Two weeks had passed since Collin got the deposit of five thousand dollars. He had almost cried when he saw his bank account well out of the negative for the first time in a long time.
After a slight hesitation, Collin told his wife, Kristy, the whole story except for leaving out miss Brandish’s involvement. Collin informed Kristy that ‘Frank Sycota’ was a pseudonym, but insisted he wouldn’t reveal the real person so Kristy wouldn’t have to lie.
“Daddy?” Jenny, Collin’s daughter, interrupted his train of thought. She peeked out from under the covers. “Why did you stop? The best part is coming up.”
“Sorry honey.” Collin sat there beside Jenny's bed with her favorite book in his hands. He always read it to her before she went to sleep. He hadn’t even realized that he’d spaced out mid-sentance. He found his place in the story and began to read again. “Before there was no chance of going back, the beast stopped attacking the town and listened to the one person who saw him as more than a monster. It realized there was someone who loved him and that was far more special than being a monster. The monster was so happy when it realized this, that it turned into a human and lived happily ever after.”
“How did the monster become a human?” Jenny asked.
“Well…” Collin had to think for a second. Jenny never asked that question before. “Love is a powerful thing, sweety. Some people say it can conquer anything.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, Sweety.”
Jenny threw back the covers and inspected herself wearing a very serious expression.
Collin laughed. “What are you doing?”
“I was waiting to see if I turned into a human.” Jenny said.
“Nope,” Collin teased, “You’re still a sugar monster.”
“I am not! I ate my broccoli tonight, and sugar monsters hate broccoli!”
“Knock, knock,” Kristy said, entering the room.
“Mommy?” Jenny’s face turned serious, “Why are you awake? Are you feeling better?”
Kristy smiled lovingly at Jenny, “I feel great right now, Sweet-Pea, I promise I’ll go to bed soon. Collin, someone just dropped off a letter for you.”
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“A letter? At night?” Collin looked at the envelope in Kristies hand, “What did it say?”
“Grown-up stuff,” Kristy said, “I’ll read to Jenny if you want to step out to read it.”
Collin grunted in compliance as he ruffled Jenny’s hair and wished her goodnight.
“Say goodnight to the bugs too,” Jenny said pointing at her netted cages full of different bugs she had collected.
“Goodnight bugs,” Chuck said as he stood up, traded a kiss for the letter in Kristy’s hand and ducked outside to read it on the porch.
The letter was much shorter than Collin had expected:
“You have been selected for the next step in our program. If you choose to move forward, you will be paid in weekly installments of $10,000.00. To confirm your interest, wait alone in the parking lot of the Perk diner at 11PM this Friday.”
Collin read the letter a few times. What would he have to do for ten thousand a week? They had his blood sample, so would they be after his organs next? He decided it didn’t matter what he needed to give up as long as it brought his family a better life in the end.
In for a penny, in for a pound, Collin thought.
Kristy opened and closed closed the front door quietly.
“That was quick,” Collin said.
“You did all the hard work,” Kristy sat next to Collin and snatched the letter out of his hand. “Can you believe this? What kind of psycho sent this?”
“A rich one,” Collin said.
Kristy shuddered “A rich psycho is scarier than a poor one.”
“You don’t want me to do it, do you?”
Kristy raised an eyebrow at Collin, “Are you actually considering showing up in that dark parking lot alone?”
“It’s a lot of money, Kris.” Collin said. He knew he would have to do some convincing, but this was an opportunity that wouldn’t come again.
“It really is, but I would rather have a living husband than have a paid mortgage.”
“I’ll be careful,” Collin reassured her, “At the first sign of danger, I’ll start running.”
“Collin, this letter IS the first sign of danger.”
“I’ll have you on speed dial.”
Kristy sighed, “You know, part of making decisions together, is not making up your mind before you even talk to me.”
“Did I ever tell you how beautiful you look?” Collin deflected.
“Shut up,” Kristy said. She wasn’t happy, but was coming around.
“You know, if I have you fight a vampire in that parking lot, that’d be a great story later on.”
“At least that fight wouldn’t get you fired.”
Collin chuckled, “Unless the Vampire ends up being the rich psycho.”
“Damnit, Collin,” Kristy said with a sudden sincerity, “Please promise you’ll be safe.”
“I promise, Kris,” Collin said as he wrapped Kristy in a bear hug, “I ain’t done with you and jenny yet.”
“I hate you sometimes,” Kristy said.
Collin chortled, “I love you too.”