Once Drake was taken away, Marion asked, "You really figured it out?"


    "Nope. I was bluffing." Debra shook her head. "Drake hid it so well that even the Illuminati couldn''t find it. That''s why they grabbed him. They had no other choice. Honestly, the safest thing for us is not to know where it is. Otherwise, we might be next on their hit list."


    "That''s why he wouldn''t talk."


    "I know. He''s afraid that if we find out, the Illuminati wille after us, too."


    "But you told him you figured it out."


    "I was just messing with him. If I could do that, that''d mean I''m smarter than the entire Illuminati."


    "You''re smarter."


    Marion reached out and ruffled her hair.


    Debra got serious. "Now we can''t go back to Seamar City yet. If the Illuminati has people here, they must have a base there too. Instead, we should dig a little deeper. Maybe their leader is hiding out here in Orkgate."


    "Right." Marion nodded.


    ...


    In the car, Kale faltered, "Boss, next time something like this happens, at least give me a heads-up. You shouldn''t be running off on your own like that."


    Drake was still pissed at Debra. "Oh, so now you''re just doing whatever she says?"


    Kale reasoned, "Mrs. Houston cares about you. She and Mr. Houston rushed here and then overseas, barely stopping to rest."


    Drake went quiet, looking out of the window. Recent events yed out in his mind.


    A month ago, Andrew left the hospital without telling anyone.


    While the others didn''t notice, Drake saw it.


    "You''re leaving just like that?" he said.


    The setting sun cast a warm glow over the corridor.


    Andrew wasn''t surprised to see him. "Sticking around won''t change anything. It''ll only cause more trouble."


    Drake frowned. "But she needs you."


    Even as an outsider, he could tell that Andrew meant something to Debra.


    On the surface, they were always polite to each other. But sometimes, politeness was just a cover for deliberate distance.


    "She doesn''t need


    me anymore. She


    already has someone by her side." Andrew paused. "One day, I might need a big favor from you. A month from now, I''ll contact you about a certain job. Once it''s done, you''ll be welf rewarded."


    "You''re offering me payment?" Drake asked.


    Andrew didn''t answer that question. "My people will send you a package. Hide it as I instruct. After that, you might be in danger. But I think a man like you, who''s cheated death more than once, will pull through."


    He paused and added, "Once it''s done, the Lowe Group will be yours again. And guarantee it''ll be


    bey


    smoother sailing than ever before. If you''re interested in the treasure hidden in the underground vault, it''ll yours for the taking too. But this deal stays strictly between us. Not a word to anyone, especially Debra."