45 Eddard Clegane

"Look, that's Eddard Clegane, remember him... he is one of the staff members of our highschool." Orlando pointed towards a man with grey hair in black uniform.

"Finally we spotted a familiar face." Watson whispered, they were wandering around the school grounds for past fifteen minutes.

Lucas spoke with the new gatekeepers, showed them his business card and got them inside.

"Hello Eddard" Lucas greeted the old man, who was in his early fifties now.

Eddard turned and looked confused seeing three men in black business suit.

He frowned, "Sorry, do I know you?"

"God, how can you forget us old man....

Don't you remember your favourite squad." Orlando grinned, when he saw the shock on Eddard's face.

"No way.... You all have grown up so much!!!

What can I say, old age does number of things to one."

He greeted them and took them to the waiting quarters.

"So what makes you come here? Where are Romano and Deandre?"

"They both are in Seattle, running business." Lucas replied.

"That doesn't make any sense as to why you are here, after all this time?" he arched an eyebrow at them.

"After all this time??" Orlando repeated his words, and then suddenly it struck him.

Rain always used this phrase... 'After all this time.'

"What?" Watson and Lucas asked.

"You know why we are here.... "Orlando looked straight into his eyes.

"I was wondering what took you so long to come, child. Seven years is a long time." Eddard nodded his head in disappointment.

"You know!??" Lucas statement was more of an accuse.

"Let's go somewhere private." the boys followed him.

Eddard took out a key from his pocket and opened his chamber (staff quarters).

"Do you want tea or coffee?" he asked.

"No, it's totally fine..." Watson said.

"Kiddo, I have a coffee machine installed. Don't worry.

Have some... this is going to be a long talk."

"Before we start, I'm wondering why aren't there any students here and the other staffs" Lucas had observed the empty corridors and classrooms.

There were just two cars in the parking lot.

"We have some technical gliche in our system. Just last week there was a major virus attack."

"What!!!????" they boys were all shocked at this piece of information.

"Yes, the administration department called few weeks of vacation for students and staff, until everything was sorted."

"This is so strange.... and wierd." Watson was very confused, this had never happened before in highschool.

"The timing is rather strange, it's hardly been a week now, since we got to know about the girls." Lucas murmured, he didn't find it a mere coincidence.

"You met the girls???" Eddard was suprised.

"You seem rather very surprised with the news, Ed." Orlando said.

"Because, things didn't end well between the girls and your squad."

"Yeah, it was rather famous breakup of all the time."

Watson sighed sadly.

"Yes, and each of you guys broke up within a weeks time." Eddard said rubbing his palms.

"Holy fucking shit!!! How can I miss this important fact!" Lucas cursed himself, back then he didn't notice the pattern of break-up. It was definitely a set up.

Watson and Orlando both groaned at their stupidity.

At that time, they were driven by rage, anger, pride, guilt that they didn't think with a clear mind.

"Eddard we need to know about what happened seven years back." Orlando said softly.

"Why now? Where were you guys gone in the past seven years?" anger was visible in his voice.

The boys were quite surprised by that. They didn't know how to answer him.

Lucas looked straight into his eyes, "We are here to rectify our mistakes."

Eddard cut him short, "You cannot rectify your mistakes now. It's too late."

"No it's not. We are here to gather evidence!" Watson stood up from his place.

"We want to give justice to the girls..." Orlando said with determination.

"Please, Eddard... help us." Watson pleaded, guilt was driving him insane, he badly wanted to correct everything for Crystal.

"First tell me, what do you know? About what happened..??" Eddard looked curiously over the three of them.

"Sandra and her minions caused trouble in our relationship. I over heard them talking about it, that's when we came to know the truth." Orlando answered dejectedly, only if he was there earlier when the boys broke-up. He was the last one who broke-up with Rain, with entirely different reasons than the boys.

"We were so late in realizing our mistakes..." Watson said in melancholy.

Eddard nodded his head, completely understanding what they went through.

"And now we wish to go back to the past and gather evidences against Sandra and her minions." Lucas placed both his hands on the table with a thud.

Watson took out a file from his business bag. Pain was evident in his eyes.

Eddard looked concerned at his expression, "What is it, child?"

"Crystal's file." He pushed it forward to Eddard.

When Eddard saw what contained in the file, his heart constricted for the poor girl.

"How can I forget that horrendous night...." he murmured closing his eyes.

The boys snapped up hearing this.

________________________