Chapter 29: Here comes in a strange fellow: Felix?

Amy couldn't believe that her mother would do something like that. That is going well above and beyond that she believes her mother to be. This can't be right. At least, Mrs. Cooper could have disinherit her. No big deal. She was waiting on some deals of the sort but not this. Embezzlement? And if she's right, Karma will be the accused. She has to get her out of here before those auditors get a hold of the police. Matter of fact, she has to run with Karma before this gets big enough and the FBI gets involved.

She reaches the intersection and as soon as the traffic lights turn red, she receives a call from her secretary. She picks up her phone right away.

"Hera, how is it over there?" Amy asks.

"They finish with the investigation. The auditor demanded me to get a hold of you."

Amy swallow nervously and tightens her hold of her wheel. They must have finished with the investigation. "Give them to me."

Hera does as she's told and transfers the call to Amy's office. The auditor picked up right away.

"Ms. Raudenfeld, we finished with the investigation. It didn't take long for my team and your IT department to figure out the whereabouts of the conglomerate's funds."

"Where did the money go?" Amy asks, still waiting for the green light.

The man leans back in Amy's chair, "It's over in Cayman Islands at a private bank. We managed to trace the account back to its rightful owner as well."

Amy swallow a big lump of anxiety. That's money embezzlement and money laundering. Both of these sentences are enough to send Karma to jail and gain her life sentence. "Who is it?"

"It's your assistant ma'am, Karma Ashcroft. However though, she placed the account under a different name. And I don't think you'll like it."

"What is it Mr. Tan?" She asks impatiently.

"She used your name ma'am. It would have been easier for her to build that account under your name. Some of the funds were appropriated to various projects other than what they were intended for. And most of the revenues, which are about a good sum, come from sources that not legitimate."

Amy quickly intervenes in the man's explanation, "She didn't do it."

"I'm sorry ma'am, who didn't do what?"

"Karma is not guilty."

"But ma'am, we have everything here that proves us that she's the only one with access to that account."

"Either way, I am assuming it would have required her some type of documentation from me and my signature."

"I've heard of the story. She has pretty good hold over you. She's manipulative enough to have come up with a plan to get you to sign whatever is needed."

"Fuck you!" Amy cuts the call and immediately call Karma. She doesn't answer. She throws the phone and races over to the apartment building where she resides with her friend Shane. Several patrol cars were circling the front entrance. The FBI beat her to it. Reporters were also there, standing watch, waiting for the culprit to come out of the building in handcuffs in order to get a good shot for their brilliant cover story.

As soon as Amy parked her car right in the middle of the fracas, the reporters quickly came over to her, blocking her every access to the door. And it's not like she would be able to get through easy either without the reporters, FBI agents were all around the front door, standing guard from every point, keeping anybody from entering the premises. Amy didn't care. She passes under the yellow tape and heads straight to a big man standing watch. The man stops her.

"Ma'am, where do you think you're going?"

Amy pushes pass him, "Get the fuck out of my way!"

"I'm sorry but no one is allowed inside of that building." He grabs Amy by the arms tightly which she managed to yank away from him.

"I said, get the fuck out of my way!" Amy yells out, "It's my company that is stolen from. I need to see my assistant."

The man struggles to keep Amy under restraint, "I know Ms. Raudenfeld, but we're under strict orders to keep anybody from entering the crime scene."

"Crime scene?"

The man shakes his head as Amy is finally stopping her struggles, "There has been an attempted murder earlier today."

"So, you're not here to make an arrest regarding my company?" Amy finds herself relieved at the thought. She still has time to get to Karma and take her away from here. They have to act quickly enough.

"Yes, we are." The man says, "It's just that when we arrived at the scene. There were gunshots."

"Gunshots?"

The man nods, "Yes ma'am. Apparently, there has been a confrontation between a man and your assistant over the case. Earlier today, he said that he showed up at the apartment by orders from your mother. They found out about the embezzlement and immediately sent over the police. In a confrontation, the culprit got a hold of a cop's weapon and fired at the man."

