Showdown

John, Luke and Clay were buried on the same day. As all the invitees left after sharing their condolences for the families. I waited near their graves deep in thought as the heavens watered their souls. After waiting in the torrential downpour for three hours pondering about my next move and also recollecting the memories I had spent with these people I decided to leave. The investigations were on full flow and Lucio had been summoned to the court that Friday. I eagerly waited for justice to be rendered.

The proceedings in the court were totally farcical. The police had not been able to gather enough evidence against Lucio. They could not even find proper evidence to convict him. When I went up as a witness to speak against him, the opposition lawyer successfully convinced the judge that after the incidents that had occurred in my life I was not in a proper mental state. That was the reason why I believed Lucio was responsible for all the wrongdoings even though he was not at all involved. The judge seemed to believe him. He rejected any fact that I put up against Lucio. Lucio was successfully able to prove through falsified evidences that I was not even present at the Blue Haven that night. The most shocking incident was the fact that Officer Jones spoke in favor of Lucio rather than being against him. It was he who confirmed the judge that I was not present at the Blue Haven that night. Lucio was acquitted from all charges that the police had brought up against him.

Before leaving the courtroom, Lucio glared at my eyes. As I looked into his eyes I could feel the wrath of the monster that would be unleashed upon me as soon as I left the courtroom. Lucio had the law, the society and the whole system in his pocket. I had to try something else. I did not know what exactly to do. I stayed in the courtroom for hours pondering about my next course of action.

I finally moved out of the courtroom and went to my apartment. On reaching the place I received a shock. The entire apartment had been ransacked, all the furniture broken. The showcase carrying the trophies was lying on the floor. I went to the switchboard to switch on the lights. However instinctively I stopped myself from doing it. I picked up the Premier League’s best player trophy which I had received last year. After glancing at it for a moment I left it where it was and went out of the room with a sigh. On the way I picked up the matchbox from the kitchen and a black jacket from the wardrobe. I took out my bike from the garage. I had bought up a new one after what had happened to my last bike following the suicide attempt. However this was the first time I would be riding it. After I moved out of the apartment and started the engines, I lit up a match and threw it in through the window. The consequences were just what I had suspected. The entire apartment was engulfed in a monstrous flame. There was a huge explosion as the gas cylinders in the kitchen exploded. I put on the jacket and went speeding down the highway into the darkness of the night. While speeding down the Highway to Hell, I thought about the consequences. Roy Lucas was dead according to Lucio. He would think that the gas leak was successful in removing the last thorn from this life. However what he did not know is that the thorn was turning into a monster…………… A monster that was coming to destroy him once and for all.

I went to the Higgins Square, the notorious area of the city. All the black thugs and drug peddlers visited this part at night for their business. I knew a few people around here. John had some good contacts with the black mobsters as he was of African origin too. He had introduced me to these men. However these guys were no match to the might of Lucio and his gang. I visited the Chinese restaurant, Lower Beijing. Although it was apparently a Chinese restaurant from the outside with a black owner, the basements were used for the illegal affairs……… Drug peddling, poker, delivery of arms, prostitutes, you can name them all. I knew the owner. His name was Gustav. Although he had a Russian name and a Chinese restaurant, he actually belonged to Jamaica. This guy loved me and respected me a lot. He was a big fan of mine and I had obliged him with photographs as well as autographs the last time I had visited this place with John. Now I needed a favor from him. The deal was quick and quiet. I bought a Remington Model 870 Marine Magnum rifle and twelve rounds of ammunition. I also got hold of some Ricin from Gustav. This poison was available for cheap in this part of the city. I soaked the tip of the bullets in the chemical to make them venomous. I planned to destroy Lucio the same way he destroyed my pals.

I loaded the gun and strapped it on my back. Then I wore the jacket on top. This way it would remain hidden at the time when I would meet Lucio. Before I got on my bike, I bid Gustav farewell one last time. The man had helped me a lot that day. I rode my bike through the busy streets heading for the Royal Venetian Casino, Lucio’s den. I would slay the monster in its own lair. As I headed down the highway, it started raining cats and dogs once again. I parked my bike at an alley behind the casino and decided to traverse rest of the distance on foot. When I reached the casino entrance, I decided to give it one more thought. I recollected everything that had happened in the past few months while the rain lashed across my face. What I was going to do was sheer suicide. It was what the kamikaze pilots did during the Second World War at the Pearl Harbor. However I had no fear…… No tense feelings running down my spine………… No emotions at all. I had tried to commit suicide once and was provided a second chance. Maybe this was what destiny had protected me for. Maybe this was the moment of my life…………This was the reason that I was born.

