Chapter 439
The moment Neil saw the robot, he instinctively wiped the sweat off his brow. Not only had they landed in the middle of nowhere, but now it seemed they’d landed on another planet altogether. The thing looked like it had stepped right out of a sci-fi nightmare, cold, silent, and built to kill. Neil had served in the air force, seen his share of action, but even he had no idea how to handle this. His instincts screamed danger.
Still, he had one job: to protect Shermaine. “Mrs. York,” he called out, voice tight, “stay behind me.”
But Shermaine didn’t even blink. Her gaze stayed fixed on the machine. “Worry about yourself. I can handle this,” she said calmly.
And the truth was, she could. Neil, for all his training, wouldn’t be much help here. At best, he could try not to get himself killed.
The robot lunged, one of its bladed arms slicing through the air with a hiss. Neil barely dodged in time, stumbling backward with a choked yell. Even when they threw heavy equipment at it, the thing didn’t react. Its metal body absorbed the hits like it was nothing.
But Shermaine wasn’t rattled. If it was man-made, then it had limits. And limits could be exploited. Dodging the robot’s attacks with sharp, calculated movements, she called to Neil over her shoulder. “Look around the cabin. See if you can find a rope or anything useful.”
“Got it. Just… be careful.”
“I will.”
Over Mount Hordeum, several helicopters were circling, searching for any trace of the aircraft that had vanished. But there was nothing, not even a scrap of metal. A helicopter that size disappearing without a single piece of wreckage was unsettling, to say the least.
For Joshua, every passing second was unbearable. In the co-pilot’s seat, Bradley was reviewing the details. The whole thing reeked of foul play. Everything about it had happened far too neatly.
“We’ve recovered the flight footage,” he said, handing Joshua a tablet.
“Play it.”
Bradley tapped the screen. The footage, captured from a satellite feed, showed the helicopter flying normally along its planned route. Then, as it neared Mount Hordeum, the signal cut out completely. By the time it resumed, the aircraft was gone, simply vanished.
“I’ve already contacted the Bureau of Aerospace Surveillance. They’re taking over the investigation.”
Back at the auction, the booklet had finally reached the bidding platform. Inside their private box, Judy watched the rising numbers on the screen. “Keep pushing the price,” she said coolly. Harry understood her reasoning. They hadn’t come by this money honestly, and if throwing enough cash around could get them the booklet without a scene, all the better. No point risking exposure if it could be avoided.
But just when it looked like the plan might actually work, Molly stormed in, gun already drawn, eyes blazing. Roy was right behind her, expression deadly serious. He recognized them both: Judy and Harry.
Harry’s jaw tightened as he realized this was a setup. Judy didn’t flinch. Arms crossed, voice steady, she met Roy’s glare. “And if it is?”
She barely finished the sentence before Molly stepped forward, weapon raised. “Try me,” Molly said flatly, her voice sharp with fury. “Where’s Shermaine? Is she missing because of you?”
“If you want answers, maybe don’t start by pointing a gun at me.”
Molly snorted, “Oh, cut the act. Everyone knows you’ve been circling Joshua like a vulture, playing innocent, challenging Shermaine to a match, and cheating when you couldn’t win. Shameless doesn’t even begin to cover it.” She cocked the gun with a sharp click. “You don’t want to talk? Fine. I’ll put a bullet in you and see if that helps you remember anything.”
When it came to threats, Judy could be ruthless. But compared to Molly, she was out of her league.