While Xavier’s men were on their way back to the car after confirming the money, Marve put down his binoculars and turned to Xavier from the passenger seat. “There is no sign of the kid Marcus in their convoy, he was supposed to give us a signal if he had the painter way before now. I only saw a lady in the car with Julian, I think she could be the painter,” Marve reported to Xavier. Xavier grunted in anger and slammed his laptop shut.“I just knew that kid was up to no good…… He’s going to pay for this. Find his father and bring him to me,” Xavier ordered Marve.“Give me that!” Xavier said out of anger and collected the binoculars to take a look as well. “Yes boss,” Marve answered and passed the binoculars to Xavier who then took a look and saw me at back seat, right before we drove out. “That’s my beloved alright….. I wonder what made Julian bring her out here to be snatched. At least saves us the trouble and risks of taking her from his domain,” Xavier said pleased. “But she’s
The head security was done doing his usual rounds around the house when he suddenly observed that Julian was yet to be back and it was long overdue. He brought out his phone and dialed Julian’s number but it didn’t go through, he then dialed Frederick’s number more than once and it rang but no one answered. Now this was unusual of Frederick not to pick up his call and Julian’s number not being reachable. He turned around and saw Marcus standing in his position, still trying to figure out a way to leave the mansion in his head. “Hey you!” The head security called out, pointing to Marcus.“Me?” Marcus asked.“Yes you….get me two other men and get the car ready now. We are heading out,” the head security ordered.Finally! There was an opportunity for Marcus to leave the house. Of course he had to think of a way to evade the head security and others while they were outside but he decided he would figure that out when he gets out of the mansion. “Yes sir,” Marcus answered and went off t
Marcus was still on the run as he kept driving as fast as he could with the mindset that he could be followed by Julian’s men. After he drove for a far distance and realized he wasn't being followed, he brought his burner phone and dialed his father’s contact and it answered. “Dad, I was able to escape,” Marcus quickly said over the phone.“Good! We've been trying to get in touch with you….. If you know what's best for you and want your father alive, come to the address you'll receive,” Marve said over the phone and hung up. Marve texted the address to Xavier’s place to Marcus and handed the burner phone over to Xavier. “Do you think he'll show up?” Marve asked. “I guess we'll see how much he loves his father,” Xavier said as he turned his attention to me. “You see at first, I heard that Julian had abducted a famous painter and I wondered, what could he possibly do with a famous painter to have her kidnapped? Keep her as his play thing? Make her paint a couple of plagiarized artw
There was a lot going through my mind now, my father who I considered dead is alive and well before me. “No—no—no, something must be wrong with me. I must be seeing things.” I said to convince myself. “I hate to interrupt your little reunion but I need to get to business,” Xavier said and turned towards Davidson who had sign of emotions.“Mr Davidson, we get to meet again and this time around, quite unplanned,” Xavier said. “Xavier, I can explain,” Davidson implored. “I think its a little too late for explanation don't you think? You and your son had just one little job to do, to get me Lexi!!. I just had to get her myself didn't I?” Xavier exclaimed. Another shock hit me, one that I wasnt expecting. “What—what do you mean his son?” I asked as I hoped to get an answer. “Sorry to ruin all of this for you princess but it is just as you heard. I'm sure you met this son of his a couple of times while he was in Julian’s mansion didn't you? Whats his name again?” Xavier turned and a
Marve led me back to my room and I immediately laid down on the bed as I was already exhausted. The bandage round my stomach was already soaked with my blood as it required dressing. “I'll get you a nurse to dress up the wound,” Marve said. He decided to take his leave when I called back his attention. “Why did you do that?” I asked inquisitively. “What do you mean?” Marve asked as though he had no idea what I meant. “You lied about not seeing Julian in the car with me……you could have ended Julian’s life and made your boss happy and proud but you didn't,” I said. “Lets just say I am my own man and I get to make my own choices. I'll send the nurse,” Marve said this and exited the room. A certain kind of sadness befell me and I thought about Julian and Frederick in that moment. **************************************************************************** *JULIAN’S MANSION* Mr Walter, the head security, helped Frederick open the door to Julian’s room and they both entered
It wasn’t enough that I found out at a young age that I was adopted when I was five years old, now I have to live with the fact that my foster father who had been dead all those years suddenly showed up alive and sold me to the highest bidder for money and his own gains— Sometimes I wished my foster mom was alive, she wouldn’t have allowed all of this happen. A number of new white canvases, oil paints and brushes were sent to the room where I was locked in. There was no end to this cycle, I got kidnapped by Julian and started painting, now I’ve been kidnapped again by Xavier and forced to paint again, that left me to wonder if all of this would ever end. I was sure that the end with Xavier would be a lot worse than with Julian. I picked up the paint brush and remembered the time I drew my first strokes while I was with Julian. I took a seat before the canvas, my thoughts about Julian swirling in my mind. I knew that I needed a way to figure out what happened to Julian and how he
