ANIKE
Episode 34
I opened my eyes and found myself in a room sitting on a chair, my hands were not tied though. I looked around and saw one of the hefty men.
“Who are you, what do you want from me? I asked and no one answered me.
He brought out a phone from his pocket and dialed a number.
“Boss we have her and she’s awake” He put the call on speaker.
“Anike Adams!” I heard the monster’s voice. It was Odigwe. “Thanks for making my work easy, have been tailing you for the past one week now.”
“Coward, you are a coward. Why can’t you fight him man to man. Instead you want to use me as a bait to get to him” I said.
“You are wrong Anike, this is how a real man fight. Find the enemy’s weakness and use it against them. Anyways your lover has three days to give up the post or I’ll kill you.”
“Even if you kill me, you won’t get that post, you think the federal government will appoint you when they know you killed someone to take the post.”
“You think so, let’s see if your old lover will choose you over the position. Anyway enjoy your stay and make your self comfortable” He laughed.
“Get me out of here this minute.”
He ignored me “Sniper”
“Yes Boss.”
“Take a picture of her and send it to me, I’ll forward it to Alawode.”
“Yes boss” he said and hung up.
He snapped me and send it. Some minutes later he called back.
“The guy picked the call and put it on speaker.
“Anike! Someone who’d like to speak with you.” He said and I heard his voice. I couldn’t help but cry.
“Anike are you OK, did they hurt you” I was just crying the more.
“I promise, I’ll get you out of there my princess” He said and the line went off.
The second day, sniper told me Alawode is not cooperating.
“Instead of him to cooperate, he’s busy looking for ways to get you out of here, instead of him to step down. He can’t find you, he can’t find my boss as well” he said.
On the third day, Odigwe called sniper.
“Hello” he said and put it in speaker, I guessed he told him to do so.”
“Congratulations, I heard the monster’s voice. Your Man really loves you, you are lucky girl having someone like Alawode in your life. He just called a Press conference now, he has stepped down” He said sounding victorious.
“You bastard, I assure you, you won’t get away with th…..” Sniper slapped me hard on the cheek before I finished my statement. He placed the phone on his ear, it’s no more on speaker. They talked for for minutes before ending the call.
He covered my face with a hood, I was led out into a vehicle. They dumped me at no where in particular and zoomed off.
I removed the wood, I was in the middle of nowhere. I saw my phone beside me on the floor. It was off so I put it on.
I dialed Prince’s number.
“Anike! Where are you, are you OK?”
I’m in the middle of nowhere, no vehicles, no sign posts, nothing” I said.
“Logistics team are here, don’t disconnect, just stay on the line while they trace this call, hope you have enough charge on your phone”?”
“Let me check” I checked it. “34%”
“That should be enough.”
“What about airtime?”
Last time checked I still have 20 something thousand naira call card” I informed.
“Good, How long will it take?” He asked the logistics team.
“The reception there is very poor, it will make the trace slower. Let’s say 30mins.”
“30min is much, can’t you do better. Anike please hold on I’ll get you out of there.”
“25mins later, I heard the voice of one of the logistics.“ Sir the signal is weak, making it hard to trace.”
“Gosh, what do you suggest we do” he asked them.
“She should move around, so we could get where we can have a strong signal.”
“Anike! He called out. I heard them, I replied him and started moving.
Before I could take three steps, the line went off.
The sun was scotching the hell out of me, I’m thirty and feeling dehydrated already. I moved around searching for signal. Then I saw a big snake, I almost stepped on it while searching for signal.
I ran, I couldn’t believe the distance I covered in a minute, adrelanine at work.
By the time I stopped running under the hot sun, I tried to catch my breath. No tree where I could take cover just bushes.
I checked the signal and I got a not too strong one but better than before.
I called back. I was still panting.
“What happened, why are you panting?” Prince asked.
“I saw a snake.”
“Oh my God, are you ok?”
“Yes.”
“The logistics says the signal there is better, just maintain that position. Ok!”
“OK”
“How long will it take?” Prince asked.
“We should be done in less than 30mins.”
“But you said the signal is better.”
“Better sir, not strong.”
“Anike, just hold on a little. I love you, you know that right.”
“Yes.”
“Remember the last time we were in Paris.”
“I remember.”
“Remember you thought me a dance, can’t remember the name of the dance.”
“Salsa dance” I cut in and I smiled faintly.
“Yes, salsa dance, I couldn’t get it of my head. That was the first time we danced together.
“Yes and you learn very fast too” I said with a broad smile.
“That moment is one of the moment I cherished.”
“Me too” I said and smiled for the first time in three days.
He was using that to buy time. Till my location is traced. And it really worked because I almost forgot I was alone in that deserted area. He succeded in distracting me.
“We have a location” I heard the voice of one of the logistics crew.
“Good let’s move” He said. I heard footsteps and all.
????
Few minutes later his voice came up,” we are coming for you Anike, I’ll bring you home.”
“Prince, this place is scary.”
“Just think of me and I’ll be there.” He said and I heard I need an angel. The song playing at the background. I sang along quietly, moving my head slowly to the rhythm of the song.
I’m sure the place is far from the city. An hour and some minutes later. I saw his motorcade. He alighted and ran towards me.
“My princess…..
“Prince……” I hugged him and cried.
I passed out but I still hear his voice shouting. “Stay with me, Anike stay with him.”
I did not wake up until I got to the hospital, my clothes was wet. They add baptized me with water on their way to the hospital.
A female doctor attended to me, I was placed on IV fluids. She told Prince, I’m fine, that it’s just dehydration and stress. She said that after taking the fluids. He placed me under 24 hours observation.
Prince was with me through. He sent one of his staff to get some food for us. He spent the night at the hospital, no change of clothes, nothing. He sat right next to me. Till daybreak.
The doctor examined me in the morning, he said I’m very much OK. I was discharged. We left the hospital for Prince’s house.
Admiral Odigwe was automatically given the post because his opponent, Prince stepped down. He came back into the country two days later. But unknown to him, Prince in collaboration with the President had plans for him.
Odigwe names was forwarded to EFCC. EFCC dug some dirt’s on him. At a particular year when he was handling a post at the federal level he embezzled some money. He was arrested and probed and taken to court. All evidences pointed to the fact that he was guilty. His assets were seized, his account was frozen. He was relieved of all his posts including the one he snatched from Prince through his dubious means. He was sentenced to 7years imprisonment.
The appointment was given to someone else, Prince rejected the offer. He said he’s longer interested.
A week later, when I was very much okay, I answered to Prince. There is an adage in Yoruba language that says…
‘You first send the fox away before coming back to the the fowl.’
“Anike, we need to talk” he said authoritatively. That voice was not nice and I know he wants to talk about the kidnap.
“I’m sorry Prince. I’m sorry for everything I’ve caused you especially the position” I said calmly.
“Position! You almost lost your life because of your stubbornness.
“I’m sorry…..”
“I told you to stay back from work till everything is over but you still insisted on going to work. No, you didn’t leave this because of work because you were kidnap on your way to the airport. You plan to leave Abuja without my knowledge.”
“Prince….”
“Hang it there. Do you know what would have happened if I did not step down?”
“I know.”
“No you don’t know. If you knew you won’t left your exhorts behind. Odigwe would have killed you without a trace or evidence. He was making calls from outside the country and destroyed the Sim immediately, hence he couldn’t be traced, not to talk of the guys who held you hostage.”
“I know I acted foolishly, I’m really sorry” I apologized.
He was so mad at me, I wondered how he managed to control it for days.
I went to bed quietly that night. I decided to wait till he calms down.
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