CHAPTER 18: Rabbit

"The Florida Port security staff found a letter in dad's suitcase which contained sensitive information. They accused dad for collaborating with German spies and took him, mom, and Eliza to custody," Neal said gloomily before added, "I don't believe any of it." Neal banged his fist angrily to the ground. "Dad will never do anything against his motherland!"

Albert slowly nodded. "It is hard to believe. I know James so well," he said.

"Someone might put the fake documents in his bag. What ship did they use?" asked Stear.

"North Eastern."

"Ah, Peter Dilman Holding company just acquired that. My wife said you're dating his daughter," said Albert.

"I broke up with her." Neal shrugged.

Stera whistled. "You broke up with that spoiled heiress? She must be crying her heart out or... bursting like loose canon!"

"Loose canon," Neal snorted.

"Loose canon?" Albert frowned and silent for a while then softly whistled.

"Why?" asked Neal.

"When did you break up before or after the letter was found?" countered Albert.

"Before. Why?"

"Unless it's too coincidental...," Albert mumbled, glancing at Neal.

"Spoiled-rotten who sticked to you like a glue. Nope, I wouldn't be surprised...," murmured Stear.

Neal turned cold at what they were saying. Before he could answer, a white young rabbit suddenly jumped inside looking at them curiously.

"We could eat that," murmured Albert.

Stear laughed out loud. The sound frightened the animal. It jumped and disappeared as quickly as it came into a hole.

Neal leaped to his feet. "We follow the rabbit! It will take us outside!"

Although thirsty and starving, they all sprang on to live at the hope. The three men looked at the rabbit hole. "The shovel, Stear. Quick!" said Neal.

Neal pierced the shovel to the soil trying enlarge the hole. The soil wall readily fell apart revealing a large hole underneath.

"Bloody awesome. Another tunnel!" exclaimed Stear.

They entered into it and ran through the tunnel until they met a big rock blocking their way.

"Do you think this was the rock we saw outside?" asked Albert excitedly. "Push! Push!"

The rock didn't flinch.

"This rock had been stuck here for years. Now it can't be moved. What to do?" Albert's brows furrowed.

"Pushing won't do any good," said Stear calmly. He picked up a tube from one of his pockets. He opened it and spread the powder content to the ground.

"What's that?" asked Albert.

"Waterproof hand held distress signal. My invention for the muddy trench." Stear grinned. "But now I will modify it to a little explosion."

Stear took another tube from his other pocket. Again he took out the powder and combined it with the earlier powder together. "Hail chemistry. Stay away everyone!"

Stear threw a match to the powder and ran to join Albert and Neal. They covered their ears and heard a loud thud followed by a large tremor as the ground shook heavily. When the dust settled, to their delight, the boulder had disappeared crumbling into dozens of little pieces.

"It worked!" cried Albert. "Bravo Stear!"

"The most genius of all inventors!" screamed Neal hugging Stear.

Stear blushed profusely at the shower of praises by the other two. "Let's go!" he said to distract their attentions.

Excitedly they stepped outside. The storm had passed, the sun shone, the sky was clear blue like just being washed. The first thing they did was going to their boat and gobbled the food and water. Then they sailed back, content by what they accomplished in the island...

The following day Neal took his leave. Albert and Stear wanted to accompany him but Neal insisted to go alone to not attract attentions.

"I'm still a fugitive after all. Thanks Albert, Stear."

He gave his hands for a handshake but Stear and Albert pulled him and they hugged instead.

"What will you do?" asked Stear.

"Go back to Florida and clean my family's name. I want my parents and Eliza to be released soon!" said Neal through his greeted teeth showing his determination.

"Can we help anything?" asked Albert.

"My gold is surrounded by your territory. Could you watch out for me?"

"Of course, Neal. Do you bring enough bricks?" Albert smiled.

Neal patted his filthy-looking cloth bag. "Five bricks should be more than enough." He grinned.

They laughed.

After some chatting Neal took off...

oOo

The first thing Neal did was going to Candy's apartment to tell her about his fabulous adventure.

Impatiently, he knocked on Candy's apartment door. No response. Three seconds later he rapped again at the door louder. Still no one coming. Neal waited. He took a step back and noticed that the curtain in her apartment was closed so were all the windows.

Perhaps she's not home? They were usually pretty quick in opening the door.

Neal banged at the door, he would hate to leave without seeing her one more time. But, nothing happened. The door stood still quietly. He was turning to leave when he heard the sound of the door swung opened.

"Neal, thank God you came!" cried Candy.

Neal froze on his steps.

"Candy," Neal said looking behind him.

Her frantic face appeared at the door. It didn't look too well. She seemed exhausted, disheveled, and wearing a mask - quite in contrast to the happy girl he met two days ago.

"What happens? Are you unwell?" Seeing the mask she wore, he had a bad feeling already.

