by Bill O. A
“Thank you, Mr Williams. My daughter told me your names. And you can drop the professor part, I am totally fine with just Ralph.”
Both men laughed.
“This is my son, Kenny.”
“Huh?” said Mr Gates. “My daughter has also told me about him. He will be coming in for an Engineering course, right?”
“Exactly,” replied Bode. “You see, I want him to take some courses here to sharpen his information technology knowledge and skills. I am prepping him to run the family business in the future.”
“Excellent plan, Mr Williams, excellent. Please let us head to the Department’s banquet outside. We take it as a culture to feed our faculty staff and guests at the end of the informative sessions. This way please.”
“Sandra, now that you have a new friend, you can ask Kenny to assist you in pulling down the blinds and lock the door,” said Mr Gates.
He winked at his daughter as he made that suggestion; he was more prepared for the game he was playing with his daughter with regards to the Williams.
“The steak is wonderful,” said Bode. “How is it made?”
“It is actually a T-bone steak,” replied Ralph. “You can see the piece of bone right at the centre like the letter T, most valued because the meat is close to the bone and assumed to be the most nutritious compared to meat farther away from the bone. This particular piece was grilled after a five-minute parboil with the Berkeley spices. It is a favourite dish around here.”
“Great,” replied Bode. “I will get some of these Berkeley spices and introduce them to my wife. I have definitely found a new recipe.”
Kenny and Sandra popped into Bode’s line of sight. They had been strolling around the campus for close to an hour.
“Please, excuse me, Ralph. I would like to have a word with my son.”
“Do go ahead, Mr Williams,” replied Professor Gates.
Bode got up from his side of the table and walked towards the bear statue just across the lawn from the banquet table; he counted his steps as he made his way.
“Kenny! Kenny boy! Do come here, son.”
Kenny and Sandra walked towards Bode.
“Hey Dad. What’s up?”
“Good afternoon, Mr Williams. I hope you are having a nice time,” said Sandra.
“Certainly, my dear. This is a great university. Would you oblige me about ten minutes with your new boyfriend?”
Sandra smiled sheepishly as she walked away with her head to the ground towards the banquet.
“So Dad, what is going on? I hope you are not coming at me for having a nice time after the informative sessions. You know I can eat at any time.”
“Quiet boy, this way.”
Bode took his son to the other side of the statue, where the people at the banquet could no longer see them clearly.
“Dad you are scaring me. Please, what is going on?”
“There might be lip-readers in that crowd trying to figure out what we are saying.”
“Lip-readers, Dad? Now I have heard everything,” said Kenny. “Dad, I think we should find a hotel near Berkeley and spend the night. You are obviously tired and need some rest. Just give me a minute to say my goodbyes. I will be back soon.”
“Listen to me, son. You think I am not happy about your four-hour-old love with the battery-throwing girl?”
“Her name is Sandra, Dad,” replied Kenny.
“Well, from the look of things, it seems you are going to learn more than I bargained for, and I am excited about that. We all have our time with destiny,” said Bode.
“Will you cut the chase and get to the point, Dad?”
“I had a scholarship for an MBA back then after my first degree in the university. I was dating your mum around that time and she didn’t want me to travel that far for a Master’s programme, but I was able to get my way with her. She believed the scholarship was fully funded. But I had to work for my upkeep, transport and accommodation. Jobs were scarce then and there was a limit on how many hours students could work, so things were strict on personal budgeting. Hard times for me son, but after my first three months a new friend introduced me to a security company. They needed a supervisor for night shifts. I was instantly game; I had one week of training and off I went.
“The interesting thing was that I was good at the job. I took a two-hour patrol of the facility and went back to the central security office to watch people on monitors feeding directly from our security cameras. That training/job built a level of security within me. Many things I saw then, different types of crime. At the end of the whole episode I had developed my innate quality and became a pro, so you see son, your new girlfriend if I can call her that and her father are acting and not being real, I strongly believe there are part of an elaborate plan by our competitors on this NLNG contract to knock us off. They must have heard of my presentation yesterday. There is nothing these people wouldn’t do to win a juicy contract like this.
“Now, I want you to adjust with this recent information. You are not to give any signs to the battery- throwing girl that you know what is going on. I need to know who is behind this and retaliate in my own way. I hope you understand everything I have told you. Just follow my lead and everything will be fine. And one more thing, don’t let her lure you to any sexual act. A sex scandal at this stage can as well wrap up all our efforts, so be careful and know your limits.”
Amy opened the door to her house and ran into the living room. She had been out for barely two hours when she returned home. She was clearly hysterical.
“Mum! Dad!” Amy shouted, wanting to get anyone’s attention. She ran up the stairs still calling for her parents.
Donald and Jessica felt the house was quiet. They were all alone, so they decided to go to their room for some quality time.
“Honey, I think I can hear Amy calling.”
“Don’t be silly, Jessica. No one is at home and I am going to complete this treat of mine to you.”
“I am serious, honey, I heard her voice.”
