Chapter 9: Chapter 9

President Muriel Rehema found it difficult to believe that his beloved daughter was gone. He paced up and down his posh office, trying to reflect on how or where he got it wrong and missed it. Aliena on her tenth-year birthday was the proud owner of two exotic vehicles; one Toyota Camry presented by the then Colonel Nasir Akeebilahi, the other was a Toyota Prado Jeep presented by a wealthy businessman who also was his business associate. A lot of cash gifts were also presented by state governments, individuals, and corporate organizations both home and abroad. When she marked her fifteenth-year birthday, he asked her what she wanted, and she jokingly requested a Yacht. “Consider it done, my dear,” he intoned and dipped his hand into his breast pocket and brought out his mobile phone. He put a call through to an agent; as the celebration continued in the luxury gardens of their mansion, the noise of a powerful machine was heard and everyone present was prompted to look upward to behold a beautiful helicopter flew towards them. He had excused himself for some minutes as he took her to the seaport where a brand-new Yacht was docked. There was hardly anything she requested for and didn’t get. At the age of eighteen he made her the Vice Chairman of his multimillion-dollar company; Paureali Group of Companies (PGG).

“It is not all about material comfort, Mr. President.” A voice said within him, “Were you there for her when she needed parental guidance? You left her to be devoured by the wolves in sheep’s clothing!” He felt a sad tingle within his spine and a lump rose to his throat. “Something is wrong somewhere; somebody is trying to be funny and who could that be?” He pondered worriedly. “Aliena and Sherry’s death couldn’t be accidental. Sherry was brutally murdered in her car in a country where I’m the President? I must get to the root of this matter; come what may!” He resolved as he pressed a button on his table to summon his National Security Adviser. “Wait a minute! Could it be that Senator Cohen Sparks have a hand in this? He is in prison serving a long-term sentence.” He sat down wearily as the door to his office opened and the National Security Adviser entered.

Senator Cohen Sparks was a strong contender for the Party’s Presidential ticket during the last dispensation that brought President Muriel into power. He had visited the then-Senator Muriel in his office at the twelfth floor of the Paureali Group of Companies corporate headquarters. “To what do I own this visit, Senator Cohen?” Senator Muriel asked, after exchanging pleasantries and ushering him to a seat.

“I must commend you have a nice office.” Senator Cohen said, looking around the Chairman’s office with admiration. “Thank you, but this isn’t the first time you will be visiting my office, is it?”

“No, this is not the first time; I was here with the party chieftains about two months ago to hold a meeting with you in respect of the feud brewing up among party members in Cantata state.”

“Yes, I remember very well,” Senator Muriel replied with a smile.

“To the purpose of my visit this afternoon, Muriel,” Senator Cohen began, after clearing his throat and sitting up. “You have declared your intention to contest the Presidential election through our great party and you know I have also declared for the same seat?” Senator Muriel nodded in agreement, not keeping the smile off his face. “I want us to settle this issue amicably now between ourselves.”

“Why don’t you let the party delegates decide that?” Senator Muriel asked, looking at Senator Cohen straight in the eyes.

“That is a good suggestion, Muriel, but you and I are good friends, and I want to save you from political embarrassment during the party primaries so, I am offering you a million dollars right now in cash and I promise you another one million dollars after announcing that you have stepped down for me.”

“It is a generous offer, my friend, but look around my office? Do I look like somebody that can be bought over?”

He looked at Senator Muriel cryptically; “I’m more experienced and connected than you in politics; I was a governor for four years, Minister for four years, and currently a Senator for the past twelve years. I want to serve my country and I don’t want anyone to stand in my way!”

“You are offering me two million dollars to step down for you?” Senator Muriel asked with palpable distaste.

“Yes! Is it too small? I can double it?”

“Do I look like someone who can be bought? I think I will prefer to be embarrassed politically than selling my conscience to you.”

“Everybody has a price, my dear Senator.” Senator Cohen said, adjusting his frame on the chair, an expansive smile dancing around his thick lips. “Name your price, if you aren’t okay with the offering.”