I waited for him to say something but he didn’t. “I guess it’s a very painful memory…. I have one too, I mean a painful memory not a scar,” I said immediately.“I don’t think you’re in any position to share stories with me. I am only here because I want to, not because you want me to be there,” Marve said to cut off that conversation. “Of course, I am sorry I got carried away…. You just seemed like someone I could share it with. Truth is, I actually wanted to ask you about Julian….you were the last person who saw him after the accident.” I said. “Maybe I should have just shot him dead……then you’d forget about him and do what you’re asked to do to save your life,” Marve said indifferently. “And I have come to understand why you didn’t when you could have…..Look, I am not trying to question your choices, I just want to know if he's okay.” I said.“I also want you to understand that I don't know anything about Julian after I left the scene……I took you and left them there, I am sure h
Slowly his finger tweaked, his eyes opened and his view slightly blurry. Julian opened his eyes now and was still dazed, unsure of what had happened and what state he was in. He tried to let out some words but found it a bit difficult as his throat felt coarse and clogged as he had been asleep for long. He gave it another trial and finally the words came out slowly and hoped to be heard. “Waa—water,” Julian said slowly. The words echoed lowly but couldn't reach whoever was outside his door so he tried again and this time around made it a bit more loud. “Can—can I-I get water?” Julian asked. Fortunately, the guard standing outside Julian’s room heard part of what he said and quickly came into the room. Surprised to see Julian awake on the bed and asking for water, he quickly radioed the head security. “Sir, Mr Julian is awake!” the guard let out happily with a smile and ran out of the room to get a glass of water. The next time he came back, he came with the doctor, Frederick a
Julian has finally gotten to the border of Russia as the chopper dropped him off there and flew back home as he could not pass through the border without proper means. Just like Stronach said, there was already a pick up ride waiting for Julian at the border the moment.He came down from the chopper with his backpack and walked towards the pick up ride as there was a man waiting by the car.“You must be Mr Julian….I will be the one to drop you off at Mr Stronach’s,” the aide said.“How far is it from here?” Julian asked.“Not far enough to disturb your peace on the journey, shall we?” the aide said as he gestured his hands for Julian to get into the car.Julian got into the car with his back pack and they drove past the border and to Stronach’s. The aide drove for a while and finally we arrived at Stronach’s. Julian and the aide finally got to Stronach’s as he was led into the compound and then to where Stronach was, busy grooming one of his horses. “Ah! my business partner Julian!…
Frederick called Mr Blackwood the moment I got carried away.“I’ve done what you wanted, please tell me where my brother is” Frederick said. “ I will tell you where your brother has been moved to. I am a man of my word and a generous one, Julian, might not be so much” Mr Blackwood said and hung up.Frederick later received a text message from Mr Blackwood and it was the location of his younger brother and this was after Mr Blackwood had confirmed my location with the two men before Detective Garrett arrived. Frederick ran into the car and drove off as fast as he could to the location that was sent to him.He finally arrived and it was a private hospital, he went into the hospital and after he asked for the ward number where his brother was moved to, he went straight there and found his brother bedridden with a private caretaker. The caretaker excused herself and left the two brothers. Frederick came closer and sat next to his brother’s bed and held his right hand.“I am sorry, I s
“But why?……There is no reason for Frederick to do such a thing” I said.“Well there is always a reason behind everything. Why don’t we start with what Mr Blackwood wants with you?” Detective Garrett asked as he sat on the chair while I sat on the bed.“Mr Blackwood? How do you know of Mr Blackwood and how do you know he has anything to do with this?” I asked.“You seem to ask a lot of questions young lady……I found the phone call logs of one of the men that kidnapped you and the last call made was to a number saved as Mr Blackwood, does that answer your question?” Detective Garrett said.“How do you know Mr Blackwood? You haven’t answered that” I said.“How I know Mr Blackwood doesn’t matter…..you know Mr Blackwood but you don’t seem surprised that he sent men to kidnap you, why is that?” Detective Garrett asked curiously.“Because it’s not the first time” I said.“What do you mean? You have been kidnapped before?” Detective Garrett asked.“It’s a long story and I don’t think I have th
