Chapter 200
The woman, seeing Aria was alone and female, let her in without hesitation. “Come in, Mason’s just getting off work.”
Aria left the gifts by the couch and took a seat.
The woman set the baby in a cradle, poured Aria some water, and placed fruit on the table. The smell of food wafted through the apartment.
“Cooking dinner?” Aria asked.
“Yeah, give me a sec–I need to check the soup. Make yourself at home.” The woman bustled away.
Aria glanced at the baby, wide–eyed and chewing on a chubby fist. She smiled softly.
Mason came home to this scene, froze at the door, and dropped his bag. “Aria! What are you doing here?”
His wife came out with the soup, smiling. “You’re back! Entertain our guest and help tidy up for dinner.”
Aria smiled at him. “You look awfully nervous, Mr. Webb.”
He stiffly scooped up his bag. “Not at all.”
The baby giggled and reached for Aria.
Mason, flustered, rushed to scoop the child into his arms, his voice shaky. “Ms. Saxon, how did you even find out where I live?”
Aria’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Your son is adorable.”
Mason, who’d had his first child at over forty, was fiercely protective. Her words made his hands tremble as he held the baby.
“Thanks for handling that online mess for me, Mason. I won’t stay for dinner–goodbye.” She didn’t linger.
As the door clicked shut, his wife called from the kitchen, “But dinner’s ready! Why’d she leave?”
Mason handed off the baby and chased her down the hall. “Ms. Saxon!”
She paused. “Yes?”
He hesitated, conflicted. “You know everything, don’t you?” She’d come here as a warning.
Aria cut straight to the point. “They’ve smuggled themselves into Huthailia.”
His pupils contracted in shock. “That’s impossible. How could they be so bold?”
Two and a half years ago, Mason had taken on what looked like a simple divorce case.
The client–a young man–claimed his wealthy wife had cheated and wanted a split with a payout.
But as Mason dug deeper, he realized the man was after the woman’s fortune from the start, collecting dirt on her.
The pressure to help was soon backed by threats/
He did what he could legally, but his conscience never let him rest.
Later, they asked him to take photos and arrange bail.
Aria smiled faintly. “Mason, you don’t have much time to decide. Either help catch them, or go to prison. Those are your only options.”
1/2
Chapter 200
Midnight, the three of them arrived at Northside, greeted by a forest shrouded in darkness.
Fryderyk slid on his night–vision goggles and led the way. “There used to be a road, but after the murder, the place was closed off. The forest you don’t know the terrain, you’ll get lost easily.”
In other words–someone from The Thirteenth Sigil must be familiar with this place.
“What exactly happened in that case?” Aria asked.
“It was a pharmaceutical factory, totally illegal. That’s why it was hidden so deep. No one would’ve found it, if not for the fire that killed a man.
It was too remote for comfort.
After about thirty feet, all three stopped in unison.
Owen spoke quietly. “Hudson’s cautious. He’ll have laid traps on the first day–keep your eyes peeled.”
Even though the nearest homes were far off, any one of these criminals escaping would put the whole city at risk. They had to cover every possible exit before making a move.
“One hour from now, meet back here,” Owen said.
They split up, each disappearing into the gloom.
Aria moved like a shadow, silent as a ghost, deftly disabling several traps as she ran.
She lost track of time, but eventually caught a faint glow in the distance.
Heart pounding, she vaulted up the nearest tree and concealed herself, holding her breath, vanishing into the darkness above.
