The Dream

Part XIV

Life is so strange when our heart starts to overcome the pain of past, something or the other would happen that would drag you back into the same point from where you started. Memories of past floated in my eyes, the time when I was young and played with my dad, the lullabies he used to sing for me, our field trips and glimpses of the accident that happened 8 years ago. The truck striking us and our car falling down from the bridge and struck the water of the river. I woke up suddenly as if I was drowning in the water numb and suddenly came to senses and floated to the surface. I realised I was in hospital with Steve by my side.

“Are you alright?” He asked me with concern. “Dad, my dad.....dad...” these were the only words came out from my mouth. Steve hugged me tightly and said “Everything would be fine, don’t think to much. It’s okay. It will be okay.” In the meantime Andrew entered the room and caressed my hairs. Both of them standing by my side gave me comfort. They went out for some matter while I mustered up my courage and packed my things to get started again. I was about to get out of the room when both of them opened the door. “Hey, what are you doing?” Steve said. “You should be on the bed.” Andrew said that and pushed me backwards to make me sitted on the bed. “I’m fine now, so don’t worry. We need to get this sorted and for that we need to move on.” I said and caressed Andrew’s shoulder. Andrew and Steve shared a look and then again looked towards me. “Don’t worry it’s all fine. Let’s go.” I said with a smile.

We started to look into my father’s documents. Steve asked me about a hundred times about the key we found and the accident but I was unable to recall anything. We were reviewing all docs we have gathered till know. Suddenly I saw a newspaper cutting. “What? What about this?” Andrew asked. I tossed few more newspaper cuttings. Then I rushed back to my room and brought an envelope. “Did you remember, for last few weeks I was receiving unkown packages at office with newspaper cuttings. Have a look.” I took out the cuttings. “It’s about the same case.” Steve said. “Bingo, but it has more details. Articles on the victims. It would help us...” I was about to complete the sentence when Steve did that for me “to secure more evidences.”

Andrew-“I would go and secure their statements.” “And we have to search who this Magicman is and what does he actually wants?” Steve said looking at me. We tried to trace the post and also interviewed all the reporters involved in the case but it was a dead end. While moving out of the last office, I got a call from Racheal she asked us to come over fast. We rushed to her place. “What is it? What happened?” We both asked Racheal and she would have sensed the restlessness in our voice. Maria’s mom came out, “I found this in Maria’s stuff. Would it help?” she said while handing over a small amulet to me. I was little puzzled seeing the amulet then handed it to Steve. He looked at it and smiled, “I would check the contents and then let you know.” After seeing my puzzled face he ended my curiosity,”It’s a voice recorder.”

It had been a week, we had progress but not enough to appeal for jury trial for Maria, because as soon as we do that they would hunt us out. “So.... Now what? How are we going to proceed?” Andrew asked desparately. “If we wait more, they might find out what we are upto and we are not ready for the trial yet.” Steve added up. “Hmmm I know.”  I said seriously. “So, what are you going to do?” Attorney Shin asked. There was a door bell ring. “I will get it.” Racheal said. She was back within a 2-3minute, with an envelope. “So, this is what you did? That’s why you asked me to get that petition ready?” Racheal bursted in rage by showing me the documents. “What is it?” Everyone was asking, while Attorney Shin took those documents from Racheal and started to read it. Steve and Andrew were looking at me curiously. “Are you out of your mind? You know what trouble you have got in?” Racheal said. “It’s okay. Don’t worry. I have thought of it a lot.” I said calmly and made her sit by side and offered her a glass of water. Andrew impatiently asked “Can anyone tell us what is going on?”

“She reopened her father’s death case and has marked herself as a witness and the prosecutor for the case which has been accepted.” Attorney Shin dismissed the suspense. All stared at me for a minute. “Hey, don’t give me that look. It’s just for buying time.” I said coolly. “Really, do you think it would buy us time?” Racheal said looking at me like a hungry tigeress. “Well actually, it’s a 3 target act.” I said. They all looked at me curiously. “We need time to find more evidences regarding Maria’s case without letting them know so...” before I could complete Steve added up “So you are going to distract them using this case.” “Correct, and we have explored every source we knew so....” again Steve completed my sentence before me “So you are going to investigate them using this case as an excuse.” “Bingo, and till now they have erased their footmarks so.” I looked at Steve this time and he gave me a strange look and completed my sentence “so you are giving them chance to leave their remarks, so if we couldn’t get any old evidences we can compel them to leave new ones for us.”

“Wow, you are really awesome Attorney Brown.” Andrew said with his mouth wide open. “Do you know how risky it is?” Racheal said with concern. “I know that’s why from today you all have to work hard for Maria and make a safe distance from me. No calls, No gatherings. If you need something or I get something we would mail. It’s a new fake id I have created. You should not get involved never.” I said with lot of concern. “Attorney Brown, is this only thing that you did?” Steve asked with suspicion.  I felt I was caught. “What there is more? What else did you do?” racheal again bursted. “Well, nothing much.. that” I was hesitant to tell them but I finally told them, “I gave an article to newspaper that you can see tomorrow.” I felt the heat in the room. To calm them up I tried an useless attempt “Don’t you think I deserve a little fame.hhh..hhhh...” But seeing them more concerned I sincerely told them, “I did it for myself, for my dad. He died for a noble cause. If I could do half of what he did I would be happy. And trust me it’s the only way I have to move ahead with minimum damage. Do you think just a little commotion would stir them up. No, never instead it would cause more damage to us. Trust me it is the best choice.”

“I agree with her.” Attorney Shin supported me. “But your safety is equally important, so you would stay with me.” Attorney Shin said. “ That would not be good. They might sense it.” I said. “Well, then I have no choice. I would take your stuff to my place.” Steve said. “I told you it would be suspicious.” I said. “Why would someone suspect my finacee staying with me?” Steve said while getting up.”What?” I said little startled. “Didn’t you knew that we dated so long and last week we got engaged.” He said and blinked at others. “Correct, it would be good if you stay with your hope to be husband.” Racheal said. “But..” before I could say anything they all voted out. I had no choice but to go with Steve.

“Real adventure would start tomorrow.” Steve said while helping me set up my things in one of the rooms of his apartment. “You have a plan in mind, right. Tell me now. What are you planning to do?” He asked. “Your house is quite big than I imagined.” I tried to divert the topic. “You also know it that you cannot execute it alone. I won’t get them involve and get hurt I promise.” He said while turning me towards him. “I don’t have a plan.” I said and hesitantly continued. “But... I.... know something that might help once I confirm it. Even if I tell you, you.... you won’t believe me.” I said. Steve looked at me and raised my chin up, now I was looking at him. “Look into my eyes, do you still feel I won’t believe you.” He caressed my cheek and continued. “Tell me whatever it is. I would help you prove it. Tell me.” He said.

His words gave me strength. I finally told him “My dad is alive.” “What? What did you say?” Steve asked in shock. “I mean how did you know? Tell me how did you know? And when did you found out? Where is he?” Steve asked restlessly. “I saw him kept as an hostage, tortured badly.” I said in tears. “Where, where is he? Tell me I would rescue him immediately.” He said wiping my tears. “I don’t know.” I answered. “You said you saw him.” He was confused. I nodded in yes. “ I saw him..... in my ..... dream.” I replied.  He hugged me hard “Kathy I know you are having a hard time but....” I interrupted him and continued “You said you would believe me. I get these dreams where I see incidents related to my life. Till this date it was not my cleverness that got me success in all those cases. It was my dreams that showed me everything that happened. I witnessed them all in my dream."

...to be continued