TST, 2020
“You sure this is the right time?” Saleem said as he sat.
“Time is always right to do what is right.” SJ said.
“It has been 38 years.”
“The guy doesn’t seem to relinquish.”
“Till he confirms our deaths, he won’t.”
“We need to get the file before him.”
Saleem nodded, sipping coffee.
“We expose his wrongdoings, we clean our names.”
“It’s been sturdy all these years…” Saleem smiled. “Hiding from your history only shackles you to it.”
SJ smiled. “it’s time to face it and free ourselves.”
Saleem gasped. “We will need all four cards to get the file.”
“The kids are after the two. Felix had the third.”
“He’s dead.”
“The card is out there.”
“Maybe he’s after it too.”
SJ nodded. “There's no time to waste. Every second, there needs to be movement on something.”
“I’ll find details on Felix’s card. Handle the kids.”
“Consider it done!”
“What about the fourth card?”
“Let’s worry about it after we get Felix’s.”
“Let’s not mess it up this time.”
“I wish…”
“Many of us spend half our time wishing for things we could have if we didn't spend half our time wishing.”
SJ smiled. “Enough wishing. He destroyed us back then, not again.”
**********
After surveying the library, the four agreed to sneak during the night. Leo headed to his room. He heard music sound coming from his room. He slowed his pace. He wasn’t a very good admirer of music and he didn’t have any radio. He heard people believe that Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens. He didn’t.
His big toe unhurriedly pushed the door. He clenched his fist. His eyes widened after entering the room.
“Rachel?” Leo said, taking a deep breath.
“Leo…”
“What are you doing in my room?”
“You didn’t lock the door.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“You didn’t leave the keys too…” Rachel indexed on the lock. “I was frightened someone would sneak, so I looked at the room while you were out.”
Leo looked at Rachel for seconds and headed to his bed.
“You’re welcome.” Rachel snapped.
“I’ll take care of my room now. You can go.”
“Leo—”
“I need some rest.”
“I wanted to ask about your brother’s body.”
“We talked about it.”
“I just—”
“Not now Rachel.”
“Fine… one last favor.”
Leo breathed deeply, staring at the roof.
“Can we have dinner tonight?”
“No!”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid it’s none of your business.”
“Leo, please… just dinner.”
“Time is precious, waste it wisely.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Am I wasting my time talking to you?”
“Nobody wants to spend their entire life waiting for someone to change.”
“Time you enjoy wasting is never wasted.”
Leo smiled. “Give me the location.”
Rachel grinned. “I’ll cook and bring the food here.”
Leo nodded.
“What’d you like to eat, what’s your favorite meal?”
“It’s 16:30 now. Better go before I change my mind.”
“Thank you!” Rachel ran out of the room, smiling profoundly.
What’s my favorite meal? No one has ever asked me that. He chuckled, closing his eyes. Leo rolled around the bed for half an hour without getting a leap of sleep. He stood, stretching. He pulled a card from the drawer.
He didn’t give me the password, he inspected the card closely.
There is no bank name, what kind of card is this? He raised the card to the light, taking a deep look.