Earl looks at the newcomer with a slight frown but he doesn't say anything."Please get me the first aid box.""Oh. Give me a second."He returns with a fully equipped box and Sue checks out the would but it happens to be a graze. The bullet could have really hit Earl but her elbow got right in the way so the bullet scratched her badly but it didn't stay in her skin, it hit the wall a few meteres behind them and stayed stuck there.Sue wipes the wound carefully with some iodine to stop the bleeding and covers it up with a bandage. Thankfully, it is not very serious enough to need a hospital.Sue pats her. "You have no idea how much of a good deed you did unconsciously. If your hand had not caught that bullet, he, your boss will be dead now with a gunshot to the head.""I saw that car when it got here but didn't pay any mind to it." Marshall reveals, facepalming, "I should have at least noted the number plate.""Don't worry, I didn't get it all but I got the first three letters. The ca
Ford pushes forward and stands beside his Dad. He faces the officers. "What's going on?""In relation to the arrest of Alexa and Sharon Greene, we need him as a witness for something but he's refusing to come with us."Sue frowns. Did she hear correctly? She steps forward as well. "Did you say Alexa and Sharon Greene? What case is that?""Yes, both women were accosted for selling drugs."Sue, shocked, takes a step back.Drugs?That's an all time low for them both."So what does Mr Mason have to do with it?""Miss Alexa gave us..."Two newcomers part the thick crowd and come out in the open space. One of them give the talking police officer a look and he keeps quiet immediately."Let's go back to the station Officer Moore."The two officers leave, leaving the newcomers.The female one amongst the two flashes her badge. "Agent Harper, FBI."Wade steps back, Ford pats him. "FBI? What has the FBI got to do here?""We're here for Me Mason. Honestly, we just have a few questions. As the prev
Wade takes a deep breath and turns to Ford instead of Agent Harper."I admit I passed by that damn toll gate but I can say it anyday and anytime and in front of any witness that I didn't pass there after murdering a woman. I didn't even know her for goodness sake."Harper clears her throat. "Uhm... You didn't need to. She stole your briefcase didn't she? That's why you went after her."Wade turns to her, his lips set in a grim warning line. "I get that you have to do your job but don't say anything that you can't verify.""What is here that needs extra verification? The room where the theft happened was filled totally with your fingerprints. Just yours, and the hotel's receptionists made it quite clear that they didn't let anyone into that room after that night because they didn't have a lot of customers."Sue sniffles and then frowns.Wade falters. "But I really didn't even visit the hotel, I don't even know where Kay Avenue is. I have left Atlanta for so long that I don't even know
Good Day to you all...First of all, I have to apologize for the irregular and not coming updates. You know me guys... I'd never willingly leave you hanging, uncertain about the world in this book.I've been so swamped with school work lately that I don't even know where all the work is coming from.Which is making me write this ahead, hoping to receive a little understanding.This week will most certainly be better than the last. It won't be daily updates but at least once every two days, pinky promise.And to Thea and Sindhu Sunil...Thanks for being my encouragement in ways you both don't even know.And to my other readers, I know you're reading too, just giving me a little ghost and anonymity, I appreciate it all the same.So...Happy Sunday?Ugh, I'm terrible at byes.I guess it's See ya at the end of the book.I never said this before...I love you all and I need you to survive-Samantha.