How far is her mother trying to go? Amy shakes her head, not believing any of the things that the man is telling her. "Is the man alright?"

As she asks, the reporters quickly advances above the yellow tape as the paramedics escort a man on a carrier. He seemed to have been fatally wounded. Amy couldn't place where but she runs over to the victim and finds out that it is Nick.

"Nick, who did this to you?" Amy asks but Nick seemed to have fallen into a coma and is unable to speak.

Sam appears seconds after, and answers for him instead, "It was Karma."

Amy turns around to trace the voice back to its owner. Amy walks away from Nick as the paramedics take him away. She watches Sam standing in front of the door. Her eyes looking exhausted, as if she hasn't slept in days. And if you ask her, these are the eyes of a guilty conscience. Amy knows that anything that is happening here today has to do with her mother and this cop here. There is no way that Karma could have shot someone. No way would Karma do something that drastic. Her mother, maybe. Nick could have even shot his own self. He is that crazy. But Karma. Her Karma, never.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Amy strides over to the cop, "Where is Karma?"

"She's gone." Sam simply answers without giving in any more details.

Amy clenches her teeth. Where could Karma have gone? And Shane? Is Shane with her or not? "Where did she go?"

Sam shrugs nonchalantly, "Who knows?" she says, "The FBI is after her right now. Her and her friend Shane are both on the run right now."

"What happened up there?"

"That's not something that concerns you."

Amy menacingly walks over to the cop with every intention to strike a blow. But Sam was quick to stop her, "You are going to strike a law enforcement officer on National TV? Way to tarnish your image rich girl."

Amy looks behind her, the reporters were taking shots and more channel news came to the scene. "What happened?"

Sam walks around Amy, her hands in her pocket, "What happened today, should let you know that your girlfriend is nothing but a criminal."

"She's not guilty in any of this. She's innocent. My mother is behind all of this. Karma did not steal any money from my company and neither did she shoot Nick." Amy desperately cries out, "My baby is not guilty."

Sam shrugs, "I'm not accusing anybody yet. I'm not pointing any fingers either. I've seen what I've seen however. And I am a cop. I don't care about anything other than justice. And I'll bring justice. Your girlfriend ran. She incriminates herself by running. And it was my weapon, in a friction, that she used to shoot this man right here." Sam points at unconscious Nick, "This is yet another evidence against her. Your girl will surely get life sentence if she gets caught."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Amy says, looking down at the smug officer.

With a subtle roughness in her tone, Sam admits, "I enjoy you not having her right now."

Somewhere in Dallas

"Shane, what are we going to do?" Karma watches outside of the small café within which they sought shelter. It is not too far from the apartment building but it's discreet enough to divert attention for now.

Shane overlooks the magazine to look at an anxious Karma surveying the area to see if anyone was in their pursuit.

"Can you stop looking all suspicious?" Shane asks, seeing people looking their way, "We don't want any kind of attention right now."

"How can you be so calm like this?"

"Easy," Shane shrugs, "I am reading the fashion magazine and staying up to date with the latest trend."

"Now is not the time Shane." Karma whines, "I can't believe I am living through all of this. What am I going to do?"

Shane hits her with his magazine on the head, "Can you stop?" he asks, "Lauren said she has a plan. If it wasn't for her, we'd both be behind bars right now."

Earlier today

"Who the fuck is calling at three A.M in the morning?" Shane gets off his bed to head over the kitchen. "Hel-to the fuck-lo!"

"Danm! I mean, do people call you home?" Lauren's pitchy tone gets an automatic eye-rolling from him.

"What do you want man? It's three motherfucking AM in the morning!"

"It's three?!"

"YES!" Shane yells. "Where the fuck are you?"

"In Korea right now. I'm currently at the airport, about to board a plane to get to the US."

"Jesus! Haven't you heard of time changes?"

"Listen, I am sorry. But I have to warn the both of you. I got a hold of my mother's latest actions. And from the look of things, it doesn't look too good for Karma."

