“Mr. Ross, I must confess that you and your family are already in danger and I am no longer under any obligation to protect you as you are no longer an asset to me the moment you step out of that building,” I said.

“What do you mean by that?” Mr. Ross asked.

I knew he did not like the fact that I was boxing him into a corner where he would feel unsafe unless he revealed whatever secrets he had been keeping. He knew the Contractor, so that already, for me, makes him a suspect in his own kidnap.

“I am sorry, but what I said was exactly what I meant. I need the truth and I need names,” I said.

Before I could delve further into Mr. Ross's awaited response, a young woman burst onto the scene, her footsteps quick and frantic. It was Shantel. I could hardly recognize her because I could barely see her face in the dark as the room was dimly lit. She rushed to her father's side, her eyes wide with fear and relief as she embraced him tightly.

"Dad, are you okay?" Shantel's voice trembled as she held onto him.

It was then that I pieced together the connection. This was Mr. Ross's daughter. I felt a pang of guilt for not recognizing her earlier, but the whirlwind of events had kept me from making the connection.

Shantel turned her attention to me, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you so much for helping my dad, Cassie. You're a lifesaver!" She said.

It was getting more interesting, Shantel called me Cassie too! It was either I was being played or did not know what was happening all this while.

I smiled at her, appreciating her words, but then my protective instincts took over once more. "Shantel," I said firmly, "you need to leave town. I told you that before and you refused. This is the second time something like this has happened to you or your father, and I won't be able to protect you again." I said.

Shantel looked surprised and a bit hurt by my words, but she nodded reluctantly. "Alright, Cassie, I understand. I'll go, but thank you again for what you did."

“So how did you get my name?” I asked, very troubled that she and her father knew me and I had no clue.

“I made the call to the Contractor. Initially, he had said he was not going to reveal who you were but that you are the best. So I told him that if you were going to be saving my father I would want to know who you are,” Shantel said.

“And?” Larry interrupted,

“And what Larry?” I asked.

‘And he increased the fee for the rescue by a hundred percent,” Shantel said.

“So how did you get his details? How did you know how to reach or contact him?” I asked.

“It was my father. I just made the call, and I agreed with my father that whenever anything happens to him, I should place a call to the Contractor, especially if it was a kidnap,” Shantel said.

“Look, I can add something to your fees, or even double whatever the Contractor is paying you. Just let us go,” Mr. Ross said.

No! Mr. Ross, you have got some explaining to do and you had better start talking because I am running out of patience,” I said.

“Dad, you could tell her anything, she has saved my life before, without even knowing me and if Marvin could trust her with his life, so could I,” Shantel said.

“Okay, Shantel, but how did you know her? She is a very dangerous woman! How did you two meet?” Mr. Ross lamented.

Shantel told her father how she thought that I was a cleaner or a maid at Marvin’s firm. She told her father that instead of being dangerous, I was one of the nicest people she had met. Though she was rude and far distanced herself from me. She told her father how I saved her and Marvin from a previous attack when Marvin came to her apartment.

“You mean this is Marvin’s girlfriend? Mr. Ross asked.

“Yes! I think so,” Shantel replied.

Larry looked at me, he was not shocked because he thought it was a plan to get to Marvin and all this would end once the Contractor complains about the long period of time that it was taking me to kill Marvin.

“I don’t believe that! Does he know who she is?” Mr Ross asked his daughter.

“I think so because Marvin calls her up whenever he is in danger and she has saved him several times from harm's way. I think she is Marvin’s bodyguard or something, but I also know all that cleaner or maid stuff was a disguise,” Shantel said.

I stood up swiftly, and Shantel sat down in fear. I walked towards Mr. Ross. “Now it is your turn to tell me what you know. I will not risk my life and put everyone in danger because I do not have the information I need to protect them. Do you understand?” I said, it looked like I had scolded him, but I was not ready to leave without any information. I know everyone thought I needed this information because of Marvin, but I also need it for me and Larry.

“I am a consultant for one of the subsidiaries of M & M Industries,” Mr. Ross said.

“What do you consult for?” Larry asked him, now looking interested in whatever he was about to hear.

“I audit their financial books,” Mr. Ross said.

“Please can you speak plain English?” I asked. I felt he was trying so hard to confuse us.

“I found out that funds were embezzled and wanted to report it to the right authorities, but I was blackmailed by them, using Shantel’s relationship with Mr. Marvin, so I had to find a way to solve the situation,” Mr. Ross said.

“Apparently you are not solving any situation. So who embezzled what? Who is blackmailing you?” I asked.

“Mr. Jonah Simpson,” Mr. Ross said.

“You probably know him as Uncle Jonah,” Shantel explained.

“So how did he embezzle the funds of the company? Do you have any proof? I asked.

“Yes! I have, not only was he embezzling the funds, but he was manipulating the books in such a way that it would look like Marvin was authorizing it. I was even asked to ensure that Marvin was roped in as well, since I was to be made the external auditor for the company and its subsidiaries. You work for Marvin, you can find out if what I am saying is true,” Mr. Ross said.

I sat back in my chair, I believed him. Did I just hear right? All these people are planning to ensure Marvin is taken out of the picture one way or the other. So who contacted the Contractor? I would not have had this job if the Contractor was not contacted. I felt concerned and sad for Marvin.

“Why should I let you go?” I asked.

“Because I told you the truth,” Mr. Ross said.

I took out my gun and pointed in their direction. Everyone knew I would kill to protect Marvin.