Everything had gone downhill from that sick bet.
Everything had been set and shaped from that fateful day.
Right down to his lumbering walk on the sidewalk where he sweated heavily and struggled for a mile, which would have been nothing to him when his body was still in top shape.
"Almost there," he thought to himself as he saw the last sign of the hospital.
"What are you looking at?" he thought as he saw two men looking at him from where they sat on the stairs of a closed shop.
He saw them whisper to each other and pointed to their phone.
"It must be fun to be that carefree," he thought in disgust as he remembered a time he had been like that.
He had had everything working for him.
Flourishing businesses in his chosen field, a beautiful wife, and a home he was always welcome to. Life was going well for him.
And now he had nothing.
No, not nothing. He had two children. He just needed to shape up enough to stand for himself, and they would come to him.
Yes, he would start by being a good father when he showed up at the hospital and offered to help in any way he could.
They would see that he had changed.
Maybe he could even get to ask Reyona for…
"Hey, you Lanoth?"
Thomas heard the question just as he realised that he was being followed.
"Yes, who is asking?" He looked back and saw that it was the men he saw earlier "What the hell do you want?"
"You," they said simply and carried him.
"Hey, hey" he struggled, but they had his arms and legs pinned in a way that his struggle was nothing to them.
Kidnapping in broad daylight?
"What the hell do you want from me?"
"Some meal tickets," one of the men said with a chuckle.
Some meal…
Thomas let out a bitter laugh as he interpreted what the man said "You are wasting your time with me, I tell you. You can't get a dime from me. You…let me go."
He didn't know just how weak he had become until that moment when he couldn't even get free from men who were not even as buff as he used to be.
Why would anybody kidnap him?
In broad daylight too?
"Are you all just going to stand there and let them do this?" he yelled in desperation when he saw people pulling out their phones and recording instead of trying to help him.
"You all just go about your business. We are good citizens here. This man here is a wanted man. We are just helping the police."
"Wanted what? I am not wanted for anything! I am just going to see my daughter in the hospital!" he saw the men look at each other for a second.
Then, just as if he had not said anything, they continued on their way.
Carrying him like a human sedan chair while people record and snap away.
He saw the hospital from afar, and a thought came to his mind. He was going to conserve his strength and have a good struggle when they got to the front of the hospital.
If he could get the chance to dislodge one of their arms, he could get free and run towards the hospital.
He didn't mind screaming for help if he had to.
Desperate times call for desperate measures after all.
Wait, who the hell kidnaps people on foot?
*********
"What do you mean she needs to get an amputation?" Maxwell asked in the most careless tone he could muster.
"Three counts of damage done to her arm. The shot shattered her bones and caused vascular injury, which was the reason for her excessive bleeding, and then it automatically affected her nerves too. The doctor is certain that there is no way they could save her arm. The damage is too extensive."
"That was why you came back?"
"I heard you wouldn't listen to anything that has to do with her. The doctor needs someone to give consent," Officer Guy answered.
"What is she? A kid? She couldn't give consent herself?" Maxwell asked tersely.
"Let's just say she didn't take the news very well. She got very hysterical. They had to sedate her."
"Then wait till she wakes up and ask her again."
"They are afraid that infection might set in if delayed," Officer Guy said.
"What part of it I don't care, do you not understand, officer? Any news from the station yet?"
Officer Guy checked his pager and said "No, not yet. We've made it a high priority. They will find him soon unless he deliberately didn't want to be found."
Like Susan. The murdering bitch.
"Thank you, please let me know," Maxwell said as he turned to leave.
"Mr. Rohan, are you sure you don't want to…"
Maxwell's phone started ringing, interrupting Guy's persuasion.
"Drew," Maxwell said as he picked up the call. "Is she fine?"
"Yes, she is. The receptionist just called though. Your attention is needed upfront. I think they found Lanoth."
"What? I am on my way."
He was already hurrying out before he disconnected the call.
Officer Guy followed him.
********
"What nonsense are you talking about? I told you I was coming here!" Thomas turned towards the nurses standing around." Look, they just grabbed me down there. You can see how sweaty I am. I was on my way here. How can I be wanted?"
"Liar! He is a liar. We caught him when he was about to run away! We caught him and brought him here because we love doing our civic duties. We can't have criminals like him walking about scot-free."
"Who are you calling a criminal? Let go of my hands and let me show you what a criminal is!" Thomas Lanoth was shrieking in the hands of the men who still held him like they were afraid that he would run away.
In truth, they were afraid that he would jeopardise their rewards.
"Let him go," Maxwell said as he strode out of the hospital, followed by Andrew.