As Drake was about to pull out, the semi bald headed man asked him to wait as there were still a few more packages left to be loaded in the truck.
Donald, a distant relative of Summer who was incharge of all deliveries, walked in. He was a stern looking man who had never really liked Drake and was never in support of the marriage between Drake and Summer.
Hearing about the accident, he couldn't help but put the blame on Drake even if he knew quite alright that Drake had nothing to do with the accident. He so much loathed Drake that he wished it was in his power to have him fired from the company.
Walking up to Drake, he eyed him with an open hostility. “So here comes the mastermind,” he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
Drake wasn't surprised. He wasn't expecting Donald to be nicer to him than the other colleagues who had earlier picked on him but he knew he had to defend himself all the same.
“Sir, it was an accident. I'll never….”
Donald raised a hand, silencing him. “Save me those explanations, Drake,” he interrupted harshly. “I wished Summer had listened to her parents and didn't go ahead to marry you.”
“Sir, with all due respect,” Drake said, unable to take the accusations any longer. “I love my wife and my daughter and I'll never do anything that will bring them harm.”
Donald chuckled, “Did I just hear you say you love your wife?“ We all know that the reason you got married to Summer was to get rid of her for the inheritance, huh? You think you're clever,”
Drake took a deep breath, refusing to take the bait. “I'm just here to do my job, sir,” he replied, trying to keep his frustration in check. “I am a man of integrity.”
“Integrity?” Donald scoffed. “Integrity doesn't pay the bills, does it? You think I'm not aware of your financial struggles? Desperation can make a man do terrible things, Drake.”
Drake clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure. “I'll never harm my wife and daughter, no matter how tough things get.”
Donald's eyes narrowed, his disdainful expression evident in his voice. “You won't get away with this, Drake.” He threatened.
Every other person stood watching, wondering what was going on and why Donald was threatening Drake.
“People like you always get what is coming to them. I could set you up so bad that you'd wish you were never born.” Donald added.
Ignoring the threat, Drake focused on loading the remaining packages into the truck. He wasn't ready for any drama and he could tell that Donald had only come to create a scene.
As Drake was about leaving, Donald called out. “Wait, Drake. I forgot to give you one more package.”
Drake turned back, wondering what package it was that Donald had forgotten to add to the truck.
“I'd love you to deliver this package using the delivery bike instead of the delivery truck. Sam would make the deliveries using the truck instead,” Donald said, pointing at another fellow who was also a delivery man like Drake.
Drake just remained still watching as Donald switched one of the packages on the bike with the one he claimed he had forgotten to add, handing him the key to the bike.
Drake couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that gnawed within him as he watched the switching of the packages unfold before him.
He couldn't help but feel that there was something unsettling about the way he did it, but he refused to dwell on it until he glanced at the address.
“Woodruff street?” His eyes widened, sending a chill down his spine. “You've got to be kidding me,” he muttered to himself.
The other delivery guy had pulled away already in the truck leaving him to grapple with the terror before him - Woodruff. The name alone sent shivers down his spine.Woodruff was a home for the underdogs, not to be trespassed by just anyone. It was well known for its faded storefronts and worn out buildings, the hub for criminal activities.Everything, from illegal weapons to counterfeit exchanges took place in Woodruff. He had come to know of the place through his grandfather, during those times when he was still with him.Right from that day, he had sworn never to visit that place again nor have anything to do with it. Now seeing Donald asking him to go over there to deliver a package made him wonder what exactly he was up to.“Sir, the address says Woodruff street,” Drake's eyes narrowed, as he looked back at Donald.“I know,” Donald replied. “You're a delivery guy and your job is to deliver parcels to those who need them irrespective of the location.”“But sir…” Drake tried to pro
“This is all your fault,” Rachel spat angrily, turning to face Drake who suddenly looked stunned, wondering how her being stopped by the police was his fault. “My daughter is lying in the hospital bed because of you,” she added.Drake found it hard to connect the dots between Summer being in the hospital and she driving recklessly but all attempts seemed to appear futile.“Mom, please..” Drake begged, his voice calm while trying to reason with the police officers to let Rachel go.“Don't you dare call me mom,” she interrupted, her voice rising. “You are nothing but a coward and a gold digger. You never deserved my daughter. Summer's greatest mistake was marrying you. Now see where it landed her - in the hospital bed battling for her life.”Drake's brows furrowed, confusion mounting up within him, almost making him want to regret having to stopped by to salvage the situation.“Mother…, not here, please.” He begged.“Then where?” Rachel snarled.The officers exchanged puzzled glances wo