"What do you mean?" This got Shane off sleep, "What is she planning? Karma has been worried about something like that."

"Well, just let her know that she has to leave before anybody comes by your place today."

"What's going on Lauren?"

"I have a place where you can stay at. I want you both to wait for me there. As soon as dawn breaks, leave the apartment and go to the address that I am going to give to you."

"I can't believe this."

"And by the way, try to keep that cop away from Karma. She's not good news."

"Sam?!"

"Yes Shane. I'll explain everything to you guys when I get there. I'll be in the US around five P.M."

"Oh my God! What's going to happen to my Karma?"

"Shane, relax! I have a plan. Trust me alright. I'll see you guys later."

Present time

A waiter brings their order to the table and leave them be.

"I'm just glad we manage to leave before the FBI got to my place." Shane says, taking a sip from his drink, "we came close to being taken though. Who'd have thought that man would have shown up along with Sam so early in the morning?"

Karma shakes her head at Shane, "I know right. That wench doesn't waste any time does she?"

"Right when we left, that's when they showed up. I wonder what they thought about when they found an empty apartment."

"Beats me." Karma shrugs, "all I know is I can't wait to see Lauren. Maybe she can save me from my impending doom."

"I hope so. I have too many questions that I want to ask. Like, what exactly did Amy's mother do?"

"That's what I'd like to know." Karma says, directing her attention to two man sitting next to her table.

"Have you heard what happened today? It's all over the news dude. Some chick shot a man this morning and ran off without leaving any trace." The man sitting from across their table explained to his friend.

The other guy shook his head in disapproval, "That's what happen when you let women operate weapon and much less have access to them."

"No, it's nothing like that. Apparently, they were cops and they came in to arrest her."

"Arrest her? That's not what I heard."

"What did you hear?"

The man leans in to whisper his discovery but Karma has Vulcan hearing, she heard everything too well, "What happened is that this man works for the business tycoon Farrah Cooper. That man came with an officer to confront the woman regarding the laundering of millions of dollars into a foreign bank account. I believe things got out of hand and escalated too quick. The woman shot man with an officer's weapon."

"WHAT THE HELL!" Karma jumps from seat and before long, eyes were all directed towards her.

The café soon become silent as the music channel got cut to leave place to a woman in a news channel.

"This morning, a man was shot in an apartment and was left fatally wounded. He is being taken to the hospital right this minute. The identity of the shooter is not yet identified by our people and will be divulge soon. We pray for the citizens of Dallas to be on their toes for there is a shooter on the loose. She is very dangerous and we ask for all of you to protect your children and stay safe. Also, the latest craze besides the shooting of this morning, HR Holdings is facing major setbacks due to the major funds gone missing. It is believed to have been embezzled to a foreign account by none other than the new assistant of Ms. Raudenfeld. Here is a visual clip of the said woman in question. This clip shows her leading a protest against the tycoon's daughter for unfairly firing of her employees. And now, we will leave the place to one of our reporters at the scene. Here you go Trent, what's the news?"

A man with prim hair shows up on screen, "Thank you Lydia, the scene is very hectic right now. Many people are trying to get a look at the shot man believed to be none other than Farrah Cooper's right hand man. Many of us have deducted that the shooting might have to do with the situation HR Holdings. This is the apartment where the assistant, Karma Ashcroft resides along with a friend of hers."

"Any idea on who the shooter might be?"

"Yes, from what one of the officers have told us, the shooter is none other than Karma Ashcroft."

"So the shooting is in fact related to the situation at HR Holdings?"

"Yes Lydia. The officer at the scene who gave us the information came in order to make an arrest. However, the shooter resisted and in the commotion grabbed the officer's weapon and shot at both but only the right hand man of Farrah Cooper got hit. The officer however was struck in the head with a lamp by Karma Ashcroft's friend, Shane Harvey, who is a lawyer."

"Thank you Trent."

"Back to you Lydia, we'll let you know more if anything else comes up."

"Here you have it, those two are on the run. Watch out for the both of them. They're very dangerous."

