Meeting Again - 80 Not Tony too!

Robbie’s POV

It was only an hour and half flight but it felt like an eternity. Once I landed in Warham, I quickly proceeded to take a cab. Since, my return was sudden, my car was not prepared ahead of time. I wanted to go meet Tony first. But right now, my mind was so completely absorbed in my suspicions over dad, that I wanted to run and affirm whether it is him or not. And if it is, then to return Twen to me. I just couldn’t bring myself to believe that dad could have fallen so low. Today’s altercation between us, might as well be the end of our relation as well as my mum’s too. I felt unbearably guilty of pulling Mum into this as well but there was no other choice. Mum tried very hard to keep the happy family image in front of me so that I don’t ever feel bad or isolated. But today my choices have led to the sufferings of so many people. Tony, Twen, Mom…how am I ever going to forgive myself for bringing such a disaster on them all? I clutched my fist in anger.

My guilty reflection got interrupted by a call. It was Tony. I was scared to pick the call. I truly didn’t have the courage to face him when it is most probably my dad who is the reason behind them all. I exhaled loudly to calm my stressed nerves and received the call,

“Robbie, have you reached?” Tony asked, his voice clearly filled with anxiousness

“Just landed. What is happening on the that side?” I asked feeling my heart pounding fast

“I and the cops went to Mrs. Miranda’s place. She said that she took a leave today. She was at her mother’s place to attend her sister’s engagement. The place is about 42 miles from the school. Her mother, sister and brother-in-law all proved her words. She has a strong alibi. She can’t be lying. Yet, the cops are checking the video recordings of the engagement” Tony said as his voice cracked in the end.

“So, it was someone else who sneaked in? But how? Didn’t she got detected in the ID scanner?” I said, my brows creased. I started to feel the panic rise in my chest. It looks like dad does have a connection in this.

“Mrs. Miranda’s ID was stolen, she herself doesn’t know how!” Tony said. I could almost hear the fear in his voice as he spoke

“Did the cops got any way of recognising this woman? CCTV cameras at the school captured her right?” I said, trying to make my voice as much relaxed as I was not feeling

“She somehow managed to not show her face in any of the security cameras in the school. There was no way of recognising her” Tony said sounding like he was gritting his teeth

“What about the whereabouts of the car? Was the traffic surveillance checked?” I asked in a fearful voice.

This question was followed by a pause, so long, that I had to check my cell phone to see if we were still on call. I spoke softly, “Tony?”

“It made three stops” Tony suddenly started, startling me, “One in bus stop, another one and the last stop where the car was found, an abandoned road with no traffic surveillance and” Tony stopped to swallow before saying, “and another stop at Walker family Villa”

I froze. So, Fred was right. That minor cousin of his did break into the police server and got the recordings. I felt choked. I didn’t know why I felt I might hear something different. I was now at a loss for where to start with the explanation, when Tony spoke again,

“Robbie, did your dad-”

“I don’t know” I said, placing my head on the seat, “I have no idea. I am going straight to dad, to know what’s going on”

“Why do you sound like you already knew about it?” Tony asked, sounding suspicious.

“I-” I started to think of an excuse, as I didn’t want to put Fred in trouble when I heard Tony speak to someone,

“Sorry, I am really sorry, I was not looking-” the sentence was interrupted with a gasp from Tony

“Tony?” I asked cautiously

“Who are you?” I heard Tony ask, in a shocked frightful tone, but then his voice turned full blown fear stricken “Hey? Wh-What are y-” and then, Tony’s voice disappeared.

“Tony? Tony? TONY??” I screamed on my phone, as I heard some muffled voice, which I couldn’t make out anything of.

“Tony, What happened? TONY?” I shouted on my phone earning the furious look of the cab driver.

I checked my phone, he was still in line but there was no voice. Panicked, I disconnected and quickly made a call to Fred who picked up almost immediately,

“Finally, your back old m-” Fred’s booming voice assaulted my ears but I quickly interrupted him saying in an urgent panicked tone,

“Where is Tony?”

Fred answered in a slightly shocked voice, “He went to the sight where the car was dumped to find any trace leading to Champ-”

“CHECK ON HIM RIGHT NOW!!” I almost screamed at him.

“What happened?” Fred asked, astonishment in every syllable of his words.

“He was talking to me and then he encountered someone with who he had some odd exchange and then it went all silent” I spoke so hurriedly that some of my words got jumbled.

“Relax dude! Cops are there with him, it’s impossible somethi-” Fred abruptly stopped speaking. He spoke again after a momentary pause, “the cops are calling me” he said in a stunned tone

“Put it on conference” I said, which he did,

“Mr. D’Souza?” an unfamiliar voice spoke

I listened quietly, though, I almost wanted to bombard him with questions.

“Speaking” Fred said

“Please don’t panic by the news but it looks like Mr. Hawker had been abducted too” the cop spoke speedily as if hoping the news won’t sound too unpleasant.

I felt like my senses had gone cold. My limbs felt weak. It was like being suddenly thrown into a nightmare. First Twen disappeared and now Tony?

No! No!

Not even Tony!

Why is this happening??

“WHAT? AND WHAT ON F*CKING H*LL WERE YOU GUYS DOING???” Fred boomed, furiously

“Mr. D’Souza, Mr. Hawker went to talk in his cellphone privately, while we were questioning the witnesses. We took our eyes off for a minute and he was nowhere to be seen. We only found his cellphone on the roadside” the cop said in such a manner as if preparing to hear a lecture

“YOU BUNCH OF INCOMPETENT FOOLS!!” I bellowed on the phone and hung up.

I felt my hands and legs trembling. What do I do? My son! Tony! They are both in trouble. What if something happen to them?

NO!!

Nothing should happen to them!

I can’t panic. I can’t.

I have to do something.

First, I have to talk to dad, and then I have to know if there was anything suspicious around Tony in the last few days! Anyone holding grudge! Or threatened him maybe? But who should I ask? Samuel and Jenny are close to him but they don’t stay by him every day. Neither does Boris or Fred! Then who?

The answer came to me like being struck by the lightening bolt!

Of couse! Tanya!