Chapter 4

All that could be heard on speaker was her restrained breathing.

Heath whispered something nearby in a very low voice, and then she took a deep breath. "Dad, there's only a little bit left of the statement. I'll rush over as soon as I'm done. Since we've waited this long, it won't make a difference."

I stared intently at the red numbers on the countdown timer; there were three minutes left.

Henry got so angry that he threw the phone across, shattering the screen.

My mother was directing the SWAT team to prepare for a forced entry while holding Gloria, who was about to faint.

However, we all knew that the result of the assault would be the immediate detonation of the bomb.

Taking a deep breath, I pressed the communication device. "Ian, let's talk. I'm Winnie's husband. If you have any questions, perhaps I'll know the answers."

One second, two seconds... The communication device lit up with a green light.

"First floor lobby. Come in alone. If you dare to go upstairs, I'll detonate it early."

The time was tight. I put on the headphones my mother had given me and rushed in directly.

However, there was no one in the first-floor lobby.

I could only stand at the foot of the spiral staircase and shout upward, "Ian, what exactly do you want to know from Winnie?"

"Late last September, a woman's body was pulled from the moat. I need to know the autopsy results."

I waited half a minute before my mother told me through the earpiece, "I found it. The cause of death was suicide. The forensic examiner who signed off on it was Winnie."

As soon as I finished repeating it, something seemed to smash against the other end of the communications line.

Ian roared, "Impossible! My wife would never commit suicide! Winnie must have faked the report! Get Winnie here. Now!"

I stood there, stunned.

It was true that Winnie had not come home for two weeks last September. She had claimed it was due to a heavy workload at the forensic center, but I later overheard a colleague mention that a new forensic examiner was inexperienced, and Winnie had to step in to clean up the mess.

That new forensic examiner was Heath.

When I called Winnie again, she answered after just two rings. "Calvin, I'm getting ready to leave. We can go as soon as Heath gets changed."

In my earpiece, my mother urgently reminded me, "Calvin, there's only one minute left! Isla has a vacant look in her eyes, and her face is flushed bright red. I can't tell if she's been drugged or has a fever!"

I closed my eyes and said in despair, "It's too late."

"There's still time. Tell Ian I'll be there in ten minutes!"

"Winnie, there are 50 seconds left."

No sooner had I spoken than the communication device lit up, and Isla's weak voice came through. "Mom, I'm scared. This thing keeps making noise. Mom, when are you coming to save me? You promised you'd draw with me tonight."

There was a momentary hesitation on the other end of the line, and her breathing grew ragged. "Isla, don't be afraid. I'm coming right—"

"Oh no, my tie snapped!"

Rustling sounds came through the receiver.

"Calvin, don't panic. The people your mother sent keep urging us, but Heath's tie snapped. He nearly choked himself. We have to get another one..."

"Winnie, 20 seconds left." I did not wait to hear more, so I hung up.

I looked up one last time toward the top floor before gritting my teeth and running upward. My mother was calling my name through my earphones, but I refused to stop. If I could not save my daughter, I would die alongside her.

At the same moment, Winnie's car turned out of the neighbourhood. Heath sat in the passenger seat, busy fixing his hair.

Just as Winnie stepped on the accelerator, an orange-red light tore open the space ahead. Then came a deafening roar, and the ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck. Winnie slammed on the brakes, looking up to see flames shooting into the sky a few blocks away.

Heath screamed, tugging at her sleeve and saying his heart was pounding.

However, Winnie could no longer hear a thing. Her mouth fell open as her gaze slowly drifted downward.

The explosion site was the very location indicated on the GPS, the place where the kidnapping was taking place. A second later, she threw open the car door and bolted over. "Isla!"