Chap 55
Joe stepped out of his house. Without much thought, he quickly got into the car that had been driven by Mr. Joko. Joe’s hand gripped the steering wheel. He turned the key and started the car out of his driveway. He wanted to get to the police station as soon as possible.
The man reached for his phone, intending to call Antoni. He needed his secretary’s help.
The call connected.
“Hello,” greeted his secretary on the other end.
“Please track the location of the number I sent!” Joe instructed. He felt worried, his foot continuously pressing down on the gas pedal, driving his car at full speed.
“Whose number is this, sir?” Antoni asked.
“Clara is missing, and this is suspicious!” he replied.
“Should I contact Detective Joe?” the man on the other end asked.
“Yes, please, help me find Clara as soon as possible!” Joe shouted.
“Understood, sir!”
The phone call ended.
Joe continued driving his car towards the police station; luckily, the city streets weren’t too crowded this evening. This allowed Joe to keep pressing down on the gas pedal, driving his car at full speed.
Suddenly, Joe’s phone vibrated. He opened the message on his WhatsApp application. The message was from Clara. It turned out Clara had sent her location. Joe then turned the car around, driving towards the location indicated. After being searched, it turned out that Clara’s location pointed to the peak.
The man continued to follow the directions from his phone, regardless of the darkening sky. The deserted streets allowed him to keep pressing down on the gas pedal.
His bad feeling grew stronger. Why could Clara end up in such a remote place? What happened?
“Clara, wait a moment, I’ll be there!” Joe muttered. He pushed aside his bad thoughts, confident that Clara would be okay.
The car turned right, following the directions on Google Maps. In less than fifteen minutes, Joe would soon arrive there.
He continued to drive his car past residential houses. Next, the atmosphere became even quieter as the residential houses became fewer. They were replaced by plantations. And the road the car was traveling on became more difficult. Rocky and wet soil.
After 10 minutes of driving through narrow and damaged roads, Joe was getting closer to the building where Clara was located. And there he was at Alex’s warehouse.
Joe parked his car. As he got out of the car, he tried to call Clara, but her number was still not active.
A two-story house stood firmly in front of Joe. The only house there. Surrounding it was a garden with tall trees.
The house looked deserted and uninhabited. Many weeds grew wild in the front yard. The ground beneath his feet was very damp. It was clear that the house had been abandoned for some time.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.
Joe continued to walk. He was now in front of the door of the house. The lights on the porch were on, revealing moss-covered walls and piles of wood. The dull wooden door in front of him was open and neglected.
Then, Joe forced his way in. The lights inside the room were on, revealing some farming tools and sacks of fertilizers.
The man walked slowly. He was sure Clara was in one of the rooms in this warehouse. Joe glanced around the room.
“Where are you?” he muttered.
Joe tried to climb the stairs to the second floor, following the faint moaning he heard. The sound, the sound of a woman moaning. Joe quickened his pace until he reached the end of the second floor.
However, the sound he heard earlier disappeared. The second floor was quiet and unlit.
“Where are you, Clara! If you’re in danger, at least scream for help so I know you’re in danger!” Joe muttered, growing more worried.
Joe walked quickly, using the light from his phone screen to check every room on the second floor. However, Clara was nowhere to be found.
The woman’s moans grew fainter. “Clara, where are you!” whispered Joe as he ran down the stairs. This time he checked every room on the first floor.
And…
He found a suspicious room. The room was at the very back. The only room with the lights on.
Joe’s footsteps widened and quickened. He burst into the room at the very end. He vaguely heard a man’s voice. Joe looked down, where his feet stood. There were dusty white shoe marks on this floor.
Joe swallowed his saliva as he took a step forward and found a staircase to the basement.
The man reached for his phone again. He walked down the dark staircase, about four meters high. At the end of the stairs, Joe found the only room with the lights on.
Before entering, Joe grabbed a fairly long wooden beam. Then, he forcibly opened the wooden door in front of him.
Crack…
The sound of the door hitting the wall was very loud. Joe found the body of a stranger on top of Clara.
“What are you doing?” Joe shouted. He grabbed the man’s collar. “Alex, what are you doing? Are you trying to assault Clara!”
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Three hard punches landed on Alex’s cheek, causing him to slump to the floor. Then, Joe turned to Clara, who was crying.
Clara’s condition was already chaotic. Her hair tie had been pulled back. Her face was full of tears, with scratches on her cheeks.
Joe’s gaze fell, observing Clara’s torn blouse. Her hands were folded in front of her chest to cover her exposed chest.
Joe took off his black jacket and used it to cover Clara’s exposed upper body.
“Let’s get out of here!” Joe urged, taking Clara under his control. He wiped away the fresh blood coming from Clara’s lips. He truly felt pained seeing the girl he loved experiencing this ordeal. Joe’s heart felt heavy, and his throat felt constricted.
Then, Joe and Clara walked out of the basement. Joe continued to lead the still crying girl out, climbing the stairs step by step.
“Sob.. Sob.. My feet hurt, Uncle!” Clara complained.
Joe decided to carry Clara. He couldn’t bear to see her like this.
Clara’s arms wrapped around the neck of the handsome man, observing him carefully. Once again, Joe became her savior.
Even in the dim light, Joe still looked handsome. His forehead and the area beneath his eyes were sweaty. However, Joe tried to hasten his pace to reach the car soon.
“Don’t move!” Alex shouted from behind them.
Joe lowered Clara, then turned to the source of the sound.
“What now?” Joe asked. With his right hand fingers, he sent the location to Antoni’s number.
“Don’t move!” Alex commanded.
Joe and Clara both raised their hands.
And…
Bang..
Bang..
Bang..
Three bullets flew from the gun in Alex’s hand.
Who got shot?