The Big 5

17

Mark pulled up to one of the uptown night clubs owned by the Khatombela family. He chose this one because he knew Obakeng liked to spend his time here. He walked up the stairs and greeted the bouncer by the door. They let him in and he was approached by a waitress “ good evening sir” she said “ is the VIP section open” he asked “ yes sir right this way. Anything to drink'' she asked “  yes just get me a bottle Absolut''. The waitress brought the bottle and Mark poured himself a drink. He then looked around but the club was relatively empty. He then took the bottle and walked around the club. He didn’t see anything and he went back to his seat. He then saw Obakeng walk past with a few bouncers to the back. He figured that’s where the office was. He then followed them but was stopped by one of the barmen that said “ hey big guy, staff only” “ sorry could you show me where the toilets are'' said Mark. “ down the hall on your right”. Mark then went back to the VIP and sat.

Patrick is asleep when his phone starts ringing. He tries to ignore it but it keeps ringing and he reluctantly answers “ hey buddy I want you to see something. Meet near the Gautrain,” said the caller “ for f***s sake it's 3 in the morning ``'' it'll be worth your while trust me”. Patrick then put on his tracksuit and got in his car and made his way to the meet point. “ you better have a good reason for bringing me out here Troy” “ I thought you might want to see this,” said Troy as he passed him an envelope. Patrick took the envelope and opened it before saying “ im looking at a really huge man” “ look closer” said Troy. Patrick looked closer and shook his head and said “ I don’t know what am I supposed to see” “ that is ‘Ghost’”. Patrick’s eyes widened before he said “ holy s**t, but that’s a Khatombela club he's leaving. Why? ``'' I don’t know, either he's there to kill Obakeng which he would’ve done or maybe he's looking for the old man himself” said Troy. “ yeah but not even Robert goes there so he won't find him there,” said Patrick. “well I just wanted to show you this. Oh and if he's on the move people are about to lose fingers and toes so be careful” said Troy who got into his car and sped off.

Patrick got home and went straight into Gerry's room and jumped on his older brother's bed. “ what the f**k Patrick” yelled an angry Gerry “ take a look at this” said Patrick. Gerry turned on the side lamp by his bed and opened the envelope “ wait isn’t that” “ yes it is” said Patrick. “ s**t and nobody is dead'' asked Gerry. ``Nah I was told he had a bottle and then called it a night” said Patrick. “ We don't get any sightings of the guy and then all of a sudden he is in a club run by Obakeng, I gotta warn the Khatombelas,” said Gerry as he reached for his phone. “ Woah there sir you can do that in the morning, he isn’t going to answer besides you trying to ruin his marriage,” said Patrick.

Mr. Khatombela was having breakfast when his phone rang and he stood up to take the call outside. Eileen looked at her mother concerned. “ Are you sure it was him?” he asked. “ yeah I’ll even send the picture so you can confirm'' said the caller “ that won't be necessary. I'm not worried. Thanks for the update though.” He walked back into the house and said “ Eileen came to help me” as he walked past heading for the study with his daughter behind him. “ Call Robert and tell him to come to see me as soon as possible and tell your brother to come back to Angola it's not safe,” he said “ Okay dad” answered a concerned Eileen. She immediately called her brother “ OB daddy says you must come back home immediately, he says it's for safety”. As she hung up Robert walked past and she grabbed him by the hand and said “ something is up against Robert. Dad receives a call and the next thing he tells me to tell OB to come back home ASAP”. Robert just shakes his head and heads to the study to find Mr. Khatombela. “ Boss I just spoke to your daughter and she seems shaken, what's going on?” he asks. “ ‘Ghost was seen in one of our clubs in Gaborone”. Robert felt his stomach turn. “ You know that only means one thing,” said Mr. Khatombela “ should I tell the boys it's mattress time,” asked Robert. “ not yet but get them ready for war. Looks like Godfrey is preparing for a fight and I say if he wants one with us we need to be ready.”

Obakeng was in the back office smoking a blunt getting high. After he finished smoking he decided to take a stroll around the club. He walked around and everything seemed fine. He then walked to the VIP section and noticed a big man sitting alone drinking. “ Is everything okay sir?” he asked “ would you be able to help if I said it wasn't?” said the man. “ Look sir if you want fun I could organize that for you but it may cost you” replied Obakeng. “ I guess you don’t know who I am. I was maybe thinking you connect me to your father about working for him. Other than that I would like to finish my drink in peace”. Obakeng walked to leave the VIP section before he stopped by the entrance and asked “ what's your name I'm leaving for Angola in the morning” “ Mark. The name is Mark” said the man. “ that’s all” Obakeng asked. “ oh they’ll know, trust me they’ll know”.

