Chapter 4 Friend with answers

After my fight with the director, I left the institute knowing that my activities would be monitored following this incident. I do have other sources of information. It's not as thorough as the institute's but it gets the job done. I drove a few miles away from the institute to make sure I wasn't being followed before parking on the side of the expressway. I pulled out the burner phone from my glove compartment and called a number quickly.

"Hello?" As soon as the line was connected, I said.

"Hello....uhmmm, who is this?"It's Adam, Kareem."

"Hey, Adam," Kareem exclaimed with joy. "How's it going, man?"

"Hello, Kareem." I'm ok. You?"

"I am okay."

Let me introduce you to Kareem, my personal hacker. He got caught in the center of a deadly crossfire after using his hacking skills to almost murder himself. I was supposed to take out a few men a few of years back, and he happened to be there. He had hacked one of Nigeria's wealthiest individuals, and like most wealthy people, he had a vast closet full of secrets. Kareem blackmailed the individual until he was eventually tracked down and found. Fortunately for him, I was there as well. Kareem unexpectedly vowed allegiance to me once I finished my work. He promised to use his hacking abilities to assist me. That was it. He had been keeping his word, and he was going to do it again. I also never told Kareem I was a covert soldier, but he worked it out on his own, which is why he never addressed me as Davis. He was skilled at tracking any information that passed across the internet, particularly those pertaining to politics. I thought he'd be useful, so I assured him I'd keep him safe because he had a lot of bad guys chasing him. He has been helpful ever since and continues to be so.

"I'm terrific," I said sarcastically. "How about the name I gave you?"

"The youth leader guy?" grumbled Kareem. "Dude, he's just as corrupt as the rest of the politicians in this country."

"And?" I needed something more incriminating. Corruption was an official act for all Nigerian politicians, and they managed to keep it up.

"That's all there is to it. He conducted business with the governor of Sokoto as well as other key house members."

"Kareem....I need something more severe than simply being corrupt." I need information that connects him to extortion, kidnapping, or something more serious."

"Dude, the guy is a politician......." Kareem cut me off before I could complete my sentence.

"He would have been involved in something similar at some point. That's what those cretins do. Anything for the sake of the power grab."

"All right, but could you please dig a little deeper?" I just want to be certain. "Please," I begged Kareem.

"All right, dude. "I'll give it a shot, but I can't guarantee I'll find anything else," Kareem remarked.

"Kareem? I may require another favor," I wasn't sure he'd enjoy it, but he couldn't say no. I made certain of it.

"I'll do anything for you, man. What exactly is it?"

"I'm looking for information on a few more names. All of them are politicians. Just like the youth leader, I needed information on them."

I was certain I heard Kareem muttering, but I didn't care. "I will send their names to you through the e-mail. Also, Kareem....I need you to be extra careful. Once you see there is target on your back, you move."

"Sure, man and thanks for the delivery. They really came in handy," said Kareem.

"I am glad you were able to put it to use."

"With the youth leader stuff, Adam, that's going to take me a couple of days...."

I'm sure I wouldn't like his answer to the question, "How long?"

"Five days?"

"Three..."I need it in three days," I said quickly.

"Come on, man. I'm not a machine. "I can only tell it what to do, and it will take as long as it can to process it," Kareem explained.

"This is extremely important. After all, it's not like you have another job....do you have another job?"

"Noooo..." Kareem exclaimed, flustered.

"Hey, dude. I have no doubt that you can accomplish this. "Please, I really need that info," I begged Kareem.

He remained silent for long while before speaking up.

"Okay, then. I'll give it a shot."

"I appreciate it, man. I'll send them to you. "No problem. Will be expecting them."

"Alright," I said and I hung up the phone.

I knew it was now impossible to transmit the message by computer, and I also couldn't send it over phone. I could be watched, and I don't want someone to try to stop me right now. However, there was one choice. I drove back onto the expressway and drove away. I kept checking my rearview mirror, but there was no sign that I was being followed. That was foolish to think, but my boss now knows I'm on to him, so I had to play clever.

I drove for more than twenty miles before coming upon an internet café. I parked my car on the side of the road and walked into the café. There weren't many people present, which was a wonderful thing. After receiving a ticket, I used the computer that was located on the perimeter of the room. It was preferable to have a view of the café's exterior. I use the ticket to access the computer and try to send Kareem the message through an email he's already opened so we can talk privately. I realized that I needed to make sure the message was encrypted and had an idea at once. Although it wasn't really good, it will do. I wrote the message on the computer screen and then silently read it to myself.

Next meeting is with Officer Jude.

6pm is scheduled for Mr. Ikemba.

I cancelled Mr. Bash's appointment,

Because of Adeola's accident.

Also, one Mr. Lawal came here to see you.

He was Chief Chuckuemeka's driver.

He dropped a package for your cousin, Miss Iyabo.

Your secretary,

Kofoworola.

My name isn't Kofoworola, and I'm not a secretary. I needed to be certain that the message did not only transmit names. It would be simple to put together in the event of an investigation. Kareem had taught me that strategy, but I wasn't sure I followed it correctly. That was all I could think of. Kareem would comprehend what I was sending him. They appeared to be just random names of persons arriving for a meeting just by looking at them, but there was only one way to put them together to reveal that they belonged to politicians.

Next meeting is with Officer Jude.

6pm is scheduled for Mr. Ikemba.

I cancelled Mr. Bash's appointment,

Because of Adeola's accident.

Also, one Mr. Lawal came here to see you.

He was Chief Chuckuemeka's driver.

He dropped a package for your cousin, Miss Iyabo.

Your secretary,

Kofoworola.

The first four names in the first four sentences represented their surnames, while the last four names in the last four sentences represented their first names, and they could all be aligned accordingly.

Jude Lawal

Ikemba Chuckuemeka

Bash Iyabo

Adeola Kofoworola.

I had four missions in which I had these names as targets; they were all politicians. I simply needed to make sure I wasn't acting selfishly in order to further his own reputation at the expense of others. I sent the email to Kareem's address and then removed all traces of it. I rose from my chair and made a beeline for my car. I selected my backup phone and dialed Kareem.

"Hey....." "Adam?" asked Kareem.

"Yeah...Did you receive it? I queried.

Kareem enthused, "I will check it now...oh, it's in already.

"So?"

"Well, you'll have to practice patience for a few days. I don't want you to bother me about how I should try harder to dive deeper, Kareem replied.

"I didn't mention your work to you. Just more than what you provided was what I needed.

Okay, I'll get right back to you. Please don't call me, Adam. Wait until I call, please.

I answered, "I can't promise that. I had a bad habit of bothering Kareem to get him moving. He clearly dislikes it greatly, but I needed him to work more quickly.

Kareem responded, "Well, I guess I will just shut down my line until I am done."

"Don't, no," Kareem interrupted me before I could complete my sentences. He disconnected the call.

I silently cursed, "Son of a bitch."

I restarted my car's engine after putting the burner phone back in the glove box. It was time to return home to my sweetheart. Since I left, I didn't call her, and I had to make up an emergency in order to get out of the house. Since it took roughly fifteen hours to go from Plateau to Uyo, I was confident that I would arrive at my home by midnight.

Oh, how I have missed you. As I departed in my car, I had a notion to myself.