It was a norm for Aisha and ID to clean up the multitude of exotic cars at Skyline Motors every Saturday morning. That way the cars were always spick and span. This Saturday however, was a little bit different. ID was still at the hospital, and Aisha had decided to clean the over 300 cars all by herself. She was on the twenty-first car when Timi came in, hailing her with a good morning. Aisha replied warmly. She paused her cleaning for a second to flash Timi a smile, then went on.
"Need
some help with that?" Timi asked, when he realised she was planning on
cleaning all the cars by herself. "Nah,
I've got it," Aisha replied. "You
know Aisha, it's okay to accept a helping hand once in a while..." "And
who says I don't?" Aisha fired back. Timi smiled, walked up to her and
forcibly collected the cloth in her hand. "Since I've met you, I've never
heard you say yes to a can I help you question." Aisha shrugged. "So what? I'm
an independent woman." "Independent? Good. But
you're not independent, you're something else. Something bothering around
social phobia." "Me? A phobia?" Aisha asked,
incredulous. "I drive 260 km/hr on a good day, trust me, I'm not afraid of
anything." "So you say..." At that
moment, Timi's phone started ringing. The number was unfamiliar to Timi, and he
picked the call, a little skeptical. "Hello, please who's
this?" Timi asked, as he picked the call. "Hi, please may I speak with
a Mr Timi Andrews?" The caller asked. "You're speaking with him.
What do you want?" "Are you sure? You sound a
little younger than I expected," the caller said. Feeling insulted, Timi hardened
his voice and bawled into the phone, "What do you want?" "I...I need your help...My
name's Bolade Akanji...and I need a driver?" "What!" Timi exclaimed and cut the call.
Aisha asked who it was that called him, and Timi replied, "Wrong
number." Timi stared around for a
while, and after taking in everything, said, "You know, this place is just
basically a fancy five-storey parking lot." Aisha giggled. "What
else would you have it look like?" She asked sarcastically. "Well, it's not like I'm
complaining or anything," Timi retorted. "It actually looks
good." Barely had Timi finished talking when Ogundade Ebin walked in. Timi
whirled round as he heard the glass doors swing open. He was taking a back for
a moment with the sight of Ogundade. "Wow...you're the last
person I was expecting to see. You've got guts to showing your face here,"
Timi said. "Not here for a fight
Timi," Ogundade said. "I came to thank Aisha." Now it was
Aisha's time to be surprised. "Came to thank me for what?" Aisha
asked, perplexed. "You had the drop on me last
night. You could have sent me crashing, but you didn't. Thanks." "Well, don't be surprised,
she's not a low life like you," Timi retorted. Aisha
winced, fighting hard to suppress a laughter. "You're welcome
Ogundade," she said. Ogundade nodded, and turned to leave. As he got to
the door, he turned back. "There's one other thing I think you guys should
know." "What's that? That you suck
at driving?" Timi asked smartly. Aisha fought to suppress another
laughter.
"No," Ogundade
replied sternly. "I was hired to hit Idris. I was hired by Asiwaju
Derele." Aisha gasped when he
heard the name, then her countenance quickly changed. "Thank you for
telling us that," she said, her voice dark and mean. Ogundade took his
leave. "Sounds like you have
history with this Derele guy," Timi uttered, when he noticed the sudden change
the name had brought to Aisha's mood. "Yes," Aisha replied.
"Asiwaju Derele was a member of our crew before. He, my brother and I
formed Storm Chasers together." "Then....why'd he
leave?" Timi asked, genuinely interested. "He betrayed us. Knowingly
lost us a race to earn a spot on a higher crew, Hell Racers. He leads that crew
now. It was because of his betrayal that my brother and I found it difficult to
get another crew member to replace him; we just couldn't trust anyone."Timi sighed. "I'm sorry." "Don't be," Aisha
replied. "When I'm done with Derele, he's going to be sorry," she
said. "No," Timi objected. "When WE are done
with Derele, he'll be sorry," Timi corrected, stressing the
"we". Aisha nodded.
***
Timi was in his car on his way home when the number that had
called him earlier called again. Reluctantly, he picked the call and beamed
into the phone, "I've told you, I'm not interested in being your driver." "No...no...you don't understand.
I don't mean I want to employ you. Some people are after my life and I was told
you could drive me safely out of here," the Bolade Akanji replied, traces
of fear could be heard in his voice. "I'm sorry mister, but I'm
done with things like that," Timi replied. There was an extended silence.
Then the caller spoke, "Yeah, I told Governor Abejide you wouldn't help.
Guess I was right." "Wait," Timi beamed.
"You mean to say, Governor Abejide told you to call me?" "Yes," Bolade Akanji replied. "He told
me you drove his daughter safely to the airport when his enemies were after
her. Now, she's safe in the United States." Timi exhaled
deeply. "Fine, I'll help. Where do you want to meet?"
***
That night, Timi told Bridget about the call he had received
from Bolade Akanji. "So it was my dad who told
him to contact you," Bridget said. "Apparently," Timi
replied. "You know we can't keep this
up forever," Bridget said. "I know...but for now...it's
the only way to ensure your safety. No one knows where you really are." Bridget nodded, her eyes
fluttered. "About Mr Bolade...are you going to help him?" "You know I can't say
no," Timi replied. "People are after him...and
when you try to get him out to wherever he wants to go, you'll be in harm's way
too." "I know," Timi
answered, gravely. "Just,
be careful," Bridget said. She rose to her feet and left the sitting room.
Timi recoiled into his chair and thought about the day's events...he soon fell
asleep.
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