Chapter 1
1st Chapter```
Gone had the smile that always meant well on his face as he dropped the cellphone frowning his face in total disbelief as if the whole world had collapsed on him. The terrible news was like hot soup on his chest as sweat drenched his face profusely. Max knew he couldn't waste any time and had to go to the scene immediately. His hand trembled as he struggled to hold the car keys.
' _What could have transpired '_. Max wondered as he accelerated his car to his uncle's house who was already mentioned half dead. He quickly reached the spot and a large number of people had already gathered at the scene as sirens echoed from a distance_ it seems someone had already called the police_. Max quickly rushed and knelt before his uncle who was struggling for his last breath. The poor man had dragged himself out of the house in order to be seen and that had taken almost three quarters of his life.
The ambulance came and took the victim while some eyewitnesses described what they had seen. The only inside scoop the police got was that, gunshots were heard and four to six masked about five ft tall guys were seen living the premises. Inside the house, they were welcomed by overturned chairs, tables and scattered clothes. Surely by the look of things, one could precisely tell these goons were after something owned by Max's uncle but whatever it was, it was indeed a mystery.
Max's uncle was quickly taken into the operation theater as nurses and doctors became as busy as bees on him. He sat on bench opposite the theater while he thought about his uncle, Samson clemens_. _He had taken care of him since his childhood when his parents passed away. Samson Clemens had taken an early retirement from the Army to pursue other ambitions especially after cheating death in their last mission. He knew at that time just how dangerous his work was and it could live his nephew a complete orphan any time soon. He resorted to being an archeologist till date_ As far as Max knew, his uncle didn't have any potential problems any sort
The doctor came out of the operation theater, "doctor! Doctor! Will he be okay," Max asked
"Well I can't say anything cause he has lost so much blood and only a miracle can make him survive the three bullets that hit his chest ". Max sighed as he gently wiped off the tears on his face.
" Mr Clemens! " Max quickly turned around and it was the constable." hello sir, have you find anything yet". "Not yet but.... We would like to ask you some questions regarding the case so if you don't mind, please come with us outside" . He tightly held Stellah's hand to accompany him outside with the police. She had just arrived recently and couldn't comprehend yet what was transpiring. The only thing she could visualize now was the pain in Max's eyes.
"Mr Clemens, can you please tell us if your uncle had an enemy or if he had a fight with anyone recently ". No he didn't have any enemies I'm aware of. As far as I know, he was the most adored person in the neighborhood and I would never dream of him ever hurting a fly". "OK Mr Clemens but did he behave strange or say anything ". Max puased for a while and rapidly replied "..... No! Nothing"
"OK, we'll leave now and we'll inform you if anything arises "." Ok officers "
Stellah held Max's shoulder as she asked," what did he say? You can't even lie properly and you know that you can't fool me ". She tightly held him realizing the pain he was feeling seeing his uncle whom he regarded his Idol lying in that current condition.
" He never said much, a few days ago he sent me a mail with these keys and a note saying ' _relations can be deceiving sometimes and so much hurt comes from our loved ones more than the punch of an enemy'_He also gave me this map "." Max! Are you crazy, why didn't you tell them. This mystery could have been easy ". No Stellah! You know my uncle. What if it's just one of those pranks...... I'll be sent to an asylum I tell you. Come on, let's go to his house and see for ourselves". "OK let's go"
They stopped a taxi. During their journey, Max was deeply lost in his thoughts thinking about his uncle's words_ ' _who could attacked his uncle among those close to him'_. It was all a mystery but he was determined to reach to the bottom of it. They arrived at their destination and headed straight to the backyard where *x* was marked on the map. He gently dug hole of about fifty cm and to his astonishment, he stumbled upon a medium sized chest. He quickly took out the key and unlocked the chest. Just when things were starting to make sense, the whole situation became more confusing for the couple.
"What tha hell! A doll seriously...... Stellah giggled as she removed the doll from the box. "Really this!". Max sighed as he thought how could six guys beat the hell out of the old man all for a doll.
"It doesn't make sense Max".......... "just leave it Stellah. It's just one of his tricks and I just fell for it. Damn!! This man always win"
Stellah took a closer look at the doll noticing some stitches at its back. She quickly took a knife and cut open the doll. "Max! Max! Max!........"." What is it Stellah? ". I don't think your uncle was Playing, look!".... In her hand lied a medium sized jewel definitely worth millions of dollars. Max's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He was really out of words. Everything now made sense, the goons were after the jewel. But was this the end or just the calm before the storm. A mystery lied in front. Secrets never foretold nor seen coming. Many questions aligned but no answers were yet provided.
