Oga Martins & His Kettle of Fishes 4.0 – Episode 12

Deji wanted out; he was tired of leaving a life of terror and crime. His little time at the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons had proven to him that life as a law-abiding citizen was all there was to survival. Albeit no matter what he did, his past kept haunting him.

Deji knew the moment he took to his heels that running would solve nothing, neither would it stop Solonzo from finding him. In fact there was no where he could run to in the compound. However the moment he spotted the two ex-convicts all his impulse dictated to him was to take flight. And as his legs got the better of his brain, he knew there was no stopping him.

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“Deji what’s the point? Na inside this small compound you wan make we dey pursue you ni?You suppose know better now” Pharell lamented as he drew close to the spot Deji hid himself from his pursuers, panting heavily like he had just finished a race that had Usain Bolt running ahead of the pack”

“Leave am make him dey run like rat wey cat dey pursue. Sooner rather than later he shall his waterloo,” an emerging Solonzo opined.

“What have I done to you guys now? Please leave me be. Don’t want to go to jail again. I am not cut out for that kind of life” Deji pleaded fearfully from his awkward position in the storehouse where he had locked himself.

“And who says you are going to jail? Look dude, come out of that hiding place and at least hear us out first before you start cowering like a kid” Pharell responded.

“Am not gonna leave this place till you guys tell me what you want with me?”

“Wait you really think if we want you out of that place I can’t do that with a snap of my finger, abi you know see the metal wey pharell carry?”

“I think he is not only suffering from a brain disorder, his sight is failing him too”

“I see…Dude for the last time come out of that place let’s rub minds together just like old times, abi you want everybody in the compound to know what we are about?” Deji remained adamant. “I can see you wan this the hard way. Pharell! Let him know we mean business”

Pharel corks his gun in preparedness to shoot. But he didn’t have to aim at his target because Deji had already given up at this point and was gradually leaving his hiding place havingunlocked the storehouse. Raising both hands in the air as a sign of surrender, Deji  walked stealthily out of the storehouse towards the duo of Solonzo and Pharell.

“Human beings! They wait till the eleventh hour before they declare a state of emergency when their life is in turmoil, even when they’ve been given a long row to hoe. So you knew there was no way out of this one yet you chose to be a bitch?” Deji bowed his head lowly before Solonzo. “Tuga can we talk now?” Solonzo spoke with a friendlier tone.

“Where?”

“In my car or do you know a better place?”

“No its fine, your car will do,” Deji still spoke with a tinge of fear. Pharell led Deji into Solonzo’s golf 6 in the company of Solonzo.

“What do you want from me boss?”

Tuga don’t get all paranoid, it irritates me. Look the ground work is done. This job is even more promising than our previous one where we only robbed banks and people off their valuables. You really aren’t going to be  doing any of the dirty works, we are only intending to pick your brain and it comes with a whole lot of cash too. Tuga come be our strategist

“Thanks boss, but No thanks. I am done with that life”

“I know it was you Tuga”

“I beg your pardon!” Deji is befuddled

“You blew my cover. You were the one who told the cops where they could find me. You know me Tuga, I should have taken your life by now if not for the soft spot I have for you. This is the only way I can forgive you for the ills, the betrayal. Ask around, no one betrays Solonzo and gets away with it”

“I am sorry Solonzo, I had to do it. I needed to get away from jail. I’m sure you or Pharell would have done same if you were in my shoes.”

“Speak for yourself dude,” Pharell blurted.

“You needed to get away from jail? How many years did you even spend in Kirikiri that you betrayed me at the slightest chance”

“Boss you of all people should know how life is in Kirikiri. Moreover it was my first time.”

“Enough! Why am I even having this discussion with you? I am really becoming lenient these days. Tuga, I give you two options; You either join us or you just kiss mother earth goodbye. Simply put, you have to choose between life and death. I give you 24 hours to decide. You know where to find me. We are done here!”

For the first time since he left jail, Deji found himself between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Oga Martins & His Kettle of Fishes continues next week…