Chapter 8

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

28/11/2030

** 10am **

Billy and his men stood up from their seats immediately they sighted the minister approaching with his two bodyguards.

They walked closer to welcome them, one of Billy's men collected a small luggage from the short bodyguard.

'Officer Billy sir' Billy displayed his ID card and bowed in respect to the minister.

'Oh officer!' Littleton Reuben exclaimed cheerfully, extending his hand to Billy for a handshake. 'How are you doing?'

'Fine sir, how was your flight?' Billy asked, smiling.

'Wonderful' the man replied and looked around like someone searching for something.

Billy was quick to figure out what he searched for and he pointed out before the man asked, 'the car's over there sir'

'Ok, Beautiful' Littleton Reuben Smiled and nodded. The party journeyed the short distance to where the cars were parked.

Billy and one of the Reuben's bodyguards sat in front of the jeep while the minister sat at the back. The rest of the party took the other car and followed closely behind.

**********

'Welcome Boss' Jake greeted, standing up as Isabella walked gently in with Prince.

'Thank you' Isabella answered, she took a glance at the fried rice Jake was eating and then dropped a USB device on the table. 'We planted the tracker on the Jeep as they made their way into the airport. You'll monitor their movement when you're done with your food'

Jake covered his food and stood up at once, 'I'm done already, I'll just tell Cynthia to pack away the left over'

'Huh?' Prince made an unnecessary sound as he opened back Jake's food and threw the remaining meat into his mouth distracting Isabella and Jake.

'Sorry' Prince apologized, he gulped down a cup of water and hurried after them to the computer room.

'I think he's on his way to the pharmacy' Jake said aloud after a minute, he pointed at a blinking green light moving on the map displayed on the screen, as the GPS tracking receiver App opened.

'Ok, he's working according to the schedule. I remember Dr Daniel told me…' Isabella joined in, she paused and recalled her last meeting with Dr Bill.

**flashback: 25.11.2030 **

'Good morning sir ' Kate greeted, smiling as she took her seat in Doctor Daniels office.

'Good morning Kate' he replied, smiling back. 'I saw your book here on Friday and I was told by the receptionist that you came. So why didn't you wait to see me?'

'Sir?' She narrowed her eyes as she stared at him in surprise. 'I was here and we met'

'We met? No, we didn't. The only thing I saw here was your book in my office' The Doctor returned the surprise look, which later turned into a frown.

'Sir? I was here, right in your office. You told me you were a little bit tired and needed to rest, that I should return today' She refuted.

'Oh! I did that?' The look on the doctor's face changed to a confused one.

'Yes, you don't remember?'

'Off course I remember' Dr Bill aloud, making a futile attempt in using a smile to cover up his confusion.

Isabella chuckled.

'I really had to sleep that day because I used a particular new drug' He added a lie.

'Oh! I see' She smiled. 'So have you gone through my work now?'

'Yes, I did go through it but I noticed that the research is not completed yet and does not hold any valid conclusion' he answered.

'I'm about to complete it sir, I just thought I should share it with you so that you can help me further…'

Dr Bill's phone rang, he motioned Isabella to stop talking before he picked the call.

After speaking for about a minute, he ended the call and got up hurriedly. 'Sorry, I have to go check something now, if you like you can wait here or come back later'

'No problem sir, I'll come back' She replied and got up from the seat, proceeding towards the door.

'Please, I think I need your help' the Doctor called back. 'Can you help bring this bag along to where I'm going?'

'Of course sir' she smiled and hurriedly collected the bag from him. The Doctor carried another bag and led the way.

They took the elevator and headed for the tenth floor, continuing with their discussion as it moved

'I'm taking this to the conference room where we're having a meeting on Thursday and Friday before the conference' he said.

'Wow! I believe it's a meeting with the speakers' Isabella guessed.

'Yes you're right. On Thursday we have a meeting with the country's minister of health and the commissioner and the company's board'

He continued as they stepped out of the elevator. 'And on Friday we have a meeting with all the speakers including the foreign guys'

'Good… ' Isabella said as they walked on to the room.

**PRESENT**

'It was then I planted the bug in the conference room. So keep monitoring them Jake, we might get helpful information from their meeting' Isabella concluded with Jakeand turned to Prince who stood with his arms folded and his back rested on the wall.

