Chapter 56

Between the lounge and the open-plan kitchen was a passage tiled with brown ceramic tiles; she couldn't enter, as it was covered with a glass door. Angela tried sliding it open, and it wouldn't open. She took her gun and fired at the door, but the glass never even had a scratch. It was more of a ballistic door, "how are we supposed to get in there?" Claire asked.

"Jack would know what to do."

Angela walked back to the living room and looked down to the ground for a mat but noticed the tiles had a small patch of brown grout around one tile. Nicole, who had followed Angela, had also noticed the brown grout. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

Nicole scratch her head, "you considering putting other tiles in here?"

"No, something is off about that tile."

Angela leaned down, and it was loose. Beneath the tile was something that seemed like a biometric system, Angela was hoping for a simple door handle, "why must everything always be a puzzle?"

"Excuse me?" Nicole said.

"Nothing," Angela tried pushing it down when the door opened after a blue light scanned over her hand. It had a biometric palm lock.

"Angela, how did you do that?" Marcus screamed.

"I have done nothing."

The passage led down to four rooms, and the doors were locked by default. The doors all had fingerprint locks. Angela's fingerprint had worked on all four doors. "Whoever has done this for you has put a lot of time and effort into this and knew what was coming."

Opening the room door, they saw the beds were perfectly made up, and each room was big, "did Jack do all this?"

"No, my mom did it."

"I thought your mom was an ordinary housewife?"

"She was one."

Claire nodded, "so this room belongs to me?"

"Yes, for as long as you wish to stay," Angela responded.

The room looked like a five-star hotel room with a chandelier in the center of the roof, king-size beds, and a glossy texture paint. "These rooms are beautiful. The room looks nicer than my room," Angela joked.

Marcus went into his room. After the hospital and the unexpected visit, Marcus had enough for one day.

"Have anyone heard anything of Jack?"

Angela attempted to call him, but his phone was off.

"I have a bad feeling about this, Angela."

Claire desperately tried to get reception. Angela walked around in disbelief that her mother could pull this off. The place was furnished entirely; it was as if her mom knew this would happen. Angela heard what sounded like a radio, "she followed the sound. It had to lead her to a walkie-talkie.

"Hello, who is this?"

There was no answer, "hello, can you hear me?"

"Yes, I can hear you."

"Jack, you are okay," Claire walked out of her room, hearing Jack.

"Is that Jack?"

"Yes, it's him. He is okay."

Nicole walked out of her room and asked Angela for the radio. If looks could kill, Nicole would be dead.

"Jack, it's me, Nicole. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am okay. Thank you, Nicole."

"Where are you, Jack?"

"I will come there as soon as I know it's safe."

Claire heard a familiar voice speaking to Jack. "Boss, there is no trace leading to them."

Jack never answered.

Claire leaned over, "Silencer is that you?"

There was this loud explosion as they heard the radio screeching.

"Dont tell me I just heard a bomb." Said Claire in tears.

Angela's eyes were big. Was that her brother? It can't be Jack, his a survivor. Angela dropped the radio to the ground and then leaned over to pick it up, "Jack, please confirm you are okay?"

There was no response except for a radio screeching, "Jack, please confirm you are okay?"

Still nothing; Claire and Nicole dropped to their knees as tears rolled down their cheeks.

"He is dead."

Marcus exited the room, "What's going on, guys?"

He saw all three girls had tears in their eyes, "it's Jack, isn't it?"

Claire nodded, "we just heard a bomb, and Jack was killed?"

"Maybe he escaped. Let's not expect the worst?"

"No one could survive such a bomb, Marcus," said Angela in a soft tone.

"Who was doing all this?"

Angela stepped to the window, and all she could see was sand. It appeared like they were in the desert. Marcus walked up to Claire, "I don't know what you were thinking. How could you walk away, Claire? I wish you had told me first."

Claire just stood there as tears rolled down her cheek. Marcus leaned in and wrapped his arms around her. "You are safe now."

