Chapter Four

24th December, 1998

In an old abandoned warehouse, downtown Washington D.C housed one of the most deadliest terrorist group. This group was responsible for so many notorious activities sometimes targeted at places of interest or people who had in one time or the other had some form of disagreement with.

The group was headed by a man; Joel Gustav, a dangerous man. 'JG' as he was fondly called by his close allies was in his late forties, heavily bearded, tall and built and he spoke with a thick German accent. He was a lone man, having no wife or children.

JG's eyes are like no one else's. At first, you'll think they're utterly devoid of colour, a pale grey that reminds you of a winter sky about to unleash a truly biblical storm, but if you look long enough, there is the faintest hint of blue there.Just enough blue to give you some sort of forlorn hope, just before he crushes it completely.

He was a man of power not only did he control the most feared group, he was also one of the wealthiest men in the country. He owned a chain of businesses spanning across the country and other counties.

Some referred to him as the 'money god' while others said he is the 'money' himself. There are other crime bosses in Washington D.C, even a few other German ones, but none of them exuded much power and influence as Gustav does.

A lot of speculation were published in the papers about him, some say he kills his enemies with his bare hands, others say his mansion has a vault stocked floor-to-ceiling with gold and the government doesn't dare try to arrest him because he has so much money he could crash the economy.

The last one isn't true though because there was a time he got arrested for some questioning but was released just after two hours with profuse apologies from the officer handling the case. Ever since then, they've learnt to tread carefully around him, waiting for the perfect opportunity to catch him in the very act.

Passersby looking at the warehouse would come to the conclusion that its an old, forgotten house, a place no one should be, but little did they know that the inside told a different story. With a kitchen half the size of a tennis court, a garage with the latest cars and an indoor pool. The warehouse was no house but a palace.

Sitting in a golden chair in his private office, Joel gently tapped his fingers on his desk thinking about tomorrow's plan. President Rawlings might have forgotten who he was but Joel was a man to never forget things. He and the President had a long history, dating back to when they were in high school till college. He couldn't forget so easily the memory that still haunts him till today. The memory of his sister; Anna Gustav drowning at a pool party organized by their college mates. 

Though, President Rawlings was under the influence of alcohol when it happened, Joel still couldn't shake off the feeling of watching his only sibling die. He couldn't believe Freddie pushed her in knowing fully well she could not swim. Though he was drunk when he did it, Joel still blamed him for what happened. 

Ever since then, he vowed to take him down one way or the other and now...with the President's daughter coming to the party, he was beyond happy that at last he could avenge his sister's death.

He sat back, smiled inwardly muttering:

  "This is just the beginning Freddie, welcome on board".