The next day, Joey went to Channing with his close friend, Hector Leonard, and a group of men.
The reason Joey decided to bring Hector along was because the Hectors were quite well acquainted with Channing's military commander-in-chief, Franklin Wilson.
Joey wanted Hector to negotiate with Major-General Wilson to let Damon and Denise out.
After arriving in Channing, Joey checked into a hotel.
Meanwhile, Hector had gone to the Channing military base to meet Franklin, carrying along a gift with him.
Franklin was in the living room talking to Nathan at that time.
When one of the national guards entered to report that Hector Leonard had requested to see him, he frowned and said, "Can't you see that I'm talking with the General? Request denied! Tell him to come back another day."
Nathan smiled and said, "It's fine. We're almost done anyway. Since whoever it is anxious to see you, just let him in."
Only then did Franklin permit the guards to let Hector in.
Soon, Hector came in bearing a gift.
The moment he saw Franklin, he addressed him respectfully as ‘Mr. Wilson'.
He had noticed Nathan's presence, and although he didn't know who Nathan was, he still offered him a smile as a greeting.
Nathan nodded in return too.
"Hector, why have you come looking for me?" Franklin spoke to him without much emotion.
Hector was about to divulge his purpose of visiting, but his eyes darted towards Nathan and he refrained from speaking.
"You're free to speak your mind. There are no outsiders here." Franklin indifferently assured him,
Upon hearing this, Hector mistakenly assumed that Nathan was Franklin's confidant.
Hence, he relaxed and immediately announced his intentions.
He angrily spat, "Mr. Wilson, Damon Griffin from the Eastern Chamber of Commerce was bullied by some guy called Nathan Cross in Channing. I'm here to ask for your help. Please release him, and punish that diabolical man, Nathan Cross."
When Nathan heard what he said, the corners of his mouth lifted into an inconspicuous playful smile.
Franklin's had a bewildered expression on his face. "That diabolical man, Nathan Cross?"
Hector didn't notice anything amiss and said, "Yeah! That Nathan Cross is pure evil. He relied on his wife to become the president of the Cross Group, then gained the support of the local leaders through his powerful position as the president of a large enterprise on local grounds.
He does whatever he likes in Channing, bullying men and women alike. That's what we call a tyrant!"
A never-ending stream of words tumbled out of Hector's mouth as he accused Nathan of countless evil deeds. Finally, he said, "Damon Griffin and his wife, who are both members of the Eastern Chamber of Commerce, had come all the way from the East to invest in the South, but were instead bullied by Nathan Cross, and sent to prison."
He inhaled deeply before powering on, "Mr. Wilson, I came to you to request for the release of Damon Griffin and his wife, and to bring that tyrant to justice."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Salute to the General