Chapter 183: Missing girls

Chapter 183: Missing girls
With Oliver's help, Antonio was able to locate Laera's apartment. He'd gone home to meet an empty house, even though her things were still there.

“ There's a higher chance she'd be here,” Oliver mumbled as Antonio pulled over. “ There's going to be a hell of alot of scolding.”

Antonio exhaled sharply. That was the least of his worries.

They stepped out of the car, exchanged a glance, and approached Laera's apartment.

Antonio’s heart skipped so hard as he knocked on the door.

A second pass—no answer.

He knocked again.

And once again, there was absolutely no sound.

“ They must have been so pissed. They're not even responding.” Oliver whispered enough for Antonio to hear.

He knocked again, this time louder, but still no response.

“ Hey babe, please can we talk? We're really sorry.” Oliver said from outside, but all that was received was nothing.

“ I don't think they're home,” Antonio muttered.

“ Do you think they went out to get something?”

“ We'd know that if one is at least picking up the phone,” Antonio replied and dialed Eloise’s contact again.

Oliver sighed and stepped away from the door. He heard nothing.

But Antonio heard it. The faint music of Eloise's ringing tone came from inside.

“ Did you hear that?” Antonio asked.

“ Hear what?”

“ Her phone is ringing, her phone is inside.”

Oliver walked back to the door, placed his ear against it to listen closely. He didn't hear it at first but after staying still and listening more attentively, he heard it.

“ Are they inside and purposely not answering us?” Oliver asked in disbelief.

“ Babe!” He shouted. “ Laera, we're sorry.”

“ Shh.” Antonio shushed him.

Something doesn't feel right.

“ What's it?” Oliver asked.

“ If they're inside and purposely ignoring us, they'd want to silence that ringing.” Antonio pointed, then furrowed his brow.

He stepped backward and glanced around the door till he caught sight of some scratches against the door.

He quickly touched it, and felt a dented spot then he started banging the door.

“ Hey chill, what's going on?” Oliver asked, not understanding the sudden agitation.

“ Something is wrong, terribly wrong.” He answered and started trying to unlock the door and force his way in.

“ What’s wrong? Why are we forcing our way in?” Oliver asked in confusion.

Antonio didn't say anything to him, his breath was getting heavy, and he had begun to pant.

His eyes dart around for any weapon to grab, to break the door with.

“ What are you guys doing?” The voice of the security man stopped them.

They turned in the direction from which his voice came and saw him standing weakly with his hand against his stomach and his face twisted in discomfort.

“ Please, do you have an idea where the ladies in this apartment are?” Oliver asked politely.

“ Ladies? Only one lady is staying there.” The security man replied.

“ Yes, but her friend probably came over recently. Do you have an idea where they are?” He asked again.

The man eyed the two of them suspiciously, “Who are you?”

“ Show me your CCTV footage.” Antonio cut in, brushing past both the security man and Oliver.

They stood in surprise and confusion, exchanged a glance, and went after Antonio.

“ Why are you demanding the footage?” The security man asked, hurrying to catch up with him.

Antonio gave no response, he had begun to dial a door lock company and was seeking their service to break down a door.

“ I think you should calm down, Antonio. What if the two just went out to get something?” Oliver pointed.

“ No, she wouldn't leave her phone behind.”

“ Remember she's still upset with you? She might have done this to avoid talking to you, you need to understand women more.”

“ Can you explain why her friend is also not picking?”

“ I'm not surprised. Eloise is her best friend so automatically, she's also pissed at me.” Oliver replied.

“ And the dented door?”

“ Huh? What dented door?” Oliver glanced back, but the apartment was already out of view as they headed to the security room.

“ There are a few scratches on the side of the door, and a small dented part,” Antonio paused before adding. “ Like there was a struggle.”

Oliver chuckled. “ Ain't you being paranoid? So what are you implying, that someone has come to hurt them? Who? Shawn?”

Antonio ignored him and proceeded to check the footage without the security man’s approval.

“ Okay, I'll call her,” Oliver murmured and took out his phone, began dialing Laera's contact but still, no answer.

His face furrowed. After countless attempts and no response, an unsettling feeling began welling in him.

“ Who are you? You shouldn't be here and I..I could call the cops.” The security man struggles not to stutter. Antonio’s aura was intimidating and terrifying, like a man who could strangle him if he breathed the wrong way.

After watching the video, Antonio finds nothing unusual, except a confirmation video of Eloise and Laera walking into the building, but there is no footage of them leaving.

“ Does that mean they're inside? Is that why Eloise's phone is ringing from inside?” Oliver asked, his face twisted in confusion.

Antonio swallowed and turned to the security man. “ Were you here all through?”

“ Huh?”

“ Were you at your desk all through, or has someone been here before?”

“ Um…no.” He shook his head. “ But, I have diarrhea due to what I ate so I've been frequenting the restroom.”

“ From what time to what time did it start?” Antonio asked.

“ Since…about..two hours ago.”

Antonio looked at him, still holding his stomach. He believed what he said cause he remembered he was also holding his stomach and looking exhausted when he first saw him.

Without asking any other question, he turned back to the system and rewound the footage to two hours ago.

Antonio’s finger paused.

His face drained of color.

His breath quivered.

“ What’s it?” Oliver asked, unsettled about Antonio's silence.

“ The footage.” Antonio stood straight. “ The footage from two hours ago was deleted.”

“ What?! Wh-what are you talking about?” Oliver leaned forward to check by himself.

His heart skipped so hard.

The hairs at the back of his neck rose.

Antonio was right. The footage was deleted.

“ What's going on?” The security man asked, becoming afraid.

“ Did you see or notice any unusual person around?” Antonio asked.

“ No, but…some weeks ago, a man came here, and Miss Laera seemed very upset.”

“ Do you remember the date?” Oliver asked, his face twisted with worry.

Antonio pulled out his phone from his pocket and began dialing Ghost’s contact, leaving Oliver to check the other footage.

“ Boss.” Ghost answered from over the phone.

With sweaty palms and a racing heart, Antonio asked. “ Where's my wife?”

“ Mrs. Eloise went to her friend's place.”

“ She's not here, you're supposed to follow her every time and not have her out of your sight.”

“ I did, but since she was with her friend, and there was no threat around I…”

“ Find her.” He breathed in anger and fear.

“ I'm so sorry, boss.”

“ I don't need your apology, I need you to find my wife. If a hair on her goes missing, YOU'RE DEAD.”