The Royal Contract

1171 Snooping at their burial ground

He believed he had managed to ease her anxiousness, convincing her that it might be just her imagination. But in his mind, it might not be that simple as a possibility crept into his thoughts.

“Why don’t you go back to bed and rest? It is getting very late. It is not good for the baby.” He told her after he had his meal and their short chat.

He assured her that he was finishing her papers so there would not be any hitch once she left the mansion for the island. The last thing he needed was someone tracing her whereabouts.

Nobody could ruin their plans, not now when they were close to their goals. It had never been easy since they did not know their enemies. They had to play a lot of angles to flash out the traitors in the group.

“Yeah, I am kinda sleepy.” She admitted as she made a big yawn. “I think my body just wants to drop down on my softy and comfy bed.” She added as her eyes drooped down.

He could tell that it would be just a matter of minutes before she was snoring, fast asleep. Then, he could proceed to do what was on his mind. He guessed that could not wait until morning.

“Let me walk you back to your room.” He offered, taking her arms and guiding her upstairs. “And don’t worry about anything. You are safe as long as you are under my protection. I guarantee you that.”

He finally left her when she closed her door and walked back downstairs. Sleeping was not an option for him, not yet, until he had confirmed his suspicion and guaranteed that Haley was still safe under his watch.

He went straight to his office and took his gun from his drawer. It was just for precaution. He did not want to walk into something, especially not prepared.

.....

“Are you sure you did not see or notice anything suspicious?” He asked again the two guards he had assigned to watch Haley. There were more around, but they usually stayed out of her sight.

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He did not want her to be suspicious of what was happening around her. He guessed he had to expedite her travel plans before his plans blew up in his face, losing control of the situation.

“No, Sir. Everything had been quiet since you left. We did not notice any movement in the vicinity.” His men assured him.

Still, he could not discount what Haley said. In their situation, he had to take all threats as something serious. He had to investigate until he felt satisfied that it was nothing but a false alarm.

“Ok! Be more vigilant.” He instructed his men, not wanting anything or anyone to slip their watch.

He did not want additional surprises that would compromise all that he had been working on for years. The last thing he needed was for their enemies to snoop around his work.

He moved toward his car and worked his way on the light traffic. Then, he found himself in the slum that he had visited earlier. He did not like coming to this place, but he had no choice.

“I don’t want any scratch on my car.” He instructed the gang of boys standing at the corner of the building.

He immediately entered the dilapidated facility and climbed the stairs, two steps at a time, to his destination. He did not want to waste his valuable time. He knew he had to return home before Haley realized he had left again.

“Is he inside?” He quickly asked when the big man answered the door with his first few knocks.

He wanted to ask him more questions but dismissed them. He knew he would not tell him anything if the man inside told him to keep quiet. It was better to get the answers from the horse’s mouth.

“Yes, Sir.” The big man answered before exiting the room to give them some privacy.

He quickly went to the small room on the other side of the apartment and confronted his partner. He wanted to know if he had anything to do with the earlier incident.

“Were you at my house early this evening?” Mike asked the man, silently sitting on his chair by the window, staring into the graffiti outside.

He could not blame him if he always found his friend staring at that crap of artwork. He guessed that was the best view in this hellhole. He might do the same if he had to stay in this place day and night.

“It is still my house.” The man coldly said, showing no emotion as he stood from the chair and walked over to him. “Isn’t it?” He raised his eyebrows at him before he walked out of the door, leaving him behind.

He quickly followed him into the other room, watched his friend march toward the fridge, and took out two bottles of beer. Then, he tossed one in his direction, which he caught just in time before it fell to the ground.

“Technically, you gave it to me when you died.” Mike opened the cap and drank the brown malt. “Remember, you made me your heir.” He raised the glass to the man who just rose from the dead.

“But as you can see, I am not dead.” He reasoned as he moved to the old couch that had seen its better days. “So, you did not inherit anything from me.”

“Fine!” Mike conceded, knowing that was not the immediate issue. “But what are you doing, Gerald?” He finally asked his friend. “Haley could have seen you.” He walked toward him and sat on the other chair.

“But she did not. I was careful.” His friend answered as he opened the old television that was barely functioning. An old basketball game was on, and he let it play on the screen.

“That is not the point. Someone else might have seen you.” He said, slightly frustrated with his friend. “You know we have to be cautious. We don’t want to blow our plans because of carelessness.” Mike reminded his friend.

“By the way, how is your wound?” He asked when his friend remained silent as he watched the game. But he doubted if he was keeping score. He knew that he was thinking deeply of their situation.

“What do you expect? It still hurt like hell.” The former leader of their organization said. “But thank you for not hitting any vital organs.”

It was the first time he had talked about what had happened to them. He knew that his friend did not have a grudge against him. He only did what he had to do to make their actions believable.

He believed it was better that he shot him than one of the goons with him. His chances of survival in his hand were high. And fortunately, the other men with him that day were slightly dumb, or else, they would have shot him in the head for assurance.

“You are lucky I have a good aim.” He proudly said, knowing that he was a decent marksman. “Anyway, what are you doing in the house?” He asked, wondering if something urgent came up and if he would like to discuss it with him.

“I was just checking everything.” His friend shook his head as if that was not a big deal.

He stared at his friend, knowing he was keeping something from him. Still, he did not believe that was his only reason. “Just admit it.” He narrowed his eyes at him, hoping that he would confess his true feelings. “You miss her.”

“I only wish to know that you are not messing anything up.” His friend still denied his suspicion. But he was not letting him out of the hook that easily. He was a fish flopping out of the water, gasping for air. He only needed a few more pushes.

Then he would eventually divulge the truth.

“Really? Is that your only reason?” He contradicted his statement, mocking him at the same time. “Well, I don’t believe you.”

Judging from the shadow in his eyes, he could tell his friend missed her, despite his defiance. He would not understand what was going through his friend. He guessed not until he ended in the same boat.

But that was not very likely.

He would never believe in love or subject himself to such emotion. It was a weakness that he had no intend including in his profile.

“Fine.” His friend finally conceded. “I just want to see her before she leaves.” He admitted. “I only want to guarantee that she and our child is ok. But I made sure that she did not see me.”

“Well, luckily, she did not see you. However, you scared the crap out of her.” He informed him with a reprimanding stare. “She thought that someone was watching her, and that slightly frightened her.” He explained further.

“That was not my intention.” His friend exasperatedly expressed. “But I hope they are alright.”

“Don’t worry.” He looked at his friend with concern. “I assured her that it was nothing. That she is safe.”

He would not claim that he knew what his friend was going through. But as he promised, he would be there when he needed him. He would never leave his side, including protecting Haley and their child.

“Thanks, Mike.” His friend seemed slightly relieved. But he knew he would not have any peace. At least not until they had resolved the real issue.

“Anyway, there is one more thing that we have to discuss,” Mike remembered something that had popped into his radar. “Someone else is digging deeper into your death.”

He thought that it was just curiosity and nosiness at first, but now, it was becoming something more. Someone else was snooping at their burial ground.