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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAdsUdMN1vfD
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0yURYbJrT3
546Please respect copyright.PENANA2edkW4hp3E
"Mr. Sinclair, good evening," she greeted. She looked down at his hand. "Did you leave your briefcase in the car?"546Please respect copyright.PENANApIykx3qJ2F
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvt5lDuuyvZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAliox2FfGZf
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANALwBfXumxQX
546Please respect copyright.PENANAmtZO7NZX0c
546Please respect copyright.PENANAsosAI6UzTv
"Of course, sir," she obliged with a smile, making room for him to step inside.546Please respect copyright.PENANAp2M85Dhm7h
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6BXAVdlik
546Please respect copyright.PENANAdCDiNm7laZ
"How is the lady of the house doing?" Mr. Sinclair asked as he stepped into the foyer.546Please respect copyright.PENANAECQb6VbBcL
546Please respect copyright.PENANATMF3K4LRZe
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxAtMIcUhOd
The housekeeper helped Mr. Sinclair remove his jacket as she answered, "same as always. She moved around quite a bit during the day, though."546Please respect copyright.PENANAzvR4jUsWCs
546Please respect copyright.PENANAlhy5VbwK0x
546Please respect copyright.PENANAXCR9tXMBtt
"That's good. Is supper almost ready?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAquJLplAb4B
546Please respect copyright.PENANAajBSNYVvsQ
546Please respect copyright.PENANASeLis3I0Gf
"Yes, in a few minutes." The housekeeper held his jacket in her hands.546Please respect copyright.PENANA29P0kgfVGQ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqagwAGi6hq
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhZUJZXy35a
"Okay, let me go see how she's doing."546Please respect copyright.PENANAcXFBpxdKQ5
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZUzGi0Z3fM
546Please respect copyright.PENANA1uFToj9b3A
"Of course, sir," she went down the hall with the jacket in hand.546Please respect copyright.PENANA0ioA83HEws
546Please respect copyright.PENANAuDnMeQ8ObG
546Please respect copyright.PENANAcCtMNLptt1
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAVJdT23Me8U
546Please respect copyright.PENANAamra6F7v1p
546Please respect copyright.PENANA28Hhu7JCyH
His hands flew to the front of his shirt undoing the top button. He realised how hot he felt and should've unbuttoned earlier.546Please respect copyright.PENANA30fZY6uGJc
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxTJKhonKH5
546Please respect copyright.PENANAcR0vDRHp9A
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAaMmEVMDUpf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAlJjRtSKzaI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAQ2o6PV3sFn
"Honey," he called out as he quickly entered the room.546Please respect copyright.PENANAxRWKxEbewq
546Please respect copyright.PENANAu5MPzod4bV
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhQZEON3PU0
He paused for a second upon entering and later blew out a sigh of relief.546Please respect copyright.PENANA4ITHAZ5aY5
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0vPzg7fsHY
546Please respect copyright.PENANAbzWy8eR70t
"Goodness, you scared me for a minute," he said as he walked in.546Please respect copyright.PENANAT7XOxPISK9
546Please respect copyright.PENANAP3RYQEdrVf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAuuiqKxK60H
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAU97nFexVda
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7NrAfJ1fup
546Please respect copyright.PENANAQLHvGiZMbK
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA6jaZamHx0E
546Please respect copyright.PENANAiknMEkdUkt
546Please respect copyright.PENANAcOh4GOnXcu
"How have you been today?" Mr. Sinclair asked, smiling at his wife.546Please respect copyright.PENANAnzHOEcPZ5o
546Please respect copyright.PENANA9XpuDS9eE3
546Please respect copyright.PENANA1oafI5GtkV
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANApC9qMb0SMq
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5CF7T7VAnj
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6PoDRAnUn4
"I'm trying," she answered. "This illness isn't doing me any good."546Please respect copyright.PENANA780pp1YW7P
546Please respect copyright.PENANAVmB4yacYe8
546Please respect copyright.PENANAmKmrboJAeQ
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANA8axFMXeOsG
546Please respect copyright.PENANA3o8W1vsEgf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkvDpltYG4n
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAfhHR2n5OmM
546Please respect copyright.PENANAHDEPKezEzv
546Please respect copyright.PENANAeZ6NtZnYiY
"So, how was work?" Mrs. Sinclair asked, changing the subject.546Please respect copyright.PENANANvnjGMQOcy
546Please respect copyright.PENANASWRpovGWmc
546Please respect copyright.PENANA3DNwZO919W
"Work was okay," he answered. "Although something tragic happened to Eugene’s father."546Please respect copyright.PENANAVxVmMO8Cgz
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvL57jmsZPy
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZF1a6bbiCU
Mrs. Sinclair now had a look of concern in her sad, hollow eyes. "Eugene's father? What happened to him?"546Please respect copyright.PENANA43HHGVE2nP
