21 October 2021
Show’s Over
The light of the stars gently entered through the glass of the windows. The blinds moved gently as the warm evening breeze entered the open windows, cooling an otherwise warm room. Jasper and Abu lay asleep together, with Abu’s arms around Jasper’s waist.
Abuyin’s PrimPhone began to vibrate. Abuyin decided to ignore it and went back to sleep. The device eventually quietened after vibrating seven times. His phone started vibrating again. Annoyed, he opened his eyes and turned, reaching for the side table with his hand. Once he grabbed his phone, he looked at the person who was calling him. It was Te Mahua. Te Mahua never called him.
Abuyin answered the phone, “What is it?”
Without preamble or pleasantries, Te Mahua replied, “The police are raiding the factory”.
Abuyin woke up with a jolt, waking Jasper from their sleep.
“What’s wrong, honey”, Jasper asked in a sleepy voice.
“Nothing, I just need to take care of something”, Abuyin replied.
He quickly put on his clothes. One of his bodyguards was on duty, his head bobbing as he fought sleep.
He was jolted to action when Abuyin yelled “Get up”
The guard got up quickly and ran to the car. He drove it to the mansion’s entryway and opened the door for Abuyin, then got back inside the car and started driving. Inside the car was the head of Abuyin’s security detail. Another car followed with five large men dressed in black suits and wearing black gloves. They got to the factory in a matter of minutes. The lights were on, and police officers were carting away documents in boxes, and bursting through locked doors. They had surrounded the front of the factory, their vehicles parked prominently in the front, forming a laager around the entrance.
Abuyin instructed the driver to park in a distant back alley while the rest of the guards used a secret back entrance to enter the building and either destroy or collect any documents or computers that they could. They wore balaclavas to conceal their identity and protect their nostrils from tear gas. As they entered, there was a commotion as policemen encountered the guards. The sound of gunshots permeated the air. Realising that saving the documents and computers was not feasible, the head of Abuyin’s security detail ordered his men to set the computers and documents on fire and fled the scene. The police feared that the fire would spread from the offices to the factory floor where it could ignite the ammonium. As the bodyguards fled, the police used the fire extinguishers to contain the fire.
By the time they had finished, Abuyin’s men had fled back to the mansion. They immediately started packing. Jasper woke with a jolt as burly men packed belongings, documents and devices into bags.
Jasper screamed, “Abu!”
Abuyin ran to Jasper and jumped on the bed embracing them, Jasper clung to Abuyin for safety and comfort.
“Abu, who are these men and what are they doing here?” Jasper asked
“These are my men”, Abuyin replied, “Habibi, I need to leave this country, immediately”.
“What? Why? Are you leaving me”, Jasper asked.
“It’s complicated, Habibi”, Abuyin answered.
“I’m not going anywhere, Abu”, Jasper declared in confusion and fear, “What the fuck is going on?”
“Habibi, I’m not who you think I am”, Abuyin said.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Please, my darling, my habibi, please just trust me”, Abuyin said, “You’re in danger here”.
“Fine”, Jasper said, “I’ll come with you”.
Jasper and Abuyin drove together in the same car, rushing to the Prince Uahana Te Ko Nui Airfield, where Abuyin parked his aeroplane.
Abuyin said to Jasper, “Stay, here!”
Abuyin went into the plane, and it began to taxi. Jasper looked out in horror. Before they could see any more, the Head of Abuyin’s security detail jumped in front of the back right passenger window and opened the door.
“Ma’am, eh, sir”, the man said in awkward confusion, “Come with me, the Prince has a jet ready for you”.
“The who?”, Jasper asked.
The man stopped dead in his tracks awkwardly and turned around to look at Jasper.
“What is going on?”
Before Jasper could ask any further questions or protest, one of the guards placed a cloth on their face laced with a sleep-inducing agent. Barely a few moments passed before they collapsed. The guard carried Jasper to the other plane. As soon as they were inside, the jet began to taxi and headed straight for Kuter Kebir.
Jasper woke up after an hour or so. They looked outside and saw thick clouds below them and the wing of a plane cutting through the air and lifting the jet.
“What’s going on!” Jasper yelled. They grabbed a bottle of wine that was on the table.
The guards jumped up, and the head of Abuyin’s security walked in and calmly said, “Jasper, I know that you must be frightened and confused. Please put the bottle down and let me explain”.
“No, I will not”, Jasper said, “Why did you kidnap me! Where is Abu”.
“The Pri…, I mean, Abu, is on a different plane, but he is certainly going to meet you where we are going. And we did not kidnap you, he rescued you. You are safe, here. Now put the bottle down and let’s get you something to eat, I am sure you are famished. My name is Khashnad Yamoud, I am the head of Abu’s security detail”.
“Why does Abu have a security detail? Is he a gangster? Answer me”.
“Abu is not a gangster, he’s just a well-connected businessman. How about we land safely and then he can explain everything to you? Alright?”
Jasper calmed down and sat down. Khashnad asked the attendant to bring Jasper something to eat, a warm blanket and a change of clothes.
They landed in Kuter Kebir where Jasper was driven to a mansion in the hills, outside of the city. The staff were all ordered to vacate the mansion but promised that they would continue to be paid and that their jobs were still safe. Only Abu’s guards and one helper were there to help Jasper get comfortable.
Khashnad ordered the guards to secure the perimeter of the estate. Khashnad kept reassuring Jasper, “You’re safe, now”.
“Where is Abu?” Jasper asked, their voice hoarse from the yelling of the evening.
“He will be here in a few days and he will explain everything”, Khashnad said.
“Unbelievable!” Jasper said pacing around the room annoyed. “Fine! Whatever. where is the bathroom. Please get me a towel”.
“Of course”, Khashnad said, “The maid is on her way”.