CHAPTER THREE

Hunter checked his time.

11:24.

His flight was at 14:00 hours. He had prepared everything and had packed all his gear. Leaving the country was not on his wishlist but there was nothing he could have done, that was his only way to stay alive. He didn’t expect Hilary to betray him like that. Trust, for him, was a big word but he relied on her. He knew she could deliver but along the way, love happened to her. It was the same love that got her killed. Hunter didn’t have any regrets on Hilary’s murder. Killing had become a hobby for him.

His phone rang.

He looked at it feeling his heart pound. He answered and remained quiet.

“Hunter!” A man’s voice answered on the other end of the line.

Hunter didn’t say anything.

“I can feel you breathing and from the looks for it, you are scared Hunter,” the man said.

Hunter restrained himself not to say anything.

“Well, let me get to the point,” the man paused and coughed. “I know you have Hilary but guess what, you can do anything you want with her, I’m done with her. I got all the information I wanted from her,” the man laughed.

Hunter thought about Hilary’s last scream.

“A man like you should never trust a woman. Women betray in a blink of an eye. You should know better.”

He clenched his fists.

“I would like us to meet one of these days and talk,” the man added. “That is if you will still be alive.”

He felt a surge of fury.

“I told them to take you out without much difficult and struggle so that you would be spared of the pain.”

He heard sounds from the outside. He walked to his window and moved the curtains slightly. He saw two men climbing his fence.

“I’m certain you are now aware,” the voice on the phone said. “Anyway goodbye Mr Hunter.”

Hunter quickly went to his gear bag and opened it. He reached for the gun and then thought to himself that it was daylight. He couldn’t use a gun. While debating on what weapon to use, his front door clicked. He knew they had entered. He got his knife and hid behind the door. He stood still behind the door hearing the footsteps which were slowly approaching his bedroom door. From the footsteps, he could discern that it was only one person coming at him.

The door opened. Hunter saw a gun first which the man was holding. Before he could even see his face, Hunter grabbed the gun and hit the man twice with his right elbow on the face. He threw the gun below his bed and whilst the man was still touching his face, Hunter jumped on him and they both landed on the floor. He clenched his fist so hard and hit the man on the face directly deeming him unconscious.

He heard footsteps running towards where he was. He slowly went back inside the bedroom and locked it. He zipped his gear bag and carried it. He went to his window, opened it and got out from it. He ran to the front door and locked it from the outside. He went behind the house and got his car and drove it out of his compound seeing the other man looking at him from the window banging it. He knew he would never shoot because it was daylight and that would have attracted unnecessary attention. Hunter didn’t want to kill those two. His intentions were to send a message to the man on the phone. He drove to the airport. Upon arrival, he knew it would take a miracle to bring him back to Zambia. He was going to his usual hideout in Madagascar.

Mrs. Visashi sat across her husband, Mr. Visashi, on a table in his office. They were both quiet avoiding each others eyes. Mr. Visashi tried to make himself busy because he was feeling her thoughts, and from time to time, saw her evil stare.

“You heard me Kent!” She broke the silence.

“I did,” Kent sighed.

“So what are you going to do about it?” She asked him.

Kent sighed, “my hands are tied. I have so many upcoming and published writers on my back. I cannot squeeze in her work. She’s not even done with her novel.”

“I read a part of it, trust me, its good. I know good when I see good,” Kate said confidently.

“There is a process we follow, Kate,” Kent paused and looked at her. “Just because you like her doesn’t mean she’s all that good.”

“What are you saying Kent?” Kate raised her eyebrows.

Kent shifted uneasily.

“I’m saying let us give her time. She’s still young. Let her perfect her craft and we can talk about her work in two or three years.”

“Impossible!” Kate raised her voice. “If you only saw what I saw, you wouldn’t be saying all this. I thought your work was to assist people like Ludo to fulfill their dreams.”

“It is.”

“But why can’t you?”

“I’m tied Kate.”

“Whatever!” She stood up and headed for the door.

Kent knew better not to let her go out of his sight angry. He stood up and before she could reach the door, he stopped her by holding her hand and closed the door.

