章 62: Hostage Taking (5)

28 December, Streets of City K; Matthew's Villa and Rong Family Villa, City K

As Matthew was speaking to Lexi, they were pulled apart and onto their feet. As he slightly turned his head Matthew saw that petrol was being poured onto Lexi's car, ready to set it alight as they left. They were dragged towards a waiting truck and shoved into it with a bag placed over their heads. He felt Lexi leaning into him again. Matthew realised her instincts were kicking in and he was the only security that she had.

Just before the truck started, he heard an explosion, telling him Lexi's car had been set alight. Hopefully his identification tags left in the car would not be destroyed to alert his superiors that there was a problem. As the truck start to move he realised that he needed to work out not only the direction they were travelling, but how long they travelled for. His concern was knowing the Devil's base and worrying how the Devil, his minions and ISX had gotten into City K without being detected. Major Hung and his intelligence team had questions to answer.

However, within seconds of the vehicle starting to move, Matthew felt a needle injecting something into his arm. He realised within seconds that while he did not know the specific drug it not only contained a paralytic but something that would render him unconscious. As he collapsed Matthew's final though was, he hoped that nothing happened to Lexi.

Lexi herself, heard an explosion as the truck that they had been forced into started up, and she moved as close as she could to Matthew. A few seconds after the truck started, she felt a needed jab into her arm, and she wondered what was happening.

At 1am, Butler Yang realised Master Matthew had not returned to the Villa. This was concerning, and he knew his instructions. Master Matthew, despite all his issues was someone who treated the staff working here at the villa with total respect and never lies to them, despite spending little time here over the years due to his military service. He knew his instructions from Master Matthew and reluctantly headed to the room where they had shown the solider accompanying Master Matthew was sleeping. As he entered the room Butler Yang turned on the light and headed towards the bed.

The light disturbed Warrant Officer Wang, who immediately sat up "What do you want?" was the immediate question.

"Sir, Master Matthew told me when he left that he would be home by midnight, however if he had not returned by 1am, I was to disturb you, and let you know."

"Do you know where he was going and who he was with?"

"Sir, Master Matthew's brother Master Phillip collected him and took him to wherever they were going."

"What we need to do, is call the Colonel's brother and find out are they still out, or if he is on his way back."

Butler Yang started out of the room, and George Wang, quickly got out and located a dressing gown, and followed Butler Yang downstairs, after grabbing his secure phone. Butler Yang picked up a phone and dialled Phillip Rong's mobile.

After six rings Phillip picked up the phone, noticing it was from Matthew's Villa and placed it on speaker. Despite Chester's insistence to sleep in a guest room, he was on the bed with Phillip in Phillip's suite. He simply answered "Yes"

"Master Phillip, it is Butler Yang, and Master Matthew's villa. It is after 1am, and he is not home. He made it clear that I was to wake the person who accompanied him, and he said to call you to check."

"Uncle Adam, Chester and I left Club TJ's at 11pm. Matthew was still there with Andrew, Paul Steven, John, Joan, Rebecca and Lexi. Other than Matthew, John and Lexi seemed quite sober. I will see what I can find out. But can you call Lexi's villa to see that she got home"

Chester added "I made arrangements with Andrew for someone to get him home. I will call Andrew and see who took him home."

Phillip added "Give us five minutes and we will get back to you. However, maybe Matthew's adjunct can call John, given he works for the police." Just before he ended the call Phillip gave Butler Yang the mobile number Phillip had for John Nang.

Having written down the number, Butler Yang handed it to Warrant Officer Wang and said "Master Phillip suggested you call his and Master Matthew's friend John Nang, who is a police officer. They will be calling other friends to see that they can find out."