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Chapter 37
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"We will get out of this."
"I know we will. I don't doubt that,” Jack smiled, “just wish I could have saved my dad.”
"You can't be a hero all the time."
Jack looked around; it was quiet, and he had never had this much peace for a while. There came an incoming message from Claire, "Where are you, Jack?"
He ignored the text and wandered around. Jack's phone rang from an unknown number, "Hello?"
The other end was quiet; all he could hear was breathing on the other end of the receiver, “who is there?” He repeated; there was no answer except for heavy breathing, “hello?” He repeated when the call had dropped.
The phone rang again, " Hello?"
“Hi, sorry if I bothered you. It sounds like I caught you on a bad time?"
"Who am I speaking to?" Jack asked politely, "oh, I thought you would recognize my voice; it's Tania."
"Aah, Tania, from the photo shoot?"
She went quiet, "Yes,
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“We are almost there.”“I am starving and dehydrated.”Angela saw a nearby garage and stopped getting them food and drinks. She parked the car out of sight and asked Nicole to stay there.After getting them food, she climbed in the car, “Nicole, I am glad you are eating,” Said Angela.They sat and ate and filled up the car with gas on their way. They were back home. Angela was excited to deliver the news that Nicole was still alive.Meanwhile, Jack and Tania left the house, and Tania insisted they take her latest Mercedes. Jack had agreed to travel with her car under the condition he drives.“Thats how I like it.” She joked, “So, where would you like to go?”“Anywhere the wind blows us, it's kinda dark.”Jack agreed, “how about we go for dinner?”“I hope it won't be anything fancy because I am abit underdressed, as you can see.&rdqu
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“Hands up, everyone drop your weapons,” said the cops, "Your timing sucks." “Hand in the air,” the cop insisted, “drop your weapon,” he dropped his gun on the ground, and Jack turned around to look at the cop. The distressed cop insisted, “put down your gun. We won't ask again.” Swat surrounded the building; Jack looked around; he knew he was in deep trouble because it was an illegal firearm, "fine, relax, I am putting the gun down to the ground." He placed the gun on the floor; the cops ran up to him, and the gun handcuffed the armed men and Jack. Claire snuck out, pretending to be a customer, "Marcus, we have a problem?" "Claire, I told you not to call me when you are around him or anyone; you are drawing unwanted attention." "Marcus, just shut up and listen; something happened here at the restaurant. They wanted to take Tania hostage, but Jack interfered, and the cops now surround this place. "Who are those guys? Who wanted to take
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"I am scared, Angela." Angela turned to look at Nicole as she touched her hand; Angel felt Nicole's trembling hands hovering just above her skin, afraid to make it obvious, clammy sweat that seemed to seep from her pores. Her skin crawled, and her bones rattled; her muscles screamed of a horror unseen. She felt fear in the hair on the back of her neck. It is like invisible fingers running along her spine. She wanted to scream but knew it would alert the shooters. Angela covered Nicole's eyes by letting her lean on her shoulder. The next moment, there went multiple gunshots, which was frightening. Nicole gripped Angela tight as the gunshots went off, windows breaking and screaming. Nicole realized her family was inside and let go of Angela; Angela pulled her back, covering her mouth, "there is nothing you can do." Angela removed her magazine, "dammit, only a few bullets." Neighbors wouldn't dare to be so nosy as to what was happening. The men moved closer to t
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"Jack, is that you?" "Brother, I am glad to see you are doing okay?” Jack walked up to Nicole in disbelief that it was her. "You're alive?" “Yes,” Nicole frowned; “why do you look so surprised?" "I am not; it’s just that you have been gone for months." "Your sister saved me, but I can't remember how I got there; all I did seeing is a river." Jack felt relieved as Angela suspiciously looked at him. Nicole walked up to Jack and placed her arms around his neck, “I am happy to see you, especially after what happened.” "I am glad to see you as well. Can we talk in private?" "I will excuse myself while you guys catch up." "Before I do anything, I need to freshen Angela. Do you have any clothes I could borrow?” “Sure, in my room. You do remember my room, right?" Nicole looked confused and looked up to the ceiling, “why am I here?" Jack looked at his sister. Angela walked up to her and touched he
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"Claire, this is a surprise." "You're telling me; I thought you were missing. Angela, welcome back." "Where were you, Nicole? The whole town was looking for you." "Now is not the time, Claire. It's good seeing you; please come in." Claire walked through the house to the lounge, where she saw Jack and Marcus. She awkwardly stood there, "Am I disturbing you, guy?" "No, not at all." Said Jack. “Marcus and Nicole, I am terribly sorry for what has happened to your parents. If there is anything I could do, please let me know." Marcus nodded, "We will let you know." "I saw your house is a crime scene. Do you guys have a place to stay?" "I am at a friend. Nicole will be here with Angela." Claire knew Jack and Nicole had a history, as she nodded, "Nicole, why don't you stay over by me?" "No thanks, I feel more at home here than I felt at my own place." "Okay then, would you mind if I pulled Jack a
