Elena watched with disdain as Mark marched alongside his father over to the VIP area. She knew that she had never been with the man for love. Her mother has given her mandate right from the first time he turned up in front of their house and they identified him as ‘Mark Darius, heir apparent to the Darius empire’. “That’s a walking cash cow, you silly girl. It’s our one-way ticket out of these slums,” Her mother had admonished when the shred of confidence she had left, felt terrible for giving Mark false hopes.“But, mum, I don’t love the man,” Elena had protested. Now, there was nothing not to like about Mark Darius. He had the most beautiful smile on the planet, and his eyes held a sparkle to them. He was tall and very handsome, and what more, he had a name that mattered.“Don’t you talk to me about bloody love, Elena. I loved your father and look where he left us! That’s right?”Looking at Mark Darius now, restored to his former glory and custodian of so much power and influence,

Mark ran with his heart sinking further into his stomach, while Karen was somewhere behind running as fast as her heels would let her. All Mark could think of was his father.But just as he approached the elevator door, he spotted a faint movement from the corner of his eyes. Didn’t that suit look familiar?He approached the scene cautiously, praying with all the faith he had within him.“Mark?” The figure lying on the floor stuttered weakly.“Dad!” Mark screamed in alarm and dashed for his father, falling to his knees beside him.“Mark. I think they’ve got me, son,” Gabriel muttered weakly.“Who got you, dad? Stay with me, please!” Mark couldn’t keep the tears from flowing down. He had to act fast. Mark slipped one hand into his pocket and pulled out his smartphone, while the other gently cradled his father’s head. He took in the situation again. It didn’t look any pleasant. His father had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper chest, just above his heart. There was no doubt that th

Jennet had run in the direction of the fracas just from a pure mother’s instinct. She could have sworn that she heard her son screaming.“Would you slow down already?” Margaret struggled to keep up with the rest of the group, stopping every now and then to catch her breath.Brown walked in his own space, steady but not in a mad sprint like someone who had gone round a bend.There was a fleet of police cars blocking off the exit point in the direction they were going. An ambulance backed out and drove off into the street.“Let me go, would you!” Brown’s voice caught their attention.Jennet watched in horror as Brown was forcefully shoved into a police car. She rushed off to the scene to save her son.“Hold on! Where are you taking my son?” she asked anyone who cared to listen among the officers.“Mum! Mum, he’s framed me! The bloody bastard has set me up!” Brown cried, straining his neck backwards to look at Jennet.“Where are you taking my son?” Jennet asked again.None of them paid a

“Please let me know when you get a lead”. Mark implored inspector Conrad over the phone before placing the phone back in his pocket. He let out a sigh and felt the weight on his shoulders bear down on him with more gravity. Cornelius Shapiro was still nowhere to be found and the police had spared every officer available to comb the city in search of him.Mark shook his head to gain composure and walked back into the hospital’s waiting room where he and Karen had been for over an hour. Neither the doctors nor the nurses had anything to share with them yet, and all Mark could do was pray that his father made it through the surgery alive.Karen looked up to him, with a glimmer of hope shining through her tear filled eyes. When Mark shook his head in the negative, she simply nodded, and broke down in a fit chest racking sobs.“It’s okay, Karen. They’ll find him soon. And whoever is responsible for his disappearance is going to pay dearly. You have my word”. Mark assured her, putting an ar

Jennet sat in tears as she watched the officers haul her son away and into the prison. How did they get here? A pang of guilt stung her heart because she knew the real truth; her son was indeed innocent. Every time he screamed in frustration and anger, it rented a fresh piece of her heart from the seams.But how could she admit to it, especially after she had spoken with the real mastermind behind the crime? The police would be quick to label her as an accomplice.I’m sorry son. Jennet pulled out a handkerchief from her purse and wiped the corners of her eyes.“Get my son out of there, please”. She turned to Devon, who responded with a solemn nod.“I’ll do everything within my power to get him out, starting with gathering the right evidence.”Of course. Jennet broke down into tears at the realization. Bennet clearly hadn’t informed Devon about the peculiarity of the case. Number One was never going to let any evidence point back to him. While Devon consoled her, Jennet’s phone rang f