CONSPIRACY 6: Vengeance is mine

Arf, arf, arf.” Poppy was barking loudly. He was restless. He was running back and forth. Back and forth. He would eventually pull my dress with his canine teeth telling me that there was an intruder outside. He scratched the marbled floor with his pointed claws. Tongue wagging and saliva dripping.

“Hush. Quiet. You are so noisy” No matter how I reprimanded him, Poppy never stopped barking.

I whispered to dad. “Papa, there was someone outside.”

“Eavesdropping?” I’ll check that out.” Dad snapped.

Dad stood from his chair and went directly to the door. Poppy with tongue still wagging and breathing profusely ran after dad.

“Poppy you stay here.” I warned him but the dog ignored my warning.  Then he came back and bit my dress with his teeth. He was pulling me to follow him outside. “You are tearing my lovely dress.” I shouted at him. The dog did not listen at all. He kept on pulling my dress with his teeth. He wanted me to go with him so I succumbed. My heart beat fast as I went outside the house. I could hear it beating loudly that almost going out of my chest.  I was scared that something wrong might happened to dad.

When I was outside I saw dad talking to a little handsome boy like my age. He was wearing khaki shorts, blue stripes t-shirt, white tennis shoes and a white cap that matched his shoes. There was a bag pack on his back. When he saw me, he smiled coyly at me. His dimples were deeply set both on his cheeks. He had a darker shade of blue eyes. I smiled back at him. His deep set dimples reminded me of the boy I saw 2 years ago tagging along with Mrs. Barbara Richards. He had grown taller than me. About 3 inches.

“Jazz come here. I’d like you to meet Adam Richards.”

“Hi, how are you?”

“Great.” He answered but he was avoiding my eyes.

“What brought you here kid. Your mom might be looking for you now.”

He did not answer dad. He went straight into the house. I mean their house. “Gosh. Arrogant. Spoiled brat. What do I expect from a kid born with a silver spoon? Misbehavior.” I said to myself.  

“This is my sanctuary before. When the basement was constructed, I abandoned this place and stayed in the basement because dad said, I’ll be safer there. It was one boring life in a basement albeit it is equipped with high tech gadgets and equipment. It was boring life when you only see the world virtually in those large monitor screens.” He had sarcasm in his voice. Eventually he was right because I experienced that too. This was our topic a while ago before this lad interrupted us.  Soonest possible should the best option.

Adam went to the living room and occupied a large leather couch.  He got a miniature CD inside his bag pack.  He gave the CD to dad. “Dad managed to copy the blueprint of the project that you had been working for 2 years. The ALPHA OMEGA XXX Project. He destroyed the original copy. . He wanted me to give this copy to you and if anything happens to us, you continue the project. Here also are his recorded instructions. There is a secret tunnel going out from this house. You can go out from here clandestinely without being noticed by the agents and spies or whoever with evil claws ready to demolish us.  Below this large couch is the door to the tunnel. Just removed the carpet and you’ll see the entrance.”

Dad was dumbfounded for few minutes. “Does this mean that we need to leave early or we still need to spend Christmas here?

“You have to leave at night time.” Adam instructed.

Then he gave the bag pack to dad. “There is money in the bag pack and credit cards. You can use that while on escapade and until you and your family can find a place to settle.”

I was amazed by Adam’s consummate ability to comprehend even the most complicated scenario. I scanned his brain. He was bugged. There was a small microchip implanted in his brain. His brain could store thousands of information but still acted with human with feelings and emotions.  I glanced at dad. We stared at each other. “Jazz, that is what her father wants me to do.” Dad communicated to me silently.

“I understand dad.”

“You must come with us Adam. Whatever inheritance your father left is due for you.”

“I can’t leave my parents and then he wept.”

I pity Adam. He had no choice but he was too young to be entangled in the mess of conspiracy. Mom was right. What does it profit a man, if he loses his own soul? There was no peace at all. And, this was also the beginning that our lives would be embroiled. To die or to live was the only ultimate option.  I rather chose to live and protect the people I loved.

Adam stopped in front of me and said “Goodbye, Jazz. Till we meet again.” His voice sad and shaking.   He was about to go back to the mansion when I tall black man towering 6’5” feet blocked his way. His lips were thick. He had a huge body. I believed he was formerly a boxer. That was the first time I saw that guy. It sent signal of danger to my brain. He could easily demolish us with his bare fist.

“Eric what’s wrong.” Dad asked the tall guy.

