“I swear. I don't know anything about it; King Larry, believe me!” Tobi 'Diamond Jack' pleaded as he struggled to free himself from the restrains fastened over his body on the chair where he sat. It was a warehouse, the lights were on, revealing seven men, and four were armed with sub-machine guns. Two men flanked the last man on the right and on the left.
“'King, don't believe a shit he says. I got a call from Soogun. He swears the day the police busted our latest shipment, Tobi was with them.” The man to the right boomed striding towards them…
“Tobi’s tracker confirmed it. I slipped it into his jacket the night of the raid.” the 'Pompos' Hymar David also known as Viper said.
“That's not true; you're just making it up.” Tobi argued. King Larry sighed deeply and gazed at Tobi, huge beads of sweat were forming on his forehead. He walked up to Tobi and placed his hand on his shoulder and fed him a reassuring smile.
“Tobi, we've known each other for a long time. We're like brothers. If something goes wrong, you would tell me right?” He said, fixing a direct gaze deep into Tobi's eyes. Tobi nodded continuously.
He was afraid of what he had done. He had tipped off the police and they raided another warehouse housing the latest shipment of Heroine worth millions of Naira. He regretted betraying Larry. He remembered how it happened. He was in a bad fix, his daughter was diagnosed with liver cancer and a transplant was paramount to her survival. He didn't have the cash at hand but he had a card from a police captain who told him to call whenever he had a problem.
One part of his mind belonging to Larry dissuaded him from doing so. Another part, the human part pictured a world without his daughter and he couldn't live with that so he called him-- His trail of thoughts were shattered as he saw Larry point something at him. “Tobi, do you know what this is?” He pointed a small piece of iron. It was flaming red, the dispelling heat leaving an inscrutable trail of invincible smoke. “You don't. Well the Chinese call it an Ocean of pain and that's where you're going to be in; in less than thirty seconds.” It was Larry speaking.
Tobi winced with his breathing becoming hasty. He knew 'The Ocean of Pain'. Once the piece of iron was inserted into your arm, it fried the site, then spiked your blood pressure and sent a rush of pain through your body it was like being doused with a shot Anagin, only it was like a thousand shots were being administered at once. Anyone with a history of heart problems would die instantly. “Please, King. You have to believe me. I'm innocent! It's a setup!” Tobi pleaded as he fought his restrains. Hymar smiled wickedly. He was enjoying this. He hated Tobi. When he died, he would gladly take over as second in command.
Larry King dropped the piece on the table, ordered for a glass of water and shushed Tobi. “I believe you. I believe you. No need to holler. Alright?”
Tobi nodded like a flummoxed lottery winner. It seemed today was his lucky day. “Tobi, I am King Larry, I am not a Monster. Hell; I like to think of myself as a saint. Don’t you think so brother?” Tobi nodded furiously… “If there's one thing I hate...its betrayal. Judas died because he betrayed Christ.” He paused, downed a sip from the glass and stared at Tobi. “Yours won't be an exception. Should it brother?”
“I have a daughter--” Tobi began to cry as he futilely fought against the straps that bound him to the chair.
“That not an appropriate answer brother.” He laughed, and then looked at his minions who joined in not tapping into the drift of his laughter. He made a sign and the laughter stopped. Turning to Tobi… “Come on cheer up man. I always wanted to adopt a girl. I'll take good care of her. Instead of telling her, her father was a lying bastard, I'll say he died in an auto crash. Am I kind or what?' He grinned.
"Hymar, bring the silver case!" Larry ordered. Hymar grunted a reply and handed a silver box to Larry. He opened it and inside was a silver colt. “I named her Dauphine, ain’t she a beauty? It was a gift from my former second-in-command, Paul. He died three years ago of a bad case of gingivitis.” He unfastened the 'Safety' handle of the gun and loaded it with round of bullets.
'Tobi. We were brothers. That shipment was worth millions. You traded it for what? Tobi, you owe me that ounce of respect by answering my question'. Larry barked, striking his jaw. Tobi kept mute. He was prepared for the worst. After twelve minutes and no sign of a reply. Larry asked again. “Tobi, do you remember MI's Beef?” Tobi answered in the affirmative.
“What was our favourite line?”
“It was--” Tobi’s head was rocked by the impact of the bullet drilled into him. The chair gave way and he fell to the ground. A trail of blood began to gush out. Blood stains adorned Larry's suit. He swore. “Damn! I hate white suits. Hymar clean up this mess.” Staring at Tobi's bloodied mass, he fired more rounds, screaming till the gun ‘clicked’… “You brought this on yourself, Brother.” He said, as he made his way for the mouth of the door.