The Downfall: KAZMIR
Finally!
The day we all waited for, but me in particular. We stayed back there, relaxin’ on our seats as we watched around, waitin’ for the man to show up.
What if he doesn’t?
This thought and more ate deep into my head, and I shook my head in refusal.
He had to show up, if not my story wouldn’t be complete. How can the hard work of my wife, that of Stella, and then the policemen be futile?
Adjustin’ on the chair, I wondered one last time.
Suddenly, someone made a sound in the space. “I think he’s here. Take a look at that car comin’ in our direction.” The man said with a smirk, takin’ the document in his hand as though one of us would snitch on ‘im.
I looked in his direction now, waitin’ on a figure that looked like that of the man we’ve come to arrest.
“Yes, that’s his car, even though I don’t see a sign of ‘im-” my confession ran out of my mouth and I nodded, shakin’ my head the next instant.
“But we don’t need to get out of the car until we’re sure it’s ‘im in that car. The area is secured by policemen, after all.”
The men looked at each other, and so did Stella and my wife.
I nodded to myself and now, the car parked outside the gate, instead of inside as usual and as it should be.
“I think he can smell a rat,” Stella confessed. “I’m sure he can perceive the illegal drugs we have with us. This is a sign that somethin’ is wrong.”
“This is the time I we hop down,” I opened the car and hopped down before hearin’ the words of a policeman who may not have wanted me to. When I hopped down, the door of the car finally pushed open and there was Theodore Crowley in view.
“Hello, my friend! Who would think we would set eyes on each other again? It’s been ages.”
The confused man, as expected, moped at me as though he had seen a ghost.
“And what are you doin’ in my premises, Kazmir Draven? Are you lost or somethin’? I should have known you were the bad omen I perceived a while ago. What is the matter with you?”
I staggered, catchin’ up with ‘im.
“I have come so that you can sell some drugs to me.” I said and he was shocked, more than he was a while ago.
“Do you see how high I am? I would love more of your drugs. One of your agents sold it to me against your wish, and I’ll not be mentionin’ his name but he’s somewhere behind you.”
Anger pulled up on his face.
The old man turned around to face the men who hopped down from the car already.
“Which one of you snitched on me behind my back?!”
His tone, affirmative, filled the space and I knew for a fact that it would reach the men in the car so long the soundproof system wasn’t turned on.
“Did I not ask you to let me know what you’re up to and who you’re sellin’ to, before givin’ them out?”
Now he looked away from them and met my gaze.
“I have nothin’ for you, Kazmir. Leave my premises at this instant.” He made to walk off and I stopped ‘im from doin’ so by blockin’ his way.
“I have a surprise for you, my friend,” I was winkin’. “Look,” I turned around and made a sign, huggin’ ‘im so that he could not run off.
“The police are here for you. You can’t run away this time.” I was not done speakin’ when the doors of the car pushed open, and the man with the document walked to the front of us with a smile, givin’ me a ‘well done’ nod as well.
“You did well, Mr. Draven.” With a smile, he hailed and looked at Theodore Crowley who happened to be shocked, stuck, and in trouble.
“Hello, Mr. Crowley, you’re under arrest. We are from the state station and have followed up on your case for some time.”
“Wh-what?”
“Before I proceed, you have no right to run off. You and your men or you face the circumstances. The area is covered with men like us, after all.”
“Wh-what are you talkin’ ’bout?”
The car doors opened once more. I turned to look at my wife and Stella, walkin’ in our direction.
“I have followed up on your case as well, Mr. Crowley.” Stella explained when she caught up with us.
“And for your information, I have retrieved the document we’ll be usin’ against you in court if there’s a court case. These men have the document with your signature in it, in regards to the illegal activities you have been goin’ ’bout for quite some time.”
“What?!”
“Oh, yes!”
I walked back into the conversation.
“You want what I have, and I came for what you also have. Do you think you can win when there is a challenge you and I are involved in?”
When I didn’t get a response, I continued. “All thanks to Stella who assisted with brin’in’ you down and guess what, Theodore. This is the end of the road for you.”
“How dare you-?”
Hate in his tone, he looked at Stella who was scared, at least a little. “Do you know what you have done, young lady? Aren’t you supposed to be cleanin’ toilets and pickin’ dirt?!”
“That’s enough, Mr. Crowley-” the other man without the document interrupted.
“It’s time for you to go with us to the station. You and your men who have joined in this illegal activity of yours. You are under arrest for partakin’ in illegal activities, Mr. Theodore Crowley. You and the rest of your men will have to come with us.”
It was unbelievable, like a dream.
Theodore couldn’t say a word.
What was there to say?
He simply moped around, turnin’ to see his men were handcuffed already, and one more handcuff reachin’ his wrist the next moment.
“Move it, Theodore!”
It was me who shouted.
“The battle is over, isn’t it? Don’t come for what I own and I’ll do the same by stayin’ away from your business!” I was shoutin’ and headin’ to my car this time around, with Nyssa who joined us.
“Come over, Stella. We’d love for you to join us to eat again. What do you say?”
“Yes, Mr. Draven. My pleasure.”
She waved at the policemen who waved back before lookin’ at me who looked at her.
“But I’ll love for us to see to this and ensure that Mr. Crowley and his men are locked up in the station just as it should be.”
She was right.
“I’d love for us to involve illegal drug authorities. This is only the police, or what do you say?”
“That’s what I plan to do,” I chuckled, settlin’ into the car. “This man is a threat and I need to see the end of ‘im. Don’t you get it?” The engine started and we drove off the space.
“We’re followin’ the men and will see to the end of this before makin’ it back to the house for a celebration of what you’ve done.”
Nyssa was silent.
What went ’bout in her head? I wondered but concentrated more on gettin’ us to our destination safely. What would I have done without these women? I wondered over and over and over again, stoppin’ by at the station and seein’ to the official arrest of Theodore Crowley, and his men and imaginin’ how his so-called empire would crumble in a matter of time.
“This calls for celebration!”
I confessed on our way home. “Thanks to you two for seein’ the end of this with me. I have no idea how to thank you the right way.”