The next morning, from every news channel across Atlanta, the live press conference is what everyone is watching, listening or reading about on the internet.All the news outlets had carried and aired the news about Alexa and Sharon's deaths and had named it the Greene Drug Case.In front of all the flashing cameras and screaming reporters, amongst the ones too busy typing to care about the shoving around, Harper climbs the stage, dressed as a police officer.Ford and Sue didn't go to work that day and are over at the Greene Mansion where James had gone to stay the night. They had gone to join him the next day to make sure he was taking pretty good care of himself.While on the Television, Harper taps the microphone slightly for feedback before she leans down to talk. "Hello, my name is Detective Harper and I'm the officer in charge of the Greene Drug Case. We send our sincere apologies to their families and friends. We accosted the man who killed Ms Alexa yesterday afternoon. Coincid
Harper bursts open the door to the FBI's recording room and makes for one guy sitting in the middle of the hall, surrounded by many computers, all switched on and working on something.The guy in the middle is sitting in a swivel chair and swivels around and back to one computer and then to to another, pressing buttons on one and going to another to do the same while listening to some really loud music on the headset placed firmly on his head.Harper reaches him and stops his swiveling chair with her bare hands.He stops and looks over his head, and then smiles brightly seeing it's Harper.He removes his headset from his head and places it gently on the table before standing up and giving a mock salute."AGENT DREW REPORTING!"Harper raises her brows, releasing the chair. "What does that one mean now?""You were a police officer yesterday..."Harper sighs. "Just show me what you said you had for me. Something for the Greene Drug Case you said?""Always straight to business..." Drew pu
Harper stands up straight. "Thanks for your help..." Her eyes lingering slightly on Harry who looks at her passively. "We're going to have an issue though. We can nab the original man by just using this call as conclusive evidence but the other man... Brian, you call it, will be hard if he sounds as criminally intelligent as he seems."Sue frowns. "Why can't this call also be a conclusive evidence? He mentioned the framing explicitly...""There were no names, we don't know who's fingerprints they were referring to so we can't use that. We're going to have the catch the first man but this Brian will be a hard nut to crack so we'll just keep our eyes on him, waiting for a slip up.""Or better still... Get the other man to tell on him?"Harper smiles indulgently. "That won't work. I know him already. Before he went to jail for his last conviction, he didn't croak a name no matter what we did. Even the polygraph didn't work on him. He's a living criminal mastermind.""What's his name?" Su
"Why am I being kept here? For what reason?""Really? I know you're not a smart man but you can do better than this. Have we ever arrested you without having a reason, a reason and what makes us think so?"Big Fry scoffs. "Every time you caught me or said you did, you were wrong. All your stupid proofs just pointed the most at me.""I wish. But then, let's start with this wig." Harper slams her hand on the fake hair on the table, having been yanked off the man's head when he was arrested.He looks away."Looking away doesn't prove anything. You were caught with this fake hair, with the same one with which the strands of which were found at the crime scene. Some burnt in the wreckage and some lying outside where there were many small splatters of blood of where you shot her."He tuts. "I keep telling you, you've gone and arrested the wrong person.""Fine then. We'll go the hard way. Your accomplice has ratted you out."That gets the much expected reaction from him, but he quickly regai
* Years later*Sue opens the door, laughing widely and happily."Welcome home guys. I'm happy to be hosting the Christmas Dinner this year. You guys should come on in."Darlene comes in first, Harry behind heTwor and then Tanya, all of whom give her hugs as they enter, all of them beaming."It's been quite a while Mum." Sue remarks as she hugs Darlene.Darlene tips her hat, "what can I say? I've been out traveling the world with my husband. All my children are old enough to take care of themselves so I deserve some respite.""Speaking about that, where's Wade?""I'm guessing he's fighting with the baskets we came with. They are yours by the way and my babies. Where are they?""Inside, with their Dad. He seems to be the only one they take clothes from these days, just like Ashley when she was little. I learnt to adapt." She smiles, her beauty showing no sign of fatigue or fading.Tanya walks around, smiling at the beautiful frames on the wall, saying nothing.Harry is on a call on the c
At the party after the wedding ceremony, everyone puts on their dresses according to the theme as decided by Holly and Darlene.And Egyptian times were known mostly for the gold in their clothes and fine linens so there was a flash of gold coming from everywhere.But when Sue came in, there was no gold that matched hers, none was as luxurious and elegant as her own, along with the modest yet exquisite accessories laid in her hair.And none shone the brightest.It was really giving the Cleopatran vibe as everyone expected.As they will say, Sue ate and left no crumbs.When it comes to the time to throw flowers, every single person was arranged behind Sue, all, or most, eager to catch the flower and decide their future for themselves in marriage.At the back, it included Tara, Raya, Marshall was forced there by Ford against all his own wishes, Tanya and Harry, forced in there by their mum, Darlene and Holly too, giggling like children how they would not mind a man at their age, Ella, Ear
