Chapter 12: The Challenge

 Suddenly the security detail went into action trying to determine where the shot came from. What they didn't know was that this was just the beginning, all hell was about to break loose. Two of the cars drove to the front to try and shield the car ferrying the accused. After a few seconds of another nerve cracking silence more gunshots were heard, this time not just one but a lot and by a lot I mean it. Nearly twenty rounds were heard non-stop tearing the two sacrificial cars apart. Each bullet the size of a marker pen tore right through the exterior of the cars destroying everything in its path. Within seconds the cars looked like they just survived a hurricane. Luckily all the occupants had exited the car in search for cover. As the gunfire continued they whisked away Daymond for security purposes. The crowd on the other hand broke into a run as everyone ran for their lives. While all this was happening, the news broadcast was still live meaning everyone was watching the attack live on TV. Immediately the gunfire stopped the security detail started calling for reinforcements while others tried to calm the crowd that had scattered causing a stampede so that they could asses the situation.

Meanwhile, Athena was in complete shock at what she was seeing. Jason was still fixed on the TV when Athena's phone rang. She picked it up and that's when Jason looked at her.

"Hello,yes Legit I'm awake and I can see what's happening. What's the situation up there? She asked 

"Its not that bad, luckily no one was seriously injured. The only reported injuries are from the stampede but none of us have been hit" Alpha responded on the other side of the call. Legit had accompanied Daymond to the courthouse and was caught up the shootout. What seemed strange to Alpha was that despite there being fired more than 20 rounds none of them was said to have hit anyone. It almost seemed as if the shooter was not on a mission to kill anyone but to stop the hearing. All bullets had made

contact with the cars in front of the one carrying Daymond tearing them apart. This was not just a case of a clumsy shooter who coudn't just get the job done, this was something way more. While still on the phone with Athena as he updated her on their status he finally asked,

"Do you know where Jason can be found ?I've been trying his phone and it wasn't going through"

Athena not wanting to disclose that they had just had sex and he was in her house because she knew that it would raise morequestions than answers to Alpha responded, "No,not really. I haven't heard from him since yesterday when we left the office. How about I try his phone? I'll call you and tell you if it goes through."

Immediately she hang up Jason was still looking at her and let out a sigh because he feared she might accidentally spill on them. She told him to give Alpha a call to which he switched on his phone and dialed

his number 

"Hello,I ve heard you have been looking for me

"Yes,where are you right now?" Alpha asked

"I'm at home watching the failed assassination attempt on our guy. I hope he's not hit,is he? " Jason asked

"No he's not been hit. None of us has been hit. Jason, that's where the problem is. How can someone so precise as to hit the cars without missing one and yet fail to hit even one guy. Not even one of the security detail! I don't think this was a failed assassination attempt. This was just what the shooter wanted. " Alpha said in a low tone but very much serious

Jason stepped out of hearing range from Athena

"What do you mean that this is what the shooter wanted ?" Jason asked

"I'm saying this has sabotage written all over it " Alpha responded."How fast can you get to the office? " he asked

"You know I can't be seen around the office when you're handling such matters. I know this is a very crucial matter but I'm best of service far from the office" Jason responded

"Fine,go through those documents that you received from the brothers, I'l have the two stop over at the office with Athena to help out somewhere. And Jason, on Monday we need to have a talk "Alpha said before he hang up

Jason walked back to where Athena was sitting and told her that he needed to head out.

"Are you coming to the office with me? "she asked

"I can't, Legit has me on something else,but have fun at the office" Jason said as he gave her a kiss on the cheek

"Damn it! Why do I have to go down there and deal with the fracas that is going on at the office?" She asked

"Because you are part of his trusted council. And I can't be seen there. I mean, who am I to go to the offices and deal with big boss stuff yet I'm just a rookie" Jason said with some bit of sarcasm in him He got ready to leave and went home to dig deep into the files. Meanwhile Athena dressed up and left for the office. Being a Saturday one would not expect there to be so many people

working or even showing up but this was not any other weekend.

Today was different. The front door was jam packed with news reporters trying to get into the premises while others looking for someone to comment on the attack that had just occurred less than an hour ago. Athena had to squeeze through them to be able to get in

"What the hell is going on out there ? Why are there so many reporters outside our doors like a pack of marauding hyenas waiting to tear us piece by piece?" Athena asked as she managed to catch her breath. 

"Since the attack we brought Daymond here before the

government officials take him to a safe place,now that the media had word of this they have been on our necks with questions more than the answers we have" Legit said as he ushered her to the lift. They went straight to the secret office where they had held the meeting with Jason. Alpha being in the lead seemed agitated and pushed the doors open to reveal Daymond and the two Krovaçic

brothers who were standing in wait for them.

"Gentlemen we have a situation!" Alpha said as soon as he made eye contact with all the three men. " We don't know what happened outside the courthouse, all that we know is that someone did not want our client here to get anywhere near those court doors.

