dle was kidnapped
Chapter 167: Maddie Was Kidnapped
Panic gripped Julia as she detected the faintest rustle of movement, instantly sending shivers down her spine.
“Maddie! Maddie!!” she cried out desperately.
A dull “pa–ta-” marked the sound of the phone slipping from Maddie’s grasp, meeting the unyielding ground below. Maddie’s gaze remained fixed upon her fallen mobile phone, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
In the midst of the tense moment, the kidnapper’s accomplice took swift action. With a subtle bow, she silenced her phone and unceremoniously discarded it into a nearby trash can.
Traces of drugs tainted the square scarf that had been used to subdue Maddie. As she was forcibly bundled into the waiting car, her weak struggles accomplished little before the encroaching fog of unconsciousness swallowed her.
Maddie’s mind drifted into a hazy realm where reality and confusion intertwined.
Meanwhile, the call had abruptly ended on Julia’s end, and all subsequent attempts were met with a frustratingly inactive line.
“Maddie, please, stay safe,” Julia whispered urgently, her foot pressing harder on the accelerator as she sped toward the bar.
During the frantic drive, Julia managed to contact Lincoln, entreating him to delve into the unfolding situation. Her car was parked hastily in front of the bar five minutes later. She dashed inside, her eyes scanning the premises until they locked onto the bar counter.
“Did you happen to see a young woman in her early twenties, sitting here not too long ago?” Julia’s voice betrayed her anxiety.
The bartender furrowed his brow, straining his memory. “Several young ladies were here earlier; it’s hard to pinpoint whom you’re seeking.”
“She–she ordered a glass of juice!” Julia’s voice suddenly became urgent as the detail became a lifeline in the search.
Juice orders were a rarity at this establishment, etching a distinct image in the bartender’s mind. “Ah, yes, the young lady. She left just a few minutes ago,” he replied, his tone tinged with recollection.
In the
span of mere minutes, what had transpired? Julia’s mind raced her thoughts a whirlwind of questions.
Amid the chaos, Julia’s memory jogged back to the phone call with Maddie. A snippet of Maddie’s words came up: something about the inside being really loud, like a jumble of noises like animals at a zoo. In the heat of the moment, Julia ignored it, concentrating only on driving. But now, it seemed more important, like a possible hint in the unfolding mystery.
Reflecting on the situation now, Maddie’s initial intent at the bar had been to unwind and relax. However, she reappeared outside mere minutes later. Combining this with Maddie’s remarks, if Julia’s hunch was correct, those few minutes must have been the juncture where Maddie encountered individuals who caused her discomfort, possibly leading to disagreements and altercations.
With these thoughts forming, Julia directed her attention towards the bartender, seeking confirmation. “Did my friend get into an argument with someone here recently?” she inquired, a sense of urgency underscoring her words.
The bartender answered openly, “Certainly, there was a disagreement between her and someone else. Eventually, she paid her bill and departed.”
Confirmation at last!
“My friend’s in trouble. I need to see the surveillance footage.”
“Are you a police officer?” The bartender’s face displayed embarrassment. “Access to the monitoring room is restricted to authorized personnel.”
“Get your boss. I-” Before Julia could finish, a familiar voice intervened.
“Well, well. What brings you here?. What’s going on?” Henry’s voice approached, curious and concerned.
Pressed for time, Julia disregarded Henry’s presence and pressed on. “A life is at stake. Take me to your boss!”
Before Julia could finish, she noticed the bartender shifting his attention to Henry.
Why is he looking at Henry while I’m talking to him?
Before the puzzle could fully form, Henry was beside her, a cocktail glass in hand, its contents swirling gently.
“I happen to be the owner of this bar. What’s the matter? Is it so grave that it involves life and death?” Henry’s tone held casual air.
“You’re the owner?” Surprise briefly flickered across Julia’s face, replaced quickly by a serious expression. “Something happened to Maddie.”
At the mention of Maddie’s predicament, Henry’s countenance shifted abruptly, his once–relaxed demeanor now replaced by concern. “What happened?”
Soon, both found themselves in the monitoring room, analyzing footage related to Maddie. The video showed Maddie sipping a drink solo, her hand resting on her abdomen, lost in thought. Henry’s gaze fixated on Maddie’s abdomen, his brows furrowing. He acknowledged that Maddie frequently touched her belly, often accompanied by a hint of melancholy. He found her present figure endearing, a bit more curvaceous than before. From his perspective, this version of Maddie emitted an irresistible charm and allure.
In a flashback, Henry recalled an intimate moment that very morning at Maddie’s home, a tactile connection that had left him appreciating her figure.
“She’s the one!” Julia’s declaration broke through Henry’s contemplation, prompting him to refocus on the screen.
“Cameron?” Henry’s voice was laced with surprise. “Why her? How does Maddie know her? She-” A realization seemed to strike Henry, and he turned to look at Julia, his expression questioning. With tight–lipped determination, Julia’s gaze remained fixed on Cameron in the video, her eyes filled with icy resolve.
While Maddie and Cameron inhabited vastly different spheres, Julia’s gut told her there was more to their connection than met the eye. Analyzing the video footage, witnessing the exchange of a business card, followed by Maddie’s dismissive gesture, Julia surmised that Cameron held the key to this puzzle.
“Cameron!”
Should Maddie’s abduction indeed be linked to Cameron, Julia swore to hold her accountable.
“We need to go to the Yang family!”
Henry retrieved his car keys with resolve, leading the way out.
Meanwhile, at Cameron’s residence, she chatted with a friend on the phone, her arm cradling her
cell.
“Maddie’s likely headed to Jordan now. Knowing how Jordan operates, she won’t emerge
unscathed, even if she survives the night,” her friend remarked, a sinister amusement coloring their tone.
“Hmph! She deserves it! Who granted her the authority to humiliate me with that card? She should be well aware of her position!” Cameron’s lips twisted into a vengeful smile.
The doorbell disrupted her thoughts. At this hour, who could it be?
“Ding–dong–ding–dong-”
Annoyance surged through her. Suppressing her irritation, Cameron swung the door open, expecting to find Jared on the other side.
Upon seeing the visitor’s face, her excitement waned.
“It’s you. What do you want?” The palpable rivalry between them hung in the air, their eyes engaged in a battle of jealousy.
At that moment, the purpose of the visit dawned on Cameron. It was likely prompted by the monitoring footage that exposed Maddie’s altercation with her.
Initially, Cameron had considered tampering with the footage, but she discarded the idea, deeming the timing too coincidental. Besides, without irrefutable evidence, she could deny involvement, leveraging her status as the Yang family’s heir.
Amid her contemplation, a man’s voice pierced the air, bearing Julia’s tone.
“Where’s Maddie?”
Startled by the sound of that voice, Cameron stood frozen for a moment.
‘Whose voice was it?‘
‘Why did it sound so familiar?‘
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