The sound of her phone ringing made Greta jump in her seat; startled. She quickly withdrew it from the pocket of her jean jacket. Kevin was calling. She quickly swiped the answer call icon and put the phone to her ear.428Please respect copyright.PENANAfBkqN58llT
428Please respect copyright.PENANA4xmhWvm6Zo
"Kevin, did you find her?" Greta asked.428Please respect copyright.PENANAVj4QM28RDF
428Please respect copyright.PENANAwNsoISrmgr
"Yes, we did, no need to worry," Kevin answered.428Please respect copyright.PENANAdz52r2C7oY
428Please respect copyright.PENANAW38CzTz8GL
"That's a relief. Are you three all okay?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAwcEPgwjOWW
428Please respect copyright.PENANA68Qb3ohXsc
"Well..., uh...," Kevin hesitated and Greta didn't like the sound in his voice.428Please respect copyright.PENANAcSfy95eqyZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJOucWKZNYU
"Kevin, if something happened you can tell me," she said. "Is anyone hurt?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAXz8ghj5pYu
428Please respect copyright.PENANAtR3nj0xHTs
"We are all fine," he quickly answered. "We ran into some trouble, but we're fine."428Please respect copyright.PENANASkQ77G0PRi
428Please respect copyright.PENANAyMcgEvv5MU
"What kind of trouble?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAIMkUSrVZhS
428Please respect copyright.PENANA6JiO00cktF
"We'll tell you everything when we return. How is Miss Griselda? Is she awake yet?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAIWx8tEzsCh
428Please respect copyright.PENANA4vTEP4WZ9T
Greta looked at the bed where Miss Griselda lay, still fast asleep. Greta smiled.428Please respect copyright.PENANAdSa3UXI9WS
428Please respect copyright.PENANA0ttLNDzUJm
"No, she's still asleep," she answered. "Whatever Rhénee gave her knocked her lights out."428Please respect copyright.PENANAugpMLTOi2Z
428Please respect copyright.PENANAlE39eUO9fw
"That's good. She needs to rest."428Please respect copyright.PENANAlqR4pyY4dF
428Please respect copyright.PENANAeNTc5glu3b
"Where are you guys? Are you on way your back?"428Please respect copyright.PENANA2f4BR9xzGY
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdvpBmqBKtn
"We are at Miss Marie's. We won't take too long."428Please respect copyright.PENANAzxJFSrCu6n
428Please respect copyright.PENANAV4SmZ1ZoP0
"At Miss Marie's? What are you doing there?"428Please respect copyright.PENANA2Bgtux3NSu
428Please respect copyright.PENANAYQAESrsfrC
"Like I said, we'll tell you everything when we get back. You just look after Miss Griselda."428Please respect copyright.PENANAvXwIpoDdjI
428Please respect copyright.PENANABPPaWNf8N1
"Ya, sure."428Please respect copyright.PENANAUgXr2mZc01
428Please respect copyright.PENANATi9bj3ATaC
Kevin cut the line and Greta placed her phone aside onto the chair she was sitting on. She really hoped everyone was alright, especially Malcom.
Miss Marie shifted her body to the side and for a moment, Greta thought she might wake up. But she continued to sleep. Greta felt relieved. She didn't want to be the one answering her if she woke up. She wouldn't like to hear that Rhénee had gone in search of the cottage all by herself.428Please respect copyright.PENANAZuJ77aWmNL
428Please respect copyright.PENANAlyq9ltIgAn
Greta stood up from the chair. She was thirsty and needed water. She made her way to the door when her phone started to ring again on the chair. She quickly went back for it and almost dropped it when she saw her mother calling.428Please respect copyright.PENANACHsi9128c0
428Please respect copyright.PENANArsBhxLZAhM
"What am I going to do? What am I going to do!" Greta asked herself in a panic.428Please respect copyright.PENANAEWRsyymKvd
428Please respect copyright.PENANADB7zqCAvht
She had to answer the call. She had a mother who is always suspicious of everything. Miss Griselda stirred in her sleep. Greta knew her phone's ringtone was disturbing her, so she had no choice but to answer.428Please respect copyright.PENANAGOmdHnMNSA
428Please respect copyright.PENANAMLOZ8hcwU3
"Hi, mum," she said, trying to sound as normal as possible.
"Finally, one of you answers your phone," came her mother's voice. "You and your brother left without telling me where you've gone."428Please respect copyright.PENANAINJGJw2GTP
428Please respect copyright.PENANAwSuDtjLrbT
"Come on, mum," said Greta, sounding annoyed. "We aren't little kids that we have to tell you where we're going."428Please respect copyright.PENANAeNHOVoysKS
428Please respect copyright.PENANAGgOadBYGRb
"I know, but I'm still your mother," Mrs. Derrand answered sternly. "So, where did you go?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAhGtbuWZGKD
428Please respect copyright.PENANArh3N9hjrpS
Greta's eye twitched in irritation. She wondered if her mother would still be calling even when they decide to move out of the house.428Please respect copyright.PENANA1lSlztpkek
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJVU3zlvNX1
"We were hanging out in town when I met one of my friends. I'm just looking around stores right now."428Please respect copyright.PENANAVwFR2obWFD
428Please respect copyright.PENANA5qmvayprdQ
"And your brother? He isn't picking up my calls."428Please respect copyright.PENANAFPYYA3bFYt
428Please respect copyright.PENANAtMEpI9CaYZ
"I don't know, he must be somewhere."428Please respect copyright.PENANAf1W3QTdabr
428Please respect copyright.PENANASR6yL3GWoq
"Goodness," her mother sounded just as irritated as Greta. "Maybe he's ignoring me like always."428Please respect copyright.PENANA97Y9EQCpnU
428Please respect copyright.PENANAQQ2UZavaVc
"I should be doing the same if you ask me," said Greta.428Please respect copyright.PENANAkLGaTJiZDA
428Please respect copyright.PENANAYo3FXCUQmx
"What did you say?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAQPatwL3jWY
428Please respect copyright.PENANAEMW4HmqpFN
"He's fine," Greta answered. "He can take care of himself. You worry too much."428Please respect copyright.PENANANBVsqxIGdM
428Please respect copyright.PENANAukkqKTSoIn
"Of course I worry. I'm your mother."428Please respect copyright.PENANAuK6LfFzQEv
428Please respect copyright.PENANA0aVhUXlv16
"Mum, we aren't five year olds you've to check up on all the time. It gets really annoying, and it's embarrassing, especially in front of my friends. Whenever they see you're the one calling, they make fun of me."428Please respect copyright.PENANAbKAMrjJqDO
428Please respect copyright.PENANAVOXTiX4fEc
Mrs. Derrand sighed. "I'm sorry, Greta. But I call to check up on you, that's all."428Please respect copyright.PENANA0ZdSc6LvT5
428Please respect copyright.PENANAougqQUlGTy
"Sometimes I feel it's more than that. It's like you check up on us to see if we just dropped dead or something."
