The Missing Truth 9

At The Complex

Laura expected to see Bright on the bus. That would help her in her conclusion about his status. To her disappointment, he was not there.

“What is going on?” She asked herself and looked left and right like a pickpocket.

Those who saw it were skeptical about her and wondered if she was normal.

Nevertheless, Bright must taunt her. He walked to the bus and inquired, “Is Ted here?”

“Look at Ted behind you,” his colleagues shouted and he turned.

He feigned surprise and asked, “Why are you here? Are you not coming with me?”

“I thought you wanted to give the former secretary a ride,” he answered with a silly grin, and the staff members, including the driver, burst into strident laughter.

“Let's go,” he announced and they left leaving their colleagues laughing happily.

The Next Day - At The Hotel

Tim left with Richard after his breakfast and met Ambrose and his men ready. After their pleasantries, they moved and Tim was startled.

“The bus driver and his attendant are citizens, why are they aiding them in evil?” Tim asked.

“They may not know what they are doing. They must have hired them just like everyone.”

“You are right but interrogate them to find out the truth.”

“I got it, Boss.”

Their trip to the site (Bournemouth) was approximately thirty minutes from Christchurch. They alighted when they arrived and the indigent farmers were scared to see a uniformed officer.

“Continue with your work,” Richard advised them.

They looked at him to be sure that he was not there to arrest them. When they were convinced, they calmed down.

“Thank you, officer,” they appreciated him one after the other and continued with their work.

Meanwhile, Tim faced Ambrose and asked, “Is this the place?”

“Yes. It is here.”

“Let's start. The Third in Command is eager to see that you succeed.”

“Okay,” he said and looked at his colleagues.

Quickly, they opened their backpacks which were arranged in the bus, and changed to their work clothes while Tim and Richard looked on.

“We are set,” Ambrose said and they moved with their tools.

Within a few hours of digging, they brought out a reasonable quantity of Blue Diamond.

Tim picked up some from them and complimented them, “This is good. Your Head of State would be happy with you.”

Ambrose smiled satisfactorily and explained, “Yes. I will take a picture of the precious stones and send it to him.”

“Yes. How long do you intend to stay before going back?”

“We don't intend to go back especially now that the Third in Command is backing us,” he answered honestly.

“I see,” Tim said with a happy demeanor and  Ambrose was pleased to explain further.

“We will always ship them to our country and continue to mine.”

“You have a point. I will leave you now. Please reach out to me when you return to the hotel.”

“It is all right.”

Tim moved and Richard followed him. They got to the car and met some farmers waiting for them with fruits and vegetables.

“We have this for you, Major,” they informed him happily just to appreciate Richard for his kindness.

“Wow! This is nice,” Richard appreciated them.

They were happy with his comportment and complimented him, “Thank you for your understanding. It is from our farms.”

“I see. Thank you for this.”

“You are welcome, Major.”

“But why are you illegally farming here?”

“It is just for the season.”

“We will leave after the season.”

Tim who knew their type smiled. That was the same excuse they gave at Rakaia and they will stay forever if not checked.

“For how long have you been farming here?” He asked them and they were disoriented.

“Just three years,” one of them answered fearfully.

“Ha!” Richard who believed their lies exclaimed.

“No, it's just two years,” another farmer corrected.

“I thought you just said it's for a season,” Richard asked and they were mute.

Tim smiled and asked, “Have you seen these foreigners before?”

“Yes.”

“They always come around.”

“That is good. What are they doing here? Are they farmers too?”

“We don't know. Maybe they want to buy the field.”

“They said our government sent them.”

“It is all right. Thank you for these,” Tim said and opened his trunk.

The farmers helped them to arrange the fruits while Richard walked to the bus driver and his assistant.

“Good morning, Officer,” they greeted him happily.

“Good morning. Thank you for bringing our guests.”

“It is our pleasure, Officer."

“I can see that you are their regular driver?”

“You are right, Major.”

“It is all right. Kindly give me your contact. I can get in touch with you when we have such visitors.”

“That will be great,” the driver said and called out his number.

At The Auxiliary Armory PLC

George got to work with the spirit of a submarine captain – an astute decision-maker – who trusted his colleagues to indicate where their ship was headed. He informed the General Manager that there would be a meeting at 10 AM with the other managers and the company's lawyer and he disseminated the information.

“I hope all is well,” he asked himself afterward.

Meanwhile, George sent for Bright and he arrived at once.

“Get ready for a meeting at 10 AM,” he instructed him.

“It is all right, Boss,” he accepted and walked to the pantry to ensure that they had enough supply of beverages. When he was satisfied, he walked away.