Dignitaries from fear and near, important people from inside and outside the country all attended the wedding.It was tagged that one wedding that will be me remembered for years to come.Holly and Darlene really outdo themselves, making sure that everything is in place and then leaving Sue and Ford to just simply enjoy their day.Very early in the morning, people have started to arrive and upon closer look, they are no ordinary set of people.There was a special guest that threw everyone off the bat.Very early that day, a long black limousine shows up, bearing a ton of gifts and simply a letter with it.At the time, only the residents and family members are around, also the working staff, doing last minute touches to the outdoor wedding venue.Sue receives the flowers and the other gifts and then the letter. She thanks the deliverers and tears open the letter, she reads the letter to the slow widening of her family's eyes and surprise.Even she herself had to gasp."This is signed Sa
It's Ford's turn to facepalm, although there's a hint of hidden laughter on his face. "We'll deal with you two later. Let's attend to the reporters so we can get some rest, what do you think?"Sue nods, agreeing. "Please.""Attention please. Come this way if you have questions. We'll answer them to the best of our abilities."This grabbed all attention towards the couple who stand side by side, Ford's large hands enclosing Sue's in his. "So we heard you have questions for us?""Is a wedding really happening? I mean you're two influential families. Don't you want to give a chance to others?"They all laugh."Well, what can we say when fate drew us to one another? I can't swap her for the world and I'm sure it's a mutual feeling." Ford responds, gently squeezing Sue's hand.Sue nods slowly by his side, her smile infectious."Another question. What will happen to your businesses when you marry? Ms Sue has her own company and you do yours and Ms Sue's family has hers too. It's a lot. Woul
For the next few weeks, all Holly and Darlene saw of their children and grandchild was video calls and posts on their social media accounts.They had tons of fun, not wanting it to end.They visited many states, including Dallas where everyone got to go to a Cowboy festival where they had rodeo drives and roasted pigs and kicked up as many dusts they could on themselves and others while riding horses and when simply running around, having fun.For the first few days after the incident that shook the whole family so much, Ashley was a little sad and scared. Every minute, she would shake without reason, like a sudden gust of wind was blown on her and it worried everyone so much until they went on their vacation where Ashley was always within eyeshot. Everyone had eyes on her and others, ready to make another lesson of anybody who tries to try shit with them as an individual and as a family as a whole.For a whole month, they visited every amusement park, every theme park, every Five Mi
Ford stands with the Chief of the Police Force as they both watch the body get covered and the ambulance leaves with the other.The chief barks out orders to his men and they respond with gusto and then he faces Ford and smiles warily. "What really happened here?""They both had kidnapped my daughter and sister. I wanted to teach them a lesson but I didn't even get to. Brian got his hand shot off by Angela while she fell through that window all on her own. I guess the guilt from shooting her partner was too much but I don't think she'd want to die so the falling must have been an accident." He explains, meeting the Chief's eyes very bravely and squarely."Hm, I see. So that's what happened. We'll get the body to the morgue while the man will be taken to the hospital. I never thought I'd see a severed hand like that, it looked so roughly pulled or torn apart. Do you know about that?"Ford shakes his head. "As soon as Angela fell, I and my assistant both left the room, hoping we could s
Angela backs towards the window while Sue walks forward as well, scalpel in hand.*Hours later, Ashley is asleep with Sue holding her close to her chest, rocking her as she sleeps.She doesn't even notice when Tanya comes into the room, her face wet with tears, tears of mixed feelings.Sadness and Happiness at the same time.Tanya sits beside her and touches Sue's shoulder ever so slightly. "You know it is not your fault right? Those bastards must have known one way or the other that whatever happened was a result of their own choices."Sue tries to smile. "It's not that actually but thanks for being here with me..." Sue glances at Ashley as the girl snuggles closer to her, putting her head on her inner arms. Sue turns to Tanya and smiles appreciatively. "You know, I never had the opportunity to adequately thank you for what you did even after you got beaten while doing it. I really owe you a lot."Tanya smiles widely. "You don't need to thank me. It's what any human would have done,
James picks up Ashley from the ground, trying to calm and stop her from crying and at the same time, noticing the soft bump on the door.The door opens and out comes Marshall, who barks at one of the two men who came up with him. "Call the authorities! Immediately." He goes back in and closes the door behind him again.James tried to peep in through the open crack but he didn't see anything other than Marshall's body blocking the door and the light in the room.Who had been shot?No one knows, all except those inside.*Holly laughs excitedly as she licks off the upper part of the ice cream she's holding, and Darlene cracking jokes jokes beside her."And then I go, oh my goodness, I didn't switch on the electric cooker after putting the water on for over two hours..."Holly only laughs the more. "How did you not know?""Seriously. I felt like an idiot. All after bragging that I can make a world known chef. A world known chef who forgets to switch on the cooker.""Yeah, you're well on
Terribly shaking and nervous as she stares at the dark muzzle of the gun pointing at her head, Angela walks straight for the door after pulling the key out of her chest.Shakingly, she puts the key in the lock and turns it open."Open the door."Angela pulls down the knob and opens the door just as Marshall and two men enter the boutique.All the noise and ruckus has attracted people who weren't there just minutes before and now there were people peeping in through the boutique's glass windows.Angela steps out first, Sue follows behind her and then James.When the crowd sees the gun, there's a collective gasp.Marshall walks to meet her. "Would you like me to handle that?"Sue smiles at him, "Don't worry, I've got this. I'm sure if I don't kill her, I can at least ruin her pretty face." Sue says quite loudly and just as much as she knows people's weak points, she'll bet everything that Angie's weak points is her looks.Her hands still up, Sue nudges her into the other room, she enters