—---
Taylor arrived in Konica at dusk. The street was quiet except for the few motorcyclists who still roamed around in search of passengers. Looking at the street, Everything reminded her of her childhood. She was once a joyful girl who had dreams until she lost her dad in a war and her mum who couldn't cope without her loving husband developed a high blood pressure and didn't survive it. If only they were alive, she wouldn't have been a whore, nor encounter a situation that is threatening everything that she had worked for, she could only wish her parents weren't disappointed in her past life.
She walked down the street then entered a small hut with a thatch roof. She was greeted by two men who seemed to have been waiting for her arrival.
"You said you saw Phoebe, I'm surprised she's still in Konica" Taylor said while dragging a chair closer to her to sit.
"She's married now to one politician" One of the men said then paused for a while as he sniffed his snuff. "I learned his name is Maxwell". He added.
"Maxwell?" Taylor mumbled the name under her breath then waved the thought away, Maxwell was dead, she had seen him breath his last, but…,
Bing
A beep on her phone snapped her out of the thought
10 days left. I have all the footage. Cece, thou holy Taylor.
The message read.
She had shoved her phone into her jacket when it dawned on her the name the blackmailer had used. CeCe, it was a name only Maxwell and Phoebe knew. Whoever was the blackmailer, he was someone who knew her very well. She and Mosko, the man who had informed her about Phoebe, walked the corners of Konica but couldn't locate where Phoebe lived. 8 days and they still were on the search but there was no trace of her and the threat only intensified. She had given up on her search and decided to go to an inn. Maybe it would help her forget every one of her worries for a moment before she gave in to the blackmailer when she saw Phoebe and the same Maxwell she was being threatened for. It was impossible that Maxwell had survived, she had stabbed him three times on the chest and watched him bleed. She was scared, it all seemed as if she had been possessed as she felt Maxwell's hand tightened its grip on her neck as he made advances on her.
"Maxwell" she called out. Phoebe and Maxwell turned to her direction.
"Taylor" Phoebe called then hurried to come hug her, "Do you know Maxwell?" She asked.
"Yes, in Moscow" just before Taylor could say more , her phone beeped.
Do not tell her of our affairs.
Texting from the same unknown number
Taylor smiled, it had been Maxwell all this while who blackmailed her. Now that she knew he was alive, maybe it was her turn to blackmail him back.
A million dollars to keep the secret forever she replied to him, with a devilish smile.
