The Devil's Harem

“Dad?” Alex called out, hearing a familiar voice. He could feel that his father was on the call. But what was this situation? The words he heard did not match his father’s personality, and what’s with this weak old man doing, kneeling on the ground?

While all this was going through Alex’s head. Everyone in the room had come to a standstill. No one spoke a word as they stared at the new joinee in the room.

“Who are you?” The officer was the first to speak, “And who let you in?”

“Well, there was no one outside to stop me,” Alex said, “I thought this was some deserted police station out in the suburbs. But looks like something important is going on in here. Well, continue whatever you are doing. I am here to look for someone,” Alex gestured for the officer to continue as he looked around to spot Jessica or Daniel.

“Alex...” Jessica called out for him. She was surprised to see Alex here, ‘How did he know?’

“There is she,” Alex said, pointing at Jessica, “There was also a guy named Daniel. Have you seen him anywhere?” Alex asked.

.....

“You are here,” Daniel, who was squatting beside Alex supporting Francis, stood up.

“Oh, you were here,” Alex smiled, “So what is this all about?” Alex asked.

“This...” Daniel started to explain.

“I am sorry. Just a minute,” Alex interrupted Daniel and turned towards the officer, “Officer, can you tell me who is on the phone?” Alex asked.

“Why do you want to know?” The officer glared at Alex. The guy had been blabbering non-stop since the moment he had stepped in.

“It’s nothing. The voice was kind of familiar,” Alex looked at the officer with anticipation, “I thought maybe it was my dad.”

“Your dad?” The officer looked at Alex in doubt, and so did others, “Are you sure it’s your dad?”

“As I said, I felt like it,” Alex shrugged, “Let me talk to him, and we will know.”

The officer hesitated, but thinking about the mere possibility, he handed over the phone to Alex.

“Hello,” Alex called out on the phone, “Dad... Is that you?”

“Dad? Hello...” Alex called out a few times, but there was no response. And when he tried to see if the call was still connected? All he could see was a cracked screen.

“I think the call got disconnected,” Alex said, handing back the phone to the officer, “Do you remember the number? Or anything?” Alex asked.

“It was a private number,” the officer said as he put back his phone, “Anyways, why are you here?”

“Oh... I totally forgot why I was here,” Alex chuckled and then turned towards Daniel ignoring the officer again, “So what is it? What happened?”

The officer’s face turned ugly. The guy was treating him very casually, not something many would dare to do. But the words he said earlier about the man on the phone held him back. He did not want to risk losing everything he had, ignoring that tiny possibility.

“That...” After that, Daniel told Alex about the chronology of events that transpired after they left his office. By the time he was done, even Daniel felt that nothing was clear to him. Not just him, even the police were clueless. So what was the use of calling Alex here? He just called Alex on a whim.

With everything in front of Alex, he turned towards the officer, “Say, officer, on what grounds have you arrested her?” Alex asked, pointing at Jessica, “Show us the case you have registered against her. Tell us about the man she has murdered, and where the hell is this police team from Ullu?” Alex bombarded the officer with questions.

“Stay back,” the officer pushed back the approaching Alex.

“Why would I? Are you saying just because you are the police, you can grab anyone from anywhere?” Alex asked, “Even if you arrested them, without the proper procedure, what is she doing behind bars? First of all, let her out.” Alex demanded.

“Don’t try to teach me how I am supposed to perform my duty,” the officer was not willing to back down and admit his duplicity.

“Now it’s about teaching you stuff,” Alex said, looking hurt, “All you guys do is whataboutery. I am telling you to release her now, or you will see the worst of me.” Alex warned the officer.

“Huh...? Show me... Show me what you can do?” The officer grabbed Alex by his collar and threw him away.

“I am telling you... You will regret it.” Alex still did not back away, “Or you can tell us the details and where is the police from, Ullu?”

“I am not going to tell you shit,” The officer had enough, “Hey, what are you guys waiting for?” The officer looked at his juniors and questioned, “Just throw him inside with his girlfriend. I will make sure they don’t leave here today.” The officer ordered.

“Hey... Hey... Hey... You are making a big mistake,” Alex took a step back to avoid the police officers coming his way, “You don’t know how well I am connected,” Alex tried to bluff his way out, but the officers did not stop.

Soon there was a chase in the police station with seven or eight police officers running behind Alex, trying to catch him, while he jumped over desks, threw paperweights, chairs and whatever he could get his hands to avoid getting into their clutches.

“So you won’t stay still?” The officer looked irritated with the way his station had turned into a mess, “You chose the hard way.” The officer said and gestured towards his subordinates.

As soon as they got the permission, Stun guns and electric batons were out. Alex was in for a treat now.