546Please respect copyright.PENANABLmMV0DRK9
546Please respect copyright.PENANAQenlTBk6iV
"I haven't gotten the full details, but he was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound."546Please respect copyright.PENANAezmSiTP4Sn
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxJ4hDDTIcX
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjziTEWQkbP
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head. "That's tragic. I hope his father is okay."546Please respect copyright.PENANAMA4jUCQxGL
546Please respect copyright.PENANA9LFISnpfIm
546Please respect copyright.PENANA4PDdD2Co0E
"I just worry for the whole family."546Please respect copyright.PENANAhm00cxkCL0
546Please respect copyright.PENANAIzOzzwbQKZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANA8M7DIZnieF
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANA6oY9SRLRJH
546Please respect copyright.PENANA9s1YaMZ9hS
546Please respect copyright.PENANACOSXk3pOG0
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAb1TJ9Yxk9o
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZhC6uow8QG
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyAj0V3Mubj
Mrs. Sinclair shook her head, already looking tired and frustrated. "I guess the woman still loves him. That's pretty much evident."546Please respect copyright.PENANASdsQFSvqoa
546Please respect copyright.PENANAYluCyLBdQ9
546Please respect copyright.PENANAU0zBEP8j2G
"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.546Please respect copyright.PENANActkk95tjh7
546Please respect copyright.PENANAV1QNu16lCR
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjGz9moekSS
"Why? Is it because he's involved with 'those' people?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAUQwELMYgrK
546Please respect copyright.PENANARh8bSq2Y24
546Please respect copyright.PENANA8ShpX0jLVt
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAuWk436VLH1
546Please respect copyright.PENANATFlf0o1deO
546Please respect copyright.PENANAopN8Yyk4b3
"Let's be careful when we start to talk about these things, okay?" he suggested.546Please respect copyright.PENANAkHjrSkGphu
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkOyAIfnzGq
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6Fd160OXt7
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANApjWg90hvTQ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvpK0FLtqyh
546Please respect copyright.PENANAzgfWTBpqvn
Mr. Sinclair raised an eyebrow, confused that his wife is talking like she is right now.546Please respect copyright.PENANARLbxBSvK5S
546Please respect copyright.PENANApaYw7PaBc2
546Please respect copyright.PENANAae2pB33F0b
"Where's all this coming from?" he asked.546Please respect copyright.PENANAi32g2KKYeB
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgegcqHsFyt
546Please respect copyright.PENANAk32lYXHjHd
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAhy3sVKwFCA
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6UNhDku3ri
546Please respect copyright.PENANAx45Ng3crTk
She slowly went towards him. "You know where all this is coming from," she answered Sinclair’s question. "Your involvement with the late Emelda."546Please respect copyright.PENANA6AKtdMFpzm
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKcc81VCT2G
546Please respect copyright.PENANAltYI3byCT0
"I was her lawyer. There’s nothing else to it."546Please respect copyright.PENANAMkcv3zRe8c
546Please respect copyright.PENANACiNkvOzvgI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAdTsD5StDKD
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAWnxrSuByHm
546Please respect copyright.PENANAYNaKKYjUBw
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgZQbx5f6XS
"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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAm6mXBHf1qI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyPV0PRqsVY
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyZze8mJln6
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANALSPrj0azm4
546Please respect copyright.PENANAH8zmCUqAg3
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5kOwhkmJHR
"She left everything to her granddaughter and it’s my duty to make sure things are in order."546Please respect copyright.PENANA8J8t3uXYwc
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5xPNvPsauU
546Please respect copyright.PENANAtvFhgxRekV
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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAtV5jHtFSwI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAaFqtZqs8Dh
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyEMTRYG4Kk
"In danger of what, exactly?" Sinclair still had his smile intact.546Please respect copyright.PENANAkmR21Em2nY
546Please respect copyright.PENANAG2xqZQUDcd
546Please respect copyright.PENANAWhj3jy8eZ2
"Everything involving her grandmother! If you ask me, you just made the girl inherit Emelda’s problems."546Please respect copyright.PENANARnjtw28m2v
546Please respect copyright.PENANAJlJqZeYmJr
546Please respect copyright.PENANA63J4cbGp6x
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAKlTrKkeoZu
546Please respect copyright.PENANAFBvKM3h5bQ
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5g1fSjBRPs
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANANTr5DqPtql
546Please respect copyright.PENANAHA5sOvNrhK
546Please respect copyright.PENANAojDzjD3WiS
