Beating The Odds – Episode 24

Beating The Odds – Episode 24

© Brian Ngoma

Boadi stood confidently outside Cayn’s house with the cavalry behind him. He checked his watch and it was 5:55pm. He was gratified with his work. He was now sure that all the doubts they had about him were going to go away. He had done his part in ensuring that Cayn the gentleman criminal would pay for his crimes. In the morning at the station, he and the chief had planned the raid on Cayn’s house. They had gotten the warrant and had a go ahead to turn the house upside down if need be. He kept looking at his watch impatiently. He got his phone and when he was about to dial, the chief’s car pulled up at the yard. She got out of the car and walked to him. “Detective,” she said.

“Chief,” he said with respect. “For a second, i thought you were not coming,” he laughed nervously.

“Nervous?”

“A little.”

“This is your moment; you are the only person who had their eyes on him. It’s now or never,” she patted him on his shoulder. “Any activities since you got here?”

“Not really but looking at the two cars parked here, it seems like there are two people or more in the house we just cannot see what’s happening inside.”

“Are you sure he’s in?”

“Yes Madam, we had placed one detective on the lookout and he saw him drive into the yard. He came with the Black Toyota XTrail. The other car also came later but our detective slept on the job and didn’t see who it came with.”

“Okay, we have to be careful, he’s dangerous and whatever is happening in there, we shouldn’t let it hinder us from arresting him even if it means taking him in dead. Pass me the speaker.”

An officer hurriedly handed her the speaker. She checked it and spoke through it. “Mr. Cayn Simfukwe, you are surrounded, we advise you come out with your hands in the air.”

They all stared at the door hoping for it to be opened but it was still, like the way they had found it. She looked at Blank Shot and asked. “What do you think is happening in there?”

Earlier that day, in the morning, Cayn woke up by Sky’s side in the same clinic his mother was. He fell asleep in the morning. He couldn’t sleep all night. He kept taking turns on checking on them. He would spend some minutes with his mother and then Sky. He brought her in after finding her at her house. He kept thinking about how he could handle Franklin because that was his primary concern. He had let him go far and he needed to pay. Sky told him everything about Franklin when he was driving her to the clinic. He knew what Franklin wanted the most, the equipment.

“Hey morning,” Sky said trying to stretch herself but it hurt so she decided to stay in that same position. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be your mother? I’m fine, you can leave me, go and check on her.

“I’m from checking on her don’t worry. How are you feeling?”

“Beaten!”

“And here i was thinking nothing could beat you.”

She looked at him with a serious face.

“I’m sorry. I’m just glad you are fine. Did Franklin do this on his own?”

“Franklin cannot beat me. I would have broken his jaws before killing him. He came with some monster i don’t know.”

“You mentioned something about the police knowing what we do.”

“Yes they know. Apparently Franklin wants to get to you first before they do.”

“I see.”

“I don’t like that, what are you planning on doing?”

“Nothing,” he said.

“Cayn i know you, i know that look. Let him be, we can go away we still have time.”

“I’m working on that,” he looked at her. “I have to get going.”

“Where are you going?” she grabbed his hand.

“I need to take care of somethings so that we can leave the country. I need to get the money that i stashed at home and some important things. For now, we can just go to Livingstone, Mayi has no passport and it would be a while to arrange a passport for her but i think Wezi can do something about that but it has to be when things cool down.”

“Please don’t do anything stupid, your mother needs you. I need you.”

“I’ll be back, here is your phone,” he handed her the phone and kissed her forehead.

As he closed the door behind him, he dialed a number he had gotten from Sky’s phone. “Hello Franklin.”

“Hello who is this?” Franklin answered.

“Your most wanted person of course.”

“Cayn?”

“Yes.”

“How good it is to your name. You calling me? Hmm, you got my message i assume.”

“Loud and clear. I want to make you a deal.”

“I’m listening.”

“Meet me at my house at 4pm today. I’ll give you the equipment. Everything after all I’m retiring.”

“I know about the retirement but that sounds suspicious.”

“No tricks, i promise. Just you and me talking. We can even have coffee.”

“That sounds good but I’m not coming alone, I’m sure Sky has told you if at all she can talk.”

“Come with whoever you want, i don’t care.”

“Okay 4pm it is.”

Cayn put the phone back in his pocket. He decided to check on his mother one more last time. He found Tasha Ngoma waiting for him. “Hey Mr. Simfukwe,” she exclaimed after seeing him. “I’m sorry about Sky, i was told what happened. It’s such a pity she was beaten like that. Thieves can be cold-hearted.”

