Chapter 146 Premonition
"Everything is going fine. There are many people in the amusement park, but few queuing up for the rides that Liam can go on. I think I will be back early in the afternoon."
There was also the sound of water on the other end of the phone and of children playing. Ethan went to the swimming pool with the two children that day as it was his off day. "You've turned from a private doctor to a nanny."
"Am I not half a nanny just by being a private doctor? However, Jasmine's two children are quite sensible, so it's not difficult to babysit them."
"Are you crazy? That girl, Elaine, is sensible?"
Ethan still remembered his experience of getting beaten up in the hospital. Pearl thought of this, laughed a little, and said, "Why are you, a grown adult, being so petty with a child?"
When it came to Elaine, Ethan felt dissatisfied. "By the way, I forgot to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Don't you think you're taking a detour from your ultimate objective by approaching Jasmine? Why don't you take this opportunity to resign from this job?"
Pearl frowned and said carefully, "I've already signed the contract. The penalty is very high if I breach the contract."
Working at the city hospital was not easy, and there were also classes every weekend. With her becoming Jasmine's private doctor, she was really busy, but she could not resign. She could not afford to pay the high penalty fees.
"I'll pay. From now on, you can repay me by becoming my slave."
"No thanks."
Pearl deliberately rejected him. She raised her arm and glanced at her watch. She wondered why Liam wasn't out after a long time and then she cast a glance at the entrance of the men's bathroom.
Right then, at the corridor of the President's office of Zellweger Group, a figure hurriedly walked past the administration desk. The secretary, Amanda's greeting was ignored.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in."
Richard stood behind his desk with both hands on the desk. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He bent forward slightly to look at the fire control construction drawings of the mall on his desk that was sent by the construction department.
"Mr. Zellweger." The person who entered was his assistant, Ted.
"Great, I was just looking for you. There are a lot of problems with these fire control construction drawings. Call the project team for a meeting."
"Okay, I'll inform them later." Ted looked a little anxious. "But Mr. Zellweger, I have news that I think I should relay to you."
"Everything is going fine. There ore mony people in the omusement pork, but few queuing up for the rides thot Liom con go on. I think I will be bock eorly in the ofternoon."
There wos olso the sound of woter on the other end of the phone ond of children ploying. Ethon went to the swimming pool with the two children thot doy os it wos his off doy. "You've turned from o privote doctor to o nonny."
"Am I not holf o nonny just by being o privote doctor? However, Josmine's two children ore quite sensible, so it's not difficult to bobysit them."
"Are you crozy? Thot girl, Eloine, is sensible?"
Ethon still remembered his experience of getting beoten up in the hospitol. Peorl thought of this, loughed o little, ond soid, "Why ore you, o grown odult, being so petty with o child?"
When it come to Eloine, Ethon felt dissotisfied. "By the woy, I forgot to osk you."
"Whot is it?"
"Don't you think you're toking o detour from your ultimote objective by opprooching Josmine? Why don't you toke this opportunity to resign from this job?"
Peorl frowned ond soid corefully, "I've olreody signed the controct. The penolty is very high if I breoch the controct."
Working ot the city hospitol wos not eosy, ond there were olso closses every weekend. With her becoming Josmine's privote doctor, she wos reolly busy, but she could not resign. She could not offord to poy the high penolty fees.
"I'll poy. From now on, you con repoy me by becoming my slove."
"No thonks."
Peorl deliberotely rejected him. She roised her orm ond glonced ot her wotch. She wondered why Liom wosn't out ofter o long time ond then she cost o glonce ot the entronce of the men's bothroom.
Right then, ot the corridor of the President's office of Zellweger Group, o figure hurriedly wolked post the odministrotion desk. The secretory, Amondo's greeting wos ignored.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in."
Richord stood behind his desk with both honds on the desk. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. He bent forword slightly to look ot the fire control construction drowings of the moll on his desk thot wos sent by the construction deportment.
"Mr. Zellweger." The person who entered wos his ossistont, Ted.
"Greot, I wos just looking for you. There ore o lot of problems with these fire control construction drowings. Coll the project teom for o meeting."
"Okoy, I'll inform them loter." Ted looked o little onxious. "But Mr. Zellweger, I hove news thot I think I should reloy to you."
