Chapter 36

Kleptous visited the prisoners late at night together with a guard bringing them dinner. There were only two bowls of thin broth. The guard passed them the broth while Kleptous just keep watch. "It's for the two girls. I'm sorry Joe...you don't get to eat."

He opened up the cell door and grabbed Joe roughly up. Joe was reluctant to move at all and Kleptous had to literally drag him to where he wanted Joe to be. Hope watched in horror but was unable to do anything. Nancy too simply looked on.

Before Kleptous was out of sight, he shouted to them. "Bon Appetite!"

Nancy looked at the broth and was in no appetite to even take a spoon. Neither did Hope. She looked at Nancy with very worried eyes. "I wonder what they do to him..."

Wonder some more...I won't tell you. It's not very nice. They are really evil people...so evil that evil frown on them.

"They will not kill him."

Hope huddled her knees close to her chest. "I think they already had. Didn't you see him? He's acting like he's already dead."

Hope watched as Joe slept, occasionally screaming names and words incoherently. She took the chance while he was asleep to stroke his hair, to try to make him feel better but it seemed like he would just return to the darkness in his mind, unable to get out. They had simply thrown him back into the cell the next morning. His clothes were in tatters but he looked like they had done some water torture to him, his hair was dripping with water.

"Joey...shh...it's alright now...they can't beat you up now...shh..."

Suddenly his eyes shot open. She immediately snatched her hands away from his hair.

"Why are you touching me? Why?" Joe demanded from her. She was at a lost of what to say.

"I'm dirty Hope! Keep away from me...just go far away from me!" He screamed at her and she was rooted. Nancy pulled her away and gently tried to reason with Joe.

"She was just trying to help. We'll leave you alone now."

"Thank you Nancy."

It seemed as if they could not get past more than 8 hours without any peace for Kleptous came visit them again. Again he came and drag Joe away but this time, Joe was screaming for Kleptous to let him go, hurling all sorts of vulgarities at the big man. He was given a punch in the face but that did not stop him for lashing out at his abuser in any way he could.

Kleptous did not bring Joe to another room though. He sat Joe down on a chair, facing the cell. Two men then went inside the cell, each of them grabbing a girl from behind. Nancy and Hope struggled against their captors and Joe eyes flashed with fear.

"Don't hurt them! What are you trying to do? Leave them alone! Your fight's with me!"

"But Joey...you did not tell us what we want to know...I just have to let you see two innocents suffer because of your unwillingness to co-operate. Strip them."

"No...please! Don't!" Hope screamed as the man behind her started to paw her. Nancy struggled violently against her captor, not allowing him to gain a firm grip on her but he man was strong and Nancy was losing strength.

"You sick fuck! What are you trying to do? Let them go...what do you want to know? I'll tell you...let them go...please..." Joe pleaded frenziedly. He clutched Kleptous shirt tightly, willing for Kleptous to take back the commands.

Kleptous gave Joe a smirk and then gestured for the two men to stop. They did but Nancy sensed it was in extreme reluctance. "So you'll be a good boy now? If you only you held me like that during all those times we shared together...you could have enjoyed it a little more."

Realization dawned in Hope's eyes, Nancy saw despair and guilt and she felt sorry for the both of them. So much of Joe's secrets were out. Hope must be blaming herself for not being there and running off with his brother.

"Now tell me about the Network. Where's the Grey wimp? Where's the damn vial?"

"I don't know...I'm not in..."

Kleptous gave Joe a slap. A loud one, a hard one. Joe's head hit the table and Nancy could see blood trickling down the side of his mouth. She wanted to scream then that she was the Network agent, not Joe. Joe was just seeking help.

But Joe probably knew what Nancy was feeling for he shot Nancy a quick glance to stop her. Hope was openly crying now for fear of what they would do to Joe. Nancy was tearing too, but for totally different reasons. Yet they would see her as crying out of fear too, just like Hope.

Thank you old friend. I owe you one.

"I'll tell. Leave them alone. Please."

"Good. Now, follow me. I should have threatened you with their chastity a long time ago." Kleptous pulled Joe to his feet and blew a kiss to the girls. The two men left them alone, locked the cell and followed their leader.

Hope crumbled to the floor. "I didn't know Nancy...I really didn't...I just thought he didn't really love me and that was why he did not want to touch me..."

Nancy held her and allowed the younger woman to cry into her shoulders. She felt extremely guilty herself too. They had promised Joe he would be fine, that Hope would be fine but here they were, not fine.

I owe you one. Be strong Joe, come out alive. For my sake...please.

They splashed cold water on him, wanting him to wake up but Joe was too far gone. He just wanted to sleep but they keep waking him up.

He was tied to an X structure, Kleptous was enjoying every moment of whipping him. Joe wondered if Kleptous would actually be happier if he did not provide him with the answer he was looking for.

Just kill me and be done with it will you? Pretty please?

"SPEAK! DAMN YOU!" Each word was punctuated with another lash to his back. Joe felt like he was on fire, the pain shot through to his heart. Speak? What would he talk about? Movies? Television Shows?

If I don't say something...he will fulfill his threat on Nancy and Hope. I better say something...keep him happy for a while...and then he'll find out I'm lying and come back and, rape me then kill me and rape them then kill them. Yes. He's that sick.

But I can buy time...buy some time for Nancy and Hope...

Maybe...

He spied some torture instruments on the right of him, on a long table. He saw Kleptous putting down the whip in exchange for a long sleek dagger with serrated edges. With a sinking feeling, he realized Kleptous was going cut him.

