Agent Brynx – Episode 5 (Corrected)

Agent BrynX – Episode 5

By Brian Ngoma

The Brothel

“I will help,” I said after much thought.

Triza quickly got her bag and removed a piece of paper from it and handed it over to me. Getting the piece of paper, I looked at Leah. She knew what was on that paper. She nodded motioning me to flip it. I did and there was an address written on it. I looked at Leah again and she looked at her sister.

“If you go now, you will find him at this place,” Triza said.

“Now?” I asked checking the time. It was 4pm.

She ignored my question and said, “Last time I followed him and he saw me,” She paused.

I could tell that what happened after he had seen her. It was not a tale tell. It was best not to ask either. Despite spending the day with Leah, I had missed the air and saw this as an opportunity to leave the house. I left like a hero going to war. The way Leah and her sister looked at me, as if I was some sort of saviour going to redeem someone.

I drove to the alleged address. It was located in Hillpark Central just after town. I even drove through BOB & BOB and it was deserted. I reached the place around 5pm. To my surprise, it was a brothel . Why didn’t Triza tell me? Was it because she knew her sister would not be of the idea if she knew it was a brothel? Or perhaps they both knew it was a brothel. I parked my car in the premises. I looked around and the surrounding was nicely taken care of. My car was the only car in the parking lot. The building was a two storey building. It was huge and built with pan-bricks. I could see a number of windows were opened and two women from different rooms peeped. Whoever owned this building was loaded. This business was illegal and it made me wonder why my former Agency had not mentioned it before. Anyway that was not the reason i had gone there.

I started heading for the entrance when i met a young man who seemed too young to work in a place like this. He received me well, like a president back from his travels. I could infer from the way he talked to me that he was well taught on how to receive people especially strange faces. In a place like this, strange people were much of the interest because no one knew how much dough was stacked up in their trunks.

“Welcome to the Bordello sir,” the young man said stiffening his face. He said Bordello so nice like he was Italian.

I didn’t say a word but look around. After a moment of silence and making the young man rather uncomfortable, I said, “Is this the right place as this address?” I showed him the written address.

“Well sir, this is that address. You have come to the right place,” he smiled chiefly ensuring I was in his hands. “Would you care for a drink?” He asked pointing me to a chair in the reception.

“I will let you know when I need one,” I sat and made myself comfortable. I kept looking around to catch a glimpse of the place. Apparently, I was an early customer. I sat in a bar with an odd looking man who wore a black cardigan coat and his eyes were as still as the Queens guards. The man obviously was at the place for a good time and he was waiting for the fish to come out. Expectedly, a young girl came down the stairs with her eyes fixated on the man. She went right up to him and stood by him. All I could see from the distance were nods. After a brief moment, the oddly looking man looked my direction. I quickly looked away. There was something about his stare, it didn’t feel right.

“Sir!” The young gentleman came back.

“Yes,” I answered.

“I think we have something ready for you,” he smiled wickedly. “You won’t be disappointed.”

What was I getting myself into? I cussed under my breath. I needed to do something quickly. I got my phone out of the pocket and made a fake phone call. The young man suspiciously looked at me while looking around. I ensured he was on the back side of the phone so that he couldn’t see that I didn’t make any call.

“Can you just wait a little bit more?” I asked him avoiding his eye contact.

“Okay sir, take your time,” he said walking away with a rather sad face.

Why was he sad? Did he work on a commission basis? Perhaps he did but that was not my concern. My sister in laws husband was the main reason I was here. As I sat, well dressed men started flowing in and one or two could take a look at me and quickly looked away. I somehow made them nervous. I was a stranger in a brothel. I knew what was going through their heads, I could be anything; a reporter; there to expose these men’s lifestyle or a police officer; there to arrest them, but I was just a man who had lost his job trying to please his wife and his sister in law.

Everyone knew what they were doing except for me. I was becoming uneasy with all the stares. Everyone who came in could stare at me and murmur something in their friend’s ears. Unknowingly, I had sat at a spot where everyone could clearly look at me. I decided to switch seats. I stood up and walked to where the man in the cardigan coat had sat. He had left after people started flowing in. He left with the young lady. Sitting down, I heard laughter from outside. It was a group of men I could tell. I curled myself into the chair and my eyes fixed on the entrance. It was there that I saw Floyd; Triza’s husband with three guys. I felt relieved, at least he was fine Triza didn’t have to worry.

