WHO IS NEXT? "I don't understand what they mean by Guillermo is their man." Lord Dezani asked rhetorically, peering into Caleb's phone. "It could mean many things," Caleb said crisply. His grandfather took his eyes off the phone and tilted his head toward him prompting Caleb to explain. "His DNA matching with the fingerprint found on the electrical vault means he was the one inside the factory." "Probably, but what about the body in the body bag?" Mateo's curiosity heightened. "Maybe that's one of his men. He couldn't have gone into the factory alone," Caleb tried to reason. "Then who shot and killed the man and why did they neutralize his body beyond recognition?" Caleb shrugged. His mind was racing in different directions. "Could it be the factory was his hideout all along?" His eyes sparkled with renewed hope at the possibility. "That's another angle," his grandfather agreed. "The police said they got to the scene after they heard the sound of gunshots, meaning whoever th
A MINUTE TOO LATEThe Don waited with bated breath to hear the good news. He had more faith in his number one hitman than he did in anyone else. Even himself.Aguero had successfully carried out numerous assignments in the past - even the most dangerous like killing a sitting Senator right inside the Palacio Nacional. It was the reason he took him into his employ as a personal hitman. He was young, swift, brutal, and very smart. He learned it was his bullet that took out the great Guillermo Lozano. After he had sent out four of his boys to invade the underground where he was hiding, Nathan called him to say that Guillermo was missing."Master, we met the back entrance unlocked. He's nowhere to be found.""Then lay siege at the entrance and ensure you don't blink or look away until he returns. He couldn't have gone into the city because he knows the police are looking for him," he replied. Instinctively though, he asked him to check the factory. "Maybe he went inside the factory to
WAITING FOR THE RESULT His mind raced as he rode off to Cholula. There were policemen everywhere and at every stop. There was no chance for anyone who attempted any smart play on them to escape. He was lucky not to be suspected. He kept wondering what happened to the security guard he shot last night at the cathedral. Was he dead? Would the priest be mad at the Don because of that? Well, since the Don didn't mention anything about any shooting, he should think the guy was still alive. Good for him if he was. Aguero planned to enter Cuautlancingo from Cholula and then continue till he got to the border town of Guatemala. He didn't mind the distance so long as he got away from Don El-Zaki and anything that had to do with handling guns ever again. He was tired of living this life. Because of it, he had no wife, no kids, and no relationship. But as soon as he reached the Pyramid, he had his scooter stopped by the police. He had nothing to be afraid of because he wasn't carrying any
ONE LAST CHANCE Caleb waited for the longest 30 minutes he could remember. Thirty minutes turned into an hour and then two hours, but there was still no new update on the incident. He started to get anxious. His hands were tingling from the tension that he had to shove them inside the pockets of his chinos. He was home and on the third mug of coffee that afternoon just to keep himself warm but even that helped very little. He had suspended every meeting and redirected all his work-related calls to the secretary. Sofia who didn't know he was back in Mexico City relayed the details of the conference call she and Mr David had with his grandfather to him. He told her he was cool with everyone's suggestions, and that if there were any new changes or additional information, he'd fill her in. She asked to know when he was returning but he declined to answer directly. Sofia was smart enough not to probe further. As he sat in his living room staring at the TV and occasionally monitoring h
OUTWITTED BY A WOMAN "Don't lose hope, boy. We will get El-Zaki no matter how long it takes." Lord Dezani said with a faint smile. The reporter was still talking. Mateo said, "Turn on the volume, I think there's an interesting announcement." Caleb looked at the screen and saw Doctor Fernandez. He quickly grabbed the remote and increased the volume. She was dressed in her official clothes with a lab coat but had a bandage wrapped over her head. "What the hell is this?" he yelled. "What? Do you know her?" his grandfather asked. When Caleb kept staring without uttering a word, the old man looked again and the face seemed familiar. "Wait. Is she not the same doctor who works at Santos Memorial Hospital?" Caleb nodded still unable to find his voice. "Then what happened?" Caleb pointed. "My name is Doctor Adriana Fernandez. I work as a medical consultant in a public hospital here in Mexico City. I am part of the forensic team working on the sample gotten from the disputed factory
HINT OF JEALOUSY "Hmm," Lord Dezani cleared his throat. "Am I missing something here?""Something like what, Grandpa?" he asked, feigning ignorance."Something like, you know... why the cordial tone with the doctor? Sounds like you two are familiar with each other." Mateo was studying his grandson's countenance. He was wondering whether now was the right time to broach the subject of marriage."Grandpa, you're imagining things. She's just a doctor who has over time become a friend." He said a bit too hastily. Lord Dezani laughed lightly. "You mustn't sound defensive, my boy. Having female friends is okay, as long as they're good-natured and can be trusted."Caleb didn't want to linger for long on the subject. In fact, he never wanted to have this discussion anytime soon. "So, what happens now that Guillermo Lozano is dead?" he subtly changed the subject. Mateo felt the flow of relief that washed over him a while ago slowly fading as the heat of the moment returned. He shrugged and
LOOK WHO IS JEALOUS! "You sound like you're settling in quite well and having a good working relationship with the manager," Caleb said with a chuckle - merely as a cover-up to make light of the question. But he was actually prying to know whether Liliana was having a thing with Mr Sam. Her review of him was quite impressive. It wasn't like her to give someone such a high review barely a week of working with them. "Gosh! He was beginning to sound like a jealous lover." He thought with a murmur. Then chided himself. So what if Liliana finds happiness with another man after what happened between her and her ex? Who was he to say no? "Well, you asked him to look after me, didn't you?" she questioned sarcastically. "He's doing just that." "In that case, I'm happy for you." "Was that the reason you called? To discuss Mr Sam?" Liliana was being cocky now. "Come on, don't be ridiculous. I only wanted to let you know I landed home safely," he lied. "Oh, well, that was thoughtful of yo
KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN ACROSS THE OCEAN Caleb rushed out of the hospital ward and ran back to the reception panting. He saw a lady wearing white standing behind the counter. "Excuse me, nurse. Please I'm looking for the doctor...." he couldn't finish his sentence when something sharp like a needle pricked his neck from behind. Before he could turn to see what it was, he heard a buzzing sound inside his head. Then everything began to spin: shadows of people moving in a zigzag formation, voices echoing like they were coming from a hovel, feet shuffling, and finally there was nothing. Everywhere became dark and gravely silent. *** Caleb stirred and tried to adjust himself when his leg touched something cold and steel-like. He then felt an undulating shake like the time he went on an adventure in his grandfather's yacht. His mother was lying beside him and asked him to lie down too so he could fully enjoy the yacht as it bobbed on the water. But he didn't remember going on a yacht. So
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