Rat the rogue

CHAPTER FOUR

Out of long habit, Chief Onapuruagu held his sunglasses loosely between his fingers, he propped his hands on his hips. He was in his study room at his mansion, trying to go through the CCTV footage.

He shrugged his broad shoulders, It was actually painful. His grin personified wickedness as he thought of the rogue that killed his son. He shook his head at himself, staring blindly.

"It'll be slow, but painful.." He tilted his head to say, his voice a rough purr. He emptied his cup of coffee and tossed aside the cup. He argued with himself for several more minutes before the silence stretched out to an uncomfortable outburst.

The footages were tampered with. They were missing clips from three days to the gender reveal party and on deal day.

"Fuck shit up.." He muttered, his mouth curling in amusement. "Fuck shit up!"

Alarmed, his right hand man, Bullet, moved closer to him. "Chief?"

"Someone tampered with the CCTV footages.." Chief Onapuruagu glared into Wave's eyes, raging. His mind drifted to Coco, there was a possibility she had gone with the CCTV footage. Or not, it could still be the rogue masquerading as a friend or family, either way, he'd fish out the rogue. "Who do you suspect the rogue to be?"

Bullet raised his brows. The question was an easy one, he suspected Mrs Claudia, but he knew better not to say. He had eavesdropped on Mrs Claudia's phone conversation several times. There was something strange about them, but how could he point her as his suspect? "Georgianna seems like a suspect, and Miss Pearl."

"Why are they your suspect?"

"They've both worked against her, hence the suspicion." Wave replied.

"I see..."

Disturbed, Chief Onapuruagu turned and headed for the bar at Kaave D Castle, his gaze through the city a tactile touch on everyone. Bullet, glancing around, on alert.

They stepped through the doorway and the air conditioning hit him full force. One look around and he sighted Wave. Wave walked to them and they sat at a small corner table.

"A hot cup of coffee?" Wave offered. He was tensed but he would not let Chief Onapuruagu know how bothered he was. "I heard the news, accept my condolences."

His reply was brief. "Coco is missing."

Eyes widening in surprise, Wave asked. "Since when?" He looked startled, surprised.

"Have you seen her or heard something?" Chief Onapuruagu lifted his head and saw Wave's eyes were closed, his body utterly still, his breathing deep and hard. "Wave?"

Wave had squeezed his eyes shut and forced himself to think logically. Slowly he opened his eyes. He considered his options and came to a quick decision. Coco was so stubborn, so set on her course. "I don't think she's missing, she's probably in safe Haven."

A stern frowned marrowed Chief Onapuruagu's face. "And the poison?"

"The boys are on it.." Sounding confused, Wave leaned forward. "I don't know what is happening but I give you my word, when i find every detail I'll come to you at once."

Chief Onapuruagu glanced at Wave, his eyes drawn. "As soon as you can, and Wave? Who are you suspecting?"

"Your cook, her best friends.." Wave answered. "Jealousy could be the motive.."

Damn. Chief Onapuruagu's brain throbbed in the aftermath. "I'll be waiting for your feedback, don't take long."

Filled with new urgency, Chief Onapuruagu and Bullet left.

***

All the thirteen staff workers in Chief Onapuruagu's mansion scurried to assemble near his garage. They all tapped their mouth shut when he approached them, Bullet, walking beside him with a big rod.

"Inna!" Chief Onapuruagu yelled. "Look at me," His expression strained.

Inna forced her wide eyes up to his face, but she did so slowly. "Chief..."

"Who poisoned my wife? You are the senior chef, you served the food, you should have seen something, you should know what happened." Chief Onapuruagu's voice was nothing to play with.

When Inna started to reply and defend herself, he hushed her, looking at the other staff workers. "It is obviously one of you poisoned my wife, and if you think I'll be kind enough to relieve you of your duties then think again, because I will throw each one of you in jail, tortured..close to death.." He paused then continued. "However, I give you my word, if you come out clean and confess, I will forgive you."

The staff workers all felt caught off guard, but they were silent, trembling in fear.

