by Tariq Saleim
Out on the balcony, Rock tried his best to keep his composure. He knew that Pepper was looking at him. She must not realize that I know her secret, he resolved unhappily. On the inside, though, he was furious. A sense of resentment had taken over and his hands were shivering. He had almost fallen in love and her betrayal was hurting. He trusted her with his love and money. Money was not a big thing, he had lots of it, but trust was sacred.
He wondered why Pepper would do such a thing. To blackmail me, he concluded. But I love her. I gave her everything she wanted. What was lacking in my love? He thought of asking her directly. She will never admit to it. She will be alarmed and put into action whatever she had intended to do. No, I must not tell her. He looked inside the bedroom. Pepper was not on the bed. She would be in the shower now, where he would normally join her. Today, he was not in the mood. He lit another cigarette. I just cannot let this go. The bitch should be taught a lesson. She needs to be humiliated, insulted as she has affronted my love.
Pepper was waiting for Rock in the shower. When he did not show up, she guessed he was tired. His loss, reckoned Pepper. She removed her contact lenses, placed them into their protective casing, and stepped into the bathtub. She immersed herself completely in the fragrant mix of soap and water.
Half an hour later, Pepper came out of the shower covering her body in a bathrobe. Rock was neither in the bedroom nor on the balcony. She was surprised by her lover’s sudden lack of interest. Normally he would join her in the shower. If not, he would wait for her in the bedroom. He loved seeing her after she showered. The old man must be really tired, she thought with a chuckle.
Pepper walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. Rock was not there either. She crossed the living room and went to the kitchen, and was surprised to see him cooking food in the kitchen. He was still naked.
“I did not know you could cook,” Pepper said.
“I am preparing lunch for you,” replied Rock. He did not come across as someone who could and would cook for a woman.
“Why don’t we go out to eat?”
“I felt like making food for you.” He walked over to Pepper and kissed her forehead gently. “You do not know everything about me yet. Why do not you wait for me at the dining table? I will serve you there.”
Pepper left him in the kitchen, slightly amazed at her boyfriend’s show of affection. He had never done this before. Either he is breaking up with me or proposing, she reckoned. A proposal would be good. I hope he is not breaking up. I am not finished milking him yet.
Rock walked into the living room and placed a plate, along with a knife and a fork, in front of Pepper. He had prepared a Bosna sausage sandwich, grilled on white bread, with onions, tomato ketchup, mustard, and curry powder. Pepper was surprised at how well it was done.
“This looks delicious. I am so hungry.” She took a big bite.
“You do know that I love you.” Rock sat on the dining chair next to hers.
“Of course I do.”
“I want to ask you something.” Rock leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.
So he is going to propose, thought Pepper. She quickly swallowed the food and placed the sandwich back on the plate. She turned to Rock and held his face in her hands, to look into his eyes. “What is it, my love?”
Out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed he did not have an erection. So it cannot be about sex, she guessed.
“We have been seeing each other for a while and I was thinking—”
“Thinking about what?” Pepper asked impatiently.
“I was thinking that perhaps we could take this to next level.”
Pepper continued to look at him affectionately, making use of all her acting skills to look impatient, hopeful, beautiful, and innocent all at the same time.
“But before we go further, I need to ask you something,” said Rock.
“Anything, my love, ask anything.”
“Is there something I do not know about you?”
Pepper was caught off guard by the question. “You know me. You know what I do for a living. We have been together for a long time now. What more do you want to know?”
“Anything that can change the way I look at you?”
“Yes, that I love you very much.” Pepper got up from her chair and sat in her boyfriend’s lap. It was time to seal the deal. She kissed him passionately, holding his head in her hands, then eased back. “Now tell me what were you thinking?”
“Not like this, love.” Rock pushed her back politely. “You finish this sandwich and I will get ready. I have another surprise for you.”
“The suspense is killing me,” Pepper protested.
Rock looked into her eyes. “You have beautiful eyes. Your natural eye color looks very good on you.”
“I took off my lenses before taking a shower.” She stood up.
“I love you anyway.” Rock got up from the chair and started walking to their bedroom. “I will be back in five minutes,” he shouted.
He closed the bedroom door and headed for the bathroom. Pepper had made a mess of the bathroom and the floor was still wet. He looked around for the contact lens case, but could not find it. He rushed back into the bedroom looking for Pepper’s handbag and grabbed it off the couch. Quickly, he went through the contents and was pleased to find what he was looking for.
He opened the contact lens case and placed one of the lenses on his fingertip. It took him only a second to confirm his suspicion. These lenses were identical to ones he had used, not too long ago. He quickly placed the lenses back in their case and dropped the handbag on the couch.
It was time to go ahead with his surprise.
Pepper had hardly taken a few bites of the sandwich when she saw Rock returning to the living room. He was still naked.
“That was quick,” she remarked.
Rock did not answer and kept walking to her. He grabbed her neck with his left hand and forced her onto the dining table. Her upper body was pinned to the table while her feet were still on the floor. The edge of the table was pushed into her lower back. He opened her bathrobe with his right hand and exposed her body. He then started choking her with both hands. She grabbed his hands and struggled to free herself.
