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
PLEASE FORGIVE ME!Mia stared at them with her mouth hanging open."The Don?" Then she quickly shook the thought off her head. "Don't tell me you're mistaking my-my..." She was struggling to find a name to call the ex-don. She didn't want to address him as her future father-in-law anymore until she was sure if she and Hart were still together. "Your what?" the waiter asked. "Never mind. The only man called 'the Don' is the father of my boyfriend," she answered nervously. Calling Hart her boyfriend was lighter to bear than addressing him as her fiance. The security guard holding the ID went to Caleb and placed the gold-plated ID on the table before him and said, "Forgive us, sir, for daring to question your identity. We only acted based on the call we received. Please do not use it against us." Caleb only kept on smiling. That made them more uncomfortable. The second security guard went down on one knee and pleaded, "We were only doing our job, sir. Please pardon us." Mia nearly
JEALOUSY SETS INCaleb responded with a nod of the head because his mouth was busy chewing food. "I'd like to personally apologise for the misunderstanding that happened a while ago," the manager went on, "And I hope you won't strike out our restaurant from amongst the top-ranked food vendors around the city." He was clasping his both hands in a plea fashion. Mia stood listening completely dazed. "When did he become a don?" she whispered to Elena. "Didn't you watch the news?" her friend returned. Mia shook her head. "My DSTV subscription had expired since...." She broke off not wanting to talk about her fight with Hart. Then she heard the manager asking Caleb what to do about the situation. "How do you want her matter to be handled, Don?" Caleb cleared his throat and took a sip of the Chateau Mouton Rothschild wine. He made a smacking sound with his lip to indicate he was enjoying the taste. "I wouldn't want her sacked outrightly as this may be her only source of livelihood," h
THE ENDCaleb went to DeZ Cosmetics the next day with some men from the ministry to reopen the place. He still remembered a few of the staff there and began to call them one by one.Mr Apollo, the company's supervisor, was the first person he called. "Hello Mr Apollo, this is Caleb. Caleb Dezani. I'm calling from DeZ Cosmetics and I am in the office right now. Do you mind reporting to work?"The man grunted in disbelief. "But the company was closed down two days ago. And you no longer work there. Last I asked, I was told you took over as the CEO of another company." Caleb laughed. "Well, that last part is true. However, the company was under dispute and has now been resolved. I have reclaimed it as the rightful CEO and want you to return to work. Please while coming, do well to call others to report to work too. I shall be waiting at the reception hall."But Mr Apollo didn't call anyone until he got to the company and found out for himself that the place was indeed reopened. It was a
THE TRUTH IS OUT It felt like a nightmare as the black police Hilux which carried Madam Rebecca drove into the ministry. Her heart was thumping in her chest. She didn't know what to expect. She was ushered into the office by the officers who brought her with specific instructions from the inspector. Meanwhile, Caleb hadn't joined them. When the inspector asked whether he was going to the ministry from the station, he replied that he wanted his grandfather to be present during the meeting. "I need to go and pick him up at home." The two men shook hands, "Well, whatever happens, do not hesitate to ring me." "Thank you so much, Inspector. I hope we shall be able to meet and have that drink soon." The man laughed. "I will count the hours till I hear from you. Good luck!" he added. Caleb drove back home and lord Diego joined him to the ministry. Abhi couldn't follow because he had already left for work. But his stepmother, Leah, insisted on being a part of it. Caleb obliged her.
