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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAXheAjT0EFV
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZbwt2hubuD
276Please respect copyright.PENANA5XgzBOwsBF
"Mr. Sinclair, good evening," she greeted. She looked down at his hand. "Did you leave your briefcase in the car?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAyaOZNdkdtc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAQlrW3HpcHm
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbV5YhaHqhL
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANA0MLHlvRklF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAj2qt4rkX4
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAAF3ZSqkVH
"Of course, sir," she obliged with a smile, making room for him to step inside.276Please respect copyright.PENANAC9CKjXYuoV
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUspD2jqcIr
276Please respect copyright.PENANAc9ZmfNcq7N
"How is the lady of the house doing?" Mr. Sinclair asked as he stepped into the foyer.276Please respect copyright.PENANAhP12GxSvQH
276Please respect copyright.PENANAsQ5QlBHbEa
276Please respect copyright.PENANAot3Jo2jvJo
The housekeeper helped Mr. Sinclair remove his jacket as she answered, "same as always. She moved around quite a bit during the day, though."276Please respect copyright.PENANA952OBwyGf2
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8TwKhyP4xA
276Please respect copyright.PENANABDpo1T1fk6
"That's good. Is supper almost ready?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAKyjolazLdN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnzdus3ezEX
276Please respect copyright.PENANABz7voLJCl7
"Yes, in a few minutes." The housekeeper held his jacket in her hands.276Please respect copyright.PENANAXMEYmYom2q
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8p4COhy5hy
276Please respect copyright.PENANADDZ5AFbMut
"Okay, let me go see how she's doing."276Please respect copyright.PENANA7bDKbtbGSS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAMOhZdnQ7gG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4NuK1Y3NY
"Of course, sir," she went down the hall with the jacket in hand.276Please respect copyright.PENANAxuLWWkntI7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAenOFBVyz4n
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZIy5FNtuk
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAtvFLJWHanZ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAKgP5HKz2Bj
276Please respect copyright.PENANApPxtq2Ff1G
His hands flew to the front of his shirt undoing the top button. He realised how hot he felt and should've unbuttoned earlier.276Please respect copyright.PENANATO6Jz2Zqbm
276Please respect copyright.PENANAIfc11dBQni
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfNSbESl8E5
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA5Shw0MBNFB
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnYa18aukYd
276Please respect copyright.PENANAsBZ3fdqmkN
"Honey," he called out as he quickly entered the room.276Please respect copyright.PENANAtMpMSXUdHS
276Please respect copyright.PENANA98L00oYhVG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXBbkqwDiDt
He paused for a second upon entering and later blew out a sigh of relief.276Please respect copyright.PENANACN7KApF12l
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFfJkdByrEA
276Please respect copyright.PENANARmkf6WiEu5
"Goodness, you scared me for a minute," he said as he walked in.276Please respect copyright.PENANA0CRTPjiei0
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJfDhGD7y9X
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvAilfaggqT
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANA2BWJrJMneu
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhHRUX7LeiF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhFWz6BWBAN
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAj60gWRdSnN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAtaWFEZVjag
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6wyxHmZXEc
"How have you been today?" Mr. Sinclair asked, smiling at his wife.276Please respect copyright.PENANAdygBYywPA2
276Please respect copyright.PENANAQyb7abmXEs
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUS7E2uludf
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAqY0LgLg2JY
276Please respect copyright.PENANAKvrSe1q2Y2
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7r1FQlFnsS
"I'm trying," she answered. "This illness isn't doing me any good."276Please respect copyright.PENANASgZNxzrqeo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAx9pBBxCBdk
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFhQ7HAox1y
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAiaKIwXbmYT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcGIpILyhmI
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmtOJSd7uFl
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA6gBVMSqgSs
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvHqefej0CU
276Please respect copyright.PENANA4XZ2x7dLba
"So, how was work?" Mrs. Sinclair asked, changing the subject.276Please respect copyright.PENANAaDuumJS9zw
276Please respect copyright.PENANA5kGTfJyuTx
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvNHtlWPJsY
"Work was okay," he answered. "Although something tragic happened to Eugene’s father."276Please respect copyright.PENANAdndPC5eNrR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAiA7Mf1Gq9d
276Please respect copyright.PENANAC2Vzwr9tSI
Mrs. Sinclair now had a look of concern in her sad, hollow eyes. "Eugene's father? What happened to him?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2zztkJxUp
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwFCP3DULrk
276Please respect copyright.PENANAs1tnHYogPO
