Chapter 78
“Stay here, my dear wife. We need backup in case those who took your mom try to escape. We need Creep’s expertise,” Jace said to Emerald, who insisted on coming to the Red House to witness the police raid.
“Jace, please. I really want to go,” she pleaded. When they woke up and started getting ready to leave, her husband had already told her he would only drop her off at the ACEGame building, where Creep and his wife were. They stayed there to monitor the surrounding area of the Red House and report any suspicious activity or movement from the staff.
“Please, dear wife, it will also ease my mind knowing you’re safe. People are watching over you here and outside the building, so you can focus on the monitor and help Creep. I’m sure he’s also tired.” Emerald took a deep breath before nodding. She didn’t want to burden those who would rescue her mother, so she followed her husband’s wishes.
Jace left after dropping young Morgan off at her office, where Creep and Elise were still present. She missed her son, so she called her father, Mr. Landers. “Dad, can you please come here at ACEGame with Grandpa and Ace,” she said after checking on her son, who had just woken up and was having breakfast, according to her father. She decided not to send him to school for now to ensure his safety.
“Alright, dear, your Grandpa and I also want to know what’s happening,” Mr. Landers replied. After a few reminders, their conversation ended.
Meanwhile, Jace headed straight to the Red House, where Liam awaited. He wanted everything to be over so he could focus on his relationship with Emerald. Since they reconciled, he had stayed at his wife’s mansion and wanted them to live together in their own home.
The Morgan mansion had also become Emerald’s property after Elise discovered that Emerson had embezzled a large sum of money. Jace pondered their situation as a couple. He used to think that Emerald was only after his money, but now he knew she was wealthy. In addition to the company she and her friends had founded, her real father and grandfather also had businesses abroad.
As he drove, Jace was lost in thought, realizing that no one else could manage those businesses but Emerald. He wondered if his wife would have less time for him if that happened, something he didn’t want. All he wanted was to be with young Morgan all the time, which wouldn’t be possible if he had to travel back and forth between countries.
“Jace,” Liam greeted him when he arrived at the place where he had left the man the previous night.
“How’s everything?”
“The police are in the prosecutor’s office waiting for the warrant.”
“And inside?”
“No news yet. Cedrick still hasn’t come out, and Ronnie hasn’t received any more texts from him since last night,” Liam reported before sighing. He couldn’t help but worry about the detective.
“Where’s Ronnie?” Jace asked.
“He went with the police. He wants to make sure we get the warrant.” Jace nodded and looked at the Red House. It was now closed, and they noticed workers cleaning the area from where they stood.
There were also a few undercover police officers around, so Jace believed they would eventually catch those involved in Ember’s abduction.
Inside the Red House, Cedrick talked to Dr. Sanders and the now-awake Ms. Ember. “Are you sure what you’re saying?” the woman asked the investigator wide-eyed.
“Yes, Ms. Ember. And Ms. Emerald never stopped looking for you.” The woman smiled with happiness. She never thought that even though young Morgan only knew her as a nanny, she cared enough to worry and have her searched for.
“We can’t stay here any longer, Mr. Cedrick. It won’t be long before we can no longer hide Ms. Lucy’s- I mean, Ms. Ember’s- true condition,” Dr. Sanders said with concern. He was sure that Emerson’s men would eventually catch them.
“I never thought he’d become so obsessed with me. If I had known things would turn out like this, I would never have asked him to take responsibility for what I thought was our child. I had no idea that Harry was her real father. I didn’t even know I was pregnant when I left Italy.”
“You really had no idea Mr. Landers was Ms. Emerald’s real father?” Cedrick asked in surprise.
“None at all. But as she grew, I began to see Harry in her, so I realized that Emerson wasn’t her real father.” Ember’s face was sad, and the two men felt sorry for her. “If only I had known…”
“We need to figure out a way to let my colleagues outside know our exact location. This building is huge, and I didn’t realize this place was like this,” Cedrick said. “The prostitution here is rampant, and I think there are some powerful people involved. I’m also sure that illegal drugs are prevalent here.”
“That’s why we need to get out of here. I’m sure Emerson is beyond wicked, and once he catches us, he’ll bury us alive,” Dr. Sanders added, making Ember even more frightened.
Cedrick thought of standing by the door to listen for any sound. He had just taken his position when he heard the stairs creak slightly. He looked at the two bowing their heads, seemingly deep in thought.
“Someone’s coming.” Dr. Sanders and Ember’s eyes widened, unsure what to do after Cedrick said that. But the detective quickly acted, laying Ember down again and hiding behind an old cabinet. The doctor tried to stay calm and composed.
A few moments later, a man entered just as Dr. Sanders decided to bend over Ember’s bed, pretending to be asleep. They both were nervous but tried to act normally so the newcomer wouldn’t suspect anything.
“Tell the boss the doctor is still asleep,” the man ordered, apparently speaking to someone else.
“Okay,” the person replied, and they heard footsteps moving away. But the first man remained. He was about to leave when he decided to check the medicine supply in the cabinet where Cedrick was hiding. Dr. Sanders noticed this, so he quickly made a noise to prevent the detective from being seen.
“Oh, you’re here. Did you bring breakfast?” the doctor asked, pretending to be sleepy and rubbing his eyes as if removing some morning glories.
The man glanced at him and said, “It’s not time for you to eat yet.”
“Is that so? What time is it?” the doctor continued to confuse the man, who walked away from the cabinet and closer to Ember’s bed. “I told the guy who came last night that Ms. Lucy needs an EEG so I can tell if there’s any brain activity. I can’t just keep injecting her with medicine; it might harm her body.”
“Don’t make too many demands! Just do your job!” the man shouted angrily.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
“I’m saying that Mr. Morgan will be happy to know Ms. Lucy is improving. But I can’t guarantee that without the equipment I need. I told you to bring the one from the mansion we left. Still, you didn’t listen,” the doctor said, prolonging the conversation to further confuse the man who knew nothing about medicine.
“Alright, the boss will be here later, and I’ll tell him what you’re asking for.” Then he left and went to Emerson’s right-hand man, who was also in Madam Z’s office.
The three of them breathed a sigh of relief and resumed discussing how to escape. Cedrick found out that the man would return later with their food. But none of them could leave because they would surely be seen by the club’s staff.
Cedrick took a deep breath. “I just need a signal to inform them of our location.”
The detective went to the door and slowly opened it. Once he was sure no one was around, he turned to the doctor. “You need to send this message. If I go upstairs and am caught, they’ll quickly figure out something is wrong. But if you go, you can just say you’re hungry or need to tell them Ms. Ember has woken up.”
“What? Won’t that put all our lives in even greater danger?” the doctor exclaimed.
“Stay calm. If you can send my message, the police will storm this Red House, so you need to make sure you can.”
“He has a point, Dr. Sanders,” Ember agreed. The doctor nodded as Cedrick began typing on his phone, ensuring all his notifications were turned off and the phone was silent.
Cedrick handed the phone to Dr. Sanders, who took it and headed to the door. He peeked out before taking a deep breath and casually climbed the stairs. Despite his nerves, he tried to remain calm.
When he reached the top step, he listened on the other side of what served as a door before gently pushing it open once he was sure no one was there. He looked at the phone and noticed it still said “sending,” so he stepped out further to ensure he could get a signal.