The Filters 17

   There was that faint scent of an antiseptic, it sifted through the air like a light fog, just enough to be perceived, not enough to be a problem. Ruth stared aloof at the desk before, it was neatly arranged, a mug with the words "Best Dad in the world" printed round, an impressive collection of Pens and Pencils stood withing the mug and a stack of medical books sat by their side. A Sticker saying "Got Blood, Share!" was plastered on the middle of the table. She could feel her right hand vibrate mildly, her fiance was obviously impatient and showing it. Just as she was about to to turn to her unattended intended life partner, the Doctor walked in.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, we had an emergency." He said, lifting the stethoscope off his neck as though it was a noose.

"No, don't mention it, it's alright, not like we had anything better to do." Adrien Aswani said with as much contempt as he could muster.

The Doctor took one look at him, sat and smiled. "Still licking our wounds I see, don't worry, we'll show em hell next season, I still have faith in Rooney."

Adrien leaned forward as though he'd found gold within a struck rock. " Did you see our defense last week...." Ruth drifted off again, as her Fiance conversed with the doctor at length about the ins and outs of professional football.

Finally, after about 15 minutes, Adrien sighed and The Doctor pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face.

" Thanks darling, for ignoring me."

"Your welcome babe." Adrien replied with a wink.

" Don't worry, you'll have full monopoly of his attention when the baby gets here." The Doctor offered.

"Or maybe they'll both run off to some pitch somewhere and leave me in the kitchen."

The men laughed.

"So how can I help you?" The doctor asked.

"Well, we've come to see if we're blood compatible."

"Alright..." he brought out two identical files from his desk and handed it to them. "Fill these forms, afterwards we'll run a series of tests and get back to you, do you have pens?"

They nodded and took the files.

"Okay, looks easy enough" Ruth stated. And her fiance looked at her with the boyish smile she had grown fond of.

"Everything's easy with me babe, don't you ever forget it." He said.

And the doctor smiled, because seated before him, he saw a couple that was in love.

  

  Seun looked at the luminescent screen of his phone, still no call, still no message. He'd left numerous of both on Naomi's cell, apparently she wasn't in the business of reciprocated attention, it unsettled him even more because that used to be him. The elusive lover, the quick and certain flash in the night that never returned, now he felt out of place. He'd lost his best friend, things had become precarious at work, and he was becoming overly attached to a girl that was now ignoring him. It seemed his world had turned upside down, and there was no soft bed of roses to fall upon. He looked at the Trophies that stood on his shelf, how could he have fallen so low? He moped for what seemed like hours till a familiar tune broke the silence.

"Hey Jesse what's up?" he said, he sounded like he needed a glass of water.

"We need to talk" Jesse said matter of factly.

"Why what's up?"

"Just come, The Amala Joint, 30 minutes."

The line cut.

Seun slipped the phone in his pocket and threw on a Jacket, he grabbed his key off a shelf and made for the door. A thought stopped him though. On what occasions had he heard Jesse speak so sparsely, so monotonously, so covertly excited?. His troubled mind was unable to sift out an answer but he reached into his shelf anyway and pulled out his weapon. The steely gun against his waist offered the needed comfort and made all questions unnecessary.

The 22 minute drive to the location code name 'The Amala Joint' was a tranquil one, pedestrian songs blended, one into the other but they were a suitable background to the silence that hung in his mind like a curtain on a wind less day. He'd barely packed his car when a shadow engulfed his window. He stepped out of the car.

"What's all the hush hush.."

"Let's go in. " Jesse said without establishing eye contact, another bad sign.

They stepped into the dark warehouse, Crates full of Client details were stacked on either side, and the path between led to a table, with a chair on either side, he'd only ever seen it once. He'd brought a nervous client, without as much a clue as the address as to what was about to happen. Upon delivering the client, Jesse had offered him a cursory smile, and led them both down that very same path, he hadn't been perturbed then, but he could hear the ragged breaths of the client, when they reached the table, Mr.Stanley was sitting on the further most side, with a cup of coffee and a polite smile. Mr.Stanley rose to his feet, shook the client and asked him to please sit, then he made a quick "shoo" motion with his hand.   

Jesse took the hint, and led Seun back out, and he never knew, what had conspired inside the warehouse afterwards, but it seemed he would soon find out.

A drooping bulb hung over the table like an old man's testicles, it was more of an emphasis of the darkness that surrounded it than anything else. At first Seun thought it was just his imagination and the lighting playing tricks on him when he saw the suit, but then he saw that very same smile that caused creases by the sides of Mr.Stanley's eyes and he didn't wait for a handshake, he simply sat as a man facing the death penalty on the electric chair.

The Filters 16

Everyone in the know was seated at the table. The Agents, the Supervisors, the Technicians, the figure heads. They all sat, in desperate silence, staring at the device on the center of the table. Naomi was growing impatient, she didn't understand why it was taking so long, Mr.Stanley should've been at work by then. She was also irritated because she was in the last place she wanted to be, she could feel Charles stare burn into the side of her face and it was unsettling. For so long he had kept her at arms length, even when she was overt about her feelings, even when he was low and and needed an ear, he never said enough, he was like a conceited onion, shedding off layer after layer of superficial insight. Now something was different, he'd shown more than platonic care, jealousy even. Slowly his concrete facade had started to crack, and now his emotions were running away with him, and he couldn't seem to stop them. Now he chose to reveal the feelings were mutual, now when for the first time, they didn't seem to be. Of course to Mr. Charles this wasn't the case. To him Naomi was being difficult, a child stuck in her ways, he hadn't meant to fall for her, in fact he hadn't, he simply stood at the edge looking down into the depths and feeling the gravity tugging at his shoulders. He knew one day he'd regret bringing her into the fold of crime fighting, it was like a looming storm, first came the bruises of physical training, then came the cynicism of orientation, slowly her innocence had wilted, till all that was left was a crisp and deft human weapon. He would have to talk to her after the mission was over, he was certain her remaining with The Eagle wasn't in her best interest, or his.

"Well, are you sure you placed the device securely?" Asked Mr. Crawford calmly, his white goatee had gone unstroked so far, he'd spent too much time at these sort of things to be perturbed, but he was like Naomi, impatient.