"I haven't gotten the full details, but he was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound."276Please respect copyright.PENANAQr5qMuenFY
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnL0pADOK50
276Please respect copyright.PENANA9p5zoiMTQ2
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head. "That's tragic. I hope his father is okay."276Please respect copyright.PENANAsqVcPqrIoR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOnufF2YQZC
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUnQHCbffbl
"I just worry for the whole family."276Please respect copyright.PENANAwRS2f3BFNo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAyIaEmohl0J
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7Z2WGQc30p
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAIxc1SGhUuN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAyBNNAn5CQ3
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUuux0KogrA
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANACGF5acJzTo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYb7s08mjuc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAeYMNpGc1JE
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head, already looking tired and frustrated. "I guess the woman still loves him. That's pretty much evident."276Please respect copyright.PENANAvTsfMOlC8N
276Please respect copyright.PENANATF4fHjD80X
276Please respect copyright.PENANAVIcLbqNE1A
"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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAy0hcorhGAI
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6t8NTPc0CN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAW2CbZMvuRE
"Why? Is it because he's involved with 'those' people?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAy6o8Ewy8MO
276Please respect copyright.PENANAGxfHwAD0D6
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0Dsaor4CGP
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA3zVUlbNlHN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlZvBNfxYLm
276Please respect copyright.PENANASih7uI6WZX
"Let's be careful when we start to talk about these things, okay?" he suggested.276Please respect copyright.PENANAx099XWBcsb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXAWYpRSwkx
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1lzPhyJWdR
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANA2D0PevUnBW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAQJVo9Mm7JM
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2XmCO0dQ5
Mr. Sinclair raised an eyebrow, confused that his wife is talking like she is right now.276Please respect copyright.PENANA6jwmY8eoaI
276Please respect copyright.PENANAN9rHc2szp8
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2umRMPTKG4
"Where's all this coming from?" he asked.276Please respect copyright.PENANANz33VtZIcq
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAI4Vv6e9BS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAILUuFUTWYZ
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAMGIRXyM4U3
276Please respect copyright.PENANATZUm46vC8j
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOPqOhNuYJQ
She slowly went towards him. "You know where all this is coming from," she answered Sinclair’s question. "Your involvement with the late Emelda."276Please respect copyright.PENANAEhKKdRN4wf
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOZMtzYyrU6
276Please respect copyright.PENANA4CyblgkrBF
"I was her lawyer. There’s nothing else to it."276Please respect copyright.PENANAGMQ3DoVENX
276Please respect copyright.PENANAeDCAcyHIWL
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3NwBSrmNuy
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAs2jA8bUP10
276Please respect copyright.PENANAE2hkRhIkGU
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6fJIiI4xcZ
"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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAe7DLyOyQPo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAVR2SZmCPUG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAu2fV1xfF4v
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAXg7DhM6zIQ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJHr46Urw4t
276Please respect copyright.PENANAMbqekKaBXf
"She left everything to her granddaughter and it’s my duty to make sure things are in order."276Please respect copyright.PENANAPd6VjEo7Yc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAIt2nPgo7rN
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3FyusoI5aw
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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANA7QCktlXJV9
276Please respect copyright.PENANAyjMwE0gVu5
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0sq62OAcml
"In danger of what, exactly?" Sinclair still had his smile intact.276Please respect copyright.PENANAkceJYOTLBk
276Please respect copyright.PENANAzX3kgTlcQS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAgUA14ckskY
"Everything involving her grandmother! If you ask me, you just made the girl inherit Emelda’s problems."276Please respect copyright.PENANAmPH2yYjVm4
276Please respect copyright.PENANAzLlW4oul1r
276Please respect copyright.PENANANxHndOkaAY
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAVsG4BLrN2V
276Please respect copyright.PENANAH7Wa3sQ6N9
276Please respect copyright.PENANAN2K4F5yTwo
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAw127F6TcIF
276Please respect copyright.PENANA5U1HLBsw96
276Please respect copyright.PENANAppPQwIqbAI
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAhplLRzDXMn
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmCIMkw83w8
276Please respect copyright.PENANAkJhG23bPGI
"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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAN0MaPx3JYA
