Enigmatic

Chapter 3

I have never liked these meetings . They made my body tingle of apprehension but I couldn't boycott them . There were many things at stake here . I made my way to the corner table of a diner in a secluded area of the town . This place had a crowd but not the kind that would recognise me so it was ideal for what was going to be done .

I waited for a few minutes before he entered. He was in a long , black trench coat , the collar upturned . A scarf was wound around his neck . He had dark sunglasses on despite it being almost sundown outside. He looked the absolute crook with windswept hair and stubble dotting his face.

I had first met Frank Heywood two years ago on that unlucky night . He had walked into the room where I sat with my friends enjoying the party . I had a glass of alcohol in my hand and was having the time of my life , until it all came crashing down . That was the last night which was remotely normal for me.

And even today , when I see him , I get the chills .

He took a seat opposite me and removed his sunglasses. His eyes were piercing blue , the kind which will make you squint if you look at them for too long . He took a sip of water from the glass placed before him and turned his attention towards me .

"What did you find out yesterday?" Straight down to business.

I took a deep breath before telling him about my last night's endeavours . He listened intently , his expression not betraying his thoughts at all . As I went on , two more people enter the diner and took the table beside us . I lowered my voice an octave and continued speaking . Frank was eyeing the people beside us with slight suspicion but then decided to ignore them . I finished my report and took the other glass of water from the table and drank it in a single go . It don't help much with the nervousness though .

"They are getting out of hand," Frank said . "We soon have to take action , the time for talks are over."

I gave him a single nod and tried to pull up some courage to tell him what I had planned to .

"Frank ," I started ,"I don't want to do this anymore." He raised his eyes and looked at me .

"It's not as if you have a choice darling," he says slowly .

I took a deep breath before continuing , " I do have choice . I can take this up to the authorities and they can handle it and I can go back to having a normal life , a kind of life which I deserve. I don't want to go out every night and come back , hardly in the condition to walk . I don't want to risk my life every night for someone else."

"That someone else is already dead and you owe them this much , Ema."

"I don't owe anyone anything! I din't kill him . It was a horrible mistake by a group of drunk teenagers , who I had some association with. I was in no way a part of it and it is hardly fair that I have to pay for their drunk mistake."

"But the evidence says otherwise love. I can send you to jail for at least 13 years as you are no more a juvenile now . It would take away what little is left of your life right now ."

"How can you be so sure that I will get jailed? What about the others? The people who actually committed it ?"

"They will face similar charges I assure you and I could have chosen them instead of you but they are not as smart and cunning as you . And I mean it as a compliment," he smirks .

"Well I will take my chances then but I refuse to do this anymore," I reply back with as much hostility as I can muster .

"Not even at the stake of your mother's life?"

And that's when I know I can't escape.