“We have to leave now. The FBI agents are about to raid this place. Blue wants you to bring Adam. He is giving us 30 minutes to leave and he’ll blow this place. No traces should be left. No blueprints of the project should be salvaged.”

Adam was weeping so loud. Eric had to carry him. The poor kid had no strength to walk anymore.

CONSPIRACY 5: Vengeance is Mine

Jazz, lunch is ready. Is your dad here already?” Mom shouted from the kitchen. I could smell the aroma of pork barbeque and carrot-mongo sprouts lumpia. Filipino recipes that mom learned from grandma. Mom also cooked fried red rice with green peas and sweet corn toppings. Of course, there was always a red wine served for dad. Dad said that red wine had a good amount of antioxidants for the body. He was correct in some way but dad was using the red wine as a brain booster. He could be compared to Edgar Allan Poe whose brain worked excellently when intoxicated but dad managed taking wine. I never saw him like a drunken master. When it comes to the kitchen, mom always knew best. She was tetchy mom in the kitchen. It was in mom’s blood. Grandma was a great cook itself.

“I am here honey. Hmm the foods smelled so exotic. You always pampered me with exotic Asian foods.” Dad touched his stomach with his right hand in a rotating manner, signifying that he was really starving. Dad for sure was starving. He worked likely for 8 hours with no rest at all. He was workaholic. In between works, he never ate solid foods. Just juice or plain water would do good to him. He was extremely precise and careful with every project he devoured. Very perfectionist! He doesn’t like to commit mistakes for he knew that project would be aborted. It was his source of earning. He was paid in millions which he safely deposited in a bank.  If there was an error, he made sure that it could be rectified right away.  For the entire years of his marriage life, dad was a chameleon. He lived in camouflage. All mom thought that we were poor.

Dad kissed mom on her forehead. Mom reciprocated dad by hugging him tightly around his waist. They were sweet and romantic couple all these years. Along their marriage life, they had shortcomings like such any other couples also but dad always made sure that whatever the cause would be patch-up. Dad hated divorce. He grew-up with strong conviction that marriage works when both parties knew how to give and take.  I guess with dad’s age, he was more mature and logical in dealing with relationship. Mom was young and tends to be emotional sometimes. Despite of their age gap, dad knew mom’s Achilles heel. Knowing mom's weakness, she could be easily appeased. Besides, dad loved mom so much.

“You better take a bath before eating. You smell stinky.” Mom instructed dad.

"I need a second opinion."

“Jazz, come here. Do I smell stinky?” asked dad.

Before I could answer, mom winked at me which meant I should agree with her

“Yah papa, you smelled like you have not taken a bath for years.” I almost giggled.

“My gollies, both of you are conspiring.” Dad raised both of his arms and fled straight to the bathroom.

While we gleefully ate our lunch, dad was discussing the possibility to mortgage a house and lot in a due time after he was done with his contract with Mr. Richards. We stayed in the 20 acres of land of Mr. Richards for 2 years. The lot was barricaded with 10 feet walls. Closely well-guarded and closely monitored by CCTV camera. Mr. Richards hired private bodyguards for his safety and that of his family. Although, Mr. Richards does not intrude into our privacy dad felt that I need to have sense of belonging. Although, I was an extraordinary kid, dad felt the urgency for me to breathe life outside of the walls. Go to school, gain friends and live a normal life.

“I had a private conversation with Blue that once I am done with the project and the contract ended, we will find our own place under the sun. We need to have our own privacy. At first, Blue was forlorn to hear about this plan. He much relies on my abilities but he said that he understands whatever decision I make. He further said that the wind blows where it pleases. He embraced me tight with teary-eyed.”

Dad paused for a moment and took a piece of fresh lumpia in his mouth. “Magnifico. El almuerzo fue muy delicioso"

After gulping the lumpia, dad continued, “Blue has the delusion to be the richest man in USA and the world. He is giving signs to the perpetrators of his parents that time will come that he’ll have his vengeance. He believes that the government had something to do with his parents’ death. A CIA conspiracy.”

“A CIA conspiracy theory? What has the government do with his parents death? Sounds scary enough that it pushes adrenalin to my brain! What made him suspect that?” questioned mom.

“Because of the pot of gold in the oil mine hidden below the ocean.  The information leaked to the government. The government had a keen interest and wanted to confiscate the bullions of gold deposited below the ocean. Blue’s father opposed this. He concealed the map. Before the incident, his father stored the information in a microchip and gave it Blue. Blue kept the microchip for years without the hint of being suspected.”

