CHAPTER SIX: GENTLEMEN, SHALL WE?

Uche

"Maggie! Maggie!" Uche called, gently tapping her left shoulder and she slightly jerked back to life.

"Oh sorry. I was just... was just..." she paused and looked into uches eyes which were filled with so much worry and care.

"Never mind, I'm okay..." she patted his muscular chest slightly and walked away.

He watched as she slowly walked into the doors of her restaurant. It was clearly labelled 'Maggie's Dishes'.

It was almost totally constructed with glass. You could see the beautiful yellow and pink interior clearly from the outside.

It was 7 am in the morning and the air was still fresh and cool.

She'd been standing there staring at her white Mercedes Benz sports car in the parking lot for over ten minutes.

'is she getting that old?' he wondered.

He still remembered Maggie seven years ago - all fresh and sporty. Always looking young and fashionable with her low cut hair and red lipstick.

No one would know she was forty two then! She looked thirty!

Now she was fifty and clearly looking older and slower than seven years ago - Her black low cut hair had almost all turned grey.

She was still wearing all those fashionable stuff she likes - leather jackets, leader shoes, fancy Gucci sunshades and all that.

But something had changed. She was now more sober and chill than before when she was their crazy 'soccer mum'.

'she is probably missing Chinny too much' uche thought as he opened the glass door of the restaurant and walked in, breathing in the smell of freshly baked bread.

"Good morning sir" one of the cleaners greeted as he walked by.

"Yes, my dear, how's the morning?' he replied with a warm smile.

"Good sir, thank you sir" she replied, and carried on with her work.

Everything was normal that morning, everything!

He made his way to the back of the restaurant, through the kitchen amidst the greetings of the workers.

He Soon got to that door that looked like a garage door, which had a calculator alike device by the side.

He tapped in some codes and the door opened . He entered and the door shut back automatically behind him.

It was their 'secret office' . It was not too large, it was Like the size of a two bedroom flat.

It was well furnished with cushions and fancy tables. As well as wall arts and expensive vases with flowers in them.

For some reason, Maggie always changed the flowers herself.

The walls were beautifully white and there was an apple Mac Book pro computer system seated pompously on a fancy office furniture at the center of the large office.

The office was their 'control' room. He and Maggie had entered into a business partnership along the way.

Maggie was less busy and bored, and Uche was eager to learn the 'old ways'.

She had given him some lessons which he added to his own 'twenty first century' knowledge and ideas, and created some invincible business which rolled in tons of money anonymously every week!

He didn't want to be the young man who inherits his father's money. All his father's can go to his sister Chioma who was schooling in London now.

But, his father's wealth served as a cover up story for his own.

Maggie just stood there at the center of the office with a bottle of wine in her hands, lost in thoughts. Uche was getting worried.

"Maggie, is everything alright...?"

"Of course it's not!'" she cut in sharply.

"You know it's not but you keep asking."

"I know, but..."

"...they will find us. You know it. You better run and save your head. My time on Earth is almost done."

"Oh Maggie, why are you talking like this nau, wetin happen?"

"Uche..." Maggie walked slowly towards him, until she was close, really close.

" you're a good person, I don't want you to die like this. Listen to me..."

"no no no..."

" ...listen to me boy!" Maggie interrupted, patting his cheeks slightly and lovingly, and looking into his eyes.

" ...with senator Chris alive, they're coming for all of us. You're in danger, your family is in danger. You have to save your family, you have to get them out of this country as soon as possible ..."

"...but if I meet them in person, I endanger their lives as well. It's worse, and I know what you're saying, but we're in this together.."

"I know better than you do my boy. You know that. And you know you trust me..." she paused and looked into his eyes.

Uche knew, Maggie knew better. It's always been that way. She knew everything! Everything!

"...make arrangements, get everyone out. Cas, Roma, your parents, everyone. You know the drill.

"And if you are going to do that, you better get going now." She concluded, gesturing at him to leave.

Uche knew Maggie was right. He knew Maggie knew what she was doing. He didn't know the end game she was playing at, but he knew she would be fine. She's been tested and trusted.

He had not seen his parents for years, but he had to get to them, before the devil does.

He hugged Maggie in a tight embrace , kissing her cheeks.

"I love you Maggie" he said.

"Love you too son.." she replied, gesturing at him to leave hurriedly.

As he turned around to leave he heard the sound of the cork of a gun.

He looked and lo, seven huge men, heavily armed like they were going to war had just infiltrated the room.

'But how?' He wondered!

They were wearing tight black body hugged long sleeved tops and black gloves, as well as dark grey camouflage trousers and military boots.

They were in possession of military grade guns and grenades visibly tucked down beside their brown bullet proof vests.

'how was that possible? how did they manage to break in'? He asked himself in his mind as he turned his back on Maggie, using his left hand to protectively place her behind him with his right hand raised in the air in surrender.

"going somewhere?" Asked a devilishly deep voice .