“This is all the surveillance footage of the Burton Group this afternoon.”
Inside the surveillance room of the Riverdale Investigation Bureau, Janice’s subordinate was operating the computer and swiftly displaying the surveillance footage on the large screen. There were eight split screens showing the situation on the third floor of Burton Group’s underground garage.
Gloria couldn’t help exclaiming in admiration, “How amazing!”
Janice stared at the video on the screen with her arms folded in front of her chest. “Do you remember the approximate time?”
Gloria and Victor exchanged a glance. “It was around 2.00PM. We heard Assistant Beckham saying that the doctor had arrived at the garage, so it should be around that time.”
Janice nodded. “Jesse, please adjust the time.”
“Yes, Officer Hawkins.”
The image on the screen played at an accelerated speed and soon came to the time Gloria and Victor had mentioned. All four of them stared intently at the surveillance footage on the screen.
All of a sudden, Gloria exclaimed, “Wait! I see it!” She pointed at the monitor showing the entrance of the garage. “The person driving this car is one of Justin’s bodyguards. I’ve seen him before.”
Janice acknowledged it. “Change cameras and follow this car.”
The screen immediately began to follow the movements of this car in the garage until it finally parked in one of the parking spots. Then, a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes got out of the back seat with a box in his hands. One could forgo the white lab coat, but the medicine box was a must for a doctor who was visiting a patient.
“Pause for a moment and zoom in on this image.” Janice walked closer to the screen. “This is probably him. Run a check on his identity and background information.”
“Wait.” Julian’s voice suddenly came from the side. “I think I’ve seen this person before.”
They all showed stunned expressions on their faces. Meanwhile, he leaned closer to the screen and carefully confirmed. “Yes, I’ve seen him at Riverdale’s second quarter medical seminar. He was the representative of Rosewood Hospital, Flynn Mccarty. He is the Director of Rosewood Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.”
Janice was stunned. “The Obstetrics and Gynecology Department?!”
Likewise, Gloria and Victor had expressions of disbelief on their faces too. The Obstetrics and Gynecology Department?
After the doctor left, Rachel leaned back against the head of the bed and placed both hands on her swollen belly. Due to her pregnancy, Justin would have a doctor examine her twice every month to check on the development of the fetus. Furthermore, he would visit her every time the doctor came.
“According to the doctor, the fetus is developing well. It is very healthy.” Justin’s voice sounded from behind her.
Lowering her head, she stared at her belly. She was now more than five months pregnant, so her belly was showing an obvious bulge. The side effects had changed from morning sickness at the beginning of her pregnancy to the recent constant drowsiness. Thus, she spent most of her time sleeping.
“I hope it’s a girl. What about you?”
She did not respond to those words. In her opinion, it did not matter whether it was a boy or a girl who was born to the Burton Family. After all, things did not end well even for Tina, who was loved by all, so why would it matter whether it was a boy or a girl?
Your wedding with Amber should be approaching, right? You don’t need to come and visit me so frequently if you are busy. It’s better for you to concentrate on the wedding preparations.
When he heard that, the joy in his eyes immediately disappeared without a trace. A touch of sorrow slowly rose up in his eyes instead. “Are you trying to drive me away?”
You’re overthinking things. Besides, this is your territory. It’s not my place to kick you out. She quietly looked out the window. Even though it had been boarded up securely, she gazed out into the distance in silence, as though she could see the scenery outside.
He clenched his fists tightly and stood behind her for a while before slamming the door behind him as he left. He did not know how many times it had been, but over the past few months, they had always parted on bad terms every time he came here. She had changed from her previous timid and gentle nature to becoming cold and indifferent instead. Her attitude toward him was of almost complete disregard; she looked at the window more times than she looked at him. Despite that, he came even more diligently than before.
The sound of the door loudly slamming shut behind Justin made the entire room tremble in response. Only then did Rachel turn back. She calmly clenched her fist, got up, and walked over to the window. The gap the size of a fist was just enough for her to see the river view in the distance.
The Burton Group was located right in the commercial center by the riverside. It was the most prosperous area. Traffic was heavy 30 floors below her, and the crowds were bustling about like ants. Nobody could have expected Justin to lock her up on the topmost floor of the Burton Group. It was where he worked every day, so he could monitor her every move at any time and from anywhere.
Will Janice and the others be able to find me? she wondered as her eyes gradually closed.
That night, Rachel slept very restlessly. The frequency of her nightmares was increasing. It felt like there was a huge hammer knocking against her temples in her dream, causing her to suffer from a splitting headache. Jerking awake, she suddenly realized that the tapping sound was not from her dream-it was coming from the window.
This is the top floor of the Burton Group! What could be outside the window?! She abruptly threw aside her blanket and ran over to the only gap in the window.
Knock Knock. The tapping sound was definitely coming from the window. She tentatively knocked on the window twice in response, then there was a few seconds of silence from the outside. Just as she was thinking that it was only her imagination, two more taps on the window sounded. Knock Knock.
Suppressing the surging feelings in her heart, she glanced at the fist-sized opening on the window out of the corner of her eyes. It was the only corner in the room that had not been covered by a curtain from the outside. Thus, she jogged over to that piece of glass, lifted her hand, and tapped on it three times. Knock Knock Knock.
After waiting for some time, somebody suddenly blocked the glass from the outside, whereupon Rachel’s heart sank suddenly. But, in the next moment, she saw a beam of light moving around slightly through the window and shining into the room. Immediately after that, a large corner of the curtain sealing this room from the outside was ripped away to reveal the top of Riverdale’s clock tower in the distance. At the same time, it also revealed the figure of the person leaning against the glass window.
Rachel covered her mouth with her hands in disbelief, her eyes reddening immediately. Meanwhile, the
other party was hanging from a safety rope and communicating with her in sign language. I finally found you!
It was Coraline Harper! Caroline was a woman Rachel had met once before in Brookville; she helped Rachel out of a sticky situation at the dining table and later asked her to help hand over a USB drive while the former was on the run from being chased.
At this moment, Coraline was dressed in pitch-black tight-fitting clothes. She had practically blended into the night. There were two safety ropes hanging from her body as she walked on the glass surface of the high-rise building as though it were flat ground. Her nimble and agile skills indicated that she was no ordinary person.
Seeing that, Rachel recalled something Janice once mentioned to her-Coraline was an undercover agent of the Riverdale Investigation Bureau. Suppressing the shock in her heart, she hurriedly signed back at Coraline. Why are you here?!
Janice asked me to find you. How are you?
After following the doctor who came to Burton Group every two weeks, Janice and the others had quickly inferred where Rachel was being detained. The word ‘River’ on that piece of glass was referring to Green River Street, where Burton Group was located.
Rachel quickly nodded in response. I’m fine.
The rest will be easy since we’ve confirmed that you’re here. We will rescue you from here. Don’t be afraid.
Rachel quickly shook her head and pointed at her belly with a complicated expression. I can’t leave right now.
Coraline was slightly taken aback as she stared at Rachel’s swollen belly through the pane of glass.
