Fred and his policemen now reached the police station with Akbar. Fred unlocked the lock up and put him in there, Akbar walked inside. "Took ya long enough, dummy," said Evelyn.

"Well, at least I survived longer than you," he walked to her and sat beside her. "Now that we have come this far the past is flashing into my memory."

14 years ago

Akbar was waiting for Ralph near the lake. Ralph came from afar and waved at him, his friends were behind him, Akbar waved back. "This is Akbar," said Ralph. He then pointed at his friends and introduced them one by one. "This is Amal, John, Robert."

"Hey, nice to meet you," said Robert.

"As you must have guessed we are Ralph's friends," said Amal.

'Ralph? Oh this kid's real name is Ralph.' "He..Hello," Akbar got anxious because it was his first time talking to a group of kids after not talking to anyone for years.

Everyone was weirded out by that, Ralph caught up on that and decided to change the mood, "so guys, let's play."

"Erm, play what?" said Robert.

"What do you mean by play what? We are here to play right?" Ralph made a pouting face, "there should be no questions here." He took out the badminton rackets from his bags. "Let's play this."

"If we play badminton one will be left out," said Robert.

"Let's play doubles."

"Doubles? Then I am gonna be in Ralph's team," said Amal.

"You were last time, now it's my turn," said John.

"No, I will be playing with Akbar, you guys team together," Ralph looked at Robert and grinned, "you will be the referee."

"Knew it..." Robert sighed, "have fun," he smiled.

"N..no Robert you can team with-"

Robert cut off Akbar's words and handed him the badminton. "Shut up now or I will really let you be left out," he patted Akbar's back and smiled, "have fun."

Ralph put his hand over Akbar's shoulders. "It's settled then," he said softly, "Akbar."

Akbar slowly made connections with all of Ralph's friends. Amal and John changed schools next year. "It's just us now," said Ralph . He gave both of them a smile. "We will be friends forever, right?"

"Right," said Akbar and Robert in unison.

Akbar was waiting for the school bus one day and saw Robert standing alone, he ran to him. "Where's Ralph?"

"He didn't come today," said Robert.

"Robert..." "Hm?" "What do you think of Ralph, like do you get mad when he's too mean to you."

Robert laughed. "Why should I? He's my bestfriend. I can definitely understand what he's up to."

"It seems you respect him alot."

"Definitely."

One day the school bus was cancelled and Akbar saw Ralph exiting the school alone, he ran to him and pulled his arms. "Where are you going alone?"

"House."

"Alone?"

"Well, Robert is absent today, so his mom won't be here to pick him up, so I will have to go alone."

"My mom will drop you."

"No, my house is on the other way..."

"It's fine Umma will manage." His mother came with her car, while they were talking to each other. He asked Ralph to get in, and got in the car with him, Raziya looked back. "Umma, can we drop him to his house, his house is on the other side."

Raziya's eyes sparkled with Joy. "Of course dear!" she drove off the car, "so are you his new friend he was talking about?"

"Yes," said Akbar, "he's Jodie... I mean his real name is Ralph."

"Thank you, Ralph, you... saved my son."

Ralph's eyes became teary, he quickly shook it off and smiled.

8 years ago

"Guys this is my... no our new friend, Evelyn," Ralph emphasised on the word our. He introduced Robert and Akbar to Evelyn.

"A girl on our team, you will be the queen here I guess," said Akbar.

"Nah Akbar, you will forever be our queen bee," said Ralph.

"That's not funny..." said Akbar.

"By the way nice to meet you, Ms.Evelyn," said Robert.

6 years ago in their hideout

"Guys, this kid here is so obsessed with our group. He's saying he wants to join us and he's already attached to me," said Robert.

Ralph walked to Jerry, kneeled and looked him in the eyes, "will you be loyal and useful to us?"

"I... I will."

"Then you are welcome," Ralph gave him a smile and walked away.

'It feels like he and the Jodie I met years ago are different... He has changed,' Akbar thought.

A year ago

"Guys I want to do something interesting," said Ralph.

"Interesting?" said Robert. "Everything you tell us to do is interesting in some way or the other. Like the time you told us to not meet up with each other and act like complete strangers."

"Hmm, let's play a game with a bunch of people."

"What do you mean?" said Akbar.

"Yes, quite a fun game. We will have to kidnap a few people for that though."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"What the fuck? No way Ralph, are you out of your mind?" said Akbar.