“Thank you.”

“And one other thing, I’m sorry about last night. I’m so ashamed of myself.”

“It’s fine.”

“Did you say anything to my parents?”

“No, why?”

“I was just surprised with the way i was treated this morning. My mother didn’t even mention marriage. She prepared breakfast for me and ensured i ate.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“It is but coming from my parents, weird,” she laughed. “Anyway I’m from checking on your mother, she’s now stable and seems to be adapting to the environment. You can go in, she’s watching TV.”

Cayn just peeped through the door and saw her laying in the bed her eyes on the TV. She was watching Tom and Jerry and she seems like she was enjoying. “I wouldn’t want to bother, i will check on her when i come back. Take good care of the both of them, I’m relying on you,” he looked at Tasha Ngoma.

“Of course, that’s my job. Don’t worry.”

He left the clinic and drove to his place. As soon as he got out of the car, he sprinted to the house, unlocked it and entered. He closed all the windows and locked all the doors except the back door. He got a bag and went to his safe in the bedroom. He unlocked it and put all the money in the bag. He went to the cellar and there was a safe too in it, he did the same. He got a steel rod and put it under one of the tables. After finishing, he went to the backyard where another car of his was parked. He put the bag in it and his gun. He got a cigarette. Memories he had made in the house flashed back. Yohane and Thelma, he couldn’t help it but smile when he thought about them. He smelled himself and he stank. He decided to take a shower. He prepared himself some lunch and ate. After washing the plates in the kitchen, he saw a car pull up outside. From it came Franklin with a giant of a man. He now understood why Sky couldn’t beat the hell out of him. He went to the living room and saw the time on the wall watch reading 3:58pm.

He went to the door and opened it. He found Franklin outside behind the giant. “Come in,” he said.

They entered with Franklin looking all over the place. “This is nice man,” he said. “So this is where you and old man Yohane used to live while we lived in the slums?”

Cayn didn’t say a word but look at him with his giant. He kept wondering how he would get to him with that thing of a barrier around him. “So Franklin, you never let things go, right?” he asked sitting down.

Franklin laughed. “What things man?”

“The past?”

“This isn’t about the past man, it’s about money and a legacy. You are soon going out of business and i just want to take over. I feel like I’m the rightful heir to this business. Yohane made us. We started this but you treated us like disposables. You got the capital and went ahead to create an empire. Do you even know how big of a name you have made in the streets? A 20 something old millionaire.”

“You didn’t start anything Franklin, you were just a worker like everybody else and what was i supposed to do? Adopt you?”

“Funny,” he laughed. “You are a funny man Cayn, i admire you but we are not here to talk. I need the equipment; I’m running out of time.”

“Running out of time?”

“Yes,” he looked at the giant. “You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“The cops are probably on their way here.”

“Oh that, i know.”

“Then we both know how of an essence time is to us. The equipment please?”

“You seriously came here thinking i was going to give you my stuff?” Cayn laughed. “You are a joke Franklin; did you know that?”

Franklin’s brows puckered. “I knew you’d pull this stunt, but i have this small little baby,” he removed his gun.

“It’s not a stunt Franklin.”

“Listen Cayn, i will ki*ll you and turn this place upside down. I will find what i need and your brains will be laying in this very house that you so treasure. Now where is it?”

“Okay, follow me,” he started off for the kitchen. He could hear their footsteps nearing. He got in the kitchen, knelt down and lifted the squared wooden door opening it. “Here it is.”

“You go first,” Franklin instructed him.

He got on the stairs and climbed down. He watched them get down with the big man climbing down first followed by Franklin. Cayn led them to the working space.

“Wow!” Franklin exclaimed. “Man you are so selfish; all these you couldn’t even have squeezed me in. Now look where we are now. All this could have been avoided.”

“How do you plan on getting the things,” Cayn walked to a table checking the edges for a steel rod.

“Let me see, what time is?” he checked his watch. “5:01pm. We better start moving things quickly.”

The big man started carrying the equipment’s and took them to the car while Franklin had his gun pointed at Cayn. Cayn got hold of the steel rod underneath the table. He only needed a chance. The big man came for the second time and carried some more equipment. Franklin slightly lost attention and Cayn saw an opportunity. He quickly got the rod and swung it on Franklins hand forcing the gun to drop on the floor. Cayn kicked the gun further away. It was him and Franklin.

