by Max Winters
“Tell us the name of your syndicate members and I assure you that I will plead with the judge to lessen your sentence for your cooperation. These are serious charges labeled against your Malcolm Smith and you know what that means” Graham threatened.
“I am not a drug dealer and I don’t have any gang members.” Malcolm protested.
“Fair enough Malcolm, you have made your choice and I sincerely hope you don’t regret it.” Graham remarked stepping aside for his raging furry to cool off.
“I understand that this must be uncomfortable for you but the thing is, these two events are linked so much so that it has been determined that you had killed Miss Williams because she found out about your dirty drug dealings and she threatened to expose you and your gang.” Elizabeth explained, with the hope that Malcolm may admit to his crime. He saw guilt written all over him and his eyes gave him away.
“I must talk to my lawyer right away. I can’t bear all these false accusations any longer.” Malcolm insisted, emitting an angry stare.
“I must admit that the evidence against you is quite overwhelming and I fear no lawyer will be able to save you.” Graham assured with a mocking grin that ran across his face. He implored Elizabeth to meet him outside the room and they talked for a while.
Elizabeth was of the opinion that Malcolm was guilty and that Damon had no involvement in the drug trafficking business.
“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that that the owner of La Salsa club has a hidden agenda that we need to uncover.” Elizabeth suggested, worry brushing her semi wrinkled face that emitted face that was stern. She had worn that expression all day from the time she found the dead girl until the moment Malcolm was taken into custody.
“Damon is an honorable man and everyone in this city knows about that Miss Steele. I won’t risk being sued by him for any false allegations.” Graham protested almost angrily. Did he think he was completely innocent of the crime or was he just afraid to cross the rich lord Elizabeth fought with her thoughts?
“I am not saying he is a partner in crime.” Elizabeth protested in frustration.
“What then are you saying? I don’t understand why we have to deviate from the main suspect whom we have to start chasing shadows that have no clue to the case.” Graham remarked adjusting his leather belt to fit, portraying the sort of ambiance that would fetch some attention from his partner.
“Are you saying Damon has no direct link to this case?” Elizabeth dug his gaze, ignoring the little misplaced seductive show that came from his end. He sure didn’t know when to stop, her inner goddess mumbled.
“Exactly my point.” Agent Wild let out a deep breath, probably to ease the tension she was mounting with her unending insinuations.
“I don’t think Malcolm’s associates could be anything less than influential…Damon is not far from that.” Elizabeth continued.
“I hate to admit it, you may be wrong on this one agent Steele.” Graham jested in a mocking tone.
“Why don’t we give it the benefit of the doubt by obtaining a search warrant from Chief Mark? She suggested trying to induce a smile which he deflected with an unceremonious eye rolling that spelt his rebuttal to the proposition.
“Best of luck partner.” Graham said and walked away in a nod that spelt disappointment with regards to Elizabeth’s approach to the case. Damon’s influence was unbeatable and it was quite obvious that Graham recognized a threat when he saw one.
***
As usual La Salsa was buzzing with music that caressed the entire neighborhood. Elizabeth watched studiously from the rear mirror as the rich clients flooded the exotic building that was blessed with the most modern and expensive bulbs. She glided off her car in a pair of black jacket over trousers that matched her knee level boots.
Her heavy steps graced the lawn as her penetrating gaze searched the expansive courtyards for any clue. She ignored the girls who threw themselves at her probably imagining that she may be a lesbian. He was disgusted by them and dismissed them without hesitation. A handsome and muscular male stripper approached her in dancing steps that were meant to seduce her but the expression on her face indicated hadn’t gone through all the trouble of coming to the club for his little show which he had hoped to entice her into a licentious encounter.
“I have a warrant to search your club.” Elizabeth told Damon politely. He had caught her searching gaze and approached her calmly. She had quickly turned down his offer of a drink.
“Are you sure you are in the right place detective” Damon asked authoritatively with the sort of smile he always wore on most occasions.
“Mr. Carlos I didn’t come this far to entertain your great sense of humor.” Elizabeth warned with a fake smile to deflect the sarcasm he was inducing. How dare he try to make a mockery of her intelligence? Did he think she had come all the way to watch him glorify himself? He was so haughty and according to her, he induced an abhorring vibe that she couldn’t stand. She was grateful that Mark had granted her request. She was going to unmask him once and for all. “I couldn’t possibly in the wrong place and I see no reason why you will insinuate otherwise, unless there is something you have to hide.” Elizabeth responded in a furry.
“Calm down detective, I was just kidding around…don’t be too serious…off course you are in the right place.” Damon teased managing a smile masked in a grin. “You are welcomed to search my club as many times as you want…we are proud of our services here and clients’ satisfaction is of utmost priority.” Damon continued showing a hand towards the main entrance leading upstairs. Elizabeth snapped her fingers, indicating for the two men who accompanied her, to trail her as Damon led the way upstairs. The heaving crowd continued in their heightened excitement as one of the beautiful and semi nude girls rolled her slender waist to the rhythm of the song that buzzed from the large and tall speakers.
