Maybe, everyone had gone out of the banquet.


    Ivan came downstairs.


    Gand rushed over and asked, "Have you seen everyone?"


    "Who are we talking about?"


    "Jordan, Randy, and Erica."


    "No."


    With that simple answer, Ivan headed straight to the kitchen.


    Gand put his hands on his hips, fuming. "What an attitude. When Debra''s around, you act like a puppy. The minute she leaves, you flip faster than anyone else."


    Ivan ignored him.


    Gand gritted his teeth. "Sooner orter, I''ll catch you slipping and prove you''re an undercover spy."


    Barton came downstairs. Gand eagerly approached him.


    "Barton, where is everyone? Debra and Marion have disappeared too. They didn''t leave us behind to attend a banquet, did they?"


    "What banquet?"


    "A weing banquet."


    "A weing banquet?"


    "You know, when someone returns from afar, there''s supposed to be a big feast."


    "Oh, there''s been too much going ontely to prepare any banquets. But thanks for your effort. The living room looks a bit messy, though. I''ll have someone tidy it up. Yo@can have your meal in the meantime."


    Barton''s polite tone cut into Gand''s pride. After all, he had spent all afternoon preparing.


    Liza sighed in exasperation, "Brother, could you be any less reliable?"


    "I didn''t know the rules here in Seamar City were different from back home." Gand plopped into a chair and grabbed a slice of pizza. "If I had, I wouldn''t have bothered. Who knows what they''re up to."


    Liza propped her chin in her hand, feeling bored. "I don''t get it either. Why are we the only ones with nothing to do?"


    "Beats me. Maybe they''re busy working? Not being stuck in the daily grind feels great, though," Gand said, savoring the moment.


    A red sports car found itself cornered in a dark alley by a group of masked bodyguards.


    Erica, who was already annoyed after a long day at work, felt her frustration grow.


    Randy, noticing her mood, stepped out of the car and addressed the men blocking their way. "Hey guys, we''re starving. Could you let us through so we can enjoy a candlelit dinner?"


    The bodyguards, unfazed, simultaneously twirled their batons.


    "Enough of this nonsense," Erica growled. "I''m running them over."


    She mmed her foot on the gas. Randy barely managed to leap back into the car as she charged forward, knocking a few of the bodyguards aside.


    "Erica, I''m still outside," Randy shouted.


    Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, and the rear tire burst instantly. Erica''s anger boiled over, and Randy sensed an unfavorable situation.


    But when he cautiously looked over at Erica''s face, he rxed and sighed, "No. Not this car. These people are in for trouble."