Chapter 13
Claire was about to leave her home when the manager came to her with solid news, her eyes shining with the lumination of a sun. "Claire you do not know how happy I am after receiving the news I just heard on my phone."
Claire had not seen Mrs Jennifer so happy in the last two years. After her husband died due to cancer a couple of years ago, she was like a walking corpse merely running the restaurant on a survival basis.
But the benevolence of Mrs Jennifer was unparalleled and praiseworthy. No matter whether the restaurant earned for her or not, she would pay her employees even if it meant taking a loan from the bank.
With the slumping business Claire alias Sapphire was very disappointed along with Jennifer. She researched and tried ways and means to attract customers.
During one such attempt, one of her friends suggested making designs on coffee. Luckily the impulsive action changed their stars. The crazy high schoolers, college goers began to pour out like rain at the restaurant to sip on those designs. Call it teenage daftness or young adult fatuity, it worked like a miracle for The Ramones - just not a coffee bar.
Mrs Jennifer was very happy with the way her restaurant prospered. She doubled the salary of Claire and also gave her a leverage with flexible timings. The innocent woman did not know she was not a simple college girl.
However Sapphire decided to keep her identity a secret from her. The fewer people knew about the truth, the greater are her chances to complete this assignment with full success. She decided to compensate the old woman later.
Jennifer clapped her hands and beamed with delight. "Guess what Claire, I just received a call from the personal assistant of Johnson group of Industries CEO Mr Carl Campbell. They are organizing a working lunch in one of their newly opened branches in South Square and we are asked to take care of catering services."
Claire hugged Jennifer feeling the exuberance. Maybe this was an indication from God that her challenges are soon going to end. Maybe Jennifer was the quick solution to finish her project. "That's great. I'm very happy for you."
Jennifer nodded "I want you and Elena to take care of the food and I will call Jeff who will look after the bar. We have just weekdays time to cater for everything"
"That is actually good, Jennifer. Relax. Everything will go well." Claire held her hand and assured.
****
"Sir, we will be receiving the shipment of arms and ammunition by tomorrow. Victor will do the deal." Zion, the right hand of Carl in all his mafia deals, responded.
"Victor? Do you remember the last time he almost got us to the cops?" Carl replied not in the least happiness with Zion's decision.
"Sir, Victor is the most efficient of all our mafia men. It was the mistake of Caden that we almost got caught. However, Victor was on time to take the necessary preventive measures and we were saved."
Carl nodded thoughtfully. "Okay let him carry out the deal. Did you take care of the cops? Their pockets need to be filled before hand so that they do not interfere."
Zion nodded. "Sir, I have already sent one of our men and he will do the needful."
"Great, you may leave now." Zion wished Carl and left the room.
*****
Sapphire walked to the chief's room in strict and dominant strides before she gave him a firm salute.
"So, how is your work progressing Sapphire?" The chief retreated back on his chair and gave Sapphire his undivided attention.
"Sir, I am closely following Carl Campbell. I have tracked his phone calls and came to know there is going to be a weapons deal in the Miami harbor on the coming Thursday."
Before Sapphire could speak further, the chief intervened. "You would need security as back up in case of emergency. I will send you two police officers along with a government vehicle who can help you with aid in case of a requirement."
"Sure sir, thank you." Sapphire saluted and walked out of the room.
100 feet away from the Miami harbor, Sapphire crawled under the barbed wire and climbed the 150 feet wall with a rope and was shooting the video of the arms exchange. Her eyes were sharp like the eyes of a tigress before it hunted its prey and face held with the confidence and bravery of a soldier to do or die for the nation. So far Sapphire Taylor has not tasted a single failure in her service. Will Carl Campbell stand a tough fight for her or mix in the pages of history as one of her targets going surrendered to the NIA?
When she was shooting a young guy around thirteen who supplies cigarettes and coffee to the mafia men, had caught her taking the video.
The boy was smart. He knew where to keep silent and where to open his lips. He rushed to the consignment owner instead of shouting and causing chaos. Victor spontaneously aimed a bullet at Sapphire which she narrowly missed but injured herself in the escape.
She ran to the truck waiting outside while the cops who accompanied her took care of the shooters.
During the process of running someone hit her arm and the handicam fell from her hands. Sapphire picked it up from the ground and ran like a missile to the truck waiting for her.
****
"Sir, we narrowly missed it. A girl, an NIA officer was shooting a video of the deal." Within a blink of the eye Carl got up from his seat and his hand came in contact with the cheek of Zion.
"I warned you many times, to be careful, to not send that good for nothing idiot Victor to do the deal. But you won't listen." Carl's temper was out of control.
Victor rubbed his cheek to reduce the sting and answered meekly. "Sir, the mistake was not of Zion but the over smart NIA officer. She entered the area under our radar like a little mouse. Sapphire Taylor, bribed the security at the entrance and surveillance team so that she is not caught under the camera."
"Smart girl. I need complete details of the girl. Torture all the money hungry vultures to death, burn their bodies in such a way, no evidence is found and throw them in the trash can at the outskirts of the city." Carl lit a cigarette after barking orders and walked out of his room.
******
Zelda dressed the bruises of Sapphire while Stanley assisted her by supplying gauze, antiseptic lotion and ointments.
She was silently sobbing and wiping away her tears. "I told you not to take over this project. But you will not listen to me." Zelda's sobs turned to loud cries.
"Mama please do not cry. I did not take any bullets. The cops looked after those mafia men so that they would not come after me while I was running." Sapphire hissed at her mother.
"And I got this, the most powerful weapon which will put the mighty mafia don Carl Campbell behind the bars." Sapphire took the handicam seated beside her in her hand and showed it to her father in a victorious grin.
"Daddy be ready to see another medal on my uniform. I did it!" She pumped her fist in the air with happiness.
"I thought getting to the root of catching this traitor would take me months. But it was so easy." She told her father with a wink and unlimited jubilation.
Sapphire took out the reel and gave it to her father who was smiling proudly at her unlike the expressions of her mother. "Play it daddy and see how I have captured the most wanted criminal for NIA."
But, no sooner had the video played, Stanley and Sapphire sat there flabbergasted, not able to believe their own eyes.
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