Obakeng lands in Angola in the morning and is picked up by his sister Eileen with a larger than usual group of security. They hug and get in the car and head home. “ Why so many guards?” asks Obakeng. “ I'll explain when I get home” replied Eileen. They arrived home and Eileen told Obakeng that her father and Robert were waiting for him. He walked into the study and found Robert and his father waiting. Eileen walked in and closed the door. “ you notice anything suspicious at the clubs,” asked Robert. “ Nah, not really only some big guy called Mark that said he was looking for work, which I don’t get cause the guy gets a bottle and sits by himself,” said Obakeng. Robert put his hands on his head while Mr. Khatombela was shocked. “ Ghost was the guy you spoke to,” said Eileen. “ The attack dog Godfrey sends when shits hit the fan,” said Mr. Khatombela. “ Well as you can see I’m not dead,” said Obakeng. “ If he wanted to kill you he would have done it,” said Robert. “ Well, why would he be in our clubs'' asked Mr. Khatombela '' maybe he's looking for work like he said'' said Obakeng “ Nah daddy has an argument with the guy’s boss, and next thing he's in our clubs. This is a message” said Eileen. “ but Mark doesn’t send messages,” said Robert. “ Although it’s a long shot we could take him up on this offer and you know we deal with him,” said Robert. “ Yeah that would make the Molefes weaker,” said Eileen. “ we aren’t killing Mark until we have all our facts together. It seems to me like everyone is waiting for the other to make a move” said Mr. Khatombela.

Patrick went past Troy's house and picked him up as they took a drive from Johannesburg to Gaborone. Once in Gaborone, they checked into a hotel owned by the Khatombela family. The Dambe family had also pulled a few strings at the border posts to ensure that the car they were traveling was not searched, there wasn’t even a record to show that the car had entered the country. Patrick heard a knock on his hotel room door, he opened up and found it was Troy. He walked in and they went over the details of the mission they were about to undertake. “ so like I said this guy Lewis is our way in, we basically need to get him to take at least 3 days off from the Molefe security detail and get his men to take time off too” said Troy “ and you think this is going to work” “ yeah the guy has a secret family that he wants to keep from his wife, we threaten to tell his wife and hell take the bait, and if he doesn’t comply we threaten the other family” said Patrick. “ yeah now get some rest we go out later tonight.” Troy packed his pistol and left his hotel room. He found Patrick waiting in the car. They drove to the Molefe mansion but were surprised when Lewis drove past them. Patrick hit a U-turn and they followed him till he parked at a fueling station. As he was buying cigarettes he heard a pistol c**k and then felt it on his back. “ don’t turn around or you are dead along with your wife and that bastard son you have with your side b***h” said the man. “ You don’t know who you're messing with,” said Lewis “ but oh we do'' said the other man. You're going to call in sick tomorrow. If you do that nothing will happen to your family, you mention a word, and well your bastard son isn’t coming home from daycare and your wife well I’d like to see her fight your mistress ``'' well make it your while though for cooperating Lewis” said the first man. Lewis heard footsteps and he turned around and he saw the car drive off. He rushed to his car and drove home.

Troy and Patrick get back to the hotel and set up a conference call with Gerry, Derrick, and Francis. “ evening gentlemen. I thought I should inform you guys that we have cleared the pathway to our objective” said Troy. “ yeah now we wait for your confirmation and Mr. Molefe will be retiring tomorrow,” added Patrick. “ Your job is done guys I suggest you pack up your s**t and leave now,” said Gerry. “ we got in touch with someone that will take it from where you left guys,” said Derrick. “ what the f**k I wanted to take the shot” bemoaned Patrick. “ There's still a possibility that guy reports what just happened and I’d rather you guys be closer to the border when that happens. Pack up and go now” ordered Francis. They hung up the phone call and Gerry said “ I think if this goes south we need to blame Troy, I don’t wanna get into a scrap with Sean until it’s absolutely necessary” said Gerry. “ agreed we can only fight them when we’re sure the ‘Ghost’ threat has been addressed” added Francis.