by Eben Le Roux
Chapter 17
The atmosphere in the restaurant was pleasant. Though full, it seemed to be very calm to Ray. The last time he had been at Flanagan’s, could not even reflect on his memory. The minute Bruce had called him to meet there, he instantly agreed. With the news that Ross was also coming, he left home very excited, as it had been a long time since the two of them had spent an evening out together. He looked at Ross, and could not help smiling seeing him enjoying a massive piece of steak on his plate.
‘You think you can finish all that, Ross?’
‘You bet, brother . . . You know what it is like cooking for yourself every day.’
Everybody started to laugh.
‘Yeah, and I think it is about time you found yourself a good woman and settled down . . .’
‘Don’t go there, Ray. Don’t go there,’ Ross warned, pointing his fork at Ray.
James saw a bit of embarrassment on Ross’s face and thought it was time to start the reason for them being there.
‘I heard you changed the angle of the stage today, Ross. My team called me, and they did not sound too happy about it. Can you tell me why?’ The tone in James’s voice was forthright, and it dimmed everybody’s laughter.
‘Yes, sir, I had to. I think when drawing up the plan, your team did not consider the time of the event. It is going to be in the afternoon, from six o’clock, if I’m not mistaken . . .’ Ross placed the knife and fork back onto his plate to explain with his hands.
‘If I had to go along with those plans, with four cameras covering it . . .’ He looked at Ray for confirmation and got a nod. ‘Well, according to where the cameras would be placed, it would be pointing right at the setting sun. In other words, for nearly fifteen minutes only one camera could then be operated without interference. The rest would be showing more glare than picture. I also wanted to . . .’
‘Ross, Ross . . . it is fine. Bruce and I went to have a look at it, and we were impressed with what we saw. I am a bit disappointed you did not call for permission, but your knowledge really came forward today. I am impressed, very impressed, but next time; do not make changes without notifying the others. The technicians had a tough time laying the cables. I do not want you to take it as an insult because you did so good that we had decided to give you the contract on the second stage as well.’
Ray saw how Ross’s face lightened up at the good news and immediately congratulated him. ‘Well done, Ross. I knew you had it in you.’ He lifted his glass of wine towards him with a smile, and Ross returned it with a big smile of his own. Their celebration, however, was brief when James started to talk again.
‘The main reason why we are here is that we all know that there are only two events left after this one.’ He looked earnestly at Ray and then at Ross and said, ‘We want to make a documentary about your father.’
The two were so staggered by the announcement that they actually stared at one another.
It was Ray who reacted first. ‘I don’t think you guys are serious. My father has suffered enough. I am not putting him through . . .’
Bruce could see the resentment in Ray and quickly intervened, ‘Ray, I need you to listen to us. It is very important that we do this, and I will tell you why.’
The two of them looked at one another and nodded nearly at the same moment. Bruce smiled as he was happy to continue. ‘In the last week, millions of people have watched your father. This could easily go to a hundred million or maybe more because we sold late broadcasting rights to other countries. You see, this man will be so well known around the world that somebody will want to make a documentary about him. Let it rather be us, who know him better and respect him more. Some channels will try to kick dirt in our faces by bringing out a bad report about your father with such a documentary. For us, he is an investment. You can see where I am going with this, don’t you?’ Bruce allowed him a few seconds to think before he continued, ‘Now, I do not care if we had to put in some dirt, all the reasons why he left home, including you two, your sister, your brother, or even your mother.’
‘You keep my mother out of this, and this is . . .’
Ray was saying it so loudly that the others in the restaurant were staring at their table, but before he could add another word, Bruce was already talking, ‘Leaving out anybody would be a great opportunity for the opposition to focus on that person’s life. This would then undermine all our efforts. Did you read the papers in the last week? His former students are all standing up for his brilliance in the classroom. Whether we like it or not, gentlemen, we need to do this. I want you to talk to all your family members and call a meeting of some sort to discuss this with them. Please ask them not to talk to any type of media representative or journalist. They will definitely offer them money, and that can make it hard for us to run this successfully. I . . . we beg you guys...please. We need your support in this regard. I promise you this will all be in your father’s favour.’
‘You promise it will be positive towards his image?’ Ray was really showing his reluctance to agree with this.
‘I am not guaranteeing you anything, Ray, but like I said, we’re looking into investing in your father. This is not about destroying a man that has so much to offer to so many. Again, is there anything that worries you about this issue?’
‘Sandra and Collin,’ Ray was whispering as if the names had slipped over his lips.
