MISSING - Episode Nine

‘I can’t believe we’re doing all this based on a note and call with someone whose face you can’t even identify. This is ridiculous!’

‘Shhh…keep it down.’ Kabir motioned to Ike to stop talking as they walked stealthily along a silent tarred street. It was late evening, and it was growing dark already. They’d both left the house hurriedly after the call, with Ike doing it more out of curiosity than hope that they would finally get his friend back. Kabir on the other hand, seemed excited and eager to follow the instructions of the anonymous man. They’d taken a cab based on the directions they got and were on the last street to the house described.

The man they’d spoken with, claimed to have a lead that could help them find Eunice. He’d also claimed to have been on the scene when they took Eunice, and she’d been the distraction that helped his escape. Unfortunately, he couldn’t go to the Police because it wasn’t safe for him. They were obviously dealing with a criminal, but no amount of words could convince Kabir that following his lead wasn’t the right thing to do. After all, the news broadcast had proven that no one was on their side. So Ike threw caution to the wind, and here he was whispering feverishly to Kabir.

‘Don't tell me to keep it down. If something goes wrong here, how do we explain this wild goose chase we’re on.’

Kabir stopped and faced Ike head on.

‘I don’t know any more than you do, but my gut tells me that this guy is the real deal. At least, let’s check out the place he described and see if we’ll find anything, then we can do it your way and probably tell the police.’

‘Bro, he called the place a hideout! And he said that he couldn’t risk going there himself. What if we get caught? Or worse still, the same fate that befell Eunice happens to us also?

‘Yeah, but he also said that it had been deserted because they were afraid that he’d leaked their location, which was why they attacked him in the first place.’

‘True…’ Kabir was right, but this was madness. He’d agreed to go to a gang hideout without backup.

‘We are both out of our minds!’ Ike exclaimed in conclusion.

‘Keep it down! Do you want to get our girl or not? Just trust me on this.’

Ike looked at him for a few seconds, then his stomach growled.

‘Oh great! I never thought I’d die hungry. Alright man, let’s just go.’

They resumed their walk and increased their pace. Kabir pointed at a building ahead of them.

‘That’s it.’

Ike stopped in his tracks and stared ahead with his mouth agape.

‘Hideout indeed. This is a landmark!’

He was looking at a massive storey building that stood out among the buildings around it. It was painted blue and white, and had a high fence bounded by electric wires. It looked impenetrable.

Kabir chuckled lightly.

‘Not that house knucklehead. It’s the unpainted building beside it. It fits the exact description we got.’

‘Oh, true.’

‘I think you should go first from here.’

‘What!’ Ike looked at Kabir and from his expression judged that he was serious.

‘You were the one that led us here na, why should I take over now?’

‘O boy, na you get mind. I go follow you for back.’

Ike shook his head unbelievably and started jogging towards the house. There was no one in sight, but they still had to be careful. They approached the building from the side, looked tentatively around the house as they neared the front door. Then Ike walked to the entrance while Kabir sent furtive glances towards the direction they had just come from.

Ike turned the knob and it gave way easily.

‘It’s not locked. Should we go in?’

Kabir stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

‘Don’t you think this place is too quiet? We haven’t seen anyone since we got on the street. What if it’s a trap?’

‘Unbelievable!’ Ike let go of the door handle suddenly and the door slammed.

They both jumped in response, and Ike fought the impulse to flee.

‘Kabir, now is not the time to start talking like this, maybe five minutes ago would have been okay, but we are here now. So let’s go in and check.’

Ike, not waiting for a response, tuned the knob a second time, pushed the door open gently, and walked into the house. He sensed Kabir following and heard the door click shut.

‘I don’t believe this is a living room…and human beings lived here?’

‘Come on, there’s no time to stand around and marvel,’ Ike responded.

Kabir stepped over a shard of glass to join him at a table with scattered piles of paper. He flipped through hoping for something tangible to jump out at him; nothing did. The room was in disarray; a stool was overturned in the corner, and there were empty bottles of alcohol lying on the floor.

‘What are all these? This doesn’t make any sense.’ Ike flung pieces of paper away and muttered to himself.

‘He said that we’d find clues; that there was evidence here. But, this…this just doesn’t make sense.’

Kabir moved away from the table towards the cushion at the center of the room.

‘I need to sit’. As he strode towards the chair, he spotted a shelf which had been hidden from his view, because of where he was previously. In two quick strides, he reached it and opened the first drawer.

