23 Lina visits William's cafe

Lina walked to the William's cafe. It's owner, Willie, was Lina's best friend. He was very close to her brother, Bob, as well. All of them used to hang out at his cafe till late at nights. Lina was sure that she would be able to find some information about Bob from Willie.

"Willie, did you see Bob?" Asked Lina as she stood before Willie, just outside his cafe's main entry door.

"Thank God, you're here, Lina," babbled Willie. "I'm telling you, Bob is upto something.. something not good. He has been behaving so differently from past few days," continued Willie.

"What do you mean?" asked Lina anxiously.

"I saw him with some guys. And those guys didn't look friendly.. rather, they looked very dangerous," related Willie. "I had a feeling that they were being rough with Bob. I tried to interfere, but Bob wouldn't let me talk to them. He asked me not to interfere and told me to go away. He said, it's his personal matter, and he'll handle it," recalled Willie.

"What? Did you let him handle those guys alone?" How could you?" yelled Lina.

"I tried my best. I followed them secretly, but they soon got away. I think they knew that I was following them," Willie expressed his helplessness to Lina.

Lina stood still as she thought for a few seconds. "Which way did they go?" asked Lina, in a hurried way, too impatient to know about the whereabouts of her brother.

"That way," said Willie, as he pointed towards the direction in which he had chased Bob and the weird looking guys. "I don't think they would have gone too far," said Willie.

"Oh God! I swear, grandma is going to die of anxiety. I'm running after Bob, and doing all this.. just because I don't want grandma's health to further deteriorate," bellowed Lina in anger, as a drop of tear fell from her right eye.

"What happened to grandma?" asked Willie.

"She's worried for Bob. Bob's mobile is switched off and we don't know where he is. To make matters worse, grandma is diabetic. Her sugar levels have risen so much because of all the stress she's been taking," babbled Lina as she wiped off the tear from her right cheek. "I swear, I'm going to beat Bob so much when I find him... he'll remember this day for his entire life," yelled Lina.

Willie tried to console Lina as he put his right hand on her shoulder.

Lina continued. "Look at the state he's got all of us in. He hasn't paid the house rent from three months now. The landlord has threatened to throw us out of the house. Willie, What is he planning? What did he do with the money? Didn't he tell you anything? asked Lina who was now too furious to stand still.

"I really don't know anything, Lina. I don't even understand why is he hiding this all from me," maintained Willie.

"Hmm. I'll just go visit the place where you saw him last. Maybe, I will find him somewhere near to it. I don't know what am I going to say to grandma, if I am unable to find Bob. And what will I tell my landlord?" said Lina as she angrily walked towards the direction that Willie pointed to.

"Wait! I'll come with you. I'll ask my employee to look after the cafe," said Willie and he entered the building through the cafe's door to find his employee.

After having given instructions to his employee, Willie walked out of the main door to find Lina. But, she was gone already.

Lina was too anxious too wait for Willie and ran in the direction to find her brother, Bob.

As she walked towards the corner of the street, she heard a man crying in pain, as he begged a group of guys that were beating him mercilessly.

It was Bob. He was being mercilessly beaten by four other guys. Four of them, were heavily built, with shaved heads. They wore black t-shirts and had chains around their necks. While three of them were tightly holding the helpless Bob's arms and egs, one of them, who wore brass knuckles, punched Bob in the belly as blood spurted out from Bob's mouth.

Bob cried in pain. "Please! Listen to me, please. I will return your money. Just give me a little time," cried Bob, who was now too weak to stand on his own feet, and was at the mercy of three guys who held him by his arms. "I swear, I don't have any money with me. I'm trying my best to arrange it. I will give you as soon as I get it," cried Bob as blood leaked from his bruised lips.

Lina, with a look of determination, ran towards them with all her bodily strength, to save Bob. "You all are going to repent," yelled the thin, delicate, crimson haired girl, at the tall, heavily built, group of men who had dangerous weapons with them.