No...the pain...I'll break soon and they will all die...I can't tell...can't say...

And because of pain, he would betray them all.

Kleptous walked over to him and placed the dagger against Joe's left forearm. His helpers were heating up a metal rod in the fire and Joe could see it was red hot. He bit his lips, he would not tell. He would lie but he would not tell.

And he felt the dagger coolness cutting into flesh, slicing off an area. He could scream but he was too in shock to do so. And then metal rod was placed against the new wound, cauterizing it and he almost fainted but ice cold water was thrown on his face and smelling salts brought him back.

Pain, torment.

"Now, will you tell me what I want to know?"

"Yes...just leave me alone after that...the pain...I can't..." his own voice sounded funny to him. Words of a traitor, the voice of Judas.

Kleptous smiled and went in front of Joe such that Joe could see the cruelty in his beady eyes. What Joe saw appalled him. He saw his tormenter, he saw his past, and he saw what his life had become.

And his tormentor held his head to his chest and stroke his blond hair. Each touch, each caress brought new disgust to Joe though he felt he should be numb to it now. He could smell the acrid breath on his face and he knew he would soon sink into their depths.

If I fail...please forgive me. I know you will, because you're a good person. I love you the best. Try not to think any less of me, because no matter what, I'll always need you. I'll always look up to you.

Big Brother.

"Now sweetie...be a good boy. Tell me."

The remainder of the night had been extremely long for Frank Hardy. He had returned to his apartment with Fenton. He had made a call to them after Hope and Nancy were kidnapped. Frank entered with a heavy heart, knowing he would see little Caramel asleep alone on her mother's bed. Fenton sat down on the sofa and waited for Frank to finish what he wanted to do. The two Network agents protecting Caramel in the apartment greeted their head with more welcome that was needed. Fenton simply smiled and said it was good to see them to. They then focused their attention on a television screen connected to the surveillance camera Frank had installed outside his apartment which would show them what was happening outside the apartment, looking out of intruders.

Frank pushed the slightly ajar door open and saw that Caramel was not sleeping. She was sitting on the bed, reading a book though her eyes were already droopy. He tried to smile as warmly as he could, with as much mirth as he could muster. Kids see through these things sometimes.

"Hey sweetheart." Frank sat down beside Caramel who looked at him then behind him, searching for her mother.

"Where's mommy, uncle?"

Frank drew the tiny figure close to him and kissed the top of her head. "Mommy decided to take a short trip. You'll be fine."

"I don't like the auntie and the uncle in the house. They don't let me go out and play. Why would mommy go away without telling me?" Caramel pouted, and folded her hands together. Frank hoped she was not one of those kids who would hold their breath until they get what they want because Frank could not conjure up Hope now.

If only I could. Where are you Hope? Come back to me.

"She went somewhere to buy some toys for you...and she has something to do. You love your mommy don't you?"

"Yes. But she can buy toys here!"

"The toys where she's going to are nicer. And if you love mommy, you'll not get angry at mommy when she needs to do her work...alright sweetheart?"

"But mommy always come home to me! She would read me a story...I want mommy!"

"I'll read you a story...will you let me read you a story?" Frank cajoled Caramel. Caramel kept quiet for a while but relented.

"Ok. But Mommy will come home tomorrow right?"

"She should. Now...what story do you want to hear?"

"I heard Hope's a single mom." Fenton took a sip of the black coffee that Frank had made. He winced when he saw his son drank cognac instead.

Frank caught the wince and raised his crystal glass. "Just one. Don't worry about me."

"I never had to worry about you."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Frank replied bitterly, extremely displeased with himself. When they found Hope, he was going to be the best boyfriend ever and never leave her alone when he knew she could be in danger.

Damn women and their bonding over tea.

"Joe's taken too right?"

Frank took another gulp and nodded. "From what we deduce, he was abducted too. But...I don't know. He could still be one of them."

The topic of Joe left them slightly unsure of how else to continue the conversation. Frank would never fully understand what his father really felt. But he could imagine the contempt that Fenton would feel when he look at Joe and see a bit of Laura's assailant in him and yet, feel the anguish of not being able to love the boy that Laura had so cherished.

Changing topic, Frank decided to put his concentration on the case instead. He sat down next to his father and asked his father about the miniature bomb.

"Who knew about the bomb then? And that the project was closed and the samples forgotten?"

Fenton knitted his eyebrows and shook his head. "Plenty of people. The scientists that are involved, the head of some departments like security and Accounts...but since Clark is dead...we can strike off one. He had been a very effective person, one of the few heads that I and your uncle actually agreed with."

"The insider should know I am on this case...maybe I asked too many questions and got Clark all worked out somehow and he blurted to him or her. This is getting us no where right dad? Even if we were to check the records, a company like ours who also do top secret projects for the government would have our employees pass all sorts of security test before they could actually join. If we were to check, they would all turn out clean."

"You sure?"

"Yah."

"Are you blaming me?"

"Huh? Why would I blame you dad?" Frank's voice betrayed his real feelings as he swirled the martini around the glass. He knew what Fenton was driving at and wonder why in times of danger; people would want to thrash out old wounds.

"Because I dumped you in the company and gave you so much stress. Because I left you to take charge of the family. I admit. I ran." Fenton put an arm around his son, staring at his glass.

Are you proud of what you see Dad? I did my best.

"Dad, if Joe...if Joe turns out somehow innocent...never mind."

"How will you feel?"

Frank eyed his dad, his brown eyes a mixture of hope and fear. "I will feel guilty for the rest of my life and more."