276Please respect copyright.PENANA60qlzzygil
276Please respect copyright.PENANACpY71HBbMl
"Let’s not talk about this any further," Sinclair suggested. "We should learn to move on."276Please respect copyright.PENANAKCJSWgFL5b
276Please respect copyright.PENANAroL2bPOpif
276Please respect copyright.PENANAo2TkLDal7W
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANANCthYdWwh5
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAUfMK8ltYR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAT1alYbxU6s
"You exaggerate, dear."276Please respect copyright.PENANAD4TzfwFF6u
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8E6YLjYxKr
276Please respect copyright.PENANATGZc45YbND
"Well, at least you’re not denying it."276Please respect copyright.PENANACHFC3VpLyM
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYut1m2O4V5
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0P73ttEq9s
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAL8Y9t9MZUf
276Please respect copyright.PENANAVnRGkPeRvU
276Please respect copyright.PENANAPepbavV4cU
"Who is it?" Mr. Sinclair asked.276Please respect copyright.PENANA6mxHSvFxem
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfFZ6ta8YtW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAd3qEaW30xY
"It’s me, dad," came a female voice, behind the door.276Please respect copyright.PENANA841YNNG3RW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAdkS76REskA
276Please respect copyright.PENANAx2WoTVmxPT
What perfect timing, Mr. Sinclair thought to himself.276Please respect copyright.PENANAwN0HsOaXcN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYPWBzMMZlD
276Please respect copyright.PENANAei6EaecgIq
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAGKkkY4qgrr
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwVksjjK254
276Please respect copyright.PENANACnxZzZjcAQ
"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAjqhXjjiyHH
276Please respect copyright.PENANAA39mz6yfK1
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7pmgCCWY9l
"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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAPMXbciUfve
276Please respect copyright.PENANA9VmUZBFaOb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJYKKGwd94c
"I thought I heard you guys arguing."276Please respect copyright.PENANAs38KlKsq6G
276Please respect copyright.PENANAu9cgmNFGV1
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOnPScWfnBw
"Just a silly argument," Mrs. Sinclair answered. "Your father once again forgot those biscuits I wanted."276Please respect copyright.PENANAgAWIf9whg2
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYr9p91SRrB
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3iJogpivfC
"Wow, dad, you always forget to get them."276Please respect copyright.PENANAofV5JNXSh4
276Please respect copyright.PENANAss4Qiu0Sra
276Please respect copyright.PENANADPTMKWSJJm
"That’s why either you or the help have to remind me. You know I easily forget about these things."276Please respect copyright.PENANAy5WLQ5zfIb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhQuHw0VziN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAgNIvnZRG81
"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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAzQlBk8FaMz
276Please respect copyright.PENANAuUClaphUu9
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFGqU4xvvEe
"I’m okay," Mrs. Sinclair said, putting up a smile. "How was school today?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAPSXmDXAuA1
276Please respect copyright.PENANApubY4CpuCR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAriAADDoCNo
"Same as usual. Now that we’re approaching the end of the year, studies are getting more tiresome."276Please respect copyright.PENANAtw6uOfgmn6
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwHaQz2v89H
276Please respect copyright.PENANAMLqBT7s39T
"You just make sure to work hard. If you need our help, we are here for anything you need, Scarlet."276Please respect copyright.PENANAWRM57kJ63l
276Please respect copyright.PENANAdhh7B4LpDb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUMDKz3QACU
"I will, that’s if you two can stop arguing over more than just biscuits," Scarlet’s deep blue eyes flew between her parents.276Please respect copyright.PENANAZuM65CJof0
276Please respect copyright.PENANAVZZo3mmpo5
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbZ8XY6hfCV
Mr. Sinclair scoffed. He forgot just how smart their daughter can be sometimes.276Please respect copyright.PENANAq2xD13Cd8v
276Please respect copyright.PENANAoWby0X35fw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAV1XSqqBJVZ
"How was work, dad?" Scarlet asked with so much excitement, looking at her father.276Please respect copyright.PENANAr3lK6YZPE1
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfYvrr515xw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAydeiVfC0pJ
"It was okay." He turned around to head back to his closet, but Scarlet quickly asked:276Please respect copyright.PENANAvbsnbhhHue
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfRIGr3kUUO
276Please respect copyright.PENANADHtom3wj2V
"Was he in today? How is he?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAxzfVrZShnF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAuBlpTNnjRx
276Please respect copyright.PENANAVKqm4eEw6D
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAB6jNzPbXHU
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJMuwyIPfS8
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1yB9chfLrt
"He’s good," Mr. Sinclair said as he folded his arms. "But not too good, I’m afraid."276Please respect copyright.PENANA4u6PaujBLG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAiHy3ayLjip
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxOymxpoiQP
"Why? What happened to Eugene?" Scarlet sounded anxious.276Please respect copyright.PENANAX9r6raZBOn
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFSEBnnSCmR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAE4LszJpgoY
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAT8NU9gxPe9
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2IuhVMhIlC
276Please respect copyright.PENANAIaFPeG1SHr
Scarlet gasped.276Please respect copyright.PENANA0Ia8pFBM6S
276Please respect copyright.PENANA9KXywxXV2f
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbSPdiCi1QH
"Oh, no, that’s awful. But will he be okay?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAHyJa0dGDt2
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwdIvIdWVX1
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwTUbnUu44W
"I’m not so sure," said Mr. Sinclair. "But according to Eugene’s mother, he’s in pretty bad shape."276Please respect copyright.PENANAUJpud9lkaN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwkYahInXup
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAU3tiTwOCm
"I hope Eugene, himself is okay," said Scarlet.276Please respect copyright.PENANAXiB4gY7gii
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2zaBe9vHQx
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8quyxirpu6
"It’s Mrs. Chamberlin I’m worried about the most," said Mrs. Sinclair. "This is just too much for her."276Please respect copyright.PENANAAt1jQgdhjS
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1FLzA6Xfwa
276Please respect copyright.PENANABZvM3h3ezp
"True," said Mr. Sinclair. "She might be a strong woman, but that man has put her in terrible situations I can’t even imagine."276Please respect copyright.PENANAIZ9n7CxMYS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAjpW73NW5Pd
276Please respect copyright.PENANAewKBEbvEn1
"I hope he gets out of this alive," said Scarlet.276Please respect copyright.PENANA2D8DRG7HVc
276Please respect copyright.PENANA9ECnvBUFOv
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhtRmBNhHaJ
"I would advise not to call Eugene right now," advised Mr. Sinclair. "Not until we know that everything's alright."276Please respect copyright.PENANAjjLyAOiW43
276Please respect copyright.PENANAx4FjovHSSS
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6cB2RNXU4p
Scarlet sighed. "I wasn't planning to, dad."276Please respect copyright.PENANAf0DXS1mhN1
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZViOfCSzR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWT6ezc9a8x
"You like Eugene too much," said Mrs. Sinclair. "I hope your little crush over him vanishes over time."276Please respect copyright.PENANADVJprwU7cf
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJkxDatM4Wm
276Please respect copyright.PENANABJ01u0Y3BI
"I doubt it. Once I finish high school, I will be sure I can date him."276Please respect copyright.PENANAkqjKHUtdNL
276Please respect copyright.PENANAEE2O73pLSW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAehVuNj5ykF
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA81IwXcWWAC
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJyTUOnhKtY
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUiEvGPnX8z
"Sometimes I forget she likes him," said Mrs. Sinclair.276Please respect copyright.PENANANQB7IajiGb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAGBHqG0Dfs4
276Please respect copyright.PENANAdzl65bgdRU
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAVfaVuvHQBw
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6FoKlRDOcW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAz9Np3ooATY
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAnFPusyvEPq
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWo3IBEPTlS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqCMi3BSNqx
"Eugene isn’t that bad, if I’m being honest," Mr. Sinclair chuckled.276Please respect copyright.PENANAOW5ncti60F
276Please respect copyright.PENANAdK5xjPAR7J
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwERs4KIxpe
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAlEgyE08zmJ
276Please respect copyright.PENANABO5HfGcD9H
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1sTxomx2Nq
"What’s wrong now? Are you scared that Eugene is like me?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAJHMp2crLJE
276Please respect copyright.PENANAaMreEcqZEW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAg5CEwWTXTj
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAi8P5v0HEcD
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqbywjKmIN4
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2KNO9bWShN
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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAcTmBPHBcjT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXTEwRxhszG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAdYbgO0odpw
His wife didn’t say anything as a horrific look started to appear on her hollow face.276Please respect copyright.PENANAvoYV2kidPb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAh3AbKh9gbo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZh5UJundt9
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAzNchxWw3or
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZV0HYthkbK
276Please respect copyright.PENANA4VpQPfu6Ny
"You’ve done several of those even when I told you to drop whatever you were doing for Emelda when she was still alive."276Please respect copyright.PENANAzuF3ahChgC
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOTNMxMxiLl
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWx9ay6dJFt
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAcMIRc1Nw2u
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2n3Ly8DC4a
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcUBQdLaXvB
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA3SCehRcVpA
276Please respect copyright.PENANAA98UFt9Urb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZtTLoD0hjT
"Evening," he said after placing the phone to his ear. "Yes, I’m home at the moment. What can I help you with?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAb0GCUOrIuc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAr4Nq2EOrX9
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvKHnE26xPC
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAsgoCeNPPzd
276Please respect copyright.PENANAo688MLiu4j
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWwNMvoBpmp
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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANALMCQQ1S5gS
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3ltwN3KWdm
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmQNQKR3W3i
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAX8LbREkzor
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAa47EoKnWz
276Please respect copyright.PENANAPyjdpYBTjV
"If you say so."276Please respect copyright.PENANAGoDDxB8M0K
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3IpO4rvmFw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAPV4ZeGQoUa
A knock soon came at the door and the voice of the house help came behind the door: "dinner is ready."276Please respect copyright.PENANAc9sVnp3gPF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAb4kai6jgRI
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwaZkkAWjAX
"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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAUKegvOw0ss
276Please respect copyright.PENANANr5zuXfTQ2
276Please respect copyright.PENANAgVG9a1Hhpm
"Not today," she replied.276Please respect copyright.PENANA2Re0UmjIJ5
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnEHynq4uV0
276Please respect copyright.PENANARReUgDfyVY
"Alright, I'll tell the help to bring your food up to your room."276Please respect copyright.PENANA8gOJ7Vfkrd
276Please respect copyright.PENANANlyZKCfsq8
276Please respect copyright.PENANAodNyPWZQRV
"No, need, she already knows."276Please respect copyright.PENANA5ChdVrOYsX
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbw2pEXemST
276Please respect copyright.PENANAii4yIEE6jV
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAEjRR0dvVWZ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAoXkY6CupIY
276Please respect copyright.PENANATdxyeWlykw
"Isn't mum coming to join us?" she asked.276Please respect copyright.PENANAHPjwZu1Hjw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAkb3P4M9Aqe
276Please respect copyright.PENANAe8IkSLU9Ff
"She'll eat from her room," he answered.276Please respect copyright.PENANA9tf9na9Kdz
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJVzNQlHMut
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlY92360GEa
"You upset her again, didn't you?" Scarlet folded her arms, looking at father with a stern look similar to her mother's.276Please respect copyright.PENANAMgwZjKU82Q
276Please respect copyright.PENANACZobTG01su
276Please respect copyright.PENANAs9aGHVjnpn
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAIsXmPnavYw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAkznWjvmN4C
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvilMlcir1R
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAeV0TWVrPyd
276Please respect copyright.PENANAehSiYClbd7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwY7rsIq7jn
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANALLkyOEDEhY
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOa2Fl3PknN
276Please respect copyright.PENANA2k8XLCJiCR
"You’re getting slower reaching the table these days," Scarlet said as she looked at him.276Please respect copyright.PENANAYdSKQgHzY3
276Please respect copyright.PENANAjbsFbjAQCQ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbOlGWp413p
"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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA0lpkhxkmMo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwXeH419yXC
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6OhJS4ZOn3
"Have you heard anything about Eugene’s father yet?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAvDYjpLIsxa
276Please respect copyright.PENANAaF0MX6Px5f
276Please respect copyright.PENANADaM492Ir81
"No, not yet," he answered.276Please respect copyright.PENANAfQEiOu9wW1
276Please respect copyright.PENANAn5U139COiT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAjZfhOOcoZ2
There came a brief silence before she asked, "is it really true that his father got shot?"276Please respect copyright.PENANADto4eCyqR7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAQES0V7ZFZy
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJ25JbKZr7k
"Yes," he answered. "It was pretty fatal."276Please respect copyright.PENANA9iyFqh4bmb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAV67aXn5pgD
276Please respect copyright.PENANAV4tDJ6bUsE
"I really hope he gets out okay. Did he mess with the wrong people?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAhvQ7NNDJvF
276Please respect copyright.PENANACcWmHbRDlt
276Please respect copyright.PENANAsUouKiTwXC
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANASxKTRzmoBc
276Please respect copyright.PENANAsFi6w9gcKv
276Please respect copyright.PENANADaGwDTiw0v
"Okay." Scarlet paused for a bit. "I hope Eugene is doing okay."276Please respect copyright.PENANAJobiGSYSuk
276Please respect copyright.PENANAGdc6uGwyrX
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWpSecqxJVz
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAIya8OGghQr
276Please respect copyright.PENANAPHQOsBci69
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJUVPnNPWsq
Scarlet smiled at him. "Okay. I really want to know how he’s doing.”276Please respect copyright.PENANAsxmFBu2CY3
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcxgPyxkKKG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvJPJW5R1XI
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANASEI1kDfdKe
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOm81ZqY2He
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxuiD80GqXB
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA3oo7VRdkAw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJM0kBp1fzp
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAaPDmUQ4ff
After pressing the call button, he placed the phone to his ear, making his way to the study.276Please respect copyright.PENANAwKTxLWBDcT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxloac7SOFT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAd0uhpgJSgf
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA0Nc6EL1lqn
276Please respect copyright.PENANAy52PN6CIUH
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcjUynhhf0m
"What took you so long to answer?" Sinclair asked, calmly, trying not to speak so loud.276Please respect copyright.PENANAqt8bL1ZwuL
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxW9Fh2ekZj
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmSaXFz0w4o
"I am in a dire situation right now that I can’t answer you immediately," came a hoarse breathy voice on the phone.276Please respect copyright.PENANApWxqvQpmPM
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0KVjYfpgpo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhY4VVoHrfD
Sinclair reached his study and went in, closing the door. "What is it? I couldn’t text you since I was having dinner."276Please respect copyright.PENANAU41WcpEeyV
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfgpfDKQQJT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWmXYYwkMjW
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAbVFabXjQiE
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfdyUrp9g27
276Please respect copyright.PENANAQFGevRD0ga
"What situation?" Sinclair asked as he stood in the middle of the room.276Please respect copyright.PENANAUhpXj3OWzw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAU95xTo4uFt
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFR63Hd1pZC
***276Please respect copyright.PENANAE6PekSFCX8
276Please respect copyright.PENANANrWm9lS6cI
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8aY85mdgOh
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAbXGJu55uG0
276Please respect copyright.PENANAjdHq2Efuwh
276Please respect copyright.PENANAt7a4xN03tY
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAW26UTSU5XM
276Please respect copyright.PENANAY9d9cCcS9b
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7XKGt4n73i
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAM7RVtlIpZ0
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1coMjNkiXF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAJZenWOTIHZ
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?276Please respect copyright.PENANAvb8mhXaPBR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcTsmiGifrH
276Please respect copyright.PENANABB0VCW2VYz
Miss Marie stopped humming. "Make a stop here."276Please respect copyright.PENANAdEG3hZgsGW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAGDDk9gNGia
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbGIspMoYjY
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAELOVd8bucf
276Please respect copyright.PENANALUqKnqvjWo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAYQkqHQKQ82
"I thought we would stop by the bridge," he said.276Please respect copyright.PENANA8AyswLRgmm
276Please respect copyright.PENANABgI51MGr68
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlLRRb6PIiY
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAAf71kqwkJT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAt6490Ztbff
276Please respect copyright.PENANA06wBYtBHGC
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAm8yxxEruYt
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0BsZ3Tq2dP
276Please respect copyright.PENANADNzBW68Fgj
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAnMI4fWNaWJ
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1ihgeCdFZi
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWCJKi9m9Bv
"Fun?" he wondered what she meant. There’s nothing fun about being out in the forest so late at night.276Please respect copyright.PENANASfRVlzM2vO
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXxJ2C4n1Ew
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXVBHgZRVYF
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA9XIIxiEiuA
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqem0HL9091
276Please respect copyright.PENANAKBmjCg7wCD
"Are you sure Miguel is at the bridge?" he asked.276Please respect copyright.PENANAMNPmhIcewi
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlxJTLIG8Uj
276Please respect copyright.PENANAeTMzNDLjEQ
"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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAU8jZxX85Kz
276Please respect copyright.PENANADjIUTqQktq
276Please respect copyright.PENANANwNucF4Qy8
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA4glCsRMiwI
276Please respect copyright.PENANANk3dvZIEsr
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnaXDRW8Hsz
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA7IPA0zTPBH
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhhGGpizBYU
276Please respect copyright.PENANAaFFEhmXuDJ
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANABLBCRUBDhh
276Please respect copyright.PENANA9fTR0FH5YW
276Please respect copyright.PENANAn94vxJ5zie
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAT6wzL7Goh0