The confrontation between Drake, Rachel and the police officers was still going on when suddenly a sleek black car pulled up at the scene.Stepping out of the car was Captain Morgan, a senior police officer, his presence immediately commanding attention.Captain Morgan was known throughout the city, not just for his rank but also for his influence. He was a tall man in his late forties with a greying hair and a stern expression.“Good afternoon sir,” the two officers saluted, throwing their hands in the air.“Good afternoon officers, what's going on here?” Captain Morgan inquired.“This woman here,” one of the officers began pointing at Rachel. “She was driving at a speed that exceeded the speed limit for minor street routes,” the first officer replied.“Yes sir, she was driving wrongly,” the other officer chimed in.They also went further to explain the situation regarding Summer being in the hospital and Rachel's claims that Drake was the one responsible for the accident and how the
Regret washed over Drake as Captain Morgan shunned him, telling him to save his explanations, “I never asked you to defend yourself, did I?” Captain Morgan snarled.Drake blamed himself for deciding to stop and try to reason with the police officers over his mother in-law. He should have known better than to think that she'd appreciate him trying to intervene. It was at that point that it really dawned on him that Rachel would never accept him as her son in-law. Her hatred for him was just too deeply rooted.Captain Morgan was still scolding him as though he was a three year old kid and it was already getting him infuriated.“Sir, are you saying that I have no right to defend myself?” Drake finally asked, his frustration evident in the tone from which he spoke.Captain Morgan's eyes opened wide in disbelief. He wasn't expecting a low life peasant like Drake to question him. He felt insulted and for that reason, decided to teach Drake a lesson.Seeing that there was no explanation he'
The officers exchanged surprised glances but quickly uncuffed Drake, their faces reflecting a mixture of regret and respect.Drake rubbed his sore wrists, his mind reeling from the rapid turn of events. Just a few seconds ago, he was being ordered to be arrested and just before he knew it, the decision had been overruled by someone who seemed to be more powerful than Captain Morgan.“We're very sorry, Mr. Sullivan,” the first officer apologized, his voice earnest. "This was a misunderstanding.”Captain Morgan sensing the potential fallout, quietly took his leave, feeling defeated. He had no idea who Drake was until the call came in. He couldn't afford to make an enemy of someone who had such powerful backing.The risk to his career was far too great. He thanked his stars that he hadn't done more than he had done before the call came in. It would have been the biggest mistake of his life.Rachel's face contoured with confusion and anger as she watched the officers take off the cuffs f
The first officer walked up to his colleague and asked him not to go ahead to issue the citation against Rachel for reckless driving.“Let her go,” he said, his voice firm.“Really?” The second officer asked, looking surprised. He couldn't understand what was actually happening. “Yes, her son in-law had pleaded on her behalf.” The first officer replied, trying to make his colleague understand the reason why the had changed his mind.“What about the citation against her for reckless driving?” The other officer asked.“That won't be needed anymore,” the first officer replied, dismissing any attempt to continue with issuing the citation against Rose.Turning to Drake who was about to leave, “We apologize again for the misunderstanding, Mr. Sullivan.” The second officer said, his tone sincere.He couldn't help but admire him. Even though Rachel had been rude to him all along, he still begged for her and that alone had made Drake earn his respect.Drake nodded, accepting the apology also
As Drake approached the entrance of the delivery location in Woodruff, a feeling of unease gnawed within him. It was just like the last time he saw it, even worse.There were more dilapidated buildings lined up along the street, their windows falling apart, doors out of place and roofs almost completely off the buildings, yet groups of people met in these buildings.Dark alleyways seemed to stretch endlessly, shadows moving within them, emanating a constant threat of violence causing a wave of fear to course through Drake. Moving forward, his eyes caught sight of a group of men who looked like sentries keeping watch for any signs of trouble or unwelcome intruders. The occasional flare of a lighter and the glow of cigarettes illuminated their faces, revealing expressions hardened by years of survival in the underworld.Drake tightened his grip on the handlers of his bike, his heart pounding. He managed to navigate through the narrow streets and menacing stares until he finally arrive
