Stefo holds the black bag wide open as Sani dumps the ballot papers into it. The sound of ruffling papers is very loud.

Stefo feels goosebumps rising on his skin and his heart is running in overdrive. There is no one in the whole building but he cant help but feel the sense of foreboding he has had for the past six months.

"Cool down, guy," says Sani. The red butt of his cigarette is dancing on his lips. He slides the last batch of ballot papers off the shelf and into the open bag.

Stefo breathes a small sigh of relief as he zips up the bag and heaves it onto his shoulder. Stealing ballot papers from the headquarters of the country's electoral office is the least of his worries. He is meeting the boss in a few minutes. The whole point of the past six months of his life. All he needs is a glimpse. Just a glimpse.

Sani follows him with his own bag on his shoulder. They both step out into the cold dark night. Sani drops his bag and takes the yellow keg by the door. It is filled with kerosene. He uncovers it and goes in.

Stefo can hear the sloshing sounds as Sani dumps it all over the room.

Sani comes back out. He takes a long drag of his cigarette and puffs it into the night air. He throws the cigarette into the room. "Oya," he says.

Stefo is on the stairs with Sani behind him when he hears a loud whoosh followed by sounds of glass breaking. The room is burning.

The security guard is tightly bound at the base of the stairs. He writhes and twists his head as he sees them. A small moan escapes beneath the duct tape. Sani kicks him in the gut and he moans again.

The cry of fire alarms pierce the night air. "Lets go," says Stefo as he runs to their car parked at the gate. He opens the door gets into the front passenger seat.

Sani opens the drivers side and slides in. He tosses his bag onto the back seat.

Sani starts the car and puts it in gear. There is a smell of burning wood in the air and the faint roar of fire.

Stefo turns his head and looks at the second floor of the building. It is alight with fire as the flames lick the walls.

"We don do am," says Sani into a cellphone. He turns to Stefo and smiles. His teeth are yellow, cigarette stained. "Okay," he says and pockets the cellphone.

"Who was that?" asks Stefo. He knows the answer but he asks anyway.

"Oga say he wan see you."

"You sure?"

"Yes. My guy, you don lucky."

"How?"

"Oga wan give you something be that na," says Sani. He lightly punches Stefo's arm. "It mean say make you no forget the boys."

Stefo chuckles. He thinks of the three tickets in his room. First class flights to Dubai. He smiles. "How I go forget?"

Three minutes later, Sani pulls up in the parking garage of a hotel. He walks out and carries his bag with him. Stefo does the same. He follows him to a white Limo with black tinted windows.

Sani raps the door and it opens. There are two men in it. One is Razor, frail looking, with a liking to using the razor blade and the boss' second in command. The other man is fat. Potbelly, agbada and red chieftain cap. Chief Koko.

Stefo almost laughs out loud when he sees him. Now all it makes sense.

Razor gestures them in. Stefo closes the door behind him when he enters. The seats are plush and the air is air conditioned cool. There is a bucket of chilled champagne on the small centre table.

"Lets see them," says Razor. His eyes are sharp, just like his name. Stefo meets his gaze. Now isn't the time to be skittish.

Sani zips open his bag and Stefo does the same. He takes out a bundle and hands it to Razor.

Razor thumbs through it and gives it to Chief Koko who nods twice.

"Very good," says Chief Koko. "I hope you weren't followed."

"No, we weren't," says Stefo.

Chief Koko nods his head. "I've heard quite a lot about you..."

"Stefo."

"Stefo. I hear you are a very resourceful man. You seem to know a lot about a lot of things."

Stefo smiles and resists the urge to crack his knuckles. Its a sign that he is stressed. "I'm just lucky, I guess."

Chief Koko laughs. A slow thick rumble from the middle of his chest. "Lucky or not, you will be handsomely rewarded, that is if you continue with your good work."

"I am very grateful."

Chief Koko dips his hand into his pocket and brings out a wad of cash. He throws it at Stefo and says, "I've got another job for you. You'll know all about it tomorrow."

Stefo bows his head. "It is my pleasure." He pockets the cash in his pocket.

Chief Koko shares a quick glance with Razor then, he says, "You all can go now. I'll call you tomorrow."

Razor bows deeply and exits the Limo. Stefo follows with Sani behind him. The Limo rumbles to life and slowly eases out of the parking lot.

Stefo stretches his hands above his head. Finally, it has all come to an end. Six months of desecrating the very law he had sworn to uphold. Six months of playing a character he wasn't. He smiles and breathes a sigh of relief.

He follows Sani and Razor to the car. "You don forget your promise?" asks Sani as he enters the back seat.

Stefo seats in the front passenger seat. Razor is driving.

The streets are deserted and empty as the car eases onto the road. Stefo catches Razor staring at him, twice. He counts it to nothing. He yawns widely as he hands Sani a share of his money.

It is too late when Stefo realises what is happening. Razor suddenly presses the brake and Stefo should be thrown forward from the momentum but he is stuck to his seat. Sani's hands are around his throat. Cutting off his air and crushing his windpipe.

He tries to remove the gun in his back pocket but the pressure on his throat is unbearable.

Suddenly, the door by his side opens and Razor pulls him out. Someone pulls out the gun and the mobile phone from his pocket.

"Please," he croaks. He coughs. He has never been more grateful for the cool air flowing into his lungs. He gets on his knees and holds his hands up.

Sani gets out and kicks his gut. "You think say you dey fool us, abi?"

Stefo doubles over, clutching his stomach. "Why are you doing this?" Deep down, he knows the answer. Its his worst fear coming alive.

"Detective Ralph Benjamin," says Razor, slowly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh. Its too late for that."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Didn't you think well find it suspicious? You suddenly showing up from nowhere. We checked your criminal records. They were fake."

Stefo sits on the gravel ground. "Shit," he mutters.

Razor nods at Sani. "Go start the car."

"Listen to me," says Stefo. "We can make a deal." He raises his voice to be heard above the rumble of the car. "We both know what Chief Koko intends to do with those ballot papers. Someone is going to find out it didn't burn in the fire."

"I'll take my chances. I learnt very early that the police is nobody's friend. Not to people like us." Razor aims the gun at him. It roars.

Stefo feels a searing heat. He falls on his back onto the cold ground. There are stones poking his back. He looks at the two red holes; one on his stomach and the other on his shoulder. He asks himself if this is how it ends.

Razor enters the car and zooms off. Stefo tries to sit up but his body doesn't answer him. He is on the highway. In the middle of nowhere. There will be no vehicles till dawn.

He coughs. There is blood in his mouth. He looks at the dark moonless sky and back at his wounds. He wont survive it. He knows what will happen. His stomach acids will slowly poison him from within. He will be dead in ten minutes.

He raises his arm with great effort, struggling against the pain. Then, he sets to work.