Chapter 4: The start of the misery

"That is what happened. After that incident, I felt eyes in the shadows watching my every move. I know someone is observing me, and it creeps me out. I went to the comfort room, made my coffee, and even received empty text messages from my daily activities. But I cannot tell anyone, especially you. I am afraid you will be all implicated by my actions." Because of Luke's years on the battlefield called 'politics,' he was already immune to concealed surveillance.

It is not a surprise for him to know the threat hanging down his family is more than visible.

These matters should be confined to his loving and supportive wife.

"You should have told me, Luke. We did promise as a husband and wife, in sickness and in health, remember? I did not marry an idiot man." Theresa explodes in this particular idiotic state of his husband.

"You do not understand. I could lose everything but you. Our children are not meant to experience this. They should have a better life. Maybe if I have found another job before, we could have evaded this calamity." The fear ate Luke every time. He is already shaking from his mixed emotions. 

His eyes bulge, and his muscles tense with a quivering voice. The accumulation of fear, frustration, and annoyance from threats is constantly banging his mind alert.

That is why he regrets everything. He regretted that he had investigated and tried to gather evidence. He regretted not thinking things thoroughly.

You will indeed regret everything in the end.

All of these are heard loud and clear by Martin. He is afraid. 

He processed all this information and thought about the possible implications if the people of City O would learn about this. If they could shed light on this, then their security would be good as safe.

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With his idea, Martin pushes the door open with conviction and makes his presence felt. His eyes are burning with resolute and confidence that they will survive this tide of misfortune.

"Dad, what if we contact Auntie Beth? Isn't she working at XYZ Media Company?" Martin says with intense emotion as he feels that as the eldest son, he should have a say in this conversation, whether what to do or how to do it. Looking at both of his parent's eyes, he comforts them by making them feel that they can trust and depend on him, too.

"We can cooperate with big names of the media and expose to the people of City O that the councilor they voted is a woman with shadowy dealings to people of unsure origins," he persuaded his parents with logical arguments they can use. "Dad knows a lot of people. We can get their help, right, dad?"

The couple was startled to hear their eldest son speaking of things he had no clear understanding about. 

The couple looked into each other. They are proud that they can count on their son. But this situation is extraordinary.

They can't let their son bear the responsibility of ensuring the safety and lives of the entire family.

"No, son. This is greater than that. This… this…" As the father, Luke felt conflicted by what was happening. But according to what he discovered, this is no small concern. Feeling tired, he slumped his body down in surrender. "We have no power over this. We could be lucky enough not to be snitched and reported to the bad guys," he continued.

As Luke thinks of a plan to bear somehow to light the secret of Councilor Bing while ensuring the safety of his family, he doubts whether he should tell his wife and son another piece of the bad news he learned that very day. 

But seeing that every piece of information shared is a speck of hope in resolving whatever comes, he knows what should be said then.

Luke looks into the eyes of his wife and son. There he sees the burning flame of willpower. With strong determination and a deep breath in, Luke told them what happened that very afternoon with his dead friend Deputy Carlos. 

While he was walking towards the building fifty meters away from his office, he did not realize a white SUV was moving towards him haphazardly due to the deep thought.

"Luke! Watch out!" shouted a voice with concern behind him.

Only then was Luke able to luckily evade the near-death experience in a hair's breadth.

Turning his head back, lips still pale and eyes slightly dazed. He realized it was Deputy Carlos, the person he was supposed to talk to, who had saved his life. Luke tried to get up, and with the help of Deputy Carlos, his limp knees were able to secure his footing. They were friends for a long time. A simple nod is what it took to convey his 'Thank you.'

He knew that the van was a part of the 'stealthy' threats and surveillance he was experiencing.

Without further wasting his time and letting Deputy Carlos ask anything, he told him the whole truth—the bogus dealings of Councilor Bing. The worried voice and puzzled face of the Deputy were instantly washed away. 

He did not have any question nor even a hint of formulating one.

He was just there, standing still, no ripples of emotion, looking straight to the eyes of the man who helped him countless times that both the fingers of hands and feet cannot quantify.