Franklin stood scared. He shouted for his bodyguard but he was obviously out of the house outside. Cayn bustled his way to Franklin and grabbed him by the neck strangling the weakling. He begged for his life but Cayn was not having it. He strangled him even more tears streamed down his face. Cayn was filled with bitterness and wanted to ki*ll Franklin he didn’t hear the giant come in, lifted the copier and smashed it on his head. He felt like he had fell from an airplane and banged his head on a tarred road.

Franklin gasped for air as Cayn fell to the other side. He was pissed off he ordered the giant to get rid of him. “ki*ll him!”

Whilst on the ground and wrapping his mind on what had just happened, he felt picked up and when he looked down, he was in the ceiling in the giant’s arms. “Oh sh*t,” he cussed looking down.

He quickly got his legs wrapped around the Giants waist and supported his body. If he was to go down, they were going down together. He punched the giant in his face but he was strong. The punches felt like they were hitting a cushion. He had to think of another way. The giant was furious he slammed Cayn on the table breaking it into pieces both of them falling to different sides.

Cayn squealed in pain rolling on the floor. He could see Franklin looking for his gun. He turned his eyes to the giant and he was slowly getting up. He forced himself up and ran towards the giant sliding and kicked his ankle he got down on his knee screaming in pain. At least, he had found a weak point. Whilst the giant was kneeling down, Cayn grabbed the rod and swung it on the giants face he blacked out.

He turned to Franklin who was watching everything in shock. He tried to run away and when was about to climb the stairs to the kitchen, Cayn grabbed him and pulled him down slamming his back to the floor. He picked him up while he staggered looking like a drunk. “This is for hitting Sky,” he punched his face. He repeatedly punched his face till he was knocked out. Breathing and panting heavily, he let go of him and fell to his knees while Franklins unconscious self fell to the other side. “You don’t mess with me,” he let out a long breath.

He got up and climbed up the stairs when he heard a loud speaker of a female voice through it. He knew it was Shekinah.

Detective Boadi looked at Shekinah and shrugged. She looked at the house carefully trying to hear anything from inside but she couldn’t hear anything. “I’m going in, cover me!”

“You can’t, it’s dangerous!” Boadi shouted.

“Follow me when 10 minutes’ elapses,” she drew her gun and walked to the entrance.

That was what she was known for. Leading by example and been fearless. She reached the door and pushed it open. She got to the living room and found no one. She turned around and walked to the kitchen and found Cayn climbing up the stairs from the cellar. “Freeze!” she shouted. “Mr. Cayn you are under arrest.”

“For what?” he said getting out.

She saw some blood on his face and from the way he looked, he seemed like he had come out of hell undone. “For a number of charges.”

He got to his feet and passed her while she pointed the gun at him. He went to the fridge and opened it. He grabbed a bottle of water and rapidly drank the water. “You see Chief, you and I are not different. Our existence complement each other. Without people like me, there won’t be a need for you people.”

“Turn around sir!” she yelled.

“So what? You are a hero and I’m a villain?”

“That’s how it looks like.”

“Did you know that a villain is just another person whose side of the story has not been told? What do you know about me Chief?”

“I said turn around,” she was getting upset. She stepped back almost reaching the entrance to the cellar.

“You will fall in there be careful,” he warned her.

She looked back and felt a shiver. A slight step, she could have fell in. “Mr. Simfukwe cuff yourself,” she threw the cuffs at him.

He looked at them on the floor and picked them up. As he was standing, he saw a hand grab Shekinah down and before he could say something, she fell in her gun slipping off her hands and fell right in the kitchen. Within a few seconds, Cayn heard a loud thud from the hallway downstairs. “sh*t!” he threw the cuffs away and found the giant standing beside the unconscious Shekinah and Franklin who was slowly getting up. The giant handed Franklin his gun and looked up. He pointed the gun at Shekinah and said. “She’s our ticket to getting out of here. We are surrounded i believe.”

“There is no way I’m working with you,” Cayn bitterly looked at the beat-up Franklin struggling to stand firmly. “I’d rather the cops sh00t me down than work with you.”

“Then I’m killing her and put her death on you,” Franklin said cocking his gun.

Detective Boadi was busy checking his watch. His patience had run out. “Surround the place now, let’s go in.”

As they started walking towards the house, a gunshot was heard from the house. Detective Boadi was shaking. He didn’t know what was happening inside and why would a gun only be fired ten minutes after their chief had gotten inside? All the officers laid on the ground taking cover. It was going to be one hell of a long night.

6:18pm…

To be continued

ALL EPISODES