Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 409: A Planned Attack

Chapter 409: A Planned Attack

Sir Robert, who always stays by her side, immediately covered her. At the distance they saw the dust rising as if a sandstorm is approaching and they could feel the vibration under their feet while the rumbling noise approached them.

Talia was covered by her security guards and she couldn’t see anything in front of her. But she could hear the villagers all scrambling away screaming and running for their life.

"A wild buffalo stampede! Take cover!"

The translator, who was perplexed, shouted. Sir Robert placed his hand behind Talia’s back and led her to safety, while the others ran, surrounding her.

The camera crew were asked to leave their equipments and run for their life. But they lingered as they didn’t want to leave their expensive equipments. Sir Thomson, who is experienced in conflict journalism, screamed at the younger ones to take the memory cards leaving the equipments and get the hell out of dodge if they want to survive.

Life is worth more than any piece of equipment.

Talia was running along with Mr. Ed and she could hear the herd of buffalos approaching the village at a really fast pace. Confused noise of the villagers merged with the thundering noises of the hoods of the beasts that weigh almost one ton kilograms individually. Chaos erupted and dust rose to the sky.

Talia felt her heart beat racing and she was brought to her car. The car drove away from the direction of the stampede to a safer direction. She looked back to see only a thick fog of dust covering unable to see anything. The herd of nearly five hundred buffalos rampaged through the village without mercy.

Mr. Ed was speaking with the Palace reporting everything as it happened. Her other securities were following her around in other cars and a couple of vehicles from the Basmian protection squad protected her too.

In her car there was one of the local rangers who looks after the sanctuary who swore on his everything that the buffalos won’t be here where elephants are and something or someone must have drove them here. He also added that it should be a trick used by the militias that hide in the wilderness to cause trouble.

Mr. Ed was not sure if he should trust the Ranger or not and that’s when he received a call from General Hamilton.

-----

In the Northern Star CEO office...

"You’ve confirmed it is him?" Arthur stood up from his seat and Nathan Brooks nodded. Bear, who was sleeping in the corner in his bed, opened one of its eyes and then went back to sleep.

"It was a motion detector camera some researchers put recently to observe the behaviours of-"

"Nathan!" Arthur wasn’t interested in the details.

"The image isn’t very clear since it was recorded at night, but the figure seems very similar to Ralph."

"Ms. Peggy, keep the jet on standby just in case," Arthur said and his assistant left with a nod.

Jerome was in the office that day and he ran through the stairs calling Louis in his private number. He was surprised when Lambert answered the call.

"Heard about the stampede already?" he asked surprised.

"What stampede?" Arthur felt like his heart slip from its place for a moment. "Is she safe?"

"A herd of wild buffalos suddenly got into a stampede and ran towards where she was. She’s brought to safety now. Nothing to-"

"Ralph is seen in that Park last night with some others. Get her out of Basmia immediately," Arthur interjected him and ended the call after Lambert hummed in acknowledgement.

Arthur wanted to talk to her immediately, but the connections aren’t that great and she uses a Satellite phone there. He didn’t want to keep the line busy for her when she might receive orders of retreat from Louis.

"He says Ralph is in that park," Lambert passed the phone to Louis and Louis’ eyes widened.

"I’m receiving similar reports too..." He looked at the pictures in his laptop that was a satellite image of a person having a very similar feature to Ralph talking with a known militia leader in that area. "Leo," he extended his hand and Sir Leonard passed the phone with the line connected to Sir Robert.

"Sire, we’re getting reports that the militia is making the move," through the speaker a General from the Intelligence Department informed.

"Roger," Louis nodded at Leo and he picked up the receiver and got more details from the General regarding the situation there.

"Stay on the main road and bring her to the nearest airstrip as soon as possible. I’ll make sure there is a plane for her to get on immediately. A militia group is spotted nearby. You’ll receive further guidance from General Hamilton for your return."

After receiving the affirmation from Mr. Ed, Louis ended the call. He then made calls to the Basmian President to send his troops to get the criminal hiding in the National park and handle the militia since the Rosandale security cannot interfere in Basmian business. The President was already briefed by the Interpol and he agreed to do everything he could do to get the criminals.

Meanwhile, Arthur reached Jerome’s office and Jerome was just getting off from the phone. "I heard from Belfauger. They found Ralph and he’s near MaryAnn."

