The thing that got my attention was one of the disasters they talked about..
It was about the collapsing of a building in Madinet Nasr, and the death of a great number of its residents under the debris of the shattered building..
They brought footage from the scene, where many rescue-men were trying to save anyone uselessly..
There won't be much time before they know the name of that building owner.. And then what will they do ..?!!
****
-11-
"Dalia"
She looked at her reflection on the glass door for a second, before stepping in, pulling little "Leila" behind her.. She probably looked like an addict.. She could tell.. Her puffy eyes and her messy hair didn't make it better, but she wasn't in the mood for caring about her looks.. Not with that disaster waiting for her.. At least she knew that the sunglasses she was wearing were hiding her blood red eyes.. She passed through the elegant glass door hesitating, feeling a little dizzy from the strain she felt herself under..
She looked around to see whether "Mourad" came or not, to find that the answer was no, so she made her way towards a small table in the corner behind one of the many columns in the place, because she wanted to do her best for not to be seen.. She took off her white jacket before rubbing her simple brown dress nervously because she felt it dusted all over, then she sat down, taking off her sunglasses before putting them in her bag, while the little girl was all edgy looking around.. She knew that "Leila" always felt awesome when entering new, grown up places like this one, cause it made her felt like she was a grown up herself, which made her happy..
When the smiling blonde waitress came, she ordered an orange juice for herself, and for the little one she ordered diet strawberry ice cream.. Just like she liked it.. "Dalia" knew that this place was fancy enough to serve diet ice creams, because she came here before with "Mourad" who showed up after few minutes of waiting that seemed like eternity..
- Couldn't you find a worse place to sit in..?
He joked as he sat on the third chair, sitting right in front of her, while looking at the little girl who looked at him curiously, before leaning on "Dalia's ear, whispering:
- Who is he Mrs. “Dalia"..?
- A friend of mine sweetie.. Don't worry..
She whispered back, patting on the little girl's wavy blond hair, then looked at him silently.. Her eyes said every word she wanted, but was afraid to say..
- What's your name young lady..?
He smiled as he took her chin between his fingers gently..
- "Leila"..
She smiled back at him, then she went back to her ice cream, ignoring both of them..
She must be wondering now who was this guy, because she never saw him or heard of him from her nanny - that was "Dalia" - before.. Why was he sitting with us and joking that way with me then..? Those were "Dalia's thoughts when "Mourad's voice came suddenly...
- Did you leave the message to her parents..?
He whispered, putting an eye on the girl to make sure she wasn't listening.. “Dalia" whispered back, looking around to make sure no one was near enough to hear them:
- Yeah.. They'll see it in two hours max when they return from the cinema.. Did you prepare the place for the girl..? Remember she is diabetic and must receive her insulin shot in time..
He took out a cigarette, answering:
- Don't worry sugar.. You aren't dealing with amateurs here..
He took a breath from his cigarette, before noticing her dreadful gaze, that made him put it off quickly..
- Would you like to order something sir..?
The waiter asked while taking "Dalia's empty glass..
- Espresso.. Double.. Do you want to have something else..?
He asked his adult companion who shook her head refusing silently, before looking at the TV that had the news on.. There was a report about a hit and run accident, and the police's efforts to catch the driver.. Will their story find its way to the news too..? Or will the two rich fellas pay the ransom silently to have their only daughter back..? She wouldn't know the answer now unfortunately.. Not before their story reaches its middle at least.. But now it was barely the beginning.. Prequel would be a better description.. She looked at her companion to find him adding sugar to his espresso, then she looked at the big mirror that wasn't too far.. She looked at her reflection, and stopped at its eyes..!! Was "Jehovah" carrying that much guilt in his eyes in the last supper painting..?
- "Dalia"..!! Wohooo..!!
She noticed his waving at her..
- What..? Were you saying something..?
- Yeah.. I was asking your highness if you want to leave now..
She looked at his empty cup of coffee.. Had she been inattentive all that time..?
Didn't know why, but she was afraid to say yes.. As being here in a public place gave them the chance to change their minds and cancel the silly plan.. They could still return the girl to her parents and tear the ransom message, that she left beside the large vase in the hall of their mansion, in a way that makes them see it the minute they walk through the door.. She could still return to her previous life as if nothing happened, and the girl herself didn't even notice anything.. Today would be just like a nice picnic to her..
She looked at her watch, to find that she still had time.. They'd been out for just an hour....
But if she went along with him in this plan and went with the girl to his place, nothing would stay the same.. The police will come after them instantly because of her rich powerful parents, and they would quickly become two running rats with no place to hide.. She whispered her thoughts to her companion, and he completely understood her point of view..
- Dammit.. Not after all this planning.. Are you stupid or something..?
He gritted his teeth, looking around him, continuing:
- Perfect plan.. Perfect place to hide.. You remember that you need the money as much I do, right..? Do I have to remind you of your father..?
