masterminded

chapter 7: surprises

"No no no,man......you've got to be kidding me" Carl said pacing round Greg's parlour.
"Am serious. If not why would I call you, its no joke. Look am shocked too" Greg replied.

"Harry Osbourne....... Why would he change his name to Albert MacPherson" Carl questioned No one in particular.

"I don't know,maybe he had some issues" Greg suggested.

"Issues?"
"Yeah, you know most people change their names because it kind of has a connection to their past. A bad past they would want to forget" Greg pointed out.

"What kind of bad past does Albert have?" Carl asked himself but Greg answered anyway"I don't know"

"We would have to find out" Carl said quietly
"How?" Greg asked.

Carl didn't say anything but looked directly at him.

"Oh no no no no,you're not gonna ask me to do it,are you?"Greg said.

"You know you're the only one that can help" Carl said helplessly
"Am still not doing it" Greg insisted

"Why?"Carl asked

"Because I could be putting my life in danger" Greg told him

"Danger?"

"Yeah"

"What kind?"

"Carl, Albert may turn out to be a bad guy, a very dangerous one and I don't want to get involved" Greg explained.

"So you're not helping" Carl asked him.

"Am sorry man,not on this one" Greg replied.

"Yeah,I get it. Luckily,there's another way to find out" Carl said.

"What way?" Greg asked him

"I'll tell you very soon" Carl said smiling.
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Ding dong!,the door bell rang. Since there was no one around to get the door, jasmine went to get it herself.
"Surprise"
"Albert!" Jasmine exclaimed "what are you doing here?,come in"
Albert stepped in and she closed the door.

"What are you doing here?" Jasmine repeated her question.

"I came here to see you" Albert answered.

"Really,why?" Jasmine asked him,angling her head curiously.
"I........I....I just....um,want to see you.....you know....see.....see...how you're doing......if everything is okay" Albert stuttered rubbing his already sweaty palms together.

"Are you alright?" Jasmine touched his hand.

"Yeah,yeah......I'm alright. Would you go out with me?" Albert asked her.

"Go out?"

"Yeah, I mean I want you to have lunch with me" Albert said.

"A lunch date;of course"

"Thank you"

"Is that why you are nervous?"

"Nervous?"

"Yes Albert, your hand is all sweaty. It only means you are nervous"

"Uh....I have to go now" Albert told her.

"Awe.....so soon"

"I'll pick you up by one okay"

"Okay. Bye"

"Bye" Albert walked to the door,opened it and looked at her before finally stepping out. He heaved a sigh of relief before walking towards his car.
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Dressed in yellow shirt,white skirt and comfortable shoes, Fiona locked her door and breathed in the morning air of Paris as she looked skywards. The sky was clear.