He drove his dad back to the manor, knowing in the morning, when everyone woke up, there would be excited screams and much fanfare when they realized Fenton had return. There were a lot of things that Fenton did not do well but he instilled respect and awe in his children, most of all, Frank who took after him most of all.

Unable to sleep, he drove to his office, hoping to scan through the records again, hoping to find something, anything at all. Every minute that was every minute too late.

I'll find you. I'll find you both...if that's the last thing I do.

Kleptous laughed heartily and mockingly when Joe finally blurt out where the vial was. He was so close, but he never took the time to check. Of course the most dangerous place would be the safest place. He was about to send men to check it out when another Assassin, full fledge Assassin, came into the torture chamber.

Joe had fainted in weariness. He had not eaten since the yesterday and had gone through all the sadistic torture that Kleptous could think of. Kleptous look at the defeated form and praised himself.

This is so much more fun than using truth serum. Nothing like breaking them down the traditional way. I always knew you would be broken, Joseph Hardy. Alas, now that you are...you're no fun anymore to play with.

"What do you want now?"

"I want to fix him." came the droning voice.

Kleptous cringed in irritation. He had no time for this Assassin to continue to want to torture somebody who had already told them all he knew. He knew all about the man's need for revenge, Assassins were very good at hating and taking vengeance on the most mild of transgression. But there was a greater matter at hands; they would have to put down their personal needs for the greater good of all.

"What for? The boy had already told us where the vial is. We should go check it out first and then you should fix him."

The man looked at the Joe with his head slumped forward on the ground. Kleptous had untied him and was about to bring him back to the cell. He prodded the limp form with the tip of his boot and kicked it. Joe rolled over to his side, still dead to the world.

"You did a good job."

"I take pride in what I do."

"Alright, we'll go get the vial first. You found out where the rest of the Network are hiding?"

"No. He says the Grey Man contact him from time to time via e-mail which he already gave me the password and the user ID. They're all going online now. But he knows where the vial is. We will get to the vial, then our hackers to trace the emails."

"You believe him?"

"I did a good job. The boy is utterly broken."

Chapter 37

Joe heard the door opened and footsteps going out. He opened an eye and immediately pain shot through him. He had acted as desperate as he could, drawing out words like blood so Kleptous would find him convincing, which he did. Kleptous could be so arrogant in his prowess for torture, but boy he was strong. He was Joe Hardy; the one whom Frank always say had a thick skull.

You can't break me now...because you have the people I love. I break, they break. This time Kleptous, you are too cocky for your own good.

Don't get cocky yourself too. Now, think of what you can do.

I can seduce the guards.

Good one. Try harder.

The other man, did you hear him?

As well as you.

Did he sound familiar?

I thought the same thing too.

Joe looked at the row of torture instruments and found what he was looking for, a very small dart gun. He knew what dart was inside; Kleptous had used it on him once. It sent immediate pain waves through the victim's body and caused the victim to collapse involuntary. After the pain was gone, it was replaced by weakness of joints.

Joe blocked his memory at what the weakness did to him. He took the dart gun and thanked heavens for its small size so it was not too obvious when he slipped into the side of his jeans and pulled his tattered t-shirt over the small bulge. But in doing so, he pulled some part of his t-shirt which was stuck to the welts on his back and he froze in the sudden surge of pain. All along, he tried not to move his left hand much and averted his eyes away from the horrible burn, the sight of cooked flesh though the sharp sting would always remind him.

He heard the door unlock and quickly went back to his "unconscious" position. A guard came and roughly pulled him up. They were never gentle, those creatures. His manhandling of Joe caused some wounds that had stopped bleeding to tear again but Joe gritted his teeth, willing his face not to show any emotions at all. He allowed himself to be dragged back to the holding cell.

He opened his eyes slightly, but not enough to be discovered. He saw that the girls had been crying as their one day old mascara had stained their pretty faces. As the man threw him in, Hope reached out to somehow receive him. His heart burned with a passion hotter than anything he knew, a passion and love that would kill him, because she was not his.

What did I tell her? Not to touch me? There she goes again.

The moment Joe hit the floor; he tried to maneuver his body in such a way that he fall with his right hand close to his side. Reaching secretly for the dart gun, he pulled it out and shot at the man who brought him in and then turning his attention immediately to the goon with the rifle standing guard outside. He was fast, he was a marksman. The goon was no match for him.

When both the burly guards hit the floor with excruciating pain that wreck through their body, so painful that they could not even groan. Nancy was also quick enough to retrieve the key that the guard had dropped. She took the key and immediately unlocked their cell. Hope helped Joe to his feet and the three of them stepped over the guards. But Joe bent down painfully and retrieved the gun and the rifle from the fallen enemies. He passed the rifle to Nancy and kept the gun himself. He gave the small dart pistol to Hope.

"Joe, I have never shot with a rifle, you have..."

"Nan, you'll do well...it's...it's too heavy for me now."

Nancy saw the burned skin on his hand and nodded. "I'll try. Hope, can you shoot well?"

Hope was holding the pistol like it was acid, eating into her flesh. "I...I never like guns...I don't...I don't know..."

Joe, who had pulled himself away from Hope, assured her in a very soft voice. "What you are holding now can't kill. I understand. I don't want to kill too if I can help it."

Hope looked at her ex-boyfriend with worried eyes. "I'll try my best to be strong. You're alright?"

No Hope, I'm not...don't you have eyes? I need you so much...hold me...

"Yes. Now go, we don't have much time."

