BXBX NOVEL Chapter 198: Nabbed
The room quieted, the buzz of discussions replaced by the soft clicking of the cooling projector and the shuffle of papers.
He made his way to the small kitchenette adjacent to the meeting room. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the space—a welcome scent for Dr. Villanueva who had planned an all-nighter to finalize the compilation of data on Medipod\'s successful treatments. He poured himself a large cup, appreciating the warmth that spread through his hands.
As he sipped the strong, bitter coffee, Dr. Villanueva reviewed his agenda mentally. The compilation was crucial not just for internal records but also for upcoming regulatory meetings where detailed patient outcomes would prove essential. The success stories could significantly enhance Medipod\'s credibility and facilitate smoother approvals.
After locking up the conference room, Dr. Villanueva grabbed his laptop bag and headed toward the parking lot. The building was quieter now, most of the staff had left for the day. As he walked through the dimly lit corridor to the exit, a sudden noise—a faint scuffle, like shoes against the rough pavement—caused him to pause.
Peering over his shoulder, Dr. Villanueva saw nothing amiss at first glance. He continued walking, but the sense of being watched grew stronger. Quickening his pace, he listened for any out-of-place sounds, his heart rate slightly elevated. There was a brief rustle again, this time closer. It seemed to come from behind a set of large potted plants near the exit.
Dr. Villanueva set his coffee down, peering around the corner of the hallway. The shadows cast by the overhead lights created deep pools of darkness around the pots, making it difficult to see clearly. He considered calling security but decided to take a closer look first.
As he approached, he noticed a figure quickly moving away—a brief glimpse of a dark coat and the hurried steps fading into the distance.
Shaken but unharmed, Dr. Villanueva collected his coffee and briskly walked to his car, scanning his surroundings with heightened caution. Once inside, he locked the doors immediately.
As Dr. Villanueva settled into the driver\'s seat, he placed his coffee in the cup holder and took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves from the unsettling encounter. Just as he was about to push the start button of his car, a shadow flickered in his peripheral vision on the left.
His eyes darted to the left and caught sight of a man standing mere inches away from the window, obscured by a black hoodie and wearing gloves.
Before Dr. Villanueva could process the situation or react, the hooded figure raised a hammer and smashed it against the car window with force. The glass shattered, sending shards flying into the car\'s interior. Startled and frozen for a moment, Dr. Villanueva barely had time to shield his face with his arms before the man reached inside, striking him on the head with the hammer.
The blow was heavy and disorienting, knocking Dr. Villanueva unconscious almost instantly. His body slumped against the seat, his vision fading to black as the sounds of the parking lot grew distant.
Unseen by anyone in the dimly lit parking area, the assailant quickly dragged Dr. Villanueva\'s limp body out and a black van pulled up behind Villanueva\'s car. Two men in similar dark attire jumped out, helping the assailant load Dr. Villanueva into the back of the van.
After stowing him inside, they drove off towards the main exit of the parking lot where a guard and the parking attendant were lying down unconscious with all digital surveillance equipment disabled, indicating a well-planned abduction.
As the van exited the parking lot, the darkness of the early night enveloped it, obscuring its direction and ensuring that any immediate witnesses to their departure were minimal.
Inside the van, the interior was sparsely lit by a single dim bulb. Dr. Villanueva, still unconscious, was laid out on a makeshift stretcher, his wrists and ankles secured with zip ties. The men who had abducted him wore masks and communicated in low, muffled voices, discussing their next moves briefly.
"This is the easiest money of my life," said the abductor behind the wheel, his voice gruff and devoid of any sentiment. He glanced at the rearview mirror, checking on their captive before focusing back on the road.
The other two abductors exchanged a silent nod. One of them leaned over, checking Dr. Villanueva\'s pulse to ensure he remained unconscious. Satisfied, he straightened up, his eyes darting to the rear doors of the van, making sure they were securely shut.
The van rumbled along the deserted streets, its headlights cutting through the darkness as they moved further away from the Reyes MedTech Solutions facility. There was an eerie silence inside, broken only by the occasional creak of the van\'s chassis and the muffled sounds of traffic outside.
As they approached their destination, the driver navigated through a series of desolate industrial zones, the towering warehouses casting long shadows in the moonlight. Finally, the van pulled up to an abandoned warehouse, its windows boarded up and graffiti covering the walls.
The abductors unloaded Dr. Villanueva\'s unconscious form from the van, carrying him inside the dimly lit warehouse.
They placed him on a makeshift cot in the center of the warehouse, securing him with additional restraints to prevent any escape attempts.
Once satisfied that their captive was secure, the abductors retreated to a corner of the warehouse, where another group of people was waiting.
"So he is the one who is an expert on Medipod?" said the man, who was wearing a black suit.
"Yes," replied one of the abductors, nodding.
The man in the black suit nodded thoughtfully.
"Good," he said tersely. "This information will be valuable. Once he wakes up, I\'ll get every information about the Medipod out of him. Are you sure that you haven\'t left any traces of our presence behind?"
The abductor nodded, his expression hidden behind the mask. "Yes, sir. We made sure to cover our tracks. No witnesses, no evidence."
The man in the black suit nodded approvingly. "Good."