One Hundred and eighty seven

CHAPTER 187

Meanwhile, Ethan, who had been focused on managing the cash register, couldn't help but be drawn into the heartwarming scene. The sight of Alicia interacting with customers, spreading joy in the midst of a crowded store, made him appreciate the holiday spirit even more.

As the little girl walked away with her ice cream, Uncle Chuck turned to Alicia. "You know, Alicia, this store has had its share of Christmases, but this one feels extraordinary. Your presence has added a touch of magic."

The smile on Alicia's lips did not disappear, she tried to look cheerful in front of the shoppers. The shop closed early because it was Christmas Eve. Christmas ornaments had already filled Uncle Chuck's shop. Uncle Chuck wanted to celebrate Christmas with his family, so he came out of his kitchen with a box of caramelized bread and milk. While looking at Alicia and Ethan who were also ready to go home, Uncle Chuck said, "I forgot whether I put the rest of the ice cream in the freezer or not, can one of you check?"

"I'll check, Uncle Chuck!" said Alicia happily.

But Ethan also raised his hand in the air and exclaimed, "I'll accompany Alicia."

Uncle Chuck looked at Alicia, then Ethan in turn. He nodded in agreement, then took out a key from his oversized pants pocket. "If you two are going to check it out together, I'd better leave this key to you. Lock the door when you're done. I have to go now."

"Okay, Uncle Chuck," Alicia said, and accepted the key from Uncle Chuck.

After Uncle Chuck left, Ethan pushed the door behind him and said, "Let's go in, Alicia. I think we should get some overtime pay."

Hearing Ethan's words, Alicia chuckled. She followed him inside and shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "We should help Uncle Chuck since he's already given us a job. You have to remember that he's the one who pays us."

"I wonder how Uncle Chuck started his business," Ethan said, the two of them then walked towards the kitchen.

Most of the lights had been turned off, so Alicia needed to turn on the switch to make the room bright again.

But when Alicia turned on the lights, she was shocked by the scene before her. Ace stood behind Ethan, and with lightning speed, Ace punched the back of Ethan's head until Ethan collapsed and lay on the floor.

Alicia was speechless. She reached into the backpack on her back to grab the pepper spray, but Ace moved faster. Ace grabbed both of Alicia's hands, then pulled hard.

"Let go of me, Ace!" Alicia struggled frantically. "Help! Hel-"

Alicia's heart raced as she struggled with Ace, the sudden betrayal unfolding before her. The air in the kitchen was thick with tension, and the warm glow of the holiday season seemed to have vanished.

"You shouldn't have interfered, Alicia," Ace sneered, his voice laced with a bitterness that contrasted with the party atmosphere of moments ago.

Ethan lay unconscious on the floor, and Alicia's mind spun to make sense of the situation. "What's wrong, Ace? What's going on?" she asked, her voice a mixture of fear and anger.

Ace, however, remained silent, a creepy grin spreading across his face. His motives shrouded in mystery, he began rummaging through the kitchen shelves with an intensity that suggested a hidden agenda.

Alicia's eyes darted around, looking for an opportunity to escape or defend herself. The pepper spray in her hand felt like a weak line of defense against Ace's unexpected threat.

Alicia took this opportunity to shout. "Help!" But in one fell swoop, Ace smothered the girl's mouth with an anesthetized rag. Within seconds, Alicia lost consciousness.

The sound of Alicia's screams apparently attracted the attention of someone from outside the shop, it was the man who owned the laundry shop next door. The man peeked inside and was shocked to find Ethan lying helpless. The man went in and tried to wake Ethan up. And then, he called Uncle Chuck.

Meanwhile, Ace had gotten Alicia into his car. Alicia was unconscious, so it was easier to carry her now.

"Alicia, I'm taking you. No one can hurt you. You are mine, and forever mine."

Uncle Chuck, a stout man with a gray beard that hinted at years of wisdom, rushed to the scene. His eyes widened at the sight of Ethan lying on the floor and the mysterious Ace leaving with an unconscious Alicia.

"What the hell is going on here?" Uncle Chuck muttered to himself as he frantically called the police, his eyes darting between the crumpled Ethan and the empty lot where Ace's car was parked.

As police sirens wailed in the distance, the man from the laundromat, whose name was Frank, told him what he had witnessed. Uncle Chuck listened intently, his concern deepening.

Noel got off with Elden, running over to Uncle Chuck who was accompanying Ethan. Noel showed his identity as a policeman, then asked, "What's going on?"

"It seems to be an assault, my part-time worker, Ethan, he fainted. And Alicia-" Uncle Chuck bit his lip in doubt, then he continued, "I can't find her anywhere. Only this, this is her bag. I'm sure this is a kidnapping. There have been a lot of cases like this on television lately, could this all be the work of terrorists?"

Noel's eyes widened, she knew that the news of Alicia's disappearance would make her problems even worse. Noel gulped as she accepted Alicia's backpack. He then looked at Elden with a meaningful look, "Elden, help that young man and check the whole shop. I'll call Nicholas, he must know that Alicia is missing. It could be a case of assault, and worse, Alicia might be kidnapped."

Elden immediately nodded in agreement. He moved towards Ethan, while helping him to wake up from his stupor, Elden saw Noel once again. Elden cooed, "It looks like the Chief will really panic when he hears about this case, Detective!"

"You're right, and... our case will get even harder."