Chapter 26: Ranch Office

Lucas silently looked at Thomas and Trace. It seemed like he was in deep thought. But did not speak anything. Instead sat on the bed with head between in his hands. His expressions were calm when he got up.

"Maybe your fortune led to your daughter, Rose's kidnapping. Did anyone know about the fortune?" Trace asked again.

"Nothing much. It was just like how young master bestowed me with many coins," Thomas excitedly interrupted in between.

Trace smiled wryly in his mind with his hand touching the coin case. After standing still for a while, he walked forward and pulled the trunk completely from beneath the bed. Large winter clothes were packed inside but nothing out of the ordinary.

Before pushing it back, Trace looked beneath the bed. Nothing there. He lifted up the sheet on the bed and folded it. Two books were found, Trace noted the name and kept them towards the side.

After carefully checking up the bed. He focused his attention towards the table. Lifting the pillow he found a broacher of Binpark Carriages. He picked it up and turned the pages.

"What is this doing here?" Lucas suddenly jerked.

"Ya work for Binpark-"

"I told damn girl to stay after from the company!" Lucas cried.

"What do you mean Mr. Lucas," Trace asked.

"That damn girl of mine hated Binpark, for they made me work when my health bad," Lucas said in a sad voice.

"Young master, it happened to me. Lucky, my brother went over my shift," Thomas added patting his brother.

A shock filled Trace, he quickly took out his notebook. He paced around the room before confirming whether Rose went to Binpark Ranch Office. It would be trouble if such a big company abducted Rose.

"We need solid evidence before we go to the police!" Trace said.

"No no no, we poor people lose our job and Binpark gets away with ma Rose. Get them before they get ma Rose," Lucas pleaded.

"Young master, resolve it with power. Kick those bastards like ya did with tha Federation. Teach them a lesson for adding misery to our poor lives", Thomas was getting excited now.

"Yes, young master. Beat those bastard up," Lucas' face also lit up.

"Let's rescue her. If someone stops us, I will do something," Trace's hand touched the two talisman boxes. "We have to find where they have held her first."

"Young master, tha nearest office we might get some clue." Lucas said after thinking for a while.

…

Seamlessly a large gate slip open. A man signaled and the carriage carrying Trace and the brothers drove inside. Bustling mixed with metal clunking flooded inside when Trace opened the window.

"This biggest Binpark Ranch Office in Koyoko," Thomas said.

The road cut in three separate directions. Towards the left, it led inside a big warehouse. But the carriage headed straight along the warehouse. Thomas explained that it was the carriage store where carriages would be stored and repaired.

This warehouse was the home to noise. The next building was a big stable. The carriage stopped in front of a small booth outside the stable and Lucas walked out.

"Brother Lucas is changing tha horses," Thomas informed Trace.

The measuring mechanism on the carriages prevented horses from being overworked. Binpark gained fame with this strategy. And over the past 140 years developed into the leading brand that was spread throughout the continent.

Lucas untied the horses from the carriage and went towards the booth. His entry was noted in a register and coins were paid before he headed inside the stable. Few men were standing near the stable gate, one of them helped Lucas with the horses.

"Young master what do ya think?" Thomas asked.

"What if someone doesn't change the horse?" Trace questioned back.

"Damn Binpark, I tell ya, my grandfather knew to undo the mechanism. He collected much money when buds wanted to rough up their horses. They saved money, he got some money. But Binpark smelled it. My grandfather busted along with others all over tha country. Changed tha mechanism. If not I would be rich man sitting over horse graves." Thomas narrated.

Trace nodded and scribbled something down in a notebook. After thinking for a while, he looked outside the window. Three smaller buildings were present on the right side.

"Offices for paperwork," Thomas informed, "our names are all over tha papers there. Along with money we take and give. And that, directly at tha back, is wash shop."

Lucas came with the fresh horses, another entry was made on the register before he tied them. The carriage move forwards and encountered the exit gate. But instead of moving out of it. Lucas drove towards the right.

The road went towards the other end of the Binpark Ranch Office. It seemed like the walls for closing in for the other end had very little width compared to the warehouse end.

"Parking space," Thomas informed.

A few carriages were parked in front of a wall in a dimly lit area. The carriage carrying Trace drove on the road that turned right. After going along the parking space and the road turned again.

