The KT OLLA Web Stories

YOUR Honor, I am Antonio Bembe, Ph.D. “Born in Latin Colombia and trained as a pure chemist here in the Caribbean Isles. Precisely at Cannon University of the West Indies. “I happen to lecture at the same university as an Associate Professor of Chemistry. “It’s my 25th year teaching college students this year. Then, I am in my mid-50s. “This is all of Antonio Bembe, Your Honor.” Professor Barbar picked it up right there, and added what he’d forgotten to say. He addressed the judge. “Well, Associate Professor Bembe also happens to be the one heading Cannon’s Department of Basic Sciences. It is his second year in the office. “Now it is Dr. Bembe’s voice we just heard over the tape.” Some murmurs went wild in the courtroom. As Barbar’s words came unexpected. Peter was shocked at the new twist. But he enjoyed it, too. So he just sat there watching the old man’s show. Now Barbar turned to his witness and began the questions. “You claim it is your voice we have in this audio? How is that?” B...

IT was a Wednesday morning and another session for the psychomicide case. Carl and June Martinez had prepared to drop the suit. But the defense team has something else up their sleeve. Truly, D.M.B. Barbar had no idea the plaintiffs would be dropping the suit. He had planned to counter their evidence. That morning when the old man met the couple, he saw them looking all calm and self-assured. So he thought it was because of the card in their hand, the audio evidence. As it was something that might prove difficult for Cannon to counter. But still, Barbar had his own plan. A way to wriggle Cannon out of the mire. The courtroom was full to the brim that morning. As the news was all over that the Martinez had got some definite evidence against the school. So the media and every interested person came to watch. After a while the judge walked in, and the session began. It was the last Psychomicide battle. Pedro’s plan was to play the audio, call the Martinez for their last talk. Then give hi...

CARL got up from his seat, then he let out a sigh. And while the man stood, his wife bowed her head in thoughts. “This is too much! This is just too much?” said Carl. “What have these people become? How is it so fun to use their wits and brains this way? What exactly is their aim?” The couple had just listened to the audio recording. They had heard it before when the voices weren’t quite audible. But this time, Peter brought them the clearer audio to listen to. He invited them to his office at Pendulum Legal Bros, and made them listen. It was biting cold that morning. So the legal counsel offered his clients some steaming coffee. The couple sat at the guest area of Peter’s office and he played them the audio. Carl and June heard the conversation at Lucius Barnabas’s murder. They heard the vicious threats and the way in which his captor planned to murder him. They heard everything up till Marcuz left the scene. And what they heard broke their hearts. “It is sad!” the lady spoke up. “It ...

PETER remained seated on a concrete bench at the lawn of the forensic office. He was done with his prayer, but he didn’t know where to turn anymore. So he sat there, staring into space. Suddenly, the young man heard his name called behind him. “Lawyer Pedro? Is that Lawyer Pedro right there?” Peter turned to see who was looking for him. And when he turned to answer, it was someone he didn’t recognize. He was carrying a bag in his hand. And the security operatives moved with him. The man walked up to him, so he stood up to receive him. He offered a hand. “I have just asked for you. The result is ready now.” Peter shook hands with him, looking in his eyes, as he couldn’t still place the face. The middle-aged man saw that the younger one was curious about him. And saw that he wasn’t as concerned about the recording as he was about his identity. So he quickly cleared the air. “Oh, I’m A.G. Maxwell. The Director of Forensics here. “I asked one of your staff to point you to me, as I want to ...

PETER left the company of his team and sought a lonely spot behind flower hedges to ponder. Everything came crashing down low as fast as a ruin can be. The courage, the confidence, the effort put into life and psychomicide… Everything definite lost its footing. The man decided to call Carl, his friend and client. He wanted to share the news with him and have the trouble halved. So he called his childhood friend and shared the pain. Yet the man was the only one troubled; Carl didn’t pretend to be. “That is fine, Peter. You already know Cannon – that’s how they do. So don’t let ’em ruin your birthday, man! “We’re still winning, regardless. We beat them in court today, remember? “Look, today is your special day. You’re the one who has a birthday here, not Cannon University! “So cheer up, 33-year-old son of Pedro!” Those words soothed the lonely young man. And again, it sent him reflecting on everything. Peter thought about it and read Carl’s attitude. It was as if they were fighting diffe...