" Yes sir, I'm certain, this isn't the first...." Mr. Ojo started with a hint of hurt in his voice.

"I don't question your expertise Mr. Ojo, your our most trusted field agent, if you hadn't been on the Aswani case we would've put this case in your sturdy hands, in the first place, but this is an unprecedented situation, and we must be thorough, so I'll ask again, and a Yes or No answer will suffice. Did you securely place the recording device?"

"Yes...sir."

The silence returned, and with it discomfort, impatience and doubt festered.

"What kind of name is Naomi Campbell anyway?." asked Jude seething with contempt.

Jesse clipped a smile, and Mr. Stanley  stirred his coffee.

"I mean, if I were an undercover agent I'd pick a less unusual name." Jesse added.

"Like Jesse Ibru?" Mr. Stanley asked picking up his coffee. He waited for a reply he knew was not forthcoming then he let the bitterness slither through his lips, this was no time for jokes.

A moment passed, to Jesse an eternity.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Jude sitting up.

"Well by now they're probably wondering what became of the device they placed in my office, let's give them something to listen to shall we?"

   There was a creak, then a soft thud, someone was walking into the office. Everyone leaned forward and Naomi unraveled her legs. Mr. Stanley had only been tardy after all, the little green light on the device flickered with each sound; the tapping of feet, the rolling tires of chairs, the calm breathing, the clock ticking, it was an advanced piece of technology.

"So, you've done it once again?." came Mr.Stanley's voice from the miniature speakers.

Mr. Crawford and Mr.Charles exchanged a giddy glance.

Next came a sigh and Jude's booming voice. "It had to be done Mr. Stanley, I'm sorry. "

"Its all right."

There was a long pause, and Mr. Ojo used it to wipe the sweat dancing on the tip of his nose.

"Have you heard from him yet?" Mr. Stanley asked.

"No, but I understand his predicament, I mean it's hard enough serving as a double agent, but now he's got to deal with the fact that we're under investigation, we've gotta cut him some slack."

A pause.

"Charles has been good to us , his had us covered for the past 8 years ! If his keeping quiet, I guess there's a good reason." Mr.Stanley asserted retrospectively.

Mr. Crawford looked confounded at Mr.Charles who was transitioning from an agape mouth to gnashed teeth.

"Yes Da..i mean Mr.Stanley."

There was another pause, then the shifting of a chair as someone got up to leave. The door slammed and all who listened befuddled, to the device , were treated to the sounds of shuffling paper and intermittent sniffing for the next ten minutes, it seemed they would continue like this, till Mr.Ojo sprang up from his sit like a needle had pricked him and slapped his palm against the table.

"He betrayed us!"

"You will still you're tongue!" said Mr.Crawford rising like lava in a stirring volcano. Turning to Mr.Charles he added. "You better have a good explanation for this" then returned to his sit.

Mr. Charles looked around at the people he'd had the opportunity of calling colleagues, each and everyone of them looked upon him as though he was a stranger. He knew the mess he was in, he knew clearing his name would be an herculean task, but in that moment, he felt his resolve slip away from him like an early childhood memory, his tongue dried up and  he swallowed his pride down a ragged throat, and with it, his eyes crumbled to the burden of guilt. He rose slowly to his feet and left them there, and he knew, with that single act he had practically confessed to a crime he did not commit.

The Filters 15

Ruth tentatively stood before her parents door. A sudden nostalgia came upon her. She remembered when she was a child and there was a storm, how she would run scared, barge into their room and run into the comfort of their arms, how her mother would coo and her father would say "Its just a storm baby, daddy eats storms for breakfast." and she'd fall asleep giggling. Now here she was, two decades later, reluctant to go in.

"You know dear, it's really unsettling to see a shadow lingering beneath your door."

Ruth walked in and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry Mamma, I didn't want disturb you."

"Is that why we live under the same roof but haven't had a single conversation in the past eight days?" Mrs. Akinyola asked with a genial smile.

Ruth dropped her weight unto the edge of the bed and said. "I hate this mamma, I hate us being like this, you hear alone, dad at work, Jude off doing one manner of evil or the other, it's awful, it's nothing like an actual family."

"Ruth, come here..." She said softly, and her daughter crawled onto her lap, it brought back fond memories.

"Do you remember the time, in primary six, where that sick teacher of yours was making passes at you?"

"Yes, I do, he tried to corner me in the restroom during break time and I called you to report it."

"Yes and I called your father, and he left a business deal hanging to rush and come to your school, do you remember?"

"Yes, he threatened to sue the school if Mr.Ade wasn't fired effective immediately."

"Yes, he was really angry, but that's papa for you."

"Exactly, and his still that way, and I'm still that way, you're a big girl now and the Mr.Ade's are a lot fewer, but if ever your in a pickle you know he'll bring the hammer down on whoever caused it."

"Yes, but what about Jude?"

"I was getting to that."

"He didn't even care about what happened, his secondary school was in the same compound and he didn't even come to see how I was doing, he just continued with his budding recklessness and a week later he was expelled."

"And your dad scolded him first and foremost for not protecting you, and for being a bad example."

"Yes!" Ruth asserted indignantly."

"But we never told you and your father the truth. Jude wasn't expelled for fighting with a teacher, no, he was expelled for fighting with a teacher, Mr. Ade."

"what?"

"Yes, the school was going to wait till the end of the month before firing him, so that they could get a replacement in time, prompting your big brother to take things into his own hands and defended your honour."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ruth asked raising her head.

"Because your father would've rebuked him anyway, and fighting a teacher would've gotten a more severe punishment than fighting a friend."

"Why didn't you tell me?."

Her mother smiled a knowing smile.

"Because you love your brother so much that, in the weeks of punishment to follow, you would've inadvertently told your father, so as to spare Jude, but it wouldn't have worked.

"Your right, I loved him a lot back then."

A short pause.

"I still do."

"Yes, and he loves you. Because Family isn't the people that are always around, treating you like a fragile egg, no, family is the people that band together when your broken, put you back together and rain hell on the hand that dared drop you."

Mother and daughter laughed together, and nothing but clear blue sky's seemed to loom over the Akinyolas.

