Chapter 422 - Danger and Trouble (16)

11 May, JL International Mall, City F

Joseph leading the five teams, followed the police and other soldiers inside the mall, breaking off to the far side of the open area from the stage that appeared to be the target of the attack. He wanted to be where the police were carefully observing everything to find any hint that would give them evidence to track the Devil or whoever was responsible.

But given the boss' attitude, trying to locate Lexi had to be the priority because he would continue to lose proper focus on the investigation. Signalling, Joseph directed the teams into different areas, keeping the area which, he was certain would be where he would locate Lexi for the team for his group. If it were Lexi and she was still in here, she would likely be in shock, but hopefully she would recognise his face.

Before they could even get to the area, they came across six girls, sitting staring into space as if they were not comprehending what was happening. Shock, he wondered. Dropping down to look at the closest girl to him in the eyes, Joseph quietly said "Hello, I am Joseph. I am here to help you."

The look on the face was as if the girl was staring completely through him. As he again said "Hello, I am Joseph. I am here to help you," Joseph quickly looked at her and confirmed his initial impression that there was no obvious physical injury. He reached and carefully touched her hand, which saw the girl jump, frightened, and screamed.

Joseph repeated once more "Hello, I am Joseph, I am here to help you." He noticed that his words had finally gotten through and he calmly continued "Can you feel your…"

Yelling, obviously distressed the girl screamed "I hurt everywhere."

Taking that as a good sign, Joseph said "Let me just take a quick look to see if it is safe to help you stand and we can get you out of here." Scanning around the girl, before taking a closer look at her, Joseph could see nothing, that in his limited field medical training that would tell him that he should not help her up, go get her out. Carefully he moved in and slowly taking his time he helped her stand up.

Once he had her standing, Joseph calling quietly to one of the soldiers, saying "Can you escort this young lady out."

"Yes Sir," was the immediate response, with the soldier carefully moving in and taking hold of the girl, before carefully and slowly starting the walk towards an exit.

Pausing Joseph looked forwards the stage area and could see the police and the soldiers he tasked to that area standing back. While he could not observe the specifics of what was happening it was obvious that the police were being careful in examining the scene, and not moving any person before they had ensured that they had gathered anything they though might be useful. It appeared that the police officers leading the investigation were competent. If it was as the boss thought. The evidence would be gathered.

Joseph turned and moved to a group of five girls. They had somewhat come out of the state of disbelief that they were in when the first girl screamed. He quickly moved towards them, assessing around them for danger, before saying "Please stay still, and we will help you." Like before he carefully and quickly assessed each girl, and carefully helped them to sit up.

Before taking the final step to get them standing, Joseph looked around and noticed that the two remaining soldiers in his group and the other groups were slowly doing the same thing. He called out, "Wait", as he saw one of the soldiers in his group about to leave. Joseph added "Take a couple of more victims out with you."

Without thinking, Joseph moved and helped another girl carefully and slowly to her feet before walking her towards the waiting soldier who had two girls with him. Nodding, he took the message and slowly started to make his way towards the exit with the small group of victims. Joseph turned back, and the remaining soldier in his group, was already helping another of the group Joseph had started to deal with to her feet.

Working together, they carefully got the remaining four girls to their feet, before Joseph sent the remaining soldier in his group out with the four victims.

He turned back, and noticed a stiletto with a red sole which obviously came off the foot of a nearby person, whose body was partially underneath a planter box, and the balance was covered by the foliage of the plants in the box. Carefully he picked the shoe and saw on the sole and inside the shoe the name 'Christian Louboutin'. While he knew little about shoes, even he had heard of that name, and knew that if they were real, they would be an expensive pair of shoes. While it was possible that they could belong to a rich girl in the crowd, it was just as possible that it would belong to an a.d.u.l.t.

Could this be Lexi? He recalled from the footage of the person they were almost certain was here was wearing a pair of stilettos. Carefully, he moved towards the partially hidden body, and worked his way around the planter box. His progress was slowed, due to the other victims, that he stopped and carefully assisted into a sitting position. When others came in, from there they would be able to get them out of the area.

As he reached the other end of the planter, he could see hair that reminded him of Lexi between the foliage. As he moved to carefully move the foliage aside, he heard "Wait," and turned to the voice.

At that moment, Joseph spotted Ben, and said "When did you get here?"

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