Try Begging

Episode 199

Police cars and military vehicles suddenly swarmed the Paramoor Theater. Everyone watched anxiously as soldiers, who appeared to be members of the bomb disposal team, took out equipment such as metal detectors from their vehicles and entered the theater.

"Winston Street has arrived too."

Grace, who was watching from the window of a cafe across the street, pulled her scarf up even further under her sunglasses when the owner muttered at the sight of a sedan that had just stopped on the side of the road. Those who got out of the car were the Winstons' personal security team who had come to check on the situation. Fortunately, none of them had ever met Grace, but she could not rest easy.

This is the work of Blanchard's remnants. Who is it? Is it someone I know?

Grace covered her face even more, as she thought that someone might be watching the situation from nearby. Fortunately, the man who set up the bomb didn't see Grace's face. It occurred to me later that he had been running away, worried that he would be caught.

Successfully.

The police who arrived emptied the theater and gathered the theater workers as Grace had testified. However, there was no one among them who matched the description she had seen, nor was there anyone who coughed.

"Oh my, I thought the rebels were practically scorched earth...."

"That's right. It's been quiet for a while. Those who are barely surviving seem to be quite excited about the movie."

"It's a movie premiere that depicts the final moments of my comrades. And the target of my revenge is there in person. There's no better opportunity for revenge."

Grace's gaze from behind her sunglasses as she looked at Mr. Grant and the theater owner, who were having a light conversation with serious faces, was not kind. Knowing that, how could they have been so lax in security?

"Anna, are you okay?"

"yes?"

When Norman suddenly asked, Grace averted her gaze from the managers. Fortunately, they didn't seem to notice her gaze. His gaze was on Grace's hand holding the napkin.

"Your hands are shaking."

"Roger, your employee's complexion has been off for a while now."

"Anna seems very surprised."

The manager, seemingly unaware that he was trembling with fear, ordered a glass of brandy from the waiter.

"Thank you for your hard work, Anna. Everyone here now...."

The boss pointed with the end of his cigar in his hand at the employees sitting in groups of three or four in the cafe, looking out the window with worried faces.

"Thanks to you, everyone was saved from tragedy. It's unfortunate that Mrs. Tate's case didn't work out, but it may have been God's will that Anna was here today as a replacement."

"Isn't it the boss's intention to give a bonus to the employee who saved his life, haha?"

"Of course. Anna Snyder is going to be the employee who gets the biggest Christmas bonus at Grant Pictures this year. Anyway, thanks a lot."

Of course you should be thanking me, you monkeys in fedoras.

Grace waited for the theater search to end, tilting the glass of brandy the waiter had brought her. By the time the glass was empty, the police chief and the bomb squad commander had come to the cafe to report the results of the search to the owners.

"Four nailed-on bombs were found only near the center of the first row where the VIP seats were located. They were not found in other places, so it seems they were not aimed at the entire audience."