THE NEW DAWNIt was not often that a don was deposed. Maybe for newbies, it was a well-deserved punishment to effect discipline within the Mafia organisation, but for a man like Miguel El-Zaki, he considered it a personal vendetta."Seventeen years I have been accorded this honour. And I've lived up to the tenets of the title. I never missed the annual conference for once; not even in the year my only brother, your uncle, died - which coincided with the date of the general annual meeting." He was talking with Hart after his release. The outrageous conditions he was forced to consent to just to have his son back weren't terms he could have imagined himself bowing to if it wasn't for Hart's foolishness and reckless behaviour. He had never stopped berating him every moment he got the chance since that day. El-Zaki had aged by a decade in the last couple of days that followed the incident. But nothing prepared him for the announcement that was to follow later that evening.Hart sat idly
NEMESIS"Your father needs to see a specialist," Doctor Robinson said as he removed his stethoscope from El-Zaki's chest and hung it back against his neck."What is his condition like, doctor?" an apprehensive Hart asked. His mother, Madam Rebecca, was sitting by the foot of the bed. She was beside herself with worry."Well, like I suggested earlier, your father needs to undergo some pathological examinations. It appears he has a defect around his chest region. A scan and an x-ray will tell us what the actual problem is.""Then recommend one specialist right away. Money is not the problem as you know it!" Madam Rebecca said, her olive eyes flashing with impatience.Doctor Robinson, an advanced man; averagely built, round face with a bald head and thick moustache smiled nervously. "We have one renounced pathologist who works at Parklane Hospital but she has been sent to Spain on a special course." "And that's the only one in all of Mexico City?" Hart cut in tersely. "I didn't say so
A TOUGH CALL Caleb studied her for a moment and then asked, "Who?" "The coordinator of the WHO programme. He's my research supervisor in the specialized Advanced Pathology course I'm currently running." "Okay, so does he want you to return to work already?" "Something like that. Although..." she trailed off. "Although what?" Caleb inquired hastily. "He says he wants me back in Mexico City." "And why is that?" Caleb was unconsciously raising his voice. "Because he wants me to examine a patient with a special case." "Who is this patient, if I may ask? Because unless he's the President, I don't see why he can't be brought to the hospital where you work in Madrid for you to examine him." "Well, he's a prominent personality in his own right," she said observing Caleb's disapproving frown. "So are you!" Caleb returned, his voice sounding possessive. It startled Adriana. "You should wait until you hear his name," she added. Caleb narrowed his gaze. "What is his name?" "His name
IN EL-ZAKI'S HOME "You can't return to Mexico City when you've only just got back from Rome," Mr Ramirez argued. He was in his office when Caleb went to tell him of the new plan. "It's important that I do. I am the number one don now and since my name has been announced, I need to see all the men under my command and address them." He didn't want to tell him that El-Zaki was ill, which was his other reason for wanting to go back. Mr Ramirez knew Caleb was right about meeting members of the Mafia group he now leads, however, he felt that if he allowed him to go, the partnership deal he agreed to sign might be affected. "But you still have work to do here in Madrid," he tried to dissuade him. "I have you here, Antonio," Caleb picked up a crystal ball on his desk and fiddled it with his finger. "You can keep an eye on the goings on in Madrid while I'm gone." Antonio sighed seeing that he had run out of excuses to trap him. Moreover, if he forced him to stay, he could use his author
BLOOD TRANSFUSION"The test results are ready," Doctor Robinson said to Adriana, handing her the envelope containing all the results he had collected from the laboratory and x-ray unit. She opened it and brought out one of the sheets. "Tumour of the stomach. Malignant and rapidly spreading to the lymph nodes," she read out loud. Doctor Robinson adjusted in his seat, tugging the collar of his lab coat. Adriana brought out another sheet, "This one is his x-ray report." "What does it say?" he questioned anxiously. "Dark patches in the upper lungs region. Patient suspected to be having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," she read out again. Doctor Fernandez put down the two results and gave a poignant look at Doctor Robinson. "It seems we have a very delicate case in our hands." The older doctor nodded ruefully. "He needs to be operated upon without delay," he suggested in agreement with her. "I couldn't agree more," she added, "but I fear that the family, especially his wife
A DONOR EMERGES"Doctor, there is no AB-negative blood in the blood bank," the theatre attendant returned, a shivering look on her face."What!" Doctor Fernandez muttered behind her nose mask. Never in the history of Parklane Hospital had they run out of blood, even the rarest kind.She turned to observe the patient's face. El-Zaki was looking pale and yellowish as a jaundiced neonate."The laboratory attendant says we should bring a donor," the theatre assistant said making her look away sharply. "Get me Doctor Robinson on the phone," she declared to the assistant. The doctor answered on the first ring. "We have a big problem, Doctor Robinson. The patient is losing a lot of blood and needs a transfusion." The older doctor who feared that this might come up said hopefully, "Get it from the blood bank. Parklane Bloodbank usually has enough blood - even the rarest type." "I fear not today," answered Adriana with an exasperated sigh. "The blood says they're out of AB-negative blood."
A GRAND RECEPTIONCaleb hadn't been to the company since he was kidnapped and taken across the Caribbean Sea. The following day after his return from Madrid, he decided to drop by unannounced.The first person to notice him was Miss Daniels. She looked up sharply, the file in her hand nearly falling off because of the shock of seeing him. Caleb was looking smart in his black overcoat worn over a three-piece black suit, white shirt and a black fedora hat to give him that iconic don appearance. Very much like El-Zaki used to dress. She opened her mouth to say something but the words refused to come out. Caleb quietly scoffed and made to walk past her but she pulled him by the hand. "Excuse me, is this really you?" Feeling a little embarrassed but trying not to show, he said, "Miss Daniels, you never cease to be dramatic." Then he gently pulled away and feigned a polite smile. "How is work?" "I'm sorry, but you look completely different and I daresay boss-like in that attire." She
UNBELIEVABLE "Have you noticed there's a black Toyota Corolla car following behind us at a safe distance?" Caleb alerted Abhi. He looked closely through the rearview mirror and spotted the car. "Oh, yes. Who do you think it is?" he asked feeling a little disconcerted. "And since when did you notice it?" "Shortly after leaving the venue of the meeting." "Really? And we've navigated two bends cutting through different routes, still they follow us," he said grabbing the steering so hard his temples started to whiten. "What should I do next? Do you have a gun with you just in case? Since you've become popular, you should have your own official escorts who are licensed to carry guns." Abhi was talking fast, most of his sentences came as rhetorical questions while others were plain suggestions. "Pull over at the next eatery you see," Caleb ordered him. His tone was so full of authority it startled his friend. "I am ready to take on them this time." Abhi silently nodded and did as he