They left the stable house and hid behind some thick trees when they saw a few guards roaming around the wide open field for the horses to run in. Nancy saw that Joe was looking intently at the guards, counting silently. Hope was paled, having never experienced such acute danger before. They would have to be very quiet and stealthy for even though they had some weapons, they were outnumbered 3 to one. Nancy tapped him on the shoulders and pointed to a small area she spotted on the left which was not guarded but it led into a thick forest. However, they would be out in the open, without the cover of the trees for a while. Joe nodded and whispered to Nancy.

"I can't move fast...I'm very tired."

"Joe, I won't let you give up, you hear?" Nancy hissed back. She saw Joe threw back a sweet sad smile.

"No...Joe...whatever you're planning...don't."

"Nan...you have to bring Hope to safety. If anything happen to both of you...it will kill Frank. You can't get by without some cover. I'll be your cover." He suppressed a cough. "I have almost used up all my energy now. Let it be my atonement."

"You read too much crap! Don't get darkly poetic with me now! We are getting out together. What makes you think it won't kill Frank if anything happens to you?"

"What are you two mumbling about? What do we do? Joe?" Hope whispered at them too, still unable to grip her small pistol properly.

Joe gave Hope a smile so sadly sweet. "I'm sorry for snapping at you."

"I understand." Hope touched his hand, only to have him draw it back abruptly.

"Hope, keep your eyes on the guards while I discuss some plans with Nancy. You'll be ok. I promise you with my life."

Don't play the hero Joe...don't...don't let me be in debt...I don't want to have to mourn for you, get it?

He turned towards Nancy who looked at him with angry eyes. She did not want Joe to perform such a sacrifice; she wanted him to be alright also. And then she saw through his smile. His mind was made up.

He's saying goodbye.

He passed the gun to Nancy and took her rifle. "Thanks for transporting this out for me. I hope I don't have to use it, don't need more blood on my hands."

"Joe..."

"When I distract the guards, dash for the forest and try your best to get out...it should not be a huge forest...I've seen it from a window in the mansion..." His voice cracked. "Please tell Frank to forgive me...I never wanted things to be the way it is...never. And...if I don't die...and I break...Nan...warn the Network...coz I know where it is...but I told them the virus is in my flat and I'm actually a Network informant or something and he believed me...so..."

They may have moved, standard procedure...we'll be alright...take care.

"Can I give you a hug, Joe?"

Let me comfort you for one last time?

"No. Your hands are clean. On my cue."

Joe went to the other side, the right and threw a stone somewhere into a bush. A guard heard the rustle it made in the bush and Joe made a dash across, trying to give the impression that he was trying to escape and ran to the front gate when he was sure he would be spotted.

"What the...over here!"

The goons that the Assassins used were not very smart. They believed in the strength in numbers even when they face a skinny deer. Joe ran fast to the main building of the old mansion and hid behind a wall. He knew he was doomed but he had to try. From where he was, he aimed his rifle at the goons who were behind him, ignoring the heaviness of it and agonizing pain in his left hand.

I'm a marksman. I can shoot to achieve the results I want without killing.

He shot one in the arm.

"Arghh, my hand!"

"He got a rifle! Be careful."

He shot another one in the legs and saw, with gratefulness, that Nancy and Hope were running across the field into the forest, happy that he had managed to get the guards attention. They were closing on him, he ran again until he reached the huge front gate which was surprisingly unguarded, and Kleptous must had took some guards with him to look for the vial. But it was locked and the remaining guards caught up with him and cornered him.

"Trying to escape are you? How the hell did you do it?"

Joe recognized him as the one who had pawed Hope. He spat into the guard's face and got suckered punch.

"Mr. Kleptous will be so angry with you."

Joe simply gave a goofy grin; he thought he was going quite mad, he actually felt happy, exulted like he had just scored a victory. "I thought so too."

And then he collapsed to the ground, exhausted and in very severe pain. Before he blacked out, he prayed with all his heart and soul that Nancy and Hope were safe.

Chapter 38

Top level personnels...me, Bob and Ben. Family.

Head of departments...

Hay...

Farms?

Frank had fallen asleep in his office and awoken by a phone call. He had picked it up in a rush to find that it was only Marjory, excitedly telling him that Fenton was back.

"I know. I fetched him from the airport."

"So you coming home for dinner? It'll be a whole family reunion again!"

"I'll see...Margie...I'll call you back...I'm a little busy right now."

"You're always busy."

"Be a good girl...bye..." He put the down the phone without waiting for her reply. Washing himself up in his own private bathroom in his office, his mind was churning all the time on the case.

I'm missing something here...I am...

He stepped out of his office, surprised to find it empty. Then he chuckled to himself, remembering that it was Sunday and he had the worst birthday ever. Suddenly, someone came in or rather wheeled in. Ben.

"What are you dong here?" Ben asked in shock. He had a cigarette in his hand.

"Came back to do something..."

Cigarette...the butt! Frank you idiot! That's a huge clue.

"Ok...I left something back here...oh and...happy birthday Frank...belated one. We were waiting for you to come home all last night."

"Yah...I believe so. Wait...Ben..."

Ben wheeled around and took a puff. Frank took out the cigarette butt from his pants pocket and shove in front of Ben's face.

"Can you tell me anything?"

"Ah...somebody smoked it already?" Ben was baffled.

"No...smell it...do you know the brand?"

Ben gingerly took the cigarette butt in his hand and sniffed it. Frank knew the scent was probably faded but he had to try.

"Weird smell...some unique brand? I don't know...familiar though..."

"That's what I thought so too...you smell it before? Where?"

