âOkay, got it. I shall bring my men over right now!â
After hanging up, Lochlan bore an icy expression. Beside him, his vice-captain observed his expression carefully. âCaptain Fraser, should we depart now?â
Clad in his firefighter uniform, Lochlan stared at the pouring rain outside the window and tidied his sleeves calmly. âWeâre firefighters. Itâs raining heavily, so why would they need our help?â
The vice-captain was surprised. Didnât Captain Fraser agree to send backup? Has he changed his mind?
Without a word, he left the office and didnât dare to inform the other firefighters.
Lochlan stared at the rain wordlessly. Itâs time to end things.
Right then, he received a WhatsApp message on his phone.
It was from Dixon: Lochlan, Iâll leave you to gather the evidence. Can you complete it within a week?
Something dark appeared in Lochlanâs eyes as he replied: Yes. It will take at most ten days. Iâll arrange for someone to head there.
Dixonâs reply arrived instantly mere seconds later: Okay. Iâll await your good news.
The downpour was like an unending cataract of water sluicing from the sky. Lightning flared and contorted in forks of gold. The world became cellar-dark and the buckling, heaving sky looked fit to collapse down anytime.
A young woman was driving along the road leading to the abandoned factory in the northern suburbs.
âIâm almost there. Iâm going to arrive soon!â
Ashlyn held the steering wheel tightly as she stared ahead. The windshield wipers slid left and right to clear the rain as rain pelted the car.
She kept mumbling to herself as the car got closer to the abandoned factory.
Anxiety overwhelmed her heart. Blair didnât tell me the entire incident clearly over the phone. I shouldâve left with Lucas instead of waiting for him in the hotel like a fool. I canât believe he returned to the country secretly without letting me know!
Ashlyn could barely think straight as she was too concerned.
Lucasâ mental state cannot take even the slightest emotional distress. What happened to him? Was it a relapse? Or was his life in danger? Why did Blair call instead of Spencer?
She was about to drive past the bridge that was going to be blown up to head to the abandoned factory.
After driving past the bridge, Iâll arrive at the factory where Lucas is inside!
Ashlyn stared at the creepy factory some distance away. A sharp glint appeared in her gaze as she floored the accelerator.
I need to save him no matter what!
Meanwhile, the people beside the abandoned factory were prepared to detonate the explosives. âThe explosive devices will detonate five minutes later!â
The leader held his walkie-talkie and announced, âListen to my order! One, two, three! What the h*ll is that? Is that an old car?â
The man stared at the car on the bridge incredulously.
Didnât we barricade everything? The traffic police even blocked all paths heading here! Why is there a car heading this way?
Alas, it was too late.
âHurry, stop everything! Stop all the explosions!â the man yelled hastily as his expression turned as dark as thunder. âHurry, inform everyone to stop! We wonât be demolishing the factory and the bridge!â
âItâs too late! Our men at the factory had already detonated the explosives and left. There is no way they can head back. If they do, they will die in the explosion!â
Everyone stared at the speeding car in shock.
The man roared angrily, âDid you do your job right? How did someone manage to enter the area? D*mn it! We canât afford to bear the consequences if someone were to die here!â
Furious, he grabbed his walkie-talkie and activated the loudspeaker function. âWill the car ahead please take note? This abandoned factory is going to be demolished by explosives, so please turn your vehicle around and leave right now!â
Ashlyn was about to arrive at the factory when she heard the announcement. It caught her by surprise.
Demolished by explosives? Is this factory going to be destroyed? She stared at the factory. If Lucas is inside, that means heâll die in the explosion! I must head inside!