‘He’s gone,’ I shouted. ‘The guard is gone.’Eric turned to the door, a look of alarm on his face. He pushed Maria away, yanked the flashlight from my hand and dashed out of the door. Half of the room turned dark suddenly, and Maria ran toward me. Eric’s footsteps slapped the floor in the hall in rapid succession and then the sound grew faint until it was gone completely.Darkness covered the room.‘Paul,’ Maria whispered, and I felt her hand circling my arms.‘Don’t be afraid,’ I whispered.Mr. Potter soft laugh swarmed through the darkness to meet us. Maria’s gripped on my hand grew tighter. ‘The purpose has been achieved,’ he crooned from where he sat. ‘The purpose has been achieved.’‘What are you talking about?’ I asked into the darkness. ‘What purpose?’‘To let the old man go,’ he said. ‘Why do you want to keep him? He is old and innocent.’He struggled up and walked toward us. Maria gasped and tightened her grip.‘But you wanted him to go too, didn’t you?’ he said. ‘Both of yo

The car hiring service called Eric twice before we got to Lagos and Eric promised to return the car the next day. They threatened to speak to the police, but Eric agreed to pay the extras and begged them to do that if he doesn’t show up by eight the next morning.We got to the house and took Mr. Potter into the room without a snoopy nose catching us doing it.‘What a day!’ I muttered, sitting down. ‘Wonder what happened to the old guard.’Maria sat on the settee. ‘He probably went to the police station instead of going to call the villagers. Maybe that’s why he took so long.’Eric sat beside me and pulled off his shoes. The staled air in the room grew staler.‘Could you please take them outside?’ Maria asked, looking at the shoes. ‘The air in the room is dead as it is.’ I looked at Eric, holding my breath.‘When I am in your house,’ Eric said, his voice low and icy. ‘You can tell me what to do with my shoes. But for now, enjoy the smell or sleep outside.’‘Suit yourself,’ Maria said

Eric climbed the Third Mainland Bridge, speeding to Ojota in the Toyota we rented. I looked at my phone: 6:05 am. Many cars lined up the other side of the road and they moved in the heavy traffic, heading to the island. We got to the end of the bridge about the time the sun stopped yawning and started the day's work. Eric had convinced Maria to stay back in the house, but she didn't need much persuasion from the unease I saw on her face. She was ready to go back to Warri and I didn't blame her since I was ready to leave Lagos too. The fact that Mr. Potter was under the police search light now had changed everything. Everything seemed real now. Only Eric seemed unmoved and galvanized to take more actions to bring our dream to reality.I turned and looked at the back seat. Mr. Potter lay like a pack of pillows, sleeping. Eric had donned cap on his head, hiding his hair and most of his face—a caution in case he suddenly seats up. He slept on, motionless, except for the rising and fallin

Mrs. Joan Potter replied Eric's email that evening. It read: Acknowledged. Take a picture of him and send to ensure you have him. How much? No police will be involved. Waiting for your reply. Mrs. J. Potter. I read the email three times before handing it over to Tolu.I turned to Eric. 'What did you write to her?'He smiled. 'That we have her husband and that she should not contact the police if she doesn't want him dead. I told her to prepare to send money via the mail. That was it. I am surprised she replied so quickly.''She is too business-like,' I said. 'There is no begging, no pleas to keep him alive. She is either glad to have him in our hands or she is a stoic.' 'She is not a good wife,' Tolu said. 'No wonder their marriage is falling apart.'Eric tapped Tolu on the back. 'That's their problem. I hope she is still good enough to pay for her husband's release; that's all that matters.' He turned around. 'Where is Mr. Potter?' 'He is in the bathroom,' I said. 'He just woke up

I found Tolu sitting on the edge of the bed in his room. He did not raise his head to look at me when I opened the door, but he was staring at the opposite wall. I surveyed the room; the bed sheet lay inside out and half of it covered the floor. The rest would have joined this part if not because Tolu sat on it. The Chelsea T-shirt he wore the other day hung on bed's frame.'We need to talk,' I said and sat beside him. 'Let's get Mr. Potter out of here before Eric comes back. He sees us as his enemies and it's clear he will stop at nothing until he gets that ransom.'I paused for a response; Tolu stared at the wall.'I have an idea,' I said after about thirty seconds.He turned and looked at me. 'Okay?''Let's go to the police,' I said. Tolu's mouth dropped opened. 'Listen,' I said quickly. 'We can tell them all that happened and hand Mr. Potter over. Our hands will be clean and we will be free and they will take over from there.'Tolu's eyes widened with every word that came out of