Chapter 14
“Life may be hard on you, but don’t give up. It will be well.”
~~~
I thought it was the end of my obstacles when Matthew gave me the go-ahead to flash out the microchip. It took weeks of begging before he could give in to pleas of my needed privacy. More setbacks unfolded and I’d never been so miserable in my life.
“You’ve changed,” he voiced out. We were having lunch at an eatery but all I could think of was how to get away from him.
“Oh, what did I do?” Grabbing my spoon, I began picking on my food, my appetite long gone.
“You’re bored, angry, and don’t smile anymore.” He folded his arms against his chest and leaned back in his seat.
I sighed and scanned the restaurant, a habit I was yet to rid myself of. It was our first time eating there and just like the mood between us, it was dull, lifeless, and quiet. The few heads I could see were either dining alone, reading the newspaper, or typing away on their gadgets.
“You can’t blame me, can you? I don’t have a reason to smile.”
“Is being with me so bad?” He hunched forward, eager for a reply.
“Yes, it’s bad. Extremely bad. I feel violated, confined like a prisoner and I hate it.” My voice came out strained. A day of me playing detective barely elapsed yet I was beyond enervated. I couldn’t visualize spending one more second with him.
“But I have money and I love you, what else do you want?”
“I want you out of my life!” I slammed the table, earning an astounding look from him. He grabbed my left arm and yanked me towards him but I was not in the least bit spooked.
“Now listen and listen good, you don’t get-” His phone’s ringtone ate up the rest of his threats. He let go of my hand and for the first time, picked his phone in my presence before proceeding to converse with what I made to be his business associate. My eyes were trained on my plate of rice but my mind was alert and my ears were perked, yearning to uncover something worth my while.
“As we speak, I have about a hundred kilos in my apartment. I’m not sure how much Peter can add to make up for the amount you need but I’m working on it,” he whispered, his eyes scrutinizing the room for eavesdroppers. My heartbeat accelerated and I withstood the longing to scream out my enthusiasm. As hazardous as it seemed, I had to seize the opportunity to my advantage. Otherwise, I would lose my shit waiting for another.
“Alright, I’ll set up a meeting for later today because I need those goods out of my house as soon as fucking possible.” He hummed responses a couple more times before ending the call.
“Are we leaving?” I asked immediately he cut the call.
Dropping his phone on the table, he shook his head. “Finish your food first.”
I counted the minutes until we were done eating before excusing myself to the bathroom. Taking out the burner phone I was allotted by the special agent in charge of my case, I dialed Dad’s number. It rang twice before he answered, bombarding me with questions.
“I’m fine. I have a strong lead, you need to alert your boss to authorize the search warrant we talked about. I know where he’s hiding the drugs.” I couldn’t quell my excitement from seeping through to my voice.
“You have to give me more information like where he’s keeping them, who he’s with, and if it’s safe or not. So we can know how to arm ourselves.”
“We’re at an eatery but the drugs are in his house. I’m in the bathroom as we speak.” I stared at my image through the mirror, adjusting my headband with my free hand.
“We can’t raid his house until you’ve confirmed that what you’re saying is true.” My triumphant grin instantly turned into a scowl as I backed away from the mirror. “What do you mean I have to confirm it? This is our chance, we have to take it. It’s now or never!”
“You clearly don’t know the risks, Shannon. If we break in and find nothing, he’ll know we’re onto him, putting an end to our agenda and we’ll have to go into protection till we can crack his case. It may take months or years of looking behind our backs before we can have a solid case against him.”
Defeated, I leaned against the wall. “I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
“It would be a disaster. Go there now, confirm if the shipments are still there and I will have my men ready,” he assured. With the ideas of my next move playing in my mind, I shuffled back to the table and reoccupied my seat.
“Are you feeling sick?” Matthew stretched his hand to touch my forehead.
I nodded. “I have a tummy ache.”
“Is it bad? Do you want to go to the hospital?”
“No, I’ll be alright. I’ll take a painkiller.”
His suggestion of us heading home had me close to tumbling over from walking speedily. I was eager to get to his house, verify the drugs and make the call that would free me from him. I could barely sit still through the car ride, the AC was on but I kept fanning myself. My heartbeat had picked a new rhythm.
After what seemed like hours of driving, we finally got to his house but all my schemes flew out the window. How in the world I expected to successfully search the house with him present was beyond me. I had to restrategize.
“Are you sure you’re alright? You seem unsettled.” Worry filled his features, giving me a reminisce of the good old days. His love for me was more like an obsession, he threatened to hurt me, my family. That was unforgivable.
“I’m fine, a little bit tired.”
“Okay. I’ll go take a shower, you should take a nap.” He handed me painkillers and a glass of water before helping me lie down and striding to the bedroom.
I counted to a hundred before tiptoeing to the door and pressing my ear on it. Echoes from the shower gave me the go-ahead. Slightly pushing the door open, I crept in on my toes, standing at the middle of the room with my hands trembling, stranded on where to start. With no time to spare, I sprung into action, opening and closing every drawer as silently as I could.
