Ninety-seven

John had been sequestered in a small apartment in another state, watching the news constantly for any developments in his case. He was astounded by how quickly everything had degenerated since that evening. Despite his meticulous planning and careful execution, one slip-up caused everything to fall apart. He sorely missed Rebecca because of the way she made him feel alive by laughing at his jokes. He couldn't allow Andreas to separate from him for her.

He had been working on a plan, biding his time until the right moment. He knew he couldn't just show up at her doorstep; that would only scare her away. No, he needed to be more subtle and strategic. He had to make her believe that he had changed and that he was a different person. He couldn't risk losing her again.

He spent his days researching and gathering information about Andreas and his life. He needed to know his enemy. He needed to know what he was up against. John knew he had the advantage when it came to money, but Andreas w