"You can leave if you are against this, but I expect you to keep your mouth shut, for the sake of our friendship," Ralph walked out.

"Why are you all fine with what he just said?" He walked to Robert, "why aren't you stopping him, you are his childhood friend right?!"

"I have been trying to change him for years, I don't think I can change him anymore, now all I can do is to follow him."

Ralph came with a bag the next day, "I have made my perfect plan."

"What is it?" said Akbar, uninterested.

"I think you decided to stay, Akbar."

Ralph took his bag, unzipped it and flipped it, many photos and few papers fell to the table, "So I have gathered the info of all these people. I made a list of all the smart people we are gonna use."

"So, you have been stalking people, Ralph..."

Ralph was silent for a few seconds. "I want you all to call me by "Boss" from now on."

"Why?" said Akbar.

"I don't want you accidentally blurting out my name if somehow you got caught. From today onwards, I will be your boss even in your thoughts."

Present

"So many things happened ever since became friends with-"

Evelyn put her finger over his mouth. "Shh, you might end up saying too much," she took her finger off. "Well, it seems like the Boss is all alone now."

"Yeah... let's see how they are going to catch them, if they even can," said Akbar.

Back to the house

Trevor and Misty are sitting in the living room talking to each other. "All the helpers of the culprit are caught, according to our calculations," said Trevor.

"That's quite a calculation you have got there," said Ralph.

'Another ninja.' Trevor squinted his eyes. "Uhm, yeah."

Ralph sat on the sofa with them. "So tell me what's your next step?"

"Next step?" said Misty. "We don't want to tell you, even if we had something going on in our end."

"Why not?"

"Are you forgetting the fact that you are one of the possible suspects?" said Trevor.

"And what makes you think that the person you are talking to isn't the culprit?" He looked at both of them. "This question is forwarded to both of you by the way."

"We are only talking to one person at the moment," said Misty. They both raised their hands and pointed at Ralph. "And it's you," said Trevor.

Ralph sighed. "Well, I'm completely aware that you guys understood what I meant." He stood up. "Seems like you guys already have an Idea who it could be."

Misty smirked. "Why do you look like you also know who it is, you always looked that way."

Vincent entered the living room, "Yo, you guys are being too rude to my friend here. If it's okay to discuss with each other, it wouldn't hurt to tell your plan to him either, right Ralph?" Vincent winked at Ralph.

"Right...."

Few days ago

Ralph and Vincent were laying on a field. "Hey..." said Ralph. "Hm?" "Are you the second kidnapper?"

Vincent laughed. "No, and why can't I be the first kidnapper if you really suspect me?" Vincent sat up. "Is it because you are the original kidnapper?" he stiffened his eyes.

"No!" Ralph sat up. "Don't you remember I already asked you if you were the kidnapper the other day." 'What a dumbass I am, why did I ask that...'

Vincent looked at the sky, the wind started blowing. "It's fine even if you are the kidnapper, the truth is I already believe it's you. I think you are interesting because I think you are the kidnapper."

'That's the conclusion I came to for this guy, that's why he was one of my picks. That's also why I'm rather unguarded with him, but I feel that was a mistake.'

"What are you thinking? Or are you just shocked I found you so easily."

"No way, I'm just surprised how you can come to such absurd conclusions."

Present

'This guy...'

"And who are you to say that? Trevor, I think we have made a mistake in our calculations," said Misty.

"You guys are annoying, I'm leaving," said Vincent.

At night

Ralph was sitting in his room and suddenly he got a message notification from an unknown number on his phone. It read "Hey kidnapper."

Ralph opened the chat.

Ralph: What do you mean? I'm not a kidnapper.

Who are you?

???: Me? You know me very well, and nobody is as eager to meet me as you, I can say for sure.

Ralph thought about something.

Ralph: I get it. It's one of you who's trying to impersonate the second kidnapper. Even if I'm the kidnapper, I don't think the same tactics will work thrice.

???: Hm, that's what you think about me, huh?

The unknown number sent an image, it was an image of Scott tied to a chair, Ralph panicked.

???: Now now, don't panic, it's an old picture from when I kidnapped this moron. Nobody else but the real kidnapper should have it, right?

Ralph: What makes you think that I'm the kidnapper?

???: So many things about you just doesn't seem to sit right, that's it, bye.

Ralph: Hey, wait.

