Tayo choked on his glass of water as soon as he saw Astrid. Next, he began to cough.

Astrid, on the other hand had settled comfortably on the chair opposite his, with Leri next to her.

“If it isn’t my not so favourite stalker.” Astrid smiled warmly at him, which made him rise. He started to pack up his food in attempt to move away.

“Bibitayo Ola.”She called his full name and he froze on the spot.

“How-how do you know my name?” He stuttered as he stared at her.

“I followed the yellow brick road.” Astrid yawned in boredom. Left to her, she would’ve preferred watching Korean movies in her comfort of her room while munching popcorn and drinking wine.

“Stay away from me.” He spoke again as he picked up his food.

“Oh stop the drama and sit down,” Astrid rolled her eyes at his dramatics, “I came here to have a friendly conversation with you.”

“We’re not here to bite or harm you,” Leri added.

Tayo sat down slowly, his posture tense and on edge. His eyes flicking occasionally from Leri to Astrid.

“How is your day going?” Astrid asked casually, “how’s your master?”

“I told you I can’t tell you his name.” Tayo reminded her, which made Astrid chuckle.

“I didn’t ask for his name did I?” She rested her elbows on the table while locking her gaze with him,”let’s talk about you. How do you feel about this whole issue?”

Tayo was uncomfortable, but said nothing.

“Do you know how dangerous those bullets are?” Astrid asked again, “what do you think will happen if they get into the hands of your master?”

“I don’t care.” Tayo muttered, “it’s none of my business.”

“But it is,” Astrid told him, “if those bullets gets into the wrong hands, Nigeria is in trouble and I’m sure you do not want that.”

Tayo looked away and Astrid went on speaking. “You want to be a doctor right?”

He faced her instantly. “How do you know that?”

Astrid shrugged as she took out her phone for a few minutes before sliding it towards his direction on the table, “that is a picture of me when I graduated medical college several years ago in London. If you still have interest in this, I can help you. I have connections with the school management.”

“It’s too late to go to school now.” Tayo shook his head with a discouraging sigh.

Leri shook her head in disagreement. “It’s never too late if its really what you want. You may never see this type of opportunity again so you better take it. Don’t you want to leave this country?”

Leri’s words seemed to have an impact on Tayo as his posture relaxed. She was grateful that Leri had accompanied her.

“My father couldn’t pay off his debt so he sold me off instead,” Tayo explained, “the lady who came to pick me up is the same you are searching for now. Her real name is Inome Lebagak. She’s one of my master’s best assassin.”

Astrid heaved a sigh of relief as she glanced at Leri who had an unreadable expression on her face. She nudged her back to the present.

“I can’t tell you any other thing,” Tayo quickly added, “Good luck.”

“Thank you.” Astrid shifted her chair backwards and stood as she gestured to Leri. “I really am grateful for this.”

They haven’t left the bar before Astrid turned back and walked straight to him.

With a card stretched to him, she said, “I know you’re not a bad person. Take my card and call me if you ever want to talk. You look lonely.”

Astrid joined Leri immediately without waiting for a response. She could see that it wasn’t his fault he ended that way and she suddenly wished that she could punch his father for selling him out, when all he wanted to do was become a doctor and save lives.

As she drove she occasionally stole a glance at Leri and found her deep in thought with a distant look on her face.

“Are you okay?” She had to speak out her mind, “what’s up?”

“Huh?” Leri blinked at her before suddenly rushing her words, “I’m good. I’m just thinking about something.”

“Not a boy I hope?”

Leri chuckled without mirth. “That one sef dey. But no, it’s not a boy.”

“Lagos traffic drains me.” Astrid complained as she pushed her horn multiple times. She had switched back to her Ferrari after seeing Tayo.

“I know right?” Leri agreed, “I wish we had flying cars instead.”

“I wish we could teleport.” Astrid said, “just take a look at this okada driver, where does he think he wants to pass?” She pushed the horn in anger. “I hate traffics and I can’t seem to get used to it.”

“Welcome to Nigeria.” Leri laughed.

Astrid groaned. “When we get back to base, Faizah and Fareed will look through the database for any information concerning Inome Lebagak. I wonder who this mysterious master is and why he is so obsessed with the bullets.”

“He’s probably a powerful man in this country.” Leri said.

“Indeed.” Astrid agreed, “but he’s being an obstacle in our mission. We can’t be trying to get Dahlia and another one unexpectedly pops out.”

“Don’t worry,” Leri smiled at her, “we’ll get them both.”

“We?” Astrid raised a brow at her in question.

Leri nodded stubbornly. “I’ve been helpful today. I assisted you in translating and speaking yoruba. Without me, you probably wouldn’t have achieved anything, so you better be thanking me.”

Astrid laughed. “That is true. Thank you so much Leri, I really am grateful.”

“I’m TJH material right?” Leri asked hopefully and Astrid sighed as she shook her head.

Leri was a handful, but she admired that about her.

They arrived hours later at the jewellery shop, taking the back entrance and heading through the stairs that lead to base and Astrid had to take

out her TJH card to swipe it over the scanner, causing the door to automatically open.

“Where’s Aminat?” Astrid asked as soon as she stepped in.

“Travelled to Australia,” Fareed shrugged, as he stood up to approach her, “you bought that chin chin for me right?” he eyed the jar greedily.

“Australia?” Astrid and Leri exclaimed at the same time.

“Don’t mind him jare.” Faizah hissed, “she went back home because her mother in-law called, you know.”

“If I had that type of mother in law, one of us would probably be in the hospital by now, and its going to be her.” Astrid said as she dropped the chin chin jar on center table .

“Why?” Leri asked, ”what’s wrong with her mother in law?”

