He straightened his tie as he stepped out of his black Lamborgini, looking towards the house. The bright lights inside illuminated through the windows. After a long pause, he closed the car door behind him and walked to the porch. It immediately flew open and the housekeeper dressed in her black dress and white apron stood in the doorway.267Please respect copyright.PENANAiKthWtj1eh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAoxkbTz7UWY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXC3qnmqUIF
"Mr. Sinclair, good evening," she greeted. She looked down at his hand. "Did you leave your briefcase in the car?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAndTbtpANpa
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMLuYaeMeLW
267Please respect copyright.PENANAFjw51VJU2E
Mr. Sinclair chuckled. "Silly me. I had to rush somewhere today that I forgot it in the office. No matter, I don’t plan on staying up to work anyway."267Please respect copyright.PENANApOcSKYh5K9
267Please respect copyright.PENANAB5BRzYQ7J6
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaumjPfaeTK
"Of course, sir," she obliged with a smile, making room for him to step inside.267Please respect copyright.PENANAi1LBz6UTfK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAThUecFHEoK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAz9SLxtjWRK
"How is the lady of the house doing?" Mr. Sinclair asked as he stepped into the foyer.267Please respect copyright.PENANAUdVKB1YM6n
267Please respect copyright.PENANAL9FsXScLbL
267Please respect copyright.PENANARu6pn2czga
The housekeeper helped Mr. Sinclair remove his jacket as she answered, "same as always. She moved around quite a bit during the day, though."267Please respect copyright.PENANAR2Ihf2zdny
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdiToh9BwQb
267Please respect copyright.PENANAozEogqO4f3
"That's good. Is supper almost ready?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAeaYS1Gjn4W
267Please respect copyright.PENANA2fWjdt3Oia
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQt2IX6SvAS
"Yes, in a few minutes." The housekeeper held his jacket in her hands.267Please respect copyright.PENANABCqj1OzvZb
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOtGeRfQVfo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOX9oqv5WqL
"Okay, let me go see how she's doing."267Please respect copyright.PENANAnHxvf3Jj44
267Please respect copyright.PENANATlLhmkx62J
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAQ5LPizOPD
"Of course, sir," she went down the hall with the jacket in hand.267Please respect copyright.PENANAnEGR1sxo1I
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOCmDV9iwRW
267Please respect copyright.PENANAswem8Lb7Dg
Mr. Sinclair walked out of the foyer and made his way up the flight of stairs. When he reached the landing, he took a turn down to his right.267Please respect copyright.PENANAx2BQ983z6X
267Please respect copyright.PENANAv9jC2O0RQY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZQxISXEQ5B
His hands flew to the front of his shirt undoing the top button. He realised how hot he felt and should've unbuttoned earlier.267Please respect copyright.PENANAhC4gg23cgh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAngpvfz3BTF
267Please respect copyright.PENANASPrenOzP30
He reached his room. But before he could even open the door, he thought he heard a loud thud like something had fallen to the floor.267Please respect copyright.PENANAX2c8kxaMa6
267Please respect copyright.PENANApiUCba5uLN
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAyun1xb9yc
"Honey," he called out as he quickly entered the room.267Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8G6oo1CBP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAuYpS1InRxz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAV8E3TLx24Y
He paused for a second upon entering and later blew out a sigh of relief.267Please respect copyright.PENANAl6qXAMfDtG
267Please respect copyright.PENANA5gZ7NqgkLP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAFyPRminnNB
"Goodness, you scared me for a minute," he said as he walked in.267Please respect copyright.PENANAdVL8TXce4V
267Please respect copyright.PENANAcTRhywyyyi
267Please respect copyright.PENANAK8SmQaJpX7
"Sorry to startle you, dear," said Mrs. Sinclair, who sat on her bed, her back leaning onto the white headboard. "I just dropped the book I was reading."267Please respect copyright.PENANAF6XFS9S42N
267Please respect copyright.PENANAkuzqzOnbIv
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHLIrE4qxzG
Mr. Sinclair approached the bed and bent to pick up the thick red book on the red Persian carpeted floor. He sat on the bed, close to the edge and placed the book onto the white covers on the bed atop his wife's laps.267Please respect copyright.PENANALFx2cFiWP0
267Please respect copyright.PENANADa6jIuebB7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfKerBPm3Qu
"How have you been today?" Mr. Sinclair asked, smiling at his wife.267Please respect copyright.PENANAODBvYvXGyv
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQN4P0hS6G8
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJA1M3L2BTf
She ran her thin, bony fingers through her thin, dull blonde hair as she tried to put up a smile. Her tired blue eyes looked on at Mr. Sinclair. Her grey, pale face with hollowed cheeks showed clear signs of her illness.267Please respect copyright.PENANAw0gzItQ0w1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdOphYOsroV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIziBTfehQh
"I'm trying," she answered. "This illness isn't doing me any good."267Please respect copyright.PENANA0AKDBPWQYe
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ge6guI5pK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAm9lCB5UsTv
"Don't say that," said Sinclair as he took hold of her hand. "You're still here, aren't you? There's a lot to be grateful for."267Please respect copyright.PENANAe65c8b8htO
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2s8FzwXJU
267Please respect copyright.PENANAN0AzBbl3TY
She pulled her hand away and Sinclair didn't bother holding on. They have been through this conversation many times. And things aren't getting any better.267Please respect copyright.PENANAEG4FxUnh5V
267Please respect copyright.PENANA2ojR6MjgAf
267Please respect copyright.PENANAPGz7l5NXsq
"So, how was work?" Mrs. Sinclair asked, changing the subject.267Please respect copyright.PENANAt7X5JcMJVZ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAShzG8eg7xn
267Please respect copyright.PENANAbllrmhMxCy
"Work was okay," he answered. "Although something tragic happened to Eugene’s father."267Please respect copyright.PENANAuL1ZRxhwh1
267Please respect copyright.PENANA2z4MsqUyiB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMU6oS3T1JT
Mrs. Sinclair now had a look of concern in her sad, hollow eyes. "Eugene's father? What happened to him?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAQd2Cd1UXZf
267Please respect copyright.PENANAA7jIsk0T3W
267Please respect copyright.PENANABDRXb1EhU1
"I haven't gotten the full details, but he was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound."267Please respect copyright.PENANArXIaXUYxQn
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwr3WRaTcAh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVMF4RXiXpE
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head. "That's tragic. I hope his father is okay."267Please respect copyright.PENANASDe7JDQT5E
267Please respect copyright.PENANAbr0dmOSRya
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHN5iGx6Ozh
"I just worry for the whole family."267Please respect copyright.PENANAIleTiJ06hA
267Please respect copyright.PENANAsaaLcZFanz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVqVjTJ3zCU
"Yes. Don't you think it's high time Mrs. Chamberlain finally divorced him? I mean, the man is nothing but trouble, if you ask me."267Please respect copyright.PENANAnhL1xHBOJg
