The Spy

Chapter 34

As John walked through Micaela Bastidas park, his heart raced with every passing minute. He scanned the surroundings, hoping to catch a glimpse of Isabella or any sign of her. He had been searching for hours, and he was starting to lose hope.

Suddenly, he heard someone call his name. He turned around and saw a familiar face.

"Jerry Temple," John said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Jerry replied with a smirk. "You seem lost."

John's heart sank. He had always suspected that Jerry was up to something. He took a step back, ready to leave, but Jerry blocked his way.

"What do you want, Jerry?" John asked through gritted teeth.

Jerry smirked. "I want you, John. You and your skills. You're going to help me with a job."

John's eyes narrowed. "I'm not interested in any of your jobs, Jerry. And I'm not going to help you."

"Oh, I think you will," Jerry said, stepping closer to John. "Because if you don't, I'll make sure Isabella pays the price."

John's fists clenched at his sides. He wanted to lash out at Jerry, to punch him in the face for even thinking about harming Isabella. But he knew that would only make things worse.

"What kind of job?" John asked, trying to buy some time.

Jerry's eyes lit up with excitement. "We're going to rob a bank. And you're going to help me crack the security system."

John shook his head. "I'm not a thief, Jerry. I'm not going to help you rob a bank."

Jerry's face darkened. "You don't have a choice, John. Either you help me, or Isabella suffers., oh, and plus you owe me."

John stared at Jerry with a mix of disbelief and anger. He couldn't believe that Jerry had tricked him into coming to the park under false pretenses, but what made him even angrier was the fact that Jerry was now trying to extort him.

"What do you mean I owe you?" John asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Jerry smirked, taking a step closer to John. "You convinced me to buy a fake Mona Lisa, remember? You owe me for that."

John clenched his fists, feeling the anger boiling inside him. "That was a long time ago, and you knew the risks. You knew what you were getting into."

Jerry shrugged. "Maybe. But I still lost a lot of money because of you. And now, I'm giving you a chance to make it right."

John shook his head. "I don't owe you anything, Jerry. You took a risk, and it didn't pay off. That's on you, not me."

Jerry's expression turned cold. "Fine. But if you won't help me with this job , then maybe I'll just have to take it out on your girlfriend instead."

John's heart dropped at the mention of Isabella. "What have you done with her?"

Jerry smirked again. "Don't worry, she's safe... for now. But if you don't pay up, that could change."

John took a step forward, his eyes burning with anger. "If you touch her, I swear to God I will-"

Jerry interrupted him with a laugh. "Relax, man. I'm not going to hurt her... yet. But you better make up your mind fast. Because if you don't, you're going to regret it."

With that, Jerry turned and walked away, leaving John standing alone in the park.

John paces back and forth in the living room of the Airbnb, his mind racing with fear and anxiety for Isabella. He jumps as his phone rings and sees Jerry's name flashing on the screen.

"John, have you made a decision yet?" Jerry asks without bothering with pleasantries.

John takes a deep breath and says, "Yes, I'll do it."

"Great!" Jerry sounds thrilled. "Meet me at the bank on 10th street tomorrow night at midnight. We'll go over the plan then."

John hangs up the phone and sinks into the nearest chair. He feels sick to his stomach knowing what he has agreed to do. But he has no choice, he cannot lose Isabella.

As the hours tick by, John spends the time in a daze, his mind preoccupied with the upcoming robbery. He feels as if he is in a fog, everything around him dulled and muted.

When the night finally arrives, John leaves the Airbnb and heads towards the bank. He walks with heavy steps, each one feeling like a burden. He can hardly believe that he has agreed to rob a bank, something he never thought he would do.

As he approaches the bank, he sees Jerry waiting for him outside. Jerry looks excited and eager, as if he is about to embark on a great adventure. John feels sick to his stomach at the sight of him.

"Okay, let's go over the plan," Jerry says, rubbing his hands together. "We go in, get the money, and leave. It's simple."

John nods, his mind numb. He can hardly believe what he is about to do.

As they enter the bank, John's heart pounds in his chest. He knows that everything is riding on this one moment. He tries to focus on Isabella, hoping that he can save her.

The robbery is successful, but the guilt and shame weigh heavily on John. As they leave the bank, John feels as if he is being watched. He looks up to see police cars approaching from all directions.

"Jerry, what have you done?" John asks in panic.

Jerry grins, holding up a bag of money. "I'm rich, John! I don't care about the consequences."

John realizes with horror that he has been set up. He can hear the sound of sirens getting closer, and he knows that he has to run.

He takes off down the street, his mind a blur. He has to get away, he has to save Isabella. He has to find a way out of this mess.