Bruce responded quickly as if he expected this to come up. ‘I don’t think you should worry too much about that. The only time we will mention them is the part they played in Peter’s decision to leave home. We are very lucky to know that the student through whom he lost his career is coming out of prison next week Monday. We already made an appointment with him for an interview. We will concentrate a lot on this guy if it is going to make you feel better.’
Both Ray and Ross were happy with what they had just heard and nodded in agreement.
Ross added a last word to Bruce. ‘Be careful of that guy. He might blame my father for that stupid life he had chosen.’
‘Do not worry, Ross. We have more than a dozen of his students to give their opinions about him. Even if there are any negative things coming forward, which I doubt will happen, your father is going to come out a hero once this is over. All I need to do is to speak to your father and inform him of a date on which to start.’
Bruce had to pause as his phone started to ring, and he lifted his left hand as a sign of apology while he took the call. ‘Bruce Ashton.’
The others could not hear what the person calling said, but from Bruce’s words and his facial expression, they knew something was wrong. ‘Harry, how’s it going down there?’
‘Fine, just fine, Bruce, but I have some bad news for you.’
‘How bad?’
The word ‘bad’ made all the others shift their attention to Bruce.
‘It’s about the Teacher . . . Some guys laid a charge against him today. You don’t know where I can find him, do you?’
‘Harry, are you serious? Those scum really opened a case. We merely tried to stop them from attacking an old man and . . .’
‘Good heavens, Bruce, don’t tell me you are one of the other two guys they are talking about. Who is the other one?’
‘Harry, now hold it right there. We will come to the station . . . Who is investigating?’
‘I am the investigating officer in this one. Why?’
‘I need a favour. Can you stall this until after Friday night’s event? I promise we will come on our own effort. Just make sure your phone stays on.’
‘You’re not bribing me, are you?’
‘Am I offering you money?’ Bruce asked, laughing at this.
‘Hey, Bruce, there is something very odd about this matter. There is a woman who called me, wanting to know when the arrest would be made. She said she might have photos as evidence against your teacher, some kind of journalist or something . . . Shannon, I can’t remember her surname.’
‘Shannon Buoys.’
<
br /> ‘That’s the one. You know her?’
‘Harry, my friend, I really need you to stall this a bit. We are being set up. Right now, you do not know that I was involved in that tussle. This woman is after me . . . it is a long story, but I will tell you all of this . . . do I have your word to delay this ’til after the event?’
Ross did not like what he was learning from the conversation so far. He started to question Ray by lifting his eyebrows and showing hand signs. When Ray did not respond, he turned his attention back to Bruce’s conversation.
Harry Payne was not too happy with the request from Bruce and it was notable in his tone. ‘Hey, Bruce, what are you doing to me? I hope your story is good. Otherwise, you better have a job for me.’
‘Don’t worry, Harry. There is nothing serious about this matter. You got my word. Thanks pal.’
Bruce had hardly ended the call when Ray addressed him almost immediately.
‘Are you telling me those bastards laid a charge against my father . . . who was that you were talking to?’
Ray spoke with so much fury that James had to interfere.
‘Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on here?’
‘Yes, I need to know myself.’ Ross angrily joined into the conversation but Ray ignored him speaking directly to Bruce.
‘Those bastards should be taught another lesson. There is no way in hell I will allow my father . . .’
‘Hey, Ray, I know how you feel. We are sitting here with a possible crisis for both your dad and the future of the programme. Let me just fill James and Ross in about that day. Just calm down please. People are watching us right now as we speak.’
Looking around, they could see Bruce was right, and they all picked up their drinks as Bruce started to tell James and Ross about the incidents of that day. James, not impressed that this information was withheld from him, was visibly upset with Bruce.
‘You know, Bruce, we are sitting in a restaurant, and this is definitely not the place for a man of my position to get angry. This table has drawn enough attention already, and I am not going to add to that. Honestly, I have more trust in you than for my entire staff put together, but you definitely let me down here. What do you think is going to happen now? Once the press gets hold of this story, people will give more attention to the court case than to the programme. Peter Johnson was to be protected at all costs. From now on, I do not want that man unaccompanied ever again. I want him to be escorted at all times, even it means giving him a bodyguard or two. Is that understood?’
‘James, you are sitting here with the man’s two sons. This teacher is one hardheaded son of a gun. If you tell him now about bodyguards and that kind of stuff, I do not want to be present when he tells you where to take it. If you don’t believe me, ask them,’ Bruce explained to James very calmly.
