1. The Missing Truth

The President's Office.

After instructing Bright, he became busy with work but had his eyes on the CCTV. When a lady walked into the Secretary's office, he saw a mature lady with a good spirit and positive outlook

“Is she the one?” He asked himself and began to monitor her.

“Good morning, Bright. I'm Ella Patrick.”

“I know. Good morning. Your services at the Senior Staff member's house is over. You are hereby recalled to the canteen.”

“It's all right. When do I return?” She responded as though she had been expecting it.

“Now,” Bright said and watched her countenance.

“I got it. Have you informed the Canteen Supervisor? He wasn't expecting me back.”

“It is possible. Let's see him,” Bright accepted and got up.

He looked at Gilbert and informed him, “Let the President know that I have gone to the canteen.”

“I will do that, Mr. Desmond,” he responded and they watched them walked out.

George smiled happily and mumbled, “She is fine. I pray that Dad loves her.”

At The Lobby

Laura was still puzzled over Ella's mission to the complex when the elevator gates opened and the two walked out hurriedly. On the same note, they hurried out of the lobby without sparing a glance at Laura. She watched them walking towards the canteen and was more confused.

At The Canteen

Presently, Bright carried the same aura as the President. He got to the kitchen and as expected, all hands were on deck in preparation for lunch. The Supervisor, Sgt. Bernard Courtney was on his toes too to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Nevertheless, when he saw them, he walked up to them and greeted him, “Good morning, Secretary.”

Before he could respond, Ella greeted him, “Good morning, Sgt. Courtney.”

“Good morning, Sgt. Courtney. I wish to have a word with you in your office,” Bright requested.

He looked at Ella and looked back at Bright.

“It's okay by me, Secretary,” he accepted and led the way.

After their deliberations, Ella requested to return to the house and get her stuff and return to the complex.

“Do that quickly,” Bright stated and she left.

At Tim's House

He breathed freely and called the Minister of Information. He waited patiently for him to pick up the call. When he did, he greeted him warmly, “Hello, General. I'm delighted to hear from you.”

“Good morning, Godwin. I called to inform you that it is time to release the publicity for the anniversary.”

“Oh. I thought you wished to get the pictures and details of more invitees.”

“Yes. We can always edit and update when they respond.”

“It's all right, General. I will release it forthwith.”

“It is okay. Thank you for your prompt response.”

“You're welcome.”

At Laura's House

After Ella left for the pharmacy, Pa Dickson and his wife began to watch the television. They had never thought that they were still young and could engage in any money yielding ventures. In the past, they were comfortable with the status of the President's Secretary's Parents. One would wonder what their present status was.

With time, they slept off. They woke up when Ella knocked on the door. She was not expecting it to be locked, so she pushed it and walked in. Madeline opened her eyes and welcomed her.

“You are back, Ella?”

She was surprised that she did not ask about her delay and decided not to talk about it.

“Yes, Mrs. Dickson. These are the medications,” she said and handed them to her.

“Thank you, for your help,” she collected it and showed her gratitude.

“You are welcome, Mrs. Dickson. My attention is needed at the office,” she announced and kept official matters away from her.

Mrs. Dickson looked up from the drugs and faced her. She read her comportment and did not dictate any problem.

“It is all right,” she answered and focused on her husband who was still lying fast asleep on the sofa while Ella left.

She walked to her room, gathered her personal effects and put them into her mini trolley bag and walked out. The janitor who was idle and chatting with the security men was surprised to see her.

“What's up, Ella?” He asked.

“I'm going to the office,” she informed him and the guards were attracted.

“Oh! See you later,” they said at the same time and she accepted.

To her, 'Later' could be any time. She walked to the gate, got a cab and left.

At The Auxiliary Armory PLC

Bright retuned to the office after Ella left and walked to the President's office to inform George of the outcome of his meeting with Ella. He met him happily watching the publicity of the orphanage anniversary. The jingle began with the Head of State and his Second in Command followed by George welcoming the invited Head of States to the event. Their pictures were followed by the pictures of the orphans, their teachers, caregivers and the building. The date, time of the event came last.

“This is good,” he stated and faced Bright.

“How did it go?” He asked.

“It went well. The Supervisor had welcomed her.”

“That is good. Our meeting starts very soon.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“You can leave,” George ordered and faced his device.

Instead of leaving, he walked to the pantry and declared, “Let me see if the beverages will be enough for the meeting.”

His declaration caught George's attention and he looked on.

“I'm afraid, Boss. We have run out of beverages,” he faced George and announced.

“Thank you for being proactive. Ask Gilbert to get them from the store.”

“I got it, Boss,” he acknowledged and left.

Now, the jingle was on the television and everyone had seen it. Apart from Cpl. Simpson, who said 'I, will not stop suspecting that Sergeant is the Third in Command and the new President', most people had the same notion.

Shortly, the meeting began. Due to the nature of the meeting, Tim joined them from his house. He watched them as they deliberated.

