Pools of Blood

Chapter 51

" How am I supposed to find clues from this book? ", I asked.

A 100-page book covered by a pink wrapper and full of pictures. A children's bedtime reading. I was bever a fan of storybooks. It was always Amiya who loved reading. A voracious reader she was. Mugged up all like candies be it a Shakespeare or a Milton. She knew five languages and utilized all her intelligence in the right way. She would have been helped me in this crisis.

" I have read these stories when I was a child. My mom used to read these to me every night before I went to sleep", said Jasmine leafing over the pages.

" My mom used to sing me songs", I reflected. I loved those beautiful lullabies and still, a few of them rings softly in my mind sometimes.

"When your grandfather has thought of doing something like this, there must be a reason. I don’t think, Frank is the only one we are talking about."

"- What do you mean? "

-"You see, your grandfather had made the will and placed the clues long way before Frank and child, mother came into your life. Why? Tell me why? Your father was the only child of your grandfather, so there was no quaffle regarding the heirship of this huge property. Then why did your grandfather made two wills and placed the first one into some obscure location? "

I never thought about this. Jasmine was correct in analyzing the situation. "We are missing the bigger picture here, Michael".

I nodded. On one hand, there was Frank on loose, and on another, this matter with the will, were they connected?

" I am not fully confident with this man, Mr. Topaz", Jasmine whispered.

-"Why do you say that? He is the one who had kept my will and everything under his care for so many years. He is giving his full help to me in recovering my lost assets."

She furrowed her brows together.

" I don't know Michael, It's just the negative vibes I am getting every time I meet him, or he comes here. there is something I feel that he is hiding".

-"Jasmine. You know you are the only one with whom I can confide everything. Please don’t hold back anything. Tell me what's eating your mind? " 

-"Well, have you ever given it a thought that why Mr. Topaz never really tried to find you? He simply provided you a lame excuse. Finding a child in this small country isn’t that hard, isn’t it? Why didn’t he find you? Secondly, he is just a supervisor and a manager of a hotel and your property. So how come his house looks like a mansion, costly imported decorations and tapestries adorn his walls and his son even has two Porsche and a Lamborghini. Where is this money coming from? I have checked a bit about his family. His son helps him in managing the hotel and the bamboo forest. Does all that really amount to the cost of three cars and a luxurious villa? Thirdly, he said all the years he was waiting for you. Do you really believe that? I mean- who does it? He didn’t try to search you, but he was waiting for you to hand over the will. Isn’t this some sort of television drama? Fourthly, he never mentioned the will, until you asked for it. Why? Think Micheal why?’

I was dumbfounded. I can't simply deny whatever clauses and sections of doubts that Jasmine had placed. They were completely valid. And I didn’t have an answer to any one of them. She was right, when I went to his home, I too had noticed the expensive decor and the high palatial taste of him. All these years, he had looked and guarded my property, and the revenue that was generated simply went into his pocket, while I stayed at foster care. 

"What do you suggest that I should do?", I asked her at last.

Jasmine looked outside the window. It was night. The sky at Damyang looked beautiful with stars and a large yellow moon hanging upon it like a silver sovereign. The trees outside our room were bathed in the silver rays of the moon and everything looked magical. But inside, two people were in turmoil. After years I thought I had found a piece of my lost family. But my hopes were shattered once again. I couldn't trust anyone except the woman in front of me and Alfred’s parents. They were my own true family. After my parents died, why didn’t anyone came to rescue me? Mr.Topaz created an amazing story of his failure in finding me. Did he even try to find out? 

" I think we should keep a watch on Topaz. Sooner or later, he is bound to reveal his real look. And in the meantime, I think I should find the clue that your grandfather had left for you. And you should try to locate the location where Frank is hiding at this moment. Work, if divided will take less time to complete, isn’t it?"

I nodded. Jasmine had a special power of comprehending the mind of people. I never would get the idea of how she would always seem to understand what I usually think at that moment. Maybe she knew telepathy or maybe she was too compassionate about my case. Or maybe, we shared a bond where our minds flowed at the same frequency.

Suddenly the phone started to ring.

"Hello. Michael here."

" Michael, my baby brother", Frank’s rough voice floated from the other end. My blood started to boil.

-"Frank. Why don’t you and I meet? "

He cackled wickedly.

"Yeah sure. Why not! But before you and I meet, I am sending you a gift for your birthday. Have a look at your email."

Saying this he hung up.

Jasmine opened her laptop and I punched in my password.

There was a small video link.

Alfred’s mom and dad were tied to a post and they were crying.

“ Michael! Michael! Save us please save us! ”

A blood curling baleful laugh came from behind.

" Michael, bring me the original will of your grandfather. Sorry for our grandfather! And your adopted parents' home. You have only 10 days. After that, you know what I am capable of doing.”