David stepped in front of Leslie to protect her from the intruders in her house. "Anthony?" David said to the large black man, puzzled by his and the blonde woman's appearance in Leslie's doorway. "Why are you here?"
"We're here, "the blonde woman spoke as she stared hatefully at David, "to get a little payback for what you did to Miranda."
"For what I did?" David questioned. "What do you mean? I didn't do anything to Miranda that she didn't want to happen. In fact, it was all her idea. And who are you?"
"I'm Miranda's friend, Jessie." The woman answered. "So, it was all Miranda's idea for you to con a lonely widow out of some money with a little sexy dancing and tawdry sex?!"
"David," Leslie said as she turned him around to face her, "is that what happened last night? Did you take that woman's money for sex?"
"Of course, he did!" Jessie responded before David could answer. "And you're probably in on it too, you little bitch!"
"Listen, lady," Leslie said, her voice stern, "don't come into my house and accuse me or my friend of things when you don't know the whole story. And you'd best watch that 'bitch' talk to before you get my Irish up!" The fiery red head took a step toward Leslie before David stopped her.
"Hold on, Leslie," David said as he pulled her back behind him. "Jessie, I didn't take the money that Miranda gave me." Jessie stared in disbelief at David. David turned and addressed Jessie's companion. "Anthony, tell her I didn't take the money."
Anthony said nothing, just stood staring at David and Leslie. Jessie looked at Anthony then looked at the bulge in his pants pocket. Before Anthony could protest, Jessie reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of hundred-dollar bills.
"Anthony?" Jessie said as she looked at the large man. "You told me he took the money? Why would you lie about it? And why didn't you tell Miranda?"
"I swore to Mr. Mason that I would protect Mrs. Mason from any threats that may arise and that's what I did." Anthony stated proudly. He stood silent for a moment then sagged his shoulders and put his head down. "Or that's what I thought anyway... David, please forgive me. My loyalty got the best of me and I went too far..."
David let out a breath of relief as he realized the large bodyguard would not destroy him that day. "I understand, Anthony. And I want the best for Miranda also, even if she does hate me."
Jessie took a step toward David and laid her hand on his arm. "She doesn't hate you, David. Just the opposite." She said. "Now, we should go clear all this up with her. Please forgive us, David. And you too, Leslie."
They all stood in silence for a moment until the chirp on Anthony's cell phone broke the hush. "It's Mrs. Mason." Anthony told the group. "Hello, Mrs. Mason. Sorry I've been gone so long but..." Anthony was interrupted by an ear-piercing scream, "ANTHONY!!! HELP!!!" Then the sound of flesh hitting flesh and a soft whimper of pain came through the cell phone's speaker.
"Mrs. Mason!!!" Anthony yelled into the phone. The next sound through the phone was a man's voice.
"Hello, Anthony, is it?" the voice asked. Anthony strained to hear through a loud background noise on the other end. Without waiting for an answer, the voice continued. "This is Louis LaChance. Your employer and I have been getting acquainted for the past couple hours. She has some information that I need but is reluctant to give me what I want. Therefore, I'm going to ask you on her behalf: Where is David Andrews?"
Before Anthony could speak, David rushed forward and grabbed the phone. "Louie, you son of a bitch, I'm right here! You leave Miranda alone, you hear me?!"
"Mr. Andrews!" Louie replied. "What a pleasant surprise! I trust you have the money you owe me. Mrs. Mason, although not forthcoming with your location, did tell us that she gave you a substantial amount of cash this morning. I'd like it, please."
"Fine, Louie," David answered, "you can have the fucking money, just let Miranda go!"
"Well," Louie continued through the annoying background noise, "since I have Mrs. Mason with me, I think my demand for repayment just went up. One million from Mrs. Mason's account will suffice. By 9pm tonight. I will call back with the location for drop off with my associate. And, David?" Louie concluded, "don't think about trying anything foolish or she may find out why people call me by that awful nickname."
David looked at Anthony and Jessie as the phone went silent. "What do we do?"
Jessie, with tears running down her face, answered first, "We have to do what he says. Lord knows what he'll do to her."
As the quartet pondered their next move, Anthony's cell phone chirped a different tone.
"Is that him?" David asked.