Tony almost knock down the aged door
as he rushed into the house. The duffel
bag he brought in dropped on the chair
beside his estranged brother. Dennis turn
around and took a cursory look at his
brother peeping through the window to
see if anyone had followed him. The wide
blood stain on his shirt, the 9mm Beretta
hanging on his hips and the content of
the black duffel bag on the chair, none of
them beg Dennis’ question. He simply
diverted attention back to his puzzle box.
Tony headed into the bathroom, he
removed the weapon from his waist and
dropped it on the sink. At an instant pull,
his shirt came off revealing a gun shot
wound around his left shoulder. Opening
a cabinet, he brought out a first aid box.
The moment the box opened, it’s content
brought back the memory of his mother
who had died of lung cancer several
years ago. Tears welled up in his eyes but
he fought them back before they could
shed. He poured a few drops of
methylated spirit on the wound. It
burned him to the bone and he let out a
terrific scream. As the burning sensation
subsided, Tony removed his belt and bit
hard on it as he buried a scissors deep
into the wound. He muffled out in agony
but endured the pain and continued
prodding into the wound. When he
eventually found what he was looking
for. he gently brought out the scissors
which had caught a bullet.
As the blood soaked bullet dropped on
the sink, he heaved a sigh of relief. Still
biting on his leather belt, he brought out
a needle and thread. As the needle went
through his flesh, an unimaginable pain
surged through his body. When he
eventually finished stitching up the
wound, he took a seat on the water
closet and went into a trance.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* *
A much younger Tony and his brother
were standing beside a graveyard
cladding dark suits. The rain drops mixed
with his tears as they both bade farewell
to their beloved mother. Not a trace of
tears appear on Dennis face but it was
obvious that he mourns in his own lonely
world. A hand appeared on Tony’s
shoulder and when he looked, he
realized it was Mr Jendor.
“Don’t worry, I am always here for you.”
He said.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * *
Tony jolted out of his trance and dashed
into the bedroom. He brought out their
traveling bags and started filling it with
their essential belongings. As soon he
was done, he raced to the sitting room.
Dennis was still busy with his puzzle,
Tony had learnt never to disturb his
autistic brother whenever he was solving
his riddles but he had no choice, they
needed to leave immediately.
“Dennis get up we have to go.” He said
but Dennis never took his eyes off the
puzzle.
“Dennis, we don’t have time for these.”
Tony pulled the puzzle away to gain his
brother’s attention but instead, Dennis
snarled angrily at him. It took a few
minutes before Tony could calm his
brother down and in the end Dennis
returned to his puzzle.
Tony boiled with anger, it was one of
those moments he regretted the fact that
he had an autistic elder brother. He
thought about leaving Dennis behind but
he remembered the promise he made to
his mother on her sick bed.
Tony resigned to fate and impatiently
waited for his brother to finish with the
puzzle. Suddenly the door blasted open
bringing in Mr Jendor and one of his
goons. Before Tony could utter a single
word, a hard punch landed on him and
he went down.
“Are you going somewhere?” Mr Jendor
asked eyeing the packed bag as he
comfortably took his seat.
Tony tried to stand up with little blood at
the corner of his swollen lips. Snitching
on Jendor was a terrible decision.
“How could you do this? You were my
favorite.”
“The cops showed up during the deal
and it became a shit show. I had to run
for my life.” He explained in jittery.
The goon wanted to land another punch
on him but Mr Jendor stopped him.
“I just had an interesting discussion with
our police informant, do you know what
he told me? He said one of my boys
talked.”
Tony saw Mr Jendor’s eyes fell on the
duffel bag. He knew had been blown,
taking the drug money was a necessity,
he needed it to disappear.
“I can never betrayed you sir.” Tony lied.
He never really wanted to wear the wire
but the cops had offered him a deal he
couldn’t refuse.
“I believe you, I really do but I think
Dennis here can tell us how he come by
this big bag sitting next to him .” Mr
Jendor sat opposite Dennis, watching as
his adroitly work on the puzzle.
“Please leave my brother out of this, he
has done nothing.” Tony pleaded.
“I think he can speak for himself.”
Mr Jendor pointed the gun to Dennis’
head but Dennis remained completely
loyal to his game.
“Such a handsome young man, living in
his own fantasy. It must have been such
a burden to you Tony.” He caressed
Dennis’ cheeks with the gun.
Tony heart palpitated as he saw Mr
Jendor’s finger dancing around the
trigger.
“Let’s see what you are doing here.” Mr
Jendor let his gun down on the table and
watched as Dennis was solving the
mysterious puzzle.
An idea suddenly came into Tony’s mind,
he kicked the table and the gun slid to his
side just in time for him to catch it. The
goon behind wanted to go for his own
gun but it was already too late. Tony
dropped him like a fly before sending
two bullets into Mr Jendor’s chest.
Tony gazed into his brother’s blood
stained face as he continued with his
game unbothered, if Dennis understood
all that has happened no one couldn’t tell.
All secrets seemed buried under that
straight face of his. At this point Tony
envied his brother’s condition. Perhaps
ignorance is a bliss after all.
Suddenly Dennis’ face brighten up and
Tony recognized the smile, his brother
had finished solving the intricate puzzle.
Written by Oluwafunminiyi Komolafe