Elizabeth and the two young cops searched every nook and cranny of La Salsa from the rooms, the toilets the bars and preceded to the dancing section while Damon remained calm, watching them with a smile that spoke of how innocent he was as per their supposed allegations. He couldn’t resist the urge to talk and once again his thoughts came out aloud.
“Detective you are wasting your time here, I told you I have nothing to hide.” Damon said as Elizabeth ordered the boys to proceed to the club section.
“I know how this must be inconveniencing for you and your clients…but let me do my job.” Elizabeth insisted in a stern gaze.
“Your wish is my command.” Damon nodded and trailed them as they descended the huge stairs. It took Elizabeth about two hours or so to complete a thorough search but as Graham had foretold, her efforts to connect Damon to Malcolm’s case were abortive. The man was a respectable man and was not involved in any shady deals.
“Thank you for letting us do our job and I hope you can forgive me for the trouble.” Elizabeth told Damon, after a careful scrutiny of his countenance. Disappointment rode on her forehead but she managed to put up a blank gaze to avoid any situation that will feed Damon’s ego.
“You are welcome to visit my club anytime.” Damon boasted stretching a hand towards agent Steele, who greeted her after few seconds of hesitation that he noticed but played a casual smile that was typical of his overconfident nature.
“I will have that in mind.” Elizabeth responded and indicated with her eyes for the others to get out of the club. They marched out almost simultaneously and in a bewildered gaze Elizabeth saw a colleague coming into the club.
“Agent Phil? What a surprise. I didn’t know you too come here.” Agent Steele asked with a curiosity that Phil could not dismiss.
“This is the best club in town for goodness sake. This is where I unwind after work.” Phil jested while Elizabeth wore a bleak face followed by Phil who couldn’t wait to join the excited people in the dimly lit hall.
Chapter 3
“There was no lead with regards to the case sir” Agent Steele began trying as hard as she could to dodg
e Mark’s antagonizing stares that were castigating. She had insisted against everyone’s wish that she was going to prove Damon’s connection to the case of Malcolm Smith but she had created a farce without any substantial backing and Chief Mark was afraid they couldn’t stand it should Damon decide to sue them for false allegations.
“Why are you telling me this, I’m I supposed to do your jobs for you?” Mark yelled, trying to ease the frustrating feeling that crept in rapidly at Elizabeth’s words.
“We are still working on the case sir.” Miss Steele assured with a stern gaze.
“I need a lead not some useless hypothesis.” Mark continued. “Make that Malcolm Smith talk…I need to know who he is working with…Every minute he is silent, we put the lives of several citizens at risk. Is that clear enough?” Mark stood up, probably in a way to emphasize his point.
“Yes sir.” Agent Steele responded, exiting the office thoughtfully in an angry countenance.
***
The early morning beams of the sunlight graced the white clouds as agent Graham and his boys dragged Tim into the central police station. They had been on his trail all night and had finally tracked him down to his house without his knowledge. Tim was heavily built with sagging jaws that altered his manly beauty. His eyes fumed with rage as he sat in the small box room were Malcolm had undergone his interrogation.
“I told you I don’t know where that girl is. She left the hours some days ago and I haven’t set my eyes on her.” Tim brooded fighting with the hand cuffs that restrained his movement. He looked furious and he had a long history of alcoholism which could be linked with violent behavior. He had abused his niece physically and sources had it that he had attempted to rape her but she got away. There was a possibility that he would have been on her trail and possibly killed her given she had rejected his frivolous advances on several occasions.
“We have been able to ascertain that you have been assaulting Miss Keisha Williams for a very long time and we have reason to believe that you may have killed her to get your pound of flesh for her rejection.” Agent Graham panned the room in careful steps focusing his gaze on his eyes which didn’t spell any sort of remorse hearing that his niece was no more.
“So the girl is dead, damn it.” He exclaimed shocked. “What has this got to do with me?” He demanded emitting a bizarre gaze at Graham.
“Everything!” Graham responded.
“Why the hell would I want to have my own niece killed?” Tim asked in a nonchalant manner that depicted how unrepentant he was about everything.
“Because you hate her.” He continued in a forceful tone hoping to intimidate him and get the truth out of him, but that truth was farfetched.
“Yes I hate her, but I don’t want her dead, don’t you get it?” He asked with eyes popping out of their socket. He threw a blank gaze in the air avoiding looking Graham’s way that was determined to scare him with his glare.
“Admit that you killed her because she rejected your sexual advances.” Graham yelled, placing a hand on the table and blocking Tim’s gaze at hair breath as he sat down.
“C’mon…take it easy man, I’m not a murderer.” Tim pleaded.
“Admit it. You killed her to get even.” Graham continued.
“I swear man, I didn’t kill her. She was my family for God’s sake.” Tim argued.
“Wasn’t she your family when you tried to rape her?” Graham asked.
“That’s a different matter man.” A silly smile rode across his face which made Graham angry the more. His attempt to get the man to confess had failed woefully and Mark was mounting pressure on him and agent Steele. Elizabeth on the other hand after failing to prove Damon’s involvement in the case still relied on her so-called guts that was going to put their jobs on the line if Damon decided to counteract her allegations with a lawsuit.