I walked at the main entrance of the Royal Venetian where the guards stopped me. Lucio had his office on the thirteenth floor where he met his business associates. He had thrown a party that day for his successful takeover of a big Russian firm. All the big guns had come to his casino to share his success. I was not in the invitees list. So the guards refused to let me in. However I was not to be stopped that day. I decided to take up a gamble. I told the guards that Lucio had personally called me to meet him regarding his latest transfer bids in the world of football. The guards believed me and called up Lucio to confirm. I just hoped that they would not search me as that would reveal my loaded weapon and my motive. Lucio was amused that I had turned up. So he instructed the guard to take me to his office where he could personally handle me. One of the guards led my way to the thirteenth floor. Luckily for me they had forgotten to undergo a security check. They looked at me as the great footballer and respectable man in the society and so did not bother about checking me. I was chuckling in my mind about the consequences that was going to happen next due to this security lapse.

The office on thirteenth floor was a huge one. The entire room was molded in mahogany. The fire burning bright in the fireplace added much needed warmth to the atmosphere. The room had a rack loaded with various types of guns. At one side stood a big book rack with vintage books in literature, history, art and God knows what else. There were a few paintings on the walls, belonging to the greatest of painters. One of them was a replica of Vinci’s Last Supper. A tiger skin lay on the carpet while trophies of a bear, lion and an antelope decorated the southern wall. The maroon curtains looked expensive too. There was also a mini bar present near the entrance with premium brands of scotch, martini and vodka in it. In short the entire room with its belongings seemed to be worth a fortune.

While I waited in the room, two guards stood outside constantly monitoring my movements as they rapidly talked through their walky-talkies. They wanted to make sure that nothing was wrong. Lucio entered the room with his bodyguard and another man. Later I learnt that it was his brother Marcus. Marcus took care of Lucio’s illegal affairs while he was busy attending his social connections. Lucio greeted me with a big welcome smile. He wanted to speak to me in privacy. So his brother and bodyguard left the room. I was delighted with the sequence of the events as they occurred. The situation was perfect for executing my plan. Lucio prepared two glasses of scotch and handed me one.

‘You are a lucky man Mr. Lucas. Or should I say that you are a strong man both mentally as well as physically.’

Lucio was in one of those moods where he was going to speak a lot while I kept listening patiently waiting for my chance to strike.

‘I dunno how the God damn way you made out of your apartment. Whatever it was either you were very lucky or maybe my plan was not a full proof one.’

‘Look Lucas, whatever has happened is past. You have lost quite a few of your friends in the past few days. But it’s justified when you think it from my point of view. We live in a competitive world where only the fittest can survive. You guys tried to mess with me and my business. You paid the price.’

‘But all is not lost. Life has given you a second chance. Join me and my men. You have nothing to lose. In eyes of the people you are dead. If you refuse my offer then you will be dead anyway.’

‘You must have known quite a bit about my passion and interest in football and footballers. You see I love the game. Two teams chasing a ball all around the field for more than an hour…………… the thousands of fans supporting them………… the adrenaline rush………………… the glamour and glory………….. You see that’s why I love this game so much. And all these have taught me how to use football as a source of increasing your wealth and empire.’

‘I need agents who can lure players to join me. I buy them and then sell them off to bigger clubs. But the main job is done by the agents. They convince the young guys and their parents that I am the best option that they can get. In return I help them earn a fortune. Lucas, join me as my chief agent and look where I can take you. The young kids will respect you………..after all you are their hero…………they will sell themselves if you tell them to do so. Join me Lucas. Let’s make a new beginning.’

My instant response was, ‘What if I said no??’

‘You don’t refuse the lion’s proposition after entering his den. You will not be third time lucky.’

‘Third time………….you mean second time…………right.’

‘No, Lucas third time. You have already survived twice. The blast in your apartment and the head injury you got during your last game. Surprised huh??? Yes, it was owing to my orders that Doyle hit you on your head. Your fault…………………well your fault is that you played for the Blues. As long as you would be playing for the Blues they would win the premier league easily. Having invested heavily in three of you rival clubs, I just could not let that happen…………… Its pure business Lucas…………. Nothing personal. Now I am giving you a chance to survive. You have two options.

