LOCKED UP Caleb had no choice but to obey the order. He began to swim toward the shore, fighting the urge to look back at the spot where Fabian was gunned down. "Raise your two hands above your head," the voice again boomed into the walkie-talkie. He obeyed without delay as he climbed out of the water onto the nearby brush. He didn't see anyone but he knew they were there. As he continued to pick his way through the marsh, they came out of their hiding: one, two three...up to eleven of them. He was counting and panicking. Heavily armed policemen such that he had never seen before; except in the movies. Like the one he recently watched on Netflix titled, Money Heist. Caleb was terrified. "But how did they know not to shoot him?" he pondered as he tried to shake some of the water that plastered his hair to his face. "Walk to the waiting van over at the olive tree on your left," the voice said. He did as he was told. He peeped back and saw the eleven officers following closely beh
THE INFORMANT "That name sounds familiar," the one who stood beside the van when Caleb climbed in was saying. "Really? How would you know when you've never had to work outside this port?" "Because I come from Mexico City, and that name might interest my rich uncle, Don El-Zaki." His colleague shrugged and asked Andrés why? But he refused to say anything further. Andrés Di-Maria was El-Zaki's nephew born by his only sister, Alicia. She unfortunately died giving birth to the boy and he was left in the care of his uncle till he was 18 years of age and went to join the police force - against his uncle's pleas. His father, Reuben Di-Maria, was in support of the dream and El-Zaki had no choice but to let the boy go. He always thought he would teach him the family business and when he came of age, he would partner with his son, Hart, to expand it when he was no more. The reason being his only son, although intelligent, never really had the grit for doing dirty deals. He could successfu
THE SPY Nathan, the Don's personal assistant, was yet to fully recuperate from the gunshot injuries he sustained on the night of the attack inside the factory, so El-Zaki could not send him to investigate Caleb. That left Pablo who was acting like a second-in-command to Nathan. The Don sent for him as soon as he dropped the call with Andrés. "I need you to investigate the whereabouts of Caleb Dezani," he spoke calmly as Pablo settled into the chair next to him in his private room. "Boss, he was last seen on the night of the factory incident I've been told." "Who has been keeping an eye on the Dezanis?" he asked, a bit surprised. He had given that job to Aguero his number-one hitman before he withdrew him to carry out another task, which led to the unfortunate incident at Cholula. "I have my ears to the ground," Pablo said not wanting to disclose his source. The Don knew better than to press on. If his men had their ways, who was he to not trust their discretion? "Right. But mak
A VISITOR FROM HELL "I like the surprise look on your face," Pedro began to laugh hysterically. He stood up from the chair he was sitting and the officers at the counter created room for him to move closer to Caleb. "How are you here?" Caleb mumbled unable to comport himself. He was so dazed that anyone would think he was seeing a ghost. "The same way you managed to get here. In a police van!" Pedro beamed with an uncanny look on his face. Caleb was terrified. How could the police release Pedro from jail? Or was he not locked up as they led him and Doctor Fernandez to believe? Stuttering he said, "You are meant to be in jail." "That's correct. Meant to be..." Pedro mimicked him. "But as you can see, I'm out and you are taking my place instead." "I didn't commit any crime that I should be locked up for," he said louder hoping the police will hear and become interested. "I was kidnapped by those two in there and kept hostage in their hideout." "Hahaha," Pedro laughed sardonically
THE INITIATION "How are you planning to get back your inheritance?" "That's why I'm asking you to join my team. Together, we can build a formidable Mafia group and we would be able to fight all our enemies." Caleb looked into his eyes at that moment and gave him his answer. "I am in," he said straightfaced. "Yes!" came the jubilant shout of Pedro with his right hand folded into a fist. "I knew you'd make the right choice.""So what's the next step?" an anxious Caleb asked. The question stooped Pedro's jubilation halfway."I've got this grand plan which I'm going to discuss with you." Caleb drew closer. "But only when we're out of here." Caleb looked a little skittish staring at Pedro, he was wondering at that moment whether he made the wrong decision. "Look, I know what you're thinking," Pedro said reading his mind. "But relax, we're now brothers!" Just then one of the police officers reemerged and made a sign with his head to Pedro, he nodded and stood up. Then Caleb was ta
YOU'VE BROKEN THE RULE The bowl of blood was passed from one person to another to take a sip from it. By the time it got to his turn, his eyes and the man's own met, and then the bowl fell out of his hands. There were murmurings in the room as the priest glared at Caleb in utter disbelief than disdain."Quiet everyone," he said. The room fell silent. He paced up and down and then said, "Never in the history of this brotherhood have we experienced this kind of thing, surely the culprit must have an explanation for his action."Caleb whose face had turned white in dispair was gazing at the floor, tongue-tied. He was praying Pedro would say something in his defence, but the silence that greeted the question was proof he had to face the music all by himself. "I, I'm deeply sorry," he muttered. Then someone spoke. "I'm sure we can excuse his behaviour on the basis that he was locked up in a cell for nearly a week." It was Pedro who came to his defence as expected, and he couldn't be a
THE PERFECT PLAN When he dropped his phone he looked pitifully at Caleb. "That was Don El-Zaki on the phone." Caleb was stunned. "What did he want?" "He said he wanted me to verify the information that you were locked up and..." "And do what?" Caleb moved closer to the bed. "And if it's true, I should put a bullet in your brain." Caleb looked around the hotel suite and suddenly felt trapped. Was this Pedro's plan with El-Zaki all along? He pondered. If yes, then he's been fooled. He has willingly walked into a death trap. One that he might not be able to get off easily - if at all.He started moving slowly towards the door, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on Pedro.But as usual, the mind-reader which was Pedro could see through him and reacted as calmly as if he didn't notice a thing. "For a brother in the struggle, you disappoint me.""Huh?" came the sound from Caleb."You heard me, man. I mean how can you even think of that?" Pedro asked still not getting up to try and st
YOU WILL HAVE YOUR DEAL Pedro finished answering the call from Don El-Zaki and threw his phone on the bed. He folded his arms across his chest and stood staring at Caleb. "I seriously hope you know what you're doing?" Caleb smiled. "Yes, I do. This is going to work way faster than you would have expected," he said reassuringly. Pedro heaved and sat down, saying nothing further. "I've been thinking though," Caleb spoke next after a few seconds had passed but Pedro didn't look up, "that if El-Zaki accepts the deal and you recover your inheritance, I will intentionally let you hand me over to him alive..." "What?!" Pedro sprang up from the bed. "Are you out of your damn mind? Do you know what that heartless man would do to you?" he was raising his voice. "Of course I do." Caleb acknowledged calmly. "I don't believe you do!" "Because you didn't let me finish first," he chided him. Pedro threw his two hands in the air in a mock surrender fashion and sat back down. Caleb continued
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