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANA43pqtkcFgg
546Please respect copyright.PENANABXYmqDjnFs
546Please respect copyright.PENANAHbVGOsYkIC
"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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA999Ki2Y5pY
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKY6Bf3b458
546Please respect copyright.PENANASR3S4gogSj
"Let’s not talk about this any further," Sinclair suggested. "We should learn to move on."546Please respect copyright.PENANA3EY6yYNlgJ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAnC6b8Mffj8
546Please respect copyright.PENANANteylbdNVk
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANA5ESIBheQxZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAWCpFToZTdG
546Please respect copyright.PENANAOuNdI0x6Nu
"You exaggerate, dear."546Please respect copyright.PENANARLqEyq92V9
546Please respect copyright.PENANAlQ2jhWqwQ4
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhFr8iGVjVm
"Well, at least you’re not denying it."546Please respect copyright.PENANAi22SXpdzNQ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAfaAfreONrv
546Please respect copyright.PENANApQpL0OdqZD
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA3ck9DVmCFH
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKiyX170k4N
546Please respect copyright.PENANAJEDDbAQaIO
"Who is it?" Mr. Sinclair asked.546Please respect copyright.PENANAHsnvXCzR2r
546Please respect copyright.PENANAtlNuhMiZTJ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAVs6GC8QFwV
"It’s me, dad," came a female voice, behind the door.546Please respect copyright.PENANAldAKDwchVi
546Please respect copyright.PENANAICPbGcqCTD
546Please respect copyright.PENANAAhdLroqxwK
What perfect timing, Mr. Sinclair thought to himself.546Please respect copyright.PENANALpAjuhi9LK
546Please respect copyright.PENANAFaUjlCJuve
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvysY73fTpq
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA5CO0VRgUfV
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6a6AOBVyCr
546Please respect copyright.PENANAQUJNxmOlE9
"I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAUFAlxFuvAC
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZVMvPQqXJY
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhDK1DC1osj
"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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAqSIuebyzGS
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6VlCp2wEyL
546Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZH2jeopnp
"I thought I heard you guys arguing."546Please respect copyright.PENANAJUQja8XTL1
546Please respect copyright.PENANAV5KKZLFmBN
546Please respect copyright.PENANABc8JC0BJyz
"Just a silly argument," Mrs. Sinclair answered. "Your father once again forgot those biscuits I wanted."546Please respect copyright.PENANA0EH4dzjwBu
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvRpXPq2R2u
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhmn1MbIQNi
"Wow, dad, you always forget to get them."546Please respect copyright.PENANAlnWxjviKOZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAw9g5KrbQoj
546Please respect copyright.PENANAWE1NEl80hS
"That’s why either you or the help have to remind me. You know I easily forget about these things."546Please respect copyright.PENANAejIWdIdrCe
546Please respect copyright.PENANAU52TBYOB4L
546Please respect copyright.PENANAWI5N3QRcFm
"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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAtuj6xVreIi
546Please respect copyright.PENANANv8CiUw5yh
546Please respect copyright.PENANAneKPxYFjKp
"I’m okay," Mrs. Sinclair said, putting up a smile. "How was school today?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAetLFj1opF4
546Please respect copyright.PENANAJzu1arpmgj
546Please respect copyright.PENANA1HIgCAvnzU
"Same as usual. Now that we’re approaching the end of the year, studies are getting more tiresome."546Please respect copyright.PENANAsxxWDAXfvf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAevDZxBsDB1
546Please respect copyright.PENANABUYfCyxVfV
"You just make sure to work hard. If you need our help, we are here for anything you need, Scarlet."546Please respect copyright.PENANAPwzkUfnVEf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhoEAaAkVWM
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgrAjoTrFM4
"I will, that’s if you two can stop arguing over more than just biscuits," Scarlet’s deep blue eyes flew between her parents.546Please respect copyright.PENANAkDGGK4WdJO
546Please respect copyright.PENANAv75aESHkut
546Please respect copyright.PENANACw7zMIGQ9a
Mr. Sinclair scoffed. He forgot just how smart their daughter can be sometimes.546Please respect copyright.PENANAgMpb8FiQWt
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7qrlSEwkAl
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkfcW1QOZLb
"How was work, dad?" Scarlet asked with so much excitement, looking at her father.546Please respect copyright.PENANAr2fZm98vSR
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgillcxxCtR
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqEl8r4Nz9F
"It was okay." He turned around to head back to his closet, but Scarlet quickly asked:546Please respect copyright.PENANAnu5DyKWS5Z
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6csZjMpLzY
