Chapter Four

"Turn to the left at the next junction," Roja directed Timi, also telling him to increase the radio's volume. Timi obeyed every instruction, glancing at Jane through the rear mirror once in a while. He was pleased to see her calm, no longer sobbing. She looked pitiful, and he felt a pang of sympathy, wondering how deeply she regretted her trip to the nation. What a pity, he thought.

The news continued, and finally, the incident of a carjacking was mentioned:

"…the SUV reported earlier today as hijacked at gunpoint has been found by the police. It was located in good condition in the middle of the road near St. Luke's Hospital. Although no other vehicle has been officially reported stolen, there are speculations that another vehicle may have been hijacked by the robbers," the newscaster announced.

At the news, Roja looked back at his colleagues and smiled.

Reading further, the newscaster stated, "The federal government announced this afternoon that United States President Donaltis Trumpt's claim that the malaria drug, Chloroquine, might be a temporary answer to treating COVID-19 is not yet officially confirmed by the W.H.O. Citizens are therefore warned not to rely on the statement until it is proven effective by the World Health Organization…"

As the news went on, Roja told Timi to turn the radio off, and Timi promptly complied. But the news about Chloroquine had captured Timi's attention. He wondered if it was true that Trumpt had said it. If he had, Timi reasoned, he couldn't have done so without a good reason. As he pondered this, his heart leapt for joy: he had several bottles of the drug in his cab compartment. He felt happy for Jane and also lucky to have taken Chloroquine injections twice in the last two days. What a divine arrangement! he pondered.

"Who's sick, the one being taken to the hospital by those medical guys?" Roja asked.

As if Timi had anticipated the question, he didn't let Roja finish before quickly replying, "She is. She has malaria and a cold."

"Malaria? How can that be? You've just arrived in the country. Where did you get mosquito bites from?" Roja asked. After a brief silence, he added, "Malaria is known to be native to Africa." His intelligent question carried a hint of sarcasm as he faced Jane.

Again, Timi, fearing Jane might reveal their secret, quickly responded before she could utter a word. "She was in Ghana and…" Timi's sentence was cut short by Luke-the-Dude.

"Hey! Keep your dirty mouth shut! Let her answer the question herself!" Luke-the-Dude yelled from behind.

"Okay, sir," Timi said soberly.

He knew he had already given Jane a clue, and he prayed she would know what to say and not reveal her Coronavirus status. He believed it could complicate their problem. He watched her in the mirror as he drove on.

Roja turned, looked Jane in the eyes, and said, "Lady, answer the question."

Jane took her time. She took a deep breath, understanding there must be a reason why Timi was trying to hide some truth about her health. So, she smartly played along, believing her response would align with the foundation of lies Timi had already laid. She began to build on it. As a total stranger, Timi was the only one she could trust in the meantime.

"I was in Ghana two days ago for the same project I came here for. I must have gotten it from there," she replied and sneezed again.

Timi looked at her in the rear mirror, impressed.

"Sir, her injections are in the compartment. The doctor gave them to the medical team, and one of them put it in my cab compartment," he said with a brief look at Roja.

Hearing him, Roja reached for the compartment cover. He opened it, revealing eight bottles of Chloroquine injection and eight sachets of syringes and needles staring back at him. In the same compartment were other sachets of tablets and capsules.

He took one of the injection bottles, read the inscription, and put it back.

"Why can't the hospital complete the treatment? Where were you headed with the government medical team?" Roja turned to the man behind the wheel.

"The hospital wanted the medical team to conduct more tests on the lady because she's a foreigner who just arrived in the nation. They claimed that was the government's instruction due to the pandemic outbreak," Timi replied, concentrating on the road as he drove.

"Didn't she go through the screening at the airport?" Roja asked again.

"She did, and the hospital was aware, sir," Timi glanced at Jane in the rear mirror and saw her wipe her running nose.

Roja's phone rang, making him suspend further questions. He looked at the screen and answered the call.

"We're getting close, Boss. No cause for alarm. Okay, sir," Roja replied, ended the call, and reached for the packet of cigarettes in his pocket. He pulled out a stick, placed it between his lips, and lit it with a lighter.

"Turn to the right at the next junction," Luke-the-Dude instructed Timi.

Roja focused on the burning cigarette, inhaling and blowing the smoke through the window. As he did, the wind carried a significant portion of it back into the moving car. Monster-J remained calm, looking out and occasionally turning to check if their vehicle was being pursued.

When Timi reached the right junction, he turned the car as instructed. He drove on until he realized the street had a dead end a few meters away. It was a cul-de-sac.

"Park the car and step out!" Roja ordered Timi.

