The Hyena Code — Continuation 3
Ikeja, Lagos
Kolade slowly exhaled as Musa parked the car. He watched as Musa got down from the car and carried the trembling child in his arms.
They were parked in front of a private hospital in Ikeja. The owner was a close friend of Musa’s father, and Musa had called ahead, so the nurses were expecting them. It was a small car park and aside from the SUV, there was an ambulance and a saloon car.
The child had said nothing all through the journey from Yaba to Ikeja. He was shivering so bad, they could hear his teeth chattering.
During the drive to the hospital, Musa had kept a close watch on the rearview mirrors to be sure they were not followed. The last thing he needed right now was to be the prime target of people he suspected to be ritual killers. It was an election year and in the days building up to the elections, some people who were desperate to win at all costs would engage in human sacrifice. He knew the killers could not afford to leave their dead colleagues behind as that could make them easy to identify.
Two nurses were standing by the entrance, and as soon as they saw Musa carry Yemi from the car, they rushed forward. Musa’s all-blue attire was blood-stained and there was blood all over the child’s body.
The nurses took the bloody child from Musa’s hands and carried him into the hospital. Kolade and Musa followed them past the reception, and down a corridor leading to the examination room on the left.
Kolade watched as the nurses carried Yemi into the examination room, and closed the door, refusing them entry. He pulled Musa back to the small white and grey reception area. They sat down on the last row of three brown benches which were beside the dark brown counter. Two flower pots with large green plants sat on either side of the last bench. The lady behind the counter nodded a greeting and continued to watch the K-Drama series on the muted TV in front of the benches.
A gurgling sound had both Kolade and Musa up on their feet with guns drawn. The lady at the counter stared at them in fright and slowly pointed to the water dispenser at the far side of the wall beside the entrance. The large green plant had obscured it from their view. They put their guns away and sat down.
Moments later, a doctor arrived at the scene, nodded a greeting at the soldiers as he hurried past them, walked down the corridor, and entered the examination room.
Some moments later, the doctor returned to meet them at the reception. They shook hands, exchanged pleasantries and Musa briefly explained their encounter to the doctor.
The doctor listened silently and nodded at intervals. “There is no physical injury on him. But he is still in shock. So I’ve given him a sedative. But we will have to keep him overnight to monitor him.”
“Okay sir,” replied Musa.
“Have you reported the incident to the Police?”
Musa shook his head. “No, we don’t trust the Police because their loyalty is to the highest bidder. It might further endanger the boy and ourselves, because he was an eye witness to murder.”
“But his mother was killed. And the boy’s father could be out there looking for him.”
“I will make an anonymous call to the Police once we get back to base. But let’s ensure the child is safe before we expose ourselves. I’m sure my father would approve of this.” Musa insisted.
The doctor was silent for a moment. “Okay, given his age and the incident, I must insist that one of you stay behind. For the safety of the child.”
Musa and Kolade looked at each other. Then Kolade shrugged his shoulders. Musa was senior to him in rank. It was not a debate.
“Okay, I will stay,” said Kolade.
Musa and Kolade shook hands. Then Musa headed out of the hospital.
A nurse wheeled the child into a private room and Kolade followed them in. The room was bare save for a bed, chair, and a small bedside drawer. It had its own bathroom. As the nurse exited, Kolade sat his frame into the chair. He sank further and tried to fall asleep. However, even in his sleep-induced state, the child kept whimpering at different intervals and no matter how hard Kolade tried, he could not shut the noise out. There was no sleep, no rest for Kolade and Yemi till dawn arrived.
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The doctor was doing ward rounds when Musa arrived in the morning, so he and Kolade decided to have breakfast in a cafe opposite the hospital. Breakfast was bread and egg, along with a cup of hot tea, and a bottle of water. Musa was wearing a dark brown caftan with a brown sandal. Kola was still wearing what he had on the previous night.
They ate silently for a while.
Kolade picked up the teacup and caressed it thoughtfully as he watched Musa. “So what do we do with him?”
“Let’s go back to where we found him and ask around to see if anybody is looking for him,” Musa replied mischievously.
Kolade stared at him with a frown, “ You this Aboki, you dey play or you dey joke?”
“I dey play joke,” Musa replied.
“For a moment I thought you were actually serious.”
“That would be suicidal, it would be like writing our names on their hit list.”
Kolade raised his hands up in mock surrender. “Abeg o, I’m too young to die.”
“Old man like you, wetin you wan me wey just clock 30 years to talk?”
“That’s why you should show me some respect, I no be ya mate.”
“Sorry big brother.”
“Okay, go and sin no more.”
They smiled.
“What do we do with him?” Kolade asked.
“Another pawn that can become a Queen. He goes into the Red House.”
“You quite serious about your political ambition?”
“It’s what my Father did. It’s what I’m destined to do. I need my own special hit squad to be ready and on ground.”
“Hmm.”
“Loyalty can be bought, or groomed. I intend to nurture, train and mould these kids.”
Kolade leaned back into the chair and slowly nodded his head.
Musa stretched his right hand for a handshake. “Are you with me on this my brother and my friend?”
Kolade stared at him for a moment. It was not an option to go against his benefactor and best friend. Besides, what has he got to lose? It was safer and beneficial to be on the good side of a powerful ally. He smiled and took Musa’s hand. “I get choice?”
“No.”
To be continued…
Signed
Olumide Holloway (King Olulu)
