NOVEL NEXT Chapter 417: The Abduction
With Sarah currently distracted but safe within the studio building, Henry activated his next plan.
Across the street, a man and a woman lounged casually on a bench.
They were disguised like idle passersby, while their trained eyes monitored everyone going in and coming out of the studio.
The man pretended to be reading a newspaper, while his finger leisurely brushed the dart gun, hidden in his inner jacket pocket.
While the woman posed as a businesswoman, making an international call.
A few yards away, another pair of men leaned against a paint delivery van, their postures relaxed, as if on break. They also kept a secret watch of the studio entrance, standing as backup in case the first team failed.
Also parked behind Sarah's car, was a sleek black sedan with tinted windows. And seated behind the wheel was a young man with dirty blonde hair and eyes as sharp as a hawk.
Deborah, who was still hiding inside the video store, grinned wickedly as she spotted a young lady, disguised as Sarah, making her way out of the studio. She didn't suspect a thing as the lady had exactly the same wavy blonde hair as Sarah, the same frame and even Sarah's soft sway of movement.
And to make things more realistic, the lady was wearing these exact same clothes Sarah wore to the studio, and her knuckles were bandaged exactly the same as Sarah's bruised hand.
Deborah quickly alerted Gary before making her way out of the video store, unaware of the narrowed pairs of eyes hidden in the shadows tracking her every move.
"Everyone get ready," Gary spoke into his Bluetooth device. "The lady in question just stepped out."
The stationed men and women all swung into action, their eyes flashing with a dangerous intent.
The lethal assassin posing as Sarah casually made her way to her car while pretending to talk to someone over the phone. Her backpack was slung over her shoulder, and she was holding a sky-blue folder in one hand.
The disguised woman across the street moved with precision, while her partner, holding the dart gun underneath his newspaper, fired a clean shot.
A faint hiss split the air, before heating Sarah's decoy on the side of her neck.
"Ouch!" She staggered, one of her hands cupping the side of her neck while her passworded phone slipped out of her hand, crashing to the ground. Then she let herself go limp, her hands flailing to hold on to something for support.
"Lady, are you all right?!" The kidnapper woman approached Sarah's decoy from behind and caught her just in time. "What is wrong with you?" She asked softly like a Good Samaritan, while pulling out the dart pin and quickly tossing it under the car.
"I think I got stung by a bee..." The decoy, drawled weakly faking drowsiness. "I'm allergic..."
"Oh god... Please hold on, lady, while I get help."
Just then, the other man, who had initially fired the dart arrived beside his partner, speaking softly in a friendly voice.
"What is wrong with her?" He asked his partner, while faking the part of a concerned neighbour.
"I think she got stung by a bee, and she said she's allergic." The female kidnapper's panicked voice attracted the attention of a few passersby.
Before any passerby could interfere and foil their operation, the man suggested in an urgent tone. "Let's quickly take her to the hospital in my car. She needs a doctor immediately." He lifted the decoy into his arm and hurried over to the black sedan while his partner carried the decoy's bag, phone and folder.
Within seconds, the black Sedan sped off and the other disguised criminals vanished out of sight.
Inside the sedan, Sarah's decoy fingers brushed the inside of her jacket pocket, pulling out a very small syringe.
The kidnappers, thinking she was unconscious, celebrated their victory – clinking cans of beer and chatting boisterously.
Sarah's decoy discreetly brought the syringe to her thigh and jabbed herself before discarding the empty syringe in the folds of the seat.
The counteragent flooded her bloodstream, nullifying the tranquillizer before it could take complete hold of her system.
Then she closed her eyes again, feigning unconsciousness while her lips curled in a faint devilish smirk.
Meanwhile, Deborah had already met up with Gary and together they left the scene in a grey Honda Civic.
"I should have trusted you from the very beginning Gary." Deborah leaned closer, brushing a kiss on his right cheek as he drove her back to her home.
"I told you... I've always got your back. This is nothing but a piece of cake for me and my men." Gary's lips curved in a smirk as he stole a side glance at her before focusing on the road.
"Now, I can focus on winning that female lead role and sweeping Mr Henry Gordon off his feet."
"And don't forget my cut when you finally get that role and the rich dude in your pocket." Gary reminded her, a hint of jealousy and greed lacing his tone.
"Of course...my sugar boo." Deborah stroked the back of his hair teasingly. "Everything I'm doing is to give us a better life. Soon... My picture will be pasted all over Broad Street and you will always be there to celebrate my victory."
"Of course, baby." Gary lifted the back of her hand and planted a kiss on it.
"So what are you going to do with that infuriating brat?" Deborah asked, a malicious thought crossing her mind.
"What do you think? They don't call me Gary the punisher for nothing." He flashed her a devilish grin and both of them burst out laughing.
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Twenty minutes after the coded abduction, the real Sarah and her giggling bestie, Anabelle, stepped out of the studio, holding a beautifully wrapped purple parcel.
"I can't wait to see that cute bundle of joy." Sarah's tone was giggly and warm. She casually made her way to her car, blissfully unaware of the event that had just gone down.
"Me too... It's been over a week since I saw him and I miss him so much already." Anabelle chirped excitedly, opening the back seat door of Sarah's car as she carefully got out. "Are you sure we shouldn't open this package first and find out what Mr Secret Admirer got you?" She pouted at the beautiful gift in admiration.
"I already told you... I don't like opening gifts in public. We could do that when we get to my cousin's house." Sarah carefully dropped the gift and closed the back door, before sliding into the driver's seat.
Minutes later, they were both on their way to the Andersons' mansion, while a ghost guardian followed closely behind them, in an SUV – ensuring they arrived at their destination without any hassle.