109 The Two Men In Action

As the sound of the helicopter drifted far away, the atmosphere became eerily quiet. The silence was too defeaning. She would not die of torture or strangulation here but of extreme fear of being left alone in the middle of the forest! She did not know exactly where she was but all she could remember was the dense forest below her before the craft landed.

She looked at the computer and turned it on but as expected, it was secured with a password. Her phone was stripped off with its battery. The telephone had no dial tone. She neither had a profound knowledge about information technology nor any hacking skill.

Realizing her helplessness, she sanked into one of the seats and cried again. Her thoughts flew off to her son again, to Jim and Anthon.This was the price of choosing Jim. She was well aware of the possible consequences when Mr. Phyllis Wayne talked to her. She knew that there was always no limit to the wickedness of a man being consumed by greed and lust for fame!

She realized how feeble she was against the power of the wealthy. She was even too coward to think of escaping. Just what would her strength be against the power of the wild beasts in this jungle?

The only consolation she had was the hope that Jim would do everything to rescue her. However, they both know very well what exactly the kind of ransom he would be demanding. And it was Jim's marriage to Dr. Grace in exchange to Catherine Field's hosting of the research launch!

She thought about the possible length of her exile and realized that it would be the length of time her marriage to Jim would be annuled. She also expected of her possible transfer from this place since, by now, the authority's search operation must have started already. And though the furrowing into a thick forest would be difficult, the success of her rescue was not impossible.

The only way means she could help herself in the survival was to stay fit and sound. Most importantly, to stick into the power of the mind to live and to overcome. She should not allow fear and despair to overshadow her.

___

Reluctantly, after having informed kuya Nap, Jim scrolled through his contact list, closed his eyes and pressed it. The man on the other line was surprised as well to see the caller's name. He hesitated for a while then picked it up.

"Hello..." Anthon's voice sounded surprised.

"Ton, perhaps, I would not be able to come back for many days. I know that there's no need for me to ask you this but please consider this as just my way of informing you. I would be leaving Jian to you for, perhaps, couple of days until Jia will be rescued... "

"Rescued? What? What happened to her? "

"She's abducted... "

The news seemed like a bomb to Anthon's ears that his whole body instantly trembled.

"What happened? Just when? Where are you? Let me help.. " He had just talked to her few hours ago and in the short span of time, something happened to her?

Anthon's quivering succession of questions further break Jim's heart. Back then, If only he had the heart great enough to entrust Jia into him, she would have not suffered this way. She would have been safe and happier by his side.

The painful sense of rivalry, his fear for Jia and his anger to his father pressed him so hard to the extent of losing his manly strength that the only answer that went through Anthon's ear was Jim's sudden wailing.

"Jim...you need me. Two heads are better than one. Let me help. I'll book the next flight..."

Soon, with the coordination of rescue forces from other locations and Jim's success in talking out to join the search, Jim and Anthon boarded up together in a helicopter that rummage through the Palawan's dense rainforest...

___

"Rex, how is it? " A man's voice waved through the line.

" Got it. We have followed on." Mr. Rex answered.

"Bring her directly to the site. The aircraft is ready and fly her immediately back to the city."

"Got it. Almost here. "

"Good."

It was already dark. The creepy sounds of creeping and flying creatures filled the atmosphere making Jia shudder.She checked the doors and windows and saw to it that those were all safely locked. She managed to cook something for her stomach although her fears stripped off the last buds of her appetite. She had to eat. She could not afford to be sick.

Just as she retreated to the bedroom, she heard a sound of a coming car. Soon, she heard it pulling up in front of the house. Then, there was a loud knocking.

"Miss Jia, don't be afraid. I'm senior officer Rex Sphere, coming over to rescue you. Please hurry up. We need to evacuate this place before the men of your abductor come

over! "

Jia's heart raced. Was the man telling the truth? What if he's not? She walked towards the door and peeped out on the hole. She, indeed, saw a white police car.

Sensing her on the door, the man named Mr. Rex showed up his ID. His name was boldly printed on it as Senior Inspector Rex Sphere. He also pulled out two more ID's from his wallet. Those were his driver's license and PRC license.

Her fear suddenly subsided and she hurriedly opened the door. It suddenly dawned on her that her abductor was not really cruel since she was not being locked up. Perhaps, he knew about her fear of going out in the middle of the forest.

But, where they really in the middle of the forest? She wondered again.

Sr. Inspector Sphere and his assistant quickly went inside and asked where her things were. She gestured that it was inside the room and soon she boarded together with them inside a police car.

The moment she was done fastening her seatbelt, the car sped out into some narrow and winding roads before they came out to what seemed like a highway.

Senior Inspector Sphere sat beside her on the back seat while his assistant was the one who drove the car. She observed that the moment they reached the highway, he sighed in relief.

"Miss Jia," he said as he turned to her, " the police force and rescue team is already out in frantic search operation for you but this was not leaked to the public per your husband's instruction."

"I come as your independent rescuer, separate to the authority's movement in your behalf. Because, the one who gives me the order, thinks that you are much safer this way."

"According to him, if the authority would be succesful in rescuing you, your abductor would find more ways to harm you. So, you will be assisted back near your home because your abductor's search for you would not be likely within the proximity of your home."

Jia's heart raced loudly. Who could this man really be? Just who was this man who introduce himself as a senior inspector? Who gave him the orders? Why did he knew about the abductor's motive?