I and Aarish just entered his house when the bell rang again. It was Rebecca, Agent Liam and Agent Frank. They had come back after handing the gangsters over to the police for further investigation. We all sat in his living room while Aarish went to his kitchen to make us all some coffee.
“Rough night, huh?” said Agent Liam to break the awkward silence in the room. Sensing that he should give me and Rebecca some time to talk, he along with Frank went to the kitchen to help Aarish.
“Where are my kids, Agent?” I aggressively asked Rebecca.
“Our kids… are in India with Aarish’s sister, perfectly safe.” explained Rebecca.
“How did you even pull off your death?” I asked.
“Well, I am in the FBI. As soon as you went to the washroom on your birthday night, I injected the kids unconscious and then with the help of other agents it was just good make up and fake blood all over the bed." Reb answered in a dead-scared voice. Before I could reply to her, Agent Frank came rushing out.
“Guys, the police called. The Zao members have confessed about the whereabouts of the Zao’s next prominent meeting in exchange for immunity.”
“Okay, we need a plan.” said Aarish while handing us all coffee.
“Alright, so we basically are out of options, they know that the FBI is following their trail so we can’t go undercover. It is way too risky. I think it’s time for us to go after them as FBI agents.” said Reb taking the lead.
“We’ll go in with full police force and make arrests and I am sure that we’ll find some hard evidence against them and be able to break them for information about their main leader.” said Aarish.
“Right, come on let’s go to the FBI office and work on the execution of our plan with the others.” Agent Liam said.
“I am coming.” I said.
“Woah, wait. Why exactly?” said Reb.
“Rebecca, I think it’s a good idea for him to be with us. I mean, they already know that he’s your husband and his location. He’ll be safe at the office.” said Aarish.
“Okay, let’s get moving. They are meeting at 10:00 pm and it’s already 2:00 pm.” said Reb.
“EIGHT HOURS LATER”
“FBI, hands in the air.” FBI busted and broke into the building. Everybody started to rush and gunshots were shot by the gang and the FBI force. After a long tussle between the two, the FBI made the arrest of 121 members while 3 died and 26 escaped the building and vanished into thin air. It was a big victory for the FBI. Among the arrested were gang members, local leaders, drug suppliers, hackers and all kinds of vicious creatures. They received information about the main leader, Sin Kung, the founder of The Zao Monarch and more than enough hard pieces of evidence and confessions for a trial.
Over the course of the next two month, the cesspool of crime and corruption, one of the largest forces against mankind, The Zao Monarch was slowly dismantled. Many kids who may have gotten into the same rotten life the Zao members used to lead were rescued. I didn’t saw Rebecca or Aarish for the next two months. I returned to the new normal. I had joined my old job and got busy.
One foggy morning, as I opened the door to get to work. I saw Reb standing outside.
“Hi Charles”
“Please get out of here. I don’t want to see you today or ever again. I am used to my new life and I’ll be finer alone than I’ll be with you anyway.” I said.
“What do you want me to say? I needed to protect you. It was all so fast. I did not tell you anything because I did not want to compromise my mission, my friends but most of all I did not want to compromise you. I was working for the greater good.”
“Then why did you marry me anyway? Were you unaware about the fact that you were a secret FBI agent and you hid it from me?”
“Because I fell for you… out of all the things I planned you weren’t on my list but you became a priority for me anyway. Most agents like me don’t get to have a normal life and you dangled it in front of me. Everything I never thought I’d be so lucky to have.” Rebecca said and burst into tears. I couldn’t bear the anger, the pain and the betrayal in me any longer. I hugged her sobbingly. Just then Aarish popped out from behind the shoe rack.
“Hey Charles, I was hoping if you were to consider a package deal and forgive me too. I am so sorry for being a lousy friend.” said Charles.
“Hop in!” I said and chuckled. I know I should have been mad at them for at least a millennium but at the end of the day, they are my family.
“Umm…Charles, I wanted to ask you something?” said Reb.
“Yeah sure, what is it?”
“Out of all the kids we rescued, there was this one I felt such a strong connection too. His name is Zin Kung. He is two years old. I don’t know, it’s just something in me that says, we should adopt him. What do you say?”
“Well sure, I don’t think there is any problem in providing the love and care that kid deserves.” I said and smiled.
“Thanks, let me make some calls for his adoption.” Reb replied with gratitude.
“2 months later”
Sing Kung’s (Leader of Zao) Jail Cell
“Did you bring what I asked you?” said Sing Kung to a woman walking towards his cell.
“Good afternoon, lord. Yes, I did”, said Rebecca and handed a blade to him.
“Are you sure about this?” asked Reb.
“Yes dear, I am. My time has come and I don’t want to die from the deadly disease I have like a street dog. I decide when I die, not fate or the law.”
“Well, I did what you said, the Zao is fully dismantled.”
“It was the need of the hour. We couldn’t leave those rats leaderless. There was a mole in Zao and with me gone he would have killed the next rightful leader of Zao. I couldn’t afford that. Zao begins and ends with my blood.”
“You have nothing to worry about. I adopted the next rightful leader of Zao and I promise you that I’ll protect and raise him like my own. The Zao Monarch will rise again.
“Surely. Thank you, Rebecca. Now, I can die in peace. Goodbye….”
Rebecca smiled and turned away while Sing Kung killed himself. It marked the beginning of a new end. The silence before the storm arrived.
Wow, so will there be next part - Murderous 18th, when Zin Kung grows up? But the biggest question is- on whose side was Rebecca all the time- FBI or Zao or Charles?