Tarasha - Season 1 - Episode 8

Episode 5 years ago

Tarasha - Season 1 - Episode 8

‘These locks do not really guarantee security
anymore, that’s why places with need of
maximum security makes use of cards and
fingerprints locks’ she said and inserted her
flash drive into a computer she switched on.
‘Only little information required for our first job
has been gotten , we need to get more
information and put everything else in place’
She began. ‘The job is to waste the Minister of
health, Nnamdi Akofor’
‘Nnamdi Okafor’ Cole corrected her wrong
pronunciation. ‘What’s the plan? Are we going to
Abuja?’
‘No, he’s coming to Lagos. There’s a conference
next week Saturday and he’s one of the
speakers’ She continued. ‘He has a house in
Lagos and he’s going to be staying there when
he comes’
‘So are we killing him in his house?’ Benny
questioned, folding his hands as he paid rapt
attention to her.
‘I don’t know yet, that’s why we need more
information’ she answered and looked away to
the computer screen. She clicked on an icon
and an application opened up. ‘From the data I
gathered already, the official selected by the
SSS to be in charge of the Minister’s security
was Segun Kayode’
‘Segun Kayode sounds familiar’ Cole interrupted,
trying to recall where he knew the bearer of the
name.
‘The Segun Kayode I know works with Officer
James, they’re on the same CID team’ James
added confidently. ‘But they work on criminal
cases, I wonder why Segun is involved in this
one’
‘The position of the officers in charge does not
matter to us, what would determine our success
is if we play our roles very well’ Tarasha said
and faced Cole. ‘Canyou work with this
application?’
‘Yes, I’ve used it several times already but not
for any major job, I only played around with it’
Cole replied.
‘Okay, hummm…’ She brushed a finger on her
lips and thought about something briefly. ‘The
man’s house is located at 4/6 Alex Street, Ikeja.
Your job is to survey the place and locate all
the security cameras around the area with that
App’
She stood up from the seat and motioned Cole
to sit down. She watched and smiled as Cole
began to operate the software without
struggling.
‘Benny and I will start a physical survey of place
today’ she tapped Benny at the back. ‘You’ll
pick me up at Gravl avenue by 10am’
‘Alright, no problem’ Benny swallowed as he
replied, ‘I’ll go get prepared at once’
‘Ermm, I think you guys need a cook here, don’t
you? Or have you eaten this morning?’ Tarasha
asked thoughtfully. ‘You can get one for
yourself, but make sure you pick the right
person.’


