SITA
I sat on the bonnet of a car as I waited for Baba. It felt like hours before Baba's figure finally appeared behind the dusty RAV 4. The old mechanic shop was a place I knew was a double-edged sword. If anyone had followed me, there was no telling where they would be waiting.
"It's always a pleasure seeing you in such great health," Baba said as he limped towards me.
"I could say the same for you. I'm surprised you made it here without your driver."
"Always good with the jokes I see."
"I know you didn't bring me to crack jokes so, get on with the business."
"I received some disturbing reports about the opposing party."
"Those guys again? They are something we need to look into."
"I agree but considering how the government is, there isn't much we can do without pieces of evidence and it takes time to gather enough for such a large force."
"So, what's the problem again?"
"Some of my sources confirmed that they were hiding a convict."
"What kind of convict exactly?"
"The type that is ready to commit suicide to get back at this country."
"Did your sources tell you anything about his location?"
"Well, if they did do you think that I'll be standing here with you right now?"
"That's a fair point. Though the pay isn't enough to cover for that."
"Since when exactly do you care about money?"
"Don't forget I have information to gather and maintenance to make on some of my toys."
"Fine, I'll consider raising the pay, now get going before someone finds us. I'll send you the information we've gathered so far." With that Baba turned and limped his way to the opposite direction through which he came. I sighed and headed towards the chauffeur.
The journey back to the hotel was a slow one. For some unusual reasons, the traffic was more hectic than it was when I had left the hotel. It wasn't until a few hours later that the road was finally cleared.
"Koffi, is it only I or that car has been consistent with us?" I said as I glanced at the side mirror.
"Ma, I can't tell. Though I've been seeing it since the traffic." I continued to stare at the side mirror thoughtfully. I knew that wearing my widow gown wasn't such a great idea considering the large bounty hanging over my head.
"Take the next turn."
"But ma, we are almost at the…"
"Do as I say!" Koffi was startled by the urgency in my tone. He quietly obeyed. The moment I noticed the car trailing me behind, I felt a sense of urgency. "Can you take me to that supermarket over there?" I pointed at a supermarket which was on the other side of the road. The driver stared at me in total confusion.
"Ma, I'm supposed to take you back to the hotel."
"Just drop me there and go I'll find my way back." The driver stared at me but nodded slowly. He slowly turned the car and parked in the parking lot. I stared at the side mirror when I saw the car parked a distance away, I knew this wasn't some kind of coincidence anymore. I alighted from the vehicle. "No matter what happens, be sure not to return to the hotel okay?" he nodded and reversed the car.
I waited until Koffi had disappeared behind the horizon, making sure the vehicle didn't follow him. I headed into the supermarket.
I walked slowly into the supermarket my eyes never leaving the men who scattered behind the shelves. I had no idea which organization sent them but I doubted that there would be time for interrogations. I grabbed a basket and began shoving some items into the basket.
The confrontation began subtly, with the four men fanning out to encircle me near the frozen food section. Each step they took was deliberate and menacing. I noticed the change in atmosphere, my instincts sharpening as I looked up to see them closing in. The leader of the group, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, took a step forward and blocked my path.
"Don't mean to be rude, I'd like you to kindly follow us. And avoid any form of resistance. The bounty said dead or alive, so either way we will get our reward. Even you can't take on so I'll be careful if I were you." he sneered.
"Looks like your contractor didn't inform you well enough." The man reached out in an attempt to grab me.
My eyes flicked to his hand and then to his face, assessing the threat. Without a word, I dropped the basket, its contents clattering to the floor, and took a quick step back, raising my fists in a defensive stance.
The first man lunged, attempting to grab me. I sidestepped swiftly, my foot sweeping out in a fluid motion to connect with his knee. He stumbled, pain shooting through his leg as he collapsed into a display of cereal boxes. Before he could recover, I had already turned my attention to the second attacker.
This one was bulkier, charging at me with a growl. My movements were a blur of precision and speed. I ducked under his swinging arm, driving my elbow into his ribs. The impact forced the air from his lungs in a harsh exhale. I followed up with a swift kick to his shin, and as he doubled over, a sharp chop to his neck sent him sprawling to the ground, gasping for breath.
The third man, smaller but quicker, attempted to flank me, swinging a broomstick he had grabbed from a nearby display. My reflexes were honed from years of martial arts training. I anticipated the strike, catching the broomstick mid-swing. Using the momentum against him, I twisted it from his grasp and jabbed the handle into his stomach. He crumpled, eyes wide with shock and pain.
The last man hesitated, watching his companions struggle on the floor. He pulled out a knife, its blade glinting menacingly under the store's lights. My eyes narrowed, my body shifting into a low, balanced stance. The aisles around them seemed to narrow, the shelves becoming a blur as my focus zeroed in on the man with the knife.