Author's Note:
I am finally writing again and have an idea how to finish this story.
When I went through the old chapters, I found some error, which I hopefully all caught and also have change a few bits around. So here it is. Republished.
Erdi
Later that night
"Girl, what are you going to do?" Lula questions and downs the last bit of her Margarita. I just told her what happened yesterday and earlier today. We are currently sitting in her/my apartment, having a good old girl talk. "Do you even know that they are speaking the truth?"
"I heard rumours" I nod and fill our glasses again. "Dickie never confirmed it and I don't have any evidence."
"So what are you going to do about the two goons?" Lula repeats.
"I don't know…it's not like there is an invoice for this or anything, so I have no evidence that there is a debt. Plus the way they looked at Emma…I don't want her to get hurt by this." I tell her and shudder as the picture of the goon looking at Emma pops into my mind.
"You should ask Ranger…he will help" she wiggles her eyebrows suggestively, making me laugh. I told her about our walk through the park and what happened at the house. She squealed like a schoolgirl, told me to ride that horse hard and good and admitted if she wasn't so in love with Tank, she would be right on Ranger.
"Stop it" I slap her arm lightly when feel myself blush. "He is hot…but I can't go there. I don't live here."
"Girl, please…that guy has more money than he knows what to do with. Give him a chance and he will be jetting to see you every weekend." Lula says.
"Just because I had butterflies going off in my stomach when he hugged me, doesn't mean that this is going...well...anywhere…" I inform her and part of me is disappointed. It is not like I haven't slept with anyone since Dickie, but it was only ever sex, which was fine at the time. However, now I would really like someone to spend lazy afternoons on the couch with, who I can vent to after a stressful day at work and who also doesn't mind that I have a daughter. "Someone like Ranger doesn't want to be an instant father" Especially after what he told me about his daughter in the park "Men like that don't tend to do relationships...believe me I have met plenty like that."
"Well I still think you should ask him for help, white girl." Lula insists. "He has the manpower and resources to clear this up for you."
The next day
"So we meet again" the man with the teardrop tattoo says with a sleazy smile on his lips, as he comes right up to me and into my personal space, making me drop my groceries. I had to park around the Building since the carpark of the apartment block is full. I know that there are cameras out here, but I doubt that Rangemen will get here in time, if they try anything funny. Thankfully I dropped Emma off at my parents just half an hour prior.
"What do you want?" I question through clenched teeth. "I don't have your money...I don't know of any outstanding debt and unless you have an invoice, I am not going to pay you a dime."
"Maybe we just need to pay that daughter of yours a visit" The man comes even closer, while his friend keeps a look out. His breaths smells like alcohol and cigarettes. "She is a pretty little thing. Would be a shame if anything were to happen to her" He adds and brushes a finger along my cheek, before he pulls away.
"Leave her alone" I growl.
"Then get us the money" tattoo man retorts and gets right into my face.
"I don't have it here. I need more time" I tell them, making the split second decision just to give them the money and be done with it. I don't want them to hurt Emma or anyone else from my family.
"You have 24 hours" the man announces and both of them walk back to their car, leaving me wondering how I am going to get the money from Switzerland within the next 24 hours.
Later that night
"Hey mom" I kiss my mother on her cheek and let her and my father, who is carrying a sleeping Emma, pass, before closing the door.
"Is everything okay?" she asks in passing. "You look worried...If it is about the house. I get it. It would have just been nice to have you two closer to home."
"That is not it mom." I shake my head again. "I know, it would be nice to be closer, but like I said I can't put Emma through this." I don't want her to know the real reason I look like shit. I have been trying to figure out a way to get the money from Switzerland to the US. The only solution I see is to pay them in installments.
"Whatever you decide Pumpkin" My father says, kisses me on the cheek and then nods towards Emma in his arm.
"Bedroom is through there" I point towards the door at the other end of the room, before walking over to the couch and sitting down.
"Your father took her to the park and the playground. Exhausted her so much that she fell asleep in the car." Mom smiles.
"Where is grandma?" I probe and turn on the TV.
"Senior Centre has a party. I don't expect her back till late. You know how she is." Mom rolls her eyes, making me laugh.
"Stephanie" my mother shakes me awake.
"Mhhh?" I pry my eyes open to look at her. "What time is it?"
"Just a few minutes after midnight...You fell asleep a couple of hours ago." My mother informs me. "We are going to go now. I will talk to you tomorrow okay?"
"Thanks' mom" I nod.
"Good night" She calls out before closing the apartment door.
"G'night" I mumble and give her the finger wave. I didn't intend to fall asleep, but I haven't slept well since the goons started showing up and it seems like my body decided to catch up on it. I rub my eyes, sit up straight and wipe some drool from my chin. My mother turned off the TV and all the lights, except for the small one on the wall. With sigh I get up, walk into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water, before making my way into the bedroom.
"Bloody hell it's freezing in here" I mutter under my breath, when I enter the bedroom, and rub up and down my arms with my hands. The window was left open, making the room more like the temperature of a refrigerator instead of the cosy 25 degrees like the living room. My father should have known better than to leave this open. I hope Emma didn't catch a cold, especially since the bed is right below the window.
I lean over to close the window, before lowering myself onto the bed to give Emma a good night kiss on the head, like I always do. But as I try to feel for her body, I can't find it. I pat the whole bed, but nothing. "Emma?" I call out in a whisper, but don't receive an answer. I switch on the light, so I can look below the bed, but again no Emma.
Thinking she may have gone to the bathroom and fallen asleep there, like she did a few weeks back at home, I walk into the bathroom, but Emma is not there either. Panic rises within me, I pull open the window, thinking she may have snug onto the fire escape to look at the stars, but nothing either.
Then my eyes fall on a note on the bedside table. 'For insurance' it reads in very bad handwriting.
I grab my phone and dial the first number in my log. "Emma...she is gone!"