Chapter 28

ADOVOCATE NDLELA

Ever since the investigation began, life has been nothing but an uphill journey. Money is gone now. My cases are being reviewed and everything is coming out. Witnesses are talking. By the time I go to court I'll be ruined, I'll be disbarred. I'll no longer be a lawyer. F**k! I've been sitting in this interrogation room for an hour now. I don't even know why I haven't spoken to anyone yet. I hate it everytime I have to come her. It is always a drag. My thought are interrupted by the door opening and Detective Mbhele walks in with files in his hand. He takes a seat opposite me. He breathes and opens the files. He looks tired. I probably feel worse than he does. "I need everything on Milani and I mean everything." His voice low but firm. "I'm not here to question you about your other cases. I need Milani." I look at this man and he is serious but what's going to happen with the rest of investigation. I need to know what's going to happen to me. "And the rest of the investigation?" I ask, hoping the answer will be positive. "We still gathering evidence. We are still compiling everything." I am going to give him everything he wants on Milani. Right now I am prepared to do anything to reduce my sentence. Maybe I can cut a deal with him.

"I want to cut a deal." He looks up shocked. "What kind of deal?" I swallow hard, my throat suddenly became dry. "I want to turn state witness." I can see the shock in his eyes. I know he knows I know more than what the files are revealing. I didn't keep everything in the files. He stays quiet probably encouraging me to continue, I do exactly that. "I'll give you everything you need to bring everyone down. Every judge that's being paid off, lawyers, ministers even cops. Especially cops. Paid to off to lose dockets, evidence, false arrests, frame up, you name it. I have it all. I'll give you everything in return I turn state witness. Relocate to a new a place, new identity, the works." "Advocate Ndlela do you realize what you are asking for could put your life at risk?" I have thinking about for a long. "I know. I've thought about. It's the only way I get to keep my family." He shakes his head looking at me. "Fine I'll talk to the prosecutor about it. She'll come see you. Tell me what I to know." He sits back folding his arms across his chess, waiting for me to speak.

"Milani is not who everyone thinks she is. The woman is a true protegee of her father. He might have died while she way young, but she took after him in every sense. Every lesson he taught her was instilled in her core. Her mother made it worse. Her mother taught her that no man should ever control her. She taught her that men don't love, the control, they own, they possess. Milani took it to another level and made all about power. She is all about destroying any man that shows signs of being more powerful than her. What she did Nqaba was nothing. Milani killed her own brother to be CEO of her father's company. She killed his mother because she started suspecting fowl play in her son's death. Milani married Nqaba just so she can have control over him. After she found that the company he works for is actually his, she tried to swindle her way into the company but it didn't work. Instead Nqaba changed everything to his son. That company would have been a cover for what she wants to do and it is one of the biggest accounting firms in this country. She has partnered up with Emihle register another pharmaceutical shell company but that is cover. She is trying to get into the drug business but mostly she is trying for organ trafficking, that has more money. The name of the shell company will be use to transport the organs to make it look like they are transporting pharmaceuticals. Her father's company is a logistics company, I gather you already know that part. The drug that Emihle created is suppose to help with that. The whole thing is structured in phases. Phase one doesn't involve any dead bodies. It involves only kidney. They take one kidney from each victim. Victims will disappear for about six weeks, which also allows time for them to heal. The first phase is humane even the victims don't volunteer their organs, it is still humane. Malusi doesn't know about this. You cops will never pick it up until it's too late." I pause a little. "That's all you are getting from me today Detective. Get me my deal with prosecutor and I'll give you more." He stops the recorder and gathers his files. "I'll talk to the prosecutor. We'll come to your house tomorrow. For now you can go home. Stay out of trouble Ndlela." He takes everything he came with and leaves. I sit there for a moment, saying a little prayer. I hope I don't regret this. I'm doing this for my family. They still need me. I can't go to jail, not now.

MALUSI NKABINDE

I have been in this house for a few days now. I don't even know why I am here. I don't even know how these guys to me. I have security all over the place. How did they manage to get to me. My security team will have to answer for this when I get out of here. A man walks in snapping me out of my thoughts. He sits opposite me at the table. A lady brings us water. She is the same lady that has serving me ever since I got her. I tried walking out but all the doors are bio metrically locked. The whole system is bio-metrical. When I tried opening a window, the alarm system goes off. I don't know this man, he doesn't even look familiar. He is looking at me but not saying anything. He stays quiet for a long time. "My name is Eddie." He introduces himself. "You recently made a deal with one of my business partners. His name is James." I look at him thoroughly before I respond. "He never mentioned any partners. I paid what he asked and more for this deal. So what's the problem." He leans back on his seat, crossing his arms across his chest. "There's no problem. Since he took money from and gave me a share, I needed to see you, to see what we are dealing with. What kind of person are we doing business with. That's all." He stays quiet for a bit. I speak before he does. "Eddie right? What exactly are you hoping to see?"

"Just trying to get a read on you, Malusi. You see, business in our world isn't just about the money. It's about trust and power. If I can't trust you, then this partnership is doomed before it even begins." His eyes bore into me, as if searching for something just beneath the surface. "I want to know if you're the type who can hold your own or if you're someone who will crumble when the pressure mounts." I lean back, meeting his gaze defiantly. "You don't have to worry about me, Eddie. I've survived worse than this. If you think you can intimidate me with your stare, you're mistaken. I know this game, and I play to win."