‘He is right, James,’ Ray agreed. ‘Don’t even try to mention that to him. He is not going to take any of it.’
‘Then what can be done? We sure as hell have to get him some sort of protection . . . if not for him, then at least for the project. We definitely have to come up with an immediate plan. Where is he currently staying?’ James was still outraged and wanted answers before they left the table.
‘He moved in with the restaurant owner. I will get him to come and stay at my place with immediate effect.’ Ray assured James.
‘I will instruct Sean to be by his side with every step he takes from now on,’ Bruce said, offering to add his assistance, but James was not satisfied yet.
‘What about the charges against him? How are we going to handle that?’
‘Like I said, the police officer will . . .’
A visibly angry Ross interrupted Bruce. ‘You guys can leave that to me. I will take care of that.’
Ross said it with so much emotion that there was a short silence before James addressed him. ‘I don’t want any trouble, Ross. We already have enough of that.’ It sounded more like a warning than an instruction.
‘Trust me, gentlemen. I know what I’m doing.’
‘No trouble?’
‘I promise . . . no trouble.’
From where Bruce was sitting, he knew James did not buy Ross’s last statement.
‘Well, gentlemen, in ten days, we will start with the documentary on Peter Johnson. I hope we do not have to discuss issues of this nature ever again. By the way, did anyone of you hear from those two again?’
They all just shook their heads.
Ross’s mind was in chaos. He could not remember the last time he had felt that angry. He imagined how Peter must have felt being pushed around and insulted like that. With Ray keeping it away from him, had him boiling.
Half an hour later, as he and Ray were walking to their cars, the tension was high. Ross had already made up his mind. He was not going to sleep until this matter was sorted out.
‘Why didn’t you tell me, Ray?’ The question was so harsh that it made Ray to stand still.
‘Listen. I did not know it was going to come to this.’
‘Ray, you know what that man means to me. I could have done something about it, and I am definitely not going to sleep tonight unless something was done about it.’
‘You hold it right there, Ross. He is my father too. Did you hear that? My father. You want me to stand aside while you think it is your duty to take over protecting him? Don’t think for . . .’
‘Shut up, Ray! Just shut the hell up! You are already involved in a police matter regarding this. You want to be the stupid hero in the family. What do you know about the scum who hang out in Lincoln? You guys can thank the gods you came out of there in one piece. You might know people in higher places in this city, my brother, but I know better how to deal with that lot.’ Ross reached into his inside pocket for his phone and said to Ray, ‘I will sort this out tonight. You go home to your son. Now go on!’
‘You think I’m going to leave you alone with those guys after what you just told me about them. I am going with you. That’s it. Don’t try to stop me.’
‘Ray, I’m making a phone call to guys you don’t want to get involved with. I said I have it sorted, so go home now.’ Ross gave Ray a gentle push towards his car.
‘What are you pushing me for, Ross? Are you now looking for a fight with me? We should be fighting those guys, not one another.’
They were facing each other, both of them not really knowing what to do in a situation like this.
‘We are not fighting, Ray. I am just trying to get you to agree with me. Listen to me. When this is over, Dad is going to need a place to come home to. If things should go wrong tonight with both of us involved, who is going to take care of him? Let me go and do this, Ray. I promise I will do this for the family, not for me.’
‘You promise?’
‘Cross my heart, I promise.’
Very reluctantly, Ray started walking to his car. ‘You phone me, okay?’
‘Yes.’
‘Promise me!’
‘I promise. Now go!’
‘Tonight?’
‘Yes, damn it. I’ll phone you tonight.’
He waited for Ray to drive away before he started dialling a number and waited for the person to pick up. There was a very abrupt ‘yeah’ when the person responded and Ross could hear a lot of party noise in the background.
‘Hey, Twist.’
‘Anybody I know?’ The voice was very suspicious and arrogant.
‘Hey, Twist, it’s me, Ross Parker.’
Suddenly, the tone of the voice changed to that of excitement. ‘Hey, Ross, how are you, buddy? Long time, man. What’s up?’
Ross disregarded all the questions. ‘Twist, I need to see you urgently. Where can I meet you?’
‘Hey, man, you sound upset. What’s wrong?’
‘I need your help. Where are you now?’
‘I told you a long time ago that you would call on me one day. See, I wasn’t wrong.’
‘Twist, this is serious. Tell me where you are!’
/> There was a loud laugh from Twist.
‘Still the same old son of a bitch . . . We’re at the club, The Captain’s Island. What is it you want?’
‘You know those guys hanging out in Lincoln?’
