บท 89: End Of the Night
Robbie's POV
I looked at the retreating back of Olsen, wondering what did he mean. Fred sneaked up behind me and said in a scathing tone,
"Don't mind his words, dude. He is just bitter. You separated him from his beloved daughter so, he is trying to make you and your old man fall out too!"
I hung my head realizing that Fred's words made sense. If that's true then Mr. Olsen tried for nothing as we already had a huge fallout. I pushed Mr. Olsen's words at the back of my head and looked towards the car where Tony was. I didn't want to leave him alone for too long esp in his current mental state. I looked around for the chief officer when I noticed Sarah who had freed herself from Joshua's hold and started chasing after the two officers who were escorting Mr. Olsen. I kept looking at her before she and Joshua disappeared from sight.
I looked at Fred who was beside me and looking at the same thing. I asked in a low timid voice,
"Was it too ruthless?"
Fred turned to me and said, rolling his eyes, "Dude, you don't have time for sympathy! It was coming to her whether you like it or not. Don't tell me you regret it!"
"No, I don't regret doing it. Olsen deserved it and Sarah needed to know his true colors but I just feel bad as Sarah kind of lost her only family" I said exhaling heavily
"She isn't totally blameless and you shouldn't forget about the 'rumour' incident with Tony. I do pity her but when you punish one, you are bound to end up hurting more" Fred said ambling over to the Chief Officer. It looks like he thought of the same thing that I did.
I made my way towards the car which Tony was when I saw Mr. Winters getting in the car. I looked at him feeling cautious. This man had a vibe that makes me uncomfortable. Maybe, he felt my gaze as he suddenly looked up. His cold-eyed scanned me before breaking into a professional fake smile,
"If it isn't Mr. Walker junior!" he said, giving a cocky look at me
"Mark Winters," I said, nodding in a short greeting, "What are you doing here?'
"Ah, Mr. Olsen happens to be my client" he spoke in a distant tone
"What? Aren't you my dad's lawyer?" I asked blinking in surprise
"Junior Walker (I hated him calling me that), I am completely under the law to have more than one client dealing on the same matter as long as the clients' interest doesn't clash!" he said, putting his hands inside his pocket.
My eyes became round with curiosity, "You will be representing both my dad and Mr. Olsen on this kidnapping matter?"
Mark pulled one of his hands out of his pocket and checked his watch as he spoke, "The matter involves both my clients and there is no conflicting interest so...." he dragged the word, putting his hand back in his pocket and speaking with a creepy fake grin, "Yes! I will be representing both"
My face fell. After that one encounter with him, I searched about Mark Winters and got to know that this guy is quite ruthless with his methods. He is exceptionally good at arguing his case, is well known for turning tides in near-impossible situations and his win record is, unfortunately, above ninety percent which is beyond impressive. I clutched my fist, realizing that until and unless I catch hold of some unrefutable evidence, both of the culprits will get out of this matter unscathed, with some moderate financial loss.
"Dude, what are you doing daydreaming here?" came Fred's booming voice from behind me. I and Mark both turned to look at his bear-like structure strolling leisurely towards us, "I have spoken to the chief. He will inform us if they find anything. That bastard and the blondie is taken into custody, so, we can now make our way to the hospital" he said, scratching his ear
"Fred D'Souza?" came the startled tone of Mark.
I quickly looked at Mark and then at Fred, who too looked taken aback.
"Have we met before?" Fred asked raising his eyebrow
"You are quite the forgetful one aren't you?" Mark said, "Five years back, car accident, your plastic surgery.....ring a bell?"
Fred's eyes filled with recognition but he immediately grimaced, "So, your that scrawny dude who handled the case! Imagine meeting you here and to think you even remembered my changed face"
"I have often been complimented for my sharp memory! It was a pleasure meeting you again. But now, I am running out of time. See you soon" Marks said checking his watch again, before opening the car door and getting behind wheels
I looked at Fred speaking in a blank voice, "Can there really be such a coincidence? Not only that sly fox is dealing with my dad and Mr. Olsen's case but he somehow happens to be acquainted with you too?"
Fres shrugged and said lazily, "We should make our way to the hospital. Tony needs to be checked"
*****
I stayed at the hospital that night with Tony, Twen, and mum. Mum and Sam were already there with Twen when I, Tony and Fred reached. I was heartily relieved seeing Twen all well and healthy, though, he doesn't seem to remember what happened and said he only felt sleepy. On seeing Tony, who fell unconscious in the car, being taken by the hospital staff, he threw a huge fuss overseeing him and got mightily pissed at me for not allowing it. The fact was, I wanted Tony to rest. He needed to relax his nerves which were very disturbed at the moment. It was only after I explained Twen that Tony needs rest that he reluctantly agreed to wait.
Fred had to leave soon after as he had to close his daily transaction book of all the restaurants. While another drama ensued as Sam gotta a call from his neighbor about Jenny going into labor after stressing over Twen and Tony all evening. He didn't wait for a second after the call and left without saying goodbye. Tanya and her father Jonas decided to stay at the hospital with us, though, mum said there was no necessity but they insisted.
To think that so much happened in just one night. Twen being kidnapped, my returning from my meeting, Tony getting abducted, all the chase, arguments, fallouts, tracing, locating, finding, arresting, and ultimately hospital. Everyone felt tired. I saw Tanya dozing off on her dad's shoulder, Twen slept hugging mum while mum too fell asleep leaning on the chair. I walked over to the room Tony was in and watched him through the small glass opening still unconscious but at least alive and well. I smiled feeling a little calm seeing Tony but feeling extremely exhausted. Finally, this hellish night ended.
