Alistair's POV

"And I have everything you need in this small baddie", he removed a pen drive from his pocket. I quickly attached it to my laptop and waited for it to give me permission to extract the encrypted files. "what the fuck", I gasped "How did you know that I needed information on Charles". I tried using the standard password which our family used for protecting all files but to my discontent, it wasn't correct. 

"I had a little chat with your father. He was curious to find more information on Charles as your sister is currently seeing him", he took a seat on my bed and went through the files in his hand "But, when I started digging on him, it was really easy for me to conclude that 2 + 2 is 4", he smirked bragging. "This fugitive"I lifted my right brow. "Oh, yes, fugitive. He was one of the most difficult and exciting subjects in my career. I live for the mysteries and I am most probably dying because of them"

I nodded not knowing how to add to his statements. He sensed the awkwardness in my gestures. I tried fake smiling but I couldn't. I just couldn't. I always knew that if I ever emerge as a politician, I'll lose a part of myself. What I lately unraveled was it wouldn't just be a part but the entirety.

"What's the password?" I questioned as I clicked open the documented files on my laptop. I wanted him to skip straight to the parts. I could no longer hold my curiosity.

He immediately replied "Al3st3r@" and continued "you can change it now at your discretion".

I was disappointed but not surprised to see Charles' childhood pictures with Samuel Collins. So our speculations did hold some certainty of Charles' connection to Samuel. The first picture was taken in Turkey and as I studied it for a while, William explained "I'm confident that Samuel has done his early years of schooling in Turkey. I ran through the records of the last 15 years of all the schools and universities across Skyford but could not find a detail even remotely close to his profile"

"How do you know that it was Turkey? Do we have any records to prove that"

"Page 12"

I swiped to the page and found an accumulation of yearbook pictures taken from age 4 to age 15. "The fuck?" I tried to compose myself by taking a deep breath.

I skimmed through the document landed upon a teen Charles, somewhere around age 16, in the Raja Ampat Island in Indonesia. He bared his tanned torso. He had an Asian girl intimately standing next to him. His hands touched her butt. A toddler could say that they were in a relationship then. The girl gleamed while Charles held a poker face. Even then he must have been a liar, a womanizer, a bastard.

"I'm still trying to find a link to connect Charles with this girl" he pointed towards her "I have allocated the responsibility to dig further to my Asian counterpart. However, only to inform, the girl has passed away 7 years earlier in an accident. It was quite tragic, to be honest" he searched for the accident in his phone and extracted the relevant pictures to confirm her death to me "The local cops investigated the case for a while, but, then, after finding no connecting link to the case whatsoever, left it open-ended" 

"Ironic?" I smirked raising my brow. "I'm sensing it was Charles' involvement. It has to be. Poor soul. " I expressed my remorse. If only we could have exposed Samuel, this poor girl along with the others he has oppressed, wouldn't have to suffer. I blamed my father, I blamed the patriarchy but most importantly, I blamed myself. I was helpless then. I am helpless now. 

"Only time can tell", he clicked his tongue "From what I can anticipate is that he completed his other half of schooling in Asia"

I nodded "Seems evident. So much of a trouble to save a son?" A part of me could still not fix the jigsaw, even after having the loose pieces. The more I tried, the more the story got complicated.

William chuckled shrugging. "We're not so certain about it, are we?" he rhetorically questioned "but I expect you to trust my expertise"

"Guess we're about to find out then?" I made my way towards the locker and removed the folders carefully. Folders where my father's investigation on Samuel Collins was documented. I quickly removed the file which had missing pages and propelled it in William's direction. He looked at me baffled.

I smiled softly "Charles was in my room and has gone through these files. We can run the fingerprints in forensics, maybe? I cocked a brow. "we need to find a common ground. What exactly do we need scientifically?"

"DNA testing can be performed with a toothbrush, hair, ear wax, condom, nail clippings, dental floss, so...."Why not? I know one of the members of his housekeeping team. You can expect the results by tomorrow evening if everything goes well, but you may have to help me with Charles. Something to connect the two"

"I'll look after it", I wasn't really sure how.

William stood up straightening and later tucking in his shirt "In the meanwhile, I'll run a search through his background which accounts for all the time Mr. Charles---"

"Charles" I interrupted.

"Right, yes. For an accurate timeline. I believe he came to Skyford only a year ago. I'm skeptical of the truth, to be honest. Why hide a son?" he questioned and when heard no response continued "He could clearly advertise his son like your father and make him your competition. I'm afraid it's not the truth. I'm afraid the truth is much deeper"

I shrugged, bewilderment seemed common across our faces. William stood up, gave me a side hug, and left the room. He did leave, but the confusion didn't. The unanswered questions didn't. The itch in me to know the truth grew wild. If the truth could be half as bad as we anticipated, it would be our one big chance to reveal Samuel's true face. But, we had no time. It was 9 days till the election. Either I could polish myself to be a better politician and match shoulders with my father or I could burn the midnight oil to find the truth. It seemed like a matter of either and or, but it wasn't. I had no choice. 