```Chapter 2```
"He looped from the shadows as he glanced at the ghastly figure of the city with one hand in his pocket while the other did the usual profusely wearing that pathetic cunning smile of his_ _Growing in an unstable family, Ryan Fox had seen the worst life could offer . When his parents passed away, he was left with no one, becoming as lonely as the night. Later on, he was able to complete his education due to the help of a certain orphanage. Ryan Fox joined the police force, paving his way into politics where he would later on emerge as the face of Zimbabwe. In every morning newspaper, he was the headline and because of his ability to conquer the media like a skillful boxer, he became the talk of the country.
Ryan Fox became the Minister of Minerals and Economic Development, marking his first step into fulfilling the vow he had made to his dead parents, following the words of his late grandfather; " *If you can't have it grab it* ." Ryan Fox became a maniac as he illegally transported drugs and precious minerals across the border untraced. He became so untouchable that he didn't have to wait for elections to become president of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Many people survived on him so it was a piece of cake for him to make puppets out of humanity.
It seems the odds were actually in his favour however ups and downs arose in his marriage story. Sadly, he lost his wife in an aeroplane crash.... more like a bomb blast... His daughter ran away from home but the guy was too relieved to grieve anyway.
The story took a U-turn when he was supposed to transport the largest diamond he had ever gambled but a Tragedy occurred as his man mistook The wrong briefcase at the airport on his way to Canada. Ryan Fox could not put a search warrant since this could bring out his true colours, alas he had to seal this nice, clean and quiet to avoid suspicians . In his words, "No one could hide from the exterminator, not even a fly."
After 5 years, Ryan Fox had made some progress on the mysterious person who had vanished with his jewel hence now he had to take care of the matter_ ._
Footsteps echoed as they slowly paced into his chamber, "Mr President we're back." "What's the status?" The man paused for a moment as he gently removed his mask. "No, Mr President--- We found no s**t at his house and--- he's dead."
"What??" Tension quickly spread in the room like a virus as Ryan Fox faced his men. "He---was... too adamant". Ryan fox chuckled for a moment "This keeps getting more and more interesting. Okay move on to plan B "
"Yes.....", the man couldn't say his sentence since a bullet had already crushed into his skull.
He immediately frowned as he put back his pistol into his shining blue suit. "No more f*****g mistakes, exterminate his body" "'yes sir!!"
He felt a mixture of misfortune as they entered the hospital dashing as quick as their legs could offer. "Doctor how is he now," asked Max as he quickly wiped the sweat on his face. "I'm sorry, we couldn't save him" . " What!! shouted Stellah. Max took a few steps sitting on a bench silently taking a few deep breaths.
Samson Clemens's funeral, well, went great and was indeed a memorable one ... Those who knew him knew quite a legend they had lost but, life indeed is a bus. Every one later on left leaving Max and Lee in the grave yard. Lee was Max's best friend_ more like a brother. They had known each other since their childhood . There was certainly nothing both individuals didn't know about one another.
"They say life is like a bus and every journey has a stop. I hope the next stop isn't Max". Max chuckled. "Mine is way too far my friend". Lee held Max's shoulder trying to comfort," Uncle was a nice man Max. He lived for you, peace and honor ". "Yeah you're right". "May his soul rest in peace, he'll continue to live on the other side". A mixture of tears and laughter came from Max as he recalled those magnificent memories with Samson." Lee, ever wondered in heaven there are golden roads, angels flying all over place yet in this life there's only pain and suffering still we prefer to live than die"." Max, what is born will die, we begin to die as soon as we are born and the end is always linked to the beginning. Death is the cure of all diseases my friend.
She knew she had to approach immediately, those two guys could even spend the whole night in the graveyard.
"Guys why don't you just give the dead a break, can't you see you're interupting their privacy. Stellah laughed along with Max and Lee as they quickly rushed out of there.
```Three years later```
She slowly woke up as she silenced the ringing alarm that had been going on for the past couple of minutes. Jade Owens sighed for a moment wondering when this misery would end, for it had never been a pleasant sleep, at least not for the past seven years. A surge of frustration always rang a bell each time she thought about the arising crimes in the city of Gweru and at every investigation, the end was Suspect *x* . Piles of cases had been brought up but at the end nothing - Every Clue led to point zero and this was wearing out detective Owens.