#36

A helicopter landed on the helipad. Aditya came out of the helicopter followed by Sameer. Inspector Louis (in his mid forties) was standing by his SUV. He was wearing casual, a T shirt and a trouser. He was wearing a cap on his head and goggles on his eyes. Aditya came to him and shook hands with him.

"Inspector Louis."

"Mr. Mehra. Good to see you. Let's get to work."

"Sure."

Louis opened the door and sat on the driver's seat. Aditya sat beside him on the passenger seat. Sameer sat on the backseat. Louis started driving the SUV. Sameer was reading a file having details of Bough.

Louis said, "Bough's gang has been under our watch for a long time. He hasn't been caught because of some corrupt cops who are on his payroll. The attack on the warehouse grabbed the attention of our police department. When we searched the place we found that it was the base of Bough from where he used to handle his arms supplying ring."

Sameer said, "And you believe that the person who orchestrated the attack on Bough was the agent whom we are trying to locate."

"I am not sure about this one but I can't deny the fact that your agent was seen sitting inside the car which had the licence plate number registered under Namphor."

Sameer was looking at the black and white CCTV image of the car in which Vihaan and Sarika were seated at the backseat while on their way to Bough's warehouse.

Aditya asked, "Who is Namphor?"

Louis said, "Namphor is the younger brother of Bough."

"Hmm, it's him then."

Vihaan was standing inside an art gallery. He had kept his hands inside the pocket of his trousers. He was looking at the paintings mounted on the wall. The black market dealer Sharry (in his early forties) came and stood beside him and put his hands inside the pocket.

Sharry said, "Hard to believe they all are replicants. Isn't it?"

Sharry turned to him and stretched his hand towards him.

"I am Sharry."

Vihaan turned to him and shook hands with him.

Vihaan asked, "Are you the one?"

"Yes. You are looking for something. Right?"

"I sent you an image at your email address."

"Oh, you are looking for that painting."

Vihaan followed Sharry to the processing room where a dozen of staffs were working on printing machines. The machines were printing images that were to be displayed on the walls of the gallery. They came near to Nealie (in her late twenties) who was operating a printing machine which was printing a picture of a lion who was standing with his cub in wild.

Sharry said, "This is the same piece of art of which the image you had sent on our email."

"How long will it take to finish?"

"Just finishing work is in the process. Nealie will get it done within half an hour."

Marcello was sitting on the passenger seat of his black SUV. Penchez was driving the SUV. There were a black car and an SUV following him. Bough was standing near his pickup truck in the rubble during the sunset. The towering city could be seen at the distance. A large wooden trunk was kept on the floor bed of the pickup truck. An elevated water tank was at a distance from Bough. A dirt bike was parked near the water tank. A scabbard was attached to the seat of the bike. A shotgun was kept inside the scabbard. Vihaan was standing on the water tank. He fixed the lens on the sniper rifle. He kneeled down and aimed the rifle at Bough.

"Ah, Bough, can you listen to me?"

Bough adjusted his earpiece.

"Yes."

"Okay. I can see you from here. Keep in mind, don't let them know that you are talking to me."

"Understood."

"Another one. Don't do anything until I tell you to do so."

"Hmm."

Marcello's SUV arrived. The car and the other SUV too stopped behind him. Marcello and Penchez came out of car. Hepkins came out of the car behind the SUV along with another goon, Loset. He opened the trunk of the car. Hepkins and Loset pulled Namphor out of the trunk and dropped him on the ground.  Namphor was severely injured and his hands were tied at his back with handcuffs.

Marcello asked, "You might be feeling pity for your cousin, huh."

"Leave him. I have got your thing."

Marcello chuckled. He tap on his shoulder.

"I knew it."

Marcello looked at Penchez who nodded his head. Penchez unhooked the tailgate. He climbed the truck. He opened the latch and removed the lid from the trunk. The painting was inside the trunk.

"Marcello!"

Marcello came to the back of the truck.

He asked, "Is it there?"

Penchez nodded. Marcello climbed the truck and looked at the painting. He scratched his chin.

"Hmm. Take the measurement."

Penchez took an inch tape out of his pocket. He stretched the tape out and measured the width of the painting.

"64 inches wide."

He then measured the length of the painting.

"90 inches long."

Marcello said, "It's perfect in measurement but I still have doubt on the quality. I mean it looks authentic but it's not."

Bough was looking at them who were discussing about the painting.

Vihaan told him, "Bough, step away from the vehicle."

Bough took out his phone and started pretending as if he was having an urgent call. Hepkins observed Bough who was slowly walking away from truck.

He yelled, "Hey! Hey!"

He took out his gun. He was about to shoot him when he was shot on his neck by Vihaan. Vihaan aimed his sniper rifle at Loset and shot him down. Marcello looked at them who were lying dead on the ground. He jumped out of the truck. Penchez lifted the painting with both of his hands. A device was stuck on the backside of the painting. The device started beeping. Marcello was about to walk ahead when the device exploded. A goon came out of the driver's seat of the SUV and hide himself behind the vehicle with the rifle in his hand. Two more goons came out of the backseat with rifles in their hand. Bough was trying to untie Namphor's hand. Vihaan spotted the goon who was hiding behind the SUV. As the goon stepped ahead a bit he was shot on his head by Vihaan. He shot the other two goons one by one on their head. Bough untied Namphor's hands. He gave him a hand and helped him to stand up. Namphor hugged him.

Bough said, "Nothing to worry brother, I am here now."