Jenna’s hand flew to cover her mouth. “My God, Candace, what were you all involved in?” Candace shook her head. She just couldn’t give Jenna all the details…not now. “You have to be careful, Jenna. Meeting me here was risky for you. Mason Hamilton won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Now, he might be coming after you.” “I don’t believe that for a second, Candace. I don’t know anyone named Mason Hamilton.” “You won’t until it’s too late.” “Why are you scaring me like this?” “Because you need to be scared. You need to watch your back. He will do anything to get his treasure.” Jenna sat stiffly in her chair. The treasure. “I’ve said too much already. I have to go, Jenna.” “Wait, Candace. Why do you think Mason Hamilton killed my parents? They were in a car accident. The road conditions were bad.” Candace looked over her shoulder, unable to shake off the tension which was building inside her. “Did you ever see the official police report?” “No.” “Did you have to identify the bodies?” “No. The police detective told us they were burned beyond recognition.” Candace looked directly into Jenna’s eyes. “Your parents were sacrificed. Someone wanted them dead. I believe it was Mason Hamilton, covering his tracks after he failed at finding his treasure. Now I’m afraid he might be focusing his attentions on you. You need to take care, Jenna.” “Candace, this is crazy. My brother was beaten a couple of days ago. The man who attacked him mentioned something about a treasure.” Candace sunk back slowly into her chair. “Then he knows. Someone tipped off Mason Hamilton. Sylvia was right all along. She told us to watch our backs. Even after our homes were broken into and nothing was stolen, I knew it was him. Now, he’s up to his old tricks again.” “I don’t know what to do, Candace.” “Be very diligent, Jenna. Keep a watchful eye. I’m going home to make a few phone calls. I’ll try to get you some help.” Jenna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She felt like she had woken up in the middle of one of her mystery novels, but couldn’t get out. Her head was spinning. Candace tore off a piece of the paper placemat. She wrote down a phone number. “This is Mary Fortenni’s cell number. She calls me occasionally to check in. Leave her a message and tell her I told you to call. I’ll call you later tonight, Jenna. We’ll get together tomorrow morning.” She watched Jenna’s car pull away from the parking lot. Candace felt like a huge weight had been lifted but another one had taken its place. Opening her car door, she felt a chilling sensation she couldn’t explain. Her skin grew cold, clammy. Someone is watching me. Glancing fearfully around the parking lot, Candace sighed when all she saw was empty parked cars. Her fear was unfounded…again. Too many years of worrying, of being frightened, had left her paranoid. As she turned the key in the ignition, Candace knew why she had felt the iciness creep over her body, but it was too late. Her car’s electrical system came to life just in the split second as she took her last breath. Pieces of metal, broken glass, and body parts skyrocketed into the air, then came crashing down over parked cars, and against the front window of the diner. Jenna slammed on her brakes a half mile down the road when she heard the loud noise. She spun around to get a better look, but too many people were speeding away from the parking lot. A cloud of smoke billowed up into the air as she did a u-turn, going back towards the restaurant. Jenna searched the crowd. Candace was nowhere to be seen. Maybe she had already left. She dialed Candace’s cell. No answer. Maybe Candace was driving and couldn’t pick up the phone. The poor woman was so paranoid, Jenna thought to herself. She probably screened every call. Dragging her tired body up the steps to her room on the second floor, Jenna yawned as she slid the keycard into the slot just above the door handle. She would check her email then hit the sack. But the softness of the bed was beckoning her. She climbed up and soaked in the sheer pleasure of the plush softness surrounding her aching body. It felt so good. A few seconds of pure relaxation was all she knew. Rough hands pushed her face forward on the bed, forcing her arms behind her back. Within seconds, rope bound her wrists as she struggled helplessly. “What the…” Only a partial gasp escaped her lips before a gag was tied behind her head. Twisting her head, Jenna caught a glimpse of two men, dressed in black, both pinning her to the bed. Panicking, she desperately tried to roll to either side with the fleeting notion she would have the ability to shake either one off her. Bad theory. She was no match for these strong men. Out-numbered and overpowered. Her mind raced with all kinds of thoughts…mostly bad ones. Was she going to be raped, beaten, or worse…murdered? Jenna had no time to debate those options. Her body went limp as the drugs took effect. Her mind was shutting down just as fast. Can’t fight…anymore. After dumping Jenna’s body in the backseat of their car parked just outside the side entrance, both men tore off their black ski masks, revealing their sweaty faces. “Good work,” Hans Kliric remarked as he nodded to his partner, Dimitri Batrov. “Now we will see what she knows.”
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