Max couldn’t wait to leave the station. They have been summoned to their security company. They walk quickly to grab a taxi to Sandton where their security firm is.

They are quiet and their thoughts are far away. When the taxi stopped in front of the security firm, they all had a feeling they wouldn’t be getting good news.

“I hope we still have jobs,” Max says.

They all sigh and enter the building. Mr. Mabaso, their supervisor, is in the office. They enter and see him sitting on his chair. A table is in front with two chairs; Max and Thato sit while Itu and Lesiba stand beside them.

“I want you to start working at South Mall in CBD,” Mr. Mabso says.

They all get startled, Lesiba mouth opens with no words come out.

“What about Treasure Quest Hall?” Max says, baffled.

“You will get paid. You did your job until the robbery,” Mr Mabaso says.

“Oh, good,” Thato says, relieved.

They all feel better and smile. The telephone on the desk rings.

“You can go,” Mr Mabaso waves his hand and they leave while he answers his phone.

Max walks alone while his colleagues walk slower talking to each other with excitement. He grabs a taxi back home. Upon arriving, he remembers about the glove. He takes out his phone, it only has 3% battery left. When he opens his messages, his phone shuts down.

“Fuck, this message needs to be sent or it will be late,” he says in a low voice.

He stands up and fetches the charger from the shelf near his bed. He plugs it in and sighs. He will have to wait for half an hour before letting the gang know the news. He promised to be their eyes and ears.

He cooks himself noodles mixed with green beans, carrots, and peas. He sits silently watching television. He gets bewildered when the headline is about the stolen gem.

“A gem is stolen at Treasure Quest Hall. A sapphire that is worth millions. Detective, can you tell us evidence you got?” a reporter asks one of the police detectives.

“We have found some evidence, but we have to run DNA before we can make an arrest,” the detective says.

“Do you suspect anyone?” the reported asks.

“We will tell you after we make the arrest,” the detective says.

Max switches the television off and grabs his phone. He switches it on and waits for it to process the system. He dials Carl, but it goes straight to voicemail. He remembers he doesn’t have Gary or Lesley’s numbers. He writes a message to Carl.

They have evidence of cigarettes and a glove. -Max

He tries to call again but it still goes to voicemail. He calls Carl one last time before falling into a deep sleep.

A strange smell in his room awakens him. He blinks his eyes and sees Carl with his gang holding knives ready for slaughter. He is frightened because he doesn’t know how they get there. He knows none of them knew where he stays, so how did they get in here?

“How did you get here?” he sits up in his bed.

“We are thieves remember?” Gary laughs.

“What evidence do the police have?” Carl hisses.

“A glove and cigarettes,” Max trembles slightly.

“Come again?” Gary inhales the smoke.

“A glove and cigarettes,” Max said, annoyed.

“Do you know something?” Carl asks, concerned.

“I dropped my glove, remember? And, I was smoking,” Gary says, intimidated.

“You are fooling, right?” Lesley sighs.

“I am not,” he answers, walking to the window.

Max is too scared to say anything and goes to the bathroom quietly. Carl and Lesley look at Gary hoping they will find solutions.

“I will hand myself in, I deserve what’s coming my way, anyway,” he says, looking back at his friends who stood behind him.

“Are you nuts? We will also go to jail,” Carl says, furiously.

Max’s phone beeps, and Carl takes hold of it. It is message from Dambuza telling him to come to police station.

“What does it say?” Gary asks, anxiously.

Carl shows them while they take turns reading the message. Max walks in wearing a gown and gets irritated that they are holding his phone. He quickly grabs it from Lesley.

“What the hell you doing with my phone?” Max shouts, angrily.

Carl keeps quiet and Gary walks with Lesley to the window. Carl looks at Max sincerely. He smiles sincerely but Max sees the angry side of Carl, he suspects he is pretending with his sham acting.

“You have to go and see Dambuza,” he says, gently.

“And you?” Max whispers.

“We will run away. If we get caught it will be the end of you,” Carl walks to the door.

He whistles and Gary and Lesley follow him. Max reads the message. He checks the time and dresses quickly. He goes to the police station. He finds his colleagues walking out the building.

“Where are you going?” he asks, confused.

“Go in, you are late,” Thato says.

“What happened?” Max asks.

“Just go or else…” Itumeleng says, pointing to the door.

Tell us: What do you think is about to happen?