Fathers and Law: Lom and Fah Book One

Chapter 65

Manao pulled into the convenience store parking lot and Fah bolted to her car. He pulled open the passenger side door, jumped in, and locked his door.

"Are you okay Fah?"

"They just tried to kidnap me by pushing me into a car. I got away and they left but I'm not sure if they're waiting nearby to try again. Can we leave?" Fah pleaded. He was more worried about the men returning and harming Manao than himself.

"I have to buy some gas but sure, right after that we can go. You wait in the car and duck down if anyone pulls into the parking lot. I'll lock the doors."

"Thanks, Manao. I wish I could be all manly and pump the gas for you but if they see me, it will make your car a target," said Fah. Manao smiled and squeezed his hand.

"It's fine, sweetie. I hate to say it but our dating life was never this exciting," laughed Manao. She filled the tank and then they started the journey back home. She constantly checked the rearview mirror for anyone following them and tried to hide it by saying she had a lock of hair that kept falling into her eyes.

Manao handed him a fruit juice and took a bottle of water for herself. They toasted and sang along to songs on the radio. They'd only gone about 10 kilometers when Fah was startled by a notification from his burner phone. He'd forgotten he'd texted Lom.

"You look happy, what's up?" asked Manao.

"I hate to admit it but while I waited for you I was so worried about Lom that I texted him on our burner phones. I was afraid he might be upset that I couldn't wait but I asked him to let me know he was okay; he must have texted back."

Fah opened his phone and read the message. He stared at the photos that had been sent and began screaming.

Unable to stop Fah from screaming or get him to explain, Manao pulled over. She hugged Fah but he didn't seem to be aware of her. His body was trembling, he was hyperventilating, and the hand that held the phone was pure white from clutching it so hard. After several minutes, Manao successfully pried the phone out of Fah's hands. When she saw what had been sent, she burst into tears.

"It might not be true Fah, he might just be unconscious and they want to scare you." She searched Fah's pockets and found his other cell phone. Immediately she called Run.

"Hey Fah, what's up? Is everything okay? You don't miss us that much already do you?" asked Run.

"It's Manao," she whispered into the phone.

"Manao? What's going on?" Her whisper scared him.

"I hate to ask this but is there any way that you guys can come back? I have no idea what to do. I'm not sure if I take Fah to the police, to a hospital, or home."

"A hospital? What happened? Did you have an accident? Did someone attack you?"

"Not us. Lom."

"Lom? How do you know someone hurt Lom?"

Manao whispered as quietly as she could. "Because they've texted photos of Lom's dead body to Fah and he has had some sort of mental breakdown."

"Fuck, we'll be right there. Where are you?"

"We're on the same road as the convenience store, heading south. We have only gone 15 kilometers at most. I'm parked along the side of the road just after the turn for that restaurant in the middle of the rice paddies."

Mek heard Run say they'd be right there.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Turn the car around, right now. We have to get to Fah," said Run. Tears ran down his cheeks.