Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: The Cartel (18+)

All the while, I saw less of Biodun who was now busy with her project work and also preparing for her finals. Looking back at the events that had been happening, Biodun herself was a top runs girl like i thought and must have heard about me, so i wondered why she never talked to me about it till this particular day.




It was two days after the death of a popular “business” man in what was reported as a shoot out with the police, and the arrest of another business man in Calabar when Biodun gave me a call. I was in class doing nothing related to my academics when her call came in.
“Where are you?” She asked in Yoruba as soon as i picked the call. She hardly spoke Yoruba to me because i hardly speak it having spent majority of my life outside my state and region. Her tone suggested something was amiss
“I’m in class” I answered in English wondering what the matter was.
“I guess you don’t have any lecture going on, because i hear voices in the background” She then asked
“No i don’t, but….” I answered and was about to lie that a lecturer was on the way when she cut me short.
“Meet me in the house immediately” She instructed still in Yoruba and ended the call
“The house” has always been the way she referred to where i stay and “My place”, where she resided. Don’t know why, but i felt it was in a bid to always remind me who was footing the bills of the apartment. She had always a key to the apartment but never used it since i moved in some two years ago.
Wondering what was the problem, i nervously gathered my books and excused myself from the folks i was chatting with and left for home. Getting there, her car wasn’t parker downstairs, and i began to wonder if she was here actually but i still made my way upstairs and the working air-condition confirmed she was inside.
“Good afternoon” I greeted her when i stepped in. She was lying on the bed with her earphones plugged in, blue jeans and white polo shirt
“Afternoon” She replied sitting up while removing the earphones
“Sit down” She said pointing at the reading stool opposite the bed
“Didn’t see your car” I asked sitting down in a bid to ease the tension she was instilling in me
“Didn’t come with it” She replied watching me sit
“So what’s up?” I asked trying not to look tensed. Despite the fact that i was now a bit confident with girls, especially as it relates to a wh0r£monger, or the fact that the monthly stipends she gave me was now more like a bonus, i still had huge respect and regards for Biodun. I had always accorded her the same level of respect I had for my elder brother if not more. I knew she would definitely feel betrayed she if she found out about me or that i actually no longer needed her assistance (at least financially), so i had always tried to keep that part of mt life hidden from her. Or so i thought.
“I’m starting my final exams in a weeks time” She said in a tone that only left ms confused as to whether it was a statement or question that needed a reply or not
“How’s preparation going?” I finally asked wondering if that was the reason she called me home
“Fine. Thanks” She replied before adding “That means you’ll soon be on your own”.
“Abi o…” I said a bit sincerely and the other bit sarcastically
“So how will you be coping?” She asked before adding “The rent expires at the end of the year and i won’t be here to renew it. Heard you’re now into other business?”
The way she sounded when she asked this question and the way she looked into my eyes, coupled with the way she had been acting ever since she called me, gave me the impression she had everything on me. After all it was also her line of business, which meant she must have been hearing from other girls who are into the business about me.
“There’s this thing I’ve got going on for some time now. I help link willing female students with certain clients. I usually get commissions from both the clients and later the girl if she wants me to contact her again next time. Didn’t know how to tell you because i wasn’t sure how you’ll take it. But i assure you I’ve made sure it doesn’t affect or clash with my studies.





About the rent, I’ve been able to save some money that can take care of next year’s rent. This is coupled with the monthly allowance you give me. I’m also saving to get some printers and fairly used laptop when i go back to Lagos after the exams, so i can start a business center. Working towards securing a space within the hostel premises. Will get someone to run the place and make weekly returns to me while i handle the levies and all other ish. And like you know already, i sell female clothes and shoes.” I said sincerely
“Yea i know all these. Didn’t know how to bring it up myself too” She said before adding “Well now we have that out of the way”,
“Yea” I said feeling like a log of wood had just been lifted off my chest
“Not exactly what i called you for though. Although it’s kinda related to it. Have you heard of the name Milady before?” She asked
“Yea?” I answered with a question hanging. She watched my expression carefully
“Do you know her?” she asked
“No i don’t. Just started hearing the name here and there again since Kodo’s corpse was found by the road two weeks ago” I replied
“You knew Kodo?” She asked surprised with my previous response
“Kinda knew him. Cornered me last semester demanding i pay tax to him.
“Did you?” She asked laughing
“Had no choice. At a point we kinda became buddies. More like a parasitic relationship in which he always tasked me any opportunity he got” O said smiling myself.
“Kinda surprising you knew him and never heard of Milady” She asked with a tine that suggested she doubted me. “You sure you never heard about her before Kodo’s death?” She asked again
“Biodun, I’m not a cultist and i don’t know what goes on in their world. I don’t know Milady and have never met with him abi her” I responded a bit angrily. Continuing, i added “And believe you me, I’ve never paid serious attention untill recently. I had actually believe its just a mystery name anyone can commit any crime and attribut it to” I answered truthfully
“Calm down bro. Just felt i should warn you to avoid her since she’s into drugs and campus runs too. Felt you must have come across her, cos she’s very territorial. And since it’s rumoured she killed him, she might have been marked by his gang for reprisal” She said sounding concerned about mu welfare
“Thanks. Though i was confronted by two girls who told me i was trying to put them outta business. They pulled a gun at me then. But i doubt either of them is Milady because two days later they cornered me in my department to apologize. I just felt it was Kodo who forced them to apologize because he promised to watch my back as long as i paid my dues to him. Never got the chance to ask him though till he died.” I said getting up and walking to the fridge. “I have malt, care for?” I asked her.
“No thanks. Lemme just chill here small. So what about your girlfriend?” She asked me after turning down the offer of a malt drink
“Girlfriend?” i repeated “You asked me not to have any remember?” I replied sarcastically
“What about Vivian. Your next door neighbour and sweetheart” She rephrased her question but with the clue that she meant Vivian initially
“School i guess. Else she would have been here” I replied closing the fridge
“You love don’t you?” She asked while looking at her phone screen.
“I like her. But not sure she feels same for me” I replied honestly
“You never van tell. You two are very close and i know you’re probably sleeping with her” She asked now looking at me
“Biodun I’m going back to school” I said laughing but also ignoring the last statement
“Just be careful with her that’s all” She said before adding “Wait lets even go together.






That was the only discussion i had with Biodun concerning my lifestyle as a campus pîmp. It surely went better than i had hoped. Perhaps she couldn’t judge me because she was a runs girl herself. Also on my own part, i forgot about Milady completely until another cultist was murdered again some months later and her name was mentioned again.