Val’s side of the story continues
After alerting every available units within
town, I discharged Vivian and went in full
pursuit, driving wildly as I headed out of
the estate with great fear in my mind. Two
policemen who were part of the men
guiding the governor’s private residence
equally joined in the pursuit, following
behind in an unmarked car. We raced blindly
to the main road and luckily spotted Clara’s
SUV as it took a quick turn and headed
towards Umuguma Portharcourt road. The
other sienna car was nowhere in sight and I
had no choice than to go after the SUV
even though it appeared to me as a decoy.
It really was a fierce chase as I pursued the
car. A radio call from one of the police
units along Porthacourt road equally
assured me of a road block being set up
ahead. But unfortunately on getting
towards the general hospital junction, the
car took a quick right, raced on and drove
with full speed into a nearby bush, really
taking me by surprise as I fearful wondered
what the stunt was all about because my
life was equally on the line.
I had no time to think before sporadic
gunshots from the bush sent me over the
other side of the road as my car dived into
a small ditch. I jumped out and fired
blindly, so scared and frightened over all
that was happening. It was my first time of
facing real action and hey it was a life and
death thing. There was just a very thin line
between life and death in the situation I
found myself in. My service pistol was
equally no match for an Ak and the bandits
really were well prepared for the show. All I
did was fire blindly as the kidnappers rained
bullets over me. It was just as if they really
intended to kill me and pulled the decoy
show just to drive me into an ambush. But
luckily for me my backup arrived. The two
policemen following behind soon joined in
the action, firing their own rifles in quick
succession as the hoodlums made a quick
retreat.
Few seconds later, the sound of
motorcycles roared in the bush while we
still took cover and waited. After few more
seconds there was silence. The hoodlums
were gone.
‘’we lost them’’ one of the officers said to
me as he carefully checked Clara’s SUV
which was empty. I felt like crying. I felt
like pissing on myself. I couldn’t imagine
the kind of explanation to give for the
security lapse that led to Clara’s kidnap. Of
course with the way the kidnappers carried
out the show I was convinced they still
would have successfully kidnapped the girl
even if I was with her. The only difference
was that I would have been left dead. For
the first time I saw the full risk of my job
glaring before me.
‘’Yes I would have been dead supposing I
was in the car with Clara’’ I reasoned over
and over as my ringing phone got my
attention and it was Vivian calling.
‘’hey what’s up. Did you get them?’’ she
asked quickly.
‘’no they escaped’’ I breathed.
‘’see I’m ready to keep my mouth shut
over the quarrel you had with Clara. I also
won’t tell anymore what you did that made
her mad with you. So just find a way to talk
your way out of this mess because I know
you are in big trouble right now. The
governor just called me’’ she muttered
while I breathed deeply, really clueless on
whether to thank her for what she just said
or to hang the call rudely. Yes I knew she
was trying to correct her wrong and I
equally knew telling the whole truth to
clara’s family would be a quick ticket to jail.
Of course it’s suicidal walking up to the
governor and telling him that I slept with
his daughter and was kicked out of the
house the night before she was kidnapped.
I barely had hung up Vivian’s call when my
phone rang again and this time the call was
from the state governor. I panicked.
‘’agent val where is my daughter?’’ he
asked furiously.
‘’where is Clara?’’ he barked like a
wounded lion.
(Meanwhile 
Clara is seen lying blindfolded on the floor
of a Toyota sienna car heading out of
Owerri via Okigwe road. With her in the car
were four heavily built men.
‘’yes sir. The operation was a success. We
have her’’ one of the men is heard making
a phone call.
To be continued tomorrow