After pulling up, Roja stepped out, walked over to Timi, dipped his hand into the back pocket of his jeans, and pulled out a brown ladies' head scarf. He told Timi to turn around and blindfolded him with the scarf. Then, he walked him to the back seat where Luke-the-Dude had vacated, pushed him in, and closed the car door. He walked to the other side of the car where Monster-J sat, picked up another scarf, threw it at Monster-J, and instructed him to blindfold Jane. Finally, he walked to the front seat beside Luke-the-Dude, who had taken the driver's seat, and sat down.

"Are we good to go now?" Luke-the-Dude asked, and Roja signaled him to ignite the car engine and drive.

Wasting no time after the instruction, the car was driven back to link the main highway they were on before, and so, the journey continued.

It was a drive of about forty minutes from the time Timi and Jane were blindfolded. Judging by the car's movement on the road, it was obvious to Timi and Jane that the road they were on now was unpaved. It must be a remote area of the city, Timi guessed. And when Roja made a call to Evans, he knew they were close to the kidnapper's destination.

Luke-the-Dude drove off the rough, stony road and approached a solitary bungalow in the wilderness. When the cab reached the house gate, he blared the horn, and Evans came to the closed metal gate, his pipe oozing smoke between his clenched teeth.

The house had a high wall that prevented any part of the compound from being seen from outside. Evans had built it with such special features, purposely for his crime business. He pulled the metal gate open, and Luke-the-Dude drove the car in. Parking close to the mango tree, their relaxation spot, they all got out, leaving Jane and Timi in the car.

Evans stood for a while at the gate, looking over the rough, stony road and the rocky mountains and plains around the area to see if any vehicle or person was trailing the car that had just arrived. Seeing none in sight, he closed and locked the gate.

Walking back from the gateway to sit on one of the plastic chairs under the mango tree, his tobacco pipe still in his mouth, he looked pleased and happy. On the ground were two new bottles of red wine and two of whiskey. He had been drinking from one before his boys arrived, and its content was already below half the bottle. Picking up the plastic cup in his left hand, he beckoned to his boys, who remained standing by the car, to come over with the captives. Like warriors returning home victorious after a battle, they walked up to him, leading their still-blindfolded captives.

Evans was pleased to receive the new captives. He was proud of his boys too.

"Good job, guys," Evans said.

He stood up and hugged his men one after the other, shaking their hands for a job well done. He then walked up to Jane, took her by the hand, and led her to the VIP room. Jane held her handbag and walked obediently by his side. When they entered the room, he untied the scarf from her face. She opened her eyes gradually and found herself in a room with a stout, muscular man who stared at her as she looked around.

Evans smiled at her and said, "Don't panic. We're not cannibals. We won't hurt you. We just need a crumb out of your father's stupendous wealth." He winked at her and stared at her handbag.

"What do you have in there?" he asked, not allowing her to reply before snatching the bag from her. He searched through it and found her purse, phone, and a few dollar notes.

"We'll keep your bag with us until your father pays your price. What name did you use to store your father's number?" he asked.

"Papa," Jane replied, becoming emotional. She took the edge of her blouse and wiped her nose, sneezed, and blew her nose.

"You look pale and sickly. What happened?" Evans asked, as if he cared.

"I have malaria and a cold," Jane maintained the lie Timi had started.

"Oh, sorry. I'll tell the boys to get you malaria drugs," Evans said.

"Thanks," Jane replied.

"Everything will be fine as long as your father complies with our terms. And I know he will. He loves you. Doesn't he? You don't need to cry," Evans said, handing her the handkerchief he found in her bag to wipe her tears.

He had never been as soft with any abductee as he was with her. Why he felt pity for her was a question he himself couldn't answer. Perhaps it was because of the huge money involved. It was his biggest kidnap job, and he couldn't wait to see it through so he could leave crime and invest the money in a legitimate business, as he had planned.

Moving closer to her, he stretched his hand to her shoulder, and she cringed at the movement.

"Don't be scared," Evans said and patted her shoulder.

Jane continued to sob until Evans was about to leave the room. Then she said, "Excuse me, sir, my injections and other drugs are with my driver outside. Please, can he stay with me?"

Evans turned back, paused for a little while, and said, "That's something I wouldn't like to do, but because you're sick, I might allow it." He then turned back again and walked out of the room. He closed and locked it before walking away.

He walked back outside where Timi was still standing blindfolded, while Monster-J, Luke-the-Dude, and Roja sat on plastic chairs.

"Guys, open the wine bottles and serve yourselves; it's time to celebrate," Evans said to his boys, then walked to Timi and untied the scarf from his face.

"Where's your phone?" He asked him, and Timi took it from his pocket and gave it to him.

Evans moved closer, searched him, and also got his wallet from his back pocket. He stared at him for a while.