Accept my offer and pledge my obedience throughout your life. In return I will spare your life and provide you some serious wealth.

Else you may reject my offer. In that case you won’t leave this room alive. Make up your choice Lucas. I don’t have much time. Your time and your life is running out with the speeding clock.’

My face was covered with sweat. I was not afraid. I was shocked on hearing this latest confession that Lucio had ended my career. I wanted to kill him more than ever.

I went to the door and locked it from inside as Lucio stared at me completely amused unable to relate my actions to what he had been speaking.

‘I want to tell you something in private Mr. Lucio Giordinelli, and I don’t want outsiders interfering while we talk.’

Lucio moved to his desk and sat down on his chair with a rather bemused expression on his face.

‘You have ended my career. You have killed my best friend. You have killed two innocent young promising footballers and God knows how many more. Your drugs have infected the city and the entire country. Your henchmen threaten the life of thousands of civilians. It’s time for all these to come to end. Tonight’s the night Lucio, when people all round the world will hail God for rendering freedom and justice to these lands once again. Mark the date Lucio………… this won’t be remembered as a day when a Roy Lucas ended Lucio Giordinelli’s reign………… this won’t be remembered as a day when an evil empire

Crumbled………………this will be remembered as a day when a common man rose against oppression, tyranny and injustice to provide freedom and justice to all his fellow beings. Lucio Giordinelli, your reign ends today…………….. I the Bulldozer hereby officially declare you dead.’

I pulled out my gun from the jacket. However Lucio had already brought out a pistol from his desk. In that moment of glory I had been so busy with my killer speech that I did not realize that Lucio had already brought out his weapon. He was the first one to open fire. The bullet struck my left arm as I dived for cover. Lucio rushed towards the door. I steadied myself on my knees and fired my first shot. I was an expert with the football not with guns. The bullet smashed one of the trophies hanging from the walls. Lucio fired thrice as I scampered for cover behind his table. As he rushed towards the door I shot twice. One of the bullets hit him on his left leg. As he fell down, he fired one more shot. Meanwhile I could hear the sound of his henchmen trying to break the door. It was a heavy door made of mahogany. So it had not succumbed to pressure till then. But it was not long before the henchmen would successfully enter the room.

I stood up and fired another shot. It struck his shoulder. He fired back one more time before realizing that his magazine was empty. I quickly moved up to him and shot him twice from point blank range. I had crushed Lucio’s head. A pool of blood turned the tiger skin and the carpet red.

Meanwhile Marcus and the henchmen entered the room after breaking the door. They fired their machine guns as I once again scampered for protection behind the table. I had to make sure that I killed Marcus. It would turn Lucio’s empire into total turmoil. I had emptied my magazine while shooting Lucio down. So I brought out rest of the bullets and reloaded my gun quickly. In my haste I could load only five while the twelfth bullet slid under the table.

I lifter the barrel over the table and fired a shot. Luckily I had shot one of the henchmen. As the others started moving towards the table I panicked. I fired three more shots and killed one more. However I had only one bullet left. Marcus was viciously ordering his henchmen to attack me. There were three of them apart from Marcus himself. I had no other choice. I had to make sure that I successfully killed Marcus. I closed my eyes one last time. The only person I saw was John. John pleaded me to move forward and clear the ball. He pleaded me not to let the opposition win the match.

As I opened my eyes, I had my mind clear of any thoughts. I firmly gripped the gun and put my finger on the trigger. The bulldozer had to be started one last time. And this was the most important one of his life. The sequence of events that occurred next seemed to be in slow-motion. I stood up and moved forward rapidly as the henchmen fired.

Three, maybe four bullets hit my chest as they continued their onslaught. However I had my vision set on Marcus. I aimed the gun with my last bit of strength and fired the eleventh bullet.

As I came down on the carpet I realized that I had been successful in shooting Marcus. The dose of Ricin would make sure that he would die even if they decided to take him to the hospital. My mission was a success.

As I closed my eyes one last time I could feel the crowd cheering me. The buzz of the stadium kept ringing in my ears. Coach Flaunders seemed to be ecstatic about my performance. The Sunday bells of the church started ringing too. Father Howard was getting his gospels ready. Mary was moving out of her house with her mother. As for me, John and I were celebrating our win on the pitch. I was enjoying the game one last time……. The game that made me the person I was…………the beautiful game that we call Football.