Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Raymond turned off the engine, watching Thyme and Verdict, who had entered the building from afar. Thyme asked him to park his car a little bit far from Simon Clive's headquarters, which was now filled with luxury-clad people who flocked into the building, greeted by several people dressed in black with a terrifying aura around them. He recognized some of those who were attacking him when he was with Edward. Over and over he tapped his fingers, frustrated at not knowing Thyme's plans.

'Do you want to have some?' Hazel who was sitting behind him handed him the snack bar that the woman had been consuming. 'I made it by myself. Low in calories, but enough to power you up.'

'No. I don't—' Raymond gave up his refusal as soon as he saw Hazel glared at him. 'I accept it with pleasure. Thanks.'

Hazel mumbled, then returned to focus on the laptop screen. Not long after, Hazel touched the earphone on her left ear, stopping to move her finger across the keyboard. 'There is a movement from Amanda. Now she's moved to one of the rooms on the second floor.'

Raymond spun around, leaning closer to Hazel. 'Let me see.'

Without waiting for Hazel's answer, he picked up the laptop, observing the simulated drone movements that were silently following Amanda. His eyes saw the interior inside the room, aided by the camera on the drone. There were a lot of people standing guard around the hallway being shown the drone.

'Raymond?' Hazel took the laptop back from Raymond. 'Thyme wants you to make a decision.'

'Before that, tell me Thyme's plan,' Raymond said.

'You can blame about that part,' Edward cleared his throat so that their attention would turn to the man sitting on Hazel's left. 'I came up with the plan and Thyme agreed. So let me explain the plan. Thyme and Verdict have just received an invitation from Simon to come to the opening of the new mansion they bought from Thyme. But actually, it's a trap to catch Thyme. As far as I know Simon really 'loves' children. So Thyme will take the bait to lure him.'

When was the plan made? Was it when they had breakfast when Thyme talked to Leah? Maybe so. But it seemed that Edward's plan is very different from the information he has been getting. 'Just a moment. Isn't Amanda being targeted too?'

'You've never dealt with Simon, so you don't know what kind of character he is. He's not the type to settle for one prey,' Edward glanced at Hazel, then looked back at him. 'Hazel was called to fix the security problem at the Umberbridge residence, remember? Around the Umberbridge residence, there are several spy tools. There were surveillance devices planted in Thyme and Amanda's bedroom.'

Raymond raised his right hand while closing his eyes. 'I think I know where will it go. There's no need to continue.'

'It's good if you understand quickly. So, Amanda moves according to the bait— without you and Verdict's knowledge because of Amanda's own request. Then Thyme and Verdict will come in as bait. The two of us, along with Umberbridge and Walter's men behind us, will enter via another route, while Hazel will stay here, giving us instructions.'

'Alone? Is that okay?'

'There are some people who will be left here to look after me,' Hazel took her eyes off her laptop screen, massaging between her brows that twitched from staring at her laptop screen for too long. 'Besides, I can do some self-defence. So what's your plan?'

Raymond recalled the route to Simon Clive's residence that had been ingrained in his brain. 'Did you bring a drone filled with nerve numbing gas?'

Edward and Hazel nodded together.

'Hazel, you did mention the device that can destroy windows at that time, right? Did you bring the tools?'

Hazel took the medium-sized backpack she had been carrying, handed him a small bag which, when he saw its contents, had several tools he did not recognize. The woman briefly explained how to use each tool, then looked back at the laptop screen after he understood the woman's explanation.

Raymond finished Hazel's snack bar with great vigour and then opened his car door. Once again he watched from the distance of the building, then turned to face Edward, who was standing behind him with Thyme and Verdict's men. 'Look. We use the library's second-floor path to enter the cellar. Edward and I will save Amanda. You guys go to the cellar, evacuate the children over there.'

'How about Young Master's safety?' Frederick—one of Thyme's confidants, looked worried.

'I'll take care of it. You know your job, right? We start now.'

***