“Now, everything is set, how do we raise the funds for the project?” The Accountant asked, and everyone focused on George and Capt. Miles.

“Will you deny that it wasn't your idea?” Capt. Bolton teased.

After their unofficial meeting at the canteen on Friday, Capt. Miles was stronger and committed to the project. Before they could laugh at Capt. Bolton's joke, he spoke.

“It is my idea,” he said and tabled his plans concerning the project.

“If we get an overdraft from the bank just as we did during the Auction Sale, we can take off. From our output and sales margins which we know will triple, we can offset the loan within three years.”

There was silence after his forecast and Tim was pleased with his preparedness. Bright was not with them on Friday but he could feel his ingenuity.

As for George, he never doubted his ability to deliver. When no one spoke, he took the lead.

“I can see that you have truly accepted that it was your idea.”

They laughed happily, and he continued, “There won't be need for the loan. Just …”

He paused when the Accountant and the General Manager got a credit alert and everyone focused on them.

“From the President,” the General Manager declared.

“The fund for the project is here,” the Accountant declared and they were jubilant.

To the rest, it was a coincidence but to George, it was not. He was aware that Tim was following the meeting.

Nevertheless, Capt. Miles was elated to know that the President was interested in his project while the others wished to be like him. In the interlude, Gilbert served the tea. In conclusion, they agreed that the project will begin immediately and they left.

Afterward, George requested, “Capt. Bolton, can we see the miscreant in the guardroom.”

He smiled softly and proposed, “It is all right. Let me get the Corporal.”

In The Guardroom.

They got to the lobby and walked to the vestibule. For whatever reason, Cpl. Simpson was afraid of Sgt. Young and whenever he got a message regarding him, he attended to it quickly. Without wasting time, he was at the vestibule.

“You sent for me, Capt. Bolton. Good morning, General,” he greeted at once.

“Good morning, Corporal. Take us to the guardroom. We want to see the criminal,” George specified.

“Okay, General,” he said and led the way.

Meanwhile, the money bag had grown lean and was remorseful. His false boldness had disappeared. Without his phone, he was cut off from his cohorts who were worried about his whereabouts. He was startled when the wardens stood at attention and saluted loudly.

“Good morning, General. Good morning, Capt. Bolton.”

“Good morning, to you,” they returned the salute and responded one after the other.

The wardens were at ease immediately and waited for instructions. George looked at the Corporal and he swung into action.

“Bring the criminal I brought on Saturday,” he faced the wardens and instructed them.

“Okay, Corporal,” he said and moved.

He returned with a lean, disheveled and ugly man. Meanwhile, George could not recognize him just like him.

“This is the man, General,” Cpl. Simpson informed him and he recalled his face.

“What are you doing here?” George asked him in the most disdainful manner.

At that point, he recalled his voice and was sober. George and the General Manager fixed their eyes on him as he tried to find his bearings. He read George's name and studied his insignia before he looked at the General Manager who he still recognized.

With his discovery, he looked at his face again and was mad at himself.

'How did I dare to fall into Sgt. Young's hand?' he developed cold feet and asked himself.

“Good morning, Sgt….”

“What are you doing here?” George interrupted his greetings and inquired again.

The question was as complicating as his discovery and he looked on. Meanwhile, George has nothing to lose if he remained quiet forever.

“Let's go, Capt. Bolton,” George said and took a step while the Corporal moved closer to him.

“I'm sorry, Sergeant. I am here because I misbehaved on Saturday,” he answered.

George openly sneered at him and asked, “How old are you?”

“I'm twenty-five years old.”

“Twenty five years old and you are behaving like a repulsive teenager,” George admonished and he looked down in shame.

A child who refused to take his parents advice indoors will be advised publicly. (African Proverb)

Before he could recover from the insult, he gave him another hard nut to crack.

“What do you do for a living?”

Unexpectedly, his tears flowed uncontrollably and they were unfazed. 

“He is not proud that he is an armed robber and a drug dealer. Take him back until hell freezes over. You think you can get anyone's sympathy with your crocodile tears.”

The Corporal moved while George and the General Manager left.

“He should start work at the unused land,” Capt. Bolton said.

“Better. It will humble him,” George concurred and walked to Capt. Bruce's office.

“What brings you, Sgt. Young?” He asked in trepidation.

“I need another clunker. I don't want to use the station wagon again.”

Capt. Bruce was aware that the car was a disguise, and he wondered why he wished to change it.

“I hope there's no problem with the station wagon?”

“I think it has been exposed. I had an encounter with a criminal on Saturday. I saw many posts about it on the internet.”

“I see. I will check. I hope the grounded cars can still function.”

“It is all right. Please let me know what you have discovered.”

“It is okay.”

George was about to walk out of Capt. Bruce's office when his phone rang and he checked the caller. He smiled when he discovered that it was his father. He allowed it to ring until it timed out. Thereafter, he returned to his office and called him back.