54

54
Chapter 54 

MR LYON ALBERTO–ALLEGED MULDER DISMISSED FROM HIS CHAIRMANSHIP POSITION AT OIL GAS WORLD WIDE. 

Trisha read from the headies, everything happened so fast and Trisha imagined the string this Wendy lady pulled, because it seemed like she connected everything waiting to pull and she did. 

“Where are we headed right now?” Inquisitive, Trisha inquired. 

“The station,” Martins replied. “We have to get our next line of action from Lyon.” 

——— 

Kathryn gasped awake, the shock of ice-cold water jolting her back to life. Her chest heaved, her hair soaked and sticking to her face. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, and that’s when she saw her. 

Wendy. 

She stood there smirking, arms crossed like she’d been waiting for this moment all her life. 

Wendy let out a slow, cruel laugh. “Oh, look who’s awake. Did you enjoy your little nap, Kathryn?” 

Kathryn didn’t answer, her heart pounding in her chest. Her wrists ached where the ropes dug into her skin, her ankles just as trapped. “Wendy… what is this?” Her voice was weak, trembling. “Why are you doing this?” 

Before Wendy could say a word, the door swung open with a loud thud. Two men came in dragging someone behind them. Kathryn’s breath caught when she saw who it was. 

“James!” she cried, her voice cracking. 

James stumbled forward, his face bruised, his hands tied like hers. He looked up, confused at first, then froze when he saw her. “Kathryn?” He sounded shocked, his voice rough. “What’s going on?” 

“Isn’t this sweet?” Wendy said, tilting her head as she watched them. 

James straightened, his body shaking with anger despite being held by the men. “Wendy!” His voice was loud, firm. “What the hell is this? Leave Kathryn out of it! She’s got nothing to do with this, nothing! You hear me?” 

Wendy rolled her eyes, stepping closer to James, her heels clicking against the concrete floor. “Oh, James. You still think you’re in a position to tell me what to do?” She smiled, but her eyes were cold. “You should’ve kept your mouth shut. But no, you had to go running to Lyon. And now here we are.” 

“Wendy,” James said again, his voice low, pleading now. “Let her go. You want me? Fine. I’ll do whatever you want, just let her go. She’s innocent.” 

Wendy let out a short, mocking laugh and turned her gaze back to Kathryn. “Innocent? Oh, James. Kathryn’s anything but innocent. Just like Lyon.” 

Kathryn’s throat tightened. “Wendy…” Her voice was barely a whisper. “What do you even want?” 

Wendy crouched down in front of her, getting close enough that Kathryn could feel her icy stare. “I want you to lose everything, Kathryn. Just like I did. I want you to know what it feels like to have everything you love ripped away from you.” 

“Stop this,” James barked, trying to move, but the men held him firm. “This isn’t going to fix anything, Wendy!” 

Wendy ignored him, standing back up. “You talk too much, James. Always the hero.” She snapped her fingers, and the men started dragging James back toward the door. 

“James!” Kathryn cried out, panic flooding her voice. “Don’t leave me!” 

James twisted in their grip, his voice full of desperation. 

The door slammed shut, cutting him off. The room fell silent again, except for the sound of Kathryn’s shaky breathing. 

Wendy turned back to her, her face calm, almost smug. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. This is just the beginning. You’ll understand soon enough.” 

She turned and walked out, leaving Kathryn alone, tied to the chair, water dripping off her and pooling on the floor. 

Kathryn’s head hung low, her tears mixing with the water on her face. Her body ached. Her mind raced. She had no idea what Wendy’s next move would be, no idea how she’d get out of this. 

——— 

Martins and Trisha pushed through the doors of the station, their faces tight with worry. The cold air inside hit them, sharp and sterile. Officers moved around, busy with their own business, but to Trisha, everything felt like it was moving in slow motion. 

“We’re here for Mr. Lyon Alberto,” Martins said at the desk, his voice steady, though his fists were clenched at his sides. 

The officer barely glanced up. “Counter four,” he said flatly, pointing in the direction. 

Martins led the way, and Trisha followed, her heartbeat thudding in her ears. When they finally spotted Lyon, hunched over in a chair at the far end, she felt her chest tighten. 

“Lyon,” Trisha said, her voice soft but firm. 

Lyon lifted his head, and for a moment, he just stared at them. There was exhaustion written all over his face, lines of worry, dark circles under his eyes, but there was also a hint of relief. 

“Trisha... Martins,” he said quietly, straightening up. “Thank God you’re here.” 

Trisha stepped closer, kneeling beside him. “What happened? Are you okay? Talk to me.” 

Lyon exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting between the two of them. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though his voice was flat. “They’ve granted me a temporary release. I can go out and get the evidence I need.” 

Martins blinked, taken aback. “Release? Just like that? What kind of strings did you pull?” 

Lyon gave him a small, tired smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Let’s just say my name hasn’t lost all its power. Not yet.” 

Trisha frowned, crossing her arms. “And what exactly are you going to prove, Lyon? This is serious. You’re being accused of murder. Evidence isn’t just going to fall into your lap.” 

Lyon’s jaw tightened as he looked at her. “I know what’s at stake, Trisha. Wendy... I’m almost sure this is her doing. And James... he’s tangled in all of this too. They’re using what happened ten years ago to destroy me.” 

