The smell of sheer determination and unwavering hunger for justice filled the room where the five people were gathered with their attention focused on the young man in front of them, "So the plan is clear to everyone?", Casey asked for the last time as he packed his laptop away, "Remember, should John ask, we all met here to discuss the wedding plans, okay?" and everyone nodded is unison.
Lilly chimed in, "Don't worry. No one will utter a word of this, and as you suggested, I will contact the old now-retired detective who was in charge to get as much information as I can about the case..."
"And I will contact the prosecution office to request that they reopen the case as quietly as they can.", Joseph added as his eyes met his beloved, "We will find the person or people responsible for all this.", Lilly nodded with smiling eyes.
"Alright, and Jeremy and I will be responsible for tracing everyone who was involved with my uncle, I mean he is the best lead we have...", and Jeremy agreed with her.
Seeing everyone hellbound on catching the culprit made Casey nostalgic, it was truly a sight to behold - a group of people gathered with the sole purpose of correcting a wrong. With a sense of melancholy, he sighed, "Oh, this takes me back to my days as an agent.", he pushed his wheelchair back, "Okay everyone. We will meet again in two weeks to see how far we have progressed. Jay, please walk me out." and with that, the planning ended.
On his way back to the car, Casey couldn't help but worry, "Are you sure about this?"
"About what?", Jeremy asked confused,
"By working with the Kings? Because this is basically declaring war against your uncle and let's be honest, that man is extremely dangerous. If we are not careful, we could end up putting a lot of people in harm's way- is Linda aware of that?"
Jeremy clenched his hand on the wheelchair, the thought of seeing Linda hurt was enough to make his blood boil in fear and anger, he had to protect her at all costs, "I will never let that happen. Not while I am still alive, that's why we have to do everything we can to put Uncle Tony behind bars okay? You said you have enough evidence against his corruption and ties to the illegal diamond and art smuggling activities in the west port??"
"Yes I do, but I am still trying to see who is on his payroll in the police system."
He suddenly stopped in his tracks, "Good, that buys us enough time. Linda told me that his uncle had been long connected with him, shortly before the tragedy happened. Linda's mom was a well-known artist and art procurer by then. I heard she was behind the movement aimed at stopping art smuggling and buying illegal art pieces...."
Casey gasped in shock, "What??! Oh, I see where this is going and it does look suspicious indeed. Don't worry, I will contact one of the guys to see if they can look into his movements back then."
"Thanks, Casey, we need a strong case, we can't allow him to walk out, not again.", with his eyes darkening, "In fact, if I have to take matters into my hands. I will. I will not let Linda fall prey to that evil bastard"
Casey's heart suddenly beamed with pride, at last, it looked like his friend had found something to fight for. He was no longer fighting for revenge, but he was now fighting to protect someone and nothing was scarier than Jeremy fighting to protect someone he loved, he would stop at nothing. He smiled widely at his friend, "I will support you to the best of my abilities. I never wanna see you be the person you were back then." and Jeremy agreed.
After saying his goodbyes, he went back to the house to find the meeting room all cleared up and clean, as if no one was ever there. The tension between Linda and her grandparents weighed heavily on his heart, he thought of the time when the family was inseparable and it was just yesterday. Normally after a meeting like that, Linda would be sharing a glass of expensive wine with her grandfather while watching Lilly sort out her flowers.
He sighed heavily, "What can I do? I know she is still hurting, but she needs her grandparents now more than ever.", with that, Jeremy started moving frantically around the big yard seeking his wife who was hiding in the secret sauna room at the third cottage.
He knocked once and then budged in, "Oh finally! You were really here! I didn't know you kept such...give me a few minutes...I will be back..", he disappeared only to go back in a towel that hung lazily on his lower body, "How are you feeling now?", he asked blind to the flabbergasted look on Linda's face.
She stuttered, "H-h-how did you find this room?? And please pass me the gown there - can't you I am almost naked!"
Jeremy chuckled softly, "Of course, I saw, but-", he closed the space between them, "-since we have done so many nasty-dirty things to each other, and there's not an inch of your body I don't know...I figured you wouldn't mind. I mean look at me, I am just as nak-"
Linda pushed him back with a flushed face. Yes, he wasn't lying, but still, how could he say such things without feeling the least embarrassed? She held her flustered cheeks, and murmured, "Still...please pass me that gown okay..."
Jeremy grinned in amusement, just how beautiful can his fiance get? He grabbed the gown from his side, "Fine..fine... here.", Linda snatched the gown from his hand to cover the towel that hung loosely on her sweating chest, "Thank you."
Jeremy slacked back on the sauna bench, "I am glad you're fine. I don't ever want to see you in that state ever again", he said in a soft tone
Linda smiled gently, "I will be fine, don't worry okay.", but she was still in need of answers, "So how did you find this place?", because the sauna was hidden for a reason.
Jeremy suddenly sat us straight making Linda flinch in shock, "Oh yeah! That friend of yours, Jackie - she is one scary person. See? I am even getting goosebumps"
Linda snickered, "What did she do??"
"Oh you think is funny! Let me tell you, Sharon and your aunt called earlier sounding hysterical, they couldn't get you on the phone. So they called asking me to give the phone to you. It took a lot to convince them not to come and cause a scene and I promised to give you the phone as soon as I found you and that friend of yours suddenly told me that you were at the sauna, she saw you on the CCTV. I am telling you Linda King, that small girl is scary. Now I get why Freddy kept avoiding her at the charity gala last night"
Linda suddenly burst out laughing, the serious look on Jeremy's face just amused her, "Breathe baby, It's only because she is the one who installed them and I gave her permission. And that whole situation with Freddy is just hopeless and beyond me....".,
Jeremy sighed defeatedly, "The people you keep are quite scary my love."
Linda's heart was soaked in joy. Just like she would do anything to protect them, it seemed they would also go to any length for her. That's why they needed to wrap up this investigation as soon and quietly as they could, she couldn't bear to see anything happen to them.
She gazed at him worriedly, "Jeremy, I have a strong feeling that your uncle may have been involved with the accident, that's why I want to look into-",
Jeremy cut her off, "Already ahead of you my love, and I also know where we can start digging.", he declared ominously.