I notices two things when I stepped into the hall through the garage door. I switch on the light but the room remains dark. I switch on my phone light and saw my favorite couch turned upside down, torn into shreds, the front security door stared back at me awkwardly, demm a break in.
My chest pounded as the adrenaline surge through my boiling blood. very alert now, I took the stares three at a time.
the same horrible scene in the hall welcome me in the bedroom, then I rushed to the wardrobe, the same scene as its content lay scattered on the floor.
I checked the drawer were I kept my laptop, cash and valuables, and an empty space smiled back at me.
I rushed outside into the yard to the main gate, then stepped outside but saw nothing unusual.
The whole neighborhood was quite, maybe too quite. Even the dogs weren't bucking.
I checked the time as I walked towards the house and it 11:13 pm, I thought of calling the police but immediately decided against it. I didn't want to tip off whoever that was unto me.
I went to check the meter, it was switched off. I switch it on and went inside. I didn't know where to start or what to do.
The ctc camera, I switch on the camera screen but it was blank showing nothing. this is no ordinary burglary. I am dealing with an expert.
I entered the kitchen and finally feel at home. Everything was intact. I got some hot coffee going.
Then I crouch on my knees, and open the cabinet below the sink, no rampage what so ever.
This put a smile on my face. The house can burn to the ground, but once the contents in the safe planted to the floor under the sink are intact, I don't have a problem. for the laptop, I had all the information back up to my google drive.
I poured myself a hot mug of and move upstairs into the bed room. stripped and took a shower. Something isn't right, but couldn't tell what.
what is that smell? Perhaps, it's because of the robbery. There is an alien presence in the room. A smell I am not accustomed to.
Maybe it's the effects of the robbery still lingering in the air.
I entered the bath room again, this time to have access to my secret chamber.
I switched on the light on entry, before locking the door behind me and sit on the chair by the desk.
I will fix the rest of the house tomorrow, if I could last through the night, for I could sense a migraine whirling up, the severe kind.
Attached the to the wall at the far corner is a bed, while the rest of the wall filled with shelves of books; business, law, philosophy, science, and classics from around the globe, I love my collections, and this room is fire proof.
In here I feel like a different man. I turned on the air condition in the window less interior space, and felt that alien aura again. A strange smell, I filed it away as nothing to be concern about.
I brought out my phone, and I saw Diana's message, and it read;
Can we meet at my place tomorrow?
Then I went to check Ruby's message the one she gave me before the call, I remembered I didn't read it after our heated conversation on the phone.
Ruby's message was also concise; can we meet at your place or my place, you choose.
I toss the phone on the desk in exasperation and close my eyes; are you in there spooky?
"I am here kuga, what is going on? Its chaotic in here…". 'yeah spooky, what is your take on our meeting Ziggy'.
"Ziggy is up to something kuga, and I don't think we can trust him".
'You mean that is what Ree try to warn us about?'. "yeah kuga, is an all-out war."
'What about the robbery?'. "it looked staged, I think the laptop was the main target. They want to know how much incriminating intel we have on them."
"You mean Dr is behind this attack? "maybe, and not unless the neighbor with the hounds work for him, because the dogs miraculously didn't buck tonight, although there was a robbery, he probably drugs the poor hounds".
"Sherlock Holmes theory right spooky. "yeah, you could say that".
You mean we should pay the neighbor a visit tomorrow? "no, it means we should keep a close eye on him he will probably led us to whoever that is in charge."
'maybe we should scale the wall and check him out right away'. "I wouldn't advice that Kuga, we have to be shrewd about this."
'What do we do now? I mean about Ziggy'… "let's talk to mama first, and see what she got".
"but we can still draw possible theories kuga; who will profit most if you are no more?".
"Ziggy? Damn! spooky, what kind of reasoning is that?". "it's only a theory kuga, don't get perturbed. With all the road contracts DedRox won in the past three years, it has become juicy enough to make a man kill for. And you are a shadow partner in that company Kuga. Making a shadow disappear wouldn't be hard is it?"
