At A Private Bar: Back To The Present
The setting was a dimly lit, exclusive private bar—the six shareholders—Mrs. Happiness, Ms Holly, Mr Thomas, Mrs Anthonia, Mr Arin, and Mrs Tyler were huddled together on the luxurious armchair in the private room at the bar. Their earlier arrogance from the previous meeting has now been replaced by visible fear. They looked like cornered mice.
Tonna strode in, radiating cool confidence, followed closely by Kyle, who looked uncomfortable in the luxurious setting. Tonna took his seat, his gaze sweeping over the anxious group.
"Well?" he asked, the single word hanging in the air, weighted with expectation.
They exchanged panicked glances, then collectively pushed forward several heavy manila files they had been clutching, threatening to fall out of their hands. Tonna signalled Kyle, who efficiently gathered the documents.
Kyle quickly flipped through the papers.
"Boss, the company shares have been transferred back. Everything is signed and notarised."
Mrs Happiness leaned forward, her eyes wide and pleading.
"Please save us, Mr Ziko."
The others nodded, desperate agreement rippling through the group.
"We only did what he asked us to do"
Ms Holly confessed, wringing her hands.
"Honestly, we didn't even want to get involved with your company. We were coerced. Please save us from Buike's madness."
Mr Arin, the most pragmatic of the group, asked
"What would you like us to do now? We've complied fully. Just tell us."
"Just stay put and do nothing"
Tonna advised, his tone firm.
"However, it would be beneficial if you all take your families abroad by this evening for safety reasons. You've crossed a very powerful man, and his anger won't be subtle."
Mrs Anthonia spoke up, clearly wanting to earn her protection.
"Before we go, we can give you some evidence of the money laundering that Mr Buike was involved in. It's extensive. We know where the bodies are buried, figuratively speaking."
"No need"
Tonna dismissed with a wave of his hand.
"We have more than enough evidence to deal with him. He can't escape, no matter how much he tries. But you can hand them over to the police if you'd like. They will need every piece of evidence to build the case against the whole network."
Tonna stood, signalling the meeting was over.
"Eh, I heard you are still looking for investors for the refinery project that the BODs are rejecting."
Mr Arin said, desperately trying to keep the conversation going, to keep Tonna interested and perhaps gain some benefits and business advantage.
Tonna turned around, facing him with a slight, cold smile.
"You are very well-informed."
Mrs Happy quickly jumped in.
"We can help you with it. Trust me, we know a lot of people who aren't shady. They have refused to do business with Mr Buike and are in danger of him trying to destroy them. We even have evidence of Mr Bode's money laundering from the company, too. He's secretly Buike's chief financial officer, and your company's COO."
"No need"
Tonna repeated, his dismissal final.
"You can submit all that to the police. Just get your family to safety. Now."
He walked out. The six shareholders quickly huddled back together. They decided to send all the evidence they had to the number Kyle gave them, trusting that Tonna was their only lifeline now.
Outside The Exclusive Bar
Outside the bar, Tonna pulled out his phone, making a quick call. Kyle excused himself to light a cigarette, his back to Tonna. As the phone rang, he put it against his ear. Tonna heard a familiar, gruff voice on the other end. Kyle turned immediately, a faint smile on his face, before excusing himself, walking away from Tonna. When he was sure no one was within earshot, he put the phone back to his ear.
"Hello, yes, we just finished. They all signed the file Mr Ziko handed them, giving back the full shares. As for the others, I'm not sure how Mr Ziko—"
Suddenly, the phone was snatched from Kyle's ear.
"Grandfather, don't you think this is a bit tacky? You planted a spy to watch and report my every move"
Tonna's voice was dangerously low, laced with hurt and betrayal, magnified by his fury.
Kyle froze, the cigarette falling from his numb fingers. He looked at Tonna, who stood rigid, his eyes staring cold daggers at him. Kyle looked like a man who was already dead. He couldn't even bear to meet Tonna's gaze.
"You are dead meat," Tonna stated simply, the finality in the words crushing.
Kyle immediately dropped to his knees, his hands clasped in front of him.
"Boss, I don't know what to say. I swear I didn't mean any harm! He threatened me. Please, don't kill me. I'll do anything."
Tonna ignored him, speaking back into the phone.
"If you are that worried about me, you could have made time to check on me instead of planting a spy to report every little thing about me. Do you think so little of me that I can't handle my own affairs? Don't call me again until you realise what trust means."
The call clicked off.
He turned back to Kyle, who was still kneeling, trembling. Tonna's voice was menacingly quiet.
"Walk home. And as of tomorrow, you'll work offshore."
Kyle breathed a sharp sigh of relief. Working offshore, he could take that. At least he was alive. It was a humiliating demotion, but it beats death by Tonna's vengeful hand.
"Car keys", Tonna demanded.
Kyle fumbled in his pockets and handed them over. Tonna tossed Kyle his own personal cell phone, turned on his heel, and drove off in his sleek black car, leaving Kyle to start his long walk home. He understood his grandfather had to use this means because they were currently not on speaking terms, and he probably wanted to interfere with how Tonna handled his business. This was the reason they were estranged at the moment, because his grandfather still saw him as a little boy needing protection, and he did not believe Tonna was capable of juggling the business world. If only he knew.
Next Day-Morka's House-Evening
Ade ran up the stairs to Morka's apartment, his adrenaline spiking. He didn't even knock, bursting through the door.
"What did you get?" Ade demanded, breathless.
Morka, sitting amidst stacks of missing persons files, looked up, his expression grim.
"You were right. These people are indeed missing persons. All of them. Most were noted as having 'no immediate family contact' or 'estranged.'"