Trisha froze for a moment, then whispered, “Wendy? You think she’s behind all this?” 

“I don’t think, I know,” Lyon said, his voice sharp. “She’s been pulling strings for years, waiting for the right moment to strike. This... Kathryn’s disappearance, my arrest, it is not a coincidence. She wants to ruin me and take everything I care about with her.” 

Trisha’s eyes softened, but her voice stayed steady. “Then what do we do? How do we stop her?” 

Lyon looked at Martins. “There’s a file in my study, hidden in the bottom drawer of my desk. It’s labeled ‘Mulder.’ I need you to go back to the house and bring it here.” 

Martins nodded immediately. “I’m on it.” 

Lyon turned back to Trisha. “And you, I need you to stay close. If you hear anything, any word about Kathryn, you come straight to me. I don’t care how small it seems.” 

Trisha nodded, swallowing hard. “I’ll find something, Lyon. I promise.” 

An officer approached them, paperwork in hand, signaling it was time for Lyon to go. He rose to his feet, his movements slow but purposeful. Martins and Trisha watched him, their concern growing. 

“You sure you can handle this?” Martins asked, his voice low. 

Lyon turned back, his expression hard and determined. “I don’t have a choice.” 

The officer gestured for Lyon to follow, and as he walked toward the exit, Trisha and Martins hurried to keep up. Outside, the sun was blinding, far too bright for the dark cloud hanging over them. 

Lyon stopped near the car, his shoulders straight as he turned to face them. “We don’t have time to waste,” he said quietly. “If we don’t move now, we might lose everything.” 

Martins gave a quick nod. “I’ll get that file.” 

Trisha reached out, squeezing Lyon’s arm gently. “We’ll find her, Lyon. We’re going to fix this.” 

Lyon didn’t respond, but the look in his eyes said enough. 

She took a shaky breath and whispered to herself, “Hold on, Kathryn. We’re coming.” 

Lyon stood by the car, his hand gripping the door, his expression hard but tired. He looked over at Martins, his eyes filled with urgency. 

“I have to find James. He’s the only one who can clear my name. I don’t have more than 24 hours.” 

Martins stepped closer, his face serious. “Then I’m coming with you,” he said, his voice firm. 

Lyon shook his head, his jaw clenched. “No, Martins.” He paused, taking a deep breath as if to gather his thoughts. “You need to stay here. I need you to follow through with what I asked, get the files, make those calls. Keep an eye on everything at home. If anything happens while I’m gone, you need to be here. I can’t risk it.” 

Martins frowned, frustration creeping into his features. “But Lyon, you can’t go out there alone. What if something happens? What if they get to you first?” 

Lyon’s gaze softened for just a moment, but his resolve didn’t waver. “I’ll be fine,” he said, his voice low. “I’ve got no choice. This is the only way.” 

He placed a hand on Martins’ shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I trust you. I need you to trust me on this. I can’t waste any more time. James is the key to everything, and I can’t let anything get in the way.” 

Martins hesitated, his brow furrowed as he looked at Lyon, unsure. Finally, he exhaled sharply, glancing away. “Alright,” he muttered, the worry still heavy in his tone. “But you call me if anything goes wrong, Lyon. I mean it.” 

Lyon nodded, his lips curling into a small, almost imperceptible smile. “I will. Stay safe, Martins.” 

“24 hours,” Martins muttered under his breath, as though saying it out loud would help him believe it was real. 

He had to make the calls, get the information, and keep the house running. But all he could think about was Lyon, out there alone, chasing the only lead they had left. 

And all Martins could do was hope it wasn’t already too late. 

“Drive me to the airport,” Lyon's voice came amidst Martins thoughts. 

The drive was swift and in no time Lyon boarded. 

Lyon got there very late but still found his way to James house, but he there at the early hours of the morning. 

Lyon stood in front of James' house, feeling a tight knot of anxiety settle in his chest. 

He knocked on the door once, then again, a little louder. Silence answered both times. A cold shiver ran through him, but he told himself not to panic. 

He grabbed the doorknob, hesitating for only a moment before he twisted it. To his surprise, the door opened easily. He was surprised as he stepped inside. 

"Hello?" His voice echoed through the house, but the silence was deafening. No footsteps, no response. It was as though the house had been abandoned. 

Then, something caught his eye. A note was resting on the arm of the chair near the window. His stomach turned. He felt a pull toward it. His fingers were almost shaking as he picked it up, unfolded it, and read the words scrawled in bold handwriting: 

YOU ARE LATE LYON! 

The words hit him like a slap. He stared at the note for a moment, trying to make sense of it. He didn’t have to look far to know who wrote it. The taunting tone. Wendy. 

Lyon’s jaw tightened, his hand instinctively balling into a fist around the note. Anger swelled within him. 

But where was James? Did she abduct him too? 

Lyon's eyes flicked around the room, as though expecting someone to jump out of the shadows. The house was too quiet, too still. It didn’t feel like anyone was here. A sinking feeling settled in his stomach as he looked down at the note again. 

Why would Wendy leave a message like this? 

She wanted him to know she was in control, that she could play him like a puppet. But Lyon wasn’t going to be played anymore. He had to find James and Kathryn. 

He sat for a while, thinking of his next line of action.