Okay. I am joining the queue. I will be posting parts of a book I have been writing for eternity. I will be updating haphazardly. But trust me . Am finishing this book unlike most others who would leave you on the cliff. The story is staged in two places. The US and Nigeria. If you like adventure, thriller and sizzling romance I guess this is for you. I promise not to disappoint but please just support me. I would give you little summary but pardon me I have never thought of that while writing it so i will just give a brief description. The story is about a young Black American who is of mixed parentage i.e. His mum is American while his Dad was a Nigerian. His Dad left when he was six and twenty years later after losing his job and had nothing to do decided on an adventure of seeking who His dad really was.

With the little information he could garner which was nothing considering it only contained the full names of his dad and that the dad was a traditional chief from one of the ancient cities of the Yoruba tribe Chris set on a life changing adventure. An adventure that not only changes his life but brings about the discovery of an ancient relic and brings to spotlight the many tales o an African city.

The story is purely fiction but mixed with some elements of real life stories. And just before you turn it off "it has an happy ending." So just sit back and enjoy. Thanks

DAY 1
SOUTH SIDE, CHICAGO, U.S.A

CHRIS

Chris woke up to rays of sunlight piercing his eyes through the drawn curtains of one of his windows. A glance at the small clock by his bedside showed 9:25 AM and he wondered how long he had slept and what was he wrong with him sleeping his late in the morning. He pulled off the bed covers and placed his feet on the floor and sat upright. He paused for some few moments trying to gain composure before he tried standing but felt a sharp pain in his back which forced him to sit back on the bed. After several retries he managed to gain a standing position and held on to the wall for support as the pain emanating from his lower bite harder. He felt fatigued and his felt like it would explode. He scanned the room but couldn’t make out anything as his vision was blurred and his eyes itched badly. He made his way forward towards what he felt like was the bathroom stumbling into something hard. He reached the bathroom door and as he grabs the door knob to open he heard the clanging sound of something breaking. He slowly opened the door and entered the room and headed for the cabinet which was located to the left as you entered the bathroom. He shuffled through the cabinet until he found the painkiller bottle he was looking for. He picked two tablets and swallowed before opening the tap to rinse his face. He stood frozen as he starred in utter disbelief at the reflection of a painted face on the mirror in front of him.

Chris prided himself as a handsome African American man. But who won’t if you were 6’2 inches tall, had an athletic body, jet black hair, deep black piercing eyes and a smile that could melt the heart of even the most stoned cold lady you could ever think of. However staring back at him in the mirror was the black painted of a total stranger except for the seeming resemblance of his eyes and the twitching long nose of his. He gawked at the mirror and was at first scared to even touch the face. He summoned the courage and touched his face and went on to touch his nose to really know if he was actually dreaming or hallucinating. He opened the tap and rinsed off the paining on his face. The water in the sink turned black as he rinsed the out the remnant paint on his face. He felt a deep pang in his head again and when he raised his hand to rub his head with water he felt something strange and only when he looked up at the mirror to see his face did it struck him that he was bald.



This caught him by surprise as the only time he ever had his hair cut this low was when he was back in elementary school. His mates had bullied him back then and they constantly hit the bald head and they only stopped few days after some hair had grew back. After that incident he had promised himself never to cut his hair that low again.
All these were bizarre to him. What had happened to him exactly? He closed his eyes thinking if he closed his eyes and pretended he was asleep hoping he would wake up to see that this nightmare was actually a bad dream. He was lost in his thoughts when he felt something vibrate against his tummy; he looked down and searched through his pajamas pockets to find a phone as the source of the vibration. He looked at the screen a saw it was a call he pressed the green answer button and placed the cell to his ear.

“What’s up dude?” The voice on the other end boomed.
“May I know who this is please?” Chris grunted.
“It's me Alex”
“Alex, is that you?”
“It’s me. I have been trying to reach you all morning, hope you got home safe yesterday?”, Alex responded.
“Safe? From the look of things here I am far from safe. I looked into the mirror few moments back but it wasn’t my reflection I saw in the mirror”
“Really, whose did you see then?”
“My face was painted black like a Devil from one of those African village movies”
“Oh!” Alex gasped
“And to cap it I got the stone cold haircut now. Isn’t that interesting?”
“Hold on a second please Chris”
Chris heard someone call Alex’s name in the background. He opened his mouth to talk but Alex interrupted him. “Please let me call back in the next few hours.” And the line went dead.

Few hours later Chris picked up his phone and dialed Alex’s number. After several retries, the phone was connected on the other end and one could hear the blasting sound of a machine in the background which showed he was still at his weekly routine of working the garden. Alex was a lover of nature and used to be a member of the local branch of Friends of Earth back in L.A until his family had to move down south.
“Hello”, he said with a deep breathing laced with apparent exhaustion from the mowing.
“Tell me, what happened yesterday? “
“Any thing wrong?” Alex laughed.
“Seems like a hangover. Do you care to tell me what happened last night and why the hell is my room so scattered and am feeling like a train just over ran me?”
“Seriously?”
“Chris, don’t tell me you don’t remember anything?”
“I don’t”
“So what do you wanna know?”
“Everything Alex, and I mean everything.”
“Okay, am going to give you the short version and would hook you up with full details when we catch up later”
“Okay I am listening”
“You got sacked yesterday “
“Sacked? You sure?”
“Yes and you seemed happy. After getting the letter and packing your personal items, you called me, Ron and another friend of yours to hit the club and celebrate your deliverance from the neck wrecking job.”
“Wow that’s good news. So you mean I lost my job and actually went partying?”
“Yeah you did... You went on rambling on and on yesterday about how much you wanted the spell with the company to end and you were glad you are finally free. Even went as far as cursing your boss as someone who would work the bottom out of a brother for a half the dough”
“That was nice of me to say. You need to see my boss.... “
“Your ex. boss” Alex interrupted.
“O yeah! my ex boss. He’s a pain in the ass. I just hope I hit his bald held with a baseball bat before I left the office. So what happened exactly?” Chris continued.
“We hit the bar and picked up some girls , did some nasty stuff and when it was getting dark you took one of the disco girl, paid her off and said you had took her home to show Sarah how it was done.”
“Really, did I actually do that?” Chris said surprised
“Yeah bro and the girl was hot, your type, brunette with all the curves in the right places”
“You mean I actually took a girl home while I knew Sarah was around? I don’t believe that Alex.”
“Believe anything, you were soaked in booze and if we had put you to test to show us were your pigheaded butt was I guess you would have touched your big head.
“Slow it down, slow it down mate, I ain’t gonna take that from you know”
“But that’s the truth about yesterday, you can't change the fact. I got pictures of you grinding to some crazy dance steps. You need to see it man, you were so hot.”
“Wow! I need to go back to sleep. This seems like a nightmare but that brings me to the question, where is Sarah? I can’t find her”
“Dude, Google ain’t your enemy. Maybe you type her name in nit and you might just be feeling lucky and get her where she's swearing in front of your mama’s door.”
“What do you mean swearing in front of my mama?” Chris asked shocked to hear about his mum.
“Your girl called to inform me you had a nasty fight last night and she had to put up with one of her friend uptown, she was sounding serious and cursing over the phone that it was over between you two.” Alex answered.
“Really?”
“Dude am not ready for this gossip, Got a 11 a.m. appointment and if I keep giving you a break down I might as well be fired and we might as well have a redo of this convo tomorrow, only that this time you might happen to be the one giving me answers.”
“Ok, friend I understand.”

“Thanks and just take care of your self. I will call you later”. Alex said as he disconnected the phone. Chris placed the phone down and looked round his room at the filth. He felt his pockets searching for his wallet. Am out of a job, my girlfriend of two years is AWOL and the last thing I don't wanna face now is my credit cards missing. He thought.

First Sit Vip Section

Intresting I want More...pls update

I'm enjoying this story. *following*

swaggerkid: Intresting I want More...pls update

luvmijeje: I'm enjoying this story. *following*

I would update the next scences before evening. Stay tuned

Alright Now...Patiently Waiting

luvmijeje: I'm enjoying this story. *following*

Smiles @ur Name Luvmijeje Luv mi tender

swaggerkid: Alright Now...Patiently Waiting

Abeg make una never vex for me.I already typed na to just upload.NEpa dey do me strong thing

Hehehe,,,,i no go vex

Ok another update.. Sorry for the delay.

OSOGBO, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA.

SCARFACE
The skateboard rider skewed from left to right and jumped high to avoid a wooden box in his way. With such lovely dexterity he moved left, did a double helicopter and stirred to the right again; he crisscrossed the snow course right to left , picking up what looked like golden coins as he passed. When he finally glided to the far right he performed the nose grab quite efficiently and was on the verge of finishing the task of combining the Indy and double back flips when he crashed into a hidden pile of iron railings stacked by the side of an open ice valley.
"Ouch...." He cursed as he hit his hand against the steering wheel in frustration. He had hit the horn button in the process and a sudden blast of the sound filled the afternoon.
"Bloody hell... He cursed.
GAME OVER. GAME OVER. GAME OVER the message blinked on the phone screen.

