Chapter 419 But Your House Just Blew Up
Tim wasn’t young, and looked to be in his thirties, whereas Natalie didn’t look more than 25 or 26 years old.
After carrying out so many dangerous missions and given his age, Tim was planning to retire, but Natalie, who was at the peak of her career, didn’t support this decision.
They didn’t seem to be simple work partners.
Luke didn’t believe that their jobs allowed for interpersonal relations.h.i.+ps, which was even more perilous for them than for police officers.
But it wasn’t appropriate for everyone else to stand around and watch the drama, so Luke broke the awkward atmosphere. “Okay, let’s go back to your investigation. You can keep the cla.s.sified information to yourselves, but what about Jeff? Even gunmen were sent to deal with him today. And you’re not going to let Carl here live in that old warehouse again, right?”
Carl smiled bitterly. “I could take the night s.h.i.+ft at the company and sleep there, provided that they believe what happened to me.”
But judging by Tim and Natalie’s reactions, he didn’t think he could do as he liked.
Tim shook his head. “Carl, you can call your supervisor and ask for leave, but until we find a target, you’ll have to spend a few days under our watch. Sorry.”
Carl didn’t say anything.
A promotion and a pay rise were great, but not worth dying for. Though he was now penniless, he still wanted to live, even if he had to stay in an RV.
Tim looked at Luke and Selina. “You can’t report this to the police department either.”
Selina was focused on the ice cream.
Luke nodded with a smile. “Not a problem. But I just killed eight shooters with my police gun, and ballistics will trace it back to me. I trust you’ll handle that?”
Tim nodded. “Don’t worry. We’ve already informed someone to take care of it.”
Luke said, “Then there’s nothing to worry about. Our job is to deal with criminals. But what about Jeff and Karen?”
Tim said, “It won’t take long. I can’t tell you the details, but we’ll protect Jeff while he’s at work for the next couple of days.”
Luke thought for a moment, then nodded. “That works. We have to go in to work tomorrow. We skipped today.”
Everybody: “…”
Next, Tim and Natalie questioned Jeff on his own.
Luke knew that they were looking for the guy who had leaked the intel and drawn in the killers.
Very soon, two men in plain clothes took Carl away, and the rest of them returned home.
Carl would be taken into temporary custody given his vulnerable ident.i.ty. The attack against him today couldn’t prove yet that he was completely innocent.
As a HR employee, it was impossible for Jeff to reach out to the leaders.h.i.+p of MBI.
But Carl, as MBI’s security manager, had the power to directly report security matters to the top.
Naturally, Tim couldn’t let Carl do anything to alert the enemy. Furthermore, Tim needed Jeff as bait, and he couldn’t really do anything to restrain Luke and Selina.
His agency had to be extremely prudent when operating in the country; a slip up could result in someone grabbing hold of their weakness.
Luke and Selina were just two minor detectives, but this was their turf, and Tim would have to pull some strings in order to keep them under watch, which might alarm their mission target. In any case, Luke had helped them protect Jeff and Carl; Tim didn’t want to do anything to allies unless it was necessary.
While saying goodbye to Jeff and Tim in the neighborhood, Luke suddenly frowned, and beckoned Tim over. A little surprised, Tim still got out and walked over to Luke. As he said typical things in farewell, Luke swiftly typed out something on his phone.
Tim nodded with a smile. “Okay, got it.” Looking away from the screen, he tapped twice casually on the car door.
Luke said, “Sweet dreams. Jeff, Karen, come over to my place for dinner.” He then drove his car away.
Jeff found it strange, but still followed Luke.
Tim smiled bitterly at the two cars that drove away. He returned to his car and said something to Natalie, before they drove back to their own place.
A moment later, there was an explosion.
The two cars that hadn’t gone far stopped. Petrified, Jeff and Karen looked at the enormous fireball that had risen up behind them. Countless burning objects then started to fall from the sky.
Luke got out and looked at the explosion. With an indecipherable look on his face, he took out his phone and said, “Selina, take Jeff and Karen to our place.”
Luke returned home less than an hour later.
It was Tim’s house that had blown up.
However, Luke was too lazy to put on an act. He simply gave a statement to the police officers who rushed over, then went home.
Looking at Jeff and Karen in the living room, he sighed and said, “Sorry, but your place isn’t safe either. You better stay here for now.”
Karen couldn’t help but ask, “Was that… Tim’s house?”
Luke nodded.
Jeff found that hard to believe. “Seriously? They’re dead? You’re not going to do anything?”
Luke worked for the Major Crimes Division, and this was exactly the kind of case that he should be investigating, not to mention the fact that he was involved.
Luke was about to reply, when his phone rang. He smiled and picked up the call. “Did you find them? Come on in. The garage is already open. Go to the bas.e.m.e.nt. We’ll be there soon.”
He then hung up and asked, “Do you want anything to drink? Or maybe watch some TV?”
Both Jeff and Karen looked conflicted.
Even if Tim and Natalie might be some sort of special agents and they had only known each other for two days, Luke still seemed too heartless!
Looking at their faces, Luke said, “It seems that you’re not thirsty.”
He then gestured at them and said, “Let’s go, but don’t get too excited.” He led the way while Selina was at the back, which made Jeff and Karen, who were in the middle, very nervous. What was this? Were they going to be killed?
Going to the bas.e.m.e.nt through a side door, Jeff and Karen were struck dumb as soon as they went down the stairs. Then, they both yelled, “Tim? Natalie? You’re not dead?”
It was none other than Tim and Natalie in the bas.e.m.e.nt.
Tim pressed his hands together. “Jeff, don’t get excited. We’re not ghosts.” “But your house blew up!” Jeff still found it hard to believe.
Natalie nodded. “The truth is, we never went in at all. We just blew up the bomb inside as a cover.”
Jeff asked, “Why?” Tim and Natalie looked to the side.
Everybody finally noticed that there were two more people in the bas.e.m.e.nt, who were tied to chairs with their mouths taped shut.
“Danny? Meg?” Jeff and Karen looked at them in surprise.
Shocked, Jeff looked at Tim. “You, wait…”
He suddenly reacted, and turned around to look at Luke. “And you too. You kidnapped Danny and Meg. Why?”