There came a long silent pause at the other end and Greta knew she had struck a nerve. She will definitely receive an earful when she gets back home.428Please respect copyright.PENANADLE3Tg58Xn
428Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZavBkrL1F
"Tell him to call if you reach him," came Mrs. Derrand's voice, now cold and grim that it sent chills down Greta's spine.428Please respect copyright.PENANA9YGmCkEus9
428Please respect copyright.PENANA1hYZBk80u0
Greta didn't say anything as she quickly cut the call and squeezed her phone tightly that it would break. She's really in trouble now. She knew she shouldn't have said that. But sometimes her mother pushed her to say things she didn't want to. Now she's in a hot mess.
She hoped the others would show up soon, especially Malcom. They would have to try calm their mother down. If she wanted, she would go looking around town for the both of them, and that would be a disaster.428Please respect copyright.PENANAncpWEuzL4U
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJesTrN0vX1
"He better be on his way," Greta said to herself. "Or else mum is going to go all psycho on us."428Please respect copyright.PENANAVqW17F4VBw
428Please respect copyright.PENANAe9O9ajosoE
A murmuring sound came from the bed. Greta turned and saw Miss Griselda slowly sitting up.
"Greta?" Miss Griselda asked with sleepy eyes. "What are you doing here? Where's Rhénee?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAnFUwmn2Puc
428Please respect copyright.PENANAoNRM3CL3PG
Greta wanted to curse herself for finding herself in such a situation. Now she had Miss Griselda to answer to.428Please respect copyright.PENANAOca1253GLS
428Please respect copyright.PENANAcS1o1bZ4vA
"You must need some water," said Greta as she started to make her way out of the room. "You just stay right there."
"Huh? Greta, wait-" Miss Griselda called out to her.428Please respect copyright.PENANAiijhhBmQKK
428Please respect copyright.PENANAgM526RxdQr
"I'll be right back," Greta said as she stopped by the door and turned to Miss Griselda. "I'll tell Rhénee that you're finally awake."428Please respect copyright.PENANAwozFzva7qS
428Please respect copyright.PENANANB7UTwRQWW
Miss Griselda didn't say anything else as she leaned back on the headboard of the bed, looking a bit relaxed. Greta quickly left, walking down the hall and then the stairs. She knew her little lie had calmed Miss Griselda down. But when she goes back up there without Rhénee, she will have a lot of explaining to do.428Please respect copyright.PENANAXTN7bQ5dNM
428Please respect copyright.PENANA2WcgFEtPCQ
"Oooh, you guys better be on your way back right now," Greta said as she reached the bottom of the stairs and headed for the kitchen. "I doubt if I'll be able to handle Miss Griselda alone."428Please respect copyright.PENANAHBQ8AfEZuZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAbSaE5HRdO9
***428Please respect copyright.PENANA6pyvF6VS4F
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJxeJ7ZKkbR
"Ouch," Malcom muttered, trying not to scream out in pain in front of Rhénee.428Please respect copyright.PENANAAKhGIyPAF5
428Please respect copyright.PENANANMEmdssjF1
"Hold still, you big baby," Rhénee said as she cleaned his wound, dabbing the wet cloth around it.428Please respect copyright.PENANAFpk7TQeB1l
428Please respect copyright.PENANAGaW9aS9dI7
"Huh?" Malcom couldn't believe that Rhénee had just called him that.428Please respect copyright.PENANAPtm1obfjAb
428Please respect copyright.PENANAUicxCiD2KX
"You heard me," she said, not looking at him as she put the bloody wet cloth in the tub and got an alcohol-free wipe towel from its box on the floor beside her. She wiped the towel around his wound.428Please respect copyright.PENANAZISaEAXc0s
428Please respect copyright.PENANAk3ZH1XU1Tr
Malcom flinched a little. He looked up at her, trying to catch her eye, but she seemed too busy to even care.428Please respect copyright.PENANAh8siMQYCiI
428Please respect copyright.PENANAvaFKJmNfwm
The two of them were in Miss Marie's bathroom. Malcom sat on the edge of the bathtub, shirtless, while Rhénee attended to his wound.428Please respect copyright.PENANAh6jpMpk7zG
428Please respect copyright.PENANAYrOboM4pUV
She soon took non-adhesive pads that laid on the wash basin, laying one on the entry and the other on the exit wound. She was glad the bullet had gone straight through. If it didn't, removing it would have been complicated.428Please respect copyright.PENANAHHLXGQqOtX
428Please respect copyright.PENANAT8JRBlQMud
She took a bandage and wrapped it over his shoulder so as to hold the pads in place. She continued to add more layers of it until it felt just right.428Please respect copyright.PENANAOzoAtU9bZx
428Please respect copyright.PENANAADOQCF4faz
"There, all done," she said after making sure the bandage held firmly and tied a little knot.428Please respect copyright.PENANAYmqZZhdV9U
428Please respect copyright.PENANAqcdfWsNGwe
"Thanks," said Malcom as he looked at his neatly dressed wound. "I never thought you had such talent."428Please respect copyright.PENANAToyEOssV0d
428Please respect copyright.PENANAzLrcgArKMK
"Oh, it isn't talent," said Rhénee as she started to clean up the mess on the floor and putting back all the equipment she was using in the tiny cabinet above the wash basin.428Please respect copyright.PENANAwQ3CDWQwWn
428Please respect copyright.PENANAGVvpOufs1O
"You know how to use a gun and how to treat a gun wound. Not a lot of people can do that."428Please respect copyright.PENANAgg4zMCUysv
428Please respect copyright.PENANAV97RptyocM
"Why do I feel you're about to ask something?" Rhénee closed the cabinet and looked at Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANAZT6vvBiB76
