Burning Passion

CHAPTER 122: SEARCHING for NIKKI (One)

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Another half-hour passed and no trace of Nikki. Daichi gives an order to every security personnel in The Peninsula Hotel to search for Nikki within the premises of the hotel. The security teams silently search to assure little or no attention from the guests.

"Damn it! We focused on observing Kevin Hale! We neglected to protect Nikki and her mother!" Daichi punches the couch.

"I'm sorry. I was the one who assigned someone to watch the family." Jeremy apologized.

"You need not apologize, Master Jeremy."

"I am investigating all the CC TVs inside the hotel," said Rudolf on the other line.

"I will check the cameras on and around the streets near the hotel." Dylan joined the search from Mainland City Observatory Center.

Theo pacing in the room. He couldn't wait to hear if they had found Nikki. "Shit! I'm fucking worthless!" He hated himself for not watching Nikki. He was overconfident because they were inside the hotel. He thought she was safe with the tight security outside.

"Nikki's car is still in the parking lot," Matt reported.

"Then where is she?" Theo yells. "I'm sorry. That meant for me, I was not watching her closely." he apologized after losing cool.

"No problem, Theo. We all stressed because they intended to take Nikki in the first place. And the big mystery, all the cameras showed no evidence of her ever leaving the hotel." said Matt.

"What? Then why can't we find her?" Theo was stressed. "I can't stay here waiting! I need to help with the search!"

"Calm down Theo, our enemy knows us, it is better if you don't show them that we are in a panic," Jeremy advised.

"Master Jeremy is right, we should do the searching, quietly." Daichi seconded. He hits a dial sequence on his phone and talks with someone. "Dale, instruct each of the boys to search for Nikki and Aunt Lucy. Watch for any suspicious movement around the city. Proceed in stealth, make no ripple in the water, we can't underestimate our enemy, or they will pass by under our eyes."

"I understand boss," Dale replied.

"I will send the photos of the people who possibly took Nikki," Daichi added, and he finished the call.

After receiving the data, Dale walked outside his office. "Listen up, boys! We have a very important job. The boss ordered us to work in stealth. Call your most trusted men to search for Nikki and Aunt Lucy."

"What? Did someone take Aunt Lucy? Are they seeking death?" said one of Dale's men. Each of them knows too well about the Lindsey family because of the noodle soup store, because they were regular customers of the diner. Also, because of the late old Lindsey was so nice to them… no matter who they were. Society accuses them of hoodlum people being a member of gangs, but they respected the old Lindsey.

The old man helps many of them. Those times they were just a bunch of useless boys and doing nothing good in their life. But the old man has been kind to them. He is giving free food for work in the store on certain days like weekends and even helps to get them out of a situation.

"Remember, Aunt Lucy had her surgery a month ago. Her condition is not yet good. We need to find her and Miss Nikki as soon as possible."

"Understood boss!" they answered at once.

"I will send the data and images of our suspects."

"Woo-hoo! I know these guys. It's payback time!"

"At ease, boys! The Emperor won't like making a ruckus. Lie low as much and priority is the safety of Aunt Lucy and Miss Nikki."

"Yes, boss!"

* /* /*

Back in the Peninsula Hotel…

They were still searching and replaying every video footage of the hotel and nearby avenues and streets.

"I have already sent the SWAT Team to search and check every vehicle that exits the city," David reported.

"Thank you, David," said Daichi. "Dale contacted me. All the boys have now begun searching for them."

"Thank you, brother Daichi." It amazes him watching these friends and brothers helping to find Nikki.

"No problem, Theo. We won't stop until we didn't find them." Daichi patted Theo's back. It showed the guy's face how worried he was. He could tell that Theo likes Nikki.

Meanwhile, at Crow Mansion, Shun is following the progress of the search. He headed to his study table and opened his computer.

"David, contact all the authorities that no ships or yachts could sail without a thorough inspection of every corner of the ships. Even private planes and seaplanes or that sort of vehicles leaving the city and nearby ports," Shun's orders.

"Copy, brother Shun!" David responded and quickly made the resolution.

