Together, they drove down to the diner and were able to trace the woman. Her description of Zoe matched what they knew about her, so they trusted that both of them had indeed met.
"Did she say anything about a phone while having her meal here? Was she alone? What was her motive in using your phone to call me? Is she a local here?" Gabriel interrogated her so intensely that the woman looked to Jackson for help.
"Don't worry, boss. I got it covered," He tactically transferred Gabriel to an empty seat and made him stay there while he conversed with the woman who was more willing to open up to him.
While seated, Gabriel tapped his feat against the floor impatiently. They were so close to catching Zoe Clark and he couldn't wait to get his hands on her.
"Do you want anything, sir?" Someone broke his line of thought and Gabriel looked up to see that it was a waitress.
"I don't need…." Well, he could eat something while waiting. Gabriel has had nothing to eat since morning because he was busy with finding Zoe. His stomach was too tense to eat anything, anyway, so he ordered a small portion of their finest waffles and coffee.
However the instant his food was served and the delicious smell wafted into his nostril, his appetite was stirred. Gabriel gobbled everything up and ordered more, he has never eaten food like this because his nutrition was balanced and healthy - his mother would never let him have this much comfort food. And it was at that moment that Jackson returned.
"What did she say?" Gabriel asked in between a mouthful of fries.
"The woman claims that she hadn't seen her around here. She knows all the locals that visit the dinner and was only able to memorize Zoe's face because she made use of her phone. However, she claims that Zoe might not be far away since she had a meal here."
"Is that so?" Gabriel wiped the sides of his mouth with the napkin, pleased with the result of the investigation.
He said, "In that case, we would do it the old-fashioned way, then."
"Huh?" Jackson was confused.
Minutes later, Jackson was staring down at the boss sketching Zoe Clark from memory. Although it had been mere minutes when he saw Zoe at the airport plus the CCTV footage, Gabriel drew her realistically. By the time he was done hours later, Jackson was left awed by the picture drawn with meticulous details. The boss was making quite a huge effort to find this girl.
"Wow," He breathed. Even a blind man could recognize Zoe from the picture.
"Let's go find the ladybug," Gabriel was smug as he stood up from his seat. He was a man of many talents. He left the dinner feeling better - after paying for his meal.
Zoe Clark better run because he was coming for her.
And with that sketch, they walked around the neighborhood asking who might have seen her. The both of them covered much ground but it was quite unfortunate that Zoe was new to the area and many people could not recognize her since humans tend to unconsciously delete unnecessary information from their brains. Not to mention that Zoe kept a low profile.
It didn't hit the both of them that Zoe would be at the brothel and even walked past it. After all, even if she was no longer rich, why would a previously esteemed young miss come to a motel? What could she possibly be doing there?
So they searched around till night and even the little Intel they got led to nowhere. Frustrated more than ever, it wasn't surprising Gabriel almost lost his cool when a drunk fellow bumped into him.
"Boss," Jackson held him back, they couldn't get into a fight with the drunk. It was not worth it.
"Huh? That girl?" The drunkard pointed at the sketch that had slipped from Gabriel's hand and fallen to the ground.
Perceiving that tone of recognition from the drunkard, Gabriel and Jackson turned to him at once.
"You know her?" They asked in unison.
"Aye… lady… hiding away in the motel all night…" His speech was slurred and he had a foolish smile as he said, "would love… taste… her."
The message was clear and that was all the incentive Gabriel needed to punch him, knocking the man out cold.
"Gabriel!" Jackson scolded him, looking around, and thankfully the people were not paying him much attention, probably thinking it was a drunken brawl.
So Jackson drew him away while Gabriel fumed, "Did you hear that? A motel? What is she doing there?!"
Jackson answered, "I have no idea. However, there is a motel that we missed on our way. It's not far from here. I think that's where she is."
As if their time was ticking, the both of them tracked down the motel, arriving at the front desk almost breathlessly.
"We are looking for this person, where is she?" Jackson let the sketch dangle in front of the motel keeper.
"How would I know?" The woman said nonchalantly, brushing invisible specks of dust from her finger.
Without wasting time, Gabriel pulled out wads of notes and placed them on her desk. With a coy yet satisfied smile, she received the money and handed the spare key to them.
"Room 062," she said.
Gabriel snatched the key instantly and strode down the hallway. He wrinkled his nose the entire time while searching for her room number. The place was disgusting, how could she stay in there? The pungent smell of cheap perfumes and sex repulsed him; he was close to throwing up.
Thankfully, they found her room
"Fine, here's the plan. I'll go in there and subdue her while also making sure it's safe for you. However, you would also act as a backup in case something happens. Women are deceitful creatures and we must ensure that she doesn't escape. Am I clear?" Jackson got into his role as bodyguard.
"Yes," Gabriel nodded his head, his eyes filled with resolution. It was for the best that Jackson went in there instead of him anyway because he might as well strangle her before she gets the chance to escape.
"I'm going in," Jackson informed him as he carefully unlocks the door else he alerts her of their presence.
Gabriel couldn't help but shake his head at the pathetic state of the door. Even without a key, Jackson could easily get in. What if a man with evil intentions got in there and did something to her? What in the world was she thinking? He was angry for unknown reasons.
"I'm in. She's asleep." Gabriel heard his final whisper before he disappeared fully into the room. So he took a deep breath, bracing himself for what was about to happen. It was time for Zoe to face the music.
Inside, Zoe was fast asleep and Jackson intended to carry her out of here before she even knew what was going on. However, he never expected that she would open her eyes just as he was reaching for her and then kneeled him in his "family's pride" while screaming.
"Sweet Jesus," Jackson cried, crumbling in pain just as Zoe took off and he couldn't catch her. No, he was fully decapitated for the next few minutes and couldn't even stand straight, not to think of walking. Thankfully, the boss was right outside and would catch her.
Something was not right, Gabriel could tell when he heard Jackson moan in pain like an old man getting a circumcision for the first time. What was happening there?
His question was answered when Zoe fled out of the room like a rabbit out of its hole while screaming and he at once extended his arm and grabbed her. Before she could retaliate, Gabriel already pushed her to the wall, barricading her with his body.
She glanced up at him with those wide, frightened eyes and Gabriel smirked devilishly,
"Got you."