by Sweth Water
Rose sighed. “This is what I understood in my life about it, Holl. Collateral damage is used by two types of people: fools, and people who are getting profit out of a war. Innocents who suffered very rarely used this word. You are among the second ones. You got your money, and I think you paid them with that money.”
“I had no choice.”
“You had actually, if you had listened to your conscience.”
“I am scared.” Holl had his hands on his face.
“Coal will find you, Holl. I can’t do anything. The only compensation that you can have is not going to gallows, if you help the government. Agent Gin will listen to you if you just tell the names, and Agent Taking will be kind to you. I don’t know what to say more.”
“I will.”
“Start it then. Tell me the names, and after that we will call Gin and others.”
“I want immunity first. From the President. Written and signed. Then I will talk.”
Rose shook her head. “Holl. You have not got it, have you?” She breathed deeply. “She is a soldier first and then the President. Even if she signs that and gives you what you want, she will make sure you die. Don’t play that card with President Earl. RAAD. You heard of that? Everyone knows that is a group of mercenaries handled by President Earl. Help me, and Gin will help to reduce your sentence. You won’t be executed for sure.”
There was no choice. “You want to write the names then?”
“Sure.”
She took out a pen and paper and start writing.
Some of the names were familiar to her, and the rest sounded foreign. So people outside of Homeland wanted the damn power and money as in this country. That was bad. But she didn’t care for the moment. The names were necessary to have the men convicted in court. Holl said some twenty names after thinking for a while. He said he had met them, so it was easy to have their miens too.
The paper in her hand was small and all the names were written, if she missed someone it didn’t matter.
Holl gasped and tears were in his eyes. He was emotionally damaged.
It had to be done; Holl had no choice. He wiped his tears and looked at the button of her shirt. He had seen this before. The image of it having on her changed his mind for few moments. It wouldn’t be possible. She wouldn’t betray him. She was kind to him and he believed the words that she said so far.
A tiny fucking camera.
Rose saw his eyes fixed on the button and was going to move, but Holl pulled her down, his hands around her neck. His knees were on either side of her, strangling her with all the strength that he had.
His hands were cold death, trying to stop the breathing. She couldn’t even say the words for help. There were not many people but enough to stop Holl. Her face was to the left and legs were not moving. Blood stopped flowing and the breath was impossible to take.
She used her hands to remove his grip from her neck. He was heavy; it was impossible to do that. Her eyes started popping out and the image of Holl was blurring. Soon the struggling of hands slowed to tapping. The last thing she saw was a hand coming to the button and wire.
And then there was darkness.
Chapter
37
“Quick!” Coal was shouting.
The helicopter was on the ground, just outside the railway station. Fog was convinced by Taking that Holl was behind the attacks on Coal and Rose. Coal didn’t know how Taking knew, but Fog helped them by giving a bird to reach here.
People were spreading out. Coal and Baldwin got out, their spines bending as they moved.
The train was arriving at the platform number three. Their guns were out and people were screaming.
“Move. Move!” Baldwin was yelling at the people.
The platform was cleared when they reached there. The police officers arrived few minutes before them, and their guns were out too when they saw Coal and Baldwin. Apart from the police and them, nobody was there. It was easy for them to sweep the train. He had asked the men at the last station if someone got out or the train was stopped in between.
“No, sir. The guy is still on the train,” the man had said.
There were around twenty-one passenger cars and looking into each of them would take time, and the passengers might panic. It was hard. They had to cope with that. Only fifteen officers were with him. Holl was a tricky person. What if he left the train by disguising himself. He hoped that he would be in that passenger car where Holl was – it was easy for him to recognize Holl.
His phone rang.
“Coal.”
“Taking here.”
“Can’t talk now. The train is coming.”
“Listen to me. It is important.”
Coal looked at the left side and saw the train slowing down. “Tell me.”
“Rose is on the train.”
“What?” He was confused.
“She was bugged with the wire to have proof against Holl.” There was silence.
“And?”
“I am sorry, Coal.”
“I am not following.”
“Holl found out and he ... I am sorry. Rose was strangled.”
“What!”
“They were in the R3 passenger car. I am truly sorry, Coal. I can assure you that Holl will be punished for the crimes he committed. Apprehend him and we’ll talk soon.”
His phone dropped. No!
Rose died! No!
He’d convinced himself that she was a convict and she should be in a prison soon. But right now everything changed. Losing Rose again was very painful. His hands were shaking. He disgusted the patriotism that Holl had for the country. Fucking traitor to the humanity!
“You all right, Coal?” Baldwin asked.
“To R3 passenger car. Everybody.” he murmured.
The train stopped and Baldwin told the police officers to assemble near R3.
