The Woman Who Loved Cats

Odondo

Carl Odondo peered at a number of phtographs. He would use one for his next project. He'd gotten the photos and names off f*******: and a variety free dating sites and it wasn't hard to get the phone numbers. He slipped out of the uncomfortable bed and stretched. He was at a friend's house in suburban Manila and was grateful for being accommodated. He took a shower in the ensuite bathroom. After dressing, Odondo sauntered out of the spare room and into the kitchen/living area. His friend Jasper was sitting at the table eating eggs with toast.

'Hey there Carl, like some?' Jasper said nodding at his plate.

'Yeah man. I can make something while you eat.'

'Stuff's in the fridge.'

'You need the air-con here. Bloody hot in this country.'

'Hot in Nigeria too,' Jasper said, wiping egg yellow with the toast.

After Odondo came to the table with rice and pork, he said, 'So bro, since you've been in the Philippines for six weeks now, what have you learned?'

'That the traffic is bad, really bad.'

'Same as back home,' Odondo said, forking some rice into his mouth.

'Right. Haven't been back for years,' Jasper said.

Finished with his meal, Jasper took his dishes to the sink and dropped them in. 'Just put your stuff in here when you're finished. A maid comes in every few days to clean.'

'Who does this place belong to?'

'I don't know. I rent it.'

The two men cleared the table then dressed themselves in shorts, short sleeved shirts and sandals.They got into Jasper's black Toyota Kluger, a splendid looking SUV.

'Nice car,' Odondo offered.

'Rented.'

'Spacious.'

Jasper negotiated the roads, many narrow, some wider, overtaking tricycles, scooters, jeepneys, stray dogs, pedestrians and huge lorries, watching for vehicles turning around or coming out of side streets. Odondo,sitting in the passenger seat up front, was anxious, worrying that Jasper would hit something or someone or another vehicle would slam into them. But he also admired Jasper's skill in avoiding the obstacles.They drove for half an hour and when Jasper stopped along a lane in front of a large white house, Odondo was relieved. Odondo began to relax, his hand not gripping the door handle so tightly.He opened the door once Jasper informed him they'd arrived at their destination Odondo stepped out of the SUV and stretched. Overhead a few clouds floated by and Odondo wondered whether they were in for a quick tropical shower, something which haven't regulsrly, given it was the rainy season.

The front of the house included a white concrete terrace with an umbrella raised above a table and four wicker chairs. Cosy, Odondo thought. Great for informal meetings and nights to enjoy beers or whiskeys.

Odondo followed Jasper inside through a sliding side door. Odondo saw cubicles which all had desks, laptop computers and phones. Most were unoccupied. Three of the dozen cubicles were populated by men. Two Africans and one Asian.

Jasper introduced Odondo to Felix, Chester and Asaha, the lone Philippino. Japer then said that Odondo could have whatever work space he wanted.

'Will others arrive?'

'Yes,' Jasper said, 'They come throughout the day and even at night. There's no standard time for theses guys.'

'Are they all working on romance scams or other ones?'

Jasper walked down a corridor, showing Odondo the bathroom and some bedrooms for workers to take a rest. 'We have a couple of investment scammers but mainly the men here work on romance scams.'

Having shown Odondo the layout of the house, they returned to the large room of working stations. Jasper went into one and let Odondo choose whichever vacant one he desired.

An hour later, Odondo stood and stretched. He'd been using a script to romance Betty Mooney in Melbourne, Australia. Once he got to know his victims a little better, he would change spects of the scipt to suit the situation. He wandered over to Jasper's cubicle and waited until he finished his call. 'A drink break?' Odondo suggested.

Jasper rose from his office chair and nodded. They took a couple of bottles of Corona beer from the fridge and went outside to sit beneath the umbrella.

'How's it going?' asked Jasper.

Another African nodded hello then went into the house.

'Good,' Odondo said. 'You have a neat operation here.'

'It's not bad.'

Odondo drank some beer from the bottle then placed it on the table. 'How much money are you getting in?'

Jasper squinted. 'It's hot. To answer you, it varies from week to week. Cedric is ahead this month. Generally, one to two hundred thousand Us dollars.'

'That's good. A lot of other centres are making less with only Nigeria and England doing more monthly.' Odondo gulped morte beer. He had been very successful in the romance-scam field and he had made a packet of money. He was only thirty-nine yet he had no thoughts of retiring.

Back inside, Odondo texted,using w******p, his lady in Singapore. Texts read:

Odondo: My love, I've been working really hard and coulkdn't take a break to contact you. How are you?

Judy: I'm good. Just waiting for your sweet words.

Odondo: I go to sleep each night with you on my mind. As a soldier I can't always do what I would like but at least loving you gives me strength.

Judy: Where are you now?

Odondo: I can't say.If my texts get hacked, I could jeopardize the mission. But I need a favour. My sister reached out and said she has to undergo an operation but she cannot pay for this life-saving procedure.

Judy: What's wrong?

Odondo: Not sure. But she needs $5000. Would you lend it to me? You know I'll pay you back.

Judy: Can I send it straight to her.

Odondo: Better to send it to me. You know my banking details. I don't know hers. So, can you?

Judy: Of course.

Odondo completed the text. He was happy. More money.