428Please respect copyright.PENANAtFXpAYAT8b
"Who taught you how to handle a gun?"428Please respect copyright.PENANABg81yfEzXf
428Please respect copyright.PENANAnH3e4lPsMN
Rhénee didn't answer as she looked at him and he looked back at her. There came a brief moment of silence between them until a knock came at the door and Rhénee told whoever was there to come in.428Please respect copyright.PENANAW7pB72mzxS
428Please respect copyright.PENANASSW2wL34mp
"I hope I'm not interrupting," came Kevin as he slowly opened the door.428Please respect copyright.PENANACaTAmRncK4
428Please respect copyright.PENANAr9JhddaJUH
"No, you aren't," said Rhénee as she smiled at him. "I've just finished patching Malcom up."428Please respect copyright.PENANAGNMUTfYIYg
428Please respect copyright.PENANADfSuBjFTLA
"Oh, you've done an exceptional job," said Kevin as he stood in front of Malcom to check his wound.428Please respect copyright.PENANAjK0cfEwyAb
428Please respect copyright.PENANAuHYGzwClA8
"I know," said Malcom as he smirked. "I'm also impressed that I couldn't help but ask where she learnt all of this from."428Please respect copyright.PENANAKLeaDkTWpT
428Please respect copyright.PENANACgh00jbh3i
"That question isn't necessary," said Rhénee as she threw Malcom a look. "I was part of the Red Cross team in my high school days."428Please respect copyright.PENANADE6aTPDpFl
428Please respect copyright.PENANA80ET4SFbVU
"That explains it," said Kevin as he looked at her. "But what about the gun? Who taught you how to aim and all that?"428Please respect copyright.PENANA5nIVgrVUq3
428Please respect copyright.PENANA3IJ1TAzVjB
"Good question, Kevin," said Malcom. "I was just asking her that before you came in."428Please respect copyright.PENANACSHPKqpqea
428Please respect copyright.PENANA3z8ckHn32a
Rhénee scoffed and at the same time, shook her head.428Please respect copyright.PENANArkqhsMPQC7
428Please respect copyright.PENANAk3CWPr86Tk
"I don't want to talk about it," she answered. "Can we just drop it, please?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAfCAN32utnK
428Please respect copyright.PENANAwHhQL4IT9A
Kevin and Malcom didn't ask her any further. Rhénee turned around to look at the wash basin, avoiding the mirror in front of her and their prying eyes.428Please respect copyright.PENANAYFS7V0Xilm
428Please respect copyright.PENANAvcrBi1Oi3h
"Greta called," said Kevin, after an awkward silence. "We better go. Miss Griselda may wake up any time now."428Please respect copyright.PENANAKUknmxEFLN
428Please respect copyright.PENANAuTUpfdIoRg
"You're right," said Malcom as he stood up. He looked at Rhénee who hadn't said a thing. "Rhénee, are you okay?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAmZpaUqaC2K
428Please respect copyright.PENANAAoXZdYVOdm
"Ya, I'm fine," she answered as she looked at herself in the mirror and then turned around, heading out of the bathroom. She almost bumped into Kevin who moved aside just in time.428Please respect copyright.PENANATj2ZEgLrg9
428Please respect copyright.PENANAmXZXQJXzQG
"Did we upset her?" Kevin asked a few seconds after she walked out.428Please respect copyright.PENANAeAER2jaMPZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAKxUTwDGgdP
"Women get upset over anything," said Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANAq9soa2KI9d
428Please respect copyright.PENANANbvMqtRBWp
"Well..., I mean, she just killed somebody. Isn't she bound to be upset?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAKzjwF28x9a
428Please respect copyright.PENANAZlyy82u4Rw
Malcom looked at the open door. "Most people who have killed for the first time usually aren't themselves. They tend to be all nervous and tense that it's hard for them to stay calm. Rhénee on the other hand, has been calm till now. She hasn't freaked out or did anything nerve-racking. Even when she was patching up my wound, she didn't shiver at all."428Please respect copyright.PENANASAx7tiwTFR
428Please respect copyright.PENANA282FEBRmn1
"Do you think she's killed before?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAN2qovlNjsU
428Please respect copyright.PENANA13JH2HjTnr
"She doesn't look like a killer. But it's either she has and she doesn't want to talk about it or it really is her first time and she's pretty good at handling her anxiety."428Please respect copyright.PENANA2zhE5G4ekZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANACa79eWN3Vw
"What do you think?" Kevin asked. He felt like he didn't want to hear Malcom's answer.428Please respect copyright.PENANAJRxANIYaH3
428Please respect copyright.PENANAf6KlFRIQMH
"You saw how she shot the guy. I would call her a sniper if I had known that she could handle the gun so well. She made sure not to miss. Or maybe she just got lucky, and that rarely happens for first timers."428Please respect copyright.PENANAAcvIp5xjHI
428Please respect copyright.PENANAHBDVJzf1t9
Kevin clenched his hands into fists as he also looked at the door. "But Rhénee isn't a killer," he said. "That much, I know. She did what she did for you. You would be dead if it wasn't for her."428Please respect copyright.PENANADYrdSEifDT
428Please respect copyright.PENANAMYGMGSNGlD
Malcom looked at Kevin and knew he was right. In his heart, Malcom knew Rhénee isn't a killer. But the display she had shown back in the forest made him curious about her even more.428Please respect copyright.PENANAgb0fd2OGrI
428Please respect copyright.PENANA4lYXVTOzNZ
"Come on, we better go," said Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANACIGR6NMEwe
428Please respect copyright.PENANAB3qlH2CbuV
Just as Kevin and Malcom walked out of the bathroom, Miss Marie appeared down the hall, approaching them with a grey sweatshirt in her hands.
