Secret Haven (HIATUS)

Chapter 14~ Golden

I feel paralyzed after David's statement, unsure of what to do.

I could reveal myself and play dumb, run away, or walk up to him and interrogate him. However, before I'm able to make a decision, a woman walks out from behind a tree, her saunter very familiar.

Sarah?

My confusion takes the backseat in my mind as I watch their conversation unfold, slowly walking towards a thicker tree and hiding behind it.

"You know, I used to look forward to our little visits, but now they're starting to become tedious," David says, the end of his sentence coming out as a growl.

Oh, this is Gold.

I pull out my phone and start recording the two.

"Oh, hush," Sarah says, walking around him, trailing her fingers lightly against his chest. "You'll have your information soon enough. Why can't we just talk for a bit? Just like old times."

David scoffs in disgust. "Don't talk about the old times. I'm not interested in the past. Now, tell me what I want to know or our deal is off."

"Fine, fine, so prickly. You never were the people type," she says, pausing for a moment. "Ah, where to start? First, I have to ask, what are you willing to offer for my information?" Sarah asks, her tone laced with amusement, leaving undertones of venom.

"What do you mean? I'll deliver your usual shipments, just like our deal says," David says, clearly frustrated.

"Yes, yes, but you see, this piece of information is very special. It goes above our deal. So, if you want my information, I want more."

"You're already blackmailing me, what else do you want from me?"

"I want the higher grade shipments. My team needs more to carry out our plan."

Blackmail? plan? What's this about a deal?

"You know I can't give you anymore without getting caught. The higher grade shipments especially."

"Well then you won't get the information."

"Fine, be that way. What can you tell me that still stays in the specifics of our 'deal'?" David asks, using his fingers to make air quotes.

"Ah, let's see. Here, I'll tell you this, you aren't as sneaky as you think. Watch your back."

"What does that even mean?! Sarah stop with the bull and tell me what I want to know!" David shouts, talking a step towards Sarah and pulling out a small handgun, pointing it at her forehead.

Sarah makes a tsk sound and steps back, pulling a burner phone out of her pocket and holding it up in the air. "Don't test me David, you know what happens if I die. My team has specific orders to release the video. Now, take a step back or I'll tell my team to release it."

David growls and takes a step back, putting his gun back in the waistband of his jeans.

"Good boy. Now, I'll expect a little extra this week for that little stunt. Drop the shipments off at our usual location," Sarah says, blowing a kiss at David and sauntering off deeper into the woods.

David shouts in frustration and throws his fist at the tree to his right, breathing heavily. He calms his breathing before shoving his hands in his pockets and I thank my lucky stars that the tracker is too small for him to feel.

I put my phone in my back pocket and turn my attention to David.

He starts walking back the way he came, getting closer and closer to my hiding spot. I feel a sense of panic wash over me before the rational part of my brain kicks in and I use the trunk of the tree to hide my movements, pulling myself up with a low branch and hoisting the rest of my body up into the tree.

I barely have enough time to find a position in the tree when David walks over to the tree I'm in and sits down, his back leaning against the trunk.

I curse silently. Currently, I'm a sitting duck, just waiting for David to either leave, or look up and see me sitting in the tree above him. I'm not sure what to do, so I decide to wait him out and hope for the best.

While I realize that it's probably not the best plan, I feel as though I have no other choice.

After waiting nearly 20 minutes for David to leave, I start to feel anxious when I hear a small snore come from him. I freeze momentarily, before realizing that this is my chance to escape.

Turning to the opposite side, I slowly lower myself down, being careful not to wake him up. I give him a wide berth, avoiding fallen branches and leaves as often as possible.

After what feels like hours of agonizingly slow walking, I finally make it out of the forest and back into the parking lot. I make sure I'm not being followed by either David or Sarah, before getting in my car and driving back home.

For whatever reason, the encounter between Sarah and David reminds me of Steven. I was no older than 8 years old and our landlord had decided he was going to evict us for being 2 days late on our payment, which isn't legal. To say my brother let him have it would be an understatement. I smile slightly at the memory.

I shake my head and open my laptop, emailing my boss about what I saw, as well as attaching the video I secretly took.

I send the email and I'm about to shut my laptop when an unopened email catches my eye. I'm confused because the email I'm using is on a secure server, so that only my boss and I can access it, and my boss is not one to email me unless he has to.

I use computer protecting software before opening the email so that they can't access any information on my laptop. When I open it, there isn't a subject or even a sender. All it says is, "I know what you're looking for. I can help. Come to the spot you spied on David and Sarah. I'll tell you what you want to know, for a price".

To say I'm confused is an understatement. Concern quickly overtakes my confusion and I feel panicked, knowing that this person could ruin my entire mission. I didn't see anyone else in the woods with David or Sarah, but then again, I didn't sweep the perimeter nearly as well as I should have.

I feel a nauseous feeling that overwhelms me as I type back, "When?".

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I went through a bit of a writers block trying to write this but here it is! Remember to comment, vote, and follow me!

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Xoxo Allie

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