Chapter 4Lies in the Midst of Crisis

The officer monitoring the call gave me an "OK" signal.

I picked up the receiver, my whole body still trembling.

The officer beside me handed me a small note.

It read: [Delay time]

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice, desperately holding back my tears.

"I'm preparing the money now. Please don't hurt my parents."

The kidnappers on the other end let out a contemptuous laugh.

"Hurry it up! If it's not done in an hour, I'll make good on my threat!"

An officer passed me another note.

I read the note and asked, "Where should the money be delivered? How will you return my parents after I pay?"

The kidnappers' tone turned impatient.

"Leave the money in the locker at the station. Don't worry, once the money's there, your parents will be back with you."

A sharp throb in my temple made my head spin. The drop-off point was different from the last time.

I tried to keep talking, hoping the officers could trace the call.

"How are my parents? Can I hear their voices?"

The kidnapper cursed viciously, "You're a lot of work."

And then I heard the desperate voices of my parents.

"Vickie, we're just glad we found you. We have no regrets in this life.

"Don't risk your life for us. You have to protect yourself.

"I want you to know... we love you more than you think, and we want to make up to you. We just didn't know how to express it..."

My father's frail voice came through.

"Vickie, I'm sorry I lost you when you were two. If I ever get the chance, I'll apologize to you in person..."

I choked up, unable to say anything.

I wanted to tell them that I didn't need their apology. I just wanted them to be safe. I wanted to promise them that I would save them.

The kidnapper cut off the conversation impatiently.

I could hear him kicking someone, swearing under his breath.

"Old fools, so damn sentimental! Rich people are so dramatic!

"Get the money over here, or I can't promise your parents will come home safe."

With that, he hung up.

Everyone instinctively turned to look at me and then shook their heads.

They hadn't been able to trace the call. The kidnappers had used technology to block the signal.

My anxiety and fear exploded all over again.

My mind was a tangled mess.

All I could do was to deliver the money. At least it would ensure my parents' safety.

I quickly called Dominik, who had promised to help with the cash.

However, no matter how many times I called, the phone wouldn't go through.

After calling him a heaps of times, my phone finally rang.

I picked it up and heard my brother Allen's voice. He was laughing.

"Have you had enough of the show? Time to wrap it up."

I instantly tensed.

"What did you tell Dominik?"

Allen's voice was light and carefree.

"Of course, I told him not to give you any money. Twenty million dollars is an immense amount of money. Do you really think you can get away with a measly trick?

"I told him you're just playing a cheap trick. You are trying to empty the family's pockets as soon as you're back. He won't listen to you."

In that instant, every shred of hope I had shattered.

I felt my hopes drain away like water, leaving me utterly devoid of any will to fight.

I knew that without that two million, my parents had no chance of survival.

I had read the case file from the last time.

Those two kidnappers already had blood on their hands.

They didn't care about killing a few more people.

If they didn't get the money, they would really kill my parents.

The phone rang again, and the kidnappers' impatient voice pierced my heart like a knife.

"If you don't bring the money soon, I'll kill them right now!"