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"I need you to erase all footage involving us in Nicole's disappearance." Jack stood outside on the phone, "keep in mind that we thought she was dead; what these people have done to her is worst than death." "Now that the father is out of the way, we must ensure all evidence is erased and keep Claire clear of any documents. We gave her that ranking for a reason. Quiet, someone is coming; we will continue this conversation." "Yes, Boss." Jack hung up the phone, pulling out his unlimited premium black card with a gold layer around the edge. No one knows he owns one, as he linked it with his apple pay. Growing up, his mother always taught him to be wise, always be ahead, and recognize enemies by keeping them close. "Marcus, hey buddy, I never saw you standing behind me." Marcus nodded at Jack, "the way you jumped, I could swear you are hiding something." Jack placed his hand in his pocket and walked up to Marcus, “we all have something to hide, d
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His eyes snapped open before dawn from a long restlessness. He had fought for too many hours to stay dreaming, and he knew there was nothing left to do but get up. He got up, turned off his alarm to spare his sleeping sound, and stumbled into the living room, where he stood in front of the window for several minutes, scratching his bare belly. He went outside. The cold wasn't the biting but the slow seeping kind. He wished he had brought his slippers but didn't want to return to his room to get them. He felt he was doing something important, surveying the land, taking in something he saw only a few times per year: the darkness before dawn. The feeling of restlessness, the deaths of his parents, who he was, and who he became. His consciences started to bother him. Maybe his dad was not that bad after all, all he had was a sister, and now they were sharing a place with Nicole, so much had changed, he had left his phone in his room, that dream had woke him from his deep sleep, conscien
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"Why did you look so worried?" "Because Marcus, I was instructed to bring you in." "You have called out the executioner; by pressing that button twice, the silencer would have killed that man in public." "There must be a mistake; I pressed the black button once, not twice, unless someone higher than me was there and your life was endangered? There was only me, my sister, Angela, and her Brother. There must be some mistake.” "Anyway, the General wants to see you." "This is not good, is it?" Claire shook her head, then shrugged, “they sent out four men to bring you in this morning, but it seems like those guys didn't pitch. This is the thing with hiring criminals on contract. They are never reliable." Marcus never thought much of it until he picked up his Jacket. He stood still, looking out the window, "Marcus come, we have to go." Marcus stood in silence, then said, "Angela came this morning back from a store but had blo
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"You like her, don't you?""Like who, Nicole?""Do not act dumb, Jack. I saw how you looked at Jessica.”"Guys, it's one in the morning. What is going on?”Jack looked at his sister and shook his head. Nicole had been crying; Angela sat beside Nicole, squeezed her hand, then let out a gentle smile, "want to tell me what happened?"Nicole looked up at Angela, “it's Jack. He likes Jessica.”Angela was waiting for Nicole to say something."You know we love and care about you and will always be here for you, but you and my brother split up before the accident.”Jessica stood outside the door, hearing the conversation. She couldn't help but feel relieved that Angela had talked with Nicole. She looked across the passage and saw Jack's room light was on. Jessica tip-toed over to his room and looked inside. He sat with something in his hand; she couldn't make it out what it was.“He stil
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“Why is everyone afraid of him?” Nicole asked."Well, sooner or later, you will know more about him. Rogan is not the type of guy you see here; he is a well-known international person, and people he deals with are in the underworld.”“The underworld?” Nicole said."Yes, where the money laundering, drugs gangs, and druglords are. He spent billions on creating that market. Have you heard of the site salt that comes from the dark web? Well, Rogan has the real thing running.”"Does that not create alot of enemies? Make people dislike you?""Of course. Why do you think I kept my identity a secret?"My brother never exposes himself, which is why I am surprised we came here. Angela looked over at Jessica, "what about you, Jessica? How do you feel about all this?""Angela, we've come a long way. You would know how I feel about it but, just like." Angela stopped her, “rather not say.”Jess