*****
บท 90: Alone
Robbie's POV
Next Day
As Mr. Olsen said, there was nothing found in the ruins of the house of Emaulsen, neither in Tony's blood-stream nor Twen. Though chloroform (it was banned in our country, and so, was illegal) was applied on Twen, its quantity was just enough for anesthetic purposes and because of its property of not staying in body for long, no trace was found. It was the same with Tony. The only medicine detected was NSAIDs drugs or in other words, just simple ibuprofen usually used for ridding of hangovers and was legal. The trace of the very same drug was also found in the glass that was collected from ruins. There was nothing whatsoever to prove Mr. Olsen's guilt or association with illegal drugs. It was so frustrating that I ended up wall punching and injuring my already injured hands (because of rashly breaking a wine glass) and ended up being scolded by mum.
Fred who too came to meet Tony along with Sam, who was in the same hospital as Jenny, were all as frustrated as I was. We all knew that they were all going to be released scot-free due to a lack of evidence. With the involvement of Mark Winters, he would definitely get them all bailed and there was no point in pursuing the case if we don't find any other evidence against them.
I decided to not inform Tony about it. I didn't want to scare him esp after his last night's horrid experience. He will be even more worried and stressed about Twen if he knew that the culprits will get free. I have to think of a way to get Tony and Twen out of their sight so, that they cannot seek revenge. I thought of taking them to Guyan City (where Tony was actually from and where mum's sister and my aunt stay). Once settling there we could think of how to restart our lives. I would have arranged for it but the problem, however, was Tony himself.
Tony was discharged the very next afternoon and I took him to mum's place since I was afraid of leaving them alone in the quarters. She arranged a room for both of them. Tony did not speak a word ever since his discharge. Once he got into his room, he refused to let anyone in other than mum and Twen. Fred, Sam, and Tanya visited in the next few days but he refused to meet them. He had to be literally force-fed food and in just one day, he would bathe five times. I and mum were worried sick that he might destroy his health in this manner. I wanted to help him but it was like he had created an invisible wall around himself where no words were penetrating. Nothing I said or do was affecting him. So, I would send Twen to meet him from time to time to cheer him up which kind of did but as soon as he left he would revert back to his weird gloomy self.
"What's wrong with him, mum?? How can I help him if he doesn't even let me?" I asked massaging my temples
"Robbie, it must have been very traumatizing for him. Everyone has a tolerance level, this must have been too much for him" Mum said patting my arm
"I understand but I just can't see him like this. On top of that that bas-...Mr. Olsen did not even receive his due punishment, while Tony is left in a depressed state, thanks to him. This is so unfair!" I cried, running my hand through my hair restlessly
"Calm down. Listen, Robbie, I think it would be best if we arrange for a therapist for Tony. We both can't understand the depth of his pain or what he is going through. But maybe an expert can" Mum said thoughtfully
"A therapist?" I asked looking a bit surprised but the next moment my surprise turn to brood.
Mum was right. Tony can't continue like this otherwise, his health would totally destroyed. Even, the doctor in the hospital said that his injury was more psychological than physical. If he goes through therapy, maybe, he would be able to heal his psychological wounds. I felt so useless to not be able to reach him but I really didn't know what to do and just like always, he had a bad habit of keeping everything to himself.
My brooding ended with a doorbell. I and mum looked at the door that our maid went to open. The maid ushered in Tanya who was holding a small yellow rose bouquet and came in nervously. She had already visited once but she was still getting nervous about our presence! She greeted me and mum and took a place beside mum.
"How are you dear?" mum asked when Tanya sat
"I am fine Mrs. Walker," Tanya said, fidgeting with her finger, "Uhm...I just...I wanted to meet Tony"
"You know, he isn't meeting anyone. I am really worried about him. He seemed to have been impacted very heavily" Mum spoke, intertwining her fingers
Tanya looked upset as she spoke, "Life is so unpredictable. It was just five days back that we were talking about nonsensical things and now..."
Tanya's lips pulled down. Mum placed a hand over hers and said softly, "Don't worry honey. Everything will be fine. I and Robbie were just discussing getting him a therapist"
"Therapist?" Tanya too blinked in surprise like me
"Yeah," I said, "He (I sighed)...he keeps everything to himself. Even now, when he is suffering, he is preferring to do it alone all by himself rather than sharing the burden with me- I mean with us"
Tanya's lips parted and a strange blank look came over her face. "Suffering alone!" she remarked before looking at her feet and exhaling loudly.
"What happened?" I asked feeling something amiss while mum too looked at her curiously
"Mr. Walker, you just pointed out what his problem is! Alone...he is suffering alone" she said looking at me
"I-I am not getting you...I tried talking and..." I started wondering what she meant when I saw her shaking her head
"No, Mr. Walker, you didn't understand. Why do you think Tony is refusing to share anything? Why do you think he is dealing with it alone and not talking to anyone?"
I shook my head saying, "I am not sure. Maybe that's how he deals with things-"
"Exactly!" Tanya exclaimed, "Tony had always dealt with everything alone because he had no one to share it with"
I was still lost and from the look on my mum's face even she was. Tanya took in a deep breath before explaining, "Our personality is shaped by the environment and conditions we have grown up in. Tony was only 12 when his parents, who he trusted the most, abandoned him. As I understand, during his school period, he had no friend to trust or rely on, and the person he first felt love from and trusted wholeheartedly also abandoned him (I shifted uncomfortably)... Don't you see...he had never had anyone who could sympathize or understand his situation, forcing him to deal with everything all alone. And so right now, he is again doing the same thing"
My eyes widen as I realized that Tanya was right. I saw comprehension dawn in mum's eyes as well. But the challenge was how to make him open up? He hadn't ever done so. How to make him talk about it? Keeping it in is only going to eat him from inside. Tanya suddenly got to her feet,
"I'll talk to him," she said, determined.
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