Wrong Target

Maxwell was working in Silver Bank in Magodu Lagos State, Nigeria. He was tall, huge and blessed with a fairly dark skin. Just not more than three months he had done nuptial with Shefumi, a gorgeous lady with light complexion like a ripe banana. Jide was the only child of the family. That was the basic reason why his mother wanted him to marry as soon as possible so she could carry her grandchild(den).

It was 6:30 in the evening when Maxwell was returning home in his light brown Toyota Camry. The car silencer was tailing behind it, making white markings on the black asphalt. He had never returned home at this time before. He usually returned home 7:30p.m. Shefumi had earlier phoned him, telling him that she had good news for him and requested him to take permission in the office to be back home early. Just fifteen minutes were left to reach his residence a call from his devoted amigo, Olaitan, entered his phone.

"Hello, Latian" he spoke into the earpiece.

"Friend, what's up?" That was Olaitan's voice at the other end responding.

"Cool, oree" Maxwell replied with a smile on his face as he said friend in Yoruba.

"Where are you?" Asked his friend

"On my way back home." Replied Maxwell.

"Waw! That calls for celebration, friend" Olaitan was improvising jest, stopped, then continued "What's taking you home too early? Is today your beautiful wife's birthday? Tell me something."

Laughter wrapped Maxwell's oblong face amidst the explanation of what he had been told by her.

"No wonder..." Olaitan prattled.

abruptly a gunshot sound was broken into air, causing people to run helter skelter for their lives. Maxwell's car tyres screamed as he tried to stop the car. His phone fell on the car-carpet nigh his leg. He leaned forward slowly and buried his head against the wheel. Blood was hastening directly from his forehead- he had been shot.

Few minutes later, people had gathered one after the other around his car. Someone suggested they report the gory accident to the nearest police station. This was done. Few minutes later the police rummaged the car and found his phone. They went through it and got to know the last person he had spoken with on the phone. That was Olaitan. They called him and related the scenario to him.

"He is dead" a policeman disclosed.

The deceased was carried to his house as it was directed by Olaitan.

Shefumi fainted when she was told about the death of her husband. She was rushed to the hospital where it was confirmed that she had a miscarriage as a result of the shock. Shefumi had not wanted to divulge the joyful news of the pregnancy to her hubby on the phone and that was the reason she summoned him home. Jide's mother gave in to death when she saw her dead son.

Same day at 8:30p.m in chief Desmond's office.

The office wall was painted in butter color which was complemented with the fairly brownish transparent curtain that covered the widow. A plasma TV was hung on the wall, opposite chief's chair. Below it was a small neat fridge. There was squared photograph of the chief plastered the wall. The atmospheric nature of the office was normal. Despite that, chief allowed the air conditioner to be in support, blowing artificial air.

Chief Desmond was in a paddy as he settled on the black chair, rolling side to side. A knock was heard from the door. Chief sent his voice to the person: "Come in"

Raado, a serial killer, slinked in.

"You shot a wrong person" chief angrily snapped at Raado.

"Can't get you." Raado enquired with rage.

"I said you failed to kill the right target!" Chief sounded like a striking thunder.

The incident had been broadcasted on TV.

"I followed your instructions by the way" That was Raado's deep voice, sounding as if he spoke into a mic.

Raado was hired to assassinate a journalist that was threatening the chief on publishing an evil deed he had perpetrated in the past. The chief was aiming to vie seat at the national assembly and he had been spending money to achieve his dream. He also believe that he would surely recoup all the money he had spent as soon as he had got to the national level. Suddenly to his surprise, he had a message from a journalist that knew him very well. The journalist threatening him that he would publish what he had done when he was undergraduate. Chief Desmond, as an undergraduate, had killed a guy on an account of having an affair with his girlfriend. He killed the guy at midnight in the bush nigh the campus but he had been seen by a student called twelve-O'clock who was secretly following the actions. The following day Twelve-O'clock went to Desmond and told him that he knew everything he did yesternight but promised him to keep it between themselves. Though Desmond didn't trust him. He knew one day Twelve-O'clock (who is now a journalist) would use that against him. That day had arrived.

"Which instruction is that?" Chief strode towards Raado and with a force he tapped Radio's wide, huge chest.

"Chief, behave moderately." Raado warned, goggling at him.

Chief adjusted himself backward. He knew the evil Raado could do.

"You said that" Raado emphasised "the target has a light brown Toyota Camry and he usually takes Ogo Olohun street to his house at 6:30 in the evening..." He paused suddenly and brought out his phone from his trouser pocket. It was a message entered his phone. He glanced through it and slipped it back in his pocket and continue his talking: "and you told me that you would give the person a phone call so that I could I identify him. Mind you, I called you on the phone the moment I reached the place and you told me that the person was on his way and in couple of minutes he would appear."

"Shut up! You are making me angry" Chief bellowed like an hungry dog

"You are a compound fool to no reasonable doubt" He issued an insolent words to Raado.

Raado was getting wrathful. He sent his hand to his back, searching for his gun. He knew chief was not going to pay the balance.

"See, Mr. amateur. I don't have anything to give you as your balance."

In a blink of an eye, Raado brought out a gun and pointed it at him and pulled the triggered. A straight bullet dashed into chief Desmond's forehead and he fell on the floor and died. Raado looked round through the window to if he was safe but he saw nobody. So, he left the office still unnoticed.

By Rashiology

From: Nigeria