Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Robert slammed on the brakes, making the wheels screech against the pavement. Without time to think, he yanked the steering wheel, causing the car to jerk violently.
In less than three minutes, Robert found himself back at the same intersection. Glancing behind, he spotted a yellow truck speeding towards the crossroads, halting abruptly at the toll booth.
Unbeknownst to him, the person he had been desperately seeking was on that truck.
Robert swiftly caught up with Ethan at the hospital.
On the surveillance footage, Gary swiftly knocked down Joseph in just thirty seconds, then casually stuffed him into the trunk. He calmly settled back in the driver's seat, awaiting Sophia's arrival.
Robert's heart tightened as he witnessed Sophia unsuspectingly entering the car. A wave of suffocation washed over him, as if something was squeezing his chest. His lips grew pale, but his eyes stayed glued to the screen.
Despite being aware of Gary's intentions beforehand, watching the events unfold still stirred up deep fear and unease within him.
"Did we track the vehicle's location?" Robert's voice was tense, with a hint of anxiety. "Did you check the car's GPS with the manufacturer? Have the tech team traced Sophia and Joseph's phone signals?"
"We've done all that," Gary replied, looking frustrated, hands on his hips, brow furrowed in confusion. "But why did Gary snatch Sophia and Joseph? We're clueless about his motives."
"Maybe Sophia stumbled upon some crucial evidence accidentally?" Ryan suggested, furrowing his brow. "She has a unique perspective; she might have noticed things others missed."
Robert remained silent, eyes fixed on the surveillance footage, replaying every detail. Ryan's theory made sense; Sophia indeed had a sharp intuition.
As he continued watching the footage, Robert added, "After retrieving the car from the police station, Gary didn't make any direct moves. He parked at the hospital, paid the fee, and then instead of immediately finding Joseph, he took a detour through the fire exit."
Expanding on his observation, Robert continued, "But the footage shows he waited until Joseph exited the clinic before tailing him. That coincided with the moment Joseph answered my call."
Ethan suddenly interjected, "So you're saying Gary acted after overhearing your conversation?"
"Most likely," Robert nodded, speaking softly, his gaze intensifying. "Our discussion might have triggered Gary's actions."
"Like the lumberyard incident or Sophia's suspicions about the truck driver," Robert elaborated. "Even Ada's husband's test results might have tipped off Gary."
After a brief pause, Robert turned to Ethan, saying, "Keep tabs on the vehicle, alert the traffic police to set up checkpoints; we can't let Gary slip away."
"Our main focus is uncovering Gary's next target, the actual rapist," Robert stated firmly. "We need to expose the true culprit from the past, no matter what."
"Got it, find the rapist, the victims, and dig into the connections between the former education bureau leader and Captain Carter," Albert summarized.
Robert fell silent, then headed for the door, his mind made up. "I'm going to see Zane; he's the one with the answers."
The security guard, Zane, was clearly intoxicated, his breath heavy with alcohol, a drunken glint in his eyes.
"Do you know what went down back then?" Robert asked bluntly.
Zane gazed at Robert through bleary eyes, a faint smile on his lips. "Oh, I know all about it. The principal is definitely protecting those with power and influence. The father of the boy nicknamed Monkey has a grudge against him, and then..."
Ethan jumped in eagerly, "Who's Monkey's dad?"
In a more muddled state, Zane's words were a jumble, but Robert's expression hardened.
Softly, he inquired, "Zane, has anyone been asking about you?"
Zane appeared confused suddenly, staring at his drink, his demeanor growing distant. "If God comes, I'll go with Him and find peace."
A sense of unease washed over Robert as he sensed something amiss with Zane; it seemed like someone had already tipped him off.
Scanning the room, Robert noticed everything was as he left it, except for a missing family photo on the windowsill.
This detail rattled Robert to his core.
Approaching the photo, he studied each familiar face in silence before speaking, "Zane, even the smallest force can make a difference. In the end, it's people who determine the world's darkness."
Zane smiled slowly, his gaze distant as he peered out the window, the drink hiding half his face.
Instead of following his gaze, Robert lowered his head, a moment of silence passing. The chill wind sneaking in through the open window hinted that Zane might be under surveillance.