"The real work starts with Layering, you can't expect a small business to turn profits in the millions without arousing suspicion. No, you have to Smurf the cash flow, that is , convert a little at a time, and that takes patience, so you must understand that you won't be able to spend on your girlfriends over night." Mr.Stanley said to the gentleman sitted before him. He seemed like a straight arrow, an exception in the slew of customers that Jude got him.

"I completely understand, I have enough to cover my expenses indefinitely, it's my other parties I'm worried about."

"Yes, Jude told me you have a penchant for the Ladies, unfortunately that is one vice I do not indulge in so I am ill equipped to render advice, however! I will say it might be wise to keep this inflow of wealth to yourself for the time being, the devils in the details as they say Mr.Ojo."

"Yes, I suppose you're right." He picked up the cup of coffee offered him and blew softly then took a sip.

"As you know we will need the cash hand delivered to us in its entirety for safe keeping..."

Mr. Ojo dropped the cup gracefully on the edge of the desk, calmly crossed his leg, and firmly clasped his hand on his protruding knee. "If you think I'm just going to hand you 6 million Naira with no insurance you are clearly mistaken."

Mr. Stanley smacked his lips, he enjoyed the banter of the deal, it was to him the most enjoyable part of the money laundering business, a part his son had sullied with nit wits and sloths. "Mr.Ojo, right now we are both in precarious situations, you can leave here and take your business with you, but then you'd have to trust me enough not to take it as an offence."

"Take it whichever way you want Mr.Stanley.." started Mr. Ojo getting up, "I'm not giving you a dime." He continued, and stepped toward the door.

"You have two daughters, and a wife..." Mr.Stanley said just as Mr.Ojo's hands graced the handle of the door. "You went to Igbobi Boys college after which your Father sent you abroad to study ISD, you have high blood pressure and your doctor thinks you should play some non tedious sports."

"Are you threatening me?..." Mr.Ojo asked with his brows drawn together in aggression.

"No Mr.Ojo, I'm simply assuring you, we know what we are doing, we are thorough and effective, and there's a reason you've never heard about us from your colleagues or in the papers. We are extremely discreet."

Mr. Ojo considered this and slowly returned to his sit. After a few minutes of contemplation he looked up at Mr.Stanley with a smile."Very well then, we have a deal."

The two middle aged men shook hands.

"It'll be a pleasure Mr.Ojo."

"I'm sure it will. May I borrow the privacy of your office? The music outside is too loud and I need to make an urgent call."

"Sure..."

"I'm deeply sorry, but it's of a delicate nature."

Mr.Stanley took the hint and left his new customer, an undercover Eagle  agent alone in his office.

The Filters 14

 Jude and Jesse sat at the bar of Club Desire, the former faced the bar and looked to find security at the bottom of a glass, the latter looked at the gyrating youth on the dance floor, aloof and talking.

"His story checks out. His dad married some hot young chick after over a decade of alleged celibacy and she was able to convince him to remove his delinquent son from his will as a lesson in responsibility, he dies and the delinquent son is left with nothing but scorn, thus he devices  a plot to get his inheritance back and take revenge on his sister who refused to lend a helping hand in his hour of need.Long story short he's  a devious little bastard but his interests do not involve our peril."

Jude took a bitter sip and grunted as the heat trickled down his throat.

"You could have spared me all the details, the last sentence is sufficient."

"Yeah well, I just thought one member of the Akinyola family should know seeing as you've all been to busy playing house." He waited for a retort, when he didn't get one, he continued. "So how are things at home, how is the returnee sister?."

"Ruth's fine as ever, even her shit smells like a garden of roses. I can't help but piss everyone off, but she on the other hand turns urine to wine. So she's fine Jude, thanks for your..."

"Hey, have either one of you seen Seun?" Came an electrifying voice from behind him. He spun around on the chair and for a moment didn't recognize the tall fair vixen that stood before him. Then it clicked.

"Oh!Naomi!, no we haven't seen him...have you?Jesse?". He asked with the brevity of a drunk.

Jude ignored the question, he did not care much for the girl it seemed.

"K, thanks I'm sorry for interrupting." She said awkwardly and proceeded to leave.

"Interrupting?..." Jude could not help but talk, the alcohol had loosened his lips like a shoe lace and now he was tripping all over the place. "My dear, I'm getting drunk over my daddy issues and my companion over here, doesn't have a life outside work, so no, you did not interrupt, infact you did a great service to mankind, so thank you."

"Your welcome?" she said with flushed cheeks. Then she left.

Jesse let out a brief hiss and Jude returned to his drink, but a moment later, the voice that shook him like a shiver beneath the pouring rain returned.

"You know, alcohol is one way to forget your "daddy issues" but music and dance is probably better, and surely safer." Naomi said as tenderly as a flower girl throwing petals onto the floor.

"Are you asking me to dance?" Jude asked rhetorically.

"Yes!" Naomi said with a giggle.

The smile that came afterwards removed some of the fog from Jude's mind and before Jesse could blurt his protest Jude had her in his arms and was dragging her to the middle of the dance floor.

The music was as intoxicating as the alcohol, the bass ran through Jude's skull down his whole body and it seemed to replace his pulse. He drew Naomi closer to him and she moved limber in her light dress. The warmth of her body was welcome comfort in the cool club and Jude let himself go for the first time in years.

Naomi moved like wild fire, she twisted, she dipped, she pushed, she pulled she went fast and she went slow and she knew the effect she was having, indeed she orchestrated it. Jude inched ever closer, he longed to be one, he brushed her nose with his and before long she could feel his breath on her neck. He wanted to be set free, he wanted relief from the growing tension and  he was like the flame in the lantern beneath the rain, he flickered furiously but the glass would not free him from his thermal cage. Naomi knew his turmoil, indeed she exploited it!

"So what are these  "issues" you speak of?" she asked his glacial ears.

"If I wanted counselling, I would've stuck with the bartender." Jude replied and let his arm slip a few centimeters down to her waist.

"Why? he can't help you like I can."

Jude thought for a moment, and his grip loosened.

"I thought you and Seun were serious now?!." he screamed in into the loud music.

"Yes, but were just dancing, there's nothing wrong with that!"

A dancing couple stumbled between them, curtly apologized, then moved out of their way, Jesse and Naomi flowed back into each others arms like both sides of the red sea after the Israelite passing.