He hissed, exited the game and dropped the phone on the front passenger sit. The phone's home screen showed with a background picture of the Sahara desert flicking to life. After a few seconds the screen saver time displayed 16:21 hours. He sighed and stirred uneasily in the front seat of the Nissan car. He was far bigger than the size of the car as he barely fit in the front seat of the car. To make the sitting more comfortable he had adjusted the seat and the seat was now touching the rear seat now. He had been sitting in the car for the past two and half hours and was already feeling numb in his feet. He hated to be kept waiting doing nothing and had tried to keep himself busy by playing the skateboard game on the phone. He was trying to beat the highest score when he had crashed into something and dropped the phone frustrated from the lack of success after countless retries. He had been told the briefing would be starting by 15:00 hrs and had come earlier so as to be able to monitor things. He promised to do this and didn’t want to disappoint the boss. Scarface had sworn his loyalty to serve him even if it meant sitting his ass in the front of the big and imposing structure of the Culture Building filled with lazy civil servants for hours.
"It's simple, I can do this" He muttered to himself.
"I have done far more bigger jobs for him” But this was very important. He recalled the earlier discussion he had with the boss. All you need do is just ruffle her feathers and let’s see her reaction.

He looked up and could clearly see the front view of the Culture office. The atmosphere in the city was quite sunny today a break away from the previous clouded days. Although it had rained all through the morning and the wetness could still be noticed on the grey paintings of the Culture House the sun now loomed high in the sky. The building was located in the central part of the ancient city of Osogbo and had been built in 1908. The building was once a cathedral during the Colonial days but it now served as the southwest regional office of the Nigeria Culture and Heritage Commission after the Anglican Church which had occupied the building had moved to a sprawling site at the outskirts of the town. A visitor to the Osogbo would think the Church still occupied the building because it still maintained its church like outlook. He building was donned in the west wing by a calved statue of Holy Mary and the Calvary cross can be seen on the roof of the north wing.

He was instructed to wait for a call before taking any action and was asked to dress as a tourist. With these in mind he had gone through the trouble of shopping to purchase a polo shirt and pair of jeans so he could pass as a tourist. Left to him he would have come dressed in his more homely brown torso that he was accustomed as he felt awkward in the new clothes but he couldn’t help but appreciate his new outlook. He had even noticed some female passersby glancing at him which was new as nobody ever cared to look at him in the past as they were more preoccupied with trying to get out of his way.
He was brought back to reality from his trance by the sound of his phone. A message flashed on the screen and on opening it contained just the words in capitals.
"PROCEED NOW"

He stretched sideways and reached for the side mirror tilting it sideways to look at his face satisfied he picked a small pouch that was on the dashboard. He alighted from the car closing the car door. He stretched his fatigued body ad arranged his clothe well before making his way towards the Culture building, crossing the over the alley that separated the building from another.

The building seemed crowded today with tourists and local people dressed in different traditional attires roaming round the front desk of the office building. In the far right corner by the pavilion he could see some traditional bata artists playing their two ways drums while other members danced away to the melodious sounds coming from the drums. He made his way through the crowd and had to shove away forcefully a woman who was trying to put an events lapel pin on his shirt for a fee. After signing the visitors’ book he navigated upstairs turning right and headed towards an open space with several tourists occupying sits arranged in front of a small podium. He located a vacant sit by the far right corner of the hall and walked silently there placing his feet gently on the concrete floor to avoid attracting unnecessary attention. On the podium a smart looking female official of the National Culture and
Heritage Commission was addressing the gathering when he sat down and placed the pouch on his laps.

"...we would love to take you all around the various sites and show you the impeccable and lovely scenery we have been blessed with in this part of the world. We would be visiting the Staff of Oranmiyan in Ife, the two headed palm tree in Ipetumodu, the Water Falls in Erin Ijesa, The Centre for Black Culture and Understanding with its large archival of books on ancient Yoruba history and lots of other interesting tourist sites. I hope you will enjoy the stay in our dear country Nigeria but please before I take my leave I will entertain some questions? She explained. She looked aright and left at her audience and spotted a stout afro-Caribbean man who was sitting at the left hand corner of the hall who was already standing and had his hand risen up.

“Yes sir” The official gestured at him to go on.
“Maam” He spoke in accented English. He couldn’t place the accent but sounded like someone from the Caribbean
“I would love to visit any archives on the Old Oyo Empire. I am working on something with a similar topic and I need books or documents that are authoritative and fully detailed about the old empire. Where can I get these?” He asked.
"Sir, the centre for black culture contains such and much more. Also we can schedule a separate personal tour for you in that respect. Meet the lady at the front desk, she will be willing to help you out” The official replied.
“Thank you” The man muttered out.

He scratched his head and looked round the hall. No one was interested in asking more questions. This is the opportunity. He thought. He stood up and muttered. “Ma”.

The official looked sideways to where the deep husk voice was coming from. The man who was standing was of average height, dark in complexion, bald held and was wearing a white polo shirt and a blue denim jean. He had dark fiery eyes and on closer scrutiny one could notice a big round scar below his right eye which made him look fearful. He looked more like one of those undercover journalists with the pouch by his side than an average tourist.

She gestured for him to continue. “Please Sir, tell us your name"
He never thought he would be asked his name. He wanted to tell her Scarface but that name was unpleasant in this situation. He decided he should give her the name he wrote downstairs and quickly remembered it was Johnson, yeah Johnson sounded nice.
“Johnson” He croaked out loud enough as one could see sets of crooked teeth caused by over exposure o smoking
“Okay Mr. Johnson. I am listening” She quipped.
“How true is the news going round that your office has found, has fou…. “He stammered.
“The Golden statue of life?” he added
"Golden Statue of life?” She asked surprised. Her face flushed and she lost composure for some few seconds before she gathered herself back and continued to talk.

“Hmm…hmm…” She cleared her throat. "Mr. Johnson, I can authoritatively tell you that no such thing has been found or seen. If it were to be true our office would be first to announce such findings"
"So you believe in its existence?" His face glowed with enthusiasm and the scar twitched like it had a face of its own and was making fun of someone.
"Existence of what please?"
"The Golden statue of course, the one the goddess bestowed on the first man to cross the Osun River" he went on.
“I don’t believe in the existence of such “She flared back.
"But the town is awash with news that what your archaeologists have been at a site on the Groove in the last few weeks"
"Am sorry sir I can't help you with such information, we have no reports indicating such and mind you our archeologists have been working on excavating some ancient relics which were actually kitchen utensils used by the first settlers of the Osun Groove and not your so called Statute of Life" She fired back with an uneasy look on her face. “Is that all sir? “She asked.
“Yes, that would be all for now” he replied.

Scarface sat down but one could notice the suspicion and look of distrust in his eyes as he starred squarely at her. Something about that question had unsettled her. After settling down into his sit he started shuffling some items in the pouch he was carrying.

After answering some few more questions from the gathered tourists, she thanked her audience and walked down from the podium. The audience in the hall rose and everyone seemed to be talking at the same time. Scarface slipped out of the crowd and headed down stairs. I have played my part, I need to report to the boss he thought. He took the flight of steps in quick succession and by the time he was outside the rain had begun to drizzle back. He guided his pouch to his side and made for his car.

Thanks for the update. You write well. Just one thing though. . .it's staring not starring.

JoBlè: Thanks for the update. You write well. Just one thing though. . .it's staring not starring.

Sis thanks for the response. I do appreciate your comment and i corrected the error you pointed out.
It was a typo.

swaggerkid: Smiles @ur Name Luvmijeje Luv mi tender

Lol, thanks.

Onegig well done. So far beautiful story.
But two things, can you please write ur main characters in one update i.e pls try and make ur update longer.
Also since your story is set in two countries, I will urge you to describe ur characters in details. For instance I will love to know the height, colour, nationality and accent of Scarface.

luvmijeje: Onegig well done. So far beautiful story.
But two things, can you please write ur main characters in one update i.e pls try and make ur update longer.
Also since your story is set in two countries, I will urge you to describe ur characters in details. For instance I will love to know the height, colour, nationality and accent of Scarface.

I would definitely do that but just giving out bits of information for now. These are just teasers to what will come. I would have loved to give out the details of each characters in one full stroke as the come into play but i believe it would be much more interesting for each reader to create the ideal description of each character with me giving little clues as we go on.

Thanks for your encouragement and word of advice. I will definitely try and update more longer pieces. Be expecting two or more chapters or scenes God willing before tomorrow evening. Also i just made an adjustment to the existing scenes by writing the locations of each scene to make it more understandable for the readers .

Good story am following though i could find any corelation btw your two posts.

Nice one.,..updates pls, ,

OSOGBO, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA.

