27. The Battle 7
Soon, Collins returned with the fulfilled boys.
“We are back, Brother-in-law,” they informed him after they walked in happily.
He turned off his device and got up at once.
“That's good. Let's go to your room,” he said and led the way.
When they got upstairs, he took them to a big room and they were thrilled, “Wow! It is so big.”
“This is your room. I hope you love it.”
“Thank you, Brother-in-law. We love it.”
“It is all right. Can I see what you got from the mall?” he requested, and they showed him their scanty purchases, which they did in consideration of his poverty.
He smiled after inspecting them and asked, “Are you sure that this is all you need?”
Gerald smiled softly and answered, “No, but we can do with them for now. Thank you for your kindness.”
“Thank you, for this, Brother-in-law,” Samuel appreciated him too.
“It is all right. Take your bath and change. Dinner will soon be ready.”
“We got it,” they answered happily at the same time and Gerald walked into the bathroom while Tim left for the kitchen to inspect the meal.
Afterward, he called Collins to find out how much he spent on the boys. After he informed him, he transferred the amount to his account.
Auxiliary Armory PLC
Laura was still walking in her high-heeled shoes when some bus drivers returned to pick up the other members of staff. Some were in a haste to get back to the office and did not see her while some saw her but were doubtful. After a few minutes, the buses drove past her with the staff.
“Oh! We have left Laura behind. Kindly stop, driver. Let's give Laura a ride,” a staff member who did not witness what happened at the gate between George and her, requested.
“Where will she sit? Can't you see that the seats are all occupied?” Another person pointed out.
“I doubt if that person is Laura. I doubt it”
“You may be right.”
“You are right. Laura can't be found on the road without an entourage,” another colleague added.
Howbeit, the driver who witnessed her repulsive attitude at the gate, never bothered to stop. The other bus drivers drove past her too.
However, social media was busy with her pictures and comments about her lonely walk. Alice, who must watch her back shared a counter story: (She sacrificed to walk home because the buses were inadequate for the staff members.)
Nevertheless, the story was accepted by the netizens and put her in a good light for once.
Laura's House
Her parents were distraught when she did not return at her usual closing time. Her lateness and her missing brothers compounded their problem.
“Call her and find out why she is not back yet,” her mother advised her father.
“I hope she is not missing too," her father said helplessly.”
“It can't be,” Madeline refuted and he swiped his phone.
She waited for him to dial her number. After he did, they began to wait for her to answer.
However, because the phone was in her purse and she was lost in thought, she could not hear the ringtone. Her parents' eyes widened in trepidation and he tried again.
“What is happening?” Madeline asked when she did not pick up her call.
Her father was speechless and stared at the wall.
Meanwhile, a taxi stopped at the estate gate and the security guards felt that it was awkward. Instantly, they whipped out their batons and rushed at the driver.
“Allow him, officers. I hired him,” she mediated at once.
They were shocked to hear her voice and stopped.
“Open the gate for me,” she ordered.
“I got it, Miss Dickson,” the baffled security guard accepted and opened the gate.
The cab driver was surprised because he was aware that it was against the rules. He looked at his passenger from his inner rearview mirror and wondered who she was to command that kind of respect.
“Take the left turn and drive straight to the building facing you. Okay?” She directed the driver and he obeyed.
“Here we are,” the driver announced after he parked.
Likewise, she tried to pay for the ride. Unexpectedly, her gate men whipped their batons and hit the cab's bonnet. The startled driver was not expecting it. Laura got out of the car and stopped them.
“Stop it, all of you.”
“Oh, Miss Dickson! Welcome back,” they stopped and greeted her without concealing their amazement.
Nevertheless, the driver drove off without looking back.
“Thank you,” she answered and walked on with a forced smile.
“What happened?” One of the officers asked his colleague in astonishment.
“I wish I knew. What of the team members?" The other asked anxiously, and they watched her walk in her high-heeled shoes.
Presently, her parents were in a sad mood and could not believe that she was back even though they heard her footsteps until she walked into her parlor. They were used to sounds and the screeching halt of her classic car.
“I pray that these boys are in their room,” she said and walked to their room.
“Oh, gosh!” She exclaimed when she opened the door and saw their things in the same position they had kept them three days ago.
“Where could they be?” She murmured and walked to her room.
She sat on the bed, pulled off her shoes, and stretched her aching legs. Likewise, she lay with her back on the bed and faced the ceiling. Suddenly, she saw the wall clock and it was a few minutes before 6 PM.
She got up at once and said, “If they were in school, they would still be with their phones by now.”
Instantly, she picked up her phone to call them. At that point, she discovered that she missed her parents' call.
“I missed Dad's call,” she said and dialed Gerald's number.
To her disturbance, his phone was switched off and she murmured with a heavy heart, “I hope they were not kidnapped?”
After a few minutes of meditation, she dried her wet eyes and lay back on the bed. Due to exhaustion, she dozed off.
The Headquarters.
Gen. Hill did not have any bitterness against the retired Gen. McDonald, but presently, he was the most likely scapegoat. To answer His Excellency's question, 'How do we get the truth from him', he set a trap by sharing the post with Lt. Col. Smirnoff first and complimented him, (Thank you for a good job.)
“I don't think he is the one. I will wait for his response before I share the post with Gen. McDonald,” he told himself and closed for the weekend.
Tim's House.
“Dinner is ready,” he informed the boys when he got to their rooms and met them dressed up. He observed their wear and was greatly pleased with their choices.
“The casuals look good on you,” he praised them.
At that moment, they were as happy as larks. They had forgotten their days of weeping and sorrowing at the gate over him.
“Thank you for the compliments, Brother-in-law,” Gerald stated.
“We are happy that you like them,” Samuel added, and they walked to the dinner table.
Although the domestic staff members were not aware of the relationship between their boss and the boys, they perceived that they were his close relations and were happy with them.
The boys had heavy appetites and did not hide them. He watched them eat happily. There and then, to be able to take good care of them, he concluded that they would return to school on Monday morning instead of Sunday evening as he had planned.
“How is the meal in your school?” He inquired.