Chapter 10 The Unknown

I looked out the window. The windows of the car behind us were smashed. People were running, panicking.

"Stay away, ma'am," one of the bodyguards said as he got out of the car. He turned his head right and left before finally approaching the rear car. I could see the bodyguard standing in the middle of the crowd, as if assessing the situation.

A few seconds later he returned to the car with an expression that was hard to guess.

"What happened?" I asked. Curiosity and fear mixed together.

"It's all right, ma'am," he said, as if trying to reassure me. Then he took a mobile phone out of his pocket and handed it to me.

"What's this for?" I asked hesitantly before finally taking the phone.

It was a small black phone, an old model with physical keys. No touch screen. Enough to make calls and send simple messages.

"This phone for communicate to Mr David, ma'am.

I raised my face, "Why?"

"We avoid the possibility of tapping your phone."

I frowned. Meanwhile, the sirens of police cars and ambulances began to sound faintly in the distance. They approached the car behind us that had been the target of the shooting.

"You said everything was fine, but why is there an ambulance?"

He took the tablet out of my hand. "Sorry, ma'am, it's not our job to answer all your questions." He said. He pointed across the road. "Make sure you get to your office safely. We'll be watching you from across the road."

I looked at him sharply, dissatisfied with his answer.

"Sorry, ma'am, you have to go. There are a lot of policemen here."

I turned my head. Some policemen had already drawn a yellow line around the car behind me. I quickly put the small mobile phone in my pocket. Then I grabbed the door handle and walked away from the car.

When I tried to look inside the car that had been shot at, I saw a woman sitting in the back seat, her body motionless. Her chest was covered in blood, her head leaning against the glass, her eyes open and empty. I reflexively covered my mouth. The bodyguard said everything was fine, but someone was dead.

The shots fired behind my car had killed a woman, as had the unidentified men who had suddenly been watching me. They were all frightening coincidences.

I went into the office. I walked quickly down the corridor to the lift. But before I could press the button, Jack called out to me.

"Hey," he said with a slight smile. "Did You saw someone die outside?"

"Yeah, I did."

"There's been a lot of weird stuff going on today," he frowned, as if summing up what was going on. "There was a mass shooting and those strange men in black who followed you."

"Did they follow me?"

"Yup, right after you came out of the cafe." He said. 'What happened, Hanna? Are you in a danger?"

I took a deep breath. "I don't know,"

"Maybe because you're trying to expose that businessman?"

"I don't think so."

The lift doors opened and we entered. I stared at the slowly rising numbers on the screen. Jack gave me a sharp look.

"You don't know how ruthless he is. Those people in the cafe could have been sent by him to make you stop digging into his life."

"Shut up, Jack!" I said irritably, listening to the unfounded chatter.

"What if he wants to kidnap you? You don't remember that our senior journalist disappeared in 1989 because..."

"Jack!" I cut him off. "He's not that kind of person."

"How do you know he's not a bad guy?" Jack was not to be outdone. He continued to argue.

"We don't have any hard evidence yet."

"What about the video that's being circulated? Isn't that enough to prove he's bad?"

"Not yet, definitely not, Jack!"

The lift doors opened on the ground floor and I got out first. Jack followed me, "What about the police statement then?"

"The police are still investigating."

Jack looked annoyed. He threw up his hands and gave up. "Oh God! It's up to you, Hanna. If you've been kidnapped by him, I won't help you."

I Could feel Jack's disapproving look, but I knew one thing: David wasn't as bad as he said. Okay, I haven't found out for sure if he's involved in any illegal transactions, eventho i found an organ sale's files at his house, but, i think i have to investigate more instead of guessing like the way Jack does.

Suddenly the small mobile phone in my shirt pocket vibrated. It signalled an incoming message.

From: David.

Are you safe?

I bit my lip, my fingers hovering over the tiny buttons on the phone. I tapped quickly.

To : David

Yes, I'm inside.

A few seconds passed before my phone vibrated again.

From: David

I know you must have a lot of questions.

To: David

A lot.

Am I safe?

From: David

I'll try to keep you safe.

To: David

What about you?

From: David

If you're safe, I'm safe.

I stared calmly at the line of messages. It was as if they were words of reassurance when I knew I wasn't well.

Before I could type another message, my phone rang. I stared at the screen with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

An unknown number.

I bit my lip, my fingers hovering over the screen. I had the urge to reject the call immediately, but at the same time I knew that this call was no coincidence.

I pressed the green button and raised the phone to my ear. "Hello?" my voice sounded smaller than I had expected.

"Hello, this is Apartment Security. Can I speak to Miss Harper?"

I breathed a sigh of relief. A little calmer. "Yes, this is me."

"I would like to inform you that there has been a burglary in your apartment."

My heart beat faster. I gripped the phone tighter. "'What do you mean?"

"We've received a report that someone has broken into your unit," The voice on the other end sounded firm but professional. "The door was found open and several items were scattered about."

I swallowed. Who is doing that?

"Ok, sir. I am gonna back to home."

I switched off my mobile. I hurriedly put on my jacket and bag, almost dropping a few things on the table. Jack, who was sitting next to me, looked over in confusion. What happened?' he asked. But I didn't answer him.

My hand quickly typed a message to David.

Someone broke into my house.

I got into the car and started the engine without hesitation. The car pulled out of the car park at a higher speed than usual. My fingers tightened on the wheel. I could see David's bodyguard's black car in the rear-view mirror.

Relax, I'll be safe. I thought.

After a while I parked the car. I opened the door quickly and ran anxiously towards the lobby and up the stairs.

When I reached the front of my room, it was quiet. It was as if there was no sign of the chaos I'd heard about on the phone.

I stared at the door handle, which looked bent, and the broken lock, as if someone had forced it open.

I took a deep breath. I slowly pushed open the door to my flat. When it opened, my flat was a mess. The sofa was slightly out of place. Some drawers were open and things were scattered about as if they had been rifled through. My wardrobe is open and clothes are strewn about.

My hands clenched into fists. This wasn't just another robbery. It wasn't money or valuables they were after.

It was something else.

But, what?