The Hyena Code — Continuation 2
Kaduna, Nigeria.
The entrance door at the side of the blue bungalow opened and Fatima, an eleven-year-old girl in a pink gown skipped out onto the green lawn in the compound. The flowers that lined the side of the wall swayed gently to the breeze. The green lawn graced a large portion of the side of the building but gave way to interlocking stones at the front. There was a big carport with cars parked under it at the front of the bungalow.
Fatima looked up and stared at the full moon for a moment. Then she turned around to watch as her father and his brother emerged from the same door into the compound. She skipped happily back to stand between the tall, lanky men and held their hands as they walked towards the cars. There was a blue Honda CRV, a black Honda CRV, and a Honda Accord Saloon car.
She looked up at both men with a smile as the men conversed. The younger man, Yahya, was dressed in a Police Uniform. While the older man, Isa, wore a grey caftan. They stopped beside the blue Honda CRV, and Isa turned to face Yahaya.
“So Yahaya, when next are we going to see you?”
“I leave for Abuja tomorrow morning. I’ll be there for a month and thereafter, will be in Lagos for an eight-week training.”
“Training no dey finish?”
“It’s part of the promotion exercise.”
“Oh okay, we’ll be praying for your success.”
“Thank you brother.”
The little girl tugged on Yahaya’s hand and said, “Uncle Yahaya, can I come with you? Daddy has failed with his promise to take me to Lagos.”
Yahaya smiled, crouched beside her, and patted her head. “Don’t worry, I’ll come and take you once I’m done with the training.”
She hugged him, and he kissed her cheek.
“Let’s go Fatima,” said Isa, her Father, “your Uncle has some packing to do and I still need to fix my tire.”
As Yahaya straightened up, he looked at the back tire of the CRV.
“Wow, seems you’ve another flat tyre,” Yahaya exclaimed.
Isa groaned. “Haa, why now?”
“Why not take my car? I’ll fix your two tyres and you can pick it up tomorrow.”
“Oh okay,” Isa said.
“Let me get my key.” Yahaya turned to go back into the house.
“Uncle, bring the key to your black CRV. I’ve not entered it before.”
Both men laughed.
“But our car is also a CRV,” Isa said.
“Our car is an old model,” Fatima responded.
Yahaya laughed as he walked away. “Okay dear, your wish is my command.”
Some moments later, Fatima waved back at Yahaya as Isa drove out of the compound. Father and daughter sat side by side. Isa turned the car to the left on the narrow street and headed towards the main road. They drove past a parked black Toyota Hilux SUV.
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The man seated in the parked Toyota Hilux spoke into his phone, “The officer is heading towards you. He is driving his black CRV. I’ll him cut off if need be.” He engaged the gear and started to follow the CRV.
A voice on the phone replied, “Now or later?”
“Before he gets to the main road.”
“Okay, we’re on it.”
The call ends.
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Fatima looked up sharply as Isa stepped on the brake and made her lurch against the seat belt. A black Toyota Highlander had swerved across their path blocking both sides of the road ahead of them.
“What nonsense is this driver doing?” Isa exclaimed.
The door of the backseat of the SUV opened and a masked man with a handgun emerged and walked towards them. Another man emerged from the side of the SUV with a handgun. As both masked men opened fire on the vehicle, Isa threw his body over his daughter to shield her from the bullets.
Fatima felt her father’s body jerk as the bullets hit his back and buttocks. Her ears reverberated from the sound of the gunshots. She shut her eyes and held on to her father’s body.
Then there was eerie silence.
Then her Father’s body started to slip down her body. Fatima opened her eyes to see her father staring at her. He opened his mouth and tried to say something, but no sound came forth, only blood.
Fatima screamed. Isa started jerking uncontrollably.
To be continued
Signed
Olumide Holloway (King Olulu)