"Let me think...somewhere in the office? I really can't remember...sorry." Ben shrugged. Frank gave him a weak smile that showed more disappointment.

"No problemo bro...if you remember anything...just tell me."

In the office...I smelled it before in the office also...but where?

And thus Frank went to all his head of department offices and checked through everybody's ashtray, hoping to smell the same pungent fragrance of this weird cigarette. Yet, everyone smoked the usual Marlboro or Virginia Slim. He had not much luck.

Tick tick Frank! Seconds, minutes...hours! They could have more than enough time to kill them over and over and again.

He went back into his office, lost in his thoughts and worries when Ben came into his office again. Frank was startled and he jumped a little. Ben never knocked. Frank had always reminded Ben to knock but it seemed to fell on deaf ears.

"Frank...I think I remember the smell." Ben nodded his head. "Or rather, I'm very positive I remember the smell."

Frank stood up immediately. "What's the brand? Who smoked it? How did you remember?"

Ben laid a packet of cigarettes on Frank's desk. It was a brand manufactured in the Middle East. "It is this brand...but I don't know Arabic, so don't ask me how to pronounce it."

Picking up the packet, Frank stared at Ben blankly. Was Ben implicating himself? Frank could not believe it of Ben, if it was him.

"It's a present...I had a slight debate with Bob once about cigarettes and cigars and he asked me if I'll to try a cigarette that has about the same fragrance as a cigar and I said if he could find me one, I would not mind. He quit smoking a year ago remember? But it seemed like he had a huge stash of it since it is difficult to find and when he found it, he would just buy in bulk. I took a packet but I can't stand it. You want to try too? It really sucked."

Bob...Middle East...one of the Assassins most active areas next to Africa and America...of course...he is always taking trips...pleasure trips he would say...

"You're a hero Ben! You have no idea..." Frank immediately walked towards the door and on the way, bursting with the elation of finding perhaps the best lead so far, he gave Ben a loud smack on the forehead.

"Yucks...I don't like guys kissing me Frank...and I'm your elder brother...I'm an old man...you can at least show more decorum in front of me."

Frank laughed; Ben is good at imitating Bob. "Don't worry...its will be the last time. You got a greasy forehead."

"Nay...you got greasy lipstick."

"Thanks buddy...thanks a lot."

Ben watched Frank stepped out the door and shook his head. "All those trouble, just to find a cigarette that smells like cigar...Frank's better off with his cognacs and wines...speaking of which...I'll love a glass now ...where's his stash?"

Frank opened the door to his uncle's office. Unknown to Bob, Frank had a key to everyone's office. The company's master key could not open three offices, namely, Frank's, Bob's and Ben's and thus he had their keys secretly duplicated before. Like his dad always said, Frank was a control freak at times.

There were pictures of racehorses hung on the wall. Frank wanted to kick himself. Hay could be found in stables too. It all fit so well. And Bob would know much of the projects and would have very unlimited access to quite a number of the company's top secret projects.

Time to pay Grey a visit.

"Grey, it's me. I know who's the insider. I'm coming over now. Tell my dad and Michel to meet me in your office as well."

"It's Bob. We have to find stables. Stables near here...I'm very sure of that...That stuffy bear loves horses."

Frank announced between ragged breaths as he stood by the door. He had pushed past the Network agents in the basement to get to the Grey's office like a mad man. Without even any greeting, he presented his findings.

Fenton's eyes went to the floor, deep in thoughts. Grey Man gestured for Frank to calm down before keying some entries into his database.

"We were also about to tell you that the search in Vermont Ridge was futile. Are you sure Frank? That it's your uncle?"

Frank grabbed his father by the shoulders; he had questions in his mind, questions that needed to be answered, if only he knew what the questions were. "Dad, you mentioned something about let the past be past whenever I asked why Bob did not get the bulk of the inheritance considering he's his father's son. Dad...please...tell me now..."

Fenton peeled his son's hands away. "I always thought he was a good man. He's not really your grandpa's son. He was adopted. And he knew he could never take Laura's place but he seemed so alright with it. And he did have a substantial inheritance..."

"Dad, it fits! He would know about miniature bombs, the central security codes. He would have the means to find out my email password and stuff like that...and he said he was retiring, going on a long holiday...he smokes weird cigarettes and love horses! He fits...Dad...and..."

A frightening, horrifying thought went through Frank's head.

He could have been hating us since day one. Joe's rather close to him too...

"There are no stables or anything private ownership of any stables within driving distance of Barnett Bay or Little Port. Are you sure Frank?" Grey spoke, looking up from his screen.

"Positive...I..." Frank slumped down on a chair.

"It might not be in the system if it's like very old and probably forgotten. There are areas out in the fringes of Barnett Bay that seemed so desolate." Michel interrupted.

"So we should drive to the fringe and look around. We should go now. I'll go with my dad, Michel, you can go with Grey."

"As much as I like to, boss, the outskirts of Barnett Bay before Vermont Ridge is pretty vast with the occasional forested area. If we were to just go like that, I'm afraid we may be wasting more time." Michel objected.

Frank was irritated. "So what do you propose we do?" He rubbed his forehead. "But you're right...I should think...think...think! Wait...The courthouse should have the old physical records right? Estates for horses would be huge..."

"Yes...I think you got a great idea there. We can look through records of estates bought on the outskirts and just look for their sizes or descriptions." Michel nodded in approval, earning himself a grateful, weary smile.

"I'll go...and you can come with me...sorry Grey, dad...old men tend to read a little slower."

