Unexpected reunion

Chapter 10

The lights are dim in my room as the sunlight begins to seep through the curtains. The sound of a ringing phone breaks the silence. I  groggily reach for it.
(yawning)

Hello?

Hey, Kelsey! It's Mike. I hope I didn't wake you.

Yeah... kinda. What's up? Is winny ok? Is it mason?

No sweetheart Winny is fine.

I know you have to head to the hospital soon, but could you stop by the club first to restock the bar? It's a bit of a mess from last night.
And Winny has a hospital appointment this morning and I won't have time to do it myself, Jason and Sasha worked last night for me so they have the day off.

I have a shift at 10, and it's Saturday so I need to make sure I'm there on time. Dad and Papa have the twins today lucky enough.

It shouldn't take long and It'll help me out a ton.

Yeah ok, let me know how Winny gets on today, won't you?

Of course sweetheart, you're a diamond.

The club is always eerily quiet in the mornings I think to myself as I enter the club.

I walk to the bar, opening cabinets and restocking various bottles. I
I'm focused, but o feel a sense of unease.

Suddenly, the back door swings open and Debbie enters.

Good morning, Deb, you're in early.

Don't act like you care.

What do you mean? What's going on what's happened? I ask concerned.

What's happened, "what's happened" she shouts.

Well, let's see shall we, you leave dancing that I helped you with only to nick all my customs!

All I get asked is where's the other blonde, they don't even want a dance from me anymore, and that's on the night we actually open.

You get into a relationship with Mason and now the club is shut more than it's open.

I wish I never fucking helped you. My kid has to go without because of you. I have school
supplies to buy, and guess what?
I can't afford them.
Because of you.

Look at how good you've got it.
Becoming a nurse, and sleeping with the boss.
Not a fucking care in the world for you hey.

I'm sure I can find another job. I mean you sure did back behind that bar.
With a nice fat raise that Mason gave you.
I guess sleeping with your boss does have its perks!!! 
Not like you will have to ever strip again, is it? To feed your kids.

Hey, I worked my ass off to get my nursing degree.
And I help out behind this bar if and when I can, to help out.

What's it like to be with Mason?

What do you mean?

Well sleeping with the boss and getting all you need. Must feel great not to have to worry.
Does he put his bulls in you day and night just to earn your raise?

I was shocked at what she was saying I thought she was my friend.

She didn't know Mason's mum has cancer and his gone all people think he is at home looking after her. The only people who know he is gone are me Sasha and his parents.

Look Deb I'm sorry you're falling on hard times but I really must get on with stocking the bar.

I don't think so, you have fucking ruined my life, Kelsey.

I'm sorry Kelsey's she said as she slowly opened her purse and pulled out a gun. Her hands slightly shaking as she pointed the gun at me

My body went rigid I tried to swallow past the lump that started to constrict in my throat.
W-w-what do-do you want. I managed to get out even though it was barely a whisper

"Money"

I don't have any money.

NO maybe not but Mason does !!!

I don't have access to his money or anyone else's.

I know. That's why I'm kidding you. You stupid whore. She hissed

Now come move and let's get out of here before I have to take someone out with this gun. You don't want any deaths on your concontons do you!!!

She forced me out the back door into the parking lot until an old crack-out white van pulled up. The back doors flung
open and Debbie pushed me in jumping in behind me and slammed the door shut.
Hello sunshine gosh how I've missed you.
I recognise him. His a customer from the club he was there every night that I was either on stage or just working behind the bar. I didn't think much of it at the time I just thought he
was always there Sasha said he only came in the days I was there but I just laughed it off. How wrong was I?

Mike
I walked into the club expecting to see Kelsey

Stocking the bar, I asked her if she could help me this morning before her shift started at the hospital. She has been doing so great lately still helping me out at the bar if and when I needed as well as her shifts at the hospital taking great care of those two little twins and handling the fact my son has run off to god knows where. !!!. She is such a great mum and still is doing anything she can to provide for her kids and still keep Sain after Mason just up and left.
I felt bad that I asked her to help me this morning and Winny told me to go help her and get the job done quicker.

I walk about the club calling her name but she doesn't seem to be here. Maybe she had an emergency at the hospital or the twins I tried to call her phone but is ringing and it's here along with her bag.

Come on Sasha pick up the phone I sign as it rings.

Hey Sasha have you heard from Kelsey today I ask as I've tried to call her and her phone is here ringing.

Nope, I know Papa has the twins today she said she was going to help you stock the bar and then head to work.
She doesn't start tell 10 it's only 8:30 now she has to be there somewhere.

I can't find her she is definitely not here but her phone and bag are!!!

That's not right she never goes anywhere without her phone. You know that.

My mouth went dry and a sickening feeling of terror waved inside my gut as my mind thought of hundreds of different scenarios and not good ones either.

All of a sudden her phone bleeped with an incoming text.

Her phone has just beeped. Let me have a look, Sasha do you know the code to read it in case that a her?

Yeah duh, Sasha laughs, it's 5682

We have your girl!!! Why haven't you answered your phone? Does she mean anything to you?
How much is she worth? Don't call the police if you ever want to see her again. We will be in touch soon. If she lives that long!!!

Whoever this is must think Mason would find her phone. Because he is switched off he wouldn't even get the message, even if they sent it.
This message was meant for him.

Please tell me what I'm hearing you read is a sick joke.

Mike?

Answer me!

"Mike"

No Sasha this is no joke.

"I'm on my way!"