*EPISODE 19*
((CHANGE OF RULES))
flashback.
When Bayo contacted Kunle to carry out the assignment of eliminating Gerald and make it seem like it was the handwork of Chief Afolabi, Kunle had told him that if nothing related to Chief Afolabi was found at the scene of the accident, that Adekunle Lawan might not be able to link the accident to Chief Afolabi.
“I think you’re right about that. Crushing him in an accident without leaving anything that could easily implicate Chief Afolabi at the scene of the accident will only make Adekunle Lawan see his son’s death as a mere accident rather than a murder. In that case, we need an item that could easily implicate Chief Afolabi. But the question is, what could that be?” Bayo asked.
“How about we get the designer wristwatch that Adekunle Lawan gifted Chief Afolabi during one of his birthday celebrations a few years ago?” Kunle asked.
“A wristwatch?.” Bayo asked completely surprised.
“Yes, a designer wristwatch. I was there when he gave it to him a few years ago,” Kunle said.
“I think you’re right about that. Using a watch that Adekunle Lawan can easily recognize is the best way to get him to point an accusatory finger at Chief Afolabi without even thinking about it. You know what? Just give me the description of that particular watch and I have Abeni steal it from him.” Bayo said.
And according to Kunle’s description, Abeni went in search of the watch in her father’s room. Where she found it and brought it to Bayo.
When Bayo received the wristwatch, he quickly contacted a top watch designer who made a perfect replica of the watch that he presented to Kunle. After which, he returned the original watch to Abeni, who returned it to where she got it from to avoid being suspected by her father.
And that was how the watch ended up at the scene of the accident.
* * * * * * * * *
Present day.
After listening to Adekunle Lawan’s threats to Chief Afolabi over the phone, Oye, who was afraid of the danger ahead of them, didn’t hesitate to ask:
“What did he mean by an eye for an eye?” Oye asked, turning to Bayo.
“It’s obvious that he’s going to seek revenge on Chief Afolabi by eliminating Abeni just as Gerald was eliminated,” Bayo said.
“And those weren’t empty threats, were they?.” Abeni, asked, giving him a sharp look.
“Well, unfortunately, he meant every single word he said,” Bayo said.
“So what do we do now?” Abeni asked, looking scared and worried.
Bayo scoffed, and said, “We’re going to help him get revenge, which in return will make Chief Afolabi react the way we’ve always wanted him to,” Bayo said, relaxing with his legs crossed on the couch.
“And what do you mean by we will help him to take revenge?” Abeni asked, looking at him curiously.
“That means you have to die or go into a coma, just like he wants,” Bayo said.
“What?.” Oye and Abeni exclaimed looking at him curiously.
Chief Afolabi returned home and quickly went through his wristwatch storage box to see if anyone had gone missing without his consent, but surprisingly he found them all still intact in the same place he had kept them.
“How is that even possible? All my watches are here, so what is Adekunle Lawan talking about my watch being at the accident scene? Or is he just trying to falsely push the blame on me?.” He wondered with confusion in his heart.
To satisfy his curiosity, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Ahmed’s number.
“Hello boss,” Ahmed said as soon as he answered the call.
“Hello, Ahmed. I want you to find something out for me.” He said.
“Okay boss. I’m all ears,” Ahmed said.
“Find out everything related to the death of Gerald Lawan. I would like to know who is behind his death and why the whole incident keeps pointing back to me. Cause I’m starting to suspect that someone is trying to play with me.” Chief Afolabi said.
“All right, sir. I will do just that,” Ahmed said.
“Thank you, Ahmed,” Chief Afolabi said with a sense of relief. “But why haven’t I been seeing you around lately?.” He asked.
“It’s as a result of some personal issues that came up sir. You will see me around once I’m done settling them” Ahmed lied.
“Alright then. Just make sure to take good care of yourself. And let me know if you need my help.” Chief Afolabi said.
After the call, Chief Afolabi sat on his bed and buried his head in his palms with so many thoughts and confusion running through his mind.
