Our Dirty Little Secret

”I know something dreadful has happened to Elly. She is the only family I have left, and of course, I must worry about her safety. This is my part of the money, even though it may not be much I still insist on helping, so please add it to the money that you have to give to the kidnappers.” Emily Russel said while she opened the suitcase filled with neat rows of cash.

When Alex heard what Emily had said, he frowned, and his voice sounded cold. ”How did you know Elly was kidnapped? I was not considering asking anyone for money?”

Emily explained calmly and unhurriedly. ”I did not see Asha go back to your house yesterday so I called her, but I could not get in touch with her. According to the reaction of housekeeper Geno and the concern of the Brotherhood, we should have guessed. We live in a wealthy family, so is it really not that strange for a person to try kidnapping and extorting us because of money?”

He smiled then sighed. ”Elly had no enemies so she must have been kidnapped for money.”

”Where did you get so much money?” Alex asked suspiciously.

Emily Russel bit her mouth, bowed her head, and said in a dull voice. I sold Elly’s home.

”Whose home?” Alex asked. ”Did you really sell her house downtown?”

Emily Russel nodded in agreement. ”You know, I am an ordinary person now, and I run a payroll business like other employees. I thought that when Elly returned home, I would have given her house back to her. But there was nothing more important than standing in front of Asha’s safety. I believe that as soon as she knows something, she will understand my work.

Her words were so convincing that if Alex did not believe her, no one else would.

”Since you knew her all too well, I believe she was behind all of this.” Recalling the email Elly received, she decided to let it happen naturally. She did not give in to accept the cash box. Elly was lucky to have a sister who loved her as much as she did.

Emily Russel smiled then straightened her face while glaring at Alex’s gaze. With excitement in her heart but with caution, and ready to get out of the situation. ”No, no, no. no, no, no!!!”

Alex arrived at the park at 9 p.m. as the abductees had instructed him to. He placed the two suitcases full of money on the ground by the lake. He then put his hand in one of his trousers’ pockets, and looked around carelessly, then waited for the trade to begin.

Thirty minutes later, Alex the abductees that were lurking in the secret location finally arrived.

Two men that were wearing headscarves walked up to Alex and asked.

”Why are there only two suitcases?” The person who seemed to be in charge asked loudly.

”Only an idiot would change fifty million into cash, and I cannot drive the armored car to the place of meeting. Can you imagine how much cash there is for fifty million dollars?” Alex gave him a bank card and without explaining anything to him.

One of the men opened his cell phone to read text messages, another man opened the box and checked and saw that it was red inside, nodded to his companion, and the other handed him the key.

”Your woman is in an abandoned warehouse on the Westside, on Galapagos Street, near the gas station. Here is the key.”

Alex took the key while he took another box.

He clasped the key, looked at the two men with such violent eyes, and turned away. After a few steps, the kidnapper’s dirty words suddenly came. ”Damn it! Deceive us with fake money?”

Alex jumped back and saw when the man with a thick beard pull down the box. The money fell to the ground and was blown away by the wind. It turned out that the money above was real, and below was paper.

”Fuck you!”

He began to curse secretly in his heart and wanted to come over in order to change the situation around. But the bearded man immediately took out his cell phone and ordered the persons on the other end to arrest someone at once!

”Wait a minute!” Alex hit the mobile phone out of his hand and tried to grab it.

The phone fell and was kicked into the lake, and the guy with the crazy beard threw the empty suitcase on him. He lay down on the ground, with his hands raised from the ground, suddenly, he heard what sounded like sirens, and a loud bang.

The bushy-bearded man hit him in the stomach, staggered backward, while looking at him fiercely and cursed him at the same time. ”How dare you call the police? If you want to play with us, you will pay the price.”