It took a couple of weeks to set up the scheme, and William worked tirelessly to create the illusion of developing relationships with the various cryptocurrency traders — all of whom worked for Cedric. He also included one or two “real” traders in his fold ones he’d done extensive research on. He knew that Charles was watching him and was probably researching where the traders lived — ready to hunt them down should anything go wrong. This was something William had been worried about, but Cedric managed to ensure that he was able to hire the best in the business, creating all the right online profiles to meet the requirements of any investigation.

Between the runs to the mountain, the messages and the secure access account, William was able to  communicate  enough  with Cedric and his team to create the perfect play. He even orchestrated a “problem” to ensure things weren’t going too perfectly: One of the traders left the scheme and he’d had to offer him a bribe to make sure he didn’t give the game away. Edward, however, was keen on finding the guy and dealing with him in person, but William convinced him that a payoff would sort the problem out.

After that, the plan continued to develop perfectly.

A week before the planned “pump and dump”, William ran    to the rocky outcrop to send Cedric one final message. As he switched it on, a message pinged through from Cedric:

‘‘William. Once we destroy your father’s empire, he will know it was you. How will you get off that godforsaken island without him or your brother or any of his men killing you?’’

William didn’t have time for this. He quickly typed and sent  the message, praying Charles hadn’t followed him. Once he switched the phone off, he hid it and breathed a sigh of relief.

Tempted by the cigarettes, he reached behind the rock before remembering that he hated the last cigarette with Charles. It made him feel so queasy. Truth be told, he felt better in his skin than ever before, and he rubbed his chest and arms and enjoyed the feeling of being strong and fit. It would be a real pity if things went sour and his life ended now. He refused to think about Cedric’s message anymore. He had no idea how he would get off the island and with Edward and Charles alive he was never leaving. William didn’t want to think of the alternative and chose instead to think about his friends who would find out that he hadn’t actually betrayed them. He wanted to find Mzi and Cedric’s treasure and to tell his mother he loved her and that he wasn’t a traitor. He wanted it all so bad that he couldn’t think about how he was going to survive this. It was too much to think that far, so he’d have to wing it and somehow find a way.