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7FIjv3O8IK
"Was he in today? How is he?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAmpmUVBhyX2
546Please respect copyright.PENANAPkhiiyFYC2
546Please respect copyright.PENANAtZwnMYItj1
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAEEQtRzPFId
546Please respect copyright.PENANAeAAc7Ju5yX
546Please respect copyright.PENANAl0bbJAbgT2
"He’s good," Mr. Sinclair said as he folded his arms. "But not too good, I’m afraid."546Please respect copyright.PENANAMxznp2n1jZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAiLJ4bCi4Oe
546Please respect copyright.PENANAdnL022Gdcr
"Why? What happened to Eugene?" Scarlet sounded anxious.546Please respect copyright.PENANAsIqJ9SzxTB
546Please respect copyright.PENANALk7KNDiujb
546Please respect copyright.PENANAv4it9cqMCh
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANACnG56jAQyW
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqg8FvEY0lZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANA8BSyCP3Qt0
Scarlet gasped.546Please respect copyright.PENANAChvsxCioIn
546Please respect copyright.PENANASsAnzqUkYu
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5nBJkpvDld
"Oh, no, that’s awful. But will he be okay?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAw7n9UwVN9h
546Please respect copyright.PENANAl18oCwlH2F
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjYVIlnSUp0
"I’m not so sure," said Mr. Sinclair. "But according to Eugene’s mother, he’s in pretty bad shape."546Please respect copyright.PENANAql8lb8pepg
546Please respect copyright.PENANAojmSQPeuYz
546Please respect copyright.PENANALhHbnyyMM8
"I hope Eugene, himself is okay," said Scarlet.546Please respect copyright.PENANAWBubQo2Cnw
546Please respect copyright.PENANACSmKIJ51Cj
546Please respect copyright.PENANAbEKQohItBB
"It’s Mrs. Chamberlin I’m worried about the most," said Mrs. Sinclair. "This is just too much for her."546Please respect copyright.PENANATU2AoL7APA
546Please respect copyright.PENANAtaPmJuTcGX
546Please respect copyright.PENANA8ATKb1VUPl
"True," said Mr. Sinclair. "She might be a strong woman, but that man has put her in terrible situations I can’t even imagine."546Please respect copyright.PENANAQhJ7aN2vLE
546Please respect copyright.PENANAzRGKkI7BTa
546Please respect copyright.PENANAPUPNQhOoEk
"I hope he gets out of this alive," said Scarlet.546Please respect copyright.PENANAKsDbKmnooW
546Please respect copyright.PENANAJTbyyAuLrr
546Please respect copyright.PENANAq6Dl3D3scd
"I would advise not to call Eugene right now," advised Mr. Sinclair. "Not until we know that everything's alright."546Please respect copyright.PENANAq4MWO1ktmS
546Please respect copyright.PENANAXZnz50f4Y0
546Please respect copyright.PENANAheXz4YDvdv
Scarlet sighed. "I wasn't planning to, dad."546Please respect copyright.PENANAEQmxAV5MYY
546Please respect copyright.PENANArQNZRubqY5
546Please respect copyright.PENANABRUCwX2MH8
"You like Eugene too much," said Mrs. Sinclair. "I hope your little crush over him vanishes over time."546Please respect copyright.PENANAVxJDRkFWxD
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5kUIH5mvDB
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6A1EkHRygj
"I doubt it. Once I finish high school, I will be sure I can date him."546Please respect copyright.PENANASEUyIHqMJf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAinjJM0wJKq
546Please respect copyright.PENANAXSLmhwkY8w
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAcf0WunF25X
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvnG5jOIAEl
546Please respect copyright.PENANAEDZuOBgkDF
"Sometimes I forget she likes him," said Mrs. Sinclair.546Please respect copyright.PENANArkQqd6APy3
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjSMwrYt33A
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7It48NKFsq
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAhn6ifJJrSo
546Please respect copyright.PENANAozg3NBw5EL
546Please respect copyright.PENANAarQSsrU75E
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAqQnAQVnuGr
546Please respect copyright.PENANAwolzz8IEJ2
546Please respect copyright.PENANAq2qc2qIQrZ
"Eugene isn’t that bad, if I’m being honest," Mr. Sinclair chuckled.546Please respect copyright.PENANAcPrzTLj9DE
546Please respect copyright.PENANAXXOjKQZkws
546Please respect copyright.PENANATXg7c4DxFn
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAcLrE2MItAr
546Please respect copyright.PENANArjNgeSiU5o
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6eR5DTyAxY
"What’s wrong now? Are you scared that Eugene is like me?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAIWarEDUqZ5
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkwXz5Jxk0u
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0EMA4b8qRZ
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAVb8jziM4XS
546Please respect copyright.PENANAzjdsbjRA3d
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqQM2bR6Lbs
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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANA4blFxXbp7B
546Please respect copyright.PENANAw2XbVE8wsV
546Please respect copyright.PENANA8Afo8faZEU
His wife didn’t say anything as a horrific look started to appear on her hollow face.546Please respect copyright.PENANAC8fuw5Otb7
546Please respect copyright.PENANAuxeiNabVWW
546Please respect copyright.PENANAoWWcxmJaHa