"I don't care about being safe, Marcus." She pushed him away, "I done all this in the hope I can have a fresh start with Jack by my side."

"So you love him?"

At first, Claire never answered, then looked up at him with her ocean-blue eyes, it was brighter than usual, "Yes, Marcus, I love him."

Nicole had overheard the conversation and placed her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Hey, I know it hurts, but let's hope his okay."

Somehow, Nicole's words were comforting. Claire shook her head, then turned, noticing the dark patches under Nicole's eyes. She was paler than she was yesterday, "Nicole, are you okay?"

Nicole smiled, "I will be," as she turned around to walk, she fell to the ground.

Marcus ran over to his sister, "Nicole, wake up."

"Get me some water," said Marcus as he placed her head gently on his lap.

Angela came back with water, and Marcus dabbed it over her face. Nicole opened her eyes, "Nicole, can you hear me?"

She nodded, "I am fine," as she sat up.

"I'm sorry, I felt dizzy, I guess."

"When was the last time you had something to eat?"

"I ate yesterday."

Angela leaned down, placing Nicole's arm over her neck.

"I will take you to the room. You need to rest."

"Where is Jack?"

Claire and Angela look at eachother, "He is on his way."

Marcus glanced at Claire. They escorted her to the room. Angela sat by Nicole's bedside, stood up, and walked to the kitchen. Claire asked Angela, "Why did you tell her Jack would be here?"

"Because with her mental state, I am not sure she will be able to handle the truth."

The radio started to screech. Angela picked it up from the table, "Jack, is that you?"

"Hello," said an unfamiliar voice.

"This is Mark. Who am I speaking to?"

Angela looked over at Claire, "Where is Jack?"

"I found this radio on the ground. There was an explosion. I am not sure who Jack is. Who am I speaking to?"

Claire shook her head. "Angela took a deep breath, then said, "are there any bodies around you."

The radio screeched, making a loud beaming sound like it was synchronizing with a Bluetooth loudspeaker.

"Mark? Who are you?"

"I could ask you the same."

"Well, whatever body you are looking for, you won't find it here."

"It's my brother, you idiot."

"My apologies, but no, mam, I don't see any bodies here. What's your brother's name?"

With a sigh of relief, Angela answered, "his name is Jack."

"Tell you what, mam, I will hold on to this radio and look around for your brother."

"Are you sure there are no bodies? How do I know you did not plant the bomb?"

"Well, because im standing here in the damn hot sun talking to a crazy lady?"

Claire and Marcus laughed at hearing that; Angela's face turned red, "don't you have any respect?"

"Yes, I do for my elders."

"How old are you, mam?"

"Thats not relevant okay?"

"Please let me know if you hear anything. I will be on standby if you need me."

Mark scratched his head as he looked at the radio in his hand, put it down on the table nearby him, then turned and wanted to walk away, when he saw his younger sister opposite the street sitting on a motorbike with a random guy. Mark has always disliked him because of how he treated her. Mark then turned around, picked up the radio, and placed it in his pocket. He went opposite the road, asking around if there was any explosion. He climbed on his bicycle and removed the radio from his pocket, "hello, is anyone there?"

Angela responded immediately. "Yes, Mark, did you find my brother."

"No, lady, I have not, but I have confirmed there was no explosion."

"We all heard an explosion, Mark. Are you telling me we all heard wrong?"

"That's not what I am saying."

"Then what are you saying? There is no trace of my brother, and an explosion went off. Who are you? Where are you from, Mark."

"That's all irrelevant, lady, I am doing you a favor by helping you find your brother, and you interrogating me?"

"No, I am not. I am sorry l. Let's start over. I am Angela, and a few friends and I are out camping, and while calling my brother," Claire tapped Angela's shoulder, shaking her head.

"Listen, lady, if you want me to find him, I will need a name and a surname with your details."

Angela breathed in, "I will call you later."