CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER TWENTY TWO: TAMPERED EVIDENCE

Kendrick’s POV

I don’t know how I ran so fast, all I knew was that I was holding my unconscious grandpa in my arms.

"The ambulance is here" Christy yelled but I couldn’t react or respond.

My body felt extremely heavy and my legs were stuck to the ground.

Fear?

I don’t remember the last time I felt this emotion. I couldn’t summon the courage to look at his blood covered face.

What if I lose him?

"Ken, let go of Grandpa, he needs to be taken to the hospital" Mason said with a sense of urgency.

I want to move but my limbs seem to have a mind of their own.

Slap!

I felt a burning pain on my cheek, the pain made my frozen limbs move and I quickly helped Grandpa into the stretcher.

"Let’s go," Gary said. We all got into our respective cars and followed behind the ambulance.

Grandpa was quickly rushed into the ER and we all had to wait outside.

"He will be fine Ken," Jasper said before entering the ER with the other doctors.

"How did Grandpa fall?" Mason asked the question that has been on everyone’s mind.

I suddenly remembered that he was having a talk with my father and it was the reason he went to the staircase.

I looked around but couldn’t find him, his wife or their children.

"Where are they?" I asked angrily.

If I found out that Raymond has something to do with Grandpa’s fall, I will make his life so miserable that he will wish for death.

"Evans, retrieve all the CCTV footage in the villa. I want to know what happened immediately" I said through gritted teeth.

He quickly rushed to get it done while I slowly sat down on the floor and rested my back on the wall.

"He will be fine, bro," Gary said and gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder.

I wish his words were enough to make me feel at ease but each second that passed without any news of Grandpa’s situation, felt like punishment.

Breathing felt like work and I only got more riled up after each breath.

I turned to where Christy was sitting, she wasn’t any better. Her eyes were already puffy from crying and she kept staring at the door like it will make everything go well.

I got up from the floor and decided to take a walk to ease my tense nerves. I can’t afford to break down at this moment.

I somehow ended up in the hospital garden, it was quiet and there was nobody around.

"Will he be fine?" Christy’s sobbing voice came from behind me.

I quickly turned around and saw her standing with her hands covering her mouth as she tried to hold back her sobs.

"He will be fine," I said before pulling her into a tight hug.

Seeing her cry made me feel extremely restless and there is a part of me that wants to protect her.

I slowly ran my hand through her short red hair while she wrapped her hands around my waist with her head resting on my chest.

We stayed in this position until I heard hurried footsteps heading our way.

I quickly pulled away from her and took a step back to create a distance between us. She looked hurt by my actions.

"Boss, I have gotten the videos" Evans said as soon as he got to where I was standing.

I quickly collected the laptop in Evan’s arms and played the footage.

I watched how Grandpa went to the side to talk to Raymond, they had a serious argument.

Then Raymond walked away from him in anger, he climbed the stairs and Grandpa followed him.

The next video was the one of Grandpa rolling down the stairs after a fall.

Everything seems to be fine and it seemed like Raymond had nothing to do with the accident.

"Can I see the second to the last video again?" She asked me and I replayed it for her.

"This video seems to have been tampered with" she said with a lot of conviction and I quickly checked the video again but couldn’t find any issue.

"In that video, Raymond went upstairs but in this one, he was already downstairs. The question is how did he come downstairs and not appear in Camera" She analyzed and I quickly checked the video again.

I could feel my blood boiling as I replayed the video.

Now I understand why he didn’t follow us when the ambulance came earlier. He was waiting for everyone to leave, so he could tamper with the video.

I handed the laptop back to Evans before storming into the hospital building.

I wanted to make sure my grandpa was fine before taking care of Raymond.

"Any news?" I asked Gary and he shook his head.

He stared at my face with a frown.

"What’s up?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Raymond planned all of this," I said plainly.

"Let’s just confirm Grandpa’s health before dealing with him" he advised and I nodded before sitting down beside him.

The door to the ER finally opened and Jasper walked out with two other doctors behind him. He looked extremely tired and the other two were no better.

"How is grandpa?" Christy asked anxiously.

"He is fine, luckily the stairs weren’t many and not too high. The timely intervention saved him from losing too much blood.

He has a cut on his forehead but it isn’t too deep, I have dressed it and he needs to be on bed rest for the next one week" he informed us and I finally let out the breath that I never realized I was holding.

"The nurses will have him cleaned up and sent to the VIP ward" Jasper said, he turned around to thank the other doctors.

"Thank you very much, I will see you tomorrow" I also expressed my gratitude.

My Grandpa was fine, no news was better than it.

"Ken, can we have a private chat?" Jasper suddenly asked and I agreed.

"What’s up?" I asked him when we walked a few steps away from the others.

"Mira told me something and I think you should know," he said with a hesitant expression.

Okay, I’m listening" I said with an impatient tone.

" Celeste’s family are planning your marriage with her, they have been putting a lot of pressure on Raymond. The only person standing in their way is Grandpa, so that might be the reason for this accident" he informed me and I could hardly control my anger.

I clenched my fists in anger.

I walked into the VIP room and found Christy sitting at the edge of the bed, she looked extremely worried.

"He is fine" I said to her and she nodded.

"I was so scared when I saw him, thank you for the slap, it pulled me back to reality" I joked and she smiled.

"Is the old man dead?"

"Why is everyone so quiet"

Sameen’s voice echoed at the entrance of the room and my anger was once again ignited.

The door opened and they all walked in. My father, his wife, Raina and Curtis.

"How is your grandfather doing? Raymond asked me with an authoritative tone but I just chuckled.

He really has the guts to come here and act like he had nothing to do with Grandpa’s current condition.

"Are you deaf? Do you have to go against me in everything?" He questioned angrily, I ignored him and his face immediately darkened.

I just kept watching him as he vomited trash from his mouth. He still thinks that I am still the little boy who craved and begged for his father’s attention a few years ago.

" Honey, why don’t you just tell him directly," Sameen said to him with a sinister smile.

"I spoke with the Martinez family and they want you and Celeste to get engaged as soon as possible" he said it like he was commanding a servant.

"I am in a relationship and not interested in any engagement. Especially to someone like Celeste" I replied to him with a smile.

"I don’t approve of your relationship with this low life," he said, pointing a finger in Christy’s direction.

"Grandpa is resting, please take whatever you have to say outside this room" Christy said sternly, leaving everyone stunned.

I looked at my watch, it was only a matter of time now. His coming here saved me the stress of going to look for him.

"You really have everything planned out for your little family, I am quite impressed by your schemes" I said to him and walked to where he stood.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" he questioned angrily but I could see the slight panic in his eyes, that he was trying to hide.

Knock knock!

"Come in" I knew who knocked, so I didn’t bother asking.

Mason entered with two special forces officers behind him.

"Mr Raymond Black, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Sir Benjamin Elizade"