about?” I asked.
“Twenty thousand in one hundred dollar bills,” she lowered her head.
“I don’t have that kind of money,” I panicked.
“I have the money with me. I took it out of my trust fund.” Francesca pulled out a small package wrapped in black paper from her purse. “Is your freedom worth this? All you have to do is deliver it and keep your mouth shut.”
I lifted my head and looked her in the eyes. “Give me the details.”
“You see that mailbox beyond the swing sets? The money has to be put under there at nine-thirty, not one minute before or after.” She looked at her cell phone. “It’s nine-fifteen”
I tightened my jaw. “So we’re already on borrowed time?”
“Weren’t we always?” she said.
I forced a grin. This day was dripping with irony. “After all these years, someone comes forward?”
“Yes. And I think I may know who it is, but I want to be sure before I make an accusation,” she said.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“I can’t tell you now. I have more pressing matters to take care of. First, I have to meet someone.” She pressed the package into my hand.
I pushed it back at her. With fear in my voice I said, “I won’t do this.”
Francesca chucked the package back at me and yelled, “It’s this or jail. I came up with the money. The least you can do is make the drop-off.”
She did have a point. Before I could respond, she stormed off leaving the package in my hands and fear in my bones.
Just then, something occurred to me about the bench I was sitting on. Any time I passed it, the people on it always seemed to be shouting and arguing. It must be cursed. It was an angry bench. I looked over and saw a couple kissing on a bench a few yards away. That was the same bench on which I sat when Ken proposed. It must be the romantic bench.
My thoughts flew back to my assignment.
What if the blackmailer planned on not only taking the money but killing the person who delivered it? Or demanded more money later? Okay, my imagination was running wild. But I didn’t want to be seen doing the drop-off. I quickly decided that I would disguise myself, and then get a weapon for protection. I had less than fifteen minutes so I hurried to the pavilion.
I dashed to the locker room, unlocked the door and grabbed some of Mark’s clothes. I put on his captain’s hat and his windbreaker. I tucked the package of money under the windbreaker. Looking around I found a flashlight, which would have to do as my weapon. And it served a dual purpose. If needed, I could shine the light in their eyes to blind them and then whack them on the head with it.
Emerging from the locker room, I hurried to the playground area. I sat outside a stream of light from one of the nearby pavilion street lamps. I had a good view of the mailbox. Now I had to time it just right to run to the mailbox and toss the money under it. My heart was racing and my body drenched in bitter dread.
A dark shadow moved near a group of trees by the mailbox. I forced myself to concentrate on deep breaths.
Glass broke. I jumped. It became darker. Someone must have busted a streetlight. They’re after me.
My cell phone read nine-twenty-eight. In the dark, I stumbled and fell to the ground on my way to the mailbox.
A little ambient light from nearby buildings helped me find my way as I crawled on my hands and knees, over sand and dirt and twigs.
My head hit something metal. I reached up and felt the cool metal mailbox.
I listened for any movement around me.
Other than the sound of crickets chirping and waves lapping against the shore, it was pretty quiet. I must be alone, for now. I took a deep breath, I had to do this. As soon as I made the drop, I ran like hell.
***
After changing clothes, I walked back to H&K’s. My legs were still quivering. Mark appeared and put his hand on my shoulder.
“Are you okay, Casper?” Mark said.
“Huh?” I said.
Mark held my shoulders. “You’re as white as a ghost. You know
“Twenty thousand in one hundred dollar bills,” she lowered her head.
“I don’t have that kind of money,” I panicked.
“I have the money with me. I took it out of my trust fund.” Francesca pulled out a small package wrapped in black paper from her purse. “Is your freedom worth this? All you have to do is deliver it and keep your mouth shut.”
I lifted my head and looked her in the eyes. “Give me the details.”
“You see that mailbox beyond the swing sets? The money has to be put under there at nine-thirty, not one minute before or after.” She looked at her cell phone. “It’s nine-fifteen”
I tightened my jaw. “So we’re already on borrowed time?”
“Weren’t we always?” she said.
I forced a grin. This day was dripping with irony. “After all these years, someone comes forward?”
“Yes. And I think I may know who it is, but I want to be sure before I make an accusation,” she said.
“Who is it?” I asked.
“I can’t tell you now. I have more pressing matters to take care of. First, I have to meet someone.” She pressed the package into my hand.
I pushed it back at her. With fear in my voice I said, “I won’t do this.”
Francesca chucked the package back at me and yelled, “It’s this or jail. I came up with the money. The least you can do is make the drop-off.”
She did have a point. Before I could respond, she stormed off leaving the package in my hands and fear in my bones.
Just then, something occurred to me about the bench I was sitting on. Any time I passed it, the people on it always seemed to be shouting and arguing. It must be cursed. It was an angry bench. I looked over and saw a couple kissing on a bench a few yards away. That was the same bench on which I sat when Ken proposed. It must be the romantic bench.
My thoughts flew back to my assignment.
What if the blackmailer planned on not only taking the money but killing the person who delivered it? Or demanded more money later? Okay, my imagination was running wild. But I didn’t want to be seen doing the drop-off. I quickly decided that I would disguise myself, and then get a weapon for protection. I had less than fifteen minutes so I hurried to the pavilion.
I dashed to the locker room, unlocked the door and grabbed some of Mark’s clothes. I put on his captain’s hat and his windbreaker. I tucked the package of money under the windbreaker. Looking around I found a flashlight, which would have to do as my weapon. And it served a dual purpose. If needed, I could shine the light in their eyes to blind them and then whack them on the head with it.
Emerging from the locker room, I hurried to the playground area. I sat outside a stream of light from one of the nearby pavilion street lamps. I had a good view of the mailbox. Now I had to time it just right to run to the mailbox and toss the money under it. My heart was racing and my body drenched in bitter dread.
A dark shadow moved near a group of trees by the mailbox. I forced myself to concentrate on deep breaths.
Glass broke. I jumped. It became darker. Someone must have busted a streetlight. They’re after me.
My cell phone read nine-twenty-eight. In the dark, I stumbled and fell to the ground on my way to the mailbox.
A little ambient light from nearby buildings helped me find my way as I crawled on my hands and knees, over sand and dirt and twigs.
My head hit something metal. I reached up and felt the cool metal mailbox.
I listened for any movement around me.
Other than the sound of crickets chirping and waves lapping against the shore, it was pretty quiet. I must be alone, for now. I took a deep breath, I had to do this. As soon as I made the drop, I ran like hell.
***
After changing clothes, I walked back to H&K’s. My legs were still quivering. Mark appeared and put his hand on my shoulder.
“Are you okay, Casper?” Mark said.
“Huh?” I said.
Mark held my shoulders. “You’re as white as a ghost. You know
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