There was total silence in the room as Rex Yamoah brought out a vial and studied it for a while. Then speaking to Gloria, he told her it contained Polonium-120, a dangerous poison that slowly kills whoever inhales it.
“You will have to be careful with it,” he told her. Gloria listened with rapt attention as he explained to her how to apply it. When he was done, she smiled confidently.
“Once you apply it, go to the bathroom and pour what is left into the toilet bowl. Then drop the container too in it and flash. It is light. Once you flash, the container will go too. Then wash your hands and exit the room. Remember not to touch your face. And remember to keep the wet handkerchief covering your entire face till you are ready to leave the room” the Deputy National Security Coordinator said. Gloria smiled again and nodded. The security capo said he hopes she will succeed so that they will not have to activate plans 2 or 3 later. He then handed the vial to Gloria who then exited with Kruger. Kruger was to drop her near the Presidency and wait to bring her back after she had carried out her task.
They walked to a red Ford parked in front of the house where the meeting was taking place. It was a rented car. They got in and Kruger drove off.
Gloria looked at the time on the dashboard. It was almost five o’clock in the morning. Being the cleaner, there was nothing wrong with her coming very early to the office to clean up the place. Indeed, she always came very early to do so. However, she felt uncomfortable sitting by Kruger. She wished it were any of the others who were taking her to the Presidency. Kruger always gave her the creeps. There was something sinister about her as Kruger drove on in silence buried in thought,
Gloria tried to focus on the task ahead. She told herself it was not a difficult task so there was no need for her to worry. It was still dark. Only a few cars were out. Then without warning, it began to drizzle.
About a hundred metres to the presidency, Kruger drove off the road and parked; Gloria was to complete the journey on foot.
“Madam, I will be waiting for you here. I hope you remember all you have been told. That thing you have there is deadly. Handle with care. And, don’t panic,” Kruger said.
“Thank you for the reminder,” Gloria replied. Then she got down and made the rest of the journey on foot. At the main gate of the presidency, she identified herself to the guards and went through. She went through two other security check points with ease because the security men on duty knew her. Finally, she entered the main building and proceeded towards the office of the Vice-President.
All was quiet throughout the Presidency; far down one of the corridors, Gloria saw Moses Amu, also a cleaner, mopping the floor. She waved to him and moved on until she arrived at the Vice President’s office. She opened the door and went in. Then she closed the door and turned the key in the lock.
Gloria looked around. All was quiet. She walked to the Vice President’s desk and pressed the red button to the right of the table, switching off the CCTV that watched over the room.
Hiding in the washroom, Lt. Clottey was thinking it had been another fruitless night when he heard the door to the office open. Quickly, he became alert, switching on the miniature camera he has installed in the office, hidden among the books on the shelf. Presently, Gloria appeared on the screen of his phone. He watched her close the door and locked it. Then she went to the table and switched off the CCTV.
“She is shutting out the CCTV camera!” Lt. Clottey told himself. “This is it! I guessed right! This is it!” he told himself excitedly.
Oblivious of the fact that she was being watched, Gloria removed a big handkerchief from one of her pockets and then walked to the main door that led to the washroom where Lt. Clottey was hiding. He froze. There was no place for him to hide.