Chapter 6
There have been report of people dying especially those who claims they were witnesses to the case and Alfred was trying to address that.
Here he was, at his law firm, sitting and gazing at the computer system before him. His body had become numb for working non-stop everyday.
He recalls when he went over to the villa, the day he lost his wife. This infuriated man would have been shot if the secretary hadn't show up on time to stop the security agents.
Alfred was clamouring for the president or perhaps Brian to show his face but didn't get a chance. They only sent the secretary to leave him a message that he was about to meet his worst nightmare if he doesn't back out.
He rely a message to them threatening that they could do their worst but that wouldn't change his mind rather, it would make him stronger to win the case and dethrone them.
Adding to that, he says that he would rule and prove to them that power belongs to the people not vipers. His life would have been wasted that day but the president was intrigued by his words and wanted to watch how Alfred would actually succeed.
To the president, it was a game or perhaps a play and was going to prove to Alfred that he had no one. Certainly, the fight just began and he was making things difficult for the one man who dares challenge him.
The case was getting tougher as suddenly, some people who supported Alfred were dropping down on the case. They were either threatened or tortured. It was getting all complicated for Alfred. He made up his mind that if he has no one siding him, he would do it alone.
Justice for his wife! Justice for all those who lost their lives trying to support him, justice for the country. These alone prompt him to put in every effort.
It has been a long day for him and he was getting all stressed. He had no break or rest as he certainly wants to win at all cost. While lost in thoughts and solutions to the present realities, he accidentally remembers that it was Julie's birthday.
"Damn it!" He cusses and rose from his seat. Alfred definitely has to gift her something. How could he be so careless. He was going to call it a day and retire for now because he needed to do the needful as a father to his beloved daughter.
"I'm sorry Julie... dad's a fool" he confessed laughing hysterically at himself.
He stopped by a shop to get her a present and headed home. Alfred had even prepared the long speech he was going to read to his patient precious daughter.
At his arrival, he suddenly found cops around the house. He tried not to think anything negative and hasten his feet inside.
There, he found Derek covered in bruises, the house rampage and detective Leo had arrived to evaluate the scene.
According to Derek's narration, they were in the house celebrating Julie's birthday when some thug sprang on them to attack. The story wouldn't have been believe if five people hadn't testified that it was true. These set of people had come to celebrate with Julie.
Only two were the neighbors while the rest certainly Derek's friends. Alfred didn't want to hear any tale and request for his daughter.
It took a while to control the terrified man down as he was troubled over his daughter.
"We would find her" detective Leo assured but those words couldn't be trusted.
Alfred storm at Derek holding him by the collar and barking at him that he couldn't protect his daughter. A fight would have broke out between them if the cops hadn't tame Alfred down.
Deep in Derek's heart, he kept apologizing and even tearing down. The witnesses were shivering and the way they acted like suspects got the detective curious. He had asked them of the time and a lucid explanation which he got his response.
"Oh no! Julie! I'm so sorry" Alfred pleaded hoping she was safe. Luke, Derek's father had rush down from his restaurant immediately he heard the News.
The detective was set to leave for him to start the search and Alfred required to come along. While the two men were gone, the cops dismissed everyone and told them to report anything suspicious.
The house was left with only Luke and Derek. These two were staring at themselves. They had words to say to each other but didn't know how to begin. Derek could neither control his tears.
"How did you know today was her birthday?"
His question arouse more tears and his father had to order him to speak or he tells Alfred the truth.
"I got a call dad...they threatened me...I had no choice!" He defended regretting what he did.
His father felt embarrassed on his son. He rake his hair, pace to and fro feeling though he should punch him hard.
"I'm sorry dad, I didn't want to die, please let's end this" he pressed falling on his knees.
Luke shut his eyes briefly and then beckoned on Derek to narrate everything to him. The old man got to know that a stranger called his son, threatening to kill and destroy them both if he doesn't do as instructed. A bomb was even planted on him while he was asleep that morning. Certainly, someone had broken into the house without them realizing an hour before Alfred left the house for work. It was the call that got him cautious to do exactly as he was told.
Quickly, he got a cake, tried not to appear scared to Julie and offered to take her out. He had taken her to an isolated place just as instructed and there she was kidnapped.
"Shit! Derek!" Luke shouted unbelievably as he widen his eyes at him.
It wasn't the young man's fault, his life was at stake and he couldn't do anything to protect.
"Do you know who the men where? Or how they look like?"
"No, they had mask on...they took her and deactivated the bomb from me" he responded cleaning of the tears in his eyes.
"How did you get witnesses?"
"Dad, the culprits are smart, they threaten two neighbors to act as witnesses and I had to talk three of my friends into pretending..." Derek pause as he couldn't talk further. Goosebumps had filled him up. He wished he could tell Alfred that this case was a sheraid and he was losing rather than trying.
"Dad, we need to disconnect from that lawyer or he might lead us to our death!" He pressed raising his voice.
"Derek!"
"Dad! How many more lives would be lost just for his greed? Don't you get?" Derek protested trying to reason with his father who curiously stare at him.
"He's not fighting for us or the masses but it's for his ego! To prove to the rulers something no one knows about!" He poured out feeling exhausted by the day.
"Why wouldn't he stop when lives have been lost for the past two months?"
Luke couldn't find the perfect word to respond to the petrified Derek who in a way was making sense. It could be that Alfred was after something else. However, what exactly was he after that even death couldn't stop him?