Chapter 1523

"Then take proper safety precautions," Lily said. "The pandemic is serious. I think a virus might have caused it."

Dominic considered this for a moment. "Yes, I think so too."

Lily nodded. "And I think it's connected to the experiment in the lab."

"The lab you worked in?" Dominic asked, startled. He recalled a question he'd put aside. "You don't think that Austin is behind it, do you?" The thought that Austin, who'd been working with plants in the laboratory, might be the culprit, suddenly occurred to him.

Lily chuckled, shaking her head. "No! He's not capable. More accurately, I don't think he knows about it."

"As I expected!" Dominic sighed in relief, realizing his suspicion was absurd. I know how capable Austin is. If he could create a virus this devastating, I'd have to hand it to him.

"Then what happened to him?" Lily asked.

Dominic sighed again. "He went missing. He wasn't at the lab or his house, and no one could reach him. I tried to find him at the research institute but kept getting interrupted. I'm sure he's in the building, but I don't know where."

"Why are you so certain he's inside the building? Perhaps he was kidnapped when he went out, or got lost somewhere without a signal?"

Dominic began to explain, "I used to…"

Lily interrupted. "What happened to you last time was different! Austin is obsessed with his experiments; it's not unusual for him to stay in the lab for days. Besides, something is definitely wrong with the research institute. I suspect he discovered something and has been contained. Professor Thompson's traffic accident was too coincidental. Everything points to the research institute."

"Professor Thompson? That elderly man?" Dominic asked, shaking his head in disbelief. "It's just a lab. Why does it sound like a conspiracy-ridden dungeon?"

"You're right! They're trying to hide something!" Lily agreed. "Old man, only you can save Austin now."

"Me?" Dominic pointed at himself, missing her point. "What does that have to do with me? You're not asking an older man like me to search the institute, are you? What if I get imprisoned too?" He shook his head vehemently. "No, no, I'm not going!"

"No, I need you to contact Austin's parents and ask them to report it to the police! If the police get involved, it might be easier to handle," Lily explained.

"Report it to the police? Why them? Why can't you do it?"

"I'm not the right person!" Lily replied, looking at him. "People don't see me as ordinary in Kingsland, being related to the Russells. It's best if Austin's parents go to the police themselves."

Austin's parents are something else. Their son has been missing for so long, and they're not even alarmed. Otherwise, I wouldn't need to remind them through Dominic.

"Contact that couple again? No, no!" Dominic shook his head vigorously, having no desire to deal with the Fike family again.