Chapter 9

Part-1

Coincidence

It’s been weeks since Tamina had last seen col. Barnes. She felt like she hadn’t thanked him enough for saving her life because she was in shock due to the fear even after Abir has left. She really wanted to see him again for expressing her gratitude. Col. Barnes has not only saved her, but her father and his friend, Sartai too. She owed him a big time.

After the news of police searching for Kamran and Sartai spread, Owais has to release them due to the fear of getting caught. His allies in the police station informed him as soon as col. Barnes filed a case to search for Tamina's father. They warned Owais that minister Alan is involved, so it was a risk for them to support Owais. Having no other options, Owais released Kamran and Sartai, but warned them to keep their mouth shut if they wanted to keep their family safe.

Kamran knew Owais very well. He was not a man to be taken lightly. So when the police asked, both the men replied that they have no complaints against anyone. The police who wants to end the investigation in favour of Owais didn’t dig deeper into the issue as well. Kamran and Sartai was admitted to hospital after getting beaten up with broken ribs and bruises. Dr. Amir attended them, and Tamina stayed at the hospital nursing her father while Aisha brought him meals everyday.

After two weeks, they were sent back home from the hospital but Kamran didn’t fully recover from the wounds. He frequently fell ill after that incident but kept working as a cobbler to pay his revenue to Owais to keep his family safe.

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Col. Barnes was being restless for the past few weeks. He arrived at the legation in hurry after seeing the pistol in Abir's hands, but he got stuck and didn’t know what to do next or whom to trust. His subordinate, captain Eugene was being suspected for his actions, there was no one else he could ask for answers regarding this. He didn’t wanted to trust any of captain Eugene’s men as well. Asking Eugene about this would be a very foolish act from his side as he might either became more cautious which will make col. Barnes investigation more difficult or he could wipe out all the traces of his illegal deeds.

‘ It was definitely a M18 pistol or it’s replica. No, it was a replica, because the color was a bit too bright than the original.’ Col. Barnes mumbled himself.

He has been telling this to himself for the past weeks after arriving from the hospital.

‘ The native army uses M9 handguns and I am definitely sure it was a M18, used by the US Army in here. ’ Col. Barnes assured himself.

When it comes to guns and grenades, col. Barnes was an expert.

‘ There is no way a native could posses or afford such an upgraded modern pistol unless….’.The picture gradually became clear in col. Barnes’s mind.

‘ It’s Carter then. He might have sold the arms as the rumor says and got something in return, money or maybe any kinds of services. ‘.Col. Barnes concluded after weeks of thinking and cross checking.

‘ I have to see the bottom of this scandal even if I had to interfere with the lives of natives.’ Col. Barnes made the decision after a lot of thinking.

Owais had trust issues. Even though he seemed obedient and loyal to captain Eugene, he never trusted a foreigner. So, he made replicas of the guns that he bought from Eugene and kept it a secret from him. He was wise enough to calculate his future losses in case he had to give those arms back under any circumstances. Captain Eugene was oblivious to this fact and thought there was no way Owais or his men could expose him. He never thought that the replicas Abir carried would caught col. Barnes’s attention.

After three weeks, the police arrested the man who shot col. Barnes. His name was Lacer, Owais's henchman and Abir's stepbrother. Owais had predicted this when he ordered Laser to kill the legate, so he already had a backup plan to avoid getting arrested. Lacer was loyal to Owais, just like Abir, ready to sacrifice himself for his master. Owais asked Lacer to pretend himself to be a member of a native group which was against the foreigners and their activities in Belgarath, if he get caught. They were not even a formidable group, but highly criticised Owais for supporting the foreigners, so he hated them. They called themselves as the ‘ Belgarathian redemption army.’ Kamran and Sartai were also a part of that group, but they were spared since they promised to keep their mouths shut. At the police station, Lacer confessed just as Owais had asked and the leaders of the group were arrested along with him.

