I suddenly walked into McDonald's across the street. The good news is that I look like a walking dead. I used the soap on my phone and those itchy brown paper towels to clean myself, wipe the cosmetics, and comb my hair into a decent ponytail. I have a toothbrush but no toothpaste. But a dry brush is enough to remove fluff slippers from teeth.
At this time, I feel much better, except for the soreness in my stomach. I am very worried about Ellie, but I still can't do anything.
The prison is a low brick building, with window fences, strange noises and bulletproof doors even more daunting. This boxy shape and unattractive appearance make it look like it wants to be a prison when it grows up. When I entered the prison, my heart was pounding and my head was smashed. I had a terrible feeling.
When he asked me to sign in and sit down, the waiter was very nice. Once he collected some documents, he asked me to follow him to this room full of narrow glass compartments. I picked up the plastic chair he provided and stared through the empty glass. It is like a mirror, with a chair on each side, a table with small lips, and a plastic phone on a silver cord winding from the wall. The only difference is that no one is sitting in the chair opposite me. I want to figure out what that strange smell is, like old plastic and preservatives. A Jǐng guard walked into a door, plopped and put Eve on the chair opposite me.
He knocked on the glass to get my attention. "You have fifteen minutes."
"That's it?" I asked.
He left without a word.
The last time I saw Eve, she was straddling my chest, trying to saw off my head. Her appearance has not improved. Her hair has not been washed for a few days, and without makeup and her miracle bra, she looks much older. Not to mention, orange is not suitable for her skin.
"Your neck is healed." She took a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and lit a pack with a match. I do not know what to say. When the smoke billowed on her face, Eve pointed her finger. "Are you here to take a good look or something?"
It helps me to ask me a question directly. I shook my head until I had something to say. "No, I want to talk about Ellie, the girl who came with me to replace you, with straight hair and a nose ring.
She nodded towards the closed door. "You have fifteen minutes."
"When she came to see you, what did you tell her?"
Eve said slowly, eyes narrowed. "Didn't she tell you?"
"She can't," I said. "Because she is missing".
She opened her eyes wide. "When did it start?"
"This morning."
Eve will not look at me, get lost in her own thoughts. "She asked about the man."
"The last John?" I asked. Where did I hear the word John? It slipped out a bit. Bad TV may be. This is where I study. "What's his name?"
"He is a first time visitor. He didn't tell me his name," she said.
"Didn't you ask?"
"You saw us. We didn't speak much, did we?"
She didn't even dare to look directly at my face.
"You want to chop off my head," I said, slamming the glass hard to make her look up. "You can at least tell me what you know."
She blinked a few times, pretending to care more about her cigarettes than what I said.
"You are a worthless person, aren't you?" I asked.
I pushed the chair back angrily and scratched it on the hard floor.
"Are you leaving?" she asked, as if she was really surprised.
"Well, yes. You won't tell me who that person is, and you won't tell me what you said to my friend. You don't even tell me why you want to kill me. Even a handful, I have this one. Knife, I want to see what you can do or a sad Jesus tells me or whatever. God doesn’t allow you to say sorry."
I turned and left, but her palm touched the glass. When I turned around, I saw her mouth open and exaggerated, but I couldn't hear her until I picked up the plastic receiver again.
"Well, let me tell you."
I picked up the phone and made a gesture, as if to say I was waiting, but I didn't sit back.
"That guy told me his name is Brad Strum," she whispered. "I swear that was the only name he gave me. He found me. He made an appointment and gave me very specific instructions. I didn't see him again until I was in the hotel room that day. I had nothing to do with him. Know."
"What did you say to Ellie?"
"She asked me why I did this. Did someone force me? What good is it for me?"
"What did you tell her?" I slowly sat back in the chair.
Eve's eyes opened wide, and his jaw tightened. "I can't tell you."
"Come on," I said. "If you don't give me a clue, I don't know where she went."
"She is missing." She shook her head. "The next one is you."
"Why do you care?" I smiled. "You want to kill me".
She wiped away the tears from her face and covered her mouth and earpiece with her hands.
