UNDER SIEGE (A Story Of Hope)

by Ciuri Di Badia

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  Three months passed when Tommy emerged from ‘nobody knows where’. He looked wretched and pathetic as he toddled along the sidewalk of an avenue that led to some low income neighborhood. Much of his original good looks had worn off, leaving him as a weak, shabby and bearded resemblance of his former self. His red eyes and sullen face were proof enough that he had not had a good sleep for the past several days. By just the way he looked, one could count him among the homeless.

  Passers by gave him a denigrating look as he was lurching his way into a nearby public callbox. He pulled out three coins from his left pocket before inserting them into the phone’s coin slot. Slowly, he unfolded a mangled piece of paper from which he read some numbers. He dialed them and on the other end, Quinsy’s phone started ringing. She looked at the number on the screen and wondered who could be calling but however; her guesses could not establish any substantial lead. With the illustrious ‘hello’ opening line, she picked it up and from the caller’s end; she heard a frail voice saying

  “Hello Quinsy. It’s Tommy.”

  “Really, I can’t believe it. How are you?”

  “Yeah, it’s me dear”

  “How are you? Where are you?” Quinsy asked curiously.

  “I’m alive but not doing very well” Tommy answered, in a temperament voice.

  “But at least am happy to know that you are alive” Quinsy asserted.

  “Yeah I am alive….and you? How are you?”

  “I’m good Tommy” Quinsy answered before continuing. You know, they said that they have failed to arrest you and that they are considering closing your case. Where on earth are you?”

  “I’m somewhere near Harlem. I am using a public phone and I fear that somebody may recognize me”

  “No Tommy, don’t worry, people are not that much on your guard. Look at me for example, I don’t think about your saga as much as I used to when you were in the limelight.”

  “I hope so too. However I still feel that everyone is against me” Tommy said.

  “You see, I believe in you and I don’t know what influenced you to do what you did. As I told you earlier, I have always wanted to see you happy. Remember that I told you once that you can always count on me for anything.”

  “That’s cool Quinss. I really do appreciate that you care about me” Tommy interrupted.

  “I’ll help you, not because I want anything in return, but because I love you; and by loving you, I consider your happiness as essential to my own and if you are happy I’ll be happy too.” Quinsy added.

  “Thank you dear. You are the only person on earth who understands me” Tommy expressed his gratitude.

  “You are always welcomed Tommy. That’s what friends are for.” Quinsy affixed.

  “I knew that you won’t let me down. I have nobody else to turn to. My cousin does not like me anymore. You are the only one I can run to.” Tommy supplicated.

  “Never mind Tommy, I’ll always be there for you” quinsy asserted.

  “Quinsy, you don’t know how happy I am, let me thank you in advance. My outlay is running out and I don’t think we have much time remaining. Why don’t we meet at my cousin’s place and have a lengthier conversation?” Tommy suggested.

  “Ok. We can meet up today at that rendezvous” Quinsy nodded to their conclave.

  They set the time for their little caucus before bidding each other good-bye. Tommy hung up and then continued hitting the side-walk under his own steam. With his lethargic pace, he went down the road till he disappeared into distant vicinity.

  It was around 2pm when Tommy got out of the hovel that he was living in and headed to the bus stop. He had spent the better part of lunch time while disguising himself. His beards were not as disheveled as they were earlier when he went out to make a call. This time round, he had trimmed and combed them neatly. Besides wearing a pair of black jeans and army boots, he had also put on some black shades that totally concealed his eyes. That was a different Tommy from the one we know; the yo-yo kind of Tommy who could afford to be bold enough to tie a bandana around his head. And as if that was not cloaking enough, he had put a black cap over it.

  As he queued with others, he fell well camouflaged and confident that no one would recognize him. None of the other commuters would have ever imagined that the much sought after serial killer was standing amongst them. Just like Tommy, each one of them was busy minding their own businesses.

  Finally, the bus arrived and they all boarded. Tommy was to alight at the third bus stop and catch another bus that would take him to his cousin’s neighborhood. The first bus ride would take about fifteen minutes. He sat quietly as he fixed his eyes outside. Nearly all the windows of that bus had been closed because the air outside was filled with smoke from different spots where tyres and other plastics were being burnt. Tommy wondered what all that was about but left it at that. He also saw some kids playing Frisbee and skipping by the roadside. What surprised him was not only that those children seemed unperturbed by the passing vehicles but also; they didn’t seem disturbed by the smoke that filled the air.

  His journey had so far been smooth. However, at some point, an intoxicated hooligan who was seated at the back started shouting that he wanted to alight. Some of the other passengers shouted him down, arguing that the bus only stops at the designated bus stops.

