole situation was driving him crazy. He calmed himself down, demonstrating to us to calm down as well as he will explain everything.He sat on the chair opposite us, 'This will come as a big shock but please process it and understand....we have no time to chi chat'.Now everyone was calm and there was a dead silence which put my dad off a little.'That vault you heard of, contains video records of my dealings with Clement and other top officials', he paused looking at us anxiously.'If this, gets out now, I mean if Clement gets hold of it.....it will be the end of me and our family', he blurted pacing with his hands akimbo.'Dickson....what is in the record?' my mom pressed again getting from her chair, 'I'm with you on this, trust me'.'My drug deals'.What?, That was the expression on everybody's face. The news dropped like an atomic bomb which rendered the room silent, I mean a deadly silence. No one would ever that my dad was into some dirty deals.My mom stood perplexed staring at him speechless in total disbelief, her husband was so ashamed that he couldn't face us any longer, he stood up and just moved around without any direction.'I know.....and I'm sorry but it's not time for this'. 'Then it's time for what', David retorted.Daniel, Me, in fact, everyone was speechless. Who would believe that? But the urgency of the situation is more important now than our feelings. David made to leave, but Daniella stopped him, begging him to stay. It wasn't easy on anyone but leaving won't solve the problem and the worst case now is the danger of our freedom. She kept pressing him until he turned and went back like he had been controlled by magic.'Dad how could you....you could go to jail for this'. Daniel managed to say.'And what will people think of us, if this comes out? . . .this is so unfair'. I seconded almost in tears.My dad stood in the middle, thinking about the possible way to keep things calm for the time being.'I'm very sorry, I sincerely worked on eggshells because of you all''Don't say that', Douglas yelled cutting him short.It wasn't easy calming everyone down. My mom spoke to us individually, leaving a few minutes of dead silence before starting again.'Let's get into the same boat as every family would do. Our reputation is very much at stake here'. She concluded taking her seat.As it is now, everyone knows the situation the next thing is to find a solution. We tried as much as possible to get into my dad's shoes and fix the massive mess. He stormed out of the room to be sure of the key's safety.It wasn't up to 10 minutes and he rushed in again, 'Who demanded the storehouse to be cleared', he demanded anxiously.'I did, what is it?', my mom answered standing to her feet.My dad gazed at her, trying to gather his thoughts.'Oh my God', he muttered'Darling what is it', she questioned again.'Okay...the key .....the one to the vault is hidden in the old Monalisa's frame'.Taking a Breath, he turned to my mom for a response, but this woman looked more confused than us.'Darling....', she called out looking confused.She hurried out to the cleaner who helped her clean the storehouse. 'Felicia, you cleared the storehouse last month right?',' Yes madam', she responded trying to figure out what the problem might be.'Ma, is there any problem', she added concerned.'Straight to the point, where is the Monalisa's frame in the store?''Mo....mom.....', she stammered.'A photo frame, a woman's photo. , It's a painted picture. Where is it?', she asked simultaneously'Oh...madam the gate-man took it o, he said he will sell it in the black market, say e fine well well and e go fetch am better money', she replied hurriedly.At this confession, Danita lost it and almost shouted in her presence. She walked shakily to where her family were gathered.'Darling, the gate-man sold the frame in the black market', she declared almost in tears.'What?....no..no...no'.On hearing that, Lighter and Peter left the reading room and immediately headed to the black market to trace the frame with the gateman. This was the worst news ever, everyone was speechless and in total dismay. We waited patiently for these two to run the investigation and get the picture quickly.Minutes turned to hours and hours to a day, the frame had not been found yet and we walked like we were on eggshells. The situation was not in our favour, we lived like fugitives, dreading to go out or stay longer. Even as the house is normally quiet the circumstance now made the house like a graveyard.That same day Lighter and Peter came around and we all hoped for better news but to our disappointment, someone from the gang has been tipping Clement and he is on the move as well. His boys are spread all over the black market located at different angles of the state looking for the frame.'You don't even have control over your own boys? My dad fired.Lighter too was not at peace same as Peter, the whole family was on high alert and getting their