8 CHAPTER 8 Back to Azhar

 The atmosphere was cold, mild breeze running through the room making it colder too. The time was 4:00PM. Though it was early morning still sun was about to show on. Moon was the one who still have sometime to rule the sky. Whole area was silent and dark.

"Well its still a doubt, we can't say anything for sure". Sarlon glance outside the window enjoying the cold breeze.

"Hm! You are right".

"Now Akio. Circulate Ray's photo to other police stations and media we have to catch him as soon as possible". His tone was slight higher than normal one.

"I already circulate it to the social media but didn't send to other police stations".

"Then do it".

"OK!". Akio move to the entrance faded from the site.

"Damn it I was too close, curse that pinman if he won't shoot, Ray was behind the bars". He thrashed his hand on knees. Closing eyes clearly shows the regret, he knows there is nothing he can do about in that situation, but still he wasn't convince at all.

"Do he tricked you too". A voice echoed.

Sarlon glance around but same empty room not a single figure to see. He thought about the voice.

"This voice seems familiar". He murmured.

"Ofcourse! its me sir". The man removes the green curtain, which separate their greetings.

 Sarlon look at the left. A bed was their, familiar figure was lying smiling, take a full advantage of bed's comfort. "Issaye–".

"A-a! not too soon there's one another".

Other man raise his hand, Sarlon caught up his attention.

"Hello sir". He turn his neck to Sarlon.

"L-Lom". Sarlon feel slight awkward how to react, he greeted his two friendly sub officers, however it was not a normal greeting. One's face was slight swollen, hands were bandaged, other has a leg in big plaster, which was hanging on a support of single white bandage.

"Hey what's wrong haven't you happy". Lom notice the awkwardness of Sarlon.

"No I am, but I was wondering about your plaster and Issaye's injuries".

"The reason is Ray". Lom flickers his eyes. Refix it to Sarlon again.

"What".

"Yes. But never mind, we don't want to recall it". Issaye said.

"By the way how you get here". He place his both palm beneath his head, quite a relaxing position.

"Well actually someone injected a coated pin which made me unconscious, thanks to Wan and Akio they found me shift me here".

"Hm! So someone injected a pin which made you unconscious, surely it was stained with some kind of chemical its not the work of pin alone, the real thing was that particular chemical". He turn to Sarlon.

"You are right Lom". He smiled. The smile fades as he think more and more about the matter. "But still there is another question who helps Ray and why he want Ray".

"You said it was Azhar Mahmood—".

"No it was just a mere possibility not fact, perhaps Azhar and Ray have no internal connection with themselves they are far different from but what makes them common is they are criminals a threat to Nation".

"Yes! You have a point we can't say anything without proofs". He move his back slight up so he can fully relaxed his head on the blue cushion. However In the process his leg was slight misplaced from the original position.

"Ahhhh". A loud cry full of pain echoed in hospital.

"Be careful your leg is in worst condition keep it still if you move, it will take more time to recover". (Nurse) roared, glare at him like a teacher glare at a student who won't did his homework.

"Sorry".

"Hm.". The nurse refix the leg.

"Now be careful".

"OK Mrs. You got my word".

This event make Salon laugh, as what he like about Lom and Issaye is basically Sarlon was a dedicated man to catch and beat criminal, due to his job he became a harsh person, laugh twice or thrice in a year. But from time when Issaye and Lom joins the duty. They two were just hilarious who sometimes  make him force to laugh. Lom goes comic occasionally but Issaye was Irresistible.

"Looks like you got a long vacation". He smirked, observing the hanging leg.

"Yup. But I might gonna miss those duty days".

"Yeah! Sure".

"Howdy! Sarlon". A voice heard.

The three glance at the door. There was three man standing at the entrance. All in duty dresses.

"Mike Staker". He glance at him with a smirk. "Come in come in".

The three figures enters. They move to the patient's bed.

"What happened".

"Nah! Nothing just  a criminal breakout, despite of having the full opportunity to catch him, I still fail". A hard punch on wall.

"Easy, it happens at least you tried your best". Mike smiled.

"Yup! You are right but still I am very disappointed".

"I know". He glance at the window, the beautiful leaves vibrates on the tune of wind. Enough to divert the man.

"Yup! But  all in vein". Sarlon said.

"Hm!". Mike turn to Sarlon. "And I promise we will inform you if we found him".

"Appreciate your help".

Mike spotted injured ones.

"By the way what happen to your friends?".

"Nah! Nothing, just know..". Sarlon's pitiable eyes glimpse at two.  "The reason is escaped prisoner".

"You mean Ray".

He nodded. "By the way what about Azhar, have you find anything?".

