Chapter 6

Well there is a guy in my country who is suspected of having corona virus. Let's pray that it's just a cold.

....

Iris looked at Heather with a somber expression. She had been in a coma for days and still, the doctors cannot say when she would wake up. Iris was tapping her feet in anticipation. A part of her wanted to go outside. To find the ones responsible. Yet another part of her cannot bear to leave Heather alone. She glanced at the empty seats opposite to her. Despite Heather being in the hospital for 3 days, there were still no sign of her parents. They haven't so much as called to inquire about their daughter's health. Seeing this made Iris even angrier. It didn't help that her uncle was recently killed during a mugging. Her parents had gone to New York to attend his funeral. Despite wanting to go with them, her parents asked her to stay and take care of Heather as they were worried.

She tried to think of something else but her thoughts went to the orphans. Despite Heather's efforts Joshua didn't escape unharmed. He had nerve damage in his right arm causing it to shake uncontrollably. 4 other kids have suffered concussions, bruises and cuts but otherwise, they were okay. Around noon, Iris stepped outside for a breath of fresh air while Sina took over watching Heather. She bought a cup of coffee and sat on a bench moping about the recent events.

It was then she heard a phone ring right next to her. She turned to see a phone on the bench. She looked at the phone with a puzzled expression as she did not see any phone when she sat down. She waited until the phone rang a few times hoping the owner was close by. When no one came, she reluctantly took the phone and answered it.

"About time girl." Iris heard a familiar voice but couldn't place where she had heard it.

"Excuse me. I found this phone on a bench. Do you happen to know the owner." Iris tried to explain.

"Why, the phone is for you Ms Griffiths."

Iris paused as she asked. "Who is this? How do you know my name?"

" `gasp' I cannot believe you forgot us. I thought for sure that you would know considering we were there when Simmons tried to baptise you in the vat of chemicals. "

Iris had her eyes wide open as realization dawned on her. This was one of the buyers Simmons had brought. She then looked around frantically and asked." What do you want? "

" No need to get your panties in a bunch. I mean you no harm. In fact, I have something you want."

"And whats that?"

"Look inside the phones gallery."

Iris put the call on hold before opening the gallery. In it she found 3 video files. She played the first one. In it she saw the cctv footage of the venue where the bombs went off. The date read that it was the night before the gathering. She stared as she saw 3 vans pull up in front of the venue. Several people got out of them bearing a well known crest. The Labradors, a local gang. They were involved in a wide range of criminal activities ranging from petty theft all the way upto murder. This They have been operating from the slums for years and despite people knowing who they are and what they do, they always seem to avoid prison. The video ended when they grabbed a couple of crates from the vans and walked towards the entrance.

Iris then played the second video. It showed a security guard meeting up with them and letting them inside the venue. The gang dispersed into different areas of the venue. She watched as they took out modified c4 charges from the crates. They them began to plant them in discreet locations. Once they were done, they swiftly left the scene.

Iris's hands were shaking when she saw the videos. It was clear now that the Labradors were behind the attacks. She then pressed the last video. Unlike the prior 2, the last one was recorded by a much higher quality camera. Judging from the angle, it might have been a hidden camera. 3 members of the Labradors were shown drinking and snorting drugs and laughing.

........

( *.... * is thug no 1

'....' is thug no 2

-....-is thug no 3)

*Now this is the life. It took only a night's work to set us up for years.* One of the men said.

'Ya. Too bad we can never brag about it. The cops would have our head at the spikes within the hour.' Another one of them added.

-'scoff' maybe yours. My dad's the chief of the police. He'll have me out before the pigs can even put a handcuff on me.- The last member arrogantly said as he chugged a beer.

'Are you sure Ron? Sound like this one is pretty big deal.'

-Absolutely. I told him what I did after coming home and he was cool with it. We even looked at the videos of the poor sods being blown to pieces and shared a laugh. -

*Oh yes. Some of them were pretty funny weren't they. Any favorites? Mine was the one was seeing that old hag at the reception being pancaked right in front of the little brats. Oh the look on their faces were precious. *

'I liked when that n**** was blown to pieces. He was sitting on of them bombs.'

-No man. It was seeing that blondie being buried under the rubble trying to save that kid. God I hate those kinds of people. I was kind of hoping that kid was going to get flattened. I mean the kid was an orphan. No one wants him anyway. Just do us a favor and die already. The girl just had to ruin it. - He was met with several voices of agreements before the video ended.

......

'crack' The phone shattered into pieces as Iris crushed the phone, the pieces glass and metal digging deep into her skin. But Iris could care less about it. She was hyperventilating as she thought about what she had heard. She dropped the remains of the phone onto the ground as she clutched her head. She was now filled with dread. Her thoughts went back to the night she almost died. She realised just how easily someone like her previous self might die just because of the whims of someone more powerful. In fact many people are dying everyday, people like Heather, her uncle and the people at the gathering. They mean nothing to those sort of people. People like them would not hesitate to kill innocents for their amusements.

Iris's thoughts were interrupted by another phone which had mysteriously materialised as the first one. This time she answered almost immediately.

"So did you like my gift?" Sean's voice came from the other side.

"Why did you show me this?" Iris asked.

"Call it a mutually beneficial agreement."

"How so?"

"Why we both have something to gain by putting the Labradors out of business. You get to have your revenge. While I get to weaken a thorn in my side."

"What makes you think that I will help. I could just as easily contact the authorities."

"Because A, you just destroyed the phone that had the evidence. B, incase you didn't realise, One of the leaders of the Labradors just happens to be the son of the chief of police. He is still going to leave scot-free."

"No he won't. This is not a mugging. This is an act of terrorism. There is no way he can weasel out."

"Nope. The chief is rotten to the core and most of the forensic team is under his payroll. Best case scenario is that he will spent a few years in prison. Worst case scenario, he will get rid of the evidence and will get to walk away with no consequences.

Iris went into a deep thought as he said it. In a wayshs knew that Sean was right. If she goes to the authorities, the chances of them getting away with it were higher. But she refused to leave it like this. And after thinking for 5 whole minutes she made up her mind. In a life less voice Iris asked Sean. "Where are they?"

(AN: Sorry this took so long. I had to re write the entire chapter 3 times.)