How the crude price rise helped Suparman

Aloysius watched as the numbers flashed on his screen. Crude had hit US$200 a barrel. He was making millions in his deals. He smiled as he thought of his Porche, and his new villa at Kenny Hills. And his trophy wife Liz. Life was good indeed.

Kim Leong looked through the window at the bleak grey sky. He mentally calculated his losses on his contracts. Prices of everything was shooting up skywards. He was losing money on all his contracts. He had to trim his costs.

Suparman was frantic. His wife had called from Makassar. His son was very ill. She needed money urgently to pay the hospital. And this morning the Chinese boss had sacked him, saying there was no more work. His pleadings had fallen on deaf ears. Suparman squatted on the pavement. And then he saw Kim Leong emerging from the doorway. Instinctively Suparman knew what he had to do. He got up, and grabbed the piece of metal.

Just then, as Kim Leong stepped off the pavement, the Porche sped around the corner, knocking him down. The car careened on to the pavement, sending Suparman scampering. Suparman saw the flashily dressed man slumped in the sports car. On the passenger seat was his briefcase, half open.

Kim Leong lay on the hospital bed, his left leg amputated at the knee.

Aloysius rested in his grave, oblivious to the legal manoevres of the Commercial Crimes Police, who had frozen his assets. Aloysius had not been content with the millions he was reaping. He was into fraud as well.

Suparman sat with his wife. She was grateful that Suparman has brought the money. Their child was safe. And her husband had told her that he had earned enough, and did not have to go away again.