THE SYNDICATE PT2

TUESDAY. THE GALA.

The Gala was a grand one everybody who was somebody was there. The clicking sounds of cameras going off as personalities walked into the Gala.

Hank Thompson soon arrived at the Gala making sure to leave a few memorable poses for the camera.

"I see you still love the attention of the media." Michelle spoke up as she came up to him.

"what can I say, I missed this city." Hank responded winking at some ladies far back who giggled as a response.

Seeing Hank's action Michelle was confused until she spotted the ladies at the corner " can you not? "

"what?"

"you know what."

"fine, but you should know they are the ones after me not the other way round." Hank says trying to defend himself.

Michelle decides to ignore what he said as she introduced him to most of the big players present.

Hank went around showing fake smiles to people he definitely was not going to remember, after a while he was finally free.

Heading towards the table with all the alcohol someone bumped into him.

"oof, I am so sorry sorry sorry I'm such a clumsy person stupid, stupid."

"hey, hey its okay it was an accident and nothing happened."

"yeah your....." the guy was stunned when he saw who he bumped into, of all the people he could have bumped into this party he had to bump into him.

"you...you...you are Hank Thompson."

"yeah and you're..."

"Ferdinand, Takyi-Adjei Ferdinand I work in the I.T. department of your company I'm kind of like the best like way better than my supervisor who is all like 'do it this way not that way'... please don't tell him I said that."

"my lips are sealed."

" thank you, I should.. probably... go."

"sure see you around Ferdinand."

Hank watched as Ferdinand faded into the crowd an amused expression plastered on his face.

"so" Michelle voice entered Hank's ear.

"so what?"

" I see your finally making friends of the same gender." Michelle spoke up from behind him.

"he is a funny guy that's all." Hank turned to face her with a smile plastered on her face before gulping down a glass of wine.

"what happened to your friends?"

"They are not my friends they're business partners."

"good if they were I would have a lot of work to do."

"what's that supposed to mean?"

"nothing"

"hmm" Michelle gave Hank a look he was all to familiar with which he responded with nothing more than a smirk before gulping down a glass of wine.

"May I have your attention please." the host went up on stage and spoke gathering everyone's attention " I would like to thank everyone for your donations, we have been able to raise a sum of 20million cedis."

At his words everyone began clapping, Hank joined in but leaned to whisper into Michelle's ear "so why are we clapping."

Michelle turned to face him, "are you serious right now?" she first asked but when she saw the puzzled look on his face she realized he was not joking "you didn't bother to find out anything about this gala before coming, did you." "you know me well cuz", Michelle pinched the bridge of her nose when he heard him, "why am I not surprised, this is not just Gala but a Charity Gala."

"Ah the type where rich people come in front of the media and hand handouts so they can boost their image in front of the cameras, my favorite." Hank gulped down another glass of wine.

Michelle was stunned when she heard his words, she had a good look at him as though to make sure he was truly her cousin "you've changed." "huh" Hank turned to face her once more to question her when he saw Roland.

Roland was heading to room upstairs.

"sorry cuz, I have got to go, I have 15 years of debauchery to catch up on after all, I'm not getting any younger." Michelle watched her cousin's back as he disappeared into the crowd, a disappointed look crossed her face "seems I was wrong."

IN THE PRIVATE ROOM

Roland entered the room and was stunned to see a lady seating in a chair her back facing him. "Have a seat Roland" the lady spoke her voice was distorted.

"Thank you." Roland spoke before taking his seat, he was extremely nervous. He knew who the lady before him was she was the boss, Thompson might have claimed to be the boss but they all knew whom the true boss was.

The lady turned now facing Roland, once Roland saw her mask his fear climbed to new heights. "do you know why you are here?" her distorted voice doing nothing to calm him down, "no" Roland responded shaking his head.

" you recently had a run in with the... lets call him vigilante. you had a run in with him and survived you were then interrogated by one Naa Deedei before we had the commissioner release you, am I right?" "yes" Roland responded, his entire back covered in sweat.

The mask the woman wore prevented him for seeing her face and the distorted voice did not betray any emotions, but by watching her outfit which was a skin tight black outfit with some weapons clearly visible as well as with the tales from the other members he knew something was up.

"you see Roland the syndicate has grown to what it is today due to its ability to stay hidden from the public eye. for ten years the Architect rose in this city, and the world is not going to allow another architect and therefore this city is very sensitive when it comes to organized crime of this scale. for five years we have operated and most people are unaware of the syndicate but now for some reason this vigilante knows we exist and is even searching for information most members should not even be aware of..." hearing her words Roland cut in "I didn't say anything I swear" Roland spoke up his fear evident in his voice, "and I believe you... but" Roland sat up when he heard the but "are you familiar with the words...dead men tell no tales."

Hearing her words, his eyes widened and turned only to come face to face with the barrel of a gun.

*bang* a gunshot was heard the entire Gala was silent for a few seconds then the screams erupted, everyone was rushing for the exits. Hank was sure the gunshot originated from the office, he looked at the office in time to see a woman in all black with a white faceless mask come out .