Chapter 130: Toma’s Memories (5)
The police vehicles stopped one after another in front of the small florist shop. The afternoon sky had turned grey, making the quiet neighbourhood feel even heavier.
Aiden stepped out of the car beside his father. His small hands trembled as he looked around.
His father, still wearing his formal suit, immediately approached the lead officer. "Officer, what have you found?"
The officer saluted politely. "Sir, we’ve investigated the florist shop thoroughly. There’s no direct evidence inside the store itself. However, we discovered several suspicious footprints leading toward the buildings behind the shop."
Aiden’s father frowned. "What does that mean?"
"It suggests the people involved in this kidnapping may still be hiding somewhere very close to this area."
His father’s expression immediately darkened. "Then don’t waste another second. Find the girl immediately. She’s the daughter of one of my closest family friends. Her parents are extremely worried."
"Yes, sir. We’ve already surrounded the surrounding streets. Our officers are searching every nearby building."
Aiden looked around while the adults continued talking. Everything seemed normal. The flower shop displayed colorful roses, lilies, tulips, and orchids. People walking on the street probably wouldn’t suspect anything unusual.
But...Suddenly, something felt wrong. A strange feeling settled deep inside his chest. He slowly turned his head.
Beside the flower shop...Hidden behind rows of hanging flower baskets... A long, faded curtain covered a narrow entrance. It looked almost invisible unless someone paid close attention.
Aiden stared at it. His heartbeat became faster. "Go there." The thought suddenly appeared in his mind. He couldn’t explain why. It wasn’t logic. It was simply...a feeling.
His eyes remained fixed on the curtain. The sounds around him slowly faded.
The officers talking...The passing cars...Even his father’s voice...Everything became distant. Only that hidden entrance remained in his sight.
His instincts screamed. "Someone is there."
...
Far behind that curtain...
Inside an abandoned storage room, Little Toma sat on the cold floor. Her wrists were tightly tied behind her back. Ropes also bound her ankles. Her cheeks were stained with tears. She looked toward the man standing in front of her.
His expression was completely emotionless. Beside him stood several nervous thugs.
One of them whispered, "Boss...the police haven’t found this place yet...right?"
The man ignored him. His attention never left Toma. He crouched down. "One last time." His voice was cold. "Where did you hide the files?"
Toma shook her head while crying. "I...I don’t know..."
The man’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t lie."
Toma said,"I lost them...I really don’t know where they are. I dropped them..I don’t know..."
The man stood up slowly.
One of the thugs spoke. "Boss,she keeps saying the same thing."
Another thug added, "What if she’s telling the truth?"
The man looked at him. His gaze alone was enough to silence everyone. "Truth?" He laughed quietly. "If she really lost them...That’s even worse." His smile disappeared. "Those documents cannot fall into anyone else’s hands."
Toma tried to move backward. Her tiny body trembled. "Please...I want to go home...I won’t tell anyone...Please let me go,uncle..."
The man stared at her without sympathy. "You’ve already seen too much."
Toma’s voice suddenly grew louder. "Someone...Help me!! Help!!" Her desperate cry echoed through the abandoned room.
One thug hurried toward the window. "No one’s outside,boss."
The man remained calm. "No one can hear you." He slowly reached inside his coat.
Click!
A black handgun appeared in his hand.
The room became silent.
Several thugs looked away. Even they seemed uncomfortable.
Toma’s eyes widened. "N-No..."
The man calmly raised the gun. "If you won’t speak...Then there’s no reason to keep you alive."
Toma closed her eyes tightly. Tears rolled down her face. She thought about her parents. She thought about Aiden. She thought she would never see anyone again.
...
Outside...Little Aiden suddenly froze. His ears twitched.
"...Help..."
His eyes widened. He had heard something. It was very faint. Almost impossible to notice. But he heard it. Someone had shouted.
Without thinking...He started running.
"Aiden!" His father turned around. "Where are you going?"
The boy didn’t answer. He sprinted directly toward the hidden curtain.
The officers looked surprised. "Sir!"
"The boy! Stop him!"
His father immediately shouted, "Aiden! Be careful! Don’t go in there! It’s dangerous!"
But Aiden kept running. He pushed aside the heavy curtain.
Behind it...
A narrow hallway stretched into darkness. The smell of dust filled the air. He continued running.
Behind him...His father and several police officers immediately chased after him.
"Hurry! The boy went inside!"