"Yes, Sir. Louis is bringing her back immediately. I’m thinking of travelling there to bring her back," Arthur was in deep contemplation and spoke without realising what he is saying. He had an uneasy feeling in his heart. He wanted to make sure Ralph doesn’t leave Basmia alive and he wanted to make the travel.

"She’d be brought back immediately. Your trip would be a waste." Jerome couldn’t understand why Arthur has to go to bring her back when she’d be brought back immediately. By the time Arthur reaches there, MaryAnn would be here.

"Ah... He can’t be left alive anymore," Arthur didn’t even realise his slip of the tongue and he was typing in his phone to the contacts he knew in the Interpol to make sure to inform him where Ralph will be held.

Jerome realised who the ’he’ Arthur mentioned is and his eyes got murky with emotions. If possible, he’d prefer no one from his family meets that guy and learns his story. But he didn’t want to stop what Arthur is planning to do. It is high-time Ralph dies.

-----

Talia listened to General Hamilton as he asked them to retreat and she wondered if it is fine to leave a country because some wild animals did what they do. But then he said there are activities of militias nearby and she agreed it is better for her to leave.

Louis talked to Mr. Ed and he gave the order to return and it was pretty much confirmed that she’d be returning to Rosandale immediately. Talia had a slight doubt why they are bringing her straight to Rosandale cutting short her tour because of the presence of militia. She didn’t know about Ralph’s presence here.

The Ranger was mumbling as he wasn’t pleased they are taking the main road. He wanted them to take a long route through the wilderness and insisted he knows the safest way to go to the nearby city.

But their orders were to take the main road and they cannot break it. And so the motorcade of seven cars – Talia’s five cars and two cars provided by Basmian Government travelled through the long, lonely road leading to the city.

Talia looked back and they’ve already travelled so far from the village. All her stuff is left there as they are leaving in a hurry. She placed her hand in the pocket and she had her phone and more importantly, the ring box with her. She didn’t bring much expensive jewellery or clothes and it doesn’t matter if the other stuff gets lost.

Leaning on the seat she rubbed her stomach as she yawned. She felt a little tired and she is feeling a lot hungrier than usual the past few days. And since it was the time for lunch, her stomach already had started to rumble.

Mr. Ed, who was still speaking with the General, got a chocolate peanut bar from his pocket and passed it to Talia.

"We can have a meal once we reach the plane," he said with a smile and Talia accepted the chocolate bar.

"Thank you," she smiled with gratitude.

She got used to how thoughtful Mr. Ed is and she admired his care for her.

She immediately peeled the wrapper off and ate the chocolate bar and her stomach felt a little relieved. She was informed it will take only half an hour to get to the city and she decided to call Arthur to let him know she is returning.

Using her Satellite phone, she dialled him and he answered immediately.

"I’ll be returning soon, Fred," she said.

"Good, have you reached the airport yet?" he asked and she could hear Bear at the other end.

"Did you bring him to the office?" she asked.

Before she could hear his reply, even through the thick tempered glass of her car, she heard a loud explosion and her car shook and came to a screeching halt.

"Iris!! What happened?" Arthur asked and Talia’s fingers went numb looking through the front. Her shoulder hurt as the seatbelt pressed on it.

"I think it’s an IED on the road..."

The first car of the motorcade that belonged to the Basmian Government rolled down the road as an IED had went off.

"Fred, I’ll talk later," she ended the call not minding him asking her to stay on the line. She knew she has to be alert now.

"F*ck!" Arthur cussed. "Come on, Bear. We’re leaving!"

With a bark, Bear followed him.

Inside the car, the communications Devices were filled with chatter.

"I told you road is not safe!" the Ranger gave an exasperated sigh.

There was no sight of the militia and the orders that came from the General told them to not stop and keep on moving since there might be an ambush waiting.

"Don’t move! The road will be littered with bombs. The land on the side won’t be safe either. Just reverse and let’s go the way we came," the Ranger said and everyone thought it was a good advice.

"A high-speed truck is coming behind you. Brace for impact!"

As they were receiving information, they saw a big truck approaching from behind them with no intention of stopping. The two cars behind Talia’s car covered her car while the driver of the truck was shot on by the officers.

"It might contain explosives," Mr. Ed covered Talia.

Bang!!!

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