“Senator Cohen, it is not my attitude to bandy words with you.” Senator Muriel said, holding his temper in check. “I’m not interested in your proposal.”

Senator Cohen wasn’t deterred in the least. “You are free to bargain with me...”

“I would not like to be discourteous, but you are pushing me; I will report you to the Party Chairman!” He stated heatedly, banging his fist on the table.

“The Party Chairman?” Senator Cohen parroted and laughed mirthlessly,

“I would like to get back to my work.”

“Are you asking me out of your office?”

“Is this the kind of service you want to offer the people as President? Service of bribery and corruption?” Senator Muriel retorted, “No wonder your four years of reign as governor was worthless!”

Senator Cohen rose to his full height and faced Senator Muriel. “As long as I’m alive, you will never smell the Presidency not to talk of occupying the office! Mark my words!!”

“Your word is an empty threat, Cohen!” Senator Muriel also rose. “Get out of my office now before I call my security to ruffle you out!”

“You will regret the day you venture into politics, Muriel!” Senator Cohen swore and walked out of the office.

“What arrant nonsense!” Senator Muriel pondered furiously. “These are the kind of dirty crooks that should be flushed out of politics!” He picked up his telephone and began to dial the Party National Chairman’s number.

Meanwhile, Senator Cohen Sparks drove straight to the airport where he took a flight to Cantata State where he was a former governor, on landing, he was driven to the Groove International Hotels and Towers; the best hotel in the state, where he was a frequent visitor. After settling into his suit, he put a call through to Teena. “I want you to meet me in my regular suite now.”

“What is it this time around, Cohen? She snarled. “Your wife has pushed you out and you want me to come and lick your wounds, isn’t it?”

“Why are you talking like this, Teena? Have I not been paying you well?”

“Paying me well? Is it all about money? Now don’t get me annoyed! I asked you to make me a commissioner. Did you?” she was angry, “I have been the one doing the dirty side of the job and what do I get in return? Don’t worry I will do this and that for you!” She mimicked disgustedly, “All empty promises but when the problem lands, the first person to be called is Teena!”

“Do you realize you are on the open line?” Senator Cohen asked, alarm in his voice. “Come to my suite now and we will talk about it,” he added coercively.

She hissed contemptuously and banged the phone on him. He sat staring at the space for a long time, “Teena never failed to amaze me.” he wondered. “It is true she has helped me a lot in my political career, but I have also reciprocated the gesture; she has a duplex in the United States, two beautiful houses in a choice area of Bethab State, a fat bank account, and four exotic vehicles. What does she do for a living? Prostitution” He was sure she would turn up; she always does. He had undressed, showered, and ordered lunch when his orderly announced her arrival.

“What is the problem this time around?” She asked in a curt and unfriendly tone.

“Teena, why are you always being difficult?” He asked, smiling mischievously. “We have come a long way together; this is uncalled for at this stage, my sweetheart.” He laid a companionable hand on her shoulder and drew her closer to himself. “I have never failed to reward you, have I?” He asked rhetorically and hastily added. “It is just that it isn’t enough, don’t worry there…”

She shrunk away from him, instantly her cheeks flamed bright red, and her nostrils flared in a sure signal of suppressed anger. “That is, it!” She cut him short, “I have said it; it is always, don’t worry, I will do this and that for you. I’m sick and tired of all this bullshit!” Teena retorted.

“You know I’m running for the Presidency. Don’t you? Give me one last chance; I will make you happy.” He was surprisingly calm. “I cannot make it without your help,” He drew her to himself again and planted his lips on hers in a prolonged kiss which rendered her defenceless and she joyfully submitted herself to him as she always does. They ended the battle on the king-sized bed with an exciting sexual rejuvenation. After the session, they laid on the bed, exhausted. “I have a cheque of seven thousand dollars for you,” he announced after a thoughtful pause.

“What do you want me to do? Kill my mother?”

