THE ALGORITHM

11.

Penny leaned against the cold marble counter and sighed. She looked around again with her thoughts racing in her mind. She used her fingers to tap against the countertop as she imagined the closet filled with clothes, shoes, and other accessories. All of it was hers and she was able to wear everything inside. She imagined herself primping in the full-length mirror and preparing to leave for work.

Suddenly, a rattling noise captured her attention. Penny stood up, assuming someone had walked inside the room. She moved to the right side and looked around with caution. Her eyes finally dropped down, and she noticed a small compartment hanging from the island counter. She leaned over and blinked a few times. Her eyes surveyed the key sitting inside.

The hidden compartment threw her off momentarily. She wanted to be nosy but had no idea she would stumble across a secret drawer with a key. Penny looked around for the hundredth time in deep thought as she thought about the key and what it could be used for.

"The lockbox..." Penny muttered to herself. She grabbed the key and turned around to the empty armoire, opening it. As expected, the lockbox was still nestled inside. Carefully, Penny grabbed it and set the furniture on the floor. She crouched down and immediately tried using the key. The lock turned, and she instantly felt relieved when the top opened. Her eyes widened in curiosity at the various items inside.

She grabbed the black book, which was resting at the top, and flipped through it. There was a list of contacts with names and phone numbers. Penny wasn't familiar with any of them. However, she noticed that there was detailed information about each contact, including their weaknesses and debts. The book wasn't interesting enough to her, but it was clear Bilal was into something illegal. He and his entourage were not only murderers, but also loan sharks.

She shifted her focus to the stack of photos leaning against a brown book. Most were images of unknown individuals, while a few were of political figures. As she continued to rummage through the pictures, she noticed something dark that made her heart drop. There was a photograph of a man lying on the ground with his left eye gouged out.

The warm press of a hand on her shoulder made Penny jump. She turned around and laid her eyes on the tall man standing before her. He wore an annoyed expression as he surveyed her cautiously.

"What are you doing in here?"

Penny recovered quickly, not showing any signs of fear. She assumed it was Scoop, but it wasn't him. It was the other guard she didn't care for. Miguel. He was probably the only security guard in the house that Penny did not care for. He was too serious and loved kissing up to Bilal, Cecil, and Decon.

She didn't respond to his question, so he bent over to grab the photos she dropped on the carpet. Miguel eyed the images and immediately noticed the horrific illustration. The man pinpointed Penny and pushed out, "You already know how Bilal feels about snooping, and yet you're in here putting your nose in places it doesn't belong. Haven't you learned already?"

A scoff pushed past her lips. She eyed him closely without saying anything. Penny wasn't afraid of him. He didn't intimidate her at all. She could see past his hardened exterior. Miguel was a bald, average-height man. His beefy build, armed with a loaded pistol and other weapons, heightened his boldness to heckle people without fear.

Too bad none of his tactics worked on Penny.

"You don't hear me talking to you?" Miguel questioned her, voice growing aggressive. He stepped closer to her with the photos still in his hand. "You listen to me when I'm talking to you."

Penny rolled her eyes as she pushed back, not wanting to be close to the man.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Miguel remarked with a slight headshake. "You're hardheaded and women like you...have to be taught a lesson. You have to learn that the life you once had no longer exists. You're here...in the Lawsons' residence. They own you. Bilal owns you."