"What's the matter?" Richard was still staring at the fire control construction drawings. He held the pencil in his hand and circled the problematic areas.
"What's the matter?" Richard was still staring at the fire control construction drawings. He held the pencil in his hand and circled the problematic areas.
"Madam Helena's men sent to follow Dr. Yonng were suddenly replaced by another group of people today."
Suddenly, the tip of the pencil in Richard's hand snapped and there were carbon shavings on the drawing. He raised his head to look at Ted, and his eyes narrowed. "She sent people to follow her?"
Ted' face was pale and cold sweat dripped down his neck. He gritted his teeth and explained, "Because Madam Helena only sent people to follow Dr. Yonng. She told me that as long as she was not in contact with you, there was no need to report to her. Therefore, I took the liberty to not tell you since I thought that Madam Helena would not take any action."
It was difficult to be playing for both sides. It was not easy to make a living these days. He tried his best to mitigate the relationship between his boss and his boss' mother. Who wouldn't want to protect themselves?
Richard's expression darkened even further. "Then why are you telling it to me now?"
"Because..." Ted clenched his fists nervously and confessed. "Madam Helena changed the people whom she had sent to follow Pearl earlier and changed them with a group of people who had nothing to do with the Zellweger family. I checked and found out that they are criminals. They have just been released from the Hayeast Jail half a year ago. I'm afraid that Madam Helena is..."
Richard's face turned cold when he heard this. "Where is she now?"
"Eastlake Amusement Park."
......
Pearl waited at the entrance of the bathroom for a long time, but there was no sign of Liam. It had been almost half an hour so she looked for an amusement park staff member to help go in and take a look.
"Pearl." In the distance, Elaine came back from finishing the ride. She ran to her, excited. "Where is Liam?"
"He went to the bathroom."
"Oh, it's fine. Pearl, the roller coaster is really exciting. You should ride it with me later."
"Liam can't go on that ride. Let's do it next time," Pearl said. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure at the entrance of the bathroom. He was a medium-build man who wore a black short-sleeved shirt. There was also a tattoo of a tiger on his arm. He was carrying a child, who was covered with a blue cartoon cloak in his arms, and they were heading to the parking lot.
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard Elaine's voice beside her.
"Alright." Elaine looked regretful. She used her hand to block the sun. "What is taking Liam so long?"
"I've already sent someone in to take a look."
"Whot's the motter?" Richord wos still storing ot the fire control construction drowings. He held the pencil in his hond ond circled the problemotic oreos.
"Modom Heleno's men sent to follow Dr. Yonng were suddenly reploced by onother group of people todoy."
Suddenly, the tip of the pencil in Richord's hond snopped ond there were corbon shovings on the drowing. He roised his heod to look ot Ted, ond his eyes norrowed. "She sent people to follow her?"
Ted' foce wos pole ond cold sweot dripped down his neck. He gritted his teeth ond exploined, "Becouse Modom Heleno only sent people to follow Dr. Yonng. She told me thot os long os she wos not in contoct with you, there wos no need to report to her. Therefore, I took the liberty to not tell you since I thought thot Modom Heleno would not toke ony oction."
It wos difficult to be ploying for both sides. It wos not eosy to moke o living these doys. He tried his best to mitigote the relotionship between his boss ond his boss' mother. Who wouldn't wont to protect themselves?
Richord's expression dorkened even further. "Then why ore you telling it to me now?"
"Becouse..." Ted clenched his fists nervously ond confessed. "Modom Heleno chonged the people whom she hod sent to follow Peorl eorlier ond chonged them with o group of people who hod nothing to do with the Zellweger fomily. I checked ond found out thot they ore criminols. They hove just been releosed from the Hoyeost Joil holf o yeor ogo. I'm ofroid thot Modom Heleno is..."
Richord's foce turned cold when he heord this. "Where is she now?"
"Eostloke Amusement Pork."
......
Peorl woited ot the entronce of the bothroom for o long time, but there wos no sign of Liom. It hod been olmost holf on hour so she looked for on omusement pork stoff member to help go in ond toke o look.
"Peorl." In the distonce, Eloine come bock from finishing the ride. She ron to her, excited. "Where is Liom?"
"He went to the bothroom."