‘Those low-life bastards, yeah, what about them?’
‘They assaulted my old man.’
‘What in heaven are you talking about, Ross? Your old man is dead?’
‘Not that one, Twist. I’m talking about the Teacher.’
Suddenly, there was a change of tone in Twist’s voice. ‘Are you talking about Mr Johnson? Don’t tell me Mr. Johnson got fucked up by some scum please. Where, when . . ?’
‘It happened two days ago, and it seems somebody offered them cash to lay charges and now the cops are looking for him. Hey, Twist, we need to help this man, and fast. I cannot let him go to a prison cell, not even for one night. I am going for those boys tonight, but I cannot do it alone.’
‘Ross, wait somewhere for me. I will come with half a dozen guys. There is a filling station at Simpson Street. Wait there for us . . . give us ten minutes.’ Before Ross could even say thanks, the phone went dead.
By the tone in Twist’s voice, Ross could hear that he was as upset as he was. He knew that Twist was not a person he would socialise with but in times like these, it was good to have friends like him. He smiled as he thought of how Twist got his nickname while they were still in grade nine at school. They were all in a school dancing competition and while everybody had either danced to disco or pop music, Stanley Hopper, his real name, was doing a twist dance from the sixties. It was very laughable to see a person with a big body like his doing the twist so swiftly and precise to the music. He walked away with the winner’s price that day and the nickname Twist was born.
Ross was still getting out of his car when he saw two cars following one another entering the parking lot of the filling station. The first car stopped right next to his while the other one parked behind it. A smile formed on Twist’s face as he walked up to him, and Ross could see that he had put on weight. Also on Ross’s mind was that this man was once the school bully. Ross wondered if he still carried in his heart the beating he had given him after trying to bully Collin. Even Twist’s friend walked away with a blue eye when trying to assist him in that fight. It seemed all forgotten as Twist opened his arms wide to greet Ross with a big hug and a tap on the back.
‘Still the smart guy, huh? You are looking good, Ross, you sure are looking good. Are you coming with us when this is over? There are some good women waiting at the club. What do you say?’
‘Sorry, mate. I am still working for a salary. Need to clock in tomorrow morning. Hey . . . thanks for coming, man.’
‘What are friends for? Let’s go finish this. You follow us. Jack will drive with you.’ A tall man was walking over to Ross’s car.
‘Say, you got the names of these guys, Ross?’
‘No names, but we will be looking for a green Chevy with spiked sport wheels and a big eagle on the bonnet. The owner of that car and his buddies are who we will be looking for.’
‘You heard the man, gents. Let’s go.’
Twist was already turning towards his car when Ross shouted at him, ‘Hey, Twist, what are we planning to do to them?’
‘We’ll be doing nothing, Ross. You are taking over leadership from here. Whatever you want us to do; we will be ready and waiting. We are here to back you up for any situation.’
‘In that case, I only want to give them a verbal, a very strict and final verbal warning. No action unless they start first and I want everybody to understand that.’
As they rounded Smith into Lincoln, they saw the car. Two men were leaning against it, drinking and smoking, one was relaxing in the backseat and two others were dancing to the sounds coming from it. They stopped their car right next to the Chevy while the men stared at them in a very suspicious manner. Walking towards the Chevy, Ross saw Twist and two of his men standing outside their car across the road. He walked with fearless strides up to the man with a slightly blue eye who leant against the car.
‘Is this your car, mister?’ Ross asked, standing right in front of him, his face one foot away from his.
‘That’s right, and I’m not fucking selling,’ said the blue-eyed person.
‘What’s your name?’ Ross asked, adding some more attitudes to his voice.
‘Hey, what’s your fucking problem, man? You looking for trouble?’
‘For now . . . just your name.’
‘Hey, listen here. You think you can . . .’
‘Give the man your fucking name.’
Suddenly, the expression on the man’s face changed when he saw where the second voice was coming from. Twist and the others were standing just five metres away from the car.
‘Hey, Twist, what’s up, man? What’s the matter with this shit guy here? We did him nothing man, nothing.’
Ross did not like the regular insults coming from the man and grabbed his collar. He slammed his fist squarely on the same blue spot next to the left eye. The two dancers moved forward quickly, just to stop as quickly when they heard the sound of guns cocking.
‘You call me one more fuckin name, and I will remove that eye for good and that is a promise. For the last time, give me your name!’ Ross’s grip was now tightening around his neck so much that it was close to choking the man.
‘Ricky, my name is Ricky. What’s wrong, man? We did nothing to you guys, man.’