"How about Kevin Hale? Where is he now?" asked Shun.

"He was still in the hotel. We are watching every move he makes." Mark responded.

"Good." Shun is pondering over the matters. Now that they were into this situation. He won't let every person who is involved in the crime and illegal activities three years ago. Also, Lindsey and the Shang family was once a victim of an assault, murder, and abduction. Now, abduct Nikki again.

"We should restrain him if he plans to leave the hotel."

"No. Let him be. We could find out something if we let him go anywhere. But we have to follow him quietly."

"Yes. I could tell. He is careful of all of his steps. He is conscious of his surroundings. Casually he is making obvious gestures." Kier joined Rudolf at the Monitoring Room of the Empire Dragon Hotel. Studied Kevin's body language and the way his head moved and looked at Nikki at the front desk. "Something is not right." He has a suspicion.

"What is it, brother-in-law?" asked Mark from the other line.

"Shut up. You and Lena haven't married yet."

"We already got married if you give us your blessings," Mark pouted.

"Why don't you go back to work?"

"I am working!" Mark retorted.

"All right. Let's focus on searching first." Shun meddled with the conversion between Kier and Mark. "Kier, what is your idea?" A lawyer's perception is most helpful at this moment.

***

Empire Dragon Hotel Monitoring Room

"I am reviewing the video when Nikki takes a break. She went to the locker room. However, she never came out ever since."

"Daichi? Did you check that Staff Room?" asked Shun.

"Yes. The security is already checking the room." Daichi replied from The Peninsula Hotel.

"But Nikki wasn't there?" asked Matt who just arrived at the hotel from Mainland Hospital. "What's the progress?"

"Nikki wasn't there," Daichi replied to Shun.

"So, how does she leave the staff room without taking any door?"

"Impossible they could tamper our security cameras."

"No one can do that with the firewall Rudolf, Dylan and Mark develop these passing years."

"Then, where is Miss Nikki?" asked Mark.

"I will investigate the staff room," said Theo, and left the room.

"I'm going with you, Theo!" Matt followed.

Together they run an investigation of the room. They opened every locker and the washroom, but it was empty. There is no window either used to go out of this room.

"How Nikki vanished without a trace?" Matt mumbles. "Her things were still here."

"It is impossible she would disappear like this. Something is not right here." It worries Theo. Nikki is pregnant. He's praying that hope nothing happens to his child and Nikki. 'Keep Mama Lucy safe.'

"They were trying to outsmart us, and they did." Matt clenches his fists. "But doesn't mean we will stop looking!" Matt exclaimed. "Let's go to the Visual Room, Theo! There is something I wanted to check."

"What do you think, Matt?"

"Let us see if there are suspicious movements this morning."

"All right. Can I help also?"

"Sure. Let's see the activity from this morning." Matt agreed to the idea. They take a lift and arrive on the 20th floor where the Secret Room is located.

"Theo, you can check the Hallway cameras on the 14th-floor."

"Okay." Theo began watching the replay of

"I will check the lobby. I need to see if suspicious people came to the hotel."

"And who is that?"

"People that related or connected to Kevin Hale and your uncle Garry."

Matt and Theo review the CCTV's.

"That's a brilliant move, Matt!" Shun complimented. "Rudolf, have you run a profile check to all the guests in the hotel?"

"Yes, I did. I don't see any suspicious people."

"Most of the guests are high profile personnel. We cannot guess if someone among them is working with Kevin Hale or Garry Shang."

"And Senator Lu," David added. "I was checking his data now."

"That's right! Senator Lu is now our suspect."

"David, did you find any information related to them in the past? All the corrupt government officials and even those people we apprehend these past five years."

"I am scanning all the people that involve him but most of them are now in jail now."

"That's the boss!"

"Mark!"

"All right! I'm just praising the boss!"

"Why don't you just continue with your work?"

"I am working!"

"Wait…"

"What is it, Dylan? Did you find anything?"

"Yes."

"What? Can you tell it already?"

"Theo, what are you eavesdropping at sister Blaire's office?"

Everyone is waiting to hear his reply.