I bought the building the next week at a whooping one hundred and twenty million naira. Mr. Kinsley initial price was one hundred and fifty million, thinking that it would keep me off. He sold it eventually at my price after a couple of haggling, and he delivered the keys of the house the next day.I was to bear the liabilities as well as the assets, he said. He told me that two tenants have paid their rent while the other two had not. I asked for the names of the defaulters.Mr. Kingsley had looked at me.“If I wasn’t a man that has seen a lot, I would say maybe you bought the building to victimize the tenants," he said. "The way you insisted on buying the building at this ridiculous price, and the way you keep asking about the tenants, I am convinced that you have another motive from just the interest in buying the house.”I shrugged. “Who knows?” I said and smile. “It’s good doing business with you.” I shook his hands.“You paid for a property that you did not even see the inside,”

“I need a security guard,” I said.Jasper looked at me. “Because of the G-Wagon, right? You are afraid someone might kidnap you?”I shook my head. “Not only that but I want someone I could send to do special work for me. Do you know someone who is not afraid to do special jobs and can keep secrets?”“That sounds clandestine,” Jasper said. “You are not thinking of doing something illegal are you? That could land us in trouble.”“You are fearful,” I said. “I have money. We can get the best lawyers and they can defend us no matter what we do. Don’t be afraid; we have money.”Jasper stared at me. I could see it in his eyes that he didn’t like what I said. I made up my mind then to be gentle on issues with him before he goes back and tell mom and she would wake up and come preaching to me.I haven’t told her about the money yet, and I was sure Jasper hadn’t told her about the cars too. Otherwise, she would probably have packed and come to stay with me. Just to get me to use the money well

I thought about Talatu all the way to Crispan Hotel. I remembered what she did to me, how she humiliated me, and the more I thought about it the more I wanted to punish her for it. I also thought about how Dr. Agaba had called me. I thought about what he had said and how he had said it, as if I was a dog he was speaking to me. The more I thought about that day, the more my heart bled. But now the tables have turned, and she wants me to open my arms and take her. “That’s never going to happen,” I said out loud. “She would have to find another person, not me.”But I knew what I said wasn’t coming from the bottom of my heart. I knew how I felt. I knew she still had a hold on my heart. But, just at that moment, the thought of Sarah came into my mind and my heart hardened.“They killed her,” I said. “They must pay for that. They must pay.”I droved the car into the luxurious compound of the Crispan Hotel and parked. I walked into the reception and asked for my room. I got the key and wa

Mom came to see me at the hotel.I opened the door, and she walked in with a quarrel.“How did you get money to stay here, Paul? And how did you get money to give me one million naira? See, I haven’t touch it; if it is illegal money, I don’t want it. You can keep it, because I don’t want it.”“It’s not illegal money,” I said and glared at Jasper.Why did you bring her here? I asked him with my eyes.He shrugged.“Paul, tell me the truth,” she said. “I want nothing but the truth. Are you sure you did not steal this money from someone? I don’t want my child to be a chief or a scammer."I shook my head.“Mom, I did not steal it. A man from England gave me the money. I met him here in Nigeria and when he got back to his country, he sent money to me. It wasn’t any scam.”Mom looked at me with eyes that told me she didn’t believe me. “Does it have anything to do with your finger getting cut off? Were you involved with some rival gang or something?” she asked.“Mom! I am telling you there w

I went to the hospital to see Dr. Agaba against Talatu’s wish. I couldn’t stand the pressure of not seeing him in that vulnerable condition. I am sure his smart mouth would be shut now, and his pride would be tuck under his buttocks.I reached the hospital at about nine in the morning. Isaac had wanted to follow me before he travels, but I insisted that he travels and stay out of sight for a while. He wasn’t happy, but I assured him that his payment was going to be in place, whether he was with me or not.I reached the Male Ward and a nurse asked if I were a relative after I asked about Dr. Agaba. I considered the fact that we dated the same girl with Dr. Agaba and said that I was.I walked into the room and saw Dr. Agaba sleeping. No one else was in the room. Talatu has probably gone to freshen up or to the pharmacy.I stared at him for a long time, seeing his arm bandaged with a sling around it. His face was swollen, and I saw a cut above his left eyebrow.“Jesus!” I said, muttering