Revenge in The Dark

Chapter 3: Conspiracy

"I once eavesdropped on Mr. Austin, Mrs. Margaret, and Mr. Carlos talking in the backyard. They were celebrating the success of eliminating Mr. Brandon and Mrs. Cecilia and framing you for the murder of your parents, even though I know you never did it."

Diego was stunned into silence as soon as he heard this statement from Susanne's mouth. He didn't want to believe it, but it seemed to be true.

What Susanne said matched Austin's treatment at the office. He had rudely sent Diego away. Diego was actually the heir to Brandon, his older brother. Austin had taken over Diego and Gloria's parents' entire estate.

It's sad. One's own relatives are so cruel to other relatives just for the sake of controlling wealth and property.

Diego had no idea that his uncle was the mastermind behind his parents' death. Not only that, Austin had also manipulated the killer to lead Diego to a 10-year sentence.

Diego's hands clenched into fists, his jaw hardened, his lips trembled. Before he knew it, Diego's tears were falling down his cheeks.

Heartache. Yes, that's how Diego felt right now.

"Is there anything else you know, Susanne?" Diego asked hopefully.

"There is something. But, I'm not sure."

"What is it?"

"A few weeks after the verdict, a man came to see Mr. Austin. Mr. Austin gave him a check for a very large sum of money. I know because I accidentally saw him while delivering drinks."

"Who was he?" asked Diego, squinting.

"The lawyer who defended you in court, Sir."

"Mr. Benjamin?" asked Diego, frowning.

"Yes, that's right."

"Is it possible that my lawyer is in cahoots with Uncle Austin?"

"It is possible, sir."

Diego bowed his head and rubbed his face with his palms.

"It turns out to be a conspiracy. I will investigate, and if Mr. Benjamin is really involved, then I will take revenge. I will avenge the death of my mother and father, Susanne," Diego said while crying uncontrollably.

Susanne nodded, rubbing Diego's trembling arm. The former waitress wept as well, feeling for the man before her.

"May God bless you, sir."

***

City of Boston, 7:00 PM

Diego quietly entered a four-story building.

Stealthily, Diego walked slowly towards the room of the person he was going to meet.

It was already dark, and the workers were gone because work hours had ended. However, the person Diego was going to meet was still in his room.

Diego walked straight into the room without knocking. The door was closed and locked from the inside. The key was put into Diego's jacket pocket immediately.

The person who was there was immediately startled by the arrival of a strange man who was now walking slowly towards him.

"Who are you, why did you enter my room without permission?" he asked in surprise. The man immediately stood up from the chair he was sitting on.

"Hi, Mr. Benjamin... You don't remember me?" he asked casually, then smiled slightly.

The man named Benjamin was silent for a moment, scrutinizing the face of the man who was walking slowly towards him.

"Who are you? Why did you enter my room without permission?" he asked in surprise. The man immediately stood up from the chair he was sitting on.

"Hi, Mr. Benjamin... You don't remember me?" he asked casually, then smiled slightly.

The man named Benjamin was silent for a moment, scrutinizing the face of the man who was walking slowly towards him.

One second, two seconds, and by the third second, his brain had finished searching for an answer.

"You... Diego?" he frowned.

"Why were you so surprised when you saw me, Mr. Benjamin?"

"I was surprised because... because I thought you were still in prison. It turns out that you are free."

"Of course I'm free. My sentence ended two days ago," Diego stopped in front of the lawyer's desk. His waist faced the wooden sign with the name Benjamin Rojas on it.

"Congratulations on your freedom, Diego," Benjamin said, trying to be calm.

"Congratulations on your success when I was found guilty by the judge and sentenced to 10 years in prison," Diego replied quickly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't pretend not to understand, Mr. Benjamin. You know very well what I mean."

Benjamin made a face, then smiled awkwardly, still in denial.

"This conversation is too serious. Please have a seat, Diego. Let's talk casually. Would you like tea or coffee?" Benjamin asked.

"I don't want either. But I want to demand justice from you."

"Justice? What justice?" Benjamin asked, stammering.

Diego smiled a little, stepping a few inches away. He folded his arms across his chest.

"I know someone bribed you not to do your best to defend me in court. So, now it's time for you to compensate me for the time I've spent in prison because of your greed. For money, you let an innocent boy go to jail for something he never did," Diego said angrily.

"Who said that? I never did it. As a lawyer, I would have defended my client."

"Really?" asked Diego, raising one eyebrow.

"Of course."

"Confess, or I'll break your head right now!" Spontaneously, Diego pointed the pistol butt at Benjamin's head.

Diego got the gun from a friend of his who was an intel officer.

"Don't be rash, Diego. I am an advocate; threatening an advocate means you will have to deal with the law."

"I don't care. Confess, or this bullet will go right through your brain!"

There was silence for a while. Diego's gaze sharpened, while Benjamin was so scared that he could feel sweat beading on his forehead.

"I'm sorry, Diego. I already refused that time, but ...."

"But what?" asked Diego, pressing the gun to Benjamin's head.

"They insisted."

"Who are they?" Diego asked, pretending not to know, even though Susanne had told him before.

Benjamin was silent. Fear seemed to dominate him more.

"Who are they?!" asked Diego, raising his voice.

"Mr. Austin's family... ...."

Hearing that, Diego burst into laughter. The laughter was only on his lips, while his heart was crying.

Apparently, Susanne's story was proven today. Benjamin was involved in a conspiracy with his Uncle Austin.

"Why? Why did you do it, huh?" Diego asked, irritably.

"I... had no other choice."

"Actually, there was a choice. You could have refused and reported them for manipulating evidence. But you're the same, asshole lawyer!" said Diego irritably.

Benjamin was silent, feeling that Diego's words were true. But it was already too late.

"Because of you, I suffer living in a dark prison. I assure you, your life will end today," Diego added.

"Don't... don't shoot me...."

Bang!

Without saying a word, Diego pulled the trigger as the bullets in the gun rushed into Benjamin's arm.

"Aaarrggghhhh!"

Benjamin immediately sat down on his work chair while feeling the part that was shot by Diego. It had a hole and was oozing fresh blood. His face looked like he was enduring the pain.

At the same time, Diego blew out the smoke that came out of the gun hole.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Diego asked, smiling sarcastically. "But, it hurts even more to be in a dark prison for 10 years because of you, Mr. Benjamin."

"Please... someone help me...!" Benjamin shouted while enduring the pain. The old man tried to reach his cell phone that was lying on the desk.

Diego lightly swatted Benjamin's hand away and threw the phone in a random direction. Diego's smile grew wider when he saw Benjamin upset because he could not pick up the phone.

Benjamin tried to reach for the intercom that was also on the table, but Diego did the same, swatting away the lawyer's hand until his body collapsed to the floor.

"Help me...!"

Diego smiled again, stepped forward towards Benjamin, then crouched down with one hand resting on his knee.

"Just scream. No one will help you, Mr. Benjamin. Your life will be over," Diego said and laughed widely.

"You are crazy!"

"You made me crazy. So, prepare to go to hell right now!"

Bang!

The bullet whizzed by a second time. This time, it hit his chest and went through his heart.

Benjamin finally breathed his last. His eyes were open, indicating that the lawyer was in excruciating pain before he lost his body.

"Goodbye, Mr. Benjamin, you deserve this...." Diego muttered.