"Here you go, Malcom," she said as she handed it over to him. "This belonged to my grandson, Miguel. He doesn't wear it anymore."428Please respect copyright.PENANAl7VsT5zwZH
428Please respect copyright.PENANAljRKKFIJGV
"Thank you, Miss Marie," said Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANANlhCiaIuxe
428Please respect copyright.PENANAoGwMLduzRM
"Where's Rhénee?" Miss Marie asked as she looked into the bathroom.428Please respect copyright.PENANARg9lr53SHO
428Please respect copyright.PENANANJjn2F9jrD
"She um....," Kevin hesitated, "she must be downstairs."428Please respect copyright.PENANARsmzmxbr37
428Please respect copyright.PENANAiuN0k5bytm
"Well, she did good on that wound of yours," said Miss Marie as she smiled at Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANAdBaPnsDR1W
428Please respect copyright.PENANAC2G8bnRHwv
"She really did," said Malcom. He painfully put the shirt on.428Please respect copyright.PENANA7LhLHGE940
428Please respect copyright.PENANALio3WRPxeW
"Ah! Fits perfectly." Mrs. Marie beamed.428Please respect copyright.PENANAKo7l9eyJ8G
428Please respect copyright.PENANA3FHtQYOIEH
"We better get going," said Kevin. "Thanks for all the help, Miss Marie."428Please respect copyright.PENANAOptgMCWvMt
428Please respect copyright.PENANAtJvM0uiEhJ
"Oh, no problem," Miss Marie said. "I'll escort you outside."428Please respect copyright.PENANAh61N60MFwZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAXlmAY7Efuv
Kevin and Malcom let Miss Marie pass in between them and she led the way down the stairs and to the foyer.428Please respect copyright.PENANAYCiPKhUZJw
428Please respect copyright.PENANAUQhkdDGsHg
"Rhénee, dear," Miss Marie called out as she reached the bottom of the staircase. "It's time to go."428Please respect copyright.PENANAvweVIgYu3U
428Please respect copyright.PENANAg31qRN5ALH
No response came from the living room and Miss Marie went over to check. She stood at the open doorway leading to the living room.428Please respect copyright.PENANA0l463gdEqN
428Please respect copyright.PENANAyhwOMaFcC4
"Huh..., this is strange," she said. "Where could she be?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAz0ilqLWqxl
428Please respect copyright.PENANAvELjasK47E
Malcom and Kevin who stood in the foyer, waiting at the front door, looked at Miss Marie. 428Please respect copyright.PENANAr0Fh73LVx6
428Please respect copyright.PENANA5rGB6qtPj0
"She isn't there?" Kevin asked.428Please respect copyright.PENANAb5jj3uF3SN
428Please respect copyright.PENANAmVSj37OYjE
Miss Marie turned to look at him down the hall and shook her head. She had a worried look on her face.428Please respect copyright.PENANASqXGcM2wYZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAbZH0CCmcYz
"Goodness, did we really upset her?" Kevin asked as he looked at Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANAlsqM4XgoTz
428Please respect copyright.PENANAyaBW06GZ3h
Malcom didn't answer as he swung the door open and walked out of the foyer. His heart settled when he stood at the doorstep. He looked at the car parked outside and saw Rhénee seated on the car's bonnet. She looked to be lost in thought with her arms folded. Sophie, the cat, sat right at her feet and also seemed to be staring off in a distance.428Please respect copyright.PENANASD7BmWLPDA
428Please respect copyright.PENANA1W7Q0lGlg0
"Oh, thank goodness," said Kevin as he stood beside Malcom. "I thought she ran away again."428Please respect copyright.PENANAkd96zYXRIY
428Please respect copyright.PENANATcBIWMC2z3
"Me too," said Malcom as he continued to look at her. He noticed that Rhénee looked all worn out and tired. And a little sad too. He wondered what she could be thinking about.428Please respect copyright.PENANAvvjwM5DQif
428Please respect copyright.PENANA09vFUGL4Vb
"Rhénee, dear," Miss Marie called as she passed Malcom and Kevin, walking down the stone path.428Please respect copyright.PENANAT0H793PJd8
428Please respect copyright.PENANAkK82ftTSrZ
Rhénee turned towards Miss Marie, lifted herself up from the car's bonnet and walked back inside Miss Marie's yard. Sophie remained by the car.428Please respect copyright.PENANAbNLCJxRJXd
428Please respect copyright.PENANAmudfYPDoA9
"What is it?" Rhénee asked when the two met halfway.428Please respect copyright.PENANAFnmEtyLcmf
428Please respect copyright.PENANA6tXAjgwEcT
Miss Marie held Rhénee's cheek. "You were so brave today, dear," she said. "Your grandmother would have been so proud of you."428Please respect copyright.PENANA97LOS55PXS
428Please respect copyright.PENANARIxRHWWWVU
Rhénee scoffed, then sighed. "But I took a life," she said. "I don't think she would be proud of that."
"Her life wasn't that perfect either, you know?"428Please respect copyright.PENANA8JTUrxWg05
428Please respect copyright.PENANAFnUe6HVm5m
Rhénee contemplated on that statement. "It's going to be like this from now, isn't it?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAUOP0JwjIRq
428Please respect copyright.PENANAsPJX1deLbR
"Just make sure you take care of yourself. The world isn't safe for you and me."428Please respect copyright.PENANASRrlqo3HSP
428Please respect copyright.PENANA5K9Oa8O2Mh
Rhénee remembered Miss Marie using the exact same words when she gave her the gun back in the forest. Except this time, she included Rhénee in the sentence.428Please respect copyright.PENANAUcyPMtDqG7
428Please respect copyright.PENANAWx0MvptXOT
Rhénee felt the back of her trousers with her hand, revealing the gun. She held it up for Miss Marie to take back.428Please respect copyright.PENANAYks9WTIcnm
428Please respect copyright.PENANA7VnnIJZzUa
"No, dear, you keep it," said Miss Marie.428Please respect copyright.PENANA4V9k2ziq1f
428Please respect copyright.PENANAddBzKfDXO9
"Don't argue with me, Miss Marie," said Rhénee as she took one of Miss Marie's hands and placed the gun on her palm. "You need it more than I do. I still need you alive."428Please respect copyright.PENANAMu04rkfXdJ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAFdTLLgAK1N
Miss Marie looked at the gun and she looked back at Rhénee with a smile.428Please respect copyright.PENANATqe5ba46hy
428Please respect copyright.PENANAZmRNFfHuEP
"I'll try to, dear," Miss Marie said. "I still need you alive as well. Your grandmother would too."428Please respect copyright.PENANAzIjqdJEUkq
428Please respect copyright.PENANAx1xZncZL9y
"I'll take care of myself as best as I can." Rhénee looked past Miss Marie at Kevin and Malcom who had been standing by the doorstep, watching them. She gestured with her head that it's now time to go.428Please respect copyright.PENANAym5Pttqr2U
428Please respect copyright.PENANAoRttnLTykC
"We'll see you later, Miss Marie," said Malcom when he and Kevin reached them.428Please respect copyright.PENANArcnQ7f4inO
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdWFQ6075RH
"Take care of her for me," said Miss Marie. "Make sure she doesn't run off like she did."428Please respect copyright.PENANAQOJfLhluyW
428Please respect copyright.PENANAO9gFpOzNtt
"We will," said Kevin.428Please respect copyright.PENANAW5OqBuABdd
428Please respect copyright.PENANAxLfECPo8IJ
Rhénee, Malcom and Kevin made their way to the car. Malcom took the wheel with Kevin right beside him and Rhénee sat at the back with Sophie curled up on her lap. Rhénee looked out of the window and waved at Miss Marie who also waved back.428Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2FJIINdt8
428Please respect copyright.PENANAI3UODjTUD7
The car drove away from the little neighbourhood. After a few seconds, Kevin couldn't help but turn and look at Rhénee. Rhénee noticed and looked back at him.
