Chereads / Plato - Part 2 / Chapter 14 - Minsk , again

Chapter 14 - Minsk , again

Plato went home and saw Dimitri seated there in the living room, smoking a cigarette. "Plato," he said
"Yes," replied Plato. 
"I have been thinking, "Plato, that I get my own place," said Dimitri.
"Your own place?" asked Plato who was surprised that Dimitri had suddenly brought it up. 
"Yes, a home on my own. Nothing far away, something close by," replied Dimitri.
"Why? is there some reason. This place is big enough for the two us, and Sergey is also not here anymore, said Plato. 
"I just intend to increase my prospects, you know, with the ladies," replied Dimitri. 
Plato laughed. 
"There is nothing to laugh about man, this is the age I need to think about getting married, you know, moving on to the next stage in life," replied Dimtri.
"Then in that case, it could work out well for the both of us as well. I get to have my own place as well," said Plato. 
"That seems to be the case," said Dimitri and offered him a smoke as well. 
Plato took up a smoke from Dimitri. He lit and said to him, "How many ladies you reckon are there in Minsk ," asked Plato. 
"Plenty," replied Dimitri trying not to succumb to the sarcastic comment of Plato. "You need to go see new places sometime, not be stuck at home all the time," said Dimitri. "And Minsk is not the same anymore. It is developing, got more new people coming in."
"Well then, I ought to check it out sometime," said Plato. 
"Have you heard from Sergey after he left the place," asked Dimitri. 
Plato took a huge puff of smoke, sensing the conversation has turned a bit serious. "Sergey, me? no, not at all," replied Plato Hastily. 
"Me neither," said Dimitri. "How can a man like that just disappear out of our lives, abruptly, just like that," 
"I just think he has gotten really busy," replied Plato. "He has got a big promotion , and that could be tying him up."
"I know that," said Dimitri. "But just to disappear completely. Its been a good few months and its as if that we never knew such a person." 
"So Dimitri," said Plato, you too have not seen him at the office where you work. 
"Me , not al all,"'replied Dimitri. "Why, has someone seen him at the office?" asked Dimitri. 
"No, I do not know l, I just asked out of curiosity," said Plato.
"OK," replied Dimitri. "One day when he remembers us, he will come and see us, till then we better forget such a person exists," he added.
"How is work?" asked Dimitri to Plato trying to change the topic, knowing how Sergey was like a big brother to Plato.
"It is going fine, I drive now, so I am making more now," replied Plato earnestly.
"What about you? how is work?" he asked Dimitri.
"Going fine, I was due for a promotion, but that never came. So, I am a bit disappointed," replied Dimitri.
"Don't worry man, you will surely get it. You are a smart one," assured Plato.
Plato with a cigarette in his hand walked outside to the balcony. 
"Could my mind be tricking me ? Could that really be Sergey , he asked himself .
Who else could it be, that shadow surely belongs to that of Sergey. What was he doing there and why was he looking at us in that manner? It was a bit strange, not exactly strange, it was scary! It was as if a villain was watching the moves of his target before picking him off.
But Sergey? a villain? that too trying to get us. Not possible. But he knew, that the thought was not going away, it was going to persist for a long time. 
A door bell rings! just then.
Plato was not too bothered about getting the door, as he knew Dimitri would be the first to get it anyhow. He hears Dimitri open the door and greet a voice that was far too familiar. Andrei was talking something very important to Dimitri and Plato decided to join in the conversation. Andrei looked over to Plato and he said, "we need to hurry." 
"There has been a mishap at the plant," said Andrei. 
"What could it be? At this hour."
Andrei looked at Plato. "It is a nuclear power plant for gods sake, there are a thousand things that could happen at any point of the hour," he said a but rudely.
"Dimitri,"'said Andrei. "The lead scientist is dead."
There was a shock in all of the faces as the news outburst from Andrei. 
"The lead scientist, that is very bad news ," said Plato. 
Dimitri spoke trying to register the shock, "so all the three of us need to go there right now? Is there an investigation that is going to take place?"
"Actually only me and Plato are required to be there during the investigation. You do not need to come!" said Andrei.
"Why? Only the two of us?" asked Plato. 
"All the truckers are being asked to report. That's the preliminary stage of the investigation. Then maybe they call the rest," replied Andrei.
"That is mighty unfair," said Dimitri. "It could be anyone. Anyway what is the reason of his death? Any news about it." Dimitri looked at Andrei.
"Apart from the fact that he has been dead for a few hours now. Bullet to the head, in his office," replied Dimitri. 
"And what about his secretary?" asked Dimitri. "Was she not there."
"No, she was on leave this evening. It was well planned,"'replied Dimitri. 
"Plato, let us go," said Andrei. We better hurry, before they really zone in on us. 
Plato and Andrei hurriedly left the house and raced towards the Plant .
They arrive at the plant and already a lot of the truckers are present and a few police officers are seen carrying the investigations. And a few of the officers are seen entering and coming out of the main building frantically . As they enter the compound in a very hastened manner, a familiar face stops them and tells them to wait.