ALEXANDER AKOTO ADJEI

THE COFFIN MAKER

EPISODE 46-48

Episode 46

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Honey, could you please tell me what exactly happened because looking at this matter, it may turn out to be a big case or rather a robbery case.

 

Mrs Adu-Tettey

My love, I don’t know what exactly happened, everything happened so fast and I don’t know where to start.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Take a deep breath my Queen and start from anywhere you can remember, I want to get my boys in this case early in the morning since the case is gunshot related.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Honey, as I was driving home on the highway from the emergency board meeting that we had, I was searching for my phone in my handbag to alert you that I’m on my way home. Suddenly I saw that young man jumping or running to meet my car, I think he did that on purpose because if I tried dodging him, I would be the one at the theatre now. As I tried helping him, he told me to hurry up and to get ourselves out of that place because his life was in danger. The moment he said that there was a gunshot which was fired at us, I quickly moved him to the back seat and before I could move the car another gunshot came in, I believe it touched some part of my car even.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

This is weird my dear, if he was a criminal and the people chasing after him were the police, they wouldn’t bother firing at you. They would have come out to meet you or chased after your car to get to you. Did you ask him any questions as you were driving him here and did he give you any positive answers to your questions when you were driving him to the hospital?

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Yes. Before I called you, I ordered him to confess to me who he was and threatened to drive him to the nearest police station but he kept repeating that he was not a criminal and that he just happened to be at a wrong place at a wrong time. He also said the shooters had shot and killed someone in the bush and since they had seen him and feared that he could blow their cover, they were after him so that what they did in the bush would remain a secret forever.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

I’m now getting the whole scenario but I’m hoping that what he told you is the truth and that he survives the surgery so that he can give me a proper account of what truly happened. This issue could pave the way for another early promotion for me, but listen to me very carefully, don’t discuss this issue with anyone. Not in your office, church or family and from now onwards you won’t drive that car again, I will park it at the presidency and make the mechanics work on the damaged part caused by the gunshot. Also from now onwards, when you are driving, use the inside mirror of the car very well to see if someone or a particular car is following you. It is very important, so don’t forget. It seems the surgery is over so let’s get close to the doctor to find out what the outcome of the surgery is.

The couple move to join the doctor and find out how the surgery went.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Doc how did it go in there?

Doctor

You guys are very lucky for bringing that young man here on time, if you wasted any more time, he would be dead by now because he lost so much blood. The blood that was taken from the blood bank wasn’t enough to replenish him so we had to call the blood bank from Korle-Bu to bring extra blood for us to save his life. My medical team and I were able to pull out the bullet from his thigh and I must say, the one who shot him is a master sniper.

He or she nearly destroyed that young man’s leg and I’m suspecting he or she fired from afar because if he or she was closer to the young man, his leg would have been useless by now. Also, it looked like he was knocked down by a car because there were too many bruises on him – which have been taken care of by the way. Do you mind telling me who that young man is?

Because I’m told there is no police report attached to the surgery we did and hospital policy states that before you work on any gunshot wound or injury there must be a police report before commencement.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

(brings his ID card out for the doctor to see who he is) Well doctor am Brigadier Adu-Tettey from the office of the President’s Protection Unit. That young man there is a son to a diplomat whose life is in danger, his identity must remain a top-class secret and if the people after him get to know that he is in this hospital, I’m afraid I can’t guarantee the safety of the staff and patients in this hospital. I will get some of my boys to come and guard this place but please let our discussion remain between us, which is you, my wife and I, and the matron. If you decide to open up to anyone else, then be ready to face the consequences that come with your actions. Mind you, we are dealing with a very strong terrorist group.

Doctor

(having a worried face) You don’t have to worry at all, it is in our oath of allegiance to be very discreet with our patients and their records. Matron I believe you are equally okay with the agreement deal we are striking? Tell your nurses to also shut their mouths as they talk and gossip too much. Excuse me, I have to check on some patients at the emergency ward.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Thank you very much doctor. My wife and I will settle the medical bills so don’t worry about the money.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Doctor, can we please see him now?

Doctor

Sorry, he is very exhausted and we have given him some injections to help him sleep for some time and regain his strength. I will advise you also go home and rest, you can visit him early in the morning with some breakfast for him. I believe by then the drip and blood we are infusing in him will be finished so that we can discharge him and you can take him home for proper care.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

That sounds good, thank you very much, doctor and madam matron. I’m sorry if I was rude to you earlier on.

