Roy thought to himself, I knew she was a reasonable woman. Zacharias put an arm around Shirley’s


    shoulder and led her to the car. He said, “I won’t let something like this happen again.”


    She hoped nothing like this ever happened again, even if the only reason was for him not to risk


    himself once more.


    Imogen followed them. She looked at the ruins behind her and felt relieved inside, thinking, Finally got


    rid of the kidnappers. Now, I just have to keep an eye on her. I hope she didn’t get suspicious of me.


    Shirley entered the car, and Zacharias, noticing her grimy face, gently wiped away the dust. When he


    saw how unkempt her hair was, he asked curiously, “How did you get out?”


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    “Some guy came to give me food. I killed him, took his dagger, and unfettered myself. You guys came


    less than ten minutes after that,” she said.


    “Did they…” He hesitated, knowing the sensitivity of the question but needing to know the answer. She


    shook her head. “No. They were eager to split the ransom. They know who I am, and they wouldn’t


    dare to touch me.”


    Zacharias heaved a sigh of relief. He trusted Shirley unconditionally.


    Roy, nursing his swollen cheek, took the co- driver’s seat. “We could’ve kept some of them alive and


    grilled them for answers, but they were all killed. We might have to put this case away now. Flor might


    not even be able to give us an exnation.”


    “All of them died?” She frowned, hoping to keep a few alive for questioning.


    “Yeah, all dead. Well, three escaped, but Imogen sniped them off. She did well in this operation,” Roy


    commended Imogen for her contribution to the smooth rescue and total obliteration of the kidnappers.


    Shirley fell into a brief silence, then nodded. “Yeah, Imogen’s quick thinking in making that escape is


    the reason you guys reached me so fast.”


    Zacharias noticed she was looking exhausted. Fighting the kidnappers must’ve taken a lot out of her,


    and he put an arm around her shoulder. “Just set everything aside for now. Close your eyes and rest.”


    Resting in his embrace, she closed her eyes, though sleep eluded her. Her mind buzzed with questions


    about the entire incident. Why was I the one kidnapped? The coffee shop was swarming with


    kidnappers, yet only Imogen and I entered.


    Shirley recalled that Imogen had stopped at another coffee shop earlier. They should have returned to


    the hotel after buying the gifts. They shouldn’t have entered that coffee shop. Suddenly, a chilling


    thought crossed her mind, but she dismissed it immediately. She couldn’t believe Imogen would


    intentionally involve her in this mess.


    Shirley reasoned, She probably just wanted another cup of coffee because the other shop’s brew didn’t


    suit her. Reflecting on the ordeal, she remembered how the kidnappers had taken Imogen away after


    entering the coffee shop, leaving Shirley to fight the rest in the lobby. Shirley’s back bore bruises, and


    her arm throbbed from the sprain.


    And then Shirley remembered something else. Why didn’t the kidnappers cuff Imogen after they took


    her away? They cuffed me the moment they got me. Another detail struck her. Why didn’t the


    kidnappers handcuff Imogen after taking her away? They cuffed me as soon as they got me. Shirley


    couldn’t find an exnation, and then she remembered the duration of the struggle. Itsted at least


    ten minutes, and Imogen was never handcuffed. In fact, she fought the kidnappers and escaped


    afterward. Could they have been after me the whole time? That might exin why they were lenient


    with Imogen. Perhaps that’s the reason.


    Shirley didn’t suspect that Imogen was behind this. They’d been friends for five years. Unless Imogen


    disyed clear signs of betrayal, Shirley wouldn’t doubt her. No one would.