After deliberating for a few moments, Carlos said silently but with pressure on every word pronounced, "Stop all of your actions. Do not pursue any of these... ANYMORE. This is far more complicated and darker than you think. Promise me, my friend." His now grim face made Luke assess the new situation in a new light.

'He is right. Councilor Bing alone could not easily do all these without someone higher than her. Cleaning all the possible left traces as well as... whistleblowers.' 

Then, it all dawned on Luke. He looked earnestly at his long-time friend before Carlos was the Deputy and endorsed by Councilor Bing. He was her father's bodyguard.

How could he forget that piece of information!

Though still shaking from the side-swept, Luke managed to stand straight as his arrector pili muscle contracted caused his hairs to stand on end.

While his lips were pale, he mechanically smiled, thanked him for saving his life, and said goodbye.

He turned around and walked briskly towards his office. But in just a few steps he took, he heard the Deputy's warning, "She has a connection to a Senator... soon you will know." Carlos's voice was modulated to the point that only two of them could hear it.

His sense is tingling. Not like Spiderman, but more like 'run for your life' tingling.

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Unknown to Luke, after seeing him walk inside the building of the City Council, Deputy Carlos hesitated briefly and dialed a number. Instantly, it was answered by the same domineering deep sharp voice, "Will he cooperate with us?"

Reminiscing his past actions, Carlos knew that Luke would find means and ways to make this matter known to all.

After a few moments, he exhaled a turbid air and spoke briefly, "He won't." He knew Luke was a man of honor, and he despises anything to do with illegal. Despite his friendly warnings, he already anticipated the possible results.

"Then you know what to do." Without waiting for a response from the Deputy, the person on the other side cut the line. Carlos felt guilty, but he knew what to do. For his family, for his little princess Nina and her long-awaited wheelchair. As a father, Carlos will do what he must do.

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Theresa only knew one person associated with Councilor Bing and a strong candidate for the Senate in the whole City O, "You mean, Congressman Rafael Lazaro?" She sweats bucket upon saying this name. 

At that very moment, she knows that her lux perception is deviating from what she initially expected. The idea of a grand scheme passes her intelligent mind.

Looking at his parent's expressions, Martin now understands the severity of the situation. His determination was like an old dam. It had a small leakage seeping his confidence out. 

Congressman Rafael Lazaro is a powerful businessman. 

'Maybe all riches he got was not through legal sources,' Martin speculates. There are rumors about how he could procure such wealth almost overnight, that it was not through legal means but someone forcefully suppressed. Those who were talking about it were found missing the next day.

As the lightning flashed through the slits of the curtain, silence loomed inside the room. These three people's only sign of understanding is their worried eyes and ashen faces, for they knew this would be the start of change.

When Luke is about to share his formulated plan with his wife and son, a screeching of wheels is heard outside their gate. Luke and Theresa's eyes instantaneously align. Their children!

Luke thought that maybe they would be given a long time to prepare. But reality says otherwise.

Luke quickly runs to the living room. With haste, he locks and bars the doors and the windows, carries his two other children, and moves back to the bedroom with the dog.

He comforts Rufus not to make sounds. Being intelligent, the dog complied. 

Meanwhile, Theresa and Martin pack all the necessary things they need; clothes, canned goods, legal papers, etc.

In a few minutes, the household of five gathers back in the bedroom. Luther and Annie are visibly puzzled, and Rufus is barking nonstop after entering the bedroom.

Luke thought of going out through the window. Pass by the tree and exit the door in the backyard. But before he could tell his family and gather them around to start evacuating, his children began talking.

The young minds of Luther and Annie do not know the severity of their family's situation. "Mom, why are we all here? Is it about my birthday? Can I eat cakes tomorrow?"

The sixth birthday of Annie was something the whole family prepared for almost a month now.

"No, sweetie, we are going to travel far away. You like to celebrate your birthday with Mickey Mouse, right? Maybe we'll also go to Disneyland," Theresa was frightened, so she made her voice as soothing as she could as she smiled and caressed her daughter's hair.

Before Annie could voice out her excitement, the family heard a muffled gunshot from their front door. "Bang! Bang!" And another two shots of a gun are listened to. With lucidity still in mind, Luke told his wife and children to hide.

'Shit!' Luke could not help but cuss for the first time.