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAiBpGyKNImN
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5aO2i9MqEA
546Please respect copyright.PENANAurErDOgI6J
"You’ve done several of those even when I told you to drop whatever you were doing for Emelda when she was still alive."546Please respect copyright.PENANAI4rqMm2Kuu
546Please respect copyright.PENANAtCktq2m7nh
546Please respect copyright.PENANAX30rQX6wlY
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAhPpPPwB8hO
546Please respect copyright.PENANARQJbPhacxU
546Please respect copyright.PENANATlKWMMW3eg
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAScw7wlORLX
546Please respect copyright.PENANAUp8chJdtxk
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjofLATusgs
"Evening," he said after placing the phone to his ear. "Yes, I’m home at the moment. What can I help you with?"546Please respect copyright.PENANA7aitYylHIJ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAVJN2hXHJid
546Please respect copyright.PENANAF1kaLqUCIv
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAOiOB4NjPxM
546Please respect copyright.PENANARjSpfAyRhB
546Please respect copyright.PENANAooyWaUn1T1
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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAwsskQCzlOT
546Please respect copyright.PENANAFP4SJ8bERO
546Please respect copyright.PENANAL4uXwkodc1
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAV5z4hI806u
546Please respect copyright.PENANAUKUdSicFoB
546Please respect copyright.PENANAHRAH5EGcqu
"If you say so."546Please respect copyright.PENANAuMKU4VfDxW
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8sxLAyyyU
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6j0qoNn6XL
A knock soon came at the door and the voice of the house help came behind the door: "dinner is ready."546Please respect copyright.PENANAuX7IWs6xp6
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7I5ljtX0K0
546Please respect copyright.PENANA2Y7GJkRfxo
"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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAQKAKiGgU8e
546Please respect copyright.PENANAYhZ92tKRMS
546Please respect copyright.PENANAOOjJ7x59Ky
"Not today," she replied.546Please respect copyright.PENANALWMaukUFp5
546Please respect copyright.PENANAzYmNR09OGE
546Please respect copyright.PENANANHrVWIUMch
"Alright, I'll tell the help to bring your food up to your room."546Please respect copyright.PENANA7sIvR7KjTO
546Please respect copyright.PENANAWGgFvWLO7X
546Please respect copyright.PENANAu3uAqQEL2b
"No, need, she already knows."546Please respect copyright.PENANAXvzaNGamCv
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvwHfkIPbs6
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7mE272E67y
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANApfAidxXDHX
546Please respect copyright.PENANAOU5iCpyNPd
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkKFxoFOZef
"Isn't mum coming to join us?" she asked.546Please respect copyright.PENANAiBMW08s5sz
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvw6IeLAFmJ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAetPXMc6bt3
"She'll eat from her room," he answered.546Please respect copyright.PENANAYKboMEFO3S
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKo9xNI1l2C
546Please respect copyright.PENANAy7uR688vEP
"You upset her again, didn't you?" Scarlet folded her arms, looking at father with a stern look similar to her mother's.546Please respect copyright.PENANAscXjKWUEwf
546Please respect copyright.PENANA1cAdK6YaWc
546Please respect copyright.PENANA9FmZPl3BBe
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANANd71tZTMy1
546Please respect copyright.PENANAiAxb4frr3B
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhArOel4pFo
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAVO1utPqpf1
546Please respect copyright.PENANAzomADrZP46
546Please respect copyright.PENANAGLeiggxFkd
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAU6FBzqah86
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKwGPDwSJnR
546Please respect copyright.PENANADW6Etc7lP7
"You’re getting slower reaching the table these days," Scarlet said as she looked at him.546Please respect copyright.PENANA94j0Iq6qZK
546Please respect copyright.PENANAniCWtKjJ8y
546Please respect copyright.PENANAcnLahGbVAJ
"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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAl2D3hQ655E
546Please respect copyright.PENANAblG7qNizdZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAArd60yV2cA
"Have you heard anything about Eugene’s father yet?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAHjiqV7l8KG
546Please respect copyright.PENANA4qgxDVL0CI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAMamitaBv7m
"No, not yet," he answered.546Please respect copyright.PENANAq2cyAHm517
546Please respect copyright.PENANAU2tHWrQh9R
546Please respect copyright.PENANAlSw6N5ZgIw
There came a brief silence before she asked, "is it really true that his father got shot?"546Please respect copyright.PENANA10bAe5xQIx
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkJvdGR9RxV
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKdgvchH1LE
"Yes," he answered. "It was pretty fatal."546Please respect copyright.PENANAwu1fi5ttfF
546Please respect copyright.PENANATYYZmssh7w
546Please respect copyright.PENANAS9855DknyD