267Please respect copyright.PENANAb6uBK8sX1R
267Please respect copyright.PENANAe3g016KtnK
"I've spoken to her about it a thousand times, but she still won't do it. She was there at the hospital since he came to her house after being shot."267Please respect copyright.PENANAgGj1RZ240c
267Please respect copyright.PENANAftLVif2bvR
267Please respect copyright.PENANAW2gNE8113M
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head, already looking tired and frustrated. "I guess the woman still loves him. That's pretty much evident."267Please respect copyright.PENANAVOyx0p1UVE
267Please respect copyright.PENANA0hZSLV4gBi
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOHsy47vNkE
"As much as she is, her relationship with him still worries me." Mr. Sinclair stood up from the bedside and went over to his wardrobe at the far end of the room.267Please respect copyright.PENANAgf3S0goJfD
267Please respect copyright.PENANAnxDAdRatrd
267Please respect copyright.PENANApPPQPRbDK6
"Why? Is it because he's involved with 'those' people?"267Please respect copyright.PENANA8biHE3iDqr
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKzSbZvAtyY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmtZVZ2f80X
Mr. Sinclair now wished he never started this conversation. He didn't like to talk about it, especially with his wife. Before he could start to unbutton his shirt, he turned around to look at her.267Please respect copyright.PENANA9AOPiYDcue
267Please respect copyright.PENANAlkZ7zNShpa
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGQ5r7qpjtR
"Let's be careful when we start to talk about these things, okay?" he suggested.267Please respect copyright.PENANAqZaNcZhy4Y
267Please respect copyright.PENANAb9FRV8Kp4F
267Please respect copyright.PENANANr95yWvr2j
He thought he heard his wife hiss, but he can't be sure. She said, "don't act like I don't know what's going on. The late Emelda might have been your client, but she got you involved in her personal life that you don't even know who you are anymore."267Please respect copyright.PENANAZ76Smlnez7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAY6qrihQuBc
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7TJjmLdxnu
Mr. Sinclair raised an eyebrow, confused that his wife is talking like she is right now.267Please respect copyright.PENANAyfI6m5YPzg
267Please respect copyright.PENANAxtRqLRPRec
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdkeJjr9OsZ
"Where's all this coming from?" he asked.267Please respect copyright.PENANAKVpqkbhcDK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAiJQ9SFhQwG
267Please respect copyright.PENANACQLicGObxx
Mrs. Sinclair pushed aside the bed covers. Even in her frail state, she pushed them with so much vigor like she had had the energy within her all this time. She placed her feet onto the floor and slowly stood up. Her long, loose white night gown almost reaching her feet. Mr. Sinclair so much as wanted as to go to his wife and drag her back to bed, but even when she was weak physically, she somehow had a strong hold over him when it came to her actions.267Please respect copyright.PENANAN2hPcLxIZS
267Please respect copyright.PENANAYa5OLgwiOo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAebaA0FH3DR
She slowly went towards him. "You know where all this is coming from," she answered Sinclair’s question. "Your involvement with the late Emelda."267Please respect copyright.PENANAG6P0WQft4s
267Please respect copyright.PENANAUb3QtXfels
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3NAl7sEVnc
"I was her lawyer. There’s nothing else to it."267Please respect copyright.PENANA2hG0uJZ3By
267Please respect copyright.PENANAimqXINSCGz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdzzH1RfNlk
"A lawyer? Sure. But you and I both know that you were more than that busy handling her dirty affairs. She’s not as innocent and generous as people thought her to be. In fact, almost the whole town knows, but they don’t want to say anything because you’re there to always intervene and would do anything to clean up her mess."267Please respect copyright.PENANAUMQO1runVZ
267Please respect copyright.PENANApk0FP8lFgv
267Please respect copyright.PENANANNphVYXPAY
"You’re going way out of line, dear," said Sinclair, putting up a smile for his wife. "Why are you making me look like I’m the bad guy here?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAH26y0ZCSRr
267Please respect copyright.PENANABO6nGMgE0a
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGkpZgNaeli
"It’s because you’re." She pointed her long bony index finger onto his chest. Mr. Sinclair didn’t much as flinch at the gesture. "You know what you’ve been up to for years. And even when she's dead, you now take on all of her affairs like it's normal."267Please respect copyright.PENANASOw5Ioq1SH
267Please respect copyright.PENANAA8aTn80o5s
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtbxvaSqnXM
"She left everything to her granddaughter and it’s my duty to make sure things are in order."267Please respect copyright.PENANAt70pNZOR5j
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMzyhzJAcIk
267Please respect copyright.PENANAyb80aROfbt
Mrs. Sinclair scoffed. "Tell me, dear husband," she said sarcastically, "does Rhénee even know what’s going on? Why she inherited everything from her grandmother? Why she never came back to this place and doing so now after such a long time? Don’t you think you’re putting that innocent girl in danger?"267Please respect copyright.PENANACoCvrDgBjw
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaqfz6DgddQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAPl7uyspVqZ
"In danger of what, exactly?" Sinclair still had his smile intact.267Please respect copyright.PENANAFunD4vS8YM
267Please respect copyright.PENANAoxwE0bNxRU
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAZrhigsUQo
"Everything involving her grandmother! If you ask me, you just made the girl inherit Emelda’s problems."267Please respect copyright.PENANAi3GuoFHbAF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAjrZWsIzOf8
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtvVD0xgzHA
She soon let out a deep, shaky breath and Mr. Sinclair soon held her shoulder, comfortingly. "You need to sit." He said. "You can’t stand for too long."267Please respect copyright.PENANAAronKhz94b
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8sRB4yw8Tm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJsXobCnEeU
She slapped his hand away. "As if you care. You only care about the reputation you’ve gained after you got into that old woman’s world."267Please respect copyright.PENANABjYkZSFeFR
267Please respect copyright.PENANAB3RFe0fiU8
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVnkNhJHvak
"Well, if I can recall," Sinclair raised an eyebrow at her, but still with a smile on his face, "you’re the one who introduced me to her when we first came here. You convinced me to take her as my client."267Please respect copyright.PENANACzAXewlVms
267Please respect copyright.PENANAlFRXChXApS
267Please respect copyright.PENANA22uYeJ43ax
"That was before we knew that she was nothing but a wolf in sheep’s clothing," Mrs. Sinclair turned away, making a slow walk towards her bed.267Please respect copyright.PENANAm7Ot7zLqwY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAoS68V1v1jF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWpxRTO9EOB
"Let’s not talk about this any further," Sinclair suggested. "We should learn to move on."267Please respect copyright.PENANAFRO2hQptFz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwwz2bPOSle
267Please respect copyright.PENANAi9d4msTqXM
Mrs. Sinclair settled at the foot of the bed, facing her husband. "Sadly, she left scars upon this town that a lot of people will never forget."267Please respect copyright.PENANA3TGYDUp9RK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOBBIqENsg3
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQNWZhwTYyg
"You exaggerate, dear."267Please respect copyright.PENANAVQlq4tyAeu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAiZkX9a4CZn
267Please respect copyright.PENANABIvEUoWjzM
"Well, at least you’re not denying it."267Please respect copyright.PENANAqScI7fVXND
267Please respect copyright.PENANALWhgDf8GTR
267Please respect copyright.PENANAlMMu285MZN
Before Mr. Sinclair could say anything, a knock came at the door. He could only guess that the housekeeper had come to announce that supper is ready. However, the knock was a little fainter than usual.267Please respect copyright.PENANA9JLobnc49v
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvG9ueJbnMj
267Please respect copyright.PENANASbFFaCQJx9
"Who is it?" Mr. Sinclair asked.267Please respect copyright.PENANAivzMQohsAx
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdenAG4XqLA
267Please respect copyright.PENANAD1Kg0BdgMF
"It’s me, dad," came a female voice, behind the door.267Please respect copyright.PENANAcvMpGPaA1z
267Please respect copyright.PENANAf5g4iWGglM
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvCfIStskVM
What perfect timing, Mr. Sinclair thought to himself.267Please respect copyright.PENANAvOblaI03Px
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmu8LMV1vWN
267Please respect copyright.PENANABL2A6oYnNc
He went over to the door to open it and his seventeen-year old girl with bouncy blonde locks came slowly into the room, looking around at her father and mother.267Please respect copyright.PENANAvXeefsH8hr
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8wXNnrcZNS
267Please respect copyright.PENANAFqk94WtS8B
"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAnKpbt5OEOw
267Please respect copyright.PENANAm8ICfIWm4q
267Please respect copyright.PENANADTsuVm7Imh
"No, sweetie," said Mrs. Sinclair. She held up her bony hand for her daughter to hold onto as she entered the room. Her daughter came closer and held her mother’s hand.267Please respect copyright.PENANAlJJHT9s5CR
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMV62ZRJLKO
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVBxMS8hdsu
"I thought I heard you guys arguing."267Please respect copyright.PENANAT5Pt9LnRap
267Please respect copyright.PENANAsGDRg4FHgs
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWH0FnmGi6w
"Just a silly argument," Mrs. Sinclair answered. "Your father once again forgot those biscuits I wanted."267Please respect copyright.PENANAbauNMawyQK
267Please respect copyright.PENANASpgsuz4Ih4
267Please respect copyright.PENANApEReMhtfsq
"Wow, dad, you always forget to get them."267Please respect copyright.PENANAVEzvq5Zgng
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXqgb4u4KVr
267Please respect copyright.PENANAp4gBPgHc34
"That’s why either you or the help have to remind me. You know I easily forget about these things."267Please respect copyright.PENANA9wZBAi83tM
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgOx9zM3x6S
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWKzIU7wlBu
"Anyway, I’ll try and remind you tomorrow when I get back from school." The teenager went on to look at her mother. "So how have you been?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAHZAy5hM6bv
267Please respect copyright.PENANApTMpZxNVkV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAON3zQGN9s
"I’m okay," Mrs. Sinclair said, putting up a smile. "How was school today?"267Please respect copyright.PENANALwkP4xtgRh
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4mVbJdEQdm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAlD4Sb1WVqe
"Same as usual. Now that we’re approaching the end of the year, studies are getting more tiresome."267Please respect copyright.PENANA4tC2qqf2Zm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhPUO7lwAiW
267Please respect copyright.PENANAPYCNcbPcKU
"You just make sure to work hard. If you need our help, we are here for anything you need, Scarlet."267Please respect copyright.PENANAKgU3BKPQwz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaqchQ4sH5U
267Please respect copyright.PENANArhW5cSGlTa
"I will, that’s if you two can stop arguing over more than just biscuits," Scarlet’s deep blue eyes flew between her parents.267Please respect copyright.PENANAjoArssGWGj
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvlRm3HLpkh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAeHkW6uNUzN
Mr. Sinclair scoffed. He forgot just how smart their daughter can be sometimes.267Please respect copyright.PENANAkFLXITBOA1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmTUPrVSvwK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAbsJEwC5T5h
"How was work, dad?" Scarlet asked with so much excitement, looking at her father.267Please respect copyright.PENANAvIRBDY75Px
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGS5JkoQnQ3
267Please respect copyright.PENANA1EWOMup4Dr
"It was okay." He turned around to head back to his closet, but Scarlet quickly asked:267Please respect copyright.PENANA9O2kFMqC29
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHMXs8cJVOo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHt6kTZhguw
"Was he in today? How is he?"267Please respect copyright.PENANA897aFAliK0
267Please respect copyright.PENANANTseivrK7p
267Please respect copyright.PENANA0n6qBcdroj
Mrs. Sinclair chuckled as she rubbed Scarlet’s shoulder. Mr. Sinclair winced as he turned back to look at the two on the bed. Somehow he just couldn’t dodge her questions.267Please respect copyright.PENANAeeqt5JUGXO
267Please respect copyright.PENANANufhcSIdgO
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3oljLXcrgd
"He’s good," Mr. Sinclair said as he folded his arms. "But not too good, I’m afraid."267Please respect copyright.PENANAR9sopaRIsq
267Please respect copyright.PENANANRG9JS6gTm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQwBI5JX4BV
"Why? What happened to Eugene?" Scarlet sounded anxious.267Please respect copyright.PENANArsTPitMpMq
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQU3QuW97ho
267Please respect copyright.PENANAf463z1wrHg
"Well, you’ll probably hear about this at school since this is a small town." Mr. Sinclair paused before he could continue. "Eugene’s father is in the hospital. He was shot."267Please respect copyright.PENANAzSxFUK6VOa
267Please respect copyright.PENANAzcrV0jelay
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQD6ldColaF
Scarlet gasped.267Please respect copyright.PENANApQAXxFWizv
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAcMRPngubU
267Please respect copyright.PENANAa9yVb75Rxz
"Oh, no, that’s awful. But will he be okay?"267Please respect copyright.PENANA4IaxCjgJ4w
267Please respect copyright.PENANAuKVivj2aAC
267Please respect copyright.PENANATKsglDECCI
"I’m not so sure," said Mr. Sinclair. "But according to Eugene’s mother, he’s in pretty bad shape."267Please respect copyright.PENANAXVJk1Tm3mB
267Please respect copyright.PENANARwQmCI7TI7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAL1HPE8DSwU
"I hope Eugene, himself is okay," said Scarlet.267Please respect copyright.PENANAy4DcMO5dQJ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAUK6H0RbN1v
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7fjrWcuJou
"It’s Mrs. Chamberlin I’m worried about the most," said Mrs. Sinclair. "This is just too much for her."267Please respect copyright.PENANAeo9whxwvbo
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9flySX41pf
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8oYQpAhbyv
"True," said Mr. Sinclair. "She might be a strong woman, but that man has put her in terrible situations I can’t even imagine."267Please respect copyright.PENANASofFMawt3s
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2k2KxyDqz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAucpXThUwS1
"I hope he gets out of this alive," said Scarlet.267Please respect copyright.PENANAp6bUB7IPEZ
267Please respect copyright.PENANADP3ut5WFLG
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwTbKXKsqXd
"I would advise not to call Eugene right now," advised Mr. Sinclair. "Not until we know that everything's alright."267Please respect copyright.PENANAti18zvKo0y
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4ExkbXEha
267Please respect copyright.PENANAnfT1yZji99
Scarlet sighed. "I wasn't planning to, dad."267Please respect copyright.PENANAQMPbeVeuT8
267Please respect copyright.PENANA1gzqVkfWg7
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9jIqj3t19x
"You like Eugene too much," said Mrs. Sinclair. "I hope your little crush over him vanishes over time."267Please respect copyright.PENANAmqS5FYtpFC
267Please respect copyright.PENANAm9nGpSsdqi
267Please respect copyright.PENANAsbYXaQaEal
"I doubt it. Once I finish high school, I will be sure I can date him."267Please respect copyright.PENANA0l5cI3jU5q
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9UiUlLvj1F
267Please respect copyright.PENANACBORzdqRYO
Scarlet quickly prances up from the bed like a little deer and made her way for the door. Her parents watched her as she left.267Please respect copyright.PENANAVYytmzuzoK
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZCdBfzDp5
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfctYI8pKij
"Sometimes I forget she likes him," said Mrs. Sinclair.267Please respect copyright.PENANAbIm5LYh2JX
267Please respect copyright.PENANALCoREgHZtn
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgKcXoyzN9G
"I'm not too worried," said Mr. Sinclair as he closed the door. "When she goes to college, she'll definitely get over him and like somebody else. If not, Eugene will make a good son-in-law."267Please respect copyright.PENANAVJFdDO6BmC
267Please respect copyright.PENANAGqQZLTrb1r
267Please respect copyright.PENANAYGJRjtd2j0
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head. "I definitely don't approve of it. He's a good man. I just don't feel he's right for my little Scarlet. I pray when she does go to college, she will find someone."267Please respect copyright.PENANAXFQDMn2ZFG
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9XOkZ6DNuL
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZmnE1TcClh
"Eugene isn’t that bad, if I’m being honest," Mr. Sinclair chuckled.267Please respect copyright.PENANAXzlwTofNYD
267Please respect copyright.PENANA74dunDaman
267Please respect copyright.PENANABNJjDuf7GC
"Well, I don’t want her to end up marrying a lawyer like I did." Mrs. Sinclair looked at her husband with a gloomy look and with her arms folded. "And to Eugene for that matter."267Please respect copyright.PENANACwTtvCvNmG
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQZdKurdYD7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAm6bYkw250P
"What’s wrong now? Are you scared that Eugene is like me?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAamvZYKGycI
267Please respect copyright.PENANAd94BSl6N63
267Please respect copyright.PENANAcRjXiehVe7
"I know he's a good person. I’m just scared that when push comes to shove, you might make him take up your role; working closely with Rhénee."267Please respect copyright.PENANApepIHRWM0j
267Please respect copyright.PENANA948YOURbwy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOlKgpzVULr
Mr. Sinclair bit his lower lip as his right hand rubbed the bottom of his chin. "That seems like an interesting proposition, dear. Why didn’t I ever think of that before?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAG8NBT6CvRT
267Please respect copyright.PENANALmLn50pNDm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAqoWdsBmShD
His wife didn’t say anything as a horrific look started to appear on her hollow face.267Please respect copyright.PENANAvA6NARQhdz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAo1KXtdnC2f
267Please respect copyright.PENANA6miCFJc0Vf
"I’m just joking," said Mr. Sinclair as he walked up to her. He then knelt down on the floor in front of her and cupped both of her hands in his. "Why you come up with such ideas is just absurd. You know I wouldn’t do anything that would upset you."267Please respect copyright.PENANAFBYtbIlbc1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAA6RS3kFa4h
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMQRAuL1khe
"You’ve done several of those even when I told you to drop whatever you were doing for Emelda when she was still alive."267Please respect copyright.PENANAQYDZdgc1iI
267Please respect copyright.PENANA2yW8w2xwSK
267Please respect copyright.PENANADne2IiIJXI
Mr. Sinclair shook his head and stood up, still holding his wife’s hands. "Let’s drop the subject. I hate when we talk about it." He squeezed his hands a little, making sure that he didn’t hurt her.267Please respect copyright.PENANAqeWArQHSlW
267Please respect copyright.PENANA88Jo3Qq12W
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfJESDLFWJT
His phone soon started to ring and he almost forgot that he had it in the pocket of his trousers. He took it out with one hand while the other held onto Mrs. Sinclair’s hands. He looked at the caller ID. He picked the call.267Please respect copyright.PENANA7roeeaSTyh
267Please respect copyright.PENANARhtNSNMlAF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWoJleerOYz
"Evening," he said after placing the phone to his ear. "Yes, I’m home at the moment. What can I help you with?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAokr0eb0hRY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQEK79OQont
267Please respect copyright.PENANAjsXHSxHAGs
Mr. Sinclair paused to hear what the person on the other end was saying. "Alright, I’ll see what I can do." He soon cut the call.267Please respect copyright.PENANAqdh7ToLdeT
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHMHv4liAA3
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwEp44FZlxo
His wife looked up at him. "Do I have to worry that you're going to walk out of this house because you've Emelda’s business to attend to? Or is it a call from work?"267Please respect copyright.PENANARYHvkX2w7c
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJu8BZjbJgm
267Please respect copyright.PENANAjyj9qlisL0
"It’s work, nothing serious," Mr. Sinclair replied. "I left my bag at the office, so I'll just have to tackle it tomorrow morning."267Please respect copyright.PENANAc9tacsaZdt
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfJdER8z4W9
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9zIGdB0R5N
"If you say so."267Please respect copyright.PENANAGh9jITTQzB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAxcl3AgC4Ks
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVV6GNp3K6S
A knock soon came at the door and the voice of the house help came behind the door: "dinner is ready."267Please respect copyright.PENANAIUmlPY5v25
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7cnoxshn3W
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWbl0MBPXXu
"Thank you, I'll be right there," said Mr. Sinclair. He turned to look at his wife. "Would you be joining us at the dinner table?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAOhUMsynnsv
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKWPq7gXCQu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdPgfdCNY2K
"Not today," she replied.267Please respect copyright.PENANASEKiKm0Q2e
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHbttFXyaB4
267Please respect copyright.PENANAYElCZXnSqP
"Alright, I'll tell the help to bring your food up to your room."267Please respect copyright.PENANAtrRFierXvP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAb4qynxDMY9
267Please respect copyright.PENANAemELqHkEPc
"No, need, she already knows."267Please respect copyright.PENANABzuSK5KV6O
267Please respect copyright.PENANAISNtrzDDU5
267Please respect copyright.PENANA83Jfs6n9Gn
He let go of his wife's hands and made his way out of the door. As soon as he closed it, he made his way towards the stairs. He was about to descend, when he heard the sound of a door opening and closing at the other end of the hall. He saw Scarlet coming towards him.267Please respect copyright.PENANAi2HnIdtnvn
