Chapter 57 — The First Clue
The Sydney skyline was cold and sharp under the early morning light, the city buzzing faintly even at this hour. Alex and Joong had barely slept; their eyes were red from scanning company servers, tracing every transaction, every shifted share, every email trail Kevin could have left.
Alex frowned at the laptop screen. "Joong… look at this."
Joong leaned over. The financial logs were horrifying. 40% of Lucas Company's controlling shares weren't just transferred—they were systematically stolen, routed through multiple shell accounts, and locked with encrypted approvals. Kevin's fingerprints were on every step.
"Authorized personally," Joong muttered, voice low. "He did this himself."
Alex exhaled sharply. "So it's not a hack. It's Kevin."
Meanwhile, Lyra scanned employee communications, spreadsheets, and board member emails. Her heart sank with each red warning—panic was spreading, though Daisy kept calm, reassuring the virtual board members and employees, stabilizing what she could. "We need to keep them focused. No one panics yet," she told herself as she typed urgent responses.
Daisy's fingers flew across the keyboard. "We can't let fear spiral. People need guidance. I'll handle the executives; you trace the server logs."
Across the ocean, in London, Endrix was already elbow-deep in hacking networks. He had been tracking global financial traffic, trying to find the digital footprint of the transferred shares. JJ and Keifer were busy calling corporate intelligence contacts, asking questions that only insiders could answer.
Cole, who had stayed in London with Care, was tracing Kevin's last known mobile signal, triangulating every cell tower he had passed. Every second counted.
"His last ping… near the outskirts of London," Cole murmured, rubbing his forehead. "That's where he's headed."
Care, seated beside him, felt the tension squeeze her chest. She had a bad feeling, an instinct honed over years of crisis, that Ash's life was in immediate danger. Her breathing became uneven, but she forced herself to remain calm. She glanced at Cole, who noticed immediately.
"Care… slow your breathing," he said quietly. "We'll handle this."
She shook her head. "I can't… I need to see where he is."
Cole nodded, the trust and unspoken bond between them electric in that quiet moment. Keifer joined, already driving them in his black sedan. The streets of Sydney were eerily empty, early morning mist curling around the buildings.
Cole's phone buzzed. He had found the GPS ping from Kevin's car. The location was remote, outside a warehouse district. Care's heart jumped into her throat. She could feel the asthma tightening around her chest, her inhaler forgotten back at the hotel.
Keifer pulled the car up sharply near the parking lot. The three of them exited swiftly, eyes scanning. Kevin's car sat exactly where the ping indicated. The doors were closed, the engine cold.
Cole approached carefully and opened the driver's side door. Inside, the car was… empty.
"No one?" Care whispered, voice trembling. She took a step forward, the world around her blurring slightly.
Cole's eyes swept the interior. Then he noticed it: Ash's phone lying on the passenger seat. And beside it, a small vial, dark liquid inside. Cole's eyes narrowed instantly. He picked it up carefully, recognizing the dangerous sedative immediately.
"This is… for long-term unconsciousness. Days. If misused… it can be lethal," Cole said sharply, gripping Care's shoulders. "Care, you need to calm down. Breathe."
Care staggered back, inhaling shallowly, the tightness in her chest making her vision blur. "I… I don't have my inhaler…" she gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth as a panic attack threatened.
Cole immediately crouched beside her. "No. Not now. You're not going to lose it here. Focus on me. In… and out… slow… in… and out."
Keifer didn't hesitate. "Get in the car," he ordered. "I'll take you to the nearest medical store. Now."
Care clutched her chest as Cole supported her. She could hear the cars whirring past in the empty streets, the faint echo of distant sirens. Her breaths were shallow, but Cole's steady presence anchored her, and Keifer's driving was precise, almost urgent, yet calm.
The inhaler was in Keifer's hands within minutes. Cole positioned it for her. "Breathe with it. You're okay," he murmured.
Care inhaled, each puff of medicine finally easing the constriction. Her chest loosened slightly, though the adrenaline still kept her on edge.
Cole's hands didn't leave her shoulders. "This is serious," he said. "Ash is in danger. Kevin is not just ambitious—he's dangerous now. We need to track him."
Keifer nodded. "And we will. But first… you need to be okay."
Care leaned slightly against him, her asthma subsiding but her mind racing. "He… he's not just trying to get shares. He wants Ash. That's why the sedative…" Her voice broke slightly.
Cole's jaw tightened. "Then we find them. And we stop him."
Keifer glanced at Care, a soft understanding in his eyes. Understood that she strong… stronger than anyone realizes. But right now, she human. She can't do this alone.
Care's eyes flicked between Cole and Keifer. For the first time, she let herself feel the weight of fear, the vulnerability of uncertainty. Her lungs still ached from the attack, but the clarity in her mind sharpened. Ash's life depended on them all.
Cole's hand brushed hers lightly. "We're here," he said, voice low. "You're not alone."
Keifer adjusted the rearview mirror, eyes on the road. Understanding that she isn't the Carolyn Patel the world talks about. She's not some untouchable titan. She's Care. Concerned. Protective. Human. Just like everyone.
Care's lips quirked slightly, almost a smile, though the tension didn't leave her shoulders. She trusted him. She trusted Cole. She trusted the team, the unspoken bond they had forged over years of chaos and trust.
As the car accelerated toward the nearest medical store, Care inhaled deeply, finally feeling her strength return. She clenched her fists, determination flashing in her eyes.
"Let's bring her back," she whispered.
Cole nodded once. "We will. Together."
And outside, the Sydney skyline stretched endlessly, every shadow and every street corner holding danger. Kevin was out there. Ash was in his control. But they had the first clue. The trail had begun.
This was only the beginning.