Chapter 6
People around ran into shop, and Frank froze. Kiki ran into his arms. His survival instinct would have made him run too, but that was overridden with the instinct to protect Kiki. He wrapped his arm around her. “Relax guys. You can take my car.” He said and stretched his free hand at the one in front of them. The guy hit the car keys out of his hand and shouted out some curse words in Yoruba. The one with the gun stood in the center of the road, looking out for police.
“Empty your pocket, fast.” The guy shouted out and Frank slowly put Kiki to the side, as he pulled out his wallet. The guy quickly grabbed it, and shouted at Kiki to empty her pocket too. With shaky hands, she pulled out her phone and some pieces of paper from her jeans pocket. She handed him everything in her hands, looking up for the first time since the encounter. The guy froze for a second like he had seen a ghost. He looked like he didn’t know what next to do. Then he dropped Frank’s wallet on the car and ran off. “Let’s go!” He shouted out to his partner in crime as he headed for the driver seat of the VW Golf.
Frank watched them drive off, shocked to say the least. “Are you okay?” He asked Kiki, pulling her into his arms. She held on tightly to him without saying a word. “Did you know the guy?” He asked her as he pulled away from her to see her face.
“I was about to ask you the same question.” She said as she flipped her braids to the back of her head and looked up at him. “I thought it was someone that knows you around the neighborhood.”
“I don’t think so.” He said, looking lost. “I don’t talk to anyone around here.”
The people in the midnight food joint started coming out one by one, asking in Yoruba if Frank and Kiki were okay. “I think we should leave before police come around.” Frank said and walked over to the side of the shop to pick up his car keys. “We can drive down to my house. It’s just around the corner.” Frank said as he walked back to his car with his keys in hand.
“Frank, I have to leave now.”
“Wait, are you sure? You can stay a while.”
“I have to. I already overstayed.” She said and rushed towards her car. She opened it and got in a hurry, but hopped out again and walked hurriedly towards him. “Please Frank; promise you won’t try to follow me?” He didn’t say anything but kept staring at her, trying to read the strange look on her face. It wasn’t fear, but he couldn’t place it. “Please promise.”
“Okay.”
“Okay. I got to go. I will call you.” She said and rushed over to her car. She drove past him, made a turn at a right turn up ahead, and zoomed past him at top speed.