“Hey, that’s cheating... I surrender... I surrender...” Alex raised his hands and was on his knees without a fight, “Look, You want to keep her in, be my guest. I don’t even know her... I was passing by and saw something fun... It was an innocent mistake,” Alex was ready to give up, “Hey... Hey... Put that away... Don’t get it any closer. I know it hurts...” Alex tried to avoid getting touched by those batons.

“Put him in,” The officer in charge said as he started picking up his stuff from the ground.”

And with that small episode, Alex was thrown behind bars with Jessica.

“Hello, beautiful lady. What are you here for?” Alex asked, dusting his clothes, “You look somewhat smart, and there are some great curves. So was it Fraud? Blackmail? Honey trapping?” Alex asked and moved a bit closer, “Don’t tell me it was murder.”

“Are you done?” Jessica pushed him away and sat back on the ground, “Why are you here?”

“Why am I here? You are asking me, after all that I have gone through, why I am here?” Alex acted hurt, “Obviously, I am here to save you from the evil clutches of this hedonistic and oppressive system of the rich and powerful. Who wants to take over the world and push the poor and innocent like us into detention camps, toiling in coal mines working till we drop on our knees to make them even richer. Oh, wait a minute, aren’t you rich and powerful?”

“Will you stop with all this gibberish?” Jessica could not help but smile when she saw him act.

Alex shrugged, “I can’t say I am happy to be here, but it’s an experience. Let’s see it through,” Alex walked around the cell when his gaze fell upon the old man sitting outside. He was no longer on his knees.

“Do you know that old man?” Alex asked, pointing at Francis.

Jessica looked at her grandfather and softly nodded, “He is my grandfather.”

“Isn’t he a bigshot?” Alex asked, “Daniel told me that he used to work for your grandfather before.”

“He is,” Jessica nodded, “Even if he had stepped away from the company and spends most of the time at home. He is still the largest shareholder in the family.” Jessica replied.

“So why was he on his knees?” Alex asked.

“I don’t know. He talked with someone before you came and...”Jessica paused, “I don’t know what is going on... I feel like it’s all because of me,” Jessica hid her face between her legs as she started crying.” From what she could tell, everything comes down to that old assassin who came to claim her life.

Alex knew what she was thinking. He walked up to her and sat beside Jessica as he put his arm around her and pulled her into his embrace, “Why is it your fault?” Alex asked, stroking her back, “Should we have let that old man kill you? Don’t be an idiot. Whatever we did, was the right thing to do. And it was me who stabbed him. I don’t know if he kicked the bucket or not, but even if he did, it was self-defence from our side. Why should we be blamed?” Alex softly made her understand. But Jessica’s sobs continued.

“And am I not here to save you?” Alex asked.

“Well, you are not really doing a great job at it.” Jessica rebuked. She somehow found comfort in his arms, not wanting to get up.

“That’s mean, you know?” Alex said in a depressed tone.

“So, what are you going to do now?” Jessica asked.

“You should be the one telling me. Aren’t you the great businesswoman who took the market by storm, uprooted every competitor, almost monopolised the industry...” Alex started to blow Jessica’s trumpet.

“Enough...” Jessica smacked Alex as she asked him to stop.

“What?” Alex asked but continued, “You know, we can always do things the millennial way.” Alex suggested.

“You know... how they pull out their phone in middle of the road and start to shake their legs and booties?” Alex looked at Jessica, trying to suggest something.

“You want us to dance?” Jessica asked, “Haven’t you had your fill with all the jumping around?”

“No... Think further. How about we start a live video and act all victimized? And if we ask for help from Karen and the others, we can reach a lot of people in minutes. With all the backlash and pressure, the police will have to release us.” Alex suggested.

“You think it will work?” Jessica asked, not sure if Alex’s method would work.

“Have you been living under the rock?” Alex asked, “This is the new normal. Gather people and block the streets. Believe me, it’s a sure shot.”

“I don’t know...”

“Let me do it,” Alex said and pulled out his phone, but as soon as he did that, an officer walked past them and saw Alex make a video.

“Sir, this guy is making a video,” The officer yelled.

“I can’t have a moment of peace,” The officer in charge slammed his desk, “What are you waiting for? Grab his phone and smack his ass red.”

“Yes, sir.” The officer acknowledged the order and, opening the door, pulled out his baton and looked at Alex with a sadistic smile.

Alex gulped, looking at that smile. He has not even opened the app yet.

“Want to make a video?” The officer asked as he stepped towards Alex, “Why don’t you make one now?”

And the officer raised his baton to hit Alex. Both Alex and Jessica closed their eyes in fear while Daniel rushed towards the cell to try and stop the officer.

“Stop!”

* * * * *