Not finding a word to say, she frowned, looking at the little girl, and her mind drifted to the past couple of months.. She remembered her father's debts.. Remembered that the deadline was within one month and they couldn’t find any other way to bring money.. If the debts weren't paid in time the bank would take over their house, just like his lawyer office was sold to pay some of the debts.. That was when her fiancé “Mourad" told her his genius plan of kidnapping the daughter of the rich fellas she worked for, and ask for a large ransom to give her back in one piece.. A ransom that would be enough to release her father from his debts, and still have enough money for them to start their lives in another country.. She watched little "Leila" who finished her ice cream, and started looking at them both curiously.. The child didn't know what she'd got her involved in.. "Dalia" put herself in the young girl's shoes, and tried to imagine what would she be thinking now.. Let's assume that....
- "Dalia".. It's not exactly the best time to reevaluate your life.. Come on..
She came to her senses on his touch, while asking the waiter for the check.. She looked around to find that absolutely no one was watching.. Everyone was completely involved in his or her own drama, that no one noticed a young diabetic girl who was about to be kidnapped..
The check came, so he left enough money for the bill and suitable tips, before he stood up.. She took out her sunglasses and put them on while standing..
- I'll take you both to watch something cool kid.. Deal..?
"Mourad" gave the child his hand smiling, to help her stand up.. She whispered to "Dalia" who was now wearing her jacket:
- Where will we go Mrs" Dalia"..? Mum will be worried if we're late..
- Don't worry honey.. We won't be late..
She tried to smile while holding the little girl's hand.. Through her black sunglasses she could see worry in her innocent face.. She was still a child who wasn't ready for any of this.. She would probably freeze from fear in the bloody place even if no one hurt her, and maybe
her heart will actually stop causing a disaster..
- "Mourad".. Time isn't too late.. We can still back away..
She whispered to him, while keeping an eye on the girl who went to chase a colored butterfly that sneaked to the place.. He didn't even look at her while standing up:
- Sorry.. The young lady will rest for few days at my place till her parents pay the bloody money, then she'll return to them safe and sound, and we shall be rich enough to get a fresh new start, which is considered to be a happy ending for everyone.. So can you stop playing the role of the pessimistic character for a minute..? What can possibly go wrong..?
Not knowing what to say, she decided to shut up.. Maybe if she just stayed quiet and stopped her brain - which took her to hell - from working for a while, things can actually go fine and the story ends with a happy ending like he was saying..?
That was when she heard the gun shots..!!
****
-12-
"Kareem"
- Got it or I've got to tell you the whole thing again..?
The “boss" asked while crossing the street towards that old fashioned café.. I felt the summer's hot air tickling my face, while we were crossing, trying to avoid the speeding cars.. I did my best to be in the front to hear the "Boss" if he said something.. I looked at him, his face almost completely hidden behind a Ray ban black sunglasses, stepping confidently across the road, thanks to the green lights.. I revised the plan in my head quickly.. The café's income was supposed to be high, and their safe would be full of money.. We chose the timing carefully.. 3.30 a.m. on Tuesday..
The café would be crowded, besides, they transfer their weekly income to the bank on Wednesday afternoon as we knew after careful spying, which meant that today would be the biggest possible income.. Choosing a crowded hour too was in the plan, so that the owner and the workers of the place wouldn't risk the lives of the customers, or their own lives, so they probably would handle us the money quietly after seeing our weapons and noticing our seriousness..
- No "Boss".. We're ready..
We all said, before splitting as the plan said, to avoid arousing suspicions, we would enter separately, before spreading in the whole place as ordinary customers.. We won't announce our presence before covering every corner of the café, in order not to give anyone the chance to think of fighting us..
We'll surround them like a bracelet did to a wrist, and they won't be able to escape except by following our instructions, and then - maybe - we could let the go..
I was the third one to enter, so I waited round the corner, because the rules were to wait for three minutes between each one entering and the next..
I lit a cigarette, trying to pass time till my entry time comes.. A blonde girl in white and brown dress passed by, and her attracting smell caught my nose, while her ponytail hair was flying behind her in a charming way, a young girl was walking beside her, and they were heading towards the café, so I ignored them although she was my favorite type.. The young girl was probably her daughter, besides we were here on business, so no time for these stuff, otherwise the whole mission will fail, which was the last thing I would want to happen.. A look at my stopwatch told me that I had to come in after two minutes.. I noticed a guy passing beside me, to enter the crowded café from which a man in an old fashioned grey suit just came out.. My time came, so I set my thoughts aside while putting off my cigarette in a hurry, before stepping nervously through the fancy glass door, seeing a waiter passing beside me while screaming in his mobile..
If you didn't finish your phone call quickly honey you're going to miss the big show that'll start in few minutes.. I made my way to the inside smiling, and walked to the spot I was told to stay in, that was beside the cashier.. The first thing I felt was the lovely coldness of the air conditioner, which was something nice in this hot weather, and helped me to calm a little after the stove I've been in outside for nearly ten minutes.. I started looking at the place around me to find it fancy just like I expected it to be..