'The real job begins this evening two hours before the Ghanaian minister arrives'

'Yes, I know. I'm prepared already,' Prince added confidently.

'But where's your cook?' Isabella asked, raising a brow. 'Didn't you tell her she's gonna work with us?'

'Yes, let me get her' Prince Walked out of the room and returned a minute later with Cynthia.

'Good morning' Cynthia curtsied.

'Hey! I heard you're a very good cook?' Isabella replied in a lighter mode.

'Yes, I'll try,' Cynthia replied, smiling back.

'Good' Isabella smiled, she surveyed Cynthia's from head to toe with her eyes and asked, 'do you use guns at all? In case there's any need to'

'Yes, I do. I'm not a novice, I also go on little operations' Cynthia answered.

'Okay, we're working as police officials for this operation. "We" includes me, Prince And you, Jake's main job is here. We will get everything we need by this evening' Isabella explained. 'Our job is to secure Ghana's minister of health and escort him to Chief Littleton Reuben's house when he lands in Johannesburg

Cynthia's mind was filled with questions as she listened, she waited for Isabella to stop before she voiced out her concern.

'I've been briefed already about the job but I don't understand our main mission there, are we taking the job as real police officers?'

'No, we'll take care of the police officers assigned to the minister first. Your job there would end immediately we get to Chief Reuben's house and you'll return here immediately'

'So what's the real…' She stopped abruptly, the look on Isabella's face warned her against asking any more question.

'They're in the pharmacy now' Jake spoke aloud, diverting their attention to him. 'The car is no more in motion'

'Okay, just call me once the meeting starts' Isabella got up from her seat and walked out of the room.

Cynthia stared at Prince's face inquisitively for a moment, she hissed and walked away when he stared back at her, pretending not to understand what she wanted.

Prince laughed loudly, watching her backside bounce as she went away, he patted Jake on the back and took a seat beside him.

'This girl doesn't know we're working with someone different now' he made jest of her. 'She was expecting me to tell her something the Boss has hidden from her'

'Don't mind her' Jake added. 'We already gave her the rules here, she'll have herself to blame if she messes up'

'She won't mess up, she's not a kid' Prince assured.

** Two hours later **

'Have they discussed anything useful to us yet?' Isabella walked into the room, fixing her gaze on the screen, the Beryl Pharmacy meeting transmission was on.

'Not really' Jake answered, 'but I still think you need to hear what they're up to'

'Okay' Isabella took a seat beside Prince and listened carefully.

'… all of these monies would be paid into your account directly and you have to transfer our own share to us within seventy two hours later' Dr Ruby was seen explaining.

Six men, neatly dressed in suits were seated at the edge of the long conference table, the minister of health was seated at the middle of the table.

'That's no problem' Littleton Reuben replied. 'What I'm saying is we should calculate the money now, so that there'll be no arguments when the money is shared'

'The total is about one billion naira' Dr Ruby began breaking down the figures. 'In organizing the conference, we used only a hundred million out of the three hundred million the Federal Government gave us for it'

'That's just two hundred million, where did we get the rest from?' The inquisitive state commissioner put in.

Dr Bill cleared his throat and continued, 'we were given five hundred million for Lee Cho's products but we are only paying one hundred and fifty million for it.

We're only buying half of the required quantity and Lee Cho is giving us at a subsidized rate. Sam Jackson is also giving us his drugs at a subsidized rate, we're getting four hundred million from his own deal'

'That makes it nine hundred and fifty million naira' Littleton Reuben Put in, he stared at Dr. Ruby suspiciously. 'I was expecting much more than this'

'That's all, this administration is so tightfisted' Ruby added again. 'Not everything we requested for was given to us'

'It's okay, let's determine everyone's share right now…' Chief Littleton Reuben was saying

'Wow!' Isabella distracted the other viewers, thinking aloud. She turned to Prince and asked, 'is this not the same Alpha minister that everyone speaks of as incorrupt?'

'He is' Prince answered softly, looking baffled. 'I'm as surprised as you seeing that he also involves himself in dubious deals'

'Our country and some packs are really messed up, even the most trusted ones are corrupt too' Jake joined.

'Well, I think your country people would love to see this video later. Make sure you keep a copy' She instructed, standing up from her seat. 'And also take note of any other information that may be useful for us'

Isabella, who was already bored, walked away, leaving Jake and Prince to watch the rest of the shocking revelation.