"What?" she asked.428Please respect copyright.PENANABNrb9fVw4S
428Please respect copyright.PENANAVFs1ipuOoJ
"Oh, nothing," Kevin replied. "You look really tired, that's all."428Please respect copyright.PENANAZREjeNGcYc
428Please respect copyright.PENANAAY4RGEVgLG
"We've had a long day," she said as she looked out the window.428Please respect copyright.PENANAaYq7hSDIvV
428Please respect copyright.PENANA3ycjkxZe1e
Within a few seconds, the front gate of Rhénee's mansion came in sight. The car went inside the premises and packed in front of the fountain.428Please respect copyright.PENANApF5vtcrBdt
428Please respect copyright.PENANABjXhhYn2V8
Rhénee came out of the car first with Sophie in her arms and started her way to the front door. Kevin came out seconds later and called out to her:428Please respect copyright.PENANABY9qn1xb26
428Please respect copyright.PENANAYBZ6X7mGlO
"Rhénee, wait!"428Please respect copyright.PENANAcO3oYdTUE8
428Please respect copyright.PENANAsYrVzvbcMK
Rhénee had almost reached the door when she turned to look at Kevin now approaching her. Malcom took his time in the car, waiting to see what Kevin was going to do.428Please respect copyright.PENANAHrogJvcpyw
428Please respect copyright.PENANAxwUyUvdukR
"What is it, Kevin?" Rhénee asked.
Kevin hesitated for a moment and that made Rhénee raise an eyebrow. Sophie jumped out of her arms and walked away.428Please respect copyright.PENANAknwQo1bV11
428Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZW6PvTo9Q
"I feel like something's troubling you," he finally said.428Please respect copyright.PENANAlCFnkr7SBm
428Please respect copyright.PENANACSiaIedSmP
"I'm tired."428Please respect copyright.PENANAyjqmGhpGh3
428Please respect copyright.PENANAjnMzseT9QU
"Really? I don't think that's it."428Please respect copyright.PENANA4QbW157tRe
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJORZMSlcgp
"I don't want to sound rude, but you're not my therapist, Kevin. How do you know what I'm going through?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAX83mXv3Krl
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdO5zqqIyqQ
"Well..., that man whom you shot in the forest-"428Please respect copyright.PENANAudd45Ic1ST
428Please respect copyright.PENANAiYdcOjr5V9
"-is dead." Rhénee put her hands on her hips. "You think I'm a killer, right?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAT1ezrfUSud
428Please respect copyright.PENANAtK8lK0WF3q
Kevin got caught there. He opened his mouth but no words came out. He looked away and scratched the back of his head, feeling stupid for having started the conversation. Rhénee sighed deeply and looked even more depressed. Kevin looked at her. Her eyes looked like she hadn't slept in days.428Please respect copyright.PENANAsEq2DlJMf9
428Please respect copyright.PENANAGtYlhdgHgH
"I don't think you're a killer, Rhénee," said Kevin. "But I know what happened must have affected you no matter how composed you're posing to be."428Please respect copyright.PENANAeOHixwJeq1
428Please respect copyright.PENANAEzv6dO2LvS
"I'm not ready to talk about it. Let's just drop it, okay?" Rhénee's eyes were fixed on Kevin's chest yet her mind was elsewhere.428Please respect copyright.PENANAk64KsNgmr2
428Please respect copyright.PENANAf08uLt7wXG
"I'll because Miss Griselda might be awake and seeing you like this will make her sad too. But promise me that you will talk to me about it."428Please respect copyright.PENANAsmDrrIyIZY
428Please respect copyright.PENANAiwZHsXQeVT
Rhénee looked up at Kevin and put up a sad smile. Kevin's insides shook at her expression. He didn't like to see her sad. All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her to show that she wasn't alone in all this.428Please respect copyright.PENANAkErfx0Hiph
428Please respect copyright.PENANAKrWZiINH4K
The urge kept calling him from within, but soon enough, Malcom came right behind him, saving him from doing so.428Please respect copyright.PENANASWO2t6qB01
428Please respect copyright.PENANA5a0NmznY0d
"If you two are done, we better go inside," said Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANAd7zWnBV3jN
428Please respect copyright.PENANA9AGtCJS1xW
"Sure," said Rhénee as she looked at him. "How's your shoulder?"428Please respect copyright.PENANApSVoX2gxFr
428Please respect copyright.PENANAb4ALo254YH
"Hurts a little, but it's nothing."428Please respect copyright.PENANAhwIySVy9Z8
428Please respect copyright.PENANAcGvU0J9kD4
"Good. Let's go."428Please respect copyright.PENANAESLc0JQVHY
428Please respect copyright.PENANASg6J20dv5N
Rhénee was just about to turn around to head for the door when Malcom said:428Please respect copyright.PENANANJNQBbf1Yg
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdFrCZSVwwI
"Thank you, Rhénee. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."428Please respect copyright.PENANApmRwzPwkY9
428Please respect copyright.PENANAWSmjcAammB
Rhénee didn't turn to look at him, but said, "you're welcome."428Please respect copyright.PENANAtguJPQVByM
428Please respect copyright.PENANA7M62ijhnxs
Rhénee led the way to the door, the other two following behind her. Just before she could reach it, it flew open and for a second, it looked like it had opened all on it's own. But soon enough, Greta came into view behind the door with a glass of water in her hand.428Please respect copyright.PENANAvgQhPjIVF1
428Please respect copyright.PENANAAmxZc4dWbs
"Ah! You guys are finally here," Greta said. "You got here just in time."428Please respect copyright.PENANA8nIIBT8qvm
428Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1CRvkPkGD
"What? Did something happen to Miss Griselda?" Rhénee asked as she quickly entered the foyer past Greta.428Please respect copyright.PENANAmmqnesk2io
428Please respect copyright.PENANAw9wKB2iLz6
"No, no, no," Greta replied, following Rhénee. "She's perfectly fine. Just wait a second."428Please respect copyright.PENANAtSOgwdOPWd
428Please respect copyright.PENANAlHmSmmvlHu
Rhénee stopped in the middle of the living room and turned to look at Greta.428Please respect copyright.PENANAD9Fjr4CXy4
428Please respect copyright.PENANAvYSbNkWoOB
"What is it? Did something happen while we were away?" Rhénee asked.428Please respect copyright.PENANA1CTv5IWA2W
428Please respect copyright.PENANANxaEzm416N
"Nothing that you should be worried about," said Greta. "Miss Griselda just woke up and she really wants to see you. I told her that you were down here. I hadn't told her you left."428Please respect copyright.PENANAj9hw67P9nT
428Please respect copyright.PENANAT2uwiwULoV
"Okay, I'll go and see her right now."428Please respect copyright.PENANAho7MimfP8h
