CHAPTER 55: I Can’t Save the World
The only source of sound was the soft whirring of my laptop in front of me, in the dark – lit room. It was already eleven at night and still I couldn’t sleep like I hadn’t slept for the past few weeks. A picture of Alessandro in a hospital bed with what seemed like a lifeless body with sounds of machines persistently beeping in the background was deeply imprinted on my mind.
The doctors had been successful in making the attempts to restore his heart’s activity, but he was still on the intensive care unit. It had left Chase and me in a rather disturbed state for some time, an experience that is steadfast a fact Chase and I were utterly helpless against The Raven.
I hardly closed my eyes; I sat in front of the computer and my eyes were failing me through the screen. Despite what I told Agent Harris, we could not just sit idly by and watch everything unfold the way it was planned. Not after what had happened. The thrill was becoming more frequent not after what had happened. There I found myself making covert observations at the break of the night just for something that might assist us in apprehending The Raven.
One wrong tap on my window. I opened and jumped. I sighed with relief when I heard the knock at the door and realized it was Chase at the door showing his face. Without delay, I opened it for him and was pleased with his company because there is always a good feeling about carrying out tasks together.All content is © N0velDrama.Org.
“Anything?” he asked more to himself, as he squeezed in through the window.
I shook my head, there was frustration in my voice. “No solid evidence yet; the Raven’s organization is shrouded like Everything I’ve found seems to disappear. ”
Chase only looked at the computer screen and nodded his head, his face tightened. “I feel the same way too, but right now we cannot afford to surrender. ”
We got back to the daily practice we had grown used to, Chase on the laptop and me on papers and notes spread all over the bed. It was a pleasure to work in quiet, no words were spoken between us and the tension of the secret operation was clearly felt.
“Wait,” Chase said suddenly and he sounded excited. It wasn’t long before one of them said: “I believe I found something. ”
I stepped to get closer to look at the screen he was holding, anticipations rising in my heart. As if that did not disturb him enough, presently on the screen was a news article that reported a recent string of fires that engulfed warehouses in the industrial district.
“This is true,” Chase added, “If you look at the dates.” “All of them occurred after we came out campaigning against The Raven. ”
I read through the article quickly, and my adrenaline started to kick in. “You actually think he’s cleaning house? Getting all the loose ends out of the way?”
Chase nodded. “It makes sense. He now realizes they are watching him closely. This is why he tries to hide the activity. ”
Something of the same feeling, of the old days lighted in my breast. This was the first real lead that we had gotten in weeks. “If we could only identify the warehouse which had not yet been visited by him…”
“Maybe there may be some proof that he had earlier tried to conceal it before he could dispose of it,” Chase concluded with a smile on his face.
Of course, in the last few days, we allowed ourselves to dream a little. It did not take long though before the dose of reality set in.
“Well, how else can we investigate without going back on our word?” I asked, the overbearing sense of insignificance come rushing back.
Chase’s smile washed away and for the first time there was a serious look on his face. “We will have to work tactfully. No windows will be broken, no doors will be knocked down, and no directly challenging the thugs. That is going to be detective work. ”
I nodded slowly, gradually having ideas formulated in my head. “Perhaps, we can begin with pinpointing the target location, that is the district of warehouses, and pinpointing buildings that have not been targeted yet…”
“Exactly,” Chase agreed. “It doesn’t matter, we aren’t breaking the law; we’re just two young people with a peculiar focus on industrial premises for rent. ”
In my case, this was rather unusual, since we were really in a critical stage, but I could not help it. I really felt comfortable knowing that there was something at least we could do, so I waited for assistance in vain.
I had to laugh. In my case, this was rather unusual, since we were really in a critical stage, but I could not help it. I really had consolation after understanding that at least there was something that we could do while still waiting for any help in vain.
Right when Chase and I were ready to get into more details regarding our strategies, my phone vibrated with the incoming message. The number was unknown and every time it sent a shiver down my spine. With trembling fingers, I opened it, and my heart nearly stopped as I read the words on the screen.
“Oh, how these children think they can fool me. Let me remind you, curiosity did kill the cat. The more you dig, the more you will wish to stop your move, detectives. ”
Stapled to this was a photograph that sent cold chills a completely clear picture of Chase and me which must have been snapped minutes ago from the window of my room. We looked less camouflaged than we believed them to be.
I gazed up at Chase, scared for my life and my eyes showed it as I looked pale. “Chase, ” I whispered, holding the phone in front of him. People involved insist, It is alive, The Raven does, and he is observing us at the moment.
When it dawned upon him, Chase and I both looked out the window, toward the night and, though I say it myself, exactly like two characters in a Victorian novel suspecting that a clandestine murderer lurked around the corner. A night that we thought was as black as the night before seemed much blacker and much more dangerous than what it was before.