"For Seun's sake I hope your right." Jude said into her ear.

"For Seun's sake I hope there's a tampon in your pocket."

Jude leaned in closer to her ear so that she could feel his moist lips against her lobes.

"We both know what's in my pocket is way bigger than a tampon."

She hmmed, and he smiled, and she knew it was time to strike.

"So, you run the club when your dad's not around huh?"

"Noo, his always running it! I just do the dirty work."

"Oh, so you're a puppet on his string huh?"

"Sadly, yes, still there's alotta perks to not being the one filling out the paper work."

"I'm sure there is. You know another thing I'm sure of?"

Jude shrugged.

"Your Dad does more than fill paperwork in that little office of his."

All iterations of intoxication left his body and Jude backed away from her.

"I don't know what you're talking about!." he said, trading in his husky tone for a sterner one.

"Oh come on!" she said over the bass of the speakers. She took a step and stood against his chest, then said. "I have a uh friend, his recently come into some money and he'd really like to spend some of it on me, but he can't because...well, you know."

Jude was taking aback but he knew not to let it show.

"Look I don't know what Seun told you but.."

"He told me everything, after I found him in a pool of dead bodies he really didn't have a choice. So tell me, are we gonna keep chasing our tails or will you bite?."

Jude thought about it, he was pragmatic, there seemed no need to turn away a customer.

"What is he to you?"

"My  daddy!" she answered giddily.

"Your a runs babe. Can't say I'd expect more from Seun."

"No, you really cant.".

"Well then, I can't wait to meet your "daddy"." Jude said with a self assured smile.

Naomi Campbell repaid him in kind.

The Filters 13

They sat on the couch watching TV, but they're minds were equally far away. Seun knew it was only a matter of time before Jude asked the questions that were burning beneath his tongue, and to him it was like watching an arrow inching towards his eye.

"Ok man, I can't take it anymore, she's cool, it's ok, I took care of it!"

Jude didn't stir or turn to face him, he acted as though he was totally engrossed in the TV program. So he droned.

"What, are, you, talking about?"

"Oh man come on don't do this to me, she's just a girl, and I'm a dog, you know the kinda girls dogs like me get down with? They're dumb! To her this is some sorta spy novel, she dey Jonze, nothing to worry about."

"Ok."

"Ok?" Seun asked feeling more agitated.

"Ok man, if you say there's nothing to worry about then it's cool." He picked up the remote, turned the TV off and turned to face Seun. "But the fact that your hell bent on convincing me shows that even you sense somethings amiss. I have things to do Seun, the man who killed my team and ended my life as I know it is still out there, and before I die, or go to jail I want to feel his pulse give out beneath my grip. So you understand why i'm uncomfortable with the sudden precariousness we're in."

"I understand man, and your right, it's too much of a coincidence she just happened to be there at a time, but still it's possible, just let me handle it."

"Sure." Jude said and turned away.

"Thanks."

"But you brought Hakim to us, it would be most unfortunate for you if this girl whom you also brought, turns out to be trouble." He said and turned the TV back on.

Naomi was the only female in the meeting, all around her were men in suits, all of whom were no less than 10 years older than her, Mr. Charles sat to her right and throughout the meeting they had managed to avoid eye contact. The meeting had dragged on and on and she was getting wary, she could feel her composure and etiquette succumb to the strain of impatience and she really hoped it would end soon.

"I hope we're not boring you agent." Inquired Mr.Crawford, he was a stoutly old man she had only seen before in the hallways, he always replied her greetings with grunts so she stopped greeting him altogether, he didn't seem to mind.

"No sir, absolutely not. And I still stand by my statement, taking the criminals into custody at that time would've been inconsequential, now that I am in the No, they trust me, and I can wiggle my way to the top of the pyramid which I believe is compromised of Mr.Stanley and..."

"We already know who is at the top of the pyramid." interjected Agent. Wole, he was the oldest field agent in the firm, he had  20 years of experience under his belt, but to Naomi, this made him a blunt knife, rather than a sharp one.

"I know you do, but I bet you didn't know that he is now more or less a figure head, his son Jude Akinyola is the one who calls all the shots now, well at least the important ones."

The revelation caused everyone in the room to sit up. She was pleased and continued.

"Without a doubt he is still under his father's thumb, but his the weakest key target. His young and bound to be reckless, he is also quite close to the Mark which I was assigned to compromise."

Mr Charles shuffled uncomfortably in his seat and Mr.Crawford threw him a curious glance before he spoke.

"Perhaps we should indeed give you more time."

"Mr.Crawford, with all due respect, she's in too deep, I say we move in now with the intel she's already gathered and apprehend them..."

"Don't be silly Charles." Said Dr. Obinna Head Supervisor. " We all know how these things go, without Hard and irrevocable evidence they will simply buy their way out of prison."

The room took in the palpable adversity and Mr. Charles cleared his throat to speak.

"Perhaps you are right, I apologize for my poor judgement, however I feel we must augment our investigation, perhaps sending in another agent, one who will be more directly involved, one who will be a customer as opposed to...." He couldn't finish the sentence and stole a glance at Naomi.

"A lover?" she goaded. "Thank you, but I don't need any help."

"He is right, we should've taken the more direct approach in the first place, what is most ironic Mr. Charles is that you're the one who decided we start our investigation at the bottom." Said Mr. Crawford.

"And I apologize for that, but now I feel as though Miss..."

"It doesn't matter Mr. Charles, we cannot pull Miss *** from the investigation so as not to arouse suspicion, she will stay for a little while longer and we will send another undercover agent to buttress our investigation. This meeting, is over." Mr. Crawford said with a finality rivaled only by death.

 The room cleared out and Mr Crawford asked Mr. Charles to stay behind.

"I will be blunt Mr. Charles, you look like a bumbling fool, your lust for the girl blinds you."

"Excuse me?" Mr. Charles said as anger seeped through his nostrils.

"You heard me, it is quite reprimandable, and you do not bother to even hide it."

"Mr.Crawford, I don't know what you're talking about. I raised that girl like a child..."

"And now she is a woman, do try to keep your pants on, I need not remind you we have a strict policy about this."

Mr.Charles got up and bared his weight upon the table. He was trying his best not to snarl when he said.

