Octavio, a shrewd businessman who was ready to get involved in any business provided it wasn’t legal. He always thought legal was boring. Average height and bulky, his face was always clean shaved as he claimed it made him look younger. Legally, he was into the sales of modern artworks and ceramics. On the side, he ran a smuggling ring and underground sales of rare objects. His latest job was to source for a collection of rare artifacts for a buyer he often referred to as the Collector whom to Octavio, was a regular as they had done several businesses over the years. Octavio and his men waited patiently for their buyers. He pulled out a cigar and sniffed at it the whole time - maybe it was some source of inspiration, no one could tell. A couple moments later, a number of black jeeps stopped at the entrance of the trade venue. It was all dark as it was night already, so the vehicles belonging to both parties had their headlights on. A good number of men came off the black jeeps a
Kristine sat on the jetty and took in the environment. She had taken off her head scarf so that the mild evening breeze blew through her hair. The mood was great, the scenery was perfect. The dark blue waters met the light blue sky at a farther point. The waters were a perfect match to Kristine's blue eyes and her yellow sunflower woven dress fit perfectly in the background, making her presence a beautiful work of art. She watched as the mini waves hit the shores, a number of boats riding at a distance and surfers waiting for the bigger waves. But one thing that wasn't a fit in this environment was the voice the male voice she least expected. "Still on your bucket list of favorite places?" It was the voice of Darius her ex-boyfriend. A little over two months back and Kristine would had been overly excited to have heard that one voice. They were lovers for a staggering four years until Darius started keeping late nights and missing dates. It went on for many months and for each miss
The area of operation was large and teemed with workers in teams. Kristine came into the tent and dropped some map she retrieved from the jeep. “Hopefully this one turns out to be worth it.” “What do you mean?” Camille feigned as if she was upset. “I didn’t mean to upset her majesty” Kristine mocked and bowed. Camille began unfolding some maps. “It’s not like I forced you to come with me anyway.” “But then, what will you do without me?” Kristine asked and went over to hug her friend. Kristine loved ancient history and stuff that came with it. Although she wasn’t a collector, she wrote journals on historical and rare artifacts. She also did some papers on archeological sites and luckily for Kristine, her best friend Camille was an archeologist. Whenever she had a job that concerned something of interest to Kristine, she took her along. This was such a time. Camille’s team had been contacted after a ruin was discovered which was believed to have some sort of ancient artifacts.
An infuriated Octavio paced around his office. It was a well lit white-walled office in a large and busy warehouse. “I never lose- either in business, actual fights or anything.” he repeated continuously. “You already lost a few pounds just pacing around this little space and if you keep on with it, who knows?…you may take part in the next olympic.” Mr. Matteo, his lawyer mocked. There were a few giggles from the guards to which Octavio reacted by clearing his throat, causing everyone to revert to their serious looks. He sat in his chair and brought out a box of cigar. “So tell me, what's your plan, and how do you intend to execute it?" Mr. Matteo asked. “I intend to solve it like I’ve always done in the past. I’ll hunt. Him and maybe everything linked to him that breathes, recover my stuff and go on like nothing-” “Tsk tsk tsk.” Mr. Matteo waved at Octavio to stop. “Definitely not this time. This is someone equally or I should say, a little bit more powerful.” he sat back in his
It was already four days after they retuned from the trip and they were yet to speak to each other. Apparently, Kristine was the one facilitating the silence owing to the fact that Camille already left plenty of voicemails for her friend, who got them but never responded. And whenever she stopped by the house to check on Kristine, she acted like she wasn’t home.On one occasion Camille had coincidentally arrived at Kristine’s just as the later got home. And when she tried talking to her, Kristine went in and slammed the door in Camille’s face.But lately, Kristine felt the urge to call her friend. She had sort of a heavy heart and needed someone to rant to, but when she picked up the phone, a whole new thought creeped in. She thought of what led to where they were now, how childish she had acted towards someone who had been in her life a long time and even when they had fights like this, Camille always still showed she cared about her somehow.Kristine dialed into the phone and it rang
Kristine arrived at the location she agreed to meet Alexander, which happened to be a café. Built within a green area with sparse vegetation, it was designed to fit into the natural landscape. It was surrounded by pine trees and a stream passed by the east side. Kristine couldn’t have asked for a better location.Immediately Alexander set his eyes on Kristine, he was carried away by her beauty. She wore a flower patterned shirt short dress which hung just above her knee, revealing her hot legs.“Hi.” Kristine greeted.Alexander seemed to wake from a trance. He immediately got up from his seat, walked over to her and helped her pull out her seat so that she sat in easily.‘That’s gentleman of him. I’ll give him a pass on that' Kristine though while she smiled and sat in. “Thank you.” She said as he returned to his own seat.“I have to be frank, I thought you’d turn me down.” He opened up.“And I have to be frank as well, my friend edged me on. You have her to thank for my showing up.” K
