The barn showed signs of being abandoned, while the farmhouse that was about fifty feet away looked uninhabited as well. Technically both were, since the family who owned this farm had obviously gone abroad, died out, or was killed off by an angry mob.
Considering how off-grid the place was, even the last option was possible.
So, when two expensive cars arrived to park near the barn, thirty minutes apart from each other, and then two men in suits and long coats went out of the said vehicles to meet under the shade of a nearby tree, it's obvious that this was a meeting that's out of the ordinary.
"It took a while to scrape off enough tissue and blood just to get a proper sample, Hero. Other than the initial evidence that I ran off with before, I really can't promise you more of that any time soon, I'm sorry," Myron the Insider said as he passed over two vials to the other man.
Hiromoto raised the two glass tubes to look at them carefully before replying, "We appreciate what you've already given us initially, although we couldn't get anything substantial from those samples that you gave a week ago."
"I really would like to help you out, but that blast was so intense it practically vaporized some of the aluminium off his vehicle. It's as if it was more of an aeroplane crash than a car bomb. You can't imagine what that kind of explosion can do to a human body."
"Well, that sounds just like him. With his kind of expertise with explosives and bombs, I can understand why the governor is a little iffy at how he supposedly died."
"So, are you guys really buying that theory that he set this all up himself? Faking his own death and then disappearing into the beyond forever? Kinda far-fetched if you ask me," asked the cop with the strawberry blond hair and dark green eyes while he started to shuffle pebbles with his shiny black leather ankle-high boots.
"Well, if he didn't do it himself, someone else other than us would probably have done it and they should have the connections and the money to get that kind of bomb. Considering that he never worked for anyone else other than the governor before, and he was practically invisible to his targets and his contacts, I really can't think who else can do this. And we certainly didn't do this."
"Could it have been an inside job?"
"How could it have been an inside job if he wanted to get out of the group and he was practically doing it solo?" the half-Japanese former gangster lord asked with an irritated tone while one of his eyebrows raised sharply.
"Beats me. You're the Left Hand, the logical analyst and tactician. That's your job to figure out, hehe," guffawed Myron as he placed his hands inside his Constantine-like trench coat.
"Thanks a lot for your confidence and faith in my skills, bro. Somehow, the way you say it doesn't sound like a compliment, though," chuckled The Left Hand, hitching his thumbs on his thick belt.
"Hey, I'm paid to give information. If you want me to compliment you, I'll give you a price list, Hero, haha!"
"Touche, Myron. At least you are principled. Disloyal but very principled."
"Yep, that's definitely me. I'll give you more info when I can get some more," agreed the Detective while taking out a legal-sized envelope from inside his trench coat. "Meanwhile, the photos you have right there are exactly what we got in forensics and that's the more legit versions, too. Compared to the other pics that the media picked up and are dumping into the internet, this is prime stuff I'm giving you, as always."
The private army leader took a quick look inside the envelope before speaking. "Thanks, bro. And expect your payment within the hour. Commensurate with your performance as usual and a large bonus from the Boss himself."
"Got it, and thanks too, bro. Gotta rake in the cash, you know. Planning to get married by the end of the year. Need to get the ring and the house ready, hehe."
"On my behalf, just tell the unlucky bride she's getting a dud. She should be looking for a real man," said Hero with a grin.
"Oooohhh… just for that, you're not invited to the wedding," Fake snapped Myron with a bigger grin.
The Left Hand actually laughed aloud - which was a rare occurrence - as he replied, "Yes, I was counting on that and you fell for it. I never liked shopping for wedding presents and I get bored during the ceremony."
The Detective clapped his hands on his thighs as he guffawed loudly. "Damn H, you can always give cash, you know."
"We're not that close, Detective, and it's a lot better if it stays that way."
"Well, I do hope I get invited to your wedding if that ever even happens, haha."
Sudden silence...
The smile had already dropped from Hiromoto's face when he replied a few moments later. "Let's not… go there…"
The Detective also paused and turned suddenly serious. "Of course, Hero. I'm sorry for being a little personal."
It took a while for the taller and more muscled man to answer. "Well, that's not the worst thing you can do, Detective. But yes, please don't do that again. We'd hate to lose a perfectly good snitch, you know."
Myron's laugh was a bit forced and nervous. "Haha, nice joke, Left Hand. That's a joke, right?"
Silence, as the dark-haired man in the black trench coat walked over to his car. The detective was soon running after him seconds later.
"Hey, Hero, tell me it's just a joke… Come on!"
