Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 829: Finding Someone On the other side of town, Hayden walked through the largest urban village in Ashbury, accompanied by Kim Murphy.

The maze of winding alleys made his head spin. Without the GPS tracker, he worried Kim Murphy might lead him to an unfamiliar and isolated spot to handle him. "How much farther?" Nathan asked, glancing around at the nearly identical high-rises.

Above them hung tangled laundry lines and web-like electrical wires. In a place like this, a small fire could be catastrophic.

Someone working for the Bailey family actually lived in such a place? The understatement was almost too much to believe.

Kim Murphy led the way, frequently turning back to ensure Hayden and Nathan's team could keep up. "We're almost there. This place is like that-seems like there are many paths, but most are dead ends. Without someone familiar leading you, it's easy to get lost." "I can see that," Hayden remarked. "I thought you all had dorms. Why is Wesley Montague living in a place like this?" Kim Murphy sighed, a trace of helplessness flashing across his face. "Who knows what he's thinking? He has no family, but he insists on staying in a place mixed with all sorts. I've offered him dorm arrangements multiple times, but he always refuses, using 'freedom' as an excuse." "Interns these days barely make 8, 000 dollars a month. Ashbury is expensive, even these run-down old buildings cost two to three thousand a month for rent. Half his salary's gone just like that. Add commuting, food, and everything else-he can't save a dime." Kim Murphy seemed to have a lot to say about Wesley Montague. "And he keeps talking about wanting to get married one day. With the way he spends money so carelessly, what girl would want to be with him?" Hayden and Nathan listened quietly, occasionally exchanging glances with the team following behind. They were already forming their judgments. Perhaps Wesley's dislike of the dorm wasn't about freedom, but about convenience-it might make connecting with the Bailey family easier.

The group continued small talk with Kim Murphy, even casually digging out the exact date Wesley Montague joined the police force.

Finally, when the conversation ran dry, they arrived at the residential building where Wesley lived.

It was around two or three in the morning in Ashbury.

The building was mostly dark, save for a few scattered lights in srooms. It was impossible to determine if anyone was inside.

Kim Murphy led them into the old complex, which had recently installed a new elevator.

The team crowded into the small space, filling it to capacity. If not for leaving a couple of men stationed at the entrance, the elevator might have been overloaded by the large group of men.

The ride up was shaky, and they soon arrived at Wesley Montague's floor. The iron door to his unit was tightly shut, plastered with various advertisements, giving the impression that no one had lived there for a long time.

Kim Murphy frowned and raised his hand to knock, but Hayden stopped him. "Don't alert him." At Hayden's signal, Nathan stepped forward with a master key.

"You owefor this," Nathan grumbled as he worked on the lock. "Mr. Farrell gives you a task, and I'm the one dragged out in the middle of the night to do the heavy lifting." Hayden smirked. "Think of it as a chance to earn scredit. Stick with me-I'm worried Wesley might knock you out if you're still half-asleep." Nathan scoffed. "It's pitch black in there. Who knows where he could be hiding?" Just as Hayden finished his sentence, a sharp zzzzz sound broke the quiet-the sound of electricity surging to a lightbulb.

The room lit up with a sudden brightness.

Kim Murphy instinctively tensed, his body shifting into a defensive stance.

A moment later, Nathan's voice cut through the tension. "Why didn't you just turn the lights on first?" The room fell silent.

Kim Murphy stood to Nathan's left, shoulders shaking slightly, clearly suppressing laughter. Behind them, the rest of the team exchanged amused glances.

Hayden's face flushed red, then pale. In those brief seconds, he felt as though an hour had passed.

Clearing his throat, Hayden tried to salvage his dignity by reprimanding Nathan. "I brought you to help, not to mess things up." Nathan ignored him, peering into the room. "Take a look yourself. Does this look like someone's here?" Hayden scanned the room, refusing to admit defeat. "Of course someone's here... Wesley Montague has to be here..." But his words grew quieter as his eyes darted around. The one-bedroom apartment was small and sparsely furnished. From the bed to the table littered with unfinished snacks, everything was in plain sight. The neatly folded blanket on the bed made it clear-Wesley hadn't chthat night.

Nathan strode over to Hayden and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Let it go. Let's head back and issue the warrant, just as Mr. Farrell instructed." "That seems... drastic, doesn't it?" Kim Murphy finally spoke, snapping out of the awkward atmosphere.

An intern with a warrant on their record would be finished for life.

Nathan didn't even spare him a glance. Tugging the still-stunned Hayden along, he replied flatly, "Not drastic at all. It's of the middle night, and he's not at the hospital, not at the station, not even at home. Wherever he is, it's suspicious." "Right now, he's probably hiding somewhere, figuring out how to run." His voice faded as the group made their way out. Kim Murphy hurried to catch up, unable to argue against the facts.

The team left the building as noisily as they had arrived.

What they didn't know was that, not far from the building, hidden in the shadows, a figure emerged after they had gone.

Wesley Montague's dark eyes gleamed dangerously in the night. Holding a phone to his ear, he spoke in a low voice. "They've left. When will your people getout of here?" On the other end, a voice, deliberately distorted to be unrecognizable, sneered. "Useless. You couldn't handle such a simple task, and now we have to clean up your mess!" Wesley remained unfazed. He sneered coldly. "If you're so capable, why don't you do it yourselves?"

The question silenced the other person momentarily, followed by a dismissive scoff. Axleast Phil Walker already took the drug. Unless Spectre intervenes, not even God himself can save him." Before hanging up, the voice reminded Wesley to stay hidden.

"Don't go back to your place for now. I'll arrange a new identity and location for you. Tonight, I'll get both you and your mother out of Ashbury."