Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

The sound of someone storming up the stairs echoed. Andrew pulled his cap lower, slipped out of the emergency stairwell, and opted to take the elevator

instead.

Hank, charging up from behind, paused at the landing to check the floor. Then, he suddenly spun around and bolted back downstairs.

Inside the elevator, Andrew let out a cold chuckle.

Trying to play tracking and counter-tracking games with him? Hank might be a trained agent, but he was not even on his radar.

Before the elevator reached the lobby, Andrew got off on the third floor. He walked straight to a window, flipped over the ledge, and jumped, landing in the back parking lot behind the building.

Victoria was already waiting there with the engine running. Andrew grabbed the door handle, jumped in, and buckled his seatbelt. The whole sequence flowed seamlessly, like something out of an action movie.

Meanwhile, Hank was waiting on the ground floor when he noticed the elevator had stopped on the third floor. He cursed under his breath and sprinted upstairs in just two seconds.

Peering out the window, he caught just a glimpse of Andrew's back as he got into the car.

"Damn it, nobody escapes right under my nose," he growled.

He slammed his fist against the windowsill so hard it cracked. He was determined to find this killer because, first, he wanted to impress Scarlett, and second, he wanted to prove his own capabilities.

As an agent, letting someone slip away right under his nose was a major insult.

Later, Hank returned to the Driscoll Corporation across the street, where Scarlett was waiting.

"Ms. Driscoll, are you alright?" he asked with concern.

Scarlett's arm was already wrapped in bandages and hung in a sling around her neck. She replied, "It's nothing, just a minor shock injury. Anyway, I thought you'd be bringing the shooter back to me. But from the looks of it, even you couldn't catch up with him?"

Hank frowned at her words. Scarlett seemed to be questioning his competence.

He let out a cold snort and replied,

"The guy's got a few tricks up his sleeve. I figured he'd take the fire escape, but when I got there,

switched it up and used the 19

I waited on the ground floor, hoping to trap him, but the bastard slipped out on the third floor and jumped out the window."

Scarlett nodded. She had already regained her composure from the earlier shock. Her expression was now cold and steely. "From what you're saying, he must be skilled in tracking and counter-tracking. Sounds like we're dealing with a professional." Content bétongs to

Hank scoffed. "Ms. Driscoll, he just got lucky this time. But give me one more shot, and I'll definitely bring him in. I've already memorized his build, and if he shows up again, I'll recognize him."

Scarlett gritted her teeth. "I'm not waiting for the next time. This is the first person who's dared to target me on Gabo Creek territory. He clearly doesn't know who I am, and I'll make him pay dearly for this mistake."

She immediately ordered her subordinates to pull the surveillance footage from the shooter's building and all surrounding areas that might reveal his identity. However, they worked until late into the night with no results.

The only thing visible in the surveillance footage was a man wearing a low-pulled cap, carrying a long black bag on his back. Beyond that, there was no useful information.

"We can confirm this man was the shooter. But Ms. Driscoll, with just this blurry figure in the surveillance footage, we'll never be able to identify the real culprit," a subordinate reported hesitantly.

Scarlett leaned back in her office chair, holding a wine glass in her good hand. She had expected this outcome, so she was not inclined to blame her subordinate.noveldrama

Suddenly, Hank spoke up. "I've been studying this guy, and honestly... he looks kind of familiar."

Scarlett did not seem interested. "Oh? Who do you think it is?"

Hank did not sound fully confident, but said, "He kind of resembles someone

named Andrew Lloyd. I have only met him once since I arrived in Gabo Creek, so

I can't be completely sure. Ms. Driscoll, do you have any bad blood with him?"

Scarlett's eyes turned icy cold as she set her wineglass down. "I have no grudges against this Andrew, and he shouldn't even know I exist."