BlakeThe roads were clear, no sign of life. On the dashboard the clock was ticking at a quarter past nine, I was alone in the car singing on top of my lungs, along some old school jams mostly RNB's. Life was good, really good. The detective didn't say much, moments after going through the stash of papers I gave him. His words were transcribed into melodies in my middle ear. He said and in verbatim "We've made one bold step" too bad I was not going to be available to help him further with the case, he had to do the rest of the digging on his own.Blake was a free bird, free to roam far and wide in peace unlike in that weird dream I had in the state of coma. No one was going to come after me...us, almost forgot about my lovely wife, the apple of my eye. I was really convinced she was going to tag along. It was the only way out from the tight grip of her annoying mother, that witch couldn't stand even her own children, her own blood and flesh."To hell with her" I shouted

Despite the raging war, some parts of the rubble city had signs of life with small business open, seated in the back seat of the car Maria could see women and children, poverty stricken indeed from their protruding pot bellies and countable ribs, standing by their doors. A swarm of flies buzzing over them, others crying, beautiful but dirty children hoping for a well-wisher to throw them something to eat.Food at the time was more important than money. Inflation had hit the entire country. A few rich gang members and mafia groups like the Red Crescent family had all the money that had lost value to the poor law class majority. They went past robbed banks, whose walls were left with graffiti, broken windows, and birds coming in and out of them. They also went past a church, the bells were ringing and a group of rowdy youth were using it as a smoking joint. Their hair unkempt, smoke emanating from their nostrils like an exhaust of an un-roadworthy vehicles, the look of death and d

When the head chef walked in the three gentlemen were relieved. You could feel them take a sigh of relief that seeped through their sweat pores, the likes of Blake could be seen wiping sweat from his neck and face. If it were Gerald then things would have been a little bit different in a not so good way. Apart from the fact that they were all not working, they were talking about him and you don't talk about your boss at the work place don't you? That’s unless you want to get fired."You scared the living hell out of us man" the chief butler said, "How long have you been standing there?""Not long enough, Gerald is asking about you guys. He is almost convinced that all his three butlers have quit""We are coming, just taking a breather after a whole day of standing" Gabriel said authoritatively.Despite being counted as a butler he was still a Wallace, the next Wallace after his father. That fact earned him a lot of respect from employees. He was only free with Blake,

***Flashback***BlakeBy seven that evening I was already at the newly opened five star hotel Quills. Dressed in a red jacket, white shirt black trousers, and red loafers on my feet. Constantly checking my Rolex. Fear was starting to set in when the clock hit a quarter to eight with no sign of her. Had she decided not to have a formal date with me? Changed her mind perhaps? After hanging out at her place while delivering that blender we had agreed to go on a formal date. One that I had looked forward to with much enthusiasm.It was not every day an upcoming business man like me got to date the daughter of one of the richest men in fort canon. A marriage with Tessa was not only for my own benefit but that of my business. And that was the goal, show her love and when the time was right, marry her. I could imagine how many business deals would have gone through easily simply because by my side was Tessa Wallace."Someone looks scared" she said holding my shoulder f

TessaThat morning following dad to his office reminded me of those days when I had messed up and he was going to give me a lecture, somewhere mum wasn't so he could go easy on me. There was no shame in bragging, I was my father's favorite creation. He led the way through the office and took his seat, pointed the clients seat. We had not exchanged a word since we left the crime scene. My father was getting old, I realized that morning he had these wrinkles or it was just the face of disappointment. We had always been on the same page...we always found a way to co-exist instead of tearing each other apart like mum and I did. And for that reason I owed him an apology."Dad, am sorry. Please don't look at me like that, you know it's just me and you, I count myself lucky to be your daughter""Why did you do that to him Tessa, you know love hurts more than physical pain?"How did he expect me to know when the only person that was busy breaking my heart was my mother? I ha