SAYO

She clambered down the steps of the podium and walked down towards the admin block where her office was located. On her way she walked past the cafeteria and could still hear the muffled voices of people as they chatted over their meals. She was feeling hazy and many thoughts ran through her head. She felt like flying and running away from those voices, jumping into a bed, switching of the light and sleeping till God knows when. She had expected an easy meeting with the Director General and the tourists this morning but nature always had an unpleasant or unexpected surprise for us. How could he have known? Who else knew about their findings? Who is that man with the Scarface? She thought. She tried walking faster but her high heels prevented her from doing so. She felt like removing the shoes and flinging them down the hall.
Her tummy lurched and that was when she remembered she hadn’t taken any food that morning; but how could she when she had an important meeting and briefing all scheduled for same day. All through the past few days all she could think about was how well she was prepared and food was the last thing on her mind when the D –day arrived. The meeting with the DG had gone very well and he even went as far as commending and thanking her for the good work she has been doing. The briefing with the tourists was also near perfect until that man had entered the hall and soiled everything. That man! My instincts don’t deceive. She thought. I knew something was amiss when he strode in, if only I could have stopped him. But wait even if I had stopped him, it doesn’t change the fact that someone who isn’t supposed to know about the details of a classified project knows about it. He sure looks like a journalist with that side pouch of his though but that’s one hell of a scary journalist she had seen in a long time. But even if he was a journalist what was his business with my work. Damn those Journalists, they never put their noses where it belongs.
She turned right at the end of the passage and stopped in front of a room with a silver painted iron door and a name plaque emblazoned at the top with the words;
Miss. Sayo Adeyemi
Acting Director, Antiquities and Research.
She sought for the keys in her jacket pocket and fumbled with it in the air before inserting it into the key hole. She entered the sprawling office closing the door behind her and slumped on the rug like a dead log of wood. She kicked out of her 4 inch high heels as she placed her two palms on the floor resting are arms backwards sitting down and staring up at the ceiling intently. The room was dimly lit and one could hear faint sounds of the rain falling outside. The office was large enough to be a mini warehouse. Adjacent the door were the windows which covered most part of that side of the wall and when you take a look out of it overlooks a thin passageway that runs to the back of the Culture building and in the distance the southern part of the ancient city of Osogbo lay sprawled with thousands of rusted zinc roofing sheets dotting the landscape. The centre of the room was occupied by a large table with collection of books stacked neatly to one side and to the other end a white Apple Laptop sat. A couch was behind the door as you opened it and on the wall to the right beside a tall cabinet was a colorful painting of a Hausa man weaving a basket, the great Queen Amina of Zaria portrait hung close to it.


She walked up to where her handbag was, searched through it before retrieving a mirror to look at her tired face. She smirked at the image staring back at her. Sayo is a thirty two year old lady of average height, brown complexion, an oval shaped face with lovely dimples and black eyes. Today her dark black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. She was slim and fit a result of years of exercise and healthy living. A closer look and you would think she’s was just twenty two and this fact was fueled more because she was unmarried. On the outside she looked though and a nonsense kind of woman but a closer her approach to her would reveal a timid and gentle hearted person. She was best known around her workplace as the Face of Culture office and had worked at the Culture office for little over a decade who had rose to the position of Acting Director through shear hard work and intelligence. Prior to her appointment as a director she was the Zonal officer in charge of antiquities and ancient sites in the South West Zone. Her whole life had revolved around arts and no wonder she had followed her passion after graduating by joining the National Culture and Heritage Commission. Her passion for arts had been kindled while young when her immediate brother who their parents never allowed to go into arts but forced to read medicine would steal away into her room under the guise of tutoring her would bring his painting canvas to draw exclusive images which where although lifeless but had lots of stories in them which her brother always explained to her like a fairy tale what each paint, each stroke in an image meant. While in the university she would organize free arts exhibition out of her meager student income to encourage interests in arts by her fellow colleagues who would prefer staying in front a Tv set watching Nollywood movies for hours rather than stay in an exhibition showroom starring at lifeless images or paintings for even five minutes. She was a firm believer in her local culture and arts and always argued that Nigerians don't know what they were losing neglecting their culture and embracing the western pop culture.

She felt some pain in her tummy again. Sayo rose awkwardly and headed for the small refrigerator that was near the cabinet. She opened the door and saw it was near empty except for some oranges, packs of Kilichi (a brownish fried then smoked cow meat), some loaves of bread and a bottle of Ketchup. She was too hungry to be making a choice of what to eat orr not. She picked four loaves of bread and 3 pieces of Kilichi which she stacked in between the loaves to make a Ham and spread the ketchup in also to serve as her sauce. She sliced two oranges and squeezed into water filled glass cup with a sieve on top to collect the stones and adding iced cold water from a jug. She took a bite of the ham and downed it with the chilled orange drink she had made. She finished the food and felt some relief. Sayo packed the left over oranges and returned them to the refrigerator. She made for the couch and laid down resting her head on the shoulder of the settee and few moments later she dozed off to sleep.

SCARFACE
OSOGBO, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA.


It was 18:24hrs but nightfall was rapidly descending on the area. The street looked deserted except for a car parked in front of a large old warehouse building. Apart from two other uncompleted building on the street, the warehouse was the only standing building. Wild bushes ranged from right and left of the building and weeds had almost overtaken some parts of the road while the total length of the road was lined with different sizes of deep pools of dirty. The chipping of crickets and croaks of frogs rent the air and large flocks of small birds screeched overhead as they headed back home for the night rest.
The sounds of the fauna in the environment were however shortly interrupted by the clanging sounds of heavy metal and moving things around the front of the warehouse building. The warehouse which outside was only plastered and not painted had a large wooden door made of thick mahogany in the front. Seconds later the large wooden door swung open and the silhouette of a short man emerged from behind the door and seconds later another figure followed the short man. The short man who was around 5 feet gathered the large wooden door struggling to close it while the other man puffed smoke from his cigarette into the air as he watched. When the door was latched, the tall man strode forward towards the packed Nissan car while the short man followed behind. The tall man reached behind the boot of the car and unlocked it he motioned to the short man to come over.
"Bring it down here" he called out.
The short man walked slowly towards the car carrying something big and heavy in a black polythene bag. He was panting and struggled with the bag as he made his way forward. He signed with relief when he dropped the item inside the open boot of the car. The tall man rested slammed the boot of the car with a thud rested his heavy body on the car door while short man moved to his front standing akimbo.
“So when should I expect the other goods to be ready?" The tall man asked
"Am working on it ser, but it won't be ready any soon. It took a lot of effort for us to get this and one of my boys was almost caught while breaking in"
"I understand this, but that's more reason we have to rush things and wrap things up around here"
"I know sir, but it's risky now to go seeking the other collection now that the Police would be on the trail of the burglars and it would be little time before they connected the dots if we strike now"
The tall man looked away into the night. He threw the cigar the leftover cigar he was smoking and marched it as he scratched the scar below his right eye. He sighed and said “Before they discover anything we would be out of here, trust me. It's just a little patience before we hit it big, trust me Shyna, something big is coming."
The shorter man looked down as if he was searching for a missing something before responding "I don't doubt you my boss"
Scarface looked at the young man with admiration. Shyna had been his loyal Man Friday who had worked hand in hand with him in all his deals. Once you saw Shyna do some work, be sure its Scarface that’s dictating the tunes from behind. Scarface had met Shyna in a local bar in Abuja where Shyna hand tended to him. Scarface had needed a mole to be placed in a big arts gallery that house a masterpiece needed by one of their numerous customers and Shyna had surfaced to be the perfect candidate for such work. Shyna had graduated from a Polytechnic with an upper credit certificate in hotel management six years ago and after his youth service had come to Abuja to seek greener pastures. He had submitted numerous copies of his documents to firms but after months he got no response. Frustrated and dejected he applied as the Manager of the bar when it newly opened but was only offered the position of waiter. He had no option than to take it so as not to idle away and the job would at least help him keep body and soul and pay some bills although the pay was ridiculous and he lived mostly on tips given by wealthy customers who frequented the bar amongst which Scarface was. One day he had approached Scarface and explained his predicament to him, handing Scarface his credential so he could help secure a better job. Scarface had promised him a job and briefed him on the requirements of the mole job which Shyna jumped at immediately and pulled off so brilliantly and with time became an integral part of Scarface plans. He had that small and innocent look around him and due to his smallness was light on his feet and this made navigation through narrow passageways easy for him when being chased by the security. He also was very understanding and never asked too much questions about a task they had on hand. He always did what was expected of him not minding the dangers inherent in it and with all these Scarface had elevated him as his assistant and took him along wherever new opportunities emerged.
"How many packages do have we got now?" Scarface asked breaking the silence. He dipped his hands in his chest pocket to retrieve a Rothmans cigarette pack. He opened the cover and picked one out of the pack offering one to his partner. Shyna picked one and lighted Scarface's cigarette. Scarface took a deep inhale and puffed the smoke into the night air.
"Six my Oga " Shyna responded.
"Good, I need to go meet the old man and see what he has been able to raise from his own side"
"Aye, boss. That's true how is he doing now?"
"Getting better with time ".
"Extend my greetings to him"
"I would. I should be leaving, I will call you later “Scarface said as he walked to the driver side of the car and opening the door and drove off. Shyna turned back towards the warehouse walking slowly and kicking an empty plastic water bottle out of his way into the bush nearby.

