Chapter 12: Chapter 12
Lt. Gen. Nasir Akeebilah was jotted awake from his deep slumber by the unmistakable sound of gunshots from his compound. He became alerted instantly, but the foolish bitch beside him was still sleeping soundly. He shoved her aside and she snuggled closer to him. “Come on, Baby, I want to feel you more.” She murmured drowsily,
The incessant rapid gun shorts brought her to her senses, and she gasped in alarm. “What is the matter?” She cried in horror.
Lt. Gen. Nasir hastily wore his clothes and cocked his pistol. “Whoever they are will not get me easily,” he sneered, a wicked grin on his aged face.
“Lt Gen Nasir Akeebilahi, the game is over!” Agent Braxton’s unmistakable voice boomed from outside the room. “You are surrounded by the NSA; you can’t escape! In the name of the President of the Republic of Mpoto, the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, I urge you to surrender peacefully; your wicked schemes have been uncovered. You are being arrested for the murder of the President’s daughter Miss Aliena Rehema, the death of Miss Sherry, the daughter of the Minister of Culture and religion, the death of Agent Donna, the attempted murder of Agent Marni, and above all, the plot to overthrow the democratically elected president.”
“What! Is it true?” The lady gasped in horror and unbelief. “You are a beast!”
“Shut up your dirty mouth and let me think!” He snarled and pointed his pistol at her as she attempted to open the door. “If you step near the door, I will shoot you!”
“The Assistant Director of the NSA has confessed and all your conspirators!” Agent Braxton continued. He intended to destabilize the General with the revelations. He was outside the bedroom door with Agent Marni and several armed Agents, battle-ready. “Sir, I just heard the President announced your dismissal from the Army on the television right now!” Major Garteh cried out from beside Agent Braxton at his promptings. There was a gunshot from the room and the cried of the lady made them burst inside to behold Lt. Gen. Nasir in a pool of his blood, they hastily surrounded the room and rushed him to the hospital, he didn’t survive it as he died on the way.
ΩΩ
Inspector Majeed wiped his brow as he came out of the accident and emergency ward of the specialist hospital in the company of the Divisional Police Officer, officers, and men of the police. The sight of the wounded victims of the robbery attacks by a gang known as the Hood was worrisome. “This gang must be nipped in the bud as soon as possible!” The DPO said emphatically,
“I agreed with you, sir,” Inspector Majeed said, “They are so heartless,”
“How far have you gone with the investigation?” The DPO asked as they walked to their vehicles. The members of the press presence didn’t even allow Majeed to answer as they bombarded the DPO with series of questions on the robbery attacks and what the police were doing to prevent future occurrences. As they went back to the station after addressing the press the DPO discussed with Inspector Majeed. “The Commissioner specifically requested that you should head this case, Majeed, he has a lot of confidence in you.”
“I will do my best, Sir,” Inspector Majeed answered. The gruesome images of the injured were still playing in his subconsciousness. “Imagine killing innocent and defenceless people after dispossession them of their properties,”
The DPO broke into his reverie, “They mustn’t be allowed to go scot-free.”
“That, I will make sure,” Inspector Majeed responded, a determined look on his young face,
“That is the spirit,” DPO intoned, “You can have as many men as you need for the operation, and feel free to come to me for anything you might need.”
“Thank you, sir.” Inspector Majeed answered and saluted smartly. He knew the case was not going to be an easy one because the gang members were not known as they always operate using the hood to cover their faces. They called themselves the Hood.
Two nights after, based on intelligence report that the Hood might strike that night, Inspector Majeed and his men were going on patrol when they received an urgent call that the Hood was operating at a bank close to the Grand Square. He led his men towards the place. As they got near, they got down from the patrol jeep while he positioned them and led a part of the group for the onslaught. “Shoot objectively and shoot to kill,” He gave the order. “We must apprehend them tonight if truly they are the one operating.”
Sounds of gunshots rent the air as the police marched fire for fire. The police got the upper hand as they killed the hoodlums whose faces were covered in hoods. The Hood had gone to the bank Accountant and Manager’s houses and took them to the bank to open the strong room for them.
As the police exchanged gunfire with the gang, a black car swept out of the bank and tore into the night.
“The leader has escaped with the Bank Manager as a hostage!” One of the Police Officers cried just as Majeed ran into the police jeep and ordered the driver to follow in hot pursuit.
“He can’t go far.” Majeed thought frantically, his sixth senses on full alert.
Nabeel who happened to be the leader of the Hood after Conan became incapacitated following the death of Colleen and Collins knew his end had come. He had gone on this operation unprepared because he was badly broke having lavished what he generated from the last operation on his family and entertainment. “You can’t always eat your cake and have it at the same time.” He concluded as he removed his hood and threw it out through the window as he speeds out into the night.
He gave the gang a new name, the Hood, and hired new hands changing their core deliverables from blackmailing to big-time robbery. The bank manager whom he held hostage was already dead. The police jeep was bearing down on him as a shot rang out from Majeed and shattered the glasses hitting him in the shoulder.
“I’m near home now,” Nabeel thought happily, feeling dizzy, having lost blood from the bullet wound on his shoulder. He slowed down and entered a familiar street, the Green Orchid Road. He took the turning to the right and entered Justice Godspower Avenue and after four poles, he signalled and turned into Shaphat Crescent; a quiet and secluded mansion that was enveloped in a profusion of security lights. When the police jeep got there, he met an empty vehicle. “What is the meaning of this?” Nabeel who had developed goose principles pondered, he was perspiring profusely as he alighted. His pistol handy, he inspected the blood-stained vehicle, observed the dead body of the bank Manager; convinced no one was hiding there, he used the bloodstain as a trail and entered the house. The bloodstain led him to the living room where he met Nabeel, his elder brother badly injured at his mother’s feet. She was crying profusely. “So, Nabeel, this is what you do for a living?” She asked.
When she sighted Majeed in Police uniform, holding a pistol, the intensity of her tears increased as the picture became clearer. “Majeed, you have killed your brother, why do I live to witness this day?”
“I…I…I’m so…so…sorry,” Nabeel stammered, with a great effort. “I did it for the love I have for you. I couldn’t bear to see you suffer.” He coughed out blood, convulsed, and lay still.
“You put yourself in bondage because of family bond; Nabeel, there is no justification for crime…” His mother cried,
“Mum, there is no need crying for him, he has stained his hands with innocent blood, regardless of what good he was done in the past he is a criminal and no criminal will go unpunished!” Majeed consoled.
“He is still your brother; Majeed, you killed your brother!” She wailed passionately; her hands clasped to her head.
She sat beside the body of her son and drew his corpse to her bosom. “Why me? Why me? Oh! God!!” She was in this state when the Divisional Police Officer arrived with reinforcements and paramedics.