Chapter 10: Salvation
As we made our way to the vehicle, Uzo suddenly started speaking to me in a whisper.
"Bro, the diamonds. Let's take it out of the bags and hide it in our pockets. He would never guess and we won't have to share it with him."
"Really? That is what is on your mind, nickel and diming the man that is literally giving us a way out of this mess. A mess, which I need I remind you, you put us in."
"Men, stop bringing that shit up. FIne, I killed the man. I had to and I'm sorry. But I'm tired of you bringing it up every goddamn time. And don't make it sound like I am being cheap here. One of those rocks is worth a lot. What I am proposing we do could make a big difference in our future. When you want to build a company and you find yourself two million shy, you would hate the fact that you didn't take my proposal. We have an opportunity here bro. We risked our lives and everyone wants to take a piece for simply sitting in their goddamned offices. Lets have one thing that they don't get a taste of. Just one thing that is ours and ours alone."
Uzo was the devil on my shoulder and after selling bad ideas to me for so many years, he had gotten really good at it. He knew how to appeal to my senses and get me to switch over to his side.
The buttons to push, logic, fear of failure and greed were all at his fingertips. And while his brutish fingers weren't delicate enough for me to not see through his tactics easily, he still did manage to be effective from time to time.
"Fine," I said as we got into the car. I drove the vehicle into the garage and quickly popped open the truck. We had put the diamond sacks into the pillow cases first before the cash, so we had to pour the cash into the boot to get to them. We had only just slipped the diamond sacks into our pockets when Frizzy walked into the garage.
"I have sent all my staff out of the building. Nobody must see us carry the bag into the house," he said.
We nodded as we started shoving the cash back into the pillow case while Frizzy carried two of the bags. He didn't find it strange that we were filling the pillow cases with cash. He had no reason to. We made our way into the house and returned to his study.
"Do you want us to count everything before the pilot arrives?" Frizzy asked.
"No," I replied. "I trust you."
Uzo looked at him and I shut him a look that was stern enough to silence his objection.
"Okay," Frizzy said with a shrug as if he didn't mind either way. He actually didn't, but the vote of trust was sure to have a positive effect on him. We waited in silence for a while, too tense to speak.
Eventually, I reached for the bottle and poured myself a drink. The sound of me preparing my drink was enough to get conversation flowing.
"So what do you plan to do with your loot when you get back?" Frizzy asked.
"I have got a few business ideas that I would like to explore."
"Really? Like?"
"Well I want to put some money into agriculture. But just a little piece. My major investment would be real estate. That is safe and secure. I was hoping to use the cash as a down payment for a major real estate deal. Perhaps use my contact at the bank who was to clean the money to get financing."
"Real estate uhn?" Frizzy said. "Tell you what, I got a massive deal coming up. You know the new city the government was trying to develop right? The one close to the ocean.."
"Yes, I do. The Centaur City."
"Yes."
"I thought that project had been abandoned for years."
"It has but the governor has interest in it and plans to pump huge funds into the place. The justification would be provision of cheap housing. But we the inner circle know that it is more of a scheme to loot funds. Most of the budget would be used up as kickbacks, while most of the buildings would be allocated to people like me."
"By "like you" you mean friends of the governor," Uzo asked.
"Bingo. I can get you in on the deal. Allow you to buy some of the properties in the area before the development starts to take place. You would simply be a private enterprise investor in the city. Cool way to clean your money. You will get a lot of top notch buildings and lots at a good price. Your money would be clean and when the rent starts coming in, you would have more than enough to live large. What do you think?:
"Hmm… I like the idea. But if you don't mind me asking, why do you want my money? If it's such a good deal, why not get it yourself."
"You know why bro."
"I actually dont."
"Damn are you obtuse. Fine. Let me try and explain it to you. I have put some money in it but I cant put too much because it would easily trigger some red flags. I don't want one foolish news channel carrying news that the new centaur city is simply owned by politicians rather than the country. There is also the fact that if my party is pushed out of power, our opponents would go on a seizing spree. My investments are well hidden in foreign currency in offshore accounts. Those are the funds that are safe. But buildings and investment here can be easily seized if the direction of the political winds change."
"I see."
"Basically, I have a few lots that have been allocated to me by the governor. I get to decide who I want to sell it to. I could sell it to myself or one of my aliases. Or I could sell it to a trusted friend who would liquidate it for me and give me the cash. Rather than keep the building, I keep the cash in an offshore account. It is better this way than owning the building in the name of my children or a false identity. The anti corruption agency is getting better at uncovering those methods. We have used the agency to fuck our enemies up from time to time. I don't want to be on the other side of the barrel. I also don't want to hold the building in the name of my friend. The game is the game and even the best of men are not above temptation. Out of office and powerless, I don't want to be begging for what is rightfully mine. So do you now understand why it is prudent that I sell my allocation to you, a friend that I trust who also has the ready cash to buy my interests?"
"Yes. But how many lots do you have?"
"I have four. I have bought one and I have power over the remaining three. But you have more than enough cash to buy them all. We can do a fair valuation when you get back."
"What if I want to buy more than your four?"
"Not a problem. A few of my friends are looking for untraceable money to buy theirs. I can get you as much as you are willing and able to buy."
"My man," I said with a smile as I began to imagine myself as a real estate mogul. If Frizzy's plan worked, my resources would be squeaky clean and I would be legit as the law itself.
"Do you want in?" Frizzy said, asking Uzo.
"Nah. I got plans of my own," Uzo said as a mischievous smile curled up his lips.
I was about to press him for what he meant by plans of his own when I began to hear the loud sounds of helicopter blades.
"That's your ride gentlemen," Frizzy said as he rose to his feet. "Lets go," he added as he walked out of the office. We made our way out of the house through the backdoor to find a massive field that was the rest of Frizzy's estate. In the faint light of the slowly rising sun, the beauty of the lush grass and large pond was overwhelming. Cattle egrets littered the field, stealing worms from the freshly mowed lawn. The air was clean with the sweet smell of nature and the few trees in the far corners of the lawn gave the view an enchanting aura. As the helicopter approached, the birds dispersed and by the time the vehicle landed, there was no bird in sight.
All three of us walked to the helicopter. Frizzy pulled a map out of his pocket and gave it to the pilot. The spot where the bunker was, was clearly marked with coordinates scribbled precisely. The pilot nodded in understanding.
"Okay bro. Good luck. He will land by the bunker. The trapdoor shouldn't be too hard to find, the code is 5070. There is a satellite phone in the bunker. If you need anything, call me. But emergencies only."
"Thanks bro. For everything," I said, and wrapped my arms around him in a bear hug. He hugged me back and whispered in my ears.
"I got you bro. You know this."
We let go of each other and he shook Uzo's hands. Uzo and I got into the helicopter and soon we were ascending. I looked down to see Frizzy waving and all I could do was smile. Somehow, I had managed to come out of the shitshow I was in, somehow I had survived the most pivotal night of my life.