Another update will be ready soon. Thanks for reading.

IZUKWU: Good story am following though i could find any corelation btw your two posts.

its continous. With time things would work out.

Hey..y did u abandon ur thread naw..nt nyc nd u do cum online very well.if ur nt going to continue beta lock it

swaggerkid: Hey..y did u abandon ur thread naw..nt nyc nd u do cum online very well.if ur nt going to continue beta lock it

am sorry i didnt abandon it.. I am writing it offline bt would upload 6 extra chapters online. Thanks 4 the support.

Dis piece is quiet promising.....definately following

CHRIS
SOUTHSIDE CHICAGO, 1:45 HRS.
Chris sat over the piled up garbage in front of him. What had started like an after party cleanup had turned to full house sanitation and cleaning. It had taken him almost three hours to clean a large part of the second room. Every inch of the house was touched by the desecration that happened overnight. He had cleaned empty cans of beer and even a blond wig stowed in the water closet. He had gone three rounds to drop sacks of garbage into the waste bin outside.


Everything in the sitting room was almost in their usual place and he was returning a set of books to the shelf when what seemed like a card fell from the bulk he was carrying. He placed the book on the table and bent down to pick up the item which had filtered under the central table.

He retrieved what seemed like a white card until he turned it upside down and discovered t was a picture of a tall black man in colorful attire and a small boy perched on his laps. The scenery in the picture looked old and one could make out a fountain at the back. The man was middle age, tall and well built with dark skinned. Chris recognized the little boy with the baseball cap as him and the man as his dad. The fire that raised their apartment back in L.A had destroyed most of his mum’s property and all that was salvaged from the fire were just some pictures, letters and some personal effects which were stored in the attic. He brought the picture closer and tried recalling memories he had about times he had spent with his dad when he was younger but everything seemed blank.

In all honesty his dad spent little time with them before his parents divorced although he felt his presence more in the aftermath after his dad travelled to Africa and never returned. He had to think hard to recall what his dad might look or sound like now. He breathed deep and thought about how his life had changed due to that single event. The separation of his parents had affected Chris negatively. Ever since he had turned a loner and even back in college he had few friends and no family. He figured that was the way it was and that was the way it would stay. He always feared his friends or loved ones would leave him so it was better not to make one. Until he met Sarah nine months back; a beautiful black American lady; Tall, sensuous, with big expressive eyes and jet black hair and now he had fought with that one person he connected to in a long time.


Chris opened the drawer and sought all the letters his dad had sent him when he was 12. He had always sent him a letter on his birthday after the divorce but the last one he had received was in his sophomore year. He pulled out stacks of envelope before reaching a green colored one and opened it to read;

My Dearest Boy,
It’s your twelfth year birthday and I wish you many happy years ahead. Though I don’t have much words but I just wanted you that I do remember you. Be a good boy.

It was a short birthday message but it meant a lot to Chris back then. Any memory he had about times he had spent with his dad had dissolved over the years and most times he had asked questions about his dad his mum had refused to discuss such. An idea hit him at that moment, if his dad was not willing to come over and meet him why doesn’t he take a break to seek the old man out? As he thought about the idea in his head he felt an enthusiasm he felt when last he graduated from college. A feeling of exploration, adventure and a feeling like he had something to challenge in the world. With this he strode the room to the other end where the phone lay on the table and picked it up the phone before punching in Sarah's number on the redial. After several rings she picked up the call.


“What’s up baby?” There was an awkward silence before she responded.
“You know what Chris? I am in mood for any discussions today. I guess you know it's over between us. You crossed the line and you knew the consequences.”
“Sarah, it is not like that”
“What is not like that? You knew what you did. Please spear me the gory details. I am done with this”
Chris paused before replying. ”I just wanted to say I am so sorry”
“Nothing to be sorry about you are crying over spilt milk”
“Sarah, I mean it.”
“Oh! So you mean it now? Huh? Did you also mean what you did the other night?”
“I didn’t, it was a mistake and you know it. I was drunk and was oblivious of what I was doing.”
“I have made up my mind, why am I even having this conversation with you?”

A car engine revved and came to a stop outside and Chris could hear the repeated honking coming from the car driver. Chris steered forward towards and parted the side curtain and took a peep outside.

Alex was already alighting from the car and he was waving to him to come over when he spotted him through the opened curtain.
“You know what Sarah let me say it one more time baby I am deeply sorry and I guess with time you will see things my way--”And before he could complete the phone clicked and disconnected.

“Hello, hello...Sarah...you there?”

When he didn’t hear a response he dropped the receiver and headed out of the apartment. The sun was still high and blazing hot and in the reflection was a big and powerfully built man with high set cheekbones, black eyes and deep black hair resting on the bonnet of an SUV car.
Alex burst out laughing when he saw Chris. “Look at the bald head.” He said pointing at Chris head. “I couldn’t even recognize it was you if not that trademark smile of yours”
“Alex enough already” Chris said waiving his index finger.
“Back down? Is that what you are asking from me? Not possible, egghead. Go get dressed we are hitting the bar” Alex said as he continued laughing and kept pointing to Chris head.
“Okay then enjoy the fun while it lasts.” Chris turned back towards the apartment.
“I just need some few moments I will back with ya soon.” He called out as he opened disappeared behind the apartment’s front door.

SAYO
OSOGBO, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA. 19:05 HRS

It was dark already inside the Culture building and Deola had been working late into the night trying to complete the work she had left undone in the last two days which had piled up over those days she was absent. Her mother had been very ill and she had to take a three day break so she could visit her and help her in her recovery.

She stood up and move to the corner of the room where a mirror rested on a frame and she stared at the frame in the mirror and studied the reflection of a young and attractive woman; tall and slender with a drawl hair. The mirror couldn’t show the finer details of her face as the lightening was dim.

She returned to her sit and eased herself back into her sit to continue her typing but was still feeling numb in the neck. She thought to herself she needed to take a short walk down the stairs to relive the pain in her neck before returning to her work. She stood up and turned towards the door. She entered the corridor and was hit by the looming darkness. She returned back inside and got her pen flash light which was in the drawer of work table. She flicked the switch on returning and returned to the corridor bringing the light upon the darkness in the hallway. The corridor was quite and she was sure everyone would have gone home.

Deola passed beside the cafeteria and walked down the corridor before turning left when she reached the end of the stretch. In order to quickly relive her stress she decided cat walking and trying different styles as she walked down the hallway.

She needed to get the stress of her body and she tried everything including dancing on one leg. She was making a merry go round when she heard a door open and slammed shut very close to her. It was too late. She bumped into someone sending files and stacks of paper off into the air. She lost her balanced and next thing she was laying on someone. She closed her eyes to catch her breath.


"Damn” The voice of a lady echoed back in the dark.
"Can you get off me?”......"You are sitting on my hands". The lady said with apparent pain.
Deola was lost and she looked down and scrambled to stand up from were she was lying.
"I am so sorry" she muttered under her breath.
The other lady was trying to stand up and when she looked up to see the villain who had bumped into her. She winced. “So it is you”
“Ah! Sayo "Deola gaped in surprise at her colleague who was lying on the floor trying to gather herself up.
"Am so sorry, I didn’t imagine anyone would still be around the office this late"
“Even if I wasn’t around; what were you doing down here dancing on one leg in the dark.” Sayo said as she straightened her skirt.

Deola was her Assistant and she had been transferred to the Culture commission some few months back. She had read glowing letters from her former dean in school Prof. Arise who had not exaggerated her talents. Sayo liked Deola instantly for her sharpness, quickness and beauty. She had first she was beauty with no brains like most young ladies she with such stunning beauty she sees. And it was a no brainier that she had come to love and appreciate her so much in such a period of time and Sayo was very happy Deola had turned out to be a superb addition to the workforce at the culture house. Their relationship had blossomed to something of sisters rather than the official boss –subordinate relationship.

“I stayed back to finish the backlog of work I had when I was absent and was feeling numbed so I decided to take a short walk down the corridor" Deola said as she picked up the files and papers scattered on the floor.
“Am so sorry, I didn’t see you” She repeated feeling helpless.
“It’s okay Deola. Nothing to worry about. I just hope you didn’t hurt yourself with your Cinderella dance in the darkness act”. Sayo responded joining her in picking up the papers on the floor.
"But wait what were you doing this late in the office ma?"
"All I remembered was taking a short nap three hours ago only to wake up few minutes ago”
"Really? You must have been stressed out with work today"
“Sure, but am on my way home. I hope you are also done with your work so I can wait so you get your things and we head out of here.” Sayo said picking up the last paper on the floor.
Deola nodded and picked up the flashlight off the tiled floor pointing it back towards the way she had come. They walked silently in the dark with their high heels making the cocoka cocoka noise as they clambered down the corridor. The silence was caught short by the chipping of Sayo's phone. She searched through the hand bag she was carrying and picked up the phone.