“The story sounds preposterous that I only see in the movie but it blew off my mind. If there is a kernel of truth to this, then Blue’s life is at stake too like his parents. Apparently, if he wants the CIA or whatever not to be suspicious then better not haul those bullions of gold. For what does it profit a man if in gaining the whole world, he loses his own soul.” Mom had to quote a passage from Mark 8:36.

 Mom had a point. Dad was about to add more but opted to shut his mouth in order not to make the story long. There were some truth behind that mom did not need to know. Maybe at the right time. But I knew because of my telepathic memory. I was reading dad’s mind. It stigmatized him that he had to invoke me.  “Stop reading my mind.” It was transmitted to me without uttering any words.  I bowed my head and continue eating.

“Something wrong, Jazz?  Mama seemed to notice.

“No mama.” I lied and pretend not to hear their discussions.

“If we leave what about the lot my parents own? There was a concern in mom’s voice.

“Honey, you have to forget about the lot. We have to get out of here after my contract ended for Jazz sake. We cannot stay here for the rest of our lives. We need to have our own that we can call HOME.” Dad’s tone of voice rose.

Mom was silent for a moment.                                           

“I don’t mean to raise my voice honey. You must understand. I don’t want to get entangle if ever the government would be suspicious about Blue shenanigans.” Dad was apologizing. Dad and mom disagreed to one point sometimes but mom knew dad was right. His instinct was always right. Dad was an expert in psych war being at that an ex-military man.  

In whisper mom said, “Yes, we’ll leave.”

Chapter XXXII: The Legacy: The Dawn of the Fallen Angels

I remained standing in the middle of road. The incandescent lamp posts were beginning to die. In a matter of minutes, the electric lights went out. A total black out! A total blackness! Everything was hallowing. I was like an owl watching the night. My eyes could penetrate the darkness. Every movement. Every single noise!

After few minutes of total black out, I heard the noise approaching me. I saw a group of drug addicts tripping with their 1000 cc Honda motorcycles. They were stoned with cocaine most likely. Their eyes red and bulging. The motorcycles cylinder made cacophonous noises. These kiddos were between 15-18 years old. Only few years my senior.  Just by looking at them, they were spoiled brats. Born with silver splatter in their mouths. Their parents were wealthy family in Thessaly who owned trading garments and shoes. Behind them, were teenage girls wearing skimpy dresses. Their skins and breasts exposing. Their breaths smelled marijuana. Their lips were painted with red lipstick. And almost selling their souls to these spoiled brats. “Poor souls,” I whispered. 

When they saw me, they stopped driving their motorcycles. Their motorcycles shrilled and they kept on making revolutions before they stopped the engine. The cylinders spilled carbon monoxides. The air was contaminated with carbon monoxide. Once inhaled could destroy the lungs and could cause lung cancer.  These spoiled brats were juvenile delinquencies. I don't know what Kalil would do with them. If I could save their butt tonight, I could one hell of bravado. I wanted to know how Kalil could turned them into a living zombie. 

One said, “Hey miss, are you looking for fun tonight?”

I ignored them instead and  walked away. One guy grabbed my hand. “Oh you are so sexy. Big butt, nice waist…seductive pair of breasts, nice figure….” His hands begun to run over my body.  

“Stop!” I warned him. 

“Oh common, stop resisting. Just enjoy what I am doing.”

I was already furious that I wanted to shatter his brain out of his skull but I remain calm.

I smiled at him and spoke. “Well, if you can beat me in a race I’ll be yours to tonight.”

The guy eyes blinked in excitement.  “Deal,” he said.

“The guy had so much lust in his mind.” I murmured.  

“You need a motorcycle?”

“Not necessary. I just run as fast as I can. So you have to catch-up with me.”

“Run?”  he laughed. “Common you are kidding. You know I can easily catch-up with you.”

“Then you have to try.”

“This is fun.”

I noticed that his companions were also excited about the race and started to speak. “I bet on you buddy.I'll expect you win the race and for sure, you land in a bed of roses with that pretty gal.” They all giggled maliciously. 

One guy said, “You have to run fast really girl."  He had so much mockery on his voice. The girls behind them laughed and blew smoke out of their nostrils. I stared at them sharply. The girls avoided my stare. 

“Your name?”

“Abby,” I answered.

“Landon here.” He offered me a handshake which I refused. 

“Now let’s begin the race but you need to go first.”

“Me first?” A sound of shock in his voice.

