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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TvnGQQ5Qr
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuov1vEIeb
"Kevin, did you find her?" Greta asked.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDxB6A7Yf2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonKxCYpwEr
"Yes, we did, no need to worry," Kevin answered.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNN9AfBskm
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbLtxDIi7h
"That's a relief. Are you three all okay?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Pf4ZfkD0B
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ScWuh22eQ
"Well..., uh...," Kevin hesitated and Greta didn't like the sound in his voice.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2wD8IohNb
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVCYxLMo5p
"Kevin, if something happened you can tell me," she said. "Is anyone hurt?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsJks7qZH3
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ856kNOTw2X
"We are all fine," he quickly answered. "We ran into some trouble, but we're fine."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCbUPii0c2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZC3b23QoF
"What kind of trouble?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXpfUEEWyt
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojd3VcuGqa
"We'll tell you everything when we return. How is Miss Griselda? Is she awake yet?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFOtX7W4mi
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf2bW0u9H4
Greta looked at the bed where Miss Griselda lay, still fast asleep. Greta smiled.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAikVAB7Aj2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy12fh3nKIE
"No, she's still asleep," she answered. "Whatever Rhénee gave her knocked her lights out."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFmwL8jBb7
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSOENXUWdF
"That's good. She needs to rest."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEjO4EiJz0
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbyQhI4dww
"Where are you guys? Are you on way your back?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB3fG79GvO
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBN3rUU58g
"We are at Miss Marie's. We won't take too long."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6lpgiferV
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURuVCx8Omy
"At Miss Marie's? What are you doing there?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzHfs9S3Xk
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfUl8KuOj5
"Like I said, we'll tell you everything when we get back. You just look after Miss Griselda."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GCLbwgvEm
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPKWUi1LjF
"Ya, sure."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX3cZFC5a7
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aQhJjz69v
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn8O4Orjyj
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9onypV9zN
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9C6JjIaEk
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskcYoDXJvT
"What am I going to do? What am I going to do!" Greta asked herself in a panic.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HrTWy839p
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OwJIcYUro
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ewIdDZ8Xz
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMerQoZEljf
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHktgsvoei
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwd87cYGYY
"Come on, mum," said Greta, sounding annoyed. "We aren't little kids that we have to tell you where we're going."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAz9Ks94og
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH2koDdDwS
"I know, but I'm still your mother," Mrs. Derrand answered sternly. "So, where did you go?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccRmhstCHs
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5SvB3qWPs
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBfCNZt9ou
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyRb3tucNL
"We were hanging out in town when I met one of my friends. I'm just looking around stores right now."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaP6Q9ErqZ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe80TiToKQd
"And your brother? He isn't picking up my calls."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0mQHa5xcF
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1s06jigdbb
"I don't know, he must be somewhere."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWWQC0ICoA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfoBDDn0nJ
"Goodness," her mother sounded just as irritated as Greta. "Maybe he's ignoring me like always."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA7yXgSxOO
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo3JC0mB8X
"I should be doing the same if you ask me," said Greta.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLCIQJm2DQ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDtDobt3VT
"What did you say?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkNSL2hZh2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLjMIBnZGU
"He's fine," Greta answered. "He can take care of himself. You worry too much."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulA3nHzjQB
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEPKE5Y1iM
"Of course I worry. I'm your mother."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2EECTeVJI
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAp1gryNrS
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLdch9MfV0
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJZA0IpLTd
Mrs. Derrand sighed. "I'm sorry, Greta. But I call to check up on you, that's all."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKu4BsAI4Y
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTtFq0dIXo
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD07HmX3yJ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGR0hFMMy3
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXY2QX2GTA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr4Y6AvImV
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZurD9SBfE0
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOfvJqc3RQ
"He better be on his way," Greta said to herself. "Or else mum is going to go all psycho on us."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccQ8aL9bBW
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZRB4m0JIl
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?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCdojxCJob
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5d75mvIAF
Greta wanted to curse herself for finding herself in such a situation. Now she had Miss Griselda to answer to.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4s7oUdzag
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxtLtreEtY
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSG35LpH93
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7039g1n4r
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSXB7sGODb
