Chapter 18
Adler drove to a nearby abandoned construction site.
“Da m n it, how did Ryan think of stashing someone in this godforsaken place?”
Adler looked around. The place was pitch dark, and the only sound was the echo of his own voice.
Ryan was dragged out of the car by Colby, tumbling and scrambling before he managed to stand up.
Adler approached and landed a kick. “Talk! Where is she?”
“Those guys… it was their idea to hide her. We planned to teach Ms. Sophie a lesson. We thought that once we got the money, we’d blow up this building. It wouldn’t just kill James but also get us a hefty sum. It seemed like a great way for Mr. Colby to earn some b r o w n e points. We never knew Ms. Sophie and Mr. Colby knew each other.”
“Blow it up? You planned to blow this place up?” Adler’s eyes widened. “How? With a time bomb?”
Ryan nodded fearfully, his whole body shaking like a leaf.
The cold light in Colby’s eyes was fearsome, and Ryan, seeing this, swallowed hard in fear.
“Adler, tie him up properly. If the bomb goes off, I want him to be the first to go.”
Ryan hurriedly knelt and begged for mercy, but Adler still tied him up tightly.
The construction site was complex, and now that Colby was sure Sophie was safe, the most pressing task was to dismantle the surrounding bombs.
Just then, a black Bentley drove in. Colby immediately recognized the car’s owner as James.
“Mr. Burke, I’m scared… where is this place?” Nichole clutched at James’ sleeve in fear.
James patted the back of Nichole’s hand. “Stay in the car. Don’t come out.”
Nichole nodded.
Seeing James step out of the car, Adler scoffed, “Your wife gets kidnapped, and here you are, still playing lovey-dovey with your mistress?”
“Who exactly kidnapped Sophie?” James scanned Colby coldly. “If I’m not mistaken, Ryan is one of your
men.”
Colby replied cool ly, “He acted on his own.”
Adler was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. “Gentlemen, why are you chatting? Aren’t we going to defuse the bomb?”
“What bomb?” James instantly tensed up.
“This building is rigged with bombs. Adler and I will look for the bombs. You go find Sophie. Once you find her, get out immediately.”
Hearing Colby say this, Ryan, tied up on the ground, shivered and said, “It’s no use. I told them to destroy the evidence completely. Each building has three bombs, and they will explode in fifteen minutes…”
“What?! Why are you only telling us this now?!” Adler grabbed Ryan by the collar, wishing he could kill the b a s t a r d on the spot.
13:16
“It’s too late to defuse the bombs now. We need to find Sophie Immediately!” Colby rushed into the building with Adler right behind him.
James instructed his driver, “Take Nichole out of here. Walt for my message!”
“Yes, Mr. Burke!”
The driver drove away from the construction site.
Nichole couldn’t help asking. “Is Sophie in danger?”
“Yes, Ms. Nichole. Please, don’t wander around. This place is rigged with bombs.”
Nichole obediently nodded. She glanced at the abandoned building, and a wicked thought crossed her mind. Wouldn’t it be convenient if Sophie just died here?
“Sophie! Sophie! If you can hear me, respond!”
Inside the building. Sophie groggily opened her eyes, hearing what sounded like James’ voice.
She shook her head. How could James be here? He was probably sweet-talking with Nichole right now.
“Sophie!”
At first, Sophie’s mind was foggy, but hearing Colby’s voice snapped her to alertness.
Was it Colby?
When she listened carefully, she could also hear Adler and James’ voices.