|| Elizabeth ||

“Is there a problem?” My voice was shaky, and I couldn't help but feel the tense atmosphere in the car. I lifted my gaze, and I saw a cop in the middle of the road. He had a gun and a torch.

“Dad, I think we should make a sharp turn,” John pressed further.

“Why, what's happening?” I asked again. We have never been stopped by the cops before, and judging from the ambience in the car, something went down in the party, and it was being kept from me. Not like I was perplexed, this wasn't the first time deep affairs of the family were being hidden from me.

My father always claimed it was for the best, and I should just focus on my education and enjoy his wealth. The affairs and businesses were always talked about in whispers, and Dad only strung John along in all the plans. Even John won't tell me anything. He had always teased me about my inability to fathom half of what goes down daily in all the businesses. Only what I knew was, I was from a mafia family and our wealth was built from illegal businesses. We were not accountable to the law, as the mafia was the law and was in alliance with the government of the United States.

But tonight, we were stopped by the cops, and everyone was tense. I turned to John, and there was a tinge of fear in his dark eyes. He bit his lower lip, something he does anytime he is nervous.

“Dad, cops do not use pump actions,” John said and smashed his clenched fist on the windscreen.

“Easy, easy. Kelvin, clear and be on guard. Let's hear what they want to say.” My Dad said and took a deep breath.

“Licence and registration, please.” The cop walked towards the side of the car. “Don't do anything funny, we are cops”.

“Good evening, officer,” Kelvin smiled and reached out for the glove compartment, “We just returned from a party at Oldham”.

“I didn't ask you shit,” The cop bellowed. “Wind down the other screen,” He tapped on the windscreen, and we obeyed. He flashed his light inside the car, gazing at everyone of us. He then returned to the driver and got the license. He stared at it, watching for every inch of the card.

“Officer, I'm Mr. Hendricks,” My father said.

He turned and shrugged, “Mr. Hendricks, I know you. You big men of society feel you are above the law. That's why I need to ensure your stuff is complete. If it isn't, you face the law, just like every man in Ohio. No fucking preferential treatment, no favouritism”.

I rolled my eyes. “What's up with the lectures?”

My Dad took a deep breath, “Hey Cop, I'm gonna call your commanding officer. Tell him how you've delayed me”.

“You will do no such thing,, the officer replied and shone the torch on Kelvin’s face. He then pulled out his pistol and shot him twice in the chest.

I shivered in fright and yelped as Kelvin’s body lowered onto the steering wheel. I saw my Dad reach for a compartment close to his seat, but we heard gun cocking, and our car was covered with guns.

“Damn, I knew those guys weren't cops,” John said with bated breath.

“Slowly, step out of the car. Your fucking hands must be in the air. I wanna see you wave those unholy hands to your maker, The man who shot Kelvin said.

My gown was already drenched by sweat, and my entire body shook beyond control. This was happening too fast; first, my brother was dragging me out of the party, and now, we were ambushed by gunmen.

“Who sent you? I will triple what they paid you. We don't have to do this. I'm Hendricks, and trust me, if you harm me, you will be putting a target on your back and your family. But I can pay you now, and we will forget that this happened.” My father negotiated.

We were made to kneel on the cold tarred road, and I could count about nine men, all with guns.

“Guys, we can negotiate. How much do you want me to pay you so you leave us alone?” My father kept saying.

“Ol’man Hendricks, keep shut. I don't want to blast your teeth with my gun”.

That shut my father up immediately!

Without warning, my brother pulled out a pistol and fired, but it was blank. There was a look of horror on his face as he kept pulling the trigger, and no bullet came out. The cop pointed the gun at him and fired a shot, which got into his lap, and he fell face-first to the ground.

It seemed the world stopped moving as I watched blood trickle from my brother’s legs. A sharp unconscious scream escaped my mouth as I slumped on his body. Two men stepped forward, grabbed me by the shoulder and yanked me off. I got up blindly, but there was a sharp needle piercing deep into my neck. My body froze as I touched it, but that was the last thing I felt as my body felt like it was being floated in space.

“Lizzy, no, no,” I heard my father's voice, and I fell into someone's waiting hands.

**

A sharp headache pierced my skull, and I winced. My eyes popped open, and I lay still, trying to process where I was. The floor was cold, and a groan escaped my lips as I struggled to lift myself.

