Five minutes later, the two cars ventured into the Gobi Desert, searching for the location of the Mercedes-Benz. As they moved further from the highway, the signal grew weaker until it eventually vanished, cutting off their contact with the outside world.
Initially, the trio chatted animatedly, but their conversation dwindled as they pressed on. Thankfully, traveling in pairs meant that even if one car broke down, the other could offer support. Without this backup, Luke's cautious nature would have kept him from entering the Gobi Desert.
After driving for half an hour, their positioning system failed completely. They had to rely on estimates of distance and direction to guess that the Mercedes-Benz was nearby.
The two cars began a search in the area. Luke, opening the sunroof, sipped from a bottle of mineral water intermittently. After more than twenty minutes of searching, Luke spotted a tiny black dot in the distance. He rubbed his eyes to ensure he wasn't imagining it.
Guiding the two cars towards the dot, they soon identified it as a single vehicle. Luke's face lit up with excitement—they had found it.
The three men grew alert, stopping the cars to check their guns and don bulletproof vests. They approached the Mercedes-Benz cautiously, stopping about ten meters away.
Surveying the area revealed no immediate threats. David led the team, with Luke and Marcus providing cover from the sides, advancing in a triangular formation.
As they neared the car, Luke peered through the windshield but saw no one inside. The driver's door was open, and it was clear that no one could be hiding under the front seats. David stood in front of the car, gun in hand, scrutinizing the interior.
Luke and Marcus checked the sides, and Marcus gestured to Luke. Nodding, Luke moved to the back door, which Marcus yanked open. Luke scanned the interior with his gun but found it empty.
Feeling a mix of disappointment and relief, David approached the trunk, giving it a customary pat. "Bang!"
Inside, they heard muffled sounds—whimpering and scratching. Their nerves heightened once more. Luke located the trunk release button, and David and Marcus readied their weapons.
When the trunk finally opened, they were met with a disturbing sight: a man curled up inside, gagged with a towel, handcuffed, and bound with thick tape.
"Woo woo…"
The man's desperate whimpering for help was pitiful.
"Isn't this the lawyer?" Marcus approached, noting the bruises and the evident distress. David, visibly agitated, quickly holstered his gun. "Get him out."
Marcus helped the lawyer out of the trunk, wrinkling his nose at the strong odor of urine. "Damn, you wet yourself."
Seeing the yellow stains, Marcus recoiled in disgust.
David pulled the towel from the lawyer's mouth. "Are you okay?"
"Water! Please, I need water..." The lawyer's cracked lips and coughing revealed his dehydration. Luke handed him a bottle of mineral water.
"Gulp…" The lawyer drank eagerly, his face reddening as he expressed gratitude. "Thank you, thank you for saving me. I thought I was going to die here. Steven, that bastard…"
"Where's Steven?" Luke asked, urgency in his voice.
"I don't know. He put me in the trunk and vanished. I begged him to let me go, but he ignored me. I was completely in the dark about my location."
Marcus unlocked the handcuffs and untied the lawyer's legs. As he struggled to his feet, he asked for food. David handed him a piece of bread.
"Why did Steven capture you?" David inquired.
"After we left the police station, I asked Steven for my legal fees. He said he needed to go home for the money. I followed him, but he turned hostile, threatened me with a gun, and refused to let me go. He handcuffed me, bound my legs, and then demanded more money. When I refused, he beat me, burned me with cigarettes, and extorted $40,000 from me. He nearly killed me by locking me in here."
David was resolute. "We need to catch him. I'll testify against him in court!"
Luke pressed further, "Did Steven leave any clues about his escape plan or his next destination?"
The lawyer, still shaken, replied, "Once I was locked in the trunk, my mind went blank. I don't recall anything. The darkness and confinement made me feel like I was going to die. I don't want to think about it anymore."
Seeing that the lawyer was too traumatized to be of much help, David pulled Marcus aside. "Luke and I will stay here. You take the lawyer back to the gas station and contact the captain for reinforcements."
Marcus shook his head. "No way. I'm not letting someone who peed his pants ride in my car. The smell is unbearable."
"Then you stay here," David said firmly. "Luke and I will handle the situation."
"I don't want to be alone here," Marcus protested.
David's patience was wearing thin. "So what's your suggestion?"
"Let the wet-pants guy stay with you. I'll go back for reinforcements."
David warned, "If you get lost, you're on your own."
Marcus shrugged off the warning. "I watch Bear Grylls. I'll manage."
David pointed a finger at Marcus. "If you fail to get help, I'll hold you responsible."
Marcus, unfazed, said, "I'll be fine."
David glanced at his watch. "Three hours for reinforcements. Be careful."
Marcus muttered something under his breath and sped back to his car. As he drove off, he called back to Luke, "Wait for my good news."
The lawyer, still anxious, asked, "Why didn't he take me? I want to leave this place."
David explained, "He thinks you wet yourself."
The lawyer's face turned crimson with embarrassment. Luke, who had been standing away from the smell, couldn't help but laugh at the awkward situation.
The lawyer's humiliation was complete, marking what was perhaps the most embarrassing moment of his life.