Chapter 13: CHAPTER 13
"We are going for pick up today" Ahmad told Mike.
"For whom" Mike asked as he cracked the shell if walnut and ate the cooked round seed.
"One of the women....., the one that looks like hajia" Ahmad answered.
"How much?" Mikel asked.
"Ten million naira"
"And the others, any news yet?
"Mikel, most of them haven't called back. I don't think they can afford ten million naira. The economy has taken a toll on almost everybody....i won't blame them if at the end of the week they couldn't raise the ransom for their loved ones".
"Fine...you do have a point". Mikel said with a slight pause as he broke more walnut and ate the seeds, then Finally, he spoke again. "Alright.....let's be considerate, Bring the ransom down to five million naira, and for those who still can't afford it, make it three million instead".
Ahmad gave him a quizzical look. "Mikel, why are we going so low? Who collects three million for ransom? The boys will not be pleased.
"What do you want me to do?" Mike asked, barely raising a notch. "You said it yourself that the economy is hard. What's the use of asking huge amount of money if we can't get the ransom we need?. These people need to go home to their families, you know. Beside, we had always known from the on set that not all can afford the ransom. Do you think keeping them hostage when we Can't get the ransom we need can set them free?, we don't even have the right amenities. What if any of them has an ailment, an allergy or falls seriously sick? You know that its risky taking them to the hospital and i had already made it clear to you all that no one dies in my camp. Yes, we need the money, but they are better off alive with their family".
"But Mikel..." Ahmad started to say but Mikel cut him off.
"No..but, Ahmad, just do the needful.....am sure that you Can explain things to the boys and make them understand. Not that any one would dare to oppose me in my face anyway. so, you talk to them, tell them that there had been a change in my plans".
"Fine.....i understand that you are only being lenient and i appreciate it. Perhaps, we can make up for the ransom through the young lady from abroad. And speaking of her, when are we going to call the Yankee lady's folks?". Ahmad asked after a resigned sigh. "She is the only one we are yet to put a call through to her parents Or have you forgotten her? You had given no order about her so far".
"How much did Sandra suggest that we should take for ransom on the lady?" Mike asked.
"Fifty million, if i recall right" Ahmad answered.
"Make it hundred" Ahmad stated.
Ahmad lifted his brows in surprise then scoffed. "Hundred million? You are kidding right?"
"No am not" Mikel said in a sober time.
Ahmad could not believe his ears when he saw how serious Mikel looked. "What! Wait! I don't get this. You want us to drop the ransom for others whose folks are finding it difficult to pay 10million naira and then you want us to multiply the lady's ransom times two? I don't get this? Why would you do that?"
"Just do it! Call her folks today" Mikel simply said. He had almost no expression on his face. When Ahmad stared at him suspiciously for a moment, Mike asked with a slight frown. "What?"
"Are you intentionally doing this hoping that her parents would be unable to pay and that would mean that she'd get to stay with us longer?"
Mikel averted his gaze and looked for another walnut as he apathetically asked. "And what's wrong with that?"
"But i thought you were so keen on setting everyone of them free?"
"So? I can make an exception, can't i?"
"You do realize that the girl has her life to live?
"I am not stopping her, am i?"
"Ok..., stop with the evasiveness of replying with questions" Ahmad said with frustration. "It is quite glaring that you are not willing to let this girl go out of here soon. She can't stay in this jungle with us. She is not cut off for this kind of life, MK, and even if you are planning to recruit her as one of us, i doubt if she would want to live this dangerous life of crime".
"And who says that she is joining us?" Mike asked.
" then why do you want to take her life from her? Why are you so bent on delaying her release?"."she will get back to it when i says so".
"I see....." Ahmad said then asked. "And what if her family is able to pay the one hundred million ransom?"
"Then make it two hundred" Mikel replied.
"What! Mikel! Have you gone mad?we can't be playing games with this people or we will be taking that we are not serious and you know how bad that is for business."
"Well, we don't have to make it easy for them and they had to know this is not a game. Their daughter's life is at risk here".
"Yeah...., maybe, is there something you are not telling me? Is this some sort of vendetta from the past?" Ahmad asked, suspiciously.
"I'm hiding nothing, Ahmad. your persistent is already irritating me.....she is from a wealthy home and all i need is taking advantage of it. If she's that important to her family then, they will pay" Mikel stated.
"Isn't that a bit selfish, Mikel. Why frustrating her chance of regaining her freedom?. Deep down, you know very well that all you are trying to do is to sabotage her freedom, beside, we both know that that's an outrageous amount of money. Who has such money to throw around Anyway ?.
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