Chapter 13: The Offer*
274 Words
The man in the black cap took one step forward.
_"Relax, David,"_ he said. _"We’re not here to hurt you. Not yet."_
David didn’t move. His eyes were on Chika. She looked weak, but her eyes were open. She was alive.
_"Let her go,"_ David said.
The man laughed. _"That’s not how this works."_
He pulled out a chair and sat down, like they were having a normal meeting.
_"See, you’ve been answering the wrong number. That number belongs to us. And you... you’re making noise."_
_"I didn’t ask for those calls,"_ David said.
_"Doesn’t matter,"_ the man replied. _"You picked up. Four times. That makes you involved."_
He leaned forward. _"So here’s the offer. You help us do one last job. Big money. After that, we let Chika go. And we leave you alone."_
David’s stomach turned. _"What kind of job?"_
_"Bank transfer,"_ the man said casually. _"You have a clean account. 3 years old. Perfect. We move 50 million through it tonight. By morning, it’s gone. And you get 5 million for your trouble."_
David shook his head. _"I’m not a criminal."_
The man’s smile disappeared.
He nodded to one of the other men.
The man walked to Chika and put a knife to her throat.
_"Then I guess we have a problem,"_ the man in the cap said softly.
_"You have 10 seconds to decide, David. Help us... or we start with her finger."_
Chika’s eyes filled with tears. She shook her head at David. _Don’t._
David’s heart was breaking.
10... 9... 8...
From outside the gate, a loud whistle.
Tunde’s voice: _"Police! Hands up!"_
The men turned.
And David ran.
- Writer