The old songs that came from the corner helped to fix that impression.. I saw the blonde sitting on a small table together with the little one, who was completely taken by the cup of ice cream in front of her.. When I raised my eyes I saw one of our men sitting on a table beside the TV, and talking to the waitress in an enviable confidence..
I watched the rest of the café's customers, and all I could think about was: If they knew what was going to happen now, they wouldn't have been sitting that comfortable and relaxing.. I gloomily watched that guy joining the blonde, and sitting to her table smiling, which said a lot about how much they already knew each other, anyway I wasn't going to talk to her, besides, my life was a total mess right now and I wasn't in the mood to get to know someone, so let's not pretend to be disappointed.. Let's get to work then.. Looking at my watch anxiously, I realized that time was running towards the starting of the plan, not more than few seconds left..!!
I saw "Sameer" walking towards the café's door confidently, doing his part of the plan, which demanded closing the door and preventing anyone from entering, after hanging a sign on the outer side of the door that said:
Renovation.. Will be opening shortly..
That way no one would try, or be able to come in and the place would be completely ours..
On the other hand two other men of our team made their way towards the few windows in the place, either to close them, or to ask firmly from the cafe's customers sitting beside them to do.. That step was to prevent anyone from outside seeing what was about to happen, and to prevent anyone from inside trying to call anyone from outside for help..
I watched surprise or confusion appearing on some of the people sitting on interrupting their talking.. The idiots didn't know that this was just the start.. They had no idea of what was about to happen to them..
Starting to get dark because of pulling down the curtains, "Sameer” switched on the lights.. White quite lights that spread through the place, changing the fun atmosphere that was in the air just a couple of seconds ago, and along came silence, except for the classical songs that were playing ever since we came in..
People starred curiously at "Sameer", who didn't look like the rest of the café's stuff.. I watched the “Boss" as he did the third step of the plan, that was to fire a gunshot towards the ceiling to get everyone's attention.. They started to put the picture together and understand what was happening around them.. Few broken pieces of the ceiling -where the bullet hit - fall in front of my eyes on the wooden floor with a loud sound, while the rest of our team took their guns out, and pointed them to every corner of the place professionally..
Complete uninterrupted silence took over, except for the nervous breaths from the people who were still trying to figure the whole thing, and the sound of the songs coming from somewhere, and then came our "Boss's confident voice:
- I shall be quick.. Any silly attempt to be a hero won't give any of you anything except for a bullet in the head.. We'll take your money and precious belongings quietly then go away fast.. Just a few minutes if you cooperate with us, and everything will be over I promise.. All of us want to go home one piece after all, clear..?
Meanwhile, two of us went to the kitchen to do another part of the plan, that was to drag the café's stuff out to join the rest, who were shaking in front of us, while another one went to the café's safe to get what was inside..
The people rose up slowly from their places under our threats, and they all headed to sit down on the floor along the large mirror that took a whole wall.. That way no one will have the guts to do something stupid because it'd be too obvious in their reflections.. I looked around checking the place, to see an old poster of (psycho) movie, where "Hitchcock" was pointing at us to be silent, the thing that made me smile..
I saw the café's stuff as they appeared from the kitchen, not completely understanding what was going on.. One of them tried to object, so he received a hit in the jaw from the ba
ck of a gun, which kept him quiet.. A fat guy with huge nose told the rest nervously to follow our instructions and not to fight.. I like this type of victims, that help us without even asking them..
Hiding behind my dark glasses, I watched them as they joined the rest who were sitting with their hands raised above their heads, and fear was just in every move they made and every breath they took.. Plain uncontrollable fear.. They starred at us with wide eyes that kept tracing every move any of us made..
I leaned on the main door of the place, studying them, trying to evaluate them.. Will any of them try to fight, or will it be a quick easy and go..? The horror in their eyes showed that they didn't want anything other than going out of this place alive..
In such stressful moments, people almost only think of how fragile life is, and how easily it can be taken from them in just a second.. A second after which they only become a memory in the minds of their loved ones.. A memory that can stay with them for a few hours.. Days.. Even years..!! Then end up forgotten, covered by dust and life just drags the people who once couldn't live without them in its daily race that's more than enough to make people forget anything..
Tears started to appear in some eyes.. are they wondering what will we do to them after we get what we wanted..? will we leave them alive..? will we kill them anyway..?
I saw the blond girl as she was padding nervously on her little girl's hair, while whispering in her ears.. Was she trying to comfort her by telling her if she stayed quiet everything will be okay..?
I saw my partners as they passed between the hostages to collect their belongings, some were co-operative and took their things out quickly, while others weren't.. Anyone looked suspicious enough was forced to come out and searched carefully for any valuable things.. Those whose turn didn't come yet watched our (cleaning guys) coming towards them in horror, or our (watching guys) like me in nervous silence..