Season 1; Episode 3: KARMA? She Aint Pretty

Joe rushes towards the convenience only to find Mandy coming out "What? Can't i just have a little privacy ?" She said, they walk back to the living room "I was getting worried on whether you met something unfortunate inside the convenience" Chief Badmus said "Like what? Do you train dogs inside the toilet, Chief?" She said. "You never cease to amaze me, and stop with the Chief my name is Dede, Chief Dede Badmus" "Hell no, we are not resulting to first names, I will keep calling you Chief Badmus and you will keep calling me Miss Lawson and not Mandy" she said "Hmm, you are trying to be tough, now my answer" he said "I told you to go ahead with the lawsuit" she said "Or do you want begging to be my last resort, i haven't forgotten about you since i met you" he said "Aren't you like married with kids Chief? "Three kids, but they are far away, so what do you say?" "You know what Chief, I need sometime to think, please" she said "For adding that word i will give you time, you can have your phone back, my boy will drop you off i can see you need rest since you are coming from the night club, Joe" "Yes sir" "Take her home" he said. ................................................................................. "So you said you went into the ladies, but when you came out, you couldn't find her?" A policeman is asking Ego some questions and taking notes with his note pad. "Yes I did, I didn't even waste much time, she was gone in a flash" she said "And you added that the bartender saw her leave with a man?" He said "Yes" she said "What of your two friends that left earlier, are you sure she didn't leave with them?" "No she was with me before I left for the ladies which I have said for the umpteenth time" she said "Where you drinking, madam?" "Look with all due respect, stop asking me questions I don't have answers to, just find her" Ego said devastated "Then you have to follow me to the station to file a missing person report and make an official statement, keep trying your friends numbers we will need them" he said................................................................................. Mike wakes up to the loud knock on his door "Who could be knocking at this hour?" his girlfriend said "Let me go and check it out" he said "Please be careful dear" she said as he puts on his shirt, goes out to the living room and opens the door, he finds Mandy standing outside his apartment "Mandy, what are you doing here? Is just 2:30am " he said as she entered his apartment "Sorry, what I had to show you couldn't wait, please get your laptop" he gets it, they sit on his dining table, she connects her phone to the laptop and transfers the pictures. "Oh my God, what is this?" Mike said looking closely at the pictures "Where did you take this shots" "Chief Badmus' house" she said "Chief Badmus? What were you doing in his house, I thought the case is over" he said "It is not, he wants to sue the firm but only on the condition that I become one of his concubines as he put it, so i went to the club with my friends, his men kidnapped me there, brought me to his house where he seized my phone and demanded for a positive answer before he gives it back, I decided to use the convenience and that is where i took the shots' she said "Wait, let me get something straight, why didn't you tell me he was suing us?" "I didn't want to give anyone something to worry about, and please don't tell anyone, I will handle it" she said "Okay fine, but we need something more to get him, this pictures will provide little or no proof, what sort of man bundles children in a toilet, even kidnappers are much nicer" he said "This isn't kidnapping, this is something more darker" she said "Like rituals or trafficking?" "Maybe, so he uses Badmus Group of Companies as a front to run his illegal activites" Mandy said. "We need to actually catch him with the children, because he won't carry out the transactions on his own, it needs to be found in his house" Mike said "And that is where you come in " he looks at Mandy "Me? How? "You need to accept his request so you can get a bit closer, I have a friend that makes bugs, you need to bug him so we can be able to intercept his calls and find out when he will ship his next container" he said "Alright will do it, need to help those kids as soon as possible" she said "Will give you the bug when is available, it sticks like skin so you don't have to worry if he notices or if it washes off when he uses the shower" Mike said. "I need to be on my way now, please keep those pictures safe, I'm sorry for disturbing you and Ngozi" Mandy said "No problem, she understands" he follows her to the door as she leaves his apartment "Mandy" he said "You said he took your phone, how come he didn't see the one you took the pictures with?" "That's my secret" she winks as she leaves, he shuts the