Approaching the outskirts of town near the abandoned factory, Christine''s call came through.


    She was frantic, "Jane, you said Ramona''s in trouble, what happened? Isn''t she supposed to be in the nursing home?"


    "Ramona''s been kidnapped." My heart was pounding as I tried to keep it simple. "Looks like it''s Dorothy and Pearl''s scheme. They''ve told me to head to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town."


    "That''s despicable! How could they keep targeting an elderly woman like this!"


    Christine was livid, then quickly asked, "Where are you now? Does Gregory know about this? I''ming to meet you right away!"


    "Gregory''s clueless, caught up in some patent issue, hasn''t even checked his phone."


    As the car neared the location sent by the kidnappers, I spoke in brief, "I''m almost at the abandoned factory on the outskirts. You don''t need toe; I''m not alone, ran into Mark on the way here. He''sing with me."


    "Mark? He''s in Vista Town?"


    "Yes."


    The car slowly came to a stop, and ncing at the time, we were almost exactly on schedule, couldn''t afford another minute''s dy, "Chris, we''re here, gotta go!"


    As Christine listened to the dial tone, she grabbed her car keys while hurriedly dialing another number.


    After no luck getting through to Dailey for a while, she decided to call Gregory''s friend, rence. It didn''t matter if it was through rence or Dailey, as long as she could get the message to Gregory.


    rence picked up quickly, not holding any grudge for being previously brushed off, and with his usual carefree tone, "Ah, little Chris, finally remembered me? Realized Dailey can''tpete with me, huh..."


    With no time to waste, Christine cut straight to the chase, "Someone''s kidnapped Ramona Myers! They''ve informed Jane to head to an abandoned factory on the outskirts to rescue her, and Gregory''s not answering his phone. Can you find a way to reach him?!"


    The Myers duo, mother and


    daughter,


    were notoriously ruthless, capable of poisoning their own for


    inheritance; what wouldn''t they do?


    Even with Mark by her side, Christine couldn''t shake off the feeling that it wasn''t enough.


    "We need to get the message to Gregory!"Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Hearing this, rence immediately became serious, "You mean Jane has already gone to the outskirts alone?"


    "What else?!" Christine retorted, then added a reminder, "Oh, not alone, she''s got your family''s Gregory''s top rival with her."


    In Christine''s eyes, Bryant was at


    best a former brother-inw, hardly a rival, especially considering past actions, he was no co


    But Mark, always supportive of Jane and with his gentle demeanor, was a different story.


    Hearing this, rence was startled,


    "I, I gotta go tell Greg! Don''t do


    anything rash, we don''t need a l.ne


    ''Seven Dwarfs Save the Princess'' situation."


    "Don''t worry, I''m not that foolish!"


    "That''s good."


    rence ended the call efficiently, initially considering calling Gregory but then, realizing the urgency, dialed Lucius directly.


    Lucius, always on standby for Gregory''s orders, seldom missed a call.


    Lucius answered, his tone serious, "Hey, bro."


    Relieved to have him pick up, rence got straight to the point, "Are you with Greg?"


    "Yeah."


    "Is he busy?"