THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMYCaleb was with the comptroller when all this conversation was going on. But before then, something very strange happened. He was on his way home after giving the money to the comptroller when he got an email from an unknown email address. In the email was written detailed information about his parents and DeZ Cosmetics. The sender wrote, "If you need any piece of information regarding what happened to your parents; their deaths and the original documents of the company, you can reach me via this same email." Then the mail went on to explain how the deal between El-Zaki and Barrister Crusoe was struck, and every other detail which the comptroller read out to the barrister during the phone call. It sounded like the job of an insider. Maybe someone was trying to set up the Don. He had stepped on too many toes, apparently. Caleb then immediately dialled the comptroller's line who told him to come over to a secluded hotel somewhere in town. He got into his new Cad
THE PLOT THICKENS "We are in deep shit," blurted Nathan as he burst into the room. The barrister sprang up. "What happened?" But Nathan could only stutter. "T-the Don..." "What about the Don?" Nathan put his hand into his pocket and fetched his phone. "What happened to your phone?" "The Don's call was connected," he swallowed hard. "I didn't know. And we were still talking." Nathan's awkward breathing echoed against the wall as he tried to explain to the barrister. He gasped. "Are you saying the Don overheard our discussion a while ago?" "Very likely that he did," Nathan replied, cold sweats perspiring from his forehead. It was the barrister's turn to digest the shock. His face grew pale. He dug his fingers into his palm till his temples turned white. Moving away, he began making a quick mental calculation. Then he said, "Let me see the phone." Nathan handed it over to him. "Remove your security code." He did. The barrister checked the call log and the history: how man
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL "What do you want to discuss with me, sir?" Caleb asked Mr Ramirez. "Call me Antonio," he drawled. Caleb kept silent. The man continued, "You look like a promising young lad. What I want is to make you a life-changing proposal." "I-I thank you for this offer. However..." "Don't turn it down just yet until you hear everything I have to say. Which of course I cannot outrightly tell you on the phone until we meet one-on-one." Caleb thought to argue that it was too late into the night for him to drive. But the man's next statement was as if he was reading his mind. "If you are worried about your safety, then I can send my men to bring you wherever you are." At this point, Caleb knew he would have no excuse to turn him down. "I will come over by myself, thank you." When the man ended the call, he growled in agony. "What have I gotten myself into?" But he knew he couldn't go alone. He needed someone he could count on their loyalty. And someone that could hav
HOLD HIM DOWN As she was arranging the guns, she overheard some voices coming from behind the room. She pressed her ear against the wall to listen and the conversation was about Caleb. "It's almost time. Are you sure the Dazani boy is coming?" one of them was saying. "He gave me his word. So I have to believe he will keep to it," his partner said with confidence. "That must be the stranger Caleb was talking about," thought Adriana. "How do you propose to do it?" the first person went on to ask. "I don't think he's going to like the idea one bit." "I have my ways. I am not called a sweet talker for nothing," his partner replied chortling loudly. "You must not be present when he comes," he added as a suggestion. "I don't want him feeling overwhelmed. However, you can be within earshot in case we have to use a little persuasion to make him cooperate." "I copy that, boss." "A little persuasion?" repeated Adriana in a whisper. "What exactly does that mean?" "Although, I'm hoping
THE DIE IS CAST Caleb felt his limps giving in under him. He was either going to partner with this man in whatever business he is into and stand a chance of getting Mr Benson back or heed the Emailer's warning and El-Zaki continues to win. "You are running out of time, Dezani," Mr Ramirez prompted him. He had gotten Caleb boxed into a corner, exactly how he wanted. True to his words; he wasn't called a sweet-talker for nothing."The clock is ticking," he continued, raising his hand to his lips and staring at him over the rim of the half-empty glass of spirit. "And every minute wasted, makes them farther get away." Someone's phone buzzed in the room. It was Antonio's. He swept his eyes over the screen and a half-grin curled the corner of his mouth. "The caller is one of my men. And whatever command I give this minute is what they will do. I only asked them to delay the process until we've had this meeting." When Caleb didn't give an answer, he picked up the phone and pressed the re
THE EXTRACTION "Are you sure about this?" Caleb asked Adriana for the umpteenth time. "You said earlier you hadn't had enough sleep." The doctor had insisted on joining them on the extraction mission. "I am a medical practitioner and my services might come in handy in case one of us gets injured," she replied, then raised her eyebrows inquiringly, "Don't you think?" "One of us?" echoed Caleb. "Are you seriously considering becoming a part of this..." he wanted to say "mess" before trailing off and finally settling for, "underground network?" She regarded him with a silent appraisal and shrugged. "I like to think you trusted me and found me capable before you came to me for help. Isn't that right?" "Yes, but..." "No buts," she cut in when Caleb started to argue. "I know what I'm doing. Pedro would have been here to help you if not for m-me." She broke off as her voice started to quiver. They were standing outside the hotel by Caleb's Cadillac Escalade. The other two were still i
A BLOODY ENCOUNTERDoctor Fernandez had made a quick stopover at the hospital to carry her first aid box, a drip stick and a pint of blood from the blood bank. She gave Caleb the blood to smear some on his face, head and part of his upper body.It was Caleb who remembered the stunt he and Pedro had pulled when they embarked on the planned trip to El-Zaki's mansion before their mission was aborted due to the ambush that led to the first bloody clash.Caleb did a perfect job and it wasn't difficult to fool the security guy. He let the doctor drive in after seeing Caleb's messy body and the drip infused into his forearm. His head was bandaged with a bloody gauze. As soon as they passed the gate, Mr Ramirez put a call to Caleb. "How do you plan on getting him out with just the two of you?" Caleb didn't know what Adriana was planning. It was shameful to imagine that the same person he didn't want to be in their team happened to be their only shot at succeeding on this mission. But it was
PLEASE DON'T DIE"Can't you hear me?" Caleb shook Adriana by the shoulder but she didn't stir."We have to go, Dezani, otherwise the police will round us up." Mr Ramirez repeated impatiently.Caleb didn't pay him any mind. He kept trying to rouse the doctor. "Is this how you easily abandon one of your own?" His tone was laced with accusation and bitterness.Another gunshot thundered forcing Dragon to yell at them. "They're coming. Let's leave, now!"Caleb went down on both knees and scooped Adriana into his arms. Then in a swift motion, stood up and ran towards his car. Mr Ramirez was behind to help get the door. He lay her on the backseat and closed the door. Just then a bullet flew past his ear by a hair's breath. "Fucking bastards!" he cursed and shunted to his side. Then crawled on all fours to the driver's seat and got in.Mr Ramirez wanted to make a run for his car where Dragon had already started the engine but bullets were flying everywhere. He wouldn't make it without being 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