"I got the leave" he said with a straight face.
"Come on Nick! You have everything you needed. You are just a call away from that guy. Don't be a rotten potato now." he laughed at me.
"You've been spending too much time with Ren." It was my turn to laugh.

"Okay then tell me about the leave. What happened between you two?"
"Four" he corrected me.

I looked at him with wide questioning eyes.
"Sir Louis and Wills were there too, barely holding their breaths." he said chuckling.
My eyes widened, as if there was any scope for it.
That means, Killer gave me a break and left in a hurry for this meeting.

"Really?! Tell me the whole conversation!" I demanded.
How could he say no to my genuine request, and those puppy eyes.

"
I knocked on that door again today, in the evening. My hands shook greatly, remembering everything I did this morning in the same room.
"Come in!" he barked, and I knew I'm dead.
I knew he found out my crime and I'll be hung for it, soon.

I wanted to turn around and run away.
But there was no option of going back.
I entered to find someone else, on the end of his sword.
Usually he doesn't punish people in this room.
But I think Sir Louis's crime was quite serious.
He was pushing on the floor where I might have been, if dad just carefully saw his folders in that locked cupboard.
I took a deep breath, and calmed myself down before dad catches me peeing in my pants.
I promised myself that I'll confront to him about ruffling through his stuff without his permission, once this mystery is solved. That gave me some peace, and I made a straight face.

"I was about to call you. Good you showed up yourself." Damn. My bladder! He had to say that before I could even fully enter his room.

"Sir" I saluted and stood in attention.
"What happened in the morning?" he asked me, and I mentally prepared myself to die.
I have been caught and will soon be dying pushing next to this Boss.

"Sir?" I don't know why I said that single word in that questioning tone, but I'm glad I did, otherwise I would have dug my own grave right there.
"What happened on Sunday morning?" he asked irritated.

Oh! He must be enquiring about Wills' fumes.
"Sir, we were with Major Louis till early morning. After that, I was... Not... Feeling well, so... I left and reported at med care. I was there till noon, so I didn't exactly see anyth-"
"I'll hang all you three under that bone chilling fountain, and wait till you choose between saving asses, and breathing." he said with flared nostrils.

"Sir I swear.. Please listen to me." I heard his voice from the floor.
"Up!" dad shouted and he was straight in a moment.

Dad looked into his eyes with absolute hate and terrible anger, for a moment.
"Give me one good reason, why should I listen to you? Afterall you do things, in my academy, without my permission, that too in my absence!"

I laughed silently. He doesn't know what else has been done in his absence. This would look like a child accidentally breaking his toy, in front of my crime which is no less than a bank robbery.

"I'll tell the truth sir. Please." he begged Dad to let him speak once.
I'm sure, the most terrified person in that room was neither him, nor me. It was my poor brother.
He must be silently praying that Dad doesn't ask him anything.

"I know who tells the truth here." Damn, it was nice to meet you Wills. See you in next life.

And he went and stood directly in front of Wills. One who has all the boys hold their breaths, was shivering in fear himself.
"What happened that night?" this was getting interesting. How will he manipulate the truth now?

"We were on terrace when Major Louis came. We greeted him like orientation days. As promised to have his way with us, when meeting in your absence, he made us do some workouts. Nick got exhausted because of his already weak state, so he was excused and sent to med care. I was taken to gym, and was made to do fumes. I became unconscious in between and I woke up to find myself lying on gym mats, Major Louis sitting with ORS and a few food items. He shared his posting experiences and after some talking, he sent me back. I reported directly at med care in the morning around 1000 hours ."

Dad looked at him in anger, for a moment, before turning back to me.
"Is that it?" he used his scary low tone.
"Yes Sir!" hey I can lie!

He turned to Louis slowly, like the cloud of terror drifting slowly over his head.
"I considered you intelligent enough to know that I'll not let this one slip. I waited months for him to recover and get him back to training, before you entered and claimed him. You have anything to say, to save yourself, before I chop off your tongue so that you don't use it for utter stupidity, ever again?" he said each word with stress.

I saw Sir Louis gulping hard "I was stupid to not think about his health. I just got swayed and I own it, Sir."
Is he crazy? Saying such a statement in front of him is nothing less than wearing red and dancing for a bull.

For the first time today, keeping in mind his horrible near future, I spoke up for him.
"Permission to speak freely, Sir."
"What?"

"Major Philips has already punished him for playing with Wills' health."
Dad looked at me furiously for a full minute. Then he nodded, understanding why I dared to speak before he announces his own punishment, and turned back to the Boss.

"Your boy didn't owe you anything, still he never uttered a grunt of discomfort. He deserves something you've been holding on, for years. Don't you think?" he said, stirring Boss's soul.

