Real Cops
Chapter 1
“Yes we can!" Bob banged his fist heatedly against the armrest.
“What if it fails? What happens next?" Tony asked.
Robert Kahiu shook his head defiantly as he reached for the half full glass in front of him. He sipped some brandy, light gold in colour, diluted with cold water then leaned back. Tony Kuria and David Musau, his two best friends also reached for their glasses and sipped. The cogs inside Bob's head went to overdrive as he thought of a way to counter Tony and David’s' fears.
“Are you people blind?" Bob turned to David. “Just look at us. Do you think all this muscle is just for show? We will overpower him!"
Tony, the soft spoken, brawny teetotaler, soda sipping second year Computer Science major drummed his fingers against the wooden armrest as Bob vehemently assured them of success. They all knew Bob's fiery spirit wouldn't die down anytime soon. They had already spent an entire hour going back and forth over the same thing.
“Fine. I'm in," David reluctantly agreed. He gently stroked his thick black beard with his right hand contemplatively.
Bob turned his attention to Tony. Tony spotted the expectation in Bob's eyes and just like David, he too agreed though half heartedly. Bob sprang from his seat and reached into his navy blue Reebok gym bag next to his bed. He took out a new Gillette shaving razor then tossed it to David, the well fed, dark skinned musketeer. He took out a shiny pair of handcuffs then reached underneath his bed and grabbed two large thick brown sticks. Each stick was about one and a half meters long, suitable for the type of offense they needed for their operation.
After ten minutes, David's thick black and shaggy beared was no more and he genuinely seemed five years younger than he actually was. His two friends couldn't hold back their laughter when Bob returned from the bathroom.
“This better work Bob," David frowned sternly.
" Relax man. Let's hit this joint before we leave," Tony said and took out a fat joint then wedged it between his thin, black, tar stained lips. “Let me call him."
The joint rotated among the three computer science majors for about ten minutes. Bob locked up and they left his apartment building at 7:45PM. Numerous motorbikes ferrying drunk students whizzed past them on the narrow dusty paths of Roysambu, a suburb located 21 KM north of Nairobi. Saturday nights meant big business for local pub owners who diligently catered to the students' alcoholic thirst. The staple booze was cheap keg and pocket friendly spirits in all shapes, colours and sizes.
“This way," Tony Kuria pointed towards a rusty green gate. A couple of dogs growled and fought over left over decaying roast meat wrapped in aluminum foil next to a heap of smelly, neglected black trash bags. The three bodybuilders walked down a dark corridor that led to poorly illuminated cement stairs. It took them a few minutes to reach the fourth floor. They turned right and walked down a narrow corridor past the bathrooms.
“You guys can wait over here," Tony said and his friends disappeared into the bathroom.
He moved on then stopped at a blue steel door marked D10 and knocked. The door swung open and the weed peddler smiled warmly. Tony bumped fists as he took off his black Addidas sneakers. Heavy pungent cannabis smoke invaded his nostrils when he stepped inside the 10X10 ft single room flat. A huge poster of Bob Marley with a spliff in his mouth was positioned right above his bed. Above the grey and old model LG 21 inch T.V was a poster of Rick Ross in dark shades and wore a gold chain. The rapper’s trademark pendant, a glittery Maybach logo rested on his chest.
“Where have you been man?" The dealer asked Tony.
“I’m stuck between assignments and CATs. Crazy semester."
Collins or Collo, as he was popularly known was a third year student at Kenyatta University just like Tony. He stood at 5ft 8 inches, chocolate complexion and had an average physique however, his most conspicuous physical feature, was a chipped upper incisor. Collo was on a year long suspension after he was caught cheating using his smartphone in an end of semester exam. Most ladies had a story to tell about him after being hypnotically wooed by his sexy American accent and ostentatious lifestyle. He was set to officially resume studies in August 2013, just six months away.
Collo reached for a small green basin filled with marijuana underneath his bed. He gently tilted it for the small green seeds to roll down onto the lower side as he separated sticks and seeds from the required buds.
“Light up," Collo handed Tony a fat cone shaped joint.
“Thanks."
They chatted while watching hip hop music videos as the smoke gradually grew thicker and thicker inside the hotbox. Tony took out his phone from his jeans and sent a text message to Bob. Collo was almost done rolling up Tony's joints when a loud knock interrupted him. He cautiously hid his green basin under the bed, grabbed a can of Lavender air freshener and sprayed it profusely, even though it was a weak attempt to mask the heavy dank hotbox.
He opened hoping to see a regular customer but received a violent kick to his chest instead.
“Stupid! You think there's no government?" Bob snapped and swung his long stick hard against Collo's left knee so as to compromise his mobility. Collo screamed and clutched his throbbing knee.
Tony bolted towards the door but David quickly intercepted him and hurled him back to his seat.
“You want to run away?" Bob dished out a hard slap across Tony's left cheek.