The man abruptly halted, opting instead to raise his hands high in a gesture of surrender, “We’re just here on patrol. As soon as we notice something out of the ordinary, we won’t hesitate to report it to our superiors.”
It was evident that Dexter’s car, parked at a discreet distance, had gone unnoticed by them.
“Who’s calling the shots for you guys?” Josie pressed, her tone sharp, the threat of the gun against their heads eliciting an involuntary shiver from both men.
After a moment of hesitant eye contact between them, one stammered out, “I-It’s Robyn…”
This admission made it clear that these two were merely foot soldiers in Arnold’s operation, assigned to patrol rather than being trusted insiders; they didn’t even know his true identity.
“What was supposed to be the shipment on those ships?” Josie inquired further.
“Cash…”
Josie’s gaze drifted back to the large vessels anchored in the river, as she contemplated the vast amount of capital required for such an operation-a sum that would undoubtedly attract attention if moved through conventional banking channels.
Arnold’s personally escorting the shipment, huh?
“And what else?” she asked.
The man’s response came with a hint of desperation, his arms thrown up in a sign of complete surrender, “T-That’s all I know. Mr. Mills wouldn’t blink an eye at our lives. Even if you killed me, my lips are sealed.”
Josie shared his sentiment. With a swift movement, she kicked away the pager that was still attached to his back, its screen glowing with an incoming message. “Answer it,” she commanded firmly.
The pager came to life with a click, and immediately, a voice filled with urgency broke through, “Arnold, it’s not about Mr. Dalton’s trust in you-it’s that your presence is needed more here.”
Arnold’s voice, cool and detached, replied, “It’s just money we’re talking about. What exactly do you want me to do with it? Aren’t you concerned I might just pocket it myself?”
“You talking like that only serves to put distance between us. Mr. Dalton holds you in high esteem-no one can match up to you,” came the reassurance.
“Mr. Vipera, remind me, how long have you been with Mr. Dalton?” Arnold interjected, his voice carrying over the breeze.
Vipera took a moment, then answered, “Oh, it’s been more than a decade now.”
“Loyal to the core, then?”
“Weren’t you the same?”
Arnold let out a light laugh in response.
Subsequently, Vipera checked in via the pager, “How’s the patrol looking?”
The two men glanced at Josie, gauging her reaction before reluctantly answering, “All clear, no issues on our end.”
“The smokescreen we planned for the end of the month hasn’t unfolded yet. Dexter’s sharp; he’s always been on the radar of the higher-ups for his keen instincts. We’ve got to tread lightly around him,” they reasoned among themselves.
They’re indeed guarding against Dexter.
Josie remained vigilant, silently forming her next question. The other individual voiced it for her, “Mr. Vipera, are we really packing up to leave the country?”
A hint of satisfaction crept into Vipera’s tone, “Absolutely.”
Once the call ended, Josie unceremoniously stripped off their belts, using them to bind their arms together, and carefully stowed their firearms away.
“Who are you, really?” they questioned, still puzzled by Josie’s presence and actions.
Without altering her expression, Josie retrieved the fallen communicator, retorting with a smirk, “Didn’t I already mention? The police.”
Their skepticism was palpable. “A woman like you, daring to step into this fray, must be connected to Dexter!”
Josie couldn’t help but laugh at their guess, “If you ever get another shot, go ahead and ask Mr. Mills.”
Thinking Josie was Arnold’s lover, the men scoffed, “Mr. Mills has had his share of countless women. Don’t kid yourself into thinking you’re someone special in his eyes.”
Josie feigned curiosity, “Really now? Has he never fallen hard for anyone?”
One of them, perhaps feeling a bit talkative, mentioned, “Just rumors of one, from Wavery.”
They likely assumed Josie hailed from Rivodia.
“Was she something special?” Josie prodded further.
“Definitely a notch above you,” came the cheeky reply.
With a laugh, Josie made her way toward the direction they had come from, seizing the moment during a guard shift to discreetly board the ship.
Once aboard, she quickly hid herself away, only to discover a line-up of individuals at the stern, each one exuding an aura of professionalism and discipline under the dim light.
Amidst them, Arnold stood out distinctly, his presence emanating a dark and enigmatic vibe, clearly unbothered by the need to conceal his intentions.
