Emma's P.O.V

"Remember, I need Rider alive!", I whispered and looked around at everyone to watch them nod in understanding.

We were all bundled up inside a van which was parked a couple of blocks away from Rider's house, discussing our strategy for the final time.

I glanced over at the house. It looked the same as before. Curtains were drawn closed and the windows were tightly shut. Basically, the house looked abandoned.

I nodded at my crew and got down from the van alone. I was dressed casually so that no one suspects me. Any stranger who notices me would see a young woman with her head bent low, busy typing furiously on her phone.

I walked a couple of steps past Rider's house and stopped casually as I continued typing on my phone. After a minute or two, I looked up and observed whether someone was watching me. Fortunately, since Rider's house was not located at one of those main streets, not many people were around as it was a week day morning.

I pocketed my phone as I looked around one last time. Fortunately, the coast was clear. I jumped behind a nearby bush and headed slowly towards the house with a camera detector held securely within the palm of my hand.

On my way towards the porch I pointed the device around the bushes and posts and fortunately I ended up detecting none. I then went towards the front appearing like a visitor and rang the bell. I heard no motion from inside.

Taking use of the advantage, I started pacing on the front porch, waving my object hand in air, secretly detecting for hidden cameras. I whistled as I proceeded my investigation to appear less suspicious.

To my joy, the device didn't vibrate at the front porch too.

No hidden cameras?

Now that was not what I was expecting.

If they had a basement down there, they would have definitely had something to monitor the exterior.

I got a nagging feeling that I was missing something important here. I furrowed my eyebrows as I rang the bell again and again.

I heard shuffling from inside, then a loud crash.

"Guys, barge in after a minute", I whispered into the mouthpiece.

The door swung open and then appeared a drunk Matthew. His hair was a mess. He had dark rings around his eyes and his eyes looked dull and lifeless. He looked paler and unhealthier than before.

I stared at him dumbfounded.

What? I didn't expect him to appear like an almost dead zombie!

"What do you want?", he grunted.

"Eh-", was the only response my mouth managed to utter.

He raised a questioning eyebrow at me.

Stupid mouth! Shut up will you!!

"We are hear to search your house", I quickly composed myself and said in a calm passive voice.

"What? Why?", he asked, utterly confused.

"I'll tell you once we are done searching. Will you let us? We are running out of time.", I told him as I tapped my feet impatiently.

He shifted on his feet uneasily.

"I don't have a choice, do I?", he asked, eyeing me nervously.

I sighed.

"No you don't"

He stepped aside as we entered the house. The crew came just as I was about to enter, as planned.

I nodded at one of the guys, giving him the signal to stay behind with Rider.

The rest of us, we split up into different directions. To say that the house was a mess would be an understatement. Beer bottles were thrown everywhere. Chairs and tables were toppled over. Shards of glass belonging to beer bottles and photo frames lied everywhere on the living room carpet.

We dodged the mess carefully and started to search, trying our best not to scathe ourselves.

I entered Rider's room. Like expected it was a mess too. Clothes were thrown everywhere, covering every inch of the floor. I sighed in disgust as I wore my white gloves.

I cleared all his clothes into a corner and then peeled the carpet off the floor. I then paced on the bare wooden floor, occasionally tapping my foot here and there to find loose boards.

I then moved on to inspect the walls and his closet. To my dismay, I ended up with no expected discoveries.

I sighed and swept a final checkout over the entire room when my eyes landed on his bed. Something peeked from underneath his pillow. I took it out and realized that it was a photo.

A photo of Ella and him grinning like two Cheshire cats. A photo in which both of them were staring at the camera, there eyes twinkling with love.

LOVE

Their eyes were brimming with love.
Not just any love, it was pure love.

The photo was so beautiful that I couldn't help but stare at it, and that is when I realised what that nagging feeling from before was.

We have been searching the wrong house. It has been a trap, a trap to fool the IAE.

A trap that fooled me.

Damn it!

Thud!

I punched the wall beside me in frustration.

I placed the photo as it was and stepped out of his room, entering the messy living room again.

Rider was sitting on one of the couches with his head resting on his hands. I went and sat on the couch opposite to him.

"Rider", I called out softly afraid that I might hurt him.

He looked up and sighed.

"So did you find anything?", he snorted.