Out of the four, Floyd looked rather nervous. He looked around but didn’t look in my direction. I wanted to stand up and go to him but my guts told me not to. I never used to trust my instincts but in that moment, something told me to. The guys Floyd was with looked dangerous. I sat my butt down and waited.

The young man came downstairs and walked to where I had earlier sat and didn’t find me. I saw him look around in disappointment. I didn’t want to call him lest my brother in law see me. The young man was called by one of the guys Floyd was hanging out with. He walked to them and took orders. After a while, he brought some bottle of wines with him and placed them on the guys table. They were celebrating something but Floyd didn’t seem to be having a merry time. His eyes were everywhere.

“Care for company?” a female voice asked behind me. “You seem lonely.”

I turned my head around and saw her. Whoever said the world would be okay without women had to take back his words. My face lit up seeing an angel in a devil’s palace. My mind wondered off. In a split second, I could feel my bulge rising.

“Leah!” I said silently.

“What?” she asked.

There was no way in hell I would cheat on my wife. Literally, I was in hell and was faced with angels in disguise and demons roamed the place.

“I am good,” I said looking away.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “You have gotten everyone’s attention and they are wondering what you are here for. Some are saying you are a reporter, are you?”

That I figured already. I had been in the place for close to three hours without showing any interest in any girl like every man had done. I was slowly raising suspicions and heating myself up.”Join me,” I told her.

She obliged and moved her seat next to mine.

“So what’s a man like you doing in the Bordello?” she asked.

Apparently, these people were making Bordello sound so beautiful with the way it was pronounced. Someone would even think it’s a food meanwhile it’s an Italian name for Brothel; a pleasure house. “A man like me?” I asked carefully looking at her.

“Yes,” she looked at my ring.

The ring had betrayed me but I didn’t feel betrayed, I loved Leah and that ring was evidence that someone somewhere had my heart and I had hers with me.

“I just came to have a good time,” I sipped on my lager.

“Wife problems,” she probed.

“Not really,” I answered. One of the guys that came in with Floyd stood up and walked to where we were with the girl. He had a facial expression of a kid who had their candy stolen. “Someone is coming, know them?” I asked.

The girl turned around and groaned. Before he could reach where we were, she stood up. “What now?” she asked him irritated.

“Marie, come with me!” he ordered her.

“Tell him I’m not in the mood,” she sat back in her chair.

The man got furious and told her to stand up. I could tell from his voice that he was warning her. I looked at her as if telling her to listen to him. The girl was hard-core stubborn. He got her by the wrist and dragged her. She resisted hitting him with her bag. He was furious and fuming with anger. What was wrong with this girl? Couldn’t she just go away with him?

“Leave me alone!” she shouted causing a scene.

My cover was blown. I saw Floyd and the rest of the guys stand up and started walking our direction. I didn’t have any business with what was happening. My job was done. I had seen Floyd. he was alive and well. Whatever reasons he had for not going home, he would later explain to his wife obviously. I had set my peace. At least my wife would be proud of me for even getting this far. I had to leave the brothel.

To be continued

Agent BrynX – Episode 5

By Brian Ngoma

Bullet in the head

Everyone at the reception was now aware of the fuss Marie was causing. They were stepping back and others looking away. Some didn’t care about what was happening. It seemed like they new Marie to be an attention seeker and didn’t mind her. I slowly stepped back and saw an open space and walked with my face looking the other way. This was no scene of mine.

I felt footsteps slowly catching up with me. “Ah sir you are still here?” The young gentleman from earlier popped up. “I thought you had gone, the starlet is waiting for you sir.”

“Not now,” I grinded my teeth. What devil was using this boy? I treaded on but he was on my back like a fly on stool. “Go away,” I told him nervously.

“But sir you didn’t even have yourself a good time,” he said. “Is anything wrong with the Bordello?” he asked worriedly.

