Don

Chapter One

Chapter 1

"Shit, I have gotta go, Max. Catch you tomorrow. Check with the boss,"

"Bye, Nat. I will." Max, replied obidiently.

Natara chose the stairs as she went past the empty cubicles of the Malaysian Intellegence headquarters. She reached the ground level, huffing and panting in her neatly tailored grey suit. Natara dug into her left pant pocket, took out the key and unlocked her purple Porsche. It gave a loud, unlocking sound, the sound usually the cars give, but in greater amplitude. Natara entered, in an enthusiastic manner. She looked at herself in the driver's mirror in an authentic manner and fixed her blonde strands of hair which were out of place. A girl in her twenties. Average in looks, accompanied by a good height of 5'9. Working at a reputable post in the Malaysian Intellegence Department as a senior detective. A briefed profile which was charted out in half a minute. She diverted her attention to the car's key in her hand, entered and twisted it in the keyhole in a callous fashion which eventually turned on the engine of the car, initially giving the hint of a gurgling sound but starting without any difficulties.

It was eight.

Natara drove the car at full speed, as if participating in an F1 race. She changed gears, simultaneously and pressed onto the acclerator without a hitch. The car kept roaring through the streets and the roads, stopping with an intense and sudden halt in front of a three storeyed appartment which was lit up with yellow lights.

Natara forced the key into the lock and turned it swiftly. She entered the house stealthily, closing the door behind her. All was silent. A cold wind touched her fair pink cheek and let alone. Natara shut the wooden french window and drew the white cotton curtains, intact.

It seemed as if the whole house was staring at her in gloom. All was deep regret. The red animal print sofas glared at her like wraith. The blank transparent table waited as calm as an ocean. Natara could not bear it. She ran upstairs, to her bedroom and changed into a comfortable piece of night-midi.

She advanced towards the kitchenette and filled her cup with a spoonful of Nescafé coffee, drenched to the bottom with droplets of water. She started to stir and jumped on the sofa. Natara switched on the television. Her hair, open in long wavy curls.

Click. Click. Click.

Nothing special.

Natara did the efforts to find something entertaining on the T.V but it was useless. She switched to the News channel which always amused and entertained her. Natara slid deep into the sofa until she was on the floor. The constant noise of the spoon hitting the cracked glass of the mug disturbed her. A lady wearing a creme coloured coat and skirt was speaking politely and pausing at appropriate intervals to seek the attention of the spectator. She seemed a good orator.

"Another great deal of Don, sets him high." the television was flooded with news about Don.

"I won't let that bastard get away," Natara mumbled to herself.

Suddenly the doorbell rang.

It resembled the chime of the christmas eve. Natara shot a quick glance at the wall clock. Ten.

Who would it be at this hour?

She dusted her midi as she rose from the cold ground and strode across, for the door. She opened it, peeking like a little child. Max stood there, smiling at her. Natara replied him with a grin.

"Come in," she opened the door wide, with her foot, as she welcomed him with the mug still in her one hand and the remote in the other. Max was a tall, brown hefty man with chivalorous looks. The charms he possessed were unique enough to attract any girl. Max entered and closed the door, with a click. His black hair were gelled neatly into spikes, not showing his temples.

"Thanks," Max seemed pleased.

"Welcome," Natar replied, grinning.

"Anything special?" Natara asked abruptly entering int a plastic conversation.

"Yes,"

"What?"

"Your birthday." Max said the words easily and fluently.

Natara gaped at him, her mouth wide open. Max came close to her and handed her a small box, neatly tied with a pink ribbon at the top.

Natara hurriedly placed the mug on the slab and started to unwrap the present. She had already had had a hint about some of it. It was a ring with a big, red ruby placed on the golden band underneath.

"Thank you so much, Max. I so love you," she kissed Max on the cheek and resumed admiring the piece of beauty. Max smiled a little and murmured to himself the same for her.

He started to say something, his love confessions, probably but was interrupted by the deafening ringtone of Natara's phone. Natara dashed off to get the phone, from where she had previously been sitting.

Natara flicked through the screen randomly and scrolled down until she reached for the recent update. It was a text from her boss, Mr. Charles Vito. Charles was a tough man with greying streaks of hair. He was in his sixties, on the verge of retirement. Life had given him everything-fame, money, success, pride, lady, everything. But had deprived him from one of his duties.

To catch Don.

Don was an honorable mafia who exported drugs, working undisturbed, under Calogero Piccolo, the drug lord, always elusive to the police. He was, now, somewhere in the vicinity. Far off, where no one could trace him, it was sure.

BOSS: New goal-Don. We have eked out some clues. Will chart it out tomorrow. Nine sharp. Inform Max Shaw too and have a blast tonight. Birthday.

Natara smiled to herself and changed her fingers furiously as she typed a reply and send it. She never had the slightest idea that Boss, had remembered her birthday. But then, many things, she did not know. Who knows.

She turned around and found Max smiling at her weakly, now seated on a chair.

"Who was it?" he asked

"Boss." Natara said, seriously

"What's it, now?" Max asked, standing up.

"Don." Natara stressed on the word.