  Tommy alighted at the next stage where he was to wait for his next bus. There were only three people at that station and Tommy was a bit relieved since he feared crowds. He was sure that if anyone recognized and shouted him out in public, a crowd would form and lynch him instantly. In fact, he feared a crowd more than he feared the police. Obviously, the latter would only arrest and later have him charged in a court of law but, in the event that he is subjected to the former, he knew too well that he would be inundated with a well mobbed justice.

  After a few minutes, the bus arrived and pulled up. Two people got off as Tommy, along with the other bus stoppers, got on. And as the bus was taking off, Tommy went for an empty seat just behind the driver and sank himself in. He preferred the seat for two main reasons: first, the seat happened to be empty. He did not want to seat with somebody so as to minimize chances of close interactions. Secondly, he did not want to walk the length of the bus because that would be a risk by itself. You see, he would risk exposing his face to the other passengers.

  As any raconteur would say, one of his worst fears became a real challenge at the next bus stop. An old man entered the bus and sat beside him. Tommy felt so uneasy. He knew that, the nearer someone is to him; the easier it is to recognize him. It was on that revelation that he took a quick action. He opened up a newspaper that he was holding and pretended to be reading. The newspaper caught the attention of the old man and he never got idle enough to think of looking onto Tommy's face!

  The other thing was in Tommy's favor was that the route was free of impediments such as police patrols since traffic was low. Houses on that area were sparsed from one another and very few people could be seen hovering along the roads sides. That was the kind of environment Tommy was looking forward to; he wanted to not only see less people, but also, be seen by less people.

  It hurt him to see the streets that, months before, he used to drive through freely. As he looked through the window and saw convenience stores where he used to buy stuff, he felt even more hurt. Furthermore, It killed him to acknowledge the fact that he couldn’t dare go there anymore. Even with a stolen glance, the attendants who knew him would have recognized him right away.

  Shortly after, he arrived at his last stoppage point where he quickly alighted from the bus. He didn’t care about looking out for who was around for he knew that the bus stop only posed a minimal risk. He also knew too well that, as soon as he steps his first foot down, the people who had been waiting for the bus would be so busy jostling to board it that recognizing him would be the last thing on their mind.

  From the bus stop, Tommy walked past just a few blocks before reach
ing his cousins apartment. He knew that, at that time of the day, she was not there. Luckily for him, that did not spell any trouble since he already knew his way around. I mean; when he lived there, he got acquainted with the basic routines of that house. For example, he knew how to have the door open, where to find essential stuff and at least what each room was for.

  He went to the flower bed and started rummaging for his cousin’s spare keys. For a long time, his cousin Mary had been hiding them there. She knew that they would come handy especially during times when she forgot her other copies in the office. It didn’t take a lot of time before Tommy hit upon them. He opened the door and went in right away. The living room looked somewhat the same as it did when Tommy was there last. As he helped himself onto the couch, he visualized the presence of his cousin Mary. She was sitting on her favorite chair as was narrating how great her day had been.

  Nevertheless, his imaginations were cut short by flashes of past memories. Most of those dated back to the days when he had seeked asylum there. Bad memories flooded in first. He remembered how broke he was before he moved into his cousin’s house, how hard it was for him to find a job after his trial and how his friends ostracized him, even after he was declared innocent.

  The end of the bad memories opened vents for the good ones. He remembered how his cousin used to comfort and assure him that all things would be alright, how they used to take dinner together, how he used to sleep soundly in his room and how emotional he felt when he was moving out.

  However, it hurt him a lot to imagine what his cousin thought of him. He knew that she wanted nothing to do with him but as much as he would have wanted to, he couldn’t change it. When he remembered her words that there is always a second and the last chance for someone to change his ways and become a better person, it dawned on him that she probably thinks that he blew it and possibly, that’s why he lost her trust.

  When all his relatives and friends shunned away from him during his first case, only Mary and Quinsy continued holding on. But as things stand now, Mary has let go and solely left Quinsy by Tommy's side. He was not sure how long Quinsy would continue hanging on but, it was apparent that it won’t be forever. His fears not withstanding, he still thanked God that she was by his side. She was his only hope and as such, he had a feeling that after their meeting, she would agree to help him.

  He sat and sat, waiting for Quinsy. It reached a point where he felt bored and decided to switch on the tape player. Inside the cassette holder was his cousin’s favorite stereo cassette which featured great hit-singles of the 80s and 90s. They are the soothing kind of old school rocks that suits all times and ages.

  Before the first song ended, He heard a knock at the door. He indiscriminately hit a button on the player and by hook or crook; the stylus released its grip on the tape. He then went to answer the door.

