I watched Richard and Ronald exchange words, leaving me bewildered by their conversation.


    I knew Richard didn''t have a clue where Kate had gone off to. He was desperate to break free from this prison and avenge me.


    I screamed, "Ronald, don''t trust Richard. He''s fooling you."


    But Ronald swung the cell door open and grabbed Richard, his voiceced with betrayal, "Was I too nice to you at the start, and you fooled me?"


    Ronald had always been the easygoing cop, but at the moment, he was livid. He already felt like he had botched the handling of my case.


    Richard argued, "Let me out, and I''ll find Kate for you."


    Ronald mmed him onto the ground, "You''re nning to avenge ire, aren''t you?"


    Sitting on the floor, Richard smirked coldly, "Yes, I''ll find the bastard who killed ire. Kate must know something! ire''s dead. Does that jerk ude know?" Ronald shook his head in disappointment. "Even with the evidence in front of him, he denies ire''s death, iming ire kidnapped Kate. He''s an asshole."


    That was the detective''s take on ude. I had been blind!


    "I''ll kill that bastard ude," Richard muttered through clenched teeth, his fists tightly balled.


    Ronald didn''t hear that. "What was that? Richard, if you can find Kate, give me a lead. Stay out of anything else."


    Richard quirked a lip. "You should let me go. That''ll draw out the ones after Kate for revenge. Kate is vengeful by nature. And she wasn''t kidnapped by someone else. Someone behind her took her. But I don''t know who. Only by using me as bait can we draw them out." Ronald pondered, his brow furrowed, considering the logic.


    I prayed silently, hoping Ronald would disagree.


    Richard was offering himself as bait,


    risking his life to lure out the


    mastermind. I''d remain in the dark


    rather than have him risk it al


    sw nove


    "I''ll go with you." Ronald was apprehensive but recognized the need to draw out the maniptor.


    Richard chuckled. "Mr. Collins, your face is too well-known."


    I looked at Ronald. Anyone could recognize him with his buzz-cut, sunny demeanor, upright posture, and unmistakable integrity.


    Ronald said, "It''s too dangerous alone."


    As Richard slowly stood up, I noticed how thin he''d be, likely from years in prison with poor food and sleep, his health deteriorating.


    His silhouette seemed so fragile that even a breeze could topple him, a


    stark contrast to his fove


    who prioritized fitness over


    protecting me.


    "You can''t catch a wolf without entering the forest," Richard''s expression told me he was resolute.


    Ronald added, "Then I''ll have someone guard you secretly."


    And so, when Ronald let Richard go, ude approached, intending to strike Richard.


    But Ronald stopped him, his face emotionless, "There''s no evidence Richard kidnapped Kate, and someone bailed him out. He''s free to go."


    ude looked around, puzzled. He


    had been there the whole time and


    hadn''t seen anyonee to bait out Richard. "Who bailed you out? Richard, if anything happens to Kate, I''ll ensure you rot in jail."


    Once free from the handcuffs, Richard stretchedzily, "I don''t care. But about your Kate, do you truly know her?"Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.