“Yes, now go.”

There was a trace of confusion on his face. He asked me, "Hey gal, are you sure about this? Do you need a bike? Are you crazy?

With sternness in my voice I said, "I am not crazy. If you want to win. Start the engine."  Landon saw my eyes flaring red.  That scared him and off he drove the motorcycle as fast as he could. 

"Opps there you go." 

Alan was watching me silently in the stillness of darkness. He was beaming with a smile. "You are so cunning Abby."

CONSPIRACY 4: Vengeance is mine

Chapter 4

We were ushered by the guard inside. When we stepped inside, the mansion was an orchard of varieties of tree bearing fruits. Oranges, apples, pears, nuts, sugar maple. Far right, were plantations of strawberries. On the left end, grapes in different varieties were cultured for wine production. Hundreds of employees were scattered doing their respective tasks. Such an enormous piece of land.  Sad thing, there were thousands of melancholies mellowing like a billowing of the winds when the night falls. Such a lonely place to live despite of the opulence of the owner.  I shrugged my shoulder. When we reached the guest room we were told to wait. The guest room was spacious and made of one way mirror walls. Really sophisticated design.

We waited for 30 minutes. 30 minutes turned to an hour. A grumpy old man came in.

“I am sorry to keep you waiting. The boss is not here yet. You know, there is an opening salvo in the city of one of his business associates. He and his wife are special guests. Most probably, they will be back at night. You may come back tomorrow.”

“Liar! He is here.” I talked to myself.

“No, we wait. No excuses. We need to talk to the owner before the night falls." Mom was so stubborn.

“But Mademoiselle.” Quoted the grumpy old man.

“Now you are talking in French.” Still talking to myself.

Mom said sternly, “We wait.”

The grumpy old man had no choice but left.  He took a capsulize elevator down to the basement.

"Sir, they are adamant to leave. That lady demanded to have a personal talk with you about the land she said that you grabbed from her parents.”

Blue arched his thick eyebrows upward and touched his chin before he talked. “What? I am not a grabber. That stupid lady she should never accused me. I bought the lands legally. I’ll handle this myself. Thank you, Marco. Now you can leave and prepare us a dinner.”

Blue had to peep first at the one way mirror before he entered the guest room. Blue abhor people intruding into his tranquility whenever he was at his home. Although, he engaged in doing philanthropic endeavors there was still a sneering arrogance in him. He doesn’t treat hoi polloi inside his mansion except for media purposes. Except for pufferies, a strategy that he usually enjoyed to let the people buy him  The man standing at his back seemed familiar to him but he wanted to make sure that his hunch was right. When dad turned around, Blue was shocked. It was Malcolm Peters. Blue hired dad before to work in an electromagnetic project in one of his oil expeditions in the ocean of Texas. Indeed the project turned out to be stupendous. He paid dad six figure. Roughly estimated to $500,000.00. What happened to that gargantuan money was a big question to Blue because he thought that dad was still a poor man. Without the knowledge of anyone, dad deposited the money in one of the stable banks in Los Angeles. Dad pretended to live a frugal life.  Not even mom knew this. 

“Malcolm what are you doing here?” There was an excitement in Blue’s voice.

“Blue, what are you doing here?

“I own this mansion and the 20 acres land.”

Dad almost gulped. He never expected to meet Blue again. That was approximately 10 years ago that he done a project with Blue. That project changed his status as one of the affluent man in Texas.   "My wife's parents owned a piece of land before in 20 acres of your land. I heard his brother, Cain sold the lot to you.”

“Who? Cain? Oh yes Cain. She convinced my wife, Barbara to buy the lot. At first Barbara was hesitant. Cain told Barbara that it was with the consent of his sister, Sabrina. Cain urgently needed the money. He smuggled cocaine. That was his business. His lovely wife, Dorothy divorced him two years ago. He turned hell to be crazy about Dorothy for divorcing him. Changing him with another man who can carry his ass for a living. You see Dorothy is a femme fatale. Any man desires her. He was depressed and resulted to drugs.”

“ That bitch,” Mom was furious.

“Barbara is your wife? Barbara Sanders is your wife?

“Yes.”

“She was my best friend since were kids. Her house was just a block away from us. Our path separated when we were in college. Since then, we never heard from each other. I read in the news that he married a wealthy man, an oil magnate which turns to be you, Mr. Richards.  I was indeed happy for her but I felt that I have to keep my distant because of the parity of gap between us. You know like the story of the Prince and the Pauper.”

