The Final Day (Part 2)

On arrival at the airport, they both hurried towards the Customs unit. Seun was almost running while Gloria tried to keep up with him. She had been with him for 3 years but had never seen him so excited and impatient about anything before. They got to the desk just under a sign which read “CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT” hanging from the ceiling. Seun was panting as he tried to explain why he was there.  He told the uniformed lady sitting at the desk about a Mr Patrick who had called him. She picked up her desk phone, dialled a number and inquired about this appointment. After a few seconds pf speaking in a hushed tone, she replaced the receiver and told them to follow her. She went in through a door behind her, and they were in a dimly lit passage way. They walked about ten feet before they turned right and stepped into a room. The room was deserted but for the table and a few chairs. The uniformed lady told them to sit down and wait for Mr Patrick. Seun and Gloria exchanged glances, and then he asked the lady why they were waiting. She told them not to worry, and left.

Seun was getting more impatient than ever after he had waited 30 minutes and yet they hadn’t attended to them yet. He was pacing, and fuming almost. Gloria was getting worried, as well. She wondered what they could be waiting for. Even by Nigerian standards, this was too much of a wait.

“Do you think something is wrong?” she asked Seun

“What could possibly go wrong?” he replied. “They were the ones who told me to hurry over here so that the charges for clearing the parcels will not increase”

“But Seun, do you really mean it when you say you don’t know who sent you the parcels?”

He stopped pacing and looked at her. “I’m being totally honest with you, Gloria. I have no idea. But God works in mysterious ways dear. And I’m not about to have second thoughts about this”

“Hmm, I’m not saying you should. It’s just strange, that’s all”

“Yes dear. God is strange.” He said, looking at the ceiling, maybe having a silent communion with the Most High.

Just then, a man in a suit walked into the room, and with him were two officers, with guns.

“Hello.” He said, smiling and looked at Seun. “You must be Mr Alako.” He shook Seun’s hand strongly, then he looked at Gloria and said “This must be your wife”

Seun and Gloria said the “No” together. The man looked at them both and introduced himself as Mr Patrick; then he went on to explain that he just had to ask them a few questions before they proceeded with claiming the parcels. Seun was confused. What questions did they need to be asked? Let them just claim their property and get the hell out of there!

“Mr Alako, or can I call you Seun?”

Seun nodded.

“How long have you been dealing with illegal drugs?”

Seun’s eyes widened. “Wh…WHAT?!” he exclaimed.

“I asked you a question. You cannot reply a question with a question, Mr Alako.”

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about” Seun told him. He was quite bemused. Gloria just looked at both of them, mouth agape.

Mr Patrick, observed them for a few seconds, sighed and folded his hands. He had surely been through cases of denial like this before, but at the end of it all they were always guilty.

“Seun, we found five kilograms of cocaine in one of those parcels. Very well hidden, and impossible to find by our guys. But we had our dogs sniff at it, and they found it...”

Seun was aghast. He wanted to just vanish from this place. His world was spinning with him sitting at that the centre of it. They were speaking but he wasn’t hearing them. He clenched his fists…then stumped them on the table as he got on his feet and yelled!

“FUCK THIS! I WILL NOT BE FRAMED FOR SOMETHING I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!”

The two armed officers standing just by the door tightened their grips on their weapons and became more alert. The frown on their faces was menacing. Gloria was startled by Seun’s outburst. She was confused more than ever. What could be happening? How had she gotten herself into such a situation? She was rubbing her palms together and pleading to God to save her from this.

“Calm down, Mr Alako. There is no need to raise your voice” Mr Patrick was still sitting; hands still folded and with the calmest of looks on his face.

“HOW CAN I NOT RAISE MY VOICE WHEN YOU’RE TELLING ME THIS?” Seun paused…

Mr Patrick, let me tell you the truth. I know nothing about those parcels. I have nobody living in the UK who could have sent those things. You were the one who called me, and sent me the pictures. I don’t know how this has happened but we live in a fucked up world so I guess shit which shouldn’t have, must have happened. Please, just allow me to go and I will be on my way right this very minute and pretend all this never happened.”

Mr Patrick smiled again, then he shook his head and leaned on the table with his arms.

“There is no way we can let you leave. This is an interrogation, and we are not done yet. Please, Seun, Sit down and let us finish. You…”

“I SHOULD SIT DOWN?” Seun interrupted him, “WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I SIT DOWN WHEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE? I CAN’T FUCKING TAKE THIS. I CAN’T!”

Seun glanced at Gloria, and in that moment, she saw all the wrath of the world in his eyes.

“Gloria, let’s go” he told her and made to leave. Just as he reached the door one of the officers stood in his way and ordered him to go back to his seat. Gloria stood just three feet away, observing. Mr Patrick still sat down, arms still folded, and chuckling. At that moment…Seun clenched his fists again. He was angry beyond words. He’d had a very bad day, and now these morons were trying to be the icing on a cake that was his miserable life.

“Get out of my way, you idiot. Or I’m going to push you out” Seun spat out those words, right in the officers face. 

“Seun please, just sit down and answer the questions. I’m sure they’ll let us go when they are through with us. Please…”

“Listen to the woman, Mr Alako. Do as she says” Mr Patrick said.

“SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!  SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTHS. I AM NOT GOING TO STAY HERE AND BE REDUCED TO THE LEVEL OF A COMMON CRIMINAL. IF YOU WANT TO ARREST ME, I AM SURE YOU KNOW MY ADDRESS.”

With that, he turned and pushed the Officer standing in his way. The uniformed man hit his back against the door, and in that same moment…pulled the trigger on his rifle. A single shot was heard. The smell of gunfire filled the air. Mr Patrick jumped from where he sat and shot a frightened look at the officer. Gloria screamed, her shrill voice rent the air and her hands were raised up.

Seun staggered a bit, his hands clutching his abdomen. The pain was beyond explanation. He had never been shot before, had never experienced such pain before. He felt the warm trickle of his blood as it spilled from the gaping wound. He took one last look at his shooter, and fell to the ground.

He was dead before Gloria hurried to kneel beside him.

THE END.