Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 456

The morning sky was barely lit as Ludwik sped towards the outskirts of Emperor City in his sports car, heading for an abandoned junkyard.

A thick fog enveloped the area, making the black car, suspended by a crane among countless junked vehicles, almost mystical.

As Ludwik drove in, he saw Parker's crew guarding the black car while his own team of forensic experts and detectives were on their way. "Ludwik!" The sound of a scuffle broke the silence.

It came from Parker's direction. Ludwik's face hardened, recognizing the mysterious rival also investigating the black car-linked to Sammy's kidnapping. They likely aimed to destroy the car before Ludwik could replace any clues! "Collect every fingerprint on this car, inspect every detail!" Ludwik instructed the forensic team, then dashed towards Parker, bypassing the sports car.

Unexpectedly, a rusted truck burst out from within the junkyard!

"Ludwik, he's getting away!" Parker shouted.

Ludwik's face was ice-cold as he returned to his sports car, slammed the door, and floored the accelerator, chasing the truck.

They were nearing a highway overpass. "Parker, we trap him before the overpass!" Ludwik commanded over the phone.

"I'm right behind you."

Parker's car was fast approaching.

The truck ahead panicked, swerving and crashing into barriers in a desperate attempt to escape Ludwik's relentless chase.

With the fog thickening near the overpass, visibility dropped.

Ludwik, with grim determination, pushed his car to its limits.

"Ludwik! Stop, there's a tanker truck ahead..."

Parker suddenly spotted a massive tanker, running a red light, aiming straight for the rogue truck.

"Someone's trying to kill the guy in the truck! Stop chasing him!"

But Ludwik, driven by the slim chance of saving his son, didn't relent.

Boom!

The tanker collided with the truck, causing a massive explosion. The truck flipped several times before coming to a halt. The leaking tanker was a ticking time bomb...

In a desperate move, Parker rammed into Ludwik's sports car, forcing it to a screeching halt against the guardrail.

Ludwik, dazed and bleeding, stumbled out of his car, racing towards the overturned truck.

"Don't! It's going to blow, Ludwik, he's probably dead!"

"What if he's not."

Ludwik was determined to check, hoping the man might have information on Sammy.

Just as he approached, the tanker and truck exploded in a fiery blast.

"Ludwik!" In the final moments, Parker tackled Ludwik to safety.

As the smoke cleared, Ludwik, face down in the dirt, watched the only lead to his son turn to ashes.

Minutes later, regaining his composure and ignoring the blood trickling down his forehead, Ludwik lit a cigarette, his thoughts racing.

"Parker, did you get a good look at the guy?"

"Not just a look, I got photos. This guy was just a middleman; there's someone else pulling the strings."

"They really don't want us digging around. But this just proves Sammy might still be in Emperor City. And this is bigger than Elaine's doing."

Ludwik crushed the cigarette underfoot, his face a mask of vengeance. "If Sammy was still with Elaine, she wouldn't dare play these games in Emperor City."

Parker nodded, "With the Bartels family under your thumb and Elaine confined in Banyan City, what's your plan?"

"I believe Elaine. She said she lost Sammy during the kidnapping. Who took him next is a mystery."

The trail had gone cold in the junkyard, with a burnt-out truck as their only clue.

"Parker, get an ID on the man from the truck, and check the tanker. Follow the trail from there."

The phone rang. It was the forensic team reporting progress.

Ludwik raced back to the junkyard, to the black car that held traces of Sammy's struggle.

"Mr. Lippert," the forensic expert began, "the car's clean. If it was used for the kidnapping, they were cautious. We found only two sets of fingerprints: a child's and an adult's, but the adult's are partial at best." But then, a glimmer of hope: a piece of fabric found wedged in the car seat, possibly torn off in a struggle.

Ludwik's heart raced as he took the evidence bag containing the fabric, intricately embroidered.

To Ludwik, it was a message from Sammy, a clue left by his brilliant son.

Yet, the fabric piece, while potentially from a woman's clothing, offered no immediate leads.

Ludwik's resolve hardened as he prepared to share this new development with Whitney, the first person he wanted to inform.

Taking detailed photos of the fingerprints and the fabric, Ludwik was determined to uncover the truth behind his son's disappearance.

Ludwik handed the evidence bag back to the forensic analyst, "Give it to the police, and conduct a private investigation, especially on the other set of fingerprints!"

"We'll do our best," the analyst nodded.

The private investigation was for Sammy's safety. He had no idea who was behind his abduction.

The situation with the Lippert family, akin to being caught between a rock and a hard place, made him more reticent about going public with Sammy's situation.

Ludwik checked the time; it was just after nine. He drove his dented sports car back to the Lippert Group headquarters.

---

"What, Drew didn't make it, and that Parker found the black car, now the forensic team is collecting fingerprints?"

At that moment, Florence stood outside the S-T Group building, her face turning pale as she heard the news from Myra.

Myra quickly lowered her voice, "Ms. Sheldon, don't worry! The guy Drew sent to replace the black car, he's already taken care of, blew up with a fuel tanker. Even if Parker replaces this guy's identity, he won't be able to trace it back to Drew, let alone you. And Drew assured that the car was cleaned meticulously, not a single fingerprint left."

Florence clenched her handkerchief so tightly the embroidered pattern twisted out of shape.

Hearing this, she relaxed a bit, "And the license plate traced back to the black car?"

"Don't worry, Drew handled that too, through an unrelated party."

Florence regained her composure. The coldness in her eyes receded as she glanced at the S-T Group building and sneered, "Ludwik is supposed to inspect S-T Group today, isn't he about to arrive?

I secretly had Uncle give me the position of sales manager. But this appointment needs to be officially made by Ludwik. I'll enter with him."

Myra knew exactly what Ms. Sheldon implied, a cold smirk on her lips, "You want to give Whitney a surprise!"

"Exactly."

---

Inside the S-T Group, Whitney arrived early, hearing the office buzz with rumors about the new sales manager arriving soon.

With the new appointment, their sales department could finally get moving.

Whitney thought about her position as the assistant manager, a hint of something crossing her mind. She asked Sandy, "Do you know who's taking over as manager?"