The asylum was not the place of healing Garcia had hoped it might be. Instead of feeling better, her condition seemed to worsen each day. She began to exhibit signs of severe mental instability. Her once bright eyes were now empty, and her conversations, when she spoke at all, were filled with incoherent ramblings. Her parents, Mr. Michael, and Eloise visited her regularly, their hearts shattering more with each time they visited. On one particularly grim day, they found Garcia sitting in a corner of her room, rocking back and forth, mumbling to herself. The sight of their daughter, who once had so much life and potential, reduced to this state, was too much for them to bear. "Garcia, honey, it's Mom and Dad," Eloise said gently, kneeling beside her daughter. "Can you hear us?" Garcia looked up, her eyes were not truly focusing on her mother. "Mom... Dad..." she muttered, but there was no recognition in her voice, no connection to the reality around her. Mr. Michael couldn't hold bac
The night was dark with silence but was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves outside their temporary shelter. Lewis couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about their situation.The suffering in their family was something he couldn't ignore, and Lewis knew they had to do something drastic to change their situation. For how long can they endure such a harsh situation? He would have to do something either by hook or by crook.He looked by his side, his father was still sleeping. He had to wake him up. They needed to think and find a way out. "Dad, wake up," Lewis whispered, gently shaking his father's shoulder. He didn't want to wake his mother up.Mr. Michael groaned and rubbed his eyes, sitting up slowly. "Lewis, it's the middle of the night. What's wrong?"Lewis took a deep breath. "Dad, I have something on my mind to discuss with you.”Micheal gazed at him deeply wondering what was wrong. When Lewis was able to get his full attention, he continued. “We can't go on like
After a few minutes of being hopeful that Tom was going to deliver a good job, he came back saying he couldn't do it. Leaving Lewis and Micheal confused and angry with no option than to continue their search again.Mr. Michael and Lewis woke up early, feeling more determined to find the right person for their plan. He couldn't give up.The city streets were already rushing with activity as they ventured out, inspecting the people they saw on the road.They needed a person who could act convincingly, someone who wouldn't shiver in the presence of Harvey and could speak confidently without fumbling.Their first stop for that day was a nearby park where many homeless and struggling individuals gathered. Mr. Michael and Lewis approached a group of men sitting on a bench, sharing what little food they had."Good morning," Mr. Michael greeted them, trying to sound friendly and approachable.The men looked up, their eyes wary but curious. "Morning," one of them replied. "What do you want?""We
Lewis and Mr. Michael walked through the quieter part of the city, feeling doubtful. Mr. Thomas hadn't reached out to them since the last time they saw him. So they set out to meet with him. At least to know what went wrong.As they approached the older man sitting alone on the bench, they could see the deep lines of worry etched on his face. He was staring blankly into the distance, lost in his own thoughts and pain. "Excuse me, sir," Mr. Michael said gently, but the man didn't respond. He seemed completely absorbed in his worries.Lewis reached out and lightly touched the man's shoulder. "Sir, are you alright?" The man flinched slightly at the touch, his eyes slowly focusing on them. He looked at Mr. Michael and Lewis with a mix of confusion and sadness. As if he didn't recognize them. But when they looked closely, they found out it wasn't the same man they saw the other day."Who are you?" he asked, his voice trembling with exhaustion. Mr. Michael showed a kind smile. "My name is M
Peter stood at the entrance of the Stephenson Company, with his heart thumping with a mix of excitement and nerves. He didn't know what to expect. Even though he had been properly trained, he had this fear and nervousness in him. He knows that if something goes wrong, his daughter will be dead.Mr. Michael and Lewis had coached him thoroughly, and he felt ready for this moment. So, he brushed off the fear that was threatening to consume him, he took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and stepped inside the impressive complex.As he walked through the extravagant lobby, he couldn't help but admire the beauty of the place. The glossy marble floors, the high glass walls, and the dapper, modern decor made it clear that this was a place of power and success. He swallowed hard, reminding himself why he was here and what was at stake.Peter stayed near the entrance, trying to look as casual as possible while keeping an eye out for Harvey. His patience was soon rewarded when a sleek bla
Mr. Michael and Lewis paced nervously around their small building, with their eyes constantly darting to the clock. It had been hours since Peter left for his meeting with Harvey, and they had yet to hear from him. They had tried calling his number repeatedly, but each time it went straight to voicemail. What could be happening? Fear gnawed at them as they considered the possibilities.“What if Harvey caught on to our plan?” Lewis muttered, his brow furrowed with worry. “What if Peter took the money and ran?” Mr. Michael shook his head, trying to remain calm. “Peter wouldn't do that. He needs the money for his wife’s surgery. And he knows that we know the wife’s location But what if something happened to him? What if Harvey’s people found out? And detained him?”They exchanged anxious glances, as their minds raced with worst-case possibilities. Hours passed with no word from Peter, and their fears grew more worried.They clung to hope, praying that everything had gone as planned. Just
Peter arrived at Mr. Michael and Lewis's apartment early the next morning, he was told to come back for adequate preparation.He was ready to continue his training. He knew that Harvey’s initial generosity was due to being in a hurry, but the next meeting would require him to be thoroughly convincing. They couldn’t afford any mistakes.“Alright, Peter,” Mr. Michael began, with a serious expression. “We have to make sure you’re prepared for anything Harvey might ask. This time, he’ll be more attentive and suspicious.”Peter nodded, with determination in his eyes. “I’m ready. Let’s start.”They began by revisiting the basic information, making sure that Peter could remember every detail they had discussed about Mr. Stephenson. They went over his personality, habits, and specific interactions that Peter needed to mention. “Remember, you worked closely with Mr. Stephenson,” Lewis instructed. “You were handling confidential errands, so Harvey needs to believe that you were trusted by his f
Peter woke up early, his mind was focused on what he needed to do. It was the day that Harvey had asked him to come. He was nervous but he tried to compose himself not to mess things up for them.Mr. Michael and Lewis had drilled him thoroughly, making sure he was prepared for any questions Harvey might ask. He knew the odds were high. He also needed the money for his daughter’s recovery. He was now happy that he didn't have to beg too much to get money to take care of his daughter.As he approached the Stephenson complex building, he took a deep breath, ready to put their plan into action. So, he walked inside, he didn't know where exactly he would go so he stood there, looking around.The receptionist at the front desk eyed him suspiciously as he stood there. "Can I help you?" she asked, in a brisk tone."Yes, I’m here to see Mr. Harvey Stephenson. He asked me to come by today," Peter said politely. "I'm sorry, but you can't see Mr. Stephenson without an appointment," she replied, h