“How’s this even possible? I’m very sure I was alone. The place was deserted enough for me to know if someone was following me or not. I don’t get it.” Ryan scoffed, narrowing his eyes at the screen in sheer disbelief.Evans only laughed then clicked replay. He changed the playback speed and the video played slower. Evans instructed them to watch carefully then suddenly hit the spacebar, so quickly that both parties flinched. His chubby index finger pointed at the computer, almost making contact with the screen."Look really closely, there's a moving figure between those trees. Barely noticeable but he's there," He said to them and rested his back on his swivel chair. Ryan's eyes widened in shock as he stared at it, refusing to believe the sight in front of him. He shuddered a bit, the eerie feeling of paranoia hitting him again. Turner looked at Ryan, shook his head, and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He pushed play on the video again and watched it intently. He paus
“We are sticking to the plan, aren’t we?" "Definitely," Turner confirmed, earning an acknowledging nod and hum from Ryan. Ryan swept across his fairly used loveseat with his hand, noticing some dust had settled on it. He looked around his small apartment again, then glanced at Turner, hoping he felt comfortable scrunched up in it. Turner's eyes were kept fixed on his smartphone, paying little attention to him. Ryan sighed in disappointment and slouched back in his seat. He couldn't wait to leave this small home. They both sat in Ryan's living room waiting for Jessica to arrive. Having informed her there was new information about the watch, Jessica would definitely not waste any time getting there. Soon enough, they heard footsteps by the door, followed by three short knocks. Jessica's signature knock, Ryan recognized. As he stood up to get the door, he turned to Turner one last time and they gave each other reassuring nods. Ryan swung the door open, a welcoming smile when he g
Evans had already been waiting for them in the living room, aware that they had arrived. As if on cue, both men entered the room with sinister smiles on their faces. “So? How did it go?”“It was hilarious. Ryan here─,” Turner swung an arm around Ryan’s shoulder, using his free hand to ruffle his hair, “─could play a very good actor. He lied so smoothly that he almost convinced me.”“No, it wasn't that good…” Ryan smiled sheepishly, cowering into Turner’s embrace. “It was, boy. Give yourself some credit” Turner scowled and jokingly smacked his arm. “Jessica totally fell for it! You should’ve seen her face,” Ryan started, bursting to another fit of laughter.“She looked so desperate like a mother hen that lost her chicks.” Turner mocked, mimicking Jessica’s facial expressions. “Alright. It's good she was convinced. Let’s hope Smith receives that information and waits for them to make their next move.” Evans encouraged, eyes twinkling at the two men that were so excited by the progr
Evans and Ryan turned to him, confusion etched on their faces"There are literally people waiting outside," He repeated with his arm waving in front of them waiting for a reaction from both men. When realization completely settled in, Evans quickly stalked to his desk, swiftly landing on his swivel chair, and punched in keys on the computer.The CCTV footage opened and true to Turner's words, there were a handful of men scattered around the exit points of the house. "What the" Ryan's mouth dropped open in shock. Evans let out a deep breath, fist supporting his head with his elbow on the desk. "They made their move," He concluded."They're quick," Ryan remarked, shaking his head in disbelief. "To the point of stalking us here? Persistent," Turner was baffled, almost impressed even."They're after the watch, Jessica must've gotten to Smith already" Evans corrected him. "So what do we do?" Ryan blinked, still monitoring the men. "We give them what they want.""What? There's no way
Jessica stood frustrated after getting the call from the men she hired. They just threatened her life thinking she had played a dirty prank on them. Jessica groaned, stomping on the now snow-coated pavement. She huffed as her mind raced. "What does he mean lost? Ryan has never lost his watch before. Why now?" She fiddled with her phone, trying to call Emily but to no avail. It said it was switched off. She cursed to herself, finally deciding on a solution. "I need to search Ryan's house," She whispered to herself, gathering her purse and properties and heading to her own home. She got to her own house and gathered supplies she thought she needed. She hastily shoved the black leather gloves in her pocket and the spare keys to his home which he had entrusted in her care. She ran to his house, paying no heed to the harsh freezing weather. Her teeth chattered as the wind hit her face. Immediately she got there, she noticed it was unlocked and busted the door open. She definitely wasn
Ryan cracked his eyes open, feeling refreshed. His joints and bones felt free, he took in a deep breath without his lungs feeling like they were being hit by a golf club. He let out a breathy chuckle, using his left hand to rub over his rib cage. “How are you feeling, son?” Evans’s warm hands caressed his cheek, his head and glasses coming into view. He was so close to his face that Ryan thought he could count his wrinkles and pores. Ryan laughed, more because he could and he was just grateful to be alive. He used his palms to elevate himself from his bed and sat up, facing Turner and Evans.“Better than ever,” He sported a cheeky grin, stretching his arms for proof. Evans smiled at him but his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Ryan thought it to be worry or concern so he shrugged it off. Meanwhile, Evans was still plagued by guilt thinking that he put Ryan's life at risk for nothing. Learning that Jessica was working without Smith was a huge blow to his ego and he couldn't qui
"Hey, girl!" Emily exclaimed as she watched her friend walk through the door"Hey, you. How are you?" Jessica replied with barely half of her enthusiasm. "Same as always, bae. I've just been a little under the weather," Emily sighed, a sniffle escaping her nose. She rubbed her hand on her forehead, Jessica felt she was checking her temperature. "I tried to reach you,—" Jessica adjusted herself on the couch, taking out the purse from under her, "—the other day.""Oh, I changed my phone." She whipped out a new cell phone from beside her, Jessica's eyes ogled the device following it whip around. It was the latest model of that brand. "Didn't I tell you?""N-no, You didn't," Jessica stuttered, still staring at the item. Her eyes blinked to reality and she shook her head, trying not to be too obvious. "I thought I did," Emily gave her one of her signature grins, and a chuckle followed soon after. Jessica smiled a small curve at the corner of her lips. Emily could have whatever she wante
“Why are your filthy hands in Jessica’s bag?” Emily flared, voice resonating through the whole room. Ryan remained still like a deer caught in headlights. His eyes were widened and his lips formed an ‘o’ shape still in shock fromt he roar of her voice. Emily’s sudden outburst attravted attention from Jessica and Turner who internally cursed at Ryan. Jessica rushed to the living room, finding Ryan sitting suspiciously close to her purse. She snatched it from the couch, eyes narrowed at said man. “Don’t tell me you were trying to steal from me?” She accused, a scoff leaving her lips. She began to rummage through her purse trying to check if anything at all went missing.“I wasn’t stealing,” Ryan spoke, his eyes searching the house looking for a reasonable excuse to give. His eyes caught the device fit snugly in her hands, and sighed to himself.“Jess, didn’t I warn you? This puppet? I’m still trying to understand why you went back to him. And why my father all of a sudden decided to