428Please respect copyright.PENANAyrSCX8OhJi
"Wait, you can't see her looking like that. You're a mess. And whose blood is that on your clothes? Did you get injured?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAijMi3RtCKD
428Please respect copyright.PENANAsWgDMITcdw
Rhénee hadn't realised how messy she looked as she stared at the bottom of her blue shirt that had a blood stain. Her trousers had a few drops on it too. She had been running for her life back in the forest, and not forgetting the injured Malcom. Greta is going to freak once she realises that it's his blood.428Please respect copyright.PENANAXxu59Uy9L8
428Please respect copyright.PENANAd4DTXgA4T6
"Huh...," Rhénee hesitated.428Please respect copyright.PENANATuDcrWEEBO
428Please respect copyright.PENANAe9cTmSSTTa
"I told you that we ran into some trouble back in the forest, didn't I?" Kevin asked, drawing Greta's attention to him.428Please respect copyright.PENANAXnlRPpl37m
428Please respect copyright.PENANAa6dnG7RFjv
"You also look a mess too, Kevin, but not like Rhénee. What happened to you guys back there?"428Please respect copyright.PENANACcLyNDssEw
428Please respect copyright.PENANAClYSfwAkUu
The three didn't know what to say as Greta looked at Malcom with a curious look on her face.428Please respect copyright.PENANAD7G6307I9x
428Please respect copyright.PENANAQ8aPGK7YtA
"That's not the shirt you were wearing today," she said. Soon, she gasped that it surprised the others that she hadn't dropped the glass in her hands.428Please respect copyright.PENANAEVsDl3kcZA
428Please respect copyright.PENANAgfGLhfInhl
"You're hurt, aren't you?" she asked.428Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9jPUCfg6p
428Please respect copyright.PENANAftfrVvi2Aa
"No, Greta, I'm not," said Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANAsY9MKNuRRu
428Please respect copyright.PENANAHI39Z99kOR
Greta gave the glass to Rhénee to hold and walked over to Malcom. Malcom at the same time tried to back away, but Greta got to him quicker with her hand stretched to touch his left shoulder.428Please respect copyright.PENANAKzWdO8z2dE
428Please respect copyright.PENANAq3wFn6SB8O
"Greta..., what are you-?" Malcom avoided her hand by slapping it away.428Please respect copyright.PENANACUH88CzMJ8
428Please respect copyright.PENANAKXa7IPQKgQ
"Are you hurt?" Greta asked as she started to check him from head to toe for any injury. "Oh, please tell me you aren't."428Please respect copyright.PENANAPQUNM8cgDM
428Please respect copyright.PENANAbTw8iL3waf
"I'm perfectly fine. You should've seen the other guy. He's a lot worse than I am. Well..., can I say was?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAtZxb8xquCv
428Please respect copyright.PENANACMp090GN2n
"What other guy? Is it the one whom you ran into trouble with?" Greta asked, this time looking at her brother straight in the eyes. "Can you please tell me what happened? I'm curious to know."428Please respect copyright.PENANAvIpQsxDeid
428Please respect copyright.PENANAfsza0L81ne
"And so am I," came a voice from up the stairs. Everyone down in the living room paused.428Please respect copyright.PENANAjzXAouOf5X
428Please respect copyright.PENANAGRSqpH2p08
Rhénee hissed and slowly looked up at the stairs. There stood Miss Griselda. She didn't look as weak and vulnerable as she did the time they left her. She had a grim look on her face; the type that a mother would give her child if he or she had done something wrong. The look reminded Rhénee of her father.428Please respect copyright.PENANAafoxuUwW9r
428Please respect copyright.PENANADH8F21b1Z4
"Miss Griselda, you're okay," said Kevin.428Please respect copyright.PENANAOLxy6PygnO
428Please respect copyright.PENANAMDXAAB7iFG
Miss Griselda held on to the stair rail as she slowly came down. "Yes, I am, and I see that you three went to the forest."428Please respect copyright.PENANAGHJm6jEcBv
428Please respect copyright.PENANANGsnVSEvrs
"Yes, we did," said Malcom.428Please respect copyright.PENANALA5NeLGCcU
428Please respect copyright.PENANAiAJFTfWT06
"Why did you go?" Miss Griselda was almost at the bottom of the stairs. "Look at yourselves. What if the worse had happened to you?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAVhdZtFVYDO
428Please respect copyright.PENANAR78coHaVRh
"Don't blame Kevin or Malcom for this," said Rhénee. "If there's anyone to blame, it's me. I went there alone. They followed to try and protect me."428Please respect copyright.PENANA2aGBVcSYfG
428Please respect copyright.PENANAkLdDDqxAE9
Miss Griselda reached the bottom and walked up to Rhénee. She gave her a look, almost like she wanted to slap her. But when she spoke, she sounded calm:428Please respect copyright.PENANATIUJpCWIoU
428Please respect copyright.PENANALSapiGnn1R
"I guess you found the cottage, then?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAtw0dn7ljes
428Please respect copyright.PENANAS3ll961yu1
Rhénee nodded, surprised that Miss Griselda sounded so calm. "I did," Rhénee said. "But when I got there, I found people waiting for me."428Please respect copyright.PENANAPzh84pq168
428Please respect copyright.PENANA67JL035zeh
"There was more than one person?" Greta asked, sounding surprised.428Please respect copyright.PENANAtyYzUeSb3O
428Please respect copyright.PENANAh4BYr6UX0i
"Let's sit down," said Miss Griselda. "Tell us everything, and don't leave out any details."428Please respect copyright.PENANAqJzH1WwyFy
428Please respect copyright.PENANAPRVsUhMtIF
Rhénee nodded again. "Sure."428Please respect copyright.PENANANiy42upTfN
428Please respect copyright.PENANAYHGs4Xkuu3
***428Please respect copyright.PENANAf9Z0DivJmH
428Please respect copyright.PENANA1l7mhCCuM5
Lunch time was almost over and Eugene still hadn't heard word on Mr. Sinclair. He had been working with Theodore, one of his superiors over a case like he was told to and he told Mrs. Clarks to inform him when Mr. Sinclair arrived. But so far, nothing.428Please respect copyright.PENANA3L53VYWDJD
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdzYpQq6KSE
"Hey, earth to Eugene," came a voice, as a hand waved across his face.428Please respect copyright.PENANAFY8231L2QX
428Please respect copyright.PENANADZQ1OAroMD
He snapped out of his thoughts and turned to see one of his colleagues, standing right beside him.428Please respect copyright.PENANAKPW8Mjlenc
428Please respect copyright.PENANA8MJne60bnD
"Preeta, hey," said Eugene as he shifted in his seat, feeling a little uncomfortable that he had been caught off guard.428Please respect copyright.PENANAywIyKwNQIS
428Please respect copyright.PENANAKmZHhH0CY0