door. ................................................................................. Ego is still at the police station as Tamuno rushes in "What did you say over the phone? Ego, is just 3am I haven't slept, you know how cranky I get after a surgery" Tamuno said "I'm sorry I couldn't go through this alone, I lost Simi at the club" Ego said "You did what? How could you?" Mandy walks into the station "Just when I thought my crazy night ended, Ego jinx ed it" Mandy said starring at Ego with anger "I'm sorry, I blame myself, I wouldn't have gone to pee" she said with tears in her eyes "Of course you shouldn't have, what have you ever done right, must it be me or Tamuno all the time?" Mandy said to her "Let us all be calm, blaming anyone won't solve the problem" Tamuno said, soon a police man comes out "Are you all complete?" He said to Ego "Yes, please we need you start up something right now" Ego said "Your friend said the missing one left the club with a guy, so does any one of you have the idea of who he might be" he said "A guy?" Tamuno and Mandy chorused "That's what the bartender said" Ego said "Look ladies, I can't proceed till the D.P.O comes in the morning, so you all will have to wait" he said "Wait where? Here?" Mandy said "If your friend is not important you can go" he said as he leaves "Ego, if anything happens to Simi, I'm hating you for life" Mandy said as she sits on the police bench, Tamuno joins her, Ego joins them shortly after. ............................................................................. Simi wakes up in the morning to find herself in her bedroom, she looks up and sees a guy entering her room with a tray, shirtless "Morning sleepy head" he said as he drops the tray on her bed, Simi stands up immediately "Deji, what are you doing in my bedroom?" she said "Oh you recognize me now, but you didn't yesterday, i guess the alcohol has weared off, I made you breakfast" Deji said "How did you even get me to follow you, where is Ego, I remember i was with her" she said "Ugh i don't know about that, I saw you alone so I offered to take you home, you even directed me to your apartment" he said "Okay, you know what I'm fine now, you need to leave" "Why? Is that your own way of saying thank you?" he said "Deji, please I will talk to you later, don't you have work or something, I need to be alone" she said "Fine, I will come some other time" "I don't want you coming to my house, if you want to see me, my work place is available" she said "Why are you being so mean? What happened to the Simi i used to know? "Okay Enough" she goes to where he is and drags him along with her, opens the door to her apartment and pushes him out "Have a nice day" "Wait, my shirt" he said "One minute" she goes in, gets the shirt, open the door, and throws it at him "Bye" she shuts the door. ............................................................................... The ringing of Ego's phone wake up the girls who are sleeping on the police bench, is already morning, some police officers are going about with their duties "Hello Simi.........where are you? You mean you are in your house? How come how did you leave the club?" Ego said "Long story just wanted to check on you" Simi said from the other end "Alright see you soon" Ego hangs up, she turns to see Mandy and Tamuno looking sternly at her "At least she is alright" Ego said, they hiss and stand to leave "Would have just gone home and left you here" Mandy shouted as she leaves the station "Madam una no dey report the case again? " A policeman said "No" Ego said as she leaves. ............................................................................. "So you all thought i was kidnapped?" Simi said "Yeah, considering the fact that Ego said, the bartender said you left with a guy" Mandy said "It was just a good samaritan, who thought i was alone, and got me a taxi" Simi said "Well thank God you are alright and back to work" Tamuno said. The girls are in Simi's studio, the place is busy, her workers are helping the customers with their make up, some are also buying her make up kits. "I just had to, is a fresh new week, and time for a fresh start, I'm glad you girls were always there for me" Simi said "And please stop being hard on Ego, I told her to come". Ego walks in "Hi" they don't reply her "I've said sorry a thousand times" "I slept in the police station because of your clumsiness, my back still hurts even now" Mandy said "I accept, no need bearing a long grudge, it wasn't your fault" Tamuno said "What? I thought you all are with me on this?" Mandy said, they all look at her "Okay, apology accepted" Mandy said. Ego runs to where they are and hugs them "I really missed you all" Ego said "We did to" Simi said "What if it was Ejiro that got you the taxi" Mandy said "It wasn't, let's forget about that, how are you handling Chief Badmus? Simi said bringing down her voice "I've put the bug on