"I think I'll go now Mr. Crawford."

"You do that, and remember who the enemy is Mr. Charles. The Filters; The Akinyola's, direct your anger and frustration towards them, take them down!"

To this Mr.Charles replied almost to himself. "Oh don't worry, I will..."

The Filters 12

Knives meeting forks and spoons meeting plates were the only sounds that could be heard as the reunited Akinyolas sat down to eat. Everyone's eyes were glued to the table, they acted as though Medusa sat amongst them. Even thoughts were minimal, they drifted in and out like the wails of ghosts and then disappeared all together. Amongst them, Jude was the least uncomfortable and he wanted the rain, he could smell the discord in the air, feel the almost wet winds of anger on the tip of his nose. He couldn't let the moment stay stagnant.

"So Ruth, do you have a date set? I'm sire Mother would like to get things prepared, the Aso-ebi the food, or maybe you don't want a big wedding, maybe you just want a court wedding, that's definitely going to be easier."

She gave him the death glare and decided to ignore him. After taking a sip of wine and wishing she could have the whole bottle, she cleared her throat and smiled.

"So Mamma, Papa, tell me, what's been happening..."

"Jude asked you a question.." Mr Akinyola interjected. "We do need to know those basic things, obviously we'll have to meet him soon, I don't know what kind of man proposes without asking for blessings."

"Ok..." she started and reached for the bottle of wine, but Jude swiped it from her and put it out of her reach with a smirk on his face.

"What is your problem." she said in a hushed tone.

"My problem? I don't have a problem, no, infact, today for the first time in forever, your the one bringing all the problems.."

"Oh shut up, please, don't you have someone to kill..."

"Oh, there we go, I wonder, why do you always attack me on that particular subject when our beloved Father is the architect of it all.."

"Stop squibling you two!" Mr Akinyola snarled. "You act as though your not brother and sister.."

"And why won't they!" Mrs. Akinyola added with a scowl, "hmm?tell me? Why won't they!?." she picked up a napkin, dabbed both sides of her lips and threw the napkin back on the table as though it disgusted her.Then she got up and proceeded to leave the table.

"Where are you going?" Mr. Akinyola inquired.

She turned and looked at him as though the answer to his question was obvious. "Why to get dessert of course. I mean it's quite obvious we are going to be here for a while, might as well have food to eat while we're at it." and with that she left them.

Jude returned the bottle of wine to his sister. "I guess you'll need this after all."

She took it with a sneer and refilled her glass.

Minutes later their mother returned with a bowl full of pudding and set it in the middle of the table. Jude hastily helped himself and  she took her seat.After Jude was done she she served herself, then her husband and finally her Daughter.

"So Ruth, tell us, how long have you been seeing this mystery man."

"Well Mamma, we  met in South Africa early last year, at first it was..."

"So his black?" Jude asked with a mouth full of pudding.

"Yes, Jude, his black, thought I don't see how..."

"I always thought you'd end up with a white guy, what with all the time you spend in the states, I thought your husband would be Caucasian, or Arabian.."

"Well given that you don't spend a lot of time thinking I don't expect you to be very good at it." She retorted.

"Hmm, maybe so, but life's filled with a lot of ironies, I mean,   given that you spend a lot of time travelling it's a shock to see you settling down."

"Well, I will, I love him..."

"Oh so you don't love your family eh.."

"That is NOT what I meant..."

"Enough you too!" their father intervened again and cast their mother a questioning look. "Won't you do something about this?"

"If by "this" you mean the wedge which YOU put between them when you asked Jude to join you in your little business then no my dear, I will not, you started it, you end it."

Mr. Akinyola bit his tongue to keep the words from spouting out of his mouth.

"Mamma there is nothing between Ruth and I." Jude offered in defence of his father. "What Mr. Stanley and I do is..."

Mrs Akinyola scoffed, and looked at her husband, raising a fork to serve as a proxy finger. " You see what you've done, even here, beneath our roof, he refers to you as "Mr. Stanley" you see what you've done? Your son is now nothing but an employee to you, and you've turned him into something his Sister loathes, you."

"Mummy, I don't loathe papa." Ruth said with a whine. Then added reluctantly. "I don't loathe Jude either."

"Than you Ruth." Mr. Akinyola said. "It seems your Mother has forgotten that it is that little business that puts food on this table."

Mrs. Akinyola began to speak but her daughter took the words right out of her mouth.

"No papa. You're a business man, you own several clubs in key areas of this state, Abuja and Calabar. That is what puts food on the table, you know why? Because it's enough! There was no reason for you to branch out into this nonsense, no reason but greed!"

Jude bolted to his feet and slammed his fist against the table.

"You will not speak to Mr...., Our Father that way, The business was failing you all know that, I remember there were days we had to eat the same meal for lunch and dinner, and though that doesn't sound so bad it would've only gotten worse, Clubs didn't thrive in this country till late 2005, and Papa could only expand from the money he got from this business, you two would know that if you were interested in what me and Mr. Stanley do. He did what he had to do to provide for this Family, isn't that right Father?." He turned, searching for eyes to buttress his speech, but his father did not look at him.

"Sit down Jude." Mr. Akinyola said softly.

Jude's head drooped, he let out an exasperated smile, banged his fists against the table again and left.

The Filters 11

The Akinyola residence was quite quaint, Mr. Akinyola had insisted their compound and it's surrounding be devoid of trees- (I will not hide my wealth from the world he'd said.)- and Mrs. Akinyola had insisted it be painted a very feminine pink-(So that they know a woman is involved she'd said)-, Jude and his sister Ruth hadn't gotten a say, at the time they were 5 and 3 respectively and though Ruth would prove the favourite child she always strayed far from home.

Mrs. Akinyola stood on the veranda tapping her foot impatiently. Jude stood by her side irritated and ignored.

"Mother she's coming, it's been barely 20 minutes since she arrived at the airport, stop worrying."

Silence.

"Mother did you..."

"Its that mad driver! He is incompetent and I'm very sure he doesn't have it all upstairs, the airport is 15 minutes away from here, it's Sunday, there should be no traffic, but nooooo, when you want him to drive slow he speeds like it's a race, when you need him to drive moderately fast he crawls like a snail, I've told your father before, it's about time we have him fired...". She folded her arms in finality and Jude knew better than to argue with her.