"Good day, Detective. Thanks for your time. Be safe going back to the city. I just need to do something PERSONAL before going back," was the Left Hand's cold reply, as he raised the driver's window with a touch of a button.
"Ouch," mumbled Myron as he backed away from the governor's second-in-command. "Memo to me: Don't be too comfortable with these boys, no matter how friendly they can be."
Meanwhile, inside the car, the Left Hand dialed a number. The answer came after the third ring…
"Hello, bro."
"Hey, bro. So how is he?"
"He's fine. He called me yesterday. Told me he was settling in. And don't worry, it's the perfect place. No way will our boss find him if he stays there."
"Yeah, that's really far off, man… even for us. I'm wondering how the heck you know of that place since it's so isolated."
"Well… I kinda visited the place once. Never got to go back, but yeah, it's the perfect place to go if you ever decide to disappear."
"Yes, very true. Thanks a lot for your help, bro. I owe you one."
"Yeah, that makes two of you brothers owing me now. And it's an honor, no worries"
"It's an honor, too, Hero. Got to go, and thanks again."
"My pleasure. Just message me if you need anything. He does the same thing, anyway."
The call ended. Just in time, too, since The Snitch had already driven away.
Turning the ignition on with his fingerprint, he started driving out of the barnyard's gravel driveway and into the countryside road. Meanwhile, his mobile beeped to notify him of an incoming message.
The Left Hand looked at the screen. His smile was warm and instantly made his face bright and almost unrecognizable. Though his brooding poker face and mysterious scowl were both feared and infamous within his circles, this unfamiliar, relaxed, and blissful look was quite refreshing, even to him...
And especially to the one who had just sent him the message.
His small smile was still growing strong as he sent a voice message. "I'm just a few minutes away. Wait for me."
+++
Meanwhile, miles and miles away…
"Hey, are you ok, boss?"
Jack returned to the present and found Eron waving his hand in front of his face.
"Yes… I am, yeah…" the lumberyard head said, blinking away a wild tear that escaped his eye. "I suddenly remembered an old story… Which reminds me, you shouldn't be alone in the forest… there are… wolves there…"
"Well, I don't see how wolves are related to the talk about our family that we were just having, but I'm glad we're not talking about that anymore. So yes, on that note, wolves are all the more reason for me to find myself a room. Hope you can help."
"Heh, so you're afraid of wolves, then?"
"No, I just don't want to end up killing them if they attack. Don't want to harm the local ecosystem, you know, me being a foreigner and all. Rangers just might arrest me for that," Eron replied with a slight smirk.
Jack once again intently looked at the hefty newbie, not knowing if the guy was serious or joking. Either way, Eron had guts saying that, and that was quite impressive. It also helped that, based on the way he saw this newcomer was strongly and expertly swinging that axe, he probably was telling the truth.
"HELLO!" a cheerful woman loudly greeted as she waved at the loggers.
The lady was quite a sight for sore eyes, with her blue, flowery knee-length dress, and a matching handkerchief over her midnight black hair. She started walking closer and talking to the lumber mill's workers, who were working a bit far from Eron and Jack.
Eron took one glance and gulped.
"Who is she?" the new hire asked, visibly captivated by the slightly chunky but very curvy lady who just arrived.
"She's Diwana," Jack said. "She comes here to the sawmill every day to sell her dishes here. Cooks all of it herself, since she recently lost her husband and she needs the extra income."
"Really now, I just might want to have a taste…"
The foreman glanced at Eron with "that look" again.
The new arrival was quick to answer. "Whaaat? A taste of her cooking! What the heck were you thinking, man?"
"Cooking, huh? There are a few of our guys who kinda like her because of that. You know how it is, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right?" Jack replied with a smirk. "If you're interested in her, you might have some competition coming your way, city boy."
"Competition, huh?" Eron said, smirking back at Jack. "We'll see about that. Let's see what she has to offer first."
And again, Jack paused and had to stare at the man standing beside him.
Eron was also swift to reply once more. "Her pastries, Jack! What the heck did you think I meant? I just love desserts. Come on, I'm hungry…"
Somehow, that last statement didn't sound so safe and wholesome but Jack had no choice but to follow the starving guy with the hopes that there won't be any trouble any time soon. After all, he didn't want to lose such a hardworking, focused, and charming worker who's a natural logger just when he's just newly hired and all.
Even if this mysterious man was quite a hard one to make out…
"Wait, bro... How did you know she makes pastries?"
"I've got a good nose on me for good food. Come on, let's go!"
"Hold your horses. She's already walking towards us..." Jack said, his eyes still narrowed at Eron's eager look.
The boss' thoughts: "Well, he did say he was hungry…"