"I really hope he gets out okay. Did he mess with the wrong people?"546Please respect copyright.PENANATJQkdSwbUG
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqi9EgsyJ1O
546Please respect copyright.PENANAIfoTKD8Tb1
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAFs5p5zGozt
546Please respect copyright.PENANAkqODDH7tHf
546Please respect copyright.PENANA1VFnVJEhh2
"Okay." Scarlet paused for a bit. "I hope Eugene is doing okay."546Please respect copyright.PENANAHXqF2Zk8d7
546Please respect copyright.PENANAFPUyPrNTWe
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7RJN38q8JV
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2byqerp70
546Please respect copyright.PENANAskeUUqc2p2
546Please respect copyright.PENANA2RP8YTW61v
Scarlet smiled at him. "Okay. I really want to know how he’s doing.”546Please respect copyright.PENANAFxJadLzK9f
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5tttvFN7rB
546Please respect copyright.PENANADNer5oR5Tg
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANACiYwh9SOss
546Please respect copyright.PENANAr1KnMtlAP1
546Please respect copyright.PENANARgLEmhGk4s
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAK7G8pQYebD
546Please respect copyright.PENANAchGa8AceSb
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgqk4MXklgl
After pressing the call button, he placed the phone to his ear, making his way to the study.546Please respect copyright.PENANAgo7RfA62GS
546Please respect copyright.PENANA9bQYSoiVYb
546Please respect copyright.PENANAuXUROZatkr
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA1kfh3Q4Og1
546Please respect copyright.PENANARvgAcYuNg5
546Please respect copyright.PENANANg2LEqt7Ri
"What took you so long to answer?" Sinclair asked, calmly, trying not to speak so loud.546Please respect copyright.PENANAN65AueviBV
546Please respect copyright.PENANAASuHNPL0Ar
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxmOMvdkhVm
"I am in a dire situation right now that I can’t answer you immediately," came a hoarse breathy voice on the phone.546Please respect copyright.PENANAGoM2Rn8lCf
546Please respect copyright.PENANA7qBjBQfKI9
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKN7SjYUXa5
Sinclair reached his study and went in, closing the door. "What is it? I couldn’t text you since I was having dinner."546Please respect copyright.PENANA4qCXDYprh8
546Please respect copyright.PENANAc553tUktFZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAs28FpgcyJS
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAMvVmPd2S2W
546Please respect copyright.PENANA6EEFvNZFXa
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZjJxehWLA
"What situation?" Sinclair asked as he stood in the middle of the room.546Please respect copyright.PENANAUAhRmJOAhm
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyN6q7Yonvt
546Please respect copyright.PENANAWlk185WLLN
***546Please respect copyright.PENANAadCEbPtZoK
546Please respect copyright.PENANAKNney0oFny
546Please respect copyright.PENANAiXNhd22A1M
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAKwkgHjXcKR
546Please respect copyright.PENANAbJbwZ6n3ZK
546Please respect copyright.PENANArZhMrsRFMH
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAOY7KCfg5NH
546Please respect copyright.PENANAEMpHZekkYf
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyfR7T70gur
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAj88nX4TpEJ
546Please respect copyright.PENANA4YWXh1Ioo7
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxRbDhoA0wv
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?546Please respect copyright.PENANAxqwTG8NMjz
546Please respect copyright.PENANAM9ey3Wb3bz
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5n7VQnfptl
Miss Marie stopped humming. "Make a stop here."546Please respect copyright.PENANAsHzdRqcK5X
546Please respect copyright.PENANA97MXpnpF0y
546Please respect copyright.PENANAYQxXSVzqMR
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANACdGeLdyAOP
546Please respect copyright.PENANAQeUfsb2IYp
546Please respect copyright.PENANAAURitCDItv
"I thought we would stop by the bridge," he said.546Please respect copyright.PENANAQDEDsQp5uI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAukiMrNZUHE
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgQPzgD5q6Y
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANApOhDg2ECok
546Please respect copyright.PENANAnyajaGelWk
546Please respect copyright.PENANAOGkksVKtLI
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAtrk4i6jXYb
546Please respect copyright.PENANArZ6L1IM6rr
546Please respect copyright.PENANAvPdpK0eyLS
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANA1eQXw0o47b
546Please respect copyright.PENANAYfWCxEsloc
546Please respect copyright.PENANABmiXJiNIky
"Fun?" he wondered what she meant. There’s nothing fun about being out in the forest so late at night.546Please respect copyright.PENANAQy6yrT1kxg
546Please respect copyright.PENANANbV50xFANc
546Please respect copyright.PENANA4y2QSZ74Iz
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA4v1w89kuzE
546Please respect copyright.PENANAMxcwpiVCku
546Please respect copyright.PENANAXjoEfAdtr7
"Are you sure Miguel is at the bridge?" he asked.546Please respect copyright.PENANAui24E9hRwG
546Please respect copyright.PENANAZ976gdc8Hs
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxt8nseQkxQ