“What!” Hitler Ivanov's exclamation pierced through the dimly lit room where he sat with his most trusted lieutenants as he opened the package which Drake had delivered to him through one of his thugs.Hitler Ivanov, popularly called “Viking” was the leader of a small notorious gang whose operations weren't just limited to Woodruff but to other similar places within the city.He was greatly feared and respected amongst other gang leaders who operated in the underworld, just like the notorious Adolph Hitler of the Nazis in Germany.His operations were vast and complex, spanning illegal arm deals, drug trafficking and money laundering.He had earned himself the nickname “Viking” as a result of his cunningness and show of no mercy. No one had ever stepped on his way and lived to tell the tale afterwards.He had opened the package with a sense of anticipation, expecting the arms he had been promised only to be met with the surprise that contained in the box was nothing were toys for littl
Drake, Summer, and Michelle were enjoying a sunny day at the park, surrounded by vibrant flowers and the laughter of children playing nearby. Drake had called Prisca to cancel all of his meetings for the day. As promised, he wanted to make the day memorable for both Summer and Michelle. It was the least he could do for a wife and a daughter who had stood by him when he had nothing.He gently guided Michelle’s wheelchair along the winding paths, her face lighting up with joy as they navigated through the park. Summer sat on a nearby bench, her heart swelling with pride and love as she watched her husband and daughter share such a special moment. She couldn’t help but smile, taking in the sight of Drake’s gentle care and Michelle’s beaming happiness.Just then, her phone rang, pulling her attention away. She glanced at the screen and saw her mother’s name, Rachel, displayed.Since she moved in with Michele to stay with Drake, she hadn't been on the good side of her parents, and now se
“Summer, wait,” Drake called after her, his voice edged with regret. But Summer was too angry to wait, as she made her way to their bedroom.Drake stood there for a moment, feeling the weight of her disappointment like a physical blow. He turned towards Michelle’s room, easing the door open to find her fast asleep. Drake stepped closer, his heart heavy with guilt as he watched her sleep. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable, and he felt the sting of his absence more acutely than ever.He crouched beside her bed, gently brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’ll do better. I promise.”With a heavy sigh, he kissed Michelle’s forehead softly before standing up and leaving her room, closing the door behind him.Drake walked to his own bedroom, and found out that Summer was already in bed, facing away from him. The silence between them was palpable, filled with unspoken words and unmet expectations.Drake
On the way back home, Drake couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that gnawed within him. With everything that Mr. Raju Singh had revealed to them, he knew he had to be careful if he didn't want to end up like his parents.Agent Conner who sat in the driver's seat of his car, noticed his feeling of unease, "Are you still thinking about everything that the Indian man had just revealed?"Drake paused for a while, contemplating what next move to make. He couldn't deny the fact that everything that Mr. Raju Singh had told him was true, but he still felt the need to be careful so as not to dance into some kind of trap.He remembered Mr. Johnson telling him to be careful, and not to trust anyone. To him, that was by far, the best advice. Trust was too expensive to be given to just anyone, especially with everything that was happening around him."Have you stopped to think about it?" Drake finally spoke up."Think about what?" Agent Conner asked, as he navigated through a bend."That we s
"Drake, I found out something that might interest you," Agent Conner said, as he spoke with Drake over the phone "What's that?" Drake inquired, his curiosity piqued."Meet me at Hilltop Café. I'll tell you all about it," Conner replied before ending the call.Drake promptly hailed a cab and directed the driver to Hilltop café , eager to hear what Conner had discovered. After his encounter with Mr. Johnson, he had been applying extra caution, using public cabs rather than his personal car.After about ten minutes, he arrived at the Hilltop café. He scanned the area very well before going in, ensuring that no one had followed him down."So, what is it you wanted to tell me?" Drake inquired, taking a seat in front of Oliver. He noticed there was someone else sitting near Oliver—an Indian man named Raju Singh. Drake couldn't help but wonder what Oliver was up to this time, but he trusted Oliver implicitly. "This is Raju Singh. He's a private investigator and he has been carrying out inv
