When it’s at midnight, there was a yellow cab with Shanghai’s license plate driving near the entrance of
Beijing-Shanghai highway.
In order to avoid any unnecessary accidents, Rebekah and Hayden got off the car about four miles till
the destination. The driver cast them a wondering look and seemed to want to say something.
“Please keep the change.”
Handing over two-hundred-yuan cash, Hayden cut off the driver’s gazing.
“Thank you.” The driver hurriedly took the money and kindly reminded them, “You two need to be
careful. The north of city isn’t exactly safe. Do you live here?”
Hayden immediately nodded, “Yes, it’s just a little way off. The road ahead is going to be bumpy, so
we’ll just walk there. Thank you.”
The driver then left.
There were just some dim road lamps in the outskirts and no traces of people.
Hayden turned on the phone and navigated their way to the abandoned power plant while holding
Rebekah’s hands.
“Boss, they’re here.”
One of the thug’s voice echoed in the spacious plant.
After a while, someone walked off the concrete floor which raised a lot of dusts that were circling under
the faint light.
Seeing that Hayden was standing next to Rebekah, Zed’s face immediately changed.
“I told you that you ought to come alone.”
“I don’t know how to get here.” Rebekah looked at him boldly. “She was just accompanying me. Cut the
crap. I’ve brought the money. Where is Benjamin?”
“He is at where he should be right now.”
Ted then glanced at Rebekah’s back coldly and asked, “Where is the money?”
Rebekah then took the 20 million yuan check from her pocket, “Her it is.”
Ted’s face immediately darkened after seeing the check, “Rebekah, are you messing with me?”
“Who is messing with you?” Rebekah’s eyes changed. “Here is exactly 20 million yuan. It looks like you
are the one who is regretting. I’ll tear the check right now and die with you if you do that. You won’t be
able to have a dime.”
“Am I dumb to you?” Ted said angrily.
“If I take the check right now and give you this boy, you will just notify the bank later which definitely
won’t cash it and I would probably be ambushed by the police. Nice try.”
“What do you mean?” Rebekah didn’t know what he wanted to say.
“20 million yuan in all cash.”
His determined voice echoed in the large plant.
Hearing his words, Rebekah was livid with anger. “You didn’t even say this at first and how am I
supposed to give you 20-million-yuan cash? Are you fucking out of your mind?”
“This is easy.” Ted’s eyes turned much fiercer and landed his look on Hayden.
“One of you stays here and the other one would withdraw the money from the bank first thing in the
morning. You two won’t have the slightest chance to see the boy if I don’t see the money.”
“Ted, you asshole.” Rebekah almost wanted to rush to Ted and fight with him but was dragged back by
Hayden.
“Fine.”
Hayden answered for Rebekah. “I’ll stay here and she will withdraw the money from the band. But we
have one request here. We have to see Benjamin first.”
Ted didn’t know who Hayden was and sized her up, “Who are you to negotiate with me?”
“Me?” Hayden looked incredibly calm and hid her identity. “I’m tavern’s employee and sort of
Benjamin’s sister. We just want to make sure if Benjamin is alive.”
Hayden was terrifyingly sensible which made Rebekah’s heart skip a beat. Glaring at Ted, Rebekah
yelled, “I won’t give you a dime if Benjamin is injured!”
Feeling irritated, Ted paced back and forth and then kicked an accomplice. “Go fetch the boy.”
Then the skinny and yellow-headed abettor immediately rushed upstairs and brought Benjamin down in
a while.
The thug then just threw Benjamin onto ground who tottered a bit and fell to the ground. From Hayden
and Rebekah’s angle, they can see there was a layer of white frost solidifying on his eyebrows. He was
shivering with cold and seemed like unconscious.
“Benjamin!” Hayden and Rebekah both yelled and didn’t get any response.
Rebekah got frantic and screamed, “What did you do to him?”
Ted answered impatiently, “He is too weak himself and can’t handle the cold. I got nothing to do with it.”
Hayden felt there was something wrong since the beginning that Ted had no point to hide Benjamin
anymore since they were here and he can just get the money. There was a fat chance that something
happened to Benjamin.
“What’s happened to him exactly?” Hayden asked again.
“Watch your tone, bitch.” The yellow-headed scolded. “The boy himself was too fucking weak and just
got a fever. It’s not our fault.”
“Shut up.” Ted glared at the yellow-headed thug.
“Why didn’t you send him to the hospital?”
Rebekah even asked this stupid question in a moment of desperation.
It would be kind enough for the kidnappers not to kill the hostage. They wouldn’t care the hostage’s
health for a bit.
Ted’s face immediately turned cold and said angrily, “Just cut the crap. If I don’t see the money before
noon tomorrow, not only wouldn’t he be sent to the hospital, he would be thrown to the river to feed the
fish.”
Rebekah knew this wasn’t really the time to argue. Ted was too brutal and vicious. But seeing that
Benjamin was lying on the freezing cold floor, she was heartbroken, so she can only agree to Ted’s
request and go to the bank to get the money with one of his thugs.
It was still a long night ahead and they all had to wait for a long time.
There was air coming in from all sides of the plant. Standing about six meters away from Ted, Hayden
can’t bear to see Benjamin lying on the ground.
“Would you just lift him up and get him a chair.”
That yellow-headed thug rolled his eyes at her, “Who do you think he is? Why should I bring him a
chair?”
Hayden answered coldly, “It’s freezing cold tonight. Something serious might happen to him if you just
continue letting him lie on the ground. You guys might end up getting nothing.”
Hearing her words, Ted who was silent before spoke, “Cut the crap and get him a chair.”
The face of yellow-headed thug changed and still brought a chair over reluctantly. Leaning the chair
against the bearing wall, the thug held Benjamin up and put him on the chair.
They even got a rope and tied Benjamin on the chair out of fear that he might fall down.
Noticing that Hayden was calm this whole time, Ted sized her up and down. He then got suspicious
and asked, “You said you were the employee of the tavern. How come that I’ve never met you before.”
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