Episode 15
The UNDERCOVER
As soon as the toilet door shut behind us, Samuel’s facial expression changed. His eyes widened, and he took some steps backward, trying to create distance between us.
“Sir, what, what?, why are you closing the door?”. He stammered, his voice trembling.
I crossed my finger on my lips, motioning him to keep his voice down. Then I folded my hands under my chest, cleared my throat, and looking him straight in the eye, I began to interrogate him.
“Samuel, tell me everything you know about the undercover”. I said in a calm voice.
Though he struggled to maintain his composure, I could see the fear creeping in, his pupils dilating.
“Undercover? I don’t know about any undercover”. He said, shaking his head.
“You don’t know any undercover?. What about the nose masks?. Who owns them?”. I asked, still in a calm voice.
“Did you not ask me to help you find the owners?. That is what I have been doing”. He said.
“Samuel, are you ready to open up or you want me to do it the other way?”. I aske
“Sir, I swear to God, I don’t know what you’re talking about”. He pleaded, glancing around the small, enclosed space, probably searching for an escape.
“Samuel, for the last time, who is stalking me in this house?. What do you know about them?”. I asked again. This time,my voice was hãrsh and a bit louder.
He shook his head.
“I don’t know anything about them. I leave for school every morning and return at…
As he talked, I was moving closer to him.
…I’m still working on… He paused when he noticed I was moving closer to him.
He began to move backward again. For every step I took forward, he took a step backward.”
..Sir, I swear to God I don’t know what you’re talking…
Before he could complete his statement, I stretched out my hand and grasped his shoulder. He flinched, his body tensing.
“Sir!”. He cries out.
“Are you ready to tell the truth?”. I growled, my hand gripping his neck tightly.
By now, his fears were visible.
“Please, sir, don’t hurt me”. He whispered.
“Then, confess!”. I growled, tightening my grip on him.
“Sir, please, I can’t breathe”. He pleaded.
But I wouldn’t relent.
“It is either you confess or you forget about breathing”. I howled at him, pressing my fingers deeper inside his throat.
His eyes darted to the door, then back to mine, pleading. I saw a flash of desperation, a desire to break free.
As I applied more pressure, his face contorted in pain.
“Brother, stop!’ he cried out.
I knew he called me that to blackmail me emotionally. To remind me that he is still my blood, but I didn’t let that distract me. I applied more pressure. At one point,his body began to vibrate and I saw tears welling up in his eyes. This story belongs to Joy Ifunanya.
“I will talk, I will talk..”. He said, weakly..
I loosened my grip on him.
“I will talk”. He said.
“ I’m waiting”. I said, releasing him.
He stargard and held himself again.
“Samuel, speak up. I’m waiting”. I said
“Please, they will kïll me if I speak. I don’t want to die”. He cried.
“No one is going to kíll you. I’m your brother, I will protect you”. I assured him.
He lowered his voice.
“That, that nose mask belongs to. It belongs to Aunt Celina”. He coughed out the word.
My heart quickened as he began to cough.
What did you say?”. I continued after the coughing subsided.
“Aunt Celina”. He repeated, clearly this time.
“What?. Celina?. My own Celina?.” I asked. It was unbelievable.
“Yes, she is the one. She follows you everywhere you go”. He said.
I listened as he went on and on to say h0rrible things about Celina. But something didn’t sit right. Celina was the first person I have ever suspected in that house. I remembered following her up, only to end up invading her private life. It didn’t add up. I felt a nagging doubt, my mind torn between trust and suspicion.
I looked at Samuel again.
This boy has been keeping a lot of secrets lately. Could he be telling the truth this time, or is he protecting someone?.
No. I shook my head. He cannot be. What did he stand to gain from it? I wondered as I stared at him.
Like he read my mind, he put his finger on the tip of his tongue and pointed it onto heaven.
“I swear to God, sir. She is the one. She follows you everywhere you go”. He said.
Before we left the latrine, I made him promise not to tell anyone what happened there, and also promised to give him some cash if he plays along.
A few minutes after Samuel left, I crept out. I hurried up the stairs to my room, picked my car key and raced down the stairs again. The women and the other children were still standing outside.
“Where have you been, Patrick?”. Judith asked.
“Toilet”. I replied, heading towards my car
… I’m going back to the station. You all should go inside. Don’t worry, I will make sure madam Mary is back before morning”. I promised.
I got into the car, looked out of the window, and called out to Celina to join me.
Without hesitation, she jumped into the passenger’s seat. Samuel was already waiting to open the gate. The engine roared to life as I sped away from the house.
It was a silent drive at first, but as we left the city limits, her anxiety grew.
“Sir, did you not say we are going to the station?. We have passed the route already”. She said.
“I know”. I replied , my eyes fixed on the winding road ahead. The secluded spot I had in mind was perfect for our little chat.
Her breath quickened.
The darkness seemed to close in around us as I turned onto a dirt path. Trees loomed overhead, their branches creaking ominously.
“Sir, please, where is this?”. She asked.
I didn’t reply to her. I halted the car, the only sound was the engine’s idle and her ragged breathing. The darkness outside was absolute, except for the faint moonlight filtering through the trees.
“We’re alone now,” I said, my voice low and menacing.
“Why?. Sir, why are you acting weird?.”
“No one will interrupt us.”. I said in a calm voice.
“Sir, what are we doing here?” She said, trying to open the door, but it was too late…I already locked it. She stayed calm.
“So you have the one, don’t you?” I growled, my voice low and menacing.
“The one who does what?”. She asked.
“The undercover agent.”. I said.
“Undercover agent?. What? Me? What, what are you talking about?” she stammered.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Celina. How could you? After everything I did for you. Is this how you want to pay me back?. Joining force with my enemies?”. I lamented.
“Honestly, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I’m confused here”. She maintained.
…How on earth do you even imagine I’m going to join the force to fight someone who has been my father all these years?. How can I do that?”. She continued defending her innocence.
“If you can commit an ab0rtion in my house without anyone knowing, what else can you not do?. Tell me what can you not do, Celina?”. I howled at her.
At the last statement, she paused instantly…
Hope these people are not playing with my intelligence. …