Knock, knock, knock.
Amy was banging on her parents’ bedroom door. Donald immediately disengaged from his wife, pulled on his boxers and ran to open the door. Jessica followed closely behind him, eager to know what trouble their daughter was in. Amy stumbled into the room after her father unlocked the door.
“She found him, Sandra found him!”
“Take it easy, child,” said Donald. “Take a minute and just relax.”
Amy kept quiet and waited for her father to give the go-ahead to speak.
“All right, so tell us what happened.” Jessica was eager to know the situation.
“Mum, Dad, Sandra has found the ghost man,” said Amy.
Both adults froze at their daughter’s statement.
“You mean Sandra has seen him?” inquired Donald.
“Yes, Dad. She sent me a text about an hour ago. They have been together for almost half of the Open House at the university where her father works.”
“Honey, we must be on our way this very instant. We can’t afford to let him leave that premises without Amy touching him or vice versa.”
“Remain calm, Jessica,” said Donald. “What is he doing in an open house?” asked Donald.
“Dad, people want to see their potential university. The problem is he is from Africa. He came with his father and they are going back next week. On Monday, with the ten-p.m. flight.”
“What is she planning to do so you can at least have a handshake with him?”
“She says when the Open House is finally over, her dad will suggest he drop them off at a hotel since they came from Silicon Valley. Then when exchanging goodbyes, she will invite them over for my birthday party tomorrow evening, and then it’s smooth sailing from there.”
“Wonderful plan,” replied Donald. “You have to stay in the house. I will go and call George to inform him of this development. Sweetheart, can you help get Mark? He has been part of this and it would only be fair he is here when the curse is
lifted.”
“I will get on it right away, honey,” replied Jessica.
Chapter 22
All Areas, California
3rd July 2015, 5:25 p.m.
Brian heard everything the Joneses said; he knew this was an opportunity to strike. George would be coming for the birthday as well as the FBI. I would have to plan my getaway; I will have to be swift as possible. To make a successful sniper shot and still get away under the circumstances, would be close to impossible. I will really have to plan this through.
He got to his table, brought out a map and some utensils.
He began to plan.
Sandra barely sat beside her father when he raised his voice at her in a rage.
“You are meant to get him to the Joneses’ house for Amy’s ‘birthday celebration’ but no, you go all around campus falling in love with someone you just met. And you know how important this thing is to your friend’s family.”
“Relax Dad, I have everything under control. I will invite them to the party. It is just that he is a nice guy and I think he likes me.”
“Likes you indeed,” retorted Ralph. “I never knew you could be such a betrayal and to your best friend.”
“Dad, this haptomai stuff is a curse. A simple handshake and everything will be over. You don’t expect Amy to get married to the ghost man, do you?”
“But you are ready to do so, and then get yourself mixed up with all this stuff. I absolutely forbid you to continue any form of contact with Kenny once we have lifted the curse. It is best everyone goes their way.”
“Just wake up Dad, this is the twenty-first century. I will try and get them locked in with the invite. I owe that to Amy, but my feelings for Kenny I will pursue to the end.”
“I think I should call your mum right away, this thing will definitely not get out of hand right in front of me.”
“George, I understand this mystery man — or should I say, boy? — has been found, under the most interesting circumstances.” Jack knew the ‘numbers killer’ would somehow appear during this special occasion. He still didn’t understand how the killer does it.
“I will really need your help with this one,” replied George.
“Now that the boy’s identity is known, can we trace his home or something? I have a bad feeling about the timing of the find.”
“They are from Africa, Nigeria to be precise,” said George.
“I will get Brad to contact our sister agency in their country to give us their info,” replied Jack.
“I am most grateful,” said the professor.
“I can assume security during the ‘birthday party’ will be top notch,” said George.
“You can be rest assured that the best hands will handle tomorrow’s event. Agents are already on their way to the site to do some preliminary work. We are not losing any more targets, it is as simple as that.”
An agent stepped into the kitchen where Jack and George sat.
“Sorry sir, but we now have a picture of the boy, taken about three minutes ago.”
“Let me have a look,” said George.
“It sure looks like him, no doubt whatsoever,” Jack replied.
“He is younger than what I expected,” said George. “The sketch might have been off a bit, but it is obviously him.”
The agent continued to brief Jack.
“The boy’s name is Kenny Williams, according to the register he filled in at the University with his father, Bode Williams. It seems they are just touring the school to have a feel of campus life for the boy. I just hope the CIA can get us solid info, just in case George here wants to initiate the second option.”
Jack was smiling now, eagerly waiting to hear what the professor would say.
“From this picture, the boy looks about fifteen or sixteen. Can the law actually prosecute two teenagers for having sex?” inquired George.
“Well, the only thing I can say is Option One should work. The handshake or body contact hypothesis should solve everything,” replied Jack.
“Don’t worry about that, I am rich with the knowledge of the curse. The handshake will suffice,” said George.
