COLD AT THE BIG BLUE
Collins took the fact that Jerome was one of them less strongly. He did not feel the tingling shiver in his nerves even when George alluded that he was the same person Hussain once mentioned in one of their meetings. The dry truth that Jerome was able to prevent them from being traced despite the phone of one of their victims was in the hands of the police. He cared less.
Bruce on the other hand, shared equally the worry and vexation that George had . The mere look at Jerome after the realization was tormenting as though he was heartbroken beyond words. More of one who has just seen a real apparition in his life. He did not want to bear the fact that if Jerome was not in his IT duty and now is at The Big Blue, someone else was in his former shoes. George also bore this same wisdom and that meant that the delicate matter could easily be mishandled and let them into the fierce jaws of the law. George particularly, was in real sombre and the harsh voice of the security leader he heard and saw yesterday was gnashing his peace of mind like a piece of bone in hyena's powerful jaws. He was not at ease. He longed for Hussain to hastily arrange his plans for the return journey.
Even as he sat with Bruce at his usual spot under the shady tree during lunchtime, he couldn't help but let Bruce know how he feels things are hard on his side. "What do you think might have caused Hussain to have an emergency leave to Oman? " George asked Bruce in a monotone voice of desperation and continued, " Do you think it would take the time he said he would be back?"
" Brother why worry so much about that? If stays longer then it is just apparent that you would have more salary. Isn't it so?" rejoined Bruce obviously not knowing where George was trying to mean.
" I think you're not with me Bruce."
"Why? What do you mean?"
"I mean remember what I told you? That if Jerome is here with us something might miss the track and we would cought." George's voice was low but steady with an edge of lamentation. Bruce looked at him surprisedly and as if he never saw him before. He snapped and waged his index finger animatedly to affirm that he was now seeing the sense in it . He kept silent for a moment then as if he was gathering all his points, he sat up upright. " By the way that is the essence. Suppose that he disregarded us all together when such an eventuality happens?"
"Bruce there is no room to suppose here. If once he gets the information that we have been arrested and he is still in Omani, he would just ignore it."
" After all he is just well enough to ensure that he doesn't find himself behind the bars." Bruce thought wisely and continued." What if he went to find more support to protect us ?"
George laughed hysterically at this thought. He was amused by how Bruce has made it seem positive. How he has painted it differently and how he had hatched up such a brilliant thought. "You can really think wild! " he complimented still under slight chuckles. "But Bruce how can you even for a moment imagine that he went to find more sophisticated means to protect us. That man doesn't mind any of us at all." His voice was now regaining its initial seriousness.
" What if he went to bring us the tools we suggested during our last meeting?" Bruce challenged. George scratched his head vigorously and absent mindedly to really remember the details of the last meeting they had with Hussain . " Yes ! The firearms? Most probably. Yes ! That could be the reason. You nailed it brother." He replied as the point seemed hit him rightly. "At least that is how we can make it lift our hearts." Bruce encouraged.
As the two were discussing heavy matters concerning their safety at the Big Blue, Collins was at total odds with it. To him, this was the opportunity to spend more time with Susan. At his office he hard summoned Alice to go and fetch Susan whenever she was. Susan had decided to keep a bay from Collin's office during morning hours and asked Alice to do the cleaning there instead.
Some few minutes before the lunch hour elapsed, Susan had come into Collins office. The impish grin that he played on his face spoke it all. She stood for a moment even after Collins signalled her to take her seat. She was thinking of what had grown between them of late. She could not imagine that she was slowly deviating from her primary goal to spy on George - which she had decided to it from Collins side- to become a false lover . She momentarily thought that Collins must have given her one of the magical herbs that were thought to be strong love portions that even the hardest woman to get could foolishly give in.
She somehow was starting to admire his all edgy hard jawlines and his slightly trimmed sideburns.His bulbous nose seemed to much perfectly with his smile to expose pearl white set of teeth. She couldn't understand but she was slowly falling in love with him. The man she detested and dejected with all passion. It seemed like it had been turned upside down. That she now had totally opposite feelings to the initial ones . Absent mindedly, she smiled cowley and planted her voluptuous posterior in the chair opposite to Collins. " How are you My... Ooh how are you Susan? I haven't seen you today since morning? " He greeted in a seductive broken voice. Susan paused for some seconds not sure of what to answer him. " I'm fine! I was pretty busy today Collins. " She uttered laconically. For a second she ruminated around the " my" that he said initially. " You did not give me your answer Susan?" He asked.
" Remind me please!" She replied in confusion. " Are you spending this weekend with me ?"
"Like this weekend? ... I'm not sure." She faltered. As though he was met by a grizzly bear running after his life, Jerome threw himself into Collins office panting and sweating profusely and immediately cutting off the seduction that was ongoing. Collins stoop up almost immediately and equally shocked. " They are here they are asking for the management." Jerome recounted in disjointed sentences.
Susan was already shaking and just at the point of screaming. " I mean , those men in suits and the police van." Jerome completed still under short of breath.Collins dashed out as if he was electrically wired . Jerome followed him while the lady was unsure whether to stay or do what others had done.
Collins spasmodic hurry came to a halt when he saw the police and some officials surrounding the table where George and Bruce sat. " No. we want the owner of this company. " One of the men in black suit was bombarding George with questions. "You said you are not Jamal Hussain Omar?" The man interrogated seriously. " Yes. I'm not the one. I'm George Mbagi. Just one of the workers here but currently we are managing.." he corrected himself nervously "I mean I'm managing the company by now."
" Young ma we are here for serious business . This is not a pranking game. So where is Hussain now?"
"He travelled. " Bruce answered cowardly. "He went to Oman." George completed. " This company has been operating illegally for some time and at last we got you."
"Illegally? " George was surprised.
"Yes! " The man confirmed with an agitated tone. George's face turned pale as he shook terribly upon hearing these. His eyes could not hide how his soul was wrecked and shrank. He kept a steady glare on the interrogator who exchanged it with a lethal glance at him as if he wanted to devour him alive.
Bruce was unspeakable. Deep inside, he felt a guilt for having shared this place with George during lunch hour. If he was somewhere else , probably in the truck as usual, he would not have had to stand these eyes and fear. He was more nervous and fidgeted on his seat more than George. "I mean
I don't understand you sir!" he lamented. Another man in bright red suit unzipped his briefcase and shoved out a document which he handed it to the man in black suit who was still killing George with his fierce glance.
" This company has never renewed it's business license. That is one charge." The man in black explained as he gave the document to George and continued boldly, "Secondly all your taxes have not been paid since 11th of March 2019. I don't know what means you use to evade your tax so differently from the cases I know." the man concluded. The one in the red suit then asked concerned with the evident sincerity on George's face. "How long has Hussain been out? For how long have you been managing? " George breathed in deeply and answered desperately. " Only for four days. Hussain just travelled five days ago."
The men looked at each other and only read each other's facial expressions. The one with the red suit then asked for Hussain's contact information. He then turned to the four policemen who through all that time, had been statued with two of them armed with M16 guns, signalled them to leave. As the police retreated to their van, the two men remained.The first interrogator who seemed to be harsh than his counterpart, coughed out in a rather loud voice " Keep that! It would be used in court! " He sneered and turned away . His colleague only looked at George and whispered in a serious tone. "When we fail to get him, we will come for you."
Those last sentiments almost sent George into a convulsion. It frightened him to death.