Chapter 93 The Smell of Disaster
Claus had first grown suspicious of the man when he noticed him lurking near Mia's game table for an extended period. His behaviour was unusual; he seemed too interested in Mia's game, even though there were other attractions in the casino.
As the man continued to hover around, Claus decided to follow him discreetly. He kept a safe distance, observing as the man occasionally exchanged glances with other individuals in the crowd. Claus's instincts told him that something wasn't right.
The tension heightened when the man finally left Mia's vicinity and made his way towards a discreet back door. Claus knew that he had to follow, even if it meant leaving Mia momentarily.
He watched as the man knocked lightly on the back door, which opened to reveal the concealed entrance. Claus couldn't afford to let the man out of his sight, so he slipped through the door just as it was closing.
In the hallway behind the casino, Claus trailed the man, his senses on high alert. He watched as the man entered another room, where several individuals were gathered. Claus strained to hear their conversation, picking up snippets of discussion about the Beast's imminent arrival.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Claus knew he had to return to the main casino area and alert Carol. But just as he turned to leave, he heard the back door creak open again.
Claus swiftly moved behind a pillar, his heart pounding. It was the Beast himself, the enigmatic criminal mastermind they had been hunting for. He watched as the Beast entered the room, welcomed by those gathered inside.
With a sinking feeling, Claus knew that their plan had taken an unexpected and perilous turn. He had to inform Carol immediately.
Claus discreetly followed the man from the Beast's inner circle, his eyes trained on the figure as they approached the back door of the casino. His heart raced as he watched the man knock lightly on the door, which promptly opened to reveal a hidden entrance.
Inside, the casino buzzed with excitement as Mia continued to play her game, oblivious to the unfolding events. Claus's focus remained on the man he trailed. He knew that if the Beast had arrived contrary to how they had planned his arrival, the night could take a dangerous turn.
The man disappeared into the back room, and Claus seized the opportunity to alert Carol via their communication devices. He whispered, "Carol, I've got eyes on one of the Beast's men. He just entered the casino through the back door. The Beast is here."
There was a brief pause before Carol's voice crackled in response, "Are you sure, Claus? This changes everything. He is not supposed to arrive until 15 minutes later according to our plan. We need to be on high alert."
Claus moved away from the back door, finding a concealed spot where he could observe the main area of the casino. He replied, "Positive, Carol. I saw him welcomed in.
"Keep an eye on Mia. We can't afford to lose track of her. I will inform Sergio of this update. We need E.P. in the building right away so we can strike." Carol sounded concerned as she said.
"I will, Claus. But remember, the Beast is unpredictable. We have to be ready for anything." Claus returned to the casino only to find Mia out of sight.
Panic surged through Claus as he searched the entire game area for Mia, but she was nowhere to be found. He moved through the casino, scanning the crowd, checking every game table, and even glancing at the exits, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Minutes felt like hours as he desperately looked for any sign of Mia. The weight of the situation bore down on him, and he knew he had to take action. Pulling out his phone, Claus connected to Carol, his voice tense as he spoke into the phone.
"Carol, I can't find Mia. She's gone. I've searched the entire casino, but she's nowhere to be seen. Her voicepiece is no longer active."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Carol's voice came through, laced with concern. "What do you mean she's gone, Claus? We can't afford to lose her now. Keep looking; she must be there somewhere."
Claus knew he had to remain composed. He replied urgently, "I've checked everywhere, Carol. She's not here. I don't know if something happened to her, but we need to find her quickly."
Carol's voice conveyed the urgency of the situation. "Alright, Claus. I'll alert Sergio and his men. We'll mobilize and start searching for her. Stay where you are, and keep your eye on Beast. We'll coordinate our efforts and find Mia."
Carol's voice came back on immediately. "I told you to stay here. Why did you disconnect?" Carol yelled over the phone?
"Prying eyes, Carol." Claus snapped too. "Any update on Mia?" He asked, impatient.
"You don't want to know what is going on. E.P. is here now."