A STRAY BULLET Elena took the seat opposite Caleb inside the mini plaza of the massive shopping complex. She was careful to avoid making eye contact with him.Caleb had put a call across to her stating that he had a business idea he wanted to share with her regarding the contract Dezani Cosmetics and Castor Oil were co-partnering. When she heard it was business-related, she quickly left the office and drove down to meet with him. As she sat down and Caleb continued to stare at her, it made her uncomfortable. "I don't see your portfolio nor any office folder containing some files in front of you," she began in a professional tone, keeping her laptop bag in the chair next to her. But Caleb didn't take his eyes off her face. "Perhaps if you'd stop staring at me like that," she added nervously. "Look at me," Caleb ordered her. "What?" "I said look at me eyeball to eyeball," he repeated. "Why? I can't." "Why can't you?" he asked, enjoying the torture of her discomfort. "Because
A KILLER ON RAMPAGE "You were right officer," Caleb started as soon as deputy inspector John took him into his office after returning from the crime scene. "I need my personal security escort henceforth." "I suggested as much earlier," the officer acknowledged with a little frown. Caleb was watching him and asked almost immediately. "Is something else on your mind?" He nodded his head and continued to frown. "Tell me, what is it?" "My men recovered the bullet that shot and killed the victim," he said in a drawl. "And?" Caleb straightened up in his seat, an eager expression on his face. "It didn't match with that of any of our local dealers here," he replied. Caleb was wondering what that meant. "So it cannot be traced?" "I'm afraid so," deputy inspector John shook his head slightly. There was an ominous silence inside the man's office. Only the banging sounds of metal doors opening and closing could be heard from outside the corridor where an extension of the cells was. "
BLOOD FOR BLOOD There was no doubt about it now that whoever was after him has firsthand information about his every movement. Caleb wound up his glass with the speed of light and matched on the accelerator. But to his utmost dismay, the car refused to start. "Damn it!" he cursed. He looked behind to see whether his security escorts had sprung into action. Just then, like the flicker of a scimitar knife swashing through the air under a scorching sun, he saw something shiny aiming at his face and swiftly lowered his head. What followed were the simultaneous thundering sounds of two gunshots in quick succession. The first one hit the handle of the driver's seat where he was and bounced off. The second however was targeted at his front tyre to bust it. The bullet couldn't pierce the tyre and ricocheted against it instead, hitting one of the gas plants. Whoosh! Everywhere shook like a volcanic eruption had taken place. Caleb didn't dare to raise his head as the accompanying sounds
THE TRAP "Can you tell us who the shooter was?" Caleb repeated to Officer Martins."Yes, you should say it anyway," supported the deputy inspector."He was one of us."Officer Martins said it as casually as though he was mentioning a scene from a movie."One of us!" echoed deputy inspector John. "Like a police officer from our headquarters here?"Officer Martins nodded with a sad look in his eyes. "He was surprised when he realised it was me who had crept up to him in the building. But he didn't look remorseful.""Tell us his name," the D. I. P said."Detective Juan," he said."Our own detective Juan?"He again nodded."Tell me it's a lie, please."Caleb was confused why the deputy inspector was being dramatic about the name."Who is he? This Detective Juan?" he queried.Deputy Inspector Juan looked at Caleb and blurted, "He is the professional whom I said I'd contact to check your vehicle for any tracking devices!""Oh!" Caleb felt slightly disappointed. "And is he the only one?""H
SURPRISING THE ENEMY Officer Martins and his partner, Ethan, saw the long queue and immediately knew something was amiss.First, they were being followed and they redirected to head straight to their station, then the next was the chaos happening right before their eyes. In all his years of experience, only professionally organized crime was committed this way."You should call the Don and report to him what has happened," he suggested to Officer Ethan."Perhaps we should call the station first to send a backup team," Ethan replied. "If my suspicions are right, this is a planned coup and we are the target. Or at least the owner of this car is," he reasoned looking behind to observe if their pursuer was in the queue as well. The black Hilux was sighted at their back, like five vehicles away. Ethan groaned. "It's too late," he hissed. "The black Hilux is behind us." "Just call anyway!" Officer Martins said in a clipped tone. In that chaos, Ethan dialled Caleb's number first instea
WE HAD HELP Caleb took a cab to go home. As they were driving past the Fountain Arena, he sighted the same black Toyota Corolla that once trailed him from the venue where he was meeting with his men to FanFood Eatery parked outside. It belonged to Hart El-Zaki. Then he noticed two other expensive cars: a Rolls-Royce and a Lincoln Navigator also parked outside. He ordered the cab driver to slow down and pull over."Sir, this place is only reserved for the high and mighty in the society," he said to Caleb, apparently judging him from his casual appearance. "You will not be permitted inside.""I know," replied Caleb. "Just do as I say."The driver shrugged and gave him a resigned look as he turned off the ignition.Caleb got out and made his way inside. The cab driver was watching through the barbed wire that served as a fence, patiently waiting to see him thrown out so he will have a good laugh. But to his greatest surprise, he saw the security guards bowing their heads as he entere
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?At the station, the crowd of people gathering outside wouldn't let the cab driver find his way to the entrance. Caleb was forced to come down and pay him off so he could call Officer Martins to come out and escort him inside. He wasn't allowed access even when he showed his I. D to the security at the gate. On a normal day, he might have been furious but today he had already played his card well and that silently put him in a good mood. Caleb was escorted to the office of Deputy Inspector John by Officer Martins. The man was already waiting for him alongside Officer Ethan who still appeared visibly shaken from the whole incident. "We asked you to come to the station because we have a few things that we need clarification about," the D. I. P began. "Because from the news report and also the account of a few witnesses at the scene, the military helicopter that blew the black Hilux took off as soon as the deed was done. Meaning that it wasn't on a rescue mission per
THE TENSION BUILDS UP Miguel El-Zaki stirred and opened his eyes in the hospital to the sound coming from the television. It was the chaotic scene at the police station being aired live. "What the hell is going on!" he muttered to himself when he saw people screaming and throwing items while some carrying placards were ranting as though demanding something he didn't exactly hear. Then he saw someone familiar pushing their way to the front to address the crowd. It was Caleb Dezani. He sat up on the bed. "What is he doing?" "They are protesting because a military helicopter burnt down a rich man's vehicle!" Bella supplied the answer. El-Zaki hadn't noticed his stepdaughter was also in the room. She was knitting something and sitting in her wheelchair. It was the least she could do to keep herself busy since she couldn't bring her laptop to practice her coding. "What rich man?" he snapped at her.The poor girl shrugged. "They say he's one of you.""One of..." his voice trailed of