Coal stood there. For few moments he was like a dead person, who lost the emotions and the ability to think. This sufferance was worse than what he had in the last three months. It was a long-lasting punishment given by God. He had tears in his eyes, his hands shaking more than before.
He started moving towards the R3 passenger car. His eyes were blinking fast and lower lip was trembling. He wiped the tears. His head was so heavy with the words that Taking said that he didn’t know where to go now. Was he standing near R3 or it was something else? The officer at the door said something and he nodded.
Passengers were standing and were against the walls, their hands were on their heads. He looked ahead and found Baldwin and few police officers standing over something. Rose’s body? By using the support of the seats, he walked in Baldwin’s direction and wished this was a nightmare and God shouldn’t be cruel to take Rose away from him. Again.
He was standing where Baldwin was and looked at the body.
Tears fell from his eyes and he sank in the seat.
Taking took Gin in his arms and let her cry.
Rose had called Gin and told her the plan. With the help of the satellite, Rose found out where Holl was and she took the train to Destiny. Taking saw what Holl was saying. March was also there. Gin had thought of telling her to leave as it was a secret operation and nobody should see that. But she had told the truth to March. And there was nothing left to hide.
She let her see what Rose and Holl were saying. Everything was going as planned. But then Holl’s hands were around Rose’s neck.
They saw the life getting out of her body, shaking of her body, hands telling to leave her, and cruel face of Holl. It was so devastating that March closed her eyes and ears and cried. Taking wished he had been there with her to stop that bastard.
It was over.
He had informed Coal about it. He had heard his breath and the fear of losing his wife again. Taking remembered how it felt to lose someone. His story was somewhat the same. But he had buried it long time back and never discussed with anyone, not even Gin.
“I am sorry, Gin. We couldn’t have done anything.”
Taking said, rubbing her arm.
“She ... she was a stupid woman. She would do anything which is right according to her conscience. She faked her own death. Went to the building of the Lufghan State Police and could have been caught if Tina had not been there. And now this. Idiot.” Gin said.
“The history will be kind to her, Gin. People would know the truth and stand by the things she did to protect innocents.”
Gin broke the hug. “March, you should go home now. Please. And don’t talk to anyone until it is official from the Office. I believe I can trust you.”
March nodded.
There were tears in her eyes. Her face was red because of crying. They were very close to each other. Rose talked about March when they met the first time. She remembered Rose calling March her sister. She wished there could be something to undo whatever happened today.
March stood and walked out of the house.
“What should we do now, Gin?”
“What you mean?”
“The documents and all. She still had them, and you are the ranking officer.”
“I will think and tell you. I need to have some air first.” She stood up and sauntered to the door.
Taking’s phone rang.
“Taking.”
“I found the body.” It was Coal.
“I am sorry again, Coal. There was nothing that you could have done. I should have gone with her on that train. Telling you the truth, we came to know about her when she was on the train.”
Gin stopped there.
“I want to tell you something, Agent Taking.” There was a long pause there. “It is not Rose; it is Holl. He is alive.”
“What?”
“Yes. We found him there; he was handcuffed against the rod. We have taken him into custody.”
“Where is Rose then?”
“We don’t know it yet. We are looking into other passenger cars. She should be on the train for sure.”
“Thank you, Coal. I will let you do your work. Thanks again!”
He hung up the phone.
“What?” Gin said.
“Rose is alive.”
“Doesn’t make sense.”
“Any idea how?”
“No.”
“So she didn’t tell us the whole plan.”
“Stupid woman.”
Taking laughed. “She tried to fake her own death again.” There was a smile on his face.
“This woman won’t die easily.”
Gin joined the laughter.
Chapter
38
Rose coughed and drank some water.
There was still some giddiness.
“You all right?” Base asked.
“Yes.”
“Need anything else?”
“No. Thank you for saving my life.”
“I told you to let me talk to him, but you refused that.” They were in the car.
The whole scene was still a blur in her head. According to what Base said, he ran to the seat and punched Holl in his face and handcuffed him. It took some time for Rose to be conscious again. Passengers there didn’t know what happened. It was still not understandable for her. One punch of Base knocked Holl out!
Next thing that she knew was that she was in the car. How he carried her there she didn’t ask. She was safe.
Base said the police were at the station and they were inside the passenger car where Holl was. Coal was also there. She didn’t remember seeing him. Few minutes back she was fully conscious.
It was going to be night soon. It would be better if they got out of the city. Destiny and Earling were not where they should stay longer. And Venhoa had become a castle surrounded by the guards. Only dead people would have the wish to go there.
