The Marvelous Elijah's Return

BATTEET

A Secret Watching the glass of champagne pop open, Madam Jewel raised her brow, staring at a silver

fox, standing in front of her, pouring it into two glasses. “I don‘t have time to drink, Jacob... My son is

locked up, and there is this arrogant, annoying scumbag who now, somehow knows about Harris‘s

will!!” Madam Jewel complained, her face turning red as she continued to rant, her voice getting louder

and more agitated with each word that escaped her mouth. Raising a brow, Jacob sighed, taking a seat

on the couch next to her, resting his hand on the old woman‘s shoulder, trying to calm her down as he

said, “Elijah knows about Harris‘ will? Jewel...”

“I don‘t think he knows the content within it, or else that greedy bastard will use whatever might he has

suddenly gained to come for us...” Jewel spat out, angrily. “Remind me why Peach is not dead yet?”

“Harris found out the truth while on his sick bed... And in his messed up head, he used all his

international power to put a protective barrier around her, knowing that after what he did, I was going

for her too...”

“Hmm,”

“I have been using the loopholes in his command for years, but if she dies and words get out, I have

dug my own grave.”

The sound of nature echoing around the balcony took over the conversation for a while before Jacob

asked, “And this Elijah guy?”

“I know nothing real about that fool, and what we have on him are just guesses which have no solid

proof... He’s making a fool of my family... and just like that we have lost control...” Madam Jewel

explained, finally reaching for her glass.

“He has the element of surprise, Jewel, which is a powerful tool... Take that from him and you get

yourself a fair game.” “How?”

“Well, he doesn‘t seem to be as stupid as everyone says he is... You see, he is manipulating people by

pretending to be this useless boy... To defend your enemy, you have to unmask them, and this Elijah

guy has you all figured out, but it‘s not the same for you towards him.” A slight frown appeared on the

old woman‘s wrinkled lips, and Madam Jewel looked away in thought, mumbling, “What do you mean

by that?”

“Even the battlefield... He has Elmer in his grip, I can help you to get a chess piece to use and bargain

with him in exchange for your son‘s freedom.” Jacob said with a cocky grin on his face, as he took a sip

from his wine glass. Looking at him, Madam Jewel raised a brow at his suggestion and then asked, “

What is this chess piece?”

“The queen... Your step–granddaughter.” Jacob said, smiling slyly. “A King will bargain his soul with the

devil for the woman that owns his heart...”

“I told you that she can‘t die– ”

“No one is talking about cutting off Peach‘s light... We can use her to get information about her

husband and also, bargain her safe return for Elmer‘s release.”

“What if Peach doesn‘t own his heart... After all, he was just with Melina a few months ago.” An

unreadable expression appeared on Jacob‘s face for a moment as he stared at the old woman,

thinking, then he spoke again. “Well, He did mess up Elmer‘s face because he simply raised a hand at

her... so I heard. Even if Peach doesn‘t have his heart, she means something to him.”

A sense of worry rose within Madam Jewel and her eyes shifted back and forth for a moment until she

spoke, “With the news about Elmer in prison, a report about Peach going missing will point fingers at

us, and have the police breathing down my family neck–”

“Not if he wants his wife dead... figuratively of course. But Elijah doesn‘t know that she can‘t get killed.

Threaten him with that and he will shut his hole and obey you.” Jacob replied calmly, watching the old

woman‘s reactions closely.

“I don‘t know, Jacob...”

“That‘s why I am going to be the one to handle it.”

“So many things can go wrong here.” “Yes... But I can‘t allow your boy to go to jail. So let me do this.”

Silence fell between them for a moment, both lost in their thoughts, before Jewel spoke, “What is this

going to cost me?” Picking up his glass, Jacob sipped from it with a small smile and then replied,“ For

old time‘s sake, Jewel. This one is free, even though I am tempted to make you pay like the old days.”

