Chapter 13 The Chip
The men in black combed through various shops, casting sharp glances around. Nathan's eyes darted back to the restroom. Could that mysterious man be involved?
Suddenly, a black man burst out of the restroom. Without pausing, he pulled a small object from his pocket, thrust it into Nathan's hand, and hissed, "Keep this safe! I'll find you later!" Before Nathan could respond, the man sprinted away.
"Wait!" Nathan called after him, but the man in black was already vanishing down the corridor. Just then, several bodyguards rushed over, glimpsing the fleeing man as he disappeared around a corner.
"Catch him!" one of the bodyguards shouted, and they took off in pursuit, their footsteps echoing through the mall.
Nathan stood there, stunned. He thought. 'This feels like a scene straight out of a cop-and-robber movie! How cool!' Bringing his focus back to the object now in his hand, he examined it. It was a tiny, exquisite box, and nestled inside was a golden chip. He had no clue what it was, but it reminded him of the electronic components Noah often tinkered with.
'I'll show this to Noah when we get home,' he mused.
Just as Nathan was about to pocket the chip, his parrot, Little Coco, fluttered over, drawn by the commotion. Spotting what it believed to be a snack, Little Coco snatched the chip up in its beak and swallowed it whole. "Nut! Nut! Hic!" It suddenly hiccuped.
"No!" Nathan cried out, watching in horror as the chip vanished into the bird's stomach. Panic surged through him.
"How can you eat random things?" Nathan grabbed Little Coco, shaking him lightly. "Spit it out!"
Mia ran up just then and saw Nathan manhandling her beloved parrot. She snatched Little Coco away, cradling him protectively. "Why are you bullying my Little Coco? I'm telling Mommy!" she scolded.
"No, it's not like that...," Nathan stammered, struggling to find the words. Too much had happened, and he didn't know where to begin.
Little Coco squawked indignantly from Mia's arms, twisting and flailing as though in pain. Thinking the bird might actually be suffering, Nathan reached out again, trying to press its belly to force out the chip.
"Nathan, stop bullying Little Coco," Noah's stern voice cut through the air.
"No, I...," Nathan stuttered. He glanced around helplessly.
Little Coco, seeing someone defending him, ramped up his theatrics with more loud squawks and wriggles.
Nathan clenched his fists in frustration. Could even a parrot be such an actor?
Unable to explain, Nathan swallowed his secret. He knew he'd have to deal with whatever consequences later.
Meanwhile, these three innocent children couldn't fathom the trouble they had blundered into. The chip, now resting quietly inside Little Coco, was precisely what Micah Clemens was desperately seeking.
At a restaurant nearby, Micah received the report he'd been dreading.
"Mr. Clemens, Panther got away," Andrew reported, his voice hushed and tense.
"Useless!" Micah's hand froze mid-swirl of his wine glass, his voice colder than ice. "The X chip contains our company's latest technological secrets. If it leaks, the consequences will be catastrophic. We must recover it!"
"I'll give you three days."
"Yes, sir." Andrew lowered his head respectfully.
Micah rose, his imposing figure dominating the dimly lit room, radiating a palpable intensity. The air thickened with tension as everyone held their breath.
In the underground parking lot, Andrew fumbled to open the car door for Micah. As the engine roared to life, a sudden noise from beneath the car made him halt abruptly.
"Wait!" Micah snapped, frowning as he pushed open the door. Stepping out, he saw a small figure crouched beside the car, frantically searching the ground.
It was a little girl, her face streaked with dirt, eyes wide with fear.
"I... I'm looking for my Little Coco," Mia's voice trembled, her gaze darting from the ground to Micah. "Have you seen her?"
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