Chapter39 Kidnap

Chapter39 Kidnap
Talia POV
I was sitting in my office, having just dealt with the mess from the police search, when my phone received a strange text message:
[Miss Hayes, I know who the family mole is. I want to talk to you alone. The address is the abandoned steel factory in the east district, 8 p.m. I'll only wait for you. Don't worry, I mean no harm. I just don't want to watch the family be destroyed by scum.]
I was worried about having no leads on the mole. This message came at the perfect time.
I immediately called back, but the number showed as disconnected.
Vincent advised me, "Miss Hayes, this message is too suspicious. Don't go. It's definitely a trap."
I frowned, also uncertain, but until we rooted out the mole, the family would never have peace.
Jareth was busy dealing with the police and elders. I didn't want to add to his troubles. I gritted my teeth. "I have to go. If we can really find a lead on the mole, it'll all be worth it. Don't follow me. I'll go alone. Too many people will spook them."
Vincent tried to persuade me. I refused directly. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. If I'm not back in two hours, then call the police."
At 8 p.m., I changed into lightweight black athletic wear, pocketed a folding knife, and took a taxi to the abandoned steel factory in the east district.
The place was overgrown with weeds. Rusty steel frames looked like clawed monsters in the night. Wind blowing through the empty factory building made a "whooo" sound that made my scalp tingle.
I walked in several hundred meters but didn't see a single person. Only a few cat calls from the distance.
"Who's looking for me? Come out." I called out. My voice echoed through the factory building.
No response. My heart sank. This was bad. Just as I turned to leave, several high-powered spotlights suddenly blazed on, blinding me.
By the time I squinted and adjusted, a dozen burly men holding steel pipes had already surrounded me in a fan shape. Leading them was a buzz-cut man. I recognized him immediately as one of Aron's men.
The buzz-cut man had no expression on his face. He first cupped his hands at me, pretending. "Miss Hayes, sorry to keep you waiting. I'm the one who sent you the message. About the mole, let's talk slowly."
I gripped the folding knife in my pocket, forcing down my wariness. "Who's the mole? If you have evidence, just say it directly. Don't beat around the bush."
The buzz-cut man took two steps forward. His footsteps made a "crunch" sound on the rusty metal scraps covering the ground. He smiled without warmth.
"Of course there's evidence, but this matter is too big to just say outright. Miss Hayes, come with me to the warehouse inside. I'll tell you everything I know, including details of how the mole colluded with the police."
I stared into his eyes. His gaze was shifty, not daring to meet mine directly. Moreover, the men behind him all had hands on their steel pipes, muscles tensed. They didn't look like they wanted to talk nicely at all.
My heart instantly went cold. I knew I'd stepped into a trap. I immediately took a step back, saying coldly, "No need. If you have something to say, say it here. If not, I'm leaving."
Seeing I wouldn't take the bait, the buzz-cut man's fake smile vanished, replaced by a vicious expression. "Leave? Miss Hayes, now that you're here, how can you leave so easily? "
I gritted my teeth, my hand already on the folding knife in my pocket. "Aron's people, quit the act. Want to make a move? See if you have the ability first."
"Then don't blame me for being ruthless!" The buzz-cut man waved at his men behind him. "Take her down!"
Two men immediately charged at me. I was prepared, dodging one man's tackle, pulling out the folding knife and slashing at his arm. The blade cut through fabric, drawing a line of blood. That man was injured by my slash.
I took the opportunity to run deeper into the factory building, but the place was full of abandoned machinery and steel frames. The terrain was chaotic. I'd only run a few steps before tripping on a steel bar on the ground, falling hard. My palm scraped against rusty iron, grinding out a bloody mark.
Before I could get up, the men behind caught up, pressing down hard on my arms, snatching away my folding knife.
"Take her away!" The buzz-cut man waved his hand. Two men grabbed my arms, dragging me outside. I struggled but couldn't break free. Finally I was stuffed into a black van. The door slammed shut with a "bang."
The car drove for over half an hour before stopping at a remote warehouse.
I was pulled from the car, thrown into a cold room, hands and feet bound tightly to an iron chair with rough rope, a cloth gag stuffed in my mouth. I could only make muffled "mmph" sounds.
Before long, the warehouse door was pushed open. Aron sauntered in, playing with a dagger in his hand. The blade gleamed coldly in the dim light.
He circled around me, speaking slowly, "Talia, why did you have to go against me with Jareth? Why bother?"