She smiled at him as she tucked a long strand of her magnificent black hair behind her ear and sat opposite him. Her dark brown eyes looked at him intently.428Please respect copyright.PENANAGHdwsJ9dcl
428Please respect copyright.PENANAtM292kiHF4
"What were you thinking about just now?" she asked, her elbow on the table and her hand under her chin.428Please respect copyright.PENANAEIA3yZcORB
428Please respect copyright.PENANA9hdikfFeEg
"Nothing, nothing," said Eugene as he went on to stare at his lunch.428Please respect copyright.PENANALRAH9DfoFT
428Please respect copyright.PENANAcPjmzo6Zfz
"Mmm, you've barely even touched your food," Preeta gave him a dominant smile after staring into his lunch box. "Are you sure you're okay?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAbjzY2btmst
428Please respect copyright.PENANAjKJBeeAZdz
"Yes, I really am. Was just lost in thought, that's all."428Please respect copyright.PENANAF9pIUF0BoN
428Please respect copyright.PENANA0KRvxZdZHG
"Really?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAyygt5B6DoI
428Please respect copyright.PENANAu9gf5w8fmm
Eugene looked up at Preeta still smiling at him. She soon stood up from her seat.428Please respect copyright.PENANAtEEiD7dNT7
428Please respect copyright.PENANAMBFsShIACS
"I'll see you around," she said as she raised her hand to wave at him. "Better get back to work."428Please respect copyright.PENANAmLJG4HSUc4
428Please respect copyright.PENANAOYPXbp0dIM
"Ya, see you around," said Eugene.428Please respect copyright.PENANAZFYIF1e2hk
428Please respect copyright.PENANARLBjwhR9UI
Preeta slowly made her way out of the staff lunchroom and she met two of her female colleagues. They seemed to be giggling and whispering to her as they made their way out of the room. One of them stared at Eugene before leaving the room with Preeta. Eugene couldn't help but blush as he stared at the door. Were they talking about him just now? He hoped not.428Please respect copyright.PENANAfwJdri7CNC
428Please respect copyright.PENANACZLdt7w1Xg
He brushed off the thought as he looked down at his lunch. His mother had packed him a tuna sandwich and right now, he didn't have the appetite to eat it. The thought of Mr. Sinclair bothered him to the core.428Please respect copyright.PENANAzNYXMEn7hY
428Please respect copyright.PENANA2BMqoJ5cki
Mr. Sinclair acted strangely today. It's unlike him to be so late to begin with and he didn't stay long, saying that he had to visit a friend. Eugene couldn't help but wonder who that friend was that he had to abandon work.428Please respect copyright.PENANAknvx6BM5NC
428Please respect copyright.PENANA8hQq9pBnWO
He shouldn't be thinking too much about it. Lunch time was almost over and he had to get back to work. He had piles of paper work to take care of back in his cubicle.428Please respect copyright.PENANAx38wz2Qahd
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJKmi3QPr0h
Eugene forced his food down in his mouth within minutes. The lunchroom was almost empty and Eugene hadn't noticed until now. He packed his lunchbox away in his carry bag and made his way out, heading towards the work area where most of his colleagues were.428Please respect copyright.PENANAbxSd1aM9n0
428Please respect copyright.PENANAizewumuimI
Just before he could even get there, his phone in the pocket of his trousers vibrated. With his free hand, he retrieved it and looked to see who was calling: Mrs. Clarks.428Please respect copyright.PENANAxSzH5yWv9e
428Please respect copyright.PENANAoe6rHGG14H
He stopped himself in the hall to answer the call.428Please respect copyright.PENANAIGnc9DPXdf
428Please respect copyright.PENANAvREWB4nqxQ
"Hey, Mrs. Clarks," said Eugene, "is he in?"428Please respect copyright.PENANApiCXbaxJBH
428Please respect copyright.PENANAkLCLhWyz9N
"That's why I am calling," Mrs. Clarks replied.428Please respect copyright.PENANAbVJbqcWBBT
428Please respect copyright.PENANAt7Rf5JNlpa
"Alright, thanks, a lot." Eugene cut the call.428Please respect copyright.PENANAtvv6T0mUeQ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAkOPXmUJYaN
He put the phone back in his pocket and quickly rushed to the work area and to his cubicle to put his carry bag away.428Please respect copyright.PENANAgnZ1ctieLn
428Please respect copyright.PENANAsRAKhky3tq
"Hey, you seem to be in a hurry," said Preeta, who's cubicle was just opposite Eugene's.428Please respect copyright.PENANAmZFTjJkAfN
428Please respect copyright.PENANAYlcuHBkW3Y
"Yes, I am," Eugene replied as he had no time to chitchat and he quickly left the area.428Please respect copyright.PENANAljKkGMI8KZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8oPOEXWq4
Within a minute, Eugene found himself on the floor to Mr. Sinclair's office and hurried to his office. He found Mrs. Clarks seated behind her desk.428Please respect copyright.PENANA4oOLA4Q6mE
428Please respect copyright.PENANARPwDtWrWL2
"Well, you're pretty fast," she said when he got to her desk and she looked up at him. "You must be pretty concerned about him, aren't you?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAzWE4r4X5Cd
428Please respect copyright.PENANAeh4fzvyggt
"Can I go in?" Eugene asked, ignoring the question.428Please respect copyright.PENANAGturPKcSYI
428Please respect copyright.PENANAmPNSaJiUIc
"Sure, knock yourself out," Mrs. Clarks quickly rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the computer screen.428Please respect copyright.PENANAUtXsr1tcjK
428Please respect copyright.PENANABDUvbqvdJI
Eugene approached the door and knocked. He thought Mr. Sinclair wouldn't respond right away, but he heard him inside the office utter: "come in."428Please respect copyright.PENANAQnirQ4IvUH
428Please respect copyright.PENANAqXNKSurwFf
Eugene quickly entered the office, but made sure not to show how hasty he was. Mr. Sinclair wasn't even looking when as his eyes were fixed on the newspaper in his hands.428Please respect copyright.PENANACf72JvmA5s
428Please respect copyright.PENANAgIY9F8VqSy
"Mr Sinclair?" Eugene called out as he approached the desk.428Please respect copyright.PENANAyjikq3zX1y
428Please respect copyright.PENANAKrQodkvLM9
Mr. Sinclair looked up at Eugene.428Please respect copyright.PENANA2tWITd58Wq
428Please respect copyright.PENANAIFMRHVE2b9
"Ah.., Eugene," said Mr. Sinclair, "what brings you here?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAsFojqscIYZ
428Please respect copyright.PENANAoldzWPYTUt
"I..., uh," Euegne started to scratch the back of his head. He felt stuck and he completely forgot why he came.428Please respect copyright.PENANA4Wr9zNjr8n