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhROmKNkB0U
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0wHvkaLtev
"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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANANtAulaarLx
276Please respect copyright.PENANAv1X10i8U3C
276Please respect copyright.PENANAWOqVzvQKYB
Miss Marie turned to smile at him. "You’re quite right," she said.276Please respect copyright.PENANAaJNLGFdVgb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAgxd16wyreP
276Please respect copyright.PENANADL3aq0md5Z
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA7fmdE4lcy3
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0vwG4RVpSA
276Please respect copyright.PENANAMyZvtIsTl1
"We better hurry up," Miss Marie called out to him. "We don’t want to miss anything."276Please respect copyright.PENANA1N73SPcjMG
276Please respect copyright.PENANA3KgQX4ZeGL
276Please respect copyright.PENANAHDnhElZNE7
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAhbjMiBE5uN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAybRE2jsiVs
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqOUUHSTRwU
"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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAcjwmMyv9DV
276Please respect copyright.PENANACoACFt9gBx
276Please respect copyright.PENANA9110pwXbGY
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANA95gvMTNuWd
276Please respect copyright.PENANA83SzcQCjAH
276Please respect copyright.PENANATVJHKJdJCA
He scoffed. "What kind of group is he in? Do they deal with drugs or guns?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAYSuacei2Vv
276Please respect copyright.PENANAgn7ETBJBUx
276Please respect copyright.PENANAs31SSnEYDz
"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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA7B2J3JZx9R
276Please respect copyright.PENANA5J9qppUsz1
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvwxQt6fSVS
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA2beAO97TyF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlvUEJ5kroe
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxSssiifvwM
"Wait," he said, holding her by the shoulders. "Are you serious of such an accusation? He’s your grandson."276Please respect copyright.PENANAPnsfPFsGDl
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXOjSOOBs45
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAeZYaSelQI
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAMvdNfDUMS7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnjDpzYr4no
276Please respect copyright.PENANAKsVf0LGTMX
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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAEDnRryiwhT
276Please respect copyright.PENANAEpYTOQQ0eJ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAvyjCT9J9PJ
"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?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAuxm02zuffu
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOFvUwGBM6O
276Please respect copyright.PENANALunHuDWRQG
Eugene's eyes widened. "You’ve been pretending to be delusional this whole time?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAAlMQyu8Abi
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0J0ajcZ27o
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOYHmklEUnQ
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAgmuvhkeemX
276Please respect copyright.PENANAR7G84jGDXV
276Please respect copyright.PENANAL4Zgc3hOZt
"He can never do that. He cares about you a lot, yet you go ahead and just lie to him?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAhsOwZDwH93
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlm1TjHedG9
276Please respect copyright.PENANAd7mSnwbGIl
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANACm9ICGUp84
276Please respect copyright.PENANAUL4Dzg7b6r
276Please respect copyright.PENANARjHZ8A94WU
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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAOk1VkgJu6b
276Please respect copyright.PENANAGIsABPS1Y2
276Please respect copyright.PENANAwKOD2y2ELN
"It will be dark. But I know you’ll see him."276Please respect copyright.PENANAJG6EIcnUXU
276Please respect copyright.PENANAgpr2a0EuIO
276Please respect copyright.PENANAT3csNuHpCD
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAZ78ZMmh7y0
276Please respect copyright.PENANA0fLBuTuk5Z
276Please respect copyright.PENANAjfRnLcbyGU
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAIAqDlpTgkP
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnWctqaxmUC
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1jdeMdLo8N
"See, I told you something's about to go down," said Miss Marie.276Please respect copyright.PENANAArfva55Qo7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqiOzblP2qM
276Please respect copyright.PENANAV5XLgUBsrY
"I can’t see the people very well," said Eugene. "Maybe you’re wrong and Miguel isn’t down there."276Please respect copyright.PENANAr54D4C2n6L
276Please respect copyright.PENANAplGZcd3mAw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAAwxtYk8yRh
"Let’s hide behind those trees. They might not see us from afar, but it’s best to not leave anything to chance."276Please respect copyright.PENANAYfS5dTOlEN
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmMD0sOq5jv
276Please respect copyright.PENANAiM2HyPaArs
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAevWhzSnDUu
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFQ3IDXFBIo
276Please respect copyright.PENANA7fR1Fulyyd
***276Please respect copyright.PENANAc4v2xrN8ZG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAbzv2tR3pGt
276Please respect copyright.PENANAirXGwSKiUk
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAMO6m8MLMkv
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhRnLDZG6Om
