I still have a few hours to work, so I sit down with the documents.
The secretary enters the office. It’s obvious she feels very ashamed of what happened and the moment she caught me in.
- Mr. Adam, I didn’t want to disturb you then. - I see how awkward the girl is.
- It’s alright, don’t worry. I’ll be working for a few more hours today, so don’t let anyone in. The girl nods and leaves.
An hour later, my head of security calls me.
- Mr. Adam, we have serious problems. - from his worried voice, I know something catastrophic has happened. This man never calls me just like that. They solve all problems themselves.
- What happened? - I stand up at the desk, preparing to head out.
- The car with Marina has been shot at. The girl is in the hospital. She has serious injuries. - Damn. I knew something like this could happen, but I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. And we wouldn’t manage to get her there in time.
- Is someone with her right now? - I shouldn’t have left the secretary alone. Because whoever started this will surely finish it. She naively thought they would come to rescue her. They would just eliminate her as an unnecessary witness. That’s all. This is how people act in such cases, those I have dealt with.
- There are a few of our guys around her now. But, Mr. Adam, that’s not all. - damn, what else could have happened?
- Speak.
- Ms. Amanda didn’t make it to the office. Her car was found destroyed. - no, no, no, it can’t be. They couldn’t have reached Amanda.
- And where is the woman?
- Unfortunately, unknown. No body was found in the car, so she has simply disappeared. We have raised all possible connections now. We are reviewing street cameras. But there’s nothing. Her mobile phone was also found at the scene near the car.
Damn, damn, damn. I bang my fists on the table, though I want to smash my head against it. I don’t know what to do. If something happens to Amanda, I will never forgive myself. Because, damn it, I should have taken her with me. I shouldn’t have let her go. After everything we learned about Marina. After everything we discovered about the digging being done on us. And it could have been anyone. It could have been Lancov, whom she threatened. It could have been anyone who paid Marina. And I just don’t know what to think. I burst out of the office, jump in the car, and head to my head of security. The guys are working outside the city. And this is the best spot from where we can track down any lead on where to find Amanda.
On the way, my head is spinning with thoughts. I don’t know what to think. How to find Amanda quickly? Is she still alive?
- Don’t even think about it. She is alive. It can’t be any other way. - I sincerely want to believe in this thought, but I still know who we could have connected with. And if I haven’t worried about my life for a long time, Amanda's life means everything to me.
I arrive quickly. On the way, I narrowly avoid accidents twice.
- Damn, the last thing I need is to crash. - I bang the car doors and enter the office where the guys are.
- So, is there anything? - they are actively searching for something.
- Mr. Adam, so far nothing. It’s like she’s sunk into the ground. - no way could a person disappear in the middle of the street and no one see anything, nothing. No camera recorded any movement.
- How long ago did it happen?
- About half an hour ago; when we arrived at the scene, it was still smoldering.
- How did you find out about the car at all? - The head of security shows me video footage from a surveillance camera.
- So someone sent you this video?
- Exactly, Mr. Adam. Someone showed it to us.
- This was done on purpose. What are the chances of finding her very quickly? - I hope they are high. The head of the security service looks at me, and there is nothing good in his eyes.
- We are doing everything we can, but so far no guesses. We don’t even know which direction to move in. - and I don’t know either. And damn it, I don’t know which direction to take because each of our partners can turn into our enemies. We’ve learned that we can’t trust anyone. But damn it, it’s all so sudden. Who could have done this? And then my phone rings with an unknown number.
- I’m listening. - there’s silence on the line. - Will you speak, or will you just remain silent?
Finally, I hear an unfamiliar voice.
- Good day, Mr. Kelly. There’s no need to worry so much. Nerves don’t have a good effect on your health. - I don’t know who is speaking, but their tone starts to rattle me even more.
- Do you have Amanda? - the only thing I care about; if this is the person, I need to know their terms.
- Oh, no, Amanda is not with us. You are probably confusing us with someone. - I don’t understand. If this is a game, then it’s a very bad one.
- Then why are you calling me? - silence again. This is starting to get on my nerves. Although the guys are trying to trace where this call is coming from.
- To warn you that not only, as it turns out, Ms. Amanda's life is in danger, but yours too. - damn, what is this about?
- What do you mean?
- I mean, you have appeared in the wrong place at the wrong time. You should know that there are always consequences in such cases.
- You either need to be more specific, or I see no point in continuing this conversation. - The guys have tracked where the call was coming from.
- Mr. Lancov sends his regards. You have 24 hours to either transfer all partnership shares of Mr. Korniyev’s business to Mr. Lancov or else, the end for you will be tragic. - the call hangs up, and I look at where it came from. Damn, it can’t be.
The call was from my apartment...