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "I appreciate the spirit, I really do. But spirit alone won't cut it. You need alliances; you need to know who you can count on when things go south. And trust me, they will."
A moment of silence hangs in the air. "Tell me about James then," I say, wanting to steer the conversation away from intimidation. "What exactly does he bring to the table?"

Eddie leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. "James is a man of connections. He can open doors that are normally closed. But he also has a reputation for being cutthroat. If he feels you're a liability, he won't hesitate to cut you loose. That's why I want to know where you stand." I nod, considering his words. "I can handle myself. I've made it this far without falling into anyone's trap."

His expression shifts to one of contemplation. "Good. Because if you're going to ride this wave, you'll need to figure out who your real enemies are, and it sounds like Milani might be at the top of that list." I feel my blood run cold at the mention of her name. "What do you know about her?"

He smirks, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Just enough to know that crossing her could be a fatal mistake. She's a new player in this game, and she's not afraid to eliminate anything or anyone that threatens her control. She has made her mark already. You'd be wise to keep your distance. Oh, and I know she's your sister."I sit up straighter, suddenly wary of the conversation veering into dangerous territory. He must done his research really well to know that Milani is my sister. "And what do you propose I do?"
Eddie leans back, his demeanor shifting to that of a mentor giving advice. "For now, play it cool. Lay low. Gather intelligence. And when you're ready, make your move. But remember, every action has consequences, and trust is hard to come by."

As he speaks, I can feel the weight of the choices ahead of me. If I'm going to survive this, I need to navigate the treacherous waters carefully. I already know that my sister plans to take half my business from me. It will cripple me, but with these guys, I'll recover quickly by she have learned her lesson and that is to not mess with me. "I appreciate your insight, Eddie. But I'll determine my own course. Let's talk business."

He raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Now that's the spirit I like to see.""Let's discuss the specifics of our partnership then," Eddie encourages, straightening in his chair. "You've made a substantial investment, but there are layers to this operation. We need to outline our goals clearly so that we're both on the same page."
I clear my throat, sensing the opportunity to assert myself. "Agreed. First and foremost, I need to know about the logistics involved in the distribution. If this operation is as expansive as James claims, we need to be meticulous. The last thing we need is any loose ends or mistakes that could alert authorities."

Eddie nods, his expression turning serious. "You're right. The logistics are paramount. We have contacts in various fields—shipping, customs, even financial advisors who are willing to help us launder money through shell companies. But we need to keep everything compartmentalized. Only the necessary people should be involved to avoid leaks."

"Compartmentalized," I echo, locking eyes with him. "That makes sense, but it also means that I'll need to have a team I trust. Is James onboard with that?" Eddie shrugs, a contemplative look clouding his features. "He's more of a lone wolf, to be honest. His strength lies in working independently, but for this to succeed, he'll have to adapt. If you're doing well—and if you can prove your loyalty—he may come around. Just like in the game of chess, every piece has its role."

"Chess, huh?" I smirk, a chill creeping down my spine as a thought crosses my mind. "I'll need to think several moves ahead then. If Milani is the queen, then I can't afford to act like a pawn." He looks at me surprised by my comment. "That's the right mentality," Eddie replies, leaning back and folding his arms again. "Just remember, she won't hesitate to capitalize on any weaknesses you show. I recommend starting to gather intel on her operations, while simultaneously working on establishing your own stronger foothold than the one you have."
"Establishing a stronger foothold… You mean taking control of one of these shell companies?" I ask, intrigued. "Precisely. Find a niche that can be profitable, and ensure that you've got a steady influx of resources. If Milani gets wind of it before you're in a strong position again, she'll snuff it out before it even breathes. We can't allow that."
I absorb his words carefully, contemplating my next steps. She is already planning on taking my business. Looking at the plan she has implemented, it will take to get everything back. "All right, what about the timing? How do I know when it's safe to make my move?"

He studies me for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "There's no perfect timetable, Malusi. You have to be perceptive, listen to the environment, and pick the right moment to strike. Wait for the right opportunity, when she's distracted or vulnerable. If we can sow discord among her circles, it will give you an opening." I understand exactly what what he is saying. Right now Milani is sharp, aware of every move made against her. "Creating discord," I muse, remembering Milani's ruthlessness. "That's a dangerous game." Eddie leans forward, his voice low and conspiratorial. "Every game is dangerous, Malusi. The question is whether you're willing to play to win. If you come out on top in this chess match, you won't just gain control; you'll make a name for yourself in ways you've never imagined. But you have to be clever, cautious. And, above all, trust no one."
With those words hanging in the air, a sense of determination washes over me. I may be trapped for the moment, but perhaps this confinement is the catalyst I need. "All right, Eddie. I'll start laying my groundwork. We'll see how the pieces move."

He grins, an understanding passing between us, and somewhere within me, an ember of hope flickers to life. Maybe this unwanted situation could lead to something much greater than I ever dared to dream. A man walks, he looks familiar. Eddie turns to see what I'm looking at and he smiles. He stands and shakes the man's hand. The turn looking. "Malusi, this is Det Nxele and Det Nxele, this Malusi Nkabinde. Did you get everything you needed from the conversation?" Wait what conversation, what is he talking, was this set up? "Then my job is done." What's happening? "Thank you Eddie." This detective turn to look at me, SH*T!!! "Malusi Nkabinde, you are under arrest for drug trafficking. You have the right remain silent, anything you say can and will be used…….." I stop listening. My mind is reeling with questions of this happened.