  He bent down and peeped through the key-hole to see who was knocking but unfortunately, he couldn’t figure it out quite clearly. He feared being buttonholed by the police and so, he didn’t open it yet. As he was wondering what to do next, his mind settled on a quick way out. He tip-toed to the open casement window and slightly pulled the curtain aside. He then used the reflection by the window’s glass to try and see who was at the door but, unfortunately, the angle was not right. He only saw the vista around the picket fence. Then, he slowly pulled the hinged sash using its crank until he got the door area inside the reflection’s field of view.

  He did not believe his eyes. Quinsy was standing there, glancing side by side. He quickly went and opened the door and Quinsy dashed in. He closed it again as he complemented her on how good she looked. She wore a blue top and a tight fitting hipster that had glistening buttons around its waist line. On her feet were laced Jesus sandals.

  She pulled her elbow handbag from her left arm and placed it on a seat. They then embraced each other passionately before Tommy welcomed her to a seat.

  “How have you been?” Quinsy asked

  “I’ve been good Quinsy” Tommy answered

  “I can’t believe that am speaking with the most wanted man in this nation” Quinsy commiserated.

  “You know, sometimes one has to do the ……..” Tommy explicated

  They continued talking in low tones for sometime. Thirty minutes had passed when Mary, Tommy’s maiden cousin pulled up at her cabro-paved driveway. She got out of her car and as she was walking to the door, she side-kicked a misplaced broom along the front-walk. She had faltered on and side-kicked many items before; her own shoes, the trash bin, the mangled door mat and even a neighbors pet cat make just a fraction of that list.

  She noticed that lights were on and that puzzled her. She always made sure that they were off each time she was leaving he apartment. She wondered who could have turned them on but her instincts quickly deceived her that she had forgotten to turn them off that morning. In her opinion, it was possible that she could have forgotten to turn them off since she left on a hurry that morning. That ended her fuss about them and she continued walking towards the door.

  An abrupt anxiety filled her whole being as she neared the apartment. She didn’t know why she felt that way but she just knew she did. In her apprehension, she could hardly pull her keys out of her handbag. And as if her difficulties were systematic, it was even harder for her to seek out the right key for the lock. But somehow, she managed. She had almost inserted the key into the keyhole when suddenly; she heard a gunshot from inside the apartment! Her nerves froze with fear as her whole body trembled vigorously. She didn’t know what to do or not do. She just stood there, motionless.

  Her heart pounded heavily as she gasped for air, not knowing which step to take next. She tried to guess what could be happening inside the apartment, but, it was all in vain. She didn’t generate even a single clue. Furthermore, she was too terrified to even turn the key and open the door.

  Those developments explained her angst. She had earlier felt anxious because something was about to go wrong. And now that it already did, she could understand why her intuitions had smelled a rat. It was out of that revelation that her senses regained control and she decided to retreat back to her car. And as she slowly backed away, she could hear a deep bawl from inside the house. Nonetheless, she did not mind about it. She just went ahead to do what she had set on. She reached her car and used her cell phone to call the police.

  Moments later, the police arrived and the scene was suddenly filled with sirens, uniforms and officers. They quickly set up their tools and swung into action; moving people out of neighboring houses, putting up warning triangles and emergency flares on nearby roads and consequently taping the area off.

  The few officers inside the compound had all moved to specific positions. A police car had been parked facing the entrance of the house with its front doors open. Two officers, with their pistols firmly gripped on their hands, squatted behind each door. On the back yard of the apartment were three police men. They pitched themselves behind some concrete benches while they aimed their rifles towards the back windows and door.

  Two other officers were lying flat on the neighbor’s roof with their long guns in position. From time to time, they were seen to communicate with those on the ground using some radio gadgets that had been arched around their ears. And just incase things got ugly, the police deployed two snipers; one in front of the house and the other at the back. They took their strategic positions and immediately aimed their rifles towards the house.

  Everything was happening so fast that one could have thought that the scene had been pre-meditated but lo, it was all happening instantly, outside Mary’s apartment. Within minutes since their arrival, the police surveyed the area, assessed the situation and consequently drew an impromptu plan. They then executed that plan to detail, leaving nothing to chance. They knew that anything could happen anytime and they braced themselves accordingly.

  The police were set, ready to make their next move. They had already surrounded the apartment, shielded their frontline
officers and put snipers to position. They all knew that only team work would win and so, each one was playing their part by doing what they were supposed to do. However, nobody knew the status of those inside the house. It wasn’t known if they were arming up or preparing to surrender. But, as always, only time will reveal.

  Just like most others, Mary was on a suspense mode as she looked forward to see what would transpire next. She stood from a distance, watching and making guesses. She had never imagined that something like this would ever happen around her neighborhood, let alone in her apartment. She was the only one who had seen it all unfold. The lights, the gunshot, the arrival of the police and the current developments; she had witnessed them all.