"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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAguHrOBS3B7
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0eT7EnxSLz
546Please respect copyright.PENANABWmx03mqe5
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAZB2rj8IMSY
546Please respect copyright.PENANAHMxeK4bmoy
546Please respect copyright.PENANAj3XHHSRlGl
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAJXWUR3CLAC
546Please respect copyright.PENANA38K2fX7Txu
546Please respect copyright.PENANAVfsdupxVex
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAiMgUpSNeQo
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgAKfgmriWl
546Please respect copyright.PENANADH7MjbziBu
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA05eUc4dMs3
546Please respect copyright.PENANAoTYJ6X4CSj
546Please respect copyright.PENANAOrHwEPKRWg
"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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAviJPhRIb73
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgm2gsRNKkY
546Please respect copyright.PENANASchFUUVE9u
Miss Marie turned to smile at him. "You’re quite right," she said.546Please respect copyright.PENANA8pGyXui54b
546Please respect copyright.PENANAHAvS8VnDbg
546Please respect copyright.PENANARvzinAh50Q
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAgaurvCbyLb
546Please respect copyright.PENANABz9boZ6yI3
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0KDGN7ZSDB
"We better hurry up," Miss Marie called out to him. "We don’t want to miss anything."546Please respect copyright.PENANA6eNuWoAORI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAITD2TpEWsp
546Please respect copyright.PENANAyjyOhyWJI8
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAHtsrDss6Xt
546Please respect copyright.PENANAlHk9LObap1
546Please respect copyright.PENANAUhsOQLpxhA
"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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAqNLtDwzsA9
546Please respect copyright.PENANA4shXjIXfcw
546Please respect copyright.PENANA1WN1V0idK0
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAozoxBmWHev
546Please respect copyright.PENANAz1uQ7bXRF0
546Please respect copyright.PENANANP0VBdWYns
He scoffed. "What kind of group is he in? Do they deal with drugs or guns?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAFsejgVAvL1
546Please respect copyright.PENANAlC5F4TyAa1
546Please respect copyright.PENANAaqiYrglslt
"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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAc4AdguYoAn
546Please respect copyright.PENANAc5qe56Nz96
546Please respect copyright.PENANAhl1zoCFl5k
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAjrLvF3jtuU
546Please respect copyright.PENANAFYbyzxvgvQ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAs3PurRrzVl
"Wait," he said, holding her by the shoulders. "Are you serious of such an accusation? He’s your grandson."546Please respect copyright.PENANAqBI5LZGQOZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjLAGUnbTZq
546Please respect copyright.PENANAW2N0wW0upI
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAMQf55QPgTs
546Please respect copyright.PENANAgHUJt3JHBO
546Please respect copyright.PENANA9dFbcRCkGa
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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANASvFCdVuuPd
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqTmrHzcV3C
546Please respect copyright.PENANA5HxLxe5k1l
"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?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAMCjNgB2iE5
546Please respect copyright.PENANAodKVELQBox
546Please respect copyright.PENANAA7vEyp99ML
Eugene's eyes widened. "You’ve been pretending to be delusional this whole time?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAHg3KKfpptB
546Please respect copyright.PENANAM1I8HE9sDZ
546Please respect copyright.PENANAb1b4SXl0D0
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAvpNP8ak7bh
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxztpU7cmxr
546Please respect copyright.PENANApuIm73A0pv
"He can never do that. He cares about you a lot, yet you go ahead and just lie to him?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAV6lpFDHjT2
546Please respect copyright.PENANAP7MzNAR5ad
546Please respect copyright.PENANAEVvr9QZWrq
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANA3oYgf5YszJ
546Please respect copyright.PENANASwLDfTpizG
546Please respect copyright.PENANAbOZzowjj0x
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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAGpeL2YsfFz
546Please respect copyright.PENANAJsERa2kolA
546Please respect copyright.PENANAeocvgOmEQq
"It will be dark. But I know you’ll see him."546Please respect copyright.PENANAF7bJfNAYIc
546Please respect copyright.PENANA0EGMCymHEx
546Please respect copyright.PENANAqMlxiGgvu9
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA1UyS2hfSrA
546Please respect copyright.PENANAPH7PiXfA00
546Please respect copyright.PENANAg9DWSQnFkh
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAbsjgLhzDAU
546Please respect copyright.PENANAxfqc2E2QQe
546Please respect copyright.PENANAFd9h9w7fkI
"See, I told you something's about to go down," said Miss Marie.546Please respect copyright.PENANAfi9fj3qThe
546Please respect copyright.PENANAuEsKY8hEwj
546Please respect copyright.PENANAG03d6iKw4I