When Mr. Bamford heard his office door open, he raised his gaze to see Elijah

stepping in with a friendly smile. “A grin to mask your evil deed from this morning,” Mr. Bamford said,

with no trace of anger in his voice. A smirk formed itself on Elijah‘s face as he made his way to the

chair and sat down, saying, “You have to be specific, Chief. As a law–abiding citizen, it‘s hard to

remember a crime that I didn‘t commit.” “The reporters, Elijah.” The chief started, still calm and

composed as usual. “Ohh, yes... the reporters. How could I have forgotten about them? They had

Elmer‘s face on every Tv... If you ask me, I think the statement, ‘walls have ears‘ is truthful. Have you

checked with the ears within these walls of the station before pointing a finger at me, chief?” “...Smart

ass...”

A chuckle left Elijah‘s mouth when he heard those words and he said in a jovial tone, “It takes one to

know one, Chief.”

Cracking up a bit by Elijah‘s reply, Mr. Bamford‘s smile widened, and after a few moments, his

composure returned and he said, “What are you doing here, boy?” “I need to speak with Elmer,” Elijah

said with an innocent smile on his lips. “Is he being detained here?”

“Yep... Why do you want to see him?” “His mother made a two million dollars offer to me to drop the

case, and I” “You know if this case goes to court and Peach win, you will get way more than two million

dollars–”

“I am not stupid... I know.” Silence fell between them, as Mr. Bamford leaned back in his chair, looking

at the young man sitting in front of him, and then said, “Fine... I will get one of the officers to set up the

meeting.”

The small room with a metal table and two chairs were quiet for a while, then the door opened and

Elmer walked in with cuffs on his hand, wearing an orange jumpsuit with a policeman escorting him

along. When they got to the chair, he sat down and the officer cuffed his hands to the hooks on the

metal table before stepping back. “Who‘s this visitor?” Elmer asked, frowning at the police. But the man

said nothing, he only stood there in silence, and after a minute of looking at him, the sound of the door

opening got Elmer‘s attention, and the

moment he saw Elijah in the doorway, he jumped off the chair, rushing forward, but got yanked back by

the cuffs.

“You piece of shit! I swear if my hands were not cuffed, I would have ripped you apart!” Elmer shouted

with his face red with rage, trying to shake off his handcuffs. “I would have fucked you up pretty good,

you prick!”

The serious look on Elijah‘s face did not leave his expression as he shut the door and walked over to

the table, taking a seat. Then he looked over at the officer and reading Elijah‘s face, the policeman

nodded his head before walking off. “Hey!!! Hi! You... You. We-re a–re you go–ing...! You can not lead–

ve me with this ... th–is mad man!!” Elmer shouted, still struggling against the cuffs. “This boy is violent

and crazy... Please don‘t leave me with him!” Ignoring his cries, the officer walked toward the door and

closed it after himself, leaving the two men alone with each other. Seeing Elmer struggle against his

restraints, Elijah raised his eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest, as he leaned back, and spoke, “I

know that your company is not what Peach supposed to earn... There‘s another will, right? What your

mother gives her is not the real deal.”

Not expecting Elijah to know such a thing, Elmer stopped struggling against the cuffs for a second, his

face turning pale white, before continuing in a shaky voice, “What are you talking about?”

“You can walk out of here as a free man with all charges dropped, and I can let you off the hook... If you

tell me the context of the real will. What did Mr. Hayes leave Peach in that other will your mother is

keeping a secret.?” Elijah asked, leaning forward in his seat.

Sighing loudly, Elmer slumped into his chair and murmured beneath his breath,“ Suddenly, jail sounds

much better.” Then he met Elijah‘s eyes, a hint of anger appearing in his eyes, as he spoke,“ You are

truly a greedy bastard... What? Is investic Co. not enough to satisfy your craving for what’s not yours?

... Well, the is no other will, so you can get up and walk away.”

Silently Elijah stared at Elmer for some seconds before pushing his chair back and standing up, glaring

down at him in annoyance as he thought, ‘Just as it was for your mother, this will is worth more than

your freedom to you too... Does this mean the family will suffer a lot more if this will is revealed?‘