Chereads / Living the Non-Living / Chapter 10 - The Disappearance : Act One

Chapter 10 - The Disappearance : Act One

Michael is at work to view how his kids are handling his assets and he is very pleased of what they've done. Patrica takes the files back to storage and Michael leaves shortly he calls Tom to hear about the wellbeing of the kids. He informs Tom to tell his kids to report to the mansion on weekend as he has an urgent request for them.

Tom did so, as the teens came to the gym as their watches told them to. They found letters in their respected lockers. Zoete, Samantha, Simone and Kristen were needed back home.. The question that looms in the mind is why?

The weekend came soon and for the varsity teens it was back to Eshowe, arriving at the mansion, the gate was overcrowded with journalists, they opted to no leave the car until it enters the garage because Zoete was there and journalists were there which they had no idea why.

Tradegy had struck, the business mogul Michael Mitchell was missing. Brandon wept when he saw his older siblings and the kids in London also got informed. This was very disturbing news then the call came to Zoete to report that few days ago Arthur payed a visit to the thugs involved in Samantha's kidnapping.

The thugs got immediate bail after, the rest was clear, the nemesis struck again. Simone argued that the evidence was not much to suspect Arthur's involvement, Samantha was shaken it was all coming back, Kristen comforted her. All eyes turned to Tom on what to be done next and how did the media got hold of this before them.

Before Tom could speak, Zoete rushed out to the garage and departs on her motorcycle back to Pretoria leaving all puzzled. The teen always obey the rules of the road but today was different, the speed was alarming, at the gate no journalists thought of following. Samantha tried calling her sister but she left her phone back at the mansion...

Late evening Zoete arrived on campus, on the Telkom Post, she called Herny in a very distorted voice. Herny came quickly at the park near campus, Zoete looking pale saw him, she ran to his arms, smiling yet sad and she told him that she has something to do.

Things to be done may put Zoete's life in danger so before that she wants to get something out of her chest first... "Herny, I never stopped...", Herny stops her talking by putting a hand on her mouth and holds her tightly. The kiss they share unlike their first, surely proves that they were just lying to themselves, they love each other so much.

After the kiss, Zoete leaves Herny with a disturbing question "what if you find out that I am a wealthy child, would you love me then?" Herny assures her always and forever, she rides her bike waving goodbye to her lover. Herny was amaze given the trick she did before turning.

Back at the mansion, it was still no news from Zoete as it was getting late Simone suggested they call Herny, recalling Zoete's distress facial expression before rushing out. Tom passes the telephone, after a tone dial it went through "have you seen Faith?"

Herny replied she was here and he asked "is everything alright?" Simone not wanting to worry Herny about the details, he thanks him and hangs up. Tom hands over the car keys, Simone jumps off straight to the garage, the others follow him as he enters the Jeep and drives off.

Tom and the girls take a black Fortuner then follow, three bodyguards in another Jeep follow suit. Three cars depart through the gate at alarming speed. The journo's are shocked, some without hesitation drive off following them. The cars came to an intersection like they were going to Gauteng but actually Simone was going to the NADa Hotel in Richard's Bay.

When they arrived there, parked and all went to the penthouse suite, Simone draws access card and swipe on the door to enter his sister domain. Samantha asks him how did he find it and reply long story but Kristen ask "why are we here? when uncle is missing and cousin Zoete has gone AWOL.

Politely Simone ask others to wait outside except Kristen and Sammy. He closed the doors and ask the cameras to shut down, in French phrase so that the security panel won't be able to receive information enclosed in this penthouse. He touches the TV, turning it sideways and opens the hidden room that has a mainframe supercomputer...

On the big screen it shows one message from Zoete but it needs two verification, a password and eye scan of secondary admin, the password hint is cousin middle name, the eye scan is for Simone as for the password they called out Tsholofelo, computer A.I rejects so they turn to Kristen.

Kristen states she does not have a middle name but then recalls her uncle [Michael] calls her 'Amira' as she says, the A.I accepts the word and recognise the voice. The message is a video from Zoete and she looks gloomy. She states they took so long and informs them, she is rushing to Cape Town.

The message state Michael has been taken, they need Brandon and left a Skype code for communication. Simone connected via Skype and Zoete appear to be online via her motorbike but they just see her silhouette, they tell her that Brandon is back at the mansion, she orders them to tell Tom to go pick him up but before they reply, their watches receive a distress signal.

The little Rascal is near and want help, Brandon had gotten in the car, Simone was driving, they fetch him. Zoete tells them, they are on a verge of bankruptcy. Patrica turned coat and Michael has money frozen only Brandon and the twins can access it but since the twins are in London, it's Brandon's duty to access it.

Samantha grows impatient "where is father" Zoete replies Arthur and Patrica holds him and I will go to find him with help from the police in the meantime take the money to the bank before we lose our assets[trustfunds] , the company, the mansion together with our Hotels. They ask how and where is the money.

Zoete denotes Brandon is to riddle their joke phrase with Michael. The WiFi connection is cut off and Brandon is confused, while the three lost hope Brandon jumps loudly "I know, I know", he pauses silently "through love and happiness of my family, I delight". Brandon shocked as the room opens.

Gold outshines them, they take a thousand carote and depart to the bank first thing in the morning.