Matron

I understand you my dear so don’t worry, I would have done worse if I was in your shoes.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Baby let’s go home, we will have to come back early this morning and get the young man out from this place. His life might be in danger since the people after him will go the extra mile to silence him.

The couple move to their house very distressed. When they got home Brigadier Adu-Tettey asked his wife to take a little nap as he went to his study to make some calls and draw up some plans to tackle the issue at hand.

 

Fast forward:

Around 4 a.m. Kwaku Mike gained consciousness and looked around.

He was at the hospital and the drip and blood infuser that had been placed on his wrist was finished in its container.

As he turned to his left-hand side he realised that someone had placed his phone on charge for him, he gave a faint smile.

 

Immediately, he tried getting up but felt a bit dizzy and lay down again. The events of the previous night started coming back to him and he felt scared. The necklace started strangling him again and he knew he was in trouble. He gathered strength he had never felt before and pulled out the needle on his wrist and got up from the bed. He walked to where his phone was and switched it on, some message notifications popped up on his screen but he ignored them and tried calling Quincy’s phone but it was off, so he sent him a message as to where to meet him and the time he should get there.

 

He turned to walk out of his private ward and saw a male nurse coming in his direction so he went back to lie on his bed again and pretended to be asleep. The nurse walked in and saw a slight change with Kwaku Mike so he took a syringe out to inject him with it’s contents to make him sleep again he remembered that he had to add some other drug to it, so he dropped the syringe on the bed to get that drug from the drawer close to his bed.

Kwaku Mike took that opportunity and took the syringe and because the male nurse had turned his back he didn’t see what was behind him, Kwaku Mike injected the male nurse with the content in the syringe and before the male nurse could do anything he began to feel dizzy. Kwaku Mike helped the male nurse onto his bed and then took the male nurse’s outfit from him and dressed like the male nurse. After, he covered the male nurse with the blanket on the hospital bed and then left the private ward with calculated steps.

 

Back at the residence of the Adu-Tettey’s, Mrs Adu-Tettey woke up from her bed feeling disturbed and scared all of a sudden, she jumped out of her bed and then rushed out of her bedroom to meet her husband in the living room who was by then having a brief meeting with some of his men.

 

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Honey, I had a bad dream and it concerns the young man we took to the hospital early this morning. It seems his life is in danger. My love can you please take me to the hospital right now?

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

My Queen, just take your time. Go and take a quick shower so we rush to the hospital, I was having a brief meeting with my men concerning the safety of that young man and the truth is that, after making some calls earlier on, I sent some of my men to the area where the accident took place and they confirmed that a young man was shot dead last night and was lying in a pool of blood when they got there. When the police were called in and came to check on the dead guy, they confirmed that the dead guy was on their top- class wanted list so I believe that the young man you knocked down is telling the truth and is in great danger.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

Gracious God! Baby, then it means my dream is true. Where is this girl koraa? Yaa Mansa please prepare hot water for me and put it in a flask, put bread, a tin of milk and a can of milo into a basket for me and add some fruits to it. Hurry up because we have to get to the hospital in a few minutes.

In less than 15minutes Mrs Adu-Tettey was ready and her husband instructed his men to take the lead and take the position as planned.

 

Back at the hospital, Kwaku Mike had descended from the first floor to the ground floor where he would walk out from the hospital building. Suddenly, someone called him from behind and when he turned…

 

Episode 47

When Kwaku Mike turned, a doctor was signalling him to help the female nurses with an emergency case that had been brought to the hospital. Because he didn’t want to raise any alarm or suspicion he joined the female nurses to rush the accident victim to the theatre.

The pace at which they were rushing the accident victim to the theatre brought pain to the thigh of Kwaku Mike. One of the nurses was gazing at Kwaku Mike as they were pushing the accident victim to the theatre and it got him very uncomfortable so he bent his head down to avoid any embarrassment. When they got to the elevator which would take them to the second floor where the theatre was, he told the female nurses to continue since he was on his way to do something when he was called to assist them. Before he turned to leave one of the nurses asked what his name was because she had never seen his face at the hospital before.

