Not Tony too!

It was only an hour-long 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 at the moment, my mind was so absorbed in my suspicions over dad that I first wanted to run and confirm whether it was him. If it were him, then I would get Twen back. 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 relationship as well as my mum's too. I feel unbearably guilty of pulling mum into this as well, but there is no other choice. Mum tried her best to maintain the happy family image before me so that I don't feel sad or isolated. Yet, today many people have suffered because of my choices. Tony, Twen, Mom...how am I ever going to forgive myself for bringing such a disaster on them all? I clenched my fist in anger.

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

"Robbie, have you reached?" Tony asked, his voice filled with anxiousness.

"Just landed. What is happening on that side?" I asked, feeling my heart pounding fast.

"We 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, was it someone else who sneaked in? How? Wasn't her ID scanned in?" 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, and she doesn't know how!" Tony said. I could almost hear the fear in his voice as he spoke.

"Do the cops have any way of recognizing this woman? CCTV cameras at the school captured her, right?" I said, trying to make my voice as relaxed as possible.

"She somehow managed to not show her face in any of the security cameras in the school. There is 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 at the bus stop, another one 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 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 on the call, 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, asking 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 coloring every syllable of his words.

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

"Relax, dude! Cops are there with him. It's impossible for 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 has been abducted too," the cop spoke speedily as if hoping the news won't sound too unpleasant.

I felt like my senses had gone numb. It was like being suddenly thrown into a nightmare. First, Twen disappeared, and now Tony?

No! No!

Not Tony!

Why is this happening??

"WHAT? WHAT IN F*CKING H*LL WERE YOU GUYS DOING???" Fred boomed furiously.

"Mr. D'Souza, Mr. Hawker went to talk on his cell phone privately while we were questioning the witnesses. We took our eyes off for a minute, and then he was nowhere to be seen. We only found his cell phone 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 should I do? My son! Tony! They are both in trouble. What if something happens to them?

NO!!

Nothing should happen to them!

I shouldn't panic.

I have to do something.

First, I have to talk to dad, and then I have to find out if there was anything suspicious around Tony the last few days! Anyone holding a grudge! Or threatened him, maybe? 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 a lightning bolt!

Of course! Tanya!