"I'm sorry. It was a misunderstanding", I told him apologetically.

All the crew members were back from the search. They were all waiting for an explanation.

"We found a footage of that night and we recognized the person who kidnapped Ella. I went snooping around his house and found a hidden basement carrying all his work documents. The last transaction he had was with you, I mean your name was mentioned in the list of dealers. That is why we had to search your house. But seems like it was a trap for us. Seems like the actual dealer gave your name instead of his", I gritted out.

"Who was it?", he asked me with his jaw clenched.

"Tyler", I spat out.

"That bastard! I'm going to kill him", he gritted out as he punched the coffee table.

"You know him?", I asked with my eyebrow raised.

Not that I didn't expect him to know him.

"Yeah, we met him at the mall and Ella told me who it was", he replied with a shrug.

"Wait! The mall? When?", I asked hurriedly.

"It was a couple of months before that night", was his bitter reply.

I sighed. The date was mentioned as three days before that night on Tyler's document.

"I'm going to hunt him down and kill him myself", he spat out, his voice laced with venom.

"Too late, he is already missing", I told him with a sigh.

His eyes widened in disbelief for a millisecond and then soon narrowed as rage clouded them.

"What? How come! What were you'll doing till then!", he stood up and roared at me.

Anger shot through me, but I tried my best to not to lash at him.

It isn't his fault Emma. It isn't his fault.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten to calm myself down.

"Listen Rider, this case was handed over to us after the President was murdered. So don't blame us", I then said as my eyes flung open, glaring daggers at him.

He sighed in defeat and collapsed onto the couch.

"I'm sorry", he then said in a barely inaudible whisper.

He was at the verge of breaking down. My heart softened at the sight of him.

I sighed.

Seems like he needs some time alone.

"We'll take our leave then", I nodded at him and stood up to leave.

I was the last to step out of the house. And just as I was about to shut the door behind me, I heard his voice, weak and almost dead.

"Wait"

I stopped on my tracks and turned around to watch him stare at his hands.

"Wasn't it supposed to be the mafia?", he then asked after a moment.

I sighed wearily.

I re-entered the house and sat beside him.

"It was the mafia. We have evidence regarding that. They've used Tyler to guide us astray", I then gritted out.

"Isn't there any hope?", he looked up at me with pleading eyes.

I smiled sadly at him.

"Look, you aren't the only one who had a loss because of the mafia. I'm one of them too", I told him as I gave his hands a reassuring squeeze.

He looked at me in surprise.

"I lost both of my parents when I was six", I told him with a nod.

"Look-", I held him by his shoulders and made him look into my eyes.

I then continued.

"-as long as I'm in charge of this case, I'll do my best to catch those who killed our loved ones. And when I get my hands on them, oh boy! they are going to regret the day they were born. And that's a promise"

His eyes held conflict. A conflict on whether or not to trust me.

On whether or not to let his hopes soar high.

After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and nodded at me, giving me a weak smile.

My lips widened into a grin.

"Meanwhile, I need you to do me a favour", I told him softly.

"Anything", he looked into my eyes with determination.

"I need you to stop blaming yourself. It wasn't your fault, Rider. Ella wouldn't want you to be like this if she was alive. She would have wanted you to be strong for her, and succeed in life so that she can be proud of you. That is how you can show how much you love her. But, definitely not like this", I told him as I pointed to the messy living room.

I then continued.

"I agree. It's hard. And I know that it takes time. But the amount of time depends on how strong you are and how strong your will power is. Think about it. Succeed for her, Rider", I patted his back and stood up to leave.

"Thank you", I heard him whisper as I stepped out of the house.

________________________________________________________________________
Hey guys,

I wrote this chapter when I was super tired. Today was indeed a long day and I couldn't focus much. Yet, I did put my maximum effort into it.

So I hope you guys are satisfied with it 😅

And please do let me know your comments on it. Your critics will always be welcomed with open hands.

So do not hesitate to tell them in your comments or messaging me would be fine too. 😊

So how was the chapter?? Did you all like it???

And most of all, did you guys expect the raid to be a super flop?? Or was it too obvious?? 😱😱

And here is the question for the chapter-
If not Rider, then who??
Any ideas??

Let me know in your comments and don't forget to VOTE & SHARE too!! 😊

Till next time,

Love,

Ranna