Chapter 43: Chapter 43

It was late afternoon when Hazel and Edward finished their work. Raymond loosened his stiff muscles from being held in the same position for two hours. He turned to look at the dozens of drones piled on the bed, accompanied by Hazel and Edward, who was lying near the stack of drones, breathing a sigh of relief.

'When will we leave for our mission?' Hazel turned to him.

'In ten minutes,' Raymond said after looking at the clock of his smartphone.

'Just let me rest for a while,' said Edward as he closed his eyes after removing the glasses he was wearing.

'You thought you were the only one who needed rest?' Hazel threw her pillow in Edward's face until the man groaned. 'My eyes also hurt from looking at the computer screen for a long time, you know!'

'Think about me too!' Edward lifted the pillow that covered his face earlier, then threw it at Hazel, whom she, unfortunately, managed to push away. 'Assembling such a small object. Who came up with the idea? It's you!'

Raymond looked lazily at the two people who were now arguing, causing him to question their backgrounds again. The way they fight, the tone they speak every time they argue, and the almost unison each time, they really looked like twins. Even though they are ten years apart. He walked over to the stack of drones, took one of the drones. The first was equipped with a program that could improve the security system—which Edward had previously tested and succeeded in developing so that they could fly and take out eight feet on landing. Their movements were like spiders.

But the second type he was holding, had a round shape, was the size of a palm, and all white. According to Hazel's explanation when the second type of drone was completed, one drone could accommodate fifty millilitres of nerve-numbing gas.

He put the drone back on his bed. His mind was on the thing that was blocking him when he visited this room. To be honest, his feelings were starting to feel bad. As he approached Hazel's room, he did not see the many people under Umberbridge manning every hallway. The guard level around Umberbridge's mansion had become much looser than before, which made him a little worried about what happened the other day. He increasingly could not understand the situation which he thought was strange.

His smartphone vibrated, interrupting his reverie. His free hand reached into his smartphone.

One new message from Martha.

Somewhat annoyed, he opened the message.

Martha: I have something to talk about. Please call me back.

He wondered whether to call his older sister who had not contacted him in the past few days. For a moment he glanced at Hazel and Edward who was fast asleep. His hand pressed the call button, called Martha as he crept away from the two people, out of Hazel's room.

It did not take long for him to hear Martha's voice, which sounded very tired.

'Thank God, you're fine.'

'What's wrong?' Raymond glanced around, making sure no one was overhearing their conversation.

'You have the right to be angry with me.'

Raymond stuck his other hand in his jacket pocket, leaned his back against the wall with his raised leg touching the wall as he looked up at the ceiling of the corridor. 'Don't expect me to forgive you.'

'I know. But what I want to tell you now is much more important. Don't worry. I've made sure our conversation isn't intercepted.'

'What?'

'Listen. I do have something to hide from you, Ray. But one thing you should know. I will never hurt my family.'

'Then what do you want to talk about?'

'I heard they pushed forward the transaction schedule. Today. in fifteen minutes.'

'Why should I trust you?'

'I have no time to explain it to you. It's up to you to believe me or not. One more time. Be careful. There is a new intruder who is now at the Umberbridge residence. Women, her movements are nimble like a cat. Take good care of Amanda.'

'Why do I have to—'

She hung up the call all of a sudden. He cursed Martha, stuffing the object back into his pocket.

'Excuse me,'

A maid walked past her, pushing a freight cart filled with clean, dry clothes. His eyes scanned the maid briefly. Suddenly his feelings began to feel bad when he realized something was wrong with the carriage that the woman was pushing, coupled with the woman's posture that did not look like all the servants in the Umberbridge residence. Quietly, he followed her, taking a hundred meters away from her to make sure she did not notice his presence.

It looked like what Martha said was true.

The woman turned into the passageway that should not be the path the maids were moving in. He sped up his pace while reading the revolver tucked into his waist. Luckily he was on guard before approaching Hazel's room. He continued to follow the woman until he came to the area behind the Umberbridge residence. A crumpled van arrived in front of the woman, who pushed the clothes aside, picking up Amanda, who was sleeping under the influence of drugs.

Shit!

***