The culprit Chapter 3

 CHAPTER:-3

 

                  One month passed after the Kidnapping still there is no sign of Jeff. Harvey is angry, frustrated and sad. The upper level officer made rest of the staff work on the other cases and assigned Harvey to his own sons case. There was no Negotiation with the Kidnapper so the upper level officer thought that kid maybe lost so instead of arguing with Harvey. They assigned him just one officer that’s victor. Harvey and Melisa both were depressed. On suggestion of Victor, Harvey took a leave of 10 days from the office while Victor will look into the case. Harvey and Melisa still weren’t talking to each other much.

                 Sunday 21^st June, second day of Harvey’s leave. Sun was shining like never before and whole neighbourhood looked lively except Harvey’s house. There was a bit of glooming sadness surrounding Harvey’s house. Melisa is sitting on chair near the window. Seeing neighbourhood happy, Melisa felt envious. The windows were not totally cleaned. Only a part of window was clean other was not. Melisa took her hand starts wiping the window. While wiping she saw a man standing in front of the house in a gray corporate suit. She couldn’t see his face due to dust so she picks up a napkin nearby and  cleans the window properly and there he is smiling like Devil. A young man with black glass , he does not much of a physique but he looks good. Melisa is startled with question. That young man waves at Melisa. Melisa does not wave back and goes to the door to lock it but suddenly bell rang. Melisa thought there is no harm in opening the door so she opens the door “Who are you?” Young man “Me. I am nobody Mam. Believe me what I am here to offer will be far more interesting than myself.” Melisa “If you are here to sell something. This is not really a good time” Youngman “No mam I am not here to sell anything. I just want 10 minutes of you and your husband Harvey Dent.” Harvey enters from the back and sees that someone’s on the door and asks “Who’s there?” Melisa “This guy wants to talk to us for 10 minutes.” Harvey “Ok let him in.”

                 In the living room, all two of them are sitting on the sofa opposite to each other. Melisa comes in with a beverage and offers it to the young man. He accepts it. Drinks the beverage and says “Ahh... this is good.” He keeps the drink on the table. “So let’s start with my name, which I am not going to tell you but you can call me antagonist. Everyone in this world is a protagonist in their own illusion. But I am not that way if everyone is going to be a protagonist , they need a antagonist to challenge them, help them grow. So I am here to be the antagonist of your story.” Harvey this is some psycho who is here to waste his time “Cut the bullshit, If you have something on my child’s kidnapping tell it now or get lost.” Antagonist “Whoa... whoa...Whoa... Cool down Mr. Harvey” There is minute of silence. Antagonist adjusts his suit and wraps his legs around each other and says “I am the one who kidnapped your child.” Listening this Harvey loses his temper and jumps on the table between them, he grabs his collar “Where is he?” Antagonist looks in Harvey’s eyes and makes a gesture. Harvey leaves his collar Harvey understands he is in no position to attack him, so in a chivalrous voice he says “what do you want?” Antagonist starts cleaning his suit. Melisa goes towards Harvey and grabs his hand. Antagonist “Man they told me you are not nice. Even then I insisted on visiting you. Look I have your child he has no idea that he has been kidnapped neither he is harmed. If I do not go to meet your child in next half an hour, You know very well what will happen. So can we be civil. I am just here to talk to you guys, maybe bond with you and tell you how to get your child back. That’s all. Maybe in upcoming days we become best of friends and go on a double date. Oh wait I don’t have a girlfriend. Naah I know you will set me up the someone, won’t you Melisa?” Melisa nods in terror. Antagonist “That’s like my girl. Now can we be civil and hear my demands. Now sit down this is your home” All of them sit down on the sofa. Antagonist “So listen to me closely” Antagonist tells him his demand. Harvey responds “But it’s impossible. If I do that every one will be in danger”

Antagonist “It’s your choice either you kill this world or your child. Take day or two to think about it. It happens on Saturday I’ll be ready. If you do not do what I asked you to do at 1:00 clock in night technically am but it’s not important. Let’s get serious. Focus. What was I saying oh yes, or make a death certificate of your child with the timing 1:01” Antagonist gets up and starts walking towards the door sees backward and says “Don’t get confused between a.m. and p.m.. It’s a.m. alright but night. You get it right” he laughs and walks out.

                 At dinner, Harvey is thinking and not eating his food meanwhile Melisa too is worried. Harvey looks at Melisa and asks “what should I do?” Melisa replies “Whatever you chose you are going to be bad. It’s either the world will hate you or your only family. You have to choose between world’s hate and your family’s hate” Harvey “Why me? Why do I have to choose?” Melisa while sipping the glass of wine “If it’s up to me I would’ve chosen the family because you two were my only world my life is around you. But your case is different you have a responsibility of this world. You are honest, loyal, determined, to your work. You truly believe in justice. But remember this Family is too inmate to be preserved by justice, It can be sustained by a spirit of love which goes beyond justice.” They remain silent for a minute. Melisa “I don’t know what will choose. But don’t let our divorce be the factor of your decision.” Melisa starts crying. Harvey gets up and gives her a hug “I would never do that. You and Jeff are still the most loved persons in my life. I would take a bullet for you even after we get divorced.” He puts Melisa to bed and came in the living room and thinks “What should I do?”