“Hello Mr. Kunle”
“Hi, howdy?”
“Am fine”
“Good to hear, so where are you tonight"
“You want to guess?”
“Let me see, home?"
“Nope”
“Outdoors ?”
“Outdoors can be anywhere you know?” Sayo laughed.
“Your office then?”
“Correct”
“What are you doing this late in the office?
“I was working on something” she lied
“And here was I thinking of asking your eminence out for a Friday night date”
“Date with you? I doubt that” she answered with a visible sneer on her face.
“Why not? You know I want to discuss some issues pertaining to some of your work”
“Kunle, you know I don’t discuss my work over dinner”
“So what would you want to discuss?”
“Nothing”
“Ok, please yourself”
“Definitely, I have to go Kunle now"

Sayo said as Deola returned to hallway clutching her belongings with one arm and using the other to lock the office door.
“Ok, I will call you later then.”
“Bye" she placed the phone back in her handbag.
“Who was that?" Deola inquired
“Kunle, of course, who else?”
“hmmmm” Deola muttered.
“What are you humming about?”
“Nothing, so what does he want tonight?”
“A date”
“And what did you say?”
“No”
“Why not?” Deola said half shouting as the two ladies made their way through the lobby in the dark.
“He's not my type”
“Huh!” Deola scoffed “One of the most eligible bachelors in town is not your type?”
“Deola you should understand better.”

“I don’t, make me understand Sayo. You are successful in your career, beautiful and very hard working. Tell me what else you want in a man than to find someone who can compliment all these?”
“I agree, but not Kunle.” Sayo said.
“He's handsome and quite rich”
“I agree, but he is not what am looking for”

“So what are you looking for if I may ask?” Deola said as she opened the door that led out of the building
The rain had stopped momentarily by now although the streets that lay ahead looked dark and empty except for the occasional headlight and sound of one or two automobiles that zooms past as they made their way in the distant. They exited the building and walked down towards were Sayo's car was parked. Sayo unlocked the doors and both women entered. Sayo inserted the keys in the ignition while dropping her back in the rear sit of the car. The engine roared to life only for a few seconds before it went completely dead. She tried one more time but nothing happened. She turned the keys one more time and same happened.


"Kai!” She cursed.
“What’s wrong” Deola inquired
“The car is not starting.”
“Try one more time.” Sayo did as she was told but still nothing
“So what do we do?”
“I want to call my technician”
“But does he stay nearby?”
“His place is just a ten minutes drive from here; he should be able to make it down here real soon”


She flicked her phone on and dialed a number. The operator voice came on
"The number you have dialed is switched off, please try again later.”
“His phone is switched off"
“Oh, try it again. The network sometimes is like that especially when it rains” Sayo dialed the number again and got same response. She hissed and got down from the car. She located the bonnets tuck and pulled it. She turned around to the front of the car to open the bonnet and see what was wrong.

She looked around the engine as Deola joined her shining the flashlight on the various wires. “Everything looks fine.” She muttered. She closed the bonnet and returned into the car. She started it again but the fan rolled for some few seconds before it went dead again.

“So what do we do? It’s getting late and the rain seems to be drizzling again.”
“I have to call someone to pick us up.”
“Who exactly?”

She went through her phone book and could only single two guys out who could help them out of the predicament. “I need to take this car home tonight muttered Sayo. I got lots of errands to run in the morning and I need the car badly” She said sounding disturbed.

“Do you have anyone we can call?” She asked Deola.
“Am new to the town you know.” Deola said.
“Ok, let me dial someone”
She picked her phone and dialed another number but got the same response.
“Same.”
“So what we do?”
“We have only one option left”
“What’s it? “
“Kunle, but damn I can’t afford to call him.”
“Why not, if he can help us out, you don’t expect us walking ten miles in the rain this night.”
“I just turned down his request and you don’t expect him to just run down here. He might also be busy and far off”
"That dosen't change a thing, he should be more matured and help if he is in a position to help". Deola replied

“Ok, I will call him”
She said biting her lips and hesitating some few seconds before she scrolled through her phone and dialed his number. The phone barely rang before Kunle picked up.

“Hello, changed your mind?" the voice on the other end.
“Not that Kunle”
“So what is it now?”
“I need your help” Sayo barely said, the words slipping for her mouth and she hating the sound. She hated been indebted to someone. She was independent and that’s what she loved about herself.
“hmm, that’s new. When did miss independent start needing someone’s help?”Kunle taunted.
“Am serious. My car won’t start and I am stuck in front of the culture office, can you make it down here please. Don’t make me beg.”
“I think I can help. I just drove through that neighborhood some few minutes back. Give me 5 minutes.”
“Thanks so much, IOU” And the line went dead.
“He's on his way" Sayo announced to the delight of Deola.

Ok...i posted two extra chapters . ...Sorry for keeping you guys waiting.

Have like 4 extra waiting to be edited before posting.

Odd things happen when we least expect.

CHRIS
CLUB BELIZIMO, CHICAGO. 19:20 HRS.

The outside of Chicago's Southside Club Belizimo was filled club goers especially young ladies wearing skimpy dresses and their male partners drooling after them. The neon lights of club house shone brightly in the evening night sky and one could notice a pack of four drunken youths on the balcony of the club shouting invectives at passersby. Chris and Alex alighted from the car and headed towards the entrance of the club. The sun had already set and the night was slowly crawling in to cover the atmosphere like a blanket. The air was calm and subtly cold. Chris and Alex wedged and walked sideways through the crowded night club. The club was well lit with dozens of rainbow colored neon lights flashing.

To his left Chris noticed a group of small round tables arranged near a small bar used mostly by the waitresses. On the right was a large hardwood dance floor filled with people dancing to music that came from a small disc jockey's booth. The music became much louder and Chris could make out the lyrics of Destiny Childs’s latest hit song Say my name. He started nodding his head to the rhythm of the song. Tonight the club was extraordinarily filled with lots of people dancing away on the dance floor. They passed a giant bay window that overlooked the street, and then came to a string of small tables. One of the tables was empty; Chris and Alex eased themselves into the sit and waved at a passing waiter.

A short waitress dressed in a white shirt and black pant approached them.
"What should I get for you sirs?" The waiter said smiling.
"Bud lights" Alex responded.
The waiter swirled round heading towards the bar and in a jiffy he was back with their orders.
"Here’s your order sir"
"Thanks." Alex collected the drinks and poured his ouzo into an glass with half water and watched it the foams cloud up in the cup.
The inside of the club was a bit warmer than the outside due to the crowdedness and Chris took off his blazers and place on the arm of the chair.
“So what did she say when you called her?” Alex said breaking the silence.
“Who?” Chris responded rubbing his bald head.
“Sarah of course”
Chris hissed before responding with a smirk on his face.
“Forgone issue”.
"Really?”
'Yeah, I have decided to move on and also she doesn’t want me again. So it’s mutual”
"That’s bad and you just accepted like that, you didn’t try to reason with her?”
“Look Alex, am more preoccupied with lots of thoughts now than begging a drama queen"
"Drama queen you called her, but you caused it"
"Under the influence of alcohol"
"I know, that is more reason you should plead with her and I know she would see reason when you talk to her"
“Not the Sarah I know, when she takes a decision she doesn’t back down. She made that clear to me on the phone.”
“Oh really, look at him.”
"Alex please can we talk about something else. Please?” Chris said as he beckoned to the waiter passing nearby.
"Ok, if that’s what you want.”

The club was more filled now as new people had arrived. The DJ had changed the song to a particular fast paced music and the dancers were raising their hands and following the rhythm. Alex suddenly burst out laughing. Chris looked at his friend perplexed to seeing what was so amusing. He traced his friend’s gaze to the dance hall and he caught what had caused Alex’s laughter. A black dude wearing what looked like a skirt and who was apparently drunk was groveling like a frog around the dance floor. Not minding how delicate and slippery the dance floor was he slipped hitting his big head against a Stripper’s dance pole. He fell backwards sprawling on the floor holding his head in pains. After a few moments he tried standing up and in the attempt grabbed the clothe of a fat man who was dancing near him and pulling the pants of the man down while struggling to stand up to display one of the largest and ugly looking underwear Chris had ever seen. What even made the scene more hilarious was the fact that the victim was oblivious of what happened as the fat man continued dancing and shaking his butt off to the sound of the DJ’s music. A small crowd was already gathering and enjoying the free show by the two men.

“Do the drill big man!” Chris shouted. His shout caught the attention of a blonde sitting a few chairs away from theirs as she faced where Chris and Alex sat waving her hands while smiling sheepishly at them.
Alex recalling the face of the lady, burst into another thunderous round of laughter.
“What the hell is wrong with you, what else is funny?” Chris half shouted at Alex.
Alex responded by just nodding his head pointing towards the direction of the blonde.
“Does that face ring a bell?” Alex asked him.
“Nope, what about her”
“Don’t tell me you can’t recall her?”
“I can’t”

The fat man on the dance floor was now aware of the show he was giving. He turned around to see the eyes of numerous onlookers who had stopped dancing and staring back at his knickers. Embarrassed he slowly pulled up his pants leaving the dance floor. Also the drunken guy was now on his feet and he stormed off towards the restroom but instead of entering the male restroom he entered the ladies restroom.