IT was around 5pm at the National Forensics in Kingston City. The afternoon heat was dropping low and sea breezes were pouring to land. Peter had been waiting there at the audio unit, waiting for a result that never seemed to arrive. A cool air had poured on him and he’d quietly drifted to sleep. He bowed his head on arms crossed over his knees and felt he was still quite alert and present. But he was far gone and had stayed that way for about an hour. Lawyer Pedro had been into the psychomicide case from the start than anybody had been involved in it. He’d taken the fight more personal than even June Simeon. Yes, it was “June Simeon” that he was fighting for, bleeding all his sweat this way. It was the smart young woman whose rare intelligence had lit him all up to dream... It was June he would fight to rescue. This long day was a special one for Peter Pedro, and only for three reasons. First, it was his birthday – he had just turned 33. So he had woken up a happy man. Second was the ...

THAT Monday morning when Peter submitted his evidence at the Jamaican court, news flew across the waters and reached Cannon University. The lecturers heard that some new evidence had surfaced. It was still during the court session. No, the evidence wasn’t a small thing. For it would pin the murder of Lucius Barnabas to a Cannon man. So, phone calls were made and texts sent. News went around in circles, and meetings were held. Then classes were suddenly not holding, as Cannon teachers ran from pillar to post. The new evidence had caught the lecturers by surprise. Barbar had assured the school that the case would be closed. But here was a new case popping up. And this new one was no psyche murder or psychomicide. It was real murder. It was homicide. Cannon wanted a counter. They wanted to prepare to brave the coming wind. But then it began to dawn on the teachers that this was no simple wind. It was a storm. A rainstorm. And so, they feared how much it’d shake up them all up. And how man...

NOW Peter Pedro wasn’t ready to lose another witness. He didn’t want to lose Marcuz to Cannon’s witch-hunting. Yes, he knew that it would be a lot risky for Marcuz to witness in person. When he couldn’t still identify who the killer was. The voice in the MP3 was still quite hazy and low. So the killer could be anyone around them all. And since the young man didn’t know him, he wasn’t safe. So, when asked about his new evidence, Peter told the court the stick was attached to a bicycle at the crime scene. That his investigation team found it there. The court accepted the evidence. They chose to send it to a government forensic body in the city against the next hearing. They wanted their audio forensics department to analyze it. Wanted some sound separation done as well as voice analysis. At the next session, they’d listen to the recording. D.M.B. Barbar was so much taken aback. But even so, he didn’t sit back wondering. He objected and attempted a counter. “Your Honor, this evidence wasn...

IT was another hearing of the pyschomicide case; and Pedro was there to fight back. It was an early Monday morning. And the early-30 felt more confident that he’d take Cannon down this time. He’d just got some strong evidence to fight with. Now Peter Pedro was the first to say hello to the defense counsel, as they walked into the court. “A beautiful morning to you, Professor.” He met the older man with a wide smile. No, that gesture didn’t meet the professor kindly. For he stopped in his tracks, looked back and had no words. He stood there, musing a hundred thoughts. What is this boy scheming now? Has he got new evidence or what? Or is he tricking me to believe that he’s on to something? Well, if that is so he won’t be smiling this way—he’s definitely got some counter-evidence. That instant D.M.B. Barbar read him through, and he didn’t say hello. But Peter was determined to flaunt his prospects. So he walked up to the man. “It’s really a good morning this morning—isn’t it?” He’d stretc...

CARL and June were all ears, and neither of them had any questions. They just wanted to hear more. And Marcuz López had more. “Now let me break it down with reasoning. Here is it: Satan has just three goals in this world. To steal, to kill, and to destroy.  “He gets these three things done by lies. That is why he is the father of all liars. “You see, his children share the same goals. “If Cannon robbed Mrs. Martinez of her genius, what will they do with it? What have they done with it? “None of the lecturers could complete any of her abandoned work, so they’ve got nothing to gain. “But still, they stole because they are their father’s children. “Their purpose was to rob her. And then, murder her genius. And then destroy her!” His listeners sighed right then. “Now, Jesus says He is the Shepherd. So no one get to the flock without going through Him. Because He’s at the door keeping watch over us.” “But we are Christians,” answered Carl. “We all go to church, you know.” Marcuz respond...

