Lucas pushed the laptop away and stood up. For no particular reason, he felt happy with himself. The jigsaw puzzle seems to be falling into place, he thought as he sauntered over to the window. For a long time, he stood at the window, admiring the beauty of the Sango River with its multi-colored fishing boats dotting every inch of the river. Yesterday was very eventful and meeting Chi was the icing on the cake, he thought as he tried to recall the events of the previous night. But his thoughts were interrupted Captain’s voice ricocheting in his subconscious mind. ‘You’ve got intelligence…money is power.’ He started as the questions tumbled down, seemingly unending like a broken record. What is Captain’s interest in him and why he is bent on ruining his life? Could it be possible that he is having an affair with Emilia? He could remember the hungry look in his eyes when he looks at Emilia and the shabby way he treated him last night. He felt the bile rise and he vowed to pay him back. He reached for his phone and dialed Chi’s number and listened to the steady burr, burr for a while until the lines connected. “Yes, who’s this?” Chi’s asked sleepily.  He felt a tingly sensation crawled up his spine on hearing her voice. “Hello Chi,” he said. “Hope I didn’t get you out of bed?” “Oh, it’s you again,” she yawned. “You’re impossible, what do you want?” her heart was beating riotously. Hearing his voice was like a dream come true. She knew he was different, different from all the men she’s slept with or dated before. She also knew Captain was poison and being interested in him could spell doom, and she vowed to protect him. Sensing his hesitation, she asked. “Do you want to come over?” “Yes, yes,” he said hurriedly. What greater boom could he ask than for such an offer? He hates Captain as much as he hates to think he could be having an affair with his wife and couldn’t wait to get the chance to get a go at him. “Okay, do come over around midday. You got me out of bed and I still want to catch up on my sleep” she said and blew him a kiss.  “Gosh,” he blew out his cheeks and punched the air with his clenched fist. He has made it to Captain at last. 
***
Chi turned restlessly in bed. She was unable to go to sleep again. Lucas’s got her going and has woken up something soft and tender in her, something she’s never felt in her entire life before. She hugged the pillow tighter and rolled over in bed. Immediately, Captain's voice came ricocheting through her brain, and she froze up. She knew Lucas was a purebred and does not deserve to be manipulated by the likes of captain for their personal gains and she wished she could do something about it. She was worried because she knew captain is bad news and whenever he is interested in anyone, sooner or later that person pays dearly for it. She vowed to warn and protect him. She just can’t stand by and watch Captain destroy him. Sighing, she got up from the bed and ran into the bathroom. 
               **
“Boss, there’s been a call from Lucas to Ugwu Eberede. The call came a few minutes after 10:00 am this morning. She’s staged it with him at midday.” Akpan who Ette Uche detailed to watch Chi reported. “Good work. Keep me posted,” Ette Uche said. “Sure, boss,” Akpan said and hung up.
***
It was a minute after noon when he pulled up outside Chi’s apartment.  “Hi,” he said and opened the passenger door for her. “You look good to eat.”  “Thanks. It’s all yours for the asking.” He gave her an odd look. “Don’t start what you can’t finish.” She let out a short laugh. “I have already finished before I started. Gosh! Am starving.” “Talking about food, where will it be?” he asked as he set the car rolling. “It all depends on what you want. There’s a good seaside joint off airport road. I heard the food is good.” “Good, shall we try that out then?” “It wouldn’t be a bad idea.” They drove on in silence. “So, who were those horrors the other day?”  “What?” She fenced.  “Forget it,” he said as he saw the mean disposition and hostility jump into her eyes and concentrated on the drive. He wondered why she was being so secretive.
Chi isn’t quite a tall girl, but she is fair in complexion with pointed breasts, wide bottom, and laughing eyes. Her father was a pickpocket and a common thief who was nabbed in the street when she was just five. Her mother, only a young girl of 19 then took to prostitution to make ends meet and so passed on the trade to her daughter. Unfortunately, her mother contracted the deadly HIV virus and died, leaving her a naïve, innocent 13 years old to fend for herself. So the road to prostitution seemed easy, perfectly mapped out and invariably the only way out. She knows all the ups and downs of the trade and when to go out or stay out of sight. She has been arrested so many times and has learned all the methods of the vice squad. She also knew that the men assigned to the prostitution detail usually works in the evening, so she stays out of Okene beach at night.
Soon, they were at the seafood joint. But just as they were getting out of the car, he noticed a blue Mercedes Benz sweep past. He frowned. He has seen the car somewhere before, but he could not say where.
The food was as good and he greatly enjoyed the fresh vegetable soup with relish. Chi was a great company and a brilliant conversationalist and kept him laughing at her jokes. “So,” he said immediately the meal was over and they sat talking over bottles of beer. “Those boys are working for Captain, am I right?” “Why are you so obsessed with Captain?” she snapped, her eyes hard. “Look, that man is poison. Do you hear me? And I’ll advise you to stay the fuck away from him.” “He sounds dangerous.” She looked this way and that, lowering her voice, she said. “He is more than dangerous. He is a deadly poison and he has nothing good to offer but misery and pain.” 
Once again, he wondered what was scaring her out of her pants. “He sounds dangerous.” “You can say that again,” she looked furtively around again. “I don’t feel comfortable here. Can we take a walk? The river bank is beautiful. I want to see the sights and feel the breeze in my hair.” “Me too.” He settled the bill. “So, how did you get to know Captain?” he asked as they walked down the open beach. “Mmm,” she smiled. “That’s a long story.” “Tell me, I’m prepared to listen.” “What do you want to know?” “Everything, I’d like to know who he is, his business interests and your relationship with him.” She looked around cautiously again. Satisfied no one was within hearing distance; she found a space in the sandy beach and made herself comfortable. He joined her. “He is a retired Army Captain and a crook. He has a couple of brothels, nightclubs and game houses in most major cities and hundreds of boys working for him. Their work stretches from guerrilla warfare and street fighting to smuggling, money laundering, blackmail, extortion, kidnap and rape. They all receive orders from Ette Uche with the Boss’s say so.” She paused and brushed off an insect attempting to climb up her arm. “There was this girl, Ola. She was a first class singer but wallowed in mediocrity because of financial constraints and the necessary connections until she met Captain. He picked her up and transformed her into an overnight success, but as soon as she attained success, pride got into her head and she forgot who she was and flaunted her independence. Captain struck like a lethal cobra. She was found dead one morning in her bedroom. She was tied to the bed with cords and her body badly mutilated and burned with cigarette butts. There was a mushroomy search for the murderers but the police never caught anyone. Although everybody knew who could have done it, but no one dare say anything.” He shivered. “He sounds raw.” “That’s putting it mildly. You wanted to know how I met him?” “Yes, please,” he nodded, trembling. There was a sickening feeling at the pit of his stomach.