Nurse 1: Excuse me my brother, please what is your name and which ward are you in because I haven’t seen your face here in this hospital before?

Michael Ansah(looks at the name tag on the nurse’s chest and answers her) Hehehe Abena Boaduwaa today you’re saying you don’t know me, erh? Don’t worry. Send the accident victim to the operation room first, I will wait for you at the cafeteria when the morning shift staff come and swap with us, then you can ask me all the questions you want to know about.

Nurse 2

What about me, Mr Fine boy?

Michael Ansah

Ah, you can also join us, pretty lady.

Nurse 1

Please ooo, three is a crowd wai, today is for only the two of us, you can have your turn next time.

Michael Ansah

Hahaha, you ladies are very funny. The elevator is ready for you.

Since we are all in this hospital together we will bump into each other most often so don’t worry at all. Now get going before we lose the patient.

As the elevator shut and Kwaku Mike turned to leave he saw some people walking into the hospital and immediately, he recognized the faces of the people who had just entered the hospital. Kwaku Mike became so scared at the sight of the men that he missed a few steps, an action which made him feel pain in his thigh immediately.

A female nurse came close to him to ask if he was feeling well and he replied that he was okay, but a little dizzy because of the stress he had been through taking care of patients at the ward he was assigned to.

He decided to hang around the hospital corridor whiles he was planning a better escape and he felt a bit scared as he recounted the previous day’s events. The leader of the bad guys went to the reception desk and was talking to the nurse there, so Kwaku Mike decided to take the chance and utilise the opportunity to escape, but something prompted him to wait a little and eavesdrop on the conversation that took place between Scorpion and the nurse.

Scorpion

Hello young lady, my name is Detective Daniel Acheampong and with me over there are my colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Police Headquarters. We are searching for a young man with gun wounds who was brought here early this morning. We want to take down his statement so we can gather more evidence to help us expedite an investigation we are doing.

Nurse

Hold on sir while I check through the hospital system.

Scorpion

Kindly speed it up, because the more time we waste the greater our chances of losing the culprits behind this crime.

Nurse

(after some minutes) Mmmmm sir, I can’t seem to find any such information on my computer but please go to the first floor, there is another desk there where they record emergency cases, it could be that the person you are searching for came here with an emergency case so his records will be taken up there.

Scorpion

Ah thanks very much for your assistance, but kindly keep this a secret between us. We wouldn’t like this news to get into the public domain for now.

Nurse

You don’t have a problem at all sir.

Scorpion

You are such a darling, he said with a smile. I will come and take your contact later so we go for a date only if you are not married and dating.

Nurse

I’m very single sir and willing to mingle so don’t worry.

Scorpion

Mmmm, duty first then, pleasure will follow later. You will hear from me soon.

Scorpion goes to his boys and tells them to stay alert and watch out for anything funny. He also orders them to stand at vantage points so that a move can be made should their suspect come in sight. He tries to move to the first floor with a few guys and as they were moving he bumps into Kwaku Mike who was hiding his face from scorpion’s boys and fell.

Scorpion

My friend you better watch where you going.

Michael Ansah

(playing smart) I’m very sorry sir, I’m just tired due to the busy nature of my schedule last night.

Scorpion

Don’t complain because this is what you chose to do and that is the reason why you are paid.

Michael Ansah

You are very right sir and I’m sorry for bumping into you. I will be careful with my steps next time.

Scorpion

Don’t worry my brother, let me help you up to your feet. We all should be our brother’s keeper.

Michael Ansah

Oh thank you, sir, you are really a gentleman and I’m grateful for your kind gesture.

Kwaku Mike takes some steps away from Scorpion and moves to the exit of the hospital but he is called back by Scorpion again.

Scorpion

Excuse me, my brother, you made mention earlier on that this place was very busy last night. I am a detective from the police headquarters. My boys and I are searching for a young guy with a gunshot injury who was brought here last night or early in the morning.

Michael Ansah

(looks at left and right then whispers in a low tone) Mmmm sir this thing you are asking me is confidential because when people come here with such problems or injuries it is kept very confidential, but such people are kept at the last floor of the building. Since you are a police officer, I believe when you get there, the doctors on duty there will open up to you but we the nurses will give excuses and stories saying we don’t know anything or even have information of such people.

