Chapter 103: A Race Against Time
1168words
Ayo, the loyal friend and trusted advisor, came along. Because she is very good at investigating, her assistance was very crucial for this type of situation. Now with her help, they have begun unraveling the secret.
They kept looking until they found Silas Thorne, who kept art hidden from everyone. In the art world, many people talked about his strange behaviour even though no solid proof backed up these stories. They had a feeling about Thorne's involvement, but they required evidence.
Like secret agents, they smartly entered an esteemed group by acting as wealthy art collectors. This move is inherently risky and provides them a chance to collect information. They attended private parties, mingled with influential people, and tried to build a relationship with Thorne to gain trust.
Thorne was a man with many sides. Some people might say he is like a chameleon; sometimes very charming and other times very ruthless. Always near him are people who will do anything to earn his favour or praise - these individuals we call 'yes-men'. Yet, there is a certain coldness in his actions that shows he might be thinking deeply and potentially possesses some darker traits.
Eki and Dapo, they are very serious about their jobs as secret police. They watch Thorne and his friends with much attention. Eki and Dapo watched actions repeated many times, saw secret messages in codes, and noticed small movements suggesting a bigger plan.
After asking, they finally arrive on an empty island in the Caribbean which Thorne often visited. People talk about a legend tied to this place; it is said to hide stolen art and secret treasures wanted by many people around the globe.
Choosing the island was not easy. It seemed like a daring gamble, but they thought it was their only chance to recover the stolen item and handle Thorne properly.
When they got inside the airplane, a sense of doubt started to build up within them. They were going into enemy land and were unsure about what awaited them there. But they showed determination; their fear was fueled by rightful anger.
We come to the island, a place in the Caribbean Sea which feels like paradise. The island is very beautiful with many green trees and nice things everywhere you look. But also we could feel something else about this place that was not so good - like it has a hidden or dark side. We sensed this right away as soon as we arrived on the tarmac from our aircraft, stepping onto solid ground in this tropical land.
The house of Thorne was big and strong, like a fortress, showing how rich and powerful it was. When they came closer to the gates, their hearts beat fast with excitement and some worry too. They knew that they were about to encounter their hardest challenge.
At the exact moment they prepared to enter, a figure quickly emerged from the shadows. It was Thorne, his face showing no emotion at all.
"Oh, what a surprise. You come to my little paradise," he said with some irony in his voice. "What brings you to this location?"
Eki and Dapo tried very hard to remain calm, but their hearts were beating fast. "We are curious about your collection, Mr. Thorne," Dapo said with a firm voice even though he felt nervous inside.
Thorne's lips moved into a slight smile, and his eyes shined like those of a predator. "Nice words not going to save you here, young one," he said with certainty. "But come inside. Let's discuss art."
When they entered the big house, a luxurious inside greeted them - it felt like an expensive museum with precious things. The place looked like both a secret vault for treasures and a stylish jail where stolen beauty is kept locked up.
"Quite a collection you have here," Eki remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Thorne's enjoyment appeared very sly and hollow. "Yes," he said, his eyes scanning the faces of everyone present. "I can locate the finest items."
Eki and Dapo exchanged glances, knowing they must be careful. Thorne is a dangerous man; we are stepping into the risky area now.
"We're interested in acquiring a piece for our collection," Dapo said, playing along.
Thorne's eyes twinkled. "A collector, huh? Allow me to see if we can handle this."
They watch with eyes sharp, searching for any clues. They try to find connections between Thorne and the Moonlight Lease robbery in the big house.
They discovered a door inside a secret room, it was hidden very well. They became more curious and slowly pushed to open it. Inside the room was not very bright; they could see some boxes stacked up against one side of the wall.
"What do we have here?" Dapo whispered, his voice filled with excitement and trepidation.
Eki nodded yes, her heart beating faster. This could be the important thing they found – a method to gather evidence.
I moved closer to the crates, seeing a straight beam of light cutting through the darkness. Thorne was standing in the doorway with his gun pointed at them.
"I know you are coming," he said with a cold and scary voice. "But now, you are not going anywhere."
Thorne's voice oozed with scorn as he uttered, "Well, well, well. Caught you red-handed?"
Dapo stood before Eki, his body very tight. "We were just interested," he said with a strong voice but inside him, fear was jumping all around.
Thorne laughed, but it was not a nice or happy laugh. "Curiosity killed the cat," he said. "And for you, it may be something like that."
Eki's mind was racing, feeling like there was no escape. Thorne, who is a very dangerous person, made Eki unsure of what he might do next.
"What do you want from us?" Dapo asked, his voice filled with defiance.
Thorne smiled. "You will find out," he replied, his eyes gleaming wickedly. "But before that, show us what you have got."
He pointed at the boxes. Eki and Dapo exchanged a fearful glance, knowing what was going to come next.
When Thorne was moving closer to the crates, Eki and Dapo were going towards the door. They needed to leave right away. But just when their hands reached the doorknob, all of a sudden a jolt of electricity surged through them. They couldn't move; they were trapped there.
Thorne watched them, his face full of victory. "No escape now," he said with joy in his voice.
At that moment when Eki and Dapo nearly felt like giving up, a noise from outside the room reached their ears. It seemed to be a glass shattering sound.
Someone was coming to their rescue.
