Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

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She immediately sat up on the bed adjusting her robe to cover up her cleavage. She watched the lady who was now dressed in a baggy short and polo shirt take the seat by the dressing table
“You left this behind” Ima said dropping the leather bag on table
Jane said nothing but stare blankly at her.
“So are you exactly from Calabar or somewhere else in Cross River?” Ima asked turning to face the girl
“I’m from Calabar” Jane replied
Speaking Efik, she asked her “From which village?”
Jade’s eyes almost fell out of their sockets when she heard the the lady speak her language. Responding she said “My dad is from Duke town and my mom Big Qua”
“So you’re a full bred Calabar girl. Well, I’m from Akpap-Okoyong in Odukpani but I grew up in Diamond hill in Calabar” Ima said looking away from the girl as she tried to hide the little smile memories of her childhood at Diamond Hill.



The visibly elated Jane replied “Really, I grew up around Ikot-Ansa before my parents moved to Satellite town, about three years ago after dad was appointed CMD and built our personal residence. It was during my secondary school days in Federal girls”
The mention of satellite town by the girl reminded her of where she dropped her daughter about 19 years ago and her mood changed again. In changing the topic she switched back to English and asked the girl “So what do you plan on doing to your friend who sold you out when you get back?.
Jade immediately recognized the tone in the lady’s voice. Looking at the woman without saying anything, she wondered how easy it was for the lady to smile one minute and get mean the next second without showing any sign of pretense.
“I’m told you shot a man in the head?” she added when the girl said nothing
Looking down she nodded saying “Yes”
“And because of that you think you can just put another bullet in your friend’s head? It seems to me you were under the influence of the drug put in your drink when you pull the trigger?” she asked indicating that the situation that prompted her to shoot the man was definitely different now
“I don’t know. But Vicky can’t just die like that and she has to pay for everything she made me pass through” she replied breaking down in tears
“So that’s the reason you agreed to work with us? Do you know how dangerous the things we do are?” Ima asked her again
With her head still down as she sobbed, Jade nodded in agreement
“I need vocal answers young lady and not head movements” Ima raised her voice infuriated with Jade’s for nodding her head.
“Yes ma” she managed to say still not looking up.



“So what’s the plan? How do you intend to make her pay? You don’t think she’ll be on the guard and might wanna finish you off the moment she realizes you’re back in town?” she asked wondering if the girl understood what she thinking she could do
“I..” she was cut short
“Miss, you look at me when you address me!” she added
“I..” she began to reply looking up at the lady when the woman cut her short again
“Stop crying young woman. I believe you don’t intend to cry before her” she said calmly this time around
Drying her tears with the back of her hands, she sniffed severally before regaining her composure. Then she began “I intend to act normal around her. Since we became closer just before my abduction and with Vicky dead, I’ll make her believe she’s the only friend and confidant I have. She’s Bi, so I’ll try to s£duce her which i’m certain she’ll fall for because i’ll make it look as if I and Vicky had always been S#xual partners that just knew how to cover and hide our dark side” she paused to see if the lady was buying it
“Go on” Ima instructed
“With what your husband said…”


“He’s not my husband” Ima interrupted her
“Sorry” Jade replied confusedly
Chuckling at the fact that the girl apologized because she said he wasn’t her husband, she just said “Go on”
“He talked about getting information about her organization and how they operate. I’ll make my affair and bound with her so strong and possibly involve myself in some of their activities to buy her trust. She wouldn’t suspect and then I’ll strike when she least expects” She said hoping it sounded convincing
“When you talk about involving in their activities, you mean you’ll also get other girls kidnapped and sold off if not possibly killed just to find the perfect time to take vengeance on, what’s her name again?” she asked Jade
“Vivian” she revealed
“On Vivian?. Don’t you think the girls you cross would also seek your head for vengeance?” she asked in a bid to explain to the young lady things don’t always go the way one plans and hope especially in their line of business
“I don’t know. But I do not wish to force people to do anything they don’t want….”


“Young lady, forget about vengeance. You should be thankful to your God you are still alive. Live your life, if the opportunity for vengeance present itself, you take it. But don’t go around carrying so much hate in you. And if I were you, I’ll still be careful of Vivian” Ima said. With that she stood up and was about to leave the room when the Jane asked her a question
“Why did you leave Calabar?”
The question took her by surprise and she paused, turned to stare at the girl for some seconds before asking”And who said I left Calabar?”
“You didn’t seem happy talking about your home, and at a point you changed the topic. You reverted to English even when I responded in Efik. It all seemed to me you’re not happy identifying with the place and your people” Jade replied her having taken note of the fact that even when she mentioned she was from Calabar earlier on, the lady didn’t act like she gave a damn.



“Get in the shower and get dressed, we’re going out for dinner you and me. He’ll pick you up first thing tomorrow morning for your trip back home” she replied in Efik
“What about him?” Jade asked being conscious of the fact that the woman didn’t answer her question meaning her observation about her having some issues was definitely inline.



“He’s gone back to his wife and kids, anymore questions?” she asked with a straight face
“No ma” Jane replied in defeat
“Now go get ready, we’re going out. And brush that hair of yours. You look like a mad woman” with that she closed the door behind her.



Outside by the passageway, she fought hard not to run into her room and when she got it, she slammed the door behind her and collapsed on the bed.



“My God. What’s the meaning of all this?” she asked breathing hard. Here she was falling for this girl and even though she tried to act tough she still couldn’t suppress that feeling.



Jams was right after all. She was sure a very smart kid who read her like an open book even though she was closed
For a large part of her life, she built a wall around her emotions, with only her first love knowing where the entrance was. Now this kid here after just a few minutes of interaction was able to tell she was a sad woman. This is not minding the fact she bossed the girl around their chat.



The girl said she now lives where she dumped her daughter several years ago. Is it possible they are even friends? While she had maintained contact with John and her mum, she had refused to go back home until her dad had died 5 years ago and she showed up for his funeral. She had initially refused to attend his funeral because she never forgave him, but had a change of heart after her immediate younger brother told her forget about him if she didn’t attend.



Having missed his wedding, it was an opportunity to appease him.


It was during that period she had gone to Satellite town out of curiosity and only to discover the place had been transformed.



Though she located the street, but all the houses there were now story buildings which all seemed recently occupied. Upon her enquiry, she was told the government demolished the old residence and built the estate which now stood there.



She had lied to Jama the baby had died without Jama crying when she told him what happened to her and the child.


*****


It was already dark when both of them drove out of the estate on their way to the restaurant she had planned to take the girl to. She had slept off thinking on the bed. Besides, after a great welcome back s*x and she subsequently tidying up some deals online after Jama left, she was damn exhausted.



Dinner was just fried rice and chicken with some fruit juice. During the drive to the restaurant, dinner and drive back home, the she did most of the talking, putting the young through the dangers of her business, why and how she got into it and a few of her S#xual exploits in the course of her work.



Jane was surprised the lady can be this open.



But still, she knew the lady didn’t answer her initial question.



It was by 8:30pm they got back to the house.