Chapter 396
Eva wasn’t the only one with a troubled mind that night.
Emily and Nathan were lost in thought as well.
The clock had long since passed midnight, and although they had booked separate rooms, Emily found herself restless, her mind preoccupied with Eva’s predicament. Post-shower, she decided to seek out Nathan for a discussion. She found him fresh from the shower as well, clad only in a towel wrapped around his waist, his chest bare.
Nathan opened his mouth to greet her, but Emily, charged with urgency, breezed past him into the room, apparently unfazed by his state of undress.
Without preamble, she launched into her concerns about Eva.
“Where do you think they’ve taken her?” Emily paced the room, her voice laced with worry. “I haven’t really kept in touch with Michael over the last five years. If I knew him better, maybe I could guess his moves, figure out where he might’ve taken Eva p>
Nathan lingered by the door, a silent statue, as Emily seemed oblivious to his bare chest.
He gave her a bemused look, wondering if she was simply that unbothered or if she didn’t see him in a romantic light at all.
With a mental shrug, Nathan closed the door and grabbed a robe from the closet.
The last thing he needed was for her to snap back to reality and accuse him of indecent exposure.
Donning the robe and cinching it at the waist, he left a hint of his chest exposed.
Emily, meanwhile, was deep into her monologue in the room.
It took her a moment to realize her soliloquy had been met with silence. By the time she turned to Nathan, he was decently robed, and she couldn’t pinpoint anything amiss. “Why haven’t you said anything?” she asked, a hint of frustration in her voice.
Nathan settled in front of her, his expression serious. “Guesswork isn’t going to find her p>
Her energy deflated at his words. In the sprawling urban jungle, finding someone without solid leads was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Nathan, sensing her despondency, poured a glass of water and took a sip, mulling over their next move.
“Aren’t you going to report it?” he finally asked.
Emily’s hesitation was palpable. She had initially followed Eva’s advice not to involve the police, but they were getting nowhere fast. Could she really justify not reporting it any longer? “Have you tried reaching out to Adrian again?” he prompted.
“Right, I should call Adrian.” Emily pulled out her phone and dialed. Previous attempts had gone unanswered, and she braced for more of the same.
To her surprise, the call connected, and a familiar, cool voice answered.
“Hello p>
It had been five years, but she recognized Adrian’s voice instantly.
A brief pause as she collected herself. “Adrian? It’s Emily. You’ve picked up. Eva’s been p>
She intended to explain Eva’s abduction, but Adrian cut her off. “I know what you’re about to say p>
“You do?” Confusion laced her question. How could he know?
“Yes p>
“Then you’ll help? Do you know where she is?” she pressed.
“Where are you now? I’ll send a car,” Adrian replied, all business.
“We’re at the last place she was seen,” Emily said, deliberately vague, testing him.
Without asking for specifics, Adrian simply acknowledged and said a car would be there shortly.
After the call, Emily was visibly shaken. Nathan, with a wry smile, observed, “Looks like he was ahead of us p>
“But how come we couldn’t get through to him?” Emily wondered aloud.
“Maybe he was on a flight,” Nathan suggested.
That made sense. Adrian knew about Eva but couldn’t answer mid-flight. Once landed, why hadn’t he checked his messages, though?
Emily’s thoughts spiraled, but she pushed them aside. “Let’s get ready and head downstairs p>
She returned to her room to gather her things, leaving Nathan with a few brisk instructions. Nathan watched her go, a mix of emotions crossing his face before he started to pack. Within ten minutes, Adrian’s car arrived – a sleek black sedan that cut through the night. Inside, Nathan and Adrian exchanged curt nods, a silent acknowledgment between them. Adrian’s nod to Emily was equally brief.
“When did Eva last contact you?” he inquired.
Emily recounted the timeline and her failed attempts to reach him.
“Didn’t you think not answering could lead to missed emergencies? If Eva hadn’t called today p>
“I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. I was on a flight,” Adrian cut in, his tone defensive.
“But after landing? You didn’t check your messages?” Emily’s tone was accusatory, her patience thin.
Adrian’s response came after a moment’s reflection, his expression contrite. “I apologize. I got a message about her being here and rushed over. I didn’t check my phone.” Emily had braced for an argument, not an apology, and his contrition took her aback.