"I can’t see the people very well," said Eugene. "Maybe you’re wrong and Miguel isn’t down there."546Please respect copyright.PENANAqd4jWkQYBj
546Please respect copyright.PENANAC0Xwcl5m8G
546Please respect copyright.PENANAAd3U9ZXzka
"Let’s hide behind those trees. They might not see us from afar, but it’s best to not leave anything to chance."546Please respect copyright.PENANA3okD5NKb2u
546Please respect copyright.PENANAUfq1gq6Ebo
546Please respect copyright.PENANALC0ROJn1ZX
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAyW1PP6p3Hw
546Please respect copyright.PENANArHNKhtWCSb
546Please respect copyright.PENANADKRdeXa5Ar
***546Please respect copyright.PENANAjl3ytU2y40
546Please respect copyright.PENANAnI0sYBpkLF
546Please respect copyright.PENANAjPqg7jTV1I
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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAD8rWVlKISI
546Please respect copyright.PENANAeiosMV9738
546Please respect copyright.PENANAfIPpVsbQnl
He soon came back in the direction Malcom was standing. Rhénee and Greta quietly went to join them.546Please respect copyright.PENANA5b0m5VMPi2
546Please respect copyright.PENANANLYqWS5v5t
546Please respect copyright.PENANA4CpgK469g8
"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAJs0mp7zITb
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"How many people are there?" Rhénee asked.546Please respect copyright.PENANA9cXG9ViYzy
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"I counted fifteen people, including those in the car. Though I can't be too sure."546Please respect copyright.PENANAU2RmvtKNCl
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"That’s still a lot of people," Greta complained.546Please respect copyright.PENANA1w6qc1B4kh
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"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAIbyYCCUbfk
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"Always the strategist," Greta smiled at her brother. "Tell us, how will we do it?"546Please respect copyright.PENANAqPkBTYjtmO
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Rhénee could feel Malcom’s eyes fall on her. "I figured we could use Rhénee."546Please respect copyright.PENANAcGAsZx4LKR
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"Me? Why?" Rhénee asked.546Please respect copyright.PENANAHLKbIxAjtL
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"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."546Please respect copyright.PENANAOL72PfbDBU
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA2JVYxTptL2
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"Seems fine to me," said Kevin. "But this will be difficult, so we all need to be careful."546Please respect copyright.PENANAhZfGjRUAp0
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"We’ll try," Greta and Rhénee answered at the same.546Please respect copyright.PENANAv0hBxPl29l
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The four of them all broke away from each other going into position.546Please respect copyright.PENANAz1wD2FHAOQ
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***546Please respect copyright.PENANA5k9sUoDq7L
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANARdCHYSInEr
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAH8Ecubz2N2
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA4TZZil7rek
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAeUigXG1dlQ
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANA980WrneHdX
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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.546Please respect copyright.PENANAkjcW01Owly
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"Now isn’t the time to start losing control," she told him. "Pull yourself together or else you might just ruin the whole plan."546Please respect copyright.PENANA4TsZMqG4PR
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"I take it that I’m late for the party?" came another female voice as loud as a blow horn.546Please respect copyright.PENANA9Xk9o2Rhnf
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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?546Please respect copyright.PENANARqhTjKGLSW
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His boss scoffed and slowly made his approach towards her, stopping at a reasonable distance.546Please respect copyright.PENANA48J9h3DIok
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"How are you here alone?" he asked her.546Please respect copyright.PENANA3Ymje52h2t
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"That doesn’t matter," Rhénee told him. "I want Miss Griselda back."546Please respect copyright.PENANA9Tla3pSQD1
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Miguel’s boss scoffed. "It will not be easy and you know it."546Please respect copyright.PENANAhGMgg0Q3LF
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"Good, because I don't intend to negotiate."546Please respect copyright.PENANAqioe6S4hLA
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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.
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Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
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Rhénee Johnson: Emelda's Sapphire (Book One)
Author:
Namwezi

ISSUE #23
Chapter 22
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