I quickly rushed downstairs to my dad's study to upload the evidence to our cloud drive. Dad, not to my surprise, was seated digging through the files. "Thought you were resting"

"These are my meds", he waved the papers in the air and then continued to read through. After a while, when he yet saw me standing afar observing him, he made way for me by pulling the chair next to him. I took a seat trying to understand what was so important for him to neglect his medical conditions.

He placed his pointer in a signature box. I knew what it was. I, without giving any second thoughts inscribed my signature inside. "It's official then. I'll let someone submit it in the office. Everyone knew it. We have been advertising it. But it's time for us to make it open. Let our people know"

Dad chuckled "Regardless of the results, I am super proud of you".

I half smiled knowing how tight of a position I was in. "I guess William, despite my warnings, have discussed the Samuels' case with you". Dad nodded agreeing.

I cleared my throat fixing the silence, "I am planning to send Christine off to Aunt Jane's place in London. I hope you don't mind. The more she stays away from Charles, the better", I knocked the table clenching my wrists. The mere thought of my sister with the mercenary electrified my wrath. All I wanted to do was make him pay. Punch him bad enough to cripple him. I was not sure yet but I would be the next day. All I had to do was wait.

"I believe you'll do what's best for the family. But she's your sister. If I myself could never control you, what makes you think that she will agree to your decisions?" Dad had a point. He always did.

I exited the room to have a small chit-chat with my sister. I knocked three times and entered the room. Not to my surprise, she slept on the bed upside down, her spectacles covering her eyes which were then dug in her phone. She watched me, cornering her eyes, and instinctively corrected her position. She had a what-are-you-doing-in-my-room face. Christine and I had an agreement ever since we were children, we would only invade each other's personal space if only matters were important.

I pushed her to the other side of the bed only to make room for myself. I smirked running my hand through my hair "So...."

"Yeah, let's get done with it, already"

"Please know that I am only asking this of you because I love you dearly. I never think of you as a weak person. I just want to assure myself of your safety"

"get to the point, Alistair"

I forwarded her a screenshot from my phone. She quickly glimpsed through. "What makes you think I'll go? You know how crucial this time is for our family. With dad being sick and you standing up in his place, I believe it is my responsibility to be around, emotionally and morally", she pushed forward her phone making sure it was visible to me, and clicked on the delete option. "There's no way in hell that I am going London"

I shrugged "I don't intend to push my opinions by being overprotective. I'd really like it if you take a little vacation. But even if you dont---" I comforted her by putting my hands on her shoulders "I'll support you. It's your call but at least sleep on it. Also, please keep this between us. Dont let any outsiders--"

"You mean Charles?" she cut me off

I nodded agreeing "It's the least I can ask for"

"Well noted", I winked. She smiled.

"Plus, could you please invite Charles over today? I'd like to take him with me to the meeting"

"What exactly are you planning?" she questioned

"Nothing related to his murder"

***

After refreshing myself, I quickly ran through the speeches lined up for the evening. The speeches seemed mundane. It lacked emotions. It lacked the purpose I stood up for. It felt like political standup, nothing which was never said before. I got the write-ups printed and started the improvise them. I knew that dad wouldn't like it. But, I had to try to be the change I always believed in. Gandhi would be proud of me if my dad wasn't.

It took me a good 90 minutes to get the facts straight. To edit the unwanted things. I took a view of the ceiling watch. I had to be by the venue before time so that I could prepare myself accordingly. For once in my life, I wanted to win. Not just for myself, but for everyone. I was ready to do whatever it takes to lead me to my goal. Even if it meant distancing myself from Evelyn permanently. She needed to stay away in order for me to stay focused. Low-key, I missed her but when did I not?

I tucked in my white shirt, complementing it with a navy blue blazer and pants. I completed my outfit contrasting it with rusty brown shoes. Michael helped me eliminate the buttons and create a double cuff with my French cufflinks. They were originally my grandfather's. The Dickman's somehow believed it to be sacred- a symbol of luck. Well, we were going to witness the power it held. "Thank you, Michael"

"At your service. Good luck"

I chuckled and gave him a consoling nod. He exited shortly "I'll wait by your car", he rushed back with the information and vanished into the hallway again. Michael was a part of my family. We grew up together. He was the only child of our housekeeper and driver. My family considered it his moral responsibility to look after his education. My father handed him the responsibility to look after our International affairs.

I unlocked my phone and speed-dialed Christine only to confirm Charles' arrival. Christine replied back "positive". I sighed in relief.  All I needed was to come up with a quick plan to divert Charles, get some DNA out of his filthy body, and still make it till the party.  I re-arranged my documents, and put them in the locker wherein I activated three-factor authentication. 1st level would be the passcode, 2nd would be an OTP on my phone, and 3rd would be my face. I couldn't risk it therefore I didn't take any chances.

I cleared the notification tab from my phone. With a heavy heart, I ignored Evelyn's missed calls and deleted her messages without opening them. She made me vulnerable and it was time I made peace with it.

***

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