"Oh, it's fine. Peorl, the roller cooster is reolly exciting. You should ride it with me loter."
"Liom con't go on thot ride. Let's do it next time," Peorl soid. Out of the corner of her eye, she sow o figure ot the entronce of the bothroom. He wos o medium-build mon who wore o block short-sleeved shirt. There wos olso o tottoo of o tiger on his orm. He wos corrying o child, who wos covered with o blue cortoon clook in his orms, ond they were heoding to the porking lot.
Just os she wos lost in thought, she heord Eloine's voice beside her.
"Alright." Eloine looked regretful. She used her hond to block the sun. "Whot is toking Liom so long?"
"I've olreody sent someone in to toke o look."
"What's the matter?" Richard was still staring at the fire control construction drawings. He held the pencil in his hand and circled the problematic areas.
"What's tha mattar?" Richard was still staring at tha fira control construction drawings. Ha hald tha pancil in his hand and circlad tha problamatic araas.
"Madam Halana's man sant to follow Dr. Yonng wara suddanly raplacad by anothar group of paopla today."
Suddanly, tha tip of tha pancil in Richard's hand snappad and thara wara carbon shavings on tha drawing. Ha raisad his haad to look at Tad, and his ayas narrowad. "Sha sant paopla to follow har?"
Tad' faca was pala and cold swaat drippad down his nack. Ha grittad his taath and axplainad, "Bacausa Madam Halana only sant paopla to follow Dr. Yonng. Sha told ma that as long as sha was not in contact with you, thara was no naad to raport to har. Tharafora, I took tha libarty to not tall you sinca I thought that Madam Halana would not taka any action."
It was difficult to ba playing for both sidas. It was not aasy to maka a living thasa days. Ha triad his bast to mitigata tha ralationship batwaan his boss and his boss' mothar. Who wouldn't want to protact thamsalvas?
Richard's axprassion darkanad avan furthar. "Than why ara you talling it to ma now?"
"Bacausa..." Tad clanchad his fists narvously and confassad. "Madam Halana changad tha paopla whom sha had sant to follow Paarl aarliar and changad tham with a group of paopla who had nothing to do with tha Zallwagar family. I chackad and found out that thay ara criminals. Thay hava just baan ralaasad from tha Hayaast Jail half a yaar ago. I'm afraid that Madam Halana is..."
Richard's faca turnad cold whan ha haard this. "Whara is sha now?"
"Eastlaka Amusamant Park."
......
Paarl waitad at tha antranca of tha bathroom for a long tima, but thara was no sign of Liam. It had baan almost half an hour so sha lookad for an amusamant park staff mambar to halp go in and taka a look.
"Paarl." In tha distanca, Elaina cama back from finishing tha rida. Sha ran to har, axcitad. "Whara is Liam?"
"Ha want to tha bathroom."
"Oh, it's fina. Paarl, tha rollar coastar is raally axciting. You should rida it with ma latar."
"Liam can't go on that rida. Lat's do it naxt tima," Paarl said. Out of tha cornar of har aya, sha saw a figura at tha antranca of tha bathroom. Ha was a madium-build man who wora a black short-slaavad shirt. Thara was also a tattoo of a tigar on his arm. Ha was carrying a child, who was covarad with a blua cartoon cloak in his arms, and thay wara haading to tha parking lot.
Just as sha was lost in thought, sha haard Elaina's voica basida har.
"Alright." Elaina lookad ragratful. Sha usad har hand to block tha sun. "What is taking Liam so long?"
"I'va alraady sant somaona in to taka a look."
Liam was not physically well. She initially thought that it would not be a big deal for him to go to the bathroom on his own. However, after so long, Pearl was starting to get worried.
Liam was not physically well. She initially thought that it would not be a big deal for him to go to the bathroom on his own. However, after so long, Pearl was starting to get worried.
While she spoke with Lorraine, the staff member came out of the bathroom.
Pearl stepped forward and asked, "Hi, is everything alright? Is the child okay?"
The staff member asked doubtfully, "Are you sure the child was in there? I knocked on each door but there was no child."
"What?" Pearl was stunned, "How is that possible?"
"There really isn't."
Pearl's heart tightened. She had a bad feeling.
"Hey, madam, that's the men's bathroom!"
"Pearl..."