"I got something, too,"
Ade stated, his voice resonating with gravity. He pulled up his files.
"I have evidence of who 'The Recruiter' is, not only that, but where the doctor is currently residing, as well as proof that he intentionally misdiagnosed and killed all those missing people—including the twins—to harvest their organs and sell to rich, privileged people. He was protected by the names we saw on that list, including our own IGP."
Morka paused, looking Ade straight in the eyes.
''And you got this how?''
Morka asked
''It was mailed to me yesterday Afternoon. There was a message for the two of us. I think they know we are working the case together''
Ade brought a piece of paper with five words typed on it
'Have Fun, both of you'
looked seriously at his partner
''They know we are working the case together. My question now is, from here on out, are you willing to go hand-in-hand with me and see this through? I understand if you are unable to. It's, after all, about very influential people. You may lose your life and your job, Morka. This is no longer just Mrs Bem's case."
Morka scoffed, an expression of sheer disgust on his face.
"What are you being dramatic for? Of course, I am with you! Did you think I spent sleepless nights investigating and compiling evidence as well as risking the chief's wrath only to quit now?"
He stood and slammed his hand on the small dining table.
"But we have to let the Chief know and present all the proof we have. Only he can smoothly assist us by hiding this from the IGP until we get him, and also give us a smooth path to arrest these scums. You know how the Chief hates the IGP for his twisted, corrupt ways. He's our only shield."
"That's true"
Ade agreed, relief washing over him. The Chief was their only option for an internal solution.
They both quickly changed and drove to the precinct.
THE LAKESHORE PRECINT
When they arrived twenty minutes later, Morka knocked on the Chief's door, trying to ignore the stares they were receiving from officers who saw Ade, who was still officially suspended.
"Come in!" the Chief's gruff voice bellowed.
As soon as he sighted Ade, the Chief grabbed a folder and threw it at him. Ade deftly dodged it.
"Didn't I ask you not to appear before my sight while reflecting?" the Chief thundered angrily.
"Chief, something's come up, and we think you need to see it. It's urgent," Ade said, his seriousness overriding the Chief's anger. The nervousness Morka was displaying made the Chief pause. He sat back down heavily.
The two men sat down. Ade prepared his laptop while Morka organised the files. For the next thirty minutes, they meticulously showed and explained everything they had found: the Klarity Foundation, the President's involvement, the organ trafficking ring, Doctor Ife's role, "The Recruiter," the complicity of the IGP, and the tragic deaths of the Bems twins amongst others.
The Chief was aghast. He was a man of steel, but the sheer volume and depravity of the information shocked him to his core. He just couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing.
After they finished, he looked at the four pairs of anxious eyes staring back at him. He was momentarily speechless.
"Is everything you've shown me true?"
He asked, his voice barely above a whisper, needing assurance that he wasn't being fed some elaborate conspiracy.
They both nodded somberly.
"And you got all this simply by investigating this woman's initial accident? So you think everything is connected?"
They nodded again. He suddenly flew up from his seat, rubbing his head furiously. Human trafficking, blood marketing, murder, set up, espionage, rape, illegal depraved parties, pedophiles—the list of crimes involving highly influential people was dizzying.
Ade's phone suddenly dinged. He stood up immediately, sending his chair flying back. The Chief and Morka snapped their heads around. Ade was staring at his phone, eyes wide with astonishment.
The other two men gathered around. It was a video: a full, clear recording of everything that had happened at The Marmalade restaurant—the confrontation, the slapping, the hot soup incident, and the women's confession. Also, more importantly, the woman they had thought was dead was actually still alive?
Just then, a text appeared on his phone. It was a house address with a single, word:
URGENT
Ade immediately turned to leave.
"Where are you rushing off to now?" Morka called after him.
"We need to go now. I received another tip"
Ade answered, turning to look at the Chief. The formidable Chief looked utterly listless, the first time they had ever seen him so defeated by reality.
"Just go," the Chief waved his hand dismissively.
As Ade and Morka exited the office, they were met by a commotion outside. Six women were being led into the station in handcuffs, noisy, sobbing, and talking over each other, all claiming they were willing to confess and provide evidence that they had wronged one specific woman.
"What is it again?" the Chief sighed, walking out of his office. He met Ade and Morka standing at the entrance, already watching the scene. He, alongside them, recognised the women. They were the same women in the video Ade just received.
"They have been transferred to us. They were arrested three days ago and were held at the Seaside Precinct. However, their case is within our jurisdiction. They have been saying that they had something important to confess since they were arrested" one of the officers reported to his superior.
"I heard they were the ones who made the call, claiming they were being assaulted" the superior stated.
"Yes, sir, they were! But now they are confessing to assault and defamation."
The senior officer gestured for them to sit down. One of them immediately pulled out her phone.
"See this video; we lied, assaulted, and ganged up on Mrs Amy Bems because someone paid us to do it. They even created an Lifestylegram page where they posted her nude pictures and videos and insulted her as well."
When the name was mentioned, Chief, Ade, and Morka—walked over to the group, grabbing the phone to look through the evidence.
"Are you the ones in this video?" Ade showed them the original lynching footage.
They nodded vigorously.
"So Mrs Bems is alive?"
They nodded again. The three men turned to look back at the Chief, who had miraculously snapped back to his usual stoic, terrifying self. The moment of shock was over.
"Go ahead, Inspectors. And make sure to catch all those rats. I want that Recruiter delivered to me personally."
"Yessir!"
Ade and Morka said in unison, saluting him sharply before finally exiting the station. It was looking like it was going to be a long night .