The FINAL NAIL The next man to interrogate him was the meanest of them. His face was cold and unfeeling."Why did you abandon your textile business?""I didn't abandon it.""Excuse me?""I did not abandon the business. I was defrauded and the business collapsed." "That means you went bankrupt after that?" He didn't answer. "Please can you speak up so the next person can take over?" "Not really. I had people who pulled resources together to loan me the capital I needed to rebuild my business." "And yet you didn't. Or did you?" Again he swallowed hard. "Okay, let me rephrase the question. As a businessman who was into textile, after you were defrauded and people loaned you money, did you rebuild your textile business?" "No." "So what did you do? "I went into partnership with someone in another line of business." "And what business was that?" "Cosmetics. I went into cosmetics." "Good. That will be all from me."By the time the rest of the members had interrogated him, El-Za
MAKING CONCESSIONEl-Zaki woke up for the third time since he was shot and realised he was in a different atmosphere.This new place smelled of drugs and drip water. "Where am I?" he asked no one in particular. A male nurse who was attached to him was sitting by a desk writing. He looked up and said, "You are in an infirmary. You were shot but now recovering." El-Zaki tried to look around and the effort made his head hurt. "Who shot me and which infirmary is this?" The nurse was instructed not to answer any questions past introducing himself and offering medical care. "I'm sorry sir but you shouldn't be concerned about that. You are responding well to treatment and your wound is drying up faster than expected. Please tell me if you feel any pain or want anything." The man stubbornly tried to sit up and felt a sharp pain on his side." Oh gosh! My rib!" he grunted. "Lie still," the nurse advised. He looked at his watch and said, "It's almost time for your midnight draught. It will
SLIPPING AWAYIt was Mr Ramirez calling back Caleb to tell him the men at the checkpoint said the truck was merely carrying items for charity.But Caleb knew better than to buy that lie. He remembered his own travel adventure with Pedro. How he had to hide at the bottom of Grandpa Carlos' truck loaded with cow refuse and feed for hours until they got to Woodward Valley from Greenville."But did they offload the entire truck to search?" he probed."I doubt that they did." "Okay. You should get to your hotel and remain inside. I just got info that the police team from yesterday may be visiting Cholula this afternoon." "Is that right?" "So I heard. Or better still, do not go to any hotel. Find somewhere else to lodge until you hear from me again." "But where else is safer than a hotel?" he asked feeling desperate. "I know a place. It's an old farmhouse occupied by an old couple. Fabian's grandparents." "Oh ho! Don't tell me this was your grand plan all along to make your friend see
DISCOVEREDIt was lunchtime and Caleb realised he was starving. All he had eaten the previous day was toasted bread and salad prepared by Hannah and Bella. Then in the afternoon, he didn't have time to eat as he spent it trying to help them settle down at the new place he got for them. Later that evening, he was called to be at Primo Palace and all he took was a bottle of the most expensive wine which he shared with Mr Ramirez. And later on in the night, he drank French wine as they talked.He felt his stomach growling in protest. Even Abhi heard it from his office and teased him. "When Madam Leah was begging you to have breakfast at home you said food was the least of your worries. Now the worms can't bear it anymore that they want to cause a volcanic eruption in your stomach." Caleb didn't know when he let out a burst of laughter. "You're crazy, man!" "I swear I've been so busy that I can't wait for all of this to be over so I can take a month-long vacation." "Sure. You will ne
SHOWING UPCaleb called the inspector of police, and he promptly answered. "To what do I owe this personal call?" he said cheerfully. "To a long-lasting friendship of mutual interests," he replied. Then he added, "I was hoping we could hang out maybe later in the day. What do you think?" "Oh, that would be wonderful. Let's make it eight o'clock this evening." "That's fine by me," Caleb consented. "What venue?" the Inspector asked. "FanFood Eatery." "I shall be there," the inspector promised and the call quickly ended. A notification dropped in Caleb's phone. He checked it was a text message. He hastily read through because he was behind the wheel. A delivery truck just turned up in the El-Zaki mansion. It has spent about 25 minutes inside the premises." The message read. Caleb immediately sensed something sinister. He pulled over and replied to the informant. "Have it followed and let me know its destination." The info made him feel a bit troubled. But he shrugged it off an
DOOMSDAY Everyone's attention was turned in the direction of the intruders. "Gentlemen, how may we help you?" the lady questioned. "It's more about how we may help you," Caleb responded. Barrister Crusoe kept his face down avoiding Hart's gaze. The director spoke next. "Yes, let's hear you out." "Good day, lady and gentlemen. My name is Caleb Dezani of Dezani Cosmetics," he introduced himself. The director narrowed his furrow, and the three men seated to the right of the lady gasped. The other three including the lady shone their eyes in disbelief. "You mean you're the CEO of Dezani Cosmetics!" "That's correct," Caleb said suppressing a grin at their dramatic expressions. The director went on. "How may we help you? I mean you already said it's you who wants to help us, so please, to what do we owe this August visit?" "Well, I was reliably informed that you were asking to see the original documents of DeZ Cosmetics." "Dez Cosmetics isn't the same as Dezani Cosmetics, am I
DETAINEDHart drove with bated breath heading to the ministry. He kept trying to reach his father to find out whether he was able to trace barrister Crusoe but his line remained unreachable.It was almost ten o'clock and his line wasn't still connecting. None of the bodyguards that went out with him had returned home last night. It was as if there was a conspiracy amongst them to abandon the mansion the moment their boss went incommunicado. Everyone was just acting strangely - including his mother. She had suddenly packed her bags after his father left the house telling him she was going on an emergency business trip but that she would call to inform him when to join her. "Where is this business conference, seminar, or whatever taking place?" "We'd be touring round different countries starting from Portugal. Then we'd move to Brazil and so on.""All within South America?" Hart had enquired. But she didn't give a definite answer. Surprisingly, not too long after she left for the ai