Chapter 39

The night was dark and silent as Cole made his arrangements to enter the huge mansion, this time not from the front but from the back.

He knew that the security was something not to mess with.

"It is the last and the only chance I have. And I shall not spare it at any cost." He whispered to himself.

He knew that any small negligence could sabotage his long standing efforts which would not only kill him but also his family that he had been so desperately trying to save.

"This time I won't let you go away with your crimes." He thought as all the flashbacks ran through his mind.

He had learned useful ideas related to spying during his work for Ben but this time it was different.

He was applying them on the person who had taught him the same. "I am going to find out what you are up to now?"

He removed the helmet from his head and hang it on the bike's handle. Then he drew a black mask from his bag and wore it. To shield the tattoe on his hand he wore a leather gloves. He couldn't risk to be seen. He had to avoid Ben's eyes at any cost. Even if he was seen he didn't want to be recognised. And that was the best that he assumed he could do.

He silently walked to the corner of the wall where a huge tree was located.

The more Ben was rough and barren with conscience from inside the more he loved or pretended to love greenery and trees. "That's the only thing I like about you." Cole whispered to himself as he tried to climb up the wall.

It wasn't the height of the wall that made it difficult to climb but the men on security who had eyes all over with guns ready to shoot made it risky.

He lowered his head and flattend his body over the wall while leaping through it to prevent his shadows from being seen.

He threw himself to the ground with a muffled thud that made the guard a little suspicious. But he immediately hid himself behind the tree. The guard thought he saw someone but was soon distracted by a squirrel that scurried through the lush green lawn. He moved away towards the gate.

Cole peeked behind the tree and ran stealthily towards the main front of the mansion. He had to find a place where he could hide himself from the eyes of the servants. He knew that the front entrance which was a huge beautifully hand crafted door with vintage copper handles was frequently used by inserting an elongated key in the circular keyhole and he had to wait for an oppurtunity to sneak in or tail gait behind someone.

There were two massive pillars made of reddish bricks one on each side of the door in the front porch whereas the rest of the building was white, which gave a mix vibes of modern and antique architecture that reflected the taste of Ben's concocted desires. The flower beds surrounding the mansion were full of colourful flowers of every kind. "How can such beauty exist in a place where people with ugly hearts live?" Cole thought as he looked at the garden of beautiful daisies, marigolds, lavender and roses. "Maybe it's just a distraction too?" Recalling Ben's words he chuckled.

Cole hid behind the pillar and waited for the door to be opened. He knew that it was less likely but he was hopeful too because there were some people who would come to meet him at night to give their report.

He waited there for thirty minutes and was growing impatient with each passing minute. He made a decision to try opening the door with another key and go in silently before anyone noticed. He looked around to see if there was indeed no one visible. Just as he was about to come out, he heard footsteps approaching the front porch. He immediately hid back. There was a man in a black leather suit with a bag strapped around his shoulder.

It was the sound of the keys that he was whirling around his finger that made Cole cautious. He strode through the porch steps in hurry without noticing anyone.

He inserted the key to open the door which was heavy, so he opened it with a little effort and as it was a self closing door so the man just disappeared without looking back. Cole took the chance and leapt stealthily to stop it from locking again..

The inside of the mansion was illuminated with golden lights from a glass chandelier in the entryway. On one side there was a large room with big and long dining table adorned with victorian style chairs. And on the other side there was another gallery leading to other rooms. In the front of the main entrance door there were stairs leading upstairs. He already knew where he was supposed to find Ben so he headed straight to the stairs. He moved slowly to avoid unnecessary attraction. The emotional rollercoaster through which he was going at that time made him breathless. He was sweating profusely partly due to fear of being caught and partly because of the effort he was making. He removed the mask to catch some fresh air. Fortunately, it gave him a little strength. He went up silently and waited to see if there was anyone around.

A servant holding a tray with wine glass globes and a bottle of beer appeared from the other side of the upstairs' gallery. "I am sure he is going in there?" Cole told himself with certainty. He leaned against the wall to avoid being noticed. He waited for him to enter and then leave the room where Ben was having a meeting with the new guy. "Go down and don't disturb us," Ben ordered the servant as he opened the door again and came out. "Yes sir!" He nodded submissively.

Cole could hear his footsteps disappear in the far end of the gallery.

"Oh my..."

He saw that the door was not fully closed maybe it was the middle of night and the normally cautious Ben could not anticipate any intrusion from outside.

"Is it me who is lucky today or is it Ben who seems over-confident in his mission?" He smirked mockingly as he stood close to the door.

He silently tried to hear the conversation they were having.

From the slighly opened door he saw that both of them were sitting across each other. Ben poured beer in two glasses and offered him one of the glass, which he took gladly.

"What in the world is that?" Cole's eyes stuck on something else on the table. Something that he hadn't seen before.

It was a large elongated transparent tube with a shape like fluidized bed filter. "What could that be?" He thought to himself. It contained a crystalline green liquid.

"Only few are left." Ben began telling him.

"You have to be careful."

"I know sir. I will." He said taking a sip from the beer.

"Till now no one has ever doubted me. And I won't let it happen ever." He convinced Ben.

"I know you won't." Ben smiled.

"Take this canister to the lab and switch it with the one that has been prepared."

"Let it take its time." He instructed him. The man nodded.

"Nobody can ever find that the pure water is not actually pure." He laughed loudly as if mocking the helplessness of people. Cole's heart sank in disbelief.

"Afterall, it actually is the water making everyone sick." He was shocked and clueless.

"Take the canister from the lab and put it in the water tank but be careful." He reminded the man again.

It was the biggest hint that Cole could have.

But he was not sure about the location of the lab.

He quickly moved away from the door and went down. The main door was easy to open from inside so he silently moved out and jumped over the wall. Cole waited for the man outside.

His heart was pounding vigorously thinking about all the deceptions that Ben had created. He wanted to smash his face and drown him in the same water where he had added poison for so many people to die mercilessly.

He was waiting in the dark at a little distance so that the man wouldn't be suspicious of anyone following him.

The person came out and sat on a motor bike, followed a route which was away from the city.

Cole did the same.