Escalated situation (The vital ball)

Waking up, she finds herself in a dark empty room, tied up and hanging. Everywhere is so dark, she couldn't even see anything, her mouth was tied too. Suddenly, she hears footsteps, then a bright light shines. An old man standing dressed in black, face covered with a black hat, and holding a walking stick stood some miles way from her. He wasn't too old though. He gave his guards a sign to untie her mouth and sat on the chair next to him, she could hardly see his face because it was covered with the black hat.

"You messed with the wrong person" he said, and his voice wasn't friendly at all. She was covered in fear and was so confused.

"Where is the ball?" He asked.

"What ball?" She summoned up courage to ask.

"The ball you stole from the hotel restroom, think and stop pretending"

"It was just the bag off -" she was saying till she stopped, had a rethink and remembered she actually did see a ball.

"Oh, I am so sorry, but I sold it, I thought it was nothing" she said as her voice shivered in fear.

"Just one week, one week to find the ball young lady or your head for an exchange." He said brutally. "One week" he repeated.

She was left speechless, so now her life is at risk all because of a ball.

"Let her go" he commanded his guard and he untied her, and blindfolded her.

The other one lifted her and put her on his back, taking her to the car garage. He put her in the car and drove off to a lonely road where nobody could see him. He brought her out of the car and untied her hands and legs. Then he got into the car and left. When she heard his car had driven off, she loosened the cloth was used to cover her eyes and then the duct tape that was used to seal her mouth. Immediately she was done with that, she took to her hills.

Mr. Davis Williams hunched over his study desk, papers scattered around him like confetti. His eyes darted between computer screens, his brow furrowed in concentration.

He muttered to himself, "Yes, yes, this is it."

As he worked, his hands moved with precision, typing away on his keyboard. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. He picked up a small, specially made ball from his desk and held it up, admiring it. He then put a call to his best friend who is in the same field as he is for an important discussion.

"Good day, Max" Davis said to max.

"Good day sir" Max replied, his voice laced with amusement.

Davis chuckled "How many times do we have to go over this, max? I'm just your boss at the office not at home."

Max laughed "Yeah I know. So what's up buddy?"

Davis's expression turned serious. "I have an important thing to tell you. We need to meet up"

Max's tone turned cautious, his voice laced with a hint of concern."What is wrong?"

"It is not something I can say over the phone" Davis insisted.

"Alright, text me the location, I'll be there"

They agreed to meet at a dark corner, Davis arrived first, parking his car in the shadows. Max pulled up beside him, and Davis got into the passenger seat.

"So what happened?" Maxwell asked, his eyes scanning the surrounding area.

"The case" Davis said.

"What case?" He asked seriously staring at him for a reply. Davis hesitated before speaking in a low tone.

"The case I was given"

"Oh yes, the company we suspected is into drug dealings."

"It's more complicated. I took a deep drive in it and discovered a lot of things. I need someone to reveal this to, incase anything happens to me."

Max's expression turned grave "What did you discover?" his eyes widening as Davis spoke.

"The COBRA is not just involved in an illegal drug trading but also in money laundering, unlawful possession of arms, and assassination if needed. And that's not all, going deep, I found out, we will not only have to worry about the Cobra but also their fellow competitors in the business. Organizations like Black dragon and The masked." He narrated.

"This is serious" Max said unveiling his concern.

"How did they manage to stay hidden for a long time?" He asked.

"People into this type of business make sure to leave no trace." Davis answered.

Max's face paled, his voice barely above a whisper. "How did you get all the information?"

"That why it is called the deep drive, you need to dig deep. All am trying to say is that these three secret organization will be tough to bring down and my instinct tells me something bad is about to happen. My mind is not at rest, I feel there is a spy planted among those new recruits at the office. I mean, most of them were sworn in that same day I was assigned the case. I know one would say how can you make an assumption of that, but I feel it's definitely a factor to consider. And I sense something is off." Davis said with his two hands together.

Max swallowed hard, his eyes locked on Davis's. "What's the plan?"

Davis hesitated, his eyes scanning the surrounding area before focusing on Max again. "I have all evidence concentrated in a specially made ball. There is a card in it containing all secret files, and folder. That cards contain all their illegal transactions and operations. All I have to bring them down is ready, except for the fact that we still don't know who was sent to spy so I still want to keep it low till I have finally completed the mission"

"Don't you think the ball will be misplaced when they feel it's of no importance? They said solve the case not present a ball" Max said in concern.

"I am not taking the ball but not to present it to the board of directorates. The card needs to be in that ball to make that journey to the board of directorates, and the ball has to be in there for some reasons. First, the enemy thinks of reasonable places to search before they strike. And eventually when they attack, they look out for papers, files, documents not a kids ball. It's definitely not a thing they would even think about."

Max slightly laughed being amazed by the wisdom of his friend "This is why the NCA( National Crime Agency) cherish you"

Davis smiled and said "Please the conversation remains between us"

"Sure buddy, you can always trust me"

"And I need you to be my ears and eyes, let me know of any suspicious movement or hidden phone calls. It's important"

"Anything for you buddy"

"Thanks, I should leave now" They had a handshake, Davis got down from Maxwell's car, got into his and drove home.

*********

Laura strolled through the gala, taking in the sight of the beautiful chandelier that exuded the warmth of its light, the soothing music, and finest decorations.

"Laura" a voice from behind calls, she turns and smiles as Madeline walked closer.