The unknown number went offline. 'Could it really be the kidnapper...'

The next day

Ralph unlocked his car, Vincent saw this and came outside. "Where are you going?" said Vincent.

"Investigation."

"I'm coming too, wait for me."

"I thought you weren't interested in it."

"I never said that, I will be right back."

They both left in the car after a while. "So what's up with you suddenly going for an investigation?" said Vincent.

'Not revealing it will make me more suspicious.' "I got a message from the second Kidnapper?" said Ralph who was driving the car.

"Second Kidnapper? It's probably like the other two times, maybe they suspect you?"

"Yes, they suspect me, but there's a catch. This person who suspects me is most likely that kidnapper."

"Why?"

"I will tell you but first I have to make the most likely to definitely…"

"Hm?" Vincent didn't get what Ralph meant.

They reached Scott's home after a while. They walked to the house, and rang the calling bell. Scott Opened the door. "Who are you?"

"Hello Mr.Scott, we are here to inquire about your kidnap," said Ralph.

"Again? At Least you aren't rude like that girl."

'That girl? Is he talking about Evelyn, she does lose her temper quite a lot.'

"What do you want?"

"It's a bit confidential..." "Hm." Ralph took his phone out from his pocket. "Does this picture ring some bells for you?"

Scott looked at the image. "Isn't that me? And that place looks like the place I was kept when I was kidnapped." He took the phone from his hands. "Yes! A picture of me was taken by the kidnapper when they kidnapped me, at this exact pose." Scott looked at Ralph. "Where did you get this from?"

"Hmm, thank you Mr.Scott, it's time for us to take our leave," Ralph took his phone from Scott's hand.

Back at the house

"We have been gathering clues since day 1 and at this point everything is pointing towards...." said Trevor.

"Ralph...." said Misty.

Day after they arrived at the house

"So far we got the info that everyone except Mary was at the said locations. Well, some were in rather public places so it's hard to notice them," said Trevor.

"Yeah, but why would Mary of all people lie about it, I thought she was in the clear..."

"I felt the same, we will get to the bottom of it anyways, I mean we have to. We are in real big trouble here after all. So, what's next, are we going back to the house or are going to continue with the investigations? I would like to continue."

"Yeah, I would like the same, let's make use of," she searched through her bag, and took out the group photo, "this picture I took."

"You have a copy? So we can investigate individually."

She handed him a copy of the photo. "Here, I don't really trust you and you could fiddle with leads, but imma trust you for now."

"Same goes for you, see ya."

"Meet me here in 30 minutes."

Misty went to a store in the town centre, and showed the shopkeeper the photo. "Do you know any of them from the photo?"

"Well, a weird question," The shopkeeper sighed. "Which new trouble have you got caught into, Misty?"

"You don't want to help me? I see... Ms.Rose."

"No, let me have a closer look," she took the picture from her hand. "This is..." she pointed at Meera, "this is Dr.Meera."

"Doctor?"

"Yes, she is a psychologist, she comes here with her patients for some therapy or something."

"Do you know anyone else?"

"Ah... I know everyone."

'Ofcourse, she knows everyone.' "Do you perhaps know if these people have any connections with each other?"

"Well, Annie and Vishnu were Two of Meera's many patients. Catherine and Satoshi were childhood friends. This Ralph was friends with Akbar and Evelyn. Vincent... he's."

"I know that already..."

"Okay then, I guess that's it."

"Do you know any of the people that's related to all of them?"

"If I had to say that, it would take the whole day to say everything."

"It's alright then, thank you."

Trevor decided to Inquire in the school, so he went to the principal's office. He went inside the office and sat on the chair in front of the principal. "Uhm, who are you? And what are you doing here?"

"I'm here to gather important information, so-"

The principal rang the bell. "SECURITY, THERE'S AN INTRUDER."

"Maam, I'm your ex-homeschooled student, Trevor. Help me!"

"What do you want?"

"Have any of these students studied here?" He gave her the photo.

"Yes, this is Akbar, Right?"

"Yes, it is!"

"And this is Ralph, they are ex-students of this school."

"Were they friends or something?"

"Yes, very good friends."

"Do you know any other friends of theirs?"

"As far I know they were good friends with a student named Robert."

"Do you have a photo?"

"I shouldn't show it to you, even if you are an old student."

He stood up and bowed. "Thank you ma'am.”