"or what if Ziggy in his ambition, have been operating with Dr and Tarik all this while? For with Ziggy, is always about the money.".
'no, Felix or Tarik don't know about my connections with Ziggy."
"but you are not sure about that now are you?".
"Enough theories spooky, the man is my brother, until I see him pull a gun to my head, I can't believe any of this. What if Dr reach out to momma, for she is that connected. And now their plan is to turned us against each other?"
"not a bad theory kuga, but momma doesn't seem like that kind". And you think Ziggy is that kind?"
'if you're wait for the man pull a gun on you, remember you will not be alive to find out he turns traitor."
"look, we are not going any were with this theories, why not go to bed, and let's think about it tomorrow".
As I played the dialogue in my head between I and my alter ego, nothing makes sense. I wish I could delve deeper but my over-heated head was now throbbing, and I knew I am developing a migraine that will probably last me a month.
Out of sheer cognitive will, I called Ree and she picked up on the fourth dial. "hello Spooky. I guess you got home safe."
"yeah Ree, but my turbulent speculations wouldn't allow my eyes to close. What's going on Ree?"
"why don't you tell me Spooky? Prudence defines you, how come you now meddle around in the dirt of the other side ma boy?".
"making things right mama." "so, you some kind of angel now?". "none of that Ree. But certain things are there a man cannot just sit and watch slide by. It's kind of personal, Ree."
"thought the streets taught you better, spooky. Out here in the underworld, you know it's the personal stuff that send men to their early graves, right?".
"the graves await us all Ree. Damn, I will prefer a grave to this world of misery any day mama."
"and you men claimed you are the smart ones among the species, but your coconut heads aint malleable neither."
"tell me what I must know, and stop throwing on my face some feminist crap." "feminist crap that can safe your life. You live in a grey world Spooky. a blend of the black and white world, and that is very dangerous. The grey area means a man belongs nowhere. You can stick with your computers and office work, and live a simple normal life, guess that's why you choose to read all them fat books…
if you want a life in the dark side, step in all the way and stop switching sides like a damn hypocrite my boy."
"Damn! You Ree, this is not a time to school a man. I need to know what I am up against." "I can only warn you my boy. For the facts, you will have to dig for yourself. I am no snitch. I do this by the book, les I sink with you."
"I see. You living me out in the ocean all alone to go down?".
" I am no angel or some crappy saint, spooky. If I was, I would've been dead by now. cold streets out here, were reality is its own mouthpiece. You should thank me for giving you a head start Puki. Hell, I like you, we are hommies, but I am screwed if I put your life first before mine."
"so, you are one of them, and Ziggy too?". "what sort of knowledge do they teach you school fellas, ha puki? You still don't get it do you? if Ziggy or any of them big boys know about this conversation I will have my head on a spike. Wake up Spooky, if I were you I will be miles away from this city…".
"who put you up to this, Ree? Is this a way to scare me off? Well, tell them it didn't work. I am bringing them down one way or the other."
"you know what? Go screw yourself puki, you don't know what you're dealing with. This is hell of a fight you can't win."
"we will see about that mama. I have nothing to lose, do I?". "I guess you don't value your life puki? Sleep over your idiosyncrasies, and pray to see another sunlight, that's if there is a tomorrow for you."
"what a weak threat, Ree. None of that will work on me. what a sad end for you and I. I have added you to my list of enemies. And don't pretend to help me."
"is this how you want it to end for us, spooky? I thought we had something special going. We sing and rap together, and bring life into the clubs. But, we share more than that… it's not romantic, but I will call it canal satisfaction. Remember this boy, that whatever a woman is; she is a woman first and foremost…".
The line went silent in the soundless chamber. And my head throb and tick like a wall clock, the migraine gaining strength. I feel heavy and drowsy.
Something is terribly wrong. What is it? I have forgotten to do something, what is it? my hammering foggy mind was shutting down, and I seem to fall into a dark twirling vortex.
Standing on my woozy feet, I struggled to the bed and down I went, into the darkness of nothingness.