The Fall Of House Farouk

Chapter 4 : Heading out

Blenheim Palace

The morning sun peeked in through the white curtains installed at the window, lighting the room in a soft orange glow. Bruce squinted his eyes, reacting to the burst of sunlight as he woke up in bed. He got up and did a few exercise stretches to get himself ready for the day, walking barefoot in the room. Standing by a cradle Bruce leaned in, looking affectionately at the little baby boy sleeping inside. He kissed the woman asleep next to him in bed and headed into the bathroom to get himself ready for the day. He shaves off the stubble he had been growing due to the investigation while looking at the frosted glass due to the steam from the hot water bath. He emerged from the room, wiping off the shaving cream with the face towel, just as the woman was sitting up in bed, holding the baby boy in her arms. "Morning." he smiled, kissing her on her forehead as he sat by her side. 

Isabella smiled as she held their baby son Robert in her arms, the baby sleeping contentedly in her arms. They have recently returned from the underground bunker following the meeting last night and had to follow up after the discovery last night. Bruce was worried about her condition after she was attacked by a Russian agent on a motorcycle but she seemed to be doing well. 

Breakfast was served at eight o'clock sharp in the morning in the dining hall at the household. Bruce and Isabella ate quietly in the dining hall, sitting alongside one another. They decided to leave their children to their devices here in the Churchill household in the care of her grandaunt Helen Churchill, Dowager Duchess of Malborough. 

City of London 

A black convertible crossed the London Bridge and into the city, joining the long line of busy traffic typical in the City of London during the morning rush hour traffic. Bruce held the steering wheel with both hands as he groaned upon seeing the busy traffic here in the city. Isabella sat beside him, also frustrated on the sight of busy traffic but she had a pair of earbuds to distract her from the sight. Even though Isabella came here in an official capacity as President of the United States following the death of her predecessor they are still able to spend the hours outside of her official duties in privacy and normalcy. Today is one such day for them before Isabella begins her official duties and they have to discuss on the progress of the case they have been working on since the birth of their son Robert. 

The deaths of Suleiman and Rosa Farouk had occurred under mysterious circumstances, both murdered in different locations. Bruce was grief-stricken when Ali Farouk also died, and Isabella stayed by his side to comfort him, despite not really knowing the deceased. Bruce pulled the handbrake and searched for his phone, only to touch Isabella's hand, which she too realised and blushed in response. "Sorry." he whispered. 

"It's fine." she replied. Isabella removed her pair of earbuds and slipped them into the pocket of her pair of denim jeans. "Do you want to talk about your feelings?" 

"I... I don't know." Bruce said. "I wish I can, sometimes." Isabella quietly sighed to herself but did not put on her earbuds once again. A soft beep was heard from her backpack and Isabella reached for her backpack, unzipping it and retrieving her tablet computer. 

"Morning grandfather." Isabella said, just as her grandfather entered into view via video call. 

"I'm glad that I can still reach you Elizabeth." the elderly man greeted, his voice channelling some seriousness. "Bear with me on this one." With that in mind he shared a video clip for her to look at, a news report to be exact. 

"Police are still investigating the presence of a mysterious man wandering around in Arlington National Memorial upon being dug up by the gravediggers stationed in the National Cemetery." the reporter said coolly. "But after the man had been taken into custody and a DNA test was conducted it is established that man, surprisingly, is a long-deceased relative of President Reagan." The news footage was abruptly taken down and Isabella's grandfather appeared into view once again. 

"What did I just watch?" asked Isabella, looking very much confused, while Bruce leaned in for a further hearing. The traffic moved forward and Bruce continued to drive the car forward. 

"Stephanie was puzzled by what was she looking at as well." Isabella's grandfather sighed. 

"What is S.T.A.R Labs doing?" Bruce questions, after stopping at the destination shown on the GPS on the dashboard. 

"I have no idea." Uriah shook his head. "I'm on my way to London, to discuss the other 'problem'." Bruce looked at Isabella and she also did the same thing, both are thinking about the same conclusion that her grandfather is definitely coming over, due to the highly publicised murder of three people now. Isabella and her grandfather both ended the call and when she looked up she saw a familiar shop sign. Bruce's phone buzzed in the pocket of his coat jacket and he answered. 

"Alfred," Bruce said into the phone. "Meet us at the location I sent you."