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"Sorry, Angela, for bringing it up. It's better to let it out than to keep it bottled up, being uncertain."Nicole looked ahead and sunk in her seat, “it's him, "it's him, the guy who raped me."She pointed at a fifty-year-old white guy with a thirteen-year-old girl standing next to him. "Stop this car immediately,” Jessica demanded.Angela pulled over to the car, and Jessica walked up behind the older man, pulled out her gun, and shot him in the back of his head in broad daylight. Angela ducked down in the car, "what did you just do?""You saw what I did. That asshole deserved it.""He did, but come on, in broad daylight, we can't go doing shit like that in broad daylight.”Nicole sat in silence, watching the two girls talk. Jessica dared to kill the man in broad daylight for her sake. No one would do what Jessica did; she showed no emotion or remorse for what she had just done. “What if they saw the license plate An
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Arriving at the hospital, Nicole and the others are waiting for the doctor."Don’t be nervous. You will be fine.""I dont feel that way. Right now, my heart is beating fast."She takes Angela's hand, placing it on her chest. "can you feel that?"Angela nods, "you will be fine try not to overthink it."Jessica is sitting on the opposite chair, is becoming impatient, then stands up and walks over to the reception. A young lady with red curly hair wearing red lipstick and a formal black skirt looks up."Can I help you, mam?""I don’t know, mam, if you are capable of doing anything else than sit there ignoring instead of lifting your ass off that chair and coming over to us to tell us what the holdup is?"The receptionist flickers her eyebrows, looking down at her file, then looks ups, "The doctor will let me know when I can let you in.""Is that not the whole reason we call in for an appointment?""Yes, b
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"How do you know Rogan again?" Nicole stood with her arms folded, tapping her foot on the ground.Jack walked up to her, "Nicole, we broke up that day before you left. I am not sure if you remember that day. We went out separate ways saying no hard feelings.”Nicole eased her arms to her side and walked over to the window, staring out, "if we broke up, why am I here?""Because you have been through alot and me and my sister want to make sure you get treatment. After all, we both lost families."Nicole's eyes became teary, "so you never loved me?" She said, staring out the window and looking at the tree and the rain."I loved you, Nicole, but we both agreed we were better off as friends.""How do I know you are telling the truth and not just saying so because Jessica is here?""Jessica and I never had the connection we had. What we had was amazing. We built memories and had a great time together."Nicole folded her arms, s
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"How did you find us here?""Well, you have known me since school. I've been good at sniffing out hiding places, Im like a trained dog on a leash."Thats quite a term to use, Marcus thought.Rogan had this smile when he smiled understandingly, much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance that you may come across four or five times in life.It faced –or seemed to face– the eternal world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. He was commonplace in complexion, features, manners, and voice. He was tall and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual blue, were perhaps remarkably cold, and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe."So, will you tell us how you found it?" Angela crossed her arms.With his long shoulder-length curly hair, Rogan walked over to the fridge. Opening it, "your broth
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"What are you doing here?" Mark looked surprised, "the question is, why are you here, and where does this lead to?" "To my garage." Mark acted surprised, "fancy car in a garage?" "Yes, this belongs to a friend." Claire looked over Mark's shoulder, "why are they here?" “We came down here for some work and ended up trying to open whatever this is?" "Would you mind if we gave a peek inside?" Angela stood with her arms crossed, blocking Mark, the guys who climbed out stepped forward, "Gentleman, please give me some space?" He said, sounding annoyed. "Okay, boss." "Quite a title you have there, boss?" "Yes, they work for me on a construction site." "Construction site at this hours. I bet they get paid well over time, do you boys." She leaned her neck forward, grinning." "Of course they do. I take care of my staff." "Good to know, Mark." "Are you able to direct where you
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"Marcus, I don't think your sister is fine. She is going backward." "What do you mean?" "She is saying things that make no sense, and she kept singing, hush, little baby." "Thats a song my mom sang to us when we were afraid." Marcus grew concerned, clenching his fist, “those assholes fucked her mentally." "We must take her to a doctor for an MRI." Marcus walked over to the window, staring out. Lacy white-edged clouds rolled in over the blue sky, their centers as deep as any shoreline rock. “The weather is getting worse. It looks like we are expecting a storm.” Angela hurried over to the window glancing out, "What about Jack?" "He's like a cat with nine lives." Marcus joked, regretting his words afterward when seeing how concerned Angela was, "he will be okay." Angela looked at him with her deep soulful eyes, then walked over to the other end of the window, "Do you know Jack has always been the strong one