28/11/2030
** 10am **
Segun and his men stood up from their seats
immediately they sighted the minister
approaching with his two bodyguards. They
walked closer to welcome them, one of Segun’s
men collected a small luggage from the short
bodyguard.
‘Officer Segun Kayode sir’ Segun displayed his
ID card and bowed in respect to the minister.
‘Oh officer!’ Nnamdi Okafor exclaimed
cheerfully, extending his hand to Segun for a
handshake. ‘How are you doing?’
‘Fine sir, how was your flight?’ Segun asked
smiling.
‘Wonderful’ the man replied and looked around
like someone searching for something.
Segun was quick to figure out what he searched
for and he pointed out before the man asked,
‘the car’s over there sir’
‘Ok, Beautiful’ Chief Nnamdi smiled and nodded.
The party journeyed the short distance to where
the cars were parked.
Segun and one of the Chief’s bodyguards sat in
front of the jeep while the minister sat at the
back. The rest of the party took the other car
and followed closely behind.
**********
‘Welcome Boss’ Cole greeted, standing up as
Tarasha walked gently in with Benny.
‘Thank you’ Tarasha answered, she took a
glance at the fried rice Cole was eating and
then dropped a USB device on the table. ‘We
planted the tracker on the Jeep as they made
their way into the airport. You’ll monitor their
movement when you’re done with your food’
Cole covered his food and stood up at once, ‘I’m
done already, I’ll just tell Aisha to pack away
the left over’
‘Huh?’ Benny made an unnecessary sound as he
opened back Cole’s food and threw the
remaining meat into his mouth distracting
Tarasha and Cole.
‘Sorry’Benny apologized, he gulped down a cup
of water and hurried after them to the computer
room.
‘I think he’s on his way to the pharmacy’ Cole
said aloud after a minute, he pointed at a
blinking green light moving on the map
displayed on the screen, as the GPS tracking
receiver App opened.
‘Ok, he’s working according to the schedule. I
remember Dr Hammed told me…’ Tarasha
joined in, she paused and recalled her last
meeting with Dr Hammed.
**flashback: 25.11.2030 **
‘Good morning sir ‘ Samantha greeted, smiling
as she took her seat in Doctor Hammed’s
office.
‘Good morning Samantha’ he replied, smiling
back. ‘I saw your book here on Friday and I was
told by the receptionist that you came. So why
didn’t you wait to see me?’
‘Sir?’ She narrowed her eyes as she stared at
him in surprise. ‘I was here and we met’
‘We met? No, we didn’t. The only thing I saw
here was your book in my office’ The Doctor
returned the surprise look, which later turned
into a frown.
‘Sir? I was here, right in your office. You told me
you were a little bit tired and needed to rest,
that I should return today’ She refuted.
‘Oh! I did that?’ The look on the doctor’s face
changed to a confused one.
‘Yes, you don’t remember?’
‘Off course I remember’ Dr Hammed aloud,
making a futile attempt in using a smile to cover
up his confusion.
Tarasha chuckled.
‘I really had to sleep that day because I used a
particular new drug’ He added a lie.
‘Oh! I see’ She smiled. ‘So have you gone
through my work now?’
‘Yes, I did go through it but I noticed that the
research is not completed yet and does not hold
any valid conclusion’ he answered.
‘I’m about to complete it sir, I just thought I
should share it with you so that you can help
me further…’
Dr Hammed’s phone rang, he motioned Tarasha
to stop talking before he picked the call.
After speaking for about a minute, he ended the
call and got up hurriedly. ‘Sorry, I have to go
check something now, if you like you can wait
here or come back later’
‘No problem sir, I’ll come back’ She replied and
got up from the seat, proceeding towards the
door.
‘Please, I think I need your help’ the Doctor
called back. ‘Can you help bring this bag along
to where I’m going?’
‘Of course sir’ she smiled and hurriedly collected
the bag from him. The Doctor carried another
bag and led the way.
They took the elevator and headed for the tenth
floor, continuing with their discussion as it
moved
‘I’m taking this to the conference room where
we’re having a meeting on Thursday and Friday
before the conference’ he said.
‘Wow! I believe it’s a meeting with the speakers’
Tarasha guessed.
‘Yes you’re right. On Thursday we have a
meeting with the country’s minister of health
and the commissioner and the company’s board’
He continued as they stepped out of the
elevator. ‘And on Friday we have a meeting with
all the speakers including the foreign guys’
‘Good… ‘ Tarasha said as they walked on to the
room.



**PRESENT**
‘It was then I planted the bug in the conference
room. So keep monitoring them Cole, we might
get helpful information from their meeting’
Tarasha concluded with Cole and turned to
Benny who stood with his arms folded and his
back rested on the wall. ‘The real job begins
this evening two hours before the Ghanian
minister arrives’
‘Yes, I know. I’m prepared already’ Benny added
confidently.
‘But where’s your cook?’ Tarasha asked, raising
a brow. ‘Didn’t you tell her she’s gonna work
with it us?’
‘Yes, let me get her’ Benny walked out of the
room and returned a minute later with Aisha.
‘Good morning’ Aisha curtsied.
‘Hey! I heard you’re a very good cook?’ Tarasha
replied on a lighter mode.
‘Yes, I try’ Aisha replied back smiling.
‘Good’ Tarasha smiled, she surveyed Aisha’s
from head to toe with her eyes and asked, ‘do
you use guns at all? In case there’s any need to’
‘Yes, I do. I’m not a novice, I also go on little
operations’ Aisha answered.
‘Okay, we’re working as police officials for this
operation. “We” includes me, Benny and you,
Cole’s main job is here. We will get everything
we need by this evening’ Tarasha explained.
‘Our job is to secure Ghana’s minister of health
and escort him to Chief Nnamdi Okafor’s house
when he lands in Nigeria’
Aisha’s mind was filled with questions as she
listened, she waited for Tarasha to stop before
she voiced out her concern. ‘I’ve been briefed
already about the job but I don’t understand our
main mission there, are we taking the job as
real police officers?’
‘No, we’ll take care of the police officers
assigned to the minister first. Your job there
would end immediately we get to Chief
Nnamdi’s house and you’ll return here
immediately’
‘So what’s the real…’ She stopped abruptly, the
look on Tarasha’s face warned her against
asking any more question.
‘They’re in the pharmacy now’ Cole spoke aloud,
diverting their attention to him. ‘The car is no
more in motion’
‘Okay, just call me once the meeting starts’
Tarasha got up from her seat and walked out of
the room.
Aisha stared at Benny’s face inquisitively for a
moment, she hissed and walked away when he
stared back at her, pretending not to understand
what she wanted.
Benny laughed loudly, watching her backside
bounce as she went away, he patted Cole on
the back and took a seat beside him.
‘This girl doesn’t know we’re working with
someone different now’ he made jest of her.
‘She was expecting me to tell her something the
Boss has hidden from her’
‘Don’t mind her’ Cole added. ‘We already gave
her the rules here, she’ll have herself to blame
if she messes up’
‘She won’t mess up, she’s not a kid’ Benny
assured.