"Oh look, there they are!"

A black BMW pulled into the driveway and Mrs.Akinyola motioned for the Gateman to open the gate before her driver got the chance to horn. The gates parted and from her elevated standpoint Mrs. Akinyola could see her only daughter in the back sit wearing a flawless white outfit. She tapped her son on the back and walked hastily to the stairs, eager to embrace her daughter.

"Ruth!"

"Mammaaa!!" Ruth gave herself to the pull of her Mother's outstretched hand and was engulfed in the warmth and scent of home. She chuckled.

"What is so funny." her Mother said, drawing back and looking her daughter over for signs of wear and tear, there were none and she was pleased.

"Nothing mamma, I've just missed you." Ruth said and hugged her again. "Where's everybody?"

"Your Father is in the room sleeping, if I tell him now that he works too much he won't believe me, but one day off of work and he falls like a rock. Your brother....."

"Is right here." Jude said as he came out from behind her. " how are you Ruth?" He added with about as much emotion as a coconut.

"I'm fine and you look terrible."

"That's because I was up all night helping Mother prepare the prodigal daughters welcome home feast." He gibed.

"Oh, I wasn't aware you'd learned how to help anyone but yourself, what else has changed since I've been gone? Did you go a day without killing anyone? "

"Oh stop it you two, why can't you just say that you miss each other without bickering." Mrs. Akinyola stated, then stared them both down to submission.

"I missed you Ruth." Jude said docilely.

"Missed you too big brother."

"See, isn't that much better?, now hug each other while I go inside and wake your father."

The two siblings took reluctant steps towards one another, then embraced like the prongs of a forklift. In three seconds Ruth was already pulling away, but Jude tightened his hold and whispered in her ear.

"I really am glad that your back Ruth, if anything it's substantial proof that your still alive since you don't care to call to let anyone know how you're doing, but know this Ruth, this time around, your not going anywhere, I'm not going to spend another minute consoling my Mother about her daughters intermittent absences, or watching our father stress about your well being, no Ruth, this time you will stay with your family, no matter how filthy and evil you think we are." He pecked her on the cheek and walked into the house, their home.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed and rocking her whole body like she'd just suffered some serious childhood trauma. Seun watched with his left hand across his chest, and his right stroking his trimmed moustache.

"Naomi, we really need to talk about this."

Naomi didn't answer, she simply turned away like she was reacting to a slap in slow motion.

Getting on his knees and placing both hands on her knee caps, Seun searched for her eyes amidst the bush of hair that fell from her head.

"Naomi, look at me, look at me....please, say something, anything."

Her lips peeled apart and Seun brightened with hope.

"What do you do?"She asked.

The light faded from his face." I can't answer that."

"I saw you in a room full of dead bodies Seun, I think it's safe to say I already know."

"No, no you don't, it's not like that, we don't go around killing people like that, not without good reason." he said rising up and sitting beside her. "We're not murders."

"Then what are you Seun? and whose We, you and that creepy looking guy?"

"No, we're more like the foot soldiers, its... listen I think I've told you too much, you..."

"Shhhhh." she said into his neck ,giving him goosebumps. "I believe you, I just need you to trust me."

He kissed her.

Mr. Stanley Akinyola was more than happy to see his daughter, he was relieved! Her absence always circled him like a rabid dog, he knew that if he thought about it too much, he would shake and shift and the dog would sink it's teeth into him, filling him with fear and paranoia. So he had kept his cool and his patience had paid off, now she was here, his precious little girl was home at last.

"So tell me honey, what've you been up to this past few years, and please tell me that you're staying this time." He said as they set the table together.

Ruth cast a cursory glance at Jude as he walked into the dining area to join them and said nervously.

"I'm glad you brought that up dad, alot happened in the last 3years, and I will be staying, just not here...."

Mrs Akinyola walked in and Ruth was glad she would only have to make the announcement once.

"I'm getting married."

The Filters 10

Of all the footwear, it had to be this, of all the days, it had to be today. Was the only train of thought that ran the tracks of Naomi's mind as she walked toward the now infamous apartment 25. Aside from the clicking of her heels against the floor and the soft rumbling of thunder in the sky there was a very silent murmuring. Her trained ear picked it up even though she was 20feet away from the house. There were definitely still people inside, lifting her skirt, she revealed her thighs and her gun, both concealed weapons, but at the moment she needed one and she slipped her finger over the trigger guard. Closer to the house now she could hear the voices more clearly, it seemed more like a conversation and less like an argument. She kicked off her heels and set her barefoot through the open door and into the living room.

"So what you're saying is, you killed your sister so you could inherit your father's fortune, and you needed to kill the guys who helped you kill her so you got us involved through Hakim."

"That is correct." Tunde said proudly.

Jesse lowered his gun at this, but Seun kept pointing his and took three menacing steps forward.

"How did you know Hakim worked for the filters? How do we know you won't pull something like this again and get us involved in one of your schemes? How do we know Hakim hasn't given you something to use against us? And why shouldn't we kill you anyway?."

Jesse folded his arms as if to say. He's right, answer.

"See Jamb question ooo, wow, um okay. First of all,Hakim told my sister everything, and my sister told me everything. Secondly I have my inheritance now, so I have no use for you guys, hell, even my money is clean.As for your third concern,  I don't really have anything concrete against you guys and even if I did, what do I have to gain?, plus judging from all this, you also have quite a lot against me. And to your final and obviously consequential question. Well, these guys are known Criminals, my sister is known to have had a million dollar necklace that is sitting in Casper's pocket. Story is, this band of criminals killed her trying to steal it, but she didn't have it, so they went to the next probable person her boyfriend, who did have it and they killed him but got double crossed by a faction of their men who would rather have the hundreds of thousands of naira that sat in Hakim's safe rather than...."

"Shut up!just shut up!!, Jesse you don't believe him do you?he set us up, he set Hakim up, he deserves to die!"

Jesse mulled it over for a second, he looked between the two men, one pointing a gun, and the other wearing an expression of ease. He always favoured placidity over tenseness.

"You're right Seun, he deserves to die, anyone sick enough to kill their own family for money does, but he serves us better alive, think about it, they killed Hakim's girl, they killed Hakim, then they ran off with his cash, the double cross thing is a little far fetched but....."

