Chapter 30

Give me...some good news?" A husky voice having rather intimidating tone emerged from the simplistically decorated room mixed with the heavy odour of cigarettes. "In terms of numbuhhs," he whiffed gently his gaze following the clouds of smoke from his cigar.

"Yes sir it is increasing... with each day's count higher than the previous one."

A man wearing a pea cape standing at the door replied with confidence.

The room was partially lit with one of the lamps in the corner and the man was sitting on the sofa with his feet placed comfortably on the table in front of him, "What is the next target?" The smoke from his cigar diffused in the air with thick swirling clouds that he whiffed with amusement as he questioned.

"It's you who will decide Sir" the man replied with a low voice.

"Aha" he said whiffing again.

"I?"

"Yes sir."

"How could you be sure that the previous plans have not been compromised?"

He stood up from the sofa and gently walked towards the man standing.

"Why do you say that?" He uttered with hesitation.

There was an eerie silence as he came closer to him.

"Too much confidence is dangerous." He squeezed his shoulder making him uncomfortable with his smoky breaths.

The man was in his sixties with grey hair and lean body. His face had aged well with whitish grey stubble and his large bulging eyes were cold and emotionless.

"It makes you think that you are standing on the right spot but actually you are standing on the top of a large hole covered with thin layer of earth."

He tapped his foot on the ground with his heels. "See," he tilted his head to one side trying to hear the thuds that emanated from the taps of his foot. "Don't let your confidence deceive or blind you." He smirked.

"Sir if you have any doubt you can tell me. I can make up for my negligence." The man in the pea cape said with a scared voice fully aware that he was not bluffing. The thuds had sent shivers through his spine. A little mistake could bury him underground without anyone knowing.

"I don't let my suspicions spare anybody's life...Cole."

"I take it right away." He tapped again loudly and squeezed his shoulder causing him to wince in pain.

Cole tried to make himself comfortable but he knew he was made frightened to carry out his task properly.

He was not sure if there was something Benjamin Louise had smelled.

But he certainly was becoming anxious to disclose the troubles that were looming in the corner.

"I know you are a good man..."

"...doing your job properly..."

"...And so shall you be made happy too..."

"...with the money showered upon you for your services..." He revealed intermittently.

Ben Louise was a man of his words. He had been immensely generous to his workers but equally merciless to his opponents. He had a very intriguing personality. Something that visibly made him laugh would actually offend him. And something that seemed offensive would make him laugh. Cole and the likes of him were uncertain about his credentials.

"But I expect you to be loyal to your cause..." he emphasized his words as if they were very sacred.

"Do not let your feelings stray you from your path." He patted his shoulder. "We are doing it for the greater good of America."

" I know sir. I am fully aware of that. And I will make sure to achieve what we have begun." He said trying to pretend enthusiastic. "...But..."

"There is no space for buts.." Ben exclaimed with stony eyes.

Although Cole was terrified but he was not ready to keep the impending dangers away from Ben's knowledge. He wanted to find a way out.

So he fearfully began.

"There is a little problem... And..."

"And what?" He stared at him with piercing gaze.

"I guess it needs to be addressed." He murmured.

"What's causing the trouble?"

"Instead of bringing troubles here you should deal with them outside.

His voice raised with anger.

Cole got silent rubbing the tips of his fingers for mitigating some of the stress that engulfed him suddenly. Looking at his face Ben sighed and calmed himself to ask him gently again.

"Okay tell me what is making you worried?" he stood directly in front of him.

"There are some student doctors who are working on the remedy." He answered politely with quivering voice.

"So you are telling me that some people have the guts to find the antidote.?" He laughed sarcastically.

Cole lowered his eyes to admit what Ben had just said.

"Sir, I have been following them for the past few weeks and I am sure that they are up to something."

"And what's it that makes you so sure?" he asked curiously trying to calculate the intensity of situation.

"Sir quite recently they have been meeting Henry a couple of times."

He put the cigar back in his mouth and blew the smoke gently out on Cole's face. He tried to stop his coughs in front of him by holding his breath.

"Henry?"

He just managed to ask. Cole nodded his head.

"They can't do a shit about it." He said angrily.

"Meetings do not suggest what they do. But if they find the remedy I am gonna blow them all."

"Henry... Henry.. I will come after you." He bit his lips with anger.

"I will destroy you if you destroy my plans." He squeezed the sofa with his fingers trying to release his anger.

"Sir, I will keep a check on them."

Cole tried to say hesitantly.

"You should... And kill them if they try to disobey." He ordered Cole.

"I followed the girl to her apartment. I know her whereabouts." He said in pauses.

" I will make sure she doesn't do anything to harm our plans."

"I have threatened her and hopefully she has understood."

Cole was confident but something was there that didn't feel right.