Uncover the Secret 2

"I'll seek justice for John's death mom, dad," he said resolutely. he has unknowingly clenched the phone in his hand. Right after he inhaled a deep breath, he stood and turned facing his parents. Bowed down to them with his arms straight on his sides. There were tears on his mother's face looking at his adamant expression to go on with the murder investigation of her dead son. Mr. Townshend quickly pulled his wife into his arms and gave her the warm hug.

"Shh… Don't cry honey. Let us pray that this time John's death will be solved after so many years. We should trust in our own son. We are talking about Jude. We both know his capabilities, ways better than most of the law enforcement officers. Trust him, okay?" He convinced her with a gentle voice that was admired by his son who stood right in front of them. His mouth twitched. How he wished to have the similar scene with Rose in the future. How sweet would that be…

"Dad, mom. I need to go to somewhere now. Please rest assured, I'll taking a good care of myself. But I need you two to not mention this to Abigail. I don't want to jeopardize all that I have planned. See you two soon." With the said note, he turned on his heels and walked away, leaving the parents behind.

In the car.

"Aries, I need to see you. Now." Then he hung up his phone before starting to drive his Lamborghini to his destination – National Security Lab. He really needed to get to the bottom of this case. Somehow, he felt it was related to his Rose. And that was what made him agitated. What if it is really has something to do with her? What then?

Soon, he arrived at his destination. Once he parked his car, there was a bubbly man walked towards him with a big smile plastered on his face. The glasses perched nicely on his nose and he might appear a nerd, but the truth, he was the most talkative IT technician among the rest. He always had weird imaginations thus making others ditched him and ignored him altogether.

"Yo! Captain Jude Townshend," he saluted him with the cheery smile on his face while he eyes roamed behind Jude and he even inspected Jude's Lamborghini as if looking for something suspicious. Then, he returned to Jude's side, sizing him up and down.

"Where's your fiancée? I haven't had the chance to meet her yet," he questioned him with his signature playful grin.

"She's hospitalized," this time Aries momentarily dumbstruck. It took him a while before he could regain his senses and looked at the calm Jude, eyes widen enough that they would fall off the sockets.

"What?! What happened?" he asked, shocked.

"That was why I need your help today," Jude looked askance at him, especially the way he overreacted to the news he brought. If earlier on he had his eyes opened wide, now he gaped that his mouth could swallow a brick in an instant. Jude used his finger to push his chin up, closed his mouth.

"Sorry… Sure…Sure. Let's go to my lab," Aries quickly lead the way to his modernized lab that was fully equipped with the latest technologies. Jude looked around with awe and he had set his heart to have one similar to this one. But of course, it will be done underground.

"How can I help you, Captain?" Aries back to his serious demeanor. There was no more the playful grin on his face. He was sometimes curious why did he never being his usual self – playful and full of weird imaginations whenever he worked for Jude Townshend. Could it because of Jude's aura? Maybe…

Jude slowly took off John's phone that he wrapped in a clear evidence plastic that was used by the detectives to place the evidence in a crime scene. Again, Aries became aghast. He studied the man's expression, gaping.

"Whoa! Where did you get this? It still wrapped in the evidence plastic!" he exclaimed nervously. He looked around them and quickly locked his door. Eyeing Jude carefully and even circled him for few rounds.

"Don't worry. It was returned to my family when the police closed the case involving my brother," Jude calmly explained to him. Aries stunned. Oh yes, he heard about that before. The main reason why Captain Jude Townshend left the army five years ago. Because his brother was murdered by a single clean shot. It was clearly done by a professional that was good at shooting. Or maybe a sniper. That was what he assumed back then when Jude presenting him the pictures of the crime scene. It was such unfortunate for them that they didn't have the legit lead that could bring justice to his brother's untimely death.

Aries put on his latex gloves and took the phone from Jude. He brought it to his work station while gestured to Jude to have a seat next to him. He slowly took the phone from the plastic and examined it thoroughly. Judging by the way he touched it, it was as if he marveled the workmanship. Or maybe he was someone who appreciated the creation itself. He then opened the cover and his eyes flashed with awe.

"They never checked the memory card, did they?" he asked, frowning. He looked at Jude who looked back at him, brows raised. Aries took a deep breath. He then showed the internal part to Jude. There were indeed two slots for micro TF memory cards.

"They did. But they claimed there's nothing suspicious inside." Jude replied to him, his voice trailing.

"Really? Do you mind if I check it now?" Aries asking for his permission.

"Do as you deem fit," short and precise. That was Captain Jude for Aries.

Upon hearing his agreement, Aries swiftly took out the two memory cards and insert one of it inside his card reader on the laptop. The images emerged were utterly shocked Jude who was stood next to Aries at the moment. His eyes widened.

Aries who was oblivious to the changes earlier began to feel weird as he suddenly felt suffocating as if there was a hidden force that suppressed his ability to breathe well. He looked at Jude and, gasped. From the way Jude's displayed his expression, it was obvious there must something about the images. He cleared his throat and half-jokingly said, "Uh… I can't breathe seeing you like this, captain."

Jude snapped to reality and shook his head. But the images were etched deeply in his head. He took control of his frantic heartbeat, his jaw taut and his eyes turned sharp.

"Print these images for me," he ordered. Aries, without further ado, printed the images and gave them to him in an envelope.

"Let's see the second memory card," he instructed. Aries just did what he was told. He took out the first one and inserted the second one next. But there was nothing. Clear. It was as if it's never been used. But this sparked Aries' interest. He swiftly typed a few strings of codes and – voila, an encrypted folder appeared. The two of them exchanged the look and Aries clicked on the folder. But as soon as he clicked the folder, everything turned black.

"Damn!" Aries cursed loudly. Jude's lips turned into a thin line as he frowned. There must be something in that card.

"What happened?" Jude asked, his voice cold. Aries still cursing the apparatus used.

"Damn! We are so close to getting the information! If I don't know any better, that was one hell protection against the hackers to get the information encrypted within," he was utterly frustrated yet intrigued at the same time. He looked at Jude, cleared his throat.

"Captain, may I ask?"

"Shoot," Jude leaned against the back of the chair. His mind was actually fully occupied with the images earlier. That young girl looked exactly like Rose and they seemed very intimate. Were they lovers?

"Captain, did your brother use to be a technology expert?"

"Yes, he was. He was one of the best from MIT," Yes, John was one of the best from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and he was so proud of him. Aries gaped.

"Whoa! MIT? What the heck?! No wonder he could encrypt the folder and even set up one hellish protection! Gosh! I guess that's why those police officers told you it has nothing significant. And my best guess…" Aries paused, his eyes flashed with sinister before adding, "they intentionally delete the folder, but they never thought someone out there could retrieve the folder." Aries looked so full of himself that Jude smirked.

"With right coding, of course," he continued. Jude casually patted on his shoulder as if to give him so encouragement.

"What now? How can we open the folder?"

"For this task, I'll need some time. The firewall built surrounded the folder itself way too tedious and difficult than breaking into The National Security Database. Give me some time," he said. Jude nodded his head knowingly.

"I'll give you one week. Call me in one-week time. And – don't tell others about this. It's our secret," Jude reminded him.

"Sure, Captain! Rest assured, I'll try my best to beat the security. Oh! How excited!" Aries quickly went back to his laptop and tried his best to infiltrate the firewall. Jude shook his head helplessly before he walked away leaving him alone.