him, outsmarted him by claiming to accept his offer" Mandy said "So you haven't gotten anything yet?" Ego said "No, i just pray those kids don't get hurt, I think about them every time I close my eyes" Mandy said "Don't worry, you always save the day. Deji walks into the studio "Oh no!" Simi said to herself, he stops and starts singing "Baby girl you need somebody, somebody wey go hold you tight, through the night, girl you need somebody, somebody wey go dry your eyes, respect a woman like you................" "I know this guy from somewhere" Tamuno said "No you don't!" Simi said as she stands and drags Deji out of the studio interrupting his singing which surprises everyone "Obviously, Simi has some explaining to do" Mandy said "Yeah, but that was romantic" Ego said. ................................................................................ Simi takes Deji outside the studio "Why do you want to embarrass me in front of my friends? I've told you, I'm not interested" "But I can't Simi, I think about you every time, I can't get my mind of it" he said "So? look I'm much older than you, you need someone your age or younger, not me" Simi said "Age is not a factor here, a lot of females are older than the males in the marriage and dating scene this days" he said "It is still not okay to me, stop bothering me, please i already have a lot going on" "Then tell me what it is, I promise to stop" he said "I can't " Simi said "Too bad, i won't go anywhere till you talk" "Okay fine, just wait for me at the bar beach tomorrow by 4pm we will talk there" she said "You promise?" he said "Yes" she gets into the studio while he leaves. ............................................................................ "Someone needs somebody" Mandy said as Simi enters "Not what you think" Simi said "Now i remember, we met him at the club but you said who had no idea who he is" Tamuno said "I was drunk then, how come you remember?" Simi said "The same way i don't forget my tools inside the human body after surgery" Tamuno said "So i guess he was the samaritan" Ego said "Yes" they all turn to look at her "Look is not going to work" Simi said "And why, he looks nice and you need the distraction" Mandy said "He is younger, with four years" she said "Age is just a number, follow your heart girlfriend" Ego said "True" Tamuno said "It hasn't come to that yet, I don't want to make a permanent decision based on something temporary" Simi said "Alright, I have an appointment with the Chief of Justice so I can get the search warrant in time before the Chief decides to move his goods, will see all of you later" Mandy said as she leaves the studio. ............................................................................. "Miss Lawson, are you sure of all this" the judge asks Mandy "I'm one hundred percent, I have every right to believe that the Badmus Group of Companies is just a front, some illegal activities might be going on" she said "Is this a kind of retaliation on the case you lost and the recent lawsuit?" Judge Tolu said "Madam you know I never ask for something based on a hunch, please just grant me this warrant, it will go a long way and I won't disappoint you I promise" she said "Okay i will, I have always trusted your instincts, I know the Chief has some skeletons in his cupboard, I hope we will be right this time" she said "Thank you so much, I will never let you down" ............................................................................... Simi and Deji are walking on the beach admiring the scenery "I thought you won't come he said "I made a promise, I always keep promises" she said. They decide to sit on the sand "So what is going on with you because clearly, you have a lot on your mind, i remember when you come over to see my sister when we were younger, you were smart and warm hearted, now you are just distant" he said "How is your sister Lola?" Simi said "She is married now, stays with her husband in the Uk, they have a kid, a boy" he said "Wow, I'm happy for her, we lost contact when she went abroad to study, so what do you do?" She said "Well I'm the manager of the club you and your friends went to, my friend Olika owns the club, but that is not what we should be concerned with, I want to know what is wrong with you" he said "I met a guy, nine years ago, he was sweet and loving, couple of weeks ago we got engaged, so we had to take the preliminary couples test, so on my wedding day the test came out and he was HIV positive" she said "Nine years, you really loved him, so where is he now?" He said "I don't know, I wish i could see him one day so he could explain, on one hand i want him to suffer, on the other i pity him, people make mistakes you know" she said "But how come you didn't get the disease considering the fact that both of you were dating and about getting married?" "That is what I will always thank God for, I got this idea