Chapter 2: Sandwich For Anas
News of the deaths of Peter William and Dahlia Nelson has spread across U.S. news channels. Albert can already guess the continuation of the case, in the end, will not be revealed anything, because he and the Ladybug team have made sure not to leave the slightest trace in their actions, including witnesses.
"Nice."
Albert sipped coffee as breakfast. He only slept about three hours. Josh's message has been about him until now. The message was sent an hour ago when he woke up to urinate.
[Mr. Josh: Al, make sure the girl doesn't get hurt in the slightest. I plan to sell the girl. We need money to buy a new headquarters in Las Vegas. Next week I'll pick her up for a photo shoot.]
In fact, by the time Albert says that Anas is just a priceless blind girl, Josh still doesn't change his plans. He turned off the television when he remembered that there was someone he was guarding, Anastasia Edwards. Last night he only let Anas fall asleep in the main room of Ladybug's headquarters, the same meeting for their captives long ago. Albert left the coffee cup and moved on to ascertain the girl's condition.
"Is she awake?" Albert asked the two men assigned to guard the master room.
Henry nodded and opened the door so Albert could enter. There were sobs from the darkroom that only glowed from the sunlight. It seemed like Albert's presence was realized by Anas. The girl who was curled up moved slowly to sit down, her hands groping in insane like she was looking for something.
"Peter? I'm hungry," Anas said, slowly.
Albert sat on the edge of the bed. He got rid of Anas' hair covering the girl's face.
"Peter, are you here?" Anas touched Albert's hand.
"Peter's not back yet and you're still with me," Albert said.
Anas's bowed face was now raised, her eyes staring the other way. The girl's tears descended along with Albert's mounting anger. The man held Anas's chin and noticed more clearly the bruise at the corner of the girl's lips.
"You said you'd take care of me until Peter came back, but why did you hit me?" Anas asked, softly and quietly.
"Does this hurt?"
Anas nodded.
"You said you were hungry, didn't you? Let me get you breakfast. You're waiting here," Albert said.
The man got up from the edge of the bed and rushed out of the room and searched for the two men guarding the main room since last night. Albert went to the kitchen and sure enough, they were there, enjoying a bacon sandwich with a warm coffee that had a sharp smell. Albert looked at Henry and Thomas in turn.
"Who hits the girl?" Albert asked flatly. However, the voice sounded straightforward.
"She complained to you?" Henry smiled wryly.
Thomas also laughed dismissively. "You know, Al. Henry painstakingly refrained from letting go of the girl's purple lingerie. At first, she was adorable, her voice was very cute, but for a long time Henry was upset because she kept calling Peter's name."
"Then?"
"I'm upset. After all, it turned out that the girl was blind," Henry said, indirectly confessing his actions.
Albert pulled the collar of Henry's shirt. He hit the man right up to the corner of Henry's bloody lip. A surprised Thomas immediately restrained Albert.
"Are you crazy?!" Henry grimaced, wiping blood in the corner of his lips.
Albert was undaunted. He pointed at the two men with annoyance. "That girl is not a girl for you to enjoy. He's a prisoner of Mr. Josh. If she gets hurt, I wouldn't hesitate to drag you two into Josh's room."
Henry and Thomas were unmoved to hear this. Albert immediately took a ready-to-eat sandwich and a bottle of mineral water from the refrigerator. He stepped out of the kitchen and returned to the main room. Albert saw Anas who was looking at the window with a spotlight of sunlight exactly piercing the girl's face.
Albert approached Anas and sat down on the edge of the bed. He gave a sandwich and mineral water to the girl's lap.
"Eat," Albert said.
Anas's hand moved to unwrap the sandwich but to no avail. Albert was moved to help. Without words, the girl immediately devoured the bacon sandwich with a cezy. Albert just looked at Anas while waiting for the girl to finish eating.
"Eat slowly," Albert said.
The man thought taking care of a girl like Anas was pretty easy. After unsealing the bottle of mineral water, Albert intends to leave Anas to contact George. However, suddenly his hand was held by Anas. The girl realized Albert was getting out of bed. Anas' cold fingers made Albert sculpt for a moment.
"Where are you going? Don't leave me," said Anas, her left hand tightly holding the sandwich, while her right hand tried to grasp Albert's wrist.
"I—"
"I'm afraid. Last night I wasn't just hit, they also touched my body. I'm scared. Please don't leave me," Anas said, a tear falling down her cheeks.
Albert cursed Henry and Thomas inwardly. He sat back down and returned Anas's grasp so that the girl would calm down.
"Yes, I'm here."
Anas went back to eating. She finished the sandwich in five minutes. Albert offered him mineral water and let Anas drink.
"Whose name are you?" Anas asked.
"Albert."
Anas smiled. "Al, what happened last night? I just remember you coming and I suddenly woke up where I was. I don't know where, but I'm sure this isn't my room."
Albert can't tell all. So, all he can do is make up the story or divert the conversation.
"Are you still hungry? Do I want to bring you another sandwich?" Albert asked.
"What can it be?" Anas said shyly.
"Of course." After all, a pack of sandwiches is not an expensive meal.
"Thank you, Al."
Albert went straight out and went back to the kitchen to pick up two sandwiches at once, the girl looking still hungry. For a businessman's daughter, it turns out that Anas is quite simple.
When Albert wanted to go into the room, he saw Louis go up to him.
"Al! Albert!" Louis' breath gasped.
"Dying from tripping is ridiculous, Louis," Albert exclaimed.
Louis shook his head. "You asked Mr. Josh to come to the hotel where he is now. There's something he wants to talk about."
"About that girl?" asked Albert.
Louis shook his head again. "It doesn't seem to be."
"Then?"
The man with the undercut haircut pulled Albert's hand away from the room. "Mr. Josh suspects someone is spying on our headquarters. That's why since yesterday the police sirens have been hanging around. Maybe Mr. Josh wants to talk to you about his plans."
Albert understood. That's also the reason for his recent ups and downs. He nodded and said he would come to this afternoon to Louis. Albert went into the room again and gave two packets of the sandwich to Anas.
"Are there two?" Anas asked.
"Yes."
Anas smiled. "You're so nice, Al. Why did you give me two?"
"I just don't want you to starve to death," Albert said, casually. Anas immediately ate her bread in silence.
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