The taxi broke down in the middle of a minor road suddenly. The driver tried switching on the ignition again but it did not take long for car to break down again. The Chief Constable's frustration was beginning to reach its peak.
     "What's wrong with the car?", he asked the driver.
     "I don't know. Give me some time to find out", the driver replied. He got out of the car to open the bonnet. He opened it, tried to find out what the problem with his car was. He could not find a fault and shook his head in dismay. He closed the bonnet. "I...", he paused and gasped with shock when he saw no one in the car.
     He did not want to accept what he was seeing that easily. All the doors were left open. He went to the passenger's seat, feeling the Chief Constable could still be seated there. He thought they had all become invisible.
     He felt no one and put his hands on his head, fully taken aback. "So they really left, thought they had suddenly become invisible", he said in a low tone.
     The Chief Constable and the four constables had got into another taxi whose driver was speeding up according to the Chief Constable's instruction. "Hope nothing stops us this time", he said to himself before asking the driver, "Hope your fuel tank is filled up?"
     "Yes Sir! Just bought petrol fifteen minutes ago", replied the driver.
     "Hope it won't stop in the middle of the road suddenly?", he asked another.
     "It can't stop in the middle of the road. Never ever", replied the driver.
     "That's good then", he said.
     After a few minutes drive, they saw themselves caught up in a traffic jam. There were a lot of horn beeps as no car could move a bit. Every car was at a complete standstill.
     "Wish I'd asked you if we would be stuck in a traffic jam", Careen's Dad shook his head in regret. The driver looked at him with his face squeezed, feeling confused by what he said.
     Beeps of horn kept on happening. Everyone was frustrated with each other. The driver decided to join in the noise pollution by beeping his own car horn repeatedly. The Chief Constable cleared his throat dramatically and loudly. The driver turned and saw the Chief Constable frowning at him and did not hesitate to stop beeping his horn.
     Careen's Dad sighed and asked him;"How far is the Heavens Gate hotel from here?"
     "Uhmmm...", he thought about it for a while, "I think 5 minutes for a car", he answered.
     "It isn't far right?", Mr Eddie asked his constables. They nodded in response, sensing he had a plan.
     "Yes Sir! Just be a little bit patient and we'll get there", the driver pleaded him. He turned to his window and saw a hoarding of a particular brand of soap.
     He fixed his eyes on the window, excited to see the soap he used on a hoarding. "Never knew the soap I use is popular. It's on a hoarding", he said. He was expecting a response but got startled not hearing any. "Sir?", he turned quickly but saw no one. The two doors opposite him were left open. He was surprised not to see anyone. He looked straight ahead and saw them running through the traffic briskly.
     He got really furious and got out of his car. "Hey!!", he yelled at them but they never turned back. He kicked his car wheel twice out of rage.
* * *
     Back to where the three folks were held captive, they were about to be killed. The Commissioner wanted killing them himself with a gun. He kept his hand on the trigger wearing an evil smile and asked;"Who wishes to die first?"
     Nicholas and Sarah were beginning to feel extremely worried about them. "Mr Eddie hasn't arrived at the hotel yet?", asked Sarah.
     "I don't know...he hasn't picked up my calls", replied Nicholas, fumbling with his mobile phone to make another attempt in calling Mr Eddie.
     "Well...as you all know, I'm the eldest so attend to the younger ones first, preferably the boy", Mr Okechukwu replied to the Commissioner dramatically. Careen and Wisdom gaped at him.
     "That would be nice! So the young boy dies first", the Commissioner wanted pulling the trigger but Wisdom intervened.
     "It shouldn't be me", he stammered feeling petrified. He turned to Careen who began to wonder why he did so. "It should be the girl. Remember the phrase, ladies first?", he spoke to the Commissioner.
     "The girl? You don't know your sister name?", asked the Manager curiously.
     "I know my sister's name of course. Her name is...", he was interrupted by the Commissioner.
     "Whatever! She's the one dying first", he almost pulled the trigger at her, but Wisdom intervened again.
     "There's one last thing Sir", he said.
     "You really are a pesky fool, aren't you?", the Commissioner breathe out calmly to cool down his temper, "What's the last thing?", he asked.
     "She has to pray before she dies for the forgiveness of her sins", Wisdom said casually.
     Careen glared at him;"So you really want me to die?"
     "Praying is not necessary", replied the Commissioner, becoming impatient.
     "As a Christian it's important for her. Let her pray", Wisdom's Dad pleaded.
     "Fine!", he groaned, "Start praying!"
     "Pray the rosary", Wisdom said to her with a smile. Careen understood the plan and nodded her head. She made the sign of the cross and began praying.
     "I'm not a Catholic. How long does it take to pray the rosary?", the Commissioner asked vaguely.
     "I heard it's a very long prayer", replied the chargé d'affaires.
     "Are you a Catholic?", Mr Okechukwu asked sharply. The chargé d'affaires shook his head to signify no. "Then shut your mouth fool", Mr Okechukwu said boldly. The chargé d'affaires got angry and folded his fists but the Commissioner gestured for him to calm down.
     "They will be dead very soon. Don't worry", he said. Wisdom swallowed dryly, feeling so frightened.
____________________________________
Question for the chapter: Any view on what would happen?