Because he loved him..

28. Languish

*Paul's point of view*

My conversation with Arlo bothered me so much that I couldn't concentrate on my work.

I stationed one of my subordinates in my office and delegated the supervisory responsibilities to him. After working at the hotel for more than a decade and becoming the manager, I had a few perks.

Initially I was happy about Amay getting to meet Arlo but then the thought of Amay finding out about Arlo's mistreatement at the hands of the Clays made me queasy. He'd be crushed.

But when I thought more about it, something didn't feel right. From what I had heard they didn't seem like the people who'd be abusive to a child.

I had to look more into it. I needed to hear their side of the story. I owed it to Amay. Besides, I had always wanted to meet Samar. I could just pretend to be Arlo's friend. No, I am too old for that.

I would just pretend to be Arlo's worried teacher who wanted to check up on him. Yes, that might work.

I drove to their residence. They had earned quite a reputation as a no nonsense couple who had no qualms about going after corrupt people in power.

I knocked on the door. A guy with frazzled hair and short stubble greeted me. He seemed around my age but the hair above his sidelocks had already started greying.

Samar Clay. I remembered his name, not just from the news but from his stay at our hotel that night. That night that brought Amay into my life.

I had heard so much about him from Amay, Ray and even Arlo. It all didn't exactly endear me to him but seeing him in life was something else. I realised I had been staring at him.

"Can I help you?" He asked, yawning. It was the the middle of the day. Shouldn't he be more...awake? I wondered if he worked odd shifts. It was a tough trade. But seeing him like that after all I had heard about him, was.... anticlimactic.

"Hello, Mr. clay. I am a teacher at Arlo's school. Can I come in?"

His sleepy eyes immediately became alert. "Forgive me. Please come in." He opened the door to let me in.

He looked extremely anxious now and a bit evasive too. I frowned.

"Is everything all right Mr. Clay?"

"When did you last meet him? Do you know where he is?" Samar asked me immediately.

"I saw him today only, earlier in the morning. What's the matter?"

I noticed his wife wasn't there. She must have been out on work. I guess I should be grateful to find Samar home, in the middle of the day but where was Arlo?

"Arlo didn't return home since last night. We have been looking everywhere for him. Tell me, what did he say? Did he look okay?" He asked eagerly.

I told him about my meeting with Arlo today and how much he resented being with them. Samar looked extremely troubled at that.

"We have been worried about him. He has been having trouble at school. He has these angry outbursts and---" He shook his hands helplessly and looked away.

"We have made so many enemies here, we were afraid he had been kidnapped. If anything happened to him, I would never be able to forgive myself. Amay left him in our care and we---" He bowed his head.

There was almost veneration in his voice when he took Amay's name. If Arlo wasn't here, there could only be one place he might be at. I had to help him find out Arlo.

"I might know where he is."

"What? Where? Can you take me to him?" He looked up and touched my hand earnestly.