"Nope. Still searching, I  search each and every possible location but still no lead". Mike's tone itself describe the grudge and agony he has but still he can't do anything about, after all he don't exactly know where do he search.

"Hope you find him soon".

"Thanks! Same goes for Ray". The tickling of golden watch caught his attention. "Okay I have to go".

"Where?".

"To the  station, its almost 8:30A.M I am late".

"Got it pretty early haven't you". Smiley Karl turn to senior. However Senior isn't seem pretty happy. the eyes glare at him throwing fire.

Quickly smile fades. The man was smart enough to predict the right tone "Just a joke. We need to go". With a bold and energetic face.

This spread laughter on Himson jail's recruitments. Sarlon was observing minutely.

"By the way young man, you make me recall Issaye sometimes". He said.

"Me sir". Issaye disappointed after all the man thought he is far more intelligent and superior in personality to the man whom Sarlon compare.

"Yup Issaye." He take a glance to both of them. "You and he belong to same group".

"Okay we better go now". Fin was irritated, after all they were here to greet Sarlon, they can't afford to spend a whole time here in chitchat, they still don't have a single clue about Azhar, if they wont catch Azhar soon it may lead to next blast. Fin was aware of this fact.

"You are right Fin".

The three move to the exit.

"Later, Sarlon".

"Anytime".

Mike sitting in the cabin, staring at case file…

"I wonder why I help him".  He glare at the photo. "Azhar Mahmood you are the first and last mistake I have ever made in my entire carrier".

"Sir". An officer enters in the cabin.

"Come in Fin". Fin preceded to the left seat.

"Found anything".

"Yup. We ignored some of the genuine locations which have higher possibilities ".

"What you mean". Mike's eyebrows lift wide up. As Lips have shallow opened.

"I will explain".  He take out GPS tablet. Open the map of France, zoom in the Cannibal Forest.

"See. This is the cannibal Forest".  Mike nodded.. Fin pointed to the far left bottom in the map. "And this, is the Dimeru mountains"

"I know that much, but we haven't find Azhar there".

"Correct".

"So what's the point". Mike take off his desperate eyes from the tab, focus on the pending files open one.

"However, there are three other locations, which covers or come in between Cannibal forest and Dimeru mountains".

"Which three". Mike close off the file which he opens. He was deeply influenced by what Fin has to say.

"These three". He put the tab on the table. Preceded to the Senior.

"The first comes in North to Dimeru mountains. Second came exactly in between them, just think it is a kind of passage between Dimeru and Cannibal forest".  He pinpoint the two, zoom it, Show it to Mike.

"Impressive,  you did a fine job Fin". Studying the map in the tab.

"But still where's the third location".  An officer sitting far right replied. Tearing a chocolate wrapper was about to eat the Fescheal boom chocolate blast flavour.

Fin wondered about the voice he look around. His eyes stick to the right sitted man.

"Well third—".He pick up the tab scan the map.

"Damn it. Where it goes". His eyes became intense brows edges make two lines on forehead.

"Ah found it". He uttered. He mark the place. He slide the tab. Mike holds.

"The one with red mark?".

"Yup. The location is straight west–".

"From Cannibal forest". Karl with bold face.

"Then what are we waiting for".  Mike thrash hand on table. Stand on, leaving the chair behind. "Lets see whether we find him or not".

"Let's go". Karl throws the wrapper in the dust bin.

The three rush out of the station, Karl take the charge. Peugeot 308 dash in on the road, take a desperate turn. Recruiting the two. Fin approach to the backseat. While Mike accompanying Karl besides the driver seat.

Car set on. Fin tell the location where they have guided perfectly turn after turn.

Fin saw the shady dense trees completely resembles to the forest he then check the location. "Hm stop here Karl".

"As you say". He press the brakes.

The doors open. The three make their dazzling appearance, they stand in alignment mild breeze blowing their hairs.

"Now this is the cannibal forest–".

"Let's goo". Karl echoed.

"Not too soon". Mike with a dropped voice. "Fin, which is the nearest location?".

"No the one is from North to Dimaru mountains. Other is in between Dimeru mountains and Cannibal forest". He pinpoint his finger on the map glance at the sun. "For these two we have to reach Dimeru mountains and from their we have to start our journey–".

"Basically far locations right".  Right hand lift on forehead. Eyes spotted a Eagle roam in sky lavishly.

"Yup".

"What about third". Mike holding his toned abs.

"It was straight west, from Cannibal forest". Replied Fin.

"Looks like we can explore this one". Karl gaze at the two.

"Let's go".

The three begins their journey, straight to the assigned location.

