Chapter 5

“Could someone perhaps explain what happened here?” as he returned to his office, Xavier said. Present were a lot of reporters there, and two of his employees were killed and three more were injured.

“Are you Mr. Houston?” A policeman asked.

“Yes, that’s me,” Xavier said.

“Well sir, from the CCTV footage we watched, your company was attacked by the notorious thieves who call themselves the undertakers,” the policeman said.

“I don’t understand, why?” Xavier asked.

“Can you follow me to the station so we can explain fully?” the policeman asked and Xavier nodded in affirmation.

When they arrived at the station, the policeman directed him to the detective in charge of the case.

“My name is detective Joe Allen and I’m in charge of the undertaker’s case,” Detective Joe said 

“Why should these so-called undertakers rob me?” Xavier asked.

“Well, because you earn a lot, you are rich and well recognized and somehow they must have known that you were going to transfer five billion United States Dollars in an ice cream truck instead of a regular van to the bank outside the state. “ Detective Joe said.

“If I’m well versed in the story, Mr. Houston, the undertakers must be on your watch,” Detective Joe said.

“Who are these undertakers?” Xavier asked.

“Well, based on the few footage we have, they’re three individuals who, based on the mask and body build, appear to be between the ages of 25 and 29,” Detective Joe said.

“To mention a few, they have stolen from STE Corp, Moment Magazine, your company, Star Club, Vee’s Fashion Store, and Houston Automobiles. When you connect the dots, you’ll see that they’re all tied to you,” Detective Joe stated.

“You see, STE Corp. is your father’s friend’s company, according to my findings following today’s attack.” Vee’s Fashion Business, which is your sister’s store, Star Lounge, which is your sister’s friend’s bar, your firm, and your father’s company were all advertised in the Moment Magazine.

The last four have nothing to do with the six I’ve just mentioned. So I pondered, “Why does it revolve around your family?” Detective Joe was the one who inquired.

“How does it have anything to do with your family?” He inquired once more.

“How am I meant to know that?” Xavier inquired.

“Give me a call when you do,” detective Joe said and pushed a piece of paper with his phone number on it into Xavier’s hands.

Xavier was still shocked by the whole thing that happened. His two workers were in the morgue and three in the hospital.

“Get me Mr. Harry from the Human Resource Department,” he said to one of his workers that followed him to the police station and he drove back to the office.

He sat down in his office and awaited the arrival of Mr harry. Everyone was sent home because it was not a safe area as people just got killed.

After waiting for a while, Mr. Harry knocked on the door and Xavier asked him to enter and have a sit.

“What happened?” Xavier asked.

“Well, I organized the files as instructed and gave it to one of the deceased and he took them to where they’ll get delivered but I heard a gunshot downstairs so I went to check..” Harry explained.

“Were you the only one who heard it?” Xavier asked.

“No, they said it was probably an argument and argument comes with a fight, but, I thought it was too loud to be a normal fight and we hardly fight in this company although I wasn’t sure it was a gunshot yet. 

When I got downstairs, two people were out cold and three were bleeding, I called the ambulance and 9-1-1. One of the injured men told me that they took one of the files before he fainted and when I checked. It was the file with the details of the location of the money and how it will be transported and that’s when I called you,” Harry explained and Xavier dismissed him.

Xavier stood up and paced around the office before deciding to go home. It was already on the news so there was no way he could lie to anyone about what happened. His phone just kept buzzing all through his ride home but he didn’t pick any of it. He ignored his wife and simply went inside to sleep. It was a pretTy long day.

***

“I heard about what happened with Xav, is he alright?” Tyler asked immediately she got to the Valerie store.

“No, obviously. Apparently, it is the same one that has been robbing us all, this person must be someone we know, don’t you think?” Valerie said.

“Really?” Tyler asked full of doubts.

“Yeah, it’s too much of a coincident, don’t you think?” Valerie said.

“Well yeah, it’s..” Tyler said but was interrupted when Valerie picked up a call from Scott.

“Hey babe, I heard about what happened on the news,” Scott said sounding concerned.

“Is your brother alright?” Scott asked.

“Well, he’s not picking my calls but I know he’ll be fine,” Valerie said.

“Okay babe, have a great day,” Scott said and hung up.

“So sweet,” Valerie said grinning from ear to ear.