Kristine looked at her wrist watch, they had been over thirty minutes on the road. It was at that moment she came to her senses and it dawned on her that she was being kidnapped, but then there was no blindfold, no cuffs, no gags, she wasn’t in the trunk. She was fully aware of her environment. She took quick glances at the men who sandwiched her, they acted like she didn’t exist. She tried to get a view of the driver’s face through the rear view mirror to no avail. When the driver noticed what she was trying to do, he adjusted the mirror so that it served the purpose she wanted. It troubled Kristine when she tried to piece everything together. Kidnappers were said to blindfold their victim so they couldn’t take note of routes or get clues about their identities. But these ones went against such rules and didn’t care if she noted their faces. ‘This is weird' she thought ‘maybe it’s a surprise’. In short distances the car made two stops and two Rudy looking men dumped two black bags in
Once they got past the gate, the car climbed up a hilly road lined with pine trees. They took two left turns and came in view of a magnificent gated mansion. It was well structured with defensive positions in which a handful of guards were stationed. The gate to the mansion was at the end of the trees. Immediately the guards at the gate saw the vehicle, they opened the gate so that they drove through.The car pulled up in front of the mansion and the rear doors flung open. The two men alighted and stood guard until Kristine came down too. She looked around and immediately fell in love with the place.There was a fountain across from the house with a standing horse sculpture right in the midst of it. There was a greenhouse to the east and an artificial stream that flowed into the pool. Kristine took her time to admire the environment until one of the men cleared his throat, bringing her back to her reality. Once again, her bitterness took over.“This way.” One of the guys motioned for
Alexander, Francisco and Victor were seated in a Alexander’s study. The three men looked so fresh one would not know they had just gone through a stressful period these past days.“What would you do now?” Alexander asked Francisco.“Well, something I should have done long ago. Probably put people to oversee some things so I can live the life I always wanted.”“What life if I may ask?” Alexander seemed curious.“Explore.” Francisco replied “I always wanted to travel round the world, go wine tasting, try new food, stuff like that. I actually have a bucket list”“No troubles?” Victor asked.“Not at all. No troubles.” Francisco responded, smiling.“Anyway, I would do the same if I was in your shoes” Victor said as he lifted his bottle of beer to his lip.“Maybe you can be” Francisco teased“How?” Victor seemed interested.“A change of name would do.” Francisco suggested.Victor turned to Alexander with raised brows like he was seeking validation.“Feel free. You are of no use to me…” Alexa
Kristine woke up feeling weak and having blurred vision. She laid back and shut her eyes for some time in an attempt to correct her vision. It turned out she had to stay that way much longer as it was a side effect from the medication she was given, unknown to her. As it wore off, she regained her sight and noticed she was in her room. She turned to her side and saw Camille bundled up in a chair just by her bed.She sat up at the side of her bed and stared at her friend who was fast asleep. Camille was probably exhausted from the stress of the recent event, so Kristine thought.Kristine could not recall how she ended up at home. The last thing she remembered was getting into the vehicle with Alexander and Victor. “Camille?”Camille did not respond. She was still fast asleep.Kristine exhaled. “Camille?” this time she was louder.Camille jerked and came awake. “You are up.” She said, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands.“Yeah.” Kristine smiled as Camille rushed to hug her.“How
Octavio ignored all the road signs as he drove furiously back to home, he did not even care about the cops who trailed him for over speeding although they turned back after they recognized his vehicle. He had just escaped with his life from a dangerous place and he needed his wrist tended to as soon as possible. It felt like his vein was severed as the bleeding was yet to stop even though he had strapped it with a piece of clothing.Octavio got to the gate and honked before it was opened. He did not even spend a second to curse at the men stationed there like he usually did whenever they made him wait as even for a second.He stopped in front of the house and hurriedly came off, strode straight to his bedroom without minding anyone or saying a word.Octavio quickly opened his safe and began taking out large wads of cash, his gun and a few passports. He stuffed everything in a little bag and made for his office where he took out his first aid kit and started tending to his wrist.When