428Please respect copyright.PENANAwxpST71Rza
Mr. Sinclair dropped the newspaper onto his desk and fully turned his attention to his apprentice. Eugene had to say something before Mr. Sinclair asks what was up with him.428Please respect copyright.PENANASWR8QEaNVN
428Please respect copyright.PENANAIyHiZNEyRo
"I just came to check up on you, that's all," Eugene answered.428Please respect copyright.PENANAakvjyqcjfd
428Please respect copyright.PENANA6tYIIolxKi
"Oh, you didn't have to do that, Eugene," said Mr. Sinclair as he smiled. "I just went to visit a friend. I'm always stuck in the office, so I thought today would be a good day to visit."428Please respect copyright.PENANAI1TefoRmHu
428Please respect copyright.PENANAfLIAG6TUTp
Eugene nervously chuckled. "That's good to know. I hope you had a good time."428Please respect copyright.PENANA4MZJI176aq
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdgQQuYDNPA
Mr. Sinclair picked up the newspaper and went over to the page he had been reading. "Of course I did," he answered. "It was just like the good old times."428Please respect copyright.PENANAeQqNxIHqAt
428Please respect copyright.PENANA6R1HTzcXwD
Eugene knew immediately when Mr. Sinclair picked up the paper that it's his cue to leave. He slowly started to back away from the desk.428Please respect copyright.PENANAGO6IBb2cTh
428Please respect copyright.PENANApBgjLri7A5
"I better be going back to work," said Eugene. "Sorry if I disturbed you."428Please respect copyright.PENANAWSAemGsnE5
428Please respect copyright.PENANAb4JFgOqBCU
"It's nothing," said Mr. Sinclair with his eyes still fixed on the newspaper. "I'll see you later, Eugene."428Please respect copyright.PENANAnTo4TuSqXG
428Please respect copyright.PENANA8nTO8brT5n
Eugene turned around and soon found himself by the door. Just as he opened it, he looked over at Mr. Sinclair who seemed to be preoccupied with the article he was reading. He wondered who Mr. Sinclair had gone to see. That's the one question he wanted to ask, but he stopped himself. Mr. Sinclair wasn't so open about his personal life and Eugene knew he shouldn't be butting in on such issues.428Please respect copyright.PENANA422vsTsAMa
428Please respect copyright.PENANAt3d7oKLdEm
He walked out of the office, closing the door behind him. Mrs. Clarks looked up from her computer screen.428Please respect copyright.PENANA3eUn29tqWC
428Please respect copyright.PENANALtoc0pYBM4
"You're out of his office faster than I expected," Mrs. Clark's said with a smirk on her face.428Please respect copyright.PENANAy4eoIX0qzx
428Please respect copyright.PENANA1rg5egyDyH
Eugene looked irritated as he asked, "what does that mean?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAcJUrbL2zWE
428Please respect copyright.PENANAb21mYQn5hO
"Oh..., nothing really."428Please respect copyright.PENANAR9XZrgsWZ9
428Please respect copyright.PENANAmdvDciGLy6
"I know you're making fun of me. I just came to check up on him, that's it."428Please respect copyright.PENANAOWgMnOblBF
428Please respect copyright.PENANA8Xa7lDwC8G
"Did he tell you who this friend of his is?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAlFHNgnptNi
428Please respect copyright.PENANAA8ce17Rm53
"No. It wasn't in my place to ask."428Please respect copyright.PENANAkKCdz4TUL9
428Please respect copyright.PENANA3bUzydCNUX
Mrs. Clarks rolled her eyes. "You're just like your boss, you know? Always so boring."428Please respect copyright.PENANA5bpW3uBNXD
428Please respect copyright.PENANA4w0IqfkuSf
"I'm not boring." Eugene blushed. "Well, at least not like him anyway."428Please respect copyright.PENANAkUVtaRAwQz
428Please respect copyright.PENANAAXfVvDFnJq
"Mmmm..., so you agree that Mr. Sinclair is no fun at all, right?"428Please respect copyright.PENANAngH611VkXc
428Please respect copyright.PENANA8dpDxf7BMM
Eugene didn't answer as he thought it over carefully. He quickly shook his head and said, "no, never mind what I just said."428Please respect copyright.PENANABsPqFjKMbP
428Please respect copyright.PENANAV7XSq8gEZq
"You're weird," said Mrs. Clarks as she went on to look at the computer screen. "I wonder why the ladies around here have a crush on you with that weirdness of yours."428Please respect copyright.PENANAmGJqdxjI7r
428Please respect copyright.PENANAXD1lvtAGkr
"Huh..., what did you say?" Eugene couldn't believe what he heard.428Please respect copyright.PENANAbo3IqE1FU2
428Please respect copyright.PENANAdNGwl9REPl
Mrs. Clarks waved him off like she was chasing away a fly. "You better go back to work, Eugene. Forget I said anything."428Please respect copyright.PENANAzAMziXD2OM
428Please respect copyright.PENANAy8yq6Jy2xt
Eugene grew even more irritated, but Mrs. Clarks didn't bother to even look at him as she pressed the keys onto the keyboard. Eugene knew she only did so just to make herself look busy.428Please respect copyright.PENANAcVLOxg0tmB
428Please respect copyright.PENANAaDks9OhzRi
He made his silent retreat down the hall. What Mrs. Clarks told him soon left his mind. He had a lot of paper work to do, yet he couldn't help but think about Mr. Sinclair and his strange behaviour this morning. But who Mr. Sinclair's friend is really bothered him. Was it somebody Eugene knew? Or was he worrying too much for nothing? 428Please respect copyright.PENANAItZLJR6myT
428Please respect copyright.PENANAuoLY7YNwDd
Back in Mr. Sinclair's office, Mr. Sinclair cast the newspaper aside when the phone on his desk began to ring. He took it and quickly answered the call.428Please respect copyright.PENANAX1CVdfRufp
428Please respect copyright.PENANAEGdEjRzOaL
"For you to call, then it must have happened," Mr. Sinclair said to the caller.428Please respect copyright.PENANAy4eiKvZBvX
428Please respect copyright.PENANAQNNzbo4GOW
A female voice replied on the other end, "yes. One person dead. Other casualties occurred, but nothing serious."428Please respect copyright.PENANATzporlk0Fw
428Please respect copyright.PENANAHxrivPJOz5
"And our prized possession?" Mr. Sinclair asked as he looked at his fingers.428Please respect copyright.PENANACUDX5TwrgP
428Please respect copyright.PENANAIMqHjwMaJm
"Nothing to worry about. Although, there's something you must know. It might surprise you."428Please respect copyright.PENANAertoiB26os
428Please respect copyright.PENANAVxLcylWvtl
Mr. Sinclair straigthened up on his seat as a smile appeared on his face. He knew what he was going to hear will excite him for sure.428Please respect copyright.PENANAElcPAXSDPK
428Please respect copyright.PENANArrGdc57iC1
"Please, go ahead," he said as he tapped his fingers onto the desk.428Please respect copyright.PENANApEFsVoQnXP