Week 3.4 – Getting Away With It

Previously: The Voice on the Phone told Digger that the hostage would not be released until Digger made an attempt on the life of a foreign leader in one week’s time. And now…

“There is no way I’m going to assassinate a foreign leader for you,” Digger said, “no matter how many hostages you take.”

“Well, actually I said ‘attempt to kill,’ not assassinate,” said the Voice. “You could fail. And let’s not make definitive statements about what will or won’t happen in a week until said week has gone by.”

“It won’t make a difference,” Digger said.

“It will make all the difference,” asserted the Voice.

“How do I know you won’t go back on your word again?” Digger asked. “Decide to keep him another week or longer?”

“You don’t,” said the Voice. “Although to be fair, I went back on nothing. The only promise I made was to kill him if you failed to follow orders. I said nothing about letting him go.”

“It was implied.”

“No, it was assumed, and you know what happens when you assume,” said the Voice.

“I make an ass of you and me,” Digger said.

“Actually, I was going to say you set yourself up for disappointment, but way to reach for the cliche,” said the Voice. “We’re done for now. Put the phone on speaker.”

Digger did so. “Okay.”

“Now scroll down the apps till you see the big red button.”

He scrolled down the list until a red button that said “PUSH ME” appeared on his screen. “Got it.”

“Don’t push it yet,” warned the Voice. “As soon as this call ends, you will push the red button, drop the phone in the bag with the cash, and leave it all in the dumpster out back. Then just walk away and wait for me to contact you in a week.”

“How will I hear from you?”

“You’ll find out in a week.”

Digger looked up toward the motion sensor in the corner. The LED blinked red as it registered the motion. “You know that I will hunt you down and hurt you, right?”

“That’s no way to talk to a man who’s about to give you a gift,” said the Voice.

“What gift?” Digger asked.

“Jeff Twain,” said the Voice. “You might know him as Buddy Buckle.”

Digger tensed. “What about him?”

“I can tell you where he is,” said the Voice. “Or rather, where he’ll be in a half-hour.”

“Where?”

“Bus station downtown,” said the Voice.

“He’s taking a bus?”

“Maybe,” said the Voice. “But mainly, he’s picking up payment for services rendered.”

“What services?”

“Drugging your drink and knocking you out in the alley,” said the Voice. “Then he brought you to me. What else?”

“And what do you expect me to do with this information?” Digger asked.

“Whatever you want.”

“Don’t you still need him?” asked Digger.

“I only needed him to get you,” said the Voice. “And now, I’ve got you. Do what you will. Oh, and push the button now.”

The call clicked off. Digger’s finger hovered over the red button icon. Did he really want to do this? This phone was his only link to the kidnapper.

Join us tomorrow for the next exciting episode!

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