Richard plans to spend his eightieth birthday with his daughter, but she knocks on the door in tears and tells him to go. After peeking through her front windows, Richard realizes there is trouble and that he is right.
While driving, Richard nervously tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. After his wife’s funeral four years ago, Deidre stopped driving down every Thanksgiving.
There were now just weekly calls.
When Deidre entered the doorway, Richard extended his arms in a wide range.
Surprise! ” He screamed, ” Dad?
Where are you going with this? ” She asked, her eyes welling up with tears.
“I came to celebrate with you my birthday.
.
. it’s the big eight-o!
” Richard responded, but his enthusiasm quickly faded. Honey, what’s going on?
“It’s nothing; Why are you crying?
” Deidre quickly wiped away her tears and smiled.
“Everything is fine. I simply.
. .
didn’t anticipate you, and this is not a particularly pleasant time.
Dad, I’m sorry, but I need to concentrate.
about my work. I’ll call you, look.
Okay, we’ll have dinner later. Sorry.
Richard was hurt and lost when Deidre shut the door.
There was a serious problem.
Did Deidre have a problem? Richard retreated from the front door but remained there.
He sneaked up and peeked through the windows after stepping over the short, flowering shrubs that lined the path. Deidre and two rough-looking men were in the living room.
Who were they?
In a rough voice, one of them asked.
Deidre lied in a shaky voice, “Nobody. ” Just a neighbor’s child, playing pranks on the doorbell and fleeing.
Now, let’s get back to business, “the second man said. Deidre, your loan payments are currently six months behind schedule.
Mr.
Marco is becoming irritated.
I simply require more time. She begged, “Business is certain to pick up again in the winter.
” The man responded with a gun, “Time is one thing you don’t have, sweetie. ” People who owe Mr.
Marco money don’t live long and end up feeding the lake’s fish.
.
. .
” He pointed the gun at her. Richard was frozen in place by fear.
However, the man quickly retreated with a disgusted expression and concealed the gun in his pants’ waistband.
Danny, look around this dump to see if we can bring anything valuable to Mr.
Marco, he said. Because she runs a business, there must be some kind of equipment or computer here.
However, I require those items! She sobbed.
Without my equipment, I can’t make a living!
” The man gave his gun a pat on the buttock.
Boo-Hoo. I know I can still change my mind.
Now, don’t be unappreciative. “Before they stormed out, the men ransacked her house, leaving Deidre curled up sobbing on the floor.
Richard couldn’t understand anything because Deidre’s business was doing well.
She had, at least, told him that.
However, Richard could now sense that something was off. He was needed by Deidre.
From Deidre’s house, the men loaded several appliances into their vehicle. Richard drove with them as they finally left.
The men came to a two-story brick building downtown that looked like a bar when they stopped there.
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