"The lady said you have her malaria drugs," he said.

"It's not only drugs, sir; there are injections too," Timi replied.

"What's drug and what's injection? Both the pills and the injection are drugs! You're a fool!" Evans almost slapped Timi. He had raised his hand but changed his mind and lowered it. His boys, watching, were left confused about who was right between their boss and the abductee. Are injections drugs? they wondered.

"Is she your girlfriend?" Evans asked.

"No, sir, she's my client. I'm a cab driver," Timi replied, looking down.

"But she said she wants you to stay with her," Evans added.

Timi heard him but said nothing.

"Would you like to stay with her?" Evans asked.

"The decision is yours, sir," Timi replied, his eyes fixed on the same spot.

Evans, with a small smile at the corners of his mouth, looked away at his boys and said, "Who wouldn't like to stay with a beautiful lady? You're a lucky guy, you know?" The sentence made Monster-J, Luke-the-Dude, and Roja burst into laughter as they drank.

"Meanwhile, you must be very careful if you don't want to die here. If you try any prank with me, you'll be dead. No one messes with me. Okay?" Evans yelled.

"Okay, sir," Timi replied like an obedient child.

"Now, go and bring the drugs and let me see," Evans ordered.

"I'm watching you as you go," he added.

Timi walked away from him to his cab. He entered it and took the injection bottles, multivitamins tablets, and syringes from the cab compartment. He walked back to Evans and stood before him.

"This is it, sir," Timi said, showing them to him.

"Who will inject her? Can you do that?" Evans asked.

"I will inject her, sir. I'm a trained nurse, sir. I started to drive Uber because I couldn't get a job, sir," Timi replied, and his use of "Sir" amused his abductors.

Evans looked at his boys and smiled.

"That's enough, sir. I'm bored already with your use of the word 'Sir,' sir. But you can follow me, sir, and don't try anything that could lead to your death, sir. Did you get me, sir?" Evans said and walked away. And like thunder, there was a chorus of laughter from his boys, already intoxicated by wine and whiskey. As Evans led him into the house, he couldn't help but join his boys in laughing. Walking behind Evans, Timi felt sorry for his abductors' choice of lifestyle. He was sure that one day, they would be caught in their crimes and either end up dead or in jail.

They were almost at the building's entrance when Evans stopped as if he remembered something important and looked back.

"MJ! That stupid guy is dead. Take care of his body. It's at the corner of the corridor," he said and continued walking.

"Okay, boss," Monster-J replied.

Evans and Timi reached the VIP room. Evans unlocked the door, opened it, and ordered Timi to enter. Timi walked in eagerly, wanting to see Jane and check on her health. Evans followed him in and left the door open.

Evans stood for a while, looking at Jane, who sat on the edge of the bed, and then turned to face Timi.

"Take good care of her, or you'll regret not doing it," he said to him, waved his pistol at his face, and walked out of the room. He locked them up and left to join his boys outside under the mango tree.

As he walked away to meet his boys, he picked up his cell phone and dialed a number. The phone rang for some seconds before it was picked up.

"Hello! Yeah! She's here with us. She's sick, but her driver, who's a nurse, is taking care of her," Evans said, adding, "Okay, worry no more about the father's contact; I've collected it from her. We'll call him tomorrow."

"Alright then, and don't forget to terminate her life once the money is sent to you. Coming back to Japan means trouble for us. That's why we're paying you that much," Fumihiro said.

"Yeah! Although we're not hired assassins. We only kidnap for ransom, but since you insist you want her dead, we've got no choice but to kill her. But that girl is damn pretty. Too bad!" Evans said.

"Bro. Do what we ask you. That's what you're being paid for. Thanks," Fumihiro replied sharply and ended the call.

By the time the phone call ended, he was almost under the mango tree. He walked up to his boys.

"Good job, guys!" Evans said and sat on the empty plastic chair purposely left for him. He picked a disposable cup, filled it with a mixture of wine and whiskey, and took a drink.

"Now, tell me how it all happened," Evans said.

Roja, who led the abduction, began the narration of how they got their captives, detailing all the stress the soldiers gave them before the abduction was successful. They cracked jokes, laughed, teasing one another, and celebrated the abduction they nicknamed "The Big Catch." All thanks to the red wine and whiskey that were abundantly available to catalyze the merriment under the mango tree.

Jane was feeling feverish. She lay on the bed, and Timi sat beside her.

"Jane, did you listen to the news while we were coming here, about Trumpt and the Chloroquine claim as a working treatment for Coronavirus?" Timi asked.

"Yes, I heard it. And could it be true!" Jane managed to respond.

"True or not, there's no specific drug or vaccine for it yet. And if this is coming from a president of a country as respected as America, then it should be looked into. It's the only option we have presently. So, would you allow me to give you the injection?" Timi asked. He put his hand on her neck to check her temperature.