“Oh small world after all. She talks much about you,” beamed Blue. His nicotine tainted teeth showing. He was a smoker to his name.

“Good to see you again Blue.” Dad and Blue shook their hands firmly.

“Good to see you too.”

“I think we don’t have other choice but to look for a new home here in Council Bluffs, honey.”

“No no no. You can stay here. I built a small cottage at the back of the mansion. Just a walk away from the mansion.  It consists of 3 rooms, living room, dining room, laundry room, kitchen, and 2 bathrooms. And plus factor, you’ll be safe here. There are lots of criminals lurking around waiting for their prey.” 

I felt Mr. Richards had a kind-hearted soul. I felt also that he needed dad. 

"I am not afraid of criminals, Blue. We are such of burden if we opt to stay here.”

A gorgeous woman came-in.  Dressed in black Prada dress. Slim. Slender legs. Lips covered with thick colored fuchsia lipstick. She walked like a model. What money could do? What money could buy?

“Darling, who are you talking to?”

“Barbara.” Mom almost shouted.

“Oh Jesus, glad to see you Sabrina after all these years.” They hugged each other.

“You looked so beautiful.” Mom mused.

“No Sabrina. Being beautiful is in the heart. You know that. I admired you always for that. I am just lucky to wear expensive dresses.” Barbara whispered into mom’s ear.

Conspiracy 3: Vengeance is mine

Mr. Richard’s mansion was located in a 20 acres of land in Council Bluffs. Council Bluffs was the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. It was the east bank of the Missouri River. This was where Barbara lived with her parents before she married Blue. When her parents died, Blue decided to move their residency to Council Bluffs. Away from chaotic life. Away from leeches. Away from fake friends. Council Bluffs was quieter place after all if compared to Dallas. He developed the small piece of land. He bought the lands next to it. Persuading the neighborhoods to sell their lands. The price was always right. Blue was not shrewd when it comes to money but money was always a powerful weapon to persuade people. Soon the small piece of land turned out to be a carnival of 20 acres. The mansion stood elegantly in the middle of the 20 acres land. And the vast and beautiful Missouri River was meeting the 20 acres of land.

When dad retired as a professor in UCLA, he and mom decided to raise me in Iowa. From the small apartment they were renting in Los Angeles, they packed their belongings and headed to Council Bluffs to astonishment of mom  her brother, Cain sold the small land of her parents to the owner of the big mansion. She was outraged her brother did not inform her. She was outraged that upon returning to Council Bluffs would make her family homeless. Cain could never be found. After he was paid, he fled. No one knew his whereabouts. Tears ran down her cheeks. 

Dad comforted him. “Honey, everything will be okay. We better stay in the hotel for a night then we’ll look for a place to start our life here.”

“Not that honey. It was my parents’ only property. It means a life blood. I have to speak to the owner.”


“But….” Dad hold mom’s left hand. Mom slipped away. It was too late for dad to prevent mom.

Mom pushed the doorbell button attached to a 10 feet wall several times. This alarmed the private guards inside. The gate guard almost at his late thirties wearing a black uniform, greased hair and a square face opened the gate and shouted at mom, “What do you want.”

“I need to talk to whoever is the owner.”

“He is not here.” The guard said curtly.

“Let me talk to the owner.” Mom pleaded.

The guard pushed mom away.

My mom was off balance and she fell at her butt on the cemented ground. Her legs spread and her elbows bruised. Good thing, mom was wearing denims. Dad was furious and was  about to punch the guard with his closed fist but he was too fast. He took his gun from his holster the side of his waist  and pointed the gun to dad.

“Don’t move or I shoot. You’ll be dead in a minute.”

I saw everything. I trembled. My entire body shook. Beads of sweats were falling from my forehead. I felt an eminent danger. I don’t want my parents to die…..that was all in my mind.

I concentrated. Still body shaking. I could feel the fire coming out from my eyes. In few minutes, I set the gun on fire. The gun burned in his hand. I twisted his brain. He was screaming in sever pain.

“Jazz, stop.” I heard dad warning me.

“But papa”

“You have to stop Jazz. Take control. Take control”

I controlled by emotions and stopped

“Take it easy. Take it easy. Dad and mom are okay.” Dad plead. He knew I could afford to cause harm when provoked.

 I told the guard. "Don't ever dare to treat my parents malevolently. Do what my mama said." My eyes flaring at him. My body temperature rose. My blood under my skin was boiling. 

The guard was frightened and ashen face. He led us inside.