He looked down in regret, and nodded "Yes Sir".
"Now get your useless brain out of here before I lose my calm and burn you to ashes. I'll call you back once I'm done with my settlement here. Off you go."
Boss saluted, thanking God for barely slipping him off Dad's sword, and left.

"You two!"
We sucked in a breath and stood pole straight.

"How have the boys been doing? Term end trails are in two weeks. Who are you betting on?"
"Ethan!" me and Wills spoke together.

"Choose different guys. Ethan is out for both of you now." Damn!
"About the obstacles, you guys work on it, and bring the plan by tomorrow. I give you this freedom because I don't want any of your boys performing just satisfactorily. Got it?"
"yes sir!"

"Any important unchecked mail?"
"No sir!"

"That's better. Any points from your side?"
A soft synced "yes sir" was heard.

He understood that his sons wanted to talk to him.
"Ease up. Sit if you want." he said.

We let out the breath we were holding and relaxed all the contracted muscles.
It feels lot better when he lets us talk freely.
"What about the meeting, father?"

"I've convinced them to keep their mouths shut for now. They wanted to call you and know the information you gathered."
Wills raised his eyebrows, and I just listened.
"I've told them everything that concerns them." he said in surprise.

"Yes, they wanted a statement, in writing. I denied. They refused to own the failure, and I'm not going to let them take credits for the success." Dad was starting to get angry again, which was not a good sign for my turn.

Wills silently nodded. Dad looked at me.
I opened my mouth to say, but couldn't speak.
"Say it, son." Dad encouraged me.

My heart was beating loudly. I was afraid to lie to him.
"I needed... some m..money.."
"Cash or card?"

"Erm... Both.. Dad.."
"Alright. You can collect your cards from Flynn. And you'll get your cash by this evening. What else?"
"I... Erm....."
"Don't test my patience unnecessarily, Nick." and he made himself busy in his papers.
That's true, I need not think so much. He is very cool when it comes to demanding things from him.
He never said, but we know, that he feels bad to have gotten us both into army, away from all comforts of life we would have otherwise enjoyed, being sons of a rich father.

Since we graduated, we voluntarily let him have a hold of our salaries and all the money we earn, for two reasons. One, we'll not do useless expenses, because getting a glare from him after multiple withdrawals is not what we wish for, even though he made it clear that its our money, and we can have how much we want, and whenever.

Secondly, he is a genius finance-handler. He has a brilliant sense of shares, investment and stuff, and he has successfully invested both our moneys at multiple sites, earning us great profits.

Composing myself I proceed "I want to apply for leave, Dad."
He didn't look up "Put up the application. How many days?"
"Fo.. Forty days"

That was the moment I feared. Though I had my answer ready, I was shaking uncontrollably from the inside, fearing if he catches my lie.
He looked up without moving an inch and raised his eyebrows.
"It's.. Its for a trip.. A few of us.. Wills could have joined us but-"
"He'll not go anywhere. He has a lot of work to do here." Dad declared in a serious and heavy tone.

There was a moment of silence.
"Then I want you out for full forty days. I don't want you wasting your leave, and loiter around in the academy. Okay?" yes dad I know your blood boils if you see any as* resting in this academy, for an extra minute.
"Yes dad."

"Girls?" he asked while looking back down into his papers, with a hint of smile on his lips.
"Not sure" I said.

His smile grew wider "I'll add extra cash, but replace the expired ones. Never fall short of protection. Though I'm not sure if you'll need it..."
Before I could even make out that he was pulling my leg, both my father and brother laughed at me.
I sat there with red face. Obviously he too knows about Elyssa!

"You traitor!" I hissed at Wills and he shrugged, still laughing.
"Fine! Forty days along with Cadets. Anything else?"

I pushed my luck this time.
"Erm.. Dad.. If you could excuse me from the runs for this term.."
He looked up at me and I knew I pushed it a little too far. "No.. I mean.. I.. I.." damnit!
"Are you two done?" he said and we both stood up in attention.

"Yes sir!"
He nodded, we saluted and left.

We moved out and exhaled.
"Made it by hair's breadth." Wills spoke, I firmly nodded, then we went our own ways."
"

Nice.
He was looking excited.

"What's up? Why do you look like you're about to start hopping?"

Nick just shrugged.
"I don't know if I should call that guy rightaway. What if he says something that will hurt me even more?"

"You've committed a serious crime for it, now you should give it a shot. He might actually be able to clear the air around you. I would vote for 'go for it'.

He nodded and sat there, talking to himself, I think, framing the questions for Mr Kadner's interview.

************************************

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