When the call connected, Curtis told the police his address and added icily, “Send someone here. There is a man kicking up a fuss here, and he’s caused massive damage to a shop.”
“No, please don’t do this to me!” The young man blanched in horror when he realized Curtis had called the police. Ignoring his wounds, he crawled over to Curtis and flung his arms around Curtis’ legs. “Someone offered me money to do this. I got caught up in the moment and agreed to do it. Please don’t turn me in, as a criminal record would ruin my life!” he pleaded.
Curtis looked down at him and narrowed his eyes. “Someone paid you to do this?”
The young man vigorously nodded and disclosed, “The person said he was envious of how renowned this duck skewer stall was. He handed me one hundred thousand dollars and asked me to stir up a ruckus here to ensure they are forced to close for the night.”
“This is the only duck skewer stall around the area. It has no rival who is jealous of its business!” Curtis snapped coldly. “Even if someone wants to cause a ruckus, he’ll do that when there aren’t that many witnesses around. Why would he ask you to do it in front of so many peo—”
Suddenly, something occurred to Curtis. His face fell as he shook off the young man and hurried back to their table.
D*mn it! I should’ve gone back when Rayna’s phone was unreachable earlier!
Curtis’ heart clenched in anxiety as he ran into the eatery he and Rayna went in just now. He found the table they occupied earlier, but it was empty. At once, he felt his stomach sink.
There was a can of Sprite and a menu on the table. Placed on top of the menu were two rings.
One was a pink diamond ring, while the other had a GPS tracker inside.
Curtis retrieved both rings and observed them closely. His breathing quickened as anxiety overwhelmed his heart.
Running over to the counter, he asked the lady owner, “Where was the pregnant lady who sat at that table earlier?”
“Oh, a man around your height showed up earlier and took her away.” Rayna was the only pregnant lady in the shop, and Jefferson was strikingly handsome. Thus, the lady owner remembered them well.
Curtis asked, “Did he have blue eyes and wore a pair of glasses?”
“Yes, that’s right. He’s quite a handsome man.”
It was Jefferson!
“Do you know where they went after leaving your shop?”
The lady owner thought over his question and shook her head. “I was busy and didn’t notice that.”
Knowing that was all the information she had, Curtis paid for the drink and left her shop.
He went around the shop to ask the customers whether they saw a man taking a pregnant lady away.
One customer who happened to notice them told him they went to the open-air parking lot.
Curtis’ car was also parked there. He knew there weren’t any surveillance cameras there safe for only one at the exit.
Tamping down his anger, he called Jefferson.
“Sorry. The number you have dialed does not exist.”
Curtis’ heart sank in despair. Jefferson must’ve set eyes on us the moment we came out of the residential area. He got someone to stall me in front of the duck skewer shop to get the chance to take Rayna away. I thought we came to a deal, but in the end, he turned against me!
Curtis took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down before calling Wyatt. “Help me check the surveillance cameras around the night bazaar between…”
As he waited for Wyatt’s update, he didn’t sit back to catch his breath. Instead, he reached out to the Air Traffic Bureau, the high-speed railway station, and the port at Norwal City, sending them Jefferson’s and Rayna’s photos and instructing them to keep a close watch on the two.
Ten minutes later, Wyatt’s call came in. “Curtis, according to the time you provided, I found four cars leaving the night bazaar. The drivers were visible, but not the passengers.”
Curtis closed his eyes and ordered, “Send me the photos of the drivers, then find out where they went.”
“I’ve sent it to your WhatsApp.” After a pause, Wyatt asked, “What happened?”
“Jefferson took Rayna away.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Dear sweetheart novel (Rayna and Julian)