** Two hours later **
‘Have they discussed anything useful to us yet?’
Tarasha walked into the room, fixing her gaze
on the screen, the Derl Pharmacy meeting
transmission was on.
‘Not really’ Cole answered, ‘but I still think you
need to hear what they’re up to’
‘Okay’ Tarasha took a seat beside Benny and
listened carefully.
‘… all of these monies would be paid into your
account directly and you have to transfer our
own share to us within seventy two hours later’
Dr Umaru was seen explaining. Six men, neatly
dressed in suits were seated at the edge of the
long conference table, the minister of health
was seated at the middle of the table.
‘That’s no problem’ Nnamdi Okafor replied.
‘What I’m saying is we should calculate the
money now, so that there’ll be no arguments
when the money is shared’
‘The total is about one billion naira’ Dr Umaru
began breaking down the figures. ‘In organizing
the conference, we used only a hundred million
out of the three hundred million the Federal
Government gave us for it’
‘That’s just two hundred million, where did we
get the rest from?’ The inquisitive Lagos state
commissioner put in.
Dr Umaru cleared his throat and continued, ‘we
were given five hundred million for Lee Cho’s
products but we are only paying one hundred
and fifty million for it. We’re only buying half of
the required quantity and Lee Cho is giving us
at a subsidized rate. Ken Benson is also giving
us his drugs at a subsidized rate, we’re getting
four hundred million from his own deal’
‘That makes it nine hundred and fifty million
naira’ Nnamdi put in, he stared at Dr. Umaru
suspiciously. ‘I was expecting much more than
this’
‘That’s all, this administration is so tightfisted’
Umaru added again. ‘Not everything we
requested for was given to us’
‘It’s okay, let’s determine everyone’s share right
now…’ Chief Nnamdi was saying
‘Wow!’ Tarasha distracted the other viewers,
thinking aloud. She turned to Benny and asked,
‘is this not the same minister that everyone
speaks of as incorrupt?’
‘He is’ Benny answered softly, looking baffled.
‘I’m as surprised as you seeing that he also
involves himself in dubious deals’
‘Our country is really messed up, even the most
trusted ones are corrupt too’ Cole joined.
‘Well, I think your country people would love to
see this video later. Make sure you keep a copy’
She instructed, standing up from her seat. ‘And
also take note of any other information that may
be useful for us’
Tarasha who was already bored walked away,
leaving the Cole and Benny to watch the rest of
the shocking revelation.
…t