Fenton gave Frank a re-assuring smile. "Don't worry about that son. While you go do your stuff, I and Grey will see what we can find out about Bob and his whereabouts. But you know that right now, we cannot be 100% sure that it is him...until we have all the proper evidence other than assumptions."

"Yes dad, I know. Let's move it." Frank gestured for Michel to follow him. Michel shrugged at Grey who just gave him a sympathetic smile and walked out the door, a few steps behind Frank.

"So you think he should be part of us?" Grey Man asked Fenton as he keyed in Bob's full name into the computer. "It's Robert Maximillian Jr. Garland right?"

"Yes to the second part and no to the first part." Fenton answered.

"I never had the chance to talk to you for a long time...but I am sorry about Laura and Joe."

A shadow fell across Fenton's face. "I never did a DNA testing."

Grey stopped looking into his screen for a moment, his eyebrows raised. "What? And you were so sure."

"The timing was right...and I guess I'm just too afraid that...at least without the DNA testing, I can still ask what if he's really mine though it's a higher possibility that he isn't. With it, I just...I cannot bear to see the results, written in plain black and white."

Grey Man concentrated on his screen again. "You know, it might not make a difference anymore. Hmm...interesting, Bob did not leave the country on any vacation and his blood group matched that of the second assailant's blood I found in Clark's apartment...Frank could have got our guy. But he did not have any properties registered, no stables, and no huge estates."

"So there's a high chance it could be him?"

"Yes."

Fenton's face shadowed over. "Another family to arrest...I'm a little sick of it."

Chapter 39

"Nancy, did you hear that?" The two young women were trying to find their way out of the forest in the sweltering sun for a few hours or at least they both felt it must have been a few hours. They had gotten lost in the forest after a while and the sun was setting. Hope heard a rustling sound nearby but it did not seem to be made by the wind since there was none. Sweat stuck both their clothing to their skin, the stickiness was unbearable. Nancy heard the sound too and gestured for Hope to keep very still.

They hid behind some bushes, unsure of what to do. Nancy wanted to check out to see who it was, or who they were. They might not be human, maybe animals, but in any case, she wanted to be sure before they made a move or it just be their last move.

"It's a man...two men..." Hope hissed having spotted movement behind some trees and some shadows. Most probably, it would be those men who were involved in their kidnap.

Nancy prepared her shot gun. "We have to be very quiet." She whispered. "Get your darts ready...we are going to move behind, using these bushes as cover..."

They crept very slowly in the opposite direction of the guards and all seemed well until there was a snapped sound. It was no fault of theirs; a tree branch had fallen out of the blue due to natural circumstances.

And the tree was very near them.

The two men heard the sound ran in their direction, approaching them fast. Hope continued creeping back, unsure of what to do until she was pulled behind a cluster of bushes.

"Shh..." Nancy hushed her. Crouching down, Nancy took a rock and threw it with all her might in the same direction as the Assassins were running towards, aiming at other thick cluster of trees. It worked. The Assassins thought that Nancy and Hope were in that cluster of trees.

"There! I heard noises there."

Nancy and Hope waited until the two goons past by them before calming down somewhat. They moved as swiftly and quietly as they could right angled to their pursuers.

"Stop pretty ladies." Another goon came out from nowhere and shot at them. Their natural instinct was to run towards the thicker growth of trees and probably get lost themselves. Nancy heart was pounding; just how many Assassins were there after them?

She could hear the footsteps behind her still and the occasional gun shot which made her very nervous that one may actually hit home. The trees would provide some cover but it would be a matter of time. She would have to take a chance, had no choice to stop him. She turned around and trained her gun at him, he was quite some distance away still, and she would have to fast. He spotted her as well, aiming at him and aimed at her as well, but it was too late. Nancy shot his left knee.

"Bitch! Guys! Where are you idiots?" The man swore as he fell. Nancy had hit his shin and was very sure it was not fatal. She had never seriously wounded anyone before and was not about to start. She ran to catch up with Hope when a shot rang out, not from her but from the guy she had just injured.

She fell, her left shoulder was hit. The pain was excruciating but she ran still, not knowing if they would get out this alive.

"Nancy...oh my god...oh..." Hope had slowed down when she turned and saw Nancy clutching her shoulder, blood dripping though her fingers. Nancy shook her at Hope and cocked it towards a hidden trail she spotted just ahead. The trail might just lead them out or lead them to more Assassins, but they had no choice, either that or get lost in the forest with the Assassins they knew were in it.

"Hope...we have to take a chance...we..."

"Nan...I know."

They ran with their last burst of energy along the trail, whether up or down, north or south, east or west they did not know. The forest had made them all disorientated with its similar looking trees, bushes, flowers and fallen logs. Hope was surprised a little when Nancy ran past her, but she expected it. Nancy seemed more than just a ordinary manager. Her calmness and coolness and they way she handled everything made her more like a FBI agent that she saw in the movies.

Nancy then stopped and Hope lost all confidence of ever making it out alive when she saw the reason why. There once again men up in front, lots of men. In her daze from the hot sun, she had thought they were the same goons who had run after them, suddenly multiplying.

Then she heard a familiar voice, a voice that warmed her heart and made her dying spirit soar immediately. And at the same time, it saddened her immensely.

Frank Hardy was screaming Nancy's name when Nancy collapsed to the floor. Rushing to Nancy's side, he held Nancy in his arms and carried her up.

"Nan! Nan...wake up...it's me...Frank...Nan!"

