Chapter 182
Eddy’s plane appeared over the open ocean, drawing closer to the offshore base The facility’s fire–control radar had already locked on.
With a single command from Director General Ablett, the aircraft and everyone aboard could be reduced to ashes in an instant
“Director–General, should we drive them off?” one of the staff asked.
“Let Professor Reese’s plane leave unharmed, Ablett replied coolly, barely glancing at the creeping red dot on the radar.
The staff member immediately relayed the order through the radio to Fernando’s plane, which then soared over the base and veered away.
Sir, Professor Reese’s aircraft is leaving,” a bodyguard reported quietly.
approaching the cockpit. “What about us?”
“Keep heading for the island,” Eddy replied, his voice icy cold.
They were somewhere in the middle of the Pacific, surrounded by international waters–no country’s territory for hundreds of miles. There was no good reason for Fernando’s flight path to cross this area, especially since he’d brought Terrell along. and Terrell wore the Ocean Jewel necklace. The only explanation was that they were visiting someone on a nearby island–probably his wife.
“Yes, sir!”
The bodyguard gave orders for the pilot to approach the island.
Inside the base, suddenly, the security grid blared with alarms.
Ablett froze in front of the control room door as a staffer reported anxiously. “Director–General, that plane just breached the perimeter!”
“Take them down, sir! Now!”
Security at the base was no joke–any hesitation could be fatal. With a sharp look. from Ablett, the staffer activated the fire–control system.
A missile shot out from the base, streaking straight for Eddy’s plane in a matter of
seconds.
At that very moment, the base’s massive protective shield vibrated with magnetic force.
The aircraft suddenly lost control, plunging into a free fall.
21:5
By a hair’s breadth, the missile grazed the top of the falling plane.
But once a target was locked by the fire–control radar, there was no escape. The missile arced through the sky and zeroed in on the plummeting aircraft once more. The plane hit the ocean, the missile followed.
A thunderous explosion shook the Pacific, sending shockwaves through the rolling
waves.
Later, when a submarine crew returned from recovering debris, they reported, “No. wreckage found, sir. The plane was blown to bits.”
Ablett noticed Blanche looked troubled and dismissed the others.
Blanche reported, “Before the explosion, we caught a glimpse of the passengers. It wasn’t an enemy. It was Eddy–this is trouble I brought here.”
Ablett’s gaze lingered on Blanche’s pale face for a moment. “Did the base suffer any damage?”
“The shield was hit, but it’s already being repaired.”
“Activate the tracking protocol,” he said, his tone all business.
Blanche nodded.
Ablett looked away, shifting to a softer, more personal topic, the way a boss might show concern for a junior colleague. “Have you picked a name for the baby yet?”
“Mamie.” Clara’s little face flashed through Blanche’s mind. She answered quietly,
“Mamie Harvey–she’ll take my mother’s name.”
Ablett nodded, expression unreadable. “Good.”
A siren wailed as an ambulance tore into the hospital parking lot.
“Please, please–you have to save my husband!”
The bodyguard urged the medics to rush Eddy into the ER, then immediately called Loraine.
Within an hour, the best doctors in Seabreeze City were assembled. Every resource was called in to save him.
After ten hours of surgery, with over a hundred medical professionals working together, they managed to keep Eddy alive.
But he slipped into a deep coma.
21:53 #
Chapter
Meanwhile, Blanche initiated the tracking program, determined to investigate every detail of the plane’s incursion and destruction. Every passenger, every scrap of data–nothing would be overlooked. The base’s computers scoured cyberspace at lightning speed, chasing every lead.
Within hours, the facts emerged.
The plane’s make and model. Its departure point.
The passenger manifest: two dead, two injured.
Everyone’s identity flashed across the wall–sized monitors in the computer lab. The final verdict: a tragic navigational error.
Blanche had the report delivered to Ablett.
Twelve months later, the divorce became official.
On that day, Blanche walked along the broad seaside boardwalk, holding little Mamie’s hand as the toddler toddled beside her.
Fernando strolled with them, Terrell by his side.
Terrell made Mamie giggle with silly noises, then scooped her up and spun her in circles. “Mom, she’s too cute!” he called out, laughter echoing above the waves.
21:53
