Chapter 29 - Caught
I
When the NBI Operatives together with Atty. Yhera approached Conrad Zhang, they found out that the man lying on the ground was not Seigfred Yee.
“Mr. Conrad Zhang, we have a search warrant on this premises, “ the head of the NBI operatives said.
Conrad Zhang looked at them with squinting eyes, “Why are you going to search our resort? What did I violate?” he asked harshly.
“For possible kidnapping of Mr. Seigfred Yee and for killing Ms. Rhoda Tolentino and we will already include serious physical injury for this man, in flagrante delicto,” Again the Head of the NBP Operatives said, showing to Conrad Zhang the copy of the search warrant he has in his hand.
“Sir, please help me, please help and Mr. Seigfred,” the lying man on the ground suddenly said in a stammering manner. Conrad Zheng was about to kick him but one of the NBI already pointed his gun at Conrad Zhang.
“Kick him or hurt him and I will blow your goddam ass,” warned by NBI officer, which made Conrad Zhang curse and put down his leg on the ground.
The NBI operatives assisted the injured man. They knew that the man could be their best witness against Conrad Zhang.
“Boss, Mr. Seigfred Yee was not around but we found this.” one of the NBI officers came running, out of one of the villas holding an executive blazer.
Atty. Yhera approached the NBI Officer and got the executive blazer because she readily recognized it as one of Seigfred’s blazers. It is a gray Armani suit; Seigfred’s favorite. She embraced the Armani suit so tight and smell it. Seigfred’s expensive perfume was still attached to the suit and it lingered into Atty. Yhera’s nostrils, making her miss Seigfred more. Tears suddenly rolled down from her cheeks and the NBI operatives could intelligently guess based on the reaction of the fierce lady lawyer that her missing fiance owned the suit.
II
“Mr. Conrad Zhang, that executive blazer has been owned by Mr. Seigfred Yee. It means you brought him here. Where is Mr. Seigfred Yee now Mr. Zhang?” The NBI Operatives Head asked.
Conrad Zhang smirked. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” he replied contemptuously.
The Head of the NBI Operatives suddenly said, “Bring me that injured man here.”
“What is your name young man?”
“Gerry Santos Sir.”
“So, Gerry, do you know what happened to Mr. Seigfred Yee?” The Head of the NBI Operatives asked again.
The injured man nodded his head, “Yes Sir. Mr. Conrad Zhang hired me to watch over him but he was able to escape last night. That was why Mr. Conrad Zhang wanted to kill me when you arrived.”
“Are you willing to be a witness and would you also want to file a case for attempted homicide against Mr. Conrad Zhang?”
“Yes Sir,” Gerry Santos replied.
“Now, Mr. Conrad Zhang, we will arrest you for being caught in the act while committing a crime against Gerry Santos and for finding a piece of evidence and a credible witness that you might have kidnapped Seigfred Yee and killed Rhoda Tolentino. You have the right to remain silent as any words you utter might be taken against you. You also have the right to have your own lawyer or if you cannot hire one our government will provide one for you.” The Head of the NBI Operatives stated while other NBI Officers were already hand-cupping Conrad Zhang.
Atty Yhera was still hugging the blazer of Seigfred. “Where are you Seigfred,” she asked, sobbing. Her heart wanted to explode in pain and anger with Conrad Zhang at the same time.
Chapter 30 - Where Is Seigfred Now?
I
Before the NBI Operatives and Atty. Yhera came to rescue Seigfred at the Beach Resort of Conrad Zhang, Seigfred was able to escape.
For a couple of days, Seigfred tried to untie his hands using a small broken glass that he found inside the room. Immediately, he untied the knot also on his feet and got out of the room through its window, hiding from bushes to bushes, in order not to be noticed by the two guards around. He sneaked until he reached the beachfront almost crawling. As he checked around, he knew that his only escape was to be able to go to the other side of the island. But he cannot be able to swim all throughout no matter how good, a swimmer he could be. He tried to find something that could help him survive in the sea while swimming and going to the next island. He could not use any boat, surely, once a boat will be heard and seen going away, he will be caught. Until he saw a big gallon of water. Seigfred smiled, it will do already.
Hanging on to the gallon of water, Seigfred swam away unnoticed. He has been in the water for almost an hour already and every time he would see a boat coming in his direction, he would swim away to deviate direction. A few more minutes of swimming and Seigfred could already feel hungry and his feet seemed to be getting stiff already, but he disregarded it. He needs to reach the next island to be able to ask for help. A little more time had passed and he could already see little lights nearby, he knows it is the next island. He tried to use all his remaining strength and swam fast heading in the light's direction. His strength was already leaving him. Slowly, he still tried to swim until he saw the light coming nearer.
"Ahhh." Seigfred was being thrown to the sand by big waves. He could feel that he might be fainting at a moment. Still with hope to save his life while Yhera’s smiling face was in his vision, Seigfred crawled more on the sand away from the water. Then he saw that little light became bigger and brighter, but then thereafter, his tired body and hunger brought him already to the realm of darkness. Seigfred did not know what happened next. He was totally embraced by darkness.
The seawater was getting bigger and bigger and it was slowly reaching the place where Seigfred’s almost lifeless body was lying.
II
A woman in her early thirties jumped out from her speedboat. She was alone. She was usually like this when she wanted to start a new novel. She will hide in their beach resort. Her Dad strongly disagreed with her passion for writing novels, but she never dared listened to him. Writing is her life, her passion, and her way of coping with heartaches. Her Dad never knew how her writing gave her a new life. Her novels brought her to another dimension of life that only she could decide what to do with all of those people living therein. She could let them fall in love, hurt, insane and sometimes, she would even kill some to make the world therein happier. Ahh, her Dad never knew, that because of her novels, she survived the deepest frustration and depression in her life.
Shandall Montima walked slowly into the sands while inhaling completely the salty yet fresh air that enveloped her whole being when she alighted from her speed boat.
“Hah! This is life!” she shouted, knowing that no one will stop her from doing so. Her family owned this private resort and almost all that surrounds this small island. The people living here are their people. They all worked for them. Shandall smiled. She will surprise Aling Matina, their spinster caretaker, whom she truly loves like her Mom. And of course, she is excited to stay in her treehouse, which she personally designed when it was being built. That treehouse was her hiding place when she wanted no one to disturb her.
She was humming a love song when suddenly she stumbled into something that almost made her fall into the sand. Furrowing she looked down to check and to her total horror, she saw the body of a man, whom she thought was dead already.
Shandall screamed so loud before she herself fainted with fear. Her scream disturbed the peacefulness of the island that awakened Aling Matina and some of their housemaids and houseboys.