"No, not me. It's Bebe. That wicked flu... She's having a high fever and has been hallucinating," said Candy, looking broken.

Neal's heart fell. "Did you take her to a hospital?"

"Oh, I would if I could. The hospital is too full. She's been calling your name. I wish you could enter so she saw you."

"But I can!"

"No, I don't want you to be infected!"

"I had it once. I perhaps know more about it than the doctors," Neal answered, confidently.

"No... no... we don't know..."

"I'm sure I'm immune."

Neal gently pushed her inside. Candy was too tired to argue and let him in. Neal felt the little girl's forehead. The poor little girl was roasting. Her face was red and felt so hot because of the fever.

"Anyone helps you? Where's your housekeeper?" he asked.

"I asked her to leave. I don't want to risk her getting infected."

"You rest. I'll take care of Bebe."

Candy refused. "No! She's my responsibility. I am her mother," said Candy adamantly.

Neal didn't say anything, he just drew her close and led her to her bedroom.

"Someone needs to keep talking to her, change her wet shirt, put cold cloth on her forehead…," Candy protested.

"I know. I know," he said softly.

"What if my landlady came?"

"I'll hide in the closet if she came to check us." Neal grinned and put her in her bed.

The moment her head touched the pillow, while still trying to protest, Candy had dozed off.

Taking a deep breath, Neal rushed to care for the little girl. There's a time when she called his name. "Mr. Leagan... Daddy... jump jump."

It's touching. Seeing that did more to him than all the screams and fight Candy threw at him when they were younger. Poor children who didn't have parents were deserved to be loved not mocked and tortured.

When Candy woke the following morning. She saw Neal knelt watching Bebe. Her face looked pale and so peaceful. In horror, Candy flew from her bed to Bebe's side.

"Shh...! She's sleeping," Neal whispered.

Candy couldn't feel more relieved.

"The fever is gone, but you know that it might come back," he said gently.

She nodded. Neal gently pushed her out of the room and quietly closed the bedroom door.

"The battle is not over. She needs help. Lots of it. Albert and Stear are in Lakewood. Stear knows about how to deal with this flu very well." He grinned.

"Who?" Candy frowned. "Who you said knows about the influenza very well?"

Neal chuckled. "Stear. He's the best doctor you can hope for. Ask Albert. He will tell you that Stear is the best."

Candy's mouth opened so widely. Neal laughed, gently moved a strand of hair from her cheek. She didn't seem to notice that.

"He was the head of a medic team at the war. Bebe will be much better in his hands than in an overcrowded hospital." Neal told her in details about what Stear did in France and how he took care of Albert.

"B-but I don't want to infect Stear."

"Don't worry. That man can't die." Neal waived his hand.

"Yes! Ok! I'll take Bebe to Lakewood." Candy laughed. "Stear! Oh Stear! What a news!" In excitement, she hugged him. His heart bloomed at how friendly she was to him now. "Let's go!"

Neal hurriedly called Albert. As expected, Albert welcomed Candy and Bebe with open arms.

It was a happy reunion for Candy with Stear. She never felt happier in her life. Stear then set to work to help Bebe. After he ensured her that Bebe would be fine, Candy went outside to look for Neal. She found him sitting on the patio, deep in thinking. He turned, hearing her footsteps.

"I go tomorrow. Thanks for everything, Candy."

"No, I should thank you for what you did to Bebe." Candy told him the positive prognosis Stear gave.

"I'm glad," he said. "I should thank you still for our friendship."

Suddenly she looked worried. "When will you come back to Chicago?"

He took a deep breath and shook his head. "Don't know." He looked away, stared across the garden. His brows eyes shone with fierce determination, he looked like a different person.

A short silence stretched. When he looked back at her, her eyes swam with tears. "You care?" He took her hands in his.

She nodded.

"Don't worry. I will win," he said firmly.

Neal put his hand in his pocket and pulled a block of gold.

"I can give you more but we haven't finished unpacking them." He grinned.

Candy of course refused the gold.

"Treat it as my gift for Ms. Pony. Hopefully she can rebuild Pony's home as you said she always wants to," persuaded Neal. "We're friends you said? Give and take? Without you I won't find the map box."

His voice was so kind. Candy almost choked on how thoughtful he was to her beloved mother.

"Bebe would hate not seeing you when she's awake," she said struggling not to have her voice quiver.

He put his arm around her and kissed both of her cheeks. "That's for Bebe."

He then held her cheeks on his palm and kissed her lips. "This is for you."

She's beautiful. It hurt that he had to leave her. But, it's better this way. If she wanted him, it had to be because of love not pity.

"Go get some sleep. You must be exhausted...," said Neal.

She felt dizzy. And she knew it's not because she's tired but because it's him. His kiss felt so deep inside her. She remembered his gentleness to her and Bebe last night. Never she felt this strong to him or any men before...

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-To be continued-

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Thanks for reading.