Ross let go of his grip, reached inside the car, and switched the sound off. ‘You know what I just did? I switched off your music, Ricky. Is this not the part where I am in deep shit? Aren’t you guys supposed to teach me a lesson now, Ricky boy?’
Instantly, Ricky’s eyes went very big. Those words were enough for him to get the message why these men were here.
‘Listen here, Ricky boy. That old man you and your boys wanted to fuck up is my father. That old man you guys are planning to have arrested was that man’s schoolteacher. We are here to settle a score on behalf of that old man, and he did not send us. We are just here to show our loyalty to him, understand?’
Ross’s finger was pushed up under his chin, and Ricky’s head was already leaning over the roof of his car.
‘Anybody will kill for his father, and that includes me. If, by nine o’clock tomorrow, that case is not withdrawn, we will rock up here with ten more cars. Do you read me, Ricky, ten more cars! We will not come to dance to your gangster rap shit. I do not care how much you were paid for those fucked-up charges you laid against my father. Just don’t let me visit you for this very same reason. I want you to remember one last thing. I only give one warning, and one warning only. Is that clear?’
There was genuine fear showing in Ricky’s eyes as he said a hurried ‘yes’.
‘Good, at ten past nine tomorrow morning, I will walk with my father into that police station. If the charges still stand and he gets arrested, believe me, you will be my ticket to join him in that cell.’
Ross gave him a last push before he walked away. Twist stepped towards Ricky and looked at him from the feet up while saying, ‘you had better believe that man, little Ricky. You better believe that man.’
Ross walked over to the man that wanted to assist Ricky. Without saying a word, he punched him with a left hook so fast that he did not even see it coming. As the man went down he said; “That one is for my old man.” Nobody even tried to make a move in helping him.
They walked away, and Twist could not help the smile coming onto his face. ‘You sure scared me there for a moment. That other guy, would you really have taken out his eye?’ he asked Ross.
‘Twist, sometimes, a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do,’ he answered him.
“Well, phone me tomorrow and tell me the results’ Twist said as he walked to his car.
Twist was to get another surprised to see Ross’s car following his into the parking lot at the club.
‘Have you decided to join us? I though
t you needed to clock in early tomorrow morning.’
‘Twist, there is something else I need to talk to you about.’
‘Damn, man, if I was a lawyer, I would have made a lot of money from you tonight.’
‘I’m serious, Twist.’
‘Then let me hear it.’
‘Collin is returning that BMW to you.’
‘Hey, wait a minute here, Ross. I stand to lose a lot of money here. I need . . .’
‘He is cutting ties with your crew. I want you to tell all of them to leave him alone.’
‘Ross . . . listen . . .’
‘No, Twist, you listen to me. I appreciate what you did for me tonight . . . for the teacher tonight. However, what is the use of saving him from scum when both you and I know that boy means a lot to him. That man collected himself from the dirt, man. Now let us help him in collecting his family.’
Ross could see he was making an impact on Twist, and he knew he had to keep going. ‘We went to school together, my friend. We were both educated by that man. Tell me, what do you remember most about him, Twist? What is it that you remember most, huh?’
Twist lifted his head slowly and stared at Ross for a moment before he answered, almost in question form, ‘His wisdom?’
‘Then, let’s use it. This is a perfect time for us to give back to someone who needs it right now.’
‘I’m going to lose on that car, Ross. That boy did not look after it well. As long as he is willing to pay the difference, I’m willing . . .’
‘No problem there, Twist, he must learn to pay for his negligence. Now, will you tell that crew of yours that he went out clean and is not to be harassed, you promise?’
‘Ross, let me tell you my little secret. You remember the fight between you and me eight years ago. You were the only guy that ever took me down.’
‘You still hold it against me?’
‘That was my reason for taking on that boy. I wanted to get back at you. You were such a fucking hero in that boy’s eyes that it swamped my soul whenever he started talking about you. I thought you were going to come at me again because of him and I was going to be ready. Now that that hatred had disappeared, I sometimes still wonder why I didn’t turn out to be like you.’
‘Like me . . . ?’
‘Yeah. The respect people give you is real. People respect me only because they fear me. There’s a difference, Ross, a big difference, and we guys know it too well.’
‘Hey, Twist, thanks man. Now, I know you still carry a lot of respect inside yourself, and I acknowledgment that. Go look after yourself now, you hear?’
‘I will, and you look after that boy. He is not fit to be a thug. He needs a family. Make sure you give it to him.’
They hugged, greeted, and parted ways.