“Easy, easy”.

I heard a familiar voice, it was my Dad. He helped me sit, and I leaned against the wall. Then, the previous events dawned on me. My breathing increased as I made to get up, but my Dad's firm hands held me still.

“Calm down, Lizzy,” My Dad whispered.

I then settled my gaze on his face. He had aged badly, with wrinkles and deep lines of worry spread evenly on his face. There was a cut on his forehead, and he was in deep pain.

“Dad, are you okay? Where are we? Is John okay? Have we been kidnapped? What's happening… I’m fucking losing my mind.” I didn't even mind my language; my mind was in disarray.

“My Princess, just calm down. Everything is in control,” He sighed.

The place we were in was fairly lit; there was just a dangling fluorescent light. My eyes darted around and I couldn't even decipher where I was. But I noticed the wall was cold and rusty.

My dad noticed my confusion and took a deep breath, “We are in a container. I guess this is the port along the shorelines of Lake Erie”.

“What?” A frantic scream escaped my mouth.

“Lizzy, baby, please, try not to scream. I will find a way out of this mess. It's just a misunderstanding, okay?” My father tried to comfort me, but his voice betrayed him as I could sense profound fear.

The creaking sound of the container opened, and I could see the dark shadow of a man. My heart skipped and went still as the clicking sound of his shoe against the container sent a jolt down my spine. He wasn't in a hurry; he walked to us majestically. It seems he was humming, and his steps provided the perfect rhythm.

As he approached us, I clung tightly to my father. This man was in a tailored fedora suit, which clung to his muscular body. He had a Panama hat on, and it hid his face from plain sight. His right hand held a rosary while he kept humming. A man in a cop uniform stepped forward with a chair and placed it.

The man in a suit pulled off his Panama hat; his eyes were dead cold, and there was a scar that almost covered his left eye. Even without a weapon, he commanded fear and deep reverence.

“The Lord is my shepherd and he shall never let my soul see damnation,” He whispered, but it was audible enough.

“Cross,” My father called out.

“Mr. Hendricks, it's a pleasure meeting you again. The last time we met was like a decade ago. I hope my men didn't roughen you up,” He said and placed his hat slowly on his lap.

“Your men shot my son, killed my bodyguard and knocked my daughter unconscious.” My Dad was slowly finding his voice.

“I apologise on behalf of my men. They failed to put some honour and respect into their actions. You know some of these cold men from the underground. They don't have a shred of love in their hearts; it's just darkness. That's why I pray every time that I don't end up like them,” Cross said and pulled out a Cuban from his pocket. He inserted it into his mouth, pulled out a lighter and flicked it. The dull blue flame made him look like a devil.

“Cross, where is my son?” My Dad rose slowly.

“You will see him shortly. His wound is being tended to”.

I breathed a sigh of relief. I flinched as his cold eyes settled on me and he lit his Cuban and took a deep drag.

“Hendricks, what has kept the syndicates in check and power is mystery and secrecy. The illegality of the system has never been a threat to the balance of the globe because everything disappears as long as it is completed. But it seems like you've been wanting to reopen histories. You know what I'm talking about,” Cross leaned forward.

Hendricks took a deep breath, “Jerusalem 22, I needed deep answers because things were beginning not to make sense to me, to the families”.

“Jerusalem 22 happened over ten years ago. Why are you so interested in the archive?” Cross asked.

“I don't want to discuss this in the presence of my daughter. Get my phone, I'll call my driver to take her home. Then, we can talk,” Hendricks said.

I rolled my eyes. Typical Dad! Always hiding things from me.

“Bring his son in,” Cross ordered.

There was a creaking sound, and John was held by two men. His right leg was bandaged, and he seemed okay. His eyes lit up as he saw me and limped forward to hug me. And then, it happened!

Cross got up, lifted his jacket and pulled a pistol. He cocked it. John froze and turned to him.

He fired twice at John, and he fell to the ground.

“Cross, no. no, not my son” My Dad's voice was broken.

My mind was still, my brain stopped working as I stared at John's body lying limply on the cold ground.

Cross pointed the gun at my Dad and fired twice into his chest. His gaze then rested on me, followed by the nuzzle of the gun..