CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Their car was unusable and so they found a taxi cab to use, a cab whose owner abandoned without hesitating to leave the keys in the ignition, saving his life came first, and he did save his life, partially, for his means of livelihood was now gone. They managed to get past checkpoints without much trouble because of the cab; it was a blessing in disguise. 

When they contacted Chief's family two days later, they said they had initially planned to release him for ten thousand dollars, but now that their car was gone, they had increased it to fifteen thousand dollars. They were not to let the police know about further developments for his family members would be closely watched and if there was deviation, well, they should remember Chief's safe return was now in their hands. Chief had given Chidi's name and number to the kidnappers, maybe because he trusted him or maybe because he was the eldest male in his house. 

Chidi, his sister's son‬‬‬‬‬‬ had been with him since he was four years old. He had raised him and loved him like his own son, and Chidi too had grown to love and respect him like a father. So it was only logical for Chief to give his number, for of his four biological children, the three grown up ones were girls and the male who happened to be the youngest was only nine years old, what would he have been discussing with the kidnappers. 

 The kidnappers were true to their words; they closely watched Chidi. They would call and tell him what cloth he was putting on, ask him who he was talking to at such and such place, so he was careful. When he returned home that day at night, he was surprised to find a stranger in his house. The stranger told him he was a police man, a special type of policeman who had been sent from the state police department to help. His wife told him the man had been in the house for over three hours for they believed it was him who was being followed, not the entire family, thus‬‬‬‬‬ the police man had sneaked into the house when Chidi was out. Chidi explained how they would call and tell him what he was putting on. How he would immediately turn around and find out there was no one behind him. He thought they were smart. He also told the policeman how he had gone round trying to raise the funds and how difficult it was, if only chief had been around, that money would have been ready for the kidnappers, it was one thousand dollars short. He also told the policeman where he was told to drop the money. The policeman told him to do as they had commanded but he should know one thing, they would be looking out for him, like big brother. 

The kidnappers had commanded him to take the money to Saminaka, a town nearby, There was a big farm, and he was given the name of the farm. He was to take a path behind the farm and keep walking. Before morning, policemen had scouted that area, taking vantage positions, waiting for day to break. 

Chidi had left home at 5:30 am and was on his way to the location. It was about an hour drive and he got there without hitches. He saw the farm, parked his car, and followed the path he was ordered to follow. He had not gone far when a tall stranger came out from behind a tree and told him to keep walking. 

“Are you alone?” He asked Chidi.

“Yes boss, I came alone.”  Chidi managed to answer. 

“You sure?” Raising his shirt, so Chidi would see the gun tucked in his trouser. 

“Yes sir, yes sir.” Chidi didn’t even know how he was able to answer the man. He was shaking and stuttering, not even realising he was addressing this man as 'yes sir.’

As Chidi walked with the man following closely behind him, they met a farmer was coming from the opposite direction, the tall stranger asked him if he had seen people in the bush or along the other road, (for that path led to a tarred road into another part of the town) to which he replied No. As they passed each other, the farmer or disguised farmer brought out his phone clandestinely and made a call without putting the phone to his ear, it was a communication to back up agents, for this disguised farmer was the same policeman who had visited Chidi at home, Chidi didn't even recognise him. Just then, out of nowhere, before the tall stranger could even say Jack Robinson, another policeman who had taken his position on a tree jumped and landed on the tall stranger. As they both struggled to get up, the disguised farmer who was now standing with his gun pointed at the tall stranger gently uttered some words; “One more move and you are a dead man.” With the gun pointed to his head, he rued his luck. He knew there was no way out of this game. He knew his time was up.

There was no time to waste, they began interrogation on the spot but the tall stranger was not cooperating, which angered the disguised policeman, who shouted, “you think we are here to play games, Right?” The question had not finished leaving his mouth when the sound of a gunshot followed, just above the stranger's knees, his trouser became wet, then red, stained with blood. That worked magic, and he began to talk like a parrot. The tall stranger was humbled, who wouldn’t? He began shouting, crying, “oh my leg is gone, my leg is gone, please officer have mercy on me, my leg.”

“If you do not continue to talking, I will shoot the other leg, you evil bastard!” It was the policeman who had hidden on the tree that thundered, threatening to shoot again.

“im gonna talk, officer please im gonna talk.” take it easy with me, im going to talk, please have mercy on me"