Charles panicked. He quickly raised his hands even higher. "Okay, okay! It's safe! I kept it safe—just in case you tried to kill me after getting what you wanted."
Inside, he was sweating. So he knows the artifact was fake, Charles thought. Good thing Joan went crazy before I had to say anything.
Don took a step closer, still pointing the gun. "I've lost my patience, Charles," he said through clenched teeth. "Tell me where the real artifact is, or I'll blow your head off."
Charles gulped and slowly nodded. "Alright… I'll send it to you. I swear. Just let me leave here with my head still on my shoulders."
Don squinted at him. "And you think I'll believe that?"
Charles gave a dry laugh. "Not really. Especially after one of your own guards turned on you like we were in a mafia movie. Trust clearly isn't our thing."
For a moment, the room was quiet. Only Don's heavy breathing and the sound of sirens in the distance could be heard.
