Chapter 4 I'll Track Him Down Eventually

"Have you lost your mind, Jennifer? You-"

"Still haven't learned, have you, Edmund?"

This time, instead of a punch, Jennifer opted for a swift kick to Edmund's groin. As Plevale's top agent, she knew exactly how much force to use to make it hurt without causing lasting damage.

Edmund doubled over, clutching his groin in agony.

Carson saw the sweat on Edmund's forehead and glared at Jennifer. Just as he was about to scold her, Jennifer interjected, "Carson, choose your next words wisely. Or would you like to test my kick as well?"

Jennifer subtly lifted her leg as she finished her warning.

Seeing her movement, Carson instantly clammed up.

"Carson, hurry... Take me to the hospital."

Edmund gasped out the words, still writhing in pain. Jennifer was aware of her strength. It was painful but not harmful in the long term.

Just as she was about to reassure them that a hospital visit was unnecessary, her phone rang in her pocket.

Checking the caller ID, Jennifer stepped aside to take the call.

"We have an update, Rose. I've located the person you were looking for. Last night, Jalster General Hospital admitted a gunshot victim. It's likely your target..."

"Send me the location. I'm on my way now."

"Okay."

As soon as Jennifer ended the call, she began to walk away from the villa, but then paused, realizing a problem-she didn't have a car in Jalster.

A car?

Turning, she saw the Bennett brothers about to enter their vehicle.

"What do you want now? I haven't done anything this time."

Edmund, attempting to get into the car, retreated a few steps as he saw Jennifer approach rapidly.

Ignoring him, Jennifer reached out to Carson. "Can I borrow your car?"

At that moment, Jennifer's face wore a sweet expression, her delicate features making her hard to refuse.

As Jennifer drove off, Edmund stared at Carson, his face a picture of astonishment. "Carson, now that you let her take the car, how will I reach the hospital?"

"I'll arrange a driver for you," Carson said.

Jennifer headed for Jalster General Hospital in Carson's car.

Since leaving Plevale, she had someone look into the ship seen off the coast and discovered the buyer was from Jalster, prompting her to concentrate her search there.

The man she had shot would surely seek medical help.

Jennifer was surprised, however, to receive news so quickly.

"Rose... over here, Jennifer."

At the hospital's entrance, a woman in a white coat waved frantically at Jennifer.

She was Rylee Mitchell, also known as Dove, another agent from Plevale.

Aware they were in a hospital, Rylee quickly adjusted her address.

"Hurry! Take me to him!" Jennifer urged as she approached Rylee.

Silently, Rylee led Jennifer into the elevator. They rode directly to the top floor, which housed all the VIP wards.

Rylee whispered as she pointed to the furthest room, "He's in there."

Upon hearing Rylee's update, Jennifer signaled her and then slowly pushed open the door to the room. As the door opened, Jennifer's eyes narrowed.

Noticing the change in Jennifer's expression, Rylee hurried over. The sight of the empty room shocked her. "Where... where is he?"

"Are you asking me?"

Rylee was left speechless.

"Forget it. Knowing he's in Jalster is good enough. I'll track him down eventually."

Jennifer left the hospital without finding the person she was looking for.

--

In a villa on the outskirts of Jalster...

"Why did you check yourself out of the hospital so early, Tyler?"

Vincent Jenkins asked as he looked at the man with chiseled features lying quietly in a black bed, his bare torso propped against the headboard, a white bandage encircling his left shoulder.

"If Tyler had stayed at the hospital, word of his injury would have quickly spread," said Hugh Buckley, who was sitting on the sofa, before the man in the bed could respond.

Noticing Tyler Pittman's silence, Hugh added, "Tyler, even though you've left the hospital, it's probably only a matter of time before it becomes known."

At that, Tyler, the man in the bed, finally responded in a steady voice, "It doesn't matter. Even if they find out, it won't cause much trouble."

Tyler added, "Has the document been decrypted yet?"

"You should ask Vincent. He's got the document."

Under the scrutiny of the two men, Vincent, looking clearly frustrated, said, "You can't imagine how complicated this document's encryption is. Our information center has been at it for an entire day and hasn't made any progress."

"Tell them to hurry up. We need to break that document's encryption as soon as possible," Tyler instructed.

It had been five years since any progress had been made investigating that incident. That was why he had gone to Plevale to steal the document.

It was merely a kidnapping case, yet it had resulted in numerous casualties among special forces from various nations. The Pittman family lost three sons in that ordeal, leaving Tyler as the sole heir.

Vincent's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Tyler, don't stress about the document decryption for now. You've got it back. Breaking the encryption is just a matter of time. What's most important now is your injury. Those old doctors at Jalster General Hospital boast about their skills, yet they couldn't even extract the bullet from you."

Remembering his injury, Tyler thought back to the Plevale Agent Training Camp. "Have you found out who injured me that night?"

"We only learned her codename in Plevale is Rose, and that it's a woman. Beyond that, we've found nothing."

"Keep digging!"