"But I have a guy who would be caught at a bar later today, ready to testify to just that, tying this up with one nice little bow. Killing me however would cause a lot more questions."

 Jesse shrugged a 'his right' and Seun who had never cried a day in his adult life felt the salty waters well up in his eyes.

"What gives you the right!? To sit down somewhere and decide who gets to die?! Who do you think you are? God?" He put the safety off but Jesse caught him before he could pull the trigger.

"Whose she?" Tunde asked casually.

For a second Jesse and Seun stood inanimate staring at him, then they followed his eyes to the person behind them.

"Naomi? What are you doing here?" He concealed his weapon and went to meet her, she looked like she was about to have a break down.

"I..I.eeeeeeee, Seun? What's all this? Those.." she swallowed dry spit. "Those men outside are they, are they?.."

"Shhhhhh, shhhh, shhhh, don't worry about them ok?where are your shoes?why are you here?"

"My shoes, um, I was running, ru...saw your car parked across the road, figured you must be in here."

"Oh Naomi." he engulfed her in his arms and cast a worried look at Jesse, then he whispered in her ear. "You shouldn't be here."

15 minutes later, Tunde was long gone and Seun ensured a melancholic Naomi that everything would be alright, that she should not speak to anyone about what she saw and they would talk later. He put her in a cab and waved her off. Then he returned to Jesse's side, he could feel the rebuke coming.

"You know she's going to be a problem right?in fact letting her go alone was a stupid thing to do, what if she goes straight to a police station?."

"Jesse I don't know how many times I have to tell you, she won't be a problem..."

"I have to call Jude."

"Come on man! Please don't tell him."

He dialed.

Three rings later, Jude's voice bounced into his ears. "You're alive."

"Was there ever any doubt?"

"How'd it go?"

"Well, there were quite a few complications."

"Okay? What kind of complications?"

"We had to let Tunde go."

"Why?"

"Its a long story, i'll tell you later."

"Okay, anything else?"

Jesse looked at Seun who had his hands clasped in silent prayer.

"No, that's it."

"Ok. My sisters coming home today so might not be at work tomorrow, Mr. Stanley too, mumsy's designated it family day."

"Hmm,sounds like fun isn't it the sister you don't like?the one you're always bad mouthing?"

"The very one, and you can only "bad mouth" nice people by the way."

"I hear you. Greet Mr.Stanley for me."

"When his precious little queen is around, I doubt he'll even be able to hear my voice."

"I fought 8 armed men 20 minutes ago and your here spazzin out about some sibling rivalry?"

"What? I can't confide in you because you almost died a couple minutes ago? That's selfish, and insensitive man, goodbye!"

With that Jude was gone and as the phone fell from Jesse's ear, the first drops of rain began to fall to the impermeable ground.

The Filters 9

  Seun dashed towards the apartment. He had been observing the brawl from afar and could tell from the get go things would not go as planned. Five minutes had turned to fifteen and now people-(who had no doubt already called the police) were peering out their windows and locking their doors. He kicked the head of a foe who was reaching for a gun and pulled out his 43 revolver. A bulky foe who had blood on his fair fingers like ketchup on chips plunged at him but was met with a knee to the stomach.As he curled himself into a ball of pain Seun was lifted off his feet and thrown against the door of Hakim's apartment. This sent the gun flying out of his hands, he attempted to swiftly move but the heel of a shoe met with his Jaw. He could feel his teeth seemed to writhe in his gum and he shut his eye in pain. He was pulled by his jacket up and head booted, his back hit the metal door sending a quick but piercing pain through his neck down his spine. His assailant jabbed again and again and Seun's feet gave way, he reached for the door handle for support, he found it, and drew himself up thus pulling the handle down and opening the door. He saw an unconscious Jesse lying on the floor, and that is when his adrenalin kicked in.

As the knuckles drew closer to his nose Seun knew the impact would knock him out for sure. His hands were to far away to intercede so he leaned against the open door and let himself fall  to the living room floor. It hurt but he barely felt it, on his back he kicked furiously at his attacker, like a child refusing to change its diaper. The assailant pulled back and Seun rushed to his feet just in time to see one of Jesse's captors cock his weapon and point to shoot, he moved a second before the trigger was pulled, and as the sound of death rang high in the air he thrust himself at his would be killer and secured the weapon.

"You have a very light grip my man."

"Oshogbo, what are you waiting for." the man said to his counterpart.

Pow!, pow!!. They were both dead.

Getting on a knee, Seun checked if Jesse still had a pulse, indeed he did and even stirred at his touch.

"You okay man?" Seun asked as he helped Jesse to his feet.

"..We've got to find Hakim."

 Hakim lay on what he knew would be his death bed, he had been beating to a pulp and starved almost to death, and he knew it was only a matter of time before the latter came for him, often his crumbling mind tried to formulate a reason to hope, to construct a scenario were he would walk out alive, but ever so often  it failed, over and over again, and just when he mustered enough will to survive, he remembered ** and then he longer wanted to live, infact he embraced death, like a soft and thick duvet on a cold night. But Tunde would not have that.

"Hey hey, you need to be awake for this." Tunde said as he snapped his fingers.

 "Casper."

"Yes boss?"

" point your gun at Mr. Hakim would you please?"

Casper did what he was told and Hakim chuckled.

"Casper, really? How ironic is that?"

Casper sneered and his trigger finger twitched.

"Relax C, if those are his last words ,let them be."

"My last words?" he spat out blood and glared at Tunde with his one good eye. "My last words are how could you kill your own sister? Your own flesh and blood?"

Tunde brought out his gun and tapped it's muzzle against his head as he mockingly pondered this question. Then he tapped his index finger against his lips as if asking for a cigarette. Finally his face lit up with melodramatic illumination and he said.

"She is not my blood, nor is she my flesh, my blood runs securely in my own veins, and my flesh clings ever so tightly to my own bones. She was just another person, just like you. All be it a less than stellar one, now enough talking, this should be ending soon." He looked at his watch and calculated it had been 28 minutes since the first shot went off. Though he had paid off the two closest police stations in the area, others were probably already on their way. He needed to speed things up.