“Not at all, i had a drink, i feel sick. I’ll come back tomorrow now go and attend to other clients, ” I walked on.

“Hey!” a male voice shouted. It was not the young gentleman’s. Unlike the small sharp voice of the young gentleman, this one was burly. Without even looking at the person, you could tell that the man was huge. “Stop right now Mr.” he said.

I continued walking ignoring the voice. I no longer felt the boy’s presence on my back as I reached the exit. I reached for the door handle when a hand got hold of my shoulder. “Oh sh*t,” I cussed. I turned around and found the girl I had talked to standing side by side with the man who seemed to be in charge of the group. Floyd was nowhere to be seen. The guy who stopped me was the one who had been sent to call the girl.

“New here?” The man seemingly in charge of the group asked scrutinizing me.

“Yes,” I answered nervously. “I am just leaving.”

“So soon?”

“I have to go back home to my wife,” I checked the time and it was 7:08pm.

They all bursted into laughter.

“I like honest men,” he said pointing at me. “Let me buy you a drink, I am sure the wife can wait another fifteen minutes,” he looked at his friends smiling. “And how would she feel if she were to know where you were? At the Bordello? Just think of her reaction.”

“Is that a threat?” I asked defiantly.

“No man it’s not. Thinking about it, it seemed like a blackmail,” he laughed. “All men have secrets and we got each other’s backs. So don’t worry, have a drink with us. How can you leave without having a piece of what the Bordello has to offer? Won’t that be rude Marie?” He looked at Marie.

“No but thanks,” I answered.

The man’s face remained straight as if studying me. “Okay, next time then, you have yourself a good evening,” he said dismissing me. “You should come back at the Bordello,” he told me.

“I sure will,” i said breathing in heavily. Marie stared at me. I could see her eyes tearing up but that wasn’t my concern. From the way these men looked, they were dangerous and the only thing on my mind was going back home in one piece. I turned around and faced the door. I opened it and found James on the phone. In excitement, I shouted, “Agent JamesX!”

He shockingly looked at me while the door was widely opened. I could see fear in his eyes. I wondered what could make a man like him fidget like that. He slowly put away his phone and asked in a whisper, “What the heck are you doing here?”

I felt the fear in his eyes. “What is it? You look scared,” I said. Suddenly, hell turned cold. I could feel heartbeats. For the first time since I had got there, the Bordello smelled like an actual Brothel. If i heard correctly, a girl was moaning above us. The adrenaline rush was kicking in quickly. I then saw Olivia heading towards us. She too stopped in her tracks. What the hell was happening?

“Agent James?” a voice asked behind me. I recognised it. It was of the man I had spoken earlier to. “Interesting, isn’t it James?” he asked. “You know this man?”

James looked at me with disappointment in his eyes. “I don’t know him,” he denied.

“Didn’t he just call you by your name?” he asked.

I didn’t look back but whatever was happening, I had put James in trouble. I could see it all over his face. Olivia on the hand was shocked to see me. Although she could not hear what was being said, she knew things were messy.

“Agent?” the man asked. “Care to explain that James?”

“It’s a work thing,” James answered. “You know where i work Noob, BOB & BOB Plumbers for hire. I’m an Agent of course and this man here probably hired me sometime back,” he smiled.

“I also heard an X,” he said while i felt him nearing us. “What’s up with that? Is it a work thing too?”

“That’s my nickname,” James responded.

“Are you sure Agent JamesX?” he laughed. “And you claim not to not know this man yet he knows your name which me your friend don’t even know about. The irony,” Noob said. “How about you all come in nicely so that we talk about this like grown up men?” He asked.

I looked at James. He didn’t respond but looked at Noob behind me. I didn’t know what was happening or what i was supposed to do. “Run,” James said silently.

“Huhh?” I asked.

“I said run!” he shouted pushing me away from the door. Olivia shouted my name. I sprinted my way to her without looking back.

“Where is your car?” she shouted. I couldn’t answer but run to it. I got on it and started the engine. She was on my passenger’s seat. “Drive now!” she yelled at me.

I drove out of the premises and saw James at the door struggling with it while he watched us leave. “How about James?” I asked.

