"Hey, Faye. Miss me?" Horace''s teasing voice came from the other end.


    Faye''s eyes shed with hatred, but her voice was calm. "Horace, my dad found out about the evidence you have on him. He''s willing to pay five million dors in cash for it."


    "What? Five million?" Horace''s voice shot up several octaves, filled with disbelieving ecstasy. "For real? Faye, you''re not messing with me, are you?"


    "Why would I mess with you?" Faye whispered. "Horace, my dad is divorcing my mom. His money isn''t going to be mine anyway, so you might as well take as much as you can get."


    "Okay, okay, no problem!" Horace was thrilled. Five million dors was an absolute windfall for him.


    Around nine that night, at an abandoned pier, the area was deserted.


    Rnd arrived on time, waiting in the driver''s seat of his car. A few momentster, a sedan pulled up, and his former subordinate, Horace, got out.


    The thought of this young man betraying him made Rnd want to kill him.


    Seeing Rnd get out of his car, Horace still offered a respectful greeting. "Mr. Yeaton, you''re here."


    It seemed Faye hadn''t lied. He was really going to get five million dors tonight.


    Rnd was carrying a small briefcase. He walked over, and Horace, though slightly puzzled by the size of the case, asked eagerly, "Mr. Yeaton, did you bring the money?"


    Rnd tossed the briefcase to him. "Three hundred thousand," he said coldly. "Take the money, and give me the recordings and all the copies of the evidence."


    Horace''s smile froze. He opened the case and saw that it indeed contained only three hundred thousand dors, a far cry from the five million Faye had mentioned.


    A surge of rage at being yed for a fool shot through him.


    "Three hundred thousand? Is this chump change supposed to buy me off, Mr Yeaton?" Horace''s face turned livid.with anger. He threw the case back at him Faye clearly said you were willing to pay five million!"


    Rnd was even more surprised, then let out a coldugh. "Five million? You greedy little brat."


    "No five million, no deal," Horace


    said, deciding to go all in. He felt he had the upper hand. "Mr. Yeaton, it you can''te up with five milligh this evidence will be at the


    authorities'' office tomorrow morning. It''s your call."


    He turned and walked back to his car. Behind him, as Horace issued his threat, the murderous intent in Rnd''s eyes intensified. He hated being threatened more than anything.


    Rnd picked up the briefcase and got back in his car. Horace was now in his own vehicle, muttering curses under his breath.


    But in the next second, Rnd revved his engine, his headlights sting toward Horace''s car.


    Blinded by the intense light, Horace couldn''t see a thing. A cold sense of dread washed over him. "Rnd, what are you doing?!"


    His answer was the roar of the engine. A momentter, Rnd mmed his car into Horace''s.


    A deafening crash tore through the silence.


    Horace''s car had no time to move. The massive impact sent it, with him inside, sliding backward, smashing through the flimsy guardrail at the edge of the pier and plummeting toward the dark river below.


    The icy water instantly swallowed the car and Horace along with it.


    Faye''s father mmed on the brakes. His face was a mask of grim viciousness as he got out and stared at the now-calm surface of the river. Wipinga bead of sweat from his forehead he acted as if nothing had happened, got back in his car, and drove away.


    Now, he could finally rest easy.


    He had no idea, however, that after his car was gone, Faye emerged from the


    shadows, clutching her phone, her body still trembling from the shock.


    She took several deep breaths. For her, this oue was a form of liberation. She was no longer under Horace''s control. But she hadn''t known her father''s ruthlessness ran this deep.