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QYfBPZbC0
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fHaWF5F0E
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o0lhPsDJN
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH19kwHyaSL
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAMshdDesv
***706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpk9WHmQMH
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsBOHZL5Pd
"Ouch," Malcom muttered, trying not to scream out in pain in front of Rhénee.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNkm6NYi0B
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4AslKjwPZ
"Hold still, you big baby," Rhénee said as she cleaned his wound, dabbing the wet cloth around it.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo8XGnvLAg
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMefncm2LVa
"Huh?" Malcom couldn't believe that Rhénee had just called him that.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACAEWYYklJ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwqIPC2pyB
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡervAv2ToOl
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSlkyAes0a
Malcom flinched a little. He looked up at her, trying to catch her eye, but she seemed too busy to even care.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlTX00OHrC
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmzRMXd2hS
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTaJbtp1Ig
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNysHdIAKSK
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVux9t14gH7
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTVTsHrCIx
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PwydwwKGl
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGaa59Iz5V
"There, all done," she said after making sure the bandage held firmly and tied a little knot.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqnE3ziKOs
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYbfgBbyEq
"Thanks," said Malcom as he looked at his neatly dressed wound. "I never thought you had such talent."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFREs9re6co
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDOHdd9eSt
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyOtQEHPrQ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzRpejAr0d
"You know how to use a gun and how to treat a gun wound. Not a lot of people can do that."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0UXzPxZfe
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPn3m2E6lk
"Why do I feel you're about to ask something?" Rhénee closed the cabinet and looked at Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOAdSaXDjj
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaIOhwvX93
"Who taught you how to handle a gun?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBRIWiJ5ct
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQEsNLfefx
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNDP8goS63
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJiiob9yWK
"I hope I'm not interrupting," came Kevin as he slowly opened the door.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs15oRDkvp2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnzckilU3U
"No, you aren't," said Rhénee as she smiled at him. "I've just finished patching Malcom up."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4XzCJxWg9
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4Xk0xLGiV
"Oh, you've done an exceptional job," said Kevin as he stood in front of Malcom to check his wound.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ8PWifb5I
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRqGkHbHkt
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66iMhFNQE3
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbzam4IPy8
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DiiBSsMiA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6nftqcpAp
"That explains it," said Kevin as he looked at her. "But what about the gun? Who taught you how to aim and all that?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiRJdW97TZ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7f8S6qpCu
"Good question, Kevin," said Malcom. "I was just asking her that before you came in."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oqUBNXfoA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkpFa55OVS
Rhénee scoffed and at the same time, shook her head.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUh8HpbIBF
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ857KjvhMnG
"I don't want to talk about it," she answered. "Can we just drop it, please?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbLJXMloae
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvX8dyz2usf
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZipi6WVWr
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQHne1e9vG
"Greta called," said Kevin, after an awkward silence. "We better go. Miss Griselda may wake up any time now."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTIyFFLQl8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnTLTYKKWm
"You're right," said Malcom as he stood up. He looked at Rhénee who hadn't said a thing. "Rhénee, are you okay?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnafy7cidTM
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6zysbcL1r
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngxePvJMhs
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSGzB1bFhV
"Did we upset her?" Kevin asked a few seconds after she walked out.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRjrW7BC3n
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bc4z3NYGG
"Women get upset over anything," said Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3ImGkuqmA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0jmXvT96T
"Well..., I mean, she just killed somebody. Isn't she bound to be upset?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6rkw6nsyf
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeInv3fSE1
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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKJBLsdSAx
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkOMszA3zu
"Do you think she's killed before?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsB9pWXAzJ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoFC0wGFxW
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PuOdCnR2x
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKeuBdbBJF
"What do you think?" Kevin asked. He felt like he didn't want to hear Malcom's answer.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXMOvSTKoh
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMiorA1YRV
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKB1yusmwb
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2OpqwvrNb
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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIu7Jj4IM6
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9RMwlezT8
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUCg1vCWC4
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvKYE0tbvi
"Come on, we better go," said Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0JPBlRnuo
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp6rmoV92Z
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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmesYSUmAsd
