Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21 An Old Friend

Toy

As expected, the doorbell rang. I swung the door open to find a tall muscular man, with silky. blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes, standing in my doorway. He was wearing a plain gray T-shirt, jeans and brown boots.

“Hi! Since you’re new in the neighborhood, I thought I’d drop by and introduce myself. I’m Noah, Noah Jensen,” he said and extended his hand for a handshake, grinning from ear to ear. I took his hand in mine and shook his hand. I noticed his hand felt rough and callused; it was definitely from all the construction he did as a contractor.

“Nice to meet you, Noah Jensen. I’m Virtue,” I said, smiling shyly. Noah was still handsome. I believe he looked more masculine with his skin so tanned.

“Virtue, nice name. I live over there, the one with the black truck,” he said, letting go

of my band and pointing at his house. “I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood. It’s been a while since someone lived here.”

“I know. Main reason why I got this house at a good price,” I said. “Where are m

my manners? Would you like to come in? Since we’re neighbors and all.” I moved to the side to allow him

to enter.

“Sure,” he answered and walked inside. “Actually, I helped with the renovations. Your kitchen was done by me and my team. As well as the bathrooms.”

I know…I saw your portfolio.

“I had Lisa and Nicole do everything for me since they know everyone in this town. Anyway, thank you. You and your team created a beautiful kitchen. The white mable is just immaculate and the farm sink… perfect.”

I opened my new stainless steel refrigerator and found some orange juice. I guess Lisa left it knowing I didn’t do grocery shopping yet.

“All I can offer you is juice. Which reminds me, I need to make a quick stop at the grocery store. I don’t have any food. But I do have nice crystal glasses.” I took two glasses and poured

some juice in each one.

“I can help you with your grocery shopping,” he offered, after he took a sip of the juice I gave him. I shook my head, not wanting to impose.

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CHAF FR 21 An Old Foend

Oh don’t want to be a bother. Your family might need you,” I said.

‘1 actual” live with my mother. My parents were in an accident a while back. I, uh, lost my father while my mother, she’s paralyzed so I have a private nurse taking care of her,” he

explained, a tinge of sorrow in his voice. He quickly hid his sadness and smiled brightly at me. “Anyway, I have a lot of time on my hands since we finished your house and my next job doesn’t start til next week. How about this? After I help you with your grocery shopping. I 11 give you a tour of the town… as a thank you for hiring me,” he said. I smiled sweetly at him.

Fine, but on one condition,” I said.

What condition is that?” He asked.

“I buy you dinner after we drop off my groceries. Does steak sound good?” I asked him. Het grinned…

That will be great. So, do we take my truck or your nice car?” Noah playfully asked. I grabbed my purse and tossed him my keys.

“Mine.”

Ah, it was like I was Joy again. Me and my friend Noah, two peas in a pod. Friends forever…

This was all part of our plan.

Cristos

ays have to go poetic on her, Cristos?” Xavier asked as he sat beside

full of food.

e me

g my

toves poetry. You should try it. It really…uhm, excites her,” I replied, without taking eyes off the monitor. He glanced at me with one eyebrow raised, shrugged his shoulders and opened his paper bag.

I’ll grab a poetry book at the bookstore on my way home.” He shifted his brown eyes towards the monitor. “Look at that… Noah Jensen is first to welcome Joy,” he said with a disapproving tone. “I still want him on the list even if he did help Joy, Cristos. There’s

something about him I don’t like.”

“You’re just jealous, Xavier, I argued. He scoffed at me.

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TAPTER 21 AG Old Friend

And you aren’t? When Jos talks about him, its ve listening to her speak about her first lov: I don’t know about you, but I hate it when he goes all starry eyed when the mentin his ne, Xavier muttered, frowning as Noah Jensen entered the house. “Do you think the might still have feelings for him?

“No, I don’t, Xavier. Remember, Noah didn’t talk when the police questioned him and I kne Joy hasn’t forgiven him for covering for his friends. He may have saved her body, but he did not save her soul,” I answered.

Xavier threw one of his fries at me. “You don’t have to use one of your metaphors, Cristos.

I’m not Joy.

“We have got to start calling her Virtue. We can’t afford to slip and jeopardize this operation. If these hooligans catch wind Joy Taylor is back from the dead, they won’t think twice. They’ll put her in a body bag. We have to be careful. Real careful,” I warned.

“Well, if they do figure out who she is, I’ll just knock on their door and put two in them.” Xavier said, aiming two fingers at Noah’s image. Then we can all go home and forget about this crazy as s town.”

“That’s Plan B. Right now, let’s stick to Plan A, I said. “By the way, where’s Sebastian?*

“You mean, Dominic? He’s at the shop with Nicole, Xavier answered. He coughed, then, in a high pitched girly voice he said, “Dom, thank you so much for your help. Why don’t I treat you to a cup of coffee? You know, as a thank you for helping me find what I needed.”

I couldn’t help it; I cracked up. I disliked Nicole. She was always wearing revealing clothes which showed her breasts or her butt. When she bent down, we could always see her panties. sticking out from underneath.

itation of her, Xavier. You must see her alot at the grocery store,” I said, oped laughing.