"What makes you think that? Mikhail asked him

"Well, for one I'm standing in front of you together with Daymond, secondly the whole squad of our security detail is standing outside those doors ready to protect us and our clients against any other attacks. Yet all of us were in the fleet of cars taking him to the courthouse,it's fair to believe that our so called assassin would've picked us off one by one with ease. Its not a mere coincidence that

we all are alive without any marks to prove what has just happened. " Alpha replied

"So where does that place us?" Daymond asked no one in

particular 

"Well... " Alpha began before Athena suddenly cut him off

"Ladies and gentlemen due to the attack at the courthouse the state has postponed the hearing by two weeks. Luckily no serious injuries have been reported so far. So many questions are being asked, like who is responsible for the shooting that took place about an hour ago? And why hasn't LA associates not offered any comments together with SCPD who have been silent on the topic but the whole nation wants answers. Was that a failed

assassination attempt or was it exactly what it looks like, a dirty game of stall by either the defendant's side or the the accuser's side. We are yet to receive any word from any party at the moment, stay tunned for more updates" the news reporter said as she was reporting from outside LA associates doors

"Well,that dears one thing out of our table. I believe it's safe to play the devil's advocate when I say that our mystery sniper just bought us more time for us to build a solid case to prove your innocence Mr Daymond.Now we just await for Mr Jason's report on Monday so that we can know where we currently stand in this

case" Alpha said as he was standing up

"Wait a second, what about my wife?I haven't heard from her since I was brought here. I need to make sure she's okay" Daymond said

"No worries Mr Daymond. I've just got word that she's been taken to a secure location as soon as the attack occurred. You have nothing to worry about " Athena said as she got of the phone with one of the company's representative who went with the team to take Belinda to a safe place.

"Good. Now how do we get him out of this buildings without those paparazzi out there crowding him? " Mikhail asked

"Take him to the underground parking, there 's a team waiting for you. They will whisk him away using one of my private exits. No one will know he's gone, and even if they do it'll be too late already" Alpha responded

"Do you mind telling me why you have a secret exit out of this building?" Djokovic finally asked breaking his silence

"That's a topic for another day. Now, take him together with Mikhail down the hall to your left you will find a lift that says out of service. Get inside and hit ground floor. Make it quick and make it on the low, will you? " Alpha said as he showed them out of the door

Alpha and Athena then sat down to see how much the media knew by going through some news channels and they stumbled upon one that caught their eye

"This is an absolute atrocity. I mean, how do you stop one of the biggest court cases on Sin City grounds, make it look like an assassination. These guys are playing their cards right and they are damn good at it. While the normal citizen sees this as just an attack we see it as a message sent to the public and for some reason we are the only ones who can read between the lines. Look at what we have now,a court hearing pushed two weeks ahead and clearly we can see that this guy is definitely guilty. Look at it from this perfective, LA's CEO and founder Legit Alpha was in the same car as Daymond and is it by sheer luck that none of them got even a scratch while the crowd that was waiting for them got out ofbthere with more than just bruises. Some have some broken bones from that stampede and we just pretend like that's normal! I mean

for crying out loud can't you see what I see. Daymond is being represented by Alpha's firm, and they didn't have enough time to scheme up lies to convince the jury to let this criminal go scot-free and want to know what they cook up in that building of theirs ? Get someone to cause a commotion on the day Daymond would face the full arm of the law. Coincidence? I don't think so! And immediately the attack is over guess where Daymond is taken? To

Alpha's offices. Take him to the snake's pit to be able to cook up another concoction of lies and venom to play victim. Let's not see this as just another victim of circumstance scenario but just the the wolf in a sheep's clothing. I bet you that they will not release

any press comments so as not to risk spilling any beans. After such a well planned and executed plan you obviously don't want a rookie mistake getting in your way. I dare all of you to prove me wrong. Mr Legit, I know you are watching this from that safe haven of yours, so here's my message to you. Get out of that seat of yours and claim responsibility for your actions. The people of Sin City need answers. Unless you are too scared to admit it "these were the words of Jeff. He was Sin City's number one most notorious reporters who was one of the most feared because of his boldness in calling out prominent people on live television and doing some exposes that had brought down numerous politicians, businessmen and prominent people in the city. He had just fired his

first shot at Alpha and Alpha knew that he had to fire back since millions of people were watching this attack on his firm. He knew that soon enough he'd have numerous reporters and government enforcers at his doorsteps wanting some sort of answers from him. Immediately the news feed went offline Alpha was called by the main desk at the reception and he was informed that the phone calls had started coming through. More than he

could even imagine. He sat on his chair thinking about his next move.He knew that he was not involved in the shooting but Jeff had just thrown him under the bus and people would soon start asking questions. And such questions would need answers to which he did not have any. As he was thinking, something happened that even he

did not expect

"This is Jeff again with an update on the current situation at Sin City. Word has just come in that an anonymous tip has just been received and it says that he was responsible for the shooting and that Alpha had nothing to do with it. This is yet to be confirmed by our team so that we are sure that this is not another plan by Legit

to throw us off his tracks and.... wait a minute, it's been confirmed that the source says that he had his reasons to why he shot at the motorcade without the intention of killing any occupants."