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmCH5Tnk7CF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAC7PCZ91LTj
"Isn't mum coming to join us?" she asked.267Please respect copyright.PENANAsWDV5CBDUo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdIWAtZf7Pr
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvcxPXyPL33
"She'll eat from her room," he answered.267Please respect copyright.PENANAjQA2cteCiR
267Please respect copyright.PENANAyQrGOx0Nlx
267Please respect copyright.PENANANJ8mZ6Xyt8
"You upset her again, didn't you?" Scarlet folded her arms, looking at father with a stern look similar to her mother's.267Please respect copyright.PENANAnkqPpSSKOL
267Please respect copyright.PENANATSdDkYagzM
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJEr5CMRp9v
Sinclair scoffed. "I wish I had, but you already know how your mother likes to pick a fight with me. Come on, let's go. The food will get cold."267Please respect copyright.PENANAajHvuHnAVD
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3LAr0zYW7h
267Please respect copyright.PENANASDAj6vCFli
Scarlet is quicker than her father as she walked past him to go down the stairs. Mr. Sinclair followed at a slower pace. She reached the bottom and went straight to the living room that led to the dining room.267Please respect copyright.PENANAPHs4pXPrvk
267Please respect copyright.PENANAxZx94WzRv1
267Please respect copyright.PENANA6urGl4j3fI
As soon as Sinclair reached the bottom, he felt the phone vibrate in his pocket. He stopped before he could continue his way into the living room. He found a message. He unlocked his phone to read it. He cursed under his breath and pocketed the phone back, making his way to the dining room where he found his daughter already waiting for him.267Please respect copyright.PENANAK372YSKUNb
267Please respect copyright.PENANANZdTyDaZP0
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAWciyhK6ZV
"You’re getting slower reaching the table these days," Scarlet said as she looked at him.267Please respect copyright.PENANAyztMB2bwhO
267Please respect copyright.PENANApWHx14V7ai
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7FneSLbtNB
"Maybe it’s because you’re so young and energetic," he said as he took his seat at the head of the table. Scarlet sat on the other end and said a prayer, asking the Holy Father to bless it. And as soon as the word "Amen" was uttered, they started to dig in. A few minutes hadn’t passed before Scarlet asked her father a question.267Please respect copyright.PENANAmJDUT3mgNx
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXmXGMreHSg
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZyLBwGd4mX
"Have you heard anything about Eugene’s father yet?"267Please respect copyright.PENANA9hkaG7bNJX
267Please respect copyright.PENANADaQM7JC7Ep
267Please respect copyright.PENANAM03rWLJSNT
"No, not yet," he answered.267Please respect copyright.PENANAYtCsFHCJ3j
267Please respect copyright.PENANAT8VGlNHuJl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAl1wdFKrlw7
There came a brief silence before she asked, "is it really true that his father got shot?"267Please respect copyright.PENANALCALCgbTwo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAk02sPMKTp4
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIJbtIUio9A
"Yes," he answered. "It was pretty fatal."267Please respect copyright.PENANAi93VBhBCV7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQtq0dmluCB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAiq8kiwdSNW
"I really hope he gets out okay. Did he mess with the wrong people?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAdsRflPZNvl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZyEiVyJVQu
267Please respect copyright.PENANADKJ6GPJPAr
Sinclair swallowed before he replied, "I can’t answer that. Maybe he did or he didn’t. I think it’s best to let the police handle it."267Please respect copyright.PENANA1oqxkrdSGK
267Please respect copyright.PENANA2QJNGe3aAj
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJVdReOtoXQ
"Okay." Scarlet paused for a bit. "I hope Eugene is doing okay."267Please respect copyright.PENANAgEKFyQEukC
267Please respect copyright.PENANAL9UtIiCXK3
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXMEbPJ7W7R
"He was devastated when he heard the news. But he’ll be fine. If there’s a good chance that his father is out of danger, I’ll give you a heads up to call him tomorrow."267Please respect copyright.PENANAX0YXb1Ptpu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAEtATWrJTx8
267Please respect copyright.PENANAT5CJsXYuYw
Scarlet smiled at him. "Okay. I really want to know how he’s doing.”267Please respect copyright.PENANAnK0uAx7EQH
267Please respect copyright.PENANAj0290qPXdM
267Please respect copyright.PENANAo8IJdbJvKE
They continued to eat their supper and Sinclair in return fired Scarlet some questions concerning school and her friends. As soon as they were done, Sinclair stood up and told Scarlet that he’ll have to go to the study and do a bit of work. Scarlet didn’t mind as she quickly went up to her room.267Please respect copyright.PENANAtMOS1Bv2NT
267Please respect copyright.PENANAbeXLdPfJOQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANASh9EMJB6iq
He slowly walked out of the dining room and into the living room while he watched his daughter go up the stairs. It will only be a few minutes till the help comes to take away the dishes in the dining room, so he pulled out his phone to make a call.267Please respect copyright.PENANAy4Q8One9gT
267Please respect copyright.PENANANoh99aRaKH
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOY80xXJikI
After pressing the call button, he placed the phone to his ear, making his way to the study.267Please respect copyright.PENANADJa3G9w4OU
267Please respect copyright.PENANA0pPEZfpEal
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaeOUKbhx5X
As the phone continued to ring, Sinclair got a little impatient. But just as he walked out of the living room, the person on the other end soon picked up.267Please respect copyright.PENANAhibevX9glg
267Please respect copyright.PENANA95eQkzVtoo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHaIrOzzpu8
"What took you so long to answer?" Sinclair asked, calmly, trying not to speak so loud.267Please respect copyright.PENANAAQGvaj49tJ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtVDrizoaJu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXfx6n5i3hj
"I am in a dire situation right now that I can’t answer you immediately," came a hoarse breathy voice on the phone.267Please respect copyright.PENANAdROU87Wq8L
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4DdLrhmcTm
267Please respect copyright.PENANABiG8sNgq9u
Sinclair reached his study and went in, closing the door. "What is it? I couldn’t text you since I was having dinner."267Please respect copyright.PENANAJqSaiYp7Wo
267Please respect copyright.PENANANlAigDNJN9
267Please respect copyright.PENANAi2YRWe64mn
"Well, while you were playing house over there, we’ve trouble. Apparently Rhénee and her friends aren’t home where they should be. A situation arose and they decided to take matters into their own hands."267Please respect copyright.PENANAPgxXbs8nWa
267Please respect copyright.PENANAi7neOshXE4
267Please respect copyright.PENANA5X5CWXznuX
"What situation?" Sinclair asked as he stood in the middle of the room.267Please respect copyright.PENANA9hkY1T4nbE
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvvR3Y8UjUk
267Please respect copyright.PENANADj43GuXb2j
***267Please respect copyright.PENANABfD0M5ZLfX
267Please respect copyright.PENANAFydJGHCGf1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAeMwQWuPLwE
