LOVE TRAIN : THE HEART OF A WOMAN (Part 18A)

*stella’s story continues
*
“jeez! How did it happen?” i
shouted as if i was unaware
of the development.
“seriously i can’t say” Lilian
answered calmly.
“don’t worry, i’ll see what i
can do and get back to you”
i promised halfheartedly,
ending the call abruptly.
“it’s Lilian” i informed my
friends coldly.
“I have to get going dear. I’ll
return with my cousin later
in the evening. Don’t panic, i
got things under control”
Lydia promised and hurried
out, leaving Chika and i all
alone.

I ran to my room and locked
myself inside. My heart was
filled with pain and regret.
Lydia kept her word by
showing up with her cousin
at exactly 10:15pm. I was
extremely delighted and
anxious.
“This is a very delicate
matter, but unlike in most
kidnap cases we are dealing
with a familiar person,
which truly can yield very
positive results. All we need
do is convince him to give
up his location which i
know he will easily do
because he doesn’t consider
you a threat. He knows you
will never involve the police
due to your involvement in
the whole scheme” Lydia’s
cousin {the sss operative}
wasted no time in
addressing us. His words
showed how intelligent and
good he was. My hopes rose
with great speed.
“we don’t have much time
to start tracking him. The
only way is to get him reveal
his location. My friends and I
will then storm the place
and rescue Kelvin” he added
seriously.
“how do we get Gutso to
reveal his location?” i asked
curiously.
“type out his number and
hand me your phone” he
answered intelligently. I
quickly did as he asked and
watched him curiously.
“he dialled the number and
switched the phone to
speak out mode” Gutso
answered seconds later. His
gruff voice very harsh and
rough.
“don’t tell me the money is
ready madam?” he asked,
“good evening Mr man. My
name is Francis, madam
Stella’s brother. I’m here on
her behalf and from now
onwards we deal together”
the agent said swiftly,
sending Gutso speechless
for some seconds.
“i’m dealing with Madam
Stella and nobody else” he
barked.
“why do you care who you
deal with as long as your
money gets to you. This is
something for men and we
are doing this together,
unless you want to back out
which i really don’t care
about, after all you are
doing this for money and i
can promise you the guy
you are holding has no
friends nor family who can
raise half a million Naira for
you. So if you really want to
get any money from us you
have to deal on my terms”
the agent said ruthlessly.
“what are your terms?”
Gutso asked,
“first i need to see that your
captive is hale and hearty. I
don’t need pictures nor to
hear his voice. I just want to
see him with my own eyes
and secondly, ten million is
too much, we will negotiate
a better price when i come
to see your captive” he
answered effortlessly.
“you must be crazy. You are
playing with me” Gutso
barked and hung up,
sending fear across my
heart.
“don’t fear. The man has
nothing, he is going to play
ball. Relax the night is still
young” the agent assured
me with a calm nod.
Fifteen minutes later my
phone rang. It was Gutso
calling back. I heaved a sigh
of relief.
“I hope this isn’t going to be
a set up?, because it will end
up badly. I have forty strong
men, battle ready and
vicious. I hope you aren’t
trying to play games?” he
asked the agent.
“of course not. You are
aware we are equally deep
in this s--t to involve the
police or play games. All i
want is a peaceful
understanding and
settlement between us. I
don’t want my sister to go
to jail” the agent answered
convincingly.
“fine, i’ll send the location.
Don’t play games with me”
Gutso threatened and hung
up, while our guy smiled at
me.
“you see the fool got
nothing up his sleeve.
Making a kidnapper lose
control of a negotiation is a
very cheap way of scoring
an easy win. He’s good as
busted, all we need do is
now plan how to strike and
cover the s--t up because it’s
going to get bloody” the
agent said softly….
To be continued