C10 The Fuse count

While still in his car, parked at the airport garage with his left hand in his placed on his car indoor. He added to his worries by calling back to mind the idea of going to become very rich that could make him among the richest man in Baltimore, and within east coast country side.

Then he started to doubt the spiritual father's prophecy again and the speculation he had earlier made about investing the sixteen million five hundred thousand dollars to come as profit from the Oil Pipeline Pit deal.

The fault in his speculation just to see the areas where he didn't get it right.

After all, he alone could not lay claim to the sixteen million. Engineer Shaw would be the last person to allow him lay claim to all the money.

That was the first mistake in his speculation and a lot more could unfold when subjected into proper reappraisal.

ln the end Dr. Richard didn't arrive at a conclusive decision. Dilemma continued to rule his world but he realized he might go crazy if he didn't quite the thought for now and hope to come back to it later if need be.

Then he reached his upper shirt pocket for his car keys, while hitching himself on to the driver's seat unceremoniously, turned on the ignition and blasted off the car in an F1 manner or a U.S rocket billed for the space.

Dr. Richard drove to his house after leaving the airport. He was happy that at last he was going home to have a little rest since morning.

But for a fleeting moment, the thought of returning to the airport that day, a place that was not in close proximity to his house became another source of his worry.

Definitely, he could not afford to fail to return to the airport at any time that Engineer Kennedy would summon him there.

He had made a big stake by paying over One hundred and seventy five thousand dollars and would not to lose such huge sum out of his own negligence or refusal to obey simple instructions.

He also would not want Engineer Kennedy to get stranded at the airport on his arrival. Leaving him stranded would amount to Dr. Richard creating chances of losing the hundred and seventy five thousand dollars with no thank you from anybody.

He reached his house at 2:55. ln a haste to get himself ready Engineer Kennedy's call, he gulped his food in a hurry.

He alone knew wether he derived joy from the food or had a good rest after the meal or both.

He didn't go to sleep to refresh himself after all that and looked pale and haggard. His anxiety for Engineer Kennedy's arrival disarmed him from engaging in something else.

Still, Engineer Kennedy had not called even at the time was 3:30 by then and the day was quickly turned into evening. All the same he continued to hope against hope that Engineer Kennedy would not fail to call him and he remained on standby for that much desired call expected to come from Engineer Kennedy.

lt was at this 3:30 that he received a call. The call came from Engineer Shaw rather than from Engineer Kennedy as he had imagined in the first instance.

"Hello!". Dr. Richard answered in a loud voice.

"Hello sir, is Engineer Shaw from Jackson Mississippi. Am calling to know if Engineer Kennedy is now in Providence,"

"No, he's not." Dr. Richard denied.

"He called to say it was raining heavily in New York and flight take off was near imp possible. He asked me to expect his call later in the day when they are ready to leave New York."

"So where are you now?" Engineer Shaw asked.

"I'm in my house waiting for his call. When he called me at the airport he complained bitterly that only a packet of the product was not enough for him to make comparison." Dr. Richard replied slowly.

"How many does he want?"

"He was saying six packet or more."

"Mennh, that seems a lot thou."

"Yeah... it's."

"But can you make it six packets?"

"I'm not sure I can."

"Why not discuss with Francis to give you more packets?" Engineer Shaw said while sounding unsure.

"Francis might demand money for many packets as I want."

"Have you discussed with him?"

"No, his number have not been available for some time now. l have tried several times to reach him but all my efforts were in vain."

"Let me help you out and see if I can reach him."

"I will be glad if you do."

Dr. Richard hang off his phone, and went straight to his coffee machine at the left side of his sitting room to make himself a mug of coffee, he needed it to calm his nerves.

After about five minutes Engineer Shaw called Dr. Richard again.

"Mennh, How did it go?"

"Call him, The number is now available."

"Good," Dr. Richard said but he hesitated for a moment. He wondered why Engineer Shaw did not tell him anything beyond asking him to call Francis and that his number was now available.

He wondered further how on earth he could call Francis and fail to discuss anything about more packets with him.

Dr. Richard knew his reasoning was quite in line but didn't have the time to make a mountain out of a molehill about it.

He proceeded to call Francis and immediately he found him on the line.

"How are you Dr. Richard?" Francis asked in answer to the call.

"I'm Okay. My client's flight is delaying to take off from New York because of bad weather but he assured me that as soon as the condition of weather improves, his flight well take off."

"So he has not arrived?"

"That is how things are for now."

"And you're sure he'll keep to his words?"

"l suppose so," Dr. Richard said. The problem now is that my client wants me to get more packets of the product so that he could compare them for the avoidance of begin suppiled the fake products."

"How many does he want you to bring."

"He said six packets."

"Doc, I already told you it's difficult to come out with this kind product from my office without paying for it, but if you have the money for five more packets, I can arrange how they can get to you."

"Mennh this is really difficult, I'm afraid I might not meet up with the price for five more packets now.

The day is far spent already."

"Hmm.. I don't know how else to be of help to you other than that. lf you have the money, I'll arrange for more packets for you,"

"Damn it, is there no other way out?" Dr. Richard asked almost with pleading.

Francis hesitated.

"Doc, am afraid there is none." Francis said at length.

"All right then, I'll get back to you." Dr. Richard dropped the call. As he finished the last mug of his coffee.

He got to his phone once again, and called Engineer Shaw.