“Not at all, I know you don’t have a mother; why would I ask you to do that anyway?” he said nervously. “Somebody is standing against my chance of clinching the party’s ticket for the presidency.”

“Is it Senator Muriel Rehema?” She asked, rolling over on the bed, she opened her purse produced a packet of cigarettes, and retrieved one stick, which she lighted and began to smoke expertly. “He is certainly popular,” she added. “I should assassinate him?”

“Far from that, Teena, I know you are not a hired killer, why don’t you have patience for once!”

“You know patience isn’t in my dictionary,”

“Your job is very easy; I want you to set up his daughter in a scandal. I know Muriel very well, his daughter is the center of his world; if she should be involved in a sexual orgy or drug addiction, the shame of it will make him retrace his step.”

“What about other contestants?” I’m aware others are also moneybags, are you sure they pose no threat?”

“Not at all, I have paid two off, they have agreed to step down; the remaining four are there just to fulfill all righteousness.”

She pondered over the proposal for some minutes after which she spoke. “If I’m going to do this, seven thousand dollars will not be enough.”

“What else do you want?”

“I want a ministerial position in your cabinet if you eventually win the presidency.”

He pretended to give it some consideration when in an actual sense, he had made up his mind to assassinate her once the mission was accomplished. “How can a whore be a minister?” he tried to hide his irritation, “It is settled, my dear.” He announced mirthlessly.

“Don’t think about double-crossing me, Cohen,”

“Far from that, my sweet Teena,”

“Do you have her photograph and profile?”

“Yes!” He answered and got up from the bed to where his briefcase was kept.

ΩΩ

A month after, Senator Muriel Rehema had just finished holding a management meeting of his organization; a day before, he just returned from a business trip from Singapore. He was exhausted and badly needed to rest. There was an important file he must attend to in the office; if not, he would have preferred to rest for some hours after presiding over the management meeting. He informed his secretary not to allow any visitors until the next day. He was relaxing on the Italian leather sofa in the living room attached to his executive office watching the forty-two-inch plasma television which was showing a political rally his party organized a few weeks ago. On the square glass center table before him was a half-filled bottle of Eva wine and an almost emptied glass cup. A plate of fried turkey was by the side. He was already filled, having recently taken lunch. He got up from the sofa, stretched luxuriously, and was going to the toilet when the intercom buzzed; he was visibly annoyed as he picked up the mouthpiece. “What is it?” He asked.

“Sir, there is a man here; he said he has an urgent message for you?”

“Can’t you receive the message for me, Vinita?”

“Sir, he said he must deliver it to you personally; it is from Senator Cohen Sparks,”

“Cohen Sparks?” He parroted after a thoughtful pause, “Okay, let him in.”

There was a light tap on the door and Vinita walked in closely followed by a young man in a brown suit with a black shirt and a brown bow tie. He carried a black briefcase. “What do you want?” Senator Muriel asked after ushering him to a seat and dismissing Vinita.

“I’m a journalist with the Daily Spice newspaper.” He announced as he rummaged inside his briefcase, he dropped his complimentary card on the table before he brought out a white envelope and handed it over to Senator Muriel who collected and opened without a word. His daughter’s nude pictures starred at him in the face. She was completely in the nude with different obscene postures, different men and ladies who covered their faces poised with her; in some of the pictures, she poised snuffing hard drugs. He became numb instantly.

“I have hundreds of those pictures, don’t bother to call the security, if you do, it is at your own risk. If I don’t get back to the office in one piece, I have left instructions with my colleague to publish it without wasting time.”

“What do you want?” Senator Muriel asked, he had managed to get a grip on himself.

“We are giving you seventy-two hours to announce that you have stepped down for Senator Cohen Sparks after due consultations with your politician associates.” He slammed his briefcase shut and stood up. “Don’t forget my warnings, everything you do, every step you take will determine your future in politics. If Senator Cohen becomes the President, he might be considerate enough and make you a Minister or even an ambassador to any country of your choice but if you take a wrong step now and this picture goes viral, your political career will just go down the drain, and your business empire might even collapse.” He headed for the door, swung it open, and then looked back. “I hope you will be wise and play along because we are watching you?” he asked rhetorically. “Thank you for your time.” He closed the door and went away.