The blonde lady waved at them again and gave that same sheepish smile while Alex waved back at her laughing sheepishly back also. After a minute awkward of silence Alex broke the silence.
“Saw that scene that just played out? Yours was weirder. In fact you almost danced naked yesterday and that lady waving at us is actually the girl you did some nasty stuff with on the dance floor here yesterday before you took off with her yester night.
“Really?” The lady noticing they were talking about her started moving towards were they were seating. Chris shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“She’s coming over. What do I do now?”
“Just keep it cool Chris. Let me do the talking”
The lady was wearing high heels and tight fitting brown dress which barely reached her knees. Her lips where deeply coated in red lipstick and her hair thrown seductively backwards. She swayed left to right as she approached their table smiling at Chris. She reached over at Chris and grabbed his head before planting a light kiss on his lips. Chris looked puzzled and dazed by her actions.
"Hello sweetheart" She whispered in his left ear before taking the empty seat to Chris left.
"What's the name again?" Alex asked her.
"Margarita" She answered.
"That's lovely"
She moved her chair closer to Chris and locked her arm around his. Chris pulled his arm away immediately. Margarita frowned for a slight second before giving her trade mark smile showing a set of yellow colored dentition.
"So what are you guys out here to do tonight?" She asked
"We are just chilling. Just wanted to grab a few bottles before heading out" Alex answered, Chris keeping mute all through.
"That's good" She looked at Chris before whispering in his ears “I had a swell time yesterday.
“Would you like to dance with me baby?" She asked Chris.
"I am not feeling too fine tonight" Chris responded.
"Oh sorry baby" Margarita responded rubbing his bald head.

Margarita picked one of the cans on the table popped it open before she stood up and announced she was returning to the dance floor. She moved round the table adjusting her tight dress as she stood up and made her way towards the dance floor swaying her hips at Chris and looking back to blow him a kiss in the air before she disappeared into the dancing crowd.

"Oh Shit, what in hell was that?" Chris screamed out. "Did I really f..." He said before keeping quiet mid sentence. The thought of what he wanted to say looking quiet disconcerting.
"Dude, you don’t want to recall what you did with that gal yesterday. Lets cut it"
Chris looked into the crowd trying to pick out Margarita. He spotted her dancing with a tall guy in a sweatshirt. He picked another can on the table, opened it and poured its content into his glass cup drowning the content in one gulp. He closed his eyes and took a deep breadth.

Alex shifted in his sit and picked up an envelope that had been lying on his laps and retrieving a set of papers. He had wanted to surprise his friend with this news and had kept the envelope from Chris all through the evening but now he thought it was time to let the cat out of the bag. He shuffled through them and passed it to Chris over the table.
“I got a new job opening for you in a company few blocks from my workplace." Alex said handing over the sheet of papers to Chris. “It’s an admin job with good pay package and flexible work hours. I already spoke with the HR guy who happens to be my school mate back and he said I should bring you in tomorrow." He continued.
Chris picked the paper up and scanned through for a few minutes before pushing it across the table back to Alex.

“Tell you what Alex. I am not interested”
“What?” Alex said sounding disappointed.
"This is way better than what you earned and there is even room from some extra commission here. Or wait you got some better offer I don’t know of already?”
“Not at all”
“Why turn this down then?”
“I am taking some time off”
"Taking some time off? That is new. Everybody takes some time off. But mind you this job doesn’t require you to start immediately. You can take two weeks from now off and start when you return."
"I am actually not taking time off to rest or ease the stress Alex; I am traveling to Africa"
"Africa?” Alex asked surprised.
"To do what?” Alex laughed out loud looking at his friend with disbelieve and amusement as if he just heard him declaring for the position of the president of the United States.
"You must be dreaming, or maybe you haven’t got off this hangover of yours yet. Tell me this is a joke Chris."
“Am not kidding” Chris said as he called on the waiter to get them more drinks.
"Thanks” he muttered as the waiter took his leave.
“I am actually going over to seek my father. Actually it’s something that just popped up. My dad as you know left when I was quite young and I feel like I should go in search of him. A part of me yearns for this adventure and I just felt I should go on check him out. If he is not willing to come meet me, I will go seek him." Chris concluded.
Alex looked away at the group of dancers pounding away on the dance floor with a fascinating synchronization. The dancers were now lined up in a straight line of five and were performing a dance choreography which seemed hard to him but he took a closer look at the steps and Alex could see it was simple and was just about taking one step forward, one step to the right and one step backward before turning round and repeating this same ritual. He pondered what next he had to say as he looked briefly at his friend sitting across the table.
He knew Chris had had it tough and rough growing up. It wasn't easy growing up to learn that someone that should love and care about your well being would just desert you and leave you for good without even looking back. He couldn't help but sympathize with him and understood his reasons for seeking his roots. We all yearn to reconcile with our loved ones. If one is out of touch with his roots, he has also lost focus of his destination.
"You sure about this?” Alex asked.
"Yap, very sure"
“But wait mate. Do you know exactly where he is? Chris for God's sake you have never been to this Country Africa....'
“Continent” Chris interrupted.
"Yeah, continent. You don't know anyplace on this Continent and you got no info about your dad's whereabouts. You can't just venture on a wild goose chase without proper and detailed information"
“I started work on that. I have been Googgling his name and trying to pin his whereabouts in the last five years to a definite location where I could travel to and continue finding his trail from there. I should be able to get substantive results in two days. Although my mum told me he is from Nigeria and last she heard from him was that he was been installed as a local chief back home. So I guess I just have to travel down to Nigeria and start my search."
"Anything I can help with?" Alex said picking a can of soda only to realize it was empty. He checked the other cans on the table but all were empty.
"I guess nothing for now, but I guess I can borrow your car to travel down to New York to go get my Nigerian Visa"
"No problems about that. You know you always have access to that, just promise you wouldn't run my engine down this time around like you did two years ago to my Explorer"
"I did nothing to that ride, that SUV was bad ass and had a lot of issues. I turned a service man as I had to open up the hood and pour water on the engine almost five times along the way before I got to my destination.
"I know, but you were partly to be blamed taking a ride on such a long journey without proper checks before embarking on it.
"Don't worry it won't happen to this. I promise."
Chris turned and looked around him. He noticed that some of the other sits were empty now. A black couple strode passed them and took sit next to them.
“Lets get out of here, we can't miss tonight's match. I got us two tickets to Chicago Bears match tonight at the stadium"
"That's superb. Let's hit it out"
Alex picked off his wallet off table and beckoned on one of the waitresses to settle their bill before he stood up straightening his shirt and followed Chris as they made their way towards the exit of the club.

SAYO
OSOGBO, SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA. 19:30 HRS

It was quarter past seven. Sayo stretched and looked into the starless night and sighed. Could this day get any bad? She asked herself. Her mind wondered back to what had transpired that afternoon at the press conference with the tourists and her unnerving encounter with that scar faced man. The image of the man kept flashing in her mind and she believed the face seem familiar. She tried recalling where exactly she had seen him before. Something about him was quite unnerving and dangerous. She tried to push the thoughts off her mind before it festered and she started having nightmares with the scary face in. It is nothing she thought. He might just have been privy enough to know. Maybe he had stumbled on the information somewhere or maybe he was a close acquaintance of her former boss the Director of antiquities and research Chief AKintola Adetoro who had started work on the project but had died unexpectedly in a car crash three months ago leaving the huge responsibility on her young shoulder. She still remembered the huge files his P.A had come over to drop down in her office after she was promoted to the position of acting director. They contained hand written notes and memos of meetings he had attended, also included was a small diary all of which she never bothered opening them to read and the bulk of it which would be percolated with dust by now under her office desk where she had kept them. She remembered separately tucking the diary into her office drawer. I need to take a look at those files to see if there are any clues about who or what about from her research team who knew about the project.
She paced round the car and walked towards the main road looking at the horizon and searching for headlights of oncoming cars. Traffic had thinned considerably as it had rained heavily and most people had returned home to go spend the night with their loved ones. Her heart skipped a bit when she noticed the headlights of an automobile coming in the distance in her direction. She was praying silently for the automobile to be Kunle's only for the car to veer off the road and turn right to another adjoining street. Disappointed she walked back to her car and could hear Deola who was sat in the front of the car talking distinctively to someone and laughing over the phone. She opened the car door and inserted the ignition key again to try and see if the car would start and after a slow and tired revving the engine came to life roaring into the silent night.
"Oops!" She exclaimed
"It's working” Deola shouted. Sayo sighed and picked up her phone to call Kunle about the latest development.
At the entrance to the Culture House a car slowly made its way inside the Culture House building training it's headlight on the red Corolla sports car in the distance. He could make the silhouette of two figures in the car and he drove in the direction of the Corolla.

