فصل 34

Chapter 34: Discovered Video

After the meeting concluded, all the attendees went up to congratulate Hatch. Quentin and EGG Daines were the last to leave.

“Brilliant, sir,” Quentin said. “Just brilliant.” “Thank you, Quentin,” Hatch said, then added, “King Quentin. How are things progressing in your kingdom?” “Well,” he said. “We’ve started the remodeling of the palace, the construction of a stadium, and the new educational curriculum is complete and is being taught in the schools.” “Excellent,” Hatch said. “Keep me informed of the progress.” He turned toward his EGG. “I’m tired, Daines. What do you need?” “A moment of your time, sir.” Hatch frowned. “Is it important?” “Vitally,” Daines said.

Hatch nodded. “All right. Proceed.” Daines glanced at Quentin, then said, “In private, sir.” “You’re sure it can’t wait?” “It’s best that it doesn’t, sir,” Daines said. The EGG was known to be a man of few words but much violence and action.

Hatch sighed. “Very well. We’ll meet in my office.” Hatch turned to Quentin. “Carry on.” “Yes, sir,” Quentin said, walking off.

Hatch led Daines down the corridor to his private office. Once they were inside, Hatch asked, “What is it?” “We’ve discovered video of criminal Welch leaving the ship, sir. He was, as we suspected, accompanied by the two guards, Hill and Rawlings.” “As we suspected,” Hatch said. “Was Welch wearing some kind of disguise?” “No, sir.”

“And no one questioned them?” “No, sir. They exited the boat through the aft loading dock.” “The place was swimming with guards,” Hatch said angrily. “Someone must have noticed.” “The whole escape was very peculiar. No one they passed showed the least amount of interest in them.” “That is peculiar,” Hatch said, rubbing his chin. “Very peculiar.” “There’s more, sir.”

“More?”

“They were not alone.”

Hatch’s eyes narrowed. “It was a conspiracy?” “Yes, sir,” the EGG said. “Three of the electric youths were with them.” “Which ones?”

“Quentin, Torstyn, and Tara.” Hatch’s face turned beet red. “What were they doing?” “They were walking behind him.” “How closely?”

“Within ten meters.”

Hatch clenched his jaw. “That explains why no one paid attention. Tara must have made him look like someone else. Probably a Taiwanese.” “That’s a possibility, sir.” “It’s not a possibility,” Hatch shouted, slamming his fist onto his desk. “It’s what happened.” Hatch began to shake with anger. “I made him a king, and he repays me with betrayal? He will pay for this. They will all pay.” “What are your orders, sir?” Hatch carefully thought over the situation. “We must proceed cautiously. Especially with Torstyn. He’s very dangerous and loyal to Quentin. I want you to arrest all of the youths in their sleep, RESAT them, and then isolate them from one another.” “What of the two not involved?” “All of them. The other two must have at least known what was going on. Instruct the guards to use the new RAVE to apprehend them and lock them separately in T block. But leave Quentin to me.”