ELVIS: EPISODE 32

The president was shocked when he saw the security running towards him fall down, blood trickling down his neck from a precise gunshot wound, he was mortified and would have continued standing with his dropped jaw in shock if not for the guards that pulled him down behind the dais blocking off the line of sight of the suspected shooter, the guards surrounded him with the president bent in between them as they whisked him away to a waiting car away from the scene.
He was frustrated that he missed the president, he saw men pointing fingers in the direction of the building he is, he knows it’s time to go. He dissembled his sniping rifle and put the parts in a long briefcase, he wore the briefcase on his back like a school bag with the two straps attached to it. He put on his face cap and his sunglasses; he looks cute as he exited the room and down the stairs.
Elvis was already breathing heavily when he got to the podium, the square is really a long one, he saw the president been whisked away, he was glad the president was still alive. He saw a man shouting orders at a group of men pointing at a skyscraper that stood elegantly directly opposite the square. He walked towards him to inquire about what’s going on as the men ran towards the building at top speed.
“I’m detective Elvis, from the ICO” Elvis said walking towards the man.
“Detective…I’m in a bit of a fuss right now….wait Elvis?” the man said darkening his eyes.
“Yes, I will like to know what’s going on” Elvis replied his following the group of men running towards the building; the men are now at the base of the building.
“Do you know me, and how do you know about the impending attack towards the president?” the man asked softly.
“Sir, I don’t know what you are talking about; I don’t know you sir……” Elvis stuttered
“I’m Peter Christopher, the commander of the NBI” the man replied smiling. “We’ll talk later, right now we have to catch the sniper, the shot was taken from that building, Peter said walking quickly towards the building while Elvis trailed him.
Ellie couldn’t keep up with the pace Elvis walking with, she resolved to walk slowly after him, she saw him speaking with someone, afterwards he and the person started walking towards a building, that’s how far she can go, she decided to go and check how bad her car is, courtesy of the rugged path and stairways her car had to go over.
He had gotten to the ground floor of the building, he saw the men running towards the building shouting, he looked around and saw a guy playing a guitar, he walked towards him and borrowed the guitar for the façade he’s about to create. He collected the guitar and started playing a tune on it, singing aloud as he walked towards the main door of the building towards the approaching men.
“Stop there, nobody vacate the building” a man shouted at him. He stopped singing and feigned the meekest look he could avoid.
“I have to be in my band practice, I’m late already” he said softly. The man looked at him with disbelief lurking in his eyes.
“What is in your bag?” the man asked looking at the bag, studying his face at the same time, he however didn’t flinch
“It’s my guitar bag, I want to keep practicing that’s why I took out my guitar out” he lied softly, his eyes not betraying his pounding mind.
The man was about to make check the bag when Peter voice came after him.
“Have you checked the building?” Peter said, Elvis flanking him as they walked quickly towards the men.
“Not yet sir” the man accosting him replied turning to face Peter, he saw this as a glint chance, he grabbed it with both hands as he scurried away slowly trying not to attract much attention to his bid to escape.
“Who’s that guy?” Elvis asked
“Just some band kid” the man replied turning his head towards the direction of the guy walking away quickly.
“My guitar, my guitar” a lad ran out of the building shouting and waving towards the quickly departing figure. He dropped the guitar and started running towards a power bike he had parked earlier.
“F--k, that’s him’ Elvis said giving him a chase, the other standing officials followed suit.
He kicked start his bike to life, it responded gleefully, he stepped on the gear and held the throttle, the bike gear forward as he headed towards the dense traffic. He rode towards the oncoming lane and meandered his way between the cars; an unassailable lead and also impossible, they can’t chase him, not into a lane of oncoming vehicles.
“S--t, how did you let him out of the building, the order was nobody must leave the building” Peter shouted in frustration at no one in specific, the men bowed in shame.
“Search the building and find the room he used, search it for any bit of evidence” Peter ordered angrily.
The room was located, searched and dusted but nothing fruitful and appealing was found.
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Several hours later, in the headquarters of the NBI, Victoria Island Lagos, a large edifice bustling with activity as staff walked around swarming like bees. In a large office, adored, furnished and spiced to the taste of its occupant. Elvis sat on a chair, looking bemused and beclouded at the earlier disappointment; the sniper slipping right through their fingers.
He and Peter had had a long talk, he explained everything right from the piece of action at the old facility, he was however surprised when Peter told him the unfortunate circumstance with Cedrick claiming it was part of the unfortunate accidents and risks of their work. Elvis was relieved to hear that; Peter said he had had a long talk with Esiogu earlier last week.
Elvis continued his narration, from his suspicion of the spies till his discovery, his sister’s abduction till his own kidnapping, his near death escapades and his rescue till his discovering of the assassination attempt on the president.
“That’s an interesting story you’ve got there” Peter said obviously fascinated
“Interesting but a nightmare” Elvis said smiling.
“Wait, what did you say the dying man who gave you the flash says?” Peter said with an eager look on his face
“Something about telling Pacquio clandestine did his job” Elvis replied without interest.
“Pacquio? Clandestine? Wow, so he wasn’t dead the whole time? ” Peter said excitedly getting Elvis confused. Peter seeing the confused look on Elvis’s face, he sat down to explain.
“My undercover name is Pacquio, many years ago when MSN obliterated the other drug lords, we tried to nail him but we couldn’t, we decided to send Clandestine in, his real name is Durojaye Stephen to serve as an undercover cop and give us a sustainable piece of evidence with which we can nail him. We were always in contact with him till many years ago he suddenly ended all links with us. We had hoped he had gone dark and completely dark at that, we lost all contact with him, atimes we thought he’s dead, that’s why we sent Cedrick to be a spy at arm’s length till he met his unfortunate end too” Peter summarized.
“I’m sorry” Elvis said sulkily
“It’s okay, would you like to check the content of the flash with us or at your office” Peter asked.
Elvis remembered Ellie and his team members; he rather goes to his office.
“I’ll rather leave now; have some loose ends to tie.” Elvis said standing up.
Peter greeted him smiling and commending him for his efforts shook him before Elvis took his leave.
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The office was quiet when he got to the office, stunned look are glaring at him from the workers who sat in there cubicle; they must have been surprised to see an alleged kidnap detective walking confidently in the office. He answered their petrified greetings calmly has he walked towards his office.
He met Ben who almost jumps at him in joy, asking thousands of questions at once, asking on his health and many more. He managed to call him down, postponing answering the questions.
He walked towards Timi’s cubicle, he saw Timi sitting calmly on his chair; an unusual position granting Timi’s hands reprieve. He would have asked Timi how he manages to get to work so soon but he had other things on his mind, Ellie’s ‘long’ story.
He dropped the flash with Timi telling him to assess all the contents in it and for him to get back to him, he headed towards his office, he’s sure Ellie must be there. He opened the door and walked in, truth to his words; Ellie was sitting at his chair.
Now is the time for a long story-telling.