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQucm5vOFNU
"Thank you, Miss Marie," said Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4felj3eO7
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbWjiuI1Bm
"Where's Rhénee?" Miss Marie asked as she looked into the bathroom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JOJvvuge2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH2FpwpTgG
"She um....," Kevin hesitated, "she must be downstairs."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY1lCCJqrl
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlezOiGWvZG
"Well, she did good on that wound of yours," said Miss Marie as she smiled at Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXLTEnmUk8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNLGnTuFiJ
"She really did," said Malcom. He painfully put the shirt on.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzLnKYZLS1
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVHDvfsmnv
"Ah! Fits perfectly." Mrs. Marie beamed.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNou3b4rk4
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VKphFmkfP
"We better get going," said Kevin. "Thanks for all the help, Miss Marie."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0FSb4jWbg
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFelUUiMyT3
"Oh, no problem," Miss Marie said. "I'll escort you outside."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr8FV0dpDC
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxJhJTTg4a
Kevin and Malcom let Miss Marie pass in between them and she led the way down the stairs and to the foyer.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZevy0zgn2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe7eNMZ2pA
"Rhénee, dear," Miss Marie called out as she reached the bottom of the staircase. "It's time to go."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4Ns3IcOYc
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sWKcDMNHl
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NppMLNegm
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1MWFLRMpG
"Huh..., this is strange," she said. "Where could she be?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvomlEtcTRs
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgpL2DQUlj
Malcom and Kevin who stood in the foyer, waiting at the front door, looked at Miss Marie. 706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sos7U9vcZ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsODSviQkx
"She isn't there?" Kevin asked.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbX93AGeaX
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC2IMi4P5Y
Miss Marie turned to look at him down the hall and shook her head. She had a worried look on her face.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDndvmbdHW1
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpNOrENVKs
"Goodness, did we really upset her?" Kevin asked as he looked at Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy1YCmDdrI
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSA5tjeKBWc
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnISkoHbsGC
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfJYpuiCKV
"Oh, thank goodness," said Kevin as he stood beside Malcom. "I thought she ran away again."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKL09ehYUT5
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJWpRUjAC7
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVScZbIt0cC
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CtKuxSpw4
"Rhénee, dear," Miss Marie called as she passed Malcom and Kevin, walking down the stone path.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarbg7sKpOd
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv6tncjxHP
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafZZFitd1w
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C8SrRn1WJ
"What is it?" Rhénee asked when the two met halfway.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcfPujvTE3
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRxWAvw2Ry
Miss Marie held Rhénee's cheek. "You were so brave today, dear," she said. "Your grandmother would have been so proud of you."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp6LpvU4Bz
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlAdfgSQah
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?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdKspibaj6
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEY6UA1GHb
Rhénee contemplated on that statement. "It's going to be like this from now, isn't it?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsgcz0eBAO
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprs1U63XUR
"Just make sure you take care of yourself. The world isn't safe for you and me."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Ql0L8rA8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMdf8HMq8v
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5YHiBWKyF
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2qoDYrD7r
Rhénee felt the back of her trousers with her hand, revealing the gun. She held it up for Miss Marie to take back.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5y0EfsqMk
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1E6zUSW8kg
"No, dear, you keep it," said Miss Marie.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Nlp2Oyrp2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY3SUdDsuU
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd36uhUEpVS
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCxPWiznDe
Miss Marie looked at the gun and she looked back at Rhénee with a smile.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zQKt2F3CS
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwZOAXQtJT
"I'll try to, dear," Miss Marie said. "I still need you alive as well. Your grandmother would too."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSfPm6SXQg
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKFrGhTE4Y
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3y94nLWYM
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1yG8R8Xyv
"We'll see you later, Miss Marie," said Malcom when he and Kevin reached them.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVmprTRktp
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWymrQv5yH
"Take care of her for me," said Miss Marie. "Make sure she doesn't run off like she did."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8noST3q3IF
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDLWqLb1rO
"We will," said Kevin.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcWyYgLZ2n
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CD96ueIu8
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa90pPR6m0
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGbRgzsJvZ
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVWCagnK7J
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JkcjJ5SG1
"Oh, nothing," Kevin replied. "You look really tired, that's all."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCNR4KTX83
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjtNwO0Hfh
"We've had a long day," she said as she looked out the window.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljqppQV9Ua
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqJZAxnVA0
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMdvcjyk56