He paced the length and breadth of the office, deep in thought. He knew it would be unwise to involve the Party National Chairman; he might use it as a yardstick to disqualify him, even though they were good friends. He pressed a button to summon Vinita who responded instantly. He showed the pictures to her, and she was greatly alarmed. “I’m sorry, sir,” She managed to say. “Sir, have you confirmed from her? For all we know, the pictures might have been doctored.” She asked, obviously uncomfortable.

“I just received the pictures; I have not called her yet.” He answered coolly. He went over to the window and made to lift the curtains but changed his mind and turned to face her. “Call Brigadier Akeebilahi for me.”

“Okay, sir,” She turned to go but on second thought turned back. “Sir, I don’t want you to be disturbed, the Aliena I know cannot indulge in such acts, there must have been a mistake somewhere.”

He didn’t respond so she went out quietly and carried out the instructions, after which she tried calling Aliena’s mobile phone without success.

“Senator, I will not like you to bow to cheap blackmail.” Brigadier Akeebilahi counselled after going through the pictures and listening to his side of the story. “I will hold the guy’s complimentary card. I assured you, this is a trivial matter; I will handle it.”

“I have tried to speak to my daughter for confirmation without success,” he fiddled with his phone again. “I could only get through to her cousin who said Aliena had gone for lectures.”

“This is not a matter that can be discussed on phone; I will suggest you see her one on one and try not to get worked up now. It will only make you take hasty decisions which could be fatal.”

Senator Muriel shrugged his shoulders and rubbed his head helplessly. “I have never been faced with this kind of situation before in all the years I have been involved in politics.”

“Well, the higher you go, the tougher it becomes.” Brigadier Akeebilahi said philosophically. “Let us go to her school,” He suggested and rose to his feet. “I’m not surprised this is happening; you are the most popular candidate.”

“It is not funny at all.” Senator Muriel said, trying to overcome his weariness. They walked out of the office into the secretary’s office, where Vinita requested to follow them. “Can she be trusted?” Brigadier Akeebilahi asked in a whispered tone.

“She is my elder brother’s daughter; she is very close to Aliena,”

“Okay, let her come with us.”

As they drove to the University, Brigadier Akeebilahi advised the Senator to take it cool and not to show the picture to Aliena yet.

“Why?” Senator Muriel asked.

“The pictures might have been doctored. Let just observe her for any strange behaviour. I will also put her under surveillance.” Brigadier Akeebilahi advised.

“Sir, I think we should put Sherry into confidence.” Vinita who was sitting beside the driver suggested. “She is our best bet to unrivalled the mystery without raising much dust”.

“How are you sure she wasn’t the one used to get to Aliena?” Brigadier Akeebilahi asked, “What do you think, Senator?”

“I trust Sherry; she called me two weeks ago to inform me she noticed some changes in Aliena. I didn’t give it much thought; I answered her that it was probably due to a slight disagreement she had with her stepmother when she came home over the weekend, now thinking about it; it might be related to these recent developments.”

“What kind of changes?” Brigadier Akeebilah asked further.

“She said Aliena now kept to herself; she was being extra secretive unlike before, moody, careless, and always lost in thought. Above all, she goes out and returned at odd hours, though I called Aliena and warned her especially about keeping late nights.”

“This revelation will help a lot, Senator, at least I’m sure now that the culprit is in that campus. If that is the case, then Sherry is our best bet.” Brigadier Akeebilahi agreed. “You have till three pm tomorrow when the political debate will commence. Isn’t it?”

Senator Muriel nodded and began to realize his mistakes, he would have acted after hearing Sherry’s report, but his lackadaisical attitude is about to cost him so much.