MARCUZ López picked Carl’s question. And he wanted to answer him now. It takes something more to suppress people, Carl had heard him say. And something more to kill their sense of being. Carl and June were eager to know that “something more.” So Marcuz told them pointblank. “It is the Spiritual. The Unseen which controls our seen world!” Carl made a little smirk. “Why are you wasting our time here? “I went through your bio and saw that you’re the scholar type. A chemist for that matter. So, I assumed this conversation will go smooth. “Now I know little about your field ’cause I only did the basics in high school. “But one thing is sure, you aren’t communicating right now. And you should be! “At least, let your senior colleague get you, if not us!” He threw a hand across June’s path. “So now, can you speak in simple language that can be understood by June and everyone here?” Marcuz smiled, and then went again. “I will simplify it now, sir: A kid that has never walked can be talked out o...

SO now Carl settled down, and his gentle wife responded. “I know this too. I know our plans are not working. It’s been like dragging a sack of rocks on a rocky ground. It’s been very hectic!” There was a moment of quiet. June swallowed a small sigh, then she moved on. “Still, after a while we found your bike, and then we found you. You are our last glimmer of hope. So we wanted to do all we can. Marcuz knew right then that he’d got the Martinez. He was sure he’d got the woman, at the very least. If talking to him was their only choice, then they wouldn’t be able to avoid hearing him out. So then, he turned to their lawyer. Yet he saw that the man was quite indifferent. Peter wasn’t so interested in Marcuz’s talk. He just wanted to find some better evidence for his case. And Marcuz realized this. Even so, the dude decided to carry the lawyer along. Hoping that he would lend his ears in time. Therefore he spoke, addressing the lawyer. “Mr. Pedro, you said in an interview some time ago, t...

LAWYER Pedro led his clients into the warehouse. As the three folks strode inside with masks on their face. Marcuz eyes bulged. For he just confirmed his guess from the figure of the lady among them. And he was so sure that he was right—and surprised. Now that the young dude knew who his assailants were, he braced himself up for a counter. The masked three settled down in front of him as Peter got their party seats around the hostage. He spoke first, addressing Marcuz. “So tell me, young man. Why did you leave your bike there without coming back for it?” Marcuz had an answer now. “Because I feel like! At least, the bike is mine and I can do anything with it! “Just like you feel like kidnapping me to find answers, Mr. Pedro! The only difference here’s that I’m not yours.” Peter Pedro was taken aback hearing his name. He stammered through the next words, for they wouldn’t just flow. So Carl helped him. “Calling names won’t save your situation, Mr. López. You only need to answer a few—” “...

HOW did you get him here, Peter? I hope it is not by force.” It was Carl who asked the lawyer this. And it was the same concern in his wife’s mind. Yes, June had used what is called the Electronic Nose as the sensor she trained on the odor that she produced with her formula. And then the scientist placed a miniature size of the eNose inside a drone modeled to look like a bee. With this, she was able to scan through Cannon. And then zoomed in on her very target, the man who owned the bicycle. Then afterward, she had handed the drone footage of Marcuz López to Pendulum Bros. And Peter Pedro had taken on the work from there. Peter had swept to action with his team members and stalked López all over the school. Pendulum spent half a day tailing the young chemist. They chose to make things quick, so they captured the man. No, they didn’t know what they brought on themselves, or they wouldn’t have tried. For their warfare must now go his way. So now, when Peter didn’t answer, Carl repeated h...

THE answer that came for Marcuz’s question was something else. When he asked his kidnapper who he was, he got a shocker. The masked man went closer. “There is a bike on the rooftop of Pure Chemistry, your department. Is that bicycle yours?” Marcuz stopped to read the situation. Then he spoke, putting up a front. “And what if it’s mine, what is that to you?” His questioner didn’t stop. “Then why did you leave it there?” Marcuz was flustered. “Who exactly are you? Who do you work for? “I need to know this much, at least, to tell you what you want!” The masked man was someone who talked like a civil worker, a professional of some sort. He asked questions as though he was an interrogator. And he didn’t he sound like he was a criminal. Now this was what had got Marcuz curious. He doubted that the man was Cannon’s. A small quiet passed between the two men. Then the masked young man clamped his hands firmly. It was to affirm his control over the situation. “You see that your hands and feet ar...

