MY PERFECT BODYGUARD CHAPTER TWELVE INFILTRATING THE SHADOWS

In the dimly lit basement of Damian's shop, Richard, Emmanuel, and Nina meticulously crafted their arsenal. Richard's hands moved with practiced precision, shaping the metal into weapons designed to incapacitate rather than kill. Emmanuel and Nina assisted, their minds focused on the task at hand.

As they worked, Richard's thoughts drifted to Linda, her image lingering in his mind like a distant but constant beacon. He wondered how she was faring, buried under the weight of her studies and the memories they shared. Despite the urgency of their mission, a part of him longed for the quiet moments they once shared, away from the chaos of their reality.

Nina's voice cut through his reverie, bringing him back to the present. "Richard, do you think this will be enough to take down the Falcon Fraternity?" she asked, her eyes reflecting both determination and doubt.

Richard paused, his gaze shifting from the half-finished weapons to his companions. "It's our best chance," he replied, his voice firm with conviction. "But we need to be prepared for anything."

Emmanuel nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "Gideon won't go down without a fight. We need to anticipate his every move."

Richard expressed his concern as both Emma and Nina turned their attention towards him. "Gideon seems to have a lot of information about me and my family, but I don't know anything about him," Richard reiterated. "From what I can gather, he appears to be dangerous and powerful. If we intend to confront someone of his caliber, we must uncover his weaknesses," he concluded.

"What do you suggest we do?" Emma inquired.

Immediately, Nina began navigating through her laptop, catching the attention of both Richard and Emma as they approached her. "What are you doing?" Richard asked curiously.

"Well, we need to search for something in the news, perhaps in the past. If he's as powerful as he seems, I think we should scour the internet to find information about him and trace him from there," Nina explained. "You guys should do the same," she added, prompting Richard and Emma to open their laptops and start searching as well.

After a brief period of intense searching, Emma broke the silence. "I think I found something," she announced.

"Read it out," Nina requested.

"Woman sues Liptico Oil and Gas, owned by multimillionaire Gideon Hopper, for using their waste to cause damage to the water in her town, which led to the deaths of children and livestock animals. After reporting the case, she died two days later. Rumors have it that she killed herself," Emma read aloud.

"Why would someone who sues someone to court kill herself afterward?" Richard exclaimed angrily. "That guy is surely a scumbag."

"Well, keep searching. For all we know, she died, so we need someone who has experienced Gideon and lived," Richard suggested as they continued their search.

They continued scouring for clues, but all they discovered was a pattern: the victims kept dying.

"He eliminates people like it's nothing. He sure has so much power," Richard remarked solemnly.

"Hey guys, I found something," Emma announced, prompting Richard and Nina to approach her once again. "What is it?" Richard inquired.

"Stock bank releases records. Falcon Group of Companies is one of the top five richest customers," Emma revealed. Nina let out a sigh. "Seriously, how is this a clue?"

"I hope our children don't have brains like yours if we ever have one," Nina remarked teasingly, eliciting laughter from Richard.

"Well, I hope our children don't have a family-sized head like yours," Emma teased back, but Nina felt offended. "Why would you say that?" she asked.

As they both engaged in playful banter, Richard continued reading the article. Suddenly, he came up with an idea. "Hey guys, I think I have an idea!" he exclaimed, rushing towards Emma and beating his chest. "You're a freaking genius," he praised Emma, leaving Nina puzzled.

"Why is he a genius?" Nina asked.

"We are going to the Stock Bank headquarters," Richard declared.

"What?!" Emma and Nina exclaimed in unison, shocked by Richard's sudden decision.

"Hello, I'm confused here," Nina said as she raised her hands.

"Same here," Emma echoed, also raising her hands in confusion.

"Well, since we can't find a victim who has had an encounter with Gideon, I was thinking maybe going through his statement of account. We will find people he has done business with and then terrorize them into giving us the info we need," Richard explained.

"That's a lot of risk if you ask me," Nina said, expressing her concern.

Richard raced to the cupboard in the room and brought out his bag, then began placing some mini weapons inside.

"Nina, you're going to stay here and program the drones while Emma and I head to the Stock Bank," Richard instructed decisively.

As they headed out, determined to proceed with their plan, the weight of the task ahead hung heavy in the air.

The journey to Stock Bank took about an hour. Once they reached their destination, they were approached by some security personnel.

"What are you here for?" they asked.

"We are here to see the bank manager," Richard stated confidently.

"Well, if you need any help, you can meet the workers. The bank manager can't be seen like that," the security man replied, his attention momentarily drawn elsewhere. Richard and Emma seized the opportunity and raced to the manager's office upstairs. The security man didn't notice their departure as he walked away, thinking they had left.

As Richard and Emma approached the office, they donned masks to conceal their identities. Upon entering, Richard swiftly struck the camera with his dart, disabling it.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" the manager asked, his voice trembling with fear.

"It's simple. We're not here for the money; we're here for something else," Richard stated politely.

"I'm not helping you, so get the hell out of my office," the manager responded defiantly. Richard then brought out a gun, causing the manager to reconsider his stance.

"I want to see the statement of account of Falcon Groups," Richard demanded. "Download it and send it to this flash drive."

Immediately, the manager complied, taking the flash drive and executing Richard's instructions. After a few tense minutes of waiting, the manager completed the task. Richard and Emma left the bank peacefully, relieved but aware of the close call.

"Gosh, that was close," Emma remarked as they raced out of the bank, adrenaline still coursing through their veins.

"You should become an arm robber, 'cause I have to admit, you nailed it," Emma said as they walked back to Damian's place. They slotted the flash drive into the laptop and began searching until Richard made a shocking discovery.

"It can't be. OMG, this can't be possible," Richard exclaimed.

"Gloria! What the hell is she doing in Gideon's statement of account?" Richard continued, his shock palpable.

"Shit!" Emma cursed, realizing the gravity of the situation.