“Let us take a walk, boy. Our sudden host will be wondering what we are doing here behind a bear statue.”
“Okay Dad, after you.”
“Once we take some few steps, I want you to excuse yourself and go back to your girlfriend.”
“I understand, Dad.”
“Hey Sandra, you started lunch without me.”
“I am so sorry, Kenny. I didn’t want to disturb you and your dad. I can see he likes you a lot and wants the best for you.”
“Ah, it is an African thing. Firstborn kids are always treated special. I think I should have your mobile number now. We are roaming our Nigerian mobile numbers, so we can actually talk.”
“Sounds fine,” replied Sandra.
“Let me just call you now to be sure everything is fine.”
“Cool,” said Sandra. “You see, I have already saved yours,” she said, referring to his name when it appeared on her cell phone as it rang.
Bode walked towards the tent where meals were being served. His seat was occupied so he pulled up another chair and sat next to Ralph.
“Mr Williams, you shocked me there,” said Sandra’s dad.
“Come on Ralph, a man with your competence shouldn’t be frightened by a simple surprise in an open event like this.”
Bode was trying to draw some much-needed info out of him.
“Hahaha,” said Ralph, laughing out loud. “My good friend, the event will end in about thirty minutes. I think you can start planning your post Open House.”
“Well, we actually came from Silicon Valley but driving back at this time wasn’t really our plan, so we will spend the night in a hotel and leave tomorrow.”
“Awesome!” screamed Sandra. “I want to use this opportunity to invite Kenny, and you of course Mr Williams, to my best friend’s birthday party tomorrow.”
“I don’t think we will be able to attend, but don’t worry, I will call you,” replied Kenny.
“We will have none of that,” interjected Bode. “Ralph and his daughter have been nice to us, it is only right we return their gesture by attending the party. We will leave Berkeley at three p.m. tomorrow for our trip back to Silicon Valley.”
“Actually sir, the party is in San Francisco,” replied Sandra. “We live there and so does my best friend.”
“I see,” replied Bode. “Then that means we will go with your guys to San Francisco and spend the night in a hotel close to your friend. That will enable us to rest well, attend the party and head out early enough.”
Kenny remained silent; he knew his father wanted to get to the root of the ‘matter’ so he played along.
“Sandra, I will sit with you at the back and you can show me the town as we go by.”
“You can’t leave your father to drive all alone to San Francisco,” said Ralph.
“Don’t worry about that,” replied Bode. “I am sure the drive is about twenty minutes or so, I will just drive behind you. Do keep your twin indicator lights on so I don’t mistake you for another car.”
“Dad, that is a Nigerian thing, it doesn’t work here. Just follow his plate number,” said Kenny.
Everyone laughed one more time.
The FBI agent on the scene heard everything and sent the information across to the team at the safe house. They quickly did a search of safe hotels close to the Jones they could advise Ralph to guide his guests to.
Chapter 23
All Areas, California
4th July 2015, 8:15 a.m.
“Dad, this hotel is great.”
“All Hilton Hotels are great boy. Now sit down and let me tell you something. No one sets a birthday party on their country’s Independence Day. This is where this team have gotten it wrong. They should have invited us to celebrate their country’s Independence Day in their family’s friend house, which would have been a better lie. So you see
boy, there is more to it than meets the eye.”
Kenny was impressed with his father’s analysis. “So what do you want us to do now Dad?”
“Just relax, we are not in any danger whatsoever. This is a business move by yet to be identified businessmen. Just don’t get involved in any unsavoury behaviour. Keep your act clean and we are good.”
“You can imagine how much these people are spending just to get some discredit on us, so learn as much as you can. This is a golden opportunity to sharpen your thinking.”
“All right Dad, I am on it.”
“Mum, the cake isn’t here yet, and the party kicks off at ten a.m.”
“Don’t worry my dear,” replied Agent Alfred.
He was dressed as a Mickey Mouse mascot. He and the other party supports were FBI agents in one role or the other, to make the party a ‘success’.
George walked in with Jack by his side.
“Happy birthday my princess. It isn’t every time you make fifteen.”
“Thank you so much, Uncle George.”
“And who is your friend?”
“Oh, my apologies. This is Professor Marcus Garcia, he is visiting from a university in Italy. I wanted him to have a taste of an American party before he goes back home.”
“Buon compleanno bambino,” said Jack.
“He is wishing you a happy birthday, my dear,” said George. He bent down slightly and whispered into Amy’s ears, “He is FBI. We need to keep the act going.”
Amy nodded in understanding.
“Where is your father? I haven’t seen him for a while.”
“He is trying to set up the grill for the barbecue. Mark is with him.”
“You mean my old friend Mark is already here? This is going to be a swell party.”
One of the party supporters walked up to the visiting professor.
“Professore mi scusi per un minuto.”
Jack turned around immediately to face one of his agents.
“I actually speak a little English you know,” he said as he looked at the agent with a tray of alcoholic drinks, “but I won’t be having any alcohol, thank you.”