“Yeah, what a nice brother-in-law,” Tyler said sarcastically.

“You are just jealous Ty,” Valerie said.

Her phone began to ring and she checked the caller and it was Jojo.

“Hey, Jojo, what’s up?” Valerie said as she picked the call.

“You know how to talk to your brother Valerie. He’s been brooding since morning and even refused to eat” Jojo said over the phone.

“Okay, I’m coming, I don’t have much work to do here anyway,” Valerie said and Jojo hung up.

“How come your sister-in-law doesn’t know how to calm her own husband and they have three kids, all she gotta do is give him the coochie” Tyler teased.

“Oh please, Tyler, you know how Xavier can be, don’t you?” Valerie said.

“And not everything leads to sex,” Valerie said defending her Jojo.

“You make it sound like I’m a sex addict girl, I’m just kidding,” Tyler said.

“Let’s go to your brother’s house, I’ll drive,” Tyler said and they went to the garage where she had parked her car. 

They met Sheldon, Tyler’s driver on his phone and Tyler tapped him.

“Give me the keys hun, you can go grab a bite or something,” Tyler said and Sheldon gave her the keys and left.

“Let’s get rolling, girl,” Tyler said and they got into the cat and zoomed off to Xavier’s house.

They arrived there in no time and Jojo allowed them in with open hands. 

“Where is he?” Valerie asked as they entered the house.

“He’s in his study, go work your magic,” Jojo said with a smile.

“Okay, Jojo,” Valerie said and went to meet Xavier in his study.

“Knock knock,” Valerie said as she knocked on the door.

“Jojo, I’m okay,” Xavier said thinking it is his wife.

“It’s Valerie, not Jojo and yes she knows you are lying about being okay,” Valerie said opening the door and walking in.

“Hey Val,” Xavier said.

“Hey bro,” Valerie said.

Valerie sat down on the couch there and crossed her legs.

“You know it’s not your fault right?” Valerie said trying to comfort him.

“It is my fault Val and you know it, I should have been more careful,” Xavier said.

“It is not any fault of yours; you probably have a snitch in your company, that’s it,” Valerie said.

“It is your fault if you don’t try to change the bus or the location of the money delivery but it is not your fault that two died and three are injured. It only becomes your fault when you don’t even make any attempt to change it. They stole a file but they haven’t stolen the money yet,” Valerie said.

“If you don’t, their deaths will be all for naught, if you don’t get your ass up and do the right thing, more bad things will happen so all you gotta do is tell the CCPD to get in on the job,” Valerie said.

“The Central City Police Department (CCPD) doesn’t have tight security,” Xavier said.

“Who said that?” Valerie said getting up.

“Don’t just assume, get to work” Valerie said.

***

Justin went to see his mom after work and she was glad to see him. She told him how her day went and the injections and drugs she was given.

“Justin,” she called softly.

“Yes, mother,” Justin answered.

“There’s something I want you to do for me,” his mother said.

“Anything mother,” Justin said.

“I and your father have discussed this a lot of times and it is my dying wish because I know I’m going to die soon but I don’t know how soon it is,” she said.

“Mother, No, don’t say that. Let’s be positive,” Justin said with a croaked voice.

He was fighting the tears because he knew if he cried, She’ll be heartbroken.

“What do you want me to do mother?” Justin asked.

“I want you to get married before I die,” his mother said.

“What?” Justin said surprised.

“It is my dying wish, I might not live to see my grandkids but I want to know that before I died, you got married,” she said sadly.

“But I don’t have a girlfriend not to talk of a fiancée,” Justin said.

“Yea, that’s why I asked you when you first came so we’ll know if we should inform them that you will marry your girlfriend,” she said.

“Mom, what are you talking about? It doesn’t even make sense, who are they? Who are you informing?” Justin said confused.

“Your father’s best friend, Mr. Houston has a daughter that is single,” she said.

“So you want to get me an arranged marriage?” Justin asked.

“No, you’ll get to know her and she’s beautiful and I promise you that you’ll like her,” his mother said.

“Does she know about this?” Justin asked.

“It is only been discussed amongst the parents now and I felt the need to tell you, Justin, you don’t have to do it if you don’t want to,” she said weakly.

“I’ll do it mother if that’s your wish,” Justin said and smiled and she patted his hair and smiled weakly as well.