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubCf5YNlrj
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:706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6gPEnRy8b
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9y52Z5Auh
"Rhénee, wait!"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKAjZOfxiV
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWL8EGShs9
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGZ7cFZheK
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O7pNswlpY
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8Ic7EjsFo
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI68MdJ1Yqb
"I feel like something's troubling you," he finally said.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYS1eFaoEm
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG8YDceThZ
"I'm tired."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9t8uNrcRJ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ374R9Nv6Ab
"Really? I don't think that's it."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTSElsFVYT
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h0Lv0sRPf
"I don't want to sound rude, but you're not my therapist, Kevin. How do you know what I'm going through?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmRnuoGM7Y
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5o2sYzsV4
"Well..., that man whom you shot in the forest-"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxOYIvUHXH
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPcgKStcYz
"-is dead." Rhénee put her hands on her hips. "You think I'm a killer, right?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7szGIlUJi
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiYgADhnkz
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R4COdgjMn
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLZefRV4LR
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EjcEaksZq
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkfzBSNutV
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpuIh70Du5
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSjfbmJfRh
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARyYUyHFFp
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMAQSatLOU
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U4Ggun5pJ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6HEWnMzBs
The urge kept calling him from within, but soon enough, Malcom came right behind him, saving him from doing so.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxqNzEWF0D
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJSi67HzDu
"If you two are done, we better go inside," said Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYApfobMUd
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4yu4Z1rdI
"Sure," said Rhénee as she looked at him. "How's your shoulder?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAiRX26JuZ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TYEKqSiQk
"Hurts a little, but it's nothing."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJHQHLBJOX
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuowtY1Q3S4
"Good. Let's go."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6qwa5Kzpm
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t9pOIZlcn
Rhénee was just about to turn around to head for the door when Malcom said:706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G4jcz88n8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG1fD2jVih
"Thank you, Rhénee. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TlRQznwvV
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSf2ydIPMW
Rhénee didn't turn to look at him, but said, "you're welcome."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPKi11EpPM
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rPpS67eB3
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPB9CoJj2j
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOndRDRMlRC
"Ah! You guys are finally here," Greta said. "You got here just in time."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKSX9hArjP
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBlmyEyn7c
"What? Did something happen to Miss Griselda?" Rhénee asked as she quickly entered the foyer past Greta.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfD9ECnOpA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91gS3YAnvz
"No, no, no," Greta replied, following Rhénee. "She's perfectly fine. Just wait a second."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXo6caHdfS
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnSu1i1aE3
Rhénee stopped in the middle of the living room and turned to look at Greta.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISiMUT2RjU
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPttd9BlxU
"What is it? Did something happen while we were away?" Rhénee asked.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSPUrvNG6S
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QAaLGIjQC
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcpbqmz8Ru
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvI7kEI7YqG
"Okay, I'll go and see her right now."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr53EML1Fc
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbRMFsmgtB
"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?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz9FmSJGee
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2IbtX9grO
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDGIDaVjRI
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WwxZNAKCE
"Huh...," Rhénee hesitated.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWfg1YNJ8F
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPc9U6dWDG
"I told you that we ran into some trouble back in the forest, didn't I?" Kevin asked, drawing Greta's attention to him.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPTLUFgXkl
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPStIoEuWX
"You also look a mess too, Kevin, but not like Rhénee. What happened to you guys back there?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28RhzssvqK
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTKnCdxKzd
The three didn't know what to say as Greta looked at Malcom with a curious look on her face.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOtkArVxJq
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzfcIto9aN
"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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpiSfur4FL
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDliD22Lzz0
"You're hurt, aren't you?" she asked.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfbp4HOvUB
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTyezPyWg4
"No, Greta, I'm not," said Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBDhKap6hn
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y4xkLbRQG
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6j8KZDOml
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ah54AChvy
"Greta..., what are you-?" Malcom avoided her hand by slapping it away.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNMAHuLDwe
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkf02BCpEb
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7ZIAdrEKY
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06fncw6iA4
"I'm perfectly fine. You should've seen the other guy. He's a lot worse than I am. Well..., can I say was?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyNry5rnVf