"Move!"
The officers drew their pistols. Boots echoed loudly through the hallway.
...
Inside the storage room...
One thug suddenly frowned. "Boss...I think I heard footsteps."
Another thug listened carefully. "...Someone’s coming."
The man slowly lowered the gun for a moment. "Impossible. No one knows about this place."
Then... The footsteps became louder.
The thugs looked toward the entrance. "What the...."
Before anyone could react...A small figure burst through the doorway. It was Aiden. He stood there breathing heavily. His eyes immediately found Toma tied to the chair. "Toma!"
Relief filled his face. Then he noticed the gun. His expression instantly changed. "Let her go!"
The entire room became silent.
The man blinked. "...A child?"
One thug looked confused. "Where did this kid come from?"
The leader frowned. "Who are you?"
Aiden stepped forward despite his shaking legs. "I said...Let her go!"
Toma looked up. "Aiden..." Her voice broke into tears. "You came..."
The man laughed quietly. "So another child. Interestingly, they also seem to know each other." He slowly pointed the gun toward Aiden. "You should’ve stayed outside."
Aiden didn’t move. He was terrified. His legs felt weak. But he refused to step back. "Leave her alone."
The man sighed. "Children these days..." He adjusted his grip on the pistol. "I’ll deal with both of you."
Just then...
A powerful voice echoed through the hallway. "POLICE! DROP YOUR WEAPON!"
The criminals froze.
The man spun around. "What?!"
Within seconds...
Dozens of armed police officers rushed into the room. "Guns down! Hands where we can see them! Don’t move!"
Red laser sights instantly covered every thug. The room erupted into chaos.
One thug shouted, "The police!"
Another panicked. "How did they find us?!"
The leader’s face turned pale. "No...That’s impossible..."
He looked toward Aiden. "...That kid... He led them here?"
More officers flooded inside. The exits were completely surrounded. There was nowhere left to run.
Aiden’s father entered behind the officers. His face immediately changed after seeing Toma tied up. "Toma!" He quickly rushed toward her while officers covered him. "It’s alright. You’re safe now."
Toma burst into tears. "Uncle..."
He carefully removed the ropes from her wrists. "It’s over. You’re safe."
The little girl immediately hugged him tightly. She cried uncontrollably. "I was scared... I wanted to go home..."
"It’s alright. No one’s going to hurt you anymore."
Meanwhile...
The lead officer aimed directly at the kidnapper. "Drop the weapon."
The man slowly backed away. His mind raced.
He looked toward the windows.
Blocked.
The hallway.
Blocked.
Every exit...
Blocked.
He clenched his teeth. "This can’t be happening..."
The officer’s voice became even louder. "I said...DROP THE GUN!"
For several long seconds... No one moved. The kidnapper looked around desperately.
Every officer already had him surrounded.
Even every men of the leader had begun raising their hands.
One thug whispered, "Boss... It’s over..."
The man gritted his teeth in frustration. His entire operation had collapsed because of one unexpected mistake.
One little boy had trusted his instincts... And everything had fallen apart slowly...
The handgun slipped from his fingers.
Clank.
It hit the concrete floor.
Every officer immediately rushed forward. "Move! Hands behind your head!"
Within seconds,the leader was forced onto the ground. Metal handcuffs clicked tightly around his wrists. The remaining thugs surrendered one after another without resistance.
The lead officer let out a relieved breath. "The suspects are secured."
Another officer reported, "The hostage has been rescued safely."
Aiden stood frozen, still trying to process everything that had just happened.
Toma looked at him through her tears. "...Thank you..."
Aiden smiled weakly. "I told you... I’d find you."
For the first time since she had been kidnapped... Toma smiled.
Outside, the flashing red and blue lights continued to illuminate the quiet street. The nightmare was finally over.
As the officers escorted the arrested men outside, one detective carefully picked up the fallen handgun and sealed it as evidence. Another team began photographing the hidden room and collecting fingerprints.
Aiden’s father placed a reassuring hand on both children’s shoulders. "You two were incredibly brave."
Toma, still trembling, held onto Aiden’s sleeve as they walked out into the fresh air.
The flashing police lights reflected in their eyes while curious neighbours gathered behind the barricades, whispering about the dramatic rescue that had unfolded inside the abandoned hideout.
But none of the arrested thugs realized, the mysterious files Toma had lost were now somewhere in police custody...
And waiting for them was more than 8 years of prison.
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