personalities dragged in the mud was the main fear.Lighter got a call at that very moment, 'Boss, we have found the frame'.Wow finally, the tense atmosphere has just been ameliorated ....' We will get the frame ourselves', David blurted all of a sudden.'No...that's too risky', my mom said going to him.'Where is the frame Lighter' my dad asked paying no attention.'In the North, according to Mike, it is in a Muslim community'.'What does that mean''The man in charge of the picture is a powerful elite in the northern world' he explained.'Dad, let us do this, letting the band control this, is not in our favour..... remember Clement is on the move as well''No... Dickson no, I can't risk my children', came my mom again moving slowly towards her husband and shaking her head in disapproval.My dad thought deeply, this was too much to be linked and the Lighter he always trusted is no more someone he can rely on. If Clement can betray him then Lighter is not left out. He looked scarily at Lighter, then to Peter.'Dad, make a favourable choice please', Daniel said with an angry face.Seems everyone was fully interested in this case and as if they had a private meeting before showing up here. Lighter received another call again, sure This one is not nice. The expression on his face says it all.'Boss, we don't have much time, let's be on the move now''Lighter what was the call about''Boss...Clement might get them soon. I don't sincerely know who is piping him', he expressed.This was getting not just my dad mad but everyone, it was too risky for the record to come into limelight. The only saving grace is that Clement had no information on the particular person in the north. 'Call me Jafar', my dad ordered Peter who was a bit busy with his phone.Jafar is my dad's manager, a dedicated Muslim who has exclusive knowledge of his region and how the northern people live and behave.This plan by my dad will definitely kick-off. He though didn't let go of Lighter and his boys because he believes in Lighter totally, but a bad egg lives amongst his men. So he restricted him from letting his informant share more findings with other members apart from him.Jafar honoured my dad's call, he taught us the basic knowledge we needed in Islamic religion. Starting from the prayers and the greetings down to the mode of behaviour in the north.This practical lesson took three days, while Lighter went off to the north to monitor the situation in the Elite's house and the security and the possible way of penetrating the house. He discovered the working sector that was needed and on his way, he bought bunks of clothes both for feminine and masculine from there.It was like we revolutionized into something entirely different and new, we bought so many Islamic stuff like hijabs, Quran, prayer beads and rugs. For my brother's, Lighter also got some small small caps and hats Muslims normally wears with moustache and beards, just for them to look more Islamic and stay unidentified.Based on the information gathered I was to help in the house cleaning, Daniella in the kitchen, Daniel in the Garden, David in the mosque and Douglas in the farm. It wasn't going to be easy and the difficulty stares us right in the face.At first when Lighter came with the vacancies no one wanted to do the shit again, but viewing the situation from the realistic angle, we needed to do it even to the point of breathing our last.Imagination flooded my head already maybe for the rest too, doing this work is not going to be easy at all even when Lighter tried opposing our decision our eldest didn't give up on the plan.We were well packaged both in knowledge and wears, my mom couldn't stop anything right now and my dad was strongly behind us.'This is very risky sir', Lighter kept reminding my dad but the decision had taken over the opposition. We were leaving the next morning, we spent our time with our parents enough time as if we were going to sign death wishes. Who would have thought the situation would have taken this turn.Lighter and his men were set as the security guards while the main item pass through us.Before 5 in the morning, we were all up, I prayed to my God to preserve me and my family as we set for what looks like a death trip. My mom called us together and said all that she had, she couldn't stop herself from crying despite my dad consoling her.We left as early as we were done with all our plans with Lighter and Peter, the rest of his men had gone to the north ahead of us to their fixed location. It was a long journey, I slept throughout the journey, and no one was talking The only thing that matters now is for the plan to work out, Alhaji Shehu Galadima is no joke.It was like 5 hours journey and we finally arrived at the Alhaji's house. Wow, what a beauty, I would have woken up earlier when we arrived in North to take a good look at the community. Shehu's house is far, I mean farrrr better than our luxurious home. This one is on