“You gave the documents to Gin?” Base asked.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“Rose, please. Having them with you can lead to another attack, and you know that. You should have given to her when you had the chance in your house. And let me tell you this too, that was a foolish idea to go there. I don’t know what led you to there in a lion’s den. You must be very crazy to do something like that.”
Rose just sipped some more water.
“Say something!”
“I had some unfinished business there. Had to go.”
“We created a mess to clean the country, Rose. The price was our lives, but we are still alive. We are very lucky.”
“We really are.”
“So, Holl knew about it before anyone else then?” Base changed the topic.
“I never had thought that he would have any knowledge about it. He was blinded by the money. Anyone can be.”
“Not if your desire to do the good things doesn’t fade.”
“You are right. But not everyone thinks like that.”
“That is the problem. When are you planning to leave the country?”
“In two days.”
“You booked the ticket?”
“Yes. I have it with me.”
“What about me?”
“You have to stay here, Base. You said that yourself that nobody has any evidence against you. Gin won’t say anything against you. Maybe you will do something to hunt some bastards in the next few days.”
“Without you? No way. You are the partner in crime, Rose. We can even crash the economies and sell the whole world. We are unique.”
Rose smirked. “We are different from others.”
“Where you want to stay for the night?”
“In the hotel.”
“Again?”
“You have a better place?”
“No.”
“I will stay there for the night and then move. You should leave and we may talk in the future.”
“Leave you? No. I think you don’t remember what happened when you were in the motel last time.”
“I do. That’s why I told you. If somehow people come to me, I don’t want them to hurt you.”
“Doesn’t make sense.”
“It makes to me.”
“This is insane.”
“I know. That’s what you will be doing. It’s an order. Remember, I have my number above yours.”
“Damn you.”
Rose smiled and Base cursed.
Rose hugged him and thanked him once again. She gave her fake ID at the reception and got a room on the second floor. It was a big hotel and the guards were standing at the gate. It also had the cameras for any misbehaviours in the hallways. It was a safe place to stay.
She waited near the lift. The hotel had stairs too. But she was so tired that she didn’t have the stamina to stand on the escalator. The damage done by Holl was enough to agree with the brain. She was standing on her feet was a miracle.
The lift stopped and she got in. There were two more people there, maybe a couple on their honeymoon. Usually, newly married couples would be staying here on their honeymoons. She remembered staying in one of these hotels when Coal and she were on their first honeymoon. Those days she cherished most in her life. The door opened and the couple got off on the first floor.
Behind her was the transparent glass showing the people at the reception. It was not crowded. She sighed and turned. The door opened and she walked out.
The room number was eighty-four. There were three hallways where the rooms were and no sign to check the room number. It was a hectic task. She walked the hallways. It took some time. At last, she found the room. She put the key and turned it.
The door next to her room opened and a man came out. He didn’t look at her, but when he did, he had a frown.
It was Tom.
The realization came so fast that she found herself running away from him.
Tom was behind her.
She didn’t know any place where she could go or hide. She wondered how many police officers were there. Did they follow them? Did Gin change her mind and betrayed her?
To her right side, there was a fire exit
sign. She took that. The door swung open with one thrust, and she started climbing down. There were two more floors below the ground floor. And she was not sure if Tom would let her go there. He was fast and she would slow down.
On the ground floor, she thought of going out for the main entrance, but the guards there would not let her go. She shook her head and took a deep breath. Tom was ten steps away from her. She was going down, down, and down. She hoped of seeing an exit in the lower basement where cars might have parked. It was easy to sneak out from there.
She was near the upper basement when Tom almost caught her. She jumped from the railing. On the right side, she saw a power box. She could use that to escape from there. But then it would be dark and nothing would be in her favour. Maybe another power box she could find before Tom caught her.
Tom was shouting something behind her. She didn’t care. He would never understand if she started explaining everything to him. He was dumber than Taking. Most of the men are dumb. And women too. Hard to explain the things when the answers are easy. Trust issue maybe. She stopped the chattering in her head. It was no time to do that.
Thirty feet ahead of her was a big container where she could hide. And on the right side was a power box. She took her time and the sparks were produced and then it was total darkness.
Tom stopped. She removed her boots and walked near the container. It was so dark that there was no chance of her to be there at the exact point. What if the power came before that? They must have power backups!
Her hands trying to grope anything at front. Soon she touched the container. She crouched at the back; it was difficult to say if it was the back side or the front side. She trusted her instincts and sighed.
“It is over, Rose. You can’t run now.” Tom said.
She cringed near the wall. So he knows too. Of course, that’s why he ran behind me. Maybe Taking told him about me. But Gin was also there. Did she speak something that she shouldn’t have to protect her ass? Damn you!
“We can talk and solve this. President Earl will listen to me, if you let me help you. Tell all the things you know and we all are good.”