“Just drive, he will take care of himself,” Olivia said assuredly.

I drove the car into town. Olivia didn’t say a word to me but stared blankly at the road. I didn’t know where I was going to drive to. I couldn’t drive home in that state. I would just scare off my wife and in her state, it wasn’t a good idea.

“Let’s go to the Agency,” she finally spoke.

“Where exactly?” I asked. “Headquarters?”

She coldly looked at me and answered, “BOB & BOB ofcourse”

“It’s closed. I drove through earlier it was closed and deserted,” I said and she didn’t add anything. I drove the car there and found it open. The lights were still on and I could see some activity inside. “Whose still around?” I asked.

Olivia got out of the car and walked to the door. “Park the car behind the building, ” she told me. I drove the car to the back and put the keys in my pocket. I wanted to enter through the back door but it was locked. I went to the front and found Olivia outside. “What’s going on Olivia?” I asked.

“Let’s get inside,” she told me.

I hesitantly walked to where she was standing. She looked around before letting me in. I entered and found Mrs. Daka and everything was back in its place. Only my desk was deserted.

“Bryn,” MadamX said without looking at me. She walked to Olivia and whispered something in her ear. “Bryn can I talk you?”

Damn right, I needed answers. How the hell was this place still operating when I was told it was disbanded? The time I left, everything was not in its place and here I was, with everything back the way it was. I noticed she could see that my face demanded answers.

“So what were you doing at the brothel?” she asked and not the question I was expecting. She studied me and didn’t move an inch. “Bryn,” she called me. “Are you cheating on Leah?”

“Hell No,” I answered defensively.

“Then why?” she looked at me. “Is it the pregnancy? Is she refusing to have sex with you?”

“No,” i answered disgusted.

“It’s almost 8pm and you are not home. What did i tell you about leaving a pregnant woman all alone?”

“You are projecting,” I told her.

Her face was blank. She was asking me questions to Barre me from asking her. She was smart but not as curious as i was. “Why is the agency still operating?” I asked ignoring her questions. I needed to know. Couldn’t they have gotten rid of me without having to make a plan that they were disbanding the Agency? Whatever got to me, I deserved it. I didn’t blame anyone but me. “Mrs. Daka, why?”

She bowed her head. I felt betrayed because she was the last person I expected to hide something very important from me. She knew how I was feeling.

“It’s a long story son,” she said.

“Don’t do that to me,” I said. “I don’t know what have just escaped from and I got here to find this. No one even knows if James is okay. ”

“James!” Olivia shouted.

“Yes I’m talking about James,” I said without looking at her.

“James is here,” Olivia said opening the door.

Mrs. Daka sprinted to the door. James was beaten. His face was sore and whatever means he had used to escape, only him knew. Olivia held him in her arms forcing back tears. Mrs. Daka got a first aid box and tended to him. I watched as she took care of him.

“How did you escape?” I asked. “Who are those people?”

“Not now Bryn!” Olivia yelled.

It seemed the only thing I was getting from Olivia that night were yells. I was beat and frustrated with everything, no one could tell me what was going on. I knew Leah was waiting for me back home and I had a lot of things to explain to her which I didn’t even know how I was going to. I agitatedly walked to the door.

“Bryn stop!” James said faintly.

“Bryn,” Olivia stopped me. “James is calling you,” she said this time politely.

“I heard him,” I said walking back.

“I didn’t escape,” James paused.

We all looked at him.

“They brought me here,” he said looking at Olivia. “I’m sorry.”

I stood up and looked outside and saw a beam light cast by headlights blurring everyone’s sight. In a flash second, I heard a gunshot which froze me to death. I found myself on the floor covering my ears. I checked myself for a gun wound and luckily didn’t have any. “Everyone fine?” I shouted. I heard James and Olivia’s voices but not Mrs. Dakas. I turned around and found her on the floor bleeding out from her head. It was a headshot aimed directly at her. Her eyes were wide open with a bullet in her head. She died instantly. I didn’t know what to feel. I was overwhelmed with emotions. How the heck had I found myself in such a mess? What was I going to tell Leah? If at all I would survive the night.

To be continued

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