I buttoned up my shirt while staring at my reflection in the mirror and hoping I wasn't making a big mistake. This mysterious caller requested I come alone but unfortunately for them, I'm not stupid enough to make such a mistake.
A firm knock on the door kicked me out of my thoughts, "Come in!" I yelled from the inside as I made my way towards the door.
Amina, one of the maids was standing behind the door, "Dinner is ready sir."
I stole a glance at my wrist watch, it was almost 8.00pm, "I'm skipping dinner today." I said to her as her made it downstairs in a hurry.
"Oh … alright sir."
By the time I got out the door, William, my chauffeur was already waiting by the side of the car.
"I emailed you the address." I said to him as I got in.
"Yes sir." He responded and closed the door shut as he hurried to the other side of the car. The clock was ticking, barely thirty minutes left. While we were on our way there, I placed a call across to Devine.
"Donovan?"
"I'm on my way to meet this mysterious caller and you're coming with me."
"You're what?!" I could hear the shock in his voice through his tone, "Are you crazy?! This could be a trap, if you succumb to whatever this blackmailer actually wants from you, it only proves that you're truly guilty."
"There are also chances that this person really has something on me."
"Donovan, I do not trust this, you're taking a big risk. How sure are you that they really have evidence, I'm a lawyer, I work with evidence, if there's no evidence then their words don't carry any weight."
"That's the reason I want you to come with me, although I was asked to come alone but … for back up sakes."
"You must be drunk to think I would let you pull such a risk, ignore them!"
"I'm parked in front of your house."
"You're joking." he said with disbelief. I glued my gaze to his front door hoping he would step out any minute now, the clock was ticking, the pressure was worsening.
"Devine, please." After a moment of arguing and pleading with him to come with as time was against us, he finally rushed out the door while struggling to put on his jacket and hurried towards the car. I stole a glance at my watch and it was almost time. Immediately he got in and closed the door shut, William set the car in motion and we were on our way to the specified address.
"Are you out of your mind Donovan?!"
"I'm not, I'm just doing what I feel is right." I responded calmly.
"Did you even involve the police?! Do you have protection or security? Or will William protect you?" Devine had veins popping out of the side of neck and the center of his forehead as he spoke out of frustration.
"You're worrying about this way too much and that's questionable considering the fact that if anything goes wrong tonight I would be the most affected."
"Donovan—"
"Do you really think I don't feel pressured?" I interrupted him.
Devine let out a deep exhale, "I just don't understand why you're taking this particular prank call seriously. It's not like you haven't been receiving calls like this ever since that scandal began."
"You don't understand."
"What do you mean I don't understand, what else is there to understand?"
"Devine—"
"Sir we're here." William said to me as the car came to a halt right inside of the storage garage. I let out a deep exhale as I unbuckled my seatbelt, "I'm going in." I grabbed the door handle but before I could pull it open, Devine grabbed my arm, "You could be making a very big mistake." He whispered.
"I have that in mind, but I'll never know if I don't go in there."
"Do you even have a plan?!" He whisper shouted.
I exhaled sharply, Devine was not wrong in anyway, I knew how much of a risk I was taking, I could feel the weight of the consequences laying on my shoulders but I just needed to be sure that this wasn't a game. "Devine, I have to go." I got out of the car and shut the door while they both waited in the car. I made it into what seemed to be an old rusty elevator that made weird noises as it ascended.
By the time I got to the specific storage unit, there was no one there. I kept starring at my phone, expecting to receive a call from the same person, at the same time darting my eyes around checking for any hidden camera or anything suspicious at all.
After a moment, I received a text from the unknown person:
UNKNOWN NUMBER: "I SEE THAT YOU CAME ALONG WITH A FULL SQUAD AFTER YOU WERE SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED TO COME ALONE. TRYING TO DOUBLE CROSS ME RIGHT? WELL YOU'VE MESSED WITH THE WRONG GUY, LET'S SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT WHEN THE POLICE REOPEN THE CASE."
Before I could even type a response, the message dissapeared almost like it was sent on one time view. "Oh my goodness." I whispered to myself as I brushed my hand through my face nervously.
Instantly I ran out of there and headed straight to the car. From the way I pulled the car door open, I could tell that I startled Devine, "William, step on it." I muttered with my gaze outside the window while rubbing my chin, at the same time I was trying to catch my breath. I could feel my heart racing in my chest while Devine continuously called out my name.
"—What happened in there?" He tapped on my shoulder and pulled my arm, pressuring me to speak to him, how could I tell him that I may have triggered the blackmailer to cause the police to reopen the case. "Donovan!"
I turned to him finally, "it didn't go as planned."
"What happened?!"
"I was asked to come alone … I fucked that part up. I received a one time view texting message saying that the police was going to reopen the case!"
"Reopen… that's impossible. You're being catfished."
"I don't think so …" a million thoughts were running through my mind, so I had to go through what happened the last time entirely, all over again?! "Why do you think it's impossible?"
"I think so because, if there's no piece of evidence, the police would not agree to reopen the case. The job was polished, every atom of evidence that could implicate you was erased off this planet, you're only being threatened."
"I have a really bad feeling about this." I still wasn't satisfied with Devine's response.
By the time I got home, I received a call from Lana, while sitting in front of the television, "You didn't bother to call me today, Micheal."
"I was busy at work… how was your day?"
"Don't even try to 'how was your day' me, how busy could you possibly be, Micheal."
"Lana… not tonight, I have a lot going on and I'm tired right now."
"I want to come over to the penthouse."
"N— no … I won't be available tomorrow."
"What's going on with you?"
"Nothing … Lana let's talk over dinner tomorrow or some other time alright?"
"Donovan, you're always stalling, there's always one excuse or the other —" while Lana was speaking, the news came on that the case had been reopened according a police report that came in about a hour ago. An anonymous tip was given to the police and without hesitation, the case was reopened, "What the actual fuck!" I exclaimed in a whisper, interrupting Lana as my eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped in shock.
"What?!" Lana yelled from the phone.
"let me call you back…"
"Donovan don't hang up on me—" immediately I hung up the phone and called Devine who was taking the longest time to pick up the phone,
"Devine?" I called out,
"it's almost midnight, go to bed, Micheal." He said with a rusty tone, he sounded like he was already so deep in sleep.
"The case has been reopened!"
"what?!"
"The case has been reopened Devine!"I repeated, "It's on all news channels," I said while consecutively changing the channels and the same thing was the topic of the night.
"Ah fuck!" He exclaimed. "This is bad. We have to discuss this in person."