FROM BANKRUPT TO BOSS

FACE SLAPPING

Mr. Bobby, the chief of police swung the door open forcefully. No one knew if he kicked the door or it was his hand that pushed it because the sheer force with which the door slammed against the wall could wake a ghost.

He entered, his breathing erratic and shallow like a person who was chased in by a ghost.

Frank's hand was still raised in the air to smack Kane.

“Are you mad?!! Do you know who he is?!" Mr. Bobby didn't give Frank a warning before his hand swung in the air with a sheer momentum.

Dropping it, it connected with Frank's jaw.

Parr!!

The slap echoed. Frank stumbled backward. His face flushed red and five finger prints– fresh and red marred his faces. He held his swollen face, panicking.

The chief of police hardly comes to the station. He only comes around once in a month so seeing him enter the station urgently got Frank worried and scared.

Mr. Bobby rushed to Kane like someone under a quiet command which he dares not disobey.

He forced a bitter smile. As he stood before Kane, trembling. "Mr. Kane..I'm sorry..he misunderstood things..he isn't wise enough to know he should treat you with respect..”

“He's a criminal sir..why are you pleading with him, Sir.” Frank chipped in.

The smile on Mr. Bobby's face dropped instantly as he turned to Frank again. "Are you mad! You should be on your knee, pleading for your life. How foolish of you!!”

Another slap cracked on Frank's face, on the same spot Mr. Bobby slapped earlier.

“Ah!" A sharp wince escaped his mouth. Blood mixed with spit sprayed out of his mouth to the floor. His held his burning face, eyes swollen with panic.

He had never seen the Chief of police mad to that extent. He was even trembling in the presence of Kane who dressed in an ordinary cloth.

According to Kane's information, he's just a banker! His boss was trembling before a damn banker!

Mr. Bobby turned to Kane, half–standing, almost falling to his knee. The respect in his stance was unmistakable.

“Mr. Kane.. please..on behalf of the station, we are sorry...They don't know who you are.. Please sir.” He continued to plead, his voice shaking with fear. Sweats rolled down from his temple to his chin but he didn't care to wipe even a drop, even when he tasted the salty sweat on his lips.

Kane didn't Blink. His eyes were locked on Frank like an eagle sizing a chick.

Without being told, Mr. Bobby kicked Frank on his butt.

"What are you waiting for?! Unshackle the cuffs you filthy piece of shit in the bottom of my shoe!" He barked.

Frank scrambled to Kane's side. His hand was shaking as he removes the cuffs from Kanes wrist. His cheek were still burning. The slap was still fresh and raw. It looks like a Ethnic mark on his cheek.

He stepped back fearfully, almost stumbling backward.

Kane was quiet, his expression cold and unreadable. The kind of quietness that makes people listen.

He looked at Mr. Bobby, his head slightly titled to the side.

“How many officers like him do you have here?” His voice came calmly but it was disturbing.

Mr. Bobby took a step forward, his palm clasped in his front, slicky and shaking. "Mr..Mr. Kane.. you're still angry...I'm sorry sir.. please.”

Kane scoffed. The sudden shift in his stance was not that of a ridiculed banker anymore but a man whose presence commands so much respect and fear. That was something Juliana saw in his eyes earlier but she couldn't comprehend it. But she will. Soon. Not now.

Kane laid his hand on the armrest, her expression calm but his gaze burns, making Mr. Bobby more tensed.

He gently tapped his finger on the armchair. "Is this how offenders are treated like criminals–” He paused, taking a quick glance at Frank was looks defeated at the side. "... without any investigations or interrogations?"

Kane leaned forward and picked up the file Frank was reading earlier. Offences he didn't commit was written there. He scoffed.

He shook his head gently and looked at Frank. “I did none of these so you're going to tell me who did else—” He paused, his expression hardened. “You're going down. Not alone. But this whole station will be locked down and the person that use his fingers to type this.” He waved the paper. “He'll blame the finger more than he'll blame himself. Now speak!" Kane boomed.

His voice startled Frank to shock. He was vibrating like the overheated engine of a car.

He swallowed hard. “It..it was Mr. Badmus who said you committed the offences..I never knew..i never knew you were innocent.”

"And you decided to be a fool by concluding without any interrogations?” Kane raised a brow.

Frank swallowed lumps which remained stuck in his throat. Guilt washed over him. His head was slightly bowed like a defeated wrestler who couldn't look up to his fans out of shame.

“I.. thought you were a nobody.” He said lowly, the words barely made it out from his mouth.

Kane shook his head, perplexed. “So this is how you treat the poor? Because they have no one to fight for them? You call them guilty while they're innocent without any investigation? Not even a chance to speak for themselves?” Kane shifted his gaze to Mr. Bobby in disbelief.

“Are you aware of all these too?"

“No.. no sir.” He shook his head frantically.

Kane took a smooth breath and stood on his feet.

“I want all the files of every prisoner reviewed. Thoroughly. Everything! From scratch. Those who were falsely accused should be released! Immediately!” Kane said firmly while Mr. Bobby was nodding his head frantically like an agama lizard.

Frank's thoughts were reeling like a carousel that won't stop. He wondered who Kane is. He was arrested and here he is, making command like he owns the station.

“And as for him.” Kane turned to Frank. His heart nearly beat of his chest under Kane's glare.

“I want him fired! Right now!"

"You're fired!” Mr. Bobby didn't even allow Kane finished his statement before he said it.

"And make sure he doesn't exist in the police force anymore. Even outside this city. Flag him red and send his information across to other stations.” Kane said.

Frank's heart dropped.

He looked up, his eyes blurry with tears "Mr. Kain...”

He dropped to his knee immediately, his hands clasped in his front.

"Please sir..I was foolish..I never knew who you were.. Please my life is ruined..my career will be gone..” Frank keep crying on the floor, tears streaming down from his eyes.

“You can't know who I am and never will you.” With that, Kane walked out of the station.