Episode 2: Midnight Rendezvous

I left home at 11:00 pm and got to Bogobiri House at Ikoyi in less than 15 minutes. Of course by that time the road was clear and void of the usual traffic. From outside, I could hear the outflow of good music of diverse genres.

It was karaoke night.

Amidst the crowd, I was lucky to find a place to sit this time around. By the time I entered, there was wild clapping and cheering. Someone had just left the stage and he had stolen the hearts of the already frenzied crowd.

I smiled. This was the kind of stuff I liked.

I waved to a couple of familiar faces I easily recognized and ordered for a malt drink. A svelte figure — the next performer, had just climbed the stage and grabbed the microphone. Her hair was short like a boys’ but pink- dyed, a fair skinned lady but her eyes were dark. I felt everyone was keen to hear her sing. It seemed like she was a regular here.

She sang a love song, a beautiful love song. Her voice ‘killed’ it. She was darn good.

I could swear that I haven’t met anyone who sang better than she did. She sang like a Nightingale, and then like a Sparrow, and then like the late Whitney Houston. It was amazing. I haven’t heard a cover version that better than the original.

I watched as people cheered and gave her a deafening applause. The dudes in the house howled like wolves and even I had to give her a standing ovation. At least, I had a reason to smile before the day ended — it was fifteen minutes to midnight which made it the dawn of a new day.

I still didn’t feel sleepy.

I thought to stay a bit longer, maybe till 2:00 am, so I ordered for ‘small chops’ and while the waiter was getting that prepared, I went to the restroom which was by the gate of the boutique hotel. I was getting back inside when I noticed a tall man standing by my car outside. Dressed in a vintage suit, he stood like a statue and had a hat on that matched his peculiar sharp attire. I couldn’t see his face, so I thought to get close to him. I was scared for a brief moment, but I knew a bandit or mugger wouldn’t have this appealing appearance.

Dress the way you want to be addressed —

I remembered those words and automatically knew this had to be a decent man.

I approached him face to face and asked if he needed anything — not that I cared, but I felt uncomfortable with the idea of someone standing by my car in the dark.

You can’t trust too much these days.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said.

He sounded like a middle-aged man but with authority in his husky voice.

I looked at him from head to toe, trying to decipher. His black shoes shined like glass and he didn’t even budge. There was nothing familiar about him, not even his voice.

“Hello Frank”, he said.

I was startled.

“What’s your name, Mister?”

I began to inquire…

“Do I know you?”

“Did anyone send you to me?”

“Who are you — ?”

“You ask too many questions Frank, don’t be afraid”, he retorted gently.

I wondered how he knew my name. I surveyed the vicinity with the edge of my eyes to check if I’m being followed.

“Call me whatever you like”, he said with a sigh.

“I have something for you”, he said.

He dipped his hand in his right pocket and brought out an envelope which he handed over to me. It was wax sealed and resembled an invitation of some sort.

Strangely, I still couldn’t get a clear picture of his face, maybe because it was dark, but he was a man of very few words.

“I’ll be seeing you… Frank”, he said, as he disappeared into the dark.