CHAPTER 5

When she was modelling the house to her liking, Jeanne never imagined that the shatter proof glasses she put in place would save her life.

The assailant outside had tried breaking the glass window with no success and the two ladies grasped the moment and took off.

Jeanne's bedroom had an alarm system wired directly to the local police switchboard and she dialed it before leaving.

The stairway took them down to the grass lawn and they tiptoed towards the trees.

A few minutes later they heard a loud bang and they knew that the door had given way.

Soon they knew they would be exposed to the assailant and they took off at high speed.

They got at the trees just as the flashlight beams were appearing on the top floor and they knew that it was only a matter of time before he saw them.

They reached the stone perimeter and started their feeble attempts at scaling it.

Jeanne was physical fit to climb but Brenda couldn't, putting them in a difficult situation. She had to help Brenda. Bending on all fours, Jeanne urged Brenda to step on her back in order to reach the top of the wall.

It went on just well and the young girl managed to get to the top. Just then a powerful flashlight beam landed on them.

“Jump Brenda, now." Jeanne urged her.

After a little hesitation Brenda jumped off and Jeanne heard the impact from the other side as she crouched to avoid the flashlight beam.

She gathered her strength and jumped high, grasping the top of the wall as police sirens broke the night's silence.

The flashlight beam was on her now and she was certain that something might accompany it.

And it did.

A loud bang rent the air as a powerful gun went off.

The bullet missed her, hitting the stone wall, resulting in fragments of stone and mortar.

With the beam aimed elsewhere she gathered all her strength and hurled herself up again. This time she succeeded in reaching on top and as the flashlight beam came back to her.

She jumped off and joined Brenda on the other side.

“Are you okay?" Brenda asked her.

She dusted her clothes, throwing off dust and debris.

“Am I okay?" She asked. “Your father and my closest friend is dead, your uncle is going to take over the company, I am jobless and someone wants to kill us. I'm not okay and I will not be until we're out of this mess. Now, let's get out of here." She said, grabbing her hand.

They ran through the trees towards the highway as a loud voice from her house urged the assailant to surrender.

Loud gunshots could be heard from the house and they didn't have time to find out who was firing.

Minutes of running through the brush took them to the edge of the road and they started walking towards the shopping center hoping to get a taxi.

Brenda was now sobbing loudly and Jeanne was consoling her. All this was more than one girl could handle. The evil Steven was determined to end her life but Jeanne vowed to protect her.

Across the road was an establishment with an hotel and boarding facilities.

Jeanne led the way and they crossed the road and got in.

She still held onto Brenda's arm as she wept bitterly.

At the reception she asked for a room but a problem arose, none of them had money or any form of identity, having left their house in haste.

“Could you help me with a phone please?" She asked the receptionist.

“Certainly." The young lady replied, handing over her cellphone.

Jeanne dialed a number and talked for a few minutes, giving out the directions to the hotel.

Later the receptionist allowed them to wait at the bench for the help Jeanne had summoned.

“It shall be well Brenda." Jeanne said, patting Brenda's back.

The road in front of the hotel was clearly visible and they waited in anticipation for help to come.

Suddenly a police car swerved into the parking lot and they beamed in hope.

They began to rise to move out but what they saw next made them flee towards the rooms behind.

The same man who had tried to harm them emerged from the police car, a big gun on his hands and walked towards the hotel.

The receptionist saw him too and started screaming.

The two ladies ran through the corridor in the middle of the rooms and got to a metal door at the back. Fortunately it was unlocked and they eased out, then locked it from the outside.

A loud bang went off at the hotel, silencing the screaming receptionist then heavy footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor. They didn't wait to find out what the assailant would do upon finding a closed door, choosing instead to run through the back alleys until they emerged at a main road.

“Thank God you have managed to gain some composure Brenda. You need to be strong now more than ever. We can't allow the assassin get us." Jeanne said as they walked down the street. They were approaching the hotel again, where the contact Jeanne had called was going to come.