that since we were getting married, let's abstain till the wedding night, it was just three weeks, that is how he got it" she said "That is too bad, but he is a jerk and deserves it, I hope saying that makes you feel better" Simi smiles "I like that, I just wish I can see you smile more often, you shouldn't blame yourself for abstaining, thinking that maybe if you haven't, you will still be together" he said "that's what I'm holding on to" she said "Screw that, he always have been a cheater, three weeks can't make a man to start cheating, you deserve better Simi, yes it was nine years wasted but God knows best, you are lucky to have great friends that care, including me, I hope you don't mind me being a friend to you because all you need now is a friend" he said "Thank you Deji, I really needed this" she said. ................................................................................ Chief Badmus is in his compound with his boys, he seems to be addressing them "Do the job smoothly, like always no mistakes" he said "Yes boss, just as you instructed". Mandy walks into the compound "Hmm Miss Lawson, I wasn't expecting you" he said "Yes you weren't, i wanted to surprise you" suddenly a group of policemen walk in "And what is this nonsense" he said in anger "A little quid pro quo, Chief, I have here in my hand, a warrant from the Chief of Justice to search your house" "A what? And why should my house be searched, I thought we have come to an agreement" he said "there was never any agreement, I saw something inhumane the last time i came here, till I find that, this conversation is over, Officers" she said "Yes ma" "Search the house, if anyone comes in your way arrest whatever it is" "You are making a big mistake, Miss Lawson, whatever you saw you would have kept your mouth closed". After about twenty minutes the officers come out "We didn't find anything ma" the Chief starts laughing with his body guards "I'm not done yet" she dials a number "Mike, what did you pick up, say it again" "You mean what i got from his phone call" he said "What else dumbo" she said "Calm down Miss, he said ark to be lifted from base, rendezvous at 21:00" he said "Alright thanks" she hangs up "Ark to be lifted from based, hmm basically arks in the bible are made of wood, Chief I will need you to escort me this time, three officers should come with us, the rest watch the body guards" they come with her, she searches the house, finally they enter the kitchen "You are just making a big mistake" Chief Badmus said "Calm down Chief, I'm not done yet". There is a kind of cupboard in the center of the kitchen with two handles at each edge "Looks like an ark alright, did any of you check this?" She asks the officers "No" they answer. She pushes the handle but they door of the cupboard is locked "I need the key Chief or we will take it along to the station" she said, he looks at her for a while and brings out the key from his pocket, she opens it to find the children inside, they appear sedated, the policemen immediately arrest the Chief "You are making a mistake Miss Lawson, you are making a terrible mistake" he said as they take him away. ............................................................................... After some minutes an ambulance is in the Chief's compound taking the children to the hospital for proper medical attention, Mandy is talking with the Sergeant "You were very brave Miss Lawson and also very smart because of you we caught the Chief on his tracks" he said "thank you sir, i had to do something instead of just sitting and watching, what becomes of Chief Badmus?" She said "He will be transferred to the kirikiri prison, when he gets his lawyer he will be tried for trafficking, we expect him to also name his contacts, I hope you don't miss it" he said "Wouldn't for anything in the world". ............................................................................. The police vehicle is taking the Chief to the prison, suddenly someone on the power bike starts trailing the car, he brings out a gun and shoots the four tires, the car skids off the road and comes to an abrupt stop, the unknown man comes down from the bike and walks straight to the car, there are two police men in front and two behind with the chief, he shoots the four policemen, the Chief looks up to him, smiles and said "I thought you people won't come for me" "But we did" he shoots the Chief thrice on the chest, then he picks up his phone "Hello boss, the job is done" he hangs up, mounts his bike and drives off. ................................................................................. Maybe we all thought the Chief was just selling children, or maybe is more than that and Mandy just got herself into something deeper. Find out more as Lame Red continues next week, and don't forget to like our facebook at www.facebook.com/lamered to stay informed. Stay blessed lovelies