"I hope you are not getting bored of it all, I'm sorry for not being with you right now, there are many things I have to attend to." She said as she made innocent face, her voice pleasing and calm.

"I could never get bored of it, and it's totally fine. You can go do what you were doing, I'll be here" Laura said, waving her hand by, showing she was ok with it.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am, go" She said dragging her last word, slowing pushing her away playfully. Madeline smiled leaving.

Laura stood there, in total amazement of how blissful an event could look, it was not a sight she was used to seeing, suddenly she heard the sound of shattering glass. Looking front, her beautiful white dress was stained with wine.

"Please hold on, I will call you back" he said into the phone before ending the call. "I am so sorry. Please let's step away from the glass" he said as he took her hands, gently and led her away from the shattered glass. His voice deep toned, polite yet seemed controlling.

"Should that be an apology I would accept, because it seemed to me you were more concerned about ending your call at ur own pace than who you had just affected with ur carelessness"

"I'm sorry, okay? It was an accident"

Laura glare softened slightly but she didn't want to show it. "Yeah, you should be. Just watch where you are walking" she said and then added "Okay?" As a form of imitation. He looked at her and smiled as she walked away.

The next day, Davis went to visit his niece, she was living in Newham, the Inner East of London, in a poorly built old fashioned apartment where she stayed with her parents before her mother died of cancer and her father died. They lived there because it was of a low price and it was affordable for them to pay for and still meet up with other needs, now she lives there alone.

Davis quietly opens the door without knocking but as usual the old creaky wooden door made a sound which gave Laura the idea that someone was about to step in. Laura looked up, her eyes darting towards the paper on the couch before quickly hiding it.

"Hi, uncle" she said, her voice a little too cheerful.

"Good day dear, how are you doing?" Davis smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He took in the cramped room, the worn furniture, and the faded curtains. It was a far cry from the comfortable life he wanted for his niece.

"I'm fine, and how is work?" Laura asked, her gaze drifting back to the hidden paper. Davis's eyes narrowed slightly. He suspected something was off, but he didn't push the issue.

"Great" He replied, his tone light.

"Okay, so what's the visit for?" She asked.

"Just decided to stop by and see my lovely niece, won't you at least offer me something?" He said with a crooked smile.

"I'll make you coffee just the way you like it, excuse me" she said and left.

Davis watched her, his eyes taking in the tired look on her face, the worn-out clothes, and the desperation in her eyes she tried to hide behind the huge smile her face bore. He gently stood up, walked to where she hid the papers and brought them out, he sat down and went through them, it was about different hotels that needed strippers and was ready to pay huge amount of money. He just looked at them and smiled then placed them on the table.

"Here it is" she said entering with a cup of coffee, her hands shaking slightly as she placed it in the table in front of him, then she saw the papers on the table and became silent.

"You should have thought of a better place to hide those stuff" He said as he beard a sarcastic smile on his face while he gently lifted the cup of coffee from the table and took a sip.

"Uncle" she called with a smile a little bit tensed.

Davis set his cup down, his eyes boring into hers. "Laura, listen to me. I know you're struggling, but this isn't the way. Settle for something good, not trash like this. This your attitude towards acquiring wealth so quickly will lead to destruction. That isn't the way things are done, you don't make it in life within a twinkle of an eye, everything has steps. You can't make it through this way, it will only lead to your doom. Stop being so eager to acquire wealth the wrong way" He advised, his voice gentle and calm.

Laura snorted, her eyes rolling in exasperation. "Easy for you to say, uncle. You've got a good job, a nice house, a comfortable life. You don't know what it's like to struggle."

Davis's expression softened, his eyes filling with compassion. "Actually, Laura, I do know what it is like to struggle. I grew up in a poor neighborhood, worked multiple jobs to make ends meet."

"It's not like I am killing someone, don't you see the tattered environment I live in, it is a shithole." She said. Yes, her living environment was not at all conducive but he had always asked her to come to his place once in a while but she felt wasn't going to have enough freedom, to go out to clubs with friends and come back late, and of course Davis was a well disciplined man who didn't tolerate trashy behaviours.

"I am only trying to make a living." She continued as her face twisted in frustration, her arms crossed, her eyes flashing with determination and unwillingness to change.

"And i will never stop you from making a living, but do it the right way." He said.

Laura is a stubborn girl who would always do things her way, he can't force her to take the advice but the least he could do is advise her. The rest was up to her.

She continues with the complains "Look around, see my friends, see the lavishly life they live, they are somebody."

"And you are somebody, but you are going to be nobody when you drive toward things that are going to soil you."

"I am sick and tired of this godforsaken yard but most especially your lecture. I am an adult, and I think I know what I want for myself uncle, no disrespect."

Davis just smile, he didn't feel the need to go further with the advice, he looked at her, his face still bearing a smile, he shook his head slightly.

"Laura, a word is enough for the wise" He said sipping the last coffee from the tea cup, leaving Laura to ponder on his words. "Here you go" he handed her the cup while using his eyes to scan around the house. She collect it, and headed to the kitchen.

He quickly got up, moved to the dinning section, took down a flower in the plastic vase that was nailed to the wall, he brought out a flash drive from his pocket. Inside it, he inputted the original copies of all the research cases then placed it into the flower vase before putting the flower back in its position. Then went back to the living room, she had no idea of what had just happened in her dining room.

"Laura" He called out, "I will take my leave now" He said and left.