"Ok I'll meet him,"Melissa said, confused.
The man was standing in front of Melissa's house.He was tall and brown.
"Hello Mister, I'm not sure what to call you. What's your concern with me?"Melissa asked,half smilingly.
The man turned his back. Fortunately,he was not the mysterious man from the police station. He was Alex.Melissa didn't know him either. He sighed softly.
'My name is Alex Sherman.You can call me Alex. I doubt you know me but that's absolutely fine.I know what you've been through during the Last 8 hours."
Melissa thought Alex's only intention was to scorn her just like other villagers did.
She busted out and said:
"Look Mister Alex or whatever your name is. I have never seen you in my entire life. That's a bit rude that you popped out of nowhere in my residence and how confident of you to accuse me of something I can't imagine doing.Now if you're done,you can leave"
Melissa was acting more wisely as compared to last night. Not precisely, but she knew now what to do and what not to do.
"Look Ms Pearson I understand your situation very well. I'm here to help you.I owe your grandfather one favor which I'm returning now.Please don't misunderstand me! We can talk inside,"Alex said, removing his hat.
"Look Mr, I don't have time for this. I don't need your sympathy or charity. Everyone here owes my grandpa something and how they return favors, I've seen enough last night, I've already been declared a killer,by calling you in my house I don't want to be called a whore!" Melissa yelled.
"I'm here to help you. Please! At least listen to me.I know a professional lawy–"he wanted to say further when Melissa cut him off.
"Okay enough.I already have a lot of stuff in my mind. I'll really appreciate your leaving"
Melissa said ferociously and stepped in her house and shut the door loudly behind her back.
"Okay if that's the way you want to talk then let it be.His name is Joshua Fernandez, he's an excellent lawyer.He can help you but you'll have to convince him.Here, I'm leaving my card here in case of your change of mind and further queries."
Alex said peeking through the window and left, leaving his card stuck in the door rods.
Melissa Heard Alex's footsteps fading. She took a deep breath and came out of her house. The card was still there. She pulled out the card. It was a simple card with two numbers written on it. And available 24/7 written in a corner with a name "JOSHUA FERNANDEZ".
She was thinking whether she should trust Alex or not but the only answer she could come up with at the moment was NO. All of sudden, she remembered the blank paper.She went to the spot where she had buried it. She dug it out.She took the blank paper and observed it keenly.
It was not just an ordinary paper. It was thicker than normal paper and thinner than a cardboard box.She placed the paper on the table and continued gazing at it. After some time, she lifted the paper and allowed the light to penetrate through it thinking there could be some hidden message. This trick didn't work. No message appeared.
Then she took a crayon out of her drawer and vigorously started drawing random lines on the paper. Nothing happened. Out of frustration, she took the paper and dropped it in the sink.She turned on the tap and water started wetting the blank paper. She waited for some time to see some reaction.Still nothing happened. But she observed a slight change in paper.She took out the paper carefully. Its thickness was changing. She held the paper vertically from one of its corners to examine the changes. The paper was actually two papers glued together with the confidential information glued within the sides facing each other and blank sides on the outside. She carefully separated the sides like a sticker.She made sure that the content inside it remained unharmed.
She was stunned to see the content inside the paper. One of the inner faces of the two papers had a picture of an exquisite collection of weapons and grenades. The other inner side had a message written on it in such a way that depicted the aggressive mood of the writer. Following message was written on it:
" I'M GLAD TO INFORM YOU THAT YOU HAVE DISAPPOINTED US! GET READY TO MEET YOUR DESTINY! YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVED! HOW COURAGEOUS YOU ARE TO VISIT THE POLICE STATION! POOR SOUL!!!WE LOATHE YOU!!! "
Melissa was feeling dead.She felt as if her soul had left her body.She was confused whether the writer was addressing her or the corpse. But, Still it was extremely terrifying every inch of her body. Her nerves were about to collapse. Adrenaline rushed into her. She stood up,her feet shaking. She dialed a number,her grandma's number.An old lady picked up the Line.
"Hello grandma! I was just wondering if it's convenient for you to visit sugar roots for some days. Actually some thieves broke in last night in the neighborhood. Grandpa's not home and I don't want to change his plans. Is it okay for you to come? I'm afraid" Melissa hardly complied her words and said it in one go.What else could she say? That's the only way she was left with.
"Oh my little girl! I know your stupid grandpa. He's been like that ever since he was born! Ha! Don't worry you've got your grandma. I'll be there in an hour, love". Grandma said.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"she
said breaking out.