Scorpion

Woow, you are such a gentleman, kindly take this as a token for your assistance. (tries to push two 50cedis note into Kwaku Mike’s hands)

Michael Ansah

Oh sir, I can’t take this, it will look like I’m taking a bribe for the information I gave you.

Scorpion

Oh don’t say that my brother, I will feel offended if you don’t accept this small token from me. You don’t know how helpful your information is to me. This small token is coming from my heart, please accept it with an open heart and mind.

Michael Ansah

Well if you say so. I will take it but my mind is making me feel like I’m taking bribe from you and I’m not exactly enthused at all.

Scorpion

Don’t feel that way because it is between the two of us, let me rush upstairs because time is against us. I will use the staircase instead of the elevator.

Michael Ansah

Okay sir, and thanks very much for the small token you gave me, I’m more than grateful.

Scorpion signals his boys and they rush upstairs using the staircase. Kwaku Mike now walks majestically to the exit but before he walks out, one of Scorpion’s boys turned around and gave Kwaku Mike a look which nearly made him lose his steps and reveal his true identity. Kwaku Mike finally walked out from the hospital building and walked across the hospital compound and out the gate. When he got to the roadside, there was no taxi coming his way so he could board. Scorpion and his boys got to the last floor of the hospital building and they rushed into the first ward. They were surprised to come across pregnant women who were waiting to be sent to the labour ward when they start feeling signs of the baby’s coming. They moved to the room opposite the one they first entered and it was filled with newborn babies. Scorpion looks at the faces of his boys and signals them to move out. As they moved out and got to the corridor of that floor someone called them from behind.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey and wife were driving to the hospital at top speed when he got a signal on his dashboard. He parked the car at the edge of the street when he saw vapour coming out from the bonnet and he got down to check what the problem was. He opened the bonnet and realised that his car was overheating so he called his men to take a U-turn and pick them up because none of the cars they tried to stop slowed down to listen to them.

Episode 48

Back at the hospital:

Matron

Excuse me please who are you people?

Scorpion

Hello madam, I’m Detective Daniel Acheampong from the police headquarters and with me here are my colleagues.

Matron

This floor is only for women and babies so what do you want here?

Scorpion

We are looking for a young guy with a gunshot injury who was possibly brought here last night or early this morning. His life is in great danger so we were sent here by the IGP to take him away from this place to a very safe place.

Matron

So, who directed you this very floor if you are searching for a male, as I said this floor is only for women and children?

Scorpion

Oh one of your male nurses directed us here and he said this floor is for people with serious injuries especially those who have been taken to the theatre.

Matron

This is strange because every nurse in this hospital knows that this floor is meant for pregnant women and children so why would that nurse direct you here in the first place?

Scorpion

Madam, are you serious about what you are saying?

Matron

Do I look like I’m joking or playing games with you? As a matron of this hospital, why would I be playing games with police officers who are searching for someone concerning a matter of life and death? If you don’t believe me, you can check in the other wards over here on this floor so you can verify for yourself what I’m saying.

Scorpion

No need for that madam, can you please direct me to the very place that I can see the young man we are searching for? If he is here we have to get him out of this hospital before daybreak, every second we waste puts his life in much danger and I don’t want to risk the life of my men or even the young man.

Matron

(whispering to herself) Should I show these people the ward where the young man is? The doctor and that soldier told me to keep everything secret but these people are also policemen and they all work hand in hand so why don’t I direct them to the guy’s private ward.

Scorpion

Are you saying something to me, madam?

Matron

(coming back to herself) Oh I wasn’t talking to you sir, I was trying to see if I can remember all the patients we took to the theatre last night and early this morning.

Back at the roadside Kwaku Mike was still not getting a car so he decided to walk further and see if he could get a taxi at the next lane of the road.

Meanwhile, the soldiers had also gotten to where their boss and wife were standing and they joined them in their car whiles one of the soldiers was asked to stay behind and try to work on the car.

Back at the Hospital:

 

Matron

Well, whoever gave you the direction to this floor gave you wrong directions, please follow me to the elevator so I show you the floor which has the kind of people you are chasing after.

Scorpion

You are such a wonderful person, if all people police officers come in contact with are so sweet and down to earth like this, we would be very swift in discharging our duties to curb down crime.

Matron

For this hospital rendering the best to our clients remains our top priority, that is why we are the leading private health facility in the capital city and Ghana at large.

