About five minutes passed.
Gregory Dawson assumed that if he didn’t answer, the person outside would take the hint and leave.
But just as he lifted his foot, the doorbell rang again.
Gregory Dawson’s brow furrowed so deeply you could have squashed a fly in it.
He clenched his fists, his face an ashen scowl.
"Damn it!" Gregory Dawson cursed, walking over to shut the door to the room where Levi Brooks was being held.
DING DONG DING DONG—
The doorbell rang incessantly.
With a grim expression, Gregory Dawson went to open the door and saw two tall men standing outside.
He composed himself and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"Who are you?" Zachary Conway looked at him in surprise. "Where’s Levi Brooks?"
Gregory Dawson calmly explained, "I’m a relative of Levi’s."
"Oh." Zachary Conway lifted his chin slightly, gesturing for him to step aside. "Let’s go inside and talk."
"Sorry." Gregory Dawson blocked the doorway, clearly not intending to let them in. "Levi Brooks isn’t home, so I can’t invite you in."
He tried to shut the door, but Levi Hollis reached out and held it open.
Gregory Dawson’s expression flickered. He frowned. "What’s the meaning of this?"
"It’s fine. We’ll just wait here for Levi Brooks to get back," Zachary Conway said, sizing him up. "What kind of relative did you say you were?"
"I’m his cousin. Levi Brooks went on a long trip and asked me to come over and watch the house," Gregory Dawson lied without skipping a beat. "You should come back after he returns."
"A long trip?" Zachary Conway gave a skeptical smile. "Strange, he never mentioned it to us before."
"I wouldn’t know about that." Gregory Dawson shrugged nonchalantly. "You can call and ask him yourself."
Levi Hollis said coldly, "He’s not answering his phone. We’ll wait for him here."
Gregory Dawson’s face darkened as he suppressed his anger. "That’s not necessary. I don’t have time to entertain you."
As soon as he finished speaking, he shoved the door hard, trying to force it shut.
Zachary Conway also raised a hand, pressing it against the door. "Are you sure you’re Levi Brooks’s relative?"
Not wanting a confrontation, Gregory Dawson frowned. "I’m very sure. I’m busy. Come back in a few days."
"Well, that’s too bad," Zachary Conway said with a smirk. "We have to be here today."
Gregory Dawson’s heart skipped a beat, his eyes growing suspicious. "What do you want?"
"What’s your name?" Zachary asked.
"What’s it to you?" The unease in Gregory Dawson’s heart intensified. "Hurry up and leave! I’m busy!"
He reached out and shoved the two men.
The next second, a flash of silver glinted before his eyes, followed by a cold sensation on his wrist.
Gregory Dawson stared, and a look of terror instantly appeared on his face.
’Handcuffs?’
He looked up, stunned, his voice trembling. "Who... who in the world are you...?"
"Police." Levi Hollis showed his badge, his voice sharp. "Where is Levi Brooks?"
Gregory Dawson instinctively tried to bolt, but Zachary Conway, holding the other end of the handcuffs, yanked him hard and threw him against the wall.
Levi Hollis immediately lunged forward and pinned him down.
Zachary Conway walked into the house and saw a tightly closed door. He reached out and opened it.
The room was pitch-black. He reached up and flipped the switch on the wall. CLICK. The light illuminated every corner.
Dumpling was curled up beside the unconscious Levi Brooks, his cat-like eyes watching Zachary Conway warily.
"Don’t be scared." Zachary Conway approached slowly, speaking softly. "I’m a police officer. I’m here to rescue him."
’A rescuer!’
Dumpling instantly grew excited, wagging his tail furiously and meowing, "MEOW! MEOW! MEOW! Hurry and save my master! I think he’s dying!"
Of course, Zachary Conway couldn’t understand what Dumpling was saying. He responded based on intuition, "Don’t you worry now. I’m going to check on the victim’s condition."
Just then, his earpiece rang.
Zachary Conway took out his phone and answered the call. "Chief."
Henry Stark’s calm voice came from the other end. "The ambulance has arrived."
"Understood," Zachary Conway replied immediately. After hanging up, he documented Levi Brooks’s current situation and condition, then carefully tore the tape from his mouth and untied the ropes binding his body.
Levi Brooks weakly opened his eyes. Seeing the stranger before him, a flicker of hope ignited in his heart. His voice was a bare whisper. "Help... help me..."
Zachary Conway reassured him, "You’re safe now. I’m a police officer."