“I have many more cars, and they are on loan and yet I service them. Who do you think you are?” Jemo uttered this in arrogance splashing these stings at an auctioneer.
The law enforcers present were divided on the matter. There are those that could easily see that a car having two logbooks was attracting a legal tussle.
How could such a thing have happened? The body mandated with vehicle registration in the country was rather sober. Having been taken to task by the government of the day following multiple registrations, many in the body had lost their jobs and others were roting behind bars. Through technology, they had raised their bars high to ensure that attempts of fraud were at their mininal. Efforts were geared towards avoiding incidences such as what was happening presently with Jemo; one vehicle having two log books; one vehicle having two owners.
Another lot of law enforcers appeared compromising. Could it be that they knew Jemo well and perharps even had had earlier dealings with him?
Could it be that they even knew what had happened and desired to conceal the matter? If they were in the dark, how then could such law enforcers not see that the matter could risk their jobs? Or perharps, were they playing safe so that they could win the confidence of Jemo with an attempt to get some bribe later from him? A myriad of questions ran through my head as I observed what was happening.
Being not a very courageous man, my mind turned to look at the auctioneer. He was so calm and composed. Previously, the stories that I had heard of such people were nasty. They beat up people and they re-possed things forcefully. Prior to this, we had had a talk with him negating my earlier stereotypes. As per their regulations, they really desisted from bloodshed. The involvement of armed law enforcers was meant to protect life, prevent scenes between antoganostic sides going ugly, and put to an amicable rest, whatever dispute was presenting. How healthy it is to interact with all and get to know their operations! How foolish is ignorance and woe unto they that act in such stupidity!
Two days prior, we were driving back from a requiem Mass of an old time friend and business mentor. Looking at a coffin carrying his remains had almost left me in tears. Certainly, several realities about the non-permanency of life were all over me. I knew him as an extremely wealthy person. He was such a business and investment guru, that in his life, he had engaged in almost all kinds of money making ventures. Interacting with him, revealed a man that was truly in charge. There he was now lifeless and never to breathe again.
We were looking at his lifeless body and wondered, how could death overcome such a being who appeared very healthy? How could he succumb to death surrounded by the best of doctors in one of the best hospitals? What a mystery!
We were in a jam that was however, moving slowly.
“I have been looking for that car for the last four year!” There was a sudden change of topic. At first the utterer of the words was in his own world. Turning and showing all signs of restlessness.
“Pull off to the side and let us not lose that car”
I made use of my rear mirror and spotted what he was speaking about. Whatever he explained after that did not make much sense since I had never been involved with auctioneers prior. He had just come from a nearby place to get another vehicle.
However, at that place, the owner had cooperated and had been given an hour to make some payments. This act had saved him from getting his vehicle towed back for re-sale.
In obedience, I pursued the vehicle to some destination. Amazingly, I seemed to enjoy the task at the moment. Thoughts of how dangerous it would be if we were mistaken to be thieves, often scared me two to three times.
Another part of the mind kept asking, “Is this how easy anyone, good or evil, can easily trail me?” In the vehicle, we were a family. A mistake would put all of us in danger.
In the end, we knew where the car was and my work was done. I had a sigh of relief, as we laughed about it the rest of the afternoon.
On the D-Day, Harry and Ali found each other. Harry had done due diligence and was set to make his appearance to get hold of the car. The machine had been used as a collateral some four years prior. The then owners had secured a loan using the vehicle. As the story went, the two men had disappered making no atempts to pay back. The collateral had also vanished into thin air. This time Harry was not to let it disappear again.
As soon as they were at the gate where the vehicle dwelled, they saw it reverse and get onto a road. While Harry rushed to a nearby police post to get reinforcement, Ali sat on a motorbike to carry out a shrewd pursuit. With the cooperation of the rider, within twenty or so minutes they spotted the car station at some shopping centre. The pursuit was however, through a thick forest and several statements from the rider, showed that he really did not enjoy the task at hand. He however, needed the money and that is why he was out in search of clients. When the pursuit ended in an open town, I guess there was some calm. The occupants of the vehicle were already in business, selling vegetables from the boot of the vehicle. Ali soon made a call to Harry and the two re-joined.
“Hi?”
“Hi?” the occupants replied perhaps thinking that these were customers to their attractive products. A conversation ensued in the friendliest of terms. This continued for a few minutes before a bomb shell was dropped, changing all moods.
The car driver appeared to know one of the officers who had accompanied Harry. Shocking news were released that the car was wanted. Much did not happen as there was utter cooperation from all ends. All could fit in the car, on their way back to the police station where the car was to be detained. Attempts by these businessmen to gain an edge to finish their sale was not welcome.
Different characters were at the station. Joel breathed fire as he defended his position. Uncooperatingly, he uttered threats. Certainly, he avoided how he had acquired the vehicle and was reluctant to carry out an online search on the transactions involving the vehicle. Was he reacting to a situation where he had not done things right? Was he trying to cover-up for something that he knew he had done? Is it that in his young age he was so inexperienced as to not be patient to let the law take its course?
The father, a retired military man had all the wisdom he needed. He attempted to get the son to settle the matter amicably. The heat that the young man breathed could not be watered down at the time. The mother looked in shock. She had few words to say. I wonder what was going on in her mind. Was the son a fraudster? She certainly could never have given birth to such. Why then was he in refusal of what was being suggested to him?
All was put to suspense until the following day.
Various lessons had been acquired from the episode.
In front of the law, no one is a hero. While young blood is so hot, the wisdom that would allow it act so profitably is often lacking.
Law enforcers are a tricky panel to deal with. On the one hand they may say one thing and on a different occasion say exactly the opposite, yet in both instances they shall be right.
For those intoxicated by materialism and youthful show-offs, how easy it is for one to find themselves heavily indebted and in the company of auctioneers!
Cut a coat as per your size, and always do due diligence to avoid being on the wrong side of the law.