“Everything will be alright.” Brigadier Akeebilahi broke into his train of thought.

When they got to the campus, they were able to see Sherry whom they spoke in detail. She was shocked and burst into tears, after a lot of soothing words, she calmed down and agreed to help. They couldn’t see Aliena and decided not to wait.

The next morning, Sherry informed Aliena she was traveling to come back in the evening, “Why are you just informing me now?”

“It is impromptu, Aliena, I’m sorry,” Sherry apologized, trying hard to control her emotions. “Aren’t you seeing me off to the car?” She asked when Aliena did not attempt to get up from the bed.

“This is strange, the Aliena I know wouldn’t allow me to leave without knowing the details of the journey.” Sherry pondered, studying her openly, her eyes have lost their intelligent look and she seemed to be muttering to herself most of the time.

“Oh, forgive my manners,” Aliena murmured and escorted her to her car. Sherry drove out of the campus and went to the agreed place where a military detective was waiting for her. “How was it?” She asked as she alighted from the car.

The detective was listening to a communication device that was connected to the microchip planted in her room by Brigadier Akeebilahi. “It is bad…” The detective replied without looking at her. “We have to start moving soon.”

“Why?”

“She has placed a call to one Teena, asking her to come and fix her up that she is free for the next six hours.”

“Oh, my God!” Sherry exclaimed, “I hope it is not what I am thinking?”

“Oh, yes is, she is an addict,” The detective replied and hastily asked, “Who is this, Teena?”

“She is a student who joined the school in the middle of last semester; she is a class below us, very popular for her social life.”

“I can bet my life she is not a student but a decoy on a mission.”

“What do you mean?”

She was planted specifically to do what she is doing now; she is the culprit.”

“I warned Aliena she wailed. “What are we waiting for? Let us go and arrest her before she wreaks more havoc!”

“No, we have to catch her red-handed. I think she is ready on her way from the excited tone of your cousin,” the detective said before looking up. “Come in and sit down,” he invited and opened the back seat door for her. “By the way, I am Detective Leighton of the National Security Service.

“It is nice meeting you Detective Leighton, I’m worried about Aliena.”

“Nothing to worry about Miss heem? You didn’t tell me your name?” Leighton asked curiously.

“The name is Sherry.”

Aliena’s voice came out distinctively from the device as she said, “Oh, Baby, welcome; I’ve missed you so much,”

“We have to go now!” Leighton announced and kicked the ignition to live.

“What about my car?” Aliena asked,

“It is safe over there. We will come for it after the operation.” He assured and began to issue orders over his mobile device which Sherry didn’t notice before.

“Once we get to the campus, you will go to your hostel while we will follow you at a distance.” He began and paused to know whether she was following, she answered, and he continued. “Once you enter the room and you meet them, just press this button,” he handed over to her a device that resembled a box of matches with a button on top. “We will come and apprehend them. Okay?”

She nodded her head but realized that he might not be able to see her because she was sitting in the back seat she muttered, “It is okay.”

He began to speak into his car radio. “Is the girls’ hostel car park free?”

“Yes, sir, nothing suspicious for now,” A voice replied at the other end.

He drove into the hostel’s car park and kicked off the ignition, while she alighted, he encouraged her, “You have to be strong, Sherry, don’t forget what we discussed.”

“I won’t, Detective, thank you.” She replied tonelessly and began to walk briskly to the hostel which was a mighty four-storey building with long corridors and rooms on both sides of the building. Hers was the first floor; as she climbed the stairs, her legs felt heavy. “What is wrong with me?” she chided herself and braced up for the inevitable. When she got to the door, she heard Aliena babbling…

Meanwhile, Brigadier Akeebilahi who was able to get an arrest warrant from the authorities had also sent detectives to the Spice Newspapers Mpoto Limited where a thorough search was conducted, and copies of the pornographic pictures were discovered in the Editor’s safe. After thorough interrogation, Teena confessed which led to the arrest of Senator Cohen Sparks and several others.