He took his place at one of the tables set in the garden. The one closest to the door. Jordan and Esmee were on that table, just the people he needed to find. The white plates with gold lining were placed for each guest. Silver cutleries laid in perfect order. Each table had an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne ready to be opened. Everyone looked pleased to be there, and couldn’t wait for their meals to be served. Except for Colby, the sight of meat will send him straight to the binge.
A quartet of musicians was playing at the far side of the garden, a nice classical melody to accompany their dinner. A four-tier birthday cake was placed on a separate table near where Jacob and Iris sat. The fancy setting was cozy and relaxing. Colby fidgets in his chair and constantly fixing the cloth on his lap.
“Chief? Something the matter?” Jordan couldn’t help noticing.
He whispered to his ear, “Whatever you do … don’t eat the meat.”
That caught Jordan’s attention as he watched the waiters starting to serve everyone appetizers. “Why?” Colby didn’t think it was a good time to tell him.
“Jordan … I’ve radioed for back up, they’ll be here soon … it’s gonna get ugly and I need you to trust me on this,” he finally said what he needed to say. Jordan looked alarmed, he held Esmee’s hand tightly as she looked at him in wonder. “It’s time, Jordan.”
“Time for what?”
“To decide where you stand … I have a gun and I might use it if things get heavy … but you have to trust me.”
Jordan was speechless, he looked at his dad and found that he was staring at him from afar.
“Jordan! Colby! Would you like to join us at this table?” he shouted from across the garden.
Colby put on a big smile and raised his empty glass, “We’re okay Matt! Nice party!” Matt smiled back and sat down. One of his men came from behind and said something in his ear. As he did, Matt never took his gaze away from Colby and he knew immediately that the cat was out of the bag.
“Shit! My backup isn’t here yet!” He mumbled to Jordan.
Matt Cromwell stood up again and tapped his glass with a fork. He signaled the quartet to stop playing. “Ladies and gentlemen!” he called for everyone’s attention, the garden fell silent. “Before we start our lovely dinner tonight, I have an announcement to make.” Everyone stopped and listened. “It has come to my attention that my dear old friend … our very own Chief Colby Jones has made an arrest of Mofocity’s most wanted criminal!”
The guests murmured, followed with long applause. “Indeed, we are grateful to have such a dedicated law enforcer who commits his life for the safety of the people … the series of abductions that happened these past few months had been troubling for everyone, but it is confirmed that Adrian Addams is now in custody and the city will be safe once more!” Matt saluted Colby from where he stood.
Jordan looked at Colby in confusion and Esmee looked like she was just hit by lightning. “It’s not true,” he whispered to Jordan.
“What’s going on here? What is he talking about??”
“With that said … I’m sure we all can enjoy our dinner in peace and at the end of the night we’ll have one more thing to celebrate,” Matt closed his announcement and let the quartet continue their performance.
“You arrested Adrian?!” Jordan’s voice was spiked.
“Ssh … calm down … he’s safe, he’s in my car with Friday, please Jordan … you have to trust me on this!”
Jordan stood up, “I have to see this for myself.” Esmee followed his lead.
Police sirens were heard wailing outside. Colby stood up and took his gun out. Everyone gasped and started to hide under their tables.
“Chief?!” Jordan called from the door.
Matthew Cromwell raised a finger and everything fell silent. Colby was pointing his gun at his best friend but Matt stared at him coldly.
“It’s over Matt … you are under arrest for the abduction and murder of many people of Mofocity … I’m sure we’ll get to that.”
Most of the guests were surprised to hear what Chief Colby had said, but some of them looked calm and knowing. Colby knew he was in a place where not everyone would be on his side. “Everyone stay calm, I need you to leave the premises slowly … the police are here and we will take this matter in an orderly manner,” Colby instructed them to leave even though some of them had already crawled their way out.
Jordan was peeking from behind the door. “Jordan, let’s just go,” Esmee tucked his sleeve.
“Do you think you can solve your problem by putting me in jail, CJ? I thought you were smarter than that,” Matt crossed his legs. “The people are gonna be hungry … it’s either us or them … you know it will come to that.”
Colby, still pointing his gun at Matt, slowly took steps back towards the door. Two armed men came from behind Matt and now they were aiming at Colby. “Tell your men to lower their gun, Matt.”
“Or what? You’ll shoot me?”
“Yes I will, buddy … I’m sorry it has come to this, but you are out of your mind … there are better ways to see us through this, Matt, and you’re not thinking clearly here.”
A handful of people are left on the premises, Colby had stepped on the stairs by the door. Matt stood up and told his son to take his wife away from the scene. The first police officer arrived, and a second one. Followed by the sound of gun fires.