Joe's eyes fluttered opened. Kleptous had returned, fuming with unbridled anger, in fact, he seemed like an erupting volcano. He screamed, raved and rant at Joe, shaking him, pummeling him and kicking him but Joe received each blows, each swear, each spit with a smile on his face. He no longer cared about anything. At least Nancy and Hope had a chance of making it out of this place, out of immediate danger.

"You liar! Son of bitch! You think you can trick me?" Kleptous gave Joe a hard kick in the ribs, Joe was sure Kleptous had broken some bones in his body, but again, he did not care. "You think you are so smart? Sending your girlfriend and Caramon Diaz out there in the forest? I tell you...I can still find them! And I won't delay killing them and you will watch it if that's the last thing you do with your miserable life!"

Nancy does look like Caramon Diaz...

Snap out of it Joe! He's going after them!

He's off by a few hours...they might have gotten out already...it's a small forest...

And a clustered one! What if they gotten lost...huh? Have you thought of that?

They will have more chance there than here. He will kill them eventually if they're here. All I can do now is pray...

If you still remember how.

Don't mock me now! I'm getting beaten up.

Joe muttered something under his breath when Kleptous pushed him against wall, holding by his neck. Kleptous had not caught his words. He banged Joe's head against the wall.

"What did you say?" Kleptous voice was menacing, even more menacing than Joe had remembered he could be.

Joe smiled through his pain. He would smile when he die, he promised himself. Death would be a friend, a release to him; he would embrace it and kiss it.

"I said, what else can you do to me?"

Kleptous responded by screaming in frustration and throwing Joe on the floor. He straddled Joe and punched his face repeatedly.

"I can do lots of things to you...you will think that hell is a holiday." Kleptous stood up and grabbed a can beside him. He was about to pour kerosene on Joe when the Assassin in charge came in. Joe, through swollen eyes, caught the face at last. It was a face he had known all his life. A dull uncle who somehow doted on Joe when he was younger but stopped, just like everyone else when the truth that Joe was a rapist's son was out.

"Hullo Uncle Bob."

"Hello my nephew, I'm sorry it had to come to this. You are just as thickheaded as ever."

"Thannk..." Another jolt of pain rushed through him. Kleptous threw the can on top of Joe rather than pouring the contents on him.

"What are you doing here? All the time..."

"Kleptous...your plans don't work...he is not broken..."

"He will be...soon! Like a rag doll! He will see his own head rip from his neck!"

"Now...calm down. We can find more ingenious ways of torturing him." Bob walked over to Joe and somehow, Joe was more afraid of Bob than Kleptous. Kleptous wore his evil mask on his face so everyone knew he was a heinous man. Bob was simply expressionless, unfeeling.

In his hands were pincers. Joe breathing became more ragged when he saw what Bob was planning to do. The pincer tugged on one of his nails on his left hand as Bob droned in that sickening dull tone of his.

"I hate to do this...no...actually...I do enjoy it. But still, you look so much like Laura..." Bob traced Joe's battered face with a finger, all the way to his chest; his eyes for a moment seemed to be seeing something else beside reality. Then just as he seemed all dreamy, he snapped back and returned to his business.

"Tell me where's the Network and the vial."

The tug became a pull and Joe felt sharp agony. "I don't know! I don't know!"

"You know. You are an agent."

"No...they came to me...I can't..." Joe gritted his teeth hard and his body shook. A nail was extracted. Joe had no idea it could hurt so much.

Because he got my fingers...he got my fingers...stop...I need to play the piano for mommy...stop...

Your mom's dead! Who cares now?

The torment rode over him again and again. Joe closed his eyes. With each malicious tear, each cruel pull, Joe just wanted to die.

"Now, will you tell us the truth?"

"What would the Network want with a bastard child like me?!" Joe screamed at his uncle who gave him a look of sympathy.

"I'm sorry Joe. You have been a very naughty nephew and I, as your uncle, must discipline you." He stormed on Joe's left hand and Joe could feel the bones cracking and he stormed and stormed again. Kleptous chuckled, seeing that Joe could not even scream in pain.

"Oops...no more piano for you...your dad had not thrown your piano away...it's still in our hall...still on the damn platform...but I guess...you won't be needing it!"

He raised his leg to bring it down on Joe's right hand. Kleptous at the same time, began to inject something into him.

A drowsy feeling washed over Joe, he could feel his will, his control over himself ebbing away.

"Where's the vial Joe?" A gruff voice asked.

As if on autopilot, he answered, "Don't know."

A slap on his face. But with all the pain he was feeling, the slap was nothing.

"Are you in the Network or not? ANSWER ME!"

"Nope. Never was." Came the groggy reply and a goofy grin.

A scream in anguish and frustration. Kleptous kicked the boy again and again until he was on his side, squirming. "Damn you! Damn you!"

"You got fooled again. You always did. The Network's too smart, making it seem like Joe's on their side. Playing us for the fool." Bob sniggered at Kleptous. Whether they got the vial or not was not as important as what he wanted to do. World domination could come in many forms. A tiny vial was only one of the ways.

But personal revenge would only come once. Once. He had failed before, sure, Joe had suffered, but it was not what he wanted. Now that he had a second chance, he would not fail himself. From his pocket, he took out a small vial and taking the syringe that Kleptous had used on Joe, he filled it up with the vial's contents and injected into Joe. It would complement the truth serum with a very interesting result.

Conditioning people had never been so easy until lately

Chapter 40

Joe felt another prick and began to feel even drowsier than before. His mind felt heavy, druggy and he could not think without having a headache, not that he was thinking much then. But it was a horrible sensation. The room was swirling and the walls seemed painted in kaleidoscopic colors.