She keeps checking out my a ss, Cristos. I swear one time, she even squeezed it. I feel so violated, Xavier mumbled, before biting into his hotdog.

“Awwww! She obviously likes you,” I said, trying to pinch his cheek. Because you and

Sebastian are so adorable.”

“If you hadn’t told her you were g ay, I bet she would be at the pub twenty-four seven.”

“Well, darling. Someone has to stay close to Virtue without anyone suspecting we’re lovers,” I

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CHAPTER 21 An Old Friend

said, batting my eyelashes at him. Xavier suddenly pointed at the monitors.

“Check it out. They’re leaving. Turn up the volume so we can hear where they’re going.” Navier said. I clicked on the keyboard and Joy’s sweet sounding voice filled the room.

I buy you dinner after we drop off my groceries Does steak sound good? We heard Joy ask Noah. Xavier immediately wiped his mustard stained hands with a napkin.

“Time for us to keep an eye on our girl,” he said. I’ll see you at the store later.” He exited Sebastian’s office, closing the door behind him.

Joy was going to rent the commercial space in between the grocery store and Sebastian’s shop. Soon, we would have our girl with us without anyone suspecting we knew each other.

Sebastian and Xavier, who moved here six months ago, acted as half-brothers who left the city after winning the lottery while I was a cousin who decided to join them a month later after receiving my inheritance.

Sebastian decided to open up a home furnishings store. Since his was the only store in New Salem which catered to home improvement, everyone came to him, allowing us access to their homes with every doorknob they bought.

Xavier, on the other hand, took over the grocery store which was once owned by Joy’s parents. He gave the previous owner an offer she could not refuse. Mrs. Larson took her millions and her pet cats and moved to Florida where she is now living near the beach,

sipping coc ktails from sunset to sun up, happily retired.

As for me, to provide some solace to the old man who recently lost his granddaughter, I took the pub off his hands. He’s the only one in this town who the three of us spoke to in private.

Sebastian has copies of all the keys of all the doorknobs he has ever sold and one of them opens the door of the pub.

We found the old man drunk in the back office of the pub after he closed up for the night. He was seated behind his desk, his head bent backwards, snoring with his mouth wide open.

“Wake him up,” Sebastian said while sitting down in one of the rickety chairs in front of the desk. “Cristos, I have several new arrivals, if you want to change these chairs.”

“Will you give me a discount?” I playfully asked.

“Quiet, the both of you. He’s coming to,” Xavier said, nudging the old man awake.

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CHA-TER 21 An Old Friend

When he finally opened his eyes, he was surprised to see all three of us in his office. He opened his mouth to scream for help, but Sebastian raised his hand to stop him.

“Eugene, we are here as friends. You, once upon a time, helped some friends of ours, so we would like to return the favor,” Sebastian said. He was always the smooth one among the three of us, one reason why Joy quickly learned to trust us.

“W-what do you m-mean?” Eugene asked, scared we were going to hurt him.

“We have heard of your loss and judging by the missing evidence” of your granddaughter’s case, you and I both know, you will never get the justice your granddaughter deserves. Just like another

rape case almost ten years ago. You do remember her right?” Sebastian asked.

“How can anyone forget? The girl’s name was Joy Taylor. She was such a kindhearted soul. Just like my little Joan. Do you know Joan was in the running to graduate valedictorian of her class?” he croaked. He covered his mouth with a trembling hand and began to cry. “Joan…she didn’t deserve this, b-but those animals… Those animals had to lay their filthy hands on….

He couldn’t continue. He covered his face and weeped quietly. Xavier placed a hand on Eugene’s back to offer the old man some comfort.

“A lack of evidence usually means a conviction is out of the question and any defendant will be acquitted, Sebastian said. “What we can offer you and your family is vengeance. All we ask is for you to sell this pub to us and for you and your family to leave town to avoid any suspicions. We know you bought a gun, Eugene. You don’t want to live locked up for the rest of your life because of scu mbags like the Mayor, do you? Let us help you get the justice your granddaughter truly deserves.”

The old man peered at us through his tear-filled eyes, probably thinking we were crazy.

on his desk and opened it. Inside is one million in cash and a bank book

ander your name with a deposit of ten million dollars. If you want more,

name your price.”

Eugene looked at the money, stunned to see that much money was in front of him. He

reached over to touch it, but he hesitated, not sure if it was the right thing to do.

“A-are you going to kill them?” He asked.

“The less you know, the better, Sebastian warned him. “So, do we have a deal?”

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APTER 21 4 Ole Friend

Book a bundle of one hundred dollar bills and flipped through it. He placed the bundle be in the briefcase, closed it and placed it on his lap.

“My family and I leave tomorrow. You can have our house too. Just promise me you will make those sons of bit ches pay for what that did to loan… and loy

Before we left, I made a small request.

“One more thing. Eugene, when someone asks you why you’re leaving, mention you’re doing what the Taylor family did ten years ago. I want you to remind the good folks of New Salem of a young girl named Joy Taylor.

Chapter Comments

Mary Hall

Her guts really got in this plan, i love it

Luna-Mom

Well done Ms Virtue Sullivan let the game commence t

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