I sat there in the backseat as we drove fast and past trees, the fresh air up against my face as I inhaled and exhaled. The thought of painting such beautiful scenery occupied my mind and before I could finalize that thought, we had gotten into the city. Bubbling and quite busy but not so busy.We drove past cafes, restaurants, bookshop, art galleries, marts, precincts and every other thing that could be found in a city. We finally arrived at an art gallery and I was quite eager to step in and feed my eyes with artworks and creativity. I had finished admiring the pieces I was attracted to now and I just knew it was time to eat as my stomach had been rumbling.“Can we grab something to eat? I am so hungry right now” I said to Frederick who was still lost in the works of art he had seen.“Yeah sure. I am sorry, I should have made arrangements for that…there is a spot that I visit when I am here” Frederick said as we stepped out and got back inside the car and went to the new location
Walker prepped the chopper as he was told as he stayed by it until Julian’s arrival. Julian finally got to the helipad.“Good morning sir…….I wasn't aware of this trip, I would have prepped things earlier” Walker said.“Its fine Walker….have you notified Stronach of my coming?” Julian said as he tapped him on the shoulder and then threw his back pack into the chopper.“Yes sir, there will be a pick up car at the border……is there any task you'd like me to perform while you are away sir?” Walker asked.“Just keep your eyes on Xavier, we can't have him making any sudden moves” Julian said. “Will do sir” Walker said.“You are going to be taking orders from Fred and keep him updated cause he'll be the closest to you” Julian said as he got into the chopper and sat right next to the pilot.The pilot turned on the necessary engines and took off. Just then Frederick walked to the helipad but the chopper had taken off so he only met Walker there.“He’s gone?” Frederick asked.“Yes sir, he took
“I’ll explain when I am done with all of this,” Detective Garrett said.“What do you mean when you are done with all of this?… what exactly are you getting into Karl?” Detective Mike asked.“I just need you to trust me Mike, can you do that?” Detective Garrett asked.Detective Mike sighed but deep down he knew that he wasn't going to get Detective Garrett speak up about the sudden transfer. “Fine, I'll trust you and hope that you get to the bottom of whatever it is you're pursuing,” Detective Mike said. *********************************************************Back To The Present “That one call made everything come crumbling down,” Detective Garrett said.“I'm really sorry about Frieda, I had no idea you had this deep reason behind all of this,” the informant said.“I have been on this case for a while now and getting concrete evidence against the Blackwoods is my utmost priority” Detective Garrett said. “And I am happy to help with whatever you need,” the informant said.“Thank y
“You must be her uncle Karl, your number was the only emergency contact we found in her wallet……I’ll give you both some time” the morgue attendant said and exited the room. Detective Garrett began to sob in pain and deep hurt.“I’m so sorry pumpkin….I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you….I’m so sorry, please wake up and say something. I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” Detective Garrett kept saying as he ran his hands over her face, still unable to believe that his only niece and relative left was gone. “How you must have felt all alone and scared pumpkin…..I shouldn’t have let you go, I shouldn’t have let you go” Detective Garret kept muttering as he held her body in his arms and wept profusely. Just then the pen recorder fell out of Frieda’s pocket and Detective Garrett remembered he gave it to her and then held onto it instead as he wailed while holding her body. After a couple of long minutes with his niece, Detective Garret was finally able to let go of her body for the morgue
Xavier stood there and looked over Frieda’s body.“What were you thinking huhh?…..I had wanted to give you a painless death, I guess you got it,” Xavier said.“Get rid of her quietly,” Xavier ordered the other man and he did as he was told.Xavier approached Marve now.“Directly from the boss huhh??” Xavier said to Marve but he didn’t say a word.“Well while you’re under my watch……you only report and respond to me, I alone am your boss! Now is that clear?” Xavier asked.“Yes sir,” Marve said.“Have that treated or it’ll infest,” Xavier said as he picked up his jacket and they all exited the lodge.**********************************************************Detective Garrett was done with work and was home now. He had been expecting a call from Frieda as regards the auctioning she went for with her new client but yet there was no call from her. Detective Garrett deemed it that she was probably caught up with other things and decided to not overthink it. But then two days passed and yet
“It’s pretty simple, paint the damn replica or you die. We don’t have to be dramatic about it” Xavier said.“Please don’t kill me, I am as good as dead the moment I paint the replica. Please let me go and I won’t say a word” Frieda pleaded.“Agree to paint the replica and you won’t have to die, it’s quite simple don’t you think?” Xavier said. “Why does it have to be me?” Frieda asked.“You were the easiest to trick into buying one of your pieces, what’d did you call it? Resonance?” Xavier said and burst into laughter and went away to the restroom. It was at this point that Frieda knew that she had woefully made a grave mistake and there seem to be no way out. She suddenly remembered her uncle’s words to be careful and wished she had just listened to her head instead of her heart. In the process of regretting her decisions, Frieda felt a slight bulge in the back pocket of her jeans and remembered that she had put the pen recorder Detective Garrett had given her as a present the last