Chapter 801:
“We had eyes on Ms. Russell, but we didn’t anticipate that Amon would reach her through Ms. Mitchell. That’s where we slipped.”
After William’s clash with Amon at the Briggs Mansion, he had quietly ordered Luca to arrange discreet protection for Stella. Yet Stella’s keen instincts left little room for close surveillance. To avoid raising her suspicion, the team had stayed in the background, watching from afar.
No one thought Amon would make contact through Sharon. Stella’s phone hadn’t been monitored, leaving them blind to the setup.
William remained motionless, his gaze fixed on the city lights beyond the glass. Between his fingers, a cigarette burned slowly, the trail of smoke curling around him like a shroud.
Only after the silence stretched thin did he break it. “What about the robbers? Have you found them yet?”
Luca stepped forward without hesitation. “We identified them as low-level criminals from the outskirts. They’ve got a long record of robbery. According to their statement, someone wired them a hefty sum to show up at the cafe, claiming there would be something worth taking. The payment came through an offshore account, and all signs point to Amon.”
No one else came to mind. In Luca’s judgment, Amon was the only one with those kinds of resources.
William narrowed his eyes, repeating a few of Luca’s words under his breath. A faint, icy curve appeared on his lips. “So tell me. Is Amon trying to pose as the hero, or does he just want to fan the flames while everything is already unstable? Can you say for certain?”
The question froze Luca in place. He kept silent, unwilling to risk a careless answer.
The image of Stella cornered by those three robbers flashed through William’s mind, and his anger swelled.
With sudden force, he crushed the cigarette in his fingers, not even registering the sting as the ember bit into his skin.
“There’s news from Curtis’ hometown, Mr. Briggs.” Sensing the storm building in William, Luca hurried to speak again. “Our team found the wooden box from the address we were given. Inside, they discovered the vintage film reel.”
William stepped forward and set down a half-palm-sized black case, wrapped securely in a protective bag. Under the glow of the office light, the small box gleamed faintly, still warm from being carried.
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William’s gaze locked onto it, and the fury in his expression shifted into sharp concentration. He reached out with deliberate care, lifting the box as though a single misstep could break it.
“Have it authenticated right away,” William ordered, his tone heavy with command. “Bring in the most credible restoration expert you can find. Record every step and report back as soon as the results are in. The markings and letters must be verified with absolute accuracy.”
Luca bowed his head in agreement. “Everything’s already in motion. I’ve secured the leading authority in image restoration. I’ll personally deliver the reel and remain on-site to guarantee nothing goes wrong.”
William gave a faint nod, his eyes drifting back to the small reel, his features shadowed with conflicted thoughts.
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