The Bodyguard – Episode 12

The Bodyguard – Episode 12

By Tisa Phiri

I walked slowly to the door way the people watching me in silence. I didn’t know whether to call Mr Benson and tell him they got his daughter again or go after them searching all directions.

Then I heard a car park outside and the door banged. I was still in the same spot when Mr Benson walk towards me and I knew the moment of judgement had come, before he could reach me I saw Paula behind him with a running outfit, headsets in her ears and she was sweaty.

“Oh God” I sighed in relief.

” she had just gone for her morning run.” I heard my inner voice calm. I ran to her and asked her if she was okay ignoring her father who stood aside watching me.

Paula looked at her father and back at me..

“am fine Ackim ” she spoke her eyes wide open surprised that some people were watching and my facial expression showed worry.

” what’s going on here ? ” She asked me..

“Um.. um am sorry I was just thinking that maybe they got you” i explained looking at her and her father..

“What are you talking about Ackim?” Mr Benson asked me also shocked.

I indicated we sat in my room

” let me explain sir” I told him realising that Simon had not called him. If he had I thought, he was going to understand me.

So I led them both to my room and people started withdrawing, those in the rooms went back in and the workers went on with their business..

I explained what I found at the unfinished building and how I told Simon to call Mr Benson.

“I don’t receive any calls” he told me

” and I came here to see my daughter first before coming that side to see what was with that guy you caught yersterday.”

“Am sorry Sir.” I apologised..

” it’s just that I secured the guy and I didn’t think he would outsmart 3 guys, now we need to move Paula out of here” I suggested before he could say a thing.

” am thinking the enemy might not be politically involved, otherwise they would go direct for you and not your daughter or probably they could have made some demands for you to drop a position or something.

Mr Benson shook his head and stood..

“what do you think is going on Acki?” he asked me wiping his forehead

“all this while I thought it was my political enemies, now you say otherwise?”

Paula was quite and just looked at me as we spoke her headsets now hanging around her neck .

“If I may Sir” I suggested..

“let me try give you my theory.”

“sure go ahead” he insisted sitting down again..

“I think this was engeneered by some local people who are sort of jealousy of you and your success. They feel intimated that their fellow African can acquire so much wealthy and controlling their economy. if it were A white person they would gladly accept but they are kind of jeaslousy for you a fellow black man.” I went on giving him details of my theory. I even told him how I was now suspecting Simon.

“It’s kind of Akward that he was left alive and the two guys killed. I told him to ask for your help before leaving the building but he didn’t. If my suspicions are correct we won’t find him at the building. I have to go and check sir ” I told him..

Mr Benson told me to go ahead and investigate more and give him an update. he told me to move with Paula to his house

“it’s safer that side because there are a lot of guards. If you are right it is Simon who is the mole, then it should be safe but still I need you close to Paula and protect her” he told me before leaving my room.

“I have to go and check on the building for Simon” I told Paula.. “just get your things and go with your father for now, I will join you later” I told her..

she walked close to me and smiled,

” I heard you screamed your lungs out for me.” she teased with a smile, i smiled back..

“I agree I was so scared” I told her honestly. she held my shoulder and rubbed it gently

” take it easy soldier” she whispered..

“will meet at home” she added before leaving my room..

I watched her go and went out as well. I had to confirm my suspicions of Simon. I was almost certain he was a betrayer, otherwise he could have called in for help.

Upon reaching the spot I left him I found he had disappeared. some blood stains drying on the ground..

“I knew it” I whispered to myself wishing I had carried him with me. Now I was back to square one.

I drove back to the Benson’s house as I was directed i stood in front of a mansion. it was true the man had money. I could bet it was the biggest house in Solwezi.

I was led inside by one of the workers, Paula welcomed me. she had changed into black shorts and a sleeveless body top, her flat tummy properly outlined, her long hair let loose. she looked good but I couldn’t get to think of her past the fact of her just being the person I had to protect anything else was to be ignored..

******

4 Months later… The situation had calm down it seemed the danger wasn’t that much. I had gone several times to the forest guy’s residence but I didn’t find him nor his family. He had put someone on rent in the house.

One day I went back to the Krall to go and have a talk with the fat woman and ask her something about the gang but she declined seeing the guys gather there for some time. she however told me the name of the guy I was looking for that he was called Kakoma ..

she was quick to mention that i was not to tell a soul about our discussion after I handed her some cash.

I had no luck finding Simon, I looked and asked around the lodge for him but all was in vain. I however never asked Shila a thing. The time I tried she went on her mission to seduce me, but I turned her down and couldn’t finish asking her further questions.

I went to Paula’s house, After talking to the lady at the bar..that was of course my new home Mr Benson’s mansion. I was working several other jobs for him especially to do with investigations of some mine workers in cases of disputes.. he also sent me out to deliver and collect some equipments for the mine and I was pleased with the pay..

Since everything was provided for me I saved most of my income. Mr Benson told me he was still trying to find my family but I didn’t want to rely on his word, so i hired my own investigator. The time i had passed through Ndola I was told my father had moved out of the barracks after retiring but I couldn’t risk going inside to ask more. I wasnt ready to face the commander and explain my case just yet. so I had the idea of hiring a private investigator to help find my family….

Walking inside the house I found Paula watching TV her legs lifted on the arm of the couch.

” hey Soldier” she called out.

“come here” she said patting the couch near her. I looked at her swallowing hard.

” let me put this in my room” I told her showing her a small file i was holding.

I stood behind my bedroom door and closed my eyes my heart raced. lately I was avoinding Paula cause i didnt like the strange emotions i was having around her and to stay focused, i had found myself a lady i was dating for the past month. She was the Secretary to Paula.

To be continued

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