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZBqbXiF18O
He soon came back in the direction Malcom was standing. Rhénee and Greta quietly went to join them.276Please respect copyright.PENANA1w7bdyk7Xs
276Please respect copyright.PENANAF2dsp1ekMh
276Please respect copyright.PENANAnw3tIFhPPG
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAripx6l8Wpl
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8NGt6ptAEE
276Please respect copyright.PENANAXOnOgUs09W
"How many people are there?" Rhénee asked.276Please respect copyright.PENANAEUHZo4hETf
276Please respect copyright.PENANAR7uml8O59t
276Please respect copyright.PENANATQBDNTv4PX
"I counted fifteen people, including those in the car. Though I can't be too sure."276Please respect copyright.PENANAaB64mup6z7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAlS6ZtdmHB8
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcaB2Ys5sFq
"That’s still a lot of people," Greta complained.276Please respect copyright.PENANAXBlfEHLYA3
276Please respect copyright.PENANAx503vQkbAH
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmDlhd63HhP
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANAuy7o1aCLq4
276Please respect copyright.PENANASUZnoGfaA7
276Please respect copyright.PENANAZR0XxMlWA9
"Always the strategist," Greta smiled at her brother. "Tell us, how will we do it?"276Please respect copyright.PENANAhVWplrgboi
276Please respect copyright.PENANAoYL1fPFh9A
276Please respect copyright.PENANADxOi39PmCF
Rhénee could feel Malcom’s eyes fall on her. "I figured we could use Rhénee."276Please respect copyright.PENANAOhEMyUxl8B
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfDRCgHi7yb
276Please respect copyright.PENANAPOywylt419
"Me? Why?" Rhénee asked.276Please respect copyright.PENANA0vciB8vSkS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAFi4KgTdLlk
276Please respect copyright.PENANAInjgzgihvn
"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."276Please respect copyright.PENANArVCejykzVH
276Please respect copyright.PENANAs766HcxqU0
276Please respect copyright.PENANAK7kA6DL5ZL
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAWj6O3AWMdR
276Please respect copyright.PENANAGi7baULvFZ
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8sHLWdEGfr
"Seems fine to me," said Kevin. "But this will be difficult, so we all need to be careful."276Please respect copyright.PENANABeb73fUDhu
276Please respect copyright.PENANAa15ItWW6Cj
276Please respect copyright.PENANA6K3BGyQnkm
"We’ll try," Greta and Rhénee answered at the same.276Please respect copyright.PENANA6dEonZI2AY
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxOZFCBsCuY
276Please respect copyright.PENANA8N6M1LU5OG
The four of them all broke away from each other going into position.276Please respect copyright.PENANAKyyRoUhjQR
276Please respect copyright.PENANADZvP6h1S4N
276Please respect copyright.PENANABhXYQCGQTr
***276Please respect copyright.PENANALKx79uCUag
276Please respect copyright.PENANAaIJUjuGmoh
276Please respect copyright.PENANAHwheB8ZEb5
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAxzUcgPCu1j
276Please respect copyright.PENANANSscbgjl3G
276Please respect copyright.PENANAhVbj4XOH2K
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAWQEqsRg5EI
276Please respect copyright.PENANAOlMGysqPcE
276Please respect copyright.PENANAM6DpKvJdj9
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANA2kgBP6hiXX
276Please respect copyright.PENANAHmbvp3FtvF
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcqlktRTroN
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAvYRymbuWqS
276Please respect copyright.PENANAm5FcZr7GJJ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAxZpwkRuxhE
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANAWs6Y2NfnpG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAc3nUBC8mnl
276Please respect copyright.PENANAa0c6smZFxN
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.276Please respect copyright.PENANANxrrEsdFLf
276Please respect copyright.PENANAkeI7y02kJf
276Please respect copyright.PENANAe8AQWBLJUq
"Now isn’t the time to start losing control," she told him. "Pull yourself together or else you might just ruin the whole plan."276Please respect copyright.PENANArIBVzt65Gx
276Please respect copyright.PENANAX2bhQ61jrr
276Please respect copyright.PENANAu14XFtxyxz
"I take it that I’m late for the party?" came another female voice as loud as a blow horn.276Please respect copyright.PENANABD3f5ZRp8r
276Please respect copyright.PENANAMVHJkn8geX
276Please respect copyright.PENANApmA0rdTts5
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?276Please respect copyright.PENANALsYyK1EjKo
276Please respect copyright.PENANAfeq0CZlnWw
276Please respect copyright.PENANAu7aFFlp81N
His boss scoffed and slowly made his approach towards her, stopping at a reasonable distance.276Please respect copyright.PENANAeFsHuZDayJ
276Please respect copyright.PENANAcUr8liPFFB
276Please respect copyright.PENANAqpWtGd7WDB
"How are you here alone?" he asked her.276Please respect copyright.PENANAqhnRio9eZu
276Please respect copyright.PENANAt06ehnAkqK
276Please respect copyright.PENANAh7RyEqz61i
"That doesn’t matter," Rhénee told him. "I want Miss Griselda back."276Please respect copyright.PENANAEDQRM5nYR9
276Please respect copyright.PENANA1ciGE8C0lY
276Please respect copyright.PENANAuNVIyTIXr3
Miguel’s boss scoffed. "It will not be easy and you know it."276Please respect copyright.PENANA6zCdKgIyst
276Please respect copyright.PENANAyN5s76vnYj
276Please respect copyright.PENANAIzuNvfRHZw
"Good, because I don't intend to negotiate."276Please respect copyright.PENANAPZMe6TyCBG
276Please respect copyright.PENANAmLTdMMoRko
276Please respect copyright.PENANAiQIQEGd2Fk
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.