As much as Eugene wanted to turn to look at Miss Marie, he had to focus his eyes on the road. He's driving her old, red convertible with the top covering their heads, heading towards the forest. He didn't like the idea of going there at this late hour.267Please respect copyright.PENANA8M1WIlXAyQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAALlZf0Y8QY
267Please respect copyright.PENANAcA3buEdQ0q
Silence stood between them. Eugene wanted so much as to ask where he's taking her, but he knew the answer he's going to get. They were out here to look for Miguel, which is pretty absurd, Eugene thought. He might be walking back to the house and they were here taking a drive.267Please respect copyright.PENANAmnUI2iODys
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7HQpNKOied
267Please respect copyright.PENANAuX6CAQUtE2
Miss Marie soon started to hum as she looked out her side of the window. Eugene wondered how she could be so calm. For once, he wanted that she would go insane, making it easy for him to turn the car around and take her back home. That's if she wouldn't go mad to the point where she might distract him as he is driving.267Please respect copyright.PENANAtOlHdO4dvQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANArST89rWIUN
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMSFhulUKEL
On the point of insanity, Eugene wondered whether Miss Marie is sane or not. Why take him out here to find Miguel? Eugene couldn’t help but feel stupid after thinking about it a little. His gut feeling told him that Miss Marie wasn't insane when she told him where to find Miguel nor is she insane right now. A sudden thought soon crossed his mind. What if she's been pretending to everyone this whole time?267Please respect copyright.PENANAM5Cfmq8VNy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdKKwZbzu6C
267Please respect copyright.PENANAsc0lBu3haH
Miss Marie stopped humming. "Make a stop here."267Please respect copyright.PENANAAQU0TQB2vG
267Please respect copyright.PENANAO7daKUwocd
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKTn766SDjG
Eugene did as he was told and he got a little puzzled. There’s a bridge just up ahead and he thought they were going to reach it. He turned to look at Miss Griselda.267Please respect copyright.PENANAaylDgaRj4I
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfEqtqMa5rD
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7Anpr1qmGU
"I thought we would stop by the bridge," he said.267Please respect copyright.PENANA4wgy407JKa
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXqOL3CT9Iy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAoTDRrFZelq
"I don’t want us to draw attention," she answered. "Park by the side of the road. It’s dangerous to leave a car out here."267Please respect copyright.PENANAIp0whINiFm
267Please respect copyright.PENANA5SBE7C2P2f
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgt5SorjhTE
Eugene did just that, killed the engine and the headlights. He looked at Miss Marie, whom he could see was smiling at him in the dark.267Please respect copyright.PENANAMivZZaB9vQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJfQXruGZpK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaaTrLRHqY7
"Let’s go," she said as she opened the car door on her side. "We don’t want to miss out on all the fun."267Please respect copyright.PENANAPo8TpS26Xp
267Please respect copyright.PENANAiRiEBWbUKO
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfckXtyH88O
"Fun?" he wondered what she meant. There’s nothing fun about being out in the forest so late at night.267Please respect copyright.PENANAYXo5QVEK3O
267Please respect copyright.PENANAnLpv0lGDAX
267Please respect copyright.PENANAzCk3OcEZlO
He also stepped out of the car and made sure to lock behind him. He found Miss Marie going ahead and he had to quickly catch up to her.267Please respect copyright.PENANA0uAYaZQ6mV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfTgfrrbTdx
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmkJxaYtlHj
"Are you sure Miguel is at the bridge?" he asked.267Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4LDu7bwMj
267Please respect copyright.PENANAdqmxagtsi7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOA1BHkME48
"If you keep asking the same question, you’ll run mad," she said. She had her hands in the pocket of a brown, fluffy coat that she managed to grab before leaving, wearing it over her sleeping gown. Eugene felt he should’ve gotten something warm himself. The night air around the forest is a lot chillier than he had thought.267Please respect copyright.PENANAcdZ0Y2D3LZ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAutZlozI7RP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhy9UbReAPT
They continued to walk and it's then that Eugene realised that they still had quite a way to go before they reach the bridge. As the leaves gently rustled above them in the trees, he realised just how dark it is, despite the full moon shining brightly above them.267Please respect copyright.PENANALjHxy2Z3h7
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3IOKGcS4OF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAzSD4Qe6JUl
He was just about to pull out his phone from his pocket when all of a sudden, Miss Marie held his hand, stopping him from doing so. He turned to look at her, surprised at her quick reflexes.267Please respect copyright.PENANAWtA3Q4Z7GX
267Please respect copyright.PENANAsEDstPkvB8
267Please respect copyright.PENANAvRG2b8uiLV
"If you want to pull out your phone to turn on your torch, I advise not to," she said, without looking at him. "The last thing you want to do is draw attention when all we’ve come to do is watch a spectacle."267Please respect copyright.PENANAnF8CWq5aeK
267Please respect copyright.PENANAv1stuQjflu
267Please respect copyright.PENANAR7vFAJNe02
Eugene is confused. Now he can’t use his phone and they were just here to spectate? He had a funny feeling that Miss Marie might be dragging him into something he never even imagined.267Please respect copyright.PENANAnYsPE8nJOQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHbCpAZMZwZ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgnB8b0mrcS
"Before we go," he said, "you don’t want us to get caught. Why is that? Is Miguel involved in something? Like a gang, perhaps?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAbHVkJy184k
267Please respect copyright.PENANAW8rV0hS9vx
267Please respect copyright.PENANADH5fGnp6Wu
Miss Marie turned to smile at him. "You’re quite right," she said.267Please respect copyright.PENANAghLuH9ahKl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAlXlReDNwEL
267Please respect copyright.PENANARbOrl6ytFf
She started to go on ahead, leaving Eugene standing there. Miguel, his childhood best friend, is in some kind of gang? Is Miss Marie telling the truth? Somehow, he knew that she is, but then he didn’t want to accept it at all.267Please respect copyright.PENANAWZ6fmA6Dr2
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3a8dSkwOT
267Please respect copyright.PENANAsOc4dsSX7X
"We better hurry up," Miss Marie called out to him. "We don’t want to miss anything."267Please respect copyright.PENANAwmklSbxGC7
267Please respect copyright.PENANAQgAYmbT9jA
267Please respect copyright.PENANAqgVRYvjkl7
Eugene took a deep breath, trying to bring himself back to reality. He quickly caught up to her, and for a while, the two of them walked in silence.267Please respect copyright.PENANAf4f8TJsHMh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAuroqyfzWeC
267Please respect copyright.PENANAe6CRPfMli9
"Why did you decide to bring me here, Miss Marie?" he asked. "If I never came over to your house tonight, were you going to come here alone?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAZmF0a0jFf9
267Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZxNdzH6xD
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgA7IWnHRqO
"Yes," she answered without looking at him. "The only reason why I carried you along is because for once, I can finally show you who Miguel really is."267Please respect copyright.PENANAcs7Pl09Bo1
