Chereads / Beyond the Broken / Chapter 14 - The Search for Answers

Chapter 14 - The Search for Answers

Rayner's eyes darted wildly as he hastened to gather his belongings. His hands trembled, and his face was slick with sweat. As he shakily opened the door to his office, a cold dread seeped into his bones. His legs felt like jelly, and he stumbled, his knees buckling beneath him.

An officer was standing outside the office of Rayner and he saw him falling to the ground. The officer's concerned voice cut through the fog of fear that had enveloped Rayner. "You okay, Chief?" while making him stand up. Rayner forced a weak smile, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm good." But his body betrayed him, his hands shaking, and his eyes wide with terror.

As he made his way to the exit gate, the officer's curious gaze followed him. "You going, Chief?" Rayner nodded, his voice still laced with fear. "Yes."

His eyes scanned the surrounding area, as if he expected danger to lurk around every corner. The phone call had unleashed a primal fear within him, and now he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched, that his every move was being monitored. After that Rayner leaves the station.

Simon's eyes narrowed as he pressed Johnson for answers. "Why did you cut the connection to the CCTV camera two days ago?" he demanded.

Johnson's wails grew louder, and he shook his head frantically. "It was...it was for maintenance," he stammered. "I didn't do it, I swear!"

Simon's expression remained sceptical. "Maintenance?" He raised an eyebrow. "You expect me to believe that?"

Johnson's wails filled the air as he protested, "This is true, I swear! The CCTV camera was being maintained!" Sasha's expression remained stern as she instructed Simon, "Take him to the station and interrogate him. We need to get to the bottom of this."

Meanwhile, in a quiet hospital room, Yuno lay in bed, surrounded by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of machines. Timothee sat beside her, a bouquet of colourful flowers in his hand. He gently offered them to Yuno, who smiled weakly as she took them.

She brought the flowers to her nose, inhaling their sweet fragrance. A faint smile played on her lips as she looked up at Timothee. "You didn't have to do that," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Timothee's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. "I wanted to. I hope you get better soon, Yuno." Yuno's smile grew a little wider as she laughed softly. "I'm fine. This is just for concern purposes."

Just then, Dr. Lee entered the room, a warm smile on her face. "Hello, Yuno. How are you today?" Yuno's smile faltered for a moment before she replied, "I'm good, thank you. How about you?" Dr. Lee's eyes sparkled as she returned Yuno's smile.

Dr. Lee began her examination, checking Yuno's blood pressure and pulse. After a few moments, she nodded, a look of satisfaction on her face. "Everything looks normal. I think it's time for you to go home, Yuno. You're good to go."

Timothee's face lit up with a warm smile as he watched Amelia help Yuno out of the hospital room. He felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing that Yuno was finally on the mend.

Dr. Lee, who had been busy gathering her things, caught sight of Timothee's smile and raised an eyebrow. "Young man, you've got a crush on Yuno, haven't you?" she asked, a knowing glint in her eye.

Timothee's face turned bright red as he felt his cheeks heat up. He looked away, trying to play it cool, but Dr. Lee's words had caught him off guard. "I...I don't know what you're talking about," he stuttered, trying to sound nonchalant.

Dr. Lee chuckled, a warm, gentle sound. "Don't worry, Timothee. Your secret is safe with me. But I have to say, you two make a cute couple." She winked at him, and Timothee looked away, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Simon firmly guided Johnson to the police car, the handcuffs on Johnson's wrists glinting in the light. Johnson's wails grew louder as he struggled against the restraints. "They'll kill me! Help!" he begged, his eyes wild with fear.

Simon's expression remained calm and reassuring. "They won't hurt you, Johnson. You're under police custody now. You're safe." He helped Johnson into the passenger seat, making sure he was secure before closing the door.

Simon turned to Sasha, who stood watching the scene unfold. "You're not coming with us?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sasha shook her head, her eyes distant. "No, I've got something on my mind. I'll catch up with you later." Simon nodded, his expression understanding. "Alright, be careful." With that, he slid into the driver's seat and started the engine, preparing to take Johnson in for further questioning.

As Simon's car disappeared into the distance, Sasha quickly pulled out her phone and dialled Serge's number. Meanwhile, Serge and Karl were still at the crash scene, assessing the damage to their vehicle. Serge chuckled and patted the car's hood. "It's okay, he insured. The front mirror will be fixed in no time."

Just then, Serge's phone rang, shrill in the silence. He quickly picked it up, his eyes scanning the screen before locking onto Sasha's name. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

Sasha's reply was brief. "Yes, I'm fine. I need you to get Karl and to come to my location. I'll send you the location." Serge's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. "What's going on, Sasha?" he asked, but Sasha's response was cryptic.

"We're going to pay Khaan a visit," she said, her voice low and serious. Serge's eyes met Karl's, a silent understanding passing between them. He nodded, his jaw setting in determination. "We're on our way."

Serge nodded at Karl, "Let's go, sit in the car." Karl obliged, settling into the passenger seat as Serge carefully backed out of the crash scene, the broken front view mirror a stark reminder of their earlier mishap.

As they approached Sasha's location, she waved at them, a bright smile on her face. "What a nice front view mirror," she joked, eyeing the broken glass. Serge chuckled, shaking his head good-naturedly.

Sasha slid into the backseat, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I've sent you the location of Khaan's house. Let's go." Serge nodded, his eyes flicking to the GPS as he pulled away from the curb.

The drive was quiet; the only sound was the soft hum of the engine and the occasional beep of the GPS. Finally, they arrived in Bearsden, the town where Khaan lived. As they stepped out of the car, Serge and Karl couldn't help but stare.

Before them stood a magnificent mansion, its walls gleaming with polished stone, its windows sparkling like diamonds in the sunlight. Karl whistled softly, his eyes wide with awe. "The bastard is rich," he breathed.

Sasha's expression turned stern, her eyes flashing with warning. "Quit gawking, we have work to do." Serge and Karl exchanged a look, their faces sobering as they followed Sasha towards the mansion.