The b©dyguard Reloaded – Episode 3
© Tisa Phiri
Ackim….
I left the front Windows of the vehicle I was driving open . The soft breeze of the September night tou-ching my face, my mind was so much active planning and thinking about my life .
I wondered to myself , my whole life had not been so easy . I was okay before I joined the army , I actually had a dream of becoming an engineer when I was growing up , however my father insisted I join the f0rç£ since he couldn’t take all of us to college . My elder brothers were also in the army but luck for them none of them went for the ha-rd est training to become commandos .
I on the other hand worked so ha-rd , at first it was just to prove to my father that I was strong enough since he started calling me names when I first rejected joining the f0rç£ .
With time I started loving the drills and the adrenaline of every p@rt of the training , the ha-rd nights and the nights out in the de-ep forests. It bec@m£ p@rt of me and I felt belonging .
Even when general Loko f0rç£d me to go beyond my abilities to plea-se him , I didn’t give up on myself . l had hoped one day I would save a purpose in this life .
Well now I had no idea what that purpose was anymore . I recall my mother walking in the hospital ward I was admitted for a day after the last fight I had with George and his gang .
She sat beside me and told me God loved me and that he saved my life for something greater in this life.I smiled not really un-derstanding her point .
“You are even blessed with a woman who would give anything for you.” she added looking at Paula who sat close to me holding my hand. I smiled at her and k!$$£d her hand ,
” that I agree with you mum
” I told my mother . She prayed for us and I felt really great . She was right, over the year I c@m£ to love Paula more and more and she was the best woman ever , selfless and always there for me even when I was stressed with work plus the secret Intelligence thing was also putting me un-der pressure. She seemed to just un-derstand me and I couldn’t help love her .
“Ackim ! Hey man it’s your phone ” Jim called me bring me to the moment . I was lost in my thoughts though I was still able to control the car as I drove.
“Yeah sure” I sighed picking my phone.
“Yes love” I answered , it was my Paula .
“Where are you babe ? Tell me what’s going on , am loosing my mind right now” she cried on the phone .
“Stay calm and try to get some sleep am working on something just hoping all goes well , don’t worry about me I will be ok.” I told her .
“I love you” I said before hanging up. We got to town centre and my phone rang again ,
“it’s Chama” I told Jim .
“Yes Chama ! Anything there ?” I asked parking the car aside the main street of town centre . lt was past 23 hours and it was so quite only a couple of vehicles moving on the roads.
“Are you there ?” He asked .
“Yeah just got here what’s up ?”
“Well I used the system for the f0rç£ to trace the line , it’s showing 7th street that’s were the owner of that line was some 35 minutes ago. Am not so sure about now, still working on it”
“What ?” I asked puzzled
“7th street ?”
“Yeah” Chama responded,
“why Ackim , does the address ring a bell ?” He asked me .
“It does actually, what’s the house number again?” I inquired my mind confused. The only people I could remember in that street where Dr Mwamba’s family.” It can’t be them” I thought as I drove there waiting for Chama to confirm the actual address.
“That family was with us at the wedding and even if l didn’t get a chance to talk to them after the wedding because of the confusion with Chikola, I knew they couldn’t have betrayed me and Paula , they were practically family.
In fact, Maya was our knife girl which was her dream come true , even her mother’s efforts to convince her she was beyond the age of dancing as a knife girl failed .
“I will do it mom” she told her mother.She was always at our home during week ends to baby sit the twins.
“No it can’t be them working against us” I whispered shaking my head.
“What did you say ?” Jim asked me wondering what I was talking about .
“It’s nothing man” I responded , “am just thinking aloud. There’s some people l know from 7th street am just wondering if at all they have something to do with my kids”
“Mmmmmm , anything is possible man, remember you don’t trust people any how” he sighed
“I know, but these people are not just anyone , they helped save my life once and we have been more like family over the period ,no ways man there must be a mistake somewhere am sure of it.”
A few seconds later my phone vibr@ted , l opened the text and my heart skipped .
“Oh she didn’t!” I shouted hitting the steering ma-king some noise as l hit the horn. My mind stating the name of the woman Jane.
The last time l saw her and talked was some months past almost 8 Months or so . She called me and confessed her love for me .
“I love you Ackim and you and me have been close , plea-se don’t dump me for that coloured girl” she pleaded .
“St©p it Jane” I had told her ,
“you and me have always been just friends nothing more and besides I alre-ady told you I was in love with Paula even before we met . lt doesn’t make s-en-se for you to insist on us being anything rather than just friends.”
She said lots of things to get me to d@t£ her but I turned her down , the next time she called and asked me for help , she told me something wasn’t right at her place like she was suspecting thieves breaking in . The time I reached her house to help I found her n-ked in her be-droom and she tried to s£dûç£me to l@ywith her , unfortunately I wasn’t re-ady for her craziness and I stormed out.
I didn’t get to tell Paula back then and I was overtime as-suming Jane had gotten over her obse-ssion with me .
I looked at her gate and my furry emmerged ,
” how dare she scheme against me!” I sighed taking in some de-ep breath to calm myself down . I almost stormed out to push open the door but Jim held my hand .
“Don’t rush man, we have to stay focused . Don’t let your anger control your actions” he warned still holding my hand .
“Yeah you are right man, I have to focus .” I sighed
“Good , now let’s walk silently and check out each side of the house before we proceed to go in.” he added leting go of my hand .
I was glad I had company cause the anger I had was going to make me act like a mad man.
The b©dyguard Reloaded – Episode 4
© Tisa Phiri
We checked outside Jane’s house , it was all quite. I could see a faint light from the room I remebered to be Jane’s. She stayed with her elder sister who was married with 3 kids .
I knew if I had to get to Jane I nee-ded to be clever in a way I was to deal with her.
Slowly I opened her be-droom window with a sharp tool from the car,
“stay here and watch out!” I told Jim as I pushed the window open .
Jumping inside I found the room deserted. I looked around the room for any clues , I saw some pieces of paper on the unmade be-d .
Unfolding it , my heart skipped .
It was an address for one of the lodges in kitwe though I couldn’t see the complete address , I could figure out the address because I knew it I had once been there for some meeting a month before .
I searched around further but nothing else caught my attention . I was almost going out when I heard a car outside.
I quic-kly walked to the window , “who is there ?” I asked Jim who was standing by the corner peeping on a corner.
” Not sure yet” he whispered to me .
” Stay put let me check who it is.”
I stood by the window waiting for Jim to come back but infortunately he didn’t. I heard voices outside like some people arguing .
“Dammit!” I spat when I crawled out just to find a police car outside and two officers talking to Jim.
I saw them trying to hand calf him and I walked towards them , “excuse me officers!” I shouted before reaching them .
“What is the problem here ?” I asked with a command ?
“Who are you ?” One of them asked me ,
” why are you interfering in our work?”
“Am with this man” l pointed at Jim .
“Oh so you are together uh?” The policeman asked coldly ,
“you guys were reported minutes ago as robbers by some anonymous person .” He mentioned.
“And you just come to arrest us without consulting ? Or evidence of what we have done?” I asked with my voice with so much command . I had to stand my ground for me to face the cops . l hated their behavour , their altitude of intimid@t!ngactually frustrated me and all the time I had to face them I made sure I put the police people in their place .
“Who are you to question us ?” One of them the shorter one, asked standing next to me his head held up .
“Am someone who you wouldn’t want to mess with” I snapped firmly. I saw Jim smile and I knew I was nailing it .
“Listen guys , ” I said patting the short cop on his shoulders .
“We are in the middle of an operation here and you are getting in our way” I added .
“Um we are just doing our job sir” they respond . Am sure the command in my tone gave them a hint I was not just a civilian .
“May we know who you are ?” they asked standing back . I gr@bb£d my wallet and handed them my Id .
“Sorry sir” they paid their compliments ,
“we just acted on the call sir , permission to carry on ?”
” Carry on !” I ordered and stood beside Him as they got back in their car .
“Wait a minute” l called them before they could drive away .
“Do you have the details of the caller?” l asked leaning on the window to their car .
“Just the line sir and all we know is that it was a woman from the neighbour no name given”
“Good …let me have the line” I told him with a smile .
” Sure sir” he smiled back as he showed me the phone he had so I copied the number .
“Welldone! officer” l responded and hit the side of the truck as they moved away.
“You are crazy soldier” Jim chuckled as we walked towards our vehicle . I got the number and dialled it upon reaching the car.
“Hallo!” I heard a lady answer ,
” this is the police” I lied .
” May I know who this is , we have information that you just reported some dangerous robbers in your area” I told her .
“No , I won’t tell you my name sir just do your work , I have told you I saw two men break in at my neighbours house and you are asking questions instead of doing your job!” she shouted and I could now recognise her voice .
“Jane ?” I asked her surprised, “where are you, you mad woman ,where have you taken my kids ? ”
She went quite , “speak up you b***h, I swear to God I will find you and when I do you will learn the worse of me.” l shouted my temper rising .
She cut the line and I knew she was close by, she saw us and called the police
“She must be close” I told Jim .
I took some steps to and from outside Jane’s house thinking, I was getting desperate each pas-sing minute . I knew Paula was waiting on me to take the twins home and I hated that I had not done much that night . lt was almost mid night .
“What next ?” Jim asked me when I finally st©pped walking around .
“I don’t know Jim, I don’t like the feel of all this and my woman is probably getting worried sick right now. I can’t take this any more. you know what? am going in there ”
I told him walking to the house .
” lf she won’t come out here from where ever she may be I will fish her out,” l stormed heading direct to the door. I knocked with a loud b!ow on the door and a few seconds later I saw Jane’s brother in-law stand before me holding the door .
