Chapter 36 - The Hostage! (1/2)
The room was quiet again. While Ben logged on his Facebook. James was taking pictures of the boss and the dog.
”Hey, let's send some to Sam. Seeing his brother playing with the dog again, he would be glad.”
Ben whispered to James.
”Don't you dare to put my picture on the fricking Facebook!”
The boss somehow could hear their conversation even they talked in a low light whispering tone.
”Sorry, boss.”
James said. The boss didn't like to put his face on any social media online or offline. He wasn't on Facebook, Twitter, Lines or Instagram!
Stefan was thinking of his beloved dog, Tiger. Sam was the one who gave Stefan Tiger, an Alsatian dog to him as a birthday gift many years ago. Stefan loved him very much but unfortunately, Tiger got hit by a car, it made Stefan very upset for a long time. Sam tried to find a replacement. But Stefan refused. He did not like losing anything he loved, just like everybody.
Stefan had learned that giving so much heart to things he couldn't control was too risky to get hurt. So he was always careful not to do that too often. Good job that people he dealt with had not required both love and care. They only required his money and money only!
Ben and James were on Facebook now and Sam's Facebook was having a conversation going on. There was Sam's picture standing in front of the sink full of dirty plates.
Sam: ”Hey, girls. It isn't just my mess here. You two stop being bullies.”
The statement describing the picture.
Ben and James read and then turned to look at each other.
”Two girls?” Ben made a low voice to James.
”Strange isn't it? It's only Miss Sophia usually.” James whispered back.
”So, who is the other...girl?” Ben was consulting back.
”Do you think as I think? ” James asked Ben.
”What is it?” The boss's voice came. James and Ben nodded to each other then James walked to the boss with the tablet, Sam's Facebook was on.
”What do think, boss?”
James pointed out the suspicion. Stefan frowned after looking.
”I've just called Sam the fifth time two days ago and he said she wasn't with him.”
Stefan mumbled with thinking expression.
”Give me the phone.”
Stefan said to James. James hurried to pass it to his boss. Stefan called Sam straight away wondering why Sam lied to him. Unless Wirata flew there after Stefan talked to Sam.
”Hello, Sam. It's your big brother.”
Stefan greeted his brother and knew that Sam already knew it was him.
”Hey! Bro! What's up?” Sam replied.
”Well, I am flying to England on business matters, I'll be at your flat tomorrow night if the flight not delay. ”
Stefan said in a smooth tone like a big brother talking to his little brother.
”What?!! You are coming here tomorrow night?!”
Sam made a very loud surprised sound, more like a shock. Stefan raised a corner of his mouth. Smelling fear there. The suspicion was very obvious now. It didn't take much for Stefan to see through people's thoughts. He was good at it because he had dealt with them all the time. A lot of them were not very pleasant to deal with and hard to read but Stefan had strong instincts and accurate hunch when it came to human suspicious acts.
”Yes. What's wrong with a brother visiting his beloved little brother? ”
Stefan asked with a gentle voice but the other end felt the hair stood up.
”Ah, I...Um, tomorrow, I will be out of town, bro. Having a trip to... Hm, Manchester. You have to stay at a hotel. You usually stay at the Ritz anyway.”
Sam made a long dubious statement with a stuttered voice. For Stefan, that was considered very suspicious behavior.
”Alright. No problem. I just miss you and think we should spend some time together if I am there. But it's alright. So I won't see you this time, maybe next time then. I'll give you a call later, okay?” Stefan said.
”Okay, bro. It's a pity.”
”Never mind. Bye, Sam.” Stefan said.
”Bye, brother. ” Sam responded and then hang up.
Stefan put the phone down on the table slowly. Looking at his bodyguards.
”I think we have good news. Give me a knife.”
Stefan said to James and Ben. His eyes turned dark and unreadable.
”A knife? Er, what do you want a knife for, boss?”
James dared to ask when he saw the dark cunning eyes looked down at the puppy. Ben met James' eyes in disbelieved gesture, their mouth went dry immediately.
”You will see. Just give me a knife. Quick! James, you can take pictures, I'll allow you to put it on Facebook !”
*****
At Sam and Sophia's flat in England.
Sophia was sitting on the couch, sliding her fingers on Sam's phone to check his activities as a good friend should do! They don't have secrets as Sam did the same to Sophia's phone as well.
When she came across Sam's Facebook. He was tagged by Benjamin. There were pictures of a cute little puppy, quite a few of them. Sophia sliding down to see each one with widened eyes.
”Wow! So cute! Yorkshire Terrier puppy, I want it. Sam. Look! Who is Benjamin? He's tagged you on Facebook. Look at these pictures.”
Sophia called Sam who was watching Friends, the re-run series on the telly. Sam moved to sit close to Sophia, put his face on Sophia's shoulder.
”What puppy?”
Sam asked. He had not looked at his Facebook since the last hour after his brother rang. Sam felt relief that Stefan believed him about the trip and his brother wouldn't come here.