Darkness fell; the boys were ready with torches and knives in case they were caught.
The chilly gusts of wind tickled their spines.
They reached the mansion wall in minutes. Willy climbed the wall like a cat and gave a hand to Cam. They jumped in the mansion premises with a low thud. They found the van parked near the iron gate but no way in. At last, they decided to try the kitchen window and with luck, it was unbolted. The kitchen walls had spider webs on them and the boys could smell rotten food. They slowly approached the door and Willy put his ear on it to hear if someone was on the other side.
He could not even hear a squeak, so he opened the door carefully. Now they stood in a hall when they heard footsteps. Cam pulled Willy behind a cupboard, and they both held their breath.
An old man with a walking stick came into light and tried the doors of some rooms. He then went back up the stairs.
"Phew, that was a narrow escape. Are you all right?" whispered Willy.
"Didn't you notice, the man had a gun in his hand? Something is very wrong," said Cam terrified.
They climbed the stairs and saw the man again going into a room.
They waited for him to close the door and then Willy carefully put his ear next to the door and listened." So how would you like to speak up or still want some good smacking?"
"Whatever you do, the ships are secure from everywhere. Also, you cannot reach the harbor while the gale is blowing. The money is for the needy, not for greedy people like you." shouted a man. Willy recognized the voice. Yes! It was Cam's father's shouting.
"Well, if I can't reach then neither the ship can reach its destination. If you don't tell me, then down you go again," responded the man, and a loud thud was heard from the room, and footsteps ascended to the door. Cam had also come to the door and was horrified to hear his dad screaming and howling in pain.
Within a few seconds, they heard the old man's footsteps approaching the door.
Both the boys ran down the stairs into the hall and out of the mansion in full speed and did not stop before they had reached the cafe.
The other two were wide-awake, waiting for Willy and Cam.
Willy panted and began after a minute, "We have understood everything.
These men are robbers. They had planned to rob the ship on which money was being sent for the needy people.
Therefore, these men kept our folks, hostages, to claim the money.
Thankfully, your dad has not told those idiots anything. Also, my dad was kidnapped, as he is one of the officials working on getting help to the needy."
" Hey Willy, we found a ton of details today, but you don't look relieved. What's the matter?
"Well, we do know that your father is in there but what about my dad, we don't know that he is alright or even alive?"
"Don't say that Willy, your dad is very much alive and I promise we won't leave this place until we rescue both of them. I know, both our folks are very brave and they surely would be looking for a way out. Also tomorrow night we'll go there again and try our best to rescue them. C'mon, let's have some sleep." assured Cam.