Chapter Three: Unseen guardians

Chapter Three 

Unseen guardians 

Grey woke the next morning to find the lady still asleep. He prayed, folded the sheet he slept with, strolled to the bathroom to have his bath, then left the room to get breakfast for them both. Grey hated cooking, he delighted in fast meals, and just didn't see himself as the kind committed to sit in the kitchen waiting for food to be prepared...he could afford such patience at home. Grey saw officers at the scene where Emeka had been killed last night. A boy he didn't know, he had the privilege to know his name as he fell to his end. Grey wondered why it was usually so. Within, he praised himself for his bravery last night, wondered how Emeka had gotten the hole in his head, then he thought, it didn't really matter...the guy was a pervert. 

Grey bought breakfast from a woman he frequents to collect things from without paying, for she understood he wasn't working yet, and things were hard for him, she had the patience. Though, this time, her eyes slightly widened on noticing him pay in cash. She gave him the items without much questions other than how are you. Grey answered and thanked her, then went up to his room. On opening the door, there was a letter on the floor with a blue overall neatly stacked on the chair. 

Grey walked into the room, the lady was still asleep. He closed the door behind him, set the breakfast items on the table, got the letter, then sat at the table to read it. 

Dear Mr. Garrett, 

You're to put on the blue overall in the next fifteen minutes and wait for a blue truck on its way. Take the wristwatch and the earpiece. Conceal the gun inside the overall. 

Yours faithfully,

The Secret. 

There was a clear talk of him being killed if he disobeyed, and two days was enough to find out how capable and resourceful whomever this was. Besides, there was a lady in the house, he didn't really want her to get hurt. 

Grey quickly had his breakfast, burnt the letters, then scribbled on a paper: 

Out to work. Have whatever you need for breakfast. Keep the keys under the door when you're ready to leave. Take care. 

He changed into the overall, stood by the road side as instructed with the earpiece and watch in hand. Many who had seen him leave in that attire hailed as he walked to the road. Grey knew people mocked him, despised him, and even said funny things behind his back, but all that couldn't be compared to what he was currently engaged in. He would rather have an entire locality shouting at his back, and calling him a failure than for the world to know what he was becoming. 

A blue van pulled over in front of him, the man driving was also in a blue overall but fatter. He nodded to some music playing on radio, then turned to Grey. "Your dad, good man, aye. Saved me once."

Grey had no idea what he was talking about, he simply nodded, then got into the van as it drove off. 

They had covered some distance when the man asked, "Cut me the bullshit right now and tell me who you are. Who are you, and who are the people you work for? Are you The Secret?" 

The man had said the name. No other person was supposed to say it, and even if you wanted to, your mind was just enough to voice your own opinion without being heard. 

"You boss me around like I'm some slave. Make me crazy with rush, then you threaten they will kill me."

Grey had no idea how to tell this man he was also a victim, or to shut up. He understood where this man came from, but he wasn't supposed to hint anything about this organisation. Grey got so scared he began looking around for a possible person with a gun when the message came through the earpiece, "Kill him." 

Grey looked at the man who was still talking, and had no idea. 

"Kill him, or someone would kill two of you."

Having made up his mind, and not wishing to die for another man's defiance, Grey paid one last attention to what the man was saying. 

“What do they tell you now, huh? Talk to me, and don't let me ask again."

Grey looked at him, ready to say something, then it came out, "I'm sorry."

He took out the silencer, briskly aimed in the man's direction and held the trigger, the man slumped on the steering. 

Grey pushed him aside, took control of the swaying van, then steadied it...the earpiece told him his destination. He came to a stop before a twenty storey building with the name, The Setedus (Nigeria's biggest electronic company) written in gold. He pulled the fat man to the back of the van, then stepped onto the cemented floor. 

The watch instructed him to go to the changing room and open locker two zero eight. Grey passed the security at the door, got into the locker room, walked passing lockers and finally stopped at two zero eight…he pulled it open. Inside was a file, a neatly pressed suit, and a letter. 

