A week later Linda had just gotten in from work, it was dark outside as Linda had been working until 10:30pm. Recently Linda had gotten into the habit of working later at night, doing all sorts of little things that would keep her away from the house just that little bit longer. She hated walking into the big, dark house by herself, knowing that no one was there to welcome her back. The house seemed so quiet and had a chill to it, even though she had programmed the heating to come on early. She shivered as she sat her briefcase down in the hall and took off her coat.

Linda walked into the kitchen and switched the light on, she walked over to the fridge and opened it. Linda sighed and closed the fridge door, she didn't know why she had bothered to open it in the first place, she hadn't eaten a proper meal for days and didn't see why tonight would be any different.

Linda jumped out of her skin as the phone rang, she didn't feel like answering it so she sat down at the table.

Suddenly Linda heard Vince's voice.

"Hello, you've reached the McMahon residence. Unfortuantely neither Linda or myself, Vince McMahon, are home right now either that or we just can't be bothered to answer the phone. Either way please live your name and your number and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank-you!"

The beep on the answering machine went and Linda closed her eyes and shook her head as she realised that she still hadn't changed the message. She had been meaning to do it for the past couple of weeks but hadn't gotten round to it, in a way she didn't want to get round to it, it was like that was the only part of Vince she still had left.

"Hi mom, it's Steph. Where are you? I've just called you at work and you weren't there, ummm maybe your on your way back home now. Anyway when you get in give me a ring please. Ok bye, love you."

Linda got to the phone just in time. "Steph?"

"Mom, hi, you're there."

"Yeah, just got in."

"How come your working so late?"

"Oh I've ummm, I've just got so much to do at HQ, it's the only way I can keep on schedule."

"Well you don't want to work too much, you'll burn out."

"Don't worry hon, I'm fine."

"Of course you are." Stephanie said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Really, I am. Anyway, what are you up to?"

"Ahh not much, just sitting down watching tv. And I wondered how you are so I called."

"Steph, you've called and seen me every day for the past three weeks."

"I just want to know you're ok."

"Steph I've got to get used to it, I'm on my own now and I have to deal with it. As sweet as it is that you check on me every day I really need to try and get a sense of normality."

"I know. So what have you been up to today?"

"Meetings, meetings, more meetings and working out some figures."

Stephanie laughed. "It's the same here, work's manic at the moment."

"Tell me about it. I think Shane's getting a bit overwhelmed with the work that comes with being Chairman."

"Yeah I think he is."

"He's reluctant to come to me for advice isn't he?"

"I think he figures that you've got loads on your plate too and he doesn't want to bog you down with anymore work than you've already got."

"I'll have a word with him, I don't want him thinking he can't come for advice. I'm your mom, and it's what I'm here for, that goes for both of you whether it's work related or or not."

"I know you're always there for us. You have to be the best mom in the world."

Linda laughed. "Well, I try my best." Linda jumped as she heard a bang in the house. "Umm Steph I have to go."

"Are you ok?" Stephanie asked sensing a change in Linda's tone.

"Yeah fine, I think I just heard someone at the door."

"Oh ok, love you bye."

"Bye sweetie." Linda hung up the phone and got up.

Linda walked to the kitchen door and listened. "Hello?" Linda shouted. "Is anybody there?"

No reply.

Linda shook her head. "Stupid old woman, hearing things now."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What are you doing you idiots, she heard us." He said to the other two as they ran round the corner of the house.

"Sorry dude, it's not our fault the window slammed shut."

"Yeah well, it doesn't matter I don't think she suspected anything." The tall dark man said to the other two. He continued. "Now we know our way round the house, the escape routes and things like that we can get down to proper business next time we're here."

"What exactly is our proper business?" The third one asked, he was tall and very muscular.

"What do you think our proper business is bonehead? Lets put the pieces of the puzzle together shall we? The boss hired me to be the "manager" if you like of this whole scam, I hired you two to help me do his dirty work, we paid two people who are close enough to the McMahon family to deliver the letters the boss wrote, one delivered at the office and one delivered at the arenas and hotel rooms. He wanted to kill Vince himself though, so he did. Now the next part of the plan is down to us, this plan will come to fruitition next week, when she's just come back from the road. Then that's it, our part of the deal is done, we get our money, you two go back to the rocks you crawled out from and I go back to my regular job, simple as that." The "manager explained to the other two, who were both bigger and stronger than him.

"What does the last part of the plan involve?"

"I can't tell you now, next week, I promise."

"Alright, well lets get out of here, I don't wanna get caught."