“You are hurting me,” she managed to rasp.
“That is the intention, bitch.”
“Let me go,” shouted Pepper.
“Not until you tell me where the recordings are.”
“What?”
“The recordings, bitch.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I will tell you what I am talking about.” Rock was filled with animal rage. The bitch won’t own up to it.
He picked up the fork beside her plate, raised it high above her head, and mercilessly drove it into her right eye. Pepper screamed in agony. Rock increased the pressure on her neck and on the fork that was now firmly placed in her eye socket.
“Where are the recordings?” he shouted again.
Pepper did not reply. Her body shuddered, possibly with death pangs. Rock picked up the knife and drove it into Pepper’s left eye. This time she did not even scream.
“Why did you do this?” he shouted. “Where are the recordings?”
Pepper had nothing to say—she was dead. Rock loosened his grip and she fell to the floor. He kicked her in her stomach. Pepper might be dead, but his anger was not. He wanted to insult her more, torture her more. Fucking weakling, died so fast, he thought with a frown. He was disappointed at her quick death, unsatisfied with the little torture he had done. She deserved more.
Pepper’s blood was everywhere. He watched with pleasure as her mutilated face bled profusely, and the sight calmed him. His rage subsided. Justice had been served. She will not be able to deceive anyone again. The world should be thankful to me, he thought. He stepped back and looked at the corpse in its pool of blood. Her face was agonized. She had died a painful death. Rock smiled, feeling proud of his handiwork.
He tried to think of what
she might have recorded in their meetings. His affair with Pepper was publicly known. He had already divorced his wife. Besides this, they had some business dealings that were not strictly aboveboard. Suddenly, he realized that the recordings, if leaked, could be damaging for business. Whoever is holding onto those recordings needed to be dealt with, he quickly decided.
He walked to his room, picked up his cell phone from the nightstand, and dialed a number. A familiar voice answered.
“I need to clean my floor,” said Rock.
“Do you want us to dispose of the garbage?” asked the man on the other end.
“Yes.”
“In one hour.”
Rock hung up. He had an hour before the Cleaners arrived to take care of everything. He picked up all of Pepper’s belongings from his bedroom and bathroom and walked to the dining room. He placed them a few feet away from her body, then picked up the leftover sandwich from the plate on the dining table and finished it. It was delicious. When he was done, he tossed the plate onto the pile of Pepper’s things. The Cleaners would handle the rest.
***
The next day, in the early morning hours, Pepper’s body was discovered in a Dumpster across the street from where she lived. The words I dare you had been written on her stomach with her blood.
DK saw the news on television and immediately understood that the message was directed at him. Pepper’s eyes had been taken out, which for DK meant only one thing: it was time to disappear.
Spike saw the news and started crying. His enemies were closing in on him. First, Ken, now Pepper—one by one everyone he loved was being killed, and then they would come for him. There was no way out now.
Hawk saw the news and snarled in disgust. To him the message was clear: It was time to do something or die. He picked up his cell phone and typed a short message to Coco.
CHAPTER 17
Sector 2, Sub-Sector 2 (formerly known as Delhi, India)
Coco and Nile waited outside the arrival hall at the airport. Chandani had decided not to accompany them.
Three days ago, Coco had received a message from Hawk. He urgently wished to see her. She thought he finally wanted to apologize for his behavior. She told him she was in Sector Two for two weeks and could only see him once back. He insisted on flying to Sector Two, with Spike, to meet with her. There was something in his voice that indicated this was not a disguised attempt to make up, so she agreed to pick them up at the airport and drive them to their hotel. Hawk then went on to explain that what he and Spike had to say was important for all of them—including her new friend. Coco was intrigued as to how this could possibly involve Nile.
Hawk and Spike emerged from the arrival hall and looked for Coco. It was difficult to spot her in the crowd. Hawk’s cell phone buzzed and he took it out of his pocket. It was Coco.
“Keep walking. I can see you. I am standing behind the crowd,” said Coco.
“OK.” He put his phone back in his pocket and gestured to Spike to continue walking.
Coco waved to get their attention. They waved back. Hawk looked angry, but Spike looked sad. Coco could understand why. She had seen pictures of Pepper’s dead body on the news. The poor guy looks so sad. First, it was Ken, now Pepper. He must be so heartbroken. Coco felt sorry for Spike.
As they came closer, Coco ignored Hawk and embraced Spike. “I am so sorry for your loss,” she said. Spike wrapped his arms around her politely and said nothing. “I am sorry we could not talk after Ken’s incident. Circumstances were such…” Her voice trailed off as he remained silent. “And Pepper’s untimely death is tragic. May you have the courage to go through this.”
“Thanks for your kind words,” Spike replied sorrowfully, and let go of Coco.
Hawk and Coco looked at each other and exchanged a polite “Hi.”
Coco made the introductions. “This is my ex-boyfriend Hawk and his friend Spike. And this is my friend Nile.” Contrary to her expectations, Hawk did not flinch at the reference to his being her ex. The three men politely exchanged hellos.