☆☆☆☆☆


‘It’s time to leave guys’ James motioned his
team members at exactly five pm. He got into
the first car, a Bently Jeep with a stout officer
who sat at the driver’s seat, while the other
four officers , two males and two females got
into the Camsol.
The stout man started the car engine and
mumbled some words to James before they led
the way out of the station compound, the
Camsol followed behind.
The minister’s plane was expected to arrive in
Nigeria by six pm, but it was just few minutes
after five pm when James commanded his team
to leave for the airport. Though the distance of
the airport to the station wasn’t much, it only
took fifteen minutes to drive there, James like
every professional insisted on arriving the airport
and getting settled very early before the
minister arrives.
They had just gone a few distance away from
the station when James’ phone rang, he
discovered that it was a call from one of his
team members who was in the other car
following them. He glanced back and couldn’t
find the Camsol behind them anymore, several
cars had come in between them now.
‘Where are you? Why are you guys driving
slowly?’ James inquired.
‘I think one of the tyres is bad sir’ the officer
replied. ‘I think something sharp pierced it on
the road’
‘You guys should fix it and join us at the airport
as soon as possible, is that clear?’ James
ordered.
‘Yes sir’ the reply came in a faint voice, the call
ended.
James and his partner continued to the airport
without them, they arrived at the airport not
more than ten minutes after.
Before they came out of the car, James called
back to find out where the rest of his men
were. He got a negative reply, no progress had
be made, instead more fault had been
discovered in the car.
Officer Segun’s call came in when they got to
the arrival hall,at exactly thirty minutes past five
pm.
‘Hello Sege’ James hailed, addressing officer
Segun by his nick.
‘Good day sir’ Segun voice replied cheerfully.
‘We just dropped the minister home now and
we’re about to leave’
‘Okay, are you sure he’s not going out to
anywhere else today?’ James asked.
‘He’s going nowhere else’ Segun answered with
confidence. ‘He returned home early to wait for
Honorable Mensah, he was told the plane left
Ghana already’
‘Okay, we’re in the airport already to wait for
him’
‘Ok sir, I just thought I should tell you I’m
leaving’
‘It’s alright, just remember the job continues
tomorrow. You should be with him whenever
he’s going out officially’
‘Alright sir’ The call ended.
James did not hear anything from the rest of
his team members until five minutes past six
pm, the same time when the minister arrived,
the call came in before the minister came out
of the plane.
‘Where are you?’ James demanded angrily.
‘On our way sir, we’ll get to the airport in the
next three minutes’ a voice responded shakily.
‘You better do or you’ll be sorry for yourself’
James snapped and cut the call. He was too
angry to notice the officer’s shaky voice.
‘Welcome sir, I’m officer James’ Officer James
welcomed Mr Mensah, displaying his ID card.
‘Thank you’ the minister replied, flashing his
teeth, the stout officer took the man’s small
luggage from an airport attendant. ‘Please take
me one to Honorable Nnamdi’s house
immediately
‘Oh yea sir, this way’ James motioned the man
forward, and followed behind, directing the man
as they walked. The stout officer hurried to the
park to drive the car forward to cut short their
guest’s trekking.
As they drove out through the exit gate, James
spotted the Camsol car at the entrance, trying
to sort out their entrance with the security
officials at the gate. The stout driver waved to
the driver of the other car and motioned them
to turn back and follow their car.
Officer Tunde, driver of the Camsol who was the
same person who communicated with officer
James through the phone, drove in through the
entrance first before making a u-turn to hollow
the exit.
In no time, the Camsol car was following closely
at the back of the jeep. James got a glimpse of
them through the side mirror, he felt like coming
down to discipline the juniors but had to
compose himself because of the Ghanaian
minister.
They drove into Chief Nnamdi’s compound after
twenty minutes, the compound wasn’t a large
one, the distance from the gate to the main
house wasn’t far.



Chief Nnamdi was spotted sitting under a shade
in the compound waiting for their arrival, with
one of his guards standing beside him. He
smiled on sighting the Ghanaian minister’s car
drive in, he stood up from his seat and began
walking slowly towards the park.
The Bently Jeep followed the direction to the
car park given by the guards, but the Camsol
car made a surprise movement.
The car drove violently straight to Chief
Nnamdi’s direction, clearing the two guards who
stood before the man, the first gunshot from a
uniformed policewoman behind, hit Chief
Nnamdi’s personal guard.
Bang! A noise divided the attention of the other
guards in the compound, before they could take
any step, another explosion hit the house
through the gate, creating an opening for the
assailants’ escape and killing the armed security
men at the gate. Three more gunshots were
heard and the Camsol made a turn and sped out
unhampered through the destroyed gate.

