Beneath The Scars

Chapter 25

I spent the entire day unpacking my things and talking to mom . While talking to mom she told me about an envelope she received which was addressed to me. She went over to her room and brought the large brown envelope to me. When she left for me to rest I took up the envelope and opened it . It was a letter from my deceased mother's bankers . According to them they had strict instructions to release it to me on my 26th birthday . It contained a letter from my mom. The letter reads...My dear daughter I love you with all my heart. As you turn 26 years old  I believe it's time to know more about your past . Certain details I have kept away from you because I felt you were not old enough to absorb so much .My life is constantly in danger hence my decision to leave this information safe in the banks safe custody to be released to you by my lawyers just in case I don't live long enough to let you know.I met you dad when we both did undercover work with our countries security forces. I remember you sometimes wondered how I reacted instantly to certain situations like the snake that landed on your bed that day we camped on the beach. It resulted from the military and other intelligence training I had which I kept away from you to protect you and also fulfil the secrecy obligation demanded by my work.Your dad was such a lovely caring person then and we often carried out assignments together.He wasn't into drugs then and loved you two kids with all his heart. He however began to change after one botched operation. He had been given orders to blow up a vehicle containing two hardened criminals who possed a security risk to the country. Letting them live was out of the question because they had acquired certain information which endangered the security of the country if exposed. The instruction was to wipe them off the face of the earth. You dad traced their movements and finally managed to place a timed explosive device in their vehicle at a time they we're expected to be alone. Their vehicle blew up that late night as expected but there was one hitch. Our intelligence picked up hadn't made us aware that these criminals were to kidnap a little girl as part of their operation that night. This little sweet girl was tied up in the back seat of their car when your dad  attached the timed explosive device under the car. She died with the explosion. Your dad being the sensitive man that he was never got over that experience. He was torn apart as a result of that disaster and took to drinking and the use of drugs to calm him down.Your dad disappeared one early morning leaving me a note. He apologized for all the embarrassment he had caused his family. He admitted he had made several attempts to get out of drug use without any success . He told me he had information from his former intelligence sources that the  father of the little girl killed in his botched bomb blast happened to be a powerful man who had contacts who were in the security service. They had finally managed to source out the reason for the bomb blast and now very close to tracing him. The powerful man had placed a million dollar reward for any individual who can identify him. The man wanted him dead together with his family to avenge for the death of his daughter. Your dad stated that to avoid placing his family in danger in his present drugged state he had decided to go into hiding. He promised he would do all he could to get contacts to protect us in his absence. He stated that he loved you all and wished that you will one day find it in your heart to forgive him for the harm he had caused you.My daughter this is the reason we moved house so many times. The powerful man had finally traced your dad's identity and the search for us was intensifying . We are all in danger. I will do everything in my power to protect you. Please take good care of your brother for me if I loose my life trying to protect you. The name of this powerful man  is James Panga. There is a note attached to this letter giving you information that can help protect you. Please make sure you memorise the information so you destroy that note. May the good Lord continue to protect you and your brother my darling.We will meet again one day in that lovely place free from all this evil. I opened up the other envelope I was said to destroy only to find two note attached and a necklace . The letter reads. " Fourth street  Golden road . Follow the landmarks that lead to the old chocolate factory . The road that follows is not in good shape walk straight ahead till you reach the cream coloured house .This is the address to a house your dad and I bought which I think might be a good hide out for him to be at . The necklace placed in this envelope has a tracker . Your father wanted to gift it to you on your twentieth birthday. He has a similar one around his neck . I sat on my bed quietly after reading the letter. All sorts of ideas were passing through my mind. I remembered the numerous times we had to move house to settle else where. I remembered how frightened and worried my mummy always seemed to be. She seemed always on edge. I remembered how angry and alarmed she was when I brought to her a loaded pistol she kept hidden in one of our locked drawers. I had discovered the key to the lock and opened it. Everything seemed to fall in place now. I now understood her worries and what she had passed through . I spent some time memorising the contents of the note attached . I turned to the other page and came face to face with a picture which had the name James Panga inscribed on it . He had the same scar the same eyes the same hair colour. James Panga turned out to be the man that kidnapped me .