“I need to get some peace, I need to sleep, I am so tired." Brenda kept on repeating.

Tired of running, she now held her shoes on one hand and walked barefoot.

They crossed the road and watched the hotel entrance discreetly. The police car the assailant had come in was still at the parking lot, it's door wide open. The assailant was no doubt somewhere back there, looking for them.

“What if we took off in the police car?" Brenda broke the silence.

“What? That is unheard of. Besides, the police will be looking for this particular car, could be the assassin stole it after killing the police in my house. My dear, please abandon that thought." Jeanne said.

“Then why is your helper taking so long?" Brenda pressed.

“I don't know, but if he said he's coming then be sure you'll see him here. He never fails in his promises.

Just then the assailant emerged again from the front door of the hotel, most likely after conducting a futile search on the rooms. He still held his huge gun and he started walking around the parking lot. They could see him clearly from their hiding place across the street.

Several other police cars emerged from nowhere, sirens screaming and as they screeched to a halt many policemen emerged from them.

The assailant was quick, he grasped his gun and fired, but the police fired at him too and the ladies watched as he danced to the tune of the bullets before falling down, dead. They were now safe.

Just then another police car approached the scene and a man emerged from it. Jeanne gestured to Brenda and they came out of hiding and approached the newly arrived policeman.

“What happened here?" The seemingly senior officer asked.

“Dude killed two policemen and stole their car. He has killed someone inside the hotel and now he attempted to fire on us." Another policeman answered.

Jeanne tapped the senior by the shoulder and when he turned to face her he smiled.

“You took long. We almost got killed." She told him.

“I was far away, I came as fine as I could. Is this your assailant?" He asked.

“Yes. He wanted to kill us." She answered.

“Thank God he's dead. You're now safe." He said.

He led them to his car and drove off to Jeanne's house.

The bodies of the two policemen still lay where the assailant had downed them, one still with a megaphone on his right hand.

Jeanne walked out of the car and disappeared inside, grabbed a few documents and money then went back to the car.

“Sorry Brenda, I need to introduce you to Julius, my friend of many years. Julius, this is Brenda, my boss's daughter.

“It's a pleasure to meet you." Brenda said. “Thanks for coming to our help. We would be dead by now." She added.

“I did all that I could do and thankfully the man didn't harm you. We need to find out what his motives were." He answered.

“I can guess his motives," Jeanne said.

She went on to explain more about Andrew's death and the aftermath, how the assailant had come to their house and how he almost shot them as they scaled the wall.

“Steven wants us dead for him to run the company in peace. But we have refused to die so I don't know what other means he can use on us now that his assassin is dead" Jeanne continued.

The car was now cruising past the city towards the outskirts.

“I need to give you a gun. Things may get ugly." He said, addressing Jeanne.

“I may need one too." Brenda said to everyone's surprise.

“I have decided right here that I'm going to take charge of my father's shares in the company. I know that uncle Steven is going to make it difficult for me, but I'll do it." She added.

Silence reigned for a while as everyone pondered on Brenda's words.

“But Brenda, you're still a kid?" Jeanne asked.

“That may be the case but I'll make it." She replied. “My father trained me and I'm certain I can run the company to new heights." She said.

The car came to an stop outside a big house and the conversation stopped for a while as Julius ushered them into his house.

Everyone was tired and he led them upstairs, each to a bedroom.

“You all need to rest. You've had a terrible day then we'll talk in the morning." He said.

“But you all need to listen again." Brenda said as they all stood on the hallway. “It may take a few days or even a few years, but I'll eventually take control of my father's company. My uncle will definitely try to stop me, but to preserve the legacy of my father, I must do it."

She added.

Jeanne nodded in agreement.

“I'll stand by you as you go for your dreams." Jeanne said.

“Me too." Julius added.

They all converged together in a tight embrace that lasted a few minutes.