Chapter 141 Dark Traces and an Ex-Lover

Chapter 141 Dark Traces and an Ex-Lover
"Jody is around here somewhere. Focus on the back hallway," Alan whispered, clinching his fists at his sides.
Evan stared at the decaying plywood building in front of him. Peeling paint left dark, damp stains across the walls. His shoes crunched softly over shattered glass. The security team fanned out, searching the narrow corners packed with stacks of wet cardboard boxes.
"Nobody's inside, sir," one of the guards said as he stepped out from a side door. "This place has been empty for days."
Evan clenched his fist, his breathing ragged as he glared at Alan. "We're too late again."
"We'll check the second location. Don't give up yet," Alan replied quickly.
The phone in Rose's pocket suddenly vibrated violently. The screen lit up with an unfamiliar sequence of numbers. She stared at it for a few seconds before sliding the green icon to answer.
"Hello?" Rose's voice trembled.
"Don't hang up, Rose." The heavy voice on the other end stopped her in her tracks.
Alan and Evan closed in on Rose the moment they saw the color drain from her face. Evan signaled for her to switch to speakerphone.
"Jody?" Rose swallowed hard. "Where are you? Where is Emily?"
"I don't have the kid," Jody answered quickly over the line.
Evan snatched the phone from Rose's hand. "Cut the crap, Jody! Why did you run if you didn't do it?"
"Listen to me, Evan!" Jody shouted. His voice sounded unstable, backed by the rush of heavy wind. "I know I just got out of prison. I know everyone is pointing fingers at me. But so help me God, I didn't take Emily!"
"Then why is your name everywhere?" Evan snapped, his hands shaking with rage. "Every piece of evidence points right to you!"
"I'm being framed!" Jody interrupted. "Someone paid people to plant my things near the scene. Someone else is using my release to ruin Rose's life and waste your time chasing me!"
Rose covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes locked on Evan in terror.
Alan stepped forward, staring down at the screen. "If you're really innocent, turn yourself in right now. We can talk at the station."
"If I turn myself in now, the real killer will take that kid even further away!" Jody yelled in frustration. "I'm calling you because I found something."
Evan glanced at Alan for a brief second before speaking into the phone again. "What information?"
"Last night, I saw a black sedan with no license plates stop in front of the old hideout. Two people carried out a little girl wrapped in a blanket," Jody said. "I tried to get closer, but they took off."
"Which direction?" Evan demanded.
"They drove toward the old building outside of town, near the abandoned sugar factory," Jody answered. "The car had a dent on the rear right bumper."
Alan quickly noted Jody's words on his own phone. He motioned to the security team to prepare to move out.
Evan stared at the screen, his brow furrowed. "Why should I believe you? This could easily be a trap to lure us out."
"I don't care whether you believe me or not, Evan," Jody said, his tone turning cold. "But if you waste time doubting me here, that girl is never coming back."
The line went dead. A sharp busy tone resonated between the three of them.
Rose grabbed Evan's sleeve. "What if he's telling the truth, Evan? We have to go to that sugar factory right now."
Evan turned off the screen and looked at Alan. "Get the cars ready. We're heading to the old building."
Alan nodded and walked briskly toward their vehicles. Evan placed an arm around Rose's shoulders, guiding her away from the dark area of Jody's former residence.
The car sped through the deserted roads on the outskirts of town. The headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the row of old trees lining the roadside. Evan drove with both hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Rose sat beside him, staring blankly out the window as her fingers incessantly tugged at the hem of her shirt.
"We'll find Emily," Evan said without turning his head.
"I'm scared, Evan," Rose whispered. "What if Jody is right? What if someone else is doing all of this on purpose?"
Evan didn't answer. He pressed the gas pedal down harder.
Thirty minutes later, their car pulled to a stop a few hundred yards from the old sugar factory complex. The massive concrete structure stood imposing yet weathered, surrounded by tall brush. Alan and two security officers stepped out from the second vehicle following closely behind.
They walked cautiously toward the iron gate, which had partially collapsed. Alan switched on a small flashlight, aiming it at the ground.
"There are fresh tire tracks here." A bead of sweat dripped down Alan's temple. "The tire size matches Jody's description."
Evan stepped toward the main entrance of the old building. The massive wooden door sat slightly ajar.
Alan held out a hand against Evan's chest to hold him back. "Let the security team go in first."
"There's no time," Evan answered curtly. He shoved the wooden door open, sending a loud screech of rusting iron echoing through the air.
The interior of the building was pitch-black. The smell of dust and corroded iron stung their nostrils. Evan swept the flashlight beam across the sprawling space, exposing abandoned machinery covered in rust.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from the upper floor. They sounded hurried, followed by the metallic scrape of iron against concrete.
Evan and Alan instantly snapped their flashlight beams up toward the iron staircase at the end of the room.
"Who's up there?" Evan shouted.
The footsteps stopped. A silhouette stood near the second-floor railing, staring down at them from the shadows.
Rose stepped inside and stood beside Evan. Her eyes widened as the flashlight beam caught the rear bumper of a black sedan parked in the corner of the room. The rear right bumper was heavily dented.
Evan swallowed hard and took a step forward. "Get down here right now!"
The shadow on the upper floor let out a low chuckle. The sound echoed through the empty factory.
"You got here too fast, Evan." The voice from above sounded unnervingly calm, yet it was enough to make Evan's blood run cold.