chapter 16

Beaming with smiles, Maxwell was looking radiant in his black suit and could not wait to have his all awaited Presidential recognition by the number two citizen of the country,as he is seated in Mr. Romanus living room waiting for his heartrob Amaka and her parents for the trip to the crown Royal hotel and suit, venue of the reception, savior appeared causing a look of not this time in his face, hello max,he greeted smiling,I thought you have gone away for good, Maxwell showing his upset,I wish I could do that but unfortunately I can't, getting irritated the more by his continual use of idioms,can you for once use plain English,I really do find it difficult understanding what you say to me at once , savior still smiling,that is because you do not look beyond what you see,not to worry ,you are mortal,you will understand soonest, until then please use simple English,few minutes of quietness envelope them as they kept to themselves,you know at times things do not really look the way the seem, savior breaking the silence,a perfect and happy event turned dark and sorrowful,I guess asking you not to grace this occasion will be asking you to commit suicide... but that's the only way you can fulfill your destiny, let's go get dressed,wait .. calling him back as he disappeared,just then amaka came down stairs and over heard him,who are you talking to?, shocked by entrance, actually it nothing, savior appeared and was talking ....,you know his old stuff,appeared,amaka repeated in confusion,no..no ,I mean came, looking at him suspiciously,how did he get this address, Maxwell trying to figure out what to say next but words weren't forthcoming but was fortunate that amaka's parents came down , children let's go please so we can get a comfortable position,they followed immediately.

Few hours to the occasion, engineer Nicolas Yusuf Balaraba,the vice president wished he never organized the essay competition in which he has received commendation from different quarters,his major worry is the intel sent out from his personal system planning a hit on the president, who could be blackmailing him ,apart from being the vice to the president,he is his close friend, flashing back to the incident inside his Excellency's office,Mr. Ramzak seem to enjoyed what was going on,could it be that he knows something or he is working something against him ,the only person who has access to his system is his personal assistant,a young female graduate of public administration, could she be the one behind this? , thoughts keep racing in his mind, could she be working for anybody who wants to destabilize his working relationship with his boss,then he decided to call mr.David ,your Excellency you requested to see me ,not wasting time ,yes sit down,he sat down still looking at him,Mr.David what is going on?, knowing exactly what he is talking about,I wish I know sir,but I m sure something big and serious is happening,I think,I agree with you,the president now sees me as his enemy, accusing me of trying to overthrow him,but sir ,Mr David cuts in ,do you mind if I ask,do you have such intention?, swearing,I have never dream of it,all I have ever done is to campaign for him ,I have supported all his policies,I m about hosting winners of an essay competition on good governance,all to support him, David believing him,on a personal observation,I m sure his Excellency has been brainwashed, someone is misdirecting him and I fear for him eventually losing his seat, what I do ,the VP enquires,I m all alone ,I don't know how to go about it,sir I suggest you from now on, talk to nobody but me on this issue,do you trust your men ?,I m not sure anymore,ok sir ,I will get you some men right away to cover you tonight,I intend to uncover the mole inside, please do,I m counting on you,he hurried out of his office.

All was set for the night event ,the presidential hall of the crown Royal hotel has been neatly decorated with the national colours, behind the high table,a large banner bearing the write-up of the event is displayed facing the open hall,seats were arranged to take four quests per- table with different colours of lights hanging all over the hall.

Before the arrival of the chief host into the premises then to his reserved room, guests were already seated waiting for the commencement of the program, having a family chat at a corner just as other guests,Mr.Romanus already has plans for his daughter,so Maxwell, what is your plan after school, although supprised at the question, Maxwell was feeling free with amaka's parents,I actually want to further my education hopefully abroad but that depends on the finance available after service year,you did not mention my daughter ,so she is not in your plan, feeling embarrassed,Dad ,that is not what he mean,she tries to defend,no sir ,I m not letting her go ,no not in this life time,as soon as I m through with my University education ,I m coming for her,now delighted, that's okay,I m very sure that you are going to be a successful young man but you are going to allow me buy you your first house,car as your wedding gifts and both of you can go abroad for your studies,do we have a deal?,short of words amaka and Maxwell couldn't hold back their joy,just then a waiter walked to their table, good evening sir, looking at Maxwell , your Excellency,the vice president is waiting to have a word with you in his room,the table went dead, quietly he stood up and followed him after excusing himself from the table,the entered into a long corridor,walked for some distance,the waiter signaled,this way sir,facing a door with no 57,he knocked and opened ,the vice president not expecting anyone at that time was about to ask them who they were,the waiter pulled out a gun,shot the vice president twice ,threw the gun to Maxwell who was completely unaware and lost of what just happened and ran away.maxwell with a gun in his hands stood motionless looking at the lifeless body of engineer Nicolas,I think this is the right time to run, savior appeared bringing him back to reality,he threw down the gun and made his way out of the room, getting into the corridor, security men detailed to the vice president ran after him as they saw him dash out of the room into the walkway making his way to the exit door.

Few minutes after the incident,the news of the vice president went viral causing serious tension among security agents in the presidency,back home,Mr.Romanus and his family couldn't believe what just happened as amaka paced up. and down in anxiety, daddy please call him again,I have been calling him ,he is not picking my calls, let's hold our breath maybe he will call, just calm down,Mr Romanus consoling his daughter,shortly after his phone rang, hello Maxwell ,where are you?,sir something terrible has happened,the vice president has been murdered, Maxwell almost crying,we know that,what really happened?,I can't really say that right now but I m in a big trouble,I have. been framed up by his death,what do you mean framed by his death,sir I will call you back,I have to go ,the line went off,Mr Romanus in a confused state didn't know what to tell his daughter who is almost choking him in her bid to find out what was going on, Maxwell has been framed up as the suspect to the death of the vice president,no!... amaka couldn't hold back her tears as she starts to cry uncontrollably, it's a frame up,he is innocent,they are coming after him ,a news flash came on the screen and Drew their attention,the political tension that is raising in the country is taking deeper and dangerous dimension as this night gun shots was faired inside the room occupied by the vice president, information gathered as at the time of the shooting,the number two citizen was with the winner of the essay competition on good governance which he is the initiator ,mr.maxwell ikedi,as it stands now ,we are yet to know who was shot as we wait for the security officials for confirmation,the whole family of Mr Romanus idika stood speechless at what they just saw on the the news