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4eIswh5RDk
267Please respect copyright.PENANART3ZmgDKfV
He scoffed. "What kind of group is he in? Do they deal with drugs or guns?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAwRvt7HwkiE
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIOFe27WqQB
267Please respect copyright.PENANALm6iUA5Bvz
"If I told you that they deal with both and even more than you can ever imagine, would you believe me?" Miss Marie now turned to look at him even when he can’t see her face clearly in the dark.267Please respect copyright.PENANANlFdagD3Tq
267Please respect copyright.PENANAy3b8Sn9tfX
267Please respect copyright.PENANAiE4hg7y9Lf
Eugene swallowed. Deep down, he didn’t want it to be true. Maybe she’s acting delusional and what he’ll see will probably be nothing. Yes, he thought to himself. She must have gone bonkers and isn’t thinking straight. But he has to know whether she is or not.267Please respect copyright.PENANAfp0wSv3GOh
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4ad1vDhsEV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAM4Tcp2xyWd
"Wait," he said, holding her by the shoulders. "Are you serious of such an accusation? He’s your grandson."267Please respect copyright.PENANAybGnUaOWSy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAki21bEcHlf
267Please respect copyright.PENANACpfsg5liOp
"Grandson or not, I can’t hide from you what he truly is," Miss Marie answered as she looked at him. "You’re a good man, Eugene. Associating with such people isn’t right for you who is trying to build a reputation as a lawyer. Then there’s your father too. God knows just how many sins he has committed for him to be dying in his hospital bed right now."267Please respect copyright.PENANAJssobp3kva
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMHRgUAPGQH
267Please respect copyright.PENANAll5jWvQtos
Eugene is shocked to know Miss Marie knew about his father's condition, but he brushed that aside. "I know my father does some shady things, but why do you’ve to tell me this about Miguel? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3nUrgi3Rg
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgq8n3dqhqr
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIb6M9K9JYt
"I’ll answer that question with one of my own." Miss Marie sounded serious. "Have you and I ever stayed in the same room whenever you came to visit and had a serious conversation?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAR0Upd5RIfi
267Please respect copyright.PENANAkrKZbFZmor
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKJwFQB4Pcm
Eugene's eyes widened. "You’ve been pretending to be delusional this whole time?"267Please respect copyright.PENANA3rGdYaBIPI
267Please respect copyright.PENANANzjoT9Fnnl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKxCyTNGZyS
"A woman like me has to play her cards right in order to survive in this wretched town. If I hadn’t Miguel would’ve put a bullet in my head a long time ago."267Please respect copyright.PENANAbvaP1KGp17
267Please respect copyright.PENANAP03Zvc6utl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAj4s6Wbpw6Z
"He can never do that. He cares about you a lot, yet you go ahead and just lie to him?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAwC2gYqGVws
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJcDDuXXEyP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAnkdV0Ino6M
"For a lawyer, you clearly didn’t listen to what I said just now. I would be dead by now if I didn’t keep up with the farce. And as for Miguel, he might look like he cares, but he really doesn’t. I’m telling you this now because if he ever knew that I brought you here, I'll be dead and no one will find my corpse for a long time. You will probably be dead too."267Please respect copyright.PENANAKcFZGNsCfa
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtMHSfRxVY9
267Please respect copyright.PENANAa36ixEDaox
Eugene slumped his shoulders and looked upwards at the dark, night sky. He went back to look at her. "I’ll believe you if I see him myself."267Please respect copyright.PENANAE8mm9xnsRd
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXBOiVhV9GT
267Please respect copyright.PENANA7XWjC9D8BH
"It will be dark. But I know you’ll see him."267Please respect copyright.PENANAwacY3ZiqXF
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8mMOunJ3xe
267Please respect copyright.PENANAib7kkVIv4j
Miss Marie went back to leading the way and Eugene had the option of running back to the car and leaving her. But he felt his mind wander off, and it’s like he had no control over his body as he followed her.267Please respect copyright.PENANA6G0alNU4Dv
267Please respect copyright.PENANAae6q0PPYrl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZb7RsIBtBn
The road went up a small hill and Eugene knew they were almost there. As they reached the summit, they had a clear view of the bridge below. Eugene hoped they would find nothing there, yet the sight of a few cars parked on the side of the road near the bridge and a few dark figures that he made to be people, made his heart ache.267Please respect copyright.PENANAsDablFK3VJ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAppT6Pq1xVF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAkMTg3S4MoJ
"See, I told you something's about to go down," said Miss Marie.267Please respect copyright.PENANAh8MQvfKntV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAunxnRnfM5w
267Please respect copyright.PENANAERCBvIoJbS
"I can’t see the people very well," said Eugene. "Maybe you’re wrong and Miguel isn’t down there."267Please respect copyright.PENANAGEXJykSvis
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8LDR5kIXq1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwISPso9c9x
"Let’s hide behind those trees. They might not see us from afar, but it’s best to not leave anything to chance."267Please respect copyright.PENANAPe4LF7D6Ld
267Please respect copyright.PENANAyN2wBcG5iS
267Please respect copyright.PENANAWT6wDLmcYQ
Eugene followed Miss Marie and partly entered into the forest where they still had a clear view of the bridge. As they waited, Eugene couldn’t help but pray that what Miss Marie said isn’t true about Miguel being one of the people down there. Even if he tried to, he realised that it’s already too late.267Please respect copyright.PENANAbo0LjxKuUA
267Please respect copyright.PENANAhzVvkWOIql
267Please respect copyright.PENANAaiUafL57xy
***267Please respect copyright.PENANABE4XWRVrEF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHHUhYBUeip
267Please respect copyright.PENANAnyCJSKolJV
Rhénee leaned against the tall tree and bent her neck to peek at what's in front of her. She and the others were now within reach of the people near the bridge, but still using the forest as cover. She looked to her left. Greta hid behind a tree, also peeking. To Rhenee’s right was Malcom also keeping a lookout. Kevin, knowing the area very well, had left to scout it a few minutes ago.267Please respect copyright.PENANAnArXzz7pLg
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIP3iabDQMS
267Please respect copyright.PENANARCQPVoxFjk
He soon came back in the direction Malcom was standing. Rhénee and Greta quietly went to join them.267Please respect copyright.PENANAF3sX8fyWwU
267Please respect copyright.PENANAutwRn5LNAB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKS2GLqcSta
"Okay," he whispered. "There are four cars. Three SUVs and the other is Mr Cowell’s. The car closest to the bridge to the right has two people sitting inside and two people guarding it. I’m guessing that’s where they’re holding Miss Griselda."267Please respect copyright.PENANAAjJfToPsxJ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAA0SDmgCI9b
267Please respect copyright.PENANAu76jUZ0SAi
"How many people are there?" Rhénee asked.267Please respect copyright.PENANA2IKhzkY5a2
267Please respect copyright.PENANACTBKd7IVFl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAo4SHJK7Jxy