Sayo saw the car's headlight trained on them and she slowly alighted waving her hands to the driver. The Mercedes Benz S Class saloon car came to a halt in front of her. A handsome, tall looking man in a black suite and dark sun glasses alighted from the car flashing a smile at her. She stifled a yawn and briefly studied him. Kunle was the only son of a famous former Senator whose political carrier spanned over twenty five years before his death. He was in his mid forties but he still maintained a youthful and chiseled body. Kunle was raised in the United Kingdom and had returned after the demise of his father to head the strongman's business empire which spanned many vital sectors of the country's economic.

Depending on whom one talked tom Kunle Badejo was either a Philanthropist or a ruthless capital Opportunist. To the outside world he was a devoted, divorced, tireless and loving businessman who used his wealth to affect the lives of the less privilege. To those who worked under him or had a close contact with him he was a cunning, manipulating administrator-tyrannical and ruthless at times- who would or can sacrifice anyone to achieve his personal desires.

"What do we have here?" Kunle asked gesturing towards the Corolla.
"I can’t fathom it. One minute it was working and the next it won’t just start. Thanks so much for responding at such short notice”
"You are welcome milady. Even if I was deep asleep and thousand miles away, I will always be there." He said bowing politely to Sayo.
"Please don't flatter me; I really owe you on this."
"It's a pleasure Ms Sayo.”
“Good day maam” He greeted Deola as she stepped out of the car.
"Good evening sir" she responded. Kunle crossed over to where Deola was before gazing at her seductively from head to toe.
"It appears we have never met" He announced offering her his hands.
"It's a pleasure" Deola responded, shaking Kunle’s outstretched hand.
Sayo cleared her throat eyeing them both suspiciously as they held their hands for a little longer.
"I was just about to call you when you arrived here. The car decided to return back to life. It's a miracle you know."
"I see! That's good to hear. At least I would be speared the pain of transporting two beautiful ladies down to their homes tonight in my rickety car." He said sarcastically.
"You call this car rickety? If this is rickety, then mine is crippled and disabled. Anyways thanks once again for driving out in your rickety lion to rescue two helpless ladies" Sayo said laughing. Kunle walked back towards where

Sayo was standing and held his head out before mumbling something inaudible to her ears. Sayo smiled for a brief moment before her face turned expressionless. Kunle stepped back saying his good nights as he watched the two ladies enter the car, started the engine and drove out of the Culture House compound. He waved at them as he walked back to where his car was parked, started the car and also drove out as the rain started pelting it drops again.

A part of this chapter is actually inspired from a Nairalander's experience at the Nigerian Embassy in New York.
Due permission had been taken before any part of it had been used. Thanks Jesoul once again. For others who want to read the full article/thread. Her's the link

DAY 2
CHRIS
NEW YORK CITY 10:00HRS

The next day Chris traveled to New York to get His Nigerian Visa. He had booked an appointment and was scheduled for that day. Although Chris held dual citizenship as his dad registered and secured a Nigerian passport for him when he was young but he had misplaced it and had never thought of reapplying for a new one since the need never arrived. Chris located a parking lot which was few metres from where his GPS pointed as the Nigeria Embassy in New York. He alighted from the car and carried an envelope which contained all the relevant documents that where needed. Today the sun was high and one could feel the energy of the bustling city of NYC. The consular office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was located in the downtown New York and it was easy for him to locate as the building had a beautiful lettering "Federal Republic of Nigeria” in bright silver colour as you approached. Looks nice he thought.
Two men dressed in what seemed like Para-military clothing stood at the entrance checking new visitors before ushering them into the building. One had a stern look on his face and the other looked fatigued apparently tired from the strenuous job of standing all day to check different visitors who trickled into the building by the second. Chris was instructed to sign his name and drop his bag in a wooden cubicle with lots of lockers before he was ushered into the building. He turned the corner from the entrance, and opened a side door which led to the waiting room. As he entered the room he scanned the space in front of him. . The size of the room was not too large but was moderate with the walls painted white. There were sits arranged in rows which were already occupied by people. He walked forward and at the right hand corner of the room he located an empty seat. Out of habit; Chris looked for the nearest fire exit –and could locate one, but it was on the same side as the entrance and it was blocked by rows of connected chairs. Surely this would be a problem in case of an emergency. He thought to himself. He sat next to an old man who was deeply grained into what looked like a newspaper he was holding. The man shifted his bowler hat before he looked up when Chris settled into his seat. The man was wearing old and big rimmed glasses. He looked briefly at Chris before he adjusted his glasses and continued reading the newspaper. Chris stretched his legs trying to ease the pent up street from the long distance he had had to drive. He rested his back and yawned. He looked forward and scanned the room, there was a little age 7 or 8 who clung to her mum's clothe and was whispering words into her ear. to his right was a young girl who was in another world entirely as she pressed her iPhone with the earpiece plugged into her ear and she occasionally tapping her feet and singing the song she was listening to out loud. He shifted his gaze back to the old man who was sitting by his side and he noticed the man was still engulfed in with his reading. Chris stretched forward a bit and peeped at the contents of the newspaper. He couldn't remember when last he held a physical tabloid. It's the age of the internet and he received news by the minute and didn’t have to wait till the next day before he got informed about what was happening around the world Paper versions of newspaper were so old fashioned although he sometimes preferred to have them when riding the metro back in Chicago as it saved him from people dragging him into unnecessary discussions. The newspaper the old man was holding seemed odd to Chris and when he couldn't make out the words he moved a bit closer but still he was only able to pick up one word that loomed at the centre top of the newspaper page “Alarooye” with the O’s having dots on it and the A having a backward slash. He tried pronouncing the word in his head but couldn’t just go past the first syllable Ala. He stirred right and quickly looked away as the man turned right to look at him. Chris dreaded company today as he wanted to be left alone but his curiosity had brought him into trouble as the old man turned one eighty degree in his sit to face Chris. Chris knew the old man was looking at him but he kept his gaze away and feigned interest in the girl with IPhone.

“This is your first time?” The old man asked. Chris turned to face the old man and he could now see the pale blue eyes of the old man starring at him. He guessed the man to be in his seventies apparent stretch marks. He guessed.
“Yeah, my first time.” He shrugged before answering.
“But how did you figure it’s my first time?”
“I can see it in your eyes”
“My eyes?”
“Yes, I can read people’s mind through their actions or their eye movements. It’s something I have done half of my life”
“Oh really! So you some kind of Sikh?”
“Yes and no; in the professional way of saying it no, but personally am a self styled psychiatrist.”
“Interesting!”
The old man stretched his legs and yawned before adjusting his big rimmed reading glasses and turning to the newspapers on his lap.
“So is that book for self styled psychiatrists alone” Chris asked glancing at the newspaper.
“Where did you get that infor- ma- san from?” the old man responded pronouncing the word information with a thick ascent that Chris couldn’t place.
“Cause those lettering are strange to me”
“Strange?” He raised an eyebrow. “Young man; what part of Nigeria are you from? This is a popular indigenous Yoruba newspaper and I believe you might have heard about it”
“What part you said?” Chris seemed confused.
“Are you Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw or what?”
“I don't get you sir. Are those some kind of associations or cliques?” Chris asked quizzically.
“Oh sorry, you are so green” the man laughed in the process showing sets of brownish colored teeth.
“Green? I don’t understand you sir.” Chris asked.
“You know nothing. The Hausa’s, Igbo’s and Yoruba’s are major tribes in Nigeria although we have an additional of about 250 smaller tribes speaking different dialects.”
“Oh! Good for them then”
“So which is yours?”
“I don’t know sir”
“That sounds new”
“Yeah, am new” Chris shifted uncomfortably in his sit. This is getting out of hand already. The questions the man where asking were way beyond him. He had expected to be able to blend in with the crowd but just few words and this man had been able to single him out. He turned away and set his sights at the pavilion in front of him.
Chris sighed and looked at the small desk with stacks of passports and papers on it and a fat rotund woman sitting behind the desk shouting some instructions.
“If you hear your number just come forward”, she barked.
"ZERO WAN”
“ZERO TU"
"ZERO TREE" and then she switches from “Zero” to “O”.
“OH FOUR”
"OH FIFE”
“OH SIX"
“OH SEVEN”
“OH EIGHT”
“OH NINE”
“TEN”
The woman continued not even giving a break or pause between numbers to allow the persons with those assigned numbers to come up. In a few seconds the table ended up crowded as 2 or 3 people hurried to the front, both unrelated, both sitting down at the same time looking confused. Chris looked at the old man who was back reading his illuminati like newspaper and asked him.
“What is the number meant for?”
“It’s the number to identify when next it’s your turn to be attended to, you need to pick up one from the number dispenser” The old man replied.
“Where is the number dispenser?”
The old man seemed in the dark about the whereabouts of the number dispenser as he tilted his head both right and left with his mouth wide open but no answers coming out. Chris was about to stand up and go find it himself when the little girl who had overheard him asking the man finally offered the words "its over there, it is broken, you have to open it" she said pointing to a machine placed on a tall stood by the wall in the far left corner. Chris stood up and proceeded there to open it, he reseated the paper reel to the top of the dispenser so it works again and then he closed the machines.
As soon as the spectators see the machine working again, a new line immediately sprang up out of nowhere to take numbers from the dispensers. Chris picked his number and headed back to his seat but before he could make it to his seat, a young lady in her mid thirties wearing a sweatshirt with "I love NY" emblazoned on it approached him - probably thinking since he fixed the machine he probably works there at the embassy or knows how things worked.
"Excuse me sir, do you know how the online form works?" She asked.
"Sorry, I have no idea; didn't you ask the lady at the desk?" Chris replied.
"I already asked her but she was not much of help. She gave this paper containing the following instructions but I can’t make a way out of it."

