"You're Sandra Gould, right?" Nick asked the brown-haired girl.
"Yes, how did you know?"
Nick ignored the question. He took out a piece of official-looking paper from an envelope on the table and a disposable ballpoint pen. He passed both to Sandy. "Just as soon as you sign this declaration, you'll get your pants back and you can go."
"That's it?" Ariel asked.
Nick nodded. "I'd appreciate it if you, Ariel, would also sign down there as a witness but yes, that's it."
Ariel poked Sandy. "Just sign it and we can get out."
"Hang on, let me read this first." For some reason, Sandy was curious as to what was on the paper. "Wish there was more light."
"Hey, can we have some light?" Ariel asked.
Nick helpfully brought the lamp closer.
Sandy studied the paper. All the official-looking words on the official-looking paper made her mind numb.
Impatient, Ariel slipped next to the brown-haired girl and read the paper. "Sandy, do you know an Oscar Killington?"
"No, why?"
"This is just a declaration that you give up all claims to Oscar Killington's estate," Ariel explained.
"Oh, so I won't get any money from this person I don't know?"
"Yes," Ariel confirmed.
Sandy's eyes hardened. She glanced at Nick. "How much money are we talking about?"
"Oh, some," Nick replied vaguely.
"How much?"
"A bit..."
"Enough to try to kidnap us and install a jail here?"
(It appeared that the hint of money had activated Sandy's insight.)
"Uh, yeah..." Nick looked at the girls. "I take it you're not going to sign it?"
Sandy tore the declaration, crumpled the pieces and threw them back at Nick. She sent the ballpoint pen after that.
Nick sighed. "Good thing I have spares." He raised the envelope. "Looks like we're going to be here for a while. What would you girls like for lunch?"
"Some burgers and fries would be nice," Ariel said, "And the key to the door."
"I doubt that the key will taste good," Nick commented, "Might even break your teeth. Any preference for what type of burgers or drinks?"
Once he had the lunch order from the girls, Nick left.
Sandy was preoccupied with her thoughts. So that was where she was going to get her wealth from! An inheritance from an unknown person! She was going to be rich!
"You are not who you think you are," her fortune card had said, "Your wealth shall be found where you do not think to look." Maybe that was what her fortune meant. She had never thought that she was a heiress to a vast estate. And there was her wealth, where she had never thought to look.
Her life suddenly had meaning, a goal to look forward too. Sandy would survive that kidnapping. She would hold her ground until the end. Then she would claim her inheritance and be rich!
It would be an appropriate moment for the sun to shine over her head but the celestial body could not squeeze any light through the thick clouds and the blocked window. The dim light from the lamp would have to do.
Ariel stepped up and gripped the bars of the cell, blocking the light of the lamp and casting a shadow on her cellmate. "Sandy, this is all your fault!"
"Me!?" Sandy exclaimed, "What did I do?"
"I wanted to go home!" Ariel spun towards her. "You dragged us both in here, and, and now, we've been kidnapped! And I'm cold!"
"But I'm going to be rich, right?"
Ariel growled. "If I die here, I'm going to kill you!"
Sandy shuddered. She would be rich, assuming that her best friend did not kill her first.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment