ENVY 48

"The tire of the vehicle busted on our way here." Pago said.
"That doesn't answer my question."
Pago continued as if he had not heard Sam "It's just two streets from here. There is a spare tire in the car but no jack. We need to go get it. I can't leave it there over the night. It's hired."
"Will you please forget about the car for now and tell me what all of these is about?" Sam was getting impatient.
"All of what?"
"For starters, where did you find her?" Sam asked, pointing to the room Rose was sleeping in.
"I walked out on the old man." Pago said instead, stalling. He didn't know how he was going to convince Sam yet again to go with him on this.
"Yea, I know. Damn! Everyone in the company now knows. He demoted you for keeping your divorce from him and you walked out."
"How fast rumour travels, it's only about a week now."
"Yea, but what has that got to do with Rose here?"
"Everything."
"I wouldn't mind if you'd explain this to me. Where is her mum?"
"Busy having a good time with an old friend."
"Old friend?"
"Siji."
"The same Siji?"
"Yea, the investigator I hired came through at last. He found her in Ife with Siji."
"But how did...."
"Remember, I lost a contract with the university?"
"Yes."
"Siji's company got it. He stole the contract from me. I have always wondered about the relatively unknown company that got the contract. Now I understand."
"What about Ese? What's she doing there?"
"She teaches at the university now."
"But I still don't understand why they came together."
"They used to be lovers, when we were in school."
Sam gave a short laugh. "Oh! I see. Interesting, it's too good to be a coincidence then."
"Of course it isn't. They both had it planned out. I promise I'd make them both regret messing with me."
"And the girl, how does she come into this? Is her mother aware she's with you?"
"She is the bait, they should be looking for her by now."
Sam could not believe his ears. "You mean you took her without her mum's consent?"
Pago smiled instead of replying.
"That's kidnapping you know? You kidnapped your own daughter. Are you out of your mind?"
"You of all people know that's not true."
"This is insane. What do you plan to do next?"
"You don't have to know everything, just trust me on this. All will be fine. Everyone will get what they deserve. My dad, Siji, and Ese. And when I get my company back, you'll be up there with me. I appreciate what you've done, but there is more to be done in order to get what rightfully belongs to me."
"This is getting out of hand Pago, I will advise you to leave things as they are. Take the girl back and we can find other ways to settle this."
"Other ways? Just listen to yourself. The only way is the way we've taken, there is no going back."
"I'm sorry Pago, but I can't continue with this thing."
"Then I will do it on my own. You'll be sorry when everything comes through."
"I can't let you go ahead with it either."
Pago chuckled in disbelief. "How do you plan to stop me? Will you tie me down?"
"I plan to go to your father in the morning and....."
Pago's laugh interrupted Sam before he could finish his statement. "You know you can be funny at times Sam." Pago said when he finally found his voice after laughing. "For a man smart enough to be entrusted with the security of the company, you baffle me at times. What are you going to tell him when you get there? You're culpable too. Are you gonna confess your sins while you are at it?"
"I will take my chances with him."
"You know one doesn't take chances with him, he is vindictive. He'll make sure you pay direly for betraying him."
"It will still be better compared to this insanity, I only agreed to go along with you because I believed you were been unfairly treated. But I can't partake in hurting someone else, neither can I stand by and allow you do it."
They were both silent for a long while as Pago seemed to ponder. When he realised there was no way he could convince Sam to support him, he capitulated.
"Alright, what will you have me do now?" He asked Sam.
"You call Ese now and tell her that the girl is with you and you are bringing her back tomorrow. You can tell her you are sorry, that you only needed to spend some time with your daughter. Even if she has reported it to the authorities, she will tell them all is well now. We will find a way to handle your father, you are his son, he will forgive you."
"What about you? Will he forgive you?"
"Don't worry about me, let's make the call now."
Pago dipped his hand in his pocket but couldn't find his phone. "Shit,  I must have left my phone in the car."
"Where did you say the vehicle is?"
"Two streets from here."
"Okay, let's go then. It isn't too late."
"We'll need a jack to change its tire."
"No problem, we'll take mine along."
                          
                             ★★★

"I don't know why you're agreeing to this nonsense." Siji said in annoyance as he gave her the glass of water and tablets of aspirin "it's not his daughter that has been kidnapped."
Ese took time to swallow both tablets one after the other before replying him. "No, but she is his granddaughter." She said in a voice that has become hoarse from shouting and crying.
"Pardon me, but I have to say I think he cares more about his name and reputation than his granddaughter. And I can understand that, I very much can. Most men do not become that rich and powerful by retaining their conscience and heart. So I very much understand his stance. What I don't get is you and your parents agreeing to it. He doesn't want you to inform the authorities that his rich, spoilt son might have kidnapped his own daughter, just because he wants to avoid a scandal and you guys are agreeing to his selfish..............and........and....self-centered request ."
Ese was looking at him as he talked, walking up and down her sitting room, and she was glad for his presence. She didn't know how she would have survived the day if he had not been there. He had been beside her ever since he rushed down to meet her at the school's gate. He had parked his car inside the school and drove her home in her car, then stayed by her while she  called her parents and Pago's dad to inform them. 
Everyone of them have been trying unsuccessfully to reach Pago ever since. He was determined to remain unreachable it seemed.
"I cannot imagine Pago hurting Rose for whatever reason." Ese said.
Siji could imagine it but he thought it wise to keep quiet.
Her phone started ringing again. It was Kalu this time, she gave the phone to Siji.
"Hello Kalu, it's Siji."
"Hi Siji, how is she?"
"She is holding up good. Any news?"
"No one has been able to reach him, I have contacted all our mutual friends, none of them knows where he might be. They tried his lines too, same result as us, all off."
"Thanks Kalu." He said.
Ese knew before he shook his head that it wasn't the good news she had been expecting.

                                ★★★

Pago had parked the vehicle at a secluded place. It was approaching midnight when they got to it. It began to drizzle as they started working. By the time they were through, it was raining heavily.
"Lemme get the umbrella. " Pago said as he dropped the tools they used in the car trunk and went to the driver's side.
Sam carried the bad tired to the trunk and tried to fit it into it's position. It was dark and he could not see what he was doing clearly.
"Please bring the umbrella fast am getting drenched, I need a flashlight too. Is there one in the car Pago? He shouted in order to be heard because the rain and thunder were drowning his voice. He was bent into the trunk so he did not notice Pago when he came behind him to aim the semi-automatic at him.
"Pago, Pago can you hear me?" He asked, then straightened to look around the vehicle, but he could not see Pago. Then he turned and staggered against the vehicle when he saw what Pago was holding.
Pago could see the shock and fear in Sam's eyes before he pulled the trigger, aiming for the chest. The sound made by the weapon was swallowed up by that of the angry thunder. His eyes still wide open in shock, Sam held the wound made by the bullet on his chest as his huge frame first fell against the car trunk, then to the muddy ground.

About the Author

 Soji Adeola Ayanleke was born about 3 decades ago in Kano.
He studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he speaks Yoruba and Hausa fluently and he is trying to learn Igbo and Spanish. His hobbies are reading, writing and playing some indoor games.