Meanwhile, Bayo, Abeni, and Oye, who had already heard everything he discussed with Ahmed, quickly took the next step to avoid getting caught.
Abeni contacted Ahmed immediately.
“Hello Ahmed,” she said as soon as he answered her call.
“Hello, Abeni,” Ahmed said.
“I know you just finished talking to my dad. And I heard everything he asked you to find out for him,” Abeni said.
When Ahmed heard this, he quickly sat up.
“Okay?.” he said with curiosity written all over his face.
“To be on the safe side, I advise you not to waste your time investigating anything for him,” Abeni said.
“But he will expect to hear from me. So what should I tell him?” Ahmed asked.
“You just have to tell him that the accident wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. And that nobody is behind it,” Abeni said.
“So what if he finds out that I lied to him?” He asked.
“Trust me, Ahmed. Besides, your papers will be ready by the end of this week. So you just have to do what I say.” Abeni said.
“Hmmm.” Ahmed sighed. “Okay, I will do what you said. I just hope I don’t get into any trouble with any of this.” He said.
“You have my assurance, Ahmed. Nothing will happen to you and your family,” Abeni assured.
The next day at work, Chief Afolabi was in his office when Bayo suddenly burst in, gasping for air.
“What’s going on?. Why are you breathing so fast?. And who’s after you?.” Chief Afolabi asked all at once with confusion and curiosity on his face.
“Father, it’s Abeni,” Bayo said, trying to pull himself together.
“What do you mean by Abeni? What happened to my child?” Chief Afolabi asked, with his heart beating faster.
“She was attacked by Adekunle men while she was going to get her lunch,” Bayo said.
“What?.” Chief Afolabi exclaimed out in disbelief.
He quickly followed Bayo to the hospital, where he met his daughter with severe pain and bruises. Her whole body was wrapped in bandages and she was completely motionless.
Seeing his daughter in such a condition broke Chief Afolabi’s heart.
“How dare Adekunle Lawan do this to my daughter?.” He raged.
“What if this is his own way of taking revenge on his son’s death?” Bayo asked.
Upon hearing this, Chief Afolabi stared at him briefly with surprise.
“How did you know he suspected me of his son’s death?” Chief Afolabi asked.
“Because that’s what everyone is saying that you killed Gerald Lawan to get back at him for raping your daughter,” Bayo said. “Listen, boss, you and I know that Abeni is not a troublesome child. She has no enemies except for Gerald and his family, who are out to get back at her by any means necessary. Which explains why she was severely beaten in this manner. So boss, if you don’t handle Adekunle Lawan like a man, then you leave me no choice but to deal with him myself. Because I can’t continue to sit back and watch my sister get hurt over again by the same man without you doing anything about it. I mean, you failed her in many ways. But letting her die miserably at the hands of that man is the height of it all,” Bayo said.
“No, Bayo. I think I have been tolerant enough with Adekunle Lawan. It’s high time I took matters into my own hands and showed him what stuff I’m made of.” Chief Afolabi said clenching his fist.
At that moment, a notification popped up on his phone.
He tapped it quickly and what he saw made him shout out in shock and disbelief.
“What?.” he shouted staring at his cell phone. “No this can not be. No, this isn’t happening.” He said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“What happened?.” Bayo asked looking at him curiously.
“My money Bayo. All my hard-earned money is gone just like that.” He said not believing his eyes.
“What? But how is that even possible?” Bayo asked completely confused.
“Bayo, someone made a transaction using my account. Something I never approved of. And as I speak to you, all my money is gone.” He said
“What?. But how?. Who could have done such a thing to you? Was it hacked or something?” Bayo asked.
“There is only one person who is capable of doing this to me, and that is none other than Adekunle Lawan,” Chief Afolabi said, clenching his fist.
And with anger, he stormed out of the hospital ward.
And immediately after he left, Bayo burst out laughing. He gently tapped Abeni who got up and they both smiled at each other.
“Chief Afolabi. This is just the beginning of your nightmare.” Bayo said with a mischievous smirk displaying on his lips.