Coco was upset at Hawk’s lack of reaction to her impolite introduction. At least he is consistent. He did not care about me then and does not care about me now. Anyway, let’s hear what he has to say, now that I know he is not here to say he’s sorry.
The ride to the hotel was quiet. Coco sat in front with Nile, who was driving. Hawk and Spike sat in the rear. No one spoke until they reached the hotel.
“Go check in. I will park the car and then see you in the lobby,” said Nile. Hawk, Spike, and Coco alighted. The two men took their small bags from the boot of the car and Nile drove away. Twenty minutes later, all four of them were sitting in Hawk’s room.
“What is the local time now?” Hawk asked Nile.
“Six thirty p.m.,” replied Nile.
“Do you need to be somewhere?” Hawk asked.
“Home,” replied Nile.
“Tell them you will be late.”
“I will, if I am getting late.”
“What I am going to show to both of you,” Hawk said with a glance to Coco, “will change your lives forever. What I want from you, in return, is to suggest a way out of it.”
“What is it?” Coco asked impatiently. “How does it involve Nile?”
“See for yourself,” replied Hawk.
***
At around ten o’clock, Nile requested a break for five minutes. He called his wife and told her he would be late, then they watched the remainder of the recordings. They finished at around three in the morning. Nile watched silently and did not ask questions. He was a man hungry for truth. Coco raised several questions. She was overwhelmed and could not contain herself. Hawk answered whatever he could.
“How did you get this?” Coco looked dazed.
“Ken left it for me,” replied Spike.
“How did Ken get it?”
“Someone handed them over to him,” replied Spike.
“If the bit about ORRF is correct, then you were tortured for nothing,” Coco said to Nile.
“It seems to be the case,” replied Nile.
Over the next fifteen minutes, Hawk and Spike explained their thoughts on who made these surveillance videos and why, and why it would be wrong to go to Media or Militia with these. Nile got up from his seat and started walking around the room. He was thinking deeply, but still listening to Hawk and Spike.
“What do you think?” Hawk asked him.
“I think what you are saying makes sense,” replied Nile.
“What do we do now?”
Nile looked at all three before he spoke. “I know someone who may be able to help.”
“Who is he?” Coco asked eagerly.
“I cannot say. I need to take you all to meet him.”
“Is he from Militia?” asked Spike.
“No,” replied Nile.
“How can we trust him?” Hawk asked.
“I can,” replied Nile.
“And us?” Coco asked.
“You can trust me,” replied Nile.
“Why don’t we call the officer who gave you a letter of recommendation and show him these videos?” Hawk asked Coco.
“I do not trust him. He is with the Counterterrorism team and not likely to help.”
“So we really have nowhere to go,” Spike said unhappily.
“We have a place. The person I know can help,” said Nile.
They deliberated for a while and then agreed to meet Nile’s contact. Nile and Coco left at dawn and promised to come back in the evening. The proposed meeting would take place at night.
***
When Nile and Coco arrived home, Chandani was awake. She welcomed them in and hugged Nile. She asked Coco if she wanted anything to eat. Coco was surprised at her behavior. She did not seem upset that Nile had spent all night with their guest. Coco figured she trusted her husband a lot.
Coco politely declined the offer and retired to her bedroom to try and get some sleep. She was disturbed by what Hawk had shown them and
anxious to know the identity of Nile’s contact.
Nile explained the situation to Chandani. She listened patiently and was not as surprised as Coco since, like her husband, she believed there was corruption in the system. The contents of the surveillance videos confirmed their suspicions. Chandani, however, confessed that she did expect the system to be so besmirched.
“What are you going to do now?” she asked.
“I have not decided yet.”
“I think we should not do anything. It is best that no one finds out about these recordings. We will not be safe otherwise.”
“I agree.”
Nile was looking tense and distant. Chandani smiled slyly. “Is this really what happened, or are you trying to cover up for spending a night out with your girlfriend?”
He smiled too. “Ah, you found out. I tried so hard to cover it up.” They both laughed. Nile decided not to tell Chandani about the meeting that would take place that night. He was not sure how the meeting would help them, but it seemed like a good idea. No one had presented any other suggestions, anyway.
Nile decided not to go to his shop that day. He asked Chandani not to send the kids to school. They stayed home and spent time together. Coco slept until late evening. When she woke up, she joined them in the living room. They laughed, joked, and played games. No one talked about what lay ahead; no one talked about the future. Nile and Coco left in the evening. He told Chandani he would be back before midnight. At least that was his intention.
***
Nile and Coco picked up Hawk and Spike from the hotel and drove out of the city. The busy roads of the Sub-Sector gave way to trees, bushes, and dusty roads. They stopped at a village with frail dwellings. Coco, Hawk and Spike were amazed to look at the settlements. UPF was not that fair after all, thought Coco.
Nile parked outside the colony. “The rest of the journey is on foot.”
“Who are these people?” Hawk asked.
“Citizens of the UPF,” replied Nile.
“Why are they so poor?”
“Because the UPF is not what you think it is. These people never get any benefits. They live off the grid: no records, no stipends, no nothing. They are illegal workers, abused and neglected.”