I entered his home, it was a small-sized home, there were not many decoration pieces, paintings or carpets. There was a couch and a coffee table to accompany it, on the left side of the room was a tiny kitchen mainly a stove, copper sink and a little counter space which was also occupied by a coffee grinder and two coffee mugs. The Interior was quite minimal, the ambience of the place was white and simple opposite to Edward's bright and sunny personality. Edward has a person with a yellow aura, his existence can never make you bored. His personality was just as charming as his appearance. He had a sharp jawline, his lips were brownish pink, and his golden hair made every woman's heart flutter. He used to be the most popular back then in his twenties but now age has given him even more grace. Some packages were still piled up near the door, I hung my chequered coat which had little flakes of snow. I glanced at his home and went in. He offered me to sit and was kind to give me a cup of freshly made coffee in this harshly cold weather. He sat in front of me and said with a smile,
"Good to see you after a very long time."
"Good to see you too mate," Samuel said in his British accent and smiled back at Edward while taking a sip of his coffee.
"Oh, you picked up the accent well brother," Edward said in an amusing tone
" Sure did," Samuel said in a light-hearted tone
"Where have you been all this time, planning for a new mission?" He asked in a sneaky voice while narrowing his brown eyes mischievously.
"You can say, resuming an old mission," I said affirmed.
"Is that so?" He asked in a questioning tone.
"hmm, things shouldn't be left unfinished," I said while placing my coffee mug on the brass coffee table.
"You are right mate, and here you go the case file and the briefcase you called upon so urgently and made me rushed on my toes from all the way Italy" He handed me the heavy blue file and box and said in a light tone.
" I'm sorry for the inconvenience my friend" I apologised.
"No problem, you're my friend anything for friends I was just curious about the reason for the urgency for this case file and briefcase because according to my sources the case closed a decade ago!" He said in a curious voice and light tone.
"It is true that the case FORCIBLY closed a decade ago," I said on a dark note.
"Forcibly, are you saying they threatened you?" He said with a surprised look on his face.
"Yes, those incompetent people did force me to abandon it," I said
"The fact that they threatened you is not new because of their weak nature but the fact that how forceful would be the reason that you left because the headstrong Samuel I know for more than a decade wouldn't leave a case for a diminutive reason," he said in an understanding voice.
"You are right mate the situation was worst at that time" I sighed.
"But now the condition there is even worse, people are dying due to starvation, people are abducted without reason and families have to pay a handsome amount for the return of their loved ones, his loyal dogs come and collect money from the peasants that they earned with their blood and sweat, the one who resists facing his death. Everyone is terrorised by Lorenzo and his loyal dogs, people are locked up in a devil's dungeon there," he said while having a grieved look on his face and an intense voice.
"This devil will soon be put down to death by God's grace," I said forcefully.
"Do you have found something for that?" He asked.
"I did my mate, look at this," I said.
"hmm." He looked curiously.
"This is not an ordinary briefcase it carried secretly all the evidence I had collected at that time," I said in a smiling tone.
"Really will we be able to put him down to death?" He asked in a hopeful tone.
" Yes we can my friend but I would require your help," I said.
"Always there for you sir," He said.
"Then Lorenzo it's time for you to leave this world, where you have done enough worse," I said in a high tone.
" Wow Samuel you are still the same, Fearless Samuel." he looked at me with high hopes in his eyes.
"Really? I also got reminded of our old times." I said.
" Yeah when there was you, me and Edmondson. Everybody used to call us the Triumph Trio, there was not a single case we didn't win. We were everywhere, everyone used to come with their case to us and then you would say-"
"Ready for uncovering another mystery boy," I said, my smile faded when the harsh memories came back of Edmondson's last encounter.
" Yes, but now everything has changed since you disappeared. I continued in our firm but after you left nothing was left after some time Edmondson joined hands with Lorenzo and that legal firm soon becomes the hub of Lorenzo's illegal acts. His and his so-called reputed family's sinful cases came to clear their name and because of his terror locals stopped coming. I and Rosanne saw all those sinful acts, how by seeing a handsome amount Edmondson kept agreeing to handle their cases. Mine and Rosanne's patience ended one day and we left that firm, we tried to find you everywhere but you were nowhere to be seen. At last, I left for Firenze and Rosanne remained with her parents in Sicily. I didn't contact her after that, but she came to me after many years and gave me your letter. My eyes gleamed with happiness when I got to know that you are alive and then energy came in me and I became the lawyer I used to be and collected this from Edmondson's office." he told me.
" I couldn't believe it when I listened about it from Alessio, I can't repay all your efforts, my dear friend. I didn't know this all happened behind me. I didn't know that you all were also living a life as painful as mine." I said.
"Were you too?" He asked.
"Unfortunately I was a life worse than death, but that is my painful past. Now is the time to make our future better than our pasts." I said while my voice went from lowered sad tone to a high and hopeful tone.
" You are right my friend let's save our and the inhabitant's future." he smiled and looked at me with the same bright look on his face.
"You still have the contacts in Edmondson's office right?" I asked.
" I do have an informant of mine there. He can be trusted completely and will provide us with all the necessary information," he said.
" That is a relief to know. Then I want to know one thing for sure from your informant" I said
"What is that?" He asked
" First thing that he has to know is about the condition of Mr Francisco's captured family by Lorenzo's men. Will he be able to do it?" I said while having a concerned look on my face.
"This task is not a piece of cake, it is time-consuming and life-endangering but I am confident that he will do it," he said while rubbing his chin.
"Good, then I want to know it as soon as possible when you get the information you can tell me this address,
House 345 Pellets Street" I said.
"Wasn't your address different?" He asked in a curious tone.
"I had to change it because our former friend knew it and I have gotten stabbed in my back before," I said while having an angered tone.
"Did he attack you?" He asked angrily.
"Yes he did attack me and Mr Francisco's son, Alessio," I said.
"Alessio, did he come to you too?" He suddenly asked.
"Yes he did to seek justice for his father but the poor boy was beaten to death for that by Edmondson's men. He came to you too?" I sighed.
"He did come to me for the same matter his eyes were desperate for his father's revenge. I couldn't answer his questions so he went to Edmondson. After that, I didn't know he came to you?" He told me.
" He did come to me, but now we must fulfil his uncompleted mission," I said in a promising tone.
" Yes we will do everything to help him," he replied with the same energy as the twenty-two-year-old Edward used to do.
"So, Ready for uncovering another mystery," I asked with a smile.
" I surely am," he said excitedly.
That time I felt that I rise from the ocean of regret, grief and agony, finally I was saved from drowning, my life was saved, the second chance was granted and this time I would not let it go of my hands. This time I won't let the people who believed in me look down in despair. I won't let the hopes of the people break. I would not let Alessio's promise to his mother break. I would not drown in the ocean of agony, grief and regrets but I will become the rising sun and eliminate the darkness of injustice!