Threats
Quistis was astonished at what she had read. There was a ransom, a ransom to free Rinoa?
And something was even worse than that. Squall was threatening her life for five thousand dollars. It must have been because they were having a lesbian relationship. Zell was right; he was jealous.
She couldn't believe it, and further more she should have known better. Rinoa's "ex-husband" looked sketchy from the start. She knew he was no ordinary client.
'He must be part of a gang,' she thought. 'And his drinking buddy, that was all a scam!'
Quistis had a feeling that it was Seifer who was watching her and Zell in the bar. She just knew it. What else would explain him knowing how close her and Rinoa had gotten.
He must have overhead all of her conversations with Zell. It was panic-inducing, thinking of that situation.
'I can't believe he was listening on our conversation and got away with it,' she thought. 'Well, this is America. People get away with everything nowadays'
She was absolutely convinced that Seifer was the one who followed her and Zell. Zell even said the person turned off the road and went somewhere else after they went home. If he had wanted to kill them he would have followed Zell into his apartment. And, if he had wanted to kill Quistis, he would have waited until she was alone to strike.
So the goal wasn't murder. That was obvious from the start.
That man could have easily told Squall what he saw. It was easy as pie. Their friendship could have been a cover up to hide their buisness together.
Unless that man had his own intentions in mind. Perhaps he had hidden feelings for Rinoa and wanted her for himself.
Then why would he have the ransom? It was all too confusing.
Quistis was convinced it was Seifer but at the same time she was wavering. It could have been anyone. Squall could have many other people working for him. The thought made Quistis shudder.
If he was a gangster then what did that make Rinoa? A gangster's wife?
Quistis didn't want to think about it; the whole subject was nauseating.
'How could she not tell me about this? Did it somehow slip her mind?' she thought angrily.
After learning that truth Quistis knew she could no longer trust Rinoa. The black-haired girl had neglected to tell her the few important things about her life, which made Quistis very angry.
A relationship was nothing without trust. If she was going to be that way, the relationship was truly over. There was no going back with a lie that big.
But still, Quistis had a job to do. She had to find Rinoa. If she didn't, there would be dire consequences.
That was why she had to do things she didn't want to do. She grabbed her cell and dialed Zell's number. It rang a couple times and then someone picked up.
"Hello?" a male voiced asked. It was clearly Zell.
"Zell, it's me. Look, I don't have much time. Rinoa's been kidnapped!" she said urgently.
"What?!" he sputtered.
"I got a letter at the coffee shop from the man who kidnapped her," she explained. "He wants five thousand dollars!"
"Five thousand dollars?! What does he think you are, made of money? You're only a divorce lawyer."
"I know that," she argued. "He wrote that his name was Seifer Almasy. Does that sound familiar at all?"
"No, never heard of him."
"He works for Squall."
"Squall? That crazy guy? Rinoa must be in BIG trouble then!"
"I know, but I don't know what to do!"
"Go to your apartment; I'll meet you there in five minutes."
"Okay."
Quistis's apartment was as orderly as a secretary's desk. It was possible to find anything in her place.
In her living room, she had her own library, where she had books of all kinds. Quistis loved to read. If she wasn't out with Zell or out for her long evening walks, she'd be reading a good book.
It was funny. Some people actually thought her and Zell were a couple. Quistis couldn't imagine herself with Zell. It was impossible. They simply weren't made for each other.
Besides, Quistis had realized that she wasn't a "straight" woman anyway. She wasn't a bisexual woman either. She liked women. Always had, always would. And she liked only women. She just never knew it.
Women were exciting, entrancing. Men just made her sick. She was sick of their lies and their stupid jokes.
Sometimes Quistis just wanted to boycott men altogether.
But she couldn't think about that, she had a job to do. She waited patiently for Zell to arrive. After a few minutes of waiting she heard a knock at the door.
Hastily, she went to answer it. She opened the door and saw Zell. She gave him a friendly smile.
"Come in, Zell."
He was wearing a solemn look upon his face. As they sat down upon her leather couch, she could tell something was troubling him.
"I think you should tell the police," he urged.
"I don't know," she started.
"You don't know?! You could be endangering her life by prolonging this conversation!"
"Zell, it's complicated," she tried to explain.
"What is? You don't want to do this because you're still mad at her!"
"No, that's not true!" she yelled. "I just don't know what to do."
"Then call the police," he lowered his voice. "They'll know what to do."
"Fine," she scoffed. "But if this gets her killed, I'll blame you."
She went over to the main phone in the house. As she went to pick up the black wall phone, a piece of paper taped to the wall caught her eye.
'What in the hell is that?' she thought. 'Another threat?'
She pulled the piece of paper off the wall and gasped when she read it.
"Um…Zell," she yelled, concerned. "I think you should get a look at this."
They both read the note. Zell gasped. It was written in blood.
Oh,
And don't bother calling the police.
Because if you do,
We'll kill your girlfriend.
When you have the money,
Go to the Bronx
And talk to a girl named Selphie.
She lives next to a coat factory.
She'll lead you to us.
Better have the money.
-Seifer.
They both looked at each other. "We've got a BIG problem," Zell gasped.
Quistis looked like she was going to scream.
'Blood?! Have they hurt you Rinoa?'