"Yes, of course, what other choice do I have?" Jane replied.

"But, do you know anything about giving injections?" Jane asked. She sneezed and reached for her handkerchief.

"Yes, I was trained as a nurse before I started to drive Uber," Timi replied and moved closer to her.

"Alright then," Jane said. She tried to sit up to take the injection.

"No! Don't worry about sitting up. You can get it while you lie down," Timi said. He believed she had been through too much stress already and didn't want to compound her problem.

"Alright, thanks," Jane said.

She unbuttoned her jeans and dragged the trousers down while Timi prepared the injection. By the time Timi turned to attend to her, she had already pulled down her underwear. Like a professional nurse, he took his mind off her body and saw her as his patient. He moved close to her and drove the needle into her left buttock.

"Ouch!" Jane cried.

"Sorry," Timi said as he used his thumb to rub the spot of the injection.

"We'll both need the injections and the pills until we leave here," he said and walked away from her. He tore open another needle and filled the syringe with Chloroquine phosphate and injected himself in the buttock also. He dropped the used syringes in a small dustbin by the bedside and walked over to the giant fridge in the corner of the room. He brought out a bottle of water and walked back to Jane.

"Can you sit up now and take the pills?" he urged her.

She was tired and felt like sleeping, but she managed to sit up with his support. She collected the pills, put them into her mouth, and gulped them down with water.

Timi wasn't sure of the pills' effect against the virus, but he had to try the pills—which were Paracetamol, Vitamin C, and an antibiotic—since he wasn't sure how long they would be in captivity. He only had to make do with what he had at that moment.

Minutes after taking the pills, Jane lay back on the bed, and Timi sat on the chair by the table beside the bed. He watched her until she fell asleep.

"Hello, your time is running out," Evans said in a very harsh tone.

The man stammered at the other end of the line. He panicked as he talked.

"I… I… I'm on it, sir. I've got sixty-eight thousand dollars already, and I'm trying to get the rest of the money from my business associates to complete the total you're asking for," Chief Thomas, the father of one of the abducted boys, said.

He was in the presence of police officers, who kept quiet and listened to the phone conversation.

"You have till 2 p.m. day after tomorrow. I can assure you, I will kill the boys by 2 p.m. on Saturday if you don't fulfil your promise. Don't try any tricks with me. Talk to your son," Evans threatened and gave the phone to Chief Thomas's son.

"Hello, Daddy," Chief Thomas's son came on the line.

"Hello, Tade. We're doing everything to see that you're released," Chief Thomas assured his son.

"Please, Daddy, don't fail to fulfil your promise," Tade pleaded in tears.

At Tade's last word, Evans snatched the cell phone away from his hand.

"Hello, hello, hello Tade," Chief Thomas said, but he couldn't hear from the other end anymore. Evans had hung up on him the moment he got the phone back from his son. It was actually one of the strategies he used to demoralize his victims' relatives. Whenever he did so, they would worry that their loved ones in bondage were going through the worst hostilities and would do all they could to get the ransom prepared on time.

The police inspector and his team were pleased to hear that the kidnappers had extended the deadline for getting the hundred thousand dollar ransom by two more days. They thought it would allow them to perfect their strategies. The computer in front of them had indicated the area the kidnappers were calling from, but not the exact spot of their hideout. But then, they believed that with the little information they had, they were already making headway. He and the other police officers had decided to come to the cellphone company in the company of the fathers of the kidnapped boys and were satisfied with the outcome. The father of Tade's friend was there too, but he had nothing financially to contribute to the release of his son. He was a civil servant who collected a salary less than three hundred dollars a month. His son Abdul and Tade became friends when they went to represent their schools in a state sports competition.

Evans gave the boys their breakfast and locked them up again. As he left for his room, which doubled as his bedroom and office, he remembered he needed to talk to Fumihiro, the Japanese man who brought the idea of Jane's kidnap. So, he picked up his cell phone and dialed the number. The phone rang for a long time before it was picked up.

"Hello, my guy!" Evans said.

"Eh! What's up, man? How far with the job?" Fumihiro asked.

"I'm about to call her father now," Evans informed him.

"I promised to give you his hotline, but I haven't got it yet. Our agent who's close to him is yet to send that to us," Fumihiro said.

"Don't worry. I told you I got it from his daughter. Her phone is with me," Evans replied.

"Oh! That's great then. Call me back and let me know how it goes," Fumihiro said.

"Good! But remember our agreement. It's 50/50. The task is hard here, and lots of guys are involved," Evans replied.

"No problem. Agreed. 50/50 is okay by us. Talk to you later," Fumihiro responded and hung up.