"I counted fifteen people, including those in the car. Though I can't be too sure."267Please respect copyright.PENANA2TvSuSmVH1
267Please respect copyright.PENANAMSZsh82Xg0
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4oNRYN7Ivw
"That’s still a lot of people," Greta complained.267Please respect copyright.PENANAVWdJR4QFG3
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfuGESu4axV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAOjRRDJQAMX
"Meaning we’ve to be strategic in how we’re going to do this," Malcom whispered. "I think I know how we might capture their attention."267Please respect copyright.PENANAQOoLNfjlpb
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfVz9055Sis
267Please respect copyright.PENANAAoGe1Ipm5Z
"Always the strategist," Greta smiled at her brother. "Tell us, how will we do it?"267Please respect copyright.PENANAP5qDbKyIyE
267Please respect copyright.PENANAK0kLfDvXRP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAqIuHmwk6oQ
Rhénee could feel Malcom’s eyes fall on her. "I figured we could use Rhénee."267Please respect copyright.PENANAi476ZEUm2J
267Please respect copyright.PENANAJG22VxCuNC
267Please respect copyright.PENANA71yCjtVHxk
"Me? Why?" Rhénee asked.267Please respect copyright.PENANAK8YPulTQAQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwyb0xqoxOl
267Please respect copyright.PENANAV3TUHsGF0E
"You’re their target and if you bring yourself forward, they’ll be caught off-guard. Besides, they won’t kill you. I’ve a feeling they want you alive for some reason. Moreover, we might be able to pull this off."267Please respect copyright.PENANAlZfNKPN3gI
267Please respect copyright.PENANAI8hqC3cD8S
267Please respect copyright.PENANANeLXbigQXK
Rhénee sighed. As much as she wanted to oppose, she knew Malcom made a good point. He continued to lay down the plan for them and when he was done, he asked if all was in order.267Please respect copyright.PENANAHYoq5A0evy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAfzNUWt7SFz
267Please respect copyright.PENANAomllW41Oon
"Seems fine to me," said Kevin. "But this will be difficult, so we all need to be careful."267Please respect copyright.PENANAx9XSR0YqPy
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXswKFkRJ7u
267Please respect copyright.PENANAb6nNp0aVjX
"We’ll try," Greta and Rhénee answered at the same.267Please respect copyright.PENANAFZsxYdU2VC
267Please respect copyright.PENANAPWUVmHjZdZ
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9PS5IZ5SJa
The four of them all broke away from each other going into position.267Please respect copyright.PENANAyv1zwvDlbs
267Please respect copyright.PENANAPWcmFzT7qt
267Please respect copyright.PENANACuRJxBUrot
***267Please respect copyright.PENANAjzi9KfcgkB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAVleYxp2OWj
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZTlvUH8DnG
Miguel looked at the car beside him and for a minute, he felt drowsy. He now regretted smoking before coming to guard the car. He wanted so much as to trade places with someone, but they would know that something is wrong. It won’t be the first time he ever smoked before coming in to work.267Please respect copyright.PENANAJJFYrFQF0C
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtG3pePsaKn
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8doyFT6gXf
He shook his head, trying to get himself together. He cannot slack off now. The boss will get angry with him and who knows what he will do. His boss may have given Miguel a few chances in the past, but this time, he might not be so lucky.267Please respect copyright.PENANAl8VvBXTLLB
267Please respect copyright.PENANAurXkcXw5mQ
267Please respect copyright.PENANAKK1Z9xhNJl
He turned to see his comrade guarding the other side of the car through the passenger side window. He hasn’t noticed that Miguel isn’t himself just yet. Miguel has to hang on a little while longer. However, things are moving quite slow. Their other comrade hasn’t arrived with Rhénee yet. What could be holding him up, Miguel wondered.267Please respect copyright.PENANAB75v8HxZ3B
267Please respect copyright.PENANA0II99TPQuP
267Please respect copyright.PENANANpKyPZBa1e
He felt the mood around him become hectic. And he thought he had seen the boss ahead of him, leaning against one of the cars with the phone in his hand trying to call. At some point, Miguel had heard Mr. Cowell suggest to the boss that he should go back to his house and see what’s holding the other guy up. The boss shouted at him, telling him to shut up and go away. Something’s wrong, and everybody knew it.267Please respect copyright.PENANA1nUr1FIN4k
267Please respect copyright.PENANAtECoXdgk0t
267Please respect copyright.PENANA9zEnfCCv91
A good twenty minutes had passed and a loud shout rang across the forest. The source? The boss man. Everyone stood silent, looking at him under the partial darkness. Miguel gulped. When his boss is mad or frustrated, he does like to give a loud roar like a mad lion. Someone has to calm him down. The funny thing is, nobody is willing to go and do so.267Please respect copyright.PENANAjn0VqWRcRV
267Please respect copyright.PENANAXcvbngifTh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAPBVvD7rVxe
The car door Miguel is guarding flew open on the other side and their female comrade came out. She quickly approached the boss, holding his shoulder so that she could turn and look at him.267Please respect copyright.PENANARy12jIukt3
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIAwiKOpyil
267Please respect copyright.PENANA6GS84b5TXK
"Now isn’t the time to start losing control," she told him. "Pull yourself together or else you might just ruin the whole plan."267Please respect copyright.PENANAvdhg0e6psx
267Please respect copyright.PENANADYGIriFYor
267Please respect copyright.PENANAD773wCXrAO
"I take it that I’m late for the party?" came another female voice as loud as a blow horn.267Please respect copyright.PENANAlkDyliwHwF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAW7yXeQBKfN
267Please respect copyright.PENANAyZUht3emLw
Everyone turned to where the voice came from and there stood a figure of a female at a distance that someone had to turn one of the car's lights on. There stood Rhénee Johnson. Miguel is among the few that murmured in surprise. How is she here alone? And where is their comrade?267Please respect copyright.PENANASRvo7yjRMh
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIi4mtl3kQs
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8L8zzgNfTh
His boss scoffed and slowly made his approach towards her, stopping at a reasonable distance.267Please respect copyright.PENANAkr3yz4Oeu8
267Please respect copyright.PENANASU3JZfQmyX
267Please respect copyright.PENANAHYTQAehE5a
"How are you here alone?" he asked her.267Please respect copyright.PENANAxX47w70x80
267Please respect copyright.PENANAgZ2AG4NvO5
267Please respect copyright.PENANA8SLJ9d4sFj
"That doesn’t matter," Rhénee told him. "I want Miss Griselda back."267Please respect copyright.PENANAJd3UThc7Nj
267Please respect copyright.PENANA4YbCCka2tP
267Please respect copyright.PENANAZJUF7PyjGc
Miguel’s boss scoffed. "It will not be easy and you know it."267Please respect copyright.PENANAwemmwNEOvF
267Please respect copyright.PENANAIHgQR6TYmo
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwEumQqwgim
"Good, because I don't intend to negotiate."267Please respect copyright.PENANAa2cdAev8fg
267Please respect copyright.PENANAmVHXQqERBG
267Please respect copyright.PENANAwodXJi7RHb
Before anyone knew it, an explosion occurred near the centre of the ring of cars, sending the men into a frenzy. The man, considered as the boss, turned to see the confusion. Before he could do anything, Rhénee quickly hit the back of his head hard with the handle of the gun and he fell to the ground out-cold. Rhénee passed his unconscious body, cocking her gun as she raised it to aim and fire.