723: The half-truth - Part 3

The half-truth - Part 3

"I know Theo is alive." Oliver did not hide the fact that he knew the truth and observed the reactions of the four men before him. And just as he had predicted, they seemed too flabbergasted to speak a word.0

If it was any other time, he was sure he would have laughed, at least smiled, at their funny expressions. But now was not that time and he just stared at them, waiting for them to fire questions.

"If you know already, why didn't you tell us about it, Dad?" Noah was the first one to ask and Oliver smiled. He had predicted this question too.

"I did not say a word because your Grandpa asked me not to reveal anything to you until he was ready to say the truth himself. And if I'm not wrong, he would have done it the day we met if he had not fallen sick suddenly."

It took some time for the men to digest the information they were hearing. Even if they had faced more shocking situations in the past, the ones they had faced in the last few days surpassed everything and they could not help but doubt their existence.

"Your Grandpa promised that he would speak to you and all the truth which you don't know and I do would be presented before you," Oliver explained and from his behavior and words, Noah and the other men could make out that his attitude towards his Grandpa had changed. He sounded a lot more considerate than he had been before. He must have found something that could clear his Grandpa's name.

"Is there something that we should know, Mr. West?" Ian queried and looked at him expectantly. Although there were quite a few things Oliver knew, only Theo and Old Carter knew the actual truth and only they could tell them everything.

"There are quite a few things I want to tell you, once which I am sure your Grandpa would tell you too. However, before that, let me show you something he showed me first." Oliver nodded at Ivy, who brought the laptop and placed it before the men.

"There is a video in there. I'm sure you might be able to find a few answers you are looking for." Oliver stated and Joshua, who was closest to the device, played the video immediately.

At first, nothing happened. It was a CCTV footage from ages ago and all they could see was that it was pointed towards the entrance of a building they could not make out.

The video played for a few minutes. But none of the men lost their patience and waited to see what Oliver wanted to show them.

Soon, cars started to pull over one by one and thanks to the camera's long shot recording, they could see it, albeit being blurry. People started to enter the building one by one, from people they had never seen before to the ones they were familiar with.

However, when Jared appeared, everyone's brows shot up and they instinctively leaned forward in their seats. Noah's gaze briefly drifted towards Oliver before returning to the laptop screen.

But that was not all. After Jared, they saw Charles Miller, Frederick Clarke and others who held high status in the society. 

The video then became silent all of a sudden and for quite some time, there was no movement.

Joshua cast a questioning glance towards Oliver just as he had expected one among the four to do.

"The video is long, son. There is a lot you will be seeing." Oliver explained, his mysterious words eliciting curiosity in the four men's minds. "And I hope you will be able to take it."

The men returned their gazes to the video and after more than five minutes had passed, two other people appeared. And the moment they saw the familiar faces, Noah was the first to jump to his feet.

"Grandpa and Theo?" Ian too was totally spooked beyond words and he gaped at the video in utter shock. 

"Yes, old Carter and Theo. But that is not all. Keep watching, son. You'll find a few things that might change the way you look at your Grandpa and Theo in a better way. I promise." Oliver added and albeit being skeptical, Ian did not say a word.

Noah watched his Grandpa and Theo enter the building and immediately after, the scene changed. The camera now showed the interior of the building, more precisely, inside a huge room that resembled a small conference hall.

The camera was angled such that they could see the entire hall without missing out anyone and to their surprise, they could even hear the people. It was as though each person was provided with a personal mic so that the camera could catch it if he spoke.

Only hushed voices filled the room for quite some time. But it was only when the old Carter and Theo entered the room that everyone went silent and stood up in respect for the man who held the highest authority over everyone present in the meeting.

It was only after the old Carter and Theo took their seats that everyone sat down and the meeting started.

"We all know why we have gathered here." Jared stood up again and started speaking, gaining everyone's attention.

"Since we have already been in this business for quite some time, I thought of expanding and in this regard, I chanced upon Mr. Jonathan Carter, who was willing to listen to the proposal I had in mind." Jared looked at the man sitting in the middle and smiled at him.

"I am grateful that he graced us with his presence even though he did not know much about what we would be discussing here today. I am yet to reveal to him what this meeting is about and..."

"Wait a minute." Jonathan held his hand up, forcing Jared to stop and stand awkwardly in front of the audience for quite some time.

While Jonathan spoke to Theo, no one in the audience dared to make a sound as they waited to hear what the man had in mind.

The four men watched how Jared's expressions kept changing as time passed and unknowingly, their lips arched up in joy. Jared's misery was their happiness, even if it was as minute as him getting embarrassed in front of many people.

Oliver's lips too arched up when he realized what part of the video they were watching. He too had held a similar expression when he had reached that part. Like everyone around, he too hated Jared; anything that made him uncomfortable was his weapon.

"Why do you think I do not know what this meeting is all about?" Jonathan started and Jared's forehead creased into a frown. He subconsciously took a step forward, only to stop when Charles Miller glanced at him indifferently.

To think that the scumbag of a man who had married his father's ex-wife had such an effect on Jared, Noah did not know whether to laugh or to cry. It was too difficult for him to imagine that such a loser had such an impact on Jared, who usually feared none.

"Do you think I would jump into any business without investigating it? Jonathan sneered and the four men heard many people in the conference hall sucking their breaths in fear.

"You might not have told me anything. But that does not mean I do not know anything. To think that you have the audacity to bring me here, to join you in your criminal activities, should I commend your bravery or call you stupid."

Nobody said a word. Jonathan Carter held the highest authority there and a word against him would only lead to their demise. 

Even though they did not hear it clearly, the four men knew why the other people in the audience, including Jared, did not speak. The man beside Grandpa Carter was not someone to be trifled with, considering his martial skills. 

Moreover, everywhere the old Carter went, he would be followed by a group of well trained men. And with them around, it was impossible for anyone to make a move against the old man.

"I know about Mission Code X and I know how you intend to make money in the mission." Jonathan stood up slowly and Theo helped him to his feet before he stood aside. His sharp eyes ran around the room, making sure that there was no danger for his master.

"And to support your crime, you want someone with a great background so that if something were to go wrong sometime in the future, they would assist you? Am I right?"

"Mr. Carter, you have got it all wrong. It is not what you think it is." Charles Miller tried to intervene, only to shut up when he received the old Carter's glare.

"Then, please enlighten me, Mr. Miller. Am I wrong? Aren't we here to discuss Mission Code X and isn't the mission all about finding doctors in as many hospitals as possible and using them for your gain?"

His blunt words shut Charles up and he lowered his head immediately.

"Now, you must be wondering why I am here. Am I right?" Jonathan voiced the question not only the audience but even the four men had in their minds.

"Let's just say I am here to clean the society of such scums. We do not need people like you who will not hesitate to go to any extent for your gains. So, let me tell you why..."

The video ended abruptly at that moment, to everyone's disbelief and it was Oliver who ended up getting baffled and questioning gazes from the men before him.

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