Keeping his voice low and rough, he said, "Ten million dollars to whoever that will rat out the rogue..your identity will also be protected." And he walked away!

Since Bullet was still there glaring at them, the staff workers didn't dare to leave. He squeezed his eyes shut and fought for the last small thread of control. He didn't want the issue resulting to when he'll have to kill anyone, they were his people and he knew they were innocent. Fuck it! He was going to say the big name, ten million dollars was a lot. Slowly, he limped away.

The staff workers all stood there for a long moment, speechless, before stomping away. Ten million dollars? They knew Chief Onapuruagu meant his word - it was likely they'll rat out the rogue amongst them. They hesitated, staring at each other, but the next minute, they were all determined to find out who the rogue was.

Inna specifically paced around in her bedroom, restlessly. After crawling into bed, she pulled the sheets to her chin. She checked the clock, saw it was only four - thirty. A faint buzzing sounded in her eyes. Ten million dollars!

***

Trying to wipe away his pain, Chief Onapuruagu looked away from Coco's picture hung on their bedroom wall. It was a picture of hers taken by New York Times as one of the world's most influential women.

Chief Onapuruagu had been working full steam, hoping to take full control of the wine market with Sexy green, this betrayal was a distraction, and he wasn't going to let it go. He felt vengeful, certainly because it was his blood and an inside work.

He dialed Coco's lines, they were unreachable. Her disappearance troubled him greatly. He pulled himself together, sending her a voicemail. "Sweetness, I know you're hurting, I am hurting as well. Please I need you here, I can't do it alone..you can't do it alone, but together we'll fish out the betrayer..and I promise you, they won't go free... please come back home, Coco..."

***

"If either of you know something then please come out clean, because I know Coco, she won't forgive this kind of betrayal..blood will flow and certainly not mine. Come out clean so I'll know how to go about it." Brandy looked at both of her sisters, they were all in her living room.

Carey's heart wrenched, trying to imagine the pain Coco must be going through.

Pearl's entire body stiffened. Her heart broke for the anguish she saw in Coco's eyes the last time.

"Pearl, did you do it?" Brandy's voice was flat, emotionless. It sounded as though she had inherited Coco's style. She drew a deep breath. "Pearl please.."

"Please what?" Pearl ground her teeth together, appalled, enraged. "You're going crazy to even think that.."

"I don't know.." Brandy shrugged. "I am just trying to be sure.. wouldn't want any of us in jail or on a death roll." She walked closer to Pearl. "If you did it, tell me..I promise, I'll protect you.."

Outrage washed over Pearl in trembling force. Her eyes bulged, going icy pale, she moved closer to slap Brandy - and Brandy moved.

Feeling too slow or clumsy, Brandy snatched a vessel. A sense of power and adrenaline coursed through her, making her audacious in her anger. "Where is the lie? Did I lie?! Haven't you tried to poison Coco in the past?" Her hands felt sweaty and she gripped the vase harder, moving it like a ballplayer ready at bat. "Touch me again and I swear I'll take your head off."

Incredulous, Pearl stood stock still, sweat slipping down her cheek until she slowly reached up and swiped it away. Her teeth clenched and her lips pulled back so that her words slurred with rage. "You little bitch."

"That's right, Pearl, I'm a bitch. A maniacal bitch, and believe me I will hit you if you hit me again."

"You wouldn't dare!" Carey drew one breath, then another. "This is disappointing.."

"Tell that to your sister," Pearl curled her lip. "How could she suspect me of being the one behind Coco's forced abortion?"

Brandy smiled slowly. "I only made a simple sentence, if you aren't the culprit why did you feel so enraged and attacked? You tried to kill her in the past.."

The past made Pearl queasy; rage made her want to weep. She wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing either.

"You make me want to puke, Brandy," Carey said. "How can you use her past against her? She's grown past that..all that happened in the past. Even Coco hasn't mentioned it ever.."

Brandy and Pearl both jerked, cussing out each other.

"Stop it, both of you." Carey said. She tightened her frown and stretched her sigh. "Or you might as well kill yourselves."