Grey took out the letter, then read: 

Dear Mr. Grey Garrett, 

You're to put this on, walk up to the manager and demand a job, placing the documents on the table. 

Yours faithfully,

The Secret. 

Grey changed into the suit, carried the file in hand, then left for the manager's office which was on the last floor. The secretary didn't let him sit but pointed him straight to the manager's office. Grey got in, the man was on the phone with someone, he thought to wait but the instruction was pretty plain. 

He placed the files before the manager, then demanded a job. The man looked at him like one lost, and probably was about asking when he said... 

"Let me call you back," the manager spoke into the phone, then replaced it to the table. He stared at Grey like someone who had really lost it...looked to the file, opened it, then began to flip through.

Moments later, the manager was shaking his head, Grey had no idea what he saw. 

The man simply extended his hand to Grey who took it with a shake as he said, "You have the job Mr. Garrett. You have the job." 

A job here, perfect…but Grey had no idea what specific area. Weeks back, he wouldn't think of stepping in here, because he would be rejected right from the doorway without getting up here. Now he had just been offered a job. 

The manager requested he follow him, they went to another room on that floor, and through the glass, you could see it was painted white. 

"This is your office Mr. Garrett. Hope you like it?"

Both men got in, chilled air touched their skin in this spacious well organized room, a bookshelf to the side with a shiny oak table and an office computer on it. Grey found himself nodding without even saying yes.

"Good," the man said. "You begin next week, and hope two million isn't too small?" 

Grey looked at him like the manager wasn't serious. “Yeah. I can manage two hundred thousand." He was sure he misheard the man. 

"No sir. It’s million, not thousand." 

"Wait, seriously?" 

The manager smiled. "Yes. Come on, that's small compared to what most earn here. With promotions, you'll keep rising. Go through the documents on the table, report to my office if you like it or not. Good luck."

The manager left the office. 

Grey walked over to the table, sat down, something immediately stole his joy, another letter. 

Dear Mr. Garrett, 

We hope you like the job. Of course the pay won't be compared to what you'll earn per kill, should you do as told. Don't disobey our orders, the price would be steep. 

Yours faithfully,

The Secret. 

Grey went through the documents, it showed he now had a house, and a car for his daily use. It also entailed he would be travelling from time to time, securing important deals for the company overseas.

An opportunity to go abroad, and probably see the world, he thought. Grey just couldn't believe it all. He walked back to the manager's office, voiced how happy he was with the deal. They shook hands, he left the building.

No one had discovered the dead man in the van, but Grey wasn't surprised if the body was no longer there…they had done that twice now.

Grey left for his apartment, the lady was still in it—sleeping. She must have awoken at a certain time to eat, because the food he left on the table had shortened. 

Grey thought to wake her for he knew nothing about this lady. Oh wait, he had a better idea...he was just given a new house now, so he could just leave her here and go over there. Though, leaving her here would be putting her more in harm's way for those men were still out there.

Grey pondered for a while. His dad was always gentle with his mom, and even when she called him a shameless man, Grey's dad would do nothing, but stay still. He remembered the day his dad sat him down saying, "I've been married to your mom for twenty-five years, and in those twenty-five years, I've never raised my hands on your mother…don't do the same to your wife." 

That had put a certain character into Grey, one which had changed the way he saw and treated women. Grey saw this as a weakness sometimes, and really hated it...other times, as a gentleman.

He thought to wake the lady when the wristwatch ticked…it was still connected to the earpiece. Grey placed it in his ear. 

"Hide, Grey Garrett." 

Hide from what? Grey didn't understand.

One last time; "Wake her up, and hide with her in the bathroom. Take the phone book, and the cellphone."

Grey quickly tapped the lady. "Hey, hey."

She stirred. 

"Come with me to the bathroom." 