IT was another Saturday afternoon; Marcuz had just finished his class. This was the self-same week that June had her work wrapped up. And it was a cloudy afternoon that Saturday. Mr. Marcuz López climbed down the building that was his department, and reached the basement where he parked his ride. He’d just got another cycle since he returned from home. It wasn’t a bicycle this time, or something he could throw just anywhere around. This time, his precious bike was a power cycle. He’d drawn from the stockpile inherited from his parents. And treated himself to a steering pump ride. So he parked the motorcycle at the basement park, and went back there to ride home. But then, just while he stepped by the racing beast, he heard footsteps closing in on him. Then, just when he was turning to see who was there, a thick dark hood fell over him. He was capped with black from head down to neck. At that instant, a daze fell on him as his limbs gave way beneath him. For he breathed in some gas in t...

CARL was all smiles as he walked across his property to check on his wife where she did her analysis. It was about noon on this cloudy Thursday... And it had been about two weeks since June collected the test sample from the bicycle at Cannon. And had begun working on it. Yet again she couldn’t work in a walled laboratory – or any conventional construct of it. For she still felt traumatized by the regular sense of laboratory work. So Carl had put up a big tent for her in the backside of his large property. He’d got an air purifier and ventilator equipped in the work center. Made them ready for use, in case she ran out of fresh air. He knew she wasn’t fully well when he thought to provide all those. But now it was a different story. June had been working every other day through those few weeks. And she didn’t break down, or even need to use some first aid. She’d been covering a lot of ground with each work she did every day. So much her husband Carl couldn’t help blowing the horn... As ...

CARL stood and watched as his wife did work atop Cannon’s Pure Chemistry building. June had agreed to carry out her forensic experiment on that cycle on the building’s rooftop. She wanted to detect with her new reagent formula, some infinitesimal traces of sweat components (that is, the chemical compounds in sweat) on the bicycle. Then she would return home to analyze their concentration levels in the sample – which chemists would refer to as molar density... And which goes on to define the characteristic odor of the person. And then, June would go on to enhance the reactants, the chemicals reacting together to produce the odor. She’d increase their density, speed up their reaction with a catalyst; then by this she’d get to increase the smell. Now if her method was successful, June didn’t plan to use a dog to sniff out the smell around Cannon. It was out of place to make a dog roam the campus, after all. But then, she had something smarter in plan. A “science-tech” invention... Somethi...

VINCENT Macaulay had given a long talk already. And he could tell from his listeners’s demeanor that they’d gotten his point. But the man had concerns. He was concerned that his nephews might go the way of calculations again to follow what he’d just told them. So he decided to spell out his words clearly. He addressed the two young men. “Marcuz and Luca, listen. I believe you wouldn’t take my talks as some code, and start decoding and calculating. “I will tell you the weapon of your warfare in plain language.” “Okay sir,” the boys replied. Now he explained: “If Paul said that these weapons aren’t physical, then you wonder how you can fight if you can’t bank on your guts, your wits, and brains. “Well, I will show you how from the scriptures.” He asked for a copy of Bible, so Marcuz went in and brought his copy. It was the Good News Bible, Today’s English Version. Vincent told him he’d be reading Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. Chapter 6 and verses 12 through 18. So Marcuz sat down and ...

MARCUZ and Luca had a puzzled gaze as they exchanged glances. Did the apostles win over Rome by fight? Did they fight with weapons, too. Like during the Crusades of  Dark Ages? But how did the Church conquer their persecutors? How did they outlive this world power? Those were the rising questions behind the glances the two brothers exchanged. Still their uncle didn’t let the confusion last any much longer. For he picked up just about then. “The Church had the right weapon for the battle. Because they knew that what they fight against weren’t those people or their war tactics. “It was the dark powers behind the high powers. The rulers of the world in dark high places. “So they never got themselves reeled into the physical fight from the start. And that is why Paul said: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into capti...