e chair, couldn't hide the fear in his eyes. His breath was shaky, and he was starting to

the hard way. One way or another, you're going to tell us what we want to know." Pablo leaned in, his

rembling. "I don't know what you're talking about," he stamme

ge. Doctor Wallace pressed the needle into the thief's arm, his movements calm and

he watched the doctor withdraw the syringe. His words

gain. That, my friend, is truth serum," he said, his tone almost amused. "And you're

sy. His head drooped slightly, and his words started to come out slowly, bl

ight away. "Who sent you to steal The Avante?" he de

n a hazy panic. "I don't know anything,"

s gloved hand, tightening his grip as if he might crush it if he didn't get a straigh

the thief's vitals. "Ease up, Pablo," he said

rip, stepping back just slightly, thoug

erything." His words poured out, the fight draining from him. "Carlo

sion. "Where do we find Carlos Bontade?" he as

house on Mika dell Avenue, fifth mansion from the west...only goes out at night. He likes...to play poker at

's face. "That's more like it," he m

e had just revealed. His face turned pale with shock, lips parting as the weight of his betrayal sank in.

g smile on his face. "You did the right thing, friend. Now, you're just

on, he pressed it gently into the thief's arm, and within moments, the th

he seventh cell," he instructed. "And bring in the rest,

ip was firm, unbreakable, and with practiced ease, they carried him out of the r

as repeated: Pablo and Doctor Wallace questioned each thief, administering the serum that slowly drained their resist

role as the mastermind behind the attempted theft. The soldiers escorted

rtwatch and tapped out a quic

is the man behind the attempt to stea

g reports from his network. His phone pinged softly with the incoming message fro

o time and tapp

g Carlos Bontade

of satisfaction as he read Arthur's

ill bring him

oing after Carlos." The soldiers, who had been standing by, straightened and followed P

t. As they stepped into the room, the space buzzed with soft, constant beeps and screens flickering with live feeds of every corner of th

ithout wasting a moment, he said, "Logan, we need to t

g city databases, camera networks, and other systems. After a minute, Logan turned back to Pablo, frowning

, try his house at Mika dell Avenue, fif

ments before looking up. "Got it. His family's there; two kids and his wife bu

slipped into a blind spot." Leaning closer, Pablo continued, "Logan, can y

y-four hours," as his fingers flew over the keyboard again. After a quick search, he s

n on that van, Logan," he directed, watching a

determination. "Keep an eye out for this van. We'l

gan setting up trac

amie!" Ian shouted, darting just out of her reach. Marie giggled, "Run, Ian! She's coming!" Salome grinned, reaching out her hand to tag him just as her phone beeped on the coffe

name; the kids' art

nd Marie's school," Mrs. Johnson greeted war

everything okay?" Salom

p I planned is today, and the school bus is already loaded with the other kids. We're waiting on Ian and

he school in her mind. "Yes, I'll get them there on time, Mrs.

saved for them," Mrs. Johnson

ds who were watching her with curious eyes. "Guys, we have to go! Y

ged excited glances.

r pencils you want to take along!" She moved swiftly, making sure they had everything. The kids ran off to their rooms, grabbing their backpack

down the hallway and knocked on the fake door. Ther

d clear. "Yes, whoever's knocking can speak

ol. They have a museum trip

eard you, Salome. I

"Is everything alright? You

tone, "Yes, everything's fi

glancing at the closed door before hearing he

ady!" Ian and

er opened the doors as a bodyguard took his place in the front seat, keeping watch. Ian and Marie climbed into

hey drove down the long driveway, heading toward Ian and Marie's school, the kids chat

with heavy curtains blocking out the light, and thick soundproofed walls. A single, small screen hung on the wall, connected to hidden cameras a

y were missing, with no word back. "What could've happened to them?" he wondered. But he reminded himself that he was safe. His mansion

time?" he thought, though a smile crept onto his face. Perhaps his men had returned with "The Avante" after all. He watched the screen as the van rolled up to the gate. His guards nodded to the driver, lettin

his chest. "What's going on?" he thought, tension building in his mind. His eyes remained fixed on the sc

r bullet guns at every guard around Carlos's mansion. Silent shots echoed as each guard fell one by one, collapsing to the ground unconscious but unharmed. The driver, a member of th

get Carlos Bontade out of his hiding spot," he said, signaling his soldiers to stay alert as they pushed forward. His eyes scanne

wall alignments, noting any unusual spaces or lowered ceiling heights, but Carlos's location remained hidden. Each room they entered was examined, from sliding bookshe

cking for temperature differences behind the walls." The soldiers quickly brought out their thermal imaging d

thick wall near the back of the mansion. "Sir, I think I've got something!" he called out to Pablo,