Grey half expected the lady to delay, and think he too was also a pervert, instead she quickly did as told. Grey collected the phone book and cell phone then joined her. This whole thing felt so silly. What was wrong with these people. Why him? What did he do?

"Turn to the last page of the book," the female voice from the wristwatch said. 

Grey did so. It was titled, Tactical unit.

"Call the first number." 

Grey dialed the number, someone picked immediately. "I was told to call this number. It seems—"

The call cut.

Grey was bewildered. He tried to dial the number again and again, it didn't connect. He heard the entrance door smashed open…probably with someone's foot.

“Find them.”

He recognised the voice. It was the voice of one of the guys from last night's fiasco. 

The lady was scared, Grey held her mouth regretting why he wasn't with his silencer. 

"Who is this guy?" 

"What happened?" 

"He has a gun." 

Grey knew they had found the silencer. 

"He's nowhere, not even under the bed" 

"But we saw him enter this place." 

"Check the kitchen and the bathroom." 

Grey heard the footsteps. The kitchen door swung open... 

"Nothing here."

Footsteps were getting closer to the bathroom door. 

Grey heard what sounded like a speeding fly, the approaching footsteps ceased…someone crumbled to the floor.

"What's wrong?" one of the guys said.

Another speeding fly. Someone else fell. Footsteps seemed to be distancing from the bathroom in a running manner...multiple speeding flies, three more bodies fell. Grey stayed rooted with the lady. Someone moved round the room. Grey heard the dragging of something being pulled. 

Then there were scrubbings, and the noise of plastic bags filled the room. 

Later, he could tell his door was fitted back into its hinges, he cautiously opened the bathroom with the phone book and cell in hand. Grey could swear he had heard the voices, the scrubbing and much more, yet, aside the door that seemed clearly broken, it didn't feel like someone had been here. He looked at the lady, she also had an expression of shock. 

"What just happened?" she asked. 

Grey couldn't answer. He looked quickly around the room, found the letter on the bed, then picked it to read. 

Dear Mr. Garrett, 

Your life and that of this lady is in danger if you continue to stay here. You're to relocate to the apartment The Setedus has provided for you. Take only necessary requirements, then leave the house. A car is waiting outside to take you both to your new home. 

Yours faithfully,

The Secret. 

Grey discarded the letter on the bed, parked his credentials, valuables, books and other things he fitted into a big bag. He left the ladies clothings of last night in the apartment, moved the door aside with a single shove, then asked the lady to follow him.

When he came out, a black Toyota SUV briefly flashed the headlamps. 

"Move to the car," the watch said. 

They moved to the car, careful not to look suspicious, and stepped in. As the car moved, Grey saw his room in flames, he had no idea how that had happened.

Filled with shock and the warnings of not saying anything, he couldn't ask the driver a single thing. They drove in silence, then arrived at The Narrion estate in Port City. The car stopped before a white two storey building with a black gate. 

Grey and the lady stepped out, the Toyota drove off. 

"Get into the house," the watch said. 

Grey simply obeyed, walked up to the gate with the lady...it opened to them. They both crossed the interlocked floor to the door entrance which opened by itself, admitting them in.

Grey dumped the bag on the floor, looked round the house, then sat to catch his breath. Everything seemed to be happening so fast, and worse, without a single explanation. He felt he was losing it. 

He thought to ask the lady her name, but thoughts of what just happened drowned all that out of him.

Moments later, he heard a truck move into the compound. Grey stepped out to check, it was a white truck. The driver got out, made him sign some papers as two other men began sending things into the house. Small, medium, and big sized cartons were carried in and set at different corners, with luggage carriers. These men began assembling some of the things in them. Freezer, fan, air-condition, flat screen TVs and much more. 

Grey toured the house after they had gone, exploring things, and doors that opened and refused to open. He toured the outside environment of the compound, it was spacious.

Grey walked to the garage, there was a black Range Rover. He opened the door, there was a driving license paper with his name and ID. Grey had to walk inside to process what was happening.