Soon the were back at the entry point, completing one full round. And after sometime, they took the exit and headed west. The Binpark Ranch Office in Koyoko was located in Einsquare which was south from Central Koyoko.

There are many places inside for locking up Rose, even a secret basement could exist. How do I find where they are keeping Rose? I have no clue. Trace thought. He turned the pages going over his notes.

…

The sun slowly dissipated into the clouds covering the horizon. In the south, street lamps lit up one by one. But not every house contributed to the light outside.

Late in the night when majority of the houses turned off their light. A carriage slowly moved on the somber road. It ployed like an assassin but made light noises when drove over cracked road.

It stopped in front of a dark house and two a man walked out. The coachman also got off and they moved together towards the small house. In the dark it was difficult to make out their faces but they had burly figures.

One of them got close to the door while the other one looked around. Surprisingly, the door was not locked. The man signaled his companion to come closer.

The door was silently opened but still let out a creaking sound. On inspecting, the men found out that the lock was broken. The space was small, in front of them was a curtain hiding the main house behind.

As the curtain was pushed, light from the window lit up their faces. Both of them looked at a lump on the sofa then at each other. A smile escaped their lips before they closed in.

They put a small pill between their teeth and brought out a small cylinder. With a fizzing sound, an undetectable gas covered the sofa. They slowly lifted up the thin blanket.

After checking what was inside, they wrapped up the blanket and carried the mass towards the carriage. Turning back, they headed towards the same direction from which they came.

…

Far outside, beside a well maintained road, a carriage was parked. The coachman was looking in different directions as if searching for customers. Soon, a person walked close to the carriage.

"Son, take me to-"

"Tha carriage is full," the coachman quickly interrupted.

"Son, I will pay very-"

"Tha carriage is full," the coachman interrupted again.

"Son, listen to me-"

"Get off my carriage."

The coachman jumped at the old man who had his foot on and was in the process of climbing the carriage. After much struggle, the coachman was successful in chasing off the drunk old man.

After getting back on the driver's seat, the coachman knocked on the little sliding window. Immediately, the window opened. It was just at the back of driver's seat.

"Young master, be ready, I betcha my life it comes soon," the coachman - Thomas said.

Trace nodded . He one hand was already on the door. His heart was beating in anticipation. If he failed this time, another person would be kidnapped. This time, right in front of his eyes.

After two minutes, sound of repetitive knocking on the window was heard by Trace. He quickly opened the door and walked out. Hiding himself behind the carriage, he waited till a carriage appeared in his sight.

Trace dashed towards the carriage. Realizing, the sprint was too fast, he slowed down. And followed the carriage with big steps. Sometimes jogging in between to catch up. More or less, he did not let the distance widen more than 20 meters.

After a few turns, the carriage stopped in front of a large gate. Binpark Ranch Office! Trace exclaimed in his heart. Only Binpark carriages could enter, but this carriage was not carrying the logo.

Trace increased his speed but the gate had long closed. He walked to the well lit space in front of the gate. The man who just opened the gate was now sitting inside a small booth.

"That was not a Binpark carriage," Trace said to the man.

"Huh? Boy, go home. Night is unsafe for little kids."

"Kidnappers are riding the carriage. Open the gate fast," Trace said.

Trace put up the point but the man threatened him away. Looking both direction, Trace chose to run towards left, along high walled boundary. The sideway around the Ranch Office was brightly lit by high street lamps.

Trace made it to the exit gate but there was no booth here, not a soul could be seen. So he continued his run, hoping to find another entry way. But no way could be found and he was back at the entry gate again.

Looking at the poles an idea popped up in his mind. I can't climb the wall, but maybe if I can climb the pole I can jump on the wall and get over. He ran around the boundary again, looking for a right spot to start his climb.

Just one try and Trace realized how impossible it was for him. He tried to think of other ways to get inside. Why didn't I think of this earlier, Trace was surprised at the answer. He jogged back in the direction he came from. On the way, Trace met the person he was looking for.

Thomas only moved his carriage a little from the waiting point, fearing he would miss Trace in case the later came back. When he saw Trace in the distance, he commanded his horses to walk.

"Young master, did ya find the place?"

"Yes, it is inside the Ranch Office. Quickly, help me get inside."