Ike looked up at the sudden quiet in the room. Kabir stood stiffly, his head down.

‘Kabir?’ He startled upright.

‘Ike, you have to see this.’ Ike walked towards him and looked into the shelf.

‘Ohh…Isn’t that…’ he whispered.

‘Yes, it is.’ That was all they uttered and silence filled the room.

*

Eunice tapped her leg restlessly, uneasy because she didn’t know when next her abductors would come knocking. She sat with her back against the wall, willing the discomfort in her stomach to settle. Ehioze had dozed off on her laps some minutes earlier, as if without a worry in this world. She had barely ended the thought when she heard approaching footsteps. She tapped Ehioze frantically.

‘Wake up! Someone’s coming.’ Ehioze opened his eyes and stared blankly for a split second before he jerked to attention. Then he smiled.

‘I’m ready.’ He then scooted over to his corner and lay down, feigning sleep.

Eunice attempted a smile, but her lips shook at the failed attempt to mask her fear. She turned to face the door as she heard the key slide into the lock. Offering a silent prayer, she took position, sprawling on the floor with her back to the door.

‘Hey! Get up!’ The male voice boomed.

She stayed still, willing the man to approach her.

‘Hey!’ His voice was louder this time.

‘…’

Eunice lay motionless as the man approached her.

‘Good’. The footsteps stopped beside her, and the man tapped her hand in quick succession with enough force to wake her if she was asleep. Eunice moved slightly in the motion of someone just roused from deep sleep.

‘Wake up!’ He sounded miffed.

Eunice turned partially to stare up at him. He was looking down at her with lips pursed. She looked at him straight in the eye and turned fully so he could see her full front length. The first three buttons of her blouse were undone, exposing some cleavage. His eyes moved almost imperceptibly to her chest and back to her face. Eunice was uncomfortable, but her charade had to be perfect. She moved again, stretching her arms slowly above her head. Her blouse rode up to expose her stomach. His eyes moved slowly along her upper body, more daring this time. His gaze lingered a little at the lace peeking from the top of her trousers before returning to her face.

'Get up. Let’s take a walk.' He said gruffly.

Her ruse wasn’t working! He grabbed her wrist firmly to pull her up, and she screamed, feigning pain, so he let her go.

She made no move as her mind scrambled for ideas. She looked to the door and her heart jumped. It was wide open, and the key was in the hole in the outside.

‘

Oooh…’ she protested, looking down. ‘I'm really tired, and my body aches so much,’ she sulked.

She sent a sultry smile in his direction, shifting just the right way to catch his gaze again.

She knew the exact moment that his eyes hit their mark.

When he didn’t reply, she continued.

‘…but, since you insist, I’ll get up.’

She propped an elbow on the floor in an attempt to raise herself and fell back flailing.

The man reached out instinctively to help her up, and she made her move without hesitation.

‘Wham! She’d aimed her knee for his crotch, but missed and hit his thigh instead.

“…Ohhh”. That grunt was music to her ears.

But, he was down for only a moment. The force of her kick had only sent him staggering backward. So, when she attempted to run past him, he grabbed her arm tightly, and she let out a cry. She struggled to free herself from his grip, but he was too strong. Sneering, he lifted her and pushed her against the wall, her legs flailing beneath. Her head banged against the wall and searing pain shot through her head. She felt dizzy and could feel tears coming.

She tried to grab hold of his shirt but it was useless. In one swift move, he pinned her hands against the wall. Through the haze, she looked towards the door. Ehioze had disappeared. She looked back at her assailant and felt her panic rising. Suddenly, Eunice heard a thump and watched the man’s face contort in pain, and his hands eased, creating enough room for her to move. She saw Ehioze clutching a log and panting.

‘Thanks, kiddo.’

Eunice pushed the man with all her strength and slipped through as he staggered backward. She aimed a kick for his crotch again and this time did not miss. He fell to the floor, clutching his groin in pain. Eunice had put all the strength she could muster into that one kick.

‘Hurry!’

Eunice looked at the man and sent another kick to his face. Halfway up, the kick placed him back on the floor. She rushed after Ehoize and out of the room, slammed the door and locked it.

‘What now?’

‘RUN!’

‘What?!’ Eunice gasped. ‘That’s the plan?’

Ehioze nodded and took off running. Eunice hesitated for a split second before she took off after him.

#thriller #nysc #election #kidnap #detective #series