“I love the nerves.” Octavio said at the top of his voice “You know, coming here like this.”Alexander approached him, hands in the air in a surrender pose and in one of his hands, he held a briefcase which supposedly contained the documents Octavio requested.Alexander stopped a few meters from Octavio. He knew the place was surrounded as he had seen a few men in strategic positions as he came in.“I presume my stuff are in that briefcase?”Alexander couldn’t place exactly, Octavio’s mood. If it was excitement or anxiety, he could not tell. “Its all in here.” He brought down his hands and tapped on the briefcase. “now where is she?”“Don’t be in a hurry yet. How am I to believe that briefcase holds exactly what I requested?” Octavio asked.“Mistrust.” Alexander noted.Octavio smiled “can’t help it” he opened his hands like he wanted to give a hug “I experienced it right here on this spot.”“And he was right not to trust you if my memory serves me right.” Alexander replied.“Yeah that’
“It feels weird you know, this request of his” Camille said as she bit into an apple she took out of the bowl on Alexander’s study table.“I feel same way about it like you do, but it’s a window we have to take. Especially with what is at stake.” Victor said.“You don’t get it.” Camille said “Why would he risk leaving the safety of his house, to come get something he obviously can’t keep?”Victor frowned at Camille’s question. It was one worth consideration because Octavio was a self conscious person who will never venture into anything that would put his life at risk. Moreover, it was the same warehouse location he set Octavio on his heels so he had serious doubts Octavio would show up except he had the place rigged. “Now I think about it, this is a bad idea.” Victor said.“A bad idea?” Francisco asked “which?”“This whole exchange thing with Octavio.” Victor answered.“We are moving on with it.” Francisco turned towards Alexander “yes?” he had this expectant look on his face.Alexand
“Someone get me Jeff immediately!” Octavio yelled at his men, who were obviously clueless as to where Jeff was. They knew his place in the city and have been there a number of times already, but he was not yet home. His neighbors last saw him three days ago, the same day Octavio saw him last.It was quite difficult for them to make any conclusion because none of them was aware of the cabin's existence. It used to be his refuge when things were a little bit clumsy, but now it was his grave.While he was still at it, the gate opened and a police vehicle drove in. It was Captain Harry’s vehicle. Octavio already had a number of encounters with him and so he could recognize him or his vehicle once within distance. The vehicle came to a stop and Captain Harry stepped out, along with two men who were casually dressed with police jackets.“To what do I owe this unpleasant visit?” Octavio meant to sound rude. Although he was right by addressing the visit as unpleasant because he had never up t
There was a knock on the door. Jeff wasn’t expecting anyone at that time of the night, but considering the fact his place was well secured, he answered the door.“Who is there?” Jeff's coarse voice flowed through the communicator at the door.“Package from Octavio.”Jeff thought for a moment. Octavio never sent packages, instead he texted and whoever had the package met him to pick it up. Since it was way past bedtime, Octavio would never take calls. It was his way.“Octavio never sends packages.” Jeff said. The person stood in a way the security cam could not pick his face, making it difficult for Jeff to make out who it was. “Look at the camera just above you. I need to see your face.”Francisco wore a wig and thicker eyebrows. He was no stranger to disguise as he had used it severally in these situations. He stared straight into the security camera and also held the little box in the view of the camera too.Jeff hesitated for a while. It was still difficult to believe, but if it wa
Police Captain Robert was at the gate waiting when Alexander arrived with the group. They already had an idea of how bad it was from the roadblock and now there was a heavy police presence at the gate.Robert took the group past the gate and beyond the yellow tape. He was the one who texted Alexander while they were at the bar. He had already tried reaching out to Martelli before Alexander but couldn’t because the network at his place was jammed.“Where’s he?” Alexander askedRobert pointed at an ambulance and the group immediately hurried towards it.Martelli was being stitched up.“He refused to be taken to the hospital.” Robert said.“Yeah I know.” Said Alexander “he got trust issues.”Martelli frowned at Alexander.“Does it hurt?” Alexander asked.“No… it stings.” Martelli replied. “They would need more to put me to sleep.”The group laughed.“What happened here?” Victor asked.“I had to take a nap after my driver decided to forget his duties, with the hope of waking up much later
Martelli had a meeting scheduled for much later in the evening. Rather than bore himself out with the news, he opted for a stroll. When his driver had not arrived after a long wait and his mobile was unreachable, Martelli decided to take a nap. He set his alarm for 9:30pm and ordered his house staff not to disturb him except it was something extremely important.About twenty minutes after Martelli had laid his head on his pillow for his short refreshing nap, he suddenly woke up. It was as if someone tapped him, but judging by the time interval between when he felt the tap and when he woke up, the person couldn’t have left the bedroom. He reached for his gun under his pillow and turned off the safety.Martelli first went to the door and examined the knob, it was not tampered with. He proceeded to check around the room, but everything was just normal. ‘Maybe it was a dream' he thought as he went towards the window to take a peek outside.The evening weather was perfect but the eerie sile