'Listen to what I say and believe it, for it is the truth, I am Truth...you shall know the truth." A sonorous voice seemed to come from inside him as well as outside him, lulling him. He felt extremely drawn to the voice, he was seeking truth and the voice would lead him to it.

"Don't speak, not a word. Now, we shall start."

He felt himself nodding earnestly, desiring to hear everything the voice was telling him.

"It's time for me to finish up what I should have done 5 years ago when you murdered your mother! You're a rapist's child! She doted on you, loved you, cherish you and you finally brought her anguish! Pain! Suffering...you brought her death. Pushed her down from the second storey you did...the last look she saw was your face, yearning not for her love but for the white powder that you were so hooked on!"

His heart twisted. The voice knew, the voice knew what had transpired and was telling him. He now knew too and the voice was right, the voice was very right. Guilt set in stronger than before, he could not believe it of himself and yet, it was all true.

No...I...please...mom...I did not mean to...Lena got me on it...I'm sorry...did I push you? I did, didn't I? I know now mom...I'm so sorry...I'll never forgive myself...never...I'm so sorry...mom...

"And your brother...you keep telling yourself it's the brakes...the brakes don't work...but it did! Just that you weren't stepping on it. You were stepping on the accelerator. And you had wanted to reverse into him, wanted to finish him off but you knew you were spotted so you sped off. His legs...all useless now."

Stop it...stop telling me what I've forgotten...stop...

Joe's left shin was brutally hammered on. He screamed. He wanted it to stop. But the voice was telling the truth and he believed.

"Now, watch this."

Hands took him until his face was right in front of a television screen. Through his glazed eyes, he could not tell what the screen was showing.

"It's Marjory's bedroom...before it underwent a transformation."

He looked closer, it was Margie's room. And there was a blond guy on top of Margie, Margie seemed drugged.

"That's you. Raping her. Ripping her soul, taking away her innocence. She was only 16, sweet 16. And she would have a very horrible life in future. Now that she's 21, she still could not forget this torment."

I...I did...it's me...I'm watching my own despicable self...I am...why?

"When Frank caught up with you...what did you do? A brother you swore you love most in the whole wide world. You shot at him and then cowardly threw the gun away."

Did I really shoot him? I don't think so...did I? I can never hurt him...never...

A bright light shone in his face. He tried to avert his eyes but something was forcing his head still. The voice would go on, the voice that seemed so much like his conscience.

"You're an evil man Joe. You did heinous crimes against your own family, despicable acts too digusting to even talk about, or think about. You thought you could hide by forgetting...but justice caught up with you. You deserved everything that ever happened to you. You deserved your jail life. And when you're out...thinking you can start anew, you can't...because you have to pay! You have hell to pay for!"

I have paid...didn't I? It is not enough? No...you're right...it's not enough...no matter what I go through, it cannot change what I've done...what I've done...blood on my hands...their blood on my hands!

"You should look at yourself everyday with nothing but contempt! You are so dirtied; you invited the filth on you because of your nature. You are spawned out of violence, out of hatred, out of evil. You don't deserve love, that's why Hope can never be yours. That's why Frank hates you! Fenton hates you! Marjory hates you! Ben hates you!"

"Your beloved mother though, loved you. You have sinned most against her. You should hate yourself. You're going to jail Joe and never coming out."

And the screaming once it started, never seemed to stop.

"Do what you want with him, but don't kill him." Bob allowed some of his goons to enter the stables, or rather, the cells. He watched with a smirk at they rubbed their hands in glee. These men knew nothing but sheer brutality and perversion. But it did not matter now. His own personal agenda was fulfilled. Kleptous followed him behind in admiration.

"You must teach me how to play with people's mind that way one day."

"You don't have the voice for it."

Kleptous snorted. "Now you're satisfied, what do we do about the vial? We have our responsibility towards our greater cause."

"It looks like this mission has to fail. You lost the vial in the first place to those pesky Network agents Never mind that. We can think of other ways to dominate the world."

"We had everything in our hands! We have the cure..." Kleptous protested. Bob knew what he was thinking. They were really very close.

"You screwed it up. We have to get out of here soon. It's not safe anymore."

"Why?"

"Because you let the two girls escape! That's why...don't make me angry now, just do as I say."

"They will be back. The forest is not easy to navigate. My men will find them."

" And it's been so long since they returned. How many did you left here guarding us?"

"More than enough. But he injured two of them. Kid's got a good arm."

"I saw the wound. He was using a rifle and that should hurt and he got your goons still. Forget it. Next time, please...use more brainy foot soldiers. We have to evacuate soon. I have phoned headquarters to send us a chopper, shouldn't be long." Bob looked at his watch. "It's about time. Meet me out in the fields."

"What about the men and him?"

"Leave them here, the Network will find them but they won't know anything, too stupid to answer questions...and he's nothing but a wreck now, he will offer them nothing useful...on second thoughts..." Bob thought for a while. Did he want the kid to seek release? But he had proven himself to be resilient; the first conditioning did not work as well as it should have 5 years ago. Kleptous brutality which would have normal people begging for mercy had not caused him to break. What if he could somehow get out of this and give Bob's identity away? No, he should die a horrible death, one with no peace. Bob would love for him to die a slow, agonistic one but he would be slightly merciful this time.

"When we leave, burn the stables. Get the rest of the men inside too, tell them to have fun with Joe. We'll dispose of all them that way."

Kleptous breathed heavily. Bob gave a smug smile. So Kleptous had finally found a better tormentor than himself.