“Who are you ? How dare you knock like that ?”
I didn’t answer back , I didn’t have any more time to argue and talk , I had to act fast .
I quic-kly pushed him back inside and gr@bb£d the gun from my back to his head ,
“where is Jane ?” I asked looking straight at him .
“I don’t know who you are and I don’t know what business you have , leave me out of your issues , ” the man answered .
“Oh, by the time am done here you will know who I am” I said sternly .
“Jim get the woman out from the
be-droom” I ordered. He looked at me with a questioning look ,
” go on!” I shouted .
He brou-ght Jane’s sister and told her to take a seat near the husband .
“Now” I sighed as I sat down and leaned on my knees , my gun put back in my belt .
” Sorry people l woke you up but it’s a matter of life and death , your sister” I said looking at Jane’s sister “just kidnapped my twins, the boys are just 3 months old so as you know the babies nee-d to feed and they nee-d the mother’s care . I won’t let this day end without finding them. so tell me where she is ” I spoke to them calmly .
“I have no idea what you are talking about” the sister shook her head on me.
“Just tell me anything that will help me locate her .” I insisted.
“She is supposed to be in her room for all I know” the sister answered.
“She’s not there” l answered her standing up my patience was running out .
“Call her now and talk to her plea-se , let her come out and face me , otherwise I know the small girl you are keeping here is hers , tell her I won’t let her destroy my life and if she’s daring me I will make sure she never sees her child again . I will hunt her down and l will find her. May God help her if that happens .” I scoffed.
She looked at me and asked to get her phone from the shelf in the sitting room as I watched her .
“Hello Jane, plea-se come back here this man is threatening us and the kids . plea-se if it’s true what he’s saying about you just drop this alre-ady .”
Before she could say anymore I gr@bb£d the phone from her .
“Jane ! If I don’t see you here in 2 minutes, I as-sure you your girl is dead.” I said cutting the line.
She didn’t know I knew that the girl she always told me was the last born of her sister’s kids was actually hers. In my desperation I had to use her to get her out of her hiding.
About 5 minutes later the back door opened and she walked in slowly . I knew she was scared .
“How could you do this to me Jane ?” I asked walking to her. I gr@bb£d her with f0rç£ and pushed her down to the floor. She fell down wimping ,
“where are my kids Jane ? Talk now or you all regret ever knowing me and messing with my kids” l snapped standing up on her as she raised her hands scared .
“Who told you l took your children Ackim ? I don’t know what you are talking about .”
“You know what, don’t give me that bulsh*t , those kids are innocent and still little , how could you act so evil ? Just start talking or I swear you will get me mad and trust me that won’t occur well for you .”
“Sorry but I dnt know anything” she answered flir-ting and standing to sit up .
With my hand I sl@pped her ha-rd and she went down with a ban-g , I felt bad she was pushing me beyond limit . I had never hit a woman before and I felt the effect my hand as I saw her bleeding from the mouth , the sister jumped screaming as Jane cried wiping her bloody mouth.
“Tell him what he wants to know Jane plea-se” the brother in-law begged .
She stayed quite her head down , “don’t make me do this Jane” I told her firmly .
“Give me back my kids and let me go back to my woman she nee-ds me and our babies.”
Jane looked at me with a disguisting look when I mentioned Paula. After some few seconds of threatening her , she finally gave me the information I nee-ded .
“Am not the one who took them ” she started ,
” I was just helping organise the kidnapping . l just wanted to make you pay for rejecting me so when I was approached by Chikola , George’s mother to arrange for some baby foods and diapers some two weeks ago, I agreed but from here they took off . They just c@m£ to get the things I got . I was told to wait for their call for the next step. I panicked and decided to hide at the neighbour’s when I saw you walk into our yard and called the police .
“Well so now tell me where they have taken my boys , don’t tell me you don’t know cause I just found this in your room” I told her holding out a piece of paper I picked from her room with a tone address .
“Is this were they took the babies ? ” I asked her lifting her head with my hand .
“I think so. They never really told me a thing.” she nodded her head . ” Well then, let’s go” I told her lifting her by the hand , .”you will lead us to the place”
Jim who had been watching in silence followed us outside and walked past us to open the vehicle .
I put Jane in the back seat and jumped into the driver’s seat .
“Check out the address I just text ” I told Chama on the phone as I drove .
I later called my wife and briefed her on the matter .
I heard her sigh as she told me to be careful .
” I nee-d you and the kids back to me Ackim” she whispered .
“I promise to bring us all back my love” l as-sured her before hanging up….
The road to kitwe was clear , it was past midnight. I accerated as my mind focused on the road .
“We have to be in kitwe in 30 minutes” I told Jim who sat next to me .
“Just be careful not to fly us soldier ” he smiled fastening the seat belt , “better do the same back there.” he told Jane who was as silent as a stone.
To be continued