Josephine seemed uncertain about whether to trust Arnoldâs words, but nonetheless, she nestled within his embrace, seeking comfort.
Scar unable to contain his impatience, nudged Josie, signaling it was time for them to leave. âEnough gawking. Letâs go!â
Suddenly, Josie found herself being whisked into a bedroom, the door locking with a click behind her. âHey!â she called out in protest, but Scar had already secured the door from the outside, leaving her with no choice but to stay.
Surveying her surroundings, Josie realized she was in a room far too lavish for any ordinary bodyguard. The presence of liquor on the bedside table caught her attention-it was brandy, a detail that hinted this was Arnoldâs master bedroom.
The thought crossed her mind that Arnold had managed to keep a secret lover hidden in such a place.
While searching for an escape, she was startled by a pair of hands that suddenly covered her mouth from behind.
âItâs me!â a familiar voice whispered, bringing a sense of relief.
Turning around, Josie found Dexter standing there, his presence in the room as surprising as it was reassuring.
âHow did you get here?â she asked, stepping back to gauge his response.
âI went on a patrol.â
âWhat did you find? Whatâs on the ship?â
âIt was all cash,â he stated, his tone reflective as he recounted the sight of an entire warehouse overflowing with money, a sum so vast it could easily be Wayneâs lifeâs accumulation.
Josie began to share her concerns, âArnold mentioned that any mishap could lead to the ship being blown up directly. Dexter, thereâs something you should know-â
Her words were cut off by Dexter, âIâve been listening.â
âYouâ¦â
âIâve been here all along. How else do you think Josephine was roused from her sleep?â Dexter revealed, shedding light on the cause of the earlier disturbance that had caught Josieâs attention.
This revelation prompted Josie to inquire further, âWho exactly is that woman, and why does Arnold seem to tread so cautiously around her?â
Dexter, while examining a bottle of wine on the table, shared, âSheâs the daughter of the second-in-command in Rivodia. Arnold needed a reputable wife to solidify his social standing. Itâs no surprise to me; leveraging influential relationships has always been Arnoldâs strategy to climb the social ladder.â
âSo, Arnold found himself ensnared in his own game,â Josie mused aloud. âArnold and Summer were merely pawns for Wayne, used to ingratiate himself with the elite. Itâs rather sad, isnât it?â
Josie pondered what true benefit Arnold sought from his actions. Was survival his sole motivator?
As the conversation progressed, she made a connection, âThe second-in-command-that was the contact you had before we boarded⦠So, this meansâ¦â
Their exchange of looks confirmed their mutual understanding, with Dexter concluding, âWe can no longer use this contact.â
Even the second-in-command is one of Mr. Daltonâs people. Who can we trust now?
Breaking the silence, Dexter broached the subject of Josieâs earlier interaction with Arnold. âI heard your conversation with him,â he said.
âI was playing him,â Josie admitted hastily.
Dexterâs response, accompanied by a rueful smile, was, âIâm not upset.â
This left Josie momentarily lost for words, her gaze lowered.
âI-â
âEarlier-â
As they both attempted to speak, a momentary pause allowed the tension to build. Josie gestured for Dexter to proceed. âYou go first.â
âScott confirmed the departure of numerous workers from Rivodia earlier tonight.â
âWhat does it mean?â
âThe true merchandise is concealed on their bodies.â
On their bodies? Josie furrowed her brows. It was a tactic reminiscent of historical smuggling methods. âHave we initiated any countermeasures?â she asked, concerned about their next steps.
Dexter assured her, âWith our presence here and no signal sent out, heâd be reluctant to act rashly.â
âBut⦠thereâs only two of us here,â Josie retorted. Moreover, they needed to keep Arnold in the dark about Dexterâs presence.
âJosie,â Dexter began, âWhen the time comes, Arnold has to die.â