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXG2HaSKlM
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKvwoHGcca
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpfAX7jTXK
"And so am I," came a voice from up the stairs. Everyone down in the living room paused.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnwyp1EOZN
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps9Hhso3iW
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUU13yxdSU
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbFQq5lxYo
"Miss Griselda, you're okay," said Kevin.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcQLMYLXZf
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos2pTyBnL0
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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKXRuzmLJs
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWAx9YuT5p
"Yes, we did," said Malcom.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJhuGgkkU8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1ytUZ4hvQ
"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?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH9Ycfwvq7
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F9bgmOM0L
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPQTlu8gix
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ39UhzqIsa
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:706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxiYVpQmpg
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2VW5iz07I
"I guess you found the cottage, then?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31PxPxcpG2
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RQMGkvJ0x
Rhénee nodded, surprised that Miss Griselda sounded so calm. "I did," Rhénee said. "But when I got there, I found people waiting for me."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHHPH3x92t
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc5Dz7p00f
"There was more than one person?" Greta asked, sounding surprised.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAe1a94Q2Q
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgsr5XuClP
"Let's sit down," said Miss Griselda. "Tell us everything, and don't leave out any details."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunUNVvYgWt
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv2y1Q0L5t
Rhénee nodded again. "Sure."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iBXukgy1L
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g9qnMhI8b
***706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZxAXk46VQ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuEdMXqx7L
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQcvUKlWIi
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezuSD1c90o
"Hey, earth to Eugene," came a voice, as a hand waved across his face.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonb4nLeYw3
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3U9uOUicE
He snapped out of his thoughts and turned to see one of his colleagues, standing right beside him.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW2qSJhSbi
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBEwOlQZqn
"Preeta, hey," said Eugene as he shifted in his seat, feeling a little uncomfortable that he had been caught off guard.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ848bbgWVUX
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDBUILe7su
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKAPXa9cN5
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXbXC7HwGU
"What were you thinking about just now?" she asked, her elbow on the table and her hand under her chin.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEto31WNLq
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QbO9fjkjk
"Nothing, nothing," said Eugene as he went on to stare at his lunch.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53lS1NZAxi
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk5oDygWjU
"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?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TjoxBzHKo
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITVDkeTOzo
"Yes, I really am. Was just lost in thought, that's all."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hj5XAoeDU
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lTm6Gvp3Q
"Really?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKppnTm8riH
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbmmMOPtYP
Eugene looked up at Preeta still smiling at him. She soon stood up from her seat.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWl7bOi3wP
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUjkBbw6j9
"I'll see you around," she said as she raised her hand to wave at him. "Better get back to work."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfcTMECo9E
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW05YAZj2bD
"Ya, see you around," said Eugene.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAZa5cRePb
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YXgCPZyEC
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMGXUdOAZHe
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24lcWwHuXm
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym0Po0QsGz
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11gtq2BzIt
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDYOLEqhCh
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YBwy17akf
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50sqd6eMJB
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujSaVwa1Xi
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd5K9c8xGh
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5CQ3FgXpq
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDHDzIsyWu
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3jom39aMx
He stopped himself in the hall to answer the call.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozDSMGXvde
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvsbgpCBmH
"Hey, Mrs. Clarks," said Eugene, "is he in?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwCUhJYaQo
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe9KTCZA5k
"That's why I am calling," Mrs. Clarks replied.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARp0oaSVUS
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGUxIBRHhP
"Alright, thanks, a lot." Eugene cut the call.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDXU9vP12r
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqr1Zad9m5
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrlSOXMNui
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLlff2WAcl
"Hey, you seem to be in a hurry," said Preeta, who's cubicle was just opposite Eugene's.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXH95UVyUMH
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAA5pEbgsna
"Yes, I am," Eugene replied as he had no time to chitchat and he quickly left the area.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNijhkBak8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe5T6b5avn
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9Yf8IxQED
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikMlLX2CAE
"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?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwLjA68cdQ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIxgiKBTfD
"Can I go in?" Eugene asked, ignoring the question.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRIBOWjvrm
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGAiPjXtDj
"Sure, knock yourself out," Mrs. Clarks quickly rolled her eyes and went back to looking at the computer screen.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAkq433IG3
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRBdGtL12W
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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFWR5b4qod
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEv2eWSSyx
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LlK7NC5Gt
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLdGtLPfQQ
"Mr Sinclair?" Eugene called out as he approached the desk.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTi2QMET45
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DRphvJbuC
Mr. Sinclair looked up at Eugene.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdg74xU9qr
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjb1TQmZbK
"Ah.., Eugene," said Mr. Sinclair, "what brings you here?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsojjuxBuN
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtRTVvbmL7
"I..., uh," Euegne started to scratch the back of his head. He felt stuck and he completely forgot why he came.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXYVVLT6QY
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeD57ne6ngW
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIlL6FYDwc
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4J9Kg9bsn
"I just came to check up on you, that's all," Eugene answered.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FZfyapbHR
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WHpltpltC
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHgGYwLRMT
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cbXuasGgj
Eugene nervously chuckled. "That's good to know. I hope you had a good time."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKZ6PYPiQf
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3A2kxVPbBs
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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnelg5w4HSe
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuqy0hV2Wx
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdtReBjz7s
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiBRECItpl
"I better be going back to work," said Eugene. "Sorry if I disturbed you."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4Jt1w1GWq
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZIfLIHred
"It's nothing," said Mr. Sinclair with his eyes still fixed on the newspaper. "I'll see you later, Eugene."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSGm963HU8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOgRrIEdiR
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeGzAUFtow
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd52Xya6ntd
He walked out of the office, closing the door behind him. Mrs. Clarks looked up from her computer screen.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiNzMuC1BM
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAgw8Jpdff
"You're out of his office faster than I expected," Mrs. Clark's said with a smirk on her face.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYHOrtx8U8
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCIl6Df5NI
Eugene looked irritated as he asked, "what does that mean?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgknNxVnSw
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yJPnjq6k1
"Oh..., nothing really."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJTvaxqM3
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF9gOdHQWo
"I know you're making fun of me. I just came to check up on him, that's it."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7lLPhwiqu
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL4xlP3b6z
"Did he tell you who this friend of his is?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MboWttKzM
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQ0rdGb83y
"No. It wasn't in my place to ask."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYekIrEADSk
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57XhoOp8Hn
Mrs. Clarks rolled her eyes. "You're just like your boss, you know? Always so boring."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMy1XSGX8f
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyKHtn9rQF
"I'm not boring." Eugene blushed. "Well, at least not like him anyway."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SKSS2Vdq7
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXShRYlO8wk
"Mmmm..., so you agree that Mr. Sinclair is no fun at all, right?"706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5EjfXa7CA
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K1DZx5z76
Eugene didn't answer as he thought it over carefully. He quickly shook his head and said, "no, never mind what I just said."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC5bSuCNYJ
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nQ8JWrbwe
"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."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDRpAsLHlN
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuVQ9IOL9Y
"Huh..., what did you say?" Eugene couldn't believe what he heard.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqwbIYNlvB
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV9vHiKqdd
Mrs. Clarks waved him off like she was chasing away a fly. "You better go back to work, Eugene. Forget I said anything."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRPHGLPDOS
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1KbhVZedF
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyRmje4XkY
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu5LTeKcnx
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? 706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyLirPLF9w
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05ito4baFU
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO97seffJX
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01Ja7id4Lp
"For you to call, then it must have happened," Mr. Sinclair said to the caller.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYIWKsJNPy
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhbin8Z4hy
A female voice replied on the other end, "yes. One person dead. Other casualties occurred, but nothing serious."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CecdcbDFO
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHejludALlj
"And our prized possession?" Mr. Sinclair asked as he looked at his fingers.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH28ICvyU9
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5XL0F3ewy
"Nothing to worry about. Although, there's something you must know. It might surprise you."706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiiI5xRjuj
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwQ9TlVSGv
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.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJex0YV0PH
706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR53887XVf
"Please, go ahead," he said as he tapped his fingers onto the desk.706Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmLGdTC3kE