Nevertheless, Capt. Bolton arrived earlier to discuss the agenda of the meeting with him. After he learned that Laura's lawyer was in the complex the previous day, he hissed.

“Did he investigate the matter before embarking on this?” 

“That is his business. Associating with an impulsive staff like her may embarrass him. So he had better get rid of her as soon as he could.”

“That is it. Otherwise, he may realize very late.”

While they were talking, the Accountant and the Head of Media walked in. They greeted them accordingly and took their seats at the conference table. 

Not quite, the others arrived and the meeting began. Bright and the barrister sat on the visitors' seats. 

George looked at the barrister and requested, “Kindly read the petition.”

“OK, Sgt. Young,” he accepted and read through the petition.

“Thank you for that, Barrister,” George appreciated him.

“What do you think we should do?” He faced the managers and asked.

The Accountant who dislikes her for her repulsive behavior asked, “Can we have her engagement letter? We will be able to know her entitlement and other conditions of employment.”

Everyone looked at Capt. Jaja for his input but George was in haste and overruled, “Thank you, Capt. Graham. Her lawyer will communicate that to her. Okay?”

“Yes. We will communicate to her through her lawyer,” Capt. Trenton added.

“Good. Let's focus on the issues she raised on the petition. I think we have to make our position known to her lawyer. Does she have any evidence to prove that our staff gave her father a poisonous substance?”

“She has to provide a medical report to that effect,” Capt. Bruce pointed out.

“I agree with you, Capt. Bruce. Apart from that, was the chef her doctor? How can she over-labor her by giving her the additional task of getting drugs for her father?” Capt. Miles pointed out.

“That is contrary to work ethics.”

“And an infringement on her right.”

George listened attentively to their points and the barrister noted them. He added the points that Tim raised the previous day and they agreed with him.

“Your points are apt.”

“She thought that we would let her off the hook.”

At last, George concluded, “Thank you all for your contributions. Capt. Graham kindly raises a check of two million pounds sterling compensation as her lawyer requested.”

“Ha!”

“Huh!”

He allowed them to express their displeasure before he explained.

“The check is to prove to the barrister that we are not poor before we ask for our compensation.”

They laughed aloud at his prank and the Accountant accepted, “I got it, Sergeant.”

“Yes. But ensure that she can't cash it until she pays ours,” George declared and they laughed again.

“How much compensation are we asking from her?” The barrister asked.

“You are right, Barrister. How much will she pay us?”

“I suggest ten million pounds sterling,” the General Manager said and the others were afraid to oppose him.

George noticed it and asked, “Can she afford it?”

Now, all eyes were on Capt. Bolton and he reasoned with George.

“You are right but can she even afford half a million?”

“That is the question. She has beaten more than she can chew.”

“Whether she can pay it or not, I propose eight million pounds sterling. If she can't pay, she will go to jail,” Capt. Sawyer stated.

They laughed again and George asked, “What is our conclusion - ten or eight million pounds sterling?”

“Eight,” they chorused and the meeting came to an end.

“I would like to see the petition before you serve them, Barrister,” George informed him when he was about to leave.

“I got it, Boss. It will be ready before the close of work today.”

“Don't rush yourself. We will respond this coming week.”

The barrister was taken aback at his lack of seriousness but accepted, “I got it, Sergeant.”

At The Second in Command's Office

Tim returned home after they left the bush and Frank was surprised to see the items they returned with.

“Ha! They may go bad before we finish them,” he remarked.

“Not at all. My brothers are coming back from school today.”

“Oh, my God! We will have a full house.”

“Yes. Richard will take some to his family.”

“I got it.”

After lunch, he left for Gen. Hill's office.

“How did it go?” He asked enthusiastically.

“It went well. Here is the unrefined Blue Diamond,” he said and handed them over to him.

“That is good. I can't believe that we have such precious stones in Canterbury,” he said after examining it.

“Just like me.”

“I will get additional miners and add to them.”

“It is a good idea, Your Excellency but I propose that we should wait. Or they will not be free to show me the other sites.”

“You have a point. All the same, we will secure the site as soon as possible.”

“I have it in mind.”

“Good job.” 

“Thank you, Your Excellency. Let me run along. I'm doing the school run today,” he announced unconsciously.

“School run? When did you become a parent?” He asked and fixed his eyes on him.

He smiled softly and corrected himself, “I mean that I will pick up my brothers-in-law from the Academy.”

“Oh! Are you taking them home? That is risky to your position. You will expose yourself.”

“Not at all, Your Excellency. They are spending the holidays with me. They refused to return to their parents after they recovered.”

“That is it. They don't have the same character as their sister.”

“You are right.”

“Kindly, take care of them.”

“I will.”