"My daughter is in their hands."
My brain took a moment to process those whispers. But when these words came together, my anger intensified.
"Are you fucking kidding?" I asked.
She waved her hands wildly. "Be quiet. Please."
I tried to make this a reality, but frankly, it was too much. "Should I believe that you are a victim? You want to kill me, but you are a victim?"
Her tears welled up again, and I dropped the phone. I took a deep breath, and Eve just sat there, crying on the other side of the glass. Finally, once I let go of my chin, I raised the microphone again.
"Look," I started and kept kicking myself. "Obviously, you have been forced into a bad situation. If you don't tell me what happened, I can't help you. I know you are scared, but you have to tell me the truth. Obviously, you can't or won't Tell the authorities, but I am not an authority. More importantly, we seem to be after the same person, so we can help each other, right? But if you don’t tell me what you know, I can’t help you."
She nodded and wiped her face on her sleeve.
According to the clock on my phone, we only have two minutes. "Speak quickly."
She spoke in a low voice, and I could hardly hear her voice. I had to put my ear on the dirty phone to hear her clearly. "Two months ago, he found me and paid me to let me know about you and your office schedule. I sent another girl to the office to ask questions. It was an easy $100. So when he When asked if I wanted to make more money, I said of course. He said that he would let you arrive at the hotel at the right time and leave the rest to him. Then the bastard took my daughter the day before the replacement To make sure that my appointment is not interrupted. He told me that if I want her to come back, I must kill you myself."
"So he took her away on the 19th?"
"Yes," she agreed.
"They took your daughter and told you that if you didn't kill me in the hotel room, they would hurt her."
"I'm sorry for your neck, but for the sake of my little daughter, I will do it anyway."
"Yes, yes," I said, waving her. I can't figure it out, otherwise I'm going crazy again. "So what happened?"
"They should return her to my mother after I was arrested, but they didn't. Then he showed up here."
"Brad," she said. "He said my daughter is safe. He let me see her on his video call. But he also said that if I confess or tell anyone anything, they will kill her. I should stick to my story."
"What is your story?" I asked.
"I know that selling yín is wrong. I think that by killing an enemy of God, I will be forgiven and given a place in heaven."
"Have you told Ally about this?" I asked.
"She promised to find my daughter. But they might have killed her and my child too."
"You don't know Ellie," I argued. "Her head and shoulders are higher than ordinary people like us, so she is definitely smarter than the thugs who threaten you. If she promises you she will find your daughter, she will."
I hope Ellie and the kid are hiding somewhere. I didn't tell Eve, because as far as I know, she would turn around and tell Brad. I have a feeling that if she has a chance, she will kill me by herself now, as long as she has a better chance to see her children.
"What's her name?" I asked. "your child?"
"Nissa," Eve said. This is the first time I saw her smile because I met her. A small but sweet smile.
The door behind her opened, and the big Jǐng guard pulled Eve out of the seat.
"Don't worry," I told her. I couldn't believe I was comforting the man who almost killed me. "We will find her."
Eve looks as convinced as I am, not many.
Almost an hour later, I stiffly fell on the steps, fell into the passenger seat of Gloria's Golden Buick sedan, and wandered on the side of the road. I took a deep breath.
She waited until I closed the heavy door. "You need help."
"I need help," I confirm.
"Just ask."
"I need you to see Nisha," I said. "Eve's daughter. We can find her picture in the St. Mary's Almanac if needed."
"I already have a picture of Nisha," Gloria said.
"Why?" She is good at guessing the future, but if she can walk in front of me, I will be impressed by her.
"Allie asked for the same help," she said.
Of course, Ellie is also very smart, and she also got Gloria's help. "Any progress?"
"I'm trying now"
I hope Gloria can tell Ellie the news. At least Ellie might be hiding somewhere instead of being kidnapped. Or died.
I dare not ask the next question. "What about Ellie? Do you know she is missing?"
She pursed her mouth and drove the car into the driveway. "I am also working hard." (to be continued) (end of this chapter)