Lacer told that he had shot the Legate as he was ordered by the group and it's leaders. They confined the shotgun that was used to shoot col. Barnes and put Lacer in the prison along with the members of ‘Belgarathian redemption army’. Owais thus saved himself from getting arrested by making Lacer a scapegoat as well as got rid of his greatest haters in Belgarath in a single go. Col. Barnes was informed from the police station and arrived there to see his assailants. After having a talk with each one of them, he had a feeling that it was Lacer who was the real culprit and the others were being wrongly accused.

The members of the ‘ Belgarathian redemption army’ told him that Lacer was Owais's dog and they were being framed because Owais hated them. At first he didn’t wanted to believe them, but as Owais’s name was brought up, he felt that there was some truth in their confession and had second thoughts about it. His doubts were confirmed when col. Barnes examined the shotgun that was used by Lacer to shoot him. It was a 500 MILLS shotgun, supplied to the Special Delta forces of the US Army, it was also a replica too.

He put the pieces together and he knew what was going on in Belgarath. He thanked the police chief, Mr.Shafer who was in charge of the case and then went straight to the legation office.

In the evening, Dr. Amir and Pro. Lee joined him for some drinks.

‘ It was Owais who ordered the guy to shoot me. ‘ Col. Barnes said sipping his drink.

‘ The village chief? ‘ Dr. Amir asked dumbfounded.

‘ Mmm. And there is more. Captain Eugene might be the one who ordered him to do that.’ Col. Barnes added.

‘ How can you say that? ‘. Dr. Amir asked frowning and col. Barnes explained about the gun that was used to shoot him.

‘ So, Carter and the village chief are working together? ‘. Dr. Amir asked as professor Lee waited for col. Barnes's reply. Col. Barnes nodded his head, thoughtfully.

‘ And they couldn’t arrest Owais because that guy had confessed it and so, we couldn’t take action against Carter because we don’t have any proofs, right? ‘. Dr. Amir asked impatiently.

‘ I have to admit that the village chief is indeed a smart guy. He killed two birds with one stone. ‘ Professor Lee spoke in his soft voice.

‘ Prevented himself from getting arrested and got rid of his haters in a single shot. Yeah, he is indeed, but not smart but crooked'. Dr. Amir said swirling his drink.

‘You are going after them, aren’t you, colonel? ‘ Professor Lee asked and col. Barnes remained silent.

‘ What’s your plan?’. Dr. Amir asked.

‘ First I need to find out who made the replica of those guns. And then through him, I will find out the real culprits. ‘ Col. Barnes said.

‘ Blacksmiths. They are the only one in here who could make a replica and he has to be highly skilled if the replicas are indistinguishable from the originals . I know a blacksmith. He is the grandfather of one of my student. A kind man. Maybe we should ask him? ‘.

Professor Lee suggested.

‘ No, I can’t involve directly with a native. Last time you know, it didn’t go well as they got beaten up. I can’t put them in danger again. ‘ Col. Barnes said.

‘ Owais has his eyes on you, not on us, colonel. Leave this to us. ‘ Dr. Amir said and Professor Lee nodded his head.

‘ It’s dangerous. We can’t trust anyone in here. ‘ Col. Barnes said.

‘ Don’t worry about it. We will deal it in our own way. And also, come to the hospital tomorrow, you still haven’t removed your stitches. ‘ Dr. Amir said.

‘ They are all gone now. Only a few strand are left. I swear I didn’t took them of, but they disappeared on its own. ‘ Col. Barnes gave Dr. Amir a goofy grin.

‘ Anyway, stop by the hospital tomorrow. There is also someone else who wanted to see you desperately. I have to look into your wound too.’ Dr. Amir said.

A pair of Amber eyes glistening with tears suddenly invaded col. Barnes’s mind.

‘It’s completely obvious from the look on your face that you know whom I am talking about, don’t you? ‘ Dr. Amir smiled mischievously.

Professor Lee looked back and forth at both the other men’s faces as he had no idea what they were talking about.

‘ I have no idea what you are talking about, doctor. ‘ Col. Barnes denied the remark.

‘ Fine, fine. You will find out soon then. Goodnight, colonel. See you tomorrow at the hospital. ‘ Dr. Amir and professor Lee bid their goodbyes and left the legation office.

Col. Barnes sat on his chair with his drink while his mind still replayed those alluring Amber eyes that captured his attention.