#19

Sarika was in the kitchen of Gosef's apartment which was at the third floor of a dilapidated building built in an old colony. There was a used empty wine glass kept beside an ashtray at the sink. She came out of the kitchen and went to the bedroom which had a single bed and a number of cracks were visible on the wall and the ceiling. She picked up the pillow where a cigarette packet was kept on the bed. She kept the pillow back on the bed. She put her hands on hips. She got her eye on the front wall where a photograph of Gosef was mounted on the wall. She came near to the photograph in which Gosef could be seen standing with a woman. Valerie was sitting on the couch in the living room.

She told Chloe, " This is the only residence of his what I know about. "

Chole asked, " Is there any other place he used to visit nearby. Clubs, bars or casinos. "

Valerie shook her head.

" As far as I know he wasn't used to visit bars frequently. "

Sarika walked into the living room with the photograph in her hand. She showed the photograph to Valerie.

She asked, " Who is in the photograph with him? "

Valerie took the photograph.

" She is his sister, Keera. "

Chloe asked, " Keera, his elder sister? "

Valerie nodded. Chloe came to her and saw the photograph.

Sarika asked, " You know something about her? "

Chloe said, " Keera was diagnosed with brain tumour six years because of which Gosef had to join the Les Maraudeurs gang in order to arrange money for her treatment. "

" Where is she now? "

Valerie said, " She is at her town. She is undergoing treatment. "

Sarika was driving her car down the highway. She was heading towards the Medan town at the northwestern suburb of the capital city. She was wearing her goggles and was having a chocolate bar while controlling the wheels. She turned her car to a gas station. She stopped at a dispenser. She came out and noticed that no one else was around at the station. She swiped her card on the machine and picked up the nozzle. She opened the cap of the tank where the gas was to be filled. She inserted the nozzle into the tank and squeezed the handle. After she was done she put the nozzle back to the slot of the dispenser. Her phone began to ring. She took her out of the pocket and attended the call.

" Hello. "

Chloe said, " Sarika, Gosef's gangmen are coming after you. "

" Oh. "

" I have just contacted an aide of Quentin who has informed me about them. They were keeping an eye you after you caught him. "

Two bikers roared into the gas station with their face being concealed by their helmets. One of them got off the bike and began to walk towards her.

Sarika said, " Thanks Chloe, I'll handle it on my own. "

She hung up the call. She kept the phone in her pocket. The first biker stopped by her.

" You might have been informed about us by now. You have to come with us. "

" Pardon me but I have to go to visit my friend. Excuse me. "

Leaving him she began to head towards her car. She felt that her right forearm had been held by the man. She stopped. She closed her eyes for a while and inhaled deeply. She looked at the man's palm which was holding her arm.

" You shouldn't have done this at all. "

The second biker stopped behind the bonnet of the car. He pointed the gun at her.

" Enough talking. Come with us. "

" What if I won't? "

He put his finger on the trigger of the gun he was holding. Sarika grabbed the chinstrap of the first biker and rammed him to the dispenser. She pulled out the petrol nozzle, turned to the second one, squeezed the handle and the petrol gushed out of it. She left the nozzle, put right hand on the bonnet. She pushed herself from the ground and jumped over the ground and landed a powerful kick to his chest, sending him to crash into the bike. He slumped to the ground. She snatched his gun and quickly turned to the first one who was still trying to recover after being rammed. She shot him on his back. She could hear the gasping sound of the second biker who was lying on ground by her. She pointed the gun at his shield and shot him twice. She dropped the gun, straightened and adjusted her jacket. She surveyed the scene. Both men were lying motionless. She opened the door, sat in the car and drove away from the gas station.

The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the landscape. Rubina was standing alone at the edge of the Queen Victoria Bridge at the Northeastern province of Aberdeen in Scotland. Her phone beeped. She took out her phone and saw the text message on the screen. She kept the phone in the pocket of her coat and started walking away leaving the bridge. Erik came downstairs of his house when he heard the doorbell. He went to the door through the passage which was near near to the staircase. He twisted the doorknob and opened the door. Rubina was standing outside with both of her hands in the pockets of her coat.

" Come. "

Rubina was sitting at the dining table of the living room. Erik came out of the kitchen with a tray in his hands having two cups of coffee. He kept the tray on the table.

He said, " Have it. I have poured just half a spoon of sugar. "

She picked up one of the cups.

" Thank you. "

He pulled a chair and sat at the table. He picked up the other cup. She sipped her drink.

She said, " Whoever has killed Naushar Mehta is the one responsible for the death of Veer and Nishtha. "

" Before them they killed Carla who was the first one among us who came to know about the Brownfields. "

" I believe Yusuf Rehman has his hand behind the murders. "

Erik took a long drink from his coffee. He nodded.

" It's obvious that all fingers are pointed towards Yusuf who has the highest probability of being the person behind all this. After becoming the chairman he has the authority to control the entire corporate structure of Blackstone. "

She said, " Under his supervision, Brownfields can operate without any hindrance and full cooperation from the board. "

" Indeed. "

He had his coffee.