"Hey, there are people around here". On the front there was houses which built in ancient style, farms on all sides. Some common shops like vegetables and glossary stores.

"Its rural area". Karl look at Fin.

"I don't know its an inhabited location".

"Still it goes in our favor we can interrogate these people whether they see Azhar". He glance at the village with narrow eyes. "All in on it boost our chances of finding Azhar".

"You are right sir. Interrogation is better than search". He observe the location from the far.

The three enters the village, the people were few, some have flails and a packet in there hand. A bullock cart full of passengers pass from them. The speed describe the pressure it was for driver to drove up the passengers on the right location at right time.

"So these is how village taxi looks". Karl said.

"Yup". Fin staring at the moving bullock cart.

Mike move on to the glossary store…

The man was serving the assigned things to the customers.

"This is your soap, snacks and Oil as you demanded".

"Thank you. Your shop is the best, it only gives you the high quality materials. For villagers its hard to seek quality, in affordable price". A female customer was there her hair was golden, she wore green T shirt as a top and a blue lingerie as a bottom gather up the things, placing them in the pouch. "But you made the myth true". She smiled her blue floating eyes were true symbol of beauty itself.

"Thank you".

"No you deserve it". She pays the money. "Keep expanding". She fades from shop.

"Such a nice woman". He glance at fading figure. "Yup sure". Pumping scream heard aloud.

"Hey–".

"Yup what you wanna buy oil, snacks, toys anything just name it..". A egg white Smile staring. The eyes notice the city attire.

"Ah–". Mike was about to tell.

"But before you order I ensure you I don't have all the toys or varieties of products, after all village shop has its limit".

"Its alright. After all we are not here to buy, we want your help".

"H-help". The man hesitated.

"Hm. Help". Mike take out a photo. Turn it in front of shopkeeper. "Do you see this guy".

"Let me see". He grab the photo.

He take a close look photo. Begin to stare at it, continue the process for sometime.

"No". The Shopkeeper replied.

"Are you sure?".

"100℅. I never see this man". He hand over the photo.

"OK". Mike take back the photo with face which almost lose its light.Eyes still searching for another hope which might lead him to terrorist.

He then interrogate nearly every person present at the site, but nothing comes off…

"I don't think, we can able to find him". Karl shook his head up. "He is truly gone".

"May be you are right". Mike stare at the photo. "But still there is a chap–".

"Which chap?". Fin put the tab inside the pocket.

"We only interrogate the part of area, we have to continue our search". He was witnessing a view of a street, which make him recall his own village. It was pleasuring experience when you came across an incident or thing which make you recall your childhood.

"Very well if you say so". They walk on, continuing their interrogation but nothing comes up, same as with shopkeeper everyone denies, they were about to quit their search. They sat on a bench placed far ahead on the grassy land.

"Looks like–".

"We have to search another location". Karl place his head on the bench's back.

"Hm! Fin check how far–".

"Hey! What's the matter you guys look tense". An unknown voice.

The three glance at front wondering about the voice, there was a man standing behind the bench. Wore a orange shirt on the left shoulder there was marks of dark stains, blue jeans torn from the knees.

"Nothing". Mike replied.

"Don't lie, I can clearly tell by your face". He approach to the front tale a seat.

"This man seems pretty intelligent". Mike thought. He took out the photo. "Do you see this man?".

"Let's see". He pick up the photo. "This man". He murmured. Staring at the photo. Give a suspicious glance to Mike. "By the way what do you want with this guy?".

"Actually he is a ter—". (Karl)

"Ter". Mike roared.

"Easy,". Surprisingly look at the man. "Why you screamed, like he was about to leak a million dollar information".

"Actually he is". Fin murmured.

"No". Mike lips begin to flatter, he don't know how to cover this mess which his foolish companions created. "Yes actually the man's name is Ter, he live in Paris. An old man file a missing complain of this man, Couple of days ago. So we move on to city to city we nearly search out whole Paris and even connecting cities but still nothing cames out, finally we found one who said he saw this man near this area. So we are here to interrogate".

"Best cover". Karl admiring his sir with big eyes, begin to clap. "You are—". Before he could continue further a slap thrash on his cheek.

"Oh! How can I forget, sir you continue. I will give him medicines". He take a look at the man, who feels quite weird about the madness which he performs. "Karl has a mental disorder, he became aggressive if won't given medicines at time".

"Do I have a mental disorder?". Karl holding tight his red cheek.

"Yes you have Fin give him medicines". Mike was grudging his teeth.

"Yes, yes. I will you carry on sir". He take out some pills extending to the Karl. Karl swallowed it..

"So do you–".

"Follow me". The man boldly said.