44 Kidnapping (1/2)
Franklin watched him dumbfoundedly. 'How can someone's mood change so fast?' He thought.
”Tell me how are you related to that person?” Lisa interrogated.
”Which person?” He tried to act dumb, but none of them bought the act.
Brad and his mother crossed their hands over their chest and looked at Franklin imploringly.
”Tell us something. What is your relation to Raymond Westerfield?” Amelia asked him directly.
”Heh.” Franklin smirked saying, ”Why should I tell you?”
”Haha. If you don't tell me, then…” She trailed off, before giving him a chilly smile, and passing a cell phone to him. On it was playing a video. A man and a woman tied to chairs and were blindfolded and gagged. Two guns were pointed at their forehead.
He shivered. It was his wife and son. How did they know? That was his first thought as his eyes widened. Another possibility crossed his mind as he shivered.
”If you don't choose to cooperate, they will be the next.” Amelia answered the question he had in his mind.
”Don't do anything to them.”
”Then, speak.”
”I will. I will. Please don't do anything to them. Please.” He kept on pleading, snot running free from his nose. He lowered his head and wiped them on his shirt before he continued, ”He approached me a month ago, and asked me to do a few things, and that involved harming him.” He pointed at Brad with his chin.
”Who else is involved?” Brad asked. The matter did not look as simple as the way he mentioned. On asking this question, he saw Franklin shivering.
”No… No one.” He stuttered while looking everywhere other than them.
”Don't lie!” They yelled together, scaring Franklin out of his wits.
”I.. I… I am not lying.” Franklin said, clearly afraid of the trio now. Cori, who was silent all this while, got up from the chair, went near Franklin. He pulled his chin with one hand and said, ”Enough of the games now. If you don't spill the beans, forget about them being spared. You are thinking that your grandchildren are safe, aren't you? Hahahahaha.” Franklin heard Cori's insane laughter and felt frightened.
”What? What did you do to them? Don't you dare harm them. ”Franklin shouted, but Cori slapped him on the face and said, ”Stop yelling. You don't know of my reputation. Tsk tsk. You won't have the chance too. Not anymore.”
Cori opened his cell this time, before passing it on to Franklin. He saw a boy and a girl of the same age playing with two burly men. They looked quite happy. They were none other than his grandchildren.
Franklin gulped as he saw the video. It had no sound, but he could see that they were happy with the men. What if they kill him? What if they destroy everything? Many what ifs were running through his mind as he pondered whether to sell Raymond out or not. Raymond was no one, but they are his family.
”I… Raymond is somehow associated with Mr. Tyson. It was Mr. Tyson who asked him to harm Brad and everyone related to him.” He told everyone what he knew, and pleaded, ”I told you what I knew. Please spare them.”