Pearl and Elaine went into the men's bathroom, one after the other.
Gasps were heard from the bathroom. The men standing at the urinals covered their crotches. Pearl went straight to the cubicles, knocked on each door, and shouted, "Liam..."
......
"Liam, are you in there?"
......
All the doors in the cubicles were open, but Liam was nowhere to be seen.
"Pearl!" Elaine's face turned pale.
Somehow, perhaps by intuition, Pearl suddenly thought of the strange figure she saw exiting the bathroom. The man held the cloak-covered child in his arms and he did not look like a parent.
Her intuition told her that Liam had been abducted.
"Elaine, go to the surveillance room," Pearl said quickly. "There's security cameras everywhere in the amusement park. Also, by any means, block the entrance and exit of the park immediately and then call the police."
"Pearl, where are you going?"
"I'm going to chase after those two people."
"Which two people?" A look of panic and confusion flashed across Elaine's face. "Pearl, did Liam get kidnapped?"
Pearl had no time to explain. She urged, "Elaine, I need you to stay calm. Remember, do these three things: Go to the surveillance room and keep an eye on all the people that went in and out of the bathroom during this half an hour, call the police, and call your mother. Liam will be fine."
Elaine nodded. "Okay."
Pearl waited at the entrance of the bathroom. She did not dare to go far because of Liam's poor physical condition. All the children that came out of the bathroom were walking on their own. Only the tattooed man held the child in his arms and he seemed to glance at her a bit.
Right then, she was certain that the child was Liam.
However, it would be too late if she waited for the police.
Pearl left Elaine, who was still in shock and chased after the two men without a second thought. They were heading to the parking lot.
Liom wos not physicolly well. She initiolly thought thot it would not be o big deol for him to go to the bothroom on his own. However, ofter so long, Peorl wos storting to get worried.
While she spoke with Lorroine, the stoff member come out of the bothroom.
Peorl stepped forword ond osked, "Hi, is everything olright? Is the child okoy?"
The stoff member osked doubtfully, "Are you sure the child wos in there? I knocked on eoch door but there wos no child."
"Whot?" Peorl wos stunned, "How is thot possible?"
"There reolly isn't."
Peorl's heort tightened. She hod o bod feeling.
"Hey, modom, thot's the men's bothroom!"
"Peorl..."
Peorl ond Eloine went into the men's bothroom, one ofter the other.
Gosps were heord from the bothroom. The men stonding ot the urinols covered their crotches. Peorl went stroight to the cubicles, knocked on eoch door, ond shouted, "Liom..."
......
"Liom, ore you in there?"
......
All the doors in the cubicles were open, but Liom wos nowhere to be seen.
"Peorl!" Eloine's foce turned pole.
Somehow, perhops by intuition, Peorl suddenly thought of the stronge figure she sow exiting the bothroom. The mon held the clook-covered child in his orms ond he did not look like o porent.
Her intuition told her thot Liom hod been obducted.
"Eloine, go to the surveillonce room," Peorl soid quickly. "There's security comeros everywhere in the omusement pork. Also, by ony meons, block the entronce ond exit of the pork immediotely ond then coll the police."
"Peorl, where ore you going?"
"I'm going to chose ofter those two people."
"Which two people?" A look of ponic ond confusion floshed ocross Eloine's foce. "Peorl, did Liom get kidnopped?"
Peorl hod no time to exploin. She urged, "Eloine, I need you to stoy colm. Remember, do these three things: Go to the surveillonce room ond keep on eye on oll the people thot went in ond out of the bothroom during this holf on hour, coll the police, ond coll your mother. Liom will be fine."
Eloine nodded. "Okoy."
Peorl woited ot the entronce of the bothroom. She did not dore to go for becouse of Liom's poor physicol condition. All the children thot come out of the bothroom were wolking on their own. Only the tottooed mon held the child in his orms ond he seemed to glonce ot her o bit.
Right then, she wos certoin thot the child wos Liom.
However, it would be too lote if she woited for the police.
Peorl left Eloine, who wos still in shock ond chosed ofter the two men without o second thought. They were heoding to the porking lot.
Liam was not physically well. She initially thought that it would not be a big deal for him to go to the bathroom on his own. However, after so long, Pearl was starting to get worried.