That same evening, Julia, Elder's sister sat on the porch of her house waiting for Simi. They'd made plans to have a sleepover and catch up with everything. She was still at home even though she'd finished university two years prior. The unemployment rate of their country had risen and she'd been affected.

She was browsing on her phone, Pinterest capturing all her attention, when she heard Simi climb the stairs to the porch. Julia ran to her and embraced her in a hug.
"I've missed you girl!"

Simi dropped her bag on the floor as she returned the hug, "I've missed you too Julia."

They walked inside, hand in hand as Julia told Simi all about her day. A nostalgic feeling washed over Simi and certain memories tried to come up as she entered the house but she brushed it away and focused on one person; Julia.

On the other side of town, Jamal was already in place at the topmost area of the seats and Malachi was on the lawn of the large park waiting for Peter.
He was almost a half hour late and both boys were agitated. Malachi saw a dark figure in a hoodie approaching him and his heart began beating fast. His palms were sweaty and his knees wobbly.

How did Elder do this? He asked himself as he watched the guy walk towards him.

"You got the cash?" the guy asked.

The voice was unmistakable to Malachi; it was Peter's. If he'd been able to recognize his voice, then he had to mask his so that Peter didn't recognize his as well.

He deepened his voice and replied, "Yeah. Got the deal?"

"It's here," Peter patted the side of his hoodie.

The guy looked familiar to Peter. From his posture to his voice. I know this guy. Maybe if I could see his face. Peter took a closer look.

"What are you doing?" Malachi retreated from him.

"Nothing," he gave a curt reply, his suspicions growing by the minute.

"Good. Here's your money."

As Malachi gave the wad of cash to him, he turned to face Jamal's hiding place so that he could take the photos of them with Peter's face in view.
Peter took the money and pulled put a wrapped box. Just as he handed it over, he heard the shutter of a camera.

"What the hell-," he looked around him and saw a guy sitting at the bleachers taking photos of him.
It's a bloody set up.

He was about to take off when Malachi grabbed his hand. He wrestled with him until Malachi's cap fell off. Both men stared each other for a while and Peter threw the first punch.

Malachi staggered backwards, a weird sensation filling his head and blood running down his nose. Peter cracked his knuckles and threw his fist again at Malachi, this time landing on his cheek.
He was about to throw the third punch when he was thrown backwards and unto the ground.

"Motherfucker!" Jamal had come to the rescue.

He jumped on Peter and hit him squarely in between his eyes. At first the punches were light, almost as if he was afraid of hurting him and then turned into something else. Malachi held his head in his hand and watched as his friend beat Peter to a pulp.

"Bro, we have to go! Leave him alone," he rushed to them and tried to push Jamal off Peter but he wouldn't budge.

Something had broken in Jamal and he was unleashing all his anger at Peter.
"We need the List!" he pulled Peter's head off the ground and held him by the collar.

"I don't- I don't have it," he tried to talk and blood trickled down the sides of his mouth.

"Well get it for us or else all those photos I took are going to daddy dearest," Jamal growled at him.

Back at the Bensons, Simi and Julia were propped up in Julia's bed eating popcorns and watching a movie on Netflix. Mrs. Benson had come in earlier with Julia and Elder's youngest brother, Ezekiel, to say hello to Simi.

"So tell me about your date with Kamara," Julia nudged Simi.

"It was okay I guess. I don't think I'll be going on any more dates with him though."

"Was he rude to you? He thinks being rude will make girls like him more."

Simi shook her head, "It wasn't that and besides, I'm dating someone now."

Julia squealed and hit Simi with a pillow. "Oh you vixen! Tell me all about him."

"We met at the university hospital and one thing led to another and now," Simi shrugged and raised both hands.

"Tell me his name," Julia threw another pillow at her.

"Peter," Simi said and for the smallest of seconds, she could have sworn she saw a jealous frown on Julia's face that was immediately replaced with a smile.

"He's quite dreamy and he has grey streaked throughout his hair."

"Someone's in love," Julia teased her.

"Maybe I am," Simi nodded and threw a pillow at Julia.

As both girls resumed the movie, Julia's expression when Simi mentioned Peter's name bothered her. Maybe it was just in her imagination but she'd seen a lot of jealous scowls to realize one.

I hope this isn't what I think it is.

Malachi finally managed to get Jamal off a bloody Peter. His face was swollen and he was groaning in pain. Jamal wiped his nose with his left hand and got blood on his face.

"Jamal we have to go," he tugged at Jamal's arm, pulling him.

"I don't know what came over me," Jamal looked stunned and stared at Peter while he groaned.

"I know but we really have to go, he'll be fine."

Jamal nodded and both boys took off. They were almost at the main gate of the park when they saw two security guards standing just outside the gate.

"Where did they come from?" Malachi whispered to Jamal.

"I don't know but I have a plan. Trust me on this."

Malachi had barely understood what he meant when Jamal shouted at the guards, "Hey!"

They turned to the boys and one guard flashed a torchlight at Jamal. It landed on his face and when they saw the blood, they rushed towards them.

Uh-oh, Malachi whispered.