***
The discovery that his love was still alive was quite a relief though he wondered who the death girl whom he was accused of killing was. His soul had been crushed when he had heard that Keisha had passed away. She was the only woman he had ever loved and he was willing to go back in time and make her his. He felt empty without her. She had given his life meaning and life without her would be a nightmare. His eyes searched his box cell as he sat for hours hoping that Keisha will pay him a visit. Their last encounter was full of bitterness but he hoped that their love was stronger than any differences between them. His eyes grew dimmer as he explored the very last option that had never crossed his mind.
“What if Keisha also thought that he was guilty of murder?” He wondered. That would be the last straw as she was the only one he had left. He just needed to explain the trend of events and make her understand the truth-that he was innocent. He badly needed for her to accept that he was innocent. He had been involved with the bad guys in the city and ran dirty errands for them in the name of making money, but murder was not his thing. He would never want to take a life. The events however were glaring and he could be convicted for the crime. He was going to take the heat and go down alone as loyalty to his gang members was his utmost concern.
He convinced himself that the underground cartel he worked with was going to make sure that he came out of the mess alive. They had decided to back off for a while to avoid any police suspicion. He earnestly prayed that he would get out of jail and make his pleas to his beloved Keisha who probably didn’t want to see him because he had hid the truth about himself from her. He had been tactical not to let her in on the other members of the gang as she would have lost her composure and probably told the police and he would have been in serious trouble as the cartel members did not hesitate to eliminate any threat.
Hope vanished as days went by. Malcolm felt a twitch of pain in his heart; Keisha was never going to get back with him. What did he expect of her? His subconscious harassed him. He was a criminal and he should have known better than to believe in the fallacy of love. He was willing to go to any length to make her happy but she obviously didn’t feel the same. He was willing to quit his bad life for her sake but there was no point in dreaming because it was all over now. He was languishing behind bars for a crime he hadn’t committed and the least he deserved from Keisha was a degree of sympathy. There was obviously non coming as his court hearing was in a couple of days. His fate was going to be sealed, but he was thankful he still had the cartel members.
The noise from the ringing phone meddled with Elizabeth’s thoughts and in a vivid grip; she placed the receiver on her ear with eyes that popped open wondering who was calling. “What? There is a witness? She spoke. “This is the best news ever.” Her countenance melted from its stiffness to a more promising smile that vanished almost instantly as the conversation continued. “What…she is a twin? This is getting interesting.” She mumbled as she hung up the phone.
Johanna had called saying there was a witness to the case and she was thrilled as this could keep Mark of her case for a while. The case had taken another turn as Robert Copper had taken peculiar interest. He was determined to uncover the brutal murderer. He had *bumped into Keisha on the night after the murder and was shocked. He’d tried approaching her but she seemed furious. He had noticed with keen interest that she was in *search of Malcolm Smith whom according to the police was a prime suspect.
As he continued to investigate the story for his radio house, he had managed to talk to Keisha in the fit of her despair. Someone who looked like her had been brutally murdered and she suspected her boyfriend Malcolm. Tessa had given her life for her and the only thing that filled her heart was rage and the desire for revenge. Her words at the time she spoke to Robert depicted her pain and she was willing to take the laws into her hands. Robert had talked her out of any form of revenge and introduced her to a family friend Johanna who was a human rights activist and a reputable lawyer.
Keisha’s pain was overwhelming as she couldn’t imagine that she meant so little to Malcolm that he’d desired to see her off the face of the earth in other to save himse
lf and his gang. She and Malcolm had built love which she felt could surmount any obstacles but the vicious assassination of her sister was the last straw and she was going to avenge her even if it was the last thing she did.
Johanna Milton seemed obsessed with cases that involved couples with the man being the offender. The memories of her long lost favorite cousin still shook the foundations of her world whenever she went memory lane. Her interest in Keisha’s case was heightened especially when she found out Malcolm was allegedly operating under a drug cartel which he had vehemently refused to identify. The fact that Malcolm claimed to have been a sales man at La Salsa also raised some dust on Johanna’s part. She knew Damon and she had a bizarre impression of him but he wielded so much authority that the government was on his side. Who could dare to cross the mighty Damon Carlos?
Wendy had left home after she escaped from boarding school. She had disappeared without any trace and even her remains were never found. Rumors had it that she had disappeared on the night when she went to dance at La Salsa, but that was all there was to her whereabouts- a mere hypothesis. No one, even the police were not able to figure out what had happened to the eighteen year old blonde. Johanna had her suspicions but she was never able to prove her fears. The fact that Wendy’s body was never found only meant one thing- She might have been kidnapped for human trafficking across the borders. Johanna years in the law firm had exposed her to lethal crimes that had set her imaginations wild at every given opportunity. She was willing to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of her cousin no matter how long it took.
Friends and family had given up on Wendy’s case, but not Johanna. She was a woman of Steel and everyone that crossed her path, felt her viciousness in the short or long run. Her influence and excellence in the law industry was enviable and Keisha felt lucky that she had her on her team with her overwhelming devotion and desire to ensure the smooth course of justice.
