"Who are you looking for?" On the phone, the man's voice was very hoarse and unpleasant.
But when Malcolm heard his voice, he thought of Frank's youthful face and the days he spent training with him.
Coming out of training camp, they'd all learned a little bit about voice-altering techniques.
"Frank, it's you?" It was a question, but Malcolm sounded certain.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. After a while, he chuckled.
"It seems | underestimated you. It's amazing that you could guess it. No wonder you've been in charge of NIB for so many years." Malcolm didn't have tto listen to him and went straight to the point, "Where's my wife? Let her go and tellwhat you want.” The man snorted coldly and said in a hoarse voice, "I thought you have a heart of stone in this life. | didn't expect you to truly love your wife. If | want your life, would you be willing to give it to me?" Malcolm was silent.
Thinking about it, he said carefully, "As long as you can get Lyra back safely, you can watchshoot myself on the news the next day." "Why should | believe you?" "We've known each other for years. You know me. If you don't believe me, | can write a suicide note." His calm tone was deliberative, as if discussing what to eat with the man on the phone.
But Malcolm's serious words provoked him.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Malcolm, have you forgotten that once a girl died because of you? You were so heartless back then, but now you're playing a role of loving husband who trades his life with yours. Do you think I'll let you off so easily?" Malcolm's face paled, and his words brought back a blood-tinged memory.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Do you think that after so many years, you can sit comfortably in the NIB and love your wife without any guilt?" The man almost gritted his teeth, showing his hatred.
Malcolm was expressionless. "I have no guilt for her. | deserve it." he said "Malcolm White!" The man's gloomy voice, because of being hoarse, sounded unpleasant, like a beast's terrible hissing, more like a leopard absconding in the dark, completely enraged.
"It's been so many years, yet you're still so heartless. Well, since you're so capable, you should investigate it yourself. You might even find your wife." "But, before that, letremind you that I've been quite polite to your wife recently. Two more days later, do you want her ring finger or her slim and cute little finger?" Malcolm tightened his grip and gritted his teeth. "Frank, if you dare touch her, I'll make your life a living hell." Frank was unimpressed. "I wish | was dead a long tago. | don't need your help, but I'm lucky to be able to drag you and your wife along with me." Brad was actively checking the location of Frank's signals as the two talked on the phone.
Malcolm's communication tool was a surveillance cell phone with special scientific technology.
The moment the call was connected, all of Frank's cell phone information would be uploaded to the cloud database of NIB through encryption.
The technology was new and Frank had no idea about the new sleuthing technique.
Malcolm glanced at Brad as he talked on the phone.
Brad stared intently at the computer screen, deftly manipulating strings of complex code.
Unsuspecting, Frank was still saying, "Malcolm, actually, it's not that | can't let your wife off after all these years of friendship between us. As long as you admit your past mistakes, go to April's grave and kneel down. Then, kneel and guard her grave for three days and three nights. Then, I'll let your wife cback safely.” Brad, who could hear their conversation, shook his head decisively at his boss.
The man had been on the run for many years, and was a master of disguise and hypocrisy.
Alot can happen in three days. Who knew what he'll do to Lyra? Besides, Malcolm had already said that he was right. Why did he have to go to the grave to admit his mistake? Malcolm didn't speak, as if he was deliberating.
Frank didn't press him either. "I'll give you stto think about it. If you don't callthis ttomorrow, you'll know what I'm going to get you." Toot Toot Toot...
The phone was hung up over there.
Brad immediately cover and said, "Boss, what are you going to do?" Malcolm stared at Brad's blue screen code and squinted his eyes. "It's not up to him. Of course | have the sovereignty. Since there are still 24 hours left, we have to find him." "All right!" Brad continued to work on his hacking skills.
In the middle of the afternoon, Brad finally found out Frank's mobile device's GPS.
The location showed that it was still in Stogairrol County.
Malcolm's brow furrowed and he fell into deep thought.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmJust a few days earlier, he had led a team that had scoured almost the whole of Stogairrol County twice, with no sign of Frank or Lyra.
But Frank never got out of there...
Malcolm's brow furrowed as he ran through the images of the day's search in his mind.
"He's that old fisherman down by the creek in Stogairrol County. He hides all his odors with salted fish, and he's doing a good job of slouching.” Brad was delighted. "If that's the case, boss, let's go and get him now. We might be able to get madam out tonight!" Malcolm walked quickly to the coat rack in the corner, took off his overcoat, and put it on neatly.
"Count fourth and tenth soldiers. Assemble in 15 minutes and followto Stogairrol County." "Yes!" The car ride was too conspicuous, and to avoid alerting the enemy and unwanted attention, Malcolm split the two teams into ten cars and started out of each side door, making a detour to Stogairrol County.
Five minutes into his departure, Anthony arrived at NIB only to be told by a guard at the door that Malcolm was not there.
Malcolm couldn't get through, so Anthony called Chad.
"Where's Malcolm? | have an important thing to talk to him. I've got a possible location on Lyra..." Chad cut him off. "He has gone to rescue Lyra. I'm sure we'll find out tonight." Anthony was stunned. "Where did he go?" Chad thought about it, and out of trust that Anthony hadn't done anything wrong in years, he told the truth,"Stogairrol County.” Anthony furrowed his brow even more, and his expression was horribly grim.
Why Stogairrol County? The information he had taken from the Dark Web was nothing like the location Malcolm had gotten from NIB.
Was he given false information, or was Malcolm's investigation flawed?