another level, the paint, the flowers, the uniforms of the workers...oh my God! It totally looks like a palace or even Paradise.We were all lost, staring at the beautiful mansion before us, the sculptures and artefacts were glamorous....'Don't tell me we are going to be wearing those uniforms', Daniella shirked looking terrified.'Know why you are here', Daniel retorted looking at her.Entering the palace was another beauty on Its own but we focused this time, minding our thoughts and not being carried away. The place was greatly loaded with security guards armed with serious...' For this security unit, Peter and I will be working here', Lighter interrupted with a straight face like he wasn't talking to any of us.After a few minutes of walking we arrived at a building which is not the main building, I guess we won't be able to see the almighty Alhaji. We stood before the head of workers, and he glared at us, taking a careful look, we unpacked our bags before him and he went through our kinds of stuff.'Good, I'm Ibrahim head of workers and you are welcome to Alhaji Shehu Galadima's abode' he said smiling.'Thank you sir', we responded'Bow down, don't you know he holds a more powerful position?', one of the workers arranging meal for him yelled at us.It took time for us to comprehend, we looked at each other in total dismay. Ibrahim then got up, walking towards us with a furious stare.....'I knew something was off with you Cheaps, but I just wanted to hold my peace', he moved slowly around us. 'Is like you don't know me, I just wanted to project the good part of me first, but...', he chuckled before continuing. ' I will let this slide since it's your first time', he said demonstrating.We just stood there trying to gather our thoughts, looking confused and ...'Not even a thank you', the worker still blurted angrily.' hmm..', he signed. 'These people are not poor as our informant told us, their skin looks so shiny and they are rude as well', taking a good look at our dresses, he felt the texture ....'I knew it, you people are not broke at all', he shouted angrily.' What's your mission here', he added.Just then the security guard around there gathered, pointing their guns at us. We raised our hands, standing in fear.'We were rich but our house got burnt last month', Daniel began.'I see, what of your parents'.'They were in the building when the incident happened', Daniella responded breaking down.We were taken aback and just gazed at each other.'Is the truth sir', Lighter added politely.'Really, where were you people then?', that same worker asked and the security men pointed their guns at us again.'I was at work, I mean we were but my sister was in school', Douglas said hurriedly in fear.The faces before us were so harsh but we had to cooperate right away else we would be dead even before Lighter and Peter stopped anything.Bending slowly with his hands in the air Peter went on his knees, bowing to the so-called head of workers. David followed, before Daniella and I but Daniel stood with his usual face before being pulled down by Douglas and Lighter.Ibrahim then motioned to the men and they dropped their guns.....' Is alright, just be sure this doesn't happen again, we are people of peace and respect', he said sitting on his chair.'Yes sir', we replied standing before him.A gardener then came with the report, telling him about the available vacancies before leaving.'Okay, we told you people about this job earlier enough but you dragged yourselves before showing up, so some have been taken and still some are available. ....you see we are always in need of workers', he boasted like he owned the place.'You', pointing at Daniel', you belong to the goat pen and milking affairs.So awful, I just smiled imagining him in the job, I wondered why he had to point him out of all the gentle faces standing before him. He glared, 'Thank you sir', he responded like he was forced before bowing as taught.He shared the available places amongst us, allocating Daniella to the main building for ushering in visitors as the place is always busy with guests from all over the world, Douglas to the garden, me to the main building for cleaning up, and David to the garden.'Luckily, you too still have your security job sustained, we hardly get workers in that unit. So.....', he motioned to the talkative worker. 'Show them around before taking them to their duty posts', he commanded before bouncing on his food.Daniel couldn't just get enough, he stood irritated with his usual face, glaring harshly at him. We took a tour around the place before heading to our duty posts.The place looks great but the work and the so-called colleagues aren't cool. We changed into our uniforms, and even on the uniform we had to put on a long Hijab, come rain come shine, even in heat. I can't just wait for this to be over. Information is the most wanted assert right now and doing this work is the sure and easy way to get the frame.