231 Genius 231: Strange message (1/2)

Genius 231:

At the 30th floor of the Su Financial Bank, Evan's body was glued on his chair. He didn't get up since he arrived in the morning and stayed focus at his job, refusing to think of anything else than the numbers in the paper.

He stretched a hand to pick up his mug only to find out that the coffee which he hasn't drink was cold. After a long sigh, he picked up the phone on the table and about to dial his secretary extension number when a beeping tone sounded from the speaker.

His expression congealed as he put the phone down. He recently noticed his phone line beeping abnormally, before he could dial anyone's number the beep rang nonstop. It can be fast or slow but the volume was the same, it's loud enough to hear and ruin his concentration.

Leaning his back against the chair, Evan stared at the ceiling, the room was so quiet that he could even hear his own breathing, it was so lifeless despite the decoration and flowers around and it seemed so empty even though he was inside.

Gr… his stomach grumbled.

Feeling hungry, his hand travelled to his stomach and massaged it lightly.

What time is it? He asked himself.

As he turned to look at the clock, he found out that it's past four in the afternoon and he hasn't eaten his lunch and neither had his breakfast at the Villa.

Reaching for the phone, Evan's eyes shut. His secretary was old so he might need to send her to retirement.

As he waited for his secretary to pick up the phone, the sound of the dial tone beeping continuously rhythmically matched his growling stomach.

Waiting patiently, Evan tapped his fingers on his table, the DIT and DAH sound of the dial tone pounded his brain.

\”Dah, dit, dit, dit,\” his lips parted to imitate the sound the dial tone was making out of boredom.

\”dit, dah.\”

\”Dah, dit, dit, dit.\”

\”dit.\”

He paused when the sound suddenly stopped. With his brows creasing deeply, Evan stared at the phone.

\”Wait,\” he said but trailed off after drawing breath. He ended the call and dialled a number once again though this time he took a paper and pen.

He had a little knowledge about Morse code from when he enlisted himself in the military. That must be the reason why the sound pattern was vaguely familiar and catchy.

\”Babe,\” he murmured as he deciphered the code.

As the suspicious grew in his mind, Evan ended the phone call and dialled his secretary number.

The same tone sounded, so he grabbed another piece of paper.

When the beeping sound ended, Evan squinted his eyes. He gulped hard, heart raced uncontrollably and despite the cold room, sweat formed on his forehead.

Evan's face hinted at lighting and thunderstorm, his hand shook as he hastily grabbed the phone Bing gave and dialled his number.

\”Bing, meet me at Gentleman's bar and I need you to bring someone who can decipher the Morse code.\”

Without waiting for his friend reply, Evan ended the call, he once again dialled his secretary number and recorded the strange beeping sound of the dial tone in his phone.

--

The Gentleman's bar hasn't opened yet Evan was already inside.

Sitting on a high chair, he tapped his fingers anxiously on the counter, waiting for Bing to arrive.

He looked down at the counter where he placed his phone. Shifting his sight to the entrance anxiously, then he blew out a sigh.

Out of nowhere, a woman approached him. A flirty smile on her lips, \”Mister, would you like a company?\”

Evan shook his head without giving her a glance and the woman left after his rejection.

He sighed and looked at his watch, starting to feel impatient.

After an hour of waiting, Bing finally arrived. He was accompanied by another man, round eyes behind his glasses while his height made him look a dwarf.

Bing waved a hand at Evan but the latter frown in response.

\”Sorry, I am late. Traffic,\” Bing said and sat on the chair next to him.

\”Listen to this recording and decipher it,\” Evan handed the phone to the petite man without bothering to know his name.

The recording was not long so it only took some minutes for the man to decipher it.

\”The recording sound is so weak. If you can give me a clearer record, I will try again but for now, this is what I got.\”

After the man handed the paper to Bing, his eyebrows creased. Then, he gave the paper to Evan.

Before reading it, Evan took a sigh. When Daniella kissed him back at the police station, he saw part of her thought though it was unclear and chaotic making him confused.

\”Babe, I hate you. Proceed or I will kill you.\”

As he said those words, a line slowly appeared in between his brows.

\”What does it mean?\” he said waving the paper in the air.

\”What do you mean by what does it mean?\” Bing shook his head in disbelief, \”it's crystal clear, she said that she hates you and you need to proceed to I don't know what or she will kill you,\” Bing explained with a smirk. He understood why Daniella sent a message using the code, Evan's house and office were packed with cameras watching all his movement.

Evan blew out a sigh, still confused. Does she hate him so much that she needed to send a code to tell him that?

\”What's happening?\”

Ken's voice made Evan quickly hid the paper behind him while his eyes widened in anxiety.

\”Nothing,\” Evan swiftly replied.

\”Your reaction and voice don't sound nothing, spill it, Evan, what do you have behind you?\”