He sat in the parlour, the lady wasn't there. She had probably returned to the comfort of one of the rooms to continue her sleep, Grey sat to distract his mind with a TV show. His phone rang, it was Tina. 

"Hey, Grey." 

"Tina!" 

"So, I'm calling to say—" she paused for a second, then continued. "The guy who took me out yesterday asked me out and I said yes," She said that very fast, Grey heard every word. 

He kept quiet, his face sober not to the news she had just given, but to the life he was now living. Grey said nothing, simply held the phone to his ear. 

"Did you hear me?" she asked. 

Grey set the phone down. He could hear her repeated, “Hello—hello—Grey—say something.”

The next sound told the call had ended. 

His phone rang again, he delayed picking it up for he thought it was Tina, then it cut. The call came in two more times before Grey placed it to his ear without saying a word or checking to know who it was. 

"Hello, son?" 

"Dad?" 

"My boy. How are you?" 

Tears began springing out of Grey's eyes. "I am fine dad," his voice sounded lively. 

"Is everything alright, son?" 

Grey had a million things to say. He wanted to let it all fall out from his mouth. He knew these people were everywhere and could hear his dad fall silent if he said anything about The Secret to him. He didn't know how to start. The only thing that came to mind was the job he had gotten. He would start and end there. 

"God is good dad. I got a job." 

Grey could hear his father laugh. "Congratulations my boy. Which workshop?"

For his father didn't think he could get a job with the kind of degree he left the university with.

"The Setedus, dad." 

"You said what?"

Grey could hint the surprise in his father's voice. "Se–te–dus." 

"How?" 

Grey would have given the world to fill someone in on what was happening to him. He needed someone else to share it with. Even if he found one, they would think him to be foolish as the pastor had the previous day. Grey was so confused. He felt down. He was tired.

He didn't remember what he said next to his dad for his dad began praying earnestly for him. 

Grey felt no burden lift, but he just needed to close his eyes to the world. He kept resounding an, “Amen, Amen,” to every sentence his father said in prayer. When he was done, Grey thanked his dad, then the line ended. 

Grey kept breathing in softly. He knew it was evening, and he was enjoying the cool air that came with it. He pictured if this was a dream come through. He closed his eyes, readjusted on the chair, then fell asleep.

He had the same dream of running through the woods with this lady with him. Grey had no interpretation to what he saw, but again, her replica would appear after she had drowned as he was about to drown, saying, “Keep me safe.” 

This whole thing was still a solid mystery to him. He couldn't chase away the dream, or the new reality which haunted him.

All he could do was try to seek some calm in the midst, then he felt a cold metal to his head. With eyes closed, Grey was begging a certain man not to shoot him. The man kept asking him, “Where is she? I said where is she?”

Grey shook his head, the cold metal retracted, then returned.

Wait, this wasn't a dream. Something was pointing at his actual skull. Grey gently opened his eyes to the face of an angry young lady breathing heavily. Sleep left him that instance. He sat up with hands raised silently praying in his mind. 

She was holding his silencer, then gently withdrew. Wherever she had gotten that from, she was now pointing it at him, her finger on the trigger. 

The lady said, "I have just one question for you, and you would answer me if you want to live."

Grey nodded. 

"I saw this in your room. What the hell are you? And don't think of lying to me." 

He thought for the best possible life saving answer, there was none. He wanted to say he had just gotten a job at The Setedus company, but he had to make a choice. 

Grey saw a red dot appear on her chest, then move to her forehead, someone was aiming a gun at her and she was unaware. He quickly remembered the dream…keep me safe. The watch began to tick. 

Instinctively, he knew if it stopped, this lady would die. 

Grey simply said, "I'm an assassin." 

The lady lowered the gun, the ticking stopped, the red dot vanished. He gently turned back, but saw no one. He looked back  to the shocked lady, grateful he had saved her life and hadn't ratted out The Secret.

She moved to sit at his side, and then said, "An assassin, huh?"

Grey nodded.