“What?” She asked him.

“Sit down.”

She rolled her eyes as she grabbed the chair.

Kent took a deep breathe while tucking his shirt properly and sat down.

“What you’re asking of me is too big Kate,” he said after much thought.

“I couldn’t be asking you for something you cannot manage to do Kent.”

“I know.”

“But?”

“Nothing,” he gulped. “You will have to tell her to bring her work here so that I can take a look at it.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Awwwn my Kent, you’re such a darling.”

“I’m not promising anything though.”

“Fair enough,” Kate got up and went to her husband and kissed him goodbye.

She got outside Bookworld publishing company, beaming with happiness. She got her phone and dialed Ludo’s number.

“Hello Mrs. Visashi,” Ludo answered.

“Hi dear how are you?”

“I’m fine. Sorry about what happened four days ago,” Ludo laughed.

Kate laughed too.

“Its fine my dear. Have you started working on the final chapter of your book?”

“Yes i have.”

“That’s good. Well, I have good news.”

“What is it, Mrs. Visashi?”

“My husband is an editor for Bookworld Publishers and I talked to him about your Novel and he said he would be more than glad to check it out.”

“You’re kidding!” Ludo exclaimed excitedly

“No I’m not dear.”

Ludo screamed joyfully.

“Sorry about that,” she giggled.

“I will text you the address and his number. You should go there and pitch him your work. Is that okay?”

“Yes it is,” Ludo said sadly.

Kate recognised the sadness in Ludo’s voice.

“What is it?”

“What if he doesn’t like it?”

“He will, trust me. I didn’t even tell him about the genre because I want it to be a surprise to him.”

“I will go there. I have to talk to mom first.”

“Okay dear take care now!”

Ludo hung up her cellphone and sighed.

“Talk to me about what?” Her mother entered the bedroom.

“You were eavesdropping mom?” Ludo asked surprised.

“No I was coming to call you for lunch and heard that you will have to talk to me first. What is it? Who were you talking to?”

“It was Mrs. Visashi, mom.”

“Ohhh. How is she?”

“Good.”

“What were two talking about?”

“Apparently, she thinks my novel is worth publishing.”

“You showed her?” Ludo’s mother asked surprised.

“Yes mom. She was interested in it.”

“I thought we agreed we would self publish it.”

“Yes I know but wouldn’t self publishing be expensive mother?”

Ludo’s mother nodded.

“You see? Let us try out Mrs. Visashi’s husband.”

“Its her husband?”

“Yes. He is the editor at Bookworld publishing company.”

“That’s huge.”

“I know, right?”

“But you are yet to finish the last chapter.”

“Its just the last chapter, we have to finish it tonight mom.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes. You have plans?”

“Not really but I thought tonight was movie night.”

“We can postpone mom.”

“Ok sweetie.”

Ludo and her mother worked on the novel the whole night. By the time it was 3am, they were convinced it was done.

“Are you really sure this is the ending you wanted?” Ludo’s mother asked her.

“I’m sure yeah,” Ludo answered with a smile.

“Ok take it tomorrow.”

“Have you drafted the synopsis?”

“Yes I have.”

“Good. Have some rest, you have a big day tomorrow.”

“Goodnight mom.”

“Goodnight sweetie.”

“Wait mom. Dad?”

“He called me saying he traveled.”

“He didn’t tell me.”

“I’m sure he will call you this morning.”

“Ok mom.”

As Ludo walked to the gate of BookWorld publishers, she felt her heart racing. She started doubting herself if what she had written was good enough. She wanted to go back but comforted herself that it was going to be fine. She reached Mr. Visashi’s office and found a secretary.

“How can I help you young lady?” The secretary asked with a smile.

“I’m here to see Mr. Visashi,” Ludo answered.

“You have an appointment with him?”

“Yes.”

The secretary got her receiver and dialed. Ludo watched her talk while she admired the office.

“You can go in dear.”

Ludo went in and found Mr. Visashi sitted comfortably on his chair. He pointed her to a chair.

“You must be Ludo?” He stared at her.

