Chapter 98: Barnabas

"Good afternoon everyone." Simon greeted gaining their attention. The room suddenly felt cold as everybody adjusted and shifted their focus to Simon. "I know that you've been wondering why I called every one here in this room. It is actually nothing too serious" he said taking a seat. 

The sitting room sparkled lavishly with the big pan windows, ash and milk walls and gold finishings on the furnitures. Simon adjusted himself on his well carved soft red Velvet single chair positioned beside the wall with legs crossed showing off his soft brown slippers and a well manicured feet. Bruce stood like a cold steel beside him keeping a straight face. The confusion on Timothy's face was prominent enough that Simon couldn't help but spread his lips into a thin line as he smiled once he caught sight of Timothy. 

"Welcome everyone." He said.

"Thank you Sir, boss." His employees chorused. Three of his guards who came with Charles from Lakeview stepped in with bold and straight faces holding their rifles in position. At the sight of their new company, Timothy became extremely scared. He knew immediately that something was off. "Get the door Boys." Simon told their new company. One of the guards turned and locked the door securely. At the sound of the lock, the whole place fell into cold silence. Everyone of Simon's employee became terrified.

"Once again, you are all welcome. It's been a while I visited here. How long has it been? Two months?" He asked turning to Timothy. "Tim, how long has it been?" He asked.

"Apart from our short meet ups in town, it's been approximately a year and three months Boss." Timothy replied smiling nervously.

"Such a long time away from one's property. Thank you for holding up the ranch up to this standard. I'm impressed." He praised him and Tim murmured his appreciation with a smile. "I want to thank and appreciate every single one of you standing here right now." He continued. "You all have been nothing but good, kind and trust worthy. Though I can't help to notice the absence of my cook." He added looking at Barnabas the butler, Timothy and finally faith. "Barnabas," he called. "What happened to my Cook?"

Quickly, Timothy picked up the question. "Boss" she fell...." 

"Are you Barnabas now Tim." He cut Timothy short with his eyes still fixed on Barnabas. "Answer my question." He said to the butler still holding his gaze.

The scared butler knelt down and raised his hands to the ceiling. "Sir," he started. "Mr. Timothy said she was sick and she needed to rest. So he told me that he gave her few days off work." Barnabas replied. 

"B.a.r.n.a.b.a.s" Simon called empathetically with a smile. "I need a knife." He whispered to Bruce who brought out a shielded knife from his pocket and handed it to him. Taking the knife, he removed the sheath revealing a sharp and sparkly silver blade. "How long have you worked for me Barnabas." He asked still seated comfortably and cheerfully. "You do know that normally I'm not a patient man don't you?" He asked Barnabas.

"Yes sir." He replied almost in tears. At this point, Faith who was standing beside Timothy became gripped with fear.

"Miss Faith," he called faith who jerked in fear at the mention of her name. "What is my cook's name?" He asked now looking at Timothy. 

Faith was thrown off balance by the question. Timothy told her the previous day but she couldn't remember the name. At least not when someone had a  knife in front of her with three guards standing beside her with loaded riffles. "I'm listening." Simon said still looking at Timothy who bent his head.

"Her n..a.me is...." She stammered. She tried all she could to recall the name but all her efforts were to no avail. "I... I.. I've forgotten sir." She said trying her best to remain calm.

"Mmmm," he hummed with a mischievous smile. "What is your father's name Miss faith." He asked but got no answer as Faith hung her head down in shame. Too ashamed to raise it up. "Do you by chance remember your surname then?" He asked.

At this time, tears threatened to fall down from Faith's eyes. "Can you remember?" Simon went ahead to ask. While faith shook her head in reply.

"Not to worry, that is understandable." He told her and suddenly turned to face the butler. "Barnabas," he  called. "What is my cook's name?"

"I.....I... it's Anastasia, her name is Anastasia." Barnabas replied.

"And how long have you worked with her?" He asked finally standing  up from his sitting position. This got everybody terrified. He walked up to Barnabas and raised his jaw with a blunt part of the knife "How long Barnabas?" He asked softly.

"Six years boss." Barnabas answered hurriedly afraid that he might loose his life if he wasted any  time than was necessary.

"What happened to the cook Barnabas. This is the last time I won't like to ask again." Simon said looking at Faith who was already shaking with fear.

"Please boss..." Barnabas started wailing. "I'm not the one with the full story. Mr Timothy is the one that told me what to do. I only did as I was told." He replied.

Simon turned to Bruce for a side stool and it was brought to him immediately. He looked at Barnabas and smiled. "So Barnabas, this is is a side stool, it can be used to place items of importance. It can also be used for the adequate placement of people's finger. Now, I have a knife and a side stool. Imagine what I can achieve with both." He smiled. "I'll ask the questions while you answer." Simon said while Barnabas nodded in acceptance.

"Why is the cook not here and who the hell is that lady over there?" He asked pointing to Faith.

"Please sir, believe me, I don't k.n.ow. I have no idea whatsoever. Over here, I only do what I'm asked to do sir, nothing else." He replied and got the first slap on his cheeks giving him a numb, tingly and very painful feeling. That part of his ear felt deafened as he groaned in pain. Simon squatted down to the level of Barnabas kneeling. "Barnabas," he whispered to his ear with a mischievous smile. The next one will be your finger on that stool. He said patting him on the shoulder. " Now, is there anyone with an information as to what happened to my cook, or would you all prefer that I call you one after the other?" He asked his employees who was all terrified and so afraid. "Anybody?" He asked again.

"I saw and heard something." The tiny voice of one of the maids sounded. "It's didn't really make much sense then but now I think I...."

"Speak!!" Simon interrupted her as he was not interested in hearing her long story.

"Two days before now, I saw the cook crying and when she saw me, she pretended like she was okay. When I asked why she was crying she said she wasn't. That she was just meditating on some self affirmations. Few minutes later, I saw her and Mr Barnabas walk out of the kitchen and she was still sobbing." The maid finished.

"Is there anybody else that might want to tell us a thing or two? He asked and when he got no response, he smiled inwardly. It's okay then. You all can excuse me. I have an important discussion with Barnabas, Timothy and our new cook." He said with a mocking tone.

With the help one of one of the guards, the others moved to the end of the hall and were made to sit on the floor while being guarded by the guard.  

"Are you ready to tell me what you are doing in my house?" Simon asked faith suddenly. Scared as much, faith felt like she was choking. She couldn't breath well anymore.

"I'm sorry." She said finally breaking down. "It was all Timothy's idea." She said amidst wailing.

Simon studied her for a moment and decided to continue with Barnabas while she help herself to tears. "Let's continue Barnabas. I'd love to let her deal with her tears first." He said nonchalantly. "So, you claim not to know anything right?" He asked with a smile but Barnabas didn't reply.

"I'll say what I know boss." Barnabas finally said.  Before now, Timothy had warned him that if he spoke up or exposed the plan, that the people they are carrying the whole plan out for will hunt him and kill him. Hence his reason for being so scared to reveal their plan. "It was Mr. Timothy boss, he reached out to me with the suggestion and I agreed. Mrs. Anastasia couldn't have it as we needed her help but she turned us down and he threatened to kill her if she spoke up. Few days later, we couldn't locate her. We looked around and even checked her home but there no sign of her. One day Mr Timothy came back and announced that she was ill and she asked that her daughter helps her out in the kitchen while she recover.