Chapter 233: Playing stupid

Yes, but we can’t trace the call’s destination.”

Silence followed. The atmosphere inside Alex's office remained tense.

Every passing minute felt like a race against time.

Derby's voice came through the line, sharp with worry as her suspicion rose. "What else did you find out?"

"The number used to call me is registered under the first name Hunter. It was the same name connected to Lucas's previous kidnapping."

The room became quiet.

Alex continued. "James was arrested alongside another accomplice."

His eyes narrowed at the information. "Yet the person currently holding Lucas is using the same registered identity."

Derby's breathing became audible.

"So you're saying..."

"We're guessing this individual worked with James for him to have that same contact."

A pause followed.

Alex leaned back on his chair

"Initially, I didn't want to involve the police."

Caleb snorted. "Bad decision."

Alex ignored him. "But I already contacted them regarding Hunter due to James's connection."

He tapped the desk. "I want them to monitor James's movements and any possible connections to the kidnapper."

Silence followed

Then Derby whispered the name.

"Hunter."

Something about her tone immediately caught Alex's attention. It wasn't fear, or confusion, but pure anger.

Alex frowned.

"Why do you sound like that?"

A brief pause followed, then he asked directly, "Do you know him?"

The line remained silent for a moment. When Derby finally answered, her voice was too controlled.

"No, I don't know him but it just sounded familiar.”

Alex stared at the phone. Something felt strange, but before he could press further, Derby continued.

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

Her voice softened slightly.

"Anything that helps bring Lucas back."

Alex nodded. "Alright."

The call ended and the room fell quiet again.

Then Annie exploded. "Unbelievable!"

Everyone looked toward her.

She folded her arms. "Absolutely unbelievable."

Alex rubbed his forehead.

"Annie..."

"No."

She pointed toward the phone.

"Isn't Lucas technically her husband?"

Nobody answered.

"Because to me she certainly didn't sound like someone trying to save her husband. She didn't even ask what the kidnapper demanded."

Caleb nodded immediately. "Finally, someone making sense."

Annie continued. "She sounded so fucking detached."

Her voice rose. "As if Lucas wasn't her responsibility."

Alex sighed heavily. Then looked at his sister. "Come on, Annie."

She frowned. "Come on, what?"

Alex leaned back in his chair. "Derby never married Lucas for love."

The room became quiet. Most people knew the story, but Alex continued anyway.

"It was a marriage of convenience."

Annie listened.

"Initially, Lucas's father pushed for the marriage because of a business contract."

Caleb grimaced. "Typical."

"And Derby agreed because she wanted to avoid marrying someone else."

Annie blinked. "So neither of them wanted it?"

Alex shook his head. "Lucas rejected the marriage." The words came out bitter.

"He only ended up trapped after losing his memory."

The room fell silent.

Everyone knew how vulnerable Lucas had been during that period.

Alex looked away. "He was manipulated into accepting a life he never chose."

Annie's expression softened slightly. "But still, she should care more. He is her husband on paper."

Annie wasn't ready to let it go.

Alex smiled sadly. “I believe she does. She isn't happy that Lucas chose me over her. That's because she had grown to like him.”

That got Annie's attention.

Alex's eyes lowered. "People don't always show fear the same way."

The room quieted again.

Then he straightened. "Anyway, none of that matters right now." His voice became firm.

Everyone looked at him.

"The only thing that matters is finding Lucas safely."

His jaw tightened.

"Keeping him alive, and bringing him home."

The determination in his voice silenced all further arguments. Then,

his phone rang.

Every head turned instantly.

One of the search team leaders was calling. Alex grabbed the call immediately. "What did you find?"

The room held its breath.

The man's voice came through the speaker. "We located the vehicle."

Alex shot to his feet. "Where?"

"An abandoned building on the east side."

Hope surged through the room.

Then the man continued. "We searched everywhere but nothing."

Alex's stomach dropped.

You mean nothing?

I'm sorry boss, "No sign of Zenith or Lucas or any activity at all."

The room stiffened.

The man's voice grew grimmer. “The people we see around there have no information that could help.”

The hope vanished instantly.

Alex felt his chest tighten as he whispered, "Nothing at all?"

"Nothing, sir."

Thomas cursed quietly.

Jason slammed a hand against the desk.

Annie went to her father and circled her arms around him in tears. “Oh poor Lucas.”

Sally went to Alex and put her arms around him as tears trickled down his cheek.

“Son, don't worry, you will find him, okay?”

Alex nodded and wiped his tears as the search leader continued. "The place looks abandoned."

Alex closed his eyes.

"When was it last occupied?"

"Hard to tell."

The answer wasn't encouraging. The room sank back into silence, because it felt like another dead end.

A wasted lead and another hour lost.

“Alright, two people should keep watch over the vehicle. The rest should return.”

Alex slowly lowered the phone. His exhaustion was becoming visible now. The lead seemed to disappear the moment they reached it, but that has created more questions.

Zenith's vehicle had been there.

But neither Zenith nor Lucas remained. Which meant one thing.

Whoever had taken Lucas knew exactly what they were doing.

And they were already several steps ahead.

The room was still digesting the disappointing news from the abandoned building when Alex's phone rang again.

Every conversation stopped.

Alex looked at the caller ID.

It was the team sent to Zenith's apartment.

He answered immediately. "Yes. Speak."

The agent on the other end wasted no time.

"Sir, Zenith wasn't home."

Alex's shoulders tensed.

"But according to his neighbors, he was seen this morning looking for his car."

Thomas looked up.

The agent continued. "They said he appeared frantic. Later, he went to the police station to report it missing."

Alex remained silent.

"We couldn't gain entry through the front door, so we entered through a window."

Caleb raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"The apartment was practically empty.”

“No signs of Lucas being there?"

"No, sir. Everything was neatly kept."

Alex exhaled heavily.

"However..."

Everyone's attention sharpened.

"We found something."

"What?"

"A red mask."

The room fell silent.

The guy continued. "We've photographed it and sent the image to Thomas."

"And?"

"We've also installed surveillance cameras inside and outside the apartment. If Zenith returns, we'll know immediately."

Alex nodded.

"Good."

For the first time in hours, a faint spark of hope crossed his face.

"That's progress, return to base."

"Yes, sir."

The call ended.

Alex turned immediately.

"Thomas."

"Yes?"

"Show me the mask."

Thomas opened the image that had just arrived. Within seconds, the photograph appeared on the large monitor.

Everyone stared. The mask was bright red, and simple. It was identical in design to the black mask worn by Lucas's kidnapper. Only the color was different.

Jason narrowed his eyes.

"The design, it's the same."

Thomas nodded. "Exactly the same."

Alex stepped closer to the screen.

His eyes never left the image. Then something clicked. He looked back at Thomas.

"They said the neighbor claimed Zenith's car was stolen."

"Yes."

Alex folded his arms.

"Why don't we verify that with the police records first?"