Ludo couldn’t feel her legs as she sat down. She was nervous.

“Yes sir.”

“Ok I’m going to give you one chance to lure me into the world you have created. My wife talked highly of it.”

“What do you mean 'lure you' sir?”

“You have the synopsis?”

“Yes sir,” Ludo opened her laptop bag and got a piece of paper and wanted to hand it to Mr. Visashi.

“No. Keep it for now.”

Ludo was surprised.

“Where is the manuscript?”

“Its in the bag sir.”

“Ok, tell me about your story. What genre is it?”

“Crime fiction.”

Mr. Visashi’s face brightened. It had been a while ever since a writer had come who was in the genre of crime fiction.

“What is it about?”

“Its about a family who are involved in every sort of crime imaginable. Their crime activities are run by their mother.”

Mr. Visashi’s curiousity grew even more.

“I have given names to my main characters. For example, the mom is referred as a Lioness. The first born is Brawler and his brother is Brains while the last born is Jezebel,” Ludo smiled.

“I see.”

“And their father is wheelchair ridden. He is the Wounded Lion. He has stroke.”

Mr. Visashi smiled and said, “I hope the work is as good as what you have told me.”

“It is sir,” she smiled.

“Ok hand it to me. I will get back to you. Let me have my people look at it. Don’t worry I will give you an honest opinion of your work.”

“Thank you,” Ludo left.

Later that evening, Mr. Visashi was having a drink with one of his friends and mostly they would talk about work and other things. He got interested with Ludo’s work but was only worried if she was ready enough to get published. His wife told him about her condition and got really concerned.

“What is bothering you my friend?” Obrien asked Kent.

“A girl brought a manuscript today and I think she’s destined for greatness. I’m just worried about her condition,” Kent answered.

“If she’s good don’t worry about her condition. How good is her work?”

“Very good. My people said they are enjoying it.”

“Really?”

“Yes man,” Kent sipped on his pint.

“What is it about?”

Kent told Obrien about Ludo’s storyline. He told him everything she had told him amd he was equally astonished.

“It’s good i tell you. My wife has an eye for good things,” Kent smiled.

“Unfortunately not when it came to you,” Obriene laughed.

“You fool.”

“Let me grab some more beers,” Obriene stood up.

Kent remained and texted his wife that he was going to come a little bit late than usual.

“Excuse me,” a man touched Kent’s shoulder.

Kent turned around and didn’t seem to know the man.

“How can i help you?”

“I couldn’t help it but heard you talking about a story.”

“Ohh yea. A girl brought in a story that we are currently working on.”

“Did you mention something like Brawler, Brains and Jezebel?”

“Yes, you are a great listener,” Kent was surprised.

“Those names you mentioned exist,” the man looked around as if scared.

“Yes they exist in Ludo’s story.”

“No! Not in the story.”

Kent looked at the man.

“Those are real people.”

“Are you drunk?”

“I’m having orange juice,” the man showed Kent his glass. “The names you mentioned are nick names of the infamous crime lords of our City. Brawler and Brains are twins.”

“You are kidding right?”

“How i wish i was, man. Your girl, Ludo, is getting herself into some serious trouble,” the man said assured. “Did they do something to her?”

Kent’s heartbeat raced. He remembered she told him it’s crime Fiction.

“If i were you. I would stop talking about those names because people who do don’t live to tell the tale. Look at those guys over there,” the man pointed at a group of guys sitted looking at them.

Kent tilted his neck.

“They also heard you talk about the trio.”

“It’s a story,” Kent said shaking.

“Don’t tell me i didn’t warn you,” The man stood up and left the club.

Kent was panting heavily. Obriene came back and asked what was wrong with him. Kent looked around the club and felt that all eyes were on him.

“I have to go,” he got up and ran to his car.

Ludo couldn’t stop smiling about the progress she was making. She felt at peace knowing that she was trying something different. At least she would prove to her father that all the time she spent writing was not a waste. She looked at the photo of her parents on her table and smiled. She touched it and said, “Goodnight my people, i hope you work things out.” She closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.