Drake entered into his car, but as he fixed in the key, and ignited the engine, the car sputtered, coughing like a drying old man.Drake couldn't hide the surprise that watched over him, wondering what was happening. That was the same car he had driven down to the office about two hours ago.He stepped out of the car, opening the bonnet, just to see if he could detect what was wrong, and why it had refused to start, when suddenly his phone buzzed with an incoming call, from another anonymous caller.Anonymous callers were becoming too many lately and it was already getting him concerned. He felt it was time to have his line restricted to only a few callers to put an end to these anonymous callers kept calling him.Drake hesitated for a moment before answering, unsure of who could be on the other end. Without saying anything, he listened intently, waiting to hear who was calling and what they had to say. “Mr. Sullivan, don't be afraid, this was the only way I could talk to you. You're
As the car sped away, the weight of the investigation hung over him like a dark cloud, but beneath that, a flicker of hope burned. The truth was out there, buried deep within the lies and shadows. And Drake knew he wouldn’t rest until he uncovered it. Just few minutes after, his phone rang again, and it was a call from Summer, calling to remind him of the appointment with Lewis Tyson."Please be careful," Summer cautioned, as the call came to an end.Drake arrived at the office building and briskly walked towards the entrance. He was grateful that Summer had called him to remind him of the meeting with Lewis Tyson, if not, he had totally forgotten.All he needed to do was to end his meeting with Mr. Ruklov early enough to meet up with the appointment with Lewis. The case regarding IRIS and the death of his parents may be important, but even his daughter walking again, was also important to him.As he approached the door, he accidentally brushed past a man who seemed to be in a hurry.
Drake nodded, understanding Agent Conner's apprehension. He couldn't agree less with agent Conner, as it was very obvious that whosoever it was that they were up against was not someone to be taken for granted.As they left the building, Drake couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a storm of more woes, he knew he had a little hope when the mystery man called him. But the hope seemed to die off. He was stuck, he needed to find clues. He remembered the mystery man telling him that he also had news regarding the death of barrister Clark. Pondering over everything, he couldn't help but wonder what Barrister Clark had to do with IRIS.As they walked to the driveway, Conner's unease was visible, and Drake could see the worry etched on his face. It was unlike the agent Conner he had always known, who seemed to have conquered fear in its entirety."I can't shake the feeling that someone within the Sullivan empire is aware of our plans and is trying to keep this story under w
“What the hell happened here?” Drake asked as he and Conner looked at the hanging man, whose blood dripped slowly, staining the tiled floor."Was he the one you were supposed to meet?" Conner asked, as his gaze fixed upon the hanging man.Drake nodded, his eyes darting from one end of the room to the other as he wondered how the strange man who had come out to fetch him not quite long ago, had ended up dead within minutes. He hadn't seen anyone going in or leaving the flat, making him even more scared.Steeling himself, Drake walked to where the mystery man hanged, trying to recognise his face; he couldn't because he hadn't seen the man anywhere. He wished he had followed him in the moment he had requested for him to come. But on a second thought, he wondered what could have happened to him too if he had, as he might have suffered the same fate as the hanging man."I think I've seen him before," Agent Conner said, as he took a very close look at the man."Really? Where?" Drake asked,
Drake's heart pounded in his chest as he weaved through the city streets, the urgency of the situation weighing heavily on his mind. The cryptic message and the mysterious caller had left him feeling uneasy, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He was expecting agent Conner to have called or texted to inform him that he was done with what he was doing at the office, but nothing like that had occurred.As he approached the designated location, Drake's thoughts raced. What if this was a trap? Who was this person, and why did he want to meet him alone? The questions swirled in his mind, adding to his growing unease. Finally, Drake arrived at the address and parked his car. He took a deep breath and stepped out onto the sidewalk, scanning the area for any signs of the mysterious caller. The street was quiet, with only a few pedestrians passing by, and Dexter couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as he made his way toward the meeting spot. Suddenly, a figure