“She’s a problematic human being.” Astrid stated, before collapsing on the sofa and inhaling deeply. “ By the way, I need you guys to find out someone for me.”

“Who?” Fareed asked while munching chin chin.

“Inome Lebagak.”

Faizah began typing on her laptop, “can you spell that surname please?”

“Which kain surname be that?.” Fareed said as he also began to type on his laptop, chewing loudly.

“L-E-B-A-G-A-K.” Astrid spelled it out. “She’s the ski mask lady.”

“Black ski.” Fareed smiled. “I don give her new nickname.” He glanced sideways to his twin, “awfar? Have you seen anything?”

Faizah shook her head in response. “There’s no such name like that.” she adjusted her glasses.

“You’re joking right?” Astrid sat up straight, “this has to be a sick joke.”

“Unfortunately its not,” Fareed said to her, “that surname is nonexistent.”

“Bloody hell.” Astrid murmured as she pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. Tayo had lied to her and she was too naive to notice. She was back to the bloody drawing board.

“Wait.” Leri suddenly said which attracted everyone’s attention. “I knew an Inome in the past.”

“And her surname was Lebagak?” Astrid asked sarcastically.

“No.” Leri shook her head, “but she lost all her family in a car accident on their way to Lagos to visit someone.”

Everyone exchanged questionable glances and she continued. “Dahlia lost all her family in a car accident too.”

“So what are you trying to say?” Astrid asked slowly.

“Quick, someone get me a pen and paper,” Leri ordered and Faizah passed her a jotter and a pen. “Her surname is Lebagak right?” she scribbled the name on the jotter, “spell it backwards, it becomes -” she scribbled some more as she held up the paper for everyone to see.

“Kagabel.” Astrid said with amazed realization, “Inome Kagabel.”

The twins exchanged stunned glances, “she’s Dahlia’s sister.” they said at the same time.

“She’s her younger sister,” Leri explained, “Dahlia mentioned it in an interview once that she was the first child of her parents.”

“And Dahlia thinks all her family were wiped out by that accident.” Astrid added.

“Exactly,” Leri nodded, “but Inome miraculously survived as the sole survivor.”

“Wow,” Fareed chukled, “two bad eggs.”

“Do you have an idea of where she might be right now?” Astrid asked, hope in her voice.

Leri shook her head sadly. “ She ran away after spending a month with us. She was only twelve at that time. I haven’t seen her since then.”

Astrid sank into the sofa, “this is all so bloody thrilling and annoying. Please pass me a bottle of zobo, I need to relieve myself.”

“So how do you we locate black ski?” Fareed asked.

“By now she would’ve discovered that the bullets she stole were fake,” Astrid said as she gulped down Zobo.

“What!” Leri exclaimed, “fake?”

“Of course,” Astrid capped the bottle in her hand, “all of Dahlia’s cars didn’t just stop working coincidentally. Tomiwa used that opportunity to distract and delay while he switched the bullets.”

“We only had to replace them with blanks and paint them gold.” Fareed added.

“Wow.” Leri said with a nod of approval, “omo I’m speechless.”

“So, she’ll find us, but we won’t let her see us.” Astrid explained, “for now let’s focus on Dahlia.”

They all nodded in agreement.

“Where’s Wura?” Astrid inquired.

“Does she ever tell us where she goes?” Fareed reminded with a scoff. “She left hours ago and we don’t know and care.”

“Fareed,” Faizah looked at her twin in warning.

“Abeg,” Fareed waved her away, “she get serious problem.”

“What did Dahlia do to her?” Leri asked.

“She killed her brother,” Astrid replied, earning a shocked look from Leri. “He died in a fire outbreak.”

“Blood of Jesus,” Leri cupped her hand over her mouth in shock.

“But that was since last year,” Fareed said, “she ought to have gotten over it.”

“You don’t just get over death,” Leri told him, “especially the death of a family or loved one.”

“That’s her business abeg,” Fareed hissed, “always bonning face and frowning.”

“Fareed that was insensitive, stop it.” Faizah chided, “just leave her alone.”

“I agree,” Astrid nodded with a sigh, “I’m worried but she keeps pushing me away. I hope she heals.”

I want my friend back. She said in her mind.

Astrid stared at the black sky dotted with stars. A plane had flown by and she found herself missing her mum even more . She wouldn’t mind a comforting hug from her right now, or a korean soothing song to calm her nerves. Her Eomma had the most angelic voice.

She craved her boyfriend’s touch. She wanted to snuggle in a blanket with while watching Netflix with him. She missed how he made her laugh, she him so much that it ached. Long distance relationships were really not for the faint of heart.

Her phone rang, which she took out from her pocket and answered the call. It was an unknown number so she waited for whoever it was to speak first.

“Hello, its me Tayo.”

Relief soaked in excitement flooded through Astrid as she heard his voice unexpectedly. “Hello,” she said.

“I-I want to talk to you,” his voice sounded shaky which made her concerned. “Now.”

The time was currently 8:18 pm which meant it was still early, for Astrid anyways so she nodded. “Where do you want to talk?”

Astrid had already entered the car as he gave her the location. She would find the place.

With a swift turn of her key, her car ignited into life. She smiled with determination and tightened her hands on the steering wheel.

It was time to drive.

The location was oddly quiet and isolated. Astrid dialed his number on her phone but it wasn’t going through.

After three attempts, she decided to step out from the car. Cautiously she looked around the isolated street, empty save for a few distant houses.

Astrid hadn’t even walked ten steps before she felt something roughly cover her head.

The next thing she saw was total darkness. Tayo had lied to her and led her into a trap.

SC is Dahlia's sister?? *Le gasp*
Astrid was kidnapped?? *Le bigger gasp.*

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