It wasn’t until college that she met Alissa, someone who had opened her heart a little. Yet her pride and insecurities kept her from sharing her burdens with anyone, even the few she could call friends.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as a wave of helplessness threatened to drown her. At that moment, her phone lit up with an unknown number.
Doreen answered quickly, and a woman’s voice, cold and measured, came through. “Doreen, have you thought it over? I’m at the place we met last time.” The call ended before Doreen could ask a question.
She knew it was the woman from the night before. With nowhere else to turn, Doreen found herself once more walking into the shadowy cinema.
The woman waited, hidden in the dark.
Doreen took a deep breath. “What do you want me to do? If it’s illegal, I won’t do it.”
Her voice was resolute. Even in her desperation, she held onto her principles.
A low chuckle sounded from the darkness. “Simple. I want you to keep updating me on Stella’s whereabouts.”
A shiver ran down Doreen’s spine at the mention of Stella’s name.
Questions swirled in her mind, but she couldn’t think of any motive for such an inquiry. “Who wants Stella’s whereabouts, and why?” she pressed, trying to piece together the puzzle.
But the woman remained silent, offering nothing but cryptic words. “Do this for me, and we’ll never cross paths again.”
Still uncertain, Doreen pressed, “You just want Stella’s whereabouts? No strings attached?”
The woman didn’t answer her question. Instead, she tossed a card toward Doreen, its weight heavier than its appearance suggested. “There’s five million on this card. Send the info to the number that contacted you earlier. Don’t ask any more questions.”
Doreen picked up the card, her hands trembling as anxiety battled with indecision.
Just then, her phone rang again-it was Preston. Her finger hovered over the screen, but she ignored the call, her gaze fixed on the card in her hand, torn between the impossible choices before her.
Finally, with a deep breath, Doreen shoved her phone into her pocket and clenched the card tightly in her fist. With a determined step, she started walking out the door.
Before Doreen walked out, the woman warned, “If you accept this money and fail to complete the task, you’ll face the consequences.”
Doreen nodded and quickly left. Once she was gone, the woman also came out and revealed her identity as Lindsay.
She smiled menacingly as she thought of her next steps. She was confident that if she could keep tabs on Stella, she would find a way to deal with her.
Eager to verify the money, Doreen rushed to the bank and confirmed the deposit of five million dollars. However, she had no intention of handing the entire sum over to Preston immediately. She planned to discuss conditions with him first.
She took out one million dollars and returned to meet Preston.
Preston was not entirely pleased when he saw the money, but it was enough to address his pressing needs. He expressed his dissatisfaction and grumbled, but accepted the money.
Doreen stared at Phillis, whose body bore numerous wounds, and was overwhelmed with grief. “I’m taking Mom with me, or you won’t get the remaining money.”
In fury, Preston slapped Doreen and demanded, “Give me all the money now.”