Before anybody could pinpoint anything towards them, Karma and Shane were already at the door.

"At what time did Lauren say that she would get here?" Karma says, pulling a hoodie over her head.

Shane does the same, "She said she'd be in the US around five pm. We should probably head over to the address that she gave to us. We can't waste any more time in the streets.

"I can't believe this shit!"

They both follow Lauren's address, avoiding any type of confrontation or eye contact with anybody. They catch an Uber and the man drove them to the place. They reach a big empty warehouse located in a bad street which didn't seem too safe either. Without thinking, Shane and Karma enters the warehouse and awaited Lauren's arrival. It didn't take too long before five pm roamed around and they find a huge black SUV being drove inside their hiding place.

And out of that SUV, walks out a petite woman. She strides quickly towards both Shane and Karma. The two watch as the petite figure approached both of them and look at her as a savior. They don't know what she has planned up but hopefully, its good enough a plan to bring down that vicious woman.

Lauren approaches Karma first and hugs her tight enough, "I'm sorry boo."

Karma instantly starts to sob, "I can't do this anymore Lauren. I'm tired."

"I know baby." She breaks the hug to wipe away Karma's tears, "that is why I have a proposal for you."

"What proposal?" Karma asks.

Lauren grabs Shane's hands and smiles warmly at him, "how are you doing?"

"Good, given the circumstances."

"I'll make sure to clear your name too." Lauren says, "We have to go. Hop in my car. I'm taking you guys away from here."

They follow after Lauren and got in her car, and there Lauren starts off, "Karma, I know you've been through a lot. I know the past decade hasn't been the best and I apologize on behalf of my mother for everything that she has put you through."

"Lauren, it's alright,"

"No," Lauren cuts her, "It's not alright. Karma, you've been through too much. So, I'm give you options. You have the option to leave and never come back. I can make you go away and my mother will never hear from you again and will never bother you. But the thing is, I can also have Amy join you there a bit later. You two will be able to run away together and never come back."

Karma considers the option but was curious about the other one also. Running away with Amy and never set foot back here. She will be with Amy and they'll be able to live together without the interference of her Farrah Cooper. They'll be happy but they'll be on the run. She wanted to run but now, she doesn't want to run anymore. Farrah has to pay. Sam too.

"What's the second option?"

"The second option is for you to stay here of course. You'll have a new identity but we will form an alliance with a few people to bring Farrah Cooper down. We will fight and end this for good. We will clear up your name and Shane's and you guys will be free of any charges. But, Amy will have to believe that you're dead for a little bit."

"What?" Karma jumps.

"Wait a minute! Hear me out." Lauren says, "The plan will work. If you're dead, Farrah will also believe that you're dead. It has to be real. Amy can't know that you're doing OK. You have to die and come back to life."

"I'm confused." Shane pitches in, "What do you mean come back to life?"

"In other word, a new identity."

"Who would I be? This is crazy." Karma says, "I'm not about to change anything about me. Amy will be heartbroken. I can't do this to her."

"Either that or you stay a criminal for the rest of your life." Lauren argues, "Listen to me, this plan will work. I have a small team ready to bring down Farrah Cooper. They hate her as much as you do."

"Who are those people?" Shane asks.

"You'll know them shortly but right now, I need your answer Karma. What will it be – do you want to run and stay a criminal or do you want to say, fight for the love of your life, and clear your name?"

Karma takes a deep sigh and thinks of Amy. She wants to be happy, obviously but she doesn't want to run away like a criminal. She wants to breathe easy and live with Amy as happily as two normal people. "I want to stay." She says.

Both Lauren and Shane smirks gratifyingly.

"That's my girl." Lauren says.

"Now, what do I have to do?"

"Well," Lauren begins, "Let me present to you Felix." Lauren hands Karma a fake I.D.

"Who is this?"

"This is you." Lauren answers.

"I'm a man in my so-called after-life?"

Lauren nods while Shane grabs the ID from Karma's hands. "This out to be the best cover yet."