“This is not because I think you have problems. Look, I understand everything that you have experienced in the last few days. You were in a mess when I saw you tied up by Ms. Serfa. I can only imagine the humiliation that you experienced there.”“It’s difficult for anyone to face that kind of torture and still resume work the next day. There is no world where that is even proper. I hope you understand why I am insisting on this. One week would be best for you.”Miriam hovered in a flutter of hesitation. “Alright Mr. Leonard, I will take some time off as you have prescribed but I will take only three days. I will use those three days to rest well and come back stronger.”“Okay, three days is fine as long as you take it to rest well. You always have your position ready for you no matter how long you are away. The most important thing is that you are well physically and mentally.”“In the meantime, it is a difficult situation with our beverages and wines being contaminated and I can only
****The next day, Paul Leonard got to Evan Ferguson’s house. “Would you like wine, lemonade, or soda,” Evan Ferguson asked.“Just water is enough Sir. I appreciate your kind gesture.”Ferguson served Paul a cup of water in a glass cup and went back into his seat.“So, I asked that you come visit me because I believe that the matter which you brought to me is very sensitive and requires a lot of attention.”“Yes, of course, Mr. Ferguson. Also, I can't afford to have poisonous beverages and wine in the hands of consumers. There could be a large number of deaths. Only God knows how potent the poison is and how many people would be affected by it if it gets out there,” Paul explained, his posture contorted with conviction.“Hmm. But who could be so heartless as to poison products that are meant to be consumed by human beings? That is probably worse than a terrorist attack because a lot of people would be consuming these products. A whole family could die in one night from this kind of s
Paul checked his pockets and around him - there was no weapon that he could use to defend himself in case there was an attack. While his mind was reeling with thoughts on what he was going to do should the situation become dangerous for him, Mr. Ferguson came out of his inner room and Paul had to blink a million times within a short time to get a grasp of the horror that he was seeing.Mr. Ferguson has a long chain tied to the neck of a young teenage boy. The boy’s limps were a deadly map of abuse and red marks of brutality were all over his body. The red scars on his body were so evident that there was barely any spot on his skin that was not contorted with the tragic painting of abuse.His limbs were a tragic show of suffering and his legs were enclosed in a deadly moist of blood. The teenage boy’s eyes were enclosed in an expression of unconsciousness as his lids were heavy with a tragic weight of fatigue.Paul jolted, his breath held up in a silent terror and his skin a deadly ca
Guzman had performed some medical exercises in his presence; a few of them which resembled the situation that he was faced with. Well, apart from the fact that Benny had additional bruises on his body.“Alright, I will try something out and see how it goes,” Paul said, his hand set in motion. “Do you have a small tube or a straw and also a needle?”“Erm, I don't think I have a tube but I might just have a straw, please let me go and check,” Mr. Ferguson said.He went into his room and ransacked his property to find a straw. His body was trembling with a hurry as he wanted to find the straw by any means. He knew that time was also not so much on his side.Mr. Ferguson heaved a sigh of relief when he finally saw a straw. He rushed out to where Paul was. “Here, this is a straw I hope this will do. There are needles over there in my cupboard. Give me a moment please.”Mr. Ferguson got some needles from his cupboard and gave it to Paul. He only needed one of the needles so he sterilized it
“You are only concerned about protecting yourself, isn't it?” Paul queried. He was beginning to wonder how what was supposed to be a discussion about the contaminated products being held was turning into something else.“Okay, okay. I get it - you don't understand,” Mr. Ferguson said, gesturing to Paul that he should take it easy. “I would never have done anything to Benny. I never imagined in a thousand years that I would hurt a teenage boy like this but when someone close to me is involved, my anger is limitless.”“Someone close to you? Who was close to you that got hurt? Why would you then take it out on the poor boy,” Paul inquired, his face darting back and forth in confusion.“My daughter, damn it! Mr. Ferguson yelled, his voice a deadly rumble of anger. “My daughter has been missing for over 48 hours now and I don't know what to do. Benny caused it and that is why I was frustrated with him.”“Benny? You mean him?” Paul asked, pointing towards the young boy who had just been res
“Rosette didn’t get lost in the forest.”Paul Leonard and Mr. Ferguson turned to where the voice was coming from - it was Benny, who was seated on the ground and his face contorted with weariness.“Rosette was kidnapped - she wasn't missing as I said earlier. I lied to you,” Benny spoke again.“What?! Mr. Ferguson’s eyes bulged with a deadly stretch of surprise, his jaw dropped down like a slacked cotton. Paul’s posture was also stiff with a rigidity of surprise.“Kidnapped? Who kidnapped her? Where was she kidnapped?” Mr. Ferguson asked, his eyes gleaming with a glint of intrusiveness. “Talk to me!”“We were going to celebrate her birthday at a house party but on our way, we were hijacked by several hitmen, about 5 of them. I was only able to recall the name of one of them because her name was mentioned by her colleague during the hijack,” Benny explained, his voice dropping with a deadly whisper of revelation.“Whose name did you hear?” Mr. Ferguson asked, his tone tinged with urge
“Yes, boss. We received a sum of 40 million dollars in a gold card. We were told that the moment we withdraw the money, they will know and it will be assumed that we have accepted their offer. Then, they can come back and pass through the border.”Mr. Ferguson’s face was a desperate mask of anxiety and his hands wrung in a desperate twist of impatience. “And why didn't you take it?” Paul couldn't believe what he was hearing. He wrung his hands in an expression of gestures meant to ask Mr. Ferguson if he had gone out of his mind.The man at the other end of the phone call responded. “Errmm, Sir….I didn't know that we are now meant to take bribes.”“Damnit! F**king take the bribe. Call them, get through to them. Do whatever it takes!”Paul’s face was a silent storm of rage. If he didn't try to manage his temper, he would have interrupted the phone conversation. How would he just cower to their demands?“Sir, but—-”The man couldn't finish what he was going to say before Mr. Ferguson ye
****Rosette was experiencing the worst moment of her life.Never had she been in a condition where ropes were tied on her body against a pole in a harsh tug of captivity. The knots of the rope were tied with a harsh tightening of restraint as she couldn't even move her limbs.Rosette’s body was stiff and stuck to the spot as she wondered why her kidnappers even tied the rope so hard. They could have at least given her some space to move her hands and feet even if it is for air to enter into her armpit.She was just an 18-year-old teenager and there was no way she could have the strength to escape from being tied.Her mind was reeling with desperate thoughts. ‘What is my father going to think? I am sure that he would have gone out guns blazing against my friends. He doesn't like when I hang out with them anyway. I just wish he would understand that it wasn't their fault. It wasn't Benny’s fault or Hector’s fault or Blythe’s fault.’Rosette’s skin was glistening with sweat and a desper