(The matron and Scorpion together with his boys descend down to the first floor inside the elevator, they get to the first floor and walk to the private ward that was allocated to Kwaku Mike)

Scorpion

So ma’am, is this person the only patient who was brought in early this morning with a gunshot wound?

Matron

Oh yes, he is the one and I learnt he is a son of a diplomat.

Scorpion

Oh really, this information was not in the docket that was dropped on my desk. Thanks for the information, I really appreciate it.

Matron

Ah don’t mention my son; we are all working for the betterment of our beloved country. It looks like the drip and blood we were infusing in him is finished. Please give me a minute so I check up on him.

Scorpion

No problem ma’am, I wouldn’t like any interruption when I’m taking his statement.

Matron

(after going closer to the patient realises that it is a wrong person) My goodness, Ani-Agyei what are you doing on the patient’s bed? Where is the actual patient?

Scorpion

Ma’am is there a problem?

Matron

Yes sir, there is a big problem, the one lying on the bed is a nurse in this hospital. He is the nurse who was appointed to monitor the health condition of the patient who is supposed to be in this ward.

Scorpion

Ma’am so, you mean the actual patient is not this guy? Where will this young guy be then? He shouldn’t make things more difficult than it already is oooo?

Ginola

Scorpion I am suspecting that male nurse who we bumped into and who directed us to the last floor to be the person we are looking for. His movement was a bit suspicious to me when we met him.

Scorpion

Ah so why didn’t you signal or prompt me when you saw something like that?

Matron

Is everything okay sir and why the name scorpion because you mentioned a different name to me earlier on.

Scorpion

Oh ma’am in our line of work we use animal names and symbols to represent our identity. You wouldn’t like your real information like the name to leak if you were a detective that has been dealing with hardened criminals. Ginola, call Stubborn to start the car because we are moving right away, madam thanks very much for your assistance and patience, we are very grateful for everything. (they rush out of the ward leaving the matron behind)

Matron

Ani-Agyei, wake up and tell me what actually happened in this room. How come you the person who is supposed to monitor a sick person is lying on his bed without your uniform? Where is the doctor even?

I need to raise an alarm now because I don’t know how we can explain the disappearance of the young man to the soldier and his wife when they come here this morning. Ani-Agyei you better wake up and start talking ooo.

The matron rushes out of the private ward to the corridor and presses the emergency alarm bottom to trigger the alarm which got every staff of the hospital alert. She runs to alert the doctor of what she has just discovered at the private ward.

Meanwhile Kwaku Mike had gotten a taxi and he jumps into it and orders the driver to just drive and added that when they got to a place far enough from where they were, he would tell him the exact place that he wanted to be taken to.

Thanks to the one hundred cedis the criminal gave him, he had enough to pay the driver and also find something to eat since he had left the bag he was carrying along when he left the village inside the bush while being chased by those killers.

When they got to the highway, he looked behind and saw that no one was trailing the taxi so he told the driver the exact place that he should take him.

Scorpion and his boys also run out from the hospital making noise which attracted the attention of the people around. They sat in their car and the speed at which the driver of the car moved was overwhelming. At the entrance of the hospital, Scorpion and his boys’ car nearly run into the car that had Brigadier Adu-Tettey and his wife in it.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

If those people in that car mistakenly hit our car, I would have made you boys play with the driver’s cheeks. How can you drive carelessly like that? Or was he thinking he is on a formula one track? He is very lucky today.

Mrs Adu-Tettey

You soldiers koraa what do you get from slapping people?

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Captain Awude can you please answer the question my wife just asked?

Captain

Madam you see, some people act like excuse me to say animals and the only thing that they understand is instant justice. If the government decided to hand over power to the military for just one week, this country will be easily compared to South Africa or Dubai in just a few days. When you slap someone the person looks sharp and accords you with the attention that you need and for the army officers our slap is a very powerful tool that we use to straighten civilians that fool around.

Brigadier Adu-Tettey

Bham!!! Captain Awude God bless you and thank you for the word so sweet, please park under that tree and get the boys on track so that our cover won’t be blown until we get that young man out of here to a safe place. My baby girl let’s go inside and sort his medical bills and get him out of here.

THE COFFIN MAKER

THE AUTHOR

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