"Bring him, and never stop pointing the gun at his head." He said and motioned for the door.

Seun and Jesse pointed their guns like accusing fingers at the three figures approaching them. As they got nearer Seun could make out Hakims feature and his body tensed. Jude took a step forward.

"Put the guns down and kick them over here."

Tunde snickered and looked at Casper bemused.

"Can you believe this guy? "Put the gun down and kick them over here." what are you the police?, speaking of the police, they'll be here any minute, so let's make this quick."

"Are you the boss?the one who compromised our agent?" Jesse asked with his weapon still raised.

"Um..." He pointed his gun at Hakim and pulled the trigger,  then he pulled the trigger again and Caspers body fell flat on Hakim's. "There, settled, can I go now?."

Outside Naomi sat in a reclined chair wondering tuning through the various stations on her radio when a call came in on her phone.

"Finally!, I've been sitting here for hours!, it's dead silent in there, the whole place is dead silent, not even the faintest sound of sirens, it's like everyone's dead." She whined into the receiver.

"Naomi, change of plans"

"Okay?". She sat up.

"You need to apprehend whatever survivors remain."

"What!?"

"We were looking for evidence, a way to have one of them to ourselves, under lock and key, this is it, we have them, now do your duty and bring them to us, to justice."

"Wait..whu?...what makes you so sure they'll just come along with me?"

"Do you have your weapon with you?"

"Yes, but..."

"Do whatever is necessary." Mr Stanley said and the line went dead.

The Filters 8

 The sickly sky foamed at the mouth with dark clouds and a foreboding wind wailed through the ear drums of all who cared to listen. Jesse sat in a Black BMW four houses away from Hakims apartment and felt at one with the weather.He watched through tinted window as school children ran  to their homes, ostensibly trying to beat the rain but secretly hoping it beat them instead. The seats surrounding him  were filled with goons, all reeking with anticipation. They were silent, as the wind beat against the cars windows, begging to be let in. They were silent as an old man in an old Audi crawled to a halt and eyed them suspiciously. They were silent as he drove off, but Jude memorised his plates.

They were silent.

They were silent, because such was the respect owed to the dead, and the dead to be.

      ******Three Hours Earlier*******

"Remember, we want to make this quick and quiet, we don't know the level of opposition we would face, but visual and audio Intel suggests there are at least five other males in Hakims apartment, we shoot to kill,  leave no evidence and take no souvenirs."

The goons listened attentively but really only heard one word. Kill.

Jesse looked each of them in the eye.He always felt nostalgic during these sort of missions, nostalgic and sad.Because in those eyes he knew he would  never see brotherhood, faith or loyalty, they were all of them hired guns, and would gladly turn on the other for the same amount that bound them together. This was no team, but it would have to do. Jude walked into the room and beckoned him with a nod, they walked out of the building together, the sky overhead was clear, but the air was humid, Jesse made a mental note to carry an umbrella, it was arbitrary, but he always felt that arbitrary things were what kept a man rooted in sanity. Jude sat on the bonnet of his car, and Jesse lowered his elbows beside him.

"What's up?" Jesse asked with a brow raised in concern.

"I hate this."

"What are you talking about?We've killed operatives before, he had it coming, this isn't your fault."

Jude procured a cigarette from his back pocket and placed it between his lips."Yeah well, that's not what I'm talking about." He lit the cigarette, inhaled, then let the white horses of stress gallop out of his nostrils.

Jesse chuckled.

"What?"

"We've grown soft in our old age."

Jude snortled and inhaled. "Speak for yourself. I'm not old, but I'm not the young reckless boy I used to be either." He exhaled, looked searchingly into thin air and muttered almost to himself." Now if only my father could see that..."

"So serious, what's bothering you?"

"His just sitting there, like a duck."

"You mean Hakim?You think his waiting for us?."

"I don't know, but he hasn't left his house for the past four days, maybe he got drunk and choked on his own vomit. Or his seated in front of his door with a Bazooka ready to blow us to pieces, I don't know."

"Well we know he has people protecting him, they're probably feeding him, I think they wanna move him, probably out of the country."

"Yeah?whose they?"

"I don't know,whoever he works for."

"Yeah well, an enemy without a face is invincible."

"The enemy does have a face, Tunde *, you can look him up on Facebook if you want. "

Jude squashed the cigarette like a bug beneath his heel. Then turned to face Jesse. "Forgive me if I find it hard to believe that some rich boy came out of nowhere and compromised one of our trusted men."

Naomi  sat in front of her vanity and applied make up. Not that she needed it, she just had to keep up appearances, so to speak. Her hands-free hung on her left ear and through it she received orders. Ten minutes later she was dressed in an evening gown even though it was 11 in the morning. She looked sleek and harmless in the get up, but where men would imagine there was nothing but tall slender legs, was a weapon attached to her thigh, it was there to be used if necessary.

  Each stride was longer, each breath quicker, and as they neared the door all breathing seemed to seize. The world around them grew silent, and even the clouds overhead seemed to stop and stare in anticipation. Jesse leaned forward and pressed the door bell, and from outside he could hear it's tune dance across the walls of the apartment. He waited half a minute before he pushed the button again. When this elicited no response, he took three sure steps backwards and charged towards the door.

It burst open!, but not beneath his heel. Before he could reach for his weapon a hand reached for his face and drew it against an elbow. . He spun in a daze like a drunk attempting to dance and loosing his consciousness, bit his tongue to stay alert.These were trained foes after-all. Jesse found his foot and swift as a lion pouncing from beneath the grass drew his weapon. He let loose three bullets, one hit his assailant square on the head, another hit the hinge of the door and the third grazed the shoulder of an approaching enemy. Turning to his left Jesse saw that his men were holding their own, save for one unlucky soul who was on the floor being pounded like yam. So once more he charged into the house looking for the face in the picture squeezed in his pocket. He spotted a figure in the kitchen and proceeded to go there but a fist Jabbed at his lower back, this sent him to his knees, but before any further harm could be don't to him he cart wheeled forward and away from his assailant.

"Cheap shot."

"Alls fair in love and war." said the stout man with a lisp.

The figure Jesse had spotted earlier came out of the kitchen and knocked him unconscious with the butt of his gun.

by Wayne Samuel