Chris took the paper containing the instructions on it and explained what he thought it was to the lady who thanked him profusely telling him he was an angel before she sidestepped and headed towards the exit and disappeared. He headed back to his sit to wait for his turn but changed his mind and headed outside of the building when he checked the paper he was holding and saw that he had picked number 107 from the dispenser and the woman just called number 20 which showed he still had a long way.


Three hours later Chris was still sitting in the waiting room clutching his bag and steering at the ceiling and counting the number of black perforations he could see on each section. The number of people in the hall had thinned in contrast to what obtained few hours backed when it was filled with all sorts of people needing one service or the other. A group of three young college age boys sat in a corner talking in hushed tones and exchanging what seemed like cards and money.

Chris glanced at his wrist watch. It was 1:47 and he was feeling quite hungry as he had skipped breakfast and forgot to park enough snacks in the car while leaving for NY in the morning. He yawned and stretched his body.
A large hand patted him from the back and he turned to see who it was. The Old man growled in his face adjusting his big rimmed glasses as he spoke.
“Aren’t you hungry young man?”
“Like you were reading my mind sir, I am famished.”
“Common, let’s grab some bite from the cafeteria nearby.”
“What about if they called us while away?” Chris said pointing towards the official counter where the woman sat munching away on a hamburger under a bold sign “No food allowed in here” What an irony. Chris thought.
“I doubt if any new numbers would be called before we returned and it seems the officials are even tired out and having a timeout also.” The old man replied.

“Okay, let’s go” Chris said as he picked up the small pouch and followed the old man out of the waiting room. They exited the building and crossed the narrow road that separated the buildings on both sides before turning to a right footpath that led to another building. The entrance of the four storied building had a big banner displaying brightly coloured foods and the words African Kitchen in dark green. The old man led the way into the building proceeding at a speed and agility that surprised Chris considering the age of the man. He scanned the inside of the restaurant as they entered. The place was quiet big and was filled with lots of people sitting on white plastic chairs and tables eating. He followed the old man to a corner of the restaurant were customers were served their foods. He breathed in hard and the smell of something odd hit him. He held his breadth and trying taking in the smell of again. In that instant it hit, Okra soup! Yuck! He was about turning away when a big arm squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. He looked up to see the old man smiling back at him.
“Not all of us like the smell of okra soup you know but they sure have other sweet delicacy that would keep you asking for more if you tasted it once”
“Sure? So what do you advise I take?” Chris asked trying to hide his apprehension.
“Ever tasted Pounded yam and Egusi soup?”
“Never heard of that? How does it taste?” Chris asked.
“Heavenly” The old man said not waiting for Chris approval before asking the attendant to dish his friend some “Iyan” and Egusi soup.
Chris collected a mold of whitish food which was wrapped in white cellophane bags and the soup in a steel plate. The old man also ordered for same and they carried their foods off towards some empty seats in the far left corner of the room.
“We forgot to collect the cutleries” Chris announced. The Old man looked at him surprised then shakes his head.
“We need no cutlery for this. Just watch me” The old man rinsed his hands in a bowl of water before picking a mold of pounded yam, unwrapping it and placed it in an empty plate. He took a small chunk off and rolled it his hands before dipping into the soup before swallowing. He repeated the steps again as he continued gulping the food and forgetting the existence of Chris on the other side. Chris getting the clue that he was on his own washed his hands in the bowl of water unwrapped a mold of pounded yam and dipped it in the soup. He took a small bite and his tongue was immediately filled with something hot, sensuous and as well sweet. He took another bite and the feeling he had was thoroughly heavenly as the soup hit the back of his throat sending sweet rhythms all over his body. He closed his eyes to savour the sweetness of the food and in no time he had devoured three wraps of pounded yam.
After they had finished eating, the old man beckoned on a passing girl wearing an apron to come clear the dishes from the table while he brought out his wallet to pay the bill.
Chris interrupted “The bill is on me. That food was heavenly and I am filled to the brim. Please let me take the pleasure of paying.”
He brought a $10 bill and handed it over to the lady.
“Thank you. I told you and that is just one of the numerous delicacies we got in Africa.”
“Don’t tell me there’s other soul filling likes of that food. I might end up sleeping in here ordering more food” They both laughed out.
“Ever heard of Abang soup, Ewa Agonyin, Edi kai ikom? Look those are what we call real foods not just the hams and junks we keep on gulping down here” The old man said.
“Where can I get all those you just mentioned sir?” Chris asked.
“Since you are going to Nigeria soon, you will get that and much more”
“Thanks, if my Visa is granted I should leave by next week”
“Let me ask you this. Why are you going to Nigeria?”
“To visit my dad”
“Where in Nigeria does he stay?” The old man asked.
Chris hesitated deciding whether it was worth it telling a stranger he just met some few hours that he last saw his dad nineteen years ago and he was now on a mission to seek his dad out.
“I currently don’t know his whereabouts but I guess I should be able to figure him out once I get down to Nigeria.”
“Why don’t you call him so he can give you a description of how to get to him. Nigeria is very big and it is not that organised like you have here where you can look up people’s number in directories or yellow pages. Searching for someone is not going to be easy at all except you have an idea where exactly you are going.” The old man said.
Chris looked over at the table and wondered if he should just ask for help from this old amusing man. Maybe he might even know his dad and he could just point him to the right direction.
“I don’t have his contact details with me and actually, I last saw him when I was six. He returned to Africa and only communicated during my birthdays and the last messaged I received from him was during my sophomore year.”
“Poor boy” The old man said sympathetically.
“What’s the name?”
“I am Chris”
“No, I mean your dad’s name and what do you know about him?”
“Adetoro Akintola. All I know is that he left the US and returned to Nigeria after my parent divorced. I also once overheard my mum talking about him holding a traditional title in Africa when discussing with one of her friends”
“You are Yoruba then and your dad is if the name is anything to go by” The man said scratching his head.
“But why don’t you ask your mum for more details”
Chris looked up and tried pushing the tears that was forming in his eyes before answering.
“She is late”
“Am sorry to hear that”
“In that case the best option for you is to start searching through libraries and old newspapers when you get to Nigeria. Since he holds a traditional title, he is definitely a public figure and somewhere his name might just have been mentioned or maybe ring a bell to someone back home and they might be able to guide you in the right direction. Although he might be anywhere in Nigeria at present but I can tell you to limit you search to South West Nigeria which is where the Yoruba’s are mostly domiciled.”
“Thanks sir, I will do that” Chris said feeling a bit relieved that he has a chance of finding his dad. The old man reached into his pocket and brought out a cell phone. He held the device delicately while pressing and after some few presses he showed Chris a phone number on the screen.
“That’s Professor Emoruwa’s number. He is a good old friend and an academician of International repute. I would want you to meet him when you get to Nigeria. He is an Arts Professor in the University of Lagos and the last time I visited him he was doing some research into the traditional history of Yoruba Monarchy system. He might be of help if you show him your dad’s name.” The old man said.
Chris searched though his pouch and retrieved his pen and a sheet of paper before writing out the number on the screen.
“From whom should I say?”
“Just tell him his old time friend Prof. Ajala”
“Thank sir. I will do that immediately I get to Nigeria”. Chris tucked the sheet back into his pouch. Prof Ajala gathered himself picking up his wallet on table and putting into his pocket, he looked around at the restaurant before setting his sit aside.
“We should be on our way back to the embassy” The professor announced.

Just the me soliloquizing: The scenes are panning out well at least..We should be done with the US aspects of the story very soon. Am trying hard to close all loose ends before we move into the main segments of the story. The parts we have above is like an introduction to the characters and we would be moving into the middle aspect of things where the plot of the story and a lot more about Sayo, Chris, Scarface, Kunle and Deola would be known.

I already have a chunk of that written out but I do appreciate reviews and important points. They make me write more better and maybe might just give an idea to spin the story a bit before reaching a climax. As for now the plot of the story Please this is just unraveling. Take it as an unusual multi plot story. Thanks.

I hope to update the other parts before the weekend God willing.