Chapter 1: FRANKLIN AND THE APARTMENT COUPLE

There was a place far above the valleys , over the hills and far away from the mountains ,a man known for his trade of being so good in his work that he do. His name was franklin welsh, he was 32 years of age , he was born in Texas , grew up in Atlanta, Georgia . During his 32 years living he learnt a specific thing . Life is not always as you think , or better say life doesn't always turn out the way you planned it to be. As a kid growing up in the streets of Georgia , he had to hustle with his single mum to get something to eat for a day, he was the only child, life was unfair to them. He was able to go to an high school in the neighborhood, finished but couldn't afford tuition so he couldn't go to college. But then he found a new trade , something that could fetch him a little earns meet . Franklin had big dreams growing up he wanted to be a surgeon in an hospital or a medical firm, doing everything possible to save kids lives and make their parents happy, he aspired to be like the popular Ben Carson who he always admired as his hero while growing up. He had always told his mum , Rita that this was his dream , but then she told him. " frank you barely made it out of high school . There ain't no money for college tuitions at the moment. Sorry son there is nothing we can do about that,you know since your dad disappeared, life hasn't been the same , please Franklin find some trade around that you can learn and be good at it, you might just be lucky , something might come your way , who knows ". Hearing this melted franklin's heart , what would his high school friends say? What will they think of him? He had been bragging with them on the college each one of them would love to be admitted. But as we may have it, life doesn't always turn out the way you expected it to. So he sat down and thought . What can I do to make some dollars. Real estate came to mind. He thought if I can move around and ask any one about their apartments if they are will to rent it out for a price, then if he can bring someone to pick the apartment, he gets a cut like 10% of the money. So that's what franklin decided to do in his neighborhood. Far down the street there was Mr John fisher who owns a couple of apartments, blocks away from frank's residence. Then one day frank walked down the street , and he knocked at Mr fisher's home , and Mr Fisher came out , saw him and asked " what can I do for you ?" and. Frank said ; " Good morning Mr fisher let's have a drink we can talk about that over a vodka ." Mr fisher with a funny look , let him in, reached for his fridge , brought out a scotch , and poured on two glasses and handed one over to him. Then after a little brief introduction . Frank cleared his throat and spake up saying " let's make a deal ". " hmmm.. a deal" said Mr fisher in utter surprise . " what possible deal can I have with a guy like you ". I am an investor , an empire boss , I own lots of things , you on the other hand , not so much , just a guy hustling to have earns meet." Then frank said , " you own apartments which are vacant , which you want to lease out right? I can get you clients real quick." Mr fisher looked at him and said " whats in it for you , hun...." " every apartment you lease out to my client, I get a cut" said frank. Then mr fisher glanced at him and smiled " ten percent " he said, frank said " fifteen" , mr fisher said " twelve percent " . Done !! That's it , We have a deal " twelve percent" . Then mr fisher smiled and said I look forward to doing business with you . And then they both stood up from the couch dropped their glasses on the table and shook hands with a good eye contact and frank headed out . Three days after , frank made a call to one of his high school friends Elliot, Elliot was never a serious guy back in high school but he always got his way , had the good grades , had the girls too and had a life full of grooving, partying and staying late at nights. He was rolling with the nerds a lot than other kids and that earned him a sit at the table when it comes to tests and exams he had good grades , envied by other kids , he was the role model of some shy kids , but with all this privileges Elliot never had many friends , just frank. Who knew him really well . They moved out together, although frank was not the partying kid he was strict when he comes to his studies , after school closing of course if you are looking for frank , you know where to find him , his home helping his mum do some stuff. There were not much to be happy about in frank 's life . A kid who had to go to high school hungry most of the time , most times he had to do some part time jobs after school just to help his mum with some money. And then when he called Elliot , he said " Elliot you are a such a dick, this is 8 years and counting you never asked about my whereabouts I guess what they say about you is quite true." What did they say about me, just to be clear frank I never forgot about you, you never called either so I guess we are even and I felt you were chilling without your buddy. Well I am at Monaco now for an auction to buy an Italian painting , auction is scheduled to take place in 3 hours." hmm ... Since when did you start going for auctions? The last time I checked , your pay was an hundred and twenty dollars for a month, so when did you start going for auctions in Monaco full of rich folks to buy paintings and art works, well that's your damn business ". I need some of your contacts , I will need some of those your resources real quick , I got a job to do and I have to be really quick about it. Ok this is how it goes, there is this rich guy in the neighborhood, couple of blocks away , who I made a deal with assuring the man that I will bring clients for his apartments lease and he accepted the offer . Now I have to prove to him that I can be trusted about this whole thing." " I will see what I can do . After the auction I will fly back to the United States , I will get in touch with my resources. We will be in touch, you can count on me pal." Replied Elliot. .A knock was heard on the door and when he went to check the door , a couple in their mid 40's. "You have apartments for lease ? " Yes of course . Let me take you there . When they got to mr fisher's property, they moved around the apartments and glanced through the whole place . Then the man said well sir we like the property, such a quiet and unique apartment, you will hear from us in next to no time ,ok. Then frank smiled and nodded .Three days past and nothing was heard from the couple, no text, no calls. Frank was worried but he kept his cool. A week past , nothing yet . Then a day came , frank wanted to head out to get some groceries, as he opened his door he met the couple right in front of his door . " I really do not understand what the hell is going on here" he said. Then the man said " we've talked , put our differences aside , I think we like the apartment, we're moving in tomorrow we just need to grab our stuff, that's all. Ooh and for the rent please we will make the transfer an hour from now." Haa..... finally he gets to prove himself to mr fisher that he is capable and a man of his word , frank was excited, that he called mr fisher and told him about everything, " my client, a couple ,mid forty's are moving in tomorrow , they just need to grab and pack their stuff and they will be at the apartment tomorrow . Your money will be transferred in an hour time . Like I said I am a man of my word, so do you believe me now ?" Of course I did believe you frank I just wanted to see how capable you are " the man replied frank . So they got off the phone. But then one shocking thing happened after the couple moved in. They barely came out , they were rarely seen . I would say they were more like a ghost . Frank decided to investigate what was going on . He brought them to that apartment so he knew it will turn back on him if they did something messy and he could even be arrested. So one morning frank planned out his day, and decided to walk down the neighborhood to observe for himself and see what really is going on. He thought to himself how can a married couple in their mid forty's move in to an apartment in the neighborhood, they are not seen outside their apartment, no sound of voices but it is evident that someone is in the apartment. So while he worked down the street toward the direction of the apartment he noticed voices of some men inside the apartment , young men in their late twenty's. Hmmmm.. he thought to himself " the last time I checked , this people had no kids . Which means if they had no kids then who the hell are these guys , and how did they get into that apartment ".. he said to himself as he was in utter confusion . What should he do , should he call the cops and report this strange incidence. He squatted near a flower close to the house and observed. He kept on hearing sounds of some young men. Then he made a decision ; I will go in there and see for myself what the hell is going on there. He left the flower , where he squatted and moved briskly to the apartment, when he got to the front door , just when he wanted to open the front door of the house , the door handle moved , in shock mode, he turned to run and then a pistol was pointed at him. " don't take step" a man said looking at him with threatening eyes.