Cole tucked back the grenade launcher into the
bag and threw it at the back seat. He sighted
police officials rushing in their vans to attacked
Minister’s house, two of the police cars followed
the directions of the escaped Camsol. He
selected a rap music album on his car’s music
player before he started the car engine and
drove out of Alex street.
The plan had worked out perfectly well;
Tarasha, Benny and Aisha had left the office to
a restaurant beside the police station before
three o’clock. From there they monitored the
movement of Inspector James’ team via live
transmission of the police activities to their
tablet device.
Cole had hacked into the police control room
server undetected, through a method Tarasha
taught him, transmitting the video records in the
station to Tarasha’s device.
And the Camsol didn’t just develop any fault, the
back tyre was deflated by Tarasha while Benny
and Aisha waited for the police officials to
come to request for a tyre change at the
mechanic workshop compound close to the
station. The four officers except the driver were
induced into deep sleep and locked inside the
mechanic’s shop alongside with the mechanic
and his several apprentices. The driver of the
car was hypnotized temporarily with a pin
pierced into his arm.
Tarasha, Benny and Aisha after repairing the
car, disguised and changed into the uniforms of
the officers. The officer driving the car was
returned to his normal state after the
hypnotized pin was removed and forced to
continue driving to the airport. He was also
forced to keep reporting false information to
Inspector James.
Cole did the job of monitoring Inspector James’
movement on the road and reported live to
Tarasha, then he returned to Alex street and
waited at a reasonable distance to Minister’s
house from where he launched the grenade to
the gate.
‘Hey, over here’ Cole shouted, motioning his
three colleagues who stood at the front of the
restaurant beside the police station, after
returning from their successful job.
Tarasha, Benny and Aisha hopped into the car,
Benny sitting in the front with Cole.
‘Good job Boss’ Cole praised, laughing widely as
he pointed to a beard hanging loosely on
Benny’s jaw.
‘D--n!’ Benny removed the piece of hair and
flung it away.


Everything had happened too fast, it seemed
like a dream to James as the police medical
team tidied up a total of nine dead bodies in the
compound.
It all happened in less than one minute, the
Jeep that conveyed him and the Ghanaian
minister was not even parked yet when he heard
the explosion and gunshot sounds. They
narrowly escaped the impact of the grenade,
the affected area was just a few metres to the
Jeep.
The Camsol car already sped out of the
compound before he could rush down from the
Jeep. The first thing he did was to ensure the
safety of Mr Mensah by taking him far into the
house.
Chief Nnamdi Okafor could by no chance
survive the gunshots, his personal bodyguard
was first taken down. Then two bullets was sent
into the minister’s forehead and other one into
his chest, he died instantly.
‘Officer James’ An elderly policeman called
harshly. ‘You were here when it all happened?’
‘Yes sir’ James replied in low tones, feeling
greatly agitated.
‘You were not just here, the assailants came
with you’ the man added as he moved closer.
‘You brought them in, they were members of
your team’
‘No… Sir’ James stuttered.
‘Nooooo?’ The officer stressed, looking
suspiciously at James. ‘You brought the
murderers here, you must have known about the
plan all along’
Officer James was speechless, he battled within
himself to stop tears from dropping off as he
watched the Ghanaian minister been taken into
another car which was driven out of compound
immediately.
‘Are you not the one I’m talking to?’ The elderly
officer snapped angrily.
‘Sir, we’ve got the signal back and the cameras
are working perfectly well now’ a junior office
distracted the elder, trotting towards them with
a tablet device in his hand.
‘When did you say the signal went off again?’
the elder turned back to face the junior.
‘It went off by five pm and it returned few
minutes ago’ he replied, the sound of his
breathing was heard as he spoke.
‘That means it was switched off during the time
of the operation?’
‘Yes sir, the cameras didn’t cover nor transmit
anything all through. That’s why it took us time
to report the incident to the